The Beast in Me – S01E04 – Thanatos | Transcript

The Beast in Me
Season 1 – Episode 4
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: Thanatos
Original air date: November 13, 2025 (Netflix)

Aggie interviews Madison’s parents about her disappearance. Nile and Martin take aim at the City Council. Brian enlists help to crack the hard drive.

* * *

The Beast in Me – S01E04 – Thanatos | Transcript

[suspenseful music playing]

[Aggie] Freud famously wrote that the aim of all life is death.

Thanatos, some call it.

The death instinct.

The drive towards self-destruction.

It lives in all of us, he said.

[sighs] A need to court danger.

Put ourselves directly in harm’s way.

Sometimes a whisper.

Sometimes a cry.

An invisible current.

[car doors open] [car doors close] A force beyond our control.

Your gun and your phone.

Which one of you is Simon Says?

Gun, phone.

[Aggie] Freud’s theory was largely dismissed by his peers.

Why, after all, would any living organism pursue its own demise?

But Freud’s theory proved more resilient than its detractors.

Because who among us hasn’t felt that urge?

We say yes to one more drink.

We strike a match and run a finger through the flame.

We edge closer.

Tempt fate.

We flirt with death to prove we’re truly alive.

And if we can’t stop?

Then that small fire we lit might just burn the whole house down.

With us still inside.

[grunts]

[Brian] Fuck! Jesus Christ!

Can I… I take this off? It’s hot as shit.

[exhales sharply]

Oh fuck.

[music fades]

[sighs] Simon Says?

Simone.

Oh. Isaac calls you Simon.

These the encrypted files you need cracked?

Yeah.

[Simone] The FBI’s got people for this.

Not half as good as me, but good enough, so why are you here?

This isn’t Bureau business. This is, uh…

It’s personal.

[uneasy music playing]

I don’t take cash or crypto.

But at some point, I will ask you to return the favor.

And you’ll do it with no questions asked.

What kind of favor?

Do we understand each other?

Wait here. [sighs] How long is this gonna take?

[Simone] As long as it takes.

[dramatic music playing]

[music fades]

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

[moans]

[phone buzzing]

Hello. [clears throat] Sorry for stranding you at the party yesterday.

I, um… had to put out some fires.

You missed the birthday cake.

Yeah, well, I hope you found some good material.

[sighs] Well, you were right about your father.

[chuckles] Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Maybe next time we can attempt an actual conversation.

So Nina mentioned the situation with your ex and the gallery show.

You were right.

It’s a stupid idea. She’ll kill it.

Really?

That is what you want, right?

Uh, well, I… I was just worried about, you know, the possible perception.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

No bias, no bullshit. I get it.

Look, don’t worry. She’ll lay it on me.

I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position.

That’s on Nina.

Well, uh, okay.

Thanks for understanding.

That’s what friends are for, right?

[disconnect tone]

Don’t say you’re mad at me.

Not everything is always about you, Nile.

No?

[pensive music playing]

[breathing deeply]

[sighs]

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

[groans]

Hello?

[man] Agatha Wiggs?

Who is this?

Ellis Boyd. I’m the Ingrams’ attorney.

Madison’s parents?

Uh… Oh, um…

Uh, thank you for… for calling me back.

The Ingrams are willing to meet you this afternoon if you’re available.

Um, I… I am. I’m free all afternoon.

Glad to hear.

[exhales sharply] Their address is 929 West 75th Street, between Columbus and the park.

Can you be there by 1:00?

[pensive music playing]

[doorbell buzzes]

[Shelley] Nina?

Yeah, hi.

Come on up.

[door lock buzzing]

Hey.

Hey.

I’m so glad you called. There’s something I’ve been wanting to show you. Come in.

[music fades]

Can I get you some, uh, coffee or water?

No. Thank you though.

Uh, well, it’s not quite finished yet, so I didn’t bring it out for the art walk, but, uh…

Here.

It’s new.

And I think it… it might be my favorite one.

