The Following (2013–2015): Season 1, Episode 3 - The Poet's Fire - full transcript

Man: Carroll was convicted
in 2004

for the murders
of 14 young women.

FBI director: We need
you in Virginia, Ryan.

I'm not an agent anymore.

You caught Carroll.
No one knows him like you do.

So what's my sequel about, Joe?

Carroll: We're gonna
write this together, Ryan.

Ohh!

Even though you
slept with my wife.

I have so many surprises
waiting for you.

Claire: He fancies
himself Edgar Allan Poe.



That was the impetus
for writing his novel.

We got more bodies.

Ryan: He removed the eyes,
Carroll's signature.

He used this prison guard
to gain access to the internet

to create a cult.

Agent Parker's taking the lead.

Cults, my specialty.

Ryan: Ice pick lady,
gay neighbors,

and the nanny, how do they
figure into your new plot?

Where is he? Joey?
Where is my son?!

Riley: Carroll knows
where the kid is.

He's not gonna tell us.

He might tell his wife.

You son of a bitch,
where's my son?



"Take thy beak
from out of my heart,

and take thy form
from off my door."

Quoth the raven "nevermore."

And the raven, never flitting,
still is sitting,

still is sitting...

If you don't like the piece,

call my editor, scream at him.

It is too early for this crap.

You have a nice day.

Poe impersonator:
Lies floating on the floor

shall be lifted--
nevermore!

[Cheering and applause]

Hey!

[Screaming]

Good morning, Claire.

[Gasps]

Aah!
[Gagging]

Good morning, ma'am.

Is Ryan Hardy here?

No, ma'am.
He left over an hour ago.

[Buzzer]

How'd you sleep?
That motel they stuck us in sucks.

The bed is bricks.

How many fingerprints?

9 in total.
Several were older prints,

but upstairs in the attic room,

that is where we found 6 sets.

They're the newest
ones we found.

I'm guessing that's where
they gathered most.

4 of the sets belong to Emma,
Jacob, Paul, and Jordy.

Yeah. That's 4. The guy with
the Poe mask that attacked me.

5.

You really think that this
cult is limited to 6 people?

We weren't supposed to find
their little clubhouse.

I tell you, there's
got to be something here

that will tell us
where Joey Matthews is.

Uh-uh. I've been
through every piece of it.

Nothing points to where he
is or why they took him.

I want to understand
what this cult is about.

I mean, what's
Carroll's message?

Koresh, Jones, Manson--
they all used mind control

to reinforce their message of family
and unity over the individual.

Didn't Manson convince
his family to kill

for his own selfish needs?

Yeah, but he dressed it up in
several different motives at once.

He'd test his followers

with acts of murder in order
to prove their devotion.

He was a brilliant manipulator,

get anyone to do anything.

Joe was a teacher.

He was a man of ideas,

and he was brilliant at it.

I witnessed him at class

he could engage
and inspire his students

in ways that I'd
never seen before.

Carroll: Hester had
broken free from all of that.

She had-- she had created
her own moral code.

Are we not able to break free
and-- and do whatever we want

as long as we are willing
to pay life's consequences?

What is-- what is
your moral code?

Make it unique unto yourself,

and it will bleed
into your writing.

[Telephone rings]

Yeah.

Thank you.

How's your bedside manner?

Jordy's awake.

[Buzzer]

Hey, Jordy.
How you feeling?

How am I feeling?
You shot me.

Yeah. Sorry about that.

Tell us where Joey Matthews is.

Oh, is that all?

Do you think I'm stupid?

I'm not talking.

I think you're looking
at the death penalty.

I'll never make it
to the chair.

I'm a correctional officer.

I won't last a week in prison,

but can I tell you
a little secret?

It was worth it

to kill those girls,

to hold them in my
hands while they died,

felt their last breath.

You know I talked
to Joe, right?

He was very upset to find out
that you were still alive.

He wanted you dead.
You failed.

You were supposed to
kill Claire Matthews.

Weren't those the rules?

I know what you're doing.

It's not gonna work.

Come on, Jordy.

Where's Joey?

♪ La la la ♪

I can't hear you.

