Revenge (2011–2015): Season 1, Episode 19 - Absolution - full transcript

Previously on Revenge...

- Was there someone else on that beach?
- No.

Jack's been sitting on a hoodie

that directly links him
to the murder.

Just try to get him out of there
for a couple of hours.

What's that? On your sweatshirt,
is that blood?

When you said you were
gonna use Lee as your pawn,

you weren't kidding.

Checkmate.

If I'm going down,

I'm taking you down with me.



Daniel,
your ankle monitor...

Police! Hands up.
Don't move.

They're saying
someone hanged himself.

And confessed to killing Tyler.

We have another
David Clarke-style situation.

Is that Conrad?

The Graysons murdered
my father.

Absolution is the most
powerful form of forgiveness...

A full pardon from suspicion
and accountability.

It's the liberation
of a stolen future.

A future my father
never lived to see.

Absolution...

is a mercy the people who killed him
will never know.

The timing of the confession



and jailhouse suicide
of drifter Lee Moran,

coming just hours before
the defense

was to present their case,

has raised suspicions
among those

who are carefully watching
what many are calling

the new trial of the decade.

Judge Elizabeth Hawthorne
spent all morning in chambers

with the prosecution
and defense teams.

And now billionaire
Daniel Grayson's fate

hangs in the balance.

And still, Grayson's innocence
remains very much in question

in the court of public opinion.

Yeah, I'll say.

You know, if the Graysons
are behind all this,

you're gonna have to
steer clear of Charlotte.

Like you did
with Amanda Clarke?

Charlotte's headed down
a really bad path,

and I'm partly to blame.

Well, exactly.

Now that the Graysons know
that you lied on the stand,

there's no telling
what they might do to you.

Let me guess.

You're working on
your wedding invite list.

Well, assuming your ploy
to spring your fiance

actually works,

but why wouldn't it?
You're you.

These are the names
of the prisoners

from my father's cell block.

I've identified everyone
who was involved in the riots

the day that my father
was murdered.

Now what?

Cross-reference it with
the Grayson Christmas card list?

Nolan, you know the man
that stabbed my father

was never identified.

Conrad could have made payments
to their families.

He could have arranged for
early pardon for good behavior.

Another cover-up?

Conrad said on the phone,

"I'm sorry to put us
in this position again."

If they killed Lee
to silence him,

it's a very strong possibility

that they did the same
to my father.

Where are you off to now?

I'm going to check on Charlotte.
I'm worried about her.

Mm.

Well, it's not exactly
Dominik's best work.

Looks a little half-assed
if you ask me.

It's unfinished.

You know, if I'd known
you were such a masochist,

I'd have volunteered to rub
this salt in your wounds myself.

Oh, come on.

Where's the witty repartee?

If you're expecting me to reveal
so much as a wince of pain

at the hands
of your emotional torture,

you can forget it.

Well...

Color me disappointed.

Don't be, Conrad.

When I choose to react,
you'll know it.

And I guarantee
that you'll not just regret

each and every one of your
petty little torments,

but that the suffering
you so glibly spread around

will come back at you tenfold.

Charlotte, it's Emily.

Has something happened
with Daniel?

No. We're still waiting.

How are you?

I'm all right.
Come in.

What's all this?

My version of...
father-daughter time.

My mom won't tell me
anything about him,

so this is everything
I could find on public record

and some that isn't.

I found this hidden in the lining
of my mother's jewelry box.

Look at the date.

April 22, 2002.

The day he died.

I wonder where she got this.

He doesn't look like
a monster, does he?

No.

He looks scared.

That's what I think, too.

I have to get to school.

There's a journal
missing from the Infinity Box.

How do you know?

Because he's holding one
in a picture taken the day he died.

What picture?

The photograph isn't
the point, Nolan.

It's the journal and the fact

that my father trusted you
with the box first.

Ems...

I gave you everything that your
father asked me to give you.

I mean...

Why would I hold something
like that back from you?

I don't know.

You tell me.

I'll call you right back.

I was only honoring
your father's wishes.

Do you know how sick I am
of hearing you say that?

It's the truth. I swear.

In the last few months
of his life,

your father was paranoid
and terrified and...

And what?

