Cult Killer (2024) | Transcript

[GLASSES CLINKING]

Thanks, Connie.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

She arrived first, sat waiting for 30 minutes and boyfriend shows up.

They usually hang, have some drinks, then head out.

A romance.

Something.

[LAUGHTER]

Come on, guys. We can’t stop now.

A few more and who knows…

And who knows what might happen.

No, no, not enough for that yet. Come on, pay up.

What’s all that?

She comes through every week or so, talks to guys, gets ’em to buy her drinks, disappears before anything bad can happen.

As long as there’s no trouble, I let it slide.

MIKEAL: Yeah.

Besides, she tips good with other people’s money.

[CHUCKLES]

A little dark? Sure thing.

[LAUGHTER, CAMERA SHUTTER SNAPS]

He’s coming over.

I know. Can I have another round?

DEXTER: Who the fuck are you?

I’m gonna need you to give me that camera.

No.

DEXTER: I could have

I know you are Dexter Conell.

Yeah. One of four partners

at Conell, Ajax and O’Connor.

Yeah. You know, I’ve been hired by your firm.

I mean, to say your partners, including your wife, Elizabeth.

Yeah. Just to see who you are stepping out with.

And you, you are Ashley, right?

Hi. MIKEAL: Hey.

You’re the mail girl?

I’m an assistant, actually.

Yeah, well, just some advice, Ashley, don’t fall for the first swinging dick douche bag, especially, if they own the firm. You know?

You’re better than that.

Listen, you son of a bitch, you have no right to be invading my privacy.

You don’t have an expectation of privacy in public, no.

But I do have something for you.

Here, you’ve been served.

[DEXTER YELLS]

Oh. [DEXTER GROANING]

[WHISPERS] Go, go.

Maybe it’s better if you just head for the door and don’t make it any worse than it already is.

You saw that?

Man was threatening.

Yeah, definitely threatening.

Hey, thanks.

No, I mean, thank you for telling the girl to leave.

Oh, no. No worries.

MIKEAL: Yeah.

[SIGHS] All right, boys, this is the last round.

After this, I’m leaving.

Not if we don’t let you leave.

Oh, baby, that is a road you do not want to go down.

And I’m calling you baby, because…

I don’t remember any of your names.

You all just look the same to me.

But after I leave, whatever you do, don’t follow me, because as fucked up as I am, I could cause each and every one of you serious… physical harm.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS] Shit.

You want me to call the law? No, not yet.

Let our friend go and we won’t hurt you.

Much.

[DOOR CREAKS] Oh, hey!

Hi.

[GRUNTS] [GROANS]

Go away, old man!

Old man? Wow.

[GRUNTS]

So, now what are you gonna do?

There’s nothing really you can do. I have the gun.

I would drop the baton.

[BATON CLATTERS]

Good, thank you.

Now take your friends and get the fuck out of here.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, eh? Thank you very much.

I’m just gonna get my bag there, so…

Right then. Are you okay?

Yeah.

That was…

‘Cause in there you carried yourself a bit differently, so you… I mean, that was quite…

That was quite impressive.

Well… are you happy of… living a life… that leads you to situations like that?

It’s…

You know, kind of pathetic.

Oh. Don’t you think?

Right.

Uh… [CHUCKLES] Well, most people would say, “You’re welcome. Have a nice life.”

But you, you have a “you’re a piece of shit” bedside manner. No, no, no, no.

I didn’t say that you are a piece of shit because you are not one.

You’re a drunk.

And one day it’ll kill you, slowly, it will.

Are you tired of being a drunk?

This cocktail thing, man, you know, 20 odd years in Dublin, get through that, go back to where I grew up, become Detective Sergeant, and spent a few years like that yank Andy Griffith.

No. Worst thing Andy ever faced was a town drunk.

[LAUGHS]

You had rich people getting themselves killed.

Yeah, and some other rich people running interference.

Then out of nowhere, my lead investigator or my only investigator, gets a job consulting, three times the pay.

Maybe they’ll offer me a job. [LAUGHS]

So, listen, uh,

I know you are bringing me on this site, man.

Isn’t stuff like this need to be approved by… your superintendent or the bureau?

No, we need to keep this on the down low.

There’s too many important people that don’t want this be looked at, so no one’s gonna investigate it.

I’ll come by at 930 and go over today’s interviews.

I can’t figure these bastards out.

Some hinky shit. Yeah.

Wanna grab your bag from the office?

No, I’m gonna go back to the room and just take a nap.

Okay. Okay.

See you later. See ya. Bye.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

Excuse me.

[MIKEAL GRUNTING] [BLADE SLASHING]

You thought you could find me?

I found you first.

[BEEPS]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

[DOOR CREAKS]

[PHONE RINGING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

[BOTTLE CLATTERS] Mm.

[PHONE BEEPS] [GRUNTS]

Hello? [COUGHS]

Hello?

Sorry, what?

Oh, um, I don’t need your address.

No, I don’t need to write it down.

I know where it is.

I’m… I’m two hours away. I’ll need… I’ll need three hours. I’ll be there at 9:00. Bye.

[GRUNTS]

[DOOR CREAKS, BANGS SHUT]

[SOBBING]

Fuck. [SNIFFLES]

Fuck.

Fuck.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[SIGHS]

One year.

Yeah.

Who would’ve thunk?

Me.

I have faith.

Well, I’m glad you did ’cause sometimes I wondered.

When you wondered, you called.

That’s how this works.

I know they gave you the one last night, but…

I think this one might be a… a better fit.

If you want it, of course.

Grateful I’m not dead.

That’s perfect.

No, I will not bloody cry.

Thank you.

You’re a dickhead.

[CHUCKLES]

Well.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

You worked for Tallini for how long?

Three years, and a couple of years before that doing research.

I’m quite good at research.

Yeah, he mentioned that, information studies.

He spoke about me?

[LAUGHS]

Yeah. Yes, Information Studies.

He was also my sponsor and… um, last night I fucked it up.

No, it happens. I don’t judge and neither would he.