♪ Look at what's
happened to me ♪

Come on. Just tell
us where--

♪ I can't believe it myself ♪

♪ suddenly I'm up on
top of the world ♪

Jordy! Jordy!

♪ Should have been
somebody else ♪

Aah!

- Hey! - Sorry. I slipped.
- You can't do that!

You can't do that!
[Cell phones ringing]

Hey! Hey!
No, no, no, no!

Weston: Sorry for
the shaky cam.

- It's from a witness' cell.
Parker: - What are we watching?

Street performance
by a man dressed as Poe

early this morning.

Recognize the mask?

He was doing this
on the street?

It's very common.
It's the historical district,

and here it comes.

[Screaming]

Hey. Wait.
Who's the victim?

Stan Fellows, book critic.

Yeah. Richmond paper.
I know this guy.

I interviewed him for my book.

He wrote a scathing review

of Carroll's book
"The Gothic Sea."

It was the worst I read.

Suspect threw
confetti on the crowd.

It's got writing on it.

"Generous Critic
fann'd the Poet's fire,

and taught the world
with reason to admire."

That's Poe.

So Carroll wants his followers

to exact revenge
on his critics?

That could take a while.

Woman on TV:
The recent string of murders

in the wake of Joe Carroll's
prison escape

is raising all kinds
of speculation.

Is this the work of a cult?

Hey. The press is
officially calling us a cult,

but the FBI won't confirm it,

so they've issued
a media blackout.

That's because they're
completely clueless.

Have you talked to Emma?

No. No. Why?

Things are weird
between you guys,

and to be fair, you haven't
been that nice to her.

Oh. Is that Rick?
Awesome!

Look. Here's some
cool footage of the fire.

So-- so torch man's
a hit, huh?

I knew it would work.
[Fellows screaming]

If you hate blood so
much, what about fire?

It's flashy.

I don't hate blood.

What about removing the eyes?

You can't do that with fire.

Actually you can, doofus.

Paul: What Jordy means is the
eyes are Joe's signature.

Fire doesn't go
with gouging eyes.

You're being literal.

Besides, we're supposed
to find our own voice,

not just copy Joe's story,
doofus deux.

Jordy: I like
Joe's story.

Then have at it, Jordy.

You do it your way,
I'll do it mine.

Just talk to Emma, okay?

You don't see it, do you?

I mean, that girl
wears a lot of faces.

I don't get the Emma you get.

Emma: What Emma
is that, Paul?

Oh, we were just
talking--

Don't cover for him.

If he has something to say...

Forget it.

Hey, guys. We got him.

There's a business owner
downtown with a security camera

in an alley two blocks away.

Can you get a license plate?

Way ahead.

Car's registered to...

Rick Kester. He's 29.

120 Churchill.

This room is clear.

Clear.

Hey.

[Rattling]

Aah!

Please don't hurt me.

Parker: We're not
gonna hurt you.

Who are you?

Maggie Kester.
I live here.

- You know Rick Kester?
- Yes, I do. He's my husband.

Parker: Thank you for agreeing
to come down and talk to us.

Are you kidding?
I don't want to stay in that house alone.

When was the last time you
heard from your husband?

Last night.

He... called.
I didn't pick up.

We're separated.

6 months now.

Um...

7:15. He didn't
leave a message.

Why were you hiding from us?

I didn't know it was you.
I was scared.

[Buzzer]

He still has a key,

and he's been bothering me,
calling me,

showing up at work.

Rick can be... scary
when he wants to be.

We pulled your records,
and your story checks out,

but I'm curious
about this police report

that you filled out
a couple of years back

in the Emergency Room.

Why did your husband
try to kill you?

I asked him for a divorce.

So he took a knife to you?

Unh!

Ugh!

[Gasping]

They never pressed charges.

I wouldn't testify
because he was sorry.

He was. He wasn't...
always like this.

When did you notice a change?

He lost his job
and had all this free time

and started hanging out
with these new friends.

Did you ever meet any of them?

No. I didn't want
anything to do with them.

He would come home
with these weird ideas

and saying crazy things.

What things?

He started talking
a lot about death,

how life didn't matter.

He got really dark.
He was depressed.

We're gonna give you protection

till we find your husband.

Parker: Excuse me.

So you believe her?

Yeah, I do.
She's tragic and pathetic,

and I know her well.

