Prodigal Son (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Family Friend - full transcript

...the brachial plexus
all the way down

through to the fingertips.

And that's how we feel touch.

They call it
the "eye of the hand."

It's amazing.

Well, that is just like you.

The NYPD
arrested Dr. Martin Whitly in connection

to at least 23 murders...

You want the wall here, Miss?

Was I not clear?

I never want
to see this room again.



I was wondering
if anyone would answer.

Who is this?

An old friend of your father's.

Who are you?
Why are you calling?

It was good
to see you at that

junkyard, Malcolm.

Been too long.

- How do I know you?
- You don't remember?

A hell of a camping trip.

Is it okay if I call you Paul?

Or would you prefer
something else?

Always liked Paul.
Good, strong name.

Okay, Paul?

- Why don't you tell me about this trip?
- That's curious.



Wonder why you don't remember.

I could never forget
that night.

Why? What happened?

Talk to me, I'd-I'd love
to hear it in your own words.

To be honest, Paul...

I think I've blocked out
pieces of my memory.

Whole chunks of time
are missing.

Any idea what
might have caused that?

Why were you delivered
to me, Malcolm?

To help me or stop me?

- Uh, I just want to talk.
- No.

You're a cop.

You want to catch me.

Your dad must be...

- disappointed.
- Well,

we're not exactly on
speaking terms at the moment.

I don't want

to hurt you, Malcolm.

But my work is important,

and you've interrupted it.

I hate being interrupted!

Better if you leave me alone.

You know I can't do that.

That's not
what I wanted to hear.

Who the hell was that?

An old friend of Dad's.

People who suffer
from our sickness

have a tendency to find others

who suffer from it, too.

In this case, I was, um,

a mentor.

Ains.

Ains.

Hey...

How are you feeling?

Like I was stabbed
in the chest with a prison shiv.

So, like, six out of ten?

What were you working on?

I was looking
at interview footage.

Think we really captured
television gold.

Sorry I ruined it by,
you know... getting knifed.

Yeah.

It's a shame
we had to stop early, but...

I think...
think it'll cut together.

Get him out of here.

May I offer you all
some Scotch?

Or vodka? Gin?

I'm good with coffee.

Cream and sugar?
Or a nice hazelnut liqueur?

So... this is where
Malcolm Bright grew up.

- It's, um... nice.
- Thank you.

One day I'll give you
the full tour.

But the abridged version is...

that's where we usually
have the Christmas tree.

That is a portrait
of my great-uncle Douglas.

Oh, and right over there is

where my father was arrested
for killing 23 people.

It's a good-looking uncle.

Sir. We've routed
the basement line through

- the trap-and-trace system at Major Crimes.
- Nice work.

If he calls again,
we'll get a recording,

- maybe even a location, if we're lucky.
- He'll call again.

This was just
a jumping-off point. Round one.

I have to ask, if that room's
been walled off since '98,

why were you still
paying the phone bill?

I have no idea.

You know how
business managers are.

I definitely do not know how
business managers are.

Detective...
we have something to show you.

Jessica, you all right?

Just peachy, Gil.

A regular Tuesday around here.

We could move you
to a safe house for a few days.

Absolutely not.

I imagine your accommodations
are about as inviting as a...

Milwaukee Radisson.

At least let us
leave some officers outside.

I was married to one of the most
notorious serial killers

of the 20th century.

I can look after myself.

Don't worry, I'll post
a patrol unit.

Jessica doesn't need to know.

Thanks, Gil.

Till we know what he wants
from me and my family,

we should assume he's a threat.

You know, the brass is talking
about bringing in the Bureau.

That would be a mistake.

They'd force me off this
in a heartbeat.

Would that be such a bad thing?

I'm worried
you're too close to it.

You're right. I am.

But that's exactly
how we're gonna get him.

Based on our conversation,
I now believe Paul to be

a mission-oriented killer.

He referred to his murders
as his "work"

and asked me why I had been
"delivered" to him.

The word choices evoke
a higher calling.

