Chameleon (2024) Movie Script

(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
(acoustic guitar music)
(acoustic guitar music)
(dramatic instrumental music)
(dramatic orchestral music)
(dramatic orchestral music continues)
Alaska, Nebraska, Maine, Wyoming.
Alaska, Nebraska,
Maine, Wyoming.
Alaska, Nebraska,
Maine, Wyoming.
Alaska, Nebraska, Maine, Wyoming.
Alaska, Nebraska, Maine, Wyoming.
(doorbell ringing)
Hi there.
Hi there. Sorry, weather held us up.
Good to see you.
This is my wife, Kelly.
Kelly, nice to meet you, Knoll Ashby.
Well, coming right in, this
room is the perfect place
to set the tone for the rest of the home.
Now, your husband mentioned that you have
a lot of framed works of your own.
These walls would be
the perfect canvas for you
to display those throughout the house.
I'm an author too.
Really?
There's a lot of new
talent moving into the area.
Well, I already showed
Grant the home last week,
so I'm more than happy to shut up
and let you guys roam about on your own.
No, please.
Your passion and obvious
commitment to your work
is what won me over,
a master of your craft.
Well,
appreciate that.
Shall we?
Granite?
Quartz, actually.
It's a much less porous.
Just double checking everything.
And that should be it.
The only thing left for us to do
is for me to get you copies of the keys,
which I should be able
to do day after tomorrow?
Perfect.
Fantastic.
I will take care of this,
and I will give you two
a moment to yourselves.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
I'll go check out the master bedroom.
(faucet running)
(faucet dripping)
(traffic passing)
(door closing)
(phone ringing)
Hey Sandra.
[Sandra] You wrapped up yet?
Yep, they closed.
Get over to West End.
Vinny canceled, so you'll have to cover.
Can't somebody else do it?
I'm all the way over on Alameda.
Everyone else is done for the day.
(phone beeping)
(door closing)
(water running)
(eerie electronic music)
(eerie electronic music continues)
(radio stations changing)
(eerie electronic music continues)
(eerie electronic music continues)
(eerie electronic music continues)
(eerie electronic music continues)
(knocking on door)
Huh? Sick jacket, Men's Wearhouse.
Yeah, shut up.
Is that tweed? I like that.
(door closing)
So,
be honest.
What do you think?
You didn't waste any time decorating?
No.
She would've started as
soon as I signed the papers
if I would've let her.
[Knoll] It doesn't even look like
the same place I sold you.
Speak of the devil.
Dinner will be ready in a few.
You, you want a drink?
Sure.
[Host] Come on, take your coat off.
Oh, the place looks great, man.
Honestly didn't think it'd be big enough.
Got everything out of storage.
Managed to squeeze a few new things in
without getting too snug.
Until she finds something else she likes.
- Am I right?
- Exactly.
Finished with your junker yet?
It's not a junker.
My bad.
All right, maybe it is,
but it's something different.
You know?
Keeps me busy.
Just needs a coat of paint.
If you wanna put lipstick on a pig that is.
Any plans when it's done?
I don't know, sell it, and
go on to the next thing.
It's a little odd, don't you think?
Pick up a trade for a lap around the block.
You don't wanna try again or improve?
No,
not really.
Not this anyway.
Friends since high school
and I still feel like I've never met you.
Come on, I'll show you the creep's room.
Hey buddy. Look who's here.
Here to hand over that pile of shit?
That's, no, that's not why he's here.
I'm gonna need real soon, all I'm saying.
No, three years is not soon.
Besides, I like the roads being safe.
I agree.
Quick quick, and still no girlfriend.
Is your voice still
cracking at this stage?
Hey, do not. Do not.
You're not supposed to have that anymore.
His mother's temper.
Dinner's in five.
(Host belching)
I'm full. That was good stuff babe.
We think anything for dessert or?
Hey listen, I don't think
either of us ever got the chance
to tell you how grateful we are
that you held onto this place for us.
I know that was not easy,
and we didn't mean it for it
to take this long to have you over.
It's all part of the job.
But, I understand.
You're both very busy.
Whatever happened
to that girl you brought out
with the Stocktober fest?
Can't remember her name, it was H, Heidi.
Hilda.
- Hilda.
- Yeah.
[Host] Still seeing her?
No, no.
It's been about two months
since I heard anything so, so,
fizzled out, I suppose.
You ask why or
what the fuck her problem is?
- Mark.
- What?
Not everyone takes
well to his personality.
I'm not even sure how you two
have been friends for this long.
Most people
outgrow certain types,
especially after high school,
but not you, Mark.
Okay, we don't need to get into this-
Speaking of outgrowing, maybe we can aim
to not be the only house on the street
with Christmas lights up till mid-February.
Okay.
Been drinking good amount
tonight, honey, you gonna-
I'm just trying to keep
up with you, honey.
Well, was an eventful dinner.
You can say that again.
Anyway,
we got new business cards in.
Snazzy.
Sorry about that.
Not really how I planned it to go, so.
Well.
What do you get into tomorrow?
I've got a couple
showings on the south end.
Fight traffic back,
and my usual at home and,
wake up, do it all again.
Well, sounds like a solid balance.
Yep.
Balance is good.
You doing okay man?
Yeah.
Yeah, I'm fine.
Didn't really look me in
the eyes when you said that.
You know how it is.
Before, you've had all of this before.
It's okay, she's not gonna jump out
and scare you or anything.
Before Dina,
things worked out for you
and I'm, I'm happy about that.
I am.
But,
I need, I need something different.
No, I get it.
I think every man needs
a new mountain to climb.
I'd settle for a
small hill at this point.
Well, hey look, call me if
you need to get together. Okay?
Seriously.
Okay?
(tense music)
(dog barking)
[Voice On TV] Two or three or four.
[Voice On TV 2] Every depth of-
Being in a maximum
security facility since the 90s,
Do you have any new reflections?
How do you mean?
Of what you did, how it changed you.
I'm no more dangerous than you,
or the guy behind the camera.
As for what I did,
no, I don't have, I don't have
any new reflections about it.
[Journalist] You have no guilt,
remorse for the things you did?