And he wouldn't have wanted you
to remember him like that.

I promised that I would
protect your father's legacy,

and that's exactly
what I've done.

From now on, you stay
the hell out of this, Nolan,

or I swear to God,
I will make sure that you do.

"From the moment of my arrest,

"I sat stupid and trusting,

"believing in a system
rigged against me

"by the people
that I knew as friends

in a life that
I can no longer remember."

"The closer I get to the truth,

"the louder the whispered
voices around me,

"plotting my execution,

"choosing the time.

"I now know that I'm trapped
in a race between fate

and freedom."

"Whichever wins out,
I won't go quietly,

"not again.

C.M. will come tomorrow
with proof."

C.M.?

C.M.

C.M.

"Carole Miller."

Jack, don't worry.

Declan is barely a blip
on the Graysons' radar at this point.

What about Emily?

Does she have any idea
what she's about to marry into?

Mm. Well, Emily's not exactly
in the mood

to absorb any more negative
Grayson press right now...

Especially from me.

But maybe she would
listen to you.

Do you have a to-go cup,
by the way?

Why? Where have you gotta be?

Well, contrary
to popular belief,

I do have a multi-national
company to run.

I'm gonna be gone on business
for a few days.

All right. Bye, Jack.

Call me.

Missed a pop quiz in econ.

Laws of supply and demand.

I think I understand
the concept.

Make this one last, Char.

My dad's gonna start
missing his scrip pad.

You're not the only guy in school
with connections, Adam.

But I better be the only one
you're giving it up to.

Sorry.

Bad day.

You gotta stop
blowing off class.

People are starting to talk.

Let them.

I'll pull it together when this
nightmare with my brother is over.

Until then...

What are you staring at,
wharf rat?

Nothing.

Can we talk?

No.

Let's get outta here, Adam.

New Mercy Hospital, Archives.

Hi there. I'm just wondering,
uh, what are your hours?

7:00 to 4:00,
Monday through Friday.

If you'd like to request
a medical record,

I can mail you a legal form.

No, that's all right.
I'll come in and get one later.

- Jack.
- Hey.

Hey. Come on in.

How are you?

Actually, that was gonna be
my question to you.

Can I get you
something to drink?

No, I'm fine.
Thank you.

It can't be easy,

waiting to hear about
Daniel's fate.

No. No,
none of it's easy.

You'd think that
a written confession by someone

would be enough for the judge
to drop the charges, but...

Not to mention the bloody hoodie
they found in his possession.

It's kind of amazing...

The way it all worked out,
don't you think?

How do you mean?

Just...

The Graysons
are very powerful people.

Maybe the protesters aren't
as far off as you might think.

Jack, Daniel didn't kill Tyler.

- I'm not saying that he did.
- Then what are you saying?

That there are some things
you might want to think about

before marrying into
that family.

Emily, there's something
I need to tell you.

Oh, excuse me.

Hello?

- They dropped all charges.
- Oh, thank God.

Okay, I'll be right there.

Jack, I'm...

Sounds like good news.
You should go get him.

I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to...

No, no, I'm sorry.
I practically ambushed you.

We can talk later.

You've had my business card
for over six months.

Timing is everything,
Mr. McGowen.

And now that you've cashed out
your shares of Grayson Global,

is it safe to assume that the stars
are properly aligned for you?

Nearly.

I want full immunity
in exchange

for the information
I'm about to give you.

I can't guarantee anything till
I know what we're talking about.

If you can't
offer me protection,

I'm more than happy to go
to your superiors at the S.E.C.,

or to the director
of the FBI, the CIA,

or any other agency
who would like to lay claim

to the conviction
of a domestic terrorist.

A terrorist?

I thought you had information about
your husband's corporate malfeasance.

In this case, Mr. McGowen,
they're one and the same.

Now do we have a deal or not?

Let me make a phone call.

Daniel.

Murderer! Murderer! Murderer!

You sure you're all right?

You've barely said two words.

Sorry about your car.

This will eventually die down.

It's gonna be okay.

Congratulations, son.

- Welcome home.
- Welcome home, Daniel.

Daniel.

Ohh.

Thank God it's finally over.

No, this is a long way
from over.

