The Closer (2005–2012): Season 4, Episode 8 - Split Ends - full transcript

Clay, why are you using that thing
to cut a coffee cake?

Here. Brenda Leigh! Fritzy!

Y'all come and get it while it's still hot!

Oh!

Ta-da!

Who else is coming for breakfast?

- Switzerland?
- (LAUGHS) Don't be silly.

Shopped in Palm Springs yesterday.

- Made breakfast in LA this morning.
- I just love that RV.

We're gonna go from here up to Alaska
and then come back

through the Yukon Territory.



- We'll be done by Thanksgiving.
- Oh, unless we need to come back sooner.

You know...

(HUMMING HERE COMES THE BRIDE)

I hear Canada's pretty in the fall.

WILLIE RAY: Clay, we talked about this.

It doesn't matter when they get married
as long as they're happy.

WILLIE RAY: Anybody want some more
biscuits and gravy?

You know what makes me happy?
Weddings.

I just love weddings.
Don't you like weddings, son?

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Oh!

(BRENDA CLEARS THROAT)

BRENDA: The phone.

Hello? Oh, yes, Sergeant. Morning.



Oh! Okay. Where?

Yes. Okay, fine. I'll be right there.

I'm so sorry to cut this short, but
there's been a murder at a movie studio.

And... And this was
such a great breakfast, too.

Honey, I thought we had an agreement

that you would never leave me alone
with your parents again.

Oh, I had no choice, Fritzy.

And I didn't even know they were coming
until they showed up last night.

(SIGHS)

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

I got it.

Ah!

Special Agent Fritz Howard, FBI.

Oh, you're kidding.
Oh, that's... No, horrible.

Oh, that is bad. Uh-huh. Horrible.

No, no, no.
I'll be there as soon as possible.

There's a bomb threat at the airport.

Well, this has got to be the most
dangerous city on the planet Earth.

No, I'm on my way.

But we can't leave Mama and Daddy
here by themselves.

- Honey...
- Brenda Leigh, don't worry about us.

We'll be fine. Won't we, dear?

Yeah, and there's no reason why
they can't come along with one of us.

What would you guys rather do?
You can come with me now,

spend a few hours in a makeshift tent
watching an extremely slow-moving robot,

or you can head off
to a Hollywood movie studio.

Either way.

Oh, goodness.

Is this where they do
Dancing with the Stars?

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

TOUR GUIDE: I'd like to welcome you
to Vintage Studios.

- I'll be your tour guide. My name is...
- Bye.

- Bye, y'all. Have fun.
- I'm gonna take your picture.

Bye-bye.

(BRENDA SIGHS)

Our victim's name is Rachel Hughes.

She's a 33-year-old white female.

She works as a hairstylist on Trauma Unit.

BRENDA: Huh?

It's a television show.
Films here on the lot.

We've already started
criminal-background checks

on all the cast and crew members.

- Where was the body found?
- She was stuffed in a jockey box.

That's what they call

the storage lockers underneath the truck.

This morning, an electrician went
into this particular jockey box,

looking for some extra cable.
Found her inside.

Okay.

(BRENDA GASPS)

(EXHALES)

Defensive wounds on her knuckles.
Scrape marks on her elbows and ankles.

There are scuff marks
on the sides of her shoes and heels.

So she was dragged.

Yeah, there's a trail of blood that leads
from the hair-and-makeup trailer

to this one here.

Oh, these marks here.

Did the coroner's investigator
say what caused them?

No.

And no one heard screaming?

According to studio security,
no one heard a thing.

Oh, uh, Rachel stayed late
after filming stopped yesterday.

- Not a lot of people around.
- And we know this how?

Well, Rachel shared a trailer
with a makeup artist, Kim Reynolds.

And Kim left last night around 8:00 p.m.

She said that Rachel
was waiting for someone.

Any idea who?

Makeup girl, uh, woman,

said that Rachel was hanging out
waiting for one of her private clients.

No name, huh?

