Don't Trust the Couple Upstairs (2026) Movie Script
1
[unsettling music playing]
I can't believe I have to ask you this.
Yesterday, it wouldn't
have even entered my mind,
but now
I feel like, as your wife,
I have a right to know.
Did you kill her?
[foreboding music playing]
[music intensifies]
[ominous music playing]
[ominous music continues]
-You stay right there.
-[Maria chuckles]
[Maria sighs]
-Mrs. Lambert.
-[Maria huffs]
[exhales deeply]
Well?
Home sweet home.
Or, it will be once it's restored.
If it had been perfect,
we wouldn't have been able to afford it.
We'll fix it up.
-But first
-Oh.
I'm carrying my beautiful
new wife over the threshold.
-[sighs] Ready?
-[Maria giggling] Yeah.
[rattling]
-[both laughing]
-Okay.
[duck quacking]
[serene music playing]
How about this?
-Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
-Yeah, I like it.
-But keep or throw?
-[gasps]
-Keep!
-Yeah?
I've had Katie since I was six.
And who knows?
Maybe one day we'll have a little girl
who will love her like I did.
-Okay, she can stay.
-Okay.
But only if I get to keep
all my baseball stuff.
Hmm.
Let's see. [laughs]
-Right?
-[laughs]
This is perfect.
-[laughs]
-That'll be great for parties.
Little dip, some chips.
[serene music playing]
Come on. Listen to that.
No sirens or busy traffic,
or sidewalk arguments.
It's perfect.
This.
[both chuckling]
[scanner beeping]
Buying a lot.
Staying at one of the holiday lodges
over in Shawville?
No, actually, we just
moved here permanently.
We bought Archford Farm.
It's a little place out of town.
I know it. Yeah.
I heard they sold it to some new people.
[man] More like the wrong people.
Think you're the first
to move from the city
with dreams of farming?
Actually, I grew up on a farm.
I remember the long hours
and the hard work my dad had to put in.
Which is why we're advertising
for tenants.
People to share our home with
in exchange for help with the workload.
Know anyone who might be interested?
[man sighs deeply]
Phil owns the farm next to yours.
Rumor was he was intending to buy Archford
add its acreage to his.
But he got outbid at the last second,
and I guess he just found out who by.
He'll warm to you.
And to show you
we're friendly around here,
I'm gonna open up a store account for you.
Pay when you like.
[scanner beeps]
-Thank you so much.
-Yeah. Thank you.
-As the owner, glad to help.
-[scanner beeps]
[Maria] That was the main bedroom.
And we think this room would make
an amazing nursery someday.
-[chuckles]
-I said someday, Amber.
First, we need to rent a room,
find help to restore this place.
But, yeah, I could see myself
in here with a baby,
in our beautiful new home.
It's perfect.
Thanks, Brooke.
And again, I'm sorry
I didn't announce the wedding.
Joe and I just wanted to marry
before we moved,
-without all the stress and expense.
-[Amber] We get it.
You wanted small and intimate
staring into Joe's eyes
instead of worrying about cakes,
dresses, and seating plans.
[Brooke] Amber's right.
Thanks for understanding.
-[Joe] Maria!
-Oh.
Sounds like Joe needs me.
-Okay, lovely ladies. See you soon.
-Bye.
Bye.
[sighs]
[Joe] We are about
a two hours drive from the city.
Not too far, but far enough.
And this is Archford Farm,
our beautiful home.
So if you're another couple
able to help and wanting to share
in our dream,
then we would love, love to hear from you.
[phone beeps]
All right. I'll upload it now.
Local ads, social media, just blitz it.
Great.
Think anyone will respond?
Yeah. Yeah, of course.
Who wouldn't wanna live here?
-[birds chirping]
-[Maria sighs]
[serene music playing]
It's even nicer in person.
Seriously?
You didn't see the peeling paint
or the broken shutters?
I see potential.
You think all I see is a blank canvas
whenever I start a new painting?
You think Michelangelo
just saw a lump of rock
when he started sculpting
the Statue of David?
You know, I mean Michelangelo
the artist, right?
Not the turtle.
[woman] I'm an artist.
Paintings, mostly.
As soon as I saw your ad,
I knew this would be
the perfect place to live and work.
It's calm, open, yet invigorating.
I mean, I love the city,
but sometimes it can just feel
like it's a bit much.
Little claustrophobic.
Oh, we felt the same way.
We both had decent office jobs,
but felt trapped,
that there was a better,
healthier way to live
than rushing to work,
drinking energy drinks just to stay awake
and stare at spreadsheets.
So, you know, when this place
came on the market,
and we had enough savings to bid for it,
we just left it to chance.
Plus, my dad died last year.
He used to run a farm similar to this.
And, uh, moving here and working here
feels like a great way
to honor his legacy.
Keep his memory alive.
Wait, I'm I'm sorry.
We just met, and this is
supposed to be about you two.
No, those things are important.
I mean, when my mom passed,
I painted a portrait of her
every week for six months.
I still do, now and again
just to feel close to her.
Yeah, I work in bars, kitchens, uh,
whatever I can get my hands on.
But I do have farming experience.
I can help with the livestock,
machining tool repair,
even harvesting when that time comes.
[Joe] That's music to our ears.
We have big plans for Archford,
but need more hands
just to get up and running.
Uh, Vicki, how about you?
Do you have any farming experience?
No.
And full disclosure,
just the idea of getting muddy in a field
-fills me with horror.
-[chuckles]
But I do have a lot of experience
in decorating and restoration
and how to get old stains out of rugs.
Sorry, I shouldn't have
said that, should I?
I just I tend to ramble when I'm nervous.
And right now, I am really nervous
because I would really like to live here.
It's perfect.
That's fine, but there are drawbacks.
I mean, as you can see,
this place needs a lot of work.
And the heating's temperamental,
and we don't even have a TV.
That's fine.
Though I admit
I will miss watching baseball.
-Oh, you're a fan?
-[Vicki] Mm-hmm.
Do you have a team?
Angels all the way, baby.
My dad, he was from California,
so he insisted that I support them too.
-You're an Angels fan?
-Mm-hmm.
No way, me too!
All right, I've heard enough.
They can move in.
Hold on, hold on.
You guys seem really great,
but there are other couples interested.
It would be wrong to make a final decision
without meeting them first, right, Joe?
Yeah.
[Maria] Bye.
"Other couples interested"?
They've been the only ones
to reply so far.
He didn't comfort her.
[Joe] Excuse me?
When she was talking
about her mom passing,
you could tell it meant something to her,
and he just moved on talking
about his other jobs.
Okay, so that's a reason
to turn them down?
-They seem perfect.
-Yeah.
[Joe] Let's give it a shot.
What do we have to lose?
Welcome.
We were expecting you
to arrive in a moving van.
[chuckles] Well, most of my things
are in storage,
so they can arrive later.
And Clay, after serving in the army,
can live out of one bag.
-[Maria] All right.
-All right, good drive?
-Yeah.
-Easy, right?
[Maria] Okay. [giggles]
[uneasy music playing]
I'm unpacked.
So it's official, we're staying.
Great.
You trying to find a color?
Yeah.
Hmm.
The room faces east,
so you want something
that's gonna balance out the sunlight.
Let's try this.
[soft music playing]
Yeah. See, that's better.
Soft, calming,
but it doesn't have the cold
of a blue or a gray.
I like it.
Me too.
[goats bleating]
[warm, pleasant music playing]
[pickax thuds]
[thwacks]
[bright music playing]
W-Wait, wait, don't move.
I wanna capture you just as you are.
Authentic.
[chuckles] Oh, come on.
It's hot.
I look horrible.
Not to me.
[chuckles]
[Maria] To our home.
Looking better and better every day,
thanks to our wonderful tenants.
-Cheers.
-[glasses clink]
-Cheers.
-[Clay] Cheers.
[glass clinking]
Do one of you play chess?
Oh, I do.
My dad taught me strategies
and opening moves
when I was, like, three. [chuckles]
Do you wanna play a game?
I wouldn't put you through that.
I've been accused, rightfully so,
of taking ages to make a move.
-So
-[laughs] I don't mind.
Oh, and there's this great chess website.
It works on your phone or your computer.
Just create a username
and you can play
and send me moves in your own time.
Sure.
[Joe] How did you guys meet?
[Vicki] Not that interesting.
We just met at a coffee shop one evening
and got to talking and hit it off.
Wait, Clay already told me
you met through a friend.
Right. I was getting coffee for a friend.
What about you two though?
How did you two meet?
Uh, we met through a friend too.
Maria's.
I was dating her.
It's okay.
There was no overlap, no bad blood.
I was dating Brooke for maybe a month
until we realized we were not compatible.
But during that time, I met Maria,
and, yeah, I'm a lucky guy.
Right.
She's lucky to have you too.
[tense music playing]
Are those the clothes I left
down the hallway just now?
Yeah.
It's okay. I was doing laundry anyways.
No, you don't understand.
You weren't supposed to touch 'em.
I left them out there
because I was taking a shower.
There's something in there that I need.
Something in the pocket.
[tense music playing]
My mistake.
[Clay chuckles]
I must have dropped it
while I was working outside, so
Thank you.
[Maria scoffs]
[Joe] No, it's easy.
-[Vicki] Okay, ready?
-Yes.
[Vicki] No!
-That was good.
-[Joe] You don't wanna throw overhand?
[Vicki] No, I'm kind of scared.
Please don't throw it hard.
-Don't throw it hard! Don't throw it hard.
-[Joe] I won't. Glove out.
[Vicki] Okay. [giggles]
Oh! Okay, I almost had it.
I almost had it.
Okay, try one more time.
[Joe] All right.
-[Vicki] Oh my gosh.
-[Joe] That's not bad.
Yeah, so put your two fingers right here.
And then instead of throwing
it underhand, go overhand.
You wanna bring it back like this.
-Like this?
-Yes.
Point right at me and come right through.
[Vicki] Okay.
[tense stinger]
I'm sorry, Maria.
The army drilled into us
that we shouldn't be leaving
our stuff lying around and
Just now you caught
the wrong end of it, my guilt. So
[exhales]
I understand. Um
Did you find what you were looking for?
Yeah, it was just a
lousy $20 bill, so
It's okay.
[Clay] By the way,
I checked out that chess site
you recommended.
Username is Clay91
if you still wanna play.
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
[unsettling music playing]
[sighs] How are you
and Clay getting along?
He's a bit quiet sometimes,
but he's an okay guy.
How about Vicki?
Getting along with her?
Sure. Despite the flirting.
Ugh.
I didn't wanna say anything,
be the suspicious jealous wife.
I told her she should rethink
how she acted around me a little.
And she was okay with that?
Fine, yeah.
[chuckles] Hey, it's okay.
And, you know, she won't be the last.
You're married to a good-looking guy.
Oh. But certainly not
a modest one. [laughs]
[crickets chirping]
[Vicki] Clay, why do you always do this?
Why do you refuse to listen to me?
-I'm trying to talk to you...
-[Clay] 'Cause all you want...
[Vicki] You think you make
all the decisions here? You don't.