It’s powerful, Shelley.

Really?

Really.

I’m glad. I… I was hoping you would include it in the show.

I’d have it finished by then, of course.

Um, that’s actually the reason I called.

Um, I didn’t wanna do it over the phone.

Um…

The truth is… [chuckles] …I was so taken with your work that I… I got ahead of myself, and I didn’t think through the implications.

I should have spoken to my husband first.

I’m not following.

The book that Aggie is writing about my husband, it is more complicated than I realized, um, as far as a potential conflict of interest.

[scoffs] Um…

I’ve been divorced from Aggie for… for two years. Uh…

Our financial interests are completely separate.

I mean, we’re barely in each other’s lives.

That won’t matter.

Matter to who?

Nile… [chuckles] …for one.

Um, he’s afraid that some people might think that I’m showing your work to influence the book.

Are you?

No.

No, of course not.

But that’s not the point.

Honestly, it’s for your sake as much as anything else.

You deserve a debut that’s all about you.

Without the distractions from–

This is Aggie, isn’t it?

Excuse me?

[Shelley scoffs]

She told you not to show my work?

No.

No, no. [splutters] I told you. My husband, he had concerns, and he shared them with me, and, honestly, I’ve thought about this from every angle.

I’m really sorry.

I just don’t think it’s a good idea. Not now.

Once the book comes out and some time passes, we can revisit this.

Sure.

In the meantime, I wanted to introduce you to another gallerist. Libby May.

She’s a rising star.

[elevator dings]

[indistinct chattering]

[Nile] How’s it going, Bev?

It’s been a while.

Oh, it’s good to see you, Mr. Jarvis.

You too. Gummy bear?

I really shouldn’t.

My dentist just fixed a crown.

So chew it on the other side.

They’re really good.

And, yes, my hands are clean.

[Martin] You’re late, Nile.

I had to drop Nina off in Brooklyn.

These crisis comms people bill $3,000 an hour per person.

They brought eight people. Do the math.

[Nile] How come you didn’t go with the Kamdar Group?

[Martin] They said they couldn’t field a top-shelf team on such short notice.

[Nile] What about Salzman-Adler?

Booked until January.

Apparently, the crisis comm business is thriving.

You believe either of them?

Not for a fucking second.

They’re all rats fleeing a sinking ship.

[Nile] So who did you go with?

The Montgomery Group.

Never heard of them.

They’re new.

Westbrook used them when he ran for governor.

Westbrook lost.

Yeah, but he came close, which is pretty impressive when you consider he was photographed with his cock in a male prostitute’s mouth four months before the election.

He credits these guys with helping him weather the squall.

[woman] Hello. Esme Noor.

Nile Jarvis.

Of course, I know.

Hope you do a better job for us than you did for Westbrook.

[Martin] Let’s get started.

Before I introduce you to my team, I wanna thank you for trusting the Montgomery Group to help you navigate this unfortunate and unfair situation.

We’ll start with an overview of our process, which can get dry, so I thank you in advance for hanging in there.

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

[sighs]

[phone buzzing]

Hey, Shelley.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

You say you care about me? Really?

Whatever you told Nina Jarvis, it worked.

Okay? The show’s off.

No, no, hold on. I… I didn’t say any–

Bullshit! At least have the decency not to lie to me.

I’m not an idiot!

Okay, look. You have to understand.

It’s more complicated than you think.

You’re unbelievable.

Would you please just listen to me?

Fuck you, Aggie.

She… Shelley?

[disconnect tone]

[sighs]

Your call has been forwarded…

Oh, fuck.

Shelley, we need to talk about this.

[sighs] At least let me explain.

[door lock clicks]

Seriously?

That was a lifechanging opportunity for me, and you torpedoed it.

Honestly, I… I can’t.

No. Hey, hey, come on.

Come on. That’s not what–

[Shelley] God forbid I enjoy the tiniest bit of professional success for once.

You know I want you to succeed.

No, you don’t though. You really don’t.