Well, according to this makeup girl...
Woman...

Rachel was the kind of person who
kept her schedule on her cell phone,

which she left at home yesterday.

Now, Rachel's keys are missing,
but her car is still here.

Did Rachel have a boyfriend or a husband?

Anyone come looking for her?

Yeah, Detective Daniels
is checking on that now.

BRENDA: All right. Thank you.

(BRENDA SIGHS)

(INAUDIBLE)

Whoever attacked Rachel, they slammed
her head up against the mirror.

And she didn't get a chance
to clean up after her private client.

And it looks like all this hair
is from the same head.

Yeah, and we have an idea
whose head it might be.

Rachel Hughes was married.
But six months ago, she filed for divorce

and had a restraining order issued
against her husband, Ryan.

Security logs listing everybody who
entered the lot in the last 24 hours.

Now, guess who dropped by for a visit.

- Ryan Hughes.
- Last night. 8:24 p.m.

Looks like Rachel's husband wasn't taking
his restraining order very seriously.

(SIGHS)

- Where does he live?
- No new address for him anywhere.

All right.
Sergeant Gabriel, Lieutenant Flynn,

let's head over to the victim's house
and find that cell phone.

Is that a current address?

The address on the restraining order
matches the one on her driver's license.

Okay. Lieutenant Provenza,

would you please
organize some interviews

with all the people
who were at the studio last night?

Okay.

And, Detective Daniels,
would you and Detective Sanchez

please find Ryan Hughes for me?

I'd really like to talk to him.

WILLIE RAY: Oh, that blood looks so real.

Clay, smile.

(CAMERA CLICKS)

Thank you.

Lieutenant Provenza,
you remember my parents.

Well, of course.

Hello, there, Willie Ray.

Clay. To what do we owe this pleasure?

I think somebody got murdered.

Y'all are finished with the tour? Already?

- Oh, it was just like a dream.
- Of a big trailer lot.

(CHUCKLES)

Well, I need to run an errand,

but Lieutenant Provenza will organize
a ride for y'all back to the office.

Oh, I'll do better than that, Chief.

How would the two of you
like to watch some filming?

Oh, my goodness, my goodness. Really?

Come on, Willie Ray. Let me show you
where the magic happens.

Lieutenant, I'll bet you say that
to all the girls.

(PROVENZA CHUCKLES)

I bet he does say that to all the girls.

I know his type.

- How long you gonna be?
- I just need to drop by the victim's house.

You'll hardly know I'm gone.

God, you scared the crap out of me.

(BRENDA SIGHS)

BRENDA: So sorry. Excuse me.

I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
from the LAPD. And you are?

Ryan Hughes.

Oh! Um...

It's so nice to meet you, sir.

We thought...
We were looking for your wife.

Rachel doesn't live here anymore.
And I was on my way to the gym, so...

Well, maybe you could help us then.

Can we come in, ask you a few questions?

- Do you have a warrant?
- No.

Then here's good.
What do you want to know?

When was the last time
you saw your wife?

I don't remember, exactly.

Do you know how to get
in touch with her?

She works on a television show.
Trauma Unit.

She's not there today.

- Okay, then. Try her cell phone.
- No answer.

Where is she staying, sir?

Look, my wife and I are separated.
She won't even give me her new address.

Is that because of the restraining order
issued against you?

- Nice haircut, champ.
- Rachel's work, I take it.

From last night, right? Isn't that why
your name's on the security list?

- (EX CLAIMS) I knew it!
- Take it easy.

She told me I could be there, okay?

Well, she didn't like
the way the visit ended.

Ryan Hughes, you're under arrest for
the violation of your restraining order.

Hands behind your back, please.

GABRIEL: You have the right
to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used
against you in a court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you cannot afford an attorney, one
will be appointed to you by the State.

You know,
we don't have anyone from the LAPD

at this airport bombing,
not a single officer.

We're not at LAX. We're in Ontario.

Oh, Ontario.

Yeah, look, we're trying to keep
this low-profile.

