Take from Me (2025) Movie Script
1
- I'm sorry, okay.
I'm sorry.
- And what you gonna do, huh?
What the fuck are you
even gonna do then, huh?
- Oh fuck you.
- Yeah, go get drunk
some more then.
- Jesus, John.
Slow down a little, would you?
- Where you at tonight, Teddy?
- I don't know, enough
to kill a teenage kid.
- Who would kill a college kid?
- I don't know.
I've never been there.
- Fuck off, Kenny.
You can't do that kind of shit anymore.
- Not gonna, me too, me,
darling.
- Fucking gross.
- How's it going, Johnny?
- How's your family, Ken?
- You got something to say?
- Oh knock it off, Ken.
I don't need your shit
in here, not tonight.
Not after last weekend.
- It was a fucking joke.
- Yeah?
She's barely 21.
You know how these kids are today.
I don't need her filing a
workplace harassment suit
or whatever the hell it is on me.
So take your ass home and cool off.
- Fuck this place.
- Shit.
I'm gonna get my college
degree tonight, Teddy.
- You, my friend, are gonna get a PhD.
- Thank you, professor.
- Vanessa, you there?
- Some idiot take
a nap on the 123 again?
- We got a 10-2 on mile marker 136.
I need you to put a call into
the sheriff's office for me.
- Those lousy bastards.
They can't even find their own dicks.
- Something's not right.
- Yeah, buyer's not even here yet.
I don't know what she planted
'cause all that fucking garbage.
Jesus, fucking Rambo, hold on.
Hey, can I help you?
Hey, listen, pal, this
is private property.
You can't be hunting here.
- Thought it was vacant.
- Yeah, well, not anymore so
you'll have to go somewhere else.
Buddy, did you hear me,
this isn't your property.
Run along now.
Thank you, thank you.
- What'd I say about
keeping a professional workplace, Nessa?
- Only person to come in
this week was Miss. Ivy.
Some Mormons came to her house again.
- What would you do if
someone important came in?
- That's not a very nice
thing to say about Miss Ivy.
Or the Mormons.
- Shut the door!
- I meant to tell you about that.
- You really gotta find
someplace else to take him.
- His dad was supposed to
come get him an hour ago.
- Do I have to arrest this motherfucker?
- Then you'd have to hire Eddie
because he'd be here full-time
and he ain't cheap, trust me.
- Can you meet just one nice guy?
- Have you fucked a nice guy?
Oh yeah, the sheriff called earlier.
They ID'd the truck to a William Schopel.
- You need to start with that.
Instead of giving me the Mormon bullshit.
- That's not all they said.
He said to make sure and tell
the chief, and I'm quoting,
sir, "He ain't a goddamn
investigator anymore,
so he better let us deal with it.
The last thing they need
is a fuck up city policeman
sticking in his nose in some dog shit
that don't smell right."
You want me to keep going?
- What was that name
again, that missing person?
- William Schopel.
- Know that name I think.
Played football the next town over.
- You think he's dead?
- Lord, Vanessa.
- We haven't had a dead
person show up here in years.
- Yeah, let's keep it that way.
- You know Benjamin Miller, right?
- From Huntsville.
- His cousin went missing,
couple of towns over,
several months back.
They found him hanging in the
woods upside down and pale
like a piece of paper.
You know how they hang 'em
the way the hunters do?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.
- They killed him and let him
bleed out there like that.
Just dripping blood from his eye sockets.
Fuck.
We don't get murders like that over here.
- You need Jesus.
Let me know when I get
my damn office back.
- What the hell do you want?
- Can I come inside, please?
- Mama, it's probably about Billy again.
- Jesus Christ, where'd you find him?
- We found his truck on
the side of Highway 123.
Just pulled over.
- He's a bit of a drinker.
- Among other things.
- You didn't report him missing.
- Billy's a big boy.
Sometimes he's here, sometimes he ain't.
- He had a date.
He was real excited about it
'cause he met the girl in real life.
- Where'd he meet her?
- At a bar, I think.
He was in over his head.
He was acting kind of like
people act when they're in love.
- He was acting fucking stupid.
Billy always wanders home
when he wants a good licking.
- Well, when he does, you
should let me know, okay,
- I don't got your number.
- Oh just dial 911,
it goes right to me.
- She was way out of his league,
and that ain't an understatement.
I told him it felt weird
but he didn't give a shit.
Guys are stupid like that.
She was excited about
some pretty young thing.
Like he ain't a hillbilly drunk.
- You remember what she looked like?
- She was white and skinny, pretty.
Probably no older than me.
- I'll be on the lookout
for pretty white girls then.
Thank you for your time.
- Well, hello there.
What can I do for you today, pretty lady?
- Oh, aren't you sweet?
I need some new curtains, drapes.
I don't feel secure in my own home.
- Well, it's not the greatest selection,
to tell you the truth,
but we can fix you up.
- That's what I like to hear.
- Are you local?
- Yeah, I just moved into
the old farmhouse off 123.
- Oh yes.
I heard that place finally sold.
You know, you look a little bit like the,
the last woman who lived there.
- Oh, I'm sure you get
your pretty girls mixed up
all the time.
- You don't see blue eyes
like that every day, Miss.
- Shit.
Sorry about that, Alvin.
- Hey, John, I didn't see you over there.
- Yeah, well, I was getting
ready to head out for a job.
Kinda lost track of time.
- I'll hold it up front for you.
- Thank you, Alvin.
Yeah, that's, that'd be great, man.
- Now then.
Where were we?
- Oh, I just would love something that
blocks out all the light.
- Okay.
- Ugh, shit.