That, coupled with
the victim pool

from the junkyard...
all high-risk addicts,

homeless, sex workers...

tells me that
Paul views his "mission"

as cleaning up the streets.

You forgot to mention
the elephant in the room.

Of course.
We also know the killer

had a relationship
with Martin Whitly.

But we know little about it,

except that they likely met

at St. Edward's Hospital
in the Bronx.

- Can you ask your pops?
- Couldn't if I wanted to.

The Surgeon's been placed
in solitary confinement.

From what I hear,
he hasn't spoken a word.

- Not even to the guards.
- Naturally.

The one time I need
to talk to him.

Edrisa, what's the status
of your ID process?

Uh, slow going. We are up
to 16 confirmed kills.

But we have to match
the disparate fragments

of bone and flesh.
It's not always obvious

which go together.

Like the world's
most fascinating jigsaw puzzle.

Oh, you like puzzles?

I have a, uh, 500-piece
of the Notre-Dame

that is truly gnarly.

- If you ever...
- I just, I can't, I can't with this.

- Anything we can use?
- Yes.

Uh... Two of the most
recent victims,

Stephanie Reyes
and Haley Wyatt, they...

- don't have any stomach contents.
- They're addicts, right?

They're not exactly known
for their appetites.

True, but still, it's unusual
to find nothing at all.

Unless they were held for days
without food and water.

Exactly.

Does this fit with your profile?

Mission-oriented killers often

take a ritualistic approach
to murder.

Which could certainly involve
an extended holding period.

Paul said I interrupted him.

I thought he meant
his killings in general, but...

what if
he'd already taken someone?

What if we missed something?

Let's go find out.

Okay. So, we know
he crushed them there.

But he would have required
a holding area.

A hidden sanctum
where he prepped the victims.

The techs have been over this
place with a fine-tooth comb.

- Do you think it could've been off-site?
- No.

Transport would've been
a needless risk.

He needed them close.

Close enough that
he could move the victims

to the kill site without ever
being in view of the street.

Paul shot at me from over there.

He felt the need
to protect something.

This is the one
place we didn't find a body.

What are you seeing, Bright?

I think this is an air vent.

What the hell is that?

This must be where
he brought his victims.

If I'm not mistaken,
it's a Winnebago.

Get the bomb squad

- and ESU down here.
- Roger that.

Go. To Central.
I need a bomb squad...

Bright, no!
Wait, Bright, what are you...

It could be booby-trapped!

He's not trying
to keep someone out.

He wants to keep someone in.

Bright, what are you doing?

Bright!

Bright, what's down there?

Wait. I just heard something.

What is it?

First door is clear.

Come on, Bright, talk to me.

I found a victim.

Where's ESU?
I need 'em here now!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

How long do I have?

It's okay.

You're safe.

You can't save me.

No one can.

We got an ID
on the victim you saved.

Ryan Davis, 26.
Bronx local, addict,

couple possession charges
but nothing violent.

JT says he's stable,
but they had to put him

in a medically induced coma.

Ryan won't be answering
questions any time soon.

Crime Scene is sweeping

the Winnebago for prints, but
so far it's clean as a whistle.

He probably burned them off.

This guy was careful
at every step.

We should put Ryan
in protective custody,

just in case Paul knows
we found him.

We've got a guard detail
at the hospital.

These were the last words
that Ryan said to me

before he passed out.

I think Paul was taunting him
with a countdown

to his own demise.

And what's up with the mirror?

- Why is that important?
- I imagine

it's part of a ritual.

He wants his victims
to reflect on their sins.

A man who takes things
literally.

It could be that
he wants them to atone

before he delivers
the inevitable final judgment.

We need to find
where Ryan was taken from.

Witness testimony
will still be fresh.

Anyone file
a missing persons report?

No, but court records show
he sometimes stayed

at the homeless shelter
at St. Matteo Church.

So did two other victims.

Uh, Beth Morris
and Taquesha Roberts.

Looks like we might have found
Paul's hunting ground.

What's going on here?
Criminal?

Victim?
What are we looking at?

What? I'm just curious.

I bet you are.

I recognize you.

