[kids playing]
[traffic sounds]
[train horn]
[train bell]
[siren wailing]
[bus brakes screech]
[music stops]
[man humming]
[Female Waitress] Have a seat wherever you like, hon.
[Simon] I'm Simon.
I'm here for the job interview.
[Female Waitress] Okay.
I'll go let the manager know you're here.
You can wait there.
[Simon] Thank you.
[Manager] So, Simon.
I was hoping you could, uh, clarify something for me.
Mm-hm.
You wrote here
that you were last employed ten years ago.
Yes.
And nothing since?
No.
Have you been in school?
Um... no.
May I ask why there's such a gap in your employment history?
Um...
I had some, uh, medical problems.
I was in a hospital.
[Manager] Oh, um, I see.
[chuckles] Here's the thing, Simon.
We were really...
[Man's voice in Simon's head] Well, here it comes.
We're about 30 seconds away from "Thanks for coming in.
Now, go **** yourself, crazy boy."
How does it feel knowing you can't even
jockey menus to senior citizens?
[maniacal laughs] Maybe you could sing for the customers?
You like to sing, don't you?
Yeah, of course you do.
You're just a little girl who likes to sing.
[Simon] Go away.
[Old Man] Oh, you think 'cause you start some new pills,
you're gonna get rid of me?
You know there's only one way to get rid of me.
You couldn't even get that right.
[clanking and clattering]
[eerie music]
[Simon gasps]
Are you okay, Mister McNally?
The colorless ideas do not sleep tonight!
[awkward silent]
Um, are you sure you're okay?
Yes. Yes! Everything's fine.
Well, thank you for coming in.
We will hold onto this and I, uh,
[clears throat] I--I'll let you know.
[mischievous music]
[lively chattering]
[knocks on door]
Deerman, what a surprise.
Isn't there supposed to be an officer
on duty in the cafeteria at all times?
Deerman, how many times do I have to tell you?
You don't work here anymore.
[Student] This is assault, man.
This guy maced me.
Did you spray this kid?
[Deerman sighs]
Deerman, what did you spray this kid with?
Hand over what you lifted.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure you do.
Campus security.
[laughs] Right.
Well, I'm late for class, so you just let me know
when we get to the part where I give a shit.
Oh, okay.
Oh! Oh!
Oh, my god!
[phone ringing]
Hand sanitizer?
He has a backpack stuffed full of muffins, bagels.
Whatever he could get his little thieving hands on.
You sprayed this kid in the face with hand sanitizer?
You took away my pepper spray, so I had to improvise.
My eyes are on ****ing fire, man.
Come on.
- Stop whining. - [Student] God!
Uncuff him.
[Student winces]
Now!
- Kendra. - [Kendra] Mm-hm.
Grab the emergency eyewash out of the first aid kit.
Take this kid to the bathroom and help him wash out his eyes.
You're not gonna call the cops?
If I call the cops on anyone, it's gonna be on you.
[Ed] I saw these locks you ordered for
the security patrol bikes.
- [Jeremy] What about them? - [Ed] They're tubular.
[Jeremy] And?
[Ed] Jesus H. Christ on a cracker.
Don't you know how easy it is to pick a tubular lock?
I mean, these bikes represent a hefty share
of our entire year's security budget.
It's not our security budget anymore, Deerman.
It is my security budget.
And this is how you protect the investment,
by getting a bunch of locks that any 9-year-old could pick
with a BIC pin in less than ten seconds?
God damn it.
Who's minding the store since I've left?
I! I am minding the store.
You know, Deerman,
there are two types of failures in this world.
Has-beens and never-wases.
You are a never-was.
And I don't care about the opinion of a never-was.
I think it would be best for everyone
if you don't come around here for a while.
[door hinges squeaking]
[Ed sighs]
[somber music]
[car squealing to halt]
[Simon humming]
[Ed] Freak.
[door opening]
[Deedee] Oh. Birdy, is it time for the interview?
Uh, it already happened.
What?
How'd you get there?
Um, you know, same way I got everywhere
before I moved back.
Took the bus.
Well, I would have driven you.
[Simon] You were sleeping.
Yeah, but still, I would have [yawns].
[Simon] It's fine. It's fine.
I'm--I'm used to doing things on my own.
So, how'd it go?
[phone ringing]
[Simon] Who's that?
Uh, it's a telemarketer.
How did it go? Feel good about it?
Don't you have--you have class at noon, right?
Oh, damn it!
Got a histology quiz today.
Ugh.
Um, hey, I was thinking that maybe, uh, Saturday
we could hit up Dooley's, you know?
Karaoke night, after I get off work.
Be fun.
[Simon] Uh, no, thanks.
It's not really my thing anymore.
Not your thing?
You used to light that place up when you sang.
What happened to the kid I used to have to drag out
of there at closing because he had to do just one more?
I don't know. I wish I knew.
Mm.
[serene piano chords]
[phone ringing]
Hey, Simon. You can come in now.
Can we do something about the spasms?
[Dr. Hoffman] I wish we could, but tardive dyskinesia is,
unfortunately, very common for patients taking
Risperdal and Loxapine.
I mean, I'd switch you to something else,
but nothing else we've given you
has been as effective.
How are your symptoms?
[Simon] Nothing to report.
[Dr. Hoffman] No word salad, no hallucinations?
[train horn]
[Simon] No.
[Dr. Hoffman] I know you mentioned before
that you sometimes feel like people
are watching you under your bed, in your closet.
How's that?
[Simon] Fine. Totally gone.
[Dr. Hoffman] Totally?
[Simon] Yeah.
[Angry Man] Look at me when I'm talking to you!
[Woman] Ah!