[door slams]
[pensive music playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[introspective music playing]
[birds chirping]
Is it okay if I head to the lake to paint?
The light this morning is amazing.
But if you need me to stay
and help with this
No, go ahead. I've got this.
[melancholic music playing]
Is this your dad?
Yeah.
I really hope he's proud
of what I'm trying to build here.
Yeah, I'm sure he would be.
Is everything okay?
I thought I heard you
and Clay arguing last night.
Yeah, Clay and I are fine.
Our talking is most people's arguing.
And you're both happy here?
Yeah.
I mean, why wouldn't we be?
You've opened up your home to us, Maria,
and you've been nothing but kind.
Hey.
What is it?
Nothing. Ignore me.
I'm just I'm just tired.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so
I better go. The light changes so fast.
Okay. Have fun.
[sighs]
[birds chirping]
[cicadas chirping]
[birds trilling]
[sighs]
[exhales deeply]
[phone dialing]
[automated voice] Please leave
a message after the tone.
-[phone beeps]
-Hey, Vicki.
I just finished up at the house.
I need some fresh air
and to stretch my legs.
I'm coming to you.
-[phone clicks]
-[sighs]
[cicadas chirping]
[Maria] Vicki?
Vicki?
Are you still here?
Vicki?
[pensive music playing]
-[gasps]
-[ominous music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[siren wailing]
water.
[Maria speaking indistinctly]
Mr. and Mrs. Lambert?
Hi, I'm Detective Reed.
-[Joe] Hi.
-I'm here to ask you some questions.
Oh, uh, we already gave statements
to your colleagues.
They were the first responders.
I'll be taking charge of the investigation
from this point onward.
Investigation?
It looked like she had just slipped
and hit her head on a rock.
It was an accident, wasn't it?
With any sudden or unusual death,
this is standard practice.
You told my colleague that the deceased
was a tenant of yours, is that correct?
Mm-hmm, yeah.
Her name, Vicki,
was that shortened from Victoria?
Uh, I'm not sure.
I think so.
But you're better off asking Clay.
Her partner? Uh, is he here?
[tense music playing]
He didn't suggest meeting
at the lake to see if he can help?
Like I said, I'd already
told him it was too late.
Even so, he didn't wanna
come and see her anyway?
His girlfriend, a woman
he presumably cared about.
Were you with Clay when he took the call?
Me? No.
No, I was driving back from town.
I had to get some timber.
Huh.
And Vicki and Clay
shared this room, right?
Mm-hmm.
They didn't have separate bedrooms?
No.
You mind telling us
what you're thinking, Detective?
Well, I'm thinking a woman has drowned,
and now I'm concerned
her partner is missing,
along, it appears, with all his stuff.
Oh. He only came here with one bag.
But that bag of things
should still be here, right?
I mean
[sighs]
must be around here somewhere.
And he had clothes, book, a phone charger,
um, and even a toothbrush.
[sighs]
He's packed up and left.
Why would he do that?
[pensive music playing]
[sighs] She was so kind.
So upbeat and energetic, but
[sighs] For all that to be gone,
extinguished in a moment, I...
Right now, I'm just
more concerned about Clay.
I'm not being callous. I'm just
I'm just trying to figure it all out.
Well
People respond to death differently.
Maybe he was too upset
to process things or see her body.
I mean, that would explain things.
Okay, so then
where is he now, hours later?
I think he killed her.
We don't know that.
Maybe it was an accident.
He killed her, and then he fled.
Well, why would he do that?
[Joe] You said you heard
them arguing last night.
Yes.
Well, they fell out over something.
But Vicki said
they were fine this morning.
That's what she said.
[pensive music playing]
Okay.
It's been a rough day.
I'm just gonna lock up for the night
and we'll get some rest, all right?
[sighs]
[exhales]
[contemplative music playing]
[phone dialing]
-[phone beeps]
-[automated voice] We're sorry.
The number you have reached is not...
[sighs]
[contemplative music continues]
[sighs]
[scanner beeping]
Been busy today, Orrin?
-Can't complain.
-[computer beeping]
Okay, that comes to 56.50.
Thanks.
Could you please add that to our account?
Afraid not.
Your account's ended.
There's been a change in policy.
Oh.
For everyone or just us?
For everyone.
[computer beeping]
Look, you should know
what happened to Vicki,
the woman who died,
it had nothing to do with us.
That's none of my business.
How would you like to pay today?
[sighs] Cash.
[computer beeping]
[Maria] People are bound to be suspicious.
Yeah, I get that.
But they can't ask us questions
or get our side of the story?
Oh, great.
It's okay. I just wanted to say
how sorry I am when I heard
about what happened
on your land the other day.
Death of that poor woman.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Yeah, I can imagine
that's the last thing you need,
on top of trying to start
a farm from scratch.
But I want you to know
that I can help you.
Really?
That would be great. Thank you.
Um, if we could just use
your carrier tractor
-for a couple of days, that would be...
-Hold on, hold on. I
You misunderstand.
By help, I mean
Offer an exit ramp.
For the right price,
I could buy Archford Farms off you.
A woman has died
and you're seeing it as an opportunity?
-I'm just trying to be helpful.
-[Joe] No.
You're just trying to take advantage.
But here's my answer.
Our home, our farm, is not for sale.
[scoffs] Not yet.
-What? Are you crazy?
-Joe!
Oh, that's the thanks I get?
No, it's what you deserve!
Hey!
-Enough!
-Let's go.
He snapped.
-He just attacked me.
-Hey, hey, wait.
Kinda makes you wonder, right?
[sawing]
-Hey.
-Hey.
I'm heading out for a walk.
Ooh, wait, wait, wait.
As far out as the lake?
Just through the woods.
But I love you for caring.
[chuckles]
Okay.
If I finish this fast enough,
I'll catch up to you.
Okay.
[birds trilling]
[birds chirping]
[twigs snapping]
[tense music playing]
Joe?
Is that you?
[leaves crunching]
[suspenseful music playing]
Is someone else out here?
You should know I'm
I'm not alone.
[unsettling music playing]
[birds chirping]
[leaves crunching]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thuds]
[panting]
Joe?
Joe!
Where are you?
[panting]
[panting]
[breathing heavily]
-[gasps, exhales sharply]
-[unsettling music playing]
[Maria panting]
-What's wrong?
-The woods, someone chased me.
Followed me back here.
What?
[suspenseful music playing]
Oh, whoever it was, they're gone now.
-Did you see who it was?
-No, I don't know. I
I only caught a glimpse
of them through the trees.
Was it a man?
Maybe?
I don't know,
but someone was definitely out there.
Yeah. And I think I know who.
Come on, we'll take the truck.
[suspenseful music playing]
There he is!
What do you want?
The woodland on our farm,
someone was stalking me.
Trying to frighten me.
So?
[Phil] Wait.
-You think it was me?
-[Joe] Yeah.
You want Archford Farms.
You made it pretty clear
you resent us for buying it.
Hold on, hold on.
So that automatically makes me a creep?
I didn't have anything to do
with any stalking.
Okay, where were you this morning then?
Hmm? About an hour ago.
I don't have to tell you anything.
But for your information,
I was at church with my son, my wife,
and the whole congregation.
Get off my land and don't come back,
unless you're ready to sell.
[car doors closing]
[Det. Reed] So far, public records.
The other usual channels haven't found
anyone fitting Clay
and Vicki's description.
That's leading us to suspect
they were using false names.
Why would they do that?
[Det. Reed] You know as much as I do.
But whoever Vicki was,
the autopsy results show
that she was involved in a struggle
before she fell into the water.
She was murdered?
[Det. Reed] Was certainly attacked.
By Clay?
We don't have conclusive proof,
but he's certainly a suspect.
You should talk to our neighbor.
He has been nothing
but hostile since we moved here.
You mean Phil Gordon?
He is head of one of the most liked
and respected families in the district.
[Joe] So what?
That absolves him
of any police investigation?
-Joe.
-No, you said it yourself,
someone was out there.
I know you've had a scare,
but I'm just asking you
to help put your mind at ease.
Our minds will be at ease
when you find Clay
and get us some answers.
I'm sorry if Joe was abrupt.
Perfectly understandable.
By the way, I read in the witness report
that you two were only recently married.
Less than a month ago.
We moved here right after the wedding.
You were in a rush to leave Chicago?
More so to get here,
begin our new life as soon as possible.
We put in an offer
on the house, got accepted.
Joe wanted to be married
before we moved in.
It's it's a miracle
we managed it all, honestly.
Hmm. And how long did you know
Joe prior to marrying him?
Not long.
We met through a friend,
and I guess you could say
lightning struck.
We realized we loved each other
and wanted to leave the rat race
as soon as possible
to start our new life out here, together.
Mm, I can appreciate that.
I'm married too.
I love my husband.
I must after being with him 12 years.
But you know what's interesting?
To this day, I'm still finding out
new things about him.
Hmm.
Take care, Maria.
[contemplative music playing]
[car door opens, closes]
[car engine starts]
[door creaking]
Joe, wake up.
Hmm?
I think someone's in the house.
Stay behind me.
Somebody out here?
You better show yourself now.
Less trouble for you that way.
I'm sure I heard something.
I'll go check in the back.
[Maria] The piece is knocked over!
Joe?
Someone was in here.
They must have hit the table in the dark.
I mean, all the windows are intact.
They're all locked.
[Maria] Did you check the doors?
Clay had a key.
-Are you sure you locked it?
-Yeah, I'm positive.
After everything that happened,
I double-checked.
Joe.
Clay!
Why are you hiding?
Or is it you out there, Phil?
Too much of a coward to show your face?
I don't, I don't get it.
Clay, if it was him, he just
let himself into the house
and walked around in the dark?
And he ran out when he heard us.
If-If I hadn't been awake,
-if I hadn't heard him moving around...
-Okay.
Maybe you heard a creak,
-maybe you did leave the door open.
-No!
You heard Reed there's no reason
for him to come back here.
And how do you explain that?
We're not safe here.
All right, hey, maybe you should
take off for a day or two.
-What?
-At least until things die down.
Go and see Brooke, or Amber, and the baby.
What if Clay comes back?
Then, I'll get some answers from him.
One way or another.
Come on.
[Amber] Did you have any clue?
Any warning sign
of what he might be capable of?
You mean was Maria aware
she was living with a psychopathic killer?
No, but I've watched enough
real life crime shows
to know that killers often show small,
subtle signs indicating patterns
of behavior.
Nothing to indicate
that he was a murderer.
Any updates on Vicki?
I've appealed for more information,
search the missing person's records,
but nobody's responded.
I mean, even if she was using an alias,
there had to have been someone out there
who knew her or remembered her.
I mean
[sighs] She was pretty hard to forget.
Look at her.
It's the only photo I took of her.
She's beautiful.
She definitely would have admirers.
Yeah, well that doesn't necessarily mean
she had friends that were close to her.
You know, a lot of people are lonely,
don't have anyone.
I'm sorry you have to deal
with this, Maria.
But it's over now.
They were just strangers
in a bad place with each other
who happened to move in with you and Joe.
Yeah.
Probably. [sighs]
What is it?
