Stone Creek Killer (2025) Movie Script

1
(ominous music)

(birds chirp)
(shotgun shells load)
(footsteps in snow)

(door rumbles open)
(footsteps thumping)
-(door crashes open)
-(a woman screams)
[man] Where is he?
(woman sobbing)
Tell me!
[boy] Mommy?
(footsteps thumping)
[woman] No, no, not our baby!
[man] Get on the floor!
[boy] Mommy!
(boy and woman sobbing)
[man] He needs to suffer!

(inhales deeply)
(grunting)
(panting)
(groaning)
(faucet turns on)
(pills rattling)
(gulping)
[Marge] Karl, you read me?
Karl!
Yup. (clears throat)
[Marge] You gonna show up?
Your meeting with Trent
was supposed to start
ten minutes ago.
Um, tell him
I'll be there in thirty.
[Marge] Copy.
(ominous music)

(door creaks)
(gentle guitar strumming)

Mmm...
Look like a wolf choked you down
and puked you back up.
But thanks for
remembering, though.
He in there?
Transfer papers
are on your desk.
You don't need him, you know.
I'm the one who's
meant to be out there
with the dangerous folks.
I'm ready, you know I am ready.
Karl!
Karl, I know you can hear me!
(groans)
[Trent] Morning, Sir.
[Karl] Trent.
(chair creaks)
So, why'd you want to transfer?
[Trent] Sir?
Why'd you want to come up here?
Needed a change.
Supervisor mentioned you guys
could use an extra hand
and it seemed like a good fit.
And also my, ah, my dad and I
used to hunt up here.
Hoover PD. Three years.
[Trent] Ah--almost four.
Simmons still over there?
(chuckles) Yes, Sir.
They will never get him
out of uniform.
(both laugh)
Sorry to interrupt.
I'll wait.
-You good?
-Yup.
-[Karl] What's up?
-Brenda Cousins is here.
She's freaking out.
She says Lisa ran off again
last night.
Tell her to wait.
[Marge] I told her that already.
Tell her again.
[Marge] It's Brenda.
[Brenda] Karl!
Brenda.
I told you to wait outside.
Yeah, I get it.
Lisa didn't come home
again last night,
and she's usually back
by morning.
Brenda, Trent. Trent, Brenda.
Nice to meet you, Brenda.
I think she's at Clayton's,
with Judy, again, doing drugs.
Thank you, Marge.
And not the pot, by the way.
I don't really about that.
It's the other stuff.
Did you track her phone
like we talked about?
Yes, of course I did,
but she blocked me.
Clayton's always drunk;
otherwise I'd go.
But he won't mess with you.
Both of you? Will you go over?
(groans)
Alright, you go home, and I'll
call when she turns up, okay?
So you're gonna go over there?
-I'm gonna go over there.
-[Brenda] Thank you.
You're welcome.
Thank you, Brenda!
Come on.
I'll give you the dime tour.
(ominous guitar music)

(dog barking)
Clayton!
Judy upstairs?
What'd she do now?
[Karl] Lisa didn't come home
last night.
I figured Judy might know
where she is.
Well, Chief,
Judy said
she was staying the night
at Lisa's house last night,
so...
I guess you know where
to look next.

(dog barking)
Bye, Chief.
(horses chuff)
(dune buggy driving in distance)
Woo. It is nice out here.
Yeah.
He feels with the isolation
he can get away
with whatever he wants.
Wait. What do you mean by that?
No prying eyes.
No lawyer here, so ah,
guess that means
you can't be here either.
That's true, if this was about
what you did before,
but this is different.
Heather.
Does your momma know
you're all the way out here
hanging with a pedophile?
(laughs)
Straight for the jugular, huh?
It's okay.
I'm in a good mood, so.
Lisa and Judy here last night?
[Adam] Why?
[Karl] They didn't come home.
Yesterday. Yesterday. Huh.
Oh--oh, yeah. No, no.
I went--I went
really, really hard yesterday,
and I, ah, I passed out early.
Yeah, so, you know,
if there was any young girls
that came around, I mean,
ah, I wouldn't know.
It's a big property.
How 'bout you, Heather?
Did you see Lisa and Judy
yesterday?
How 'bout you
let me walk around,
check the property,
maybe look inside.
My property requires a warrant.
You love controlling
young girls, don't you, Adam?
[Adam] Whatever you say.
I don't know
when he'll hurt you,
but when he does,
make sure to give me a call.
We'll be back.
(birds chirping)
Margie?
[Marge] What?
Let's go and run
a Missing Persons
on Lisa and Judy.
[Marge] Seriously?
[Karl] Might as well go through
the process until they turn up.
[Marge] Copy.
You hungry?
I could eat.
(unsettling music)