Shit.
- Did you paint my trim?
- Excuse me?
- Why are you watching
me through my windows
and following me around town?
Are you a pervert?
- What the fuck?
I'm not a fucking pervert.
Fucking hell, that's a fucking small town,
you can't be saying that kind of shit.
- So you were the one that
was working on the house, huh?
God, you know, I was trying to figure out
how it was in such good
shape just sitting out there
all by itself.
Now I know.
Who are you?
- I just used to work on it for a while.
Just didn't like seeing
it fall apart, you know.
Houses around here, nature
has a way of taking 'em back.
- Do you know who used to live there?
They left all their shit.
- Oh, guess it's all yours now, right?
- So you must live nearby, huh?
Bet you come by often.
Funny, I didn't, I didn't
notice your truck earlier.
- Listen, I'm sorry for spying.
It's just that that house has been empty
for a long damn time and you spooked me.
- You're a contractor?
- Yes, ma'am.
- How long did you work on it?
- Off and on for years.
- I have some things I
wanna do on the inside
if you're interested.
- Mm.
Well, I mean, why would
you wanna change anything?
I mean, it's 150-years-old, there's-
- Well, if you're not
interested in the work.
- Well, let me think about it.
Jesus, you just fucking asked me.
- Okay, just don't think too long.
- Okay.
- Sure there's lots of other perverts
that would love the offer.
- The fuck's this.
Yeah.
Good talk.
Good talk.
Oh, long night.
- What time is it?
- 6:00 p.m.
You hungover?
- Something we have in common.
- Huh.
I was, come see what you
needed done at the house.
- Fuck, right, okay.
Um, come in.
Come in.
- Yeah.
- What are you waiting for, John?
All right, let's get to work.
- What, now?
- I'm up.
- I shouldn't, while I work.
- Okay.
Whatever.
I can't even go in there,
the mirror is so ugly.
- What the hell's wrong with it?
- Oh, it's just not me, like at all.
- Where's the new one?
- Don't worry about it.
I'll get a new one once you take it down.
Okay?
- Sure thing.
Whatever you say.
I just gotta get my tools from the truck.
Fuck.
What are you doing here?
- Do you mind?
- It's your house.
- The last people who lived here
left this busted old record player,
but luckily I hoard a lot of old things.
- Yeah, I can see that.
- What were the last owners like?
- Ah, they were a young couple.
Like your age.
I don't remember much,
but they were happy.
Listened to a lot of
music, I remember that.
- Yeah, what did they listen to?
- Oldies.
Kind of like you.
- So you don't remember them much,
but you take care of their house still.
- Guess I should go see about that mirror.
Huh?
- What the hell is that?
Hey, did you hurt yourself
when you're moving?
Tub's all fucked up.
- Did you think
this was my real hair color?
- Oh no, I just thought
you were naturally pretty.
- I am.
- All right.
Easy does it.
- Oh.
- What the hell?
- Fuck!
Oh shit.
- I think I let my guard down
when you called me pretty.
- I think I let my guard down in general.
- Just when we were really hitting it off.
- We ain't having a party.
- I don't know.
Do you have friends coming over?
- No.
No, I'm kind of a loner.
- So no one knows you're here then.
- Hey.
- I'm 120 pounds wet, John.
You can't be afraid of me.
- Oh, I was married.
I assure you, I'm terrified of women.
They've got peas and
carrots in their freezer.
Cold cuts.
- And how do you feel
about cold cuts, John?
- Oh I, I don't think
I'm gonna remember shit
in the morning.
- Yeah, that's right, 'cause you've,
you've had a couple to
drink tonight, haven't you?
Knowing you, you're probably gonna go home
and have a few more.
- I'm thinking about
getting blackout drunk.
- Are you addicted to death?
Do you wanna die?
Or are you just a traditional alcoholic?
- I don't know how to answer that.
- Well, the way I see it, there
are two obsessions in life.
One is the obsession life,
and everything life brings.
And the other is death.
Death can be peaceful.
- So what are you addicted to?
- I'm fascinated with the living.
- Well, I think I'll have
a better answer for you
the next time you ask.
- I look forward to it.
- If you or your boyfriend
plan on killing me next,
maybe find some new hiding
spots for the bodies.
- What did you have in mind?
- There's a big fucking
crawl space under the house.
No one will find me.
- As you wish.
John.
I don't have a boyfriend.
- Holy shit, holy fucking shit.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Goddammit.
Okay, okay, okay.
Shit!
Fuck, fuck!
Fuck.
Shit.
- Hey, John.
- Yeah, sorry about that, Abe,
I was zoned out back there.
- You were going over 25.
- Oh.
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, yeah.
Abe.
- You been drinking?
- No.
No, not tonight.
- Haven't seen you
around much, or in group.
- Ah well, you know, book's
always been too big for me.
- And here I thought you liked to read.
- Yeah, well, you know, it
depends on the source material.
Hey, what's that, what is
the passage of the Bible?
"The devil prowls at the roaring lion."
- They're only words if
you believe in the devil.
- Well, you see, that's all I believe.
- What lion is chasing you, friend?
- Oh.
They, eh, they sold the house.
- Sorry about that.
- Yeah.
- It was bound to happen.
- Yeah, that's what they keep telling me.
So are you gonna give me
a ticket or something?
- No, I don't think so.
Just take care of yourself, all right.
You got my number.
Call me if you need anything.
- Except a drink.
- Not tonight.
Come on, get outta here.
- Thanks, Abe.
Yeah.
- Shit, man, you look
like you've seen a ghost.
- Hey, can I have another?
Just breathe.
- Dad?