How so?

She wants the man in her head,

not the one she married.

She's my mother,
my sister, my other sister.

No one ever wants to see
what's really there.

We need to find the husband.

He's the closest thing
we have to finding Joey.

Why don't you let me
see Joe again,

see if I can get him to talk?

Let me try.

I think it's time
Joe and I met anyway.

[Chopping]

What do you want, Paul?

You need any help?

No.

Look. I'm sorry

about before
and whatever I've done.

We're all in this together,

and I don't want things
to be like this.

I don't either, Paul.

Can we sort of pretend
that we like each other

and, I don't know, see
where that goes?

Truce?

Unh! You bitch!

Don't try to turn
Jacob against me.

It won't work.

Bitch!
[Buzzer]

Hi. I'm Agent Parker.

We haven't officially met.

How's your hand?

First of all, awesome job.

I'm very impressed.

How much planning
did all of this take?

Seriously, you are doing
a great job.

Thank you for my book.

You're welcome.

Why torch your critics?

That seems a little petty.

Oh, dear. Has someone been
playing with matches?

I like fire, sir.

It started when I was a
kid, and it just stuck.

I'm not good at knives.

I've been practicing
getting better,

but I still prefer fire.

Definitely makes a statement.

Tell me more.

Poe often wrote of revenge.

I want my chapter
to be about revenge.

I want to target the people
who hurt you professionally.

I've done my research.
I know who they are.

I'm not above revenge, Agent.

I think I've proved that.

Revenge is primal.
It's a universal theme,

and every good story needs one.

Don't you agree, Ryan?

Of course, his theme...
somewhat different.

So your acolytes come up
with ways to make you proud

with these little tributes.

Is that the way they're
helping you write your book?

Right. Everyone has
a story to tell, Agent.

Your little devotee, is he
gonna torch all your critics?

There are really only 3 people
that I hold accountable

for my professional
downfall, Agent.

Isn't that right, Ryan?

I wonder who he holds
accountable...

[Whispering] for his downfall.

Must be very hard for you

to be surrounded by the
stench of death again.

I know this takes
a terrible toll on you,

and you must be careful,

what with that...

little heart of yours.

What are you doing?

3 people responsible for
Joe's downfall-- his words.

That would be me,
the dead critic,

and this guy.

He was a professor
at the university.

I interviewed him.
He was a dean.

After Joe's book failed,
this guy denied him tenure,

said that Joe wasn't worthy.

It was a big blow
to Joe's career.

Here it is.
Phillip Barnes, Dean of Literature.

Do you think he's
still the dean?

As far as I know.
This was years ago.

[Bell tolling]

May I help you?

Did we have an appointment?

Why did you deny
Joe Carroll tenure?

I beg your pardon.

I asked you a question.

Is this a joke?

I'm sorry.
You need to leave.

Ooh!

No. You need to sit.

Why did you deny
Carroll tenure?

Answer me.

Unh!

I never killed anyone
with a knife before.

Press is using the cult word.

It's out there.
We gonna comment?

No. Let them speculate.
Where's Ryan?

He went outside.

There's no way you could
have stopped this.

Yeah.

I could have.

See, that's the point.

He's baiting me!

I should have seen it coming.

Why? Because you interviewed
him 8 years ago?

Seriously? You know Carroll's
out to torture you.

Well, it's working.

- Professor Carroll.
- Hmm?

Hi. Ryan Hardy, FBI.

Oh, yes, yes.
My wife said to expect you.

It's a pleasure, Agent Hardy.
How can I help?

I was hoping to pick your brain
on a case I'm working on.

Oh, the murders. Yes. Oh, gosh.
Awful. Poor girls.

No. I'd relish
the opportunity.

"Relish." I don't
mean relish.

I mean, it's not every day
one gets to aid the FBI

in a murder
investigation, is it?

Now a good time?

No. I'm afraid not.
I'm already late for an appointment,

but, uh, look.
Just call my office.

I'm free every night this week.

I'll do that.
Thank you, sir.

Please call me Joe.
Nice to meet you.

All right.
Get in closer.

Smile!

Joey: How was it?

I don't like it.
One more.

- Come here. Ohh!
- Ha ha ha!