I didn't wanna say anything, but it
It sounds insanely crazy to me,
let alone someone else.
Now you have to tell us.
-Yeah, what is it, Maria?
-[Maria sighs]
From the moment we met Vicki,
it felt like she knew
everything about Joe.
His likes, dislikes, his favorite foods,
vacation spots, sports teams.
Wait, what are you saying?
Are you saying that this Vicki woman
and Joe knew each other
before you all lived together?
I can't be certain I didn't.
Well, did you ask Joe?
[Maria] No.
And I don't want to.
I don't have any proof.
Just a feeling.
[uneasy music playing]
[Amber] No, no, no. Don't let her nap now.
It's too close to her scheduled nap.
She won't sleep.
[Maria] Are some of these new?
This wall is fantastic.
Some of 'em, but you've seen
our old college photos before, right?
[Maria] Unfortunately.
Oh, those haircuts.
What were we thinking?
It is not too complicated.
Okay, let me explain it again.
So, you're gonna just
put 'em down and then...
Are you sure that's what you and Joe want?
A baby followed by 18 years
of worry and responsibility?
Absolutely.
That feels like a long way off right now.
You're still worried about Joe?
Honestly, I'm starting
to feel like we rushed things.
That I should have gotten
to know him a little bit better.
We were dating for what, three months?
Then he proposed,
then we saw the farm for sale,
then the wedding rush.
There's a reason
why most couples wait for all this.
Well, you were in love,
and both of you wanted your fresh start.
Please tell me I'm worrying too much
that I'm creating a problem
that isn't even there.
What?
You know something?
You won't say anything to Joe?
What is it?
It's probably nothing,
but I realized
that Joe was a serial dater.
That he left women brokenhearted,
both here and back in California.
The last date we had,
we talked about how many
serious relationships we'd been in,
and I said maybe three.
He got to 15 before he noticed
the look on my face.
Sorry, I should have told you
back when you were asking
if it was okay that you date him.
But then, you were head over heels
-and you just got married so fast.
-It's okay, Brooke.
I'm not blaming you. I-I just
If you were me, faced with all of this,
wondering who Vicki was,
what would you do?
Talk to Joe.
Tell him your suspicions
and explain why you're confused.
He loves you, so he'll understand
why you need answers.
[somber music playing]
[door latch clicks]
Hey.
I wasn't expecting you home until later.
Uh Amber had a nap time
emergency with Ellie,
and I wanted to get home and see you.
Oh, I missed you too.
And you will be pleased to know
I changed all the door locks.
I added a security cam
to cover the driveway
and added new bolts
to all the downstairs windows.
So, welcome home to Fort Knox.
-Thought you'd be pleased.
-I am.
I am, I just
[sighs] I really need
to ask you something, but I
I don't know how to do it
without hurting your feelings.
Hey.
It's okay.
What is it?
Did you know Vicki
before she and Clay moved here?
No. No, of course not.
But the way she was talking to you,
she, like, knew things about you.
It's like you guys have met before.
Well, not to my knowledge, no.
You swear?
You swear you've never met her before?
Hey.
I swear.
[soft music playing]
[sighs]
-[Joe] Maria?
-In here.
Something for you.
Thanks.
Anything else?
Uh, bills and invoices by the looks of it.
Don't worry. I'll go through these,
see what we can pay now,
and then start dinner in about 30 minutes?
Sounds good.
Okay.
[pensive music playing]
[music turns unsettling]
[mysterious music playing]
[foreboding music playing]
[foreboding music continues]
Open it.
You lied to me.
[Joe] I don't
I asked you if you knew her,
and you lied to me.
No.
No?
That's you and her
in the photos, isn't it?
No! I mean, yeah, but
Where did you even get these?
Brooke was right about you.
Brooke?
She told me you had
a string of girlfriends,
left them brokenhearted.
-Was Vicki one of them?
-What?
No, no!
Did she move here
so that you could start
a new life together?
So that you could cheat on me?
Maria, how can you even say that?
What about Clay?
Did he find out about you two?
Did he get angry?
Is that why he killed her?
Or
Did you panic?
That's enough.
Did he send these photos
to me as an explanation?
As-As a warning? That's enough!
To me, to tell me
that you are the one who killed her?
That's enough!
I can't believe I have to ask you this.
Yesterday, it wouldn't
have even entered my mind.
But now
As your wife, I feel like
I have a right to know.
Did you kill her?
[pensive music playing]
[knife slams]
[somber music playing]
I would never, ever hurt you.
Those photos aren't real.
I can't believe anything
you tell me right now.
-Get out.
-Please, let me ex...
Go! Just go!
[door slams]
[Maria whimpers, sobs]
[car engine starts]
[birds trilling]
[serene music playing]
[water hissing]
-[goats bleating]
-[line ringing]
[ringing continues]
[Joe] Hi, this is Joe Lambert.
I can't take your call right now,
so please leave a message
and I will get back to you.
-[tone beeps]
-Hey.
It's me.
Where are you?
I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance
to explain earlier. I just
I was scared, and I was hurt and
I still am but
I promise if you come back,
I will hear you out.
Just please call me back
so I know you're okay.
I love you.
-Bye.
-[phone beeps]
[somber music playing]
[groans]
[Det. Reed] Perhaps he switched
his cell phone off
or its battery ran out.
No. No, he would've reached
out somehow by now.
I know something's happened to him.
Something involving Clay.
Maria, you are worried,
and it's making you leap
to worst case scenarios.
Clay sent those photos. I'm positive.
So Joe went after him,
and now he's missing.
We'll get there.
We just need more time.
And in the meantime, Joe's just missing?
Nine out of ten missing people
turn up safe and well.
[uneasy music playing]
[somber music playing]
[keyboard clacking]
[tense music playing]
[Maria] Thanks so much for coming along.
[Brooke] You do not have to thank us.
We wanna help.
Plus, it means Max
has to look after Elliot alone again.
It's the only way he's gonna
learn how to parent properly.
[all laughing]
[Maria] I think this is the place.
Maria.
[woman] Sorry, I can't place either.
We get a lot of customers.
I knew her by Vicki,
but she may have gone under another name.
Wait, was she some sort of artist?
Yes.
Yeah, she once tried selling me
some of her paintings.
I thanked her, but said her style
wasn't quite right for this place.
Did she ever come in here
with another man?
About six feet tall,
short hair, sort of military looking?
I can't say I remember.
But you should try asking
at the studio she painted at.
It's just around the corner.
They might know more there.
Yeah, I know her.
That's Emma.
Emma.
Not Vicki?
Emma Spear.
I remember her because
she still owes me five months rent
on the space that she used here.
Well, you won't get that money.
She died a few days ago.
I'm very sorry to hear that. Are
Were you her friends?
Not exactly.
We were trying to find out more about her.
-Did she have many friends here?
-[man] Not really.
Kept to herself,
mostly focused on her work.
We still got most of it.
[pensive music playing]
I'd have thrown 'em out,
but you never know
who the next Picasso might be, right?
Mind if we take a look?
Sure. Just let me know
when you're finished.
I wanna know
as much as possible about her.
And she did landscapes.
They might help us find out
where she used to paint,
where to look next.
Um I'd like to stay and help look,
but I have this meeting
across town in less than an hour.
So
-Keep me posted.
-Okay.
And call if you need anything.
-Okay?
-Yep.
-You promise?
-Promise.
-Okay. Thanks.
-Bye.
[Maria sighs]
She was beautiful and talented.
This must be her mother.
[soft music playing]
Look at this.
Is that Clay?
Definitely.
[Amber] Oh, there's something on the back.
Connor, January 27th.
Connor being his real name?
Let's find out.
You know Vicki's real name now
and possibly Clay's real name.
Why not give all that to the police,
let them follow up on it?
Because that takes time.
If Joe's in danger,
the sooner we find Clay,
or Connor, the better.
You don't know if he has Joe.
This feels like
the best chance to find out.
"Contact me or I give your name
to the police, Connor."
Now we wait.
This is a nice spot.
It's sad that Vicki or Emma,
will never get to come here again.
What?
You.
Even though she might've been
interfering in your marriage,
attempting to get back with Joe,
you still have compassion for her.
You've got a big heart, Maria.
[phone beeps]
[Maria] It's Clay.
He's made a move.
Offered up one of his rooks in sacrifice.
Is that important?
[Maria] It's telling.
And he's left a message.
"Let's meet, no cops,
away from the house."
You're not agreeing to that.
Tell the police.
And maybe, risk Joe's life?
I can't do that.
[Amber] Then at least agree
to meet somewhere public,
where you'll be safe.
[tense music playing]
[muffled grunting]
[muffled groaning]
[pants, coughs]
[coughing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thwacks]
[thuds]
[contemplative music playing]
[brooding music playing]
[keys clattering]
[suspenseful music playing]
[object thudding]
[thudding]
[door thudding]
[gasps]
No, wait, wait!
-No, no, wait, wait!
-[Maria panting]
Wait! Hey!
Wait a minute!
Ow! Ow! [groans]
Calm down, I'm
I'm trying to help you.
See, it was forced open.
By you?
By whoever I disturbed.
I came over here to talk to you.
And when I got here,
there was someone inside
moving through the house.
So I shouted at them
and told 'em to stay where they were,
and then they escaped
the same way they came in.
Did you see who it was?
No, he was way too fast.
He?
That's what I figured, but I
I can't be certain.
-When was this?
-[Phil] Well, it was a few hours ago. I
I had to go back to my place
and do some jobs
and fetch some wood
and tools to make this secure.
You took it upon yourself
to come into my house
and make repairs?
I was trying to be neighborly.
Thank you, but you can go now.
You still don't trust me?
Do you blame me?
[Phil sighs]
What was it?
Excuse me?
That you came here to talk about?
[sighs]
Not that you're gonna
take me up on it, but
I came here to make you an offer.
We already told you,
this place isn't for sale.
I'm-I'm not asking to buy it.
In fact, I'm
[sighs] I'm-I'm offering to help.
I go to church, sit and listen
to how to live a good life.
What's the point of that
if I can't replicate it
outside in the real world?
So, what do you say?
I'll think about it.
[Det. Reed] Are you certain
nothing was taken?
[Maria] As far as I can tell.
I still don't trust Phil Gordon.
But if he is telling the truth,
then the intruder he disturbed
must have been Clay.
That's why he wanted me
to meet so far away,
so he'd have time to search here.
For?
I don't know.
You should've contacted us
as soon as you found a link to Vicki,
but especially
when you found out about Clay.
That was reckless of you to meet him alone
without our support.
You know who he is, don't you?
The name you found
on the back of the portrait
led us to a match.
Connor Osgood.
Career criminal.
Recently, he was suspected
of being part of a four-man crew
who raided a jewelry store in Chicago.
He's been off the radar since.
Until now.
And, um, Vicki, or Emma?
No one recalls ever seeing them together
outside of the studio.
So we still don't know where Clay is
or if he's responsible
for Joe's disappearance?
[Det. Reed] Hold on, there's more.
Our tech team analyzed the photos.
Are you ready?
The photos were fake.