[Angry Man] I don't want to get angry.
I don't.
I just want you to see respecting of things
'cause I [indistinct] fair respect.
Where were you before me? Huh, baby girl?
We feed you. We clothe you.
We keep you warm.
Do either of us get an ounce of goddamn gratitude?!
What are you doing? Huh?!
You ****ing *****! [Smack of slap]
[Simon gasps]
[Man's voice in Simon's head] Oh my, this looks serious.
The prince disintegrates in the morning.
[Man's voice in Simon's head] Good thing you can't even
put a sentence together.
Just go home, you babbling moron.
[woman groaning]
[van door bangs shut]
[Simon gasps]
[Voice in head] What's wrong?
Seeing things again?
One, two, three.
[Voice in head] Now they're getting away,
and that's your cue to freeze up and stand there,
just like you did when I broke your sister's jaw.
You couldn't do anything then, and you won't do anything now.
[tense, thrilling music]
3-1-4.
[tense, thrilling music continues]
[Simon mumbling] 5-1-N-3-1-4. 5-1...
[music playing on TV] [Ed snoring]
[loud banging on door]
[Ed] What the hell do you think you're doing?
Hi, I'm Simon.
[Ed] Yeah, I know who you are.
You're the batshit loon that lives next door.
Yeah, no, I'm not a loon.
I'm sick.
Boo-****ing-hoo. All right?
Aren't you the same guy that punched two cops
in the middle of the road and we had reporters here
for two days straight after that?
Do you have any idea what that kind of publicity does
to neighborhood property values?
I'm sorry.
I wasn't really thinking about that at the time.
[Ed] No, you sure as hell weren't.
Aren't you supposed to be in some kind of
cracker factory up north?
Yes, they let me out, though.
Oh, good.
My tax dollars at work.
Sir, I need a ride.
[Ed] Excuse me?
Do I look like a cabbie to you?
[Simon] No, no. Look, this is important.
I saw--I saw a girl, and she was--she got--
she was getting beaten up.
- And I-- - [Simon] All right.
You got ten seconds to get off my porch
- and then calling the cops... - [Simon] No.
...and they can put you back where you belong.
[Simon] Wait, wait, no, no, sir! I--I saw a girl get beaten up,
and I think she may be kidnapped,
and I need to get to the police station.
And the buses, they don't go that way anymore today.
Please, sir!
I know you can hear me. Sir?!
[horns blaring]
[Voice in head] You're looking pretty tired there
and only six more blocks to go.
[laughs]
Not tired.
[Voice in head] Sure you are and you know what happens
when you get tired.
[car speeding]
[machine whirring loudly]
[Voice in head] [laughs]
You think you're gonna make it another six blocks
with your chicken legs, and ****ed up head,
and your silly little notions of heroism?
Hey, how are your arms feeling?
[Voice in head] You think you're gonna be the one to save her?
You think I'm gonna let that happen?
You're no man. You're just a silly little girl
who likes to sing, and I've got your number.
Remember that.
The twirling scars the boy.
I'd like to report a kidnapping.
[phone ringing]
[Simon] She had light hair, shoulder length.
She was about 19, 20, um... pale.
Uh-huh. What about the man?
Um, yeah, he was wearing a turtleneck shirt
and, uh, a leather jacket...
average height, um, thin.
And facial features?
[Detective Glover] Eyes, hair, crow's feet, marks, anything?
I didn't--I didn't really get a good look at his face.
[Detective Glover] Okay, and you said you had a plate number?
[Simon] Yes, yes.
5-1-N 3-1-4.
[Detective Glover] All right, um, we'll check it out.
See what shakes loose. Thanks for coming in.
We'll call you if we have any questions.
When's your birthday? Simon?
April 30, 1992. Why?
Just for the report.
Thanks again for coming in.
[suspicious music]
[keyboard clacking]
[water pouring into cup]
[Voice in head] You know they're not looking for her
because she doesn't exist.
They know you're a crazy, little, shit-*** rat,
and deep down, you know that too, don't ya?
[Voice in head] Oh, this is rich.
A little girl who's still afraid of boogeyman in the closet
and demons under the bed.
You really think for a second that cop believed one word
that came out of your twitchy little mouth?
[telephone ringing]
Glover.
Hi. Did you find her? Is she okay?
[Detective Glover] Who is this?
Um, this is Simon McNally.
We--we spoke earlier, uh, about the woman
who is in trouble in the--in the alley
[Ed] between fourth and fifth.
Oh yeah, yeah. No luck,
[Detective Glover] unfortunately.
But I gave you, um...
I ga--I gave you a plate number.
Well, the plate number you gave me
is registered to somebody who actually got pulled over
this morning in Coldwater.
[Detective Glover] That's a good 300 miles north of here.
Couldn't have been on the van you saw.
[Simon] No. No, I saw a woman get shoved into a white van
while I was on my way home
[Simon] from my doctor appointment.
God, you found out I was in a hospital, didn't you?
That's what this is.
You found out I was in the hospital.
Now, now, you're gonna tell me that I'm confused, right?
I'm--I'm not trying to upset you. It's just--
[Simon] It's just what? It's just what?
Just because I spent some
time in the hospital, that means I couldn't possibly see
what I know that I saw?!
[Detective Glover] Simon, there is nothing here
to corroborate your account.
You can't even describe the guy you say you saw.
[Detective Glover] I want to help here.
I'm just gonna need something more...
What? What is it?
What is it? Reliable?
You need something more reliable because my word,
my word isn't reliable enough, is that it?
[Detective Glover] If you remember anything else.
[phone beeps]
[Voice in head] Told you.
[Female voice on telephone] Also the plaque
on your artery walls is a bit of a concern,
and your cholesterol is shockingly bad.