- Fuck!
- Hello?
Anyone home?
Lilith.
Hi.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah, I got a closing gift for Lilith.
- Ah, Lilith.
Yeah, no, she's not in, so.
I, I can just leave it for her.
- Yeah, she told me to
come back this week.
Do I know you?
You look really familiar.
- I'm the plumber.
You know, we all look the same, so.
Ah, the gift.
I can just leave it in the
kitchen on my way out, so.
- Okay, hey, hey, do you mind if I just
use the bathroom real quick?
I mean, it was a long drive here.
I just, I'll be quick in and out.
- Yeah, right.
Whatever you want, huh?
- Thanks, man.
- Yeah.
- You sure we haven't met?
Did you work on one of my
houses in Lexington or Richmond?
Maybe the district?
- I don't think so.
Well, I gotta get to work.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
Don't mind me.
- Police, where's the fire?
- Excuse me?
- Is this an emergency, sir?
- Yeah, could I get a wellness check
some time tonight or tomorrow?
- That's mostly
what we do out here.
Can I get the address?
- Sorry, fella, hey, don't flush.
I, I don't have all the
kinks worked out yet.
- Okay, yeah, just give me a second.
- Are you in,
are you in the bathroom?
- Will do.
I'll be downstairs.
- Okay.
Yeah, it's a long story.
Just send someone, please.
It's the old farmhouse
off of 123, you know it?
- There's like a
hundred people in this town, sir.
- Yeah, don't remind me.
She, she took down the mirror.
- Yeah.
Not her style, I guess.
She ordered a new one in town, so.
- Yeah, she really is
something, isn't she?
She had me map out where
the sun hits the atrium.
I must have spent four hours
drawing those diagrams for her.
- Girl could use a tan.
- Tried to talk her out of
buying this piece of shit.
It's a lot of house for someone like her.
- Well, I mean, this is a 19th
century farmhouse, you know,
one of the first ones built in the area.
I mean, look, at this mahogany
finishes and moldings,
I mean, she must have a good eye, huh?
- Right.
- Well, you take care, huh?
Drive safe out there.
- What a creep.
- Are you gonna take him out next?
- Is that what you think I am?
Some heartless murderer
with a hair-trigger impulse.
No.
Besides, killing your
realtor, I'm not an idiot.
Did you come here to kill me?
- Oh, I haven't thought it through yet.
Were you gonna kill me?
- I was prepared to.
See, I followed you, and
when a dozen patrol cars
didn't break down my front door,
I kind of wanted to see
if you would come back.
- And I did.
- With a crossbow.
- You're real.
- Flesh and blood.
Ah, I mean, you know what I mean?
- How long will that body last
before you have to-
- Do it again?
Couple of weeks if I spread it out.
- I don't understand.
I saw you go outside.
- Well, dusk isn't so bad.
It's like turning the oven to 250.
- What about midday?
- It's the broiler.
- And the shipping crate.
- Oh, what, you were
hoping to see a coffin.
- I don't know.
- Yeah, I'm a side sleeper, so, yeah,
the crate just fits me better.
- I saw a picture of you in the bedroom.
- Did you know if you feed on somebody
who recently took LSD,
you get a body high.
God, I miss the '60s.
- Who's the, who's the man?
- My handler at the time.
And one of the many loves of my life.
He was very special to me.
There's one downside to never aging.
It's that everyone you
love eventually does.
Overnight, it seems.
He didn't wanna be like me.
He thought death was beautiful.
- No.
No.
Death is, um, death is brutal.
- I'm not what you think I am.
I've loved a lot of people in my life,
and I don't like feeding,
but I have to, okay?
It's a necessary instinct.
I have to live, John.
- Yeah.
If you've lived life
two times over, I mean,
why do you really need anything?
- Well, what else is there?
Besides, it's not like the
movies and the books, you know,
the folklore is mostly bullshit.
Garlic doesn't do anything,
silver is just a commodity,
and I don't feed on just anybody, okay.
I have a process.
- Sure, you do.
- I use bad people.
I help society, okay.
It's rapists and murderers
and creeps and addicts.
If only you normal people knew
how much cleaning up I do around here.
- Why haven't you killed me yet?
I mean, you joked about it.
I know where you live.
I know where you sleep.
I think I know what you are.
I'm a risk.
- Oh, I'm prepared to do anything.
- Now, Charlie has a
baseball game tomorrow night.
- So, where do you consider home?
- I've had a couple, I think
- Everybody has.
Where's that one then, huh?
Feels warm.
You look back and there's a memory there
that you can never forget.
- Well, um.
When I was a more traditional human,
I had a family with a husband,
and we owned several acres of land,
and we had a few kids that were
impossible to keep up with,
but that was another lifetime.
- Are you a grandmother?
I'm sorry.
I'm, I'm sorry I didn't,
we don't have to talk
about it or anything.
- My husband's first wife,
my husband's first wife came from a big
land-owning plantation style family.
She was a jealous bitch,
she couldn't bear children.
That meant something at the time.
She watched over us
like a fucking vulture.
She just hovered for
years and years and years,
until one day she finally cracked
and her and her brother swooped
in and set fire to our farm.
My husband managed to get me out,
but when he went back in for
the kids, he never came back.
Shortly after my kids were taken from me,
I was given a gift, this,
for vengeance, I suppose.
Now, even two centuries later,
I remember every detail of that night.
Every freckle on my kids'
faces stays with me.
So I came to see it as a gift,
because the longer that I'm
alive, somehow they are too.
- That's a beautiful memory.
- Good morning, Vanessa.
Did you have any sleep?
You look awful.