[sighs] Why didn't I believe him?
[Det. Reed]
For what it's worth, in your position,
I'd have reacted the same way.
Is there anyone that can stay
with you in the short term?
Yeah, yeah.
I've got someone who I can call.
[pensive music playing]
I'm certain Clay lost something
in this house.
That's why he snuck in the first time
and why he broke in last night.
If it was him.
Do you really believe
that neighbor of yours?
I'm willing to give him
the benefit of the doubt.
Okay.
[intriguing music playing]
[objects clattering]
[Maria] Clay did get annoyed
when I did his laundry that time.
[mysterious music playing]
[Maria] There's something here.
Uh, hand me that flashlight.
Here, I got it.
[Maria] Hmm, I can't get it.
[Brooke] Here.
-Try that.
-Perfect.
[mysterious music continues]
[Maria] Let me see.
[Brooke] Here.
[Brooke] Are you sure
it's not one of yours?
Positive.
There's a number on it.
Looks like it's for something important.
Okay, there's no way of knowing that.
Yes, there is.
[suspenseful music plays]
Maria, just hand it over to the police.
Let them handle it.
[Maria] And risk frightening off Clay?
I can't take that chance.
Check.
[pensive music playing]
Don't give up.
Okay? And call me if you need anything.
Thanks, I will.
Drive safely.
Thank you. See you soon.
[car starts]
[somber music playing]
[door closes]
[music turns mysterious]
[mysterious music continues]
[phone chimes]
[music turns dramatic]
[pensive music playing]
[water running]
[Maria sighs]
[tense music playing]
-[ominous music playing]
-[Maria grunting]
-[muffled groaning]
-[bat clatters]
-Stop resisting.
-[grunting]
I won't hurt you.
Answer me.
Tell me that you're alone,
and I'll let you go.
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
Where's Joe?
First things first. I need to eat.
[Clay] What?
It's not like I can go
to a diner or the grocery store.
Not now.
Stop eating.
Start talking.
Where's Joe?
Give me the key and I'll tell you where.
You first.
I'm not the one
the police are looking for.
I don't know where Joe is.
You lied?
I needed you to see me.
I need that key.
So, where is it?
Why did you and Vicki move here?
-Did she and Joe organize it?
-Is my key here?
Answer me!
The cops are already on their way,
so you better start talking.
I agreed to come here
because I needed someplace to lie low.
After the robbery?
Vicki, Emma
painted my portrait a while back.
She kept my number, reached out to me.
Must have read about the robbery
and knew that I needed
someplace quiet to go to,
someplace off the beaten path for a while.
But why did she move here?
Someone asked her to.
Joe?
I don't know, maybe.
-You don't know who it was?
-No.
Emma handled that.
She just recruited me
because you were only taking couples,
and we made a good team.
Until it all went wrong.
Why did you kill her?
-I've had enough of this.
-Stay there!
Why did you kill Vicki?
-I didn't.
-Then who did?
I don't know!
I wish I did. I liked her.
I really regret that I argued with her
the last time I saw her.
Now, the night before she died,
she told me that we needed to leave
and she made a mistake that we
never should have came here.
I shout at her that we weren't leaving
until I found that key.
So, where did you find it?
Underneath the floorboards.
Why is it so important?
[Clay sighs]
It opens up a safety deposit box
full of cash and jewels,
enough for me to disappear for good
and never have to look back.
So you stayed back, watched the house?
That day in the woods,
you were the one who chased me.
I figured if I grabbed you, tied you up,
told Joe where you were,
I could search your house in peace.
But you're a fast runner.
And the photos?
What was the purpose of those?
What photos?
And how did Vicki know so much about Joe?
-Was she part of his past?
-I don't know!
Now I've told you all that I can,
so give me my key.
No!
There are still too many gaps,
things that you know
and that you're not telling me.
[ominous music playing]
Give it to me.
Stop testing my patience, Maria.
Stay back!
[suspenseful music playing]
[Maria grunting]
[Maria groans]
Give it, give it!
Just give it to me!
[Maria grunting]
I want my own free time and peace.
[distant siren wailing]
[grunting]
[distant siren wailing]
Freeze!
Don't!
You won't make it.
[siren wailing]
[somber music playing]
[Det. Reed] He swears
he doesn't know where Joe is.
And you believe him?
We need to do a proper interview.
But your instinct?
All Osgood wanted was focused on
Was this.
If he hadn't accidentally lost it,
I dare say he would've fled
and you'd never see him again.
So unless Joe tracked him down,
confronted him,
there is no logic in him killing Joe.
And Vicki?
Maybe they had a falling out.
She threatened to expose Osgood
or do something else that threatened him,
and he snapped and killed her.
But But why was she here
in the first place?
Why did she go through
all of that trouble to recruit Clay
to pose as her partner,
just to live on this farm?
Because she and Joe were acting together.
But the photos...
The photos were fake, I know.
But she knew things about your husband.
There must have been some link,
some connection between them.
[sirens wailing]
[pensive music playing]
[door clicks]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[pensive music playing]
[Maria] Look at these.
She was beautiful and talented.
Are some of these new?
This wall is fantastic.
[suspenseful music playing]
[line ringing]
-[Amber] Maria?
-[Maria] Amber!
I need to talk to you about Brooke.
When Joe and I got married,
was she angry at me and Joe?
She calmed down afterwards.
But, at first, yeah.
She said she felt betrayed.
Said that you and Joe were boasting,
forgetting her, us.
And so you didn't deserve happiness.
But like I said before, afterwards,
she calmed and was happy for you both.
Amber, I'm on my way
to Brooke's house right now.
I need to talk to her.
-I'll come and join you.
-[Maria] No! No!
You don't need to. I just, I need you
to know where I am just in case.
In case what?
I don't wanna talk about it.
I don't even wanna think about it.
I'm sorry, I will call you back
as soon as I can.
-[phone beeps]
-[busy tone]
[knocking on door]
[Brooke] Clay wants to meet?
Here in the city.
Obviously, I don't want to go alone,
and I know I can always rely
on you, right, Brooke?
Right.
Does he know anything about Joe?
He didn't give specifics,
but he did mention something
very interesting about Vicki.
Or should I say Emma Spear?
He said someone asked her
to move into her house.
Did he say who it was?
No.
But I think I know who it was.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Don't deny it, Brooke.
I don't understand.
What are you suggesting?
That painting.
It has her initials on it.
Yeah. She's an artist.
I collect art.
It's a portrait.
You would've sat with her
or at least discussed it.
But when I showed you that photo of Emma,
you acted like it was
the first time you saw her.
I didn't mean for this to happen.
Do you know what happened to Joe?
Is he here?
Upstairs.
Is he alive?
Yes.
[sobs]
Why?
Joe left me.
He told me that it wasn't
working out between us,
that he had fallen in love
with someone else.
You.
And he told me he'd back off
if I didn't like the idea
of him and you together,
but I didn't wanna give him
the satisfaction
of seeing that it hurt me.
Besides, I knew his history.
I figured you'd be
his next fleeting partner,
and then he'd soon move on
to someone else.
Only that didn't happen, did it?
No.
I tried to play along,
be the supportive best friend.
But before I knew it,
the two of you were married,
planning your perfect life together.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want your pity.
I still don't.
But what does Vicki
have to do with any of this?
I met her at a gallery,
practically begged me to commission her.
As she painted me,
we talked about you and Joe,
how wrong it was
that the two of you got together,
how you were deliberately goading me
with your happiness
and marriage and plans.
[sighs]
So you coached her about Joe.
And then you instructed her
to answer our ad,
move in with us, flirt with him?
And had he taken the bait,
it would've destroyed us.
And it almost worked.
Till Emma went back on the plan.
[indistinct arguing]
[Brooke] She asked me to meet her
in private down by the lake.
-They're a good couple!
-I...
She told me about how sweet you were.
[indistinct argument]
About how you and Joe deserve to be happy.
-[Vicki] Let go of me! You're crazy!
-Excuse me!
[Brooke] I saw red, and I lost control.
[grunting]
[Vicki screams]
[gasps]
[foreboding music playing]
[breathing heavily]
After I realized what I did,
I stared at the door
waiting for the police to come knocking.
But they never did.
No.
Clay was the prime suspect at that point.
That was a sign.
It was you and Joe's fault
that Vicki died.
Not mine.
So why is it that your lives
were the only ones not ruined?
You faked and sent those photos.
I took the photos off Vicki's phone.
I had the old ones of Joe.
It's really quite simple,
except Joe realized immediately
where they came from.
When you kicked him out,
he came straight here.
Oh, you're lying to me?
[Brooke] Demanding an explanation.
-I know you!
-It wasn't me!
[Brooke] But he wouldn't
accept my denials.
Brooke!
-[screaming]
-[bottle smashing]
[body thuds]
[Brooke] I didn't wanna kill him.
And I didn't wanna kill you.
But I have a life.
A career.
People adore me.
I can't let you leave.
[tense music playing]
[both grunting and groaning]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thuds]
[panting]
Joe?
Joe!
Are you okay?
Maria.
[Maria panting]
We're gonna get you out of here.
Come on, let's get you out of here.
-Come on.
-[Joe groaning]
Come on.
I got you.
Here.
[Maria panting]
[Maria] Careful.
[panting]
[ominous stinger]
[light switch clicks]
[Maria] Come on, come on. It's okay.
This way.
-[gun cocks]
-[gasps]
He needs a hospital.
I can't let you leave.
Brooke, please don't.
If I let you leave, you'll call the cops.
-No, no, no, no. We we won't call...
-You're lying again!
-[gun fires]
-[Maria gasps]
Joe!
[Joe groaning]
Brooke, wait.
Don't look at me.
Turn around!
No, look at me, Brooke!
You're right.
We can't keep quiet about Emma.
But deep down, you know
that's the right thing to do.
Just like I also know.
And I never would've
intentionally tried to hurt you.
But if you still don't believe me,
if you still think I don't care,
then I understand what you have to do.
[sobs]
[exhales sharply]
[gun clatters]
[Maria] Stay with me, Joe.
[Joe] I should've told
I should've told you.
-It can wait.
-No. No, it can't.
I should have told you about my past,
but I was ashamed.
For years, I was selfish,
moving from one relationship
into the next.
I didn't care who I hurt.
What changed?
[emotional music plays]
It was meeting you.
You're so kind and and and giving.
I didn't wanna lose you.
Everyone has a past.
I married you, not the man you were.
[siren wailing]
[emotional music continues]
[Joe] Maria! Come check out this color.
[Maria] I just got off the phone
with Amber. She's coming to visit soon.
[Joe] Sounds good.
You know, my baseball collection
is gonna look great in here.
-[chuckles]
-What?
My own room, my man cave, right?
I don't know.
I've been thinking.
-Hmm?
-Maybe we try again.
Share our home with someone else.
Really?
Uh, I mean, it's a thought.
But come on,
after all that's happened, you wanna...
Relax.
[soft music playing]
I think we'll all get along this time.
Oh.
[bright music playing]
Really?
[music turns hopeful]
[closing theme music playing]
[unsettling music playing]
I can't believe I have to ask you this.