Come on, haven't you ever wanted
to be an "inside source"?

Fine.

Who's your commanding officer?

You're legally required
to tell me.

Lieutenant Arroyo.

Major Crimes.

This is Bright.

Leave a message.

Gil has someone in protective
custody down at Westview?

Might this have anything to do
with the new serial killer

you were drilling Dad about
during my interview?

There's a story here
and I want a quote.

I better not see this
on CNN, bro.

Katja, don't get that.

Hello?

I apologize for the late notice.

It's important, I just need
to speak to her for one...

This a bad time?

Actually, it is.

Do you normally show up
at people's houses

after they have cancelled plans
with you?

Do you normally waltz
around your living room

with a loaded gun?

What makes you think
it's loaded?

Okay, it's loaded.

I'm here because I'm concerned.

My team worked all week
on that presentation.

I thought you wanted to see it.

I did.

Oh... I'm sorry, I'm...

I'm not usually like this.

Last night,
we were contacted by

some sort of serial killer
colleague of my ex-husband.

I didn't realize they had
"colleagues."

Welcome to the Whitly family.

That's horrifying.
Are you okay?

Stupid question;
obviously you're not okay.

I appreciate your asking
all the same.

I'm just...

Some days everything
feels normal.

I can make it through
a few consecutive hours

without thinking
about Martin or...

...what he is.

But other days...

...he finds a way to ruin it

before I've even
had my breakfast.

But you're here now. So...

Let's talk tax write-offs.

Sure, I remember Ryan.

He was here till a few days ago.

Then he wasn't.

It happens all the time.

What were you doing that day?

Uh, well, I was probably here.

I'm always here.

Why didn't you file
a missing persons report?

Why would I?

The kind of people
that stay here

go missing all the time.
The police don't care.

- Well, we're here now, aren't we?
- Since you are,

lend a helping hand.
I got lots of boxes.

You're a young man,
you can carry the heavy one.

Thank you.

How about Beth
Morris, Taquesha Roberts?

They stay here as well?

Yes, I remember them.

That's a few years ago.

They struggled
with substance abuse,

like most of the folks here.

But they, uh, they were both
very charming.

They were murdered.

What?

Damn!

When?

How?

We think they were both killed

by the same person
who took Ryan.

All the work that you do.

To try to make a difference,
you know?

It just...
doesn't really matter, does it?

Only thing that matters
is "God's plan."

You sound troubled, Father.

That's usually my line.

Don't you think there's value
in the work you're doing?

Of course I do.

But it takes a toll, you know?

You know, the system doesn't
care about these people

until they're already dead.

And then you care.

He was antagonistic and hostile.

He definitely didn't
want us there.

That's all true, but he's not
wrong to be frustrated.

You said
that mission killers think

that they're serving
a higher power.

A priest with multiple victims?

Father Leo was questioning
his faith.

Our killer has total conviction
in his mission.

If I'm going to get
a warrant for a soup kitchen,

I got to be sure.

Oh, damn it.

- What?
- My sister

is annoyingly good at her job.

She spotted the unis
posted outside

Ryan Davis's room
and connected the dots to Paul.

And now she keeps calling me
for a comment.

Shut that down.

If this story gets out, it'll
throw the city into a panic.

We're not ready
for that level of scrutiny.

Paul's mission
isn't about attention.

I'm not sure how he'll respond.

Hey, Bright, you got a package.

You're welcome.

And finally got those records
from St. Edwards.

Narrowed it down to the window

when your dad was there,
but it's still like 50 names.

You eliminated all the doctors?

You mean did my job?
Yeah, bro.

This is nurses, custodians,
administrators.

I'm running through 'em,
but it'll take a while.

Uh, was "Leo Kafchinsky"
on that list?

- I don't think so.
- There you have it.

Look, we already know that Paul
has used one alias.

Is it possible
that he's used more?

- You know, like a priest.
- You're right.

There have to be more.
He's been killing anonymously

for 20 years.

Quite a bit more
than The Surgeon.

He's a chameleon, a master
at evading detection.

JT, who gave you that box?