Daniel's a little shaken.

Somebody spray painted "murderer"
on my car outside of the prison.

That's horrible.

Yeah,
the press were practically

handing out pitchforks
at the gate.

He's not far off.

The Times are questioning
the veracity of the confession,

"Page Six" is running
a full-page chronicle

of Daniel's
past party-boy ways,

and Treadwell's
anti-Grayson blog

is being re-run
in every major newspaper.

This story isn't dying down
any time soon.

Well, then we'll starve
the beast.

Daniel has nothing to hide.

I think the best thing
for him to do

would be to get in front
of the cameras, tell his story.

She's right.

The best way to hit this
is head-on.

Well, all the majors are practically
banging down the door...

Nightline,
Good Morning America.

We can have our pick.

Listen, I haven't slept
in over 48 hours.

I can't make
that decision right now.

I'm gonna crash
for a while, okay?

Yeah, of course.
You need some rest.

Someone tell Charlotte

I'll give her a big hug
when I wake up.

Sweet dreams, darling.

You deserve them.

Victoria, could I
talk with you for a moment?

Of course.

I guess
I'll see you all tomorrow.

Yes.

What is it, Ashley?

Now that Daniel's been
officially released,

I'd like to formally
give my notice.

Of course.

I had no delusions that you
would return to party planning

after you so aptly showcased
your other talents.

Unfortunately,
I won't have time

to find you
a suitable replacement.

Oh, that won't be necessary.

The Hamptons are filthy

with ambitious young girls
like yourself.

May I ask where you've landed?

Mr. Brooks has offered me
a media relations position

- at his law firm.
- Ah, well...

As Mr. Brooks is still
on retainer to us,

I would like
to ask you a favor.

If Daniel does indeed grant
this ill-advised interview,

I would like you to remain
as our media liaison until it's over.

That's the least
I can do for Daniel

after all he's done for me.

Lyle Jameson.

Doctor, uh, this is Eve Tucker
at New Mercy Hospital.

We're updating our system,

and I needed
to cross-check our records

before confirming cause of death
of a patient we shared.

Her name is Carole Miller.

I'm afraid I don't
recognize the name.

Perhaps it's because
it's been a long time.

She died here in 2002,

but it has you listed

as her primary care physician
in Lancaster.

Um... 5'5",
born in 1950,

type 2 diabetic.

I have a Carole Thomas
matching that description,

but she's alive and well.

That must have been
a clerical error.

Yes, it must have been.

Thank you.

Can I help you?

Carole Miller?

You have the wrong house.

I don't think so,
Ms. Miller.

Alison Rodner from the Department
of Homeland Security.

I need to talk to you
about Conrad Grayson.

You worked for Grayson Global

as Conrad Grayson's
personal secretary

for 18 years, is that right?

Well, you obviously know
the answer to that

or you wouldn't be here.

All right then.

What was the nature of your
relationship with David Clarke?

There was no relationship.

He worked for Mr. Grayson,
not me.

Were you surprised to hear
that he was convicted

for the downing of Flight 197?

No one saw that coming.

But you did, didn't you?

- Do you take sugar with your tea?
- No.

Now...

Let me see that I.D.
of yours again,

and let's verify that you are
who you say you are.

No, no, no, no.

Aunt Carole, just...
Put down the gun.

Aunt Carole?

What the hell is going on?

Aunt Carole, meet, uh...
Amanda Clarke,

David Clarke's daughter.

Look, after I dropped out of M.I.T.

And my old man kicked me to the curb,

Aunt Carole took me in.

She was the one that
introduced me to your dad.

- And then you betrayed him.
- No, she didn't.

She was always on his side.

Nolan came to me

and told me he had formed a bond
with David while he was in prison

and that he believed that
your father had been set up.

So I started investigating
Grayson Global from the inside out,

and that led me to a man
named Roger Halsted.

Grayson's senior accountant.

Yes, he's the one that discovered
the discrepancies in the books

that connected Conrad
to the terrorists.

Yeah, I know who he is.

He thought he had
enough evidence to hang Conrad

- and exonerate your father.
- Then why didn't you?

We never got the chance.

When I went to the prison
to tell your dad

what Carole had learned,

they were already in lockdown.