Yesterday, it wouldn't
have even entered my mind,
but now
I feel like, as your wife,
I have a right to know.
Did you kill her?
[foreboding music playing]
[music intensifies]
[ominous music playing]
[ominous music continues]
-You stay right there.
-[Maria chuckles]
[Maria sighs]
-Mrs. Lambert.
-[Maria huffs]
[exhales deeply]
Well?
Home sweet home.
Or, it will be once it's restored.
If it had been perfect,
we wouldn't have been able to afford it.
We'll fix it up.
-But first
-Oh.
I'm carrying my beautiful
new wife over the threshold.
-[sighs] Ready?
-[Maria giggling] Yeah.
[rattling]
-[both laughing]
-Okay.
[duck quacking]
[serene music playing]
How about this?
-Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
-Yeah, I like it.
-But keep or throw?
-[gasps]
-Keep!
-Yeah?
I've had Katie since I was six.
And who knows?
Maybe one day we'll have a little girl
who will love her like I did.
-Okay, she can stay.
-Okay.
But only if I get to keep
all my baseball stuff.
Hmm.
Let's see. [laughs]
-Right?
-[laughs]
This is perfect.
-[laughs]
-That'll be great for parties.
Little dip, some chips.
[serene music playing]
Come on. Listen to that.
No sirens or busy traffic,
or sidewalk arguments.
It's perfect.
This.
[both chuckling]
[scanner beeping]
Buying a lot.
Staying at one of the holiday lodges
over in Shawville?
No, actually, we just
moved here permanently.
We bought Archford Farm.
It's a little place out of town.
I know it. Yeah.
I heard they sold it to some new people.
[man] More like the wrong people.
Think you're the first
to move from the city
with dreams of farming?
Actually, I grew up on a farm.
I remember the long hours
and the hard work my dad had to put in.
Which is why we're advertising
for tenants.
People to share our home with
in exchange for help with the workload.
Know anyone who might be interested?
[man sighs deeply]
Phil owns the farm next to yours.
Rumor was he was intending to buy Archford
add its acreage to his.
But he got outbid at the last second,
and I guess he just found out who by.
He'll warm to you.
And to show you
we're friendly around here,
I'm gonna open up a store account for you.
Pay when you like.
[scanner beeps]
-Thank you so much.
-Yeah. Thank you.
-As the owner, glad to help.
-[scanner beeps]
[Maria] That was the main bedroom.
And we think this room would make
an amazing nursery someday.
-[chuckles]
-I said someday, Amber.
First, we need to rent a room,
find help to restore this place.
But, yeah, I could see myself
in here with a baby,
in our beautiful new home.
It's perfect.
Thanks, Brooke.
And again, I'm sorry
I didn't announce the wedding.
Joe and I just wanted to marry
before we moved,
-without all the stress and expense.
-[Amber] We get it.
You wanted small and intimate
staring into Joe's eyes
instead of worrying about cakes,
dresses, and seating plans.
[Brooke] Amber's right.
Thanks for understanding.
-[Joe] Maria!
-Oh.
Sounds like Joe needs me.
-Okay, lovely ladies. See you soon.
-Bye.
Bye.
[sighs]
[Joe] We are about
a two hours drive from the city.
Not too far, but far enough.
And this is Archford Farm,
our beautiful home.
So if you're another couple
able to help and wanting to share
in our dream,
then we would love, love to hear from you.
[phone beeps]
All right. I'll upload it now.
Local ads, social media, just blitz it.
Great.
Think anyone will respond?
Yeah. Yeah, of course.
Who wouldn't wanna live here?
-[birds chirping]
-[Maria sighs]
[serene music playing]
It's even nicer in person.
Seriously?
You didn't see the peeling paint
or the broken shutters?
I see potential.
You think all I see is a blank canvas
whenever I start a new painting?
You think Michelangelo
just saw a lump of rock
when he started sculpting
the Statue of David?
You know, I mean Michelangelo
the artist, right?
Not the turtle.
[woman] I'm an artist.
Paintings, mostly.
As soon as I saw your ad,
I knew this would be
the perfect place to live and work.
It's calm, open, yet invigorating.
I mean, I love the city,
but sometimes it can just feel
like it's a bit much.
Little claustrophobic.
Oh, we felt the same way.
We both had decent office jobs,
but felt trapped,
that there was a better,
healthier way to live
than rushing to work,
drinking energy drinks just to stay awake
and stare at spreadsheets.
So, you know, when this place
came on the market,
and we had enough savings to bid for it,
we just left it to chance.
Plus, my dad died last year.
He used to run a farm similar to this.
And, uh, moving here and working here
feels like a great way
to honor his legacy.
Keep his memory alive.
Wait, I'm I'm sorry.
We just met, and this is
supposed to be about you two.
No, those things are important.
I mean, when my mom passed,
I painted a portrait of her
every week for six months.
I still do, now and again
just to feel close to her.
Yeah, I work in bars, kitchens, uh,
whatever I can get my hands on.
But I do have farming experience.
I can help with the livestock,
machining tool repair,
even harvesting when that time comes.
[Joe] That's music to our ears.
We have big plans for Archford,
but need more hands
just to get up and running.
Uh, Vicki, how about you?
Do you have any farming experience?
No.
And full disclosure,
just the idea of getting muddy in a field
-fills me with horror.
-[chuckles]
But I do have a lot of experience
in decorating and restoration
and how to get old stains out of rugs.
Sorry, I shouldn't have
said that, should I?
I just I tend to ramble when I'm nervous.
And right now, I am really nervous
because I would really like to live here.
It's perfect.
That's fine, but there are drawbacks.
I mean, as you can see,
this place needs a lot of work.
And the heating's temperamental,
and we don't even have a TV.
That's fine.
Though I admit
I will miss watching baseball.
-Oh, you're a fan?
-[Vicki] Mm-hmm.
Do you have a team?
Angels all the way, baby.
My dad, he was from California,
so he insisted that I support them too.
-You're an Angels fan?
-Mm-hmm.
No way, me too!
All right, I've heard enough.
They can move in.
Hold on, hold on.
You guys seem really great,
but there are other couples interested.
It would be wrong to make a final decision
without meeting them first, right, Joe?
Yeah.
[Maria] Bye.
"Other couples interested"?
They've been the only ones
to reply so far.
He didn't comfort her.
[Joe] Excuse me?
When she was talking
about her mom passing,
you could tell it meant something to her,
and he just moved on talking
about his other jobs.
Okay, so that's a reason
to turn them down?
-They seem perfect.
-Yeah.
[Joe] Let's give it a shot.
What do we have to lose?
Welcome.
We were expecting you
to arrive in a moving van.
[chuckles] Well, most of my things
are in storage,
so they can arrive later.
And Clay, after serving in the army,
can live out of one bag.
-[Maria] All right.
-All right, good drive?
-Yeah.
-Easy, right?
[Maria] Okay. [giggles]
[uneasy music playing]
I'm unpacked.
So it's official, we're staying.
Great.
You trying to find a color?
Yeah.
Hmm.
The room faces east,
so you want something
that's gonna balance out the sunlight.
Let's try this.
[soft music playing]
Yeah. See, that's better.
Soft, calming,
but it doesn't have the cold
of a blue or a gray.
I like it.
Me too.
[goats bleating]
[warm, pleasant music playing]
[pickax thuds]
[thwacks]
[bright music playing]
W-Wait, wait, don't move.
I wanna capture you just as you are.
Authentic.
[chuckles] Oh, come on.
It's hot.
I look horrible.
Not to me.
[chuckles]
[Maria] To our home.
Looking better and better every day,
thanks to our wonderful tenants.
-Cheers.
-[glasses clink]
-Cheers.
-[Clay] Cheers.
[glass clinking]
Do one of you play chess?
Oh, I do.
My dad taught me strategies
and opening moves
when I was, like, three. [chuckles]
Do you wanna play a game?
I wouldn't put you through that.
I've been accused, rightfully so,
of taking ages to make a move.
-So
-[laughs] I don't mind.
Oh, and there's this great chess website.
It works on your phone or your computer.
Just create a username
and you can play
and send me moves in your own time.
Sure.
[Joe] How did you guys meet?
[Vicki] Not that interesting.
We just met at a coffee shop one evening
and got to talking and hit it off.
Wait, Clay already told me
you met through a friend.
Right. I was getting coffee for a friend.
What about you two though?
How did you two meet?
Uh, we met through a friend too.
Maria's.
I was dating her.
It's okay.
There was no overlap, no bad blood.
I was dating Brooke for maybe a month
until we realized we were not compatible.
But during that time, I met Maria,
and, yeah, I'm a lucky guy.
Right.
She's lucky to have you too.
[tense music playing]
Are those the clothes I left
down the hallway just now?
Yeah.
It's okay. I was doing laundry anyways.
No, you don't understand.
You weren't supposed to touch 'em.
I left them out there
because I was taking a shower.
There's something in there that I need.
Something in the pocket.
[tense music playing]
My mistake.
[Clay chuckles]
I must have dropped it
while I was working outside, so
Thank you.
[Maria scoffs]
[Joe] No, it's easy.
-[Vicki] Okay, ready?
-Yes.
[Vicki] No!
-That was good.
-[Joe] You don't wanna throw overhand?
[Vicki] No, I'm kind of scared.
Please don't throw it hard.
-Don't throw it hard! Don't throw it hard.
-[Joe] I won't. Glove out.
[Vicki] Okay. [giggles]
Oh! Okay, I almost had it.
I almost had it.
Okay, try one more time.
[Joe] All right.
-[Vicki] Oh my gosh.
-[Joe] That's not bad.
Yeah, so put your two fingers right here.
And then instead of throwing
it underhand, go overhand.
You wanna bring it back like this.
-Like this?
-Yes.
Point right at me and come right through.
[Vicki] Okay.
[tense stinger]
I'm sorry, Maria.
The army drilled into us
that we shouldn't be leaving
our stuff lying around and
Just now you caught
the wrong end of it, my guilt. So
[exhales]
I understand. Um
Did you find what you were looking for?
Yeah, it was just a
lousy $20 bill, so
It's okay.
[Clay] By the way,
I checked out that chess site
you recommended.
Username is Clay91
if you still wanna play.
Yeah.
Yeah, definitely.
[unsettling music playing]
[sighs] How are you
and Clay getting along?
He's a bit quiet sometimes,
but he's an okay guy.
How about Vicki?
Getting along with her?
Sure. Despite the flirting.
Ugh.
I didn't wanna say anything,
be the suspicious jealous wife.
I told her she should rethink
how she acted around me a little.
And she was okay with that?
Fine, yeah.
[chuckles] Hey, it's okay.
And, you know, she won't be the last.
You're married to a good-looking guy.
Oh. But certainly not
a modest one. [laughs]
[crickets chirping]
[Vicki] Clay, why do you always do this?
Why do you refuse to listen to me?
-I'm trying to talk to you...
-[Clay] 'Cause all you want...
[Vicki] You think you make
all the decisions here? You don't.
[door slams]
[pensive music playing]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[introspective music playing]
[birds chirping]
Is it okay if I head to the lake to paint?