Front desk said a courier
dropped it off. Why?

It appears to be bleeding.

Ooh. Look at that.

Guess you aren't the only one
who likes chopping off hands.

- Edrisa, can you get an ID?
- One nice thing

about a severed hand
is fingerprints.

Perhaps the only nice thing.

We don't have to wait.
That's Father Leo's hand.

I recognize the ring
and the mole.

Paul must have seen us
talking to him. He followed us.

- We thinking he's dead?
- Well, it's a rough cut,

but there's no reason the victim
couldn't still be alive.

I'll confirm the ID.

That's the line we routed
from Jessica's.

You get my present?

I did.

Very thoughtful.

So you're not at home anymore.

I had to go to work,
but you know that.

I have a serial killer to catch.

Speaking of which,

why Father Leo?

He's not like
your other victims.

Because you were snooping.

Is he still alive?

I told you to leave me alone.

Just doing my job.

You understand that, don't you?

You have your "work,"
I have mine.

How did you find him?

The piece of trash
I left behind.

Ryan Davis.

Can't take the credit for that;

our crime scene technicians
are very thorough.

Liar!

Tell the truth!

How...

did you know
about my hiding spot?

Killers make mistakes.

I'm kind of good at this.

You think you can
just be smart.

Figure me out

like a problem to be solved.

But your curiosity
is the real problem.

Bad things happen
when you snoop.

Like when you found that girl.

What girl?

The one in your father's trunk.

What do you know about her?

Oh, you do remember.

That poor girl, all alone.

What do you know about her?!

Now who's got the temper?

Better be careful.

That'll get you into trouble.

I need some air.

Where's the girl?

Again

with the girl in the box.

We don't know.

She didn't exist.

She's real, Gil.

It's possible that Martin
told him about your nightmares.

It wasn't a nightmare.

Look, all my life,
people have told me

she was just a figment
of my imagination, a bad dream.

But she's real,

and Paul knows
what happened to her.

I'm one of those people.

And you're right.
It's time I consider

the possibility
that I was wrong.

I don't know what
happened to her, Bright.

But I do know
you're not in this alone.

Your team is here to help you.

Thanks, Gil.

I'll come back in a second.

Paul?

Let's see, little Malcolm.

Will they come for you?

Nobody's coming. I'm here alone.

Why did you follow
without calling your friends?

- I didn't have time.
- Liar.

Why?

Because...

...I want answers.

Hmm. You sound like your dad.

Look like him.

You even smell like him.

I could crush you
like I crushed the others.

But first,
I want to know how you did it.

How did you figure out
where I kept that filthy junkie?

I'm a profiler.

- It's my job.
- No. More than that.

Tell me. Tell me how you did it
or I will grind you.

You told me I "interrupted" you.

That's all I needed.

There's more.
There's more to it.

I know it.

How did you know?

Because we're the same!

My dad and I...

he-he told me
all he knew about murder.

That's how I know how you think.

I'm my father's son.

Yeah.

Some things you cannot teach.

It's in your blood.

There's hope for you yet.

W-What happened...
with the girl?

I thought I was gonna
have to kill you.

But maybe you deserve to know.

Wait for my instructions,
tonight.

Tell no one. This is between us.

Thank you.

Three simple words.

I want you to repeat them
after me: call for backup.

- I didn't think that there was...
- This isn't rhetorical, Bright.

I actually want to hear you
say the words out loud. Call...

Call for backup.

I'll admit it was
somewhat ill-advised.

To run into a dark tunnel alone

and let him pop you
like bubble wrap?

Yeah, I'd say so.

All right, look...

I know you want answers,

but it's not worth
getting killed over.

That's not the only reason
I went.

He wanted me to follow him,
alone,

and I did.

Now he believes that my need
to find out the truth

is stronger than my need
to catch him.

And is it?

Of course not.

My boss brought up
the FBI again.

Ah, please.

Paul implied that he wanted
to meet me tonight.

I-If you bring in the FBI,
then they'll never let me go.

Don't be so sure
I'm gonna let you go.