You're mumbling. Speak clearer.
[Female voice on telephone] I'm not mumbling, sir.
What?
[Female voice on telephone] I'm not mum...
Doctor Valentino wanted me to make sure
that you're taking your Ramipril.
Religiously.
[Female voice on telephone] We also need to make a follow-up
appointment to examine your enlarging prostate.
Can we schedule that?
You know, as much as I am looking forward
to having my *** probed by a three-foot claw at length,
I am sorry to say that I am booked solid.
[Female voice on telephone] Mister Deerman.
Director Deerman.
[Female voice on telephone] Director Deerman, you are really
taking some awful risks here, if you don't make some changes
to your lifestyle.
I--I appreciate the call. Thank you.
All right, what do you think?
[ominous music]
Oh, you know what, that doesn't help.
[game beeps]
[knocking on door changes to banging]
Hold your horses! God damn.
[Ed] Oh, my God.
Now this can't be a thing.
You live next door, Screw Loose.
[Simon] They--they won't look for her.
Who?
[Simon] The girl, the one who I saw get thrown into a van.
They--they won't look for her.
And I just, I, I know that she's out there.
[Ed] You know what? I got an idea.
Why don't you go to the neighbor on the other side of you?
'Cause maybe they'll give a shit.
[Simon] But wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Weren't--weren't you like a--
weren't you like a cop or something?
Or something.
All right.
Before I change my mind, come on.
Really?
[Ed sighs]
Thank you.
[Ed] You want to just have a seat.
Take it easy. I'll get you a cup of coffee.
The dogs are eating the lepers.
What did you say?
Just--sorry.
One second.
Sometimes when I...am excited,
my speech gets... mixed up.
They call it word salad.
I bet they do
What I meant to say was,
I don't think they think I'm a reliable witness.
I know that they don't.
I gave them the license plate number off the van,
and then when they ran it, they--they said that it wasn't--
Maybe you remembered it wrong.
Are you saying I imagined it?
- No, I'm not. - I didn't.
I didn't!
God damn it! I didn't!
Whoa, whoa.
Do not get foul with me, taffy brain,
I will bounce you to the moon and back.
Do you understand?
Yeah, I'm sorry.
All right, follow me.
[Ed] Okay. There are at least 50 different sites
on the interweb where you plug in your plate number
and it will kick you back the owner's name and address.
What's the plate number?
But the cops said it didn't check out.
- Just plate number, please. - Right.
5...5-1-N 3-1-4.
[Simon] See, here's the thing with cops,
they ran this one plate number.
They don't think three-dimensionally.
See, there's A and B and a straight line in between.
Okay.
Now, what if... change that to...?
S-1-N 3-1-4, could it be that?
- Yeah. - Could that be it?
Yeah, I think, I g... I guess so, yeah.
And what about change that to that?
Could that work?
Yeah.
I mean, the van was vibrating.
Mm.
See the way I see it, there's a good five
or six possibilities of what your mystery plate could be.
So you believe me?
Well, no, I didn't say that.
Now, I--look--
I'm gonna get you started.
I'm gonna point you in the right direction.
If we're lucky, we'll get a couple names and addresses.
After that, my man, you are on your own.
Why are you helping me if you don't believe me?
Because I suck at poker.
Okay, um... Oh, shit.
Hold on.
0-4-0-2...
I should know this.
God damn it.
What's wrong?
We're going to plan B.
[exciting music]
It's a safe?
[Ed] Pretty clever, ain't it?
All Vanderton Clocks come with that sweet little feature.
Let's go.
[music continues]
[PA] Number 24.
[Ed] All right, that's us.
Let me handle this.
Bureaucrats, they respect law enforcement threats
such as myself.
Hello, ma'am.
My name is Ed Deerman.
I am director of security and surveillance at the college,
and this here is my assistant.
Simon Mc--McNally.
Mister McNally.
How can I help you, sir?
[Ed] We are having some issues with vandalism on campus.
Our security cameras caught some license plates
to the cars that we think are involved.
But I'm wondering if you can be a doll
and run these plates for us
and help us with our investigation.
Sir, I'm not authorized to reveal this kind of
information to a security guard.
[Ed] Well, I'm not a goddamn security guard.
I'm not a security guard.
I am the senior director of security and surveillance
Operations at the college, and I am authorizing you
to give me the names that go with these license plates.
I'm gonna need a bit more than that, sir.
May I ask you something?
What would your supervisor think?
[Voice in Simon's head] This is going really well.
Brilliant strategy, bringing in Tweedledee there to help you.
We don't have time for this.
She needs our...
Okay.
[Voice in head] Uh-oh.
She needs our help.
[Voice in head] I wonder what's happening
to your girlfriend right now.
All those things that might be happening
to a pretty girl like that, I wouldn't worry about it though.
She's probably dead already.
Ma'am, ma'am!
Excuse me. Excuse me.
No, no, no, we're looking for a girl who's in trouble
that she may be kidnapped.
- Please, you have to help us. - Call the police now.
No! Goddammit! Do you hear me?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Look, the police are not looking for her, okay?
McNally.
The cops aren't looking for her.
- McNally. - Which has two sides?
Which has two sides? The mountain--
- [Ed] ...reel it in. - [Simon]...because--
Hey, hey, hey.
If we get arrested, who's gonna find the girl?
Right?
Okay.
Just gonna take him out of here, okay?
Please. Come on.
I'm sorry.
Now, that helps.
But th--there must be something else we can do, right?
Like what?
[ballpen clicking]
What are you looking at?
I don't know.
I just like the way it sounds, the way it clicks.
Look, you are creeping me out.