- Jesus.
I look awful, look in the mirror.
Just pulling up old police reports.
- Hey, I didn't authorize that.
- Look at this one.
Three years ago, outside Fayetteville,
man found hanging upside down,
blood drained from his body.
Lacerations at the neck and wrists
where the blood was drawn.
Back was picked apart by crows.
- Good God.
This has nothing to do
with our missing person.
- Okay, what about this one?
Tom Mallard, reported
missing outside township
10 miles away from Fayetteville.
Family said he was
meeting someone on a date.
- I'll put a call in to
the sheriff's office.
- Those lazy fucks?
- Maybe you should get back to work
and drink some coffee or something.
- I'm wide awake.
Just let me keep digging through these.
You know there's something here.
- Legally, I can't allow you
to sift through this shit.
- Fuck the law.
I'm better at the computer stuff than you.
It's not your fault.
When you were growing up,
all you had was Oregon Trail.
- Hey, beat Oregon Trail, then we'll talk.
- Someone called yesterday
while you were in your meeting.
I don't know why they call
it anonymous, everyone knows.
- Keep it down.
- Wellness check.
- You have to start with this earlier,
like before all the personnel
files that you're pulling.
What's the address?
- The old mill place off the 123.
Guy was in the bathroom, it
was a whole fucking thing.
- John's old place.
- The guy you sponsored?
- Yeah.
Something was off with him.
- I was serious about
helping you, you know.
I'm sick of fucking creeps
getting away with stuff
all the time.
- We'll talk, I promise.
Do some work, actual work.
Please.
- Can I help you?
- Are you the homeowner?
- Yes.
There a problem, officer?
Do you have a warrant?
- Ma'am, there was a welfare check
called in for you yesterday.
I knocked but there was no answer,
and I saw your garage door was open.
- I was resting a migraine upstairs.
- Sorry.
I guess my imagination got the best of me.
You've got some worried neighbors.
You being out here all alone.
- I don't have any neighbors.
It's the whole point of
being out here all alone.
- Well, you worried somebody, Miss.
- Call me Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth.
Sorry for the intrusion.
- Can you shut the door on your way out?
I don't want any animals to get in.
- How did you find me?
- Same way I did last time.
Can I come in?
- Do I have to invite you in,
is, is that how it works or?
- I don't need to be invited.
It's just fucking polite.
- Right, right.
- Oh, shit, what the
hell are you doing here?
- Well, I was hoping to find John.
- Yeah, well, he ain't been
in in a couple of days.
Let me get you something?
- Water.
Yeah, he hasn't been around
much of anywhere lately.
- Yeah, well, you'll know he's dead
when he don't turn up
here in a couple of days.
- Hey, you have any young
women come by lately?
Out-of-towners, maybe?
- Now you know very well I
do not like out-of-towners.
- You don't have to hide anything from me.
I'm not looking for prostitutes.
I'm looking for a missing person.
- Think John's missing?
- Oh, well, I think he
may be into something.
I don't know what yet, so don't ask me.
- Kenny, another round.
- Yeah.
Hang on.
- Mm hmm.
- A cop came
by the house earlier.
- Oh.
- I found him in the garage.
He didn't see anything, but
he seemed like he was spooked.
- That's Abe.
- The one that pulled you over?
- Well, he's pretty much
the only cop in town.
Everybody knows him, yeah.
- Now that worries me.
- No, that's not necessary.
- You like him?
- Oh, he's good.
He means well.
He doesn't fit your rule book.
- There are exceptions
to the rule book, John.
- He's small time.
He's so bad at his job, the
union sent him out here.
I mean this,
that's the kind of people
that Alderson attracts.
Fuck ups.
- Ouch.
- No, no.
- I'm just fucking tired.
- I have a surprise for you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- A surprise.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Hold on, hold on.
- Okay.
- Dun dun dun dun!
- John, what the fuck?
- Well, I don't have the
little medical vials.
I don't, I don't know
where you get 'em from.
- This isn't from the morgue, is it?
- Just try it.
- Okay, please do not tell me
that you did something stupid.
- Will you please try it?
- Fucking dog food!
- No, it was a beautiful buck.
I mean, you should have seen him.
- This is not helpful to me.
- You know, you said that animals work.
- In desperation.
- Yeah, but you don't
have to kill anybody.
- John, I take out one lowlife
criminal every two months
so that I don't tear
apart the entire town.
Do you get that?
- Yeah.
- Imagine if you had
to drink piss every day
for eight weeks, and then
you have to walk up and down
the grocery aisle tempted by the,
by the promise of satisfaction.
It's only a matter of time
before you're gonna snap, isn't it?
Before you're gonna just start
taking things off the shelf
without even fucking thinking.
- Sorry.
I was just, I was just trying to help.
Doesn't matter.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Holy fuck!
Fuck!
Dammit.
Ah, shit.
Hey, Lilith, I got most
of the padlocks up.
I kind of cut myself a little bit.
You have any gauze or anything?
Lilith?
I was thinking if we were.
You okay?
Lilith, you all right?
- Don't look at me, I'm sorry, I'm just.
I just, I just need to
sit down for a little bit.
Sorry you had to see that.
- I've seen worse in people.
Doesn't bother me.
- I don't like that version of myself.
You should.
I just think I've been
rationing too hard this time.
- Take from me.
- No, no, no, that's, no.
- Here, look.
Take from me.
- No, John, that's, no.
- I mean it, take from me.
I want you to.
- And what if I can't help myself?
Do you wanna die tonight?
Is that it?
- Just take it.
- Do I remind you of your ex-wife?
Is that why you're trying to help me?