So try not mentioning it
to everyone you know, okay?

Detective Sanchez is still
completely out of it

because of the death of his brother.

And what am I supposed to do
with my parents?

I've got a suspect in the Interview Room

who probably beat his wife to death
last night.

Probably?

- When can you come home?
- Honey,

I can't leave the mobile command unit
until we know there's no bomb out here.

Besides, Willie Ray
and Clay are old enough

to stay in our apartment
for a few hours by themselves.

We have cable.

Oh, no. I don't want them
at the apartment by themselves.

- They'II... They'll do things.
- I'll take care of your parents, Chief.

No. I can't impose on you again.
We're working.

I'm losing another
15 sick days next month.

Look, you've arrested the husband.
This case is effectively over.

All right, fine.

- Fritzy.
- Yeah.

Lieutenant Provenza has volunteered
to take care of my poor parents.

So thanks so much for your help.

(SIGHS)

- Lieutenant, are you sure about this?
- Chief.

Now, the suspect will
be in tears in 20 minutes.

Hold his hand, write him up, the end.

Honey, I think your mother and I ought
to go on and get out of your way.

You're not in the way, Daddy.
Don't be silly.

But if y'all have had enough here,

Lieutenant Provenza has kindly offered to
drive you back to the apartment.

Oh, no, no, no.
We don't want to be in the way.

- We'll just take a cab.
- Oh, I wouldn't hear of it.

Chief, you do what you need to do,
and I'll entertain your parents.

We don't need entertaining.

I'm entertaining enough on my own.

Clay, what's wrong with you?

Lieutenant Provenza,

we'll drive by the grocery store,
and I'll pick up some things for dinner.

(CHUCKLING) Oh, Willie Ray,
that sounds wonderful to me.

(SIGHING) Well, if you're too busy,

I guess I'll just have to
get to know your friends.

(SIGHING) Please tell me we found where
Rachel Hughes was living.

No one at the studio can tell us,

and her paychecks go directly to a PO box.

SANCHEZ: And she never updated her
next-of-kin information.

So, the guy that we're supposed to notify
is her husband.

Okay, so,
let's use her social security number

and see if we can find someone
in her family.

Maybe she told her parents where
she lived, though I don't recommend it.

Lieutenant Tao,
what about her phone records?

I'm waiting for Rachel's carrier
to send me the dump off her cell.

Yeah, what about the husband?

FLYNN: Ryan Hughes?
Oh, this is a great guy.

A year ago, he broke Rachel's wrist.

Six months ago, he gave her a concussion.

And a day later, she checked out of the ER,

and then took the restraining order out
on her husband and filed for divorce.

- And left her own house?
- Though she's still paying the mortgage.

Why on Earth would she do that?

I'm guessing,
but Ryan hasn't made any money lately.

This year, he guest-starred
in one sitcom and one drama.

Not even enough
to make his health insurance.

- So he's an actor.
- Yes, and a bartender, two shifts a week.

Rachel was the one
with the steady paycheck.

Maybe she left Ryan the house because
he couldn't afford to go anywhere else.

So what? He was beating her.

Why would she move?
And where did she move to?

Excuse me, but Chief Pope
and Commander Taylor are here.

Uh, thank you, Buzz. I'll be right there.

Sergeant Gabriel, would you meet me
in the Interview Room, please?

And would somebody find me
Rachel's address? Thank you.

What can I do for you, gentlemen?

- You like the husband for this, right?
- Maybe.

Though I need to figure out how
he had a major knock-down drag-out

with his wife and kept his skin
smoother than mine.

He's smarter than your average abuser.

Wouldn't let us into his house
without a search warrant.

And, if he really doesn't know
that his wife is dead,

then he's a better actor than
his r?sum? suggests. Why the interest?

Well, The Times, and specifically
our old friend Ricardo Ramos,

seems to have developed the opinion
that we only deploy Priority Homicide

when the victims are rich, white
and/ or related to police officers.