If you want there’s a place nearby to take a meeting.

Um…

What I really want is to pick up Mikeal’s case.

I owe Mikeal for a thousand things, and I really think that I would be good at this, and I promise you that I am ready to take on

Detective Sergeant.

Good morning.

It appears you and I need to have yet another conversation about this this little witch hunt you’re orchestrating against my client.

This witch hunt you’re referring to is an investigation into the murder of one of your clients who’s also a golfing buddy, and I don’t know, secret sect member, something.

Well, the only relationship germane to this conversation is that of solicitor and client, and my clients are private people.

They don’t take very well to your little private Gestapo.

God, witch hunt, Gestapo, is there any other metaphors you wanna throw into this conversation?

VICTOR: Well, I don’t know, maybe.

Let me introduce you to Cassie Holt.

Hi.

She’s a colleague of my late friend and private Gestapo,

Mikeal Tallini.

I’m sorry, did you say late?

He was stabbed to death, much like your former client.

And his wounds were excessive, much like your former client.

Jesus, my… my deepest sympathies for your loss.

Yeah, maybe now you’ll… you’ll call off this absurd little investigation.

Well, you see, I can’t now because it’s an international crime.

I’m sorry, what?

The laws on the murder of a law enforcement officer extend past service and borders.

So, if I make one phone call here, it’s gonna rain investigators all over the fucking place.

And I’m sure their departments will be interested in a cabal.

Yeah, Victor, I’ve read up on your history wherein you had investigators close this case prematurely, which now might be related to the murder of a brother investigator.

I hereby appoint you, Cassie Holt, special investigator to the murder of Mikeal Tallini.

Catch.

Actually, while you’re here, Victor, would you mind?

We need a witness while she signs.

Absolutely. Do you want me to–

Go fuck yourself!

I’ll show myself out.

Yeah, please do.

Sharon, actually, would you mind witnessing this because…Yeah.

And get her ID’d up. Thanks.

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

Well, there she is.

It’s about god damn time.

WALLACE: What do you want?

Well, he’s hired another fucking PI.

WALLACE: Hmm. Really?

Some girl who used to work for Tallini…

Hmm. …who turns out is dead.

Did you have anything to do with that?

No. Categorically not. Had no idea.

You’re sure about that?

Yeah, I don’t like you bastards enough to help you without being paid.

The feeling is absolutely mutual.

You’re in it just as deep as the rest of us.

If one of us goes down, you remember what I’ve got on you.

Oh, spare me the threats, tough guy.

Do you want me to find out what I can on this new PI?

Absolutely. Okay.

Give me a couple of hours. I will.

MIKEAL: So, what do you think?

I make it official?

Well, I thought you’d never ask.

Wait, are we getting married or…

No. …are you offering me a job?

No. Married one time. One time only.

No, no, this is about work, you tonta.

Tonta? Hardly.

You have seen the better part of the job over the last couple of years.

Now I’ll show you how to run a business, fine tune investigation, and how to protect yourself, how to shoot.

I get a gun?

Eh! Keep it down.

But, yeah, you can carry it and

Okay. Once licensed. Okay? Yeah.

Right.

This is easy to hide. Yep.

Nasty little bullets that go and can fuck up someone’s day.

Open it.

Open it. Right. Okay.

MIKEAL: Heavier than it looks. Oh, God.

MIKEAL: Easy to shoot.

CASSIE: Yeah. Okay. Right.

Lovely.

Cassie?

Cassie!

Sorry. Sorry, I didn’t hear you, what?

Are you packing?

Well, I’m a single girl living in a shitty part of town, and my best friend was just murdered, so yeah, I’m packing, why?

Is it a Walther with the letter E on the grip?

It is.

How did you know?

It’s Ellie’s, Mikeal’s wife.

That I did not know.

Here’s notes on the interviews Mikeal tried to conduct.

Let’s just bring you up the speed.

[GRUNTING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[LAUGHTER]

[SCREAMING]

WOMAN: We’re gonna have so much fun tonight.

Come here.

We’re not gonna hurt you, just come here.

[PANTING]

Fuck.

[BELL TOLLING]

VICTOR: Wallace…

Now, outside of punctuality, you need to learn hierarchy.

See, you work for me.

You don’t call me and tell me where to meet you.

Oh, I’d be happy to come to your office, but someone might see us.

Makes it a little bit more difficult, one of your buddies decides to accidentally kill someone again. Ah, Jesus. That was one time.

[SCOFFS] Now do you want this profile or not?

Let’s hear it.

WALLACE: Okay.

It’s Catherine Elate Holt.

She’s 35 years old born in London.

She went to LCC for her Library Science degree.

She worked at a couple city libraries, but got fired for being drunk. Ha!

CASSIE: After being fired, she moved here, became an AA member, met Tallini.

He became her sponsor, and he eventually started hiring her for doing some of his small jobs.

Have you got a picture of her?

Yep. Oh.

He’s probably fucking her. [WALLACE SCOFFS]

[VICTOR CHUCKLES] [SIGHS]

She had reoccurring sexual abuse by her stepgrandfather, started at a young age up until university.

She came home for the break. He tried again.

She kicked his ass. Ooh.

No one told the old man that she’s taking Brazilian jiujitsu. [VICTOR CHUCKLES]

He went away for a couple of years.

Well, his solicitor was probably shite.

Those allegations are easy enough to deflect.

Well, she started hiding her phone in secondary school and started videotaping the assaults.

Damn!

Do you want deeper?

VICTOR: No, this is good enough.

Just gives us a heads up who we’re dealing with.

She’s not as experienced as Tallini, see?

So, I’m not that worried.

Oh. There’s your money.

Yeah. Thank you.

Give it to me.

[CHUCKLES]

MCMAHON: And we left the pub late afternoon, Mikeal went west towards his hotel, and I went home.

I can’t.

Focus.

Look, I know it’s hard, but… eventually, you build up these compartments and I’m not sure if it’s healthy, but it works.

All right, photo number three shows how the body was found.

The positioning leads us to believe that the killer came from behind.