Okay.
So, you were like a guard?
I used to want to be a guard when I was younger.
- I...I like the uniforms. - I wasn't a ****ing guard.
I wasn't a ****ing guard, all right? And you know what?
I wouldn't trust you to protect a lemonade stand.
[car sputtering]
[car engine starts]
All right, why don't you show me where you saw,
whatever it is you think you saw?
Okay.
Hey, Liz, that license plate nut who was in here?
Wasn't his name McNally?
Yeah. Why?
Because I got a manager from the DMV over on 5th
saying that an old guy and some crazy guy came in
trying to get her to run some plate numbers
and one of them flipped out in the lobby.
Guess what his name was?
[pensive music]
What was this girl wearing?
Short skirt, makeup.
What?
Short skirt, makeup.
You think she was a working girl?
I don't know where she works.
Oh, my God. Never mind.
Forget it.
What? What?!
Where are we going?
We're gonna find us a date.
[car engine starts]
[Blonde Woman]: So the guy says to me,
"Can I pay you after our time."
You're ****ing kidding me?
I make him cough up the guac and the ***hole's only got
two fives and a nickel on him.
It's like Christ man, what does he think I am?
A goddamn amateur?
They're all yours, Spice.
[Ed] Oh, all right, this time around,
I think it might go a little better
if she thinks we're cops.
You want us to impersonate cops?
Well, I just, I want you to follow my lead.
Okay?
Okay.
Hey, there. I am Lieutenant Mitchum.
I'm at police department. This is my partner.
We're cops.
Come on, this is harassment.
Oh, no, we're not looking to tie you up with anything.
We just want to have a quick chat.
I'm workin'.
And I don't want to keep you from that.
Cigarette? Help yourself.
We are looking for a girl.
Yeah, who?
We don't have a name.
She's, uh, what? About yay high, tall, thin, blonde,
18, 20 years old, maybe.
Last seen in an alleyway downtown.
What happened to her?
Well, we don't know that either.
Roughed up, thrown in the back of a van.
That's kind of why we want to find her.
Make sure she's okay.
I got no idea who you're talking about.
No, of course, not.
All right, will you do me a quick little favor?
Just take your sunglasses off for one second.
[Ed] Tell me that again.
I got no idea who you're talking about.
All right.
Well, thank you for your time. Keep those.
Simon.
She's telling the truth.
Doesn't know nothing.
How can you tell?
She blinked.
[smashing]
Shit!
[car ignition struggling]
No. Come on. No. Come on!
[car ignition struggling]
[smashing]
Is he a hallucination?
No, he is not a goddamn hallucination.
Are you sure?
Lock the doors! Lock the doors.
Don't, you unlocked the doors!
Stop touching the buttons! You unlocked the doors.
Oh, shit! God! God!
Take it easy on him. Easy.
Hey, let's just... let's just talk about this.
[Simon] Rehearses the stuff they're singing.
Rehearses the stuff they're... singing.
Okay. Hey, hey, hey.
Calm down, all right?
We're gonna be okay.
Let me guess this is about my video poker bill?
Shut the **** up.
Can I help y'all?
Look, we're just looking for a girl.
We thought maybe she was working in the area.
God! Geez! Don't! What?!
That's a practice swing.
Want to know what he hits next?
- No! - Stop hitting my car.
Look, this girl, she might be in trouble.
[Cameron] You her family?
Not exactly.
Then, why do you care?
Because.
Because?
Yes, because.
Here's the deal, nobody works this corner
without my say-so...
so whoever the **** you're looking for
has nothing to do with me or my earners.
If you little chuckleheads want to pretend to be cops,
go do it somewhere else. Okay?
[car whooshes by]
You okay?
Good.
I'm gonna send you a bill for the damages.
Wait, what?
I didn't do that to the car.
No, you're right. You didn't.
It was friggin' Magilla Gorilla.
You know what?
Forget it. All right?
Playtime is over. I'm going home.
No, wait. You said you would get me started.
You said that you would help me.
You know what?
We don't even know if these people
that we're looking for even exist.
I thought you believed me.
Never said that.
All right, you know why I never said that?
Because I don't believe you. God damn it.
I'm going home.
You want to ride, go ahead and get in.
Otherwise, have a good life, Simon.
[emotional music]
[car engine starts]
Naturally.
[pen clicking]
[Simon humming]
[Ed] How the hell you plan on finding her?
[Simon] What do you care?
[Ed] Can you speak up, please?
Oh, do you have a hearing problem?
[Ed] No, I don't have a goddamn hearing problem, you psycho.
- I think you have a hearing problem.
[Ed] No, I don't.
Look, I think the only way to do this is to find out more
about the license plates.
[Simon] I know that.
Yeah, but do you know how to do it?
[Simon sighs]
[upbeat music]
[knock on door]
[Jeremy sighs]
Deerman, what part of not coming around here
for a while is a mystery to you?
I just need five minutes.
I don't have five minutes.
I'm in the middle of training.
Two minutes.
What makes you think I would even entertain
the notion of talking to you for two minutes?
Well...
'Cause if you don't,
I suppose I could just, I don't know,
call Mitch and Murray.
Yeah.
And why in the hell would Mitch and Murray
want to talk to you?
You know, call me crazy,
but I think they'd be real interested in knowing
that their new supervisor has this habit of dry-humping
his young subordinates in the cafeteria after hours.
And I'm assuming that you have evidence
of these alleged activities.
Would I be standing here if I didn't?
[Jeremy] You're bluffing.
Am I?
What do you want?
You still have that cop friend that works down
in the traffic division?
Maybe. Why?
I just need names and addresses for these plate numbers.
Do you remember what you taught me
the first day I started here?
