The Mentalist (2008–2015): Season 3, Episode 8 - Ball of Fire - full transcript

Three bounces into this cup.

Three bounces.

- He can do it.
- Won't happen.

You--kiss good-bye to your cash.

- Nice.
- Never any doubt. Just a little skill I picked up

working the night shift
at San Diego. Thank you.

- You wanna go again?
- Nope.

Do I hear chicken?

Van Pelt. Line two--O'Laughlin.

Thanks.

- Go ahead.
- What?



You always say something
when o'laughlin calls.

There's nothing to say.
I'm over it.

Who are you and what have
you done with Wayne Rigsby?

Hey. Anybody see Jane?

Where are you?

I'm boosting team morale.

People are bored.
That needs to be addressed.

People are bored because
nobody's been killed

that needs our help.
It's a good thing

when homicide detectives are bored.

So why are you calling me
to find out where I am?

Because I get nervous when
I don't know where you are.

What do you mean,
"Boosting morale"?

I'm buying fresh fruit--



Clears away the cobwebs,
chases away the blues.

- Good. Get me a red delicious.
- Okay.

Let's go. We're going. Come on!

Okay. Okay.

Golden delicious is fine
if they don't have--

Lisbon!

I'm in trouble.

Lisbon.

How long ago did you get the call?

- 35 minutes.
- Witnesses?

9-1-1 had some callers.

C.H.P.'s rounding
'em up for us now.

- Jane?
- No sign.

Half a dozen 9-millimeter casings--
3 went into the victim.

Got 2 380 casings here.
Looks like one hit.

The guy runs a fruit stand.
What's he doing with a 380?

He's probably been
held up more than once.

Not this time.
Cash register's full.

There's a blood
trail starting here,

heading out into that direction.

Looks like whoever the grocer
shot went over to the barn

after he took the bullet,
kicked in the door.

Jane was there.
So they were after him.

Boss, C.H.P. rounded
up the 9-1-1 callers.

This is Harold Keel.
He made the first call.

Did you see the shooting, Mr. Keel?

No, just saw two guys in a lot.
One of 'em had a gun.

He was trying to
shove the other guy

into the trunk of his car.

Can you describe him?

The guy with the gun had a
sweatshirt with the hood up.

And the other guy was smaller,
in a suit--

nononoreally a suit,
but like a vest.

- Your name?
- I'm Sherry Winger. I heard the shots.

But you didn't see anything?

I just heard them while driving by,

but about a minute later,

a car booked past
me going about 100.

Took the exit ramp on
the highway going north.

What did the car look like?

Sedan, brownish-yellow.

You get a look at
the license plates?

I think it was blue and purple.

That's an Arizona plate. I'm on it.

Sergeant? Yeah.

We need a roadblock set
up 100 miles north,

looking for that car,

also an aircraft checking
out the side roads.

Have one of your men stay
with both the witnesses

and run their licenses.
Make sure they're clean.

You got it.

- We need the FBI on this.
- I'll make the call.

If jane were here,
he'd make some snarky remark

about something we missed
at the crime scene.

So?

What is it?

Hands out.

Looks pretty painful.

- Shut up.
- I could help make that hurt less.

Right.

What is this about? Why am I here?

C.H.P.'s got nothing
on the roadblocks yet.

Keep checking. Don't wait
for them to report in.

The phone company's sending
over Jane's records.

Run his calls. We need to
know who he was talking to...

and what he was talking about.

It feels weird to go through
Jane's phone. He'd hate it.

-He'll hate it a lot more if we don't find him.
- Teresa.

- I can't talk press right now, Brenda.
- It's about Jane.

- What?
- I'm hearing from reporters.

The highway shutdown's
getting attention.

There are rumors that a CBI

- employee has been killed.
- For god sakes.

Just give me something I can
give 'em to shut 'em up.

We don't know anything yet, Brenda.
Don't say anything.

That just makes it worse.

It's an ongoing investigation.
No comment.

Hey, Lisbon. You remember
agent o'laughlin.

You're the liaison on this?

Any assistance the FBI can offer,
you let me know.

- You think this was Red John?
- I don't see any signs of it.

Red John is clean and efficient.
This was sloppy.

All right, it could be deliberate,

keep you off his trail.

Red John already took
Jane once and let him go.