The decedent, Mikeal, turned and he was stabbed eight times. [MIKEAL GRUNTS]

And after he hit the ground, the coup de grace was the cutting of the carotid artery.

His pockets were gone through, his phone and his room key were taken.

His ID was left beside the body, and his gun was left in the holster.

Yes, they didn’t take the gun. That doesn’t make sense.

No, it does not.

It was also incredibly ballsy to attack him in broad daylight.

I… I…

Well, I suppose we should go to the hotel.

Agreed.

Why can’t I go?

[CHUCKLES] Mainly because my man doesn’t have the value to pay for two investigators.

Second, I need you to run the office while I am down there.

But it’s a murder. Mm. Yeah.

You said that hardly ever happens in our world.

The last time a private investigator solved a murder was like never, ever.

What if some hard boiled film noir shit happens?

[LAUGHS] Like what?

Well, I don’t know, you’ve seen movies.

No, none of that is gonna happen because those things don’t happen in real life.

All I’m gonna do is interview friends of the dead guy, just to see if they have any idea of who wanted their friend killed.

That’s it.

Meanwhile, you run the office for the week I am gone, continue tracking the the money trail and that construction thing, and when I am back, well, we’ll present it to the client’s solicito and we get paid, and that’s it.

Okay.

But I’m officially protesting. Noted and filed. Yeah.

And you have to promise me. No, no, no.

If some film noir shit happens, I’ll call you.

Okay. Okay?

All right. Okay.

Deal. Yeah.

CASSIE: Hi. Cassie. Nice to meet you.

Hi, Cassie. Glenn.

Nice to meet you.

CASSIE: Hi, Glenn.

Glenn, thanks for sitting out here.

How’s it going?

This is Cassie. She worked with Tallini.

Yeah, we just met. Yeah.

Yeah. She’s gonna be helping us out here.

Okay. Perfect. Picked this up last night.

Ah, good call. Anything weird? Did you go in?

I did not. Nope. Just sat up on it and watched.

Okay, cool.

Right, well, then we’re gonna go check out the room and you go ahead, go home, get some rest.

Will do.

CASSIE: Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

Whatever they were looking for, I’m guessing they didn’t find.

What time did your man get here?

Got here right at 10:00.

I got the call at 8:00 that Mik’s body been found.

Then covering the crime scene, realized that the phone and key had been taken, sent Glenn over.

Should have had him enter.

Hindsight.

They must have come here right after killing him.

WOMAN: Hello, Cassie Holt.

CASSIE: So, this is the murder house?

This is where Mikeal was investigating?

MCMAHON: Yeah, this is it.

John Abernathy. So, what’s his story?

Oh, he’s part of the remaining old money in this area.

Like most of them, living on past family glory.

Don’t think he’s ever worked a day in his life.

He’s a widower, for a couple of decades now, at least.

What the hell is this?

May I help you, sir?

Yeah. I’ve come to show my investigator the crime scene.

Unfortunately, that won’t be possible.

I’m sorry, say that again.

We’re unable to let you into the house.

Uh. Active murder investigation, crime scene.

Is any of this computing with you, pal?

The predicament isn’t lost on me, sir.

But our instructions were quite clear.

No one enters without a warrant.

Do you have a warrant, sir? Who hired you?

I’m afraid I’m not liberty to say, sir.

Look, you’re not getting in.

So, go ahead and go.

Sir, I’m gonna tell your buddy here to take his finger off the trigger and render that weapon safe or it’s gonna hurt coming back out of his ass.

[GRUNTING]

I will fucking murder you, bitch.

She’s a little excited, so pay attention to me, closely.

Now remove the gun, drop the magazine, and rack the slide to clear it. Do it now.

Slow.

Your boy got anything else?

No, just the rifle.

Just a rifle. Okay. Yeah.

Dipshits.

At least you have an amount of professional about you.

Ditch these two, or they’re gonna get you killed someday.

And that’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

We’re gonna go get a warrant, and we’re gonna go into this crime scene.

We’ll be back tomorrow morning.

Alert who ever hired you.

You hungry?

[CAR ENGINE STARTS]

Thank you.

MCMAHON: Thanks.

“I’ll fucking murder you, bitch.”? [LAUGHS]

It got his attention. That it did.

Are you actually gonna get a warrant to go into a house you have every right to enter?

No, not at all.

You’re gonna go in on your own. Good.

So, what’s it like being a private investigator?

I never intended to be one.

I was in the Interpol for 26 years, retired and had other plans, you know?

Then…

Ellie got sick, died, yeah.

So, I knew if I didn’t find something to do, loneliness and boredom would take me out.

So, I got the license, started working, and…

It’s not terribly different than what I was doing before, you know.

Paper trails, interviews, all that.

What?

Get beat up in alleys, bring down crooked governments, bad women with hearts of gold and turbo hot bodies.

Yeah, sure. Yeah.

I wish. Yeah. Yeah.

I read all of those books when I was growing up, you know, but… they’re fun and complete bullshit.

[CASSIE GASPS] [MIKAEL CHUCKLES]

No. MIKAEL: Now, first of all, forget everything you see in movies.

The job is almost always boring.

You sit up for hours, watching something with binoculars.

You get really good at peeing in a bottle.

Yeah. It’s

It is what it is.

You know?

Plus side, you you work when you want or you need to, and… money is, uh… decent. So, yeah.

That sounds perfect.

MIKAEL: Yeah. Sign me up.

[CHUCKLES]

Are you serious?

Well, I need a job and I’m good with searches, data sheets and stuff.

You know, I’m a trained librarian. Remember?

Okay, we– we– we– We– we can talk about it and try it out.

‘Cause you had me at peeing in a bottle.

It will be spectacular.

I can’t pee in a bottle. [LAUGHS]

Okay, so the assholes are outside.

I’m guessing they’re not allowed in the house.

MCMAHON: [OVER RADIO] Would you let them?

[LAUGHS] Point.

So, I’m gonna swing around the other side and see if I can find a place to go in.

Oh, my God.

That was close. Woo!

Okay.