[Marge] Evening, boys.
The search team is on standby.
What's this? Ooh, Biggie Wangs?
-Oh, Karl!
-[Karl] Yo.
A Meredith something-or-other
called.
Says she has some info
about the girls.
Call her back?
(chair creaks)
(phone dial tone)
[Meredith] Hello?
-Ah, Meredith?
-[Meredith] Yes.
This is Chief Harding.
[Meredith] Hello, Chief Harding.
I'm sorry,
what's your last name, Meredith?
[Meredith]
It's Wagner. Meredith Wagner.
I saw
the Missing Persons reports.
You saw the Missing Persons
reports?
[Meredith]
Lisa Cousins and Judy Morse.
Right.
Mrs. Wagner,
I don't believe I know you.
-Do you live in the area?
-[Meredith] No.
No, I assist the police
as a freelancer.
I helped the Duluth PD solve a
multiple homicide two years ago.
The double homicide
off Highway 313?
[Meredith] Mm-hmm.
So, you know who I am?
I think I know what you are.
Mrs. Wagner--
[Meredith] Something awful
happened to Lisa and Judy.
With all due respect--
[Meredith]
Can I have ten seconds of quiet?
-Excuse me?
-[Meredith] Please.
There's a gun
in your desk drawer,
with a bullet in its chamber.
Karl, are you there?
Mrs. Wagner, I appreciate you
calling today,
but we're gonna handle
this matter internally.
[Meredith] Okay, I'm wrong.
So, I guess
there's nothing left to say.
Yes, ma'am.
[Meredith] Alright, I'll see you
when I get there tomorrow.
Ah, no, ma'am. Mrs. Wagner?
(eerie music)

(bullet ejects)
(gun dropped in drawer)
[Marge] Karl!
Yeah?!
[Marge]
You got a document in here.
Says URGENT.

She really went for it
with the subject line: URGENT.
It's all in caps.
It's a bit much.

Print this out for me?
Things are about to get weird
around here.
I like weird.
Finished my entry of what
went down at Clayton's place.
Let me know if it's good to go.
I'll take a look.
(indistinct chatter)
(rock music playing in bar)
Chief! Ha ha!
Trent too. Hi.
How many have you had there,
buddy?
This is my anniversary party.
Nobody is counting,
and that is good.
You, new guy,
need to meet my sister.
Sista! Hmm.
This is the new guy. Trent.
-Hey, new guy.
-Nice to meet you, Beth.
Yes. Welcome to the team, huh?
Yeah, and welcome
to the only town on Earth
that ain't worth saving.
She's just bitter because
nothing ever happens here.
[Beth] Okay.
Hey, Karl, you want the usual?
-[Karl] Please.
-One more.
And what can I tempt you with?
Just the water.
[Beth] No food? No booze?
No. No, no, no. I'm okay.
Alrighty. Here ya go.
Thank you, Beth.

Hello, neighbors.
Just thought I'd come
say hello to the new fella.
[Trent] Nice to meet you.
-Donald Whitaker.
-[Trent] Trent Gilson.
Oh, hey, Marge,
I didn't see you there.
It's almost like
you don't even matter.
(laughs mockingly)
You know, Officer Gilson, I'm--
I'm not real popular
over at the police department,
but I just want you to know
that anything I've done
is nothing personal
directed at you.
[Trent] Oh. Okay.
Karl, you didn't tell him?
Shame on you.
You see, I voted to close down
your department
before you were even hired.
I'm guessing Karl here
brought you on
to tug at the heart-strings
of all the town folk.
I hired him because we need him.
Oh, you and I both know that
County coming through here
once a day
is more than--more than enough.
We don't need you, Karl,
let alone...
Sorry, young man.
You're gonna be gone
before you even matter.
Elena, can I get a scotch?
Some of us
can handle our liquor.
Thank you.
Excuse me.
My advice? Get a stronger drink.
(front door opens
and closes quickly)
(muffled bar music)