How to spot a liar?
Yeah, you always said that liars either blink too much
or not at all.
There's no in-between, and that's how I know
you don't have proof of anything, Ed.
You forgot to blink.
Okay, I'll do this for you on one condition.
All right.
You never, never come back around here again.
If I see you, I'm going to consider you a trespasser
and have you arrested.
Come on.
Mm. Take it or leave it.
Oh, that is some bullshit.
- Okay. - Okay.
Fine, fine.
Say it.
I will never come back here again.
Hm. I love the sound of that.
[upbeat, mischievous music]
[car hood slams]
What's that?
That is a retirement present. Here.
- You got it. - Yeah.
Now all gotta do is check them out.
We?
But I thought you were just gonna give me the names, right?
You want my help or don't you?
Yes, I do.
Great.
Let's go get some lunch, and we'll go over that thing.
Oh, I'm not I'm hungry, though.
Fine. You can watch me eat.
[car engine starts]
[Diner Waitress] Have you guys decided?
Did you say something?
Do you know what you want?
Well, I'm sorry, toots.
I couldn't hear you over the sound of the fans.
The ceiling fans aren't on.
Okay, you shut up.
And yes, I've decided.
Can I get two flapjack dinners, a large Coke,
and a large chocolate milkshake with a dollop
of whipped cream extra thick?
Thank you so much. You want anything?
No, thank you.
Hey, bep, bep. Excuse me.
I got this little card here.
Now, if I get two dinners,
does that mean I get an extra punch?
Because if I get an extra punch, that means next time I come in,
I get a free dinner.
Uh, I don't think so.
You don't think so, or you don't know so?
[Diner Waitress] I'll go check with the manager.
All right.
Some of us are on a fixed income, missy.
God, people don't want to do their jobs anymore, do they?
All right.
Look, out of the five possibilities
there's only three in the area, right?
None are registered to a van,
which means we're probably right.
The van has stolen plates.
That stands to reason that one of these
is missing its plates.
Yes.
- Yes. - Yes.
Yes.
Yeah.
All right, I'll bite.
What's eating you, Screw Loose?
You know all those people who were staring at me?
At the DMV, laughing?
That manager lady, she thought I was pathetic.
You know that, right?
Kind of hard to miss.
You know, you go all section eight.
People are gonna think that.
I have a name.
It's not Screw Loose.
It's not Section Eight...
or retard.
It's Simon. Si-mon.
Yeah.
Simon, it is.
[Ed] All right. Well, this is the address
for the first name on the list.
Look, Simon.
In order for this to have a chance in hell of working,
you are gonna have to keep your talking to a minimum.
And, Simon, you gotta look people in the eye.
How?
What do you mean, how?
Just, I don't know, just do it.
How hard can it be? Here.
Let's try it. Try it on me.
Right in the eye.
[Ed] Holy shit.
You really can't do it, huh?
Okay. How about this?
When you look at somebody,
it's only for one second at a time, all right?
So, look at him, you count to one, and then you look away.
The next time you look at him, you count to two,
and you just kind of keep adding seconds.
Okay? Does that sound good?
Yeah, sure.
Right on.
All right, let's practice it.
Look me in the eye.
One second, that's all you got to do.
- Right now? - [Ed] Yep, right now.
One second.
Simon, you can't say one second out loud.
- Okay. - It has to stay in your head.
I know.
Okay, one more time.
Oh, yeah, that was so natural.
You got this. Let's do this, okay?
Okay.
[soft, pensive music]
[Ed] Hi, I am Lieutenant Mitchum.
This is my partner, Detective Douglas.
We are investigating a possible kidnapping.
Wondering if we take a look at a vehicle registered
as a 2004 Toyota Highlander in your name?
I haven't had that Highlander in months.
Got totaled.
You know what happened to it?
The last time I saw it, they were towing what was left
of it to the junkyard.
Do you know what junkyard they towed it to?
Uh, yeah.
I've got the receipt somewhere around here.
No shit.
[Voice in head] Wow, you look someone in the eye without
lapsing into incoherence like any average seven-year-old.
Do you want your medal engraved for the occasion?
[Simon humming]
Why are you always humming that song?
It's always playing...
in there.
Sometimes it's louder than others.
What does that feel like?
I mean...
hearing things that aren't there.
I don't want to talk about this.
I don't want to be driving around in my car
that just got smashed up by a killer pimp.
But here we are.
[Simon] You wouldn't understand.
Simon, try me.
[radio on, channels changing]
[Ed] Hey, what are you doing?
Showing you what it's like.
[loud radio static]
All right, that's loud enough, McNally.
Hey, that's loud enough.
[radio static intensifies]
Simon, I get it!
[radio static stops]
[pensive music]
- Hey, there. - Hey.
What can I help you with?
Well, we are looking for what's left of that car.
[Kurt] [exhales] I mean, yeah, I towed it here, but
[scoffs] I don't know where it is in the yard.
All right.
Do--do you mind if we have a little walk through?
Yeah, sure. Have at it.
[Ed] Great. Thank you.
Just back there.
[Detective Glover] What did he say when he was having this fit?
He said some girl needed help, because... What'd he say again?
Um... because the cops weren't looking for her.
I'd like to get the video if I could.
Uh, my leg is killing me.
How much more we have to check?
Wait.
Is that a Highlander right there?
[suspenseful music]
The numbers match.
- [Simon] They do? - [Ed] Yeah.
This is the car that the guy in the van
stole the plates off of, right?
That's exactly what I was afraid of, kid.
What do you mean?
I mean, there's no way to track down
whoever stole these plates.
What?
Why didn't you say something?
Why didn't you say something before?