And our ace reporter called me
this morning,

asking if we had added
show-business murders to the list.

- This guy's an actor, right?
- Yes, but not a famous one.

He could be tomorrow.

- Am I in trouble or something?
- No, no, no.

No, no, no. You're doing an incredible job.

That's not the issue.
The issue for Ramos is,

who gets priority treatment from
the police and who doesn't. That's all.

For example, we have several
investigators who deal exclusively

with domestic-abuse issues, and I didn't
deploy one of them to the studio.

- I sent you.
- Well, we didn't know this was

a domestic-abuse case
until after we identified the victim.

(CHUCKLES) That's a good point, sir.

But how do we avoid the impression

that we made this murder a priority
because of the Hollywood connection?

But that is why it's a priority, isn't it?

Yeah, that and the reporters flying
in helicopters over the studio...

(CLEARS THROAT) Sir.

Yeah, but we don't want
to say any of that.

Tell Ramos that we're hoping that
Rachel's murder was an isolated incident

and not someone breaking into studio lots
and killing people.

- That might stop Ramos.
- Stop him from what?

POPE: Nothing. Never mind.

You know, tired of being pushed around
by The Times.

Just get on with what
you need to get done here.

Okay.

Thank you.

You know this is one big setup, right?

- How's that, sir?
- Why else would Rachel tell me

to stop by for a haircut
and then report me to the police?

She wants to use this
to screw me in the divorce.

- Oh, I doubt that.
- And ruin my career.

You know,
I'm unfamiliar with your business, sir.

Do two extremely small jobs
a year make a career?

(BRENDA CLICKS TONGUE)

I'll leave my curiosity about
the part-time actor's life aside.

Let's talk about last night.

What's to talk about?

I got a part on a big feature film.

She told me to come...
She volunteered to cut my hair.

And while you were there,
did you guys, what?

Did you have an argument?

Did she take a little too much off the top?

No. We didn't have an argument.

You know, it's hard to believe
that he didn't work more,

because you are just so convincing.

Look, I just got a part
on a big studio film, so...

Wait, wait, wait. Let's...

Let's start again.

Let's start again, and this time,
I want you to remember

that those hair-and-makeup trailers
have very thin walls

and people hear things all the time.

Did you argue with your wife, sir?

We had a small disagreement.

- What about?
- Look,

I have done everything
that Rachel has asked me to do.

I even apologized for every single
argument that we ever had

and I took those anger-management
classes Donna recommended.

Who's Donna?

Her friend, Donna.

I never met her.

I don't even know her last name,
but it still doesn't stop Donna

from convincing my wife
that I'm an asshole, which I'm not!

I mean, I'm passionate, okay?

I'm sensitive. That's what all good actors
are supposed to be.

But I love my wife,

which is why I have stayed away from her,
just like she asked.

But you didn't stay away from her, sir.

- You saw her last...
- Because she told me I could!

If I were you, sir,

I'd put my ass back in that chair.

Well, I think it's safe to say that
you are a freshman in anger management.

So, I'm supposed to believe that
after you give your wife a concussion

and broke her wrist, she called you up and
said, "Hey, come on over for a haircut"?

A haircut you felt the need to lie about?

- Here we go.
- I didn't want to get in any trouble, okay?

Is that how you usually avoid trouble?
You just lie to the police?

- Look, I made a mistake, okay?
- A mistake? Oh!

Like violating your restraining order
or lying to me...

I did not violate the spirit of the order.

Tell me, how many mistakes did it take
before your wife ended up like this?

Oh, my God.

Rachel.

- Is she dead?
- Not just dead,

murdered. Savagely beaten.

And to me,
it looks like someone was very angry.

I want a lawyer.

Fine.

Sergeant, will you please see that
Mr. Hughes here gets his phone call?

(GABRIEL SIGHS)

Chief Johnson was wrong about one thing.

What?

(SIGHING) This guy's a much better actor
than we thought.

