The Beast in Me
Season 1 – Episode 5
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: Bacchanal
Original air date: November 13, 2025 (Netflix)
Nile and Aggie cross boundaries with a drunken heart-to-heart, rousing Nina’s suspicions. Martin and Rick conspire to make waves at Olivia’s rally.
* * *
The Beast in Me – S01E05 – Bacchanal | Transcript
[intriguing music playing]
[glass clinks]
[liquid pouring]
We never got around to this room.
The house needed a lot of work when we bought it. We had a whole list.
I thought you weren’t much of a drinker.
I never said that.
I just didn’t want your wine.
Oh, thanks.
Jesus, what happened?
You should have seen the other guy.
I got jumped.
Yeah, outside my office.
55th and Madison. Just walked half a block to get a beet juice.
[Aggie] Oh my God.
And where was your henchman?
[chuckles] Had the night off, as it happens. Yeah.
Guy came up behind me, pretended his finger was a gun.
I mean, I don’t think he, uh, knew who I was.
Just another schmuck in Gucci loafers.
The class wars are definitely upon us.
You look a little worse for wear yourself.
[sighs] Yeah, well…
[tongue clicks]
…shit day all around, I guess.
How’d it go with Maddie’s parents?
They said you stopped by.
[scoffs]
You didn’t tell me you were still in touch.
You never asked.
They’re my in-laws, aren’t they?
[Aggie scoffs]
I gotta admit, that was, uh…
[inhales sharply]
That was a twist.
What? Did they speak so fondly of the man that killed their daughter?
So what did they say exactly?
Well, I’m sure you can guess.
[Nile] Mm.
[lips smack] Different story from your pal Brian Abbott.
So how many times did you talk to him anyway?
I mean…
[scoffs]
Does it matter?
Just curious.
[sighs]
I don’t know.
Twice?
In person?
Once in person, and once on the phone. Why?
You know he’s an addict, right?
Bureau suspended him more than once.
Mandated rehab for booze, pills, coke.
[laughing]
What?
No, it’s just… [sighs] Yeah, that tracks.
With what I saw.
Oh yeah.
He’s got some demons, was my impression.
Yeah.
And what did he say about me?
That I’m pure evil, and he’s certain I killed her?
And you believed him.
Or… or wanted to, at least.
Hell, it’s a better book if I did it, right?
Oh, Aggie.
You’re disappointed.
It’s okay. No hard feelings.
[phone buzzes]
It’s your wife?
Father.
At this hour?
Hi, Dad.
Where the hell have you been?
I called twice.
Yeah, I got a little sidetracked.
Doing what?
Doesn’t matter. What’s the latest?
We’ve got a plan B?
[Martin speaking indistinctly through phone]
[Nile] Okay.
Right.
Do we have enough time?
All right. Well… great.
I will.
[Nile sighs]
No rest for the weary.
Something you have to take care of?
Uh, it’s under control.
Now, where were we?
I think we were having a moment.
[chuckles]
[glass clinks]
[Aggie chuckles]
What the fuck does that even mean, “sidetracked”?
I mean, what’s more important than this?
How many are there?
Uh, seven. Five grand each.
I’m worried about Nile.
You mean the book?
Yeah.
Yeah, the book, that’s part of it. Not all.
He’s up to something.
He’s getting reckless.
Where’s this coming from?
Yeah.
I saw it up at Attica. There’s some guys, they couldn’t keep their heads down.
Couldn’t help themselves.
That’s why you’re keeping an eye on him.
Yeah, that’s why I’m trying.
I mean, I can’t stay on him 24/7.
We are almost there.
Get through this vote, we finish with Jarvis Yards, and then, Ricky, I’m done.
I am done for good.
Nile can do whatever flaming kamikaze bullshit he wants.
[sighs]
He’s not our mess anymore.
[“Psycho Killer” by Talking Heads playing]
[Nile] People like Brian Abbott, they need to believe that the whole world is rigged against them.
Otherwise, they’ve only got themselves to blame. They hate winners.
I fucking love smoking.
Yeah, you know what it’s like.
Doing it inside kind of feels like… pissing your pants.
No, I’m being serious.
Isn’t that why your marriage fell apart?
Excuse me?
With your ex. Winnie? Sherry?
Shelley.
Shelley, right.
Nina says she’s pretty insecure.
She must have hated your success.
Well, honestly, I wish Nina hadn’t stuck her nose in all that.
She’ll get over it.
