The Beast in Me
Season 1 – Episode 2
Created by: Gabe Rotter
Stars: Claire Danes (Aggie Wiggs), Matthew Rhys (Nile Jarvis), Brittany Snow (Nina Jarvis, Nile’s wife), Natalie Morales (Shelley, Aggie’s ex-wife)
Premise: Since the tragic death of her young son, acclaimed author Aggie Wiggs has receded from public life, unable to write, a ghost of her former self. But she finds an unlikely subject for a new book when the house next door is bought by Nile Jarvis, a famed and formidable real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife’s disappearance. At once horrified and fascinated by this man, Aggie finds herself compulsively hunting for the truth – chasing his demons while fleeing her own – in a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.
Episode title: Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely
Original air date: November 13, 2025 (Netflix)
* * *
The Beast in Me – S01E02 – Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely | Transcript
[mysterious music playing]
Dangerous rip currents continue to hinder efforts by divers to recover the body of a missing young man who police sources have identified as Theodore Fenig of Oyster Bay.
His mother contacted authorities last night after he failed to show up to a planned family dinner.
According to police, joggers found his car in this parking lot in the early morning hours.
They say officers arrived on scene within minutes and found what they believe were Fenig’s clothes, his shoes, other things, on top of his car, and officers say inside of that car, they discovered a suicide note.
[indistinct chattering]
[Mrs. Fenig] It doesn’t make any sense, because he was doing better. He was.
He and his girlfriend, Molly, were planning…
They were planning a trip to Sarasota next month.
They were planning to go snorkeling.
They had the itinerary.
They were gonna go to the…
He was showing pictures of all the places they were gonna visit.
It doesn’t make any sense.
Holy fuck.
[breathing heavily]
You’re happy now, huh?
This is what you wanted, isn’t it?
[uneasy music playing] She did this to him.
She did this.
She did this to him. She did.
She made him do it!
She did.
Jeez.
[Mrs. Fenig] She made him do it. She did!
[uneasy music swells]
[music subsides]
[“Wave of Mutilation” by Pixies playing]
♪ Cease to resist ♪
♪ Giving my goodbye ♪
♪ Drive my car into the ocean ♪
♪ You’ll think I’m dead, but I sail away ♪
♪ On a wave of mutilation ♪
[loud bang]
[gasps] Want a pair of binoculars?
[Nile panting]
Give any more thought to my jogging path?
I gotta say, I’m not a fan of tripping over roots and splashing through mud.
Brandnew.
You okay? You look stressed.
Oh fuck. The Fenig guy, right?
Yeah, I saw that on the news.
How you feeling about that?
I’m not sure. It’s complicated.
Is it?
[uneasy ethereal music playing]
At least you don’t have to worry about seeing him around town anymore.
Karma’s a motherfucker, huh?
I gotta go, but you owe me an answer on that path.
[shaky breathing]
[uneasy ethereal music continues]
[phone keypad beeping]
[phone line ringing]
[man] Federal Bureau of Investigation.
First and last name, please.
Yeah, hi. Um, I’m actually, um…
[splutters] I’m trying to reach out to a particular agent.
Uh, Brian Abbott.
[both panting]
[exhales sharply]
Nice one.
Who says romance is dead?
What do you mean?
This place is beautiful.
You in a hurry?
I told Frank I’d meet him for lunch.
You’re bad.
Appetizers with me, then lunch with your husband.
I was kidding.
Uh, what’s the matter?
Nothing.
[phone buzzing]
Take it. I gotta pee.
Erika. [sighs]
[phone continues buzzing]
This is Abbott.
Hi. This is Aggie Wiggs.
You knocked on my door last night.
Hello?
I, um… [scoffs]
[toilet flushing]
[splutters] I’m sorry about that.
That was a mistake. It was a big mistake.
If you could just forget that ever happened… [chuckles] No, I can’t, actually.
That’s why I need to talk to you.
Something’s happened, and, um…
I think Nile Jarvis might be involved.
I can’t talk to you right now. I, um…
[uneasy music playing]
I can meet you in Central Park.
I’ll share the location, okay?
It’ll take me an hour to get there.
Maybe I can just meet you at your office?
No, no, no. Park’s good. Yeah.
I’ll see you there. All right.
[Erika] Who was that?
Just a source I’m working on the Mendelsohn case.
Actually, he wants me to meet him right now.
Um, can, uh… Can you cover for me?
[Erika] Yeah.
Are we okay?
Sure. Why not?
[door opens, closes]
Stop Jarvis Yards!
Support affordable housing in our city.
Thank you so much. There’s a rally today.
Support affordable housing in our city.