It was so nice of you to drive

Clay and Willie Ray around
to all these different

- wedding facilities, Lieutenant.
- Oh, I enjoyed it.

It reminded me of when
I was young and stupid.

Brenda, where's your appetite?

Well, darling,
she's still thinking about the murder.

(SIGHING) I am. A little.

The victim surprises me.

On the one hand, she stood up
for herself and got legal action.

And on the other,
she handed over her house to a bully.

I guess I just don't understand
that kind of relationship.

I'll tell you one thing.
If your mother raised her hand against me,

I'd be out the door.

(LAUGHING)

Well, you and Willie Ray
have a great marriage, Clay,

which just goes to prove
that the institution

doesn't have to be
a complete horror show.

(CHUCKLING)

Actually, my third wife and I
had one fantastic weekend.

Of course, that was before
the wedding, but still.

Now, my fourth marriage... Oh, Lord.

(CHUCKLING)

(STAMMERING) Honey, don't listen to him.

Here, this will take your mind off work.

Look at that beautiful little chapel there.

- Now, if you're determined not to get...
- Excuse me.

I'm... I'm sorry. I'll be right back.

Clay, I told you about this.

This what? It's a chapel.

You can use a chapel
for any number of things.

For example,
if they don't get married pretty soon,

y'all can congregate there for my funeral.

WILLIE RAY: All right, that's enough.

Fritz,

- Brenda looked upset.
- Did she?

I'll see.

Look at that.

(LAUGHING)

"Happily Ever After Resort & Casino."

Talk about bad odds.

(SIGHING)

If I hear one more mention
of weddings or chapels,

- I swear I'm going to kill someone.
- He's just excited, that's all.

No, no, no.
You don't understand my daddy.

When he wants something,
he will not stop until he gets it.

- Trust me on this.
- So, it runs in the family then.

(MOCK LAUGHTER)

Here's what I don't get.
You are so tough at work,

and here, you come home, you're sitting
at your own dining-room table,

your father pushes you around a little bit.
And instead of saying,

"Don't do that to me,"
you come hide in the kitchen.

Wait a minute.

- That's why we can't find her address.
- What?

She learned to hide.

She said, "Well, what are those names?"
And he said,

"Well, those are Provenza's ex-wives."

(PROVENZA LAUGHING)

Just one second.

Lieutenant Flynn.
I'm so sorry to bother you this late.

You know that emergency room where
Rachel Hughes went for her concussion?

I want you to check for
domestic-violence shelters in the area.

See if there's one
that the hospital recommend...

(SIGHS)

I'm particularly interested
in any with a Donna working on-site.

Okay, thank you.

This is what Rachel looked like
the first night she arrived.

Ryan did that to her
for buying a brass lamp

when he was hoping for new headshots.

Well, as hard as it is to believe,
she looks even worse now.

I could tell he wasn't gonna change.

- You met him?
- Somehow he found out

that she'd come here. And one night,
he stopped me in the parking lot

and waved like we'd met.

Well, he seemed...
You know, he's very charming.

And he was in my face before I realized
that he was threatening me.

Thank God we have
a guard posted nearby.

Wait, wait. You said he threatened you?
He threatened you how?

I had insisted
that Rachel get her own place

and not give the address to anyone.

She followed my advice,
which made Ryan furious.

- That's why she had a PO box.
- Right.

That's one of the first things they learn,
the women who come here,

to defend their privacy.

And Rachel participated
in our volunteer programs.

We always need volunteers.

We've got more women
than we can ever accommodate.

Well, I know you don't usually give out
this kind of information, but...

Rachel doesn't need you to keep
her address a secret anymore,

and we could really use it.

Actually, she gave me a spare key
to her apartment.

I'll take you there myself.

(SIGHS)

So, if Ryan didn't break the door down,

how did he get in?

Rachel's keys were missing
from the crime scene.

So he just unlocked the door
and walked in.

But if Rachel was keeping
her new address a secret,

how did he know to come here?

Did Rachel have something Ryan wanted?