Probably never gonna speak to me again.
♪ Psycho killer, qu’estce que c’est ♪
♪ Fafafafa, fafafafafa far better ♪
♪ Run, run, run, run… ♪
[laughing] What? What’s so funny?
♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪
♪ Psycho killer… ♪
You don’t think this is just… just a little on the nose?
It’s your record.
I’m not trying to convince the world I’m not one.
Yes, but I don’t have to convince anyone because you’re gonna do that for me.
Oh, right.
Right! The real Nile Jarvis.
The Nile nobody knows.
[Aggie] Oh, for sure.
But seriously, though, what did happen with you and Shelley?
What went wrong?
[scoffs] What? You get to ask all the questions.
It’s not fair.
Well, we grew apart.
It was pretty standard.
So why haven’t you moved on?
Who says I haven’t?
Excuse me. Um…
Madame?
[Nile] Exhibit bullshit.
Oh, come on.
What? You’re hoping she’ll come back.
No.
No?
No.
I mean, trust me, she’s pretty convinced I’m a sociopath.
Well, then fuck her.
I don’t know. Maybe she’s right.
I am… I’m pretty selfish.
What the fuck is so wrong with being selfish? Selfish is what gets shit done.
Yeah. Trust the free market.
And what? You’re… you’re a socialist?
I got news for you, Ms. Wiggs.
You’re not exactly living in an ashram.
[Aggie] Yeah, maybe. [chuckles]
Maybe that’s my problem.
Dance with me. Come on.
No.
Come on, come on.
[laughs] It’s just not gonna happen.
What? Lesbians don’t dance?
No, never.
It’s in… It’s in our code of conduct.
Uh-huh.
We hike. We golf. [chuckles] We… we nest.
There’s no part of you who wants to fuck me?
Even just a teeny tiny little bit?
[laughs] Oh my God!
Jesus Christ.
I’m just saying, our thing is weird, right?
I mean, look at us.
Middle of the night, my wife doesn’t know where I am.
It’s a little bit sexy.
Now you’re gonna tell me I just haven’t found the right penis.
Well, how many have you tried?
None of your goddamn business.
Hey, release notions of the self, like the Buddhists say.
[laughs]
Yeah, I’m not…
I’m not sure that’s what they meant.
Sogyal Rinpoche?
[chuckles] We cling to fixed identities to fend off the fear of death.
Wait, wasn’t he the one who punched a nun?
Enlightenment comes in many forms.
Speaking of which, I really need to take a piss.
Oh, um, maybe use the one upstairs.
And if the pipes make noise, just ignore it.
Wow, we’ve really gotta get you paid.
[scoffs]
[pensive music playing]
[sighs]
[phone line ringing]
[phone buzzes]
[upbeat pop music playing]
[phone buzzes]
Nile?
[automated voice]
You have reached the voicemail for
[mysterious ethereal music playing]
Nile?
[uneasy music playing]
Hey.
You can’t be in here.
No, I’m serious. Hey!
You know they’re the only animals that play with their food?
Killer whales.
They’ll catch a fish and toss it back and forth before ingesting it.
Just for fun.
Can we go downstairs? Please?
How long since you’ve been in here?
Sit down for a sec.
Come on.
[Aggie sighs]
[groans]
Yeah, next time I’m gonna bring my own.
It is terrible.
[chuckles] My dad… my dad always had the same bottle of single malt Glenfiddich around for guests.
[chuckles]
I… I caught him one night refilling it with Dewar’s and water from the sink.
Yeah.
He said, “It’s the label people taste.”
Smart man.
Hmm.
You were 12 when he was arrested?
Yeah.
Daddyo.
[Aggie scoffs]
It was almost a relief at that point.
[sighs] We were always moving.
Even if I didn’t know why.
It was always just this… this feeling that things could go…
[Aggie breathes deeply]
I wanted Cooper to have something permanent, you know?
[Nile] Hmm.
This house. [scoffs] Shelley thought it was crazy, but I had a bestseller.
I had a three-book deal.
I’d never had that kind of money before.
[sighs]
But I just went all in on the future.
[pensive music playing]
I thought it was the end of all that running.
I thought it was forever.
What’s the old joke?
You wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans.
[groans]
Wow.
[inhales sharply]
[stirring music playing]
Johnny boy.
Hey, Rick.
How’s your father?
Staying out of trouble?
Of course not.
What the fuck is that in your nose?
It’s like warrior shit.
Christ.