I’m gonna make a dash for it. Wish me luck.

MCMAHON: Good luck.

Fuck!

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[WHISPERS] Goddamn it.

MCMAHON: What is it? This one’s locked as well.

MCMAHON: Well, we can call it off. Find another way.

No, let me see if I can pick the lock.

If I learned anything from Mikeal, this will be my virgin effort.

[DOOR CREAKS]

I’m in.

MCMAHON: Really?

That was quick. That was quick, wasn’t it?

Everything looks as it should.

It’s like the Gardaí were never here.

Where was old man Abernathy killed?

MCMAHON: Murder file says upstairs, towards the end of the hall.

Going upstairs.

MCMAHON: Copy that.

Nothing unusual so far.

MCMAHON: Like I suspected, a complete whitewash.

Investigators made the book and got out.

Old-world money trying to make this go away.

[DOOR CREAKS]

CASSIE: Strange.

It looks like certain contents have been removed.

MCMAHON: What the hell?

The file says nothing was removed into evidence, except for the mattress.

He was killed in bed, wasn’t he?

MCMAHON: Yeah.

Yeah. The bed’s here.

No mattress, no box springs.

Isn’t there a lot of blood in the pictures?

MCMAHON: Yeah, everywhere.

There’s no more blood.

It feels like the investigators haven’t done anything.

This room should have been thoroughly upturned, and it’s like it hasn’t been touched.

Did it say anything about a hidden room?

MCMAHON: There’s not supposed to be any hidden rooms.

Stand by.

[DOOR CREAKS]

Fuck.

MCMAHON: What is it?

Are you okay?

I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.

I’ll send you a picture.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] CASSIE: Christ.

That’s where I’d sleep when they brought me over here.

Hang up.

Hey, Bob, I’ll, uh…

I’ll call you back in a second, okay?

[PHONE BEEPS]

Glenn, grab Sam and Alex, we’re heading to the Abernathy house!

Hey, Cassie Holt.

It’s pretty much soundproof in there.

You cry, you scream, it doesn’t bother anybody else in the house.

I slept in there the night I killed him for old times’ sake.

Who are you?

I’m Jamie. What are you doing here?

The guys outside wouldn’t let the Detective Sergeant and I in to look around.

You broke in.

CASSIE: Yeah.

That’s not very legal.

Did you kill Mikeal?

[SIGHS] I did.

Yeah, I thought he was working for them.

It was before I knew more.

I–I’ve seen you with the sergeant, like he was, looking for me, instead of them.

I may have been premature.

You fucking think? Shh!

Cassie Holt.

We don’t need them in here right now.

So… that Tallini guy… He your boyfriend?

Husband? No.

No, no. Nothing like that.

He helped me out of a bad stretch and…

Well, he gave me a purpose.

And a few days ago I let him down, so now I’m looking for you.

In actual fact, if you want to know, he’s the only man I’ve ever met who didn’t try to fuck me.

I don’t know what that’s like.

Hmm.

I’m sorry about your friend.

I’m gonna kill you.

I can’t be mad at that.

We’re alike, you and I.

Like hell we are.

No, not that.

Someone did something to us that

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[SIREN CONTINUES WAILING]

MCMAHON: Disarm and detain these men.

You called for help. You sneaky…

Cassie!

Cassie!

Okay. Jamie Elizabeth Douglas.

January 11th, ’94. Look me up.

Fuck me. What happened?

It’s a girl. What? Who is?

Mikeal’s killer, killed Abernathy.

It’s a goddamn girl. She just admitted it to me.

What? Okay, right. Just calm down.

Look at me. Look at me. Now what did she look like?

I couldn’t really see her. She was 5’6″.

She had a hoodie, brown hair.

OFFICER: [OVER RADIO] Rest of the house is clear.

All right. Just stay down there. No one comes in.

She said, “You could be in there crying and screaming, and you wouldn’t bother anyone else in the house.”

What happened with her and Abernathy? I mean, I know

She knew who I was! What?

OFFICER: Victor Harrison’s out here, raising holy hell. Of course he is.

Just keep him there! I’ll be right down.

All right, photograph every inch of this sick shit.

You have two minutes. Yeah.

Mr. Harrison, as I’ve stated, you will not be entering at this time.

McMahon. What the fuck are you doing in my house?

We received a call from a concerned citizen about men with guns.

So, we detain them to ascertain why they were here and why they were armed.

Further investigation, we discovered that the back door was open. Men with guns?

[CHUCKLES] Well, I don’t care if the whole fucking place is lit up like a Christmas tree and every door and window is open.

You’ve no business inside my house.

MCMAHON: Your house?

I thought this was John Abernathy’s home, been in his family a few generations.

Well, he died and left it to me.

Anyway, it’s none of your goddamn business.

Mr. Harrison, you will address me as Detective Sergeant, sir, or not at all.

Are we understood on that?

Uh. Well, I, I apologize, sir.

It’s been a very stressful time, sir.

I miss my fucking friend, sir.

I understand.

I’ll be back down to get them out shortly, just so you know. Oh, they’re not under arrest.

No, we’re just gonna have a little chat, but I have a feeling one of ’em is gonna sing like a bird. Do you, now?

Mr. Harrison?

Yes.

Jamie Douglas sends her regards.

Well, I don’t know who that is.

Well, how about that.

So… the guy who messed with you, he was your

Stepgrandfather.

Yeah. Right. Let me guess.

As far as everyone was concerned, a great guy, right?

[CHUCKLES] Pretty much.

MIKEAL: Yeah.

That’s the… the predator’s strength, his camouflage.

The drooling, howl at the moon, crazy predator exist, but you know, they are rare.

This one makes the news.

But these look like… everyone else out there.

But they’re missing the thing that make human beings human.

Empathy.

It started when I was eight.

And it lasted all the way till I went to university, which is a long time.

And I was there a year.

And as well as school,

I learned to take care of myself, uh, jujitsu and Krav Maga, at the same time, daily.

So I was sore.

No, I was fucking sore.

[SIGHS]

Not a victim anymore.

