Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: An Inheritance to Die For (2019) Movie Script

1

[Janine] What lens are you on?
[Male Reporter] Can we get a
camera set up over here?
Thank you, Janine. I'm here at
the New York County Courthouse,
waiting for Lauren Monroe to
give a statement to the press.
[many people chatting]
Sir, one moment, please.
[Janine] Just set it up right
over there. I'll be right there.

[panting]
[Lauren] Make sure we have
full access to the SEC filings.
Let's get updated lists of
shell companies ASAP as well.
Okay? And keep having everyone
comb for discrepancies in
the shareholder reports.
I need a meeting
with Haevan at 2:00.
[people shouting]
Please! I can't answer all
your questions at once!
Okay, one at a time.
Katie, go ahead.
[man grunting]
[Male Reporter] What
do you say to those who think
that Wall Street has
corrupted the justice system?
[Lauren] Well, after my
first year as district attorney,
I'd say that my conviction
rate speaks for itself.
Victims and their families have
always been my only concern,
not bankers and brokers.
[panting]
[wheezing]
[Haevan] Beautiful morning,
isn't it, Lauren?
Save your bullshit for the jury.
- It's time we talk plea deal.
- We did. I turned it down.
[Female Reporter] Ms. Monroe, is
it true that Thomas Reindorff's
legal team reached
out with a plea deal?
[Lauren] A plea
deal without restitution
for the $3.5 billion dollars
he defrauded investors
is no plea deal I
would ever accept.
[Haevan] There's no way
you can prove my client
was aware of or condoned the
actions of a few rogue traders.
Watch me.
You can rest assured
they'll face their own day
in court for collusion.
[Female Emcee] Ladies and
gentlemen, please put your hands
together for District
Attorney Lauren Monroe!
[Female Reporter] Your brother's
running for re-election to
Congress with less than
ten days to go. A conviction
would be very convenient
in helping the family image.
Thank you, thank you.
My brother has one thing
no other opponent does:
tenacity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
my brother,
Congressman William Monroe.
And as far as my brother's
reelection campaign goes,
I'm sure he'd donate blood
in exchange for your vote.
[Female Reporter] Speaking of
the election, is there any
credence to the New York
Post article that claims your
brother traded favors in
exchange for union support?
Absolutely not.
Desperation looks
good on you, Robert.
[Haevan] Your father would've
told you to take the deal.
[Lauren] Your client is a
sociopathic liar that
defrauded people of their
pensions and life savings.
[panting]
[heavy wheezing]
We're just now getting in word
about your father's accident.
[people clamoring]
- I...
- We just received
notice that he was found dead
at your family's summer house.
Can you please comment on your
father's death, Miss Monroe?
[William] Thank you, thank you.
It's an incredible honor
to be here with you.
[Male Reporter]
Miss Monroe! Lauren!
[people clamoring]
One statement about your father!
[Eddie] That'll be all for now.
That's enough!
[car horn]
Jackie, get them out of here!

[beeps]

[Minister] Earth to earth,
ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

[Emilio] Hey, take care, okay?
Hey, listen, I gotta be
back at the station at 4:00,
but I'm sorry for
your loss, Lauren.
Thanks for all
your help, Emilio.
- Take care, okay?
- Thanks.
You're better at this than I am.
[William] Well,
I had plenty of practice.
You just nod and shake hands.
[Lauren chuckles]
[William] A heart attack.
I mean, how did
that even happen?
Dad was in better shape
than either of us.
[Lauren] What are
we gonna do about Mom?
[William] Just surround
her with friends,
And we'll find her an apartment
on Zillow, closer to us.
Look, I can only stay until
the reading of the will.
Campaign's a circus.
Hey, Dad was proud of you.
Maybe in public,
but we both know you
were the golden child.
Can't believe it's
already been a week.
It's the beginning of the end.

[clock ticking]
[Lauren] I know how
to play the game.
[Archer] This game, like life,
requires forethought.
It's not about where you are.
It's where you'll be in
ten moves or ten years.
You are not allowed
to be average.
We all have to put up with
things that we don't like,
so grow up, pick a firm,
and learn how to win.
Checkmate.
[Harold] I leave Catherine in
sole control of the family
estate and my voting rights
on the board of directors.
To my son, William,
I leave the sum of $20 million.
To Lauren, I leave $1 million.
$50 million is to
be split equally
between the Police and
Firemen's Benevolent Fund
and the Harvard
School of Medicine.
This is my Last
Will and Testament.
Archer Monroe.
[Catherine] Thank you, Harold.
That'll be all.
I need some air.
[William] Thank you, Harold.
Thank you for everything
you've done for us, Harold.
I know that you and
my dad were close.
There's actually...
something I need
to discuss with you.
Your father left this
for you and you alone.
I knew your father
for 31 years, Lauren.
He was proud of
the woman you became.
Don't let the
inheritance speak otherwise.
Thank you.
Okay.
[Archer] Lauren,
it pains me to do this,
and if you have received this,
it means that I never found
the courage to tell you
while I was alive or...
I died before I
handled it myself.
And for that--
for many things--
forgive me.
We've all made mistakes.
This was mine.
It is a secret you must
carry to your grave.
You are the eldest,
and as such,
I think you'll understand
why it had to be you.
The answer lies
buried near your fort.
I must be vague in
case of prying eyes,
but above all things...
the truth...
must stay buried.
Deepest apologies.
Dad.
[William] Come on, Ted,
how many years have
we know each other?
There is absolutely no truth
whatsoever in the Post article.
Look, my family has always
supported you in the...
[Scott] Lauren, wait!
Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
Wait.
Are you okay?
What else would I expect?
Do you wanna talk about it?
No, I just...
I just want a moment by myself.
I'm fine.
I'm fine.
[birds chirping]

[Young Lauren]
You look very pretty today.
Two sugar cubes?
Lauren! This is off-limits.
[foreboding music]
[heavy panting]
[light switch click]
[nervous panting]
[opens door]
[light switch click]
Jesus!
Aaahhh!!