So, a year ago, Karl finds out
that Donald roughed up his wife.
So, Karl being Karl,
he steps in and saves her.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and then he smashed her.
Yeah, not good.
So then Donald's wife, she takes
the kids, runs off to St. Paul,
and now Donald's been
gunnin' for Karl ever since.
(chuckles) He might actually
take all of us down.
Wooooh. Welcome to Stone Creek.
(cigarette lights up)
(car drives past)
(door closes)
I should have said something
about the vote.
(sighs) Not a big deal.
Give me a ride home?
Yeah. Ready?
(apprehensive guitar music)

I'll see you at 7 AM sharp.
Yup.
(sinister music)

(footsteps)
-Son of a bitch!
-[Trent] Sorry. Sorry.
Damn it, Trent.
You talk in your sleep.
[Karl] How the hell'd
you get in here anyway?
Door was open.
Figured I'd just--
What happened to your hand?
(tense music)

Maybe we should stop
at the clinic.
Oh.
No, I cut it last night.
I'll just...

Just give me a minute.
I'm gonna get cleaned up.
[Trent] Okay. I'll wait outside.
Oh, um...
the girls didn't turn up,
so everyone's waiting for you.
Yeah. I'll be right out.
(tense music intensifies)

(faucet running)
(birds chirping)
[Meredith] Excuse me? Excuse me.
-Yes.
-[Meredith] I'm Meredith Wagner.
Who?
[Meredith]
We spoke on the phone yesterday.
Oh, ah, ma'am, I tried
to tell you over the phone
that we just don't need
your specialized services.
[Meredith] That's precisely
why I hung up on you.
Wait, I know you.
You're the psychic lady.
-[Meredith] Yes.
-(both chuckle)
I'm Trent Gilson.
Though I bet you
already knew that.
It's nice to meet you, Trent.
But, no, it doesn't work
that way.
Ma'am, uh, thank you,
but we're looking for
live girls, not dead ones.
[Meredith] The man who
killed Lisa and Judy's
not finished yet.
I'm sorry you made the trip.
I'm sorry too.
Because if you don't find
those girls today,
I'm going to their parents.
Excuse me?
The parents
have a right to know.
Hey, Karl, can we talk?
Give us a minute?
Of course.
Listen, I can't tell you
what to think,
but doesn't her past
prove she's legit?
No.
But she did help solve
those other cases.
If people in this community
find out
that we're using someone
like her to solve this case,
then the department has
zero chance of surviving.
Besides, we don't know
what we're even dealing with.
Right.
But you know we can't stop her
from seeing the parents.
(unsettling music)

(car pulls up)
(keys pulled from ignition)

You're doing the right thing.
Alright.
Hey, Brenda. Hey. How are you?
-Yeah.
-Hey.
Hey.
Look, ah, this is, ah, Meredith.
Hi. Hi.
I know--I know you.
I know you. You're the seer.
Is that--I'm sorry,
is that what they call it?
(laughs)
I--look, I make no promises.
But something did
call to me to come here.
I just really want my baby home.
I know. I'm gonna help.
Can I see her room?
Yes. It's out back.
Oh, okay.

-Mind your heads.
-[Meredith] Thank you.
She's really a sweet,
sweet girl.
-Just having a phase.
-[Meredith] Yeah.
I'm gonna need
something of Lisa's.
Something that was
important to her.
(drumsticks clack together)
She loves these.
Taps 'em on everything.

(unsettling music builds)

-(gasps)
-(drumsticks clatter on floor)
(breathes shakily)
I'm sorry.
That's not real, right?
You don't--you don't know.
I'm sorry.
Hey, hey, she's at peace.
Take comfort in that.
Tell her you could be wrong.
-I am so sorry.
-(sobbing) No, no, no.
You're outta here.
Get her out of here.
No, no, not my baby.
Hey, hey, hey, you don't know.
We don't know anything, Brenda.
We don't know.
We're gonna keep looking.

I wasn't gonna lie to her.
She deserves to know.
Even if you're right,
that is no way to tell a mother
that her child is dead.
I know where Lisa is.
I can take you to her.
(apprehensive music)

(insects chirping)
What, are we supposed
to follow you?
[Meredith] Come.
She's close.
What?
She's close.
[Karl] I'm not sure
whose property we're on.