- Not that I know of.
- TAO: Chief?

Blood on the base.

How did we end up
at another crime scene?

Maybe Ryan beat up Rachel here,

and drove her back to the studio
and then beat her again.

With an interruption for a haircut?

Okay, maybe after the haircut,
he follows her home, kills her here.

And drove her back to the studio,
past security?

Dragging Rachel's body from the makeup
trailer to the jockey box?

Okay, Daniels,
why don't you just figure it out?

BRENDA: So, he kills Rachel,
maybe to get the keys.

But how did he know
what door they'd open?

Look at this. Flynn, here, here.
Read this with me here.

You do the highlighted parts.
I'll do the doctor.

- What? I'm gonna do the broad's role?
- Yeah.

PROVENZA: "He's dying, ma'am.
We've done all we can."

FLYNN: "You've got to do something, Doc.
Please, anything."

- "Be my hero."
- "Be my hero."

Gentlemen, the cell phone. Please.

Okay, I'll check the bedroom, Chief.

Strands of blond hair.

Blond hair?

- Rachel wasn't a blonde.
- Maybe the blood isn't hers, either.

Did Rachel have a roommate?

- Oh, my God.
- What is it?

Rachel called me last week and asked

if we had room available
for someone she'd just met.

- We didn't.
- You said Rachel volunteers sometimes.

She may have taken someone in.

Thank you. Oh, for heaven's sakes.
This one isn't like mine.

- Chief, I got it.
- Oh, thank you.

I need Rachel's schedule
for the night before last. Please.

"Ryan. Haircut, 8:00."

So, maybe he wasn't lying.

(SIGHS)

So, Ryan Hughes kills his wife,

somehow finds this address,
and then comes here.

Fights with someone else,
doesn't get a scratch on him either time?

But who does he fight with?

I think we need to start looking
for another victim.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

- Kim Reynolds?
- Oh, yeah.

I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson,
and this is Sergeant Gabriel.

Hi. Yeah. I saw you yesterday,

but I'd already spoken
to that cute Detective Sanchez.

I was hoping that you could tell me
if Rachel Hughes had a roommate.

Oh, I wouldn't know, really.

- She and I weren't that close.
- Did you guys not get along or something?

No, I mean,

her whole relationship with Ryan
just drove me crazy.

And, honestly, it was all she talked about.
I... I don't know.

Maybe I should have paid more attention.

Did Rachel tell you that she had moved?

Yeah, yeah.

Did she tell you where she moved?

No, no, no. That was like some kind of,
like, "rule" or something.

Like, nobody could know where she lived.

You know what, though? Um.

You guys should really talk to Lindsay.
She knew Rachel way better than me.

- Is this Lindsay?
- Yeah. She's our new hairstylist.

- Well, thank you. Thank you so much.
- Sure.

(CHUCKLES)

- You were very helpful.
- Oh, I try.

You know, actually, if you...
If you think of anything else,

- you give me a call.
- Oh, okay, I will.

- All right, thanks.
- Okay.

Pardon me. Lindsay?

I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.

I understand that you were
friends with Rachel Hughes.

Oh, yeah.

I subbed for Rachel
when she was in the hospital.

Did you spend a lot of time
with Rachel lately?

Not really. Her hours were so extreme.

Funny, I...

(SIGHING) I so wanted to be the head
of the hair department somewhere.

Wish it wasn't here.

Lindsay, do you always display
your cosmetology license?

We're required to post it where we work.

- State law.
- Thank you.

You were right, Chief.
Rachel's cosmetology license

has her new address on it.

And the card stock it was printed on
matches the same bit

we found on her mirror at the crime scene.

Yeah, she had that license out
for the whole world to see.

Yeah, but Lindsay told us she taped up
the bottom half of it

- in order to hide her address.
- And someone ripped it down.

Okay, so, we've got two crime scenes,
two victims,

and a suspect who fought both
without one defensive wound.

Well, maybe 'cause he was wearing these.
Sap gloves.