Okay, okay.

[heavy panting]
[dials phone]
[connect tone]
[operator]
911, what's your emergency?
Hello, hello?
[phone vibrates]
Hello?
Ma'am, we just received
a call from this number.
Is everything all right?
Yeah, sorry, um...
My daughter was playing
with my phone, so...
I won't let it happen
again. I promise.
Okay, ma'am, please be more
careful in the future.
- Hey.
- Hi.
Listen, I don't know
why Dad did that.
Sure you do.
What's wrong with you?
You look awful.
Just got a little
queasy on my walk.
Okay.
Let's split it.
I really, really don't care,
Will, okay? Seriously.
Use it for your
campaign or something.
I hope I still have your vote.
Well, that depends
on your policies.
[laughs]
Weren't you supposed
to be gone already?
Yeah, actually, but you try
pulling Mom away from her
favorite granddaughter.
Lose a hand.
[Laura chuckles]

[Catherine] Oh.
We built a beautiful life
together, didn't we?
What's wrong?
It's everything, honestly.
Your father was proud of you.
Even when he didn't show
it, he was proud of you.
I know there's gonna
be blood in the water,
and the press are
gonna be digging,
pointing their
spotlight on all of us.
Are there any old enemies of
Dad's that I should be aware of?
We both know he was no saint,
but that is not your
burden to carry.
It's mine.
Well, I should know.
Maybe I can help.
You wanna help?
Crucify Reindorff.
Win that case and help
your family win re-election.
Good night, Claire-Bear.
I love you.
[Claire] I love you too, Mama.
Sure you don't want us to stay?
No. I just need
some time to think.
But I'll see you
guys tomorrow night.
- I love you.
- Love you.
[insects chirping]
[clock ticking]
[Archer] All finest schools,
most prestigious firms require--
I don't want to represent
your rich friends!
Why is that so wrong?
[Archer] You are throwing it
all away to be a civil servant,
just like your boyfriend.
Fianc.
Okay, that's
enough, both of you.
Talk to your daughter.
You're acting like this is
some kind of prison sentence.
It is.