You have no idea how many times I’ve given you the benefit of the doubt with my friends, with my family.

Ten years of my life I took a backseat to your fucking career.

We’re not even married anymore, and I’m still doing it.

That’s not fair.

Not fair?

We made choices together.

I was supporting us.

Oh, right, right. And if my work wasn’t making money, then it was just a hobby.

Did I ever force you to stop painting?

No. No, you wanted a baby.

We both did.

That doesn’t mean I wanted to give up everything else.

Jesus Christ.

But your work was what’s important.

Your work was real.

Shelley, I support you.

I’ve always supported you.

I still do!

Bullshit!

You just sabotaged my one chance at–

I’m protecting you from Nina Jarvis and her husband.

They are fucking dangerous.

Oh my God. You need to leave.

Nile Jarvis might be an actual murderer.

Who you’re writing a book about because you know it will sell!

No, that’s not why I’m doing this.

No?

No. I’m doing it because I think he killed Teddy Fenig.

What?

[Aggie sighs]

I know how that sounds. I do.

Especially coming from me.

But I… I don’t think it was a suicide.

[Shelley scoffs] I’m telling you.

I was with Nile the day before he disappeared.

And I told him about Teddy, about the accident, and Cooper.

And I think Nile might have done something. I…

That is what I’m trying to find out.

Aggie.

Aggie, this…

If anyone killed Teddy, it was you.

He made a mistake.

A horrible mistake.

But you made sure he’d never forgive himself.

And rather than ask yourself what that means or how that feels, you need to find someone to blame.

It’s what you do.

Always.

You’d rather invent a murder than look in the goddamn mirror.

You don’t care about Teddy.

Or Nile.

Or me.

[sighs] You want a bestseller.

That’s all you want.

That’s all you’ve ever wanted.

You need to go.

I mean it. We’re done.

Shelley–

No. Go!

[stirring music playing]

[breathing heavily]

[keys jingling]

[groans]

[car engine starting]

[breathing heavily]

[Esme] We only need to flip one vote to secure the council’s approval.

And based on our analysis, the two council members most likely to switch votes are Haas and Mathers.

Just show me my yes.

Michael Morgan, who joined us recently from McKinsey, will walk you through Haas’s profile.

Michael?

[Michael] Thanks, Esme.

So Lionel Haas is serving his second term on the council.

He’s a former public school teacher.

Ugly divorce.

Shares custody of his seven-year-old son, although Haas is the primary caregiver.

Late last year, the son was diagnosed with a rare carcinoma.

He’s being treated at Mount Sinai.

Haas is trying to get him into a trial at Sloan Kettering.

So we have a clean emotional asset–

Waste of time.

Sorry, excuse me?

Uh… [splutters] …waste of time?

How much clearer do you need me to be?

No–

We should let Michael finish.

He’s been working up a profile on Haas for the last 24 hours.

I’ve known Haas for five years.

Mathers for seven.

I know you won’t get any traction with either of them.

If you don’t mind my asking, what makes you so sure?

You’re trying to convince the sheep instead of the shepherd.

It’s been staring me in the face since Phineas Gold told us to fuck off.

Why it’s taken me so long to realize it, I, um…

Yeah.

We need to focus on Olivia Benitez.

Benitez?

[Nile] Yeah.

There’s no way she backtracks after publicly condemning the project.

It’s a cry for attention directed at me.

Olivia Benitez is a true believer.

She’s an opportunist.

You dangle something more tasty in front of her she can crow about on… TikTok, she’ll flip.

[Esme] I disagree.

Supporting Jarvis Yards would be a capitulation to a power structure she has spent her career trying to dismantle.

Yeah. Go on.

All her self-righteous virtue signaling is just political theater.

She wants something.

We just have to figure out what it is.

[stirring music playing]

[sighs]

[exhales]

[phone line ringing]

The customer you are trying to reach is not available.

Please record your message.

[beep] Hey, uh, I’m just checking in again to see if you got anything off Nile’s laptop.