Because I'm in your old house?
- No.
- Listen, I don't wanna hurt you, John.
It's about time you figured out
that there are some things you can't fix.
- Come on, fuck.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, breathe,
breathe, hey, there we go.
Breathe.
What the fuck, come on.
Oh fuck.
Go down there.
That's what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna go down there.
- What are you even gonna do?
- Oh, I don't know.
Maybe transfer our son to
Charlotte or DC or somewhere.
- He's home now, just
let him be home with me.
- He's dying here.
- I know!
He needs me, he needs his mom.
- Well, I'm not gonna sit around here
and just hold his hand and watch him fade,
I'm not gonna fucking do it.
- Then what are you gonna do, huh?
What the fuck are you
even gonna do then, huh?
- Oh, fuck you.
- Yeah go get drunk some more then.
- You know, it wasn't
until I stopped praying
that God found me.
This, this is a true story, y'all.
This guy was having an
overdose right in front of me,
and kind of grabs my hand that moment
in that chair right there.
And he says to me, with all
the energy he can muster,
"Keep going, Danny."
Then he died.
He said that shit and he
died right in front of me.
So I started praying again.
And Abe helped me get right
and I've been six months sober.
- It's easy to help someone
who actually wants it.
- Listen, we don't make new people share.
And I'm not willing to ask
someone to do something
that I'm not willing to do myself.
You know, for everyone
who is seeking help,
seeking sobriety, you know,
there are countless others
who are still suffering.
You know?
That's why I come here
and I try to facilitate this group.
I was a detective in Pittsburgh.
Man, in my community,
your dad teaches you to
suck it up, you know?
That's what we gotta do, survive.
You know, everyone in
here understands that.
So what am I gonna do?
I sucked it up all my life.
Sucked it up after every dead
kid I had to investigate.
Every domestic violence case.
Women beaten to within
an inch of their lives.
I sucked it up.
And then I got piss drunk.
We were on this stakeout
for this real piece of
work, a serial rapist.
And we were outside of a club
we thought he came around,
it was a real shot in the
dark, bullshit work really.
My partner and I, we decided
to crack a few in the car.
I had already had a few before on my shift
to steady the hand.
And then I saw him.
You know, I can't remember
how deep I was in the bag.
Like my, my partner had
already fallen asleep.
But, but this guy,
he was grabbing at her and
forcing himself on her.
I, I don't know what came over me, man.
In the dark, six drinks in,
all you white boys look alike.
I just shot him.
Then his girlfriend started screaming.
She was so angry.
And he was on the ground bleeding.
- It's a disease, Abe.
- And that's why I don't
investigate anymore.
My family's all I got now.
They saved me.
Anyone else?
- Hey, if you're
trying to get Kenny,
you dialed the right number.
Just leave a message,
man, I'll call you back.
- Just fucking answer.
- What the fuck, you wanna fuck me?
- You aint my type, Ken.
- Bullshit.
- Yeah.
Have one more, Teddy.
- You driving?
- Oh, you know me, Teddy.
Big walker.
- Hmm.
Yeah, Abe was in the other day.
- Get the fuck out of here.
Did he get a drink?
- No.
Was asking about you.
I didn't say nothing, but you
have some kind of trouble?
- Oh, shit.
- How'd you like
looking at dicks, Johnny.
- Ah, you know, Teddy.
I'm always in some kind of trouble.
- You like boys, John?
- Oh, well, I mean, it's 2023.
I just figure all you fucking homophobes
had tiny little dicks, you know.
I just had to take a little peek, huh?
That pretty baby mama
of yours, man, come on.
Just had to get a look.
- Fuck you and your dead kid.
- Oh, oh shit.
Ah, oh, fuck.
- Put that on it before it swells.
You're your own worst
enemy, you know that.
But I guess Kenny can't kill you
if you decide to do it first, right?
- I think you might be onto something.
- Fucking knew it.
Goddamn Thursday.
Lacey.
- Yeah, fucking got him.
- Thank you so much.
- You gotta take
him back to court, hon.
I grew up with Ken and he ain't changing.
- He's been bringing him down
to the bar and I just, I-
- I got him.
Eddie's always good here, all right?
- Jesus, I
need to call you back.
- Kenny!
- Stop!
I work for the fucking police,
asshole, so stop hitting him.
- This is between him and me.
Go on home, you didn't see nothing.
- I, I'm gonna call the
police chief or an ambulance.
It's your choice.
- Hang on, I recognize you.
You're his ex-wife, right?
His kid's mom.
- Get away from me.
- He would hurt one of you eventually.
I'm doing you a favor.
- You know what, guys like
you are the fucking problem,
with your toxic serial killer bullshit.
You're fucking done, man.
- She was one of the good guys.
- I knew you couldn't leave it alone.
What if I wasn't here, huh?
You didn't fucking think
this through, John.
- They had a kid.
She didn't fit your fucking rule book.
- Yeah, you know what?
I didn't wanna fucking do that,
but she was gonna call that fucking cop.
Now, we need to go.
This is exactly why I
didn't want you involved.
- Yeah, what did you expect me to do, huh?
You needed help, you were sick.
- I don't need help from a fucking drunk.
I'm 200-years-old.
Do you think this is my
first time being sick?
- Yeah, but you let me live.
Why, huh?
Why, if you don't need help.
- Oh, I don't need anyone,
all right, I wanted you.
Because being like this, what I am,
you need little things and
small people to keep you busy.
- Oh, that's what you think of me.
- Yeah, that's it.
- That's what you-
- That's right, John.
You're useless.
It's pathetic.
You're just my little play
thing is all it really is.