[door opens]
Hey.
Can you hear me?
Hey!
Oh, shoot!
Shit.
Shit.
[deep sigh]
[Prisoner] Nice mask.
Who are you?
I like masks.
Answer the question.
Where's Archer?
Tell me your name.
John.
John what?
Doe.
You think this is a game?
You're chained up in a
bunker, and I wanna know why.
Show me your face,
Lauren Elizabeth Monroe.
You want answers?
Look me in the eye and ask.
Born November 7th, 1989.
You have a younger
brother, William.
As DA, you advocate for the
innocent and downtrodden
to appease your conscience
for being born into wealth
and because you knew your
father would disapprove.
You used to bite your
nails incessantly,
unless, of course,
you've kicked that habit.
You have a daughter,
Claire, a husband, Scott,
who you married against
your father's wishes.
Should I continue, or will you
take off that ridiculous mask?
It's good to finally meet you.
Who are you?
I'd like to think I'm
a member of the family
after all these years.
What do you mean, years?
Exactly that.
Years.
So tell me, what
happened to your dad?
Oh.
How'd he die?
My condolences.
So he left me to you.
[wheezing laugh, cough]
That's quite the inheritance.
So explain yourself.
A man in your position,
only bad things come to mind.
Are you good, Lauren?
Who else knows you're here?
Answer the question.
Are you a good person?
I'd like to think so.
Then let me go.
It's what a good
person would do.
You know it's not that simple.
You got a lot to lose.
I have already lost everything.
I need to know why you're here.
Your needs?
Your needs?
You wanna know my name?
You want the truth?
Well, I want the juiciest
steak on God's green Earth.
Rare.
Baked potato, all the fixings.
I want a Caesar salad,
bread and butter,
packet of Gauloises
cigarettes,
some chocolate,
a newspaper,
and a 30-year-old
bottle of scotch,
aged for every year
of my captivity.
You give me what I asked for,
and I will tell you everything.
I need answers.
And I need a steak.
And while we're at
it, I want a shave.
I wanna feel more like
a human being again.
Now, we both know your
conscience, though pained,
is not gonna just
let me go, not yet.
But when all is said and done,
you will know the truth,
and you will set me free.
You're really gonna
play it that way?
Look around.
You're the one in chains.
I could just
let you rot in here,
close the door and walk away.
But you won't.
You really wanna
risk that for a steak?
Wait.
I'd also really like a
slice of key lime pie.
And I would
appreciate that shave.
C-Can I have the
light a little longer?
Your father would only leave it
on an hour or so after he left.
[connect tone]
This is Detective Emilio
Sanchez, 75th Precinct. Leave me
a message, and I'll come
back to you as soon as I can.
Sanchez, hey, it's me.
I just emailed you
a set of prints
I need you to get
into the system ASAP.
Call me on my cell. Bye.
[cell phone vibrates]
Hey, honey. Sorry.
Couldn't connect to
you for some reason.
Hey, how was last night?
Good, yeah.
I was just going through
some of Dad's old things.
[Scott]
You wanna talk about it?
Maybe tonight.
I'm actually headed into
court right now, so...
Already here.
Don't forget.
Claire's recital this afternoon.
Yeah, okay.
Well, I love you.
Love you.
Bye.
[sniffs]
Ohh...
God help me if that isn't the
finest thing I've ever smelled.
I brought you your
food, so let's talk.
And talk we will.
But first...
Mmm!
[laughs]
Mmm.
You can't imagine
what this means to me.
Thank you.
What happened between
you and my dad?
You're not like him.
I suspect you're
better than he ever was.
You've been deflecting my
questions ever since I got here.
How's Catherine taking this?
She was always such
a beautiful woman.
My family is off-limits.
A lawyer, a banker,
and a politician.
The unholy trinity.
Quite the family.
When I get back,
you're going to
tell me the truth,
or it's the last
time you'll see me.
[connect tone]
[Eddie] Lauren,
where the hell are you?
Eddie, I'm gonna
be late for court.
I'm sorry, but of all
the days to be late?
Yeah, I know.
Look, I need you
to run the trial.
Haevan is gonna eat me alive.
You're going to be fine.
And don't let Robert
toss the SEC filing on--
I know about the SEC files.
- I'll be there soon.
- Lauren, Lauren--
1-1/2 cup of finely
crushed Graham crackers,
one-third of a cup of
butter or margarine,
three tablespoons of sugar,
a can of sweetened
condensed milk,
one-half cup of
key lime juice,
one container of
whipped topping.
Let's have some answers.
Forgive me. I just...
Once a year, Christmas,
your father would
bring me chocolate.
Not a whole bar, just
a little tiny square.
It was my one treat
for the year, then he'd
put it up there for the
rest of the year to taunt me,
along with the pictures he took.
Pictures?
In the cigar box.
What is this?
It's my life.
You, uh...
You want some?
It's all yours.
My name is Morgan.
Morgan Warner.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It's been a long time since
I had any human contact.
You know, just to
touch someone's skin.
I used to smoke Gauloises
cigarettes back in the day.
It was a habit I picked up
because I thought it would
make me appear more refined.
Get to the point.
I was a foolish young man
when I met your father.
We had similar vices.
Gambling, ego, women.
That was the greatest
time of my life.
We became partners.
Archer was fearless, but
he couldn't read people.
He was so young and
careless back then.
So you helped him
become a card shark?
Oh, no, he was
already a shark.
I just provided an edge.
If there's one thing
your father wanted
in business, cards, politics,
it was an edge.
What happened between you?
I was gonna become a doctor.
I could've done so
much with my life.
That night--
What happened?
We'd had a few drinks
before leaving the summer house
for a big game in the city.
We should never have
been on the road.
I'll never forget that sound.
[crash]
It happened so fast.
My heart was pounding like it
was gonna burst in my chest.
And my mouth, I could barely
swallow, I was so scared.
He was just a kid.
He was like us.
I figured the only thing we
could do was call the police
and, you know, say there
had been an accident.
But, uh, he panicked.
He said we couldn't.
He said the cops would be
looking for his dented car.
He said he'd go to jail,
that he'd lose everything.
If there's no body,
there's no crime.
If there's no body,
there's no crime.
He kept saying it
over and over again.
If there's no body,
there's no crime.
I-I tried to do the right thing.
My dad killed a man?
It was an accident.
But paranoia infected him.
What happened to the body?
We buried it.
That is to say,
your father buried it.
I wanted no part of it.
I wasn't about to
cover up a homicide.
You know, I mean, an
accident is one thing, but...
Maybe I should have.
Maybe I'd still have a life.
Morgan!
Who was he?
I don't know.
You buried a body
and didn't even
bother to find out who it was?
I had slightly more