I didn't foam at the mouth
whenever I got an urge
or whatever you want to call it.
Did I break the law?
Yeah, I own that.
But really, all that stops
society from eating itself
is that men at some point
sat down and said,
you cannot do this.
It's not allowed.
Now I'm paraphrasing of course,
but outside of them
waving their finger around
and putting it in ink,
there's nothing that stops
us from turning on each other.
There's just not, it's all just made up.
But everyone still plays along.
It's an interesting perspective.
So do you think this is
what you were always
just damned to be that?
No, people who work
behind a desk their entire lives
or come home to a loveless marriage,
grasping for any small release,
only to wake up and
have to do it all over again.
Those people are damned, not me.
I chose to
revert back to our primal wiring,
which exists in all of us,
and I excelled at it.
A craft with no limitation.
I like that.
It sounds like you've loved your craft.
You can fall outta love.
How many stories you heard
of someone falling outta like?
Doesn't it make you sad?
Self-Realization of how hollow one can be?
I mean, I feel emotions,
sad isn't one of them.
I'm on death row.
What more could they take from me?
(journalist clearing throat)
In closing, any final thoughts?
Something you want to express?
I suppose my only regret
is that the people I killed weren't people
that I actually disliked.
[Journalist] Meaning
people you had problems with
in your personal life.
Total strangers.
No motive, just whenever
the breeze blew in the urge?
I'm not sure I buy it.
(tense music)
You mean to tell me,
that you've never thought about it?
Even somebody that just pisses you off?
No, can't say I have.
(tense music)
I think you have, Knoll.
(tense music)
(traffic passing)
(eerie music)
(building tense music)
(door closing)
(tense music)
(tense music continues)
(tense music continues)
(gun clicking)
Safety on.
(dark music)
(dark music)
(tense music building)
(tense music continues)
(tense music dissipating)
(car alert dinging)
(door closing)
(rock music)
Hello?
Yeah, yeah, sorry.
I'm sorry sorry, we're closed.
I forgot to lock the door.
[Knoll] My mistake.
Nope, not on you.
You wanna make an appointment for tomorrow?
Yeah,
maybe.
(siren in the distance)
So,
what'd you bring me?
It's just a project I've got going.
I've, I've done all I can do,
but I think I might have bit
off more than I could chew.
I'd still like to get it running,
even if not by my hand.
All right, well,
looks like she still has
all of her guts at least.
I'll tell you what, you
cover the cost of the tow,
I won't start running the meter
till we diagnose the problem, yeah?
Yeah.
All right, that sounds great.
I didn't say it'd be cheap.
So,
what do you,
what do you do when you're
not breaking and entering?
Real estate.
It's your lucky day,
'cause I am gonna need a
new spot after winter break.
It's a lot of faith
you're putting into an alleged burglar.
I think I left my door
unlocked for a reason,
just like you walked
through it for a reason.
Trust the path type thing.
There is no path.
The path is made by walking.
That's Antonio
Machado, right?
A mechanic that knows poetry.
Women love a smooth
talker that's good with his hands.
Well, I don't really
think you need an agent,
especially if you're renting short term.
I feel like I'd just be taking
your money at that point.
It's perfectly fine to stay
with your parents through school.
Pocket your paychecks.
Trust me.
Well, my parents are a few states over,
so not really an option.
Now, hand it over pal.
Knoll Ashby, huh?
That Irish?
Couldn't say.
Hmm.
Well, Knoll Ashby,
you're in the system now.
You could tell all
that just from a photo.
It's you're good.
What the hell do you need college for?
I got a fucking brain in my skull, pal.
I don't wanna waste it in a garage.
I mean, no offense to my
fellow grease monkeys,
but just wanna move on with my life.
Anyway, keep an ear to
the ground for me, will you?
You're a good dude, I can tell.
(dark music)
What, what time do you
wanna come by tomorrow?
(gun firing)
(dark music)
Safety
on.
(gun firing)
Shit.
Hey.
Hey.
All settled in?
I think so, yeah.
19 years out there in the bullpen,
everyone talking over each other.
This not quite what I'm
used to, the silence, I mean.
Sure, a bit of a,
vacuum by comparison, I know.
I've got a couple of
things still left open out there
to help me while I adjust.
Sure, well Danny as
important as they may be to you,
you'll just have to leave
all the missing court dates
and parking violations to other officers.
Right.
With Dubrinsky retiring early
flooded my desk with inquiries.
Corner me in the break room
and stuff a beach towel under my doors
so the resumes wouldn't pile up anymore.
Oh,
I must have spaced it.
You forgot to surrender
your badge, I need that.
There it is.
Danny, do you know you are the only man
who didn't toss his hat into the ring?
Nobody needs to know that, okay.
Rather not ruffle any feathers internally.
But, you're my senior man here,
so as far as I'm concerned,
I put you next in line
for the bump to detective.
You never, you never once
applied to move up the chain or,
I never questioned why,
because I came to realize
that's just your way, Danny's way.
But,
your loyalty to me and to this
town deserves to be rewarded.
So,
I'll take the old one
and you wear the new
one with pride, Detective.
All right.
(soft music)
(drawer closing)
(siren blaring)
(eerie music)
Damon Keller,
He's been working here
with his younger brother Sean
for about three years.
Sean took one in the back, just over here,
before he ducked out the side exit.
We found him in the neighbor's yard
after they called in saying
he'd hopped the fence.
We do have a few witnesses
that heard gunshots outside.
We got everything we need from 'em,
unless you want to get a word in?
I know. No, it's fine, thank you.
We'll cut 'em loose, then.
These security cameras are just deterrents.
Nothing for us to pull
there, unfortunately.
Life outside the uniform, huh?
(eerie music)
Congrats, by the way.
Thank you.
(eerie music)
(distorted music)
(chaotic music)
(Knoll gasping)
[Voice On TV] Make the special brioche.
Something that just-
[News Reporter] On site
responded to a shooting
that occurred inside
Wades Auto on Craycroft
just a few hours ago,
severely injuring one and
taking the life of another.
The employee that managed to escape
is in critical condition.
Authorities encourage
anyone with information
to please come forward.