Don't you get it?
I felt sorry for you.
- Yeah, well, it's no wonder that
nobody wants to live with
you for all of eternity.
You're fucking insufferable.
- Fuck you!
- Well, there you go.
Happy Thanksgiving.
- I'm sorry for what I said.
I was upset.
- I know.
- I need to make her go away,
and you need to get rid of him.
- Where am I supposed to go?
- He's a suspect now.
It's, I don't know, a
murder suicide situation.
And then come back in the morning
and clear out the freezer,
'cause we can't keep
anything here anymore.
- They had a little boy.
- This is about survival now, John.
That's all that matters.
- Bullshit.
We took that kid's parents away from him.
You're just like a fucking shadow.
All you do is just roam
from town to fucking town.
Who's keeping you here?
- I don't know.
But I do know that you made
a pretty big fucking mess.
I don't wanna have to hurt you
any more than I already have, John.
So how about you finish what you started,
because I don't think this
is gonna work anymore.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Abe, you ass, how
often do I call you at home?
Got some serious shit
going on at the bar, man.
That contractor guy is
getting into it with Kenny.
Oh shit.
- Lilith!
Elizabeth!
Can we talk?
- Fuck.
- John is that you?
- Ah, fuck.
- John!
What you doing out here, man?
- She's onto you, Abe.
It's over.
- Hey, hey, don't move.
I'm gonna have to ask you to
come in with me, old friend.
- Get the fuck outta here, Abe.
- What did you do?
- I fucked up, Abe.
- I can help you.
Look, I know you got yourself
into some weird shit,
but something's not right, I can see that.
Put the bow down.
Put the bow down.
This is your last warning.
- Fucking get out the way!
- No John, don't, don't, don't!
Fuck!
Why did you, why did you shoot that arrow?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Why didn't you listen, why
didn't you fucking listen!
- Abe, be careful.
- What are you saying?
- Be careful.
She's dangerous.
- Who's dangerous, who John?
Hey, hey, keep pressure on this.
I need to go find help.
Hold tight.
- Abe, no.
- Dad?
You believe in heaven, right?
- I do.
I don't know what heaven is
exactly, but I think it's real.
But you don't need to be
thinking about that, okay?
We're doing all right, huh?
You feel good, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Keep pressure on it, go
on, keep pressure on it.
- Look at his eyes.
He's fading, he's fading.
- Stay with me,
stay with me.
- Russ, he's about to code.
Come on, we gotta get.
- Why on earth we stopping?
- I got some jackass
parked in the road up here.
- Come on, Russ, let's
get the fuck on, man.
- I'm gonna go check it out.
One of you guys come out with me.
- I'll go check, okay.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Let's go, let's go.
- Make sure this
motherfucker don't die.
Ma'am.
Everything all right?
- Try not to die on me.
- I want you to carve your
initials on this tree right here.
- Why?
- Look.
If we're lucky, this tree
will live to be 300-years-old.
But no matter how old it gets,
if we carve our mark
deep enough in the bark
then it can last centuries.
- But even trees don't last forever.
- Well, I mean, nothing does, but.
- Oh my God, I'm so sorry,
this is all my fault.
You've lost a lot of blood,
you're not gonna make it.
Now listen, the last time
I asked you this question,
I didn't know if I could trust you.
But now I really need you to decide.
Do you still wanna die?
- No.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Definitely a lot of work, but.
There's a good part.
There's lots of good parts, overall.
- Honey, you home?
- Hey.
We have a new neighbor.
- Hi.
So sorry to just drop in, but, well,
Lisa was nice enough to
invite me in for coffee.
I'm new to the neighborhood,
so it's taken me some time
to get around to introducing
myself, I'm terribly shy.
Elizabeth, hi.
- Honey.
- Sorry.
Abe.
Can I get a glass of
water, please, sweetie?
It's been a long day.
- Yeah, sure.
- Have a seat.
You have a beautiful home, Abe,
and your kids are adorable.
I had the pleasure of meeting them both.
- Yeah, right?
You hear that?
That is why I had to send them upstairs.
Excuse me for a minute.
You guys better not be fighting up there.
- Were you drinking tonight, officer?
- I don't drink.
- Be our little secret.
- Why are you here?
- I heard that you were a good
man with a beautiful family.
- You lay one hand on them.
- That's not my intention.
- I know what you are.
- Then you know not to
fuck around, Abraham.
- Are you threatening me?
- Oh, please.
By the time you pull out that gun,
I'll have broken your neck
in two different places
and drained all of the blood
from your pathetic fat cadaver.
And then your wife or your kids
are gonna have to walk in
here and see you like that,
and I'll have to off them one by one,
and I really don't want
to have to do that.
I've got a family I love too.
I get it.
- You are the fucking devil.
- No.
The devil's much worse, trust me.
Kenny was a troubled man in a lot of pain.
I think I heard around town
that he was beating his missing wife.
Poor kid, having to learn about
both of his parents that way.
It just, it was that terrible
accident on the roadway.
- What accident?
- Maybe you missed a couple
of calls on your bender.
- What do you want me to say?
- Whatever it takes to
protect your family.
- All right, it's your turn.
- I just realized it's getting so late.
I, I should really be going.
- Oh, you've barely finished your coffee.
- Oh no, it's just too late for me.
Well, next time you two
should come over to my place.
We'd be happy to have you.
Maybe I'll make brunch.
- I'll walk you out.
- I'm sorry, okay.
I'm sorry.
- And what you gonna do, huh?
What the fuck are you
even gonna do then, huh?
- Oh fuck you.
- Yeah, go get drunk
some more then.