pressing matters at hand.
What would you have done?
Would you have buried
him and walked away,
or would you have made
the call to the police?
I'd like to think
I'd make the call.
Well, then you would
be here like me.
Why go to all this trouble?
Why not just kill me?
[scoffs]
I begged him to.
Days turned into weeks,
then months, then so much
time had gone by, he couldn't
bring himself to let me go.
He was scared I'd turn him in.
I wouldn't have said a word.
Not a word...
if it'd have
bought me my freedom.
If Archer had a conscience,
he would've just put
me out of my misery.
Instead, he offered me
the chance to kill myself.
But no matter the agony,
the hopelessness,
my life had meaning.
My survival would be my revenge.
But people must have
missed you, looked for you.
He said I stole his
winnings, left the country.
How do I know that you're
telling me the truth?
It's not like my dad's
here to defend himself.
I said your father
had three vices.
Poker, obviously,
ego, of course,
but we haven't even
begun to discuss the women.
One woman in particular.
What does it have
to do with anything?
You said you could
handle the truth.
Archer loved your
mother, but, uh, Sofia...
she was everything
your mother was not.
Uncomplicated,
unrestrained,
free from conformity.
Sofia wasn't an affair.
She was an obsession,
providing for Archer's
darker appetites.
He used to call
her his Gypsy Rose.
You must have had some
kind of inclination--
I don't believe you.
Why not?
Since the
world has turned,
powerful men
have kept mistresses,
and he kept her
till his dying day.
He wouldn't do that to my mom.
Does any daughter
really know her father?
You're lying.
Look, I don't expect you to
take my word for it, okay?
Why don't you go check?
How?
He used to visit her every
Tuesday, 72nd and Parkway.
Her name is Sofia Fiore.
Bullshit.
If you don't believe
me, go ask Harold.
I'm sure he kept an entirely
separate inheritance for her.
She was the love of his life.
Shut the hell up!
If you're lying, I swear
you'll never see me again.
What if I'm not?
[agonized scream]
[panting]
Can you check to see if there
were any missing persons
named Morgan Warner
during the late '80s?
Morgan Warner. Yeah, okay.
What's it for?
My dad left him
something in his will,
and I'm trying to find
out what happened to him.
No e-mails.
Just forward whatever you find
on to my parent's summer house.
All right.
[Judge] Well, I'm glad you
decided to join us, Ms. Monroe.
May it please the court,
I'd like to offer my sincere
apology to Your Honor
and the ladies and
gentlemen of the jury.
What did I miss?
Besides the birth
of my 15 ulcers?
Court is in session.
Mr. Haevan, please
call your next witness.
1-1/2 cups of finely
crushed Graham crackers,
one-third of a cup of butter,
three tablespoons of sugar,
one can of sweetened
condensed milk,
one-half cup of
key lime juice,
one container of
whipped topping.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Press into baking tray.
Bake for eight to 10
minutes. Leave to cool.
1-1/2 cups of finely
crushed Graham crackers,
one-third of a cup of butter,
three tablespoons of sugar,
one can of sweetened
condensed milk,
one-half cup of
key lime juice,
one container of
whipped topping.
Beat milk and lime juice
together until thick and smooth,
fold in whipped topping,
spoon into cool pie crust,
cover and refrigerate
for one hour or till set.
It's a dessert the
whole family will love.
[Doorman] Can I help you?
I'm here to see Sofia Fiore.
Your name, please?
Lauren Monroe.
One moment, please.
I have Lauren Monroe
here to see you, ma'am.
Yes, ma'am.
Sofia Fiore?
[Sofia] Please come in, Lauren.
Why are you here?
I found your name
in my dad's will.
Maybe you can tell
me how you two met.
Do you really wanna know?
Yes.
At a poker game.
And you were together for...
He never stopped loving your
mother, if that's what you mean.
How long?
Many years.
I wish I didn't
have to be here,
but I'm just trying to
put the pieces together.
So I apologize for asking,
but did my dad ever pay
you for your company?
We took care of each other.
That care helped me earn
a master's and a career.
How we started is not
where we ended up.
Who is this?
My son.
Alex.
Your half-brother.
Jesus Christ.
No-- No one can know.
This would literally
kill my mom.
Lauren, you came to me.
We have our own life.
And your son?
He doesn't know you exist.
I have to go.
[deep sigh]
[panting]
Mm-hmm. Right.
Even for a lawyer, Harold,
you're a goddamn
snake in the grass.
Let me call you back.
Lauren, what the
hell is going on?
Sofia Fiore.
What about her?
All these years, you knew.
Every family gathering,
you lied to our faces.
To my mom's face.
I'm your father's
lawyer, Lauren.
And his friend.
And as both, it wasn't my
business to do either.
You don't think I didn't try
to talk some sense into him?
What am I supposed to do?
Walk away.
And if someone finds out?
She won't say a
word. She never has.
She signed a
non-disclosure agreement.
[scoffs]
Of course.
How much?
Does it matter?
How much?
What else was my dad hiding?
This is it.
He's dead, Harold!
He's-- He's dead.
My mom, my brother's
career, my career.
I-I need to know if
there are more skeletons.
Nothing that can harm you.
What does that mean?
It means...
walk away.
I've protected your
family for decades.
I know things I'll
take to the grave.
Your father
trusted me, Lauren,
I suggest you do the same.
Did my dad ever mention a man
named Morgan Warner to you?
Doesn't sound familiar.
I'd like you to help me find
some stats, old guarantees.
- Also the research.
[Jen] Got it.
- Thanks, Jen.
- Of course.
Hey, Mom.
What a welcome surprise.
You've come to
join the war effort?
Ay.
You know, they have a
speechwriter for that.
Yeah, well, we can't afford to
make the slightest mistake.
Not now.
Not after all this hard work.
- How's your case?
- It's good.
You know, that case makes
me miss being a lawyer.
Listen, I was going through
some of Dad's old things.
Some guy named Morgan Warner,
does that name ring a bell?
Morgan?
I don't think so.
We met so many people. Why?
Oh, I just thought that
maybe I could get to know
Dad better through old friends.
That reminds me.
I have something for you.
I will not let money
tear this family apart.
You deserve the same
as your brother.
I don't want it. I never did.
Your father had no
right to do what he did.
[William] I don't care you
have to do. Just get it done.
I'm surrounded by jackals.
- Hi.
- What's going on?
Well, we got a sympathy
bump in the polls,
police and firemen's
unions are backing us,
thanks to Dad's donation,
but my lead is within
the margin of error.
Some polls say I'm slipping.
Goddamn New York Post article
saying I paid off union reps
isn't exactly
helping perception.
You didn't, right?
Of course not.
It's a smear campaign.
But, Lauren, listen.
I need you at the
rally tomorrow night.
Just give a short speech,