He could have killed me
in the tunnel, but he didn't.

I'm not part of his mission.

I have to go.

It's our best bet for catching
him and saving Father Leo.

Go home.

Get some rest.

If we're gonna do this,
I want you to be fresh.

Ainsley, what the hell...
Where have you been?

You've been gone for hours.

You know the serial killer my
brother was asking my dad about?

He's at large, and apparently
killing left and right.

- Oh, my God.
- I know.

It would be the perfect
companion piece

to the interview
I did with my father.

"A protégé of The Surgeon
terrorizes New York City."

An exclusive with the mentor
and a manhunt for the mentee.

I... That's too much
alliteration,

but you see the idea.

It's the network.

I-I have... I'm sorry.

This is Ainsley.

Gil, it's happening.

Fort Totten, two hours.

I'll meet you there.

Hello?

Malcolm, it's Eve Blanchard.

I'm a friend of your mother's.

Uh, oh.
Uh, come on up.

Hello?

- Hey. Hey, come in.
- Uh...

- We've met before. I'm the one...
- Helping my mother

contribute to the human
trafficking organizations.

- I remember.
- Uh, uh, good memory.

Although... uh, technically,

they're anti-human trafficking
organizations.

- Should I come back?
- Uh, I'm fine. But...

I don't have long to chat.
I have to rush out the door.

Sorry to barge in.

Y-Your mother gave me your
address under false pretenses.

I would have called,
it's just...

I'm concerned about her.

She was drunk
in the middle of the day.

Well, that's not unusual.

And she was...

waving a gun around.

Okay, that part is unusual.

I'll check on her.

I just have one thing
I need to take care of.

Thanks for coming by.

Uh, s...

some things
are better heard in person.

I agree.
You have to see

a person's face
to understand them.

Definitely. Uh, my whole job
is reading people' faces.

I know.

Good night, Malcolm.

Good night.

Good night.

We've tried not to spook him
by getting too close.

You've got tactical teams
90 seconds out.

Snipers?

Tricky. The vantage points
aren't great.

We'll try to keep eyes on you
at all times.

Avoid tunnels if you can.

It's almost time.

Bright.

I know you got
a lot of questions,

but don't let that
cloud your judgment.

Our top priority is bringing him
down and saving Father Leo.

Hello, Paul?

Are you ready for answers?

Been waiting my whole life.

Through the fence.

Why'd you bring me here, Paul?

Can you see me?

I was afraid you'd stand me up.

Now, keep your distance.
I want to talk first.

What should we talk about?

You wanted to know
about the girl.

Your father called me that
night after he put you to bed.

What did you do with her?

You're getting ahead
of yourself,

but I kept a souvenir,

and now I want you to have it.
Do you see the bag?

Where?

To your right.

The third archway.

Look familiar?

So you were his disposal man?

No.

I was so much more than that.

I have to say,

I'm really surprised
you don't remember me.

Why?
What happened there?

I thought,

maybe...

that was where the girl
in the box was killed.

No.

No.
Related, but

not the same.

Let's talk face to face, Paul.

- Can I come over there?
- Stay there.

I'm not sure
I can trust you quite yet.

Gil, I found Father Leo.

He's here, alive.
I need a medivac.

I copy that.
Where's Paul?

I don't know, not yet.

Come on, Paul.
You kept me waiting long enough.

I need answers.

I get it, Malcolm,

you think you need to know
about your past,

but what you really need
to find is your calling,

your mission.

Once I found that,
I knew exactly

what I had to do.

Gil, he's not even here.

I think he's going to finish
his mission.

- What do you mean?
- He's going for Ryan Davis.

Sending units
to Westview Memorial

right now.

Uh, sorry, Paul,

you got cut off.
What were you saying?

You found Leo, didn't you?

You didn't follow
my instructions.

You lied to me first.
You promised me answers.

I gave you the bracelet,
didn't I?

I think we've made
good progress for today.

Takes time to build trust.
Your father taught me that.

You're gonna be okay.

- We're here.
- Medivac's on its way.

- All right, load up.
- I should've seen it coming.