The light this morning is amazing.
But if you need me to stay
and help with this
No, go ahead. I've got this.
[melancholic music playing]
Is this your dad?
Yeah.
I really hope he's proud
of what I'm trying to build here.
Yeah, I'm sure he would be.
Is everything okay?
I thought I heard you
and Clay arguing last night.
Yeah, Clay and I are fine.
Our talking is most people's arguing.
And you're both happy here?
Yeah.
I mean, why wouldn't we be?
You've opened up your home to us, Maria,
and you've been nothing but kind.
Hey.
What is it?
Nothing. Ignore me.
I'm just I'm just tired.
I didn't get much sleep last night, so
I better go. The light changes so fast.
Okay. Have fun.
[sighs]
[birds chirping]
[cicadas chirping]
[birds trilling]
[sighs]
[exhales deeply]
[phone dialing]
[automated voice] Please leave
a message after the tone.
-[phone beeps]
-Hey, Vicki.
I just finished up at the house.
I need some fresh air
and to stretch my legs.
I'm coming to you.
-[phone clicks]
-[sighs]
[cicadas chirping]
[Maria] Vicki?
Vicki?
Are you still here?
Vicki?
[pensive music playing]
-[gasps]
-[ominous music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[breathes deeply]
[siren wailing]
water.
[Maria speaking indistinctly]
Mr. and Mrs. Lambert?
Hi, I'm Detective Reed.
-[Joe] Hi.
-I'm here to ask you some questions.
Oh, uh, we already gave statements
to your colleagues.
They were the first responders.
I'll be taking charge of the investigation
from this point onward.
Investigation?
It looked like she had just slipped
and hit her head on a rock.
It was an accident, wasn't it?
With any sudden or unusual death,
this is standard practice.
You told my colleague that the deceased
was a tenant of yours, is that correct?
Mm-hmm, yeah.
Her name, Vicki,
was that shortened from Victoria?
Uh, I'm not sure.
I think so.
But you're better off asking Clay.
Her partner? Uh, is he here?
[tense music playing]
He didn't suggest meeting
at the lake to see if he can help?
Like I said, I'd already
told him it was too late.
Even so, he didn't wanna
come and see her anyway?
His girlfriend, a woman
he presumably cared about.
Were you with Clay when he took the call?
Me? No.
No, I was driving back from town.
I had to get some timber.
Huh.
And Vicki and Clay
shared this room, right?
Mm-hmm.
They didn't have separate bedrooms?
No.
You mind telling us
what you're thinking, Detective?
Well, I'm thinking a woman has drowned,
and now I'm concerned
her partner is missing,
along, it appears, with all his stuff.
Oh. He only came here with one bag.
But that bag of things
should still be here, right?
I mean
[sighs]
must be around here somewhere.
And he had clothes, book, a phone charger,
um, and even a toothbrush.
[sighs]
He's packed up and left.
Why would he do that?
[pensive music playing]
[sighs] She was so kind.
So upbeat and energetic, but
[sighs] For all that to be gone,
extinguished in a moment, I...
Right now, I'm just
more concerned about Clay.
I'm not being callous. I'm just
I'm just trying to figure it all out.
Well
People respond to death differently.
Maybe he was too upset
to process things or see her body.
I mean, that would explain things.
Okay, so then
where is he now, hours later?
I think he killed her.
We don't know that.
Maybe it was an accident.
He killed her, and then he fled.
Well, why would he do that?
[Joe] You said you heard
them arguing last night.
Yes.
Well, they fell out over something.
But Vicki said
they were fine this morning.
That's what she said.
[pensive music playing]
Okay.
It's been a rough day.
I'm just gonna lock up for the night
and we'll get some rest, all right?
[sighs]
[exhales]
[contemplative music playing]
[phone dialing]
-[phone beeps]
-[automated voice] We're sorry.
The number you have reached is not...
[sighs]
[contemplative music continues]
[sighs]
[scanner beeping]
Been busy today, Orrin?
-Can't complain.
-[computer beeping]
Okay, that comes to 56.50.
Thanks.
Could you please add that to our account?
Afraid not.
Your account's ended.
There's been a change in policy.
Oh.
For everyone or just us?
For everyone.
[computer beeping]
Look, you should know
what happened to Vicki,
the woman who died,
it had nothing to do with us.
That's none of my business.
How would you like to pay today?
[sighs] Cash.
[computer beeping]
[Maria] People are bound to be suspicious.
Yeah, I get that.
But they can't ask us questions
or get our side of the story?
Oh, great.
It's okay. I just wanted to say
how sorry I am when I heard
about what happened
on your land the other day.
Death of that poor woman.
Thank you. I appreciate that.
Yeah, I can imagine
that's the last thing you need,
on top of trying to start
a farm from scratch.
But I want you to know
that I can help you.
Really?
That would be great. Thank you.
Um, if we could just use
your carrier tractor
-for a couple of days, that would be...
-Hold on, hold on. I
You misunderstand.
By help, I mean
Offer an exit ramp.
For the right price,
I could buy Archford Farms off you.
A woman has died
and you're seeing it as an opportunity?
-I'm just trying to be helpful.
-[Joe] No.
You're just trying to take advantage.
But here's my answer.
Our home, our farm, is not for sale.
[scoffs] Not yet.
-What? Are you crazy?
-Joe!
Oh, that's the thanks I get?
No, it's what you deserve!
Hey!
-Enough!
-Let's go.
He snapped.
-He just attacked me.
-Hey, hey, wait.
Kinda makes you wonder, right?
[sawing]
-Hey.
-Hey.
I'm heading out for a walk.
Ooh, wait, wait, wait.
As far out as the lake?
Just through the woods.
But I love you for caring.
[chuckles]
Okay.
If I finish this fast enough,
I'll catch up to you.
Okay.
[birds trilling]
[birds chirping]
[twigs snapping]
[tense music playing]
Joe?
Is that you?
[leaves crunching]
[suspenseful music playing]
Is someone else out here?
You should know I'm
I'm not alone.
[unsettling music playing]
[birds chirping]
[leaves crunching]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thuds]
[panting]
Joe?
Joe!
Where are you?
[panting]
[panting]
[breathing heavily]
-[gasps, exhales sharply]
-[unsettling music playing]
[Maria panting]
-What's wrong?
-The woods, someone chased me.
Followed me back here.
What?
[suspenseful music playing]
Oh, whoever it was, they're gone now.
-Did you see who it was?
-No, I don't know. I
I only caught a glimpse
of them through the trees.
Was it a man?
Maybe?
I don't know,
but someone was definitely out there.
Yeah. And I think I know who.
Come on, we'll take the truck.
[suspenseful music playing]
There he is!
What do you want?
The woodland on our farm,
someone was stalking me.
Trying to frighten me.
So?
[Phil] Wait.
-You think it was me?
-[Joe] Yeah.
You want Archford Farms.
You made it pretty clear
you resent us for buying it.
Hold on, hold on.
So that automatically makes me a creep?
I didn't have anything to do
with any stalking.
Okay, where were you this morning then?
Hmm? About an hour ago.
I don't have to tell you anything.
But for your information,
I was at church with my son, my wife,
and the whole congregation.
Get off my land and don't come back,
unless you're ready to sell.
[car doors closing]
[Det. Reed] So far, public records.
The other usual channels haven't found
anyone fitting Clay
and Vicki's description.
That's leading us to suspect
they were using false names.
Why would they do that?
[Det. Reed] You know as much as I do.
But whoever Vicki was,
the autopsy results show
that she was involved in a struggle
before she fell into the water.
She was murdered?
[Det. Reed] Was certainly attacked.
By Clay?
We don't have conclusive proof,
but he's certainly a suspect.
You should talk to our neighbor.
He has been nothing
but hostile since we moved here.
You mean Phil Gordon?
He is head of one of the most liked
and respected families in the district.
[Joe] So what?
That absolves him
of any police investigation?
-Joe.
-No, you said it yourself,
someone was out there.
I know you've had a scare,
but I'm just asking you
to help put your mind at ease.
Our minds will be at ease
when you find Clay
and get us some answers.
I'm sorry if Joe was abrupt.
Perfectly understandable.
By the way, I read in the witness report
that you two were only recently married.
Less than a month ago.
We moved here right after the wedding.
You were in a rush to leave Chicago?
More so to get here,
begin our new life as soon as possible.
We put in an offer
on the house, got accepted.
Joe wanted to be married
before we moved in.
It's it's a miracle
we managed it all, honestly.
Hmm. And how long did you know
Joe prior to marrying him?
Not long.
We met through a friend,
and I guess you could say
lightning struck.
We realized we loved each other
and wanted to leave the rat race
as soon as possible
to start our new life out here, together.
Mm, I can appreciate that.
I'm married too.
I love my husband.
I must after being with him 12 years.
But you know what's interesting?
To this day, I'm still finding out
new things about him.
Hmm.
Take care, Maria.
[contemplative music playing]
[car door opens, closes]
[car engine starts]
[door creaking]
Joe, wake up.
Hmm?
I think someone's in the house.
Stay behind me.
Somebody out here?
You better show yourself now.
Less trouble for you that way.
I'm sure I heard something.
I'll go check in the back.
[Maria] The piece is knocked over!
Joe?
Someone was in here.
They must have hit the table in the dark.
I mean, all the windows are intact.
They're all locked.
[Maria] Did you check the doors?
Clay had a key.
-Are you sure you locked it?
-Yeah, I'm positive.
After everything that happened,
I double-checked.
Joe.
Clay!
Why are you hiding?
Or is it you out there, Phil?
Too much of a coward to show your face?
I don't, I don't get it.
Clay, if it was him, he just
let himself into the house
and walked around in the dark?
And he ran out when he heard us.
If-If I hadn't been awake,
-if I hadn't heard him moving around...
-Okay.
Maybe you heard a creak,
-maybe you did leave the door open.
-No!
You heard Reed there's no reason
for him to come back here.
And how do you explain that?
We're not safe here.
All right, hey, maybe you should
take off for a day or two.
-What?
-At least until things die down.
Go and see Brooke, or Amber, and the baby.
What if Clay comes back?
Then, I'll get some answers from him.
One way or another.
Come on.
[Amber] Did you have any clue?
Any warning sign
of what he might be capable of?
You mean was Maria aware
she was living with a psychopathic killer?
No, but I've watched enough
real life crime shows
to know that killers often show small,
subtle signs indicating patterns
of behavior.
Nothing to indicate
that he was a murderer.
Any updates on Vicki?
I've appealed for more information,
search the missing person's records,
but nobody's responded.
I mean, even if she was using an alias,
there had to have been someone out there
who knew her or remembered her.
I mean
[sighs] She was pretty hard to forget.
Look at her.
It's the only photo I took of her.
She's beautiful.
She definitely would have admirers.
Yeah, well that doesn't necessarily mean
she had friends that were close to her.
You know, a lot of people are lonely,
don't have anyone.
I'm sorry you have to deal
with this, Maria.
But it's over now.
They were just strangers
in a bad place with each other
who happened to move in with you and Joe.
Yeah.
Probably. [sighs]
What is it?