No, never again.

After a year, I came home for Christmas and… that night sure as shit, he was at my door, drunk…

“Hey, baby.”

And he reaches for me…

[CHUCKLES]

And… arm bar, like hyperextended it, twisted it with my left hand and broke his fucking elbow with my left hand, and the sound of that bone breaking was so fucking glorious,

I can’t tell you how fucking glorious it was.

[BOTH LAUGH]

I wanted to break every fucking bone in his body, but I didn’t.

Yeah.

You didn’t.

You didn’t let the monster win.

No.

You stayed a human being.

You protected yourself.

When the threat was over, you stopped.

What happened then?

He went away.

And my family abandoned me, even after they’d seen the evidence.

Meaning the videos, right?

Yeah, so they’re dead to me.

You know, just because they’re related to you, doesn’t mean you have to like them.

You make your own family, right?

DOTTIE: Jamie?

I don’t remember who that is.

EDGAR: She was the one who stayed with us the longest.

See if that jogs your memory.

DOTTIE: Oh.

The screamer.

She stole from us when she left.

Marty left things unattended.

That brings up an excellent question.

Where is Marty?

[PHONE BUZZING]

[BUZZING CONTINUES]

[SIGHS]

You stole his phone.

Hey, Cassie Holt.

Hello, Jamie. What are you doing?

Oh, you know.

[EXHALES] This is exciting.

The private investigator talking to the murder suspect.

Well, I mean, you’re not exactly a suspect.

[CHUCKLES] I guess not.

And here you are.

So, let me tell you a little story.

When I was 14, my mother’s boyfriend did stuff to me… he shouldn’t have.

And when I told dear old Mom, she hit me.

Right. Mine too.

She told me I was horrible and let it continue.

So, I never mentioned it again.

I thought so.

Those of us with secrets, we can tell.

So, what happened?

Oh. I ran away.

Slummed it on the streets of New York as a teenager.

Eventually got myself to London, and… wound up begging on the streets in Dublin.

This lady comes up.

She’s… older, pretty, and offers to buy me food.

But then we talk.

Okay. That’s different.

And I’m hungry so…

She was the worst of them in their dirty little club.

Well, I’ve invited Wallace here.

I wondered why she was here.

She’s not even supposed to be here.

I’m here for the reason that I usually am, to clean up your shit.

That was an accident.

So… what do you suggest we do in this situation?

Wallace and I have discussed it, and… we think it’s best if we all just leave.

EDGAR: Leave?

I’m not leaving.

And neither should anyone else.

We built this entire part of the country.

Actually, your grandfathers and your great-grandfathers built this part of the country.

Listen, we’ve discussed it, and I agree, I think we should all just go away, until she’s caught or killed.

Could we just kill them both?

Kill them both?

From what you say, they’re obviously working together.

Maybe even that first one.

WALLACE: Except Jamie gutted him.

She’s obviously deranged.

Well, it’s… it’s possible the Holt girl could be convinced to drop the case.

Boys you hired, put the fear of God in her, yeah?

But Jamie… I think we… we can all agree she should just go away.

I mean, Jesus Christ, fallout from what she knows, catastrophic.

And… she did draw first blood.

She what?

You guys both own this playhouse here and she drew the first blood?

[SIGHS] Somewhere during the meal, I’m getting sleepy…

CASSIE: Roofies.

I woke up in a cage.

And I didn’t wear clothes for the next five years.

Oh, my God.

I don’t really believe in God.

No.

No, I understand.

Do you, believe in God?

Um…

Yeah, I can’t, actually.

So, we all agree that the boys should scare the Holt girl to convince her to leave town.

Okay, I’ll tell them.

They’re gonna need a little bit more for this though.

Edgar.

Yeah, that’s fine.

Just get her out here.

I’m so bored.

We need something to play with.

I understand your need to get revenge.

Believe me, I do get it.

But you don’t have to kill them.

If you let us put them away, you can let them be scared for a change.

They’re scared now, Cassie Holt.

I know, but you’ve let the monster win.

No, I chose to be a monster.

They’re vile.

And horrible.

The wife is the worst.

The husband is weaker, in comparison to her.

He likes choking.

They all tease him for accidentally killing a little boy.

Tease.

The solicitor…

He’s just a sleaze.

Harrison?

And so were the other two.

Sorry, wait a second, the other two?

Oh. See? That’s what they call a plot twist, Cassie Holt.

I will talk to you later. I gotta go do some monster shit.

[SIGHS]

What’s up? You sounded frantic on the phone.

She’s done it again. She’s killed another one.

She has? Who is it? Where?

I don’t know.

Then how do you know? She called me? She told me.

She called? Yeah, on Mikeal’s phone.

At Abernathy’s house, she said keep your phone on, so I did and she called.

Do you think you might have mentioned this?

I’m telling you now. She told me she killed another one.

All right. Okay. Okay, okay. Just take a deep breath and…

[BREATHES DEEPLY] …tell me about the call.

Sick little clubhouse.

CASSIE: Hmm.

And did she give any indication as to where or what that is?

No, she mentioned it like that though.

They have companies everywhere.

Together or otherwise.

Maybe look into holdings, property taxes.

Yeah. Their companies and others, find a connection between them.

Do you really think that she killed another one of them or is she full of shit?

Oh, no, I think she did it. She was delighted to tell me and she tried to make it sound like it was a slip.

Tell you what.

Let’s stir the pot a little.

We need another plaything.

No, Dottie.

No, not now.

Not for a good long while.

Whatever. [CELLPHONE RINGING]

Ah, hell. I’m sorry.

[CELLPHONE RINGS, BEEPS]

What now, McMahon?

Have you done a headcount on all your surviving buddies?

Anyone missing?

Haven’t heard from Marty in a while. Why do you ask?

[LOUD BANG] VICTOR: [GASPS] What the fuck!?

MCMAHON: Victor?

Victor?!

Something freaked him the fuck out there.

I think I have an idea of what that might be.

[PHONE BUZZING]

Hello, Cassie Holt.