Stop Jarvis Yards.
You can go ahead and sign the petition if you can’t make it today.
Support affordable housing in our city.
Stop Jarvis Yards!
[footsteps approaching]
[Aggie] Hi.
Hey.
What’s with all the cloak and dagger?
Why were you following Nile Jarvis and me?
[Abbott splutters] I… Like I said, that was a mistake, and I’m sorry.
So…
You called me. I’m here.
Well, what’s this about?
When you said Nile Jarvis isn’t like us, what did you mean?
You first.
All right.
[scoffs] This is gonna sound a little strange, but…
[sighs]
Four years ago, my son was killed in a car accident.
The guy who hit us still lives in town. Teddy Fenig.
He and I, we got into it.
A lot. I…
You threw a brick through the window of the pizza place where he works.
That’s public record.
Okay, the point is, Fenig is missing.
As of this morning.
They found his car at the beach and a suicide note, but… but no body.
Nile Jarvis’s wife, they never found her body either.
Uh… I don’t… I don’t quite follow.
Yesterday, when I had lunch with Nile, we talked about my son.
You know, we talked about the accident.
How Fenig was never charged, the restraining order he filed against me, how I still see him all the time, wherever I go.
How I… I wish he’d suffered like I’ve been.
[pensive string music playing]
[exhales sharply]
The thing is, when we left the restaurant, we actually saw him.
Fenig, he… he was right there on the street.
And I saw Nile look at me with this quality.
And then…
And then he looked at Fenig, I mean, he stared at him, and then he just… kept staring.
And it creeped me out, honestly.
And then this morning, I wake up…
Teddy’s gone.
[uneasy music playing]
Does Nile Jarvis even know this guy?
No.
So you think, what, he killed him as some kind of favor to you?
I’m not sure.
Why would he do that?
I don’t know!
Look. Look, I get how strange it sounds.
But this morning, Fenig’s mother was telling the police he was not suicidal.
And then I saw him again, Nile, and he brought up Fenig.
And… and the way he was talking, I swear, it was like…
It’s like he wanted me to thank him.
You think I’m crazy?
I didn’t say that.
Then you think I could be right?
Look, what I think…
It doesn’t matter because I can’t help you.
But you… you were tailing him yesterday.
That was on my own time, my own dime.
Like I said, that was a mistake.
I’m six years away from my pension.
Till that kicks in, I’m gonna keep my job.
But you were drunk at my house.
Okay, you wanna lodge a complaint?
I’m just saying, Nile Jarvis matters to you, clearly.
You felt compelled to warn me.
You think he’s that dangerous.
And if he has something to do with Fenig, and you could prove it…
Nothing you’ve said is anything close to proof.
Now, you wanna go to the police, you can.
But, honestly, anyone who hears this is gonna think you listen to too many podcasts.
If Nile did this because of me, I need to know.
Look, I wish I could help you.
I really do.
But I have been down this road before.
And I can’t.
So my advice is to go home.
Let it be.
Keep your distance.
[paper rustles]
[woman] Hasn’t Nile Jarvis gotten away with enough?
[crowd cheers]
[woman] How much more are we gonna let him get away with?
[man] No more!
[crowd cheers] Now, that… that is what I am asking my fellow city council members as I urge them to reject phase two of Jarvis Yards and support my affordable housing proposition.
Nile Jarvis has been allowed to take what he wants his whole life with no regard for the community and the human lives he has destroyed.
[truck horn honks]
But that ends now, don’t it?
No more.
No more!
[truck horn honks]
You ask me, he has enough blood on his hands.
No more.
[crowd] Down with Jarvis!
Hey, shut the door, man.
[pensive music playing]
[uneasy music playing]
[sighs]
[Ginsburg] As annoyed as you might be about his zinging dissent, he is so utterly charming, so amusing, so sometimes outrageous, you can’t help but say, “I’m glad that he’s my friend, or he’s my colleague.”
[imitates buzzer] Snooze.
[Ginsburg] I disagreed with a lot of what he said, but I was charmed by the way he said it.
No one wants hope. You know that.
[Ginsburg] We were different, yes, in our interpretation of written text.
They want gossip and carnage.
[Ginsburg] You can disagree without being disagreeable.
You want another bestseller?
Write about me.
[mysterious music playing]
I’m pretty fucking interesting.
Everyone has a price. Everyone.
[mysterious music continues]
No, fluff I am fine with. I adore fluff.
This is not fluff, Jerry. It’s drivel.
There’s a difference.
If I can’t get through a whole chapter when it’s my actual job, how do you think your average tech-addled ADD reader is gonna read the whole goddamn thing?