David had just been killed.

Carole, it's me.

I need you to do
exactly as I say.

Get up and walk away
from your desk.

Do not take your purse.

Just act like you're walking
down the hall. Do it now!

- You're scaring me.
- Good.

Get in a cab and take it

straight to that place
we went that one summer,

with the horses.

Do not stop off
at your apartment.

I'll be waiting
when you get there.

So...

He saved my life.

By faking your death.

Tell her about
the white-haired man.

There was a man
who visited Grayson

a handful of times.

Now these meetings
were always off the books.

The first time I saw him
was a year to the day

before that plane went down.

The last time was
the morning your father died.

Do you remember his name?

He never gave it.

But I will never
forget his face.

He had a full head
of white hair

and ice-blue eyes,

and there was something
so terrifying about him.

And I know he frightened Conrad
even in the bright of day.

Ems...

I'm sorry.

But I could not give you
that last journal.

This is bigger to me than
your revenge against the Graysons.

- This is my...
- Family.

I know.

I would've done anything
to protect mine, too.

What the hell
are you doing here?

I wanted to give you this.

My phone?

How did you get this?

I took it out of Tyler's jacket
the night he was murdered.

What?

I'm the one who dragged
his body up the beach.

Are you also the one
who hit me?

No.

And I didn't see what happened.

I heard gunshots
and I went to the water,

and Tyler was lying there.

I thought it was you, and then
I heard Charlotte and Declan,

and I... panicked.

Well, so much
for your stand-up image.

You were just
gonna let 'em fry me?

I told you,

I don't know who killed Tyler.

But I do know
one thing for certain...

the bloody hoodie they found
in Lee Moran's car

didn't belong to Lee Moran.

It belonged to me.

I think your parents

hired him to break in
and steal it from me.

And then what, convinced him
to confess to the crime

and hang himself?

Why are you telling me this?

'Cause Emily trusts you.

And if she's gonna spend
her life with you,

you owe it to her
not to ignore this.

What are you doing?

You have no right.

You might want to dial back
on that indignation.

You just violated
the honor code,

not to mention state law.

- You set me up.
- Charlotte, you need help.

You're pathetic!

If I'm getting kicked out
of this school, so are you.

I'm telling my dad to pull
your tuition next semester.

- You're done here.
- That's enough. Come on.

Don't touch me!

Mr. Brooks, I thought
your work here was finished.

Nearly.

I hope you're not upset
that I agreed

to stay and work
with the Graysons

through Daniel's
television interview.

I should be able to start full-time
the day after tomorrow.

I'm afraid that offer is no longer
on the table, Ashley.

Why?

Victoria warned me
you were a little tricky,

so I did some digging,

and I know you leaked
those photos of Daniel to the press.

I did what anyone would do.

You can't get beyond working for
someone like Victoria Grayson

without breaking a few rules.

I'm sorry.

I waste enough time sifting
through my clients' lies.

I have no interest in doing
the same with my employees.

Grayson.

The feds are here,
Mr. Grayson.

The feds?
What do they want?

They came with a warrant
to seize everything.

What do you mean, everything?

By whose authority?

By the authority of the people
of the United States.

This is Agent McGowen
of the S.E.C., Mr. Grayson.

I suggest you set aside
tomorrow morning

to come down to the Federal Building
and answer some questions.

You're gonna want
to bring your lawyer.

Daniel.

I thought you'd
still be home sleeping.

I think I've been asleep
long enough.

Come here.

Hey.

You're still wearing it.

Of course I am.

Why, are you having
second thoughts?

I thought you might be.

So much has changed.

Not to me.

What if those protesters
were right?

What if I didn't deserve
that reprieve?

What are you talking about?

What if Lee Moran had nothing
to do with Tyler's death?

I don't understand.

Why would a career criminal
who's bold enough

to extort my parents
and set me up for murder

suddenly have
a crisis of conscience?

I don't know. Maybe he finally
realized he was in over his head.

Maybe.

I decided to do
that interview tomorrow.

You did?

I'm so proud of you.

My parents raised me
to be a Grayson,

to put my name before everything,
including the truth.

You don't need to be
that guy, Daniel.