[Trent] Lisa?
Should I call the CSIs?
She wasn't killed here.
There's no blood.
So they had to have dumped her.
But yeah, go ahead and call
and see what they can collect.
Yes, Sir.
She didn't paint her nails red.
He did.
He's trying to tell us something
with the color,
I just don't know what.
But she's alone.
Judy's not here.
Marge?
[Marge] What?
[Karl] We found Lisa.
-[Marge] Copy.
-[Karl] Yeah.
(sinister music)

(water drips into glass)
(water dumps down drain)
(faucet running)
(phone vibrating)
Hello.
(mysterious music)

Okay.
Hey, man.
Um, look, we found Lisa.
She's gone.
We wanna find Judy,
but we need your help.
[Meredith]
Mr. Morse. Meredith Wagner.
I assure you, I don't bite.
Maybe I will.
Ah. (chuckles)
Strong grip.
You wanna let go?
(gasps)
What did you do to her?
Tell Judy to stay away from me.
I'm sick of her ruining my life!
[Meredith] He abused her.
He did horrible things to her.
Did he do it?
[Meredith] I don't know.
That was productive.
[Meredith]
Sorry, it doesn't work that way.
Then how does it work?
I--I sense emotions, okay?
I see flashes of places.
I don't see murders
as they happened.
If so, we would be done here.
Well, I can't have you running
around town
-grabbing everybody, okay?
-[Trent] What about this?
Huh? It's gotta be hers.
(sighs)
Yeah. Yeah, I got it.
Yeah.
(car door quickly
opening and closing)
(birds chirping)
He replaced their black makeup,
like he's showing us that he
freed their souls from torment.
He thinks
they're in a better place.
Men kill because
they're selfish and twisted.
Oh, no.
Something in these girls' pasts
drew him to them.
Like, ah, like the town
didn't recognize their demons,
but he saw their abuse.
He saw their pain.
I'm sorry, are you suggesting
that these girls wanted to die?
I'm not suggesting. They did.
I don't know about any of that,
but the color thing makes sense.
These girls weren't
the red lipstick type.
(eerie music)

(sirens wailing)
(birds chirping)
[James] Karl.
Oh, James. How was your drive?
It was easy.
No traffic once
I got out of the city.
Thanks for coming out.
[James] State Bureau
wouldn't have it any other way.
(sighs) Just a kid.
Yeah.
Well, he wanted her found.
Yeah.
I'm thinking the rope's
more than a binding.
Hmm.
Well, what are you thinking?
Symbolic maybe.
That and the red.
Ah, shit.
Thanks for coming out.
Can use the help.
Of course. Go work your magic.
[Karl] Sorry for the wait, guys.
Chief Harding,
has this second body
been identified as Judy Morse?
I cannot give that information
until the family
has been notified.
(reporter) How was she killed?
That's information
I cannot give.
[Karl] That will come from
the County Medical Examiner.
(reporter) Who discovered her?
Look, guys, I know
you're trying to do your job,
and I appreciate that, but this
is an ongoing investigation.
I cannot give this information,
so if there's nothing else,
I'm gonna--
[Alana] Alana Ray, First News.
Are we dealing
with a serial killer?
(rock music playing in bar)
[Karl] I don't think so, no.
[Alana]
We know you brought in a psychic
to assist
with the investigation.
Meredith Wagner is known for
helping other police departments
solve serial murders.