Come in. [gasps]
[Aggie] Hey, sorry.
Jerry, look, I gotta go.
Um, Simon & Schuster can have it.
All right? It’s their funeral. Bye.
Sorry, there was no one at reception.
No. The new girl took a mental health day.
I swear to God, these Gen Zers.
Oh my God, you look great.
What are you doing here?
It’s been ages since you came into the city.
What’s the occasion?
Special delivery? You bring me some pages?
Uh, actually, I need to, um, to talk to you about that.
Why do I feel myself getting nervous?
Look… [clears throat] You’ve been very patient, and so has Bob, and I’m… I’m grateful, really, but, um, the truth is…
[sighs]
…it’s not working.
What’s not working?
Ginsburg, Scalia, the… the whole thing.
No one wants this book, Carol.
Of course they do.
There was a three-way bidding war.
Five years ago. I… It’s… it’s stale.
Aggie, honey–
It’s boring.
[splutters] I mean, I don’t know how else to say it.
You’re a perfectionist.
This is what you do. Obsess, second-guess.
Halfway through Sick Puppy, you completely spiraled, remember?
But I’m not halfway through.
I’m not even close.
You said you had 200 pages.
That you were making good progress.
I lied, okay?
I’m sorry.
Well, how much do you have?
Yeah, it doesn’t matter.
How many pages?
Jesus.
Aggie.
No.
What the fuck? No.
No. You…
You told me years ago. Remember?
Writer’s block is your unconscious telling you you’ve made a wrong turn.
I was talking out of my ass.
I am not a writer.
You weren’t though.
So it’s my fault that you’ve been lying to me for two years?
No, no. That’s–
Do you have anything?
I have an idea.
An idea?
Nile Jarvis.
What if I could get him to talk to me on the record?
I told you, he moved in down the street from me.
Yeah, and you said you already managed to pick a fight.
We’ve seen each other since then.
A few times.
We’ve had these… conversations, and he likes me.
[splutters] He’s a fan of my work.
He practically pitched me the idea.
Aggie, the Jarvis family is a fortress.
He’s never talked to anyone.
I think he’s ready, Carol.
Think about it.
He was never charged, sure, but he’s a pariah.
And now he’s out there on Long Island trying to keep a low profile while his haters throw fake blood at Jarvis Yards.
He’s… he’s bored. He’s restless.
And, you know, as much as he says he doesn’t care, he wants to be re-legitimized, desperately.
That’s what you’re gonna do?
I can offer him the chance at a new narrative.
I’m telling you, this man needs an audience.
He is itching to talk. I can get him.
Look.
If Nile Jarvis agreed to do this, Bob would go for it, right?
I mean, he would have to!
Between the preorders and the movie rights?
[splutters] Like you said, the guy’s never talked to anyone.
And the prospect of spending all that time with a murderer doesn’t scare you?
Yeah, of course it does.
It scares the shit out of me.
That’s why it’ll be good.
Carol.
God, this would be huge.
You know it would.
What I know is I haven’t seen that look in your eye in a long time.
[sighs]
[bones crack]
[chewing]
[mysterious, ethereal music playing]
You got a visitor. Agatha Wiggs?
[music fades]
I can tell her to come back if it’s not a good time.
[lips smacking]
[Nile] No, I’m done. Bring her in.
This way.
Uh, you know, we never properly met.
Is it Rick?
Mr. Jarvis is in the kitchen.
[lips smacking]
First time I really tasted chicken was Cape Town.
None of this store-bought, shrink-wrapped crap. They… they ate the whole bird.
The street vendors have these paper bags with just the heads and the feet.
Walkie-talkies, they’re called.
I never developed a taste for the feet.
[smacks lips]
So what’s up? You ready to make a deal?
How much is it gonna cost me?
Um…
I was in the city yesterday, and I happened to walk past Jarvis Yards.
[paper rustling]
That councilwoman was getting the crowd pretty worked up.
Olivia Benitez? Yeah.
She’s trying to make her bones by taking me down.
[chuckles] She wants to run for mayor someday.
Seems like she’s getting traction.
Getting attention.
But she needs a majority vote from the housing subcommittee.
It’s a tall order.
And if she wins?
She won’t.
But what if she does?
Then Jarvis Yards becomes the biggest white elephant in Manhattan real estate.
It looks to me like you’re not putting up much of a fight.
It’s not that simple.
Why is that?
Why? Because I killed my wife.
[mysterious music playing]
That’s what everyone thinks, right?
Enough people say it, it must be true.
Did you kill her?
What do you think?
I don’t know.
I loved my wife.
That wasn’t the question.
No, I didn’t kill Maddie.
But I don’t really care what people think.