shake some hands,
kiss a few babies--
It's the worst time.
With the Reindorff case,
I'm barely staying afloat.
I know, but look, it's all
hands on deck right now, okay?
Mom will be there, the mayor.
I need my sister
to get up there,
flash that beautiful smile
and help us win this thing.
I'll be there.
- Thank you, honey.
- Thank you.
Believe me now?
Why didn't you tell
me he had a son?
And ruin the surprise?
How is Alex?
This isn't funny.
No.
But it's proof.
What do you say we
take this off now?
What else, hmm?
What else do you know?
Everything.
I was your father's confessor.
I mean, I hated the man,
yet I lived
vicariously through him.
Each conversation was, uh...
all I had.
Look, I know this
is a lot to swallow,
but truth is, Archer only
ever looked out for Archer.
He was a bad husband,
he's a shitty father,
and a worse friend.
If it's any consolation,
he admired you for the
mother you've become.
I was a good parent
because he wasn't.
It must have been hard.
What?
Trying to please him,
rebel against him
at the same time.
How do I know you're telling
the truth about the body?
Dig it up.
Where's it buried?
I couldn't possibly describe
that to you after all this time.
Try.
The only way is
to take me there.
If you think that
I'm gonna let you--
You're a lawyer.
You know the sentence for aiding
and abetting a kidnapping,
for false imprisonment,
for torture, duress?
I know the law.
Yeah.
No more games.
Tell me the truth.
I told you the
truth about Sofia.
I want my freedom, Lauren.
I've earned it.
Doesn't mean that you're
not lying about this.
Take me there.
Dig up the truth.
If you try something...
I am an old man now.
It's been such a long
time since I've seen the
outside world, it's probably
gonna give me a heart attack.
[chain rattling]
Ah...
Move!
[incredulous laughter]
[continues laughing]
It's more beautiful
than I remember.
[cell vibrates]
Oh, God. It's almost
too painful to bear.
Thank you.
Come on.
I just-- I took so much
for granted, you know.
Just the trees and the...
the night sky, fresh air.
[cell vibrates]
God.
[cell vibrates]
- Let's go, come on.
- Yeah, right, sorry.
- Let's go.
- Yeah.
[cell continues vibrating]
I'm gonna take this call.
You're not gonna say one word.
You're not even gonna breathe,
do you understand me?
Not one word.
Hey, I've been
meaning to call you.
[Scott] Where are you?
You haven't returned
my calls or texts.
I left messages at your office.
It's-- It's been a horrible day.
I'm sorry. I should
have reached--
You can't just vanish
on me like this.
You remember Claire's recital,
the one you promised
you wouldn't miss?
It's a huge ordeal to
get her to go to bed
because you didn't call
back, you didn't say sorry,
you didn't say good night.
Yeah, look, I know.
I-I total--
I'm sorry. I promise I'll
make it up to you guys, okay?
[Scott] Your voice sounds like--
Look, I can't talk right now!
Trouble at home?
I'm sure Scott's
just missing you.
Goddamn it, do not
talk about my family.
You wanna end up
back in that hole?
- No? Then shut up.
- Okay.
- Move.
- All right.
[Lauren] I feel like
we're driving in circles.
We're almost there.
Just keep going straight.
Oh, oh, here. Turn down here.
There, just to the right.
Right, right, right.
How far?
Just keep going.
For how long?
Do you want answers or not?
We're close.
We're almost there,
I'm telling ya.
Oh, stop.
Stop the car.
Take this.
Morgan.
Morgan!
There.
That's where
we buried him.
Sit over there and keep
lying on the ground.
You move, I shoot.
It's that simple.
You sure you don't
want me to dig?
Your dad did.
I prefer you in cuffs.
Suit yourself.
- When you find the body--
- If!
When you find the body--
Shut up! I mean it.
All right.
There's nothing here.
Oh, he's there.
Where, huh? Where?
Okay, this is all
some bullshit lie.
We're in the middle
of fucking nowhere.
Please, just trust me.
How can I trust you?
I don't even know you, okay?
I'm already out on a
fucking limb, trying--
Light.
Jesus Christ.
Told ya.
Shut up!
So what happens now?
Put the collar back on.
W-We found the body.
I need to think.
About what? I'm-- I'm innocent.
It's not that black or white.
I see, I see.
Even now you are
protecting your father.
Not my father. My family.
What about justice?
Isn't that why you
became a lawyer?
What-- What about
everything I've lost?
What about my mother, huh?
Her son just vanishes off
the face of the Earth?
No closure? Not even a funeral?
It's just there's no
love or compassion,
not even a window
to see the sun.
Every day protein powder,
peanut butter, and water.
Could you live like that?!
Could you?
Days that last as long as
years! Nothing to celebrate!
Just one fucking piece of
chocolate every Christmas!
What do you want me to say?
I didn't do this to you!
But you could change it!
If you walk away,
you're worse than he is.
Will you be able to
look into Scott's eyes?
Or Claire's? Or yours?
Put it back on!
I am an innocent man.
You give me my life back.
Put it on!
- All right, all right.
- Put it on!
This is not my responsibility,
do you understand me?
I didn't ask for this.
This is not my fault.
You think just because
you show me a body,
and you told me
about his mistress
that that means I believe
you, and I trust you?
It doesn't prove anything.
It doesn't
prove anything!
It proves everything!
Come on.
I need more.
What do you want from me?
Do you want me to
just conjure evidence?
Your father erased every
trace of my existence!
You gotta give me
something else!
I can't! I can't!
Goddamn it! You're
just like your father!
You offer false hope, and then
you just take it all away.
God knows how many good
years I've got, Lauren.
Just, please,
let me have them.
Oh, God.
All right.
Look, I know what
you're thinking, okay?
And I understand.
If I set him free,
is he gonna go to the
cops or the media?
Is he gonna destroy
my family name?
My brother's political
career? My career?
Am I gonna break
your mother's heart?
I swear, I swear I will
just, I will vanish.
I just wanna salvage what
few years I have left.
Please, please, Lauren.
Be a good person.
I beg you.
I beg you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I'm sorry.
I'm-- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
No.
Lauren!
[heavy panting]
Pick up, pick up!
All you two care about
is money and legacy.
I know that it's late, but
I really need that missing
persons information ASAP.
What's going on with that?
I don't have it yet.
Show me your face.
Privilege is not
given. It's earned.
I know exactly the
kind of person it takes
to earn your privilege.
[Morgan] A lawyer,
a banker, and a politician.
- It's in a warehouse in Queens.
- Fuck.
The unholy trinity.
I want my freedom.
Send the hard copy file
to the Monroe manor.
Dad, say something.
Close the door on your way out.
It is protected. It has a price.
Quite the family.
Checkmate.
[screams]
I'm so sorry, Claire-bear.
I love you.