All right.
1... 2... 3.

Can I call mom now?

No, you cannot,
and stop asking me that!

No. We can't
pretend to be gay.

Sarah Fuller has major issues.

She's not gonna warm
up to a straight guy

the way that she
would to a totally

nonthreatening gay couple.

Uh, I don't know.

Joe thinks it's a great idea.

But we're straight.

Details. Come on.

Expand your minds.

Let's try.

Kiss.

What, now?

Let's see if you
can pull it off.

[Music playing]

No, no, no.
No way, no way.

You guys are losers!

So what am I gonna tell Joe?

Okay. Okay. Let's do this.

Come on.

Gay chicken.

[Emma laughs]

[Laughter]

What's wrong with him?

Paul: Hey!

What do you think you're doing?

- Get away.
- Come on, man.

Don't do this.

Where are you going, huh?

Hey. Your face is all
over the news right now.

Don't be stupid.

You're a liar.

Woman on TV: Authorities
have yet to confirm or deny

any cult activity
surrounding Joe Carroll.

So does the coffee work
as an equalizer?

That's the idea.
Rick Kester's records just came in.

Take a look at this.

Wait.

A critic
for the "Richmond Herald"

Stan Fellows is dead.

The assailant, a street performer,
is currently at large...

[Knock on door]

Several eyewitness caught
the incident on camera.

Come in?

Excuse me.

Claire?

I'm watching the news.
What's happening?

Listen. We have
a suspect.

I need to ask you something.

The man who's
starting the fires?

Right. I've just got
his credit card statements,

and there's a couple of items

that I just need
to confirm with you--

All Pro sponge ball, Ridley Race
car set, dragon ninja warrior--

Action figure. Yeah.

Those are all Joey's favorite toys.
What's going on?

This is good news, Claire.

They bought him toys.

Wherever he is,
they're not hurting him.

I want him home, Ryan.
He's not gonna be safe until he's home.

I know.

I got to go.

I'll call you later, okay?

- Bye-bye.
- Bye.

I've been here all day.
Can I go now?

Soon.

Any idea why your husband
would purchase toys?

I don't know.
It's his credit card.

You'll have to ask him.

[Cell phone ringing]

It's Rick.

Answer it.
Put it on speaker phone.

[Ringing]

Rick.

Rick: Where are you?

The FBI came
to the house, Rick.

What have you done?

Are you with them now?

Y-yes. Yes.

They're looking for you, Rick.

You're in trouble.

How could you hurt
those people?

Where are you, Rick?

Is Ryan Hardy there?

Tell Ryan it was all for him.

[Click]

He's using the same
setup at their internet.

It's being routed internationally.
We can't trace it.

What do you think?

We try and make contact?

I don't know.

Take her home, stay with her.

I'll send someone to relieve
you in the morning.

I'll go with him.

No. What you're gonna
do, vodka breath,

is go back to that dumpy,
little motel the FBI put us in

and get some rest.

I feel totally fine.

When was the last time you had
more than an hour of sleep?

You're gonna go, and you're
gonna get some sleep, Ryan,

and tomorrow,
we're gonna find Joey.

Do you understand?

Look. I get it.
You overidentify with the victims,

the guilt makes it
personal, you unravel.

I get it.

You okay?

Not going back to the
hotel to sleep, are you?

I think Rick Kester
knows where Joey is.

Well, they gave me
a rental car.

Joey's in his room.

He thinks we got
into a little fight.

Paul just needed to
blow off some steam.

Our faces are
all over the news.

What if he goes into town?

I know Paul, okay?

He's not gonna go into town.

Did you send
that e-mail?

Not yet.
I was waiting for Rick to call.

Why is no one doing what
they're supposed to do?

Damn it.

Excuse me. Megan?

Heh heh.

Where would I find the wine?

Oh. We don't sell wine.

All we have is beer.
That's the law.

Well, I really wanted wine.

Hmm. Heh heh.

Uh...

So, uh, red or white?

G-go with the red.

And, uh, what time
do you get off?

Do you really think
he's gonna come here?

We just want to keep
you safe, that's all.

Do what you normally do.

Pretend I'm not even here.

Um, help yourself
to the fridge.

[Cell phone ringing]

Yo.