Maybe this interview's an
opportunity for you to be honest,

separate yourself
from your name.

And if it creates a bit
of healthy distance

from your parents,
then all the better.

I'll go grab my stuff.

Okay.

You're still up?

I thought you'd gone
to Emily's.

I came back to pick up
my things,

saw your light was on.

You all right?

Uh, no.

I am most definitely
not all right.

It's nice to have you back,
but our family is on the verge

of absolute catastrophe,
Daniel.

And I'd bet the house,
if my name were still on it,

that your mother
has everything to do with that.

That's enough, Dad.

I'm sick and tired of the two of you
playing me against the other.

That's understandable.

You've been a pawn in our
decrepit marriage for far too long,

and I owe you an apology.

No, what you owe me
is the truth.

The truth.

Do you know why the judge

so kindly granted you house arrest
instead of keeping you at Rikers?

Yeah,
I nearly got beat to death.

And do you also know
that your mother paid someone

to arrange that beating?

Lee Moran.

Yeah.

The confession he wrote
wasn't real, was it?

No.

Tell me you didn't
have him killed.

- No, the kid was in too deep.
- Dad, come on.

If he'd started talking,
he would've destroyed us all.

I couldn't let that happen.

I do what I need to do
to protect the family.

I always have.

What did you do?

Before I tell you, I need you
to promise one thing...

That when they finally
come to get me,

that you will do whatever you
can to rebuild the company

and take care
of your little sister.

I promise.

Would you close the doors?

In order
for any of this to make sense,

I need to start
at the beginning...

With David Clarke

and what we did to him
and his innocent baby girl.

Charlotte.

Whatever you want, Mom,
I don't have time.

I'm already late for school.

I just got off the phone
with the headmaster.

He told me
about the suspension.

I guess we can add
"teen pill popper"

to the Grayson book of shame.

This is no laughing matter,
Charlotte.

Do you see me laughing?

I see you in pain.

How can I help you
if you don't let me?

I tried to let you, Mom.
You weren't interested.

Whatever answers
you're looking for,

you are not going to find them
in a bottle of pills.

And you're not certainly not going
to find them reading this trash.

Where'd you get this?

I begged you to tell me
about my father,

and you refused.

I had to go searching...
on my own.

Oh, sweetheart.

Is this why
you started taking drugs?

I don't know, Mom.
I'm failing Calculus.

You do the math.

Looking good.

I missed you last night.

I'm sorry. I...

I didn't realize how tired
I still was until I got over here.

Thanks for being
so understanding.

Have you thought any more about
how you want to handle the interview?

It's all I can think about.

Daniel, I know it's a lot.

You talk so much about
wanting to be your own man...

What if the man I am
is no better than my D.N.A.?

Setting the record straight will
help you break free from that.

If you truly don't want to follow
in your parents' footsteps,

then don't.

I'll try not to take offense
at that remark.

A word with my son, please.

I'll see you out there, okay?

Oh...

How I long for the days
before Emily Thorne

and her self-righteous
indignation

became part of our daily lives.

Well, she'll learn soon enough.

The downside of taking
that kind of moral high ground

is that you have
a lot farther to fall.

Mom...

Why did the judge
grant me house arrest

rather than keep me in prison?

Your safety was at risk.
You know that.

And you had nothing
to do with it?

My suspicions were right.

You're not ready
to talk to a reporter.

I'm going to cancel
the interview.

I'm not gonna judge you.

Just tell me
your side of the story.

Who has been putting these
crazy ideas into your head?

Is it Emily?

Your father?

Just tell me he's wrong.

Sorry to interrupt.

Daniel, they're ready for you.

So, Daniel,

48 hours ago, you were in jail
facing a murder one charge.

Now you're a free man.
How you doing?

A lot better than I was
48 hours ago.

Just for the record,
did you murder Tyler Barrol?

Tyler threatened
my whole family.

We struggled
for control of the gun,

it went off, and...

The next thing I knew,
I was knocked out

- by the guy who finished the job.
- Lee Moran.

According to his confession.

But the truth is,

I'll never know exactly what happened
between Lee and Tyler on that beach.

I only know how it ended.

We saw your release from Rikers
on the news yesterday.