- Why would he take him again?
- He's a psycho.

Who knows why he does what he does?

Yeah, well, he takes
him a second time,

I don't think he's coming back,
so let's just assume

that it's not him until we
hear something otherwise.

Rigsby, where are we
with the license plate?

Got a list of cars
with Arizona plates

that have been stopped and
ticketed in the state.

- Getting the names now.
- Cho, ballistics?

Dead end.

No matches from the shell
casings we found at the scene.

Help Rigsby run the Arizona names.

Already am.

Teresa, I need a statement.

You already have my
statement, Brenda.

What's this about?

If we don't say
something about Jane,

there's gonna be rumors and
lies out there until we do.

That's fine with me.

- Not with me.
- Does Jane have money?

Just enough to use.
He doesn't really care about money.

Okay, so this probably isn't
a kidnapping for ransom,

which means whoever
did this is motivated

by something personal...
anger, revenge.

Yeah.

So it would probably be a good idea

to get Jane's name and
picture out in the media.

Right. Humanize him.

Let them know we're
looking for him.

We shouldn't make a statement
until we know something.

I'm sorry, but that
is not your call.

Okay, Brenda.

CBI consultant Patrick
Jane has been taken

by person or persons unknown.

We're investigating and
conducting a search...

an extensive search...
in the area. Okay?

That'll work.

Hey. Are you working this?

Yeah. Sorry, I didn't
get a chance to call.

- It's okay. I'll find you later.
- Right.

We didn't need to share
this with the public.

Yes, we did.

And, Teresa, not saying
something doesn't mean

that something isn't happening.

I know.

So, can you get me a
rundown on his enemies?

You mean, the bad guys?
Or cops, lawyers...

What, he messed with
cops that badly?

Oh, yes,

But I don't think a cop would
come after a citizen over Jane.

All right. So what about
his personal life...

- Family, friends, lovers?
- He's a loner.

We're his family, pretty much.

I went through Jane's calls
for the past three weeks.

They're all case-related.

- Nothing else. Look further back.
- Okay.

Didn't one of Jane's old
psychic clients come after him?

Yeah, we're going
through his client list,

but why come after him now?

I mean, it's been so long
since he was in that game.

Right. Which leads us to
the inevitable conclusion.

I think someone Jane put
away is getting back at him.

Maybe they've been released.

Maybe they're reaching
out from prison.

Whichever it is,
we need to go through

every case jane's worked on
since he came to the CBI.

Van Pelt, start digging.

Whoever did this has probably
been unhappy a long time.

Everything okay?

You said... you can
make it hurt less.

Sure. I can do that.

What'd you mean by that?

Pain's in the mind,

and that's my specialty.

You got some kind of pill on you?

No. No.

Just relax. Look at me.

Let my voice take the
place of the pain.

Feel the pain getting smaller.

Feel the pain going away.

It's folding in on itself.

Folding...

And you're feeling relaxed...

and calm.

Hello, Patrick.

Do you remember me?

Maybe.

That means you don't.

No, it just means that I
have difficulty talking

when someone is
pointing a gun at me.

Why?

Does it make you scared?

Yes, it does.
I don't like being bullied.

Please put the gun down.

Mm. I like the look on your
face right now too much.

Then just take a photograph.
Please put the gun down. I...

If you are gonna kill me,
then you would've killed me already.

Whatever you want from me,
you're not gonna get it

unless you put the gun down.

Thank you.

You don't remember me, do you?

Is that strange?

Given the way you're carrying
yourself, I'd be surprised

if your own mother recognized you.

Mm. Well, my mother
died when I was born,

So you're probably right.

Sorry. Bad choice.

Little harsh on your
colleague there.

Who cares about him?

I can't believe this.

You're here.

I mean, you're really...
you're really here.

Yeah. I'm...I'm here.

So what's the plan, Rachel?

Hmm. So you do know who I am.

How many motherless 23-year-olds

with a slight pigeon-toed stance

And a hint of a new
England childhood

in their voice do
you think I've met?

It was a trick then...
the comment about my mother.

You are a sly one, Mr. Jane.

This is about your father,
isn't it?

We're not going to talk about this.

We can talk about whatever
you want to talk about.

No. We're not going
to talk, period.

- Okay.
- I know what you do when you talk to people...