Bullshit.
Why are you here?
[Aggie chuckles]
Something you said the other day. I… I…
I haven’t been able to shake it.
Remind me.
You said my next book should be about you.
Unless it was just talk.
It seems to me you’re quite misunderstood.
And I think a lot of people would wanna hear your side of the story.
Especially if you got the right person to tell it.
Why would I let you do that if you think I’m a murderer?
You just told me you’re not.
Uh, if that’s true, what are you afraid of?
Hiding in the suburbs won’t make this go away.
The less you say, the more people will invent.
I was… I was in that crowd, and they were angry.
They’re looking for someone to crucify.
Gossip and carnage, right?
[sighs]
Even if Benitez doesn’t get the votes and you manage to finish Jarvis Yards, whatever you build, anything you put your name on will always be tarnished.
As long as you keep letting them define you.
They’ve turned you into a… a caricature.
A cartoon villain.
They’ve used this scandal to make you small, and you are not a man who does small things.
Forgive me if I’m a little suspicious of your motives.
Yeah, they’re… they’re entirely selfish.
No, you were right. I…
[sighs]
I am stuck.
I’ve been stuck on the book that I’m supposed to be writing.
For the past four years, it’s just been false start after false start, and it’s killing me.
The truth is, I… I need a new subject.
One that’s gotten under my skin.
You’re a lot more than people think.
I mean, I’ve known you for three days, and I can already see that.
Honestly, I… I don’t pretend to know who you are, but I know… that I’m really curious.
How would this work? You would… You what?
You just come over and ask… questions?
Yeah, something like that.
Um, it’s… it’s a process.
It’s different every time.
And I’m just supposed to trust you?
[chuckles]
Okay.
Okay what?
I’ll think about it.
Fair enough.
[mysterious music continues]
[glass shatters in distance]
[Steve barking]
What the fuck?
Hey!
[intruder] Hurry up!
[tense music playing]
[tires squealing]
[intruder] Bitch!
[panting]
[door closes]
[Steve barks, whines]
[mysterious music playing]
[phone keypad beeps]
[phone line ringing]
[man] Oyster Bay Cove Police Department.
Hello?
Hello?
[exhales]
[music fades]
[tape tears]
[knocking at door]
[Steve barking]
Morning.
Hi.
Uh, so I know you don’t do wine, but, um, how about pie?
Apple walnut?
It’s from this amazing mom-and-pop bakery up in the Adirondacks, and I brought back way too many.
You were upstate? Since I saw you?
Yeah, just for a couple of nights.
An artist I represent was having a panic attack about an exhibition I’m curating, and I talked her off the ledge.
I hope.
Um… Well, that’s, uh, that’s very thoughtful.
Oh yeah, of course.
I mean, it’s the least that we can do.
I mean, we came in hot. Let’s be honest.
The dogs, the alarm.
Yeah, well, I wasn’t exactly welcoming.
Nile’s just so paranoid about security.
We’ve had a few scares.
Right, of course.
I can…
I can imagine.
I was gonna do a loop through the woods.
Um, I had a whole slice for breakfast, so I should try to burn it off.
I doubt that’s a problem for you.
[chuckles]
Um…
Would you like to come with me?
Get some fresh air?
Now?
Sorry, is that weird?
Um, no, no.
I… I just wouldn’t wanna slow you down.
No, please. I would love the company.
Uh, you know? Yeah, why not? [chuckles] Yeah?
Uh, I should change though.
Um…
Yeah, here, come in.
[chuckles]
Sorry about the smell.
I’ve had some plumbing issues.
Don’t be silly. Your house is lovely.
I’ve been holding off until I do the renovations.
Uh, I’ll be right back.
Oh!
Hi, baby.
[Steve growls]
What? [scoffs]
[pensive music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
Ready?
This is remarkable.
Who’s the artist?
It’s actually my ex-wife.
She did it years ago.
Really? Um, what’s her name?
Shelley Morris.
Does she have representation?
Oh, no, she’s not that serious.
Shall we?
[pensive music continues]
[uneasy music playing]
Am I going too fast?
[Aggie] No.
Uh, maybe a little.
Sorry. That’s why Nile hates walking with me.
No, I’m fine.
Clearly, I could, uh, use the exercise.
[Steve barking]
[Steve growls]
[Steve continues barking]
[door lock clicks]
[Steve barking]
[door opens, closes]
Nile mentioned that you came over yesterday.
He told me about your idea.
You know, he’s been approached before, many times, by all sorts of writers.
Oh, sure.
I have to admit, I’m a little surprised he’s even considering it.
Then again, it is… you.
So…
Well, I’m flattered.