Hey, NYPD! Hands where I can see ’em!
[distant train horn] Very funny.
Hey.
Officer Eddie, this is Johnny Warrior.
Hey.
What’s up?
[Rick] Now, once they’re in place, he’s gonna send me his location.
I’ll pass it on to you.
30K, split six ways.
You trust these guys?
None of them has a record?
Yeah, like you said.
Thanks.
Get a good look at each other now.
Won’t be so easy.
[car trunk opens]
What are you, a medium?
Yeah.
Yeah.
That’s it.
[Nile moans]
[Nile groans]
All right.
Let’s go.
[moans]
[pensive music playing]
[car alarm chirps]
[music fades]
Where were you?
I called.
Over and over.
[Nile sighs]
I w
Yeah, I was with Aggie.
We had a little… a little heart-to-heart.
What, are you jealous?
I’m not exactly her type.
You just disappeared.
It’s not the first time.
Go back to sleep.
I wasn’t asleep.
I haven’t slept all night.
Then maybe you should take something.
Fuck you, Nile.
I’m your wife.
You should start treating me like it.
You have no idea what I’m up against.
No.
I don’t.
Because you don’t tell me.
Don’t be a cliché, Nina. It’s boring.
You know, I was so patient after Maddie died.
All the sneaking around, using the service entrance.
All those nights in hotels, locked up like we were under house arrest.
What was the alternative?
The whole world thought I’d killed her.
I realize that.
You said yourself that they would assume that we’d been fucking the whole time.
And you promised me it wouldn’t be like that forever.
And it’s not. We got married. We moved.
We moved because your father made us move.
Don’t pretend–
My father doesn’t make me do anything!
Nothing.
He didn’t want us going public, did he?
With good reason.
And now you resent me for it.
Oh my God, Jesus fucking Christ.
You’re punishing me.
I’m punishing you? I’m punishing you?
I wake up in the middle of the night, and you’re gone.
No explanation.
But I do anything without your express permission, and I get my hand slapped like I’m a fucking child.
And the whole time, I’m just supposed to shut up.
Just shut up and be grateful.
Because I’m so lucky to be with you.
You know what I think?
I think you miss it.
The sneaking around, the lying.
Maybe you were happier being the side piece to a dead woman.
Do that again.
Come on.
Come on, Nina. Again.
And again.
Fuck.
Come on, Nina, fight back.
[whimpers] Fight back.
[gasps]
[mysterious music playing]
Fuck.
Is this what you want?
[moans]
[moaning]
[gasping moans]
[moans]
[gasping moans]
[breathes deeply]
[ethereal music playing]
[moans]
[groans]
[moans]
[sighs]
[breathing heavily]
[sighs]
[moans]
[retches]
[retching]
[groans, breathes heavily]
[toilet handle clicks]
Please work. Please work. Please work.
[pipes rattling] Oh fuck.
[toilet flushes]
Oh, thank you.
Thank God.
[unsettling music playing]
[Nina] Are you not going to sleep at all?
It’s still early.
We could take a nap.
[Nile] Oh, I gotta go into the city.
Big day today.
Okay.
[barks, whines]
Hi. Hi, hi, hi.
I know.
[whines] That was… weird.
[groans]
[record scratching]
[moans]
[intriguing music playing]
[button clicks]
[ashtray clatters]
[Steve barks]
[sighs]
[car alarm chirps]
[suspenseful music playing]
[reporter] Thank you, Kelly.
I’m outside the Jarvis construction site, where the number of protesters has sharply increased over the past week as Olivia Benitez’s affordable housing movement has gained national attention.
Now, all of this is in anticipation of an upcoming vote by the city council on phase two of Jarvis Yards.
Take a look behind me. You can see an increase in police presence already.
That’s in preparation for a rally set to kick off at 2:00 p.m.
later this afternoon.
[indistinct chattering]
[suspenseful music continues]
You heard from Abbott this morning?
No. He still out sick?
Yeah, must be.
[phone line ringing]
You’ve reached Agent Brian Abbott with the Federal Bureau of Investi–
[suspenseful music continues]
[music swells]
[car alarm chirps]
Rick.
Do you know where Nile went?
Last night.
I mean, it’s kind of your job.
Right? To know.
He said he was with Aggie Wiggs.
He didn’t come home till five o’clock in the morning.
I wasn’t with him.
I mean, if that’s what he said.
It doesn’t bother you?
Living up there?
I mean, you’re a member of the family.