That gentle hand on their shoulder,
the long look

in their eyes.
You're not doing that to me.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

- You think I'm stupid.
- No, I don't.

You think everybody's
stupid except for you.

- You're wrong.
- No. No.

You don't even know
what's going on here.

I am going to kill you.

But I am going to hurt you first.

I have to take my medication now.

And everyone at CBI
is hoping and working

for the safe return of
our friend and colleague.

We also want to
extend our condolences

to the family of Norberto Rivera,

who died trying to help Mr. Jane.

The CBI is offering a
$10,000 reward for anyone

Providing information leading
to the return of Mr. Jane.

We are going to put
up a phone number.

We encourage anyone with
relevant information to call.

Thank you.

These are Jane's cases.

We need a disposition on each case.

Is the suspect in jail? If not,
where are they?

- Then look for anything that sticks out.
- Okay.

- More cases?
- Complaints.

I went down to the outreach
officer in Community Relations

and asked if they
had a file on Jane.

Looks like there's more than one.

He has his own filing cabinet.

Have Bob in Admin have
his juniors help you

do a preliminary search.

I'll clear it with hightower.

I got something.

C.H.P. got a call from a
rancher outside Wilton.

Says one of his workers saw
a gray car on a private road

that runs through his
land a few hours ago.

A farmhand approached the car.
Driver waved a gun at him.

Wilton? That's south of
where jane was taken.

The witness said
he was going north.

I'll get Wilton P.D.
To check it out.

You go. o'Laughlin,
you mind going with him?

We've already had one
person taken today.

Until we know what's going on,

I don't want anyone
going anywhere alone.

- Sure.
- Let's go.

- Thanks for coming along.
- No problem.

Second set of eyes. Always good.

Yeah.

I'll drive.

Aren't you working
Jane's case files?

Lisbon wants me to go
through his desk first.

Not that any of this is
getting use anywhere.

- You ever seen where he keeps the key?
- No.

I'll get tech services
to have 'em pop the lock.

Nah, that'll take too long. Here.

Thanks.

Don't tell Jane I did that.

Okay.

Cough drops.

Superglue.

Clippings.

Big help.

Well, it figures Jane's not gonna
keep anything important in the office.

Wait. There's something
else in here.

What do you mean?

It's taped to the
top of the drawer.

You think he's dead?

Cho.

Who?

Hey, boss. Call for you.
Linus Wagner from county jail.

- Line two.
- Linus Wagner?

He says it's about Jane.

Who's Linus Wagner?

He's this creepy doctor
that Jane put away

a couple years ago.

He--he killed two people

and tried to make it look
like Red John did it.

This is Lisbon.

Agent. Dr. Linus Wagner.
How are you?

What's this about?

I happened to see on the
TV in our recreation area

the announcement
about Patrick Jane.

Very sorry to hear it.
I hope he's all right.

Yeah, I'm sure. Do you
have information about him?

Yes. Yes, I think I may.

Why don't you come out here,
and we can talk about it?

Just tell me.

No. You should come.

It's complicated.

Mr. Mendoza?

Yeah?

Wayne Rigsby, CBI.

You called C.H.P. About the car?

- That's right.
- You could've mentioned it was on fire.

W-well, it wasn't. Not--not then.

One of my hands saw a car on our
road with a guy holding a gun,

So I called the cops.

A little later I saw smoke,
so I called the Fire Department.

You could've given us a heads-up.

Why? You guys put out fires?

Your guy get a look at the driver?

Can he give us a description?

No. Uh, he said he was
wearing a sweatshirt

with, uh, with the hood up.

Thanks.

I have nothing. You?

Nope.

We got California plates.

Second thing the witness
got wrong. Typical.

Look, they must've
brought Jane here

and switched to another car.

Yep. It's stolen.

Forensics can sift the ashes.

We should get back to the office.

Rigsby?

What people don't realize
is when they torch a car,

the gas tank goes first.

Whole thing burns back to front.

So the trunk gets incinerated,
but sometimes...

Sometimes stuff up front survives.

Well, the car's stolen.
Paperwork's useless.

The guy who took Jane--
he got shot, right?

So he's driving, and he's bleeding.

He's looking for something
to put on the wound.

What do people do when they're
driving and they're looking

for something in the
glove compartment?

This...

We take to forensics.

Ah. A fingerprint.
No need. Hold it up.