Um… [sighs] I also wanted to let you know that I’m about to meet Madison’s parents, which, frankly, I’m surprised they agreed to. But, uh…

Uh, yeah, call me when you get this.

[sighs]

[car horn honking]

[doorbell rings]

Hi there.

I’m Agatha Wiggs.

Sorry I’m a few minutes late.

James Ingram. This is my wife, Mariah.

Please come in.

[door closing]

[James] I’m sorry our attorney didn’t get back to you sooner.

Oh, well, thank you for seeing me.

Well, honestly, we went back and forth about whether we should even respond.

Uh, of course.

I know this… this can’t be easy.

[footsteps approaching]

I’m going out.

That’s our son, Christopher.

He and his sister were very close.

Whenever this gets dredged up, you know, he doesn’t do well with it.

I put out coffee in the living room.

There’s cream and sugar.

[Aggie] Oh, black is fine.

[Mariah] James.

Ms. Wiggs, grieving our daughter is hard enough without the public attention. It’s why we avoided speaking to the press.

Thank you for making the exception with me.

Um, is there anything you’d like to ask me, um, before we get started?

You told our attorney that Nile had, uh, consented to this book.

Yes, he’s agreed to talk to me.

Why?

Um, well, he respects my work.

Uh, he wants to set the record straight.

[Mariah] Why would he trust you to do that?

Is it because you believe he’s innocent?

[Aggie] Mrs. Ingram, I promise you, my obligation is to the truth. I agreed to no conditions whatsoever. So whatever you say to me about Nile…

Ms. Wiggs.

[Aggie] …I have no loyalty.

I think you misunderstand. The only reason we’re doing this is because Nile vouched for you.

[uneasy music playing]

[Aggie] Uh, you… you spoke to Nile? [scoffs] [scoffs]

You sound surprised.

[Aggie] I… I… I just wasn’t aware you were, uh, in contact with him. Or… or how you might feel about him.

How we feel? We feel awful about the way those vultures in the press hounded him. The way they hound him still. They just keep circling and circling. They won’t be satisfied until he…

Poor Nile has had to… bear the lies and the rumors. It’s been a kind of hell.

I pulled a few things from Madison’s life I thought you might wanna see.

[stirring music playing]

I’ve only got a few minutes. I talked to Abbott. Agatha Wiggs reached out about a book. He talked to her once on background. That’s it.

You’re sure?

He wouldn’t lie to me.

[sighs]

I’m his supervisor, but we’re also friends.

Friends?

Yeah. Are we done?

I hope so.

What are you so worried about at this point? It’s a closed case. Everyone at the Bureau knows that Madison’s death was a suicide.

Except Abbott.

He accepts the case is closed.

Some people don’t care about the truth. They just believe what they wanna believe. That’s what we’re trying to manage. So you keep an eye on Abbott until I tell you otherwise.

[car door closes]

[footsteps retreating]

[Aggie] Hmm.

[gentle piano music playing]

[music fades]

[Aggie] She’s beautiful.

[James] Yeah. She was a birder. She knew them all. She’d walk through Central Park, and just from a warble or a chirp or a flash of color between the leaves, she’d point… “Northern parula.” “Yellow warbler.”

[Aggie] [laughs] That’s quite an unusual hobby. How did she get into it?

A therapist suggested, uh, she find something concrete and outward facing to focus her… her restlessness. Uh, birding helped, along with medication.

When… she took it. I loved my daughter. But she was capricious. Willful.

She was bipolar.

[Aggie] I… I… I didn’t realize.

[James] Well, it’s no one’s business. I’m only telling you now for Nile’s sake to give you some context.

[Aggie] When was she diagnosed?

In her mid-teens. And after all the specialists and the psychiatrists, what good did it do her? At a certain point, you have to take responsibility for your choices, your life, and Madison had so much anger.

[Aggie] At whom?

At the world. At us.

Me, mostly.

Don’t say that.