Don’t you feel entitled to more?
You know, if you’re asking me, I think I have something that your husband and my brother will never have.
What’s that?
Enough.
I should, um…
I should really go feed the dogs.
He had bruises.
Like he had been in a fight.
Somehow I don’t think those came from Aggie.
[suspenseful music playing]
[man] Hey.
I’m in a bit of a hurry.
You think we can bump this up the line?
Drive it over to the crusher.
You got it.
[door buzzer]
[Shelley] Yeah?
It’s me.
Can I come in?
Shell?
I don’t think that’s a good idea.
I want to apologize, okay?
Oh, hey. Here you go.
Hey, Shelley? Shelley, please.
Just five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.
[footsteps approaching]
[door lock clicks]
Aggie, you need to go home.
Okay, you don’t have to say anything.
But can you just listen?
Please.
Please. Please.
Five minutes, and then I’ll go.
[Shelley sighs]
Okay.
Okay?
Okay, that’s… that’s… that’s fine. Um…
[exhales sharply]
Uh…
You were right about the show.
And the book.
It was fucked up. It was.
I was selfish.
And… and wrong. And, uh…
I swear, I… I didn’t th…
I didn’t think I was being malicious.
But maybe… maybe on some level, I… I…
I did want to hurt you, because, um… because… because I…
I miss you, and, um, it’s killing me.
And you were right about Teddy too.
I couldn’t face it.
The fact that I pushed him to do that.
I mean, I… I…
I hated him. I… I…
I still hate him.
But I…
I feel sick inside, knowing that I’m responsible.
[sighs]
I’m… I’m not a monster, Shelley.
I’m not.
I don’t know, maybe I do need an enemy, like you said.
Maybe, you know, I…
[sniffles] …I always have.
You know? Maybe… maybe I don’t know how to write, or to live, without… someone to fight.
[sobs] But I never meant that to be you, Shelley.
[melancholy music playing]
I… I love you.
[sobs] And I’m sorry for all the ways that I took you for granted.
I can be better.
I… I can.
If… if you’ll just let me try.
I’m so lost, Shelley. I’m so lost.
I don’t know who I am with… without you.
[sniffles]
Aggie, I’m sorry.
I… I hope you figure it out.
[door lock clicks]
[breathing heavily]
[crowd cheering]
[Olivia] Thank you!
Thank you for showing up to make history.
[cheering]
We’re not just making noise today, guys.
We’re sending a message that this city is not just a playground for the millionaires and these billionaires, okay?
This city belongs to all of us.
And if the rest of city council thinks they can ignore us, they do so at their peril.
Because we will not roll over and play dead!
[uneasy music playing]
[cheering] No!
[sniffles]
[ethereal music playing]
[phone buzzes]
Hello?
[man] Is this Agatha Wiggs?
Yes. Who’s this?
Hello?
This is Christopher Ingram, Madison’s brother.
I need to talk to you about your book.
Can you meet me somewhere today?
Um…
You know, today’s not really possible.
Please. It’s important.
There are things my parents didn’t tell you.
About Nile.
Things you need to know.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Olivia] No! No!
[crowd cheering] Mark my words, Jarvis Yards will kill this community!
These people are poison.
And we will do whatever it takes to stop them, right?
[crowd cheering]
Say it with me! We will do…
[crowd] Whatever it takes!
[Olivia] We will do…
[crowd] Whatever it takes!
Fascist pig! How does it feel?
Hey. I’m talking to you, asshole.
All right, that’s enough.
How do you sleep at night?
Back the fuck up!
And what if I don’t?
I’m warning you.
[Olivia] Yes!
[shouting, clamoring]
Hey! Hey, hey!
[grunting]
Stop! Hey! Stop that!
No! Hold on! Hold on! Stop!
That’s not what we’re here for! Stop! No!
Son of a bitch.
[Lila] Oh my God.
What the hell is happening?
[man] Fascist pig!
[officer] Let’s go! Let’s go!
Move it!
Down! Come on
[mysterious ethereal music playing]
Hi.
My parents would kill me if they knew I was doing this.
Talking to me?
Is Nile paying you to write his book?
It’s not his book.
It’s mine.
And no, he’s not. That’s not how it works.
What are you gonna say about him?
Do you think he did it?
You must have a hunch, right?
What does your gut tell you?
Well, at first, I did have the feeling that he was hiding something.
But now I think maybe I… I misjudged him.
Right. Of course.
[Aggie] What?