- Jesus, John.
Slow down a little, would you?
- Where you at tonight, Teddy?
- I don't know, enough
to kill a teenage kid.
- Who would kill a college kid?
- I don't know.
I've never been there.
- Fuck off, Kenny.
You can't do that kind of shit anymore.
- Not gonna, me too, me,
darling.
- Fucking gross.
- How's it going, Johnny?
- How's your family, Ken?
- You got something to say?
- Oh knock it off, Ken.
I don't need your shit
in here, not tonight.
Not after last weekend.
- It was a fucking joke.
- Yeah?
She's barely 21.
You know how these kids are today.
I don't need her filing a
workplace harassment suit
or whatever the hell it is on me.
So take your ass home and cool off.
- Fuck this place.
- Shit.
I'm gonna get my college
degree tonight, Teddy.
- You, my friend, are gonna get a PhD.
- Thank you, professor.
- Vanessa, you there?
- Some idiot take
a nap on the 123 again?
- We got a 10-2 on mile marker 136.
I need you to put a call into
the sheriff's office for me.
- Those lousy bastards.
They can't even find their own dicks.
- Something's not right.
- Yeah, buyer's not even here yet.
I don't know what she planted
'cause all that fucking garbage.
Jesus, fucking Rambo, hold on.
Hey, can I help you?
Hey, listen, pal, this
is private property.
You can't be hunting here.
- Thought it was vacant.
- Yeah, well, not anymore so
you'll have to go somewhere else.
Buddy, did you hear me,
this isn't your property.
Run along now.
Thank you, thank you.
- What'd I say about
keeping a professional workplace, Nessa?
- Only person to come in
this week was Miss. Ivy.
Some Mormons came to her house again.
- What would you do if
someone important came in?
- That's not a very nice
thing to say about Miss Ivy.
Or the Mormons.
- Shut the door!
- I meant to tell you about that.
- You really gotta find
someplace else to take him.
- His dad was supposed to
come get him an hour ago.
- Do I have to arrest this motherfucker?
- Then you'd have to hire Eddie
because he'd be here full-time
and he ain't cheap, trust me.
- Can you meet just one nice guy?
- Have you fucked a nice guy?
Oh yeah, the sheriff called earlier.
They ID'd the truck to a William Schopel.
- You need to start with that.
Instead of giving me the Mormon bullshit.
- That's not all they said.
He said to make sure and tell
the chief, and I'm quoting,
sir, "He ain't a goddamn
investigator anymore,
so he better let us deal with it.
The last thing they need
is a fuck up city policeman
sticking in his nose in some dog shit
that don't smell right."
You want me to keep going?
- What was that name
again, that missing person?
- William Schopel.
- Know that name I think.
Played football the next town over.
- You think he's dead?
- Lord, Vanessa.
- We haven't had a dead
person show up here in years.
- Yeah, let's keep it that way.
- You know Benjamin Miller, right?
- From Huntsville.
- His cousin went missing,
couple of towns over,
several months back.
They found him hanging in the
woods upside down and pale
like a piece of paper.
You know how they hang 'em
the way the hunters do?
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I get it.
- They killed him and let him
bleed out there like that.
Just dripping blood from his eye sockets.
Fuck.
We don't get murders like that over here.
- You need Jesus.
Let me know when I get
my damn office back.
- What the hell do you want?
- Can I come inside, please?
- Mama, it's probably about Billy again.
- Jesus Christ, where'd you find him?
- We found his truck on
the side of Highway 123.
Just pulled over.
- He's a bit of a drinker.
- Among other things.
- You didn't report him missing.
- Billy's a big boy.
Sometimes he's here, sometimes he ain't.
- He had a date.
He was real excited about it
'cause he met the girl in real life.
- Where'd he meet her?
- At a bar, I think.
He was in over his head.
He was acting kind of like
people act when they're in love.
- He was acting fucking stupid.
Billy always wanders home
when he wants a good licking.
- Well, when he does, you
should let me know, okay,
- I don't got your number.
- Oh just dial 911,
it goes right to me.
- She was way out of his league,
and that ain't an understatement.
I told him it felt weird
but he didn't give a shit.
Guys are stupid like that.
She was excited about
some pretty young thing.
Like he ain't a hillbilly drunk.
- You remember what she looked like?
- She was white and skinny, pretty.
Probably no older than me.
- I'll be on the lookout
for pretty white girls then.
Thank you for your time.
- Well, hello there.
What can I do for you today, pretty lady?
- Oh, aren't you sweet?
I need some new curtains, drapes.
I don't feel secure in my own home.
- Well, it's not the greatest selection,
to tell you the truth,
but we can fix you up.
- That's what I like to hear.
- Are you local?
- Yeah, I just moved into
the old farmhouse off 123.
- Oh yes.
I heard that place finally sold.
You know, you look a little bit like the,
the last woman who lived there.
- Oh, I'm sure you get
your pretty girls mixed up
all the time.
- You don't see blue eyes
like that every day, Miss.
- Shit.
Sorry about that, Alvin.
- Hey, John, I didn't see you over there.
- Yeah, well, I was getting
ready to head out for a job.
Kinda lost track of time.
- I'll hold it up front for you.
- Thank you, Alvin.
Yeah, that's, that'd be great, man.
- Now then.
Where were we?
- Oh, I just would love something that
blocks out all the light.
- Okay.
- Ugh, shit.
Shit.
- Did you paint my trim?
- Excuse me?
- Why are you watching
me through my windows
and following me around town?
Are you a pervert?
- What the fuck?
I'm not a fucking pervert.
Fucking hell, that's a fucking small town,
you can't be saying that kind of shit.