Miss Ray, I'm not sure
where you get your information,
but you may want to check
your resources.
Guys, if you don't have
anything else,
I'll let you know
when we have more information.
Thank you!
Edith, there is not
a serial killer
running the streets.
Because if there was,
I would know; I'm a cop.
But I don't know because you are
taking up my emergency line.
No, Ma'am, I am not sassing you.
I know you are scared,
but nobody's after you.
Because you're old!
No, Edith.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Donald's holding for you
on line two.
He said he has something
about the girls.
Told him you weren't here,
but he said he'd hold.
Yes, Ma'am, I'm still here.
Apologies, that was rude of me.
Mm-hmm. Mm-kay.
(suspenseful music)
(chair creaks)
You've got nothing better to do
than wait for me?
[Donald]
A psychic? Really, Chief?
I'm a little busy, Don.
What do you want?
I know your past, Karl.
I know you're a killer.
You are no different
than the man
that knocked at your door
in Virginia.
I just want you
to remember something, Don.
I walked into your house,
and I left
with your wife and kids,
and you didn't do shit about it.
Because you're a coward.
[Donald] This is different.
We'll see who's still standing
when this is all over.
That's big talk from a man
that beats up on women.
[Donald]
You really wanna do this, Karl?
You better watch your back,
my friend.
(coffee fills up)
Cream?
Ah, no, thank you.
Good, 'cause we don't have any.
Oh, fantastic.
(line trills)
(car passes by)
Man of the hour.
What took you so long?
[Karl] Tried to find
another medical examiner
within fifty miles.
Mm, well, I hope that's
your only mistake this week.
You know it's been awhile since
we had a body from Stone Creek
that wasn't natural causes
or a car crash.
So Judy's there.
[Ken]
Yep, she's still zipped up.
I'm glad she's with you.
I wish I could say she's gonna
be the only one, but...
So you're leaning serial?
I don't know.
Look, I'm not trying to tell you
how to do your job,
but if you could give me
a little bit of time
on the prelims,
I'd really appreciate it.
Could help me out.
[Ken]
Yeah, yeah, consider it done.
Thanks, Ken.
(phone hangs up)
I'm sometimes
a little psychic myself.
-Are you?
-Mm-hmm. A little bit.
Oh, um, that's interesting.
Like, I knew I should ask you
about coffee.
Right, yeah.
You ready?
Yes, I am.
I can help.
You are. By staying here.
I'll make it up to you.
Yup.
I'm fine.
(car shuts off)
(Karl sighs)
[Meredith]
I know you had doubts about me.
So, thank you.
[Karl]
Come on. I'll walk you inside.
(door opens)
You're not from around here,
are you?
[Karl] Why do you ask?
[Meredith] The accent.
(Karl clears throat)
-Virginia.
-[Meredith] Mm.
[Karl] But I've been here
long enough for the locals
to accept me for the most part.
How 'bout you?
Well, sit.
No. Sit.
Me, um, I came from a speck
of a small town
in Maine, actually.
Maine?
Yes.
Fucked up as it was beautiful.
So, what brought you
all the way here?
Well...
my dad used to put cigarettes
out on me
whenever he was drinking, so.
I'm sorry.
Don't be. I worked through it.
Actually, when I was twelve,
he hit me for the first time.
I had my first vision on impact.
His father abused him,
so I forgave him.
Though as soon as I graduated
high school, I split.
Never looked back.
Took a lot of courage.
Eh, maybe.
Alright, what about you?
What brought you
to this sleepy town?
I just wanted a change,
you know, I--
I shouldn't have accepted this.
Hey, hey, don't--no.
Hey, don't--don't.
Please don't go.
(soft tense music)

I'm sorry, I shouldn't have.
I shouldn't have done that.
-I need to go.
-I can't, I just, I saw--
I saw a woman, holding a boy?
I need to go.
Karl. Karl, please, just--
(door opens and closes)
(ominous music)

You're doing the right thing.
(sirens wailing)
[Donald] I know your past, Karl.
I know you're a killer.
You are no different
than the man
that knocked at your door
in Virginia.
(indistinct police chatter)
(woman panting)
What happened to your hand?
[Marge] Karl, come in.
-Yeah.
-[Marge] Good lord.
Another body turned up
at the cave.
What?
[Marge] Same lipstick,
nail polish, feet tied.
We gotta start without you,
copy?
Fuck. Copy.
-[Marge] Karl?
-Yeah.
[Marge] Get your shit together.
(unsettling music)
Okay.

(singer vocalizing softly)

(music intensifies)

Hey!
Hey, come out.
Let's go.
-Anybody else out here with you?
-Mm-mm.
Hey.
Did you see
who placed that in the water?
Wyatt, did you see
who put that out there?
Get in the car.
Marge?
[Marge] Yup.
I need a team
out at Martin's Point.
Someone has staged
a crime scene.
[Marge] Martin's Point?
Martin's Point.
I got a mannequin in the water.
White ropes, red lipstick,
the whole deal.
[Marge] Yeah, I'm at the cave
with the team.
I'll send County to you.
I'm on my way.
[Marge] Copy.
(engine turns over)
(haunting music)