You’re just like everyone else.
What? Where are you going? Hey!
Nile does this whole song and dance.
He spews a bunch of bullshit, and everybody just believes it.
It’s not about anything Nile said.
Your own parents seem convinced he’s innocent.
Yeah, well, denial’s a hell of a drug.
They love him that much?
You called me. You said there was something I should know.
So I’m here, and I’ll listen, but I’m not gonna pry it out of you.
It’s not love.
It’s self-preservation.
All their money is tied up in Jarvis Yards.
What are you talking about?
[intriguing music playing]
A year before they broke ground, interest rates spiked.
Nile and his father got caught in a credit squeeze.
They had taken out a massive construction loan.
The note came due. They couldn’t cover it.
There was a $200 million shortfall.
My father is one of the executors of the family trust.
Some of the trustees were reticent, but my father convinced them this was a golden opportunity, so he paid off half the loan in exchange for five ownership points of Jarvis Yards.
Jesus.
And then a year later, Maddie disappeared.
[sighs] This was never disclosed.
It didn’t have to be.
It’s a private trust.
And if Jarvis Yards falls apart now, it’s not just my parents’ money.
There are about 40 cousins who live off the income, including me.
So, yeah, my parents think Nile is innocent.
They do believe that.
Because they can’t afford to think otherwise.
What about the note she left?
You think it’s fake?
All I know is she wasn’t suicidal.
Not then. I mean, she had been before, but this was different.
She was terrified.
Of Nile?
But she called me once, really late, maybe a month before.
Her voice, it was, like, whispering, but with this intensity.
She said she wanted me to know that she loved me, whatever happened.
I just figured she was…
[sniffles] …being dramatic, you know?
‘Cause she could be a lot.
She just felt things really deeply.
I should have listened.
She was trying to tell me.
I mean, she must have known, right?
What he was capable of?
This is all the stuff I took from their penthouse after she disappeared.
Stuff I didn’t want Nile to have.
I figured maybe you could borrow it if you want.
If you’re gonna write about Maddie, I want you to know her.
She deserves more than to be a footnote in Nile’s story.
All right. You guys got everything?
[boy] Yeah.
[door alert chimes]
[Frank] Hey.
Dinner’s gonna be ready in, like, an hour.
[Felicity] I’m not hungry.
Okay.
Dylan’s got this Harriet Tubman thing he’s supposed to write for social studies, and I’m not sure about Felicity.
You got a minute?
Look, um…
I talked to the… the lawyer that Stacy recommended about next steps.
Oh.
Okay, thank you.
And it got me thinking.
I guess it’s starting to feel really real, you know?
And, look, I know…
I know one of the things you said was you felt like we weren’t communicating.
And I agree.
I think, um, part of that is because I was–
Frank, this may not be the best time.
I know about Brian Abbott, okay?
I went through your phone back in March, which I’m not proud of.
But… I want you to know that I forgive you.
We had sex, what, three times in two years?
Frank, you don’t–
It’s not fair to you.
Okay, my point is, before we go and make this thing permanent, I just want us to be fully honest with each other.
If you’re in love, that’s one thing.
Frank, I’m not.
But if you’re not…
Um, I… I can’t do this.
I’m sorry, Frank. I gotta go.
[breathes deeply]
[ethereal music playing]
[rain pattering]
[music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
[thunder rumbling]
She left a note, didn’t she?
[ominous music playing]
[tense string music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[James] She attempted suicide two years before she succeeded.
Nile saved her life, you know.
[exhales sharply]
[phone ringing]
Okay, come on, come on, come on.
[phone line ringing]
[phone ringing]
[phone line ringing]
Sorry. Your call cannot be completed–
Fuck.
[suspenseful music playing]
[exhales sharply]
[typing]
[exhales sharply]
[phone buzzes]
[typing]
[typing]
[tense music playing]
[music intensifies]
[music swells]
[music fades]
[“Let’s Dance” by David Bowie playing]
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Put on your red shoes
And dance the blues ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ To the song they’re playin’
On the radio ♪
♪ If you say run ♪
♪ I’ll run with you ♪
♪ If you say hide ♪
♪ We’ll hide ♪
♪ Because my love for you ♪
♪ Would break my heart in two ♪
♪ If you should fall ♪
♪ Into my arms ♪
♪ And tremble like a flower ♪
♪ Let’s dance, let’s dance
Let’s dance, let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
♪ Let’s dance ♪
[music fades]