No, but it’s true. The cruelest irony is that Nile made Madison the happiest she’d ever been. She was practically glowing that day. They both were. Madison wasn’t an easy person to love. Believe me.

Nile saved her life, you know. She attempted suicide two years before she succeeded. Nile found her in the bath, her belly full of pills. By the time Nile got her to the hospital, she’d turned blue. He tried so hard. We all did. But it was never enough. Nothing was ever enough.

[Aggie] I’m… I’m curious if you have any insights, or… or even just a theory why they never found her body.

She didn’t wanna be found, that’s why.

[Aggie] So you think it was hostile?

Well, isn’t it? Denying your parents closure.

[James] Maybe she just wanted to spare us the trauma of finding her. She… she left a note, didn’t she?

Mmhmm.

I thought you might wanna see it, so I made a copy for you. It’s here.

[Aggie] And you’re… you’re certain it’s authentic?

Absolutely. Three different forensic experts confirmed the handwriting is Madison’s. There’s no forgery. No question. Uh… You keep it if it’s useful. We just hope the truth will put an end to these crazy conspiracy theories. Because every time someone writes something, it feels like they’re killing her all over again.

[mysterious music playing]

You’d rather invent a murder than look in the goddamn mirror.

[Aggie] [sighs] [sniffles]

[knocking at door]

[Brian groans]

[knocking at door]

I need… I need a bathroom! [sighs] Hey! Open this door, or I’m gonna take a piss on the floor! [sighs] [sighs] [exhales sharply]

[zipper unzips]

[urine trickling]

 [moans] You’re too late.

[guard] Come with me.

[sighs]

[suspenseful music playing]

[Brian] So?

Nile Jarvis?

[chuckles] Yeah.

None of the files you grabbed was his fitness app. But I did find a heavily encrypted link to a private network. … You know him?

When was this recorded?

[Simone] It wasn’t. This is a live feed.

Can you trace where he is?

No way. Feed’s running through multiple VPNs, so it’s untraceable. OpSec is flawless. I copied the decrypted link and pasted it to the drive, so you can show it to your people. You are bringing this to the Bureau, right?

[breathing heavily]

[tense music playing]

[Steve barking]

[keys jingling]

[barking continues]

[Aggie] Aw. Oh.

[Steve whines] Hey.

Hey. Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, love.

I’m sorry, baby.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

You just needed a walk.

Yeah, it’s not your fault.

Oh, baby.

[kisses, sniffles]

[phone buzzing]

[phone buzzing]

Hey. I was starting to worry.

I’ve been calling.

Did you get into his files?

Yeah.

So you accessed his fitness app?

Are… are you there?

There was nothing.

[scoffs]

Nothing?

No, they didn’t go anywhere that night.

He was asleep by 10:00.

Look, this is my fault.

For getting you into this.

We didn’t even know each other, and I…

I put these ideas in your head.

You played a hunch. I get it.

We all go a little crazy sometimes.

But there’s nothing else for you to do.

I mean it, Aggie. Let it go.

For your own good.

[stirring music playing]

[breathes deeply]

[distant siren wailing]

[keypad beeps]

[Aggie] And what is bloodlust, really, if not that same death instinct turned safely outward?

[sighs]

We are, all of us, drawn to monsters.

[barks]

Enthralled by the fantasy that any of us brave enough to sling a stone can slay Goliath.

We play the hero, the savior, valiant and righteous.

So we hunt the beasts that prey upon us.

Convinced our act of violence will be the thing that keeps us safe.

But does it, in the end?

Once Goliath is vanquished, the dragon slain, deep down we know the real threat remains within us, ever present… itching for release.

[suspenseful music playing]

[car alarm chirps]

The truth is, we need our villains alive and well.

Because without them, we’re left to face ourselves.

[breathes deeply]

[suspenseful music continues]

[music intensifies]

[music swells]

[music subsides]

You brought company.

My chief of staff, Elijah Garrity.

[Elijah] Hi there.

What do you want?