What did you just do?

I told you.

Monster shit.

Monster shit.

How’d you know?

We were on the phone with the solicitor when something happened.

We? The Detective Sergeant and I.

Ah.

I’m on speaker? Yeah.

Hi, Detective Sergeant.

Quite the investigator you got here.

You would make both our jobs easier if you’d just come in and we could put them away together.

Well, I’m not exactly what they’d call a sympathetic witness.

Maybe not.

But bad people did bad things to you and they need to be punished.

They’re being punished.

Jamie… come in.

We can do it.

It’s sweet you think so.

Gotta go. Wait, wait, before you leave, just tell us about this place.

The playhouse? Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Well, that’s what they call it.

[SIGHS]

You can find it, Cassie Holt. I have faith in you.

[GASPS] Ooh. Look for Wallace, works for the solicitor, takes care of problems.

All right. I’m actually gonna go now.

I’ll be around.

[PHONE BEEPS]

MCMAHON: Over the years I’ve seen criminals fixate on their pursuers for any number of reasons.

They think they’re best friends, or they think they’re Holmes and Moriarty.

The way you two have gone on, it’s just the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen.

Hm.

She must recognize a shared experience, although, I’ve never been through anything like she had.

I’m sure Mikeal told you about that stuff.

No. No, not at all.

He would never share things like that.

I just had a feeling that there’s something in your past.

You know, hunches, signs.

Signs?

I have signs?

That’s a bummer.

I had a handle on the drinking till the bastard called.

MCMAHON: Who called?

Your abuser.

You know, “I’m sorry” and “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

And then, he said “baby doll,” which is what he said during, and I just lost it, you know, I hung up and walked straight into a bottle, which is where you found me, halfway into letting Mikeal down.

No, no, you didn’t. Sorry, I’m freezing. I just…

Just got a real shiver.

The thing is, if I saw this girl’s story in an article or in a movie,

I would’ve been fully supportive of it.

Believe me, I understand the desire.

If she hadn’t killed Mikeal, I would not care.

But she did.

Yes, so for that, we’ll catch her.

But the other side, that’s your end.

I understand fighting the monster.

I did it and I won, but it’s way tempting.

What?

That’s Mikeal. [CHUCKLES]

We talked about the monsters and… how they get inside you.

He was a good teacher.

Yeah. He was.

I’m gonna head back to the office.

Do you need a lift?

Oh, no, I’m fine. My car’s in the back.

I’m gonna stay and do some research, see if I can find anything on Wallace and the playhouse.

Okay, so here’s my logins for the databases.

If I were able to find information through what might be called… extralegal means. Hacking?

Yeah.

Well, it wouldn’t be admissible, but if it steers us to something that could be…

All right, Victor Harrison, Esquire.

[ELECTRONIC CHIRPS]

[BEEPS]

Jesus. [CHUCKLES]

You people and your passwords.

Idiots.

Wallace is on the payroll… for quite the hefty sum.

Playhouse. Proprietor of Wallace.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

[GASPS]

MIKEAL: So, what did you learn?

I learned I suck.

MIKEAL: Well, everyone sucks at first. You know?

Not getting discouraged is… that’s the trick, all right?

Yeah.

Now when you started jiujitsu…

I sucked. Yeah. But now?

Well, I don’t suck. Yeah.

Let’s go again.

Now remember, slow is smooth.

Smooth is fast.

Correct. Go.

Yeah. Open.

Boom. Hey… Slow, slow.

Here you go. And now change. Here you go.

One. Two.

[GRUNTING]

[GROANING]

[YELLING, GROANING]

Help me, man. Help me!

We’re only supposed to scare you.

[COUGHING]

[GASPS] [GROANS]

If I don’t kill you, it won’t be because I didn’t try to.

[MAN YELLING]

Oh, shit. [GRUNTS]

[HIGHPITCHED RINGING]

[JAMIE GRUNTING]

[DOOR CREAKS]

[MAN SCREAMS]

Your dreams and mind should fight it out to see who’s worse.

You were doing great until he kicked you in the twat.

“Thank you, Jamie. I’m glad I’m not dead.”

[LAUGHS]

Yeah.

I’d much rather them dead than me.

Thank you.

Why am I tied up?

Some people are grumpy when they wake up.

[SIGHS] Fuck.

Well, that’s badass.

[SNIFFLES] Oh, fuck.

[GUN COCKS]

Where’s all my stuff?

[PHONE RINGING]

It’s in here.

And if you suddenly have to go, I won’t believe you.

When does this end?

When I’ve done them all.

CASSIE: And then what?

JAMIE: What else do I have to live for?

They’ve ruined me for anything normal.

It doesn’t actually have to be like this, you know, because McMahon and I can build a case.

One of them will flip.

One of them always flips.

That Wallace lady, the, uh… troubleshooter for the solicitor.

I’ve done some research on her and the playhouse is owned by a company she runs.

I knew you’d find it.

But she doesn’t own it.

They’ve got something on her, I don’t know what.

She never participated.

At least not with me.

She might be hard to find now, but don’t worry, I didn’t kill her.

There was no reason to.

We just talked.

What the hell…? [SCREAMS]

What, you crazy bitch?!

Is that petrol?

Crazy people really hate being called crazy.

You remember me? [PANTING]

Do you know how petrol works?

Sparks and fumes.

Yeah, you would burn too.

Okay.

Okay. Be cool.

I’m gonna put this down.

Mm. I prefer the back seat. Okay, back seat it is.

Good job.

Now, there are some items I’m looking for and I have some questions.

You’re gonna answer ’em.

If I don’t like your answers…

I cook us.

If I’m happy with your answers, you leave and you stop hanging out with nasty people.

Nod.

You’re a piece of shit, but you’re a piece of shit that didn’t do anything to me, so I’m giving you a second chance.

Um…

Pet– Petrol then, petrol.

JAMIE: Yeah. Yeah.

I mean… I had to get her attention, and once I did, she… got real chatty.

How else do you think I knew it was gonna happen to you?