[News Announcer] The
CDC says high efficiency filters
in your air conditioning system at home
can also help stop outdoor
allergens from coming inside.
The agency says-
[Knoll] They saw my face.
[News Reporter] So just
make sure your HVAC system
can use high efficiency
filters before installing them.
[News Reporter 2] In the economy tonight,
the no buy challenge is
urging people essentially
to save money instead of
making non-essential purchases.
[Speaker] Commit to a month
or six weeks or eight weeks
not buying anything
you don't absolutely need.
[Speaker 2] It's called
the no buy challenge.
Pick a product that you're
spending too much money on
and stop buying it for
a set period of time.
[Speaker 3] Probably make up,
I like spend a lot on makeup.
I feel like I buy a lot of food
when I'm out with friends.
[Speaker 4] I have about
44 kennels with 46 dogs.
(chaotic music)
[Speaker 5] And the
more you try to fit in,
the less eligible you
are to be extraordinary.
(chaotic music) (muffled speaking)
[Speaker 6] And that's why people here,
what they're trying to do is
find the absolute best price.
So they take all the (indistinct)
on each individual stock.
Hypothetically, that could give you
a little bit less horrific of an opening.
Then you might get, if
you were gonna go ahead
and take the electronic
trade as indicated in the future.
(eerie electronic music)
(Knoll indistinct)
(muffled speaking on TV)
[Speaker 7] South Vietnam (indistinct).
(Knoll indistinct)
[Actor On TV] That must be them coming.
(dog barking)
Mr. Ashby?
[Speaker] You found him.
Sorry to walk up on
you in the middle of all this,
I just didn't get an
answer at the front door.
It's all right.
Oh, here.
Sorry, my hands are a little mucked up.
That's okay.
Detective Dietz, I wanted
to ask you some questions
about a shooting over
on Craycroft last night.
Yeah, I heard about that.
So, one victim, right?
Two, actually.
We've been gathering
names of all the clients
and customers that the
business had on record,
specifically, ones who
have been on the property
in the past week.
Only name without a date is
an Ashby with a '67 Camino.
That's us.
So when were you there?
Never actually, I made
an appointment by phone,
but I've been too busy with
showings to break away.
Believe it or not, you're one of only
three people in the county
with the same last name,
so I figured I'd start
with a guy whose face
was plastered all over
Farmington's front lawns.
I actually just sold that lot.
They've already started building.
So,
when did you call 'em?
Who did, who did you talk to?
It would've been yesterday afternoon.
I didn't, I didn't get a name.
He sounded younger, if that lends anything.
Nothing we don't
already know, unfortunately.
So,
car guy, huh?
Not really.
It's a hobby, personal challenge.
It has turned out to be more of a nightmare
than I anticipated, which is
why I was taking it to Wade's.
I can't blame you there.
She's nothing to be wasted.
Do you mind?
(Dietz whistling)
A lot of love under this hood.
Should give yourself more credit.
Well, credit belongs
with the previous owner.
He's a race enthusiast.
I don't know what half this stuff is
or where it begins, where it ends.
I'm just trying to get air in our lungs.
Sunday drive type thing.
Don't let me tell you your business,
but there's no air intake sensor.
No what?
It's a little guy goes right here.
First I've heard of it.
Well, it's not what's
keeping it from starting,
but you know, just little friendly advice.
Take it or leave it.
Oh,
sorry, gotta take it.
Yeah, Dietz.
(eerie music)
Uh huh.
No, right.
Absolutely.
Okay.
Yeah, got it.
Sorry, gotta go, and good luck.
Stick with it.
It'll be worth it.
I need it.
(eerie music)
(hood slamming)
(dramatic music)
(dramatic music continues)
(siren in the distance)
(dog barking)
(traffic passing)
(tense music)
(door closing)
(car alert dinging)
(door closing)
(eerie music)
(car alert dinging)
(dark music)
(dinging continues)
(ominous music)
(dinging continues)
(gun firing)
(gun firing)
(Knoll punching)
(victim moaning)
(dinging continues)
(eerie music)
(eerie music building)
(high-tension music)
(pensive music)
(pensive music continues)
(saw running)
(Knoll retching)
(doorbell ringing)
(water running)
(doorbell ringing)
(Knoll gasping)
(doorbell ringing)
There he is. What's up, killer.
[Knoll] Sorry.
Catch you at a bad time?
No, what's up?
Just coming home from a work thing.
Figured I would say, hey.
Why are you so sweaty?
I was working out.
At 11:30 p.m.?
Is it really?
Lost track of time.
You know, it's not good to work out late.
Gets you all ramped up.
You won't be able to sleep.
[Knoll] I'm fine, really.
Look, about the other night.
You know, Dina gets
really pointed sometimes,
and honestly it frustrated me
'cause it felt like she
was just narrowing in on-
Jesus, man.
I'm all right.
You worry about me too much.
Been friends for a long time, man.
Just, I know when something's up with you.
(thunder rumbling)
Hey, did you put a gym in
the basement or something?
I don't need you here.
What the hell is going on with you?
I, I don't know, but I'm
dealing with it in my own way.
And you pestering me is not what I need.
Don't you have to get
home to Dina or something?
Oh, okay.
Is that what this is about?
My wife?
I sold you that house in October.
Two months went by and I
didn't hear anything, all right?
Now I think that someone
finally caught some guilt
and we both know that
that's not Dina's strong suit.
Well, I'm not asking for your whole day,
but you can spare five god damn minutes.
Or does she dictate that too?
You know, it's not my fault
that you stay locked in your room
working on your model
airplane and birdhouse bullshit.
I'm a grown man.
I have to take care of my
family and put them first.
What do you not understand about that?
I don't even know what I'm talking about.
Of course you don't understand that.
But if you can't even fake it,
maybe we shouldn't be friends anymore.
No wedding ring, huh?
(dark music)
You want to know the truth about
why we don't hang out anymore?
You want to know why?
It's because you're weird.
Every party or social
event that I invite you to,
you find a corner and hang your head
and then you leave early.
And guess who has to deal with that.
Right here, me.
I take that shit every time you leave.