I love you too, Mommy.
[Radio] The congressional
race is in a dead heat.
With only two days to go,
each candidate is pulling
out all the stops.
Incumbent William Monroe
is trying to lock down his
second term in the face of
allegations that his campaign
has been trading
favors for union vo--
[mutes]
Bring me up to
speed before we begin.
Here's the updated
list of shell companies
from forensic accounting.
Give me the highlights.
[Bailiff] All rise!
[Judge] Please be seated.
[Haevan] To be very
clear for the jury,
confirm how many traders worked
on behalf of their clients,
in full control of
their own accounts
outside of Mr. Reindorff's
direct supervision?
[Male Witness] 324.
324. And how many
trades a day were completed
on average by these 324 traders?
[Male Witness] Around 2,500.
-2,500 trades a day?
- That's correct.
I further put it to
you that Ms. Monroe,
desperate to step out of
her late father's shoes...
She's dragging my client's
impeccable reputation
through the mud.
The state should
be ashamed of her.
[Judge] Your witness,
Ms. Monroe.
Ms. Monroe?
Ms. Monroe!
No questions, Your Honor.
In that case, this court
is adjourned until 9 a.m.
tomorrow morning.
The witness is
free to step down.
I'll call you later.
You don't call ahead anymore?
Did you set up the account?
- What is this?
- Gypsy Rose, LLC.
I'm not at liberty--
Stop!
I don't wanna hear it.
I can't hear it.
This is a major
conflict of interest!
My own father
is a co-conspirator
in my goddamn case.
- Lauren--
- Jesus Christ, Harold!
I asked you if there
was anything else that
could hurt us, and you said no.
You said--
Stop asking questions you
don't want answers to!
Lauren, ignorance is
deniability, so walk away.
I don't know anything about
Gypsy Rose, and neither do you.
[William] Just get that
proposal on my desk
and set up a meeting with
the labor board, please.
No later than Friday.
[knocks on door]
Hey. What are you doing here?
Is everything okay?
Yeah, I, um... I just
needed some advice.
About the Reindorff case?
No, I have a legal situation
I need to talk through.
Oh, okay. Well, hit me.
The details are complicated,
but the gist is this.
A guy has blackmail material
that could ruin your life,
ruin your family's life,
destroy everything you've built.
He just needs some money
to start a new life.
Whatever it takes.
Family comes first.
Before a clear conscience?
Well, yeah, in our
business, that's rarer than
the virgin birth.
[chuckles]
Okay, say I'm that
guy. What did I do?
- Hypothetically?
- Hypothetically.
Okay. Well, you know
the guy killed a man,
and you are threatening
to expose him.
Just plead him out or walk away.
It's not like you're ever
gonna run out of cases to try.
Okay.
Look, all I know is,
if someone was
threatening our family,
I'd either pay him off or
dump his body in the river.
And you know what
Dad would've done.
[lighter flicks]
Have you made your decision?
Lauren... please.
I wanna do the right
thing. I really do.
But?
But how do I know that
you're telling the truth?
I showed you the body.
The truth about vanishing.
I have been imprisoned
in this room
for longer than
you have been alive.
If I walk out that door,
I will never, ever look back.
I have your word?
I swear.
Clean up.
You're leaving tonight.
[locks door]
- Why are we meeting here?
- We have a situation.
- What happened?
- My father happened.
I told you, Sofia isn't a
concern. And that other issue--
I need you to set up a
Cayman Islands account.
You're good at that.
Put my one million in it,
and I need 100K in cash.
Who's this for?
A man my dad wronged.
In addition, I need an
ID, fake or otherwise,
and I need to charter
a jet to fly him there.
Make sure none of this
is traceable back to us.
Hey, hold on, hold on.
I've done plenty of
shady things in my life,
but I always knew the reason.
Give me a reason.
You don't wanna know.
On a scale of one to 10.
Apocalyptic.
Who else knows about this?
William? Catherine?
No one else knows.
I need it done ASAP.
I have to get this man as
far away from us as possible.
- What did Archer do--
- I can't tell you!
I can't tell anyone.
Lauren, are you sure
you wanna do this?
That's a lot of loose ends.
I don't have a choice!
Call me when it's set.
[scissors snipping]
I feel like a new man.
You look... different.
I will take that
as the compliment.
I'm sure it was
grudgingly meant to be.
When you talked, um...
what did my dad say about me?
What do you mean?
Well, you said that you
were his confessor, so...
so what did he say?
He was proud of you.
The truth.
He thought you should be in the
private sector as a litigator,
protecting the family interests.
A city attorney lacked prestige.
Then when you made DA, he
thought you were humiliating him
by going after his friends.
But he loved you...
in his way.
And he would read me every story
when you had some
trial in the news.
I think after a time,
he began to change
his mind about things.
Thought that I
would make him proud if
I became DA, but, you know...
Least you didn't have to pay
off the unions for support.
That's a smear campaign.
My brother didn't do that.
I'm sure Jeffrey
Shultz would disagree,
if he isn't already lying
in a ditch somewhere.
Who's Jeffrey Shultz?
Can you just keep me updated on
the polls as they come through,
point for point.
That'd be great.
1-1/2 cups of finely
crushed Graham crackers.
Three tablespoons of sugar.
One can of sweetened
condensed milk.
Oh, and I need the most
recent draft of my speech
within the hour to
make the edits. Thank you.
One-third of a cup of
butter or margarine.
Three tablespoons of sugar.
One-third of a cup of
butter or margarine.
Three tablespoons of sugar.
One can of sweetened
condensed milk.
Oh, hey. I'm glad you're here.
I wanted to ask you if you--
We need to talk.
In private.
Yeah, okay.
Uh, guys, can we get
a minute? Thank you.
What's wrong?
Jeffrey Shultz.
Does that name sound familiar?
No. Why?
Oh, save the bullshit!
That article, it's
legit, isn't it?
You and Dad cut a
deal for the votes
and used Jeffrey Shultz as the
middleman to pay union reps?
They can't prove it.
Oh, Jesus Christ. What the
hell were you thinking?
Oh, stop with the
choir girl act, Lauren!
Don't play dumb!
You know how this works.
You think anyone gets elected
without cutting deals?
It's bribery!
You and Dad were lying to me.
How many? For how long,
huh? Why didn't I know?
Cause you're the district
attorney of Manhattan.
I'm your sister!
We were protecting you.
Would you really have
wanted to know? Honestly.
Do you even know the position
that would've put you in?
I wouldn't have liked it, but
I would have protected you.
I am protecting you.
Yeah? Who'd you talk to?
It doesn't matter.
Oh, the hell it doesn't.
How do you think you
got elected as the DA?
Because I can assure
you, it wasn't your--
[slap]
Shut up!
Don't you dare.
Don't you dare ever
lie to me again!
[birds chirping]