Well, frankly, I didn't think we'd make it this far.
[distant woman screaming]
It's her. Ed, it's her.
Where the **** you're going?
[Simon] Come on, we gotta help! [loud screaming]
We are on...
[car crusher sound]
Wait, wait!
Turn it off! Turn it off! Turn it off!
Ed! Ed, she's in here.
She's in here. I heard her.
- [Ed] Simon. - Hello.
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- There's nobody in there. - Hey, no. Ed, she's in here.
- I heard her. She's right here. - There's nobody in here!
She's in here, Ed!
Simon. Hey, look at me. [muffled] Look at me.
[Voice in head] You know now, don't you?
You know you'll never find her.
Hell, she never had a chance.
Not with you looking for her.
Dad's always right, ain't he?
Say it.
You're right.
Dad's always right.
Who are you-- who're you talkin' to?
- What's going on? - Nothing.
- Are you sure? - I'm fine, old man.
Sorry, man.
[Kurt] No worries, buddy.
[unsettling music]
[keyboard clicks]
[Deedee] So, um, I was looking online,
and this city has this service to help people like you
find a job.
You know, maybe you could take a look at their website.
People like me?
We need the income, Birdie.
You know, I can only work at the salon
at night this semester, and it's killing my take-home.
I'll find a job myself.
Can you at least just look at the website?
[Simon] What did you do?
[Deedee] Uh, well, you're welcome.
I mean, somebody had to put it together.
I didn't put it together for a reason.
[Deedee] And what reason is that?
- What is this? - [Deedee] I--I don't know.
I just--it was so bare.
I thought maybe I could make it more you.
Simon, look, we are barely hanging on here,
and you know that dad didn't give a shit when he died.
And I don't know what we're supposed to do.
What are we supposed to do if we get evicted?
I don't know.
You could just run away again.
Oh, right, you know what?
Then you'd be out the money that the state gives you for me.
You think I'm looking after you for the 200 bucks I get a month?
I think if you really gave a shit about me,
you wouldn't have left me alone with the ***hole.
I was 16.
I was 16, I was a ****ing kid.
What was I supposed to do?
**** it. Never mind.
[banging on wall]
[soft music]
[water running]
[water stops running]
[brief floor creaking]
[insects chirping]
[floor creaking]
[Ed grunts]
[tense music plays]
[knocks on door]
I'm leaving for work now.
Good night.
[door shutting]
[water running]
[suspenseful music]
[Simon gasping]
[footsteps]
[Ed coughs]
[rhythmic, suspenseful music]
[wrapper crinkling]
Why're you looking for me?
[Ed coughing]
I know you're not police.
So why are you looking for me?
I know you have the girl.
Ya ***hat.
Who's with you?
Tell me who he is, and I'll end you quick.
[Ed coughing]
[tense music]
[laughs] "The answer's unclear. Try back later."
[thud]
Ah, ****!
Ah! Ah! Ah! [panting]
Now, you don't want to kill me.
Yeah? Yeah, why not?
'Cause if I die, she dies.
I have partners.
What do you think happens if hours tick by
and they don't hear from me?
You're lying. You're lying.
Might even think the cops got a hold of me.
These aren't the kind that leave witnesses behind.
Okay. Ed?
- [gun fired] - [high pitched ringing]
[groaning echoes]
[Voice in head] Well, looky, what we have here.
[evil laughter]
It was an, an accident.
[Voice in head] Oh sure, an accident.
You accidentally blew his face off with a shotgun.
He was trying to kill Ed.
He grabbed that girl.
[Voice in head] What scares you more, knowing you'll be
spending the rest of your life in a room
without windows or knowing that you're just
as dangerous as everybody says?
[evil laughter]
Strike hard at the lightning fire.
[phone ringing]
[Ed coughs]
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Don't move. Don't move. Don't move.
Oh, kid. I'm so sorry.
Shut up.
- Okay. - [Ed grunts]
Sorry, sorry.
Stay here. Stay here.
[Simon] Ed, where are your keys?
Christ.
[tense music]
[Simon strains]
Oh, ****.
[radio static]
[Police Officer] We have a 1036,
reported at 30813, Marchetti Drive.
Any units, please respond.
I'm gonna go, baby. Bye.
[siren wailing]
Dee, you've outdone yourself.
[Deedee chuckles]
Now, can you do something about this face?
Oh, hush. You look beautiful. Stop it.
[doorbell ringing]
Who's that?
Not sure. Let me go check.
I'll be right back to cash you out.
Oh, okay.
[knocks on door]
Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.
Oh, for ****'s sake. What happened?
Oh, my God, are you okay?
[indistinct]
[Deedee] Just set him down.
Okay, okay. Is this your blood?
Are you hurt?
He was attacked.
Why the hell did you bring him here?
He was--he's bleeding.
He's bleeding everywhere, and I couldn't stop it
and you were the closest help that there was.
What the **** am I supposed to do?
Give him a perm?
No, you're a nurse.
No, I'm not. Not yet.
He needs a doctor, not a third-year nursing student.
Can you just look at him?
- Look at him. - Oh, ****.
Oh, ****. Okay. Okay.
Is it just here?
- Yeah. - Okay.
Anywhere else?
My head.
Give me that towel. Give me a towel.
Okay. All right.
I'm gonna put pressure on it, okay?
[Ed wails in pain]
- [Deedee shushes] - [Simon screams]
Deedee, everything okay back there?
Come here.
Wait, what am I doing?
Just put your hand on it. Put pressure on it.
Be quiet 'till I get back.
Okay.
Just hold on, just hold on.
- Is everything okay? - Yeah, yeah.
- What's going on back there?
Totally. Everything's fine.
But I thought I heard a man screaming.