We had them on the streets
back in the'80s.

They leave the same square marks
we found on Rachel's face.

I knew those welts looked familiar.

Embedded steel. Protects your fists.

Yeah, well, that explains
pretty boy's silk knuckles.

All right, Lieutenant Flynn, let's see
if we can track down the companies

that make these gloves.
Maybe we'll get lucky,

and one of them will have an order
for a Ryan Hughes.

- You got it, Chief.
- Thank you.

(RYAN READING)

What the hell is he reading?

BUZZ: A movie script.
His attorney brought it in for him.

He's supposed to start
rehearsals for it tomorrow.

(CLEARS THROAT) Chief Johnson, I have
something unusual to suggest to you.

Given that the suspect has lawyered up,

and the circumstantial evidence
against him is so strong,

I think that we should arrest
Mr. Hughes for murder right now

and hand him over to the DA.

Without a confession?

Why?

Because of what Ramos
might write in The Times?

No, no, no. From the outside,
this crime looks all kind of show biz-y.

But the second...
The second we make an arrest,

the murder becomes a domestic dispute
between a hairstylist

and a wannabe actor,
and that's not news in Los Angeles.

(POPE CLEARS THROAT)

Let me give you the whole picture here.
Ricardo Ramos is writing

a two-part article, as we speak,
on Priority Homicide.

Now, I have done everything I can
to kill this article

on the basis that it's one-sided,
unfair, bad for the city...

Anyway, I failed. The article will come.

- It will be terrible.
- Let me talk to Ramos.

- I don't think that would be...
- No.

Absolutely not.

Then explain to him
that there is another crime scene

associated with this so-called
Hollywood victim

and that if I give up today due
to unwarranted media pressure,

then I'll be short a dead body
when we go to trial.

Or tell him that...

For heaven's sakes.

You know, I can't let Ramos
dictate how I do my job.

- She just doesn't get it, does she?
- She doesn't want to get it.

Hello.

I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.

Dan Frye. I represent Mr. Hughes.

And I've talked to my client,
and I'd like you to explain

why he's still being held
without any charges being filed.

Well, maybe there won't be any,
if I can get a few things explained.

- Like what?
- Well, your client claimed

that he didn't know Donna Taft,
from the support center

for domestic violence, when, in fact,

he threatened Donna when she would
not tell him where his wife...

Unrelated, no evidentiary value.
Next question.

- What about these? Look familiar?
- Don't answer that.

Who was living with Rachel?

Mr. Frye,

if I leave here
without a believable response,

I am gonna arrest your client for murder.

And guilty or not, this movie
that starts rehearsing tomorrow

will have to find someone else
to play the part.

Or with a little cooperation,
the show can go on.

It's your choice.

(WHISPERING) You can tell her that you
didn't know where Rachel was living...

(SIGHS)

I don't know where Rachel was living
or who was living with her.

I didn't threaten Donna.

We had a disagreement about what
she was saying to my wife, that's all.

Another disagreement
that you conveniently forgot to tell me.

- So you lied to me again!
- I loved my wife.

- She was my world.
- So, then why won't you help me?

'Cause you keep treating me
like I'm a criminal!

- Ryan, it's okay.
- You loved Rachel so much?

Then what exactly are you doing
right now that could

possibly be more important
than helping me find her murderer?

I am trying to work.

I'm studying my part, hoping to God that
I get out of here in time to play it!

More specifically, I am highlighting
my lines, which is what all actors do

- when they first get their script.
- Ryan, it's okay.

Look, no more questions
about this homicide.

You want to make an arrest?

Lieutenant, those script pages
that we found at Rachel's apartment,

- where are they?
- Got them right here.

- Okay.
- Here you go.

Who would play this role
where the words are all yellow?

Hello.

Callie Rivers? I'm Deputy Chief
Brenda Leigh Johnson of the LAPD.

Yes.

Sorry for my appearance. Slept in today.

I understand you recently
guest-starred on Trauma Unit.