(dramatic music)
I'm not having it anymore.
Do you have any idea what it's like
trying to be your friend?
Go home, Mark.
Sure.
Fuck you too.
(dramatic music)
(door closing)
Hey Vinny, it's me.
Hey, I'm gonna need you to
cover my showings today, man.
I'm,
I'm a bit under the
weather, but it's all right.
They're both on the same side of town,
and they're not, they're not until 10.
Just, just get the details from Sandra.
Thanks.
(birds chirping)
(traffic passing)
Alaska, Nebraska.
Maine.
(knocking on door) (doorbell ringing)
(doorbell ringing)
(knocking on door)
(knocking on door)
(doorbell ringing)
Mr. Ashby.
Evening.
Apologies, I thought I
might be able to get you
before your head hit the pillow.
Sorry, not getting
much sleep lately anyway.
Oh no,
I'll come back another time.
No, no, it's, it's fine.
I can't get the wheels to
stop turning sometimes.
What can I do for you?
Unrelated to our last conversation,
we fielded a call at
dispatch, an anonymous call.
Someone concerned about you?
We didn't get a name, but
we traced it to a Mark Stonich.
You know him?
Yeah, I do.
He's an old friend.
No, he just thought we'd come out
and check on you, see
if you needed anything,
to talk about anything.
And in case anything jogs your memory about
Craycroft, I gave you my card.
Well, other than an old
friend saying things out of pocket
and sticking his nose
where it doesn't belong,
nothing else came of it.
But we'll talk, I'm sure.
Noted.
It was either a uniform or a friendly face
coming out to see you tonight,
so I figured you'd prefer the latter.
Yeah.
Appreciate that.
I've been keeping up as
best I can about the shooting.
Ah.
Did you ever get anything
out of the, the other victim?
We were supposed to,
but he had to be transferred
to another facility overnight.
When he comes around,
we'll get our face time with him.
What happened?
Complications that could
be better treated elsewhere.
That on top of him losing
his brother in the shooting.
I did not know they were related.
Yeah.
Well, I won't take up all your time.
Thank you.
How did you know, to take
the path to my door, detective?
Just that it's hard to see
at night, especially at night.
Everyone else cuts
through the grass, not you.
What are you getting at?
It's probably nothing.
Seems like maybe you've been here
to my home when I wasn't here.
Well, we first met here, Mr. Ashby.
Remember?
Your legs were hanging out
from underneath that old Camino.
Right.
Of course.
Okay, well, I'll take the grass root out.
Get some rest now.
Have a good night.
Did I pass your test?
I didn't know I was giving one.
Spend an entire evening
coming to make a house call,
to check up on me out of concern.
And then you call me by my first name.
You haven't done that before.
(tense music)
Perhaps you're bridging
the gap into being my buddy.
Is that what you're doing,
Danny?
Well, if there's nothing else,
I have an early morning, Detective.
(eerie music)
(door closing)
(tense music)
[News Reporter] Funeral arrangements
for Damon and Sean Keller have been set
for this Thursday at 11:00 a.m.
Sean lost his battle last
night at Banner Hospital
from internal complications.
Both brothers were working
at Wade's Auto on Craycroft
during the attack and sadly
lost their lives too young.
The search for Daniel Haltman is underway.
No word as to when local PD
will give an official statement
on their progress with yet
another investigation blooming.
[Announcer] Here's your
Pinpoint Weather 12 forecast.
[News Reporter] Welcome
back, time now is 6:08.
Last warrant on the scene,
Danny, where were you?
On a follow up.
Follow up.
It's about time he got something isn't it?
Got a call from a
friend of Knoll Ashby's,
concerned that he was acting strange.
Knoll Ashby, what the realtor?
You're still playing the role of
the friendly neighborhood policemen,
refusing to shed your old skin.
Unless you manage to pull something
out of fucking what, Ashby?
This won't continue.
Start canvassing other faces.
Just a feeling, I guess.
You got a feeling, Danny?
Yeah, I got a feeling too.
I got a feeling that Daniel
Haltman is already dead.
Haltman's vehicle and
keys were found at the landfill
with a significant amount of blood.
Yes, but missing isn't murder until it is,
and that's not a conclusion
I'm willing to jump to on camera.
But I'll be happy to stand
behind you at the podium, Chief.
Christ, we haven't had
a murder here since '83.
One of the reasons people
continue to move here
in droves from either
coast, now three in two days.
Doesn't make me look great.
I'll make a call.
White Bluff likely has some manpower.
No, no, no, no, no.
That prick of a sheriff with the lazy eye
blowing up my phone
asking why my new detective
from two counties over is asking for help?
Every station takes care
of its own shit, Danny.
I'm surprised you don't know that by now.
Other counties don't have
two dead and a third missing.
Okay, duly noted Danny, and disregarded.
The answer is no.
I'm sorry you hit the on ramp
going 200 miles an hour, I really am.
I don't care what you have to do,
but everything you need is right here.
Stop this.
Stop it.
(phone ringing)
(siren in the distance)
(knocking on door)
How you hanging in?
Honestly? Fingertips.
Yeah.
Well, hopefully including me
would have handled this any different.
It's a hell of a first case
to be dropped in your lap.
Appreciate it.
So how's the floor doing without me?
Well, Beaumont and Riker clash more
without you in the cube
between to keep the peace.
So still then assholes then, huh?
Yeah, pretty much.
Otherwise, same old.
But I'm gonna let you get back to it.
We'll catch up later, yeah.
- Yeah, okay.
- Good.
Hey,
you wanna help me with something?
(muffled speaking)
Good morning, Sandra.
[Sandra] What's this I hear about you
pawning off showings to Vinny?
Oh, well, me and him always flip flop
whenever something comes up.
Why, did, did he say something?
[Sandra] No, but I
specifically assign the showings.
That's the point.
You may have had the freedom
to choose who goes where
with your previous boss.
You mean your dad?
All I'm saying is that it is
okay to call him your dad.
The man went to bat for you
after handing over the reins, yes.
Vinny and yourself took a lot of liberty
to do things how you please,
so long as you got
signatures on the dotted line.