Oh yeah, it's just an emergency wax.
That's all. Uh, it'll be 110 for today.
Ah...
Just take it from there.
[tense music]
Um...
Don't worry about the change.
[Simon] How are we doing here?
Um, about the same.
Let go. You can let go.
All right, here's the story.
It's a deep laceration, so it's not gonna clot on its own.
No matter how much pressure we put on it.
We're gonna have to stitch him up.
So you've done this before?
Nope, never, but I have shadowed the nurses
at the ER for the past six months, so I've seen it done.
Great.
Mister Deerman, this is gonna hurt.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[camera shutter clicking]
[Detective Glover] Know who he is?
[Tech] No ID, no wallet.
Tough to tell.
Not the owner of the house.
Yeah, neighbors who called it in say the house
belongs to Ed Deerman, retired security guard.
They saw him fleeing the scene with McNally after the gunshot.
ID's going to take a while.
He doesn't have enough of mouth left for dental records.
[camera shutter clicks]
Yeah, put a BOLO out for a silver Crown
Victoria, license plate.
Echo, Mary, Victor, two, four, niner.
First suspect, McNally. Simon.
[water running]
[Deedee sighs]
He'll be okay.
Mild concussion, but we stopped the bleeding, so.
Thanks, Dee.
Come here.
What's that?
Um, the man who attacked Eddy, he had this on him.
Birdy, you gotta take that to the cops, okay?
And you gotta tell them everything you just told me.
They don't believe me.
I mean, they don't even believe there's a girl.
They will now.
No, no.
By the time they figure that out, she'll already be dead.
Birdy, please.
Just let the police handle this.
[Ed] She's right.
What?
[Ed] I'm sorry, kid.
When you came to me for help,
I should have talked you out of it.
Never should have gotten involved running around
like goddamn detectives.
No. No.
Cut the crybaby shit and look at this.
I don't think I'm up to it, kid.
What's--it--you're--you're just gonna let her die?
He said the partners could kill her in hours.
We don't know that there are partners.
He could have been bluffing.
Maybe he wasn't.
[Ed sighs]
[Deedee] Birdy?
[knocks on door]
Did you guys hear that?
[Deedee gasps]
It's the cops. What do I do?
Nothing. Just stay here.
They probably didn't see you.
[Detective Gunn] Ma'am, we saw you.
Will you please answer the door?
I have to go out there.
[Simon] Stall 'em.
**** no.
Stall them. Just two minutes.
Right, Ed?
Stall them.
Birdy, don't do this.
[tense music]
[Deedee sighs]
That was really nice on the eye contact.
- [Simon] Thank you. - Yeah.
Give me the goddamn phone.
[Simon] Okay.
Can I help you?
[Detective Glover] Are you Deedee McNally?
Yes.
Can we enter the premises, ma'am?
Do you have a warrant?
Simon McNally is your brother, correct?
[Simon] The partners.
All right, here goes nothing.
[phone ringing]
[Kurt] Thanks for calling Kurt's Auto salvage.
If you've reached this message during regular business hours,
we're not able to come to the phone.
Son of a *****.
[Kurt] Please leave a message, and we'll get back to you soon.
- We gotta go. - [Kurt] See ya'.
Can you walk?
Is it a crime to have a brother now?
It is when the brother is wanted in a possible
homicide a mile from here, and we have reason to believe
you may be harboring him.
And what reason is that?
[Officer Banks] We got a complaint from a patron
of your establishment who claims she saw blood on your hands.
Miss Blitzer?
Well, she was mistaken. It was hair dye.
So, we don't need a warrant when we have probable cause.
Now, last chance.
Open that door or we open it for you.
[suspenseful music]
See? Nobody.
Hair dye.
[music continues]
[Ed] Thank you. [grunts]
[Bus Driver] $1.25 each.
No way. I don't have my bus pass.
I don't know where my wallet is.
You can't pay, you get off.
Ed.
I have this.
It is fully punched too.
You can get yourself a free meal.
Do I get a milkshake with that meal?
Hell yes, you can have a free Milkshake.
- Hell yeah. - Take a seat.
[Ed laughs]
Milkshake.
[music fades]
[Ed] Hey, there. You remember us?
Bullshit. You guys ain't real cops.
It's a real ****ing gun.
Yeah, good thing I don't keep it loaded.
What's your move now, tough guy?
Improvise.
[thud]
Nice.
[Ed] Your friend had this on him.
You know the one, the one that you called about us,
the one that tried to kill me last night.
I don't know nothing about nobody trying
to kill you, you old ****.
Oh, he's lying.
Liars have a tough time remembering to blink.
Yeah. Prove it.
Cop.
[Simon] The rock is a vessel.
The rock is a vessel. The rock is a vessel.
Simon, calm down.
- [Simon] God! - [ED] Calm down!
Your word salading.
Just say it slow. You have this.
The...
clock... is a Vanderton.
[suspenseful music]
[Simon] Ed? Hm?
It's her.
[static]
[Ed] [muffled] Simon, what are you doing?
Simon?
I know you.
What does that mean?
I don't know what that means. I don't ****ing know you.
No, no, wait, wait, wait.
[grunting in pain]
Tell us where she is.
Get this ****ing retard off of me.
Hey, hey, Simon. Hey, easy.
This isn't you, buddy.
Easy, easy, Simon. Come on. Take it easy.
[Kurt grunts]
I didn't think you'd have the balls to go through with it.
I got this.
[Kurt screams in pain]
What?! Ah!
If sprayed in eyes, rinse immediately
or serious damage can occur?
What do you think, Kurt?
How soon do you think they mean by immediate?
Ah, damn it! I can't even open my eyes.