Well, I don’t know. So… so you… you said you told Wallace that you were looking for things. What are they?

Pictures, videos.

They documented everything, not just me.

[PHONE RINGING] It’s the truth. It’s the truth.

Okay. So… Right. So, how many times has that gone off?

A few times.

It is your sergeant.

I’m sure it is because you left a huge crime scene and I should be over there.

So, the thing is, Jamie, is that I’m actually too fucking sore to fight you.

So, can you just come in here and watch or please leave, because I do have work to do.

JAMIE: I don’t wanna fight you, Cassie Holt.

Though, I guess we’ll have to at some point.

But please don’t kill anyone in the car park on your way out.

Can’t promise.

Fuck’s sake.

CASSIE: Morning.

Your car smells funny.

I wonder how that happened.

Any sudden moves, and I’ll shoot you in the hip and you will never walk right again, so why don’t you just sit down?

All right.

Avoid head shots.

Target is just too small.

Always aim for center mass, there’s more space.

Another thing, the pelvic, you know, a shot in the area, you know, with a bigger caliber pistol or a rifle or… but yours too, you know? Yeah.

Will incapacitate a threat.

Okay. Yeah.

They’ll hit the ground like a… like a puppet with the strings cut, okay?

Okay. It’s your turn.

Right? Okay.

Okay. Always give the gun like this to somebody else.

Yeah. Okay. Never aim to anybody.

Good. Now this leg a little bit back.

There you go. Yeah.

So you feel steady.

This finger under, hold the gun.

Feel that, you earned that thing.

It’s just part of your body.

Okay. Okay, now go for the trigger.

And…

it’s all yours.

CASSIE: Shoot?

MIKEAL: Yeah.

Good to finally meet you, Miss Holt.

So, you and your friends did some research on me?

Not my friends, but, yes, yes I did.

Okay. So, what are you, a mercenary or a pimp?

I guess it depends on the day that you catch me.

I see.

I work for Harrison though. Not them.

I do the same PI stuff as you.

Oh, I don’t know about that.

I’ve never had to get rid of a strangled kid’s body.

Does that pay well or? You’ve spoken to Jamie?

Yes, I have spoken to Jamie. So, here’s what’s gonna happen.

If you give me some information that’s incriminating,

I’ll let you go.

And if you don’t, then I’ll tell Jamie to reconsider her decision to let you live.

Do we have a deal?

Deal.

Deal.

How many of them were there?

No idea.

They’ve been doing it since they were young.

Jamie was there the longest. They get bored really quick.

Yeah. And then what happens? Because they don’t kill them.

No, they don’t.

Not when I was there at least, just that one.

They get bored and I relocate them.

Relocate? Relocate. Explain.

Explain that to me like I’m stupid.

I take them to Russia.

Fuck.

They were unfit for normal life.

You sell them for money.

God help you.

God fucking help you.

It’s fucking tragic that she didn’t kill you.

[EXHALES DEEPLY] Okay.

So… where are these trophies?

Because that’s what’s gonna get you cut loose, these photos and videos.

Any halfass solicitor would throw that as inadmissible.

That might be true, but did you know Harrison has kept very detailed notes of every euro he paid you and what for?

What? That’s black bag shit. Who keeps records of that?

In a few hours, Detective Sergeant McMahon and the Gardaí are gonna raid your boss’s office.

So, pretty please, with sugar on fucking top, where are the trophies?

At the playhouse.

There’s a room full of them.

But this is gonna get me loose, right?

Yeah. Glenn.

Glenn

[SIREN WAILING]

You said if I give you information, you’d cut me loose.

I lied.

[VEHICLE APPROACHES]

Mr. And Mrs. Evans, I’m Cassie Holt.

I know who you are.

CASSIE: So, you know I’m here to investigate the murders of a couple of friends of yours.

Dottie, don’t talk to her. Get in the car.

Are you investigating?

Or are you working with that little bitch picking us off?

What?

You didn’t pay attention to the message we sent.

Right, well, thank you for that confirmation.

Dottie, come back here.

Miss Holt, would you please move your car?

What is she, your girlfriend?

All the broken dollies playing together.

I think that might be close enough.

What’s the matter?

Are you afraid I’m going to hurt you?

Believe me,

you are in far more danger than I am right now.

Did she tell you about the time we had her?

EDGAR: Dottie, stop talking.

She was with us for years.

In fact, I’d love to get you in the playhouse.

Shame you’re so old.

Dottie! Get in the goddamn car!

Please, move your car.

[ENGINE STARTS]

Oh, my God, it’s so good to be out.

I couldn’t stand being locked in that house any longer.

We should have stayed.

Jamie’s still out there.

The Holt girl.

We should have called Victor.

Victor will lose his mind when he finds out.

Jesus, when did you turn into such a pussy?

You’re not the man I married, let alone the person I grew up with.

I saw a little of the old you when you grabbed me.

You should let him out more.

“Victor will be mad.” [SCOFFS]

Like I give a shit.

Come on.

You know, I asked them what we should do ’cause we’re in this predicament right now and they’ve instructed me and I certainly didn’t… didn’t actually go through with any of it so.

MCMAHON: So, you didn’t actually intend any harm on the people that they instructed you to injure?

No, none whatsoever.

Hi.

McMahon’s talking to Wallace.

Sounds like they’re wrapping up.

MCMAHON: And how much of this work are you willing to divulge here today?

All of it.

What do you think?

Tossing the patrons out too, that was a nice touch.

Wallace went from combative to unnerved real quick.

I mean, you got the confession of her own free will.

You’ll get the warrant on Harrison with that.

All right. Get off my desk.

Where should we go for dinner?

I don’t know.

Maybe we should get a takeaway.

Absolutely not.

I want a meal fixed by someone else in a proper dining room, where I don’t have to do dishes.

Come on.

It can be fun if we make it fun.

In fact, if you do this for me…

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

DOTTIE: Yes.

[JAMIE GRUNTS]

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTS]

EDGAR: Dottie! Dottie!

Help me!

[GASPING]

MCMAHON: Okay, listen up.