But I'll be tightening that leash.
Consider yourself lucky.
It's your coworkers not
meeting the new standard
who will be getting scalped?
Don't go over my head again.
[Danny] It's been over an hour,
still no movement in the house.
I think we'd know if
somebody's home by now.
Do you wanna do this?
This feels a little too far
outside the limits, for me.
Maybe we sit tight.
I mean, it's your show.
We will not do anything
you might possibly have to answer for.
Well, what's the
turnaround for a warrant?
It just says wait to it.
It does, but Judge Lineman's
a tough sell for probable cause.
He likes hours of surveillance
that Staggs won't authorize,
and correspondence with
informants that you don't have.
Anything less, he's gonna
give you both barrels.
I mean, this is just the first step.
You know, a long process.
Anything we might see or hear,
we can't directly use against him,
but if you're onto something,
we can build from there.
You sure these things
won't lose signal or something?
I've been wanting to
get my hands on these
since the Dubrinsky retired.
It's been sitting in
inventory collecting dust,
but $700 a pop?
They fucking better not.
Come on.
(door closing)
(upbeat music)
(tense music)
(tense music)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(dark music)
So who the hell's place is this?
[Danny] Knoll Ashby.
What, the realtor?
There it again.
Nothing solid yet, just riding a feeling.
(dog barking)
(door closing)
(ethereal music)
(ethereal music continues)
(game playing on radio) (speaking muffled)
(car trying to start)
(classical music)
(classical music continues)
All right. Heading out.
Yeah, night, night.
Don't mind him.
I got the green light on my transfer,
I don't mind lending a
hand in the meantime,
if he notices at all.
You're transferring?
St. Paul.
Minnesota.
It's colder up there, you know?
What prompted that?
Didn't make detective
here, they had an opening.
Cut and dry as that.
[Danny] You'd leave
tomorrow if they let you.
Yeah, for this job, I would.
Besides, for the resume as class as yours,
none of us really had a shot here.
They got the right guy behind the desk now.
Shit.
Is he leaving?
Who do we have in the area?
- Yeah, he's still here.
- Is he leaving?
No. No, he's, he's just sitting there.
(car trying to start)
He's trying to fire it up.
[Danny] Okay, back off and sit tight.
May need you to tail him if he leaves.
(car starting)
(Knoll laughing)
(engine dies)
We're close.
Close.
Imagine that.
We bug the realtor and
he's not out for blood.
Yeah, just the hobbyist tonight.
I gotta get going, though.
You good for the
graveyard shift on your own?
That's the job.
I don't mean to take
the reins or anything,
but remote surveillance
can be a bit of a marathon.
And in the meantime,
I've got a contact I wanna reach out to.
He might let you bend his ear a little.
You good?
Knoll Ashby isn't a car guy.
I mean, I know that for certain.
He practically told me so himself.
I mean, I had to point out
where an air intake
sensor went under his hood.
He acted like he'd never even heard of it.
That's the first time I've heard of it.
But we both heard the engine
start, so he must know enough.
Yeah, but for someone
not mechanical inclined
to know what this is,
let alone be able to
relay it over the phone.
And what is that?
I don't fucking know.
(laughing) I refuse to believe
that a realtor who's never heard
of a fucking air intake sensor does.
(eerie music)
Right?
Ashby didn't make a phone call.
Damon Keller saw this
car with his own eyes.
So he admits they spoke,
but he lied about the how.
Still don't have anything
that puts Ashby at the scene.
No, but there's no record
in the business emails
or in Damon's phone log
with anything to or from Ashby.
That rules out Keller seeing even a photo
of the car electronically.
This is something only
a gear head would see
and take note of.
Knoll doesn't know a
fucking thing about cars.
The Ashby's and the
soccer moms of the world
don't make an appointment at their mechanic
with anything other than make and model.
(eerie music)
Well, however they
spoke, it was a lot closer
to the time of death than he told him.
His hand is clean.
The ink's almost perfectly legible.
There's no way he writes all that down
sometime in the afternoon,
works the rest of his shift
and at the end of the day,
his palm looks like that.
This had to be one of the last things,
if not the last thing Damon Keller did
before he was murdered.
(eerie music)
(radio static)
(radio static)
(changing radio stations)
(garbled speaking on radio)
(radio static gets higher)
(radio static goes lower)
(garbled radio transmission)
(radio static goes higher)
(radio static goes higher)
(radio static goes highest)
(tense music)
(radio static)
(tense music)
(chaotic music)
(high-tension music)
(radio static)
(high-tension music)
(radio static)
(soft music)
(eerie music)
(dog barking)
[Voice Mail Voice] You
have two new voice messages.
New message.
[Sandra] Knoll, it's Sandra.
You missed your showing
with the Williams this morning,
though I covered and
picked up your slack as usual.
Call me back.
[Voice Mail Voice]
Message marked for deletion.
New message.
[Mark] Hey man, trying
to touch base with you.
I just, I feel bad for how
we left things the other night,
so give me a call when you can.
Maybe we can grab a drink or something.
All right, see you.
(dial tone humming)
(wind blowing)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain falling)
(people chatting)
The amount of people who make it
all the way through the pipeline
and are greenlit to be federal agents
without proper psychological
evaluation is staggering.
Really?
Absolutely.
The younger generation coming
up doesn't want these jobs.
With the last of the OGs getting out
and the subpar candidate pool,
the bureau is forced to
take the best bad options
and just fill the spots.
So it's no stretch to imagine
that the new faces walking our halls
are worse than the guys we're hunting.
Thanks for coming out, by
the way, on such short notice.
Please, DC and Langley,
it's all bullshit after
the honeymoon phase.
There's always somebody
above you pulling rank
and you get buried in acronyms.
Coming out to the small
corners of the earth,
that's a vacation.
Anyway, Ellis tells me you
just made detective recently.
Yeah, still a baby.
Mind if I see it?
Not sure, I like that
it's heavier than mine.
Congratulations.
Yeah, thanks.
And you're off to St. Paul, when again?
Next week.
Well, that's caused for another
lap around the block, isn't it?
What have you been up to since the wedding?
The air fryer, by the way, top notch gift.