Hey!
Do you mind watching this kid
for me?
I'll be right back.
(indistinct chatter)
Hey.
Sent one of ours out
to Martin's Point,
make sure everything's
collected properly.
Appreciate it.
(sighs) Media's coming.
Lots of 'em.
Surprised they're not
already here.
-Where's the kid?
-Cruiser.
He see anything?
Hasn't said a word yet.
Alright.
I'm gonna go see if I can get
a trooper to run him home.
Hey. Don't pull this shit again.
You know I hate running point.
Won't happen again.
(footsteps leaving)
Karl. Karl! Hey, wait, wait!
They won't tell me anything
until they notify family.
Come on, I gotta know
who this is.
Kim Snow.
Kim whispered to me.
I still hear her voice
in my head.
It was "Adam." She said: "Adam."
Thanks!
I need you
to look at something for me.
Did you see this car
out by the lake?
Hey, look at me.
You're not in trouble.
I need your help, okay?
Did you see this van
out by the lake?
(sinister music)

Yeah?
(typing)
Okay. How about this guy?
How about him? Was he driving?
Are you sure?
Good job. Let's get you home.
(thunder rumbling)
(cars approaching)

[Adam] Alright, I'm coming!
Adam Stone, this is a warrant
to search your property
and all structures.
For what?
Staging a crime scene
out at Martin's Point.
We have a witness that ID'd you
and your vehicle.
Bullshit.
I haven't been to Martin's Point
in weeks!
Trent, check the garage.
Marge, stay with him.
[Adam] Yeah, yeah,
they're raiding my shit.
Figure it out!
Hey, my lawyer's
talking to Judge Gee!
If you're smart, you'll leave!
[Marge] You two can leave.
Leave me alone
with the mouth breather.
Yeah, I'd enjoy that.
Oh, bitch ass, that's 'cause
you underestimate me.
Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey!
Marge!
Go check these outbuildings.

[Marge] Hey, Karl! Sauna's on.
[Karl] Yeah, I see that.
[Marge]
Maybe somebody's in there.
[Karl] You got a guest?
Adam, hey-hey-hey, Adam!
You stay out here.

Stay right here, Adam.
Beth? Beth!
What did you do? Kar!
-Sorry.
-Karl!
Marge. Marge!
What the fuck did you do
to my sister!?
Go on, hit me!
I'll sue the shit out of you!
[Karl] Come on! Let's go!
[Adam] I told you to hide
everything, you stupid bitch!
Beth, Beth. Beth, look at me.
Look at me.
Look, look, look.
[Karl]
Let's go. Get in the vehicle.
Get your ass in the vehicle!
Fine. Okay.
(both sobbing)
[Adam] Fucker.
Let's go. Let's go.
Get in this vehicle. Right here.
I really have no idea.
It's just--
(door opens and shuts)
We seized enough heroin
on your property today
to charge you with trafficking.
[lawyer] I'm petitioning to have
you removed from this case.
Be my guest.
Your client and his vehicle were
both ID'd out at Martin's Point.
Martin's Poi--
Where you floated the mannequin.
What mannequin?
The same mannequin
that you put in the water
with the white rope
and the red lipstick,
just like you did
on the victims.
[lawyer] Why would my client
float a mannequin?
That makes no sense.
I don't know, why don't you
let him answer the questions?
You set me up!
Years.
That's what that heroin's
gonna give you.
You're not gonna be
hurting young girls anymore.
(door opens and shuts)
Hey. What are you doing here?
[James]
Adam was released without bail.
What?
Our warrant was revoked.
Apparently the photo line-up
was hot when the kid ID'd him.
That's bullshit.
Kid told the lawyer that
you showed him a pic of Adam
and the car before the line-up
at the station.
-Karl--
-God damn it.
Shit.
Adam's our guy and you know it.
Yeah. Yeah, I do.
And you broke protocol.
[Karl] So?
(scoffs)
So?
You look like shit.
Have you slept this week?
Not much.
Look, our prime suspect
is suing you,
and probably the town.
Any future evidence we collect
will be tainted if you stay on.
-So we're off the case?
-You are.
The only reason I can proceed
is because you corrupted the
line-up without my knowledge.
Okay?
Yeah.
-Okay.
-Okay.
Get some sleep.
(car door opens and closes)
(car starts and pulls away)
[Karl] Hey.
Can you meet me at the diner
on 7th?
Hour.
Thanks.
(opens drawer)
(soft 50s rock music)