So we own this building, this entire square block, as I’m sure you know, but our plans to develop this space are now shot, thanks to city council regulation.

[Nile clears throat]

[blows] Asbestos.

Uh, don’t worry. Trace amounts. Sub .5%.

Barely detectable.

Well below the level requiring remediation in every municipality in this country, except New York City.

What are we doing here, Mr. Jarvis?

Other than getting exposed to asbestos.

You survived the New York public school system.

Wow. Funny.

Look, we both know I’m just a useful boogeyman that you’re using to rile up the crowd.

And granted, it is working.

I appreciate your instincts.

I mean, taking me down as an opening gambit? Brilliant.

What do you really want? Long term.

Because you’re smart. You’re ambitious.

But progressive wells, they run dry quickly.

Five bucks at a time.

[Elijah] Your point being?

My point being is, I am willing to take the write-down and donate all of this land to the city.

If Olivia approves your zoning plans for Jarvis Yards.

It’s a win-win.

You spin this whole thing like it’s your idea.

Olivia Benitez, the young upstart who extracted her pound of flesh from the big, bad Jarvis family to alleviate the affordable housing crisis.

Throw in some green space.

You make the rounds on MSNBC.

You bring in your mainstream libs, the ones you still need to convince you’re not just some naive ideologue, but that you’re here to make some moves.

My vote isn’t for sale.

[splutters, chuckles]

Being a radical, it gets you attention.

Showing you’re a pragmatist, that gets you donors.

The kind you need to level up, run for Congress, mayor, maybe even someday governor.

You’re young, and you’re talented.

And you’re playing the long game even if you don’t even know that yet.

Take the win.

What do you think?

I think we’re done here.

[tense music playing]

[Nile] Fuck!

[sighs]

[phone line ringing]

[Martin] So what did she say?

She go for it?

Uh, I got her attention, but, um…

But… but what?

Uh…

She says she’s not for sale.

[Martin grunts] So, no.

All right.

I’ll find another way for her to change her mind.

You don’t take the carrot, you use the stick.

Right?

Right.

[tense music continues]

[gun cocks]

[Brian] Turn around.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

Turn around!

Hands on your head.

This is private property, Agent Abbott, so unless you have a warrant, it is trespassing.

I can tell you where she is.

Madison, I mean.

What did you say?

[grunts]

[dramatic music playing]

[grunts]

[gasps]

[screams]

[both grunting]

[gasping]

[straining]

[grunts]

[Brian coughs, wheezes]

[dramatic music intensifies]

[music subsides]

[gasps] Jesus!

[Steve barks]

Fuck.

Hey.

Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.

What time is it?

It’s… it’s after midnight.

But I saw your lights on, so…

Honestly, I’ve had a hell of a day, and I…

I felt like talking to someone.

And I realized it wasn’t my wife.

Looks like you’ve had a head start.

Maybe I could catch up?

I could really use a drink.

[sighs]

Sure. Come on in.

Thanks.

[“Tonight You Belong To Me” playing]

♪ I know ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To somebody new ♪

♪ But tonight ♪

[Nile] Thanks.

♪ You belong to me ♪

♪ Although ♪

♪ Although ♪

♪ We’re apart ♪

♪ You’re a part of my heart ♪

♪ And tonight ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To me ♪

♪ Way down by the stream ♪

♪ How sweet it will seem ♪

♪ Once more just to dream ♪

♪ In the moonlight ♪

♪ My honey ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ With the dawn ♪

♪ That you ♪

♪ Will be gone ♪

♪ But tonight ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To me ♪

♪ But tonight ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To me ♪

♪ Way down, way down along the stream ♪

♪ How very, very sweet it will seem ♪

♪ Once more just to dream ♪

♪ In the silvery moonlight ♪

♪ My honey ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ With the dawn ♪

♪ That you ♪

♪ Will be gone ♪

♪ But tonight ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To me ♪

♪ But tonight ♪

♪ You belong ♪

♪ To me ♪

♪ Just to little old me ♪