Your sister, no offense,
is a shit cook. (Laughing)
Yeah, none taken.
But actually we have been into something.
Detective Dietz here might be able
to fill you in a little better than I can.
There have been two
incidents close in time stamp,
two murders and one abduction.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
He's still missing,
but there was a lot of blood
found at his last known,
and the other two were
shot at a small body shop.
So my question is,
what experience do you
have with serial killings?
Statistically speaking,
there's somewhere between
seven and nine serial
killers active in the country.
We just don't know about 'em yet.
So the limb you're going out on
is not as thin as you might think,
if that's what you're asking.
You know, when people
die here, it's depression,
PTSD, finding their spouse
in bed with another person.
They come in here and
they turn their pockets out
until their blotto,
and then they go wrap
their car around a tree.
As morbid as it sounds,
people here take their
own lives, not others.
So yeah, that's what I'm asking.
Person of interest?
There's one guy who's giving me gooseflesh,
but up until now, I felt
like I was the only guy
who has seen any red flags,
and it doesn't help that
he's kind of a local celebrity.
Even our Chief can't see past the facade.
Or he simply doesn't want to.
Yeah.
Well, unfortunately,
with one still missing,
you gotta have at least three bodies
before you even think of dropping the term
serial killer in front of a camera.
Just walk this straight and narrow,
'cause when it comes to the media,
negatives shout and positives whisper.
Yeah, I guess I thought
the climbing up the
ladder meant less red tape.
A pleasant fiction.
The missing person
could be that third body.
Haltman getting snatched
that close to the Keller shooting.
I don't know, I just don't
feel like we're dealing
with some random drifter here.
Or he's changing his tactics,
dipping his toe in before he
decides where he wants to swim.
And you already know
what I'm gonna say about
that four-syllable word
that gets bleached from
every detective's vocabulary.
Coincidence.
Not a thing to you anymore.
Right.
So to circle back to the why now,
why does anybody do anything?
Because they can.
And sometimes that reason alone is enough,
but I'll tell you this much.
The work is never neat.
If you do go in front of the cameras,
you tell the people you're
doing everything you can
to catch this son of a
bitch, keep the waters calm.
But the truth is, all you can
do is wait for more bodies.
You get more bodies, your
man will eventually slip up.
It's a long game I've played before,
and the price you pay to catch your man is
more blood has to be spilled.
So hurry up and wait?
Listen, if you think
you've got your finger
on the pulse of something big, you know,
before it gets really
ugly and goes national,
I'm happy to stick around an extra day.
Nothing high profile,
just see if this guy you're
looking at spooks me.
When you've caught one before,
you never forget what
it sends up your spine.
Wouldn't take much for me to spot it again.
I appreciate your offer,
but our chief is someone
who I don't think would react well
to someone of your caliber
expressing an interest
in department affairs.
Trust me, nobody understands better.
You're either company man
or your man for the people,
can't be both,
but you look under your nose,
before you look to the hills, Detective.
Local celebrity leads double life.
I'd buy that.
(thunder crashing)
(tense music)
(thunder crashing)
(thunder rumbling)
(tense music)
(keyboard clicking)
(thunder crashing)
[Ghost Voice] No.
No.
I need your attention.
Okay?
Yeah.
I'm here.
You haven't returned
a phone call in days.
Your workload has fallen
on everyone else here.
I've been dealing with some
personal things.
Personal things.
(thunder crashing)
Developments,
second thoughts.
I'm running a business here, Knoll.
I can't have you canceling showings,
going off the radar for days on end.
Your little premature midlife
crisis has no place here.
Is this all there is for me?
Speak up.
Is this all there is for me?
Since all I'm doing with my life,
swimming upstream,
finding a rock to cling to
thinking I'm getting somewhere,
and the current just washes the rock away,
puts me right back where I started,
(dark music)
And you're there
to drag me back under.
No.
I'm firing you.
I've done something,
something I'm not proud of.
I haven't thought about
doing it again until just now.
(thunder crashing)
(thunder rumbling)
(teakettle whistling)
(thunder rumbling)
(wind blowing)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain falling)
(thunder rumbling)
(tense electronic music)
(thunder rumbling)
(tense electronic music)
(tense electronic music continues)
(tense electronic music continues)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(Knoll inhaling)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(eerie music continues)
(heart beating)
(heart beating faster)
(eerie music continues)
(heart beating)
[Mark] Knoll?
Yeah,
I'm here.
[Mark] This a good
time? I can, I can call back.
No, no.
I'm just sitting around the house.
How are you?
[Mark] I'm good, man. How are you?
Same.
Same.
Listen,
I wanted to talk to you
about you guys, you and Dina.
I wanna talk to you about the other night.
[Mark] I didn't call for an apology,
so we're not gonna get
all sappy over the phone,
but I appreciate the thought.
Wanted to see if I could get you
outta the house for a beer tonight.
Yeah,
that sounds good.
[Mark] Great, just head over whenever.
(chuckling) You good, you need another one?
[Knoll] Nah, nah. I'm
good man, thank you.
I don't think I've had one
of these since we were 17.
Yeah, they're hard to come by anymore.
Found one place that still sells 'em.
Not often on 3 County South,
but when I am, why not, right?
Doug's older brother,
he would get us a case
and leave 'em in the storm drain
by the bus stop off of-
Briar Street.
God, whatever happened to those guys?
They all got the hell outta here
when they were young, that's what.
Thank you, (dog barking)
For this.
I need to talk to her about you
because you know this,
I need this too.
She can't handle
you or her son having any sort of happiness
outside of her controlling bubble,
especially when it's with me.
Well, I'm gonna talk to her.
There's a way to make both
ends come together on this.
I promise.
She can have her view
on things under this roof,
but for that to go on uninterrupted,
I can't be a part of it.
Don't turn your life
upside down just for me.
I'll relay the message.
Might polish it up a bit first, but.
Tell her how I told
you, or don't tell her at all.
You know,
(pensive music)
I think I prefer the quiet version of you.
(pensive music)
[Knoll] You know,
a detective came by my place the other day.
Really?
[Knoll] The timing of
it seemed funny is all.