I didn't wanna say anything, but it
It sounds insanely crazy to me,
let alone someone else.
Now you have to tell us.
-Yeah, what is it, Maria?
-[Maria sighs]
From the moment we met Vicki,
it felt like she knew
everything about Joe.
His likes, dislikes, his favorite foods,
vacation spots, sports teams.
Wait, what are you saying?
Are you saying that this Vicki woman
and Joe knew each other
before you all lived together?
I can't be certain I didn't.
Well, did you ask Joe?
[Maria] No.
And I don't want to.
I don't have any proof.
Just a feeling.
[uneasy music playing]
[Amber] No, no, no. Don't let her nap now.
It's too close to her scheduled nap.
She won't sleep.
[Maria] Are some of these new?
This wall is fantastic.
Some of 'em, but you've seen
our old college photos before, right?
[Maria] Unfortunately.
Oh, those haircuts.
What were we thinking?
It is not too complicated.
Okay, let me explain it again.
So, you're gonna just
put 'em down and then...
Are you sure that's what you and Joe want?
A baby followed by 18 years
of worry and responsibility?
Absolutely.
That feels like a long way off right now.
You're still worried about Joe?
Honestly, I'm starting
to feel like we rushed things.
That I should have gotten
to know him a little bit better.
We were dating for what, three months?
Then he proposed,
then we saw the farm for sale,
then the wedding rush.
There's a reason
why most couples wait for all this.
Well, you were in love,
and both of you wanted your fresh start.
Please tell me I'm worrying too much
that I'm creating a problem
that isn't even there.
What?
You know something?
You won't say anything to Joe?
What is it?
It's probably nothing,
but I realized
that Joe was a serial dater.
That he left women brokenhearted,
both here and back in California.
The last date we had,
we talked about how many
serious relationships we'd been in,
and I said maybe three.
He got to 15 before he noticed
the look on my face.
Sorry, I should have told you
back when you were asking
if it was okay that you date him.
But then, you were head over heels
-and you just got married so fast.
-It's okay, Brooke.
I'm not blaming you. I-I just
If you were me, faced with all of this,
wondering who Vicki was,
what would you do?
Talk to Joe.
Tell him your suspicions
and explain why you're confused.
He loves you, so he'll understand
why you need answers.
[somber music playing]
[door latch clicks]
Hey.
I wasn't expecting you home until later.
Uh Amber had a nap time
emergency with Ellie,
and I wanted to get home and see you.
Oh, I missed you too.
And you will be pleased to know
I changed all the door locks.
I added a security cam
to cover the driveway
and added new bolts
to all the downstairs windows.
So, welcome home to Fort Knox.
-Thought you'd be pleased.
-I am.
I am, I just
[sighs] I really need
to ask you something, but I
I don't know how to do it
without hurting your feelings.
Hey.
It's okay.
What is it?
Did you know Vicki
before she and Clay moved here?
No. No, of course not.
But the way she was talking to you,
she, like, knew things about you.
It's like you guys have met before.
Well, not to my knowledge, no.
You swear?
You swear you've never met her before?
Hey.
I swear.
[soft music playing]
[sighs]
-[Joe] Maria?
-In here.
Something for you.
Thanks.
Anything else?
Uh, bills and invoices by the looks of it.
Don't worry. I'll go through these,
see what we can pay now,
and then start dinner in about 30 minutes?
Sounds good.
Okay.
[pensive music playing]
[music turns unsettling]
[mysterious music playing]
[foreboding music playing]
[foreboding music continues]
Open it.
You lied to me.
[Joe] I don't
I asked you if you knew her,
and you lied to me.
No.
No?
That's you and her
in the photos, isn't it?
No! I mean, yeah, but
Where did you even get these?
Brooke was right about you.
Brooke?
She told me you had
a string of girlfriends,
left them brokenhearted.
-Was Vicki one of them?
-What?
No, no!
Did she move here
so that you could start
a new life together?
So that you could cheat on me?
Maria, how can you even say that?
What about Clay?
Did he find out about you two?
Did he get angry?
Is that why he killed her?
Or
Did you panic?
That's enough.
Did he send these photos
to me as an explanation?
As-As a warning? That's enough!
To me, to tell me
that you are the one who killed her?
That's enough!
I can't believe I have to ask you this.
Yesterday, it wouldn't
have even entered my mind.
But now
As your wife, I feel like
I have a right to know.
Did you kill her?
[pensive music playing]
[knife slams]
[somber music playing]
I would never, ever hurt you.
Those photos aren't real.
I can't believe anything
you tell me right now.
-Get out.
-Please, let me ex...
Go! Just go!
[door slams]
[Maria whimpers, sobs]
[car engine starts]
[birds trilling]
[serene music playing]
[water hissing]
-[goats bleating]
-[line ringing]
[ringing continues]
[Joe] Hi, this is Joe Lambert.
I can't take your call right now,
so please leave a message
and I will get back to you.
-[tone beeps]
-Hey.
It's me.
Where are you?
I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance
to explain earlier. I just
I was scared, and I was hurt and
I still am but
I promise if you come back,
I will hear you out.
Just please call me back
so I know you're okay.
I love you.
-Bye.
-[phone beeps]
[somber music playing]
[groans]
[Det. Reed] Perhaps he switched
his cell phone off
or its battery ran out.
No. No, he would've reached
out somehow by now.
I know something's happened to him.
Something involving Clay.
Maria, you are worried,
and it's making you leap
to worst case scenarios.
Clay sent those photos. I'm positive.
So Joe went after him,
and now he's missing.
We'll get there.
We just need more time.
And in the meantime, Joe's just missing?
Nine out of ten missing people
turn up safe and well.
[uneasy music playing]
[somber music playing]
[keyboard clacking]
[tense music playing]
[Maria] Thanks so much for coming along.
[Brooke] You do not have to thank us.
We wanna help.
Plus, it means Max
has to look after Elliot alone again.
It's the only way he's gonna
learn how to parent properly.
[all laughing]
[Maria] I think this is the place.
Maria.
[woman] Sorry, I can't place either.
We get a lot of customers.
I knew her by Vicki,
but she may have gone under another name.
Wait, was she some sort of artist?
Yes.
Yeah, she once tried selling me
some of her paintings.
I thanked her, but said her style
wasn't quite right for this place.
Did she ever come in here
with another man?
About six feet tall,
short hair, sort of military looking?
I can't say I remember.
But you should try asking
at the studio she painted at.
It's just around the corner.
They might know more there.
Yeah, I know her.
That's Emma.
Emma.
Not Vicki?
Emma Spear.
I remember her because
she still owes me five months rent
on the space that she used here.
Well, you won't get that money.
She died a few days ago.
I'm very sorry to hear that. Are
Were you her friends?
Not exactly.
We were trying to find out more about her.
-Did she have many friends here?
-[man] Not really.
Kept to herself,
mostly focused on her work.
We still got most of it.
[pensive music playing]
I'd have thrown 'em out,
but you never know
who the next Picasso might be, right?
Mind if we take a look?
Sure. Just let me know
when you're finished.
I wanna know
as much as possible about her.
And she did landscapes.
They might help us find out
where she used to paint,
where to look next.
Um I'd like to stay and help look,
but I have this meeting
across town in less than an hour.
So
-Keep me posted.
-Okay.
And call if you need anything.
-Okay?
-Yep.
-You promise?
-Promise.
-Okay. Thanks.
-Bye.
[Maria sighs]
She was beautiful and talented.
This must be her mother.
[soft music playing]
Look at this.
Is that Clay?
Definitely.
[Amber] Oh, there's something on the back.
Connor, January 27th.
Connor being his real name?
Let's find out.
You know Vicki's real name now
and possibly Clay's real name.
Why not give all that to the police,
let them follow up on it?
Because that takes time.
If Joe's in danger,
the sooner we find Clay,
or Connor, the better.
You don't know if he has Joe.
This feels like
the best chance to find out.
"Contact me or I give your name
to the police, Connor."
Now we wait.
This is a nice spot.
It's sad that Vicki or Emma,
will never get to come here again.
What?
You.
Even though she might've been
interfering in your marriage,
attempting to get back with Joe,
you still have compassion for her.
You've got a big heart, Maria.
[phone beeps]
[Maria] It's Clay.
He's made a move.
Offered up one of his rooks in sacrifice.
Is that important?
[Maria] It's telling.
And he's left a message.
"Let's meet, no cops,
away from the house."
You're not agreeing to that.
Tell the police.
And maybe, risk Joe's life?
I can't do that.
[Amber] Then at least agree
to meet somewhere public,
where you'll be safe.
[tense music playing]
[muffled grunting]
[muffled groaning]
[pants, coughs]
[coughing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thwacks]
[thuds]
[contemplative music playing]
[brooding music playing]
[keys clattering]
[suspenseful music playing]
[object thudding]
[thudding]
[door thudding]
[gasps]
No, wait, wait!
-No, no, wait, wait!
-[Maria panting]
Wait! Hey!
Wait a minute!
Ow! Ow! [groans]
Calm down, I'm
I'm trying to help you.
See, it was forced open.
By you?
By whoever I disturbed.
I came over here to talk to you.
And when I got here,
there was someone inside
moving through the house.
So I shouted at them
and told 'em to stay where they were,
and then they escaped
the same way they came in.
Did you see who it was?
No, he was way too fast.
He?
That's what I figured, but I
I can't be certain.
-When was this?
-[Phil] Well, it was a few hours ago. I
I had to go back to my place
and do some jobs
and fetch some wood
and tools to make this secure.
You took it upon yourself
to come into my house
and make repairs?
I was trying to be neighborly.
Thank you, but you can go now.
You still don't trust me?
Do you blame me?
[Phil sighs]
What was it?
Excuse me?
That you came here to talk about?
[sighs]
Not that you're gonna
take me up on it, but
I came here to make you an offer.
We already told you,
this place isn't for sale.
I'm-I'm not asking to buy it.
In fact, I'm
[sighs] I'm-I'm offering to help.
I go to church, sit and listen
to how to live a good life.
What's the point of that
if I can't replicate it
outside in the real world?
So, what do you say?
I'll think about it.
[Det. Reed] Are you certain
nothing was taken?
[Maria] As far as I can tell.
I still don't trust Phil Gordon.
But if he is telling the truth,
then the intruder he disturbed
must have been Clay.
That's why he wanted me
to meet so far away,
so he'd have time to search here.
For?
I don't know.
You should've contacted us
as soon as you found a link to Vicki,
but especially
when you found out about Clay.
That was reckless of you to meet him alone
without our support.
You know who he is, don't you?
The name you found
on the back of the portrait
led us to a match.
Connor Osgood.
Career criminal.
Recently, he was suspected
of being part of a four-man crew
who raided a jewelry store in Chicago.
He's been off the radar since.
Until now.
And, um, Vicki, or Emma?
No one recalls ever seeing them together
outside of the studio.
So we still don't know where Clay is
or if he's responsible
for Joe's disappearance?
[Det. Reed] Hold on, there's more.
Our tech team analyzed the photos.
Are you ready?
The photos were fake.