"Occupy Daniel"
was even trending on Twitter.

Are you surprised not only
by the public reaction

but by the vitriol
directed at you?

On... On one hand, yes.

But on the other, I..
I get it.

People feel disenfranchised and
fed up with the privileged minority

who seem to abide by
their own set of rules.

Listen,
if anyone commits a crime,

no matter who you are,

he or she should pay for it.

Speaking of which...

The S.E.C. has issued
an order of investigation

of your family's company,
Grayson Global,

a company you stand to inherit.

Would you like to comment

on the allegations
of corruption and fraud?

My father is the victim
of a witch hunt.

The S.E.C. has been harassing
my family's company for months

and is now attempting to trade

on the mistrust
the public has of me

to build a baseless case
against it.

In my case, the truth came out.

The same will be true
for my father...

Who I stand behind as a son

and beside
as a partner in business

as I prepare for my role
at Grayson Global.

I hardly know what to say.

Thank you.

So that's your plan,

to go back to Grayson Global?

Well, no one said
I can't be my own man

and be my father's son.

That you are.

Daniel,
I need you to sign this.

Sweetheart, get your coat.

Why?
Where are you taking me?

You're not leaving
without saying good-bye.

- Good-bye, Mr. Grayson.
- Well, don't forget this...

The key to your new Lexus GS.

Excuse me?

You can either drive this
out of the Hamptons forever,

or you can drive it to your new
parking space at Grayson Global.

I can't speak for Brooks,

but I for one admire someone
who doesn't mind

getting her hands dirty.

As long as you understand
that from this point forward,

our hands will be intertwined.

And what about Victoria?

What both you and Victoria
have yet to grasp

is just how little
she matters...

To anyone.

So no more Collins Prep.

No, she told her dad
to pull my tuition.

There's nothing I can do.

There is something I can do.

- Nolan, Nolan, wait.
- No, stop.

Jack, I want to do this.

Once upon a time ago,
I was lucky enough to...

have someone take care of me
when I needed it.

Look, I appreciate that,

but we should be taking
this opportunity

- to get away from the Graysons.
- Exactly.

You said you didn't want Declan

to go to Collins Prep
on the Graysons' dime.

So now he won't be.

He still deserves
an overpriced education

like everyone else, no?

Barry, my man...

I need you to cut a check
to Collins Prep.

Every time I come back here,

my memories always rush back
to the moment I heard he died.

And the first regret I had...

is how I held you from him.

He would never get a chance
to know you or you him.

You can despise me all you want,
Charlotte, but your father...

He was a good man.

He made one mistake that led him
down a path of destruction.

I guess we have that in common.

There are so many things about you
that remind me of him...

Your eyes, your laugh.

Do you love me...

Even though every time you
look at me, you think of him?

Charlotte, don't you get it?

It's because of that
that I love you all the more.

Mom, somebody's been here.

Emily.

You okay?

I could use a drink.

Anything in particular?

Dealer's choice.

I'll go get the good stuff
from the back.

Rough day at the office?

He's one of them, Nolan.

Conrad confessed everything
to Daniel before the interview.

"Everything" everything?

Daniel could've come clean.
He could've...

ended the whole thing.

- But instead...
- He doubled down on Grayson.

So what are you gonna do now?

I'm gonna marry him.

And I'm gonna track down
the man who killed my father.

And what are you gonna do
when you find him?

I'm gonna kill him.

Absolution is
the washing away of sin...

The promise of rebirth...

And the chance to escape
the transgressions

of those who came before us.

The best among us will learn
from the mistakes of the past,

while the rest
seem doomed to repeat them.

Well, the truth is,

I always liked David Clarke.

He was reliable, efficient,
good-humored.

I suppose the fact
that he fit in

so seamlessly around here
is what made him so dangerous.

I'm sorry, Mr. Grayson,
but that man's here again.

He won't take no for an answer.

That'll be all for today,
Mr. Treadwell.

And then there are those

who operate on the fringes
of society...

Unburdened by the confines
or morality and conscience...

A ruthless breed of monsters

whose deadliest weapon
is their ability

to hide in plain sight.

If the people I've come
to bring justice to

cannot be bound
by the quest for absolution...

then neither will I.