That is strange.
[Person On TV] Those numbers
aren't anything to sneeze at,
but Cooper was a little
bottled up last week, you know,
18 for 91, that's,
usually, he touches the ball 18 times,
he's, he's approached that 200-
Goodnight to you too.
[Person On TV] I'm
really interested to see-
I guess.
[Person On TV] What the
Red Tornadoes decide to do here.
Are they gonna, because we did not-
Sorry about her man.
She's just a little freaked out about
everything that's going on.
Hasn't talked much, it's not about you.
Hold on, buddy.
You two even watch the movie,
or you just make out the whole time?
What are you looking at me for?
Nothing you wanna add?
Hey, I maintain the role of cool Uncle.
[Seth] Uh huh.
[Person On TV] 15 yard line.
Formerly the CEO,
the progress of our-
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
Investigation into the disappearance
of Daniel Haltman and the
Keller killings is still ongoing,
but I promise you that
they are our top priority.
Our manpower is spread thin,
but we are running on all cylinders.
[News Reporter] Do
you have a suspect yet?
Are you looking for anyone in particular?
Not as yet.
The evidence so far suggests that these
are not premeditated attacks,
that they're random acts of opportunity,
so we're necessarily casting a wider net.
What I can say is that it feels
unfocused, frankly rushed and sloppy.
So I, I feel confident that
we'll get our guy soon.
Thank you.
I don't know if you've heard but,
surrounding counties are
joining the local search party.
Oh yeah?
Yeah.
Badges are spread way too
thin with the added workload.
Hmm.
This town doesn't care if
they have the cops help or not.
A lot of people knew Daniel, so
until they find a body,
he's still out there.
Well, the boys in blue
have done what they can.
Tensions are high.
It'll calm down.
I don't know about that.
They're actually heading
out tomorrow night.
Really?
Yeah, I was thinking of joining them.
Would you wanna go with us?
No,
I can't.
I'm booked with showings.
Well, if your schedule frees up,
we're meeting at the tree line
off Draymond, around dusk.
Because why go out when the sun's up
and 10 degrees warmer?
Yeah, I'm with you but,
people still have day jobs to be at.
Well, I guess if I don't see you tomorrow,
I think Seth and I
are gonna head into the city next weekend,
maybe catch a game.
I could grab you a ticket
if you wanna join us.
Yeah, sounds good.
I'll catch you later,
I'll give you a call.
(door closing)
(Knoll exhaling)
(bag rustling)
(dog barking)
(tense music)
(dog barking)
(muffled whispering)
(tense music)
(birds chirping)
Thank you.
I have all the information
that you gave to dispatch.
I'd just like to hear it from
you if you don't mind, myself.
So your husband leaves home
last night at around what time?
It had to be right after dark.
Did he say where he was going?
No.
He walks our street and loops back around,
two sometimes three times a day.
Pardon me for asking,
but is there anything
that might have kept
him away from the house
for an extended length of time?
Does he drink?
No, he's a health nut.
Right.
I've been holding
myself together, Detective,
but I need you to be honest with me.
I know my husband is
at the end of a long line
of things you're trying to solve.
We just don't know right now, ma'am.
Honestly, your husband and Mr. Haltman
could be in the same
place right now together
perfectly unharmed.
Do either of you know
a Knoll Ashby?
The realtor?
Mm-hm, yes.
He lives close by and I just wondered,
perhaps living in the same neighborhood,
maybe you might have had an occasion
to talk with him over the years or.
Well, I haven't, but Frank might have.
Our neighborhood has stayed
quiet and civil for so long,
because everybody stays out
of each other's business, I guess
That's pretty much all I have for now.
If you need anything, please don't hesitate
to give us a call and I will keep in touch.
- All right?
- Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
I'll just let myself out.
[Trepp] How'd it go with Betty?
Beatrice.
Husband went out for a walk
shortly after my stint at the
podium and never came home.
[Trepp] Not a phone call.
Gone.
Seems like every time we
get a handle on something,
I have to field another
and another and another.
It's just not too fast.
You ever seen anything like this?
No.
We just gotta hang in.
Something will break with Ashby.
What the fuck did I say?
Something earth shattering
happen overnight, gentlemen?
Because unless Ashby was seen
walking down fucking Main Street
with a bloody cleaver in his hand,
I recall telling you to drop
his name from this thing.
Fuck!
Okay?
Oh, you got something to say, Danny?
Fucking say it.
Yeah, I thought so.
Why the hell are you in here?
Another one missing.
What?
Son of a-
He's been helping out here before
he ships off to St. Paul.
Like you said, I have
everything I need here.
Chief,
I really think we need to consider
getting some help from the city.
You've been putting
that bug in his ear, Danny.
It won't stop.
No, I will not allow this
department to seem incapable
of handling its own
business, its own territory.
That's not gonna happen on my watch.
Besides, the city's death
toll from gang violence alone
doubles our numbers on
this thing, and that's daily.
Comb over the landfills again.
Revisit witnesses from the
night of the 27th, I don't care.
Do your job, do your
job and put a fire under it.
(phone ringing in the distance)
Do you need sleep?
Yeah, that'd be fucking great.
New detective takes a cozy night off.
Jesus.
Maybe we should look at the landfill again.
I've got a thing tonight.
I'll call you though.
(Danny chuckling)
We'll link up.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'll be here keeping an ear out
for he who shall remain nameless.
Yeah.
(classical orchestral music)
[Radio DJ] And that was
Johann Sebastian Bach
"Concerto for Two Violins,"
a great way to close out
our programming for today.
Thank you to all our listeners
for spending time with us.
I want to remind everyone
about tonight's local search party.
The police are still
looking for Daniel Haltman
and will conduct a search party tonight,
meeting by the treeline
on Draymond Park at four.
I want to encourage anyone
out there that is available to help.
(distorted radio transmission)
- Hey, what's up man?
- Hey, what's up?
[Mark] You called me?
Yeah, just,
I just wanted to see what you were up to.
Just about to head out the door.
About that, could you
maybe not go?
[Mark] Did you wanna hang or?
No, no no.
I just, I got a bad feeling
about you going out tonight.