Are you ready?
With every fiber of my being.
[birds chirping]

[deep breaths]

[sniffles]

I can't wait to
see the sunrise,
feel it on my face.
You'll have all the sun
you want in the Caymans.
It's paradise.
Harold, right?
[Lauren] He'll help
you set up a new life.
You can make up for lost time.
This might sound a little
strange, but, um...
this is one of the things
that really kept me going.
I promised myself that if one
day I got free, I'd, um...
have myself a slice
of key lime pie,
like the one in the picture.
I'm sorry.
You didn't deserve this.
You're a good person, Lauren.
Thank you.
Morgan, just one last thing.
If you ever come back,
if you ever say a word,
I will pin every cold case
for the last 30 years on you.
I will make you wish you
were back in the hole
my dad kept you in.
Are we clear?
[chuckles]
- Hey, my name's--
- No names.
Here are your new IDs,
100,000 in cash
and an account number
with $1 million.
Let's go.
[engines starting]

[Emilio over Phone]
Lauren, this is Sanchez.
I found that missing
person file you needed.
Those fingerprints
came back with a match.
I'm sending it all up
to the summer house now.
Call me.
Thank you, Tom.
Lauren?
[grunts]
[phone vibrates]
Shit! Shit!
Mom?
Mom!
Mom!
Mom, what are you doing?
What is this?
It's nothing.
It's just a work thing.
Why do you have
pictures of this man?
Why are you asking about Morgan?
Morgan?
This man's name is Carson.
No, it's-- it's Morgan.
That's Morgan!
His name is Carson.
I... I don't understand.
That's...
[rapid breaths]
What's going on?
Do you know him?
Why do you have any of this?
This man.
This man said his name
was Morgan and that Dad's
kept this man chained up in
a bunker in our backyard!
In our backyard, okay?
This, this is my
fucking inheritance, Mom!
This man is evil.
He's-- He's pure evil.
What?
Where is he now? Where is he?
I...
I let him go.
I let him go. I...
I thought I was doing
the right thing.
I thought I was doing
the right thing, Mom!
I called Harold, and I...
- Oh, my God.
- You lock the doors.
I'll handle this.
I'll handle it.
This is Harold Thewlis.
I'm unavailable right now.
Please leave a message,
and I'll get back to you.

Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Mom, pick up, pick up.
[Catherine, voicemail]
Hey there. You know what to do.
Mom, get out of the
house now! He's there!
He's there, he's there!
[squealing tires]
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
Mom!
[running, panting]
Mom.
Mom, can you hear me?
Mom, we have to get
out of here, Mom.
Come on. Mom! Mom,
can you hear me?
Mom, we have to
get out of here.
Please,
you have to get up.
Lauren.
[light switch]
Shit.
Lauren.
Lauren!
You would be amazed...
at how well your
eyes and ears adjust
after years in near
total darkness.
I can hear your heartbeat.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump!
[clang]
[gunshot]
[Lauren screams]
[loud panting]
[whistling]
1-1/2 cups of finely
crushed Graham crackers.
Three tablespoons of sugar.
1-1/2 cup of finely
crushed Graham crackers.
One-third of a cup of
butter or margarine.
Three tablespoons of sugar.
Hey there, sleepy head.
Parting was unbearable.
I really didn't wanna
start without you,
but your mother insisted.
I swear to God, I'll
tear your heart out.
I'm kinda sorry that it's not
your dad there in chains.
It took me so long to get
my hands on him, you know?
All my little traps finally
worked to perfection.
I took some of the
poison he got to kill me,
I jammed it in his hand
when we're playing chess.
Checkmate.
I got my rat.
Then the slippery bastard got
away, and I was like, Oh, fuck!
And just when all hope
seemed to be lost...
imagine my surprise
when you walked in.
I knew the moment I saw ya.
That little girl
takes in stray dogs.
She's gonna do the
same for me. I just...
I just needed to act weak...
[sobs]
And helpless.
Your brother would've
thrown away the key.
[Catherine groans]
Hey!
Look who it is.
Should we invite your mother
into this conversation?
- Let's do it.
- No!
- Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- No, leave her.
Hey, I just wanna say, I really
did enjoy our time together,
even though it was
under false pretenses.
Catherine! Can you
hear me, sweetheart?
No! Get away from her!
Get you up. Let's get up.
There you go!
The floor's cold, come on.
This is between you...
You and me.
That is where you're wrong.
You really think your perfect
life is built on integrity?
You're the monster, Catherine.
You just live in a nicer house.
Don't you touch her!
Okay, okay, okay!
We're just getting to the
bit where you come in.
See, back in the day, your mom,
she was a tight little thing.
[spits]
Whoa! Gross.
[chuckles]
Catherine, tell her
about that night.
Come on.
Tell her all about
that special night.
You're gonna love
this. Tell her!
Fuck you!
Whoa, whoa! That was close.
[laughs]
All right, I'll tell her.
It was what I used to
call my ace in the hole.
That night, I wanted
the full tour.
Oh, come on!
Don't you give me that look.
I know you wanted
it as much as I did.
You just didn't want to
let yourself have it.
You're a rapist.
I mean...
semantics, you know?
You should be dead.
I should be dead.
I should be a lot of things.
Carson, Carson.
- Why...
- She's fucking lying!
Could you not just
lie to your husband
like a normal fucking wife?!
You know,
he didn't even
give me the chance to
talk my way out of it.
And then that sound.
[loud crash]
It's like hitting a deer,
except you can't leave that
on the side of the road.
That moment, I owned him.
And he knew it.
Rich playboy...
drunk at the wheel...
kills promising young student.
Come on!
The headlines, they
wrote themselves!
I was gonna bleed him dry,
and there was nothing
he could do about it.
Almost nothing.
Carson!
I gotta say...
I didn't realize
he had it in him.
I mean, I am a bad man,
but Archer Monroe was
the goddamn devil.
Truth is, Archer knew
that there are some fates
that are much worse than death.
He needed me to suffer,
to rot,
to waste away in the dark.
He vented, and I listened.
He beat me, and I took it.
My agony was your
daddy's private joy.
The thing is,
about zookeepers,
they always wind up
talking to their animals.
And over time,
things kind of changed.
See, I don't think he ever
expected me to get out.
Whoa!
That was a close one.
That was a real close one.
I should've put a bullet
in your head myself.
No! Morgan!
Revenge!
You can't put a price
on it, Catherine.
Carson.
What do you want?
I want my pound of flesh.
Then let me help you.
I'll testify to the truth.
I'll expose all the
secrets. Everything.
Everything my
family did. Just...
Just let them live.
You'd do that for me?
Psyche!
I don't need your help.
I don't cut deals.
Fine.
Then fuck you!
I gave you excuses.
But I swear you're not
walking out of that door alive.
I am really, really excited...
to meet the rest of your family.
Especially Claire.
I swear to God, if
you touch her...
You'll what?!
You'll beg for mercy?
You'll smudge your
makeup with tears?
Fuck you.
You remember that
little speech you gave me
with the evidence bag?
It was very cool.
Gave me chills.
Here's my counter.
[Laura screams]
I am gonna burn this
family's legacy to the ground
with the secrets that I know.
I am gonna slit your
little brother's throat,
and I am gonna take a
piss on Archer's grave.
And you will not be there to
experience your family's shame
because you and your fucking
whore mother will be here,
rotting away in the darkness.
Now your body will
consume itself.
Your sanity will snap.
And just before you die
your miserable death,
you will know exactly
what I survived.
And your husband and your
daughter will spend the rest of
their lives wondering
why Mommy abandoned them.
And...
I almost forgot the
most important part.
When I tell 'em that I--
A pathetic lunatic?
Yeah, no one's ever
gonna believe you.
No one ever even looked for
you because you don't matter.
Shut up.
Not even to your own father.
Shut the hell up!
[both yelling]
[Morgan screams]
Ow!
Goddamn it!
[laughs]
You still don't get it, do ya?
I'm your goddamn father!
[gunshot]
You're a Monroe.
You understand me?
We take care of our own.
What'll we do about him?
He disappeared 30 years ago.
[sloshing]