I did, yes.

The episode hasn't aired yet,
but, yes. Why?

Well, I was hoping that you'd be able
to answer a few questions

about Rachel Hughes.
She was a hairdresser...

Yes, I heard about what happened to her.

So sorry. Unfortunately,
I didn't know her that well, so...

You didn't?

Because we found some
of your things at her apartment.

Oh.

That. Uh...

Well, I did stay with Rachel very briefly,
but she was never there.

She worked, like,
16 hours a day on that show, so...

Do you mind if we come in?

Well...

(STUTTERING)

Well, it's a mess right now.

I understand.

What do you want to know?

Well, there's a lot, actually.

Like, why were you staying with Rachel?

CALLIE: She said she

was afraid of her husband
and she wanted some company.

It made her feel safe.

BRENDA: So, she must have told you that

her husband beat her.

Yeah, a little bit, yeah.

Did she also explain to you

how she got away from Ryan?
How she just walked out

and left him?

No! No! Please!

- CALLIE: (SCREAMING) No!
- Let her go!

- Please, no!
- You let her go now!

I'll break her neck, I swear!
Do you hear me?

Back off! Back off! I mean it! Back off!

- I'll kill her!
- No! No!

I mean it. I will kill her.
I'll break her neck, I swear.

Do you hear me?

Let her go, now! Now!

- No! No!
- Okay, okay. Okay. Okay.

No, please. Please don't hurt him.
He didn't mean to kill her.

Shut up, you stupid bitch!

- You shut up!
- Shut up! Shut up!

BRENDA: Okay, okay. Okay. Okay.
GABRIEL: Easy!

Whoever you are, you are under arrest
for the murder of Rachel Hughes.

Considering the circumstances,
your lawyer requested that

we offer you an explanation
of what happened to your wife,

and perhaps offer an apology.

First, let's start with the murder.

Your wife, having been
physically abused herself,

recognized similar injuries in Callie Rivers,

a guest star on the aptly named
Trauma Unit.

Rachel then convinced Callie to run away
from her abusive boyfriend, Mark,

just like she had run away from you.

Looking for Callie,
Mark threatened your wife,

very much like you confronted Donna.

When Rachel stood up for Callie,
refusing to tell Mark where she was,

he beat her to death.

Rachel was murdered
protecting somebody else?

Yeah, she was.

And now to finish up here,

on behalf of the entire LAPD,
allow me to say

how sorry I am

that you lied to us so much

and that you knocked your wife
around to such an extent

that we considered you
a suspect in her murder.

- That's your apology?
- Mmm-hmm.

(SCOFFS)

You people have no idea
what I'm going through, do you?

Excuse me.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SIGHS)

I'd still like to arrest him.

Odds are one day we will.

- FRITZ: Willie Ray?
- Mmm?

- Don't forget your shampoos.
- WILLIE RAY: Oh, thank you, honey.

Just when I was wondering what would
make showering in that RV any worse.

There's nothing wrong
with the shower in that RV.

Daddy.

I just want to say that Fritz and I
are gonna get married when we're ready,

and not one minute before.

It's our business,

and I won't be rushed into
setting a date or a place by anyone.

I'm not trying to rush you into anything.

You've been engaged over a year.
We couldn't rush you now

- even if we wanted to.
- Just so I know it's been said,

I want to tell you both,
but especially you, Daddy,

I'm gonna get married when I want

and the way I want to.

And the next time
we talk about my wedding,

it had better be because I brought it up.

Well, so much for freedom of speech.

Am I still allowed to take y'all to dinner?

- Yes. That would be very nice.
- Good.

Well, go get dressed

and try to treat the waiter
better than you do me.

That was inspiring the way you stood up
to your father just now.

You really think so?

Sometimes the only way to deal with
a control freak is to lay down the law.

- I totally agree.
- Which is why I'm saying

I want to be married
by the end of January or February

of next year at the latest.

And the next time we talk about it,
you better have a date in mind.

English - SDH