Why?

Bureau techs can scan
the image into A.F.I.S.

If he's in the system,
we'll have an I.D. In ten minutes.

Nice catch

Yeah.

Thanks.

The print Rigsby found

matches a guy named Fred Kittel,

a thug out of Yuba City.

Arrests for assault,

armed robbery,
and attempted murder.

- Where's the Jane connection?
- Can't see one.

He wasn't involved in
any of Jane's cases,

and he's never been
questioned by the CBI.

So very likely he's a hired hand.

Somebody checking his residence?

Yuba City P.D. went.
Say it's empty, stripped.

They're circulating his picture.

Okay.

Check his family, running buddies,
cellmates, employers.

Gotta be a connection.

Thank you.

Thank you for making
the trip, agent.

Why am I here, Wagner?

I do hope we can be cordial.

What's the information?

I've been in contact
with the person

behind Jane's disappearance.

Who's that?

First things first.

What do you want?

I don't know if you've
kept up with my trial.

It was long

and... tedious.

Unfortunately, it concluded
with my conviction

on two counts of
first-degree murder,

so the death penalty is an option.

That sounds about right.

Sentencing is in a few weeks.

The judge might be convinced

to choose something... lesser.

Life in prison, say.

Preferable, from my point of view,

but I need people to
testify on my behalf,

to ask for clemency,

and who better than a CBI agent?

Clemency? On what possible grounds?

For compassion's sake and... and...

Humanity,

more than any particular
personal worth I might have.

Although I did do a great deal
of good in my time, as you know.

There are villages in Africa--

You killed and
mutilated two people.

I'm aware of that.

If you help us with Jane,

we can help make your
life easier in here.

Agent, I'm about to
be put on death row.

Do you really think

I care about extra
soap and cheeseburgers?

Your friend Jane is very clever,

But I don't think he realizes

the rageful feelings his
trickery can provoke.

I've felt that rage.

I've thought of various
unpleasant things

I would do to him,

and right now someone is
acting on thoughts like those.

Aren't you worried
what's being done to him?

There are things so much
worse than killing a man.

You can go to hell.

And when they kill you,
I'm gonna be there to watch.

Come on.

I will tell them that
you helped on a case

and ask for clemency,

But only if your information
brings Jane back alive.

I don't control that.

I don't care.

I've done a lot of writing in here.

The bountiful free time.

A while back,
I published an article

in an online journal
about emotional trauma

and its effect on the psyche.

It included some
observations on Jane.

Not long after,

I got a letter from a young woman

who claimed to be a graduate
student in psychology.

She said she was researching Jane,

but she didn't know a
lick about psychology.

She was, however,

obsessed with Jane...

And exceedingly hostile toward him.

What's her name?

You, uh...

You planning on doing
anything about him?

No.

That's not very hygienic.

You know, maybe you can
just shove him in the corner

before he starts to smell.
I mean, I'd do it myself, but...

No.

Fine.

That smell gets in your drapes,
you're never getting it out.

You think everything's funny.

Just the funny things.

You never feel guilty, do you?

I feel guilty every
minute of every day.

See?

You did it.

You got me talking again,
trying to mess with my mind.

It's abusive, what you do.

You use people...

Like toys.

No thought for the damage you do,

the people you hurt.

I'm sorry about your father.

- Maybe you think you are.
- I am.

No, you're not yet.

You will be.

You ever see a rancher
use a cattle prod?

No. No, Rachel.

Cattle can be stubborn.

Takes a real jolt
to get them going.

It must hurt.

You'll have to let me know.

No.

So Wagner says Sherry
Winger was after Jane--

The girl who was the witness?

I thought C.H.P. Checked her out.

Now they're saying the license
and registration are fakes--

Top dollar forgeries.

They never would've caught it if
they hadn't taken a second look.

So do we have any idea who
Sherry Winger really is

or where she is?

No. No. The only thing we know
for sure is that she hated Jane.

Linus gave me copies of
the letters she wrote him.

I gave the originals to forensics

so they could run the paper.

Why would she show up at the scene?

It seems like the last
place she'd want to be.

Misdirection. She gives us
the wrong license plate--

We head north instead
of going south.

Boss, I've read something
else written by this person.

- You sure?
- Yeah, there are phrases that I've seen before.