I tell you what, I can run and I can go get you
a bucket of ice water and we can wash out those eyes,
or we can just sit around and watch and see how serious
the damage gets.
All right, All right!
Look, I met him online. Okay?
He brings girls over here to sell them.
Sell them?
Human trafficking.
They force the girls into prostitution,
or they sell them into slavery.
[burner phone ringing]
Should we answer?
And say what? "Sorry.
He can't come to the phone right now
because half his head was blown off."
Let's keep him guessing.
I mean, maybe it'll buy us a little bit of time.
Okay.
That wasn't you that called.
Only two numbers on this phone.
So, was that other call--
was that--was that his other partner?
I don't know, never talked to anyone else.
No, I swear! I swear.
Look, he was ****ing paranoid as shit.
He didn't tell me anything.
Why do you keep the passports?
So the girls won't run.
He teases them with them, you know?
It makes them think they're about to get them back.
He did tell me about this one girl, couple days ago,
tried to run. Call his bluff.
Yeah, he said he had to,
he had to make an example out of her.
That's what you saw, Simon.
That's your girl.
She was trying to run away from these pieces of shit.
Ed, give me back the pliers.
Whoa, whoa. I'm just a middleman.
Look, all I do is watch the passports
and do little shit for him, like the plates for the van.
God damn it, you are gonna have to do better than that
if you ever want to wash those eyes out.
Okay.
Um, look, I took the plates for the van
to a house in the city.
What's the address?
All right, well, look, if I tell you,
you got to promise to untie me and not call the cops.
Yeah?
What do you think, Simon?
I don't know.
[Kurt] Yeah?
Okay, deal.
5001 Frazho.
I didn't go in the place though.
I just left the plate on the porch.
Cool.
Wait a minute. Who you calling?
[phone end ringing]
Yeah, Homeway Police Department?
Yeah, Detective Glover, please.
Bro, you ****ing promised.
Bro, I didn't blink. Oops.
[indistinct radio chatter]
[Detective Glover] Anything?
A lot of blood, a little vomit.
Makes sense.
McNally's sister says the guy had a mild concussion
and a hell of a gash.
All right, so they didn't take the car,
because they probably knew we'd be looking for it.
So where'd they go?
And how did they get there?
[phone rings]
Hello.
You're kidding me.
[tense music]
I'm coming.
[Kurt] I can describe both of them.
They broke in and robbed me. They ****ing robbed me.
And why would they do that, sir?
Those aren't mine.
No, sir, they surely are not.
What do we do? Just knock on the door?
Yeah, we start with that.
[Voice in head] You can't save her.
I won't let you.
[evil laughter]
[muffled] Is your pop talking to you again?
[Voice in head] Last chance, shit for brains.
Turn around and walk away.
I see the knife cut clearly now!
[Voice in head] [laughs] You can't even talk,
you ****ing retard.
You can **** up a cup of coffee.
You're just a ****ing child, broken child,
who imagines they saw shit that was never really there.
[unsettling music]
Simon?
[Simon groans]
[maniacal laughter]
[Ed] Hey, hey!
[pen clicking]
[Ed] Listen to the click.
[clicking echoes]
[Ed] Just listen to the click.
You know, those shit's not real.
The click is real. The click is real.
Is he gone?
That's good. Here.
This is yours.
For next time shit goes sideways.
[banging on door]
Police! Open the door!
You have nowhere to run.
SWAT has the location surrounded.
You surrender yourself and the girl.
No one gets hurt.
Last chance.
All right, here's the deal.
We're gonna have to go in, all right?
So, you have to be ready.
You open this door, you see King Kong, an alien,
or the 50-foot woman, you be ready.
[door unlocks]
Jesus Christ. That never works.
No, don't worry. It doesn't have bullets.
Remember? And I lost my hand sanitizer.
[suspenseful music]
[Simon] Are we in the right house?
[distant thud]
Did you hear that?
What?
Um, never mind. Never mind.
[suspenseful music builds up]
[Ed] Simon.
Yeah?
[Simon] Come take a look at this.
Four names, all young women.
Looks like a damn application.
[distant thud]
You really didn't hear that?
I don't hear a damn thing.
Came from upstairs.
[tense music]
All right, anybody in there?
Come out now. We are armed.
[music concludes]
So that's it, right? We're too late.
Partner's gone.
She's gone.
I'm sorry, kid.
But, I mean...
Look, we sure as hell tried.
[Simon sighs]
How about we call it a day?
[Simon] Yeah. Yeah.
[phone beeps]
[Simon humming]
[Ed] You all right?
Yeah. [continues humming]
[tense music]
[Simon] I used to sing.
A long time ago.
My sister still calls me Birdy.
[sniffles]
[Simon laughs]
[floor creaks]
[Simon screams]
[suspenseful music]
[door opens, closes]
- What the **** was that? - What the ****.
Was that his mom?
Where the hell did she come from?
[Simon] Was she the other partner?
We checked all the rooms.
His mom?
Come on.
[Ed] I'll be... Son of a *****.
[Ed] It's tubular.
Huh?
The lock, it's tubular.
What does that mean?
It means I need a pen.
A pen.
No, not your pen.
I need, like, a BIC pen. A plastic pen.
Okay, okay.
Here. Does that work?
Perfect. Perfect
[suspenseful music]
[lock clicks]
[hopeful music]
[Simon] Anya.
We've been looking for you.
[music continues]
[Detective Glover] Stop, put your hands up.
[thunder clapping]
Come out. Slowly.
All this for us?
Color me flattered.
[indistinct radio chatter]
Your sister's waiting for you back in the station.
You okay?
Good job.
[uplifting music]
[Simon laughs]