Should I be nervous?
I mean, you strike me as someone who’s very ethical, but, I mean, I’m not naive.
I know the book that people wanna read.
I just hope you won’t be disappointed.
By what?
The truth.
Ow! Shit! Ah!
Oh!
You okay?
Uh…
Yeah, it just twisted a little bit.
Let’s just go over here and make sure it’s not broken.
Yeah, yeah, it’s fine. Ow!
Oh no, no, no, no! Oh God. Oh God.
I’m fine.
No, come on.
Come, sit over here.
My mom is a nurse, so I actually can tell if it’s broken. Here.
Let me just see.
Is it okay if I take your shoe off?
Okay.
[Steve growling]
[Steve barking]
[Aggie sighs]
[Nina] Sorry.
Does that hurt?
What about there?
[sighs] Not really.
Uh…
Just tell me if any of this movement is painful.
Uh, no.
[Nina] Does this feel weird?
Uh…
Yeah, I’m… Yeah.
I’m just gonna put my shoe back on.
[Aggie groans]
He’s not a monster.
He can be a brat. Sure.
An asshole, sometimes, but when it comes to Maddie, he’s actually been very selfless.
How so?
[clicks tongue] He’s done everything to protect her memory.
The truth is, she was pretty, um, unwell.
And we all tried to keep it quiet, out of the press and everything, but we all knew.
“We”?
Nile, her parents, her brother, me.
So her… her inner circle.
Mmhmm.
I worked in Maddie’s foundation for nine years.
First as an intern, and then as her executive assistant.
We became super close.
And that’s how you met Nile?
Yes. Um…
But we never…
There was never anything between us before she died.
If that’s what you mean.
Nile loved her.
More than he’ll ever love me.
It’s okay. Really.
I loved her too.
[uneasy music playing]
[Steve barking, growls]
[Steve continues barking]
[door opens]
Hey, hey, hey, hey.
Chill.
Chill.
[door lock clicks]
[Aggie sighs]
[creaking]
[tense music playing]
[creaking]
[breathes deeply]
[mysterious music playing]
[water running]
[music fades]
[exhales sharply]
[gentle string music playing]
[sighs]
[boy making playful sounds]
[gentle piano music playing]
[playful sounds continue]
Look what I made!
Oh my gosh!
That’s amazing! But put on your shoes so I can drive you to the doctor.
[sniffles]
[phone buzzing]
[exhales sharply]
[phone buzzing]
Hello?
[Nile] Evening, neighbor.
How’s the ankle?
It’s better. Thank you. [chuckles] Nina said you had a nice chat.
[uneasy music playing]
Was that a job interview?
[Nile chuckles]
There’s about a million reasons why I shouldn’t do this, but…
I’m gonna roll the dice on you.
[chuckles]
Well, all right, then.
Don’t let me down.
[music fades]
[Brian] Hey.
Hey.
[Brian] Can we talk for a sec?
[sighs] You okay?
Because the other day, it seemed like there was something you weren’t saying, and that’s not the first time I have felt that.
Am I wrong?
Frank and I are splitting up.
He actually moved out two months ago.
Wow. [splutters] Okay.
[chuckles]
Don’t worry. I’m not leaving him for you.
I didn’t want you to think I had, which is probably why I didn’t tell you before, but I started feeling weird not telling you.
Hey, no, no.
I’m… I’m glad you… you told me.
So, um, what happened?
Well, what happened was I woke up one day and realized I couldn’t keep pretending.
Uh, I’m… I’m sorry.
Yeah, me too.
I’m… I’m here if… if you need to… to talk.
I gotta go.
[phone buzzing]
[phone buzzing]
[phone line ringing]
Mmm.
[phone line continues ringing]
[phone buzzing]
Hello?
Hi.
It’s Aggie Wiggs.
I know what you said, but you’re gonna wanna hear this.
[uneasy music playing]
[distant siren wailing]
Hey, Erika.
How’s Frank and the kids?
What do you want?
Get in.
I’m done with you people.
Get in the fucking car, Erika.
[tense music playing]
[“Wave of Mutilation” by Pixies playing]
♪ Drive my car ♪
♪ Into the ocean ♪
♪ You’ll think I’m dead ♪
♪ But I sail away ♪
♪ On a wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave ♪
♪ Wave ♪
♪ I’ve kissed mermaids ♪
♪ Rode the El Niño ♪
♪ Walked the sand ♪
♪ With the crustaceans ♪
♪ Could find my way ♪
♪ To Mariana ♪
♪ On a wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave ♪
♪ Wave ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave of mutilation ♪
♪ Wave ♪
[music fades]