This one calls Jane a
coyote-like trickster,

And in one of these...

Where... here.

In this one.

Calls Jane a trickster, a coyote.

- Who wrote that letter?
- It's from the daughter of Don Bowman.

Get a copy of Sherry
Winger's license.

Who's don bowman?

Case from three years ago.
Insurance company executive.

He was writing fake policies
and cashing them in.

Company auditor found out,
so Bowman killed him.

That's Bowman.

- And Jane put him away?
- He had a daughter-- Rachel, 19.

He was a single father.
She idolized him. He adored her.

Okay. Jane forges a letter to
Bowman under Rachel's name,

Claiming she's discovered proof
that he committed the murder.

She's devastated, doesn't know

whether to go to the
police or kill herself.

So Bowman races to his daughter.

He's so sorry.
He did it all for her.

She needs to keep the secret.

And you're there?
Jane has you there?

We got the whole
conversation on tape.

Just checked the records.
Don Bowman and Fred Kittel

Were both imprisoned at
Corcoran at the same time.

That's the connection.

- But Bowman couldn't be behind this.
- Why not?

He's dead. Died in
prison about a year ago.

Bowman's dead,
but his daughter isn't.

Is that the driver's
license picture?

Mm-hmm. Look at this.

Let me see that.
Rachel Bowman. Sherry Winger.

Ooh, Miss Rachel's had some
work done, but that's her.

- Get her address fast.
- Okay.

You didn't know that my father
died in prison, did you?

No.

Of an infection.

Do you know how
incredibly stupid that is?

Simple antibiotics
could've saved him...

But a prison hospital--

It's--it's a nightmare in there.

They just let him die,

But you killed him.

You know, your anger is misplaced.

Oh, really?

You can't be angry
with your father,

So... here I am.

Don't you dare say that.
My father loved me.

He took care of me,
provided for me.

I'm all he ever cared about.

Yes, you are, and he
wouldn't want you doing this.

Mm. Oh, I think he
would be very proud.

He loved me so much,

And you made me betray him.

When you were talking to me,

Asking about me and my dad...

I thought that you were
actually concerned.

I mean, I thought
that you liked me.

You want me to be sorry? Okay.
I am sorry.

I'm sorry that the loss of
your father drove you mad,

But I don't regret
what I did to him.

He was a thief and a murderer,

And I did everything
I could to catch him,

Because that's just who I am.

You set?

- Yeah.
- Go!

Clear! Clear!

Kitchen clear!

Second story clear!

House is empty!
There's dust everywhere!

- It looks like she's been gone for weeks!
- Basement?

- Nothin'!
- All right, let's get forensics in here!

Look for anything that'll
tell us where she went!

And get somebody to turn
off that damn alarm!

There's somebody in my house.

I gotta go.

I'll be back.

Rachel, can you please
move that thing?

Please.

Please. Please,
the stench is unbearable.

O-over there, anywhere.
Just please, please move him.

Thank you.

Smell at.

Sorry, pal.

So we got a line on
Fred Kittel's dad.

He's got a place just
south of Diamond Springs.

You and O'Laughlin
go and talk to him.

- Sure.
- I'm gonna head back to the office.

I wanna look at something
in Rachel Bowman's file.

All right, I'll hold
down the fort here.

Jane, where are you?

Not Jane, Agent.

Just so you know,
I'm looking right at you.

Everything will be all right
if you do exactly as I say.

If not, Jane will be dead
in 15 minutes. Clear?

Clear.

Drive another 100 yards
and stop at the cafe.

Take your gun out of its holster.

Place it on the seat.

Get out of your car
and close the door.

Walk away.

15 minutes, Agent.

Now walk down the street and
come to the gas station.

Let's go see Patrick.

I want two choppers in the air

And a 40-block perimeter
secured around this site.

No car leaves this area
without being searched!

Not one!

We have no I.D. on any vehicle.

The suspect is female,
early 20s, blonde, about 5'7".

She has at least one hostage
and possibly two with her.

Give me a second, okay? Hey.

Grace, the office said
something happened to Lisbon.

She's gone. We think Rachel
took her about 20 minutes ago.

- She got Lisbon.
- When?

- Just now.
- Should we come back?

Hey, boss, do you want
Rigsby and O'Laughlin back?

No. Tell them to finish
what they're doing.