What's going on, man?
[Ken] So, uh, I got the prelims.
Diamorphine.
Way beyond lethal dose.
Yeah, it could take down
three grown men.
Those girls were dead
before they even
severed the radial veins.
The good news is,
they likely experienced no pain.
So the heroin killed 'em?
Yeah, running all through 'em.
There were also
signs of scarring,
consistent with cutting.
Possibly previous
suicide attempts.
Okay.
You know,
these teenagers these days,
they get all depressed,
and they go to, like,
these deep, dark places.
I also wouldn't
rule out the possibility
of some sort of suicide pact.
Okay, maybe. Yeah.
We also found trace
under Kim's fingernails.
We'll get the DNA testing
tomorrow.
What about a rape kit?
Proved to be inconclusive,
due to the lack of trauma.
Okay.
There was one more thing,
though.
We discovered some
slight bruising on the arms,
but with hands,
not with the binding.
It makes me think that
they were possibly held down.
So have you ruled out
the possibility
of multiple assailants?
Hadn't even considered it.
-Yeah, it was just a thought.
-Mm-hmm.
Look, I, um...
I need you to run the DNA
on this sample.
Off record.
Ah, well,
there's no possible way
I could say yes to that, Karl.
And you know that.
Thanks, Ken.
(fire crackling)
(eerie music)

Where ya goin'?
(clears throat)
Karl, you know
if you're going rogue,
I am the one person that
is gonna be with you.
I know.
[Marge] Karl, I don't know
what I'm doing.
I feel like
I'm not doing anything.
I just need some guidance
from you.
Just a little bit.
Go be with Beth.
-No.
-[Karl] She needs you right now.
No, I can't, I cannot.
After that, I cannot
be with her right now.
Go run surveillance on Adam.
You trust me with that?
He moves, call me.
We good?
We good.
(car door closes)
(car pulls away)
Oh, Marge.
(dark music)

(footsteps,
object dragging in grass)
(music builds)
(faucet running)
(sinister music)

(singer vocalizing)

[woman] Stop that! No, no!
(drumsticks clatter on floor)

(birds chirping)
(sirens wailing)
(intense music)

(birds fluttering)
(door creaks open)
(door shuts)
Talk.
What are we doing here, Jimmy?
He is clearly being framed.
Oh.
Oh, so someone
planted Beth's body.
Beth was my little sister.
I'd never hurt her.
Well, last year you took out
a life insurance policy on her,
with you as the benefactor.
So, I have about half a million
reasons to suspect you.
We both took out policies
on each other.
Why?
So if something happened
to one of us,
we could take care
of everything.
We don't have other family,
we just...
had each other.
You honestly think I killed her?
Beth was beaten to death
with your baton.
Karl, you look like shit.
What am I supposed to think?
Okay, his baton was taken
from his cruiser last night.
Karl, I found remnants of
your uniform in your fire pit.
What the hell, man?
There's only one reason
someone does that.
Okay, don't respond to that.
You know, the more I learn about
your past, the more I wonder.
Two dead. One tortured.
Okay, that has
absolutely nothing to do
with this situation.
[detective] Where were you
last night, Marge?
At the lookout by Adam's place.
[detective]
You violated a court order.
No.
Never cracked distance.
Karl thought it'd be safer
if we had eyes
on a multiple homicide suspect.
[detective] Everyone but Beth.
That's not fair.
[James] Why'd you send Marge
over to Adam's last night?
Can't hurt anybody
if he's under watchful eye.
Hmm. Hmm.
I think you sent Marge
over there
so you'd know exactly where she
was when you paid Beth a visit.
Is that really
what you think, James?
You think, what,
I went and picked up Beth,
beat the hell
out of her with my baton,
and what, just dumped her
in front of my house?
Alright, take it easy, Karl.
We have a boyfriend
who injected Beth with heroin--
the same drug he used
to disable the other girls.
And that evidence is useless,
because you led
a ten-year-old to ID Adam.
Okay, unless we have
some real evidence,
I think we're done here.
(smacks table)
You're gonna be forced
to take a swab.
If one whiff of your DNA
shows up on those girls,
you lose all
professional curtesy.
[lawyer] Your fire pit?
Well?
Well, what?
Tell me your side.
Are you serious?
At least say it.
Say what, Trent?
That you're innocent!
I've never laid hands
on a female in my life.
(car passes by)
I believe you.
If you got split personalities,
I'm looking at the innocent one.
You watch too much TV.
(chuckling)
(apprehensive music)

So, I guess we lay low
for awhile.
Yup.
Call if you need me.