He never wanted Leo,
he wanted Ryan.

- Damn it.
- What?

Ainsley's there.

- Now you decide to call me back?
- Ainsley!

Thank God. Are you at
the hospital right now?

- I am. Why?
- You might be in danger.

I think the serial killer
is there.

What?

I think he's in the hospital
right now.

I think you might be right.

Why?
What's happening?

Stay in your room
and lock the door.

Ainsley.

What is it?

Ains?

The guy they were guarding...

...he's dead.

Ainsley, listen to me.

You need to get somewhere safe.

He might know who you are.

- I think I just saw him.
- Find somewhere that locks.

Okay.

Okay.

Ainsley? Ainsley!

He's outside. He's outside.
He's outside.

- Do you have a weapon?
- No.

You are not
gonna believe what...

What are you doing?

What is this?
You filmed my surgery?

I was going to tell you.

I just... I-I got so caught up
in the adrenaline,

- and it was so compelling that I...
- Oh, was it?

Was it compelling
when I almost died?

We went there to get

a great story and we got one.

- I was doing my job.
- I understand.

This is who you are.

I just...

don't think that's
the kind of person

I want to be with.

Edrisa thinks Paul gave Ryan

a heavy dose of anticoagulant
through his IV.

Different means,
same dissociative method.

Like the trash compactor
at the junkyard.

- How's Ainsley doing?
- She's okay.

Little shaken.

I'm getting that
from a three-word text.

Detectives are scouring
the hospital for leads.

With any luck,
something will turn up.

It won't.

He's been two steps ahead of us
at every turn.

You saved Father Leo.

Only because Paul wanted us to.

He was making a point

about the inevitability
of his calling.

Ryan Davis was marked for death,
Father Leo wasn't.

He thinks nothing can stop
his divine mission.

Well, then we're just gonna
have to prove him wrong.

I'll have cadaver dogs
search the fort.

Maybe that's where
he buried her.

I know he could be lying.

I've been telling you
for 20 years

she isn't real, I'm not gonna
tell you that tonight.

If she's there, we'll find her.

Bloodshed at a Manhattan
hospital tonight.

A source inside the NYPD
has confirmed

that a new serial killer
is at large,

and may be connected
to Martin Whitly,

better known as The Surgeon.

This new killer,
who authorities are calling

The Junkyard Killer,

has allegedly been active
for over 20 years.

- Hello, dear.
- His total number of victims may be in the teens.

Police are searching for

a middle-aged
Caucasian man with...

Eve Blanchard came to see me.

- Isn't she a lovely young woman?
- She said that you were armed.

That wretched little tattletale.

Give.

She was concerned about you.

So am I.

This is dangerous.

You know what else is dangerous?

Serial killers.

Which is why police officers

have been watching
the house all day.

Do you think I'd actually
leave you here

- to fend for yourself?
- Why didn't you tell me?

'Cause you would've
sent them away.

If you're worried
about staying here,

why don't you check into
the Plaza

until this whole thing is over?

You know...

Miltons owned
this whole neighborhood

back when it was farmland.
Bought it from

the profits they made
outfitting the Hessians.

Proved a sound investment.

It would just be
for a few weeks.

My great-great-great-grandfather

built this house in 1871.

And a Milton has lived here
ever since.

I didn't let Martin
tarnish this house,

despite what he was,

and I will not
be driven out now.

This is my home.

I don't want to go to a hotel,

and I don't want to live
under constant surveillance.

I want to have a normal life.

One that isn't
perpetually haunted

by the ghost of your father.

I want that, too.

I can't promise
he'll never haunt you again,

but I can promise

not to stop until I've caught
the Junkyard Killer.

You shouldn't
have to live in fear.

It's Gil.
I should take this.

Any news?

Hey, kid. I wanted you
to hear it from me first.

Your old pals at the FBI

have taken over on Paul Lazar.

And they have made it very clear
you're off the case.

All of us are.

They can't do that.

I assure you they can.

Feds are in charge now,

and they don't like you
very much.

What is it?

Maybe you should keep that.

Greg, move your head.