Hightower says no.

Wayne...

I know. I know, Grace.
It's... it's gonna be okay.

All right. Bye.

Mr. Kittel! This is the police!

Come out with your hands up!

Mr. Kittel? CBI!

Hello?!

Mr. Kittel, put the gun down!

- No way I ain't.
- Put it down now.

Hell, no! You got
no right to be here.

We just wanna talk.

Fine! Talk yourselves
on outta here!

Go on!

Get out.

Go on!

All right. This is
how it's gonna go.

On the count of three,

I'm gonna shoot you in the head.

Rigsby-- - No, it's my deal!

Put the gun down, or on three,

I shoot you in the head.
You ready? One...

- Take it easy, okay?
- Two...

- Three!
- Okay!

Okay.

Why you have to be
such a hard-ass for?

Freddy? I ain't seen
Freddy in six months.

I couldn't tell ya

anything about that son of a bitch.

Do you know what he was doing,
who he was in contact with?

What he was doin'?

Well, the last time I saw him,

What he was doing was smokin' weed

And lookin' at porn on my laptop.

You have any idea how
we can get in touch

with any of his friends?

No, thank god.

Night crawlers-- all of 'em.

There is one good thing, though,
that he did for me recently.

He pissed off my ex-- his mother.

How'd he do that?

Ha. She don't talk
to him for months.

He shows up, sweet-talks her
into giving him the keys

to the family's hunting cabin.

And then he splits
with all the xanax.

Oh, I'll tell ya.

I had a laugh.

Where is this cabin exactly,
mr. Kittel?

Go.

I'm going. I'm going.

Visiting hours. Hey, Lisbon.

Hands.

What's the plan,
Rachel? I get to watch Lisbon die

Just like you watched
your father die?

- That's right.
- What?!

That's what I thought.
I've been smelling gasoline.

- You burning the place down?
- That's right.

- Rachel, think about this for a minute.
- Oh, I have.

Oh, she certainly has.
You're never gonna get away with it.

You'll never know if I do or don't.

Lisbon, I'm sorry.
This is my fault.

I will not let you burn
alive as god is my witness.

Good-bye.

Rachel. Rachel, wait! Rachel!

- You're wasting your energy.
- You have a better idea?

Just so happens I do.

Where'd you get that?

Him.

I was hoping to
unpick my handcuffs,

But, uh, no luck.

Well, what are you gonna do?

You're not gonna like it.

Help! Aah!

Help!

What did you do?

I said I wouldn't let her burn.

This way she won't suffer.

Son of a bitch!

You think I won't hurt you more?

I can do this all night!

Get the gun! Get it!

Get the gun!

To hell with this.

You all right?

Uh... I think I need a shower.

Rigsby.

I'm heading out, and, uh,
just wanted to say...

It was a good day.

Yeah.

"I'm gonna kill you
on the count of three"

Was a little out of the box.

Well, it worked.

Yeah, it--it did.

Look...

What I really wanted
to say is, uh...

I hope we're cool.

Yeah, 'cause you did
some outstanding work.

Yeah.

Yeah, we are.

Appreciate that.

Okay.

See you around.

O'Laughlin.

Yeah.

Don't hurt her.

Or what?

Or you'll have to deal with me.

You okay?

Good. Thank you.

You're looking a little creaky.

Yeah.

Well, a cattle prod
will do it to you.

Well, the doctor says
there's no lasting effects.

Well, that doctor should
try it himself sometime.

Well, that was a big smile.

Of course I'm glad you're back,

But I'm also glad we finally
solved one without you.

You were kidnapped
and delivered to me.

That counts as solving one?

Hightower and the team found us.

But if I hadn't held off Rachel,

They would have found us
dead in a burned out house.

Oh, you held off Rachel.
Where's my apple?

Your what?

My apple. I asked you
to get me an apple.

I come through the valley of death,

And all you can think about

- is your stomach--a piece of fruit.
- That's right.

- An apple.
- Yes.

- Well, that's just plain selfish.
- Selfish?

Yes, it is.
Now I-- - Me, selfish?

You're on my couch.

I'm trying to have a cup of tea.
Have you finished?

You call me creaky.
I've been cattle-prodded all week.

I just wanna have a
rest and a cup of tea

- And a little sleep.
- Wish I had a cattle prod.