We’re about to execute the warrant on the office and home of Victor Harrison.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

Detective Sargent’s office, please hold.

Detective Sar

What?

Wait, where?

What? Hey look, I’m gonna put you on with Detective Sergeant.

This is McMahon. How can I…

Whoa. Slow down, slow down. Take a breath. Just tell me.

Okay? Right. Yeah, we’ll be right there.

Okay, change of plan.

We’re gonna split up. Glenn, Murphy and O’Brien,

I want you to head down to the main street.

Apparently, our suspect attacked Edgar and Dottie Evans.

DOTTIE: Pepper spray smarts, doesn’t it?

This will make it better.

I don’t know why, but it does.

You know, you can’t get away, unless I let you go.

You know that, right?

[GASPING]

[SCREAMING]

[SCREAMING CONTINUES]

Gentlemen.

Give me a reason, you degenerate prick.

You caught yourself a big fish, didn’t you?

Fucker.

Arrest him.

[COUGHING]

So… you like sharp things.

[GRUNTING AND GASPING]

[SCREAMS]

This all stops if you say four little words, just like back then.

Say… [SQUELCHING]

…”I love you Mommy.”

“I love you, Mommy.”

Fuck you! [GRUNTING]

Fuck you. [YELLS]

[GRUNTING]

GLENN: Cassie,

I’ve been holding him here as long as I could.

[MONITOR BEEPING]

Cassie Holt, interviewing Edgar Evans.

Fuck’s sake.

Edgar, I need you to explain everything to me.

Dottie’s abandoned you. She’s left you for dead.

McMahon is raiding Harrison’s office and Wallace is being handed over to the government.

You’re gonna have to fucking talk, Edgar.

This is your only chance.

Fuck.

No one cared about them.

No one missed them. They were just tossed away.

No one cared about who, Edgar?

All of them. [CHUCKLES]

Tell me about Jamie.

Dottie was always forceful.

That’s why I liked her.

We grew up together.

Jamie…

Jamie was rebellious.

That’s why Dottie liked her.

That’s why she took her.

But you took her too, didn’t you, Edgar?

[LAUGHS] You fucking took her too.

[MONITOR EMITS CONTINUOUS TONE]

Fuck! Fuck! GLENN: What happened?

He stroked out.

Did he give you a confession?

No. [PHONE RINGS]

One second.

Yeah?

I’ve got your bitch.

JAMIE: Hang up, Cassie.

Don’t listen to her.

DOTTIE: Just a moment.

Jamie has something she’d like to say to you.

[SCREAMING]

I’m gonna find you.

You know where I am.

Cassie? Cassie!?

[GASPING]

You want it to stop, do you? Please.

You want it to stop? Yeah.

Then you can say it.

Tell me. Come on.

Say it. Say it.

What do you say? What do you say?

What do you say?

[ENGINE REVVING]

Yeah, Mommy.

[SOBBING] Mommy! Mommy!

DOTTIE: That’s good.

Say it!

[GRUNTING]

[LOUD BANG]

[DOTTIE GRUNTS] [THUDS]

[PANTING]

CASSIE: [IN DISTANCE] Jamie! Jamie!

Jesus.

I have to call ambulance. No.

I’m done.

Can you help me up?

Did Edgar die?

Oh. He stroked out while I was talking to him.

Shit.

I tried.

It’s too much.

CASSIE: I know.

Can I tell you one more story? Yes.

Yeah.

Do you mind if I record it, so I can vindicate you?

Yeah. [SNIFFLES]

[PHONE BEEPS] Okay.

Yes.

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

Okay.

They would have these parties and we just have to stand there, you know, naked per usual and… they would rent… they would rent us, for the night.

When I got pregnant… they made sure it never would happen again because they got a friend who was a doctor to fix it.

And I wasn’t the only one.

There were so many others like me.

Cassie.

They ruined me for everything.

I can’t go on broken and I can’t go back.

They created a monster and I chose to be a monster.

And I am going to die a monster.

Okay.

That’s good. Okay.

[PHONE BEEPS]

JAMIE: Hey, I need you to help me.

Yes, with what? Tell me.

What you told me when we met.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no.

No, you promised.

I know.

JAMIE: You promised. I’m tired. Darling, that was before.

JAMIE: I’m tired.

CASSIE: That was before!

That was before. I need this.

I need this. I’m tired.

I’m so tired.

I’m tired of all of it. Please, just…

Come on.

Please.

Cassie Holt.

CASSIE: I

I can’t. Cassie Holt.

Just do it.

I’m so sorry… about what happened to you.

I’m sorry about him.

Do it for him.

It’s okay. Do it for me.

Fuck.

Ellie and I never got around to having kids.

Truth is… when we were young, we were kind of selfish, wanted to travel, work on careers, things like that. [LAUGHS]

CASSIE: Yeah.

After a while, they seemed wrong.

I regret that now.

Yeah, no, I would’ve been a good father, I think.

No, you would’ve been a great father.

I like to think so. [LAUGHS]

Another thing that happen when you get to a certain age is that you become both deeply aware of and comfortable with death.

Your own mostly, but past a certain age you understand that you have hid this kind of magical land where you can drop dead at any time from anything, you hope it doesn’t, but it could.

Some people get… obsessed with their legacy.

But honestly…

I don’t think I’ve been too concerned with that.

Kids are the obvious legacy, you know, but if you don’t have those…

You know, I wish Ellie could have known you.

She would’ve liked you. Yeah.

She would have been harder on you than I am.

Not possible.

Yes, it’s possible. [LAUGHS]

But it would’ve been because… she would’ve seen your potential.

She was very good at that.

She saw potential in me when I certainly didn’t.

[LAUGHS] And… and I know she would’ve been more than fine with this, you know?

[MIKEAL SIGHS]

So, uh… the company is… from this point on in both our names.

What?

It’s not a hell of a lot, but it is, I guess, what legacy I have.

Really? What?

Thank you.

Listen, I am going to head down to Rory’s, just to continue working on the case.

I’ll talk to you in a couple of days. Okay?