Okay. Hardy and I
are outside.

Riley: What?

Does Parker know?

Yeah.

Do you really think Kester would
be stupid enough to come here?

Weston: He's already
killed two people today.

He's escalating,
he's getting bolder.

We'll be outside
if you need us.

Yeah.

Does Parker know we're here?

She told me to watch you.

Look. I know you march to
your own drum and everything,

and, hey, that's cool.

Maybe someday I can, but I'm
the second youngest agent

in the BAU, and people
still look at me funny.

This is my career, sir.

You still live in Brooklyn?

Yeah.

You ever make it up to Albany?

I read your book.
I know you grew up there.

Not for years.
No reason.

Right. Family.

Sorry. Um, I'm
a military brat.

Was born in San Diego.

I've lived
everywhere--

I'm gonna take a look around,

stretch my legs.

Ryan, good to see you.
Come on in.

I'm afraid it's
only me tonight.

Claire's out
with the little one.

Can I get you a drink?

No. I'm fine. Thanks.

Carroll: My God.

This is a moment when it
all becomes very real.

Your wife mentioned
Edgar Allan Poe

as a reference for the eyes.

Yes. Yes. What makes you
think that your killer has

a greater literary purpose?

Well, there's a sophistication
to the murders,

the way the bodies are
handled and displayed.

There's a...
romance to it.

Poe's eye allegories
would certainly fit,

and you'll find his symbolism
full of haunting romance.

Here.

Wow. Great.
Thanks a lot.

I'll get this
right back to you.

No, no, no.
Don't you dare. No.

This has-- this has
been a treat for me.

Now please may I
offer you a drink?

All right.
Sure. Yeah.

Whatever you're drinking.

[Heavy metal playing]

Hey. I need a breather.

And more wine.
Ha ha ha!

Sure.

We're not having sex, okay?

Let's just take that
off the table.

Okay.

Unh!

Wait. No.
That hurt.

Were you just choking me?

No. No. Of course not.

We should get going.
It's getting late.

But--

I need to get home.

- Okay?
- Okay.

Okay.

Wait. Let me get
the door for you.

Aah!

Don't be so happy to see me.

Will you excuse us, please?

I'm not talking to you.

Well, you're gonna have to.

I need some information
from you, Jordy.

♪ Believe it or not,
I'm walking on air ♪

So I was talking to Joe.

♪ I never-- ♪

And he wants to see you.

I want to see him.

I can make that happen,

but I can't if you
won't talk to me.

You okay in here?

Yeah, I guess.

Are you married, Agent Riley?

Divorced.

Was she a good woman?

She wasn't the problem.

[Thud]

What was that?

[Banging on door]

Was that inside or outside?

[Wind chimes ringing]

[Cell phone ringing]

Yeah.

- You okay?
- I'm not sure.

There's someone
in the backyard.

I'm coming in.

How do I know you're not lying?

What if I tell you stuff and
you don't let me see Joe?

Character, Jordy.
I say what I mean,

and I mean what I say.

What if I tell you stuff and you
don't like the stuff I tell you?

Do I still get to see Joe?

Just talk to me, Jordy.

I'll let you see Joe.

I don't know where the kid is.

Oh, come on, Jordy.

I don't.

We divide the secrets so no
one person knows everything

in case one of us gets caught.

So who has Joey?

Emma and Jacob and Paul,

but I don't know
where they are,

and that's the truth.

Can I see Joe now?

Does Rick know where Joey is?

I don't know,
but his wife does.

What?

Maggie. She and Emma
planned that part.

[Cell phone rings]

Something's up.

Hello.

Jordy: You lied!

It's Parker.
Jordy just told me

Maggie Kester is one of them.
She's lying.

Maggie's one of them.

[Vibrating]

Maggie, you're
getting a message.

What does it say?

It says, "now."

What the?

[Groaning]

[Gagging]

Unh!

Ugh!

[Gasping]

Oh, my God.
Baby, are you okay?

You went too deep.

Oh, my God.
I'm so sorry.

Paul: You lose.
You suck at games.

He sucks at knives.

All right. Who's next?
Truth or dare?

Guys, she needs a hospital.

What? Oh, my God.
Baby, I'm so sorry.