[sighs] Why didn't I believe him?
[Det. Reed]
For what it's worth, in your position,
I'd have reacted the same way.
Is there anyone that can stay
with you in the short term?
Yeah, yeah.
I've got someone who I can call.
[pensive music playing]
I'm certain Clay lost something
in this house.
That's why he snuck in the first time
and why he broke in last night.
If it was him.
Do you really believe
that neighbor of yours?
I'm willing to give him
the benefit of the doubt.
Okay.
[intriguing music playing]
[objects clattering]
[Maria] Clay did get annoyed
when I did his laundry that time.
[mysterious music playing]
[Maria] There's something here.
Uh, hand me that flashlight.
Here, I got it.
[Maria] Hmm, I can't get it.
[Brooke] Here.
-Try that.
-Perfect.
[mysterious music continues]
[Maria] Let me see.
[Brooke] Here.
[Brooke] Are you sure
it's not one of yours?
Positive.
There's a number on it.
Looks like it's for something important.
Okay, there's no way of knowing that.
Yes, there is.
[suspenseful music plays]
Maria, just hand it over to the police.
Let them handle it.
[Maria] And risk frightening off Clay?
I can't take that chance.
Check.
[pensive music playing]
Don't give up.
Okay? And call me if you need anything.
Thanks, I will.
Drive safely.
Thank you. See you soon.
[car starts]
[somber music playing]
[door closes]
[music turns mysterious]
[mysterious music continues]
[phone chimes]
[music turns dramatic]
[pensive music playing]
[water running]
[Maria sighs]
[tense music playing]
-[ominous music playing]
-[Maria grunting]
-[muffled groaning]
-[bat clatters]
-Stop resisting.
-[grunting]
I won't hurt you.
Answer me.
Tell me that you're alone,
and I'll let you go.
[breathing heavily]
[panting]
Where's Joe?
First things first. I need to eat.
[Clay] What?
It's not like I can go
to a diner or the grocery store.
Not now.
Stop eating.
Start talking.
Where's Joe?
Give me the key and I'll tell you where.
You first.
I'm not the one
the police are looking for.
I don't know where Joe is.
You lied?
I needed you to see me.
I need that key.
So, where is it?
Why did you and Vicki move here?
-Did she and Joe organize it?
-Is my key here?
Answer me!
The cops are already on their way,
so you better start talking.
I agreed to come here
because I needed someplace to lie low.
After the robbery?
Vicki, Emma
painted my portrait a while back.
She kept my number, reached out to me.
Must have read about the robbery
and knew that I needed
someplace quiet to go to,
someplace off the beaten path for a while.
But why did she move here?
Someone asked her to.
Joe?
I don't know, maybe.
-You don't know who it was?
-No.
Emma handled that.
She just recruited me
because you were only taking couples,
and we made a good team.
Until it all went wrong.
Why did you kill her?
-I've had enough of this.
-Stay there!
Why did you kill Vicki?
-I didn't.
-Then who did?
I don't know!
I wish I did. I liked her.
I really regret that I argued with her
the last time I saw her.
Now, the night before she died,
she told me that we needed to leave
and she made a mistake that we
never should have came here.
I shout at her that we weren't leaving
until I found that key.
So, where did you find it?
Underneath the floorboards.
Why is it so important?
[Clay sighs]
It opens up a safety deposit box
full of cash and jewels,
enough for me to disappear for good
and never have to look back.
So you stayed back, watched the house?
That day in the woods,
you were the one who chased me.
I figured if I grabbed you, tied you up,
told Joe where you were,
I could search your house in peace.
But you're a fast runner.
And the photos?
What was the purpose of those?
What photos?
And how did Vicki know so much about Joe?
-Was she part of his past?
-I don't know!
Now I've told you all that I can,
so give me my key.
No!
There are still too many gaps,
things that you know
and that you're not telling me.
[ominous music playing]
Give it to me.
Stop testing my patience, Maria.
Stay back!
[suspenseful music playing]
[Maria grunting]
[Maria groans]
Give it, give it!
Just give it to me!
[Maria grunting]
I want my own free time and peace.
[distant siren wailing]
[grunting]
[distant siren wailing]
Freeze!
Don't!
You won't make it.
[siren wailing]
[somber music playing]
[Det. Reed] He swears
he doesn't know where Joe is.
And you believe him?
We need to do a proper interview.
But your instinct?
All Osgood wanted was focused on
Was this.
If he hadn't accidentally lost it,
I dare say he would've fled
and you'd never see him again.
So unless Joe tracked him down,
confronted him,
there is no logic in him killing Joe.
And Vicki?
Maybe they had a falling out.
She threatened to expose Osgood
or do something else that threatened him,
and he snapped and killed her.
But But why was she here
in the first place?
Why did she go through
all of that trouble to recruit Clay
to pose as her partner,
just to live on this farm?
Because she and Joe were acting together.
But the photos...
The photos were fake, I know.
But she knew things about your husband.
There must have been some link,
some connection between them.
[sirens wailing]
[pensive music playing]
[door clicks]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[pensive music playing]
[Maria] Look at these.
She was beautiful and talented.
Are some of these new?
This wall is fantastic.
[suspenseful music playing]
[line ringing]
-[Amber] Maria?
-[Maria] Amber!
I need to talk to you about Brooke.
When Joe and I got married,
was she angry at me and Joe?
She calmed down afterwards.
But, at first, yeah.
She said she felt betrayed.
Said that you and Joe were boasting,
forgetting her, us.
And so you didn't deserve happiness.
But like I said before, afterwards,
she calmed and was happy for you both.
Amber, I'm on my way
to Brooke's house right now.
I need to talk to her.
-I'll come and join you.
-[Maria] No! No!
You don't need to. I just, I need you
to know where I am just in case.
In case what?
I don't wanna talk about it.
I don't even wanna think about it.
I'm sorry, I will call you back
as soon as I can.
-[phone beeps]
-[busy tone]
[knocking on door]
[Brooke] Clay wants to meet?
Here in the city.
Obviously, I don't want to go alone,
and I know I can always rely
on you, right, Brooke?
Right.
Does he know anything about Joe?
He didn't give specifics,
but he did mention something
very interesting about Vicki.
Or should I say Emma Spear?
He said someone asked her
to move into her house.
Did he say who it was?
No.
But I think I know who it was.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Don't deny it, Brooke.
I don't understand.
What are you suggesting?
That painting.
It has her initials on it.
Yeah. She's an artist.
I collect art.
It's a portrait.
You would've sat with her
or at least discussed it.
But when I showed you that photo of Emma,
you acted like it was
the first time you saw her.
I didn't mean for this to happen.
Do you know what happened to Joe?
Is he here?
Upstairs.
Is he alive?
Yes.
[sobs]
Why?
Joe left me.
He told me that it wasn't
working out between us,
that he had fallen in love
with someone else.
You.
And he told me he'd back off
if I didn't like the idea
of him and you together,
but I didn't wanna give him
the satisfaction
of seeing that it hurt me.
Besides, I knew his history.
I figured you'd be
his next fleeting partner,
and then he'd soon move on
to someone else.
Only that didn't happen, did it?
No.
I tried to play along,
be the supportive best friend.
But before I knew it,
the two of you were married,
planning your perfect life together.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want your pity.
I still don't.
But what does Vicki
have to do with any of this?
I met her at a gallery,
practically begged me to commission her.
As she painted me,
we talked about you and Joe,
how wrong it was
that the two of you got together,
how you were deliberately goading me
with your happiness
and marriage and plans.
[sighs]
So you coached her about Joe.
And then you instructed her
to answer our ad,
move in with us, flirt with him?
And had he taken the bait,
it would've destroyed us.
And it almost worked.
Till Emma went back on the plan.
[indistinct arguing]
[Brooke] She asked me to meet her
in private down by the lake.
-They're a good couple!
-I...
She told me about how sweet you were.
[indistinct argument]
About how you and Joe deserve to be happy.
-[Vicki] Let go of me! You're crazy!
-Excuse me!
[Brooke] I saw red, and I lost control.
[grunting]
[Vicki screams]
[gasps]
[foreboding music playing]
[breathing heavily]
After I realized what I did,
I stared at the door
waiting for the police to come knocking.
But they never did.
No.
Clay was the prime suspect at that point.
That was a sign.
It was you and Joe's fault
that Vicki died.
Not mine.
So why is it that your lives
were the only ones not ruined?
You faked and sent those photos.
I took the photos off Vicki's phone.
I had the old ones of Joe.
It's really quite simple,
except Joe realized immediately
where they came from.
When you kicked him out,
he came straight here.
Oh, you're lying to me?
[Brooke] Demanding an explanation.
-I know you!
-It wasn't me!
[Brooke] But he wouldn't
accept my denials.
Brooke!
-[screaming]
-[bottle smashing]
[body thuds]
[Brooke] I didn't wanna kill him.
And I didn't wanna kill you.
But I have a life.
A career.
People adore me.
I can't let you leave.
[tense music playing]
[both grunting and groaning]
[suspenseful music playing]
[thuds]
[panting]
Joe?
Joe!
Are you okay?
Maria.
[Maria panting]
We're gonna get you out of here.
Come on, let's get you out of here.
-Come on.
-[Joe groaning]
Come on.
I got you.
Here.
[Maria panting]
[Maria] Careful.
[panting]
[ominous stinger]
[light switch clicks]
[Maria] Come on, come on. It's okay.
This way.
-[gun cocks]
-[gasps]
He needs a hospital.
I can't let you leave.
Brooke, please don't.
If I let you leave, you'll call the cops.
-No, no, no, no. We we won't call...
-You're lying again!
-[gun fires]
-[Maria gasps]
Joe!
[Joe groaning]
Brooke, wait.
Don't look at me.
Turn around!
No, look at me, Brooke!
You're right.
We can't keep quiet about Emma.
But deep down, you know
that's the right thing to do.
Just like I also know.
And I never would've
intentionally tried to hurt you.
But if you still don't believe me,
if you still think I don't care,
then I understand what you have to do.
[sobs]
[exhales sharply]
[gun clatters]
[Maria] Stay with me, Joe.
[Joe] I should've told
I should've told you.
-It can wait.
-No. No, it can't.
I should have told you about my past,
but I was ashamed.
For years, I was selfish,
moving from one relationship
into the next.
I didn't care who I hurt.
What changed?
[emotional music plays]
It was meeting you.
You're so kind and and and giving.
I didn't wanna lose you.
Everyone has a past.
I married you, not the man you were.
[siren wailing]
[emotional music continues]
[Joe] Maria! Come check out this color.
[Maria] I just got off the phone
with Amber. She's coming to visit soon.
[Joe] Sounds good.
You know, my baseball collection
is gonna look great in here.
-[chuckles]
-What?
My own room, my man cave, right?
I don't know.
I've been thinking.
-Hmm?
-Maybe we try again.
Share our home with someone else.
Really?
Uh, I mean, it's a thought.
But come on,
after all that's happened, you wanna...
Relax.
[soft music playing]
I think we'll all get along this time.
Oh.
[bright music playing]
Really?
[music turns hopeful]
[closing theme music playing]