(car drives away)
Hey!
Are you guys done
with this vehicle?
[CSI officer]
Yeah, you're good to go.
(truck starts up)
(ominous music)

Meredith?
(door shuts)
Ken.
[Ken]
Hey, Karl, sorry I missed you.
It's okay.
[Ken]
So that sample you gave me.
Turns out, that's Lisa's blood.
Hope that helps.
Oh, and ah, and one more thing.
The DNA under Kim's fingernails
belongs to Adam Stone.
Thanks, Ken.
Yea, good luck, bud.

-[Elena] Hey, Karl.
-Hey, Elena.
Everything okay?
-Not at the moment.
-(shotgun cocks)
Tell Steve I'll bring it back.

Hey!
[Trent] What the hell, Karl?
What are you doing here?
Meredith called.
What do you mean,
Meredith called?
She said Adam's car
was at her house.
When I got there, she was gone.
Why didn't you call me?
You're suspended.
-Did you call for backup?
-Yeah.
They're, like,
twenty minutes out, though.
Alright, we're not waiting.
Come on.
We?
Karl, you go in,
nothing will stick.
Hey!
If you're here to kill him,
I won't let you.
-Then get to him before I do.
-(shotgun cocks)
(muffled electronic music
playing)
(tense music)

(Meredith sobbing) Help!
I'm down here!
(muffled electronic music
playing)
Help! Help!
[Karl] Hey. Hey. Hey.
You okay?
(sobbing)
It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
There you go.
Shh, shh, it's okay. It's okay.
(two distant gunshots)
(tense music)

(gunshot)
Marge.
(sniffles)
I told you I could help.
Alright. Holster your weapon.
Marge.
Okay.
Just--just go on
and put your weapon away.
Alright, look.
We'll fix this, okay, we'll--
(suspenseful music)
Just put your weapon away, okay?
Everything's alright.
Yes, come on. Come on.

You know I didn't kill Beth.
Yeah.
We can make this all go away.
It's okay.

-(gunshot)
-No!
(body collapses)
Marge.
(ominous music)

(siren wails)
(knock on door)
(knock on door)
(gun rests against wall)
(knock on door)
(knock on door)
I couldn't leave without
saying goodbye or thank you.
One for the road?
If you're up for the company,
I'll pour.
(sighs)
Gosh.
I'm gonna miss this town.
And you.
I mean, you are impossible
to read, but gosh,
it was so fun trying.
(pouring drink)
Here.
Cheers.
Do you know the name
James Randi?
-Mm-mm.
-No? Magician? Hmm.
In the '90s, his foundation
promised one million dollars
to anyone who could prove
the existence
of paranormal activity.
So, ghosts, magic.
Even psychic abilities.
(soft music)
However, no one ever
claimed that prize, though,
because there was one catch.
The person had to prove
that their gift was true.
And that's just impossible.

[Trent] People can be so
gullible in wanting to believe.
Or...
Needing something to believe in.
(sighs)
I admire your fight, Karl, I do.
But deep down,
we both know...
you want this ending.
[Meredith] You are so sad.
(ethereal music)

Everything was so perfect.
Adam didn't know
we took the car.
Hell, he was
so fucked up tonight
he didn't even know
she was in his house.
Mm-mm.
And you, oh, thank you, Karl.
Thank you for convincing the kid
he planted the mannequin.
That was fucking perfect.
Everything was perfect
until Marge...
(chuckles)
Until Marge took the kill
from me, but--
-That stupid bitch.
-Hey, hey.
We gave them the peace
they couldn't have on Earth.
And Karl?
Hey, Karl.
No one felt anything. No one.
[Trent] Except Beth.
Mm, she felt everything.
It was supposed to be you.
The worthless, alcoholic
police chief.
Not Adam.
The skin under Kim's nails
was going to be yours.
It was all meant to be
on you, Karl!
Until, oh,
until you won my respect.
See, all of my research on you
didn't prepare me
for what's in here.
That's where I underestimated
Karl Harding.
[Meredith] So we have decided
to give you a valiant death.
One where your memory
will be honored.
And you can move across
with them in peace.
[Trent] Funny how one bullet
can help a man believe...
The impossible.

(clang, splat)
(dramatic music)

(knock on door)
(knock on door)
(knock on door)
(ominous music)

(knock on door)
(knock on door)
(shouting)
Get him down! Get him down!
Get him down! Hands! Hands!
[Donald] Let me go!
[James] Donald Whitaker,
you're under arrest
for the murder of Karl Harding!
Anything you say can be used
against you in a court of law!
(handcuffs click)
Stay down!

(eerie music)