Baby, I'm so sorry.

There's no time.
We have to go.

Oh, my God.

Get an ambulance!

[Clatter]

Here. Hold pressure on this.

Okay. Okay. Okay.
Hold on. I got it. Okay.

Hey, Troy. Look at me.

You're gonna be okay.

Stop!

Stop!

No. Please, please.
He's gonna kill me.

I don't think so, Maggie.

[Gunshot]

No! Ah, ah ah!

[Gunshot]

[Sobbing]

What is that?

What the hell?

Hey, guys.
This is Megan.

Megan, this is Emma and Jacob.

Who is she?

She's a friend,
and she's gonna be

staying with us for a while.

You have lost your mind.

Yeah. I'm done
listening to her.

Hey. I'll
take care of this.

Go check on Joey.

Go.

What are you doing, Paul?

I'm tired of being
the third wheel,

and now I'm not.

I know you're mad
at me right now,

but you can't ruin
things for everyone.

Does Emma know
what a liar you are?

We promised we wouldn't
tell anyone...

especially Emma.

I drank too much.
Sarah's gonna think I'm a drunk.

Are you kidding?
She loves you.

You had a few too many, too.
You know that?

So touchy-feely
when you drink.

Hey. It's for Sarah,
all right?

I mean, we go to look
like a real couple.

So touchy...

Ha ha ha!
Stop that.

- Ohh.
- Ha ha ha!

Man: ♪ Under a blue moon
I saw you ♪

♪ so soon you'll take me ♪

♪ up in your arms ♪

♪ too late to beg you
or cancel it... ♪

♪ though I know it must be ♪

♪ the killing time ♪

Look.

We can't keep her here.

Look. I'll help you take her
into the basement, okay?

[Whimpers]

That woman fooled me
today, and I am...

mad.

Riley didn't have to die.

Thanks a lot.

I'll read it right
way, I promise.

Well, feel free to hate it.

Everyone else has. Heh.

It's not doing well?

I think that's the third copy.

Maybe I should give you
20 bucks or something.

Ha ha ha!

Listen.
I really appreciate tonight, Joe.

Well, if nothing else
it's good scotch, huh?

It's great scotch.

You know, I've been working
on this case nonstop

for months now.

Sometimes I just forget to stop

and turn it off
for a few hours.

I couldn't turn it
off if I were you.

Must be hard
with friends and family

when you're running around,
trying to chase down the bad guy.

I imagine it, uh,
it gets quite lonely.

But the payoff, huh?

Helping people, saving lives.

You know, I think what you do

is quite remarkable.

One more, huh?

Sure. Why not?

Joe fooled me.

I should have known from
the first time I met him

he was the man
I was looking for,

but he had this power.

I'm sorry, Joe.

I'm sorry, Joe!

Charmed and seduced.

I know what his followers feel.

Miranda Sex Garden:
♪ As I run blindly ♪

[Grunting]

♪ from the fear
I know is not real ♪

They're better
for being near him.

He knows how to give them
a little piece of...

what they're missing.
[Jordy groaning]

I'm sorry, Joe.

[Gagging]

I fell for it.

[Gagging]

And 5 more girls were murdered.

♪ Let me hate for you ♪

♪ and hate for me ♪

I got your message.
What is it?

I got an e-mail.

[Joey giggles]

See? If you catch
the sun just right,

the bug catches fire.

Why do you want to kill a bug?

Because we can.

See, if you kill the bug,

then it dies, and your
life means a little more.

I-- I don't understand.

Look at this little guy.

Whoa! Where did you get
a cute, little mouse?

Caught him in a trap.

Here. Screw
the lid on.

It's got to be real tight.

Then it's gonna suffocate.

It-- it will die.

Exactly. Here.
Screw the lid on.

I don't want to.

Emma: It's okay, sweetie.
Go ahead.

Then we watch it go
straight to heaven.

- There you go.
- Yeah. Good job.

I never killed anything before.

We're just getting started.

They're teaching him.

Claire, we are
going to find him.

Then do it!

Claire!
Claire, wait.

Emma: Joey, can you wave
to the camera

and say, "hi, Ryan"?

Who's that?

He's a friend.

Come on.
Just say it for me.

Hi, Ryan!