I think you should stay
with Seth and Dina at home.
[Mark] Nothing's gonna happen.
I feel like I need to help
and get behind them on this.
I haven't really done my part, you know?
Please.
I won't be able to sleep.
Fine, I guess I'll stay
in, but you're being weird.
Yeah, what else is new?
I can just swing by for a beer.
No.
All, all good here.
I just need to know that you're safe.
(dark music)
You're the only friend I've got.
[Mark] Now get some rest, man.
Yeah, will do.
I need it.
(sinister music)
Appreciate everybody coming out,
was hoping for more obviously,
but roads are bad, not
everybody could make it.
Not to mention we're
all fucking freaked out.
I know Daniel's still out there somewhere.
Don't spread out too thin.
People in sight.
(chaotic music)
(sinister music)
(people chatting)
Detective?
Five.
That's the body count so far.
We're gonna branch out from
here and see if there's more.
[Danny] Do we know how yet?
[Cop] Blunt force trauma to the head.
All deep lacerations.
Probably a hammer or
some sort of small tool, but
no sign of a weapon yet there.
Yeah, of course not.
All right.
Have Gary call in a curfew,
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
effective immediately.
Anything else?
No.
Sorry, I never called.
I was leading the search
party, and I guess we had a tail.
Did you get a look at him then?
No.
He started with these two.
I saw their flashlights
drop, I just rushed in.
He surprised me from behind a tree.
I should have been out here with you.
You might have ended up
under one of these white sheets.
I don't know what he hit me with,
but the first strike was
enough to put me on my back.
He got on top and started choking me.
It gets fuzzy after that.
He didn't hit you a second time?
No. Maybe not intimate enough for him?
Officer Trepp, medics
need you back up here now.
The mag from my weapon
was two rounds short.
I must have managed to draw and blind fire
before I passed out.
I doubt I hit him, but I'm
probably alive because of it.
Must have scared him off.
That's probably when he moved on
to the rest of the search party.
I'm gonna be on bed rest, obviously.
Then I'm off to St. Paul,
assuming they still take damaged goods.
Good luck, Detective.
(eerie music)
In case I forget,
when he was on top of me,
it felt like he was letting me choke him.
He was letting me fight back.
I don't know if that makes any sense.
(eerie music)
(people chatting)
(Knoll yelling)
(Danny yelling)
(Danny gasping)
Is there something I
can do for you, Detective?
Call it in.
Call it in.
No,
I don't think I'll bother him.
I think you do me a favor by
letting me off the hook or something.
You entered my home without permission,
without a warrant, and you assaulted me.
Authority figures have been cleared
for much bigger things.
I see no good coming from
me picking up the phone,
or from you trying to
stick my name to this.
Unless there's anything else, Detective.
Danny?
I have a lot of hobbies, Detective.
Spying on myself isn't one of them.
(drawer opening)
(traffic passing)
(thunder rumbling)
(rain falling)
(car starting)
(pensive piano music)
(car running)
(car dies)
(piano music continues)
(door closing)
(solemn instrumental music)
(solemn music continues)
(traffic passing)
Who'd they find now?
No news.
- Listen, Dan.
- What the fuck do we do now?
This thing has gained national exposure.
Okay, so I got you your help, Danny.
The Feds are gonna be taking it from here.
They're ready to hear everything
you and Officer Trepp have put together.
Anything that can
help get us up to speed.
We're gonna need everything we can get
to leverage and expedite a warrant.
Who's Knoll Ashby?
Nobody, I guess.
Oh, that tingle on the back of your neck
was right Detective, speak on it.
Danny, don't tell me you've been talking
to the feds behind my back.
If Ashby had been hiding anything
I'd have beaten it out of him yesterday.
Jesus.
Between that and bugging his house,
which I can confirm he was aware of,
I doubt that he would be happy
with you rolling up on his lawn.
Well.
Okay.
That's fantastic, that's fucking fantastic.
Congratulations Danny,
you really fucked me over on this one.
Look man, if you weren't ready for the job
then you shouldn't have taken it.
I'll be on you in a minute, Chief.
You can wait in the hall.
(soft music)
Here, not here, it makes no difference.
(soft music)
You said something about
waiting for more bodies?
Better get to it.
He works fast.
(soft music continues)
(dog barking)
(faint conversation)
(birds chirping)
(footsteps in the dirt)
(birds chirping)
(runner grunting)
(runner choking)
(Knoll grunting)
(birds cawing)
(runner choking)
(birds cawing)
(birds cawing)
(runner coughing)
(runner gasping)
(runner struggling)
(birds chirping)
(dog barking)
[Seth] Hey, Knoll.
(zipper unzipping)
He, bud.
No, I can't say I have.
Have you tried calling both of them?
Yeah, I'll meet you there.
(pensive music)
(pensive music continues)
What was the last thing she told you?
This is where they come every Saturday.
What about that girl
that Seth was seeing?
Maybe they're with her.
The skateboard wasn't at the house.
Okay?
They were here, just come on.
Hey, it's the middle of the night.
You're gonna get lost out here.
What if they're at home
and you're not there?
They have more dead
and missing on their hands
than they know what to do with.
How would my wife and
son be of any higher concern?
I,
Don't even know where to look.
Oh,
I can't stop thinking about
what you said the other night on the phone.
You told me to stay home.
Remember?
You told me not to go out there
because you had a bad feeling.
I would've been in that
troop if it wasn't for you.
You're a good friend, man.
You're a good friend.
I don't tell you that enough.
I need you to help me find 'em, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
Dina?
Seth?
Dina!
Seth!
(dark music)
Dina?
Seth?
Dina?
(dark music continues)
Dina?
Seth?
(somber orchestral music)
(somber orchestral music continues)
(door closing)
(somber orchestral music continues)
(car starting)
(engine revving)
(somber orchestral music continues)
(somber orchestral music continues)
(engine racing)
(siren blaring)
(helicopter thrumming)
(siren blaring)
(talk on police radio)
(talk on police radio)
(talk on police radio)
(helicopter thrumming)
(rock music)
(rock music continues)
(eerie music)
(eerie music continues)