- So you were the one that
was working on the house, huh?
God, you know, I was trying to figure out
how it was in such good
shape just sitting out there
all by itself.
Now I know.
Who are you?
- I just used to work on it for a while.
Just didn't like seeing
it fall apart, you know.
Houses around here, nature
has a way of taking 'em back.
- Do you know who used to live there?
They left all their shit.
- Oh, guess it's all yours now, right?
- So you must live nearby, huh?
Bet you come by often.
Funny, I didn't, I didn't
notice your truck earlier.
- Listen, I'm sorry for spying.
It's just that that house has been empty
for a long damn time and you spooked me.
- You're a contractor?
- Yes, ma'am.
- How long did you work on it?
- Off and on for years.
- I have some things I
wanna do on the inside
if you're interested.
- Mm.
Well, I mean, why would
you wanna change anything?
I mean, it's 150-years-old, there's-
- Well, if you're not
interested in the work.
- Well, let me think about it.
Jesus, you just fucking asked me.
- Okay, just don't think too long.
- Okay.
- Sure there's lots of other perverts
that would love the offer.
- The fuck's this.
Yeah.
Good talk.
Good talk.
Oh, long night.
- What time is it?
- 6:00 p.m.
You hungover?
- Something we have in common.
- Huh.
I was, come see what you
needed done at the house.
- Fuck, right, okay.
Um, come in.
Come in.
- Yeah.
- What are you waiting for, John?
All right, let's get to work.
- What, now?
- I'm up.
- I shouldn't, while I work.
- Okay.
Whatever.
I can't even go in there,
the mirror is so ugly.
- What the hell's wrong with it?
- Oh, it's just not me, like at all.
- Where's the new one?
- Don't worry about it.
I'll get a new one once you take it down.
Okay?
- Sure thing.
Whatever you say.
I just gotta get my tools from the truck.
Fuck.
What are you doing here?
- Do you mind?
- It's your house.
- The last people who lived here
left this busted old record player,
but luckily I hoard a lot of old things.
- Yeah, I can see that.
- What were the last owners like?
- Ah, they were a young couple.
Like your age.
I don't remember much,
but they were happy.
Listened to a lot of
music, I remember that.
- Yeah, what did they listen to?
- Oldies.
Kind of like you.
- So you don't remember them much,
but you take care of their house still.
- Guess I should go see about that mirror.
Huh?
- What the hell is that?
Hey, did you hurt yourself
when you're moving?
Tub's all fucked up.
- Did you think
this was my real hair color?
- Oh no, I just thought
you were naturally pretty.
- I am.
- All right.
Easy does it.
- Oh.
- What the hell?
- Fuck!
Oh shit.
- I think I let my guard down
when you called me pretty.
- I think I let my guard down in general.
- Just when we were really hitting it off.
- We ain't having a party.
- I don't know.
Do you have friends coming over?
- No.
No, I'm kind of a loner.
- So no one knows you're here then.
- Hey.
- I'm 120 pounds wet, John.
You can't be afraid of me.
- Oh, I was married.
I assure you, I'm terrified of women.
They've got peas and
carrots in their freezer.
Cold cuts.
- And how do you feel
about cold cuts, John?
- Oh I, I don't think
I'm gonna remember shit
in the morning.
- Yeah, that's right, 'cause you've,
you've had a couple to
drink tonight, haven't you?
Knowing you, you're probably gonna go home
and have a few more.
- I'm thinking about
getting blackout drunk.
- Are you addicted to death?
Do you wanna die?
Or are you just a traditional alcoholic?
- I don't know how to answer that.
- Well, the way I see it, there
are two obsessions in life.
One is the obsession life,
and everything life brings.
And the other is death.
Death can be peaceful.
- So what are you addicted to?
- I'm fascinated with the living.
- Well, I think I'll have
a better answer for you
the next time you ask.
- I look forward to it.
- If you or your boyfriend
plan on killing me next,
maybe find some new hiding
spots for the bodies.
- What did you have in mind?
- There's a big fucking
crawl space under the house.
No one will find me.
- As you wish.
John.
I don't have a boyfriend.
- Holy shit, holy fucking shit.
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Goddammit.
Okay, okay, okay.
Shit!
Fuck, fuck!
Fuck.
Shit.
- Hey, John.
- Yeah, sorry about that, Abe,
I was zoned out back there.
- You were going over 25.
- Oh.
- Everything all right?
- Yeah, yeah.
Abe.
- You been drinking?
- No.
No, not tonight.
- Haven't seen you
around much, or in group.
- Ah well, you know, book's
always been too big for me.
- And here I thought you liked to read.
- Yeah, well, you know, it
depends on the source material.
Hey, what's that, what is
the passage of the Bible?
"The devil prowls at the roaring lion."
- They're only words if
you believe in the devil.
- Well, you see, that's all I believe.
- What lion is chasing you, friend?
- Oh.
They, eh, they sold the house.
- Sorry about that.
- Yeah.
- It was bound to happen.
- Yeah, that's what they keep telling me.
So are you gonna give me
a ticket or something?
- No, I don't think so.
Just take care of yourself, all right.
You got my number.
Call me if you need anything.
- Except a drink.
- Not tonight.
Come on, get outta here.
- Thanks, Abe.
Yeah.
- Shit, man, you look
like you've seen a ghost.
- Hey, can I have another?
Just breathe.
- Dad?
- Fuck!
- Hello?
Anyone home?
Lilith.
Hi.
- Can I help you?
- Yeah, I got a closing gift for Lilith.
- Ah, Lilith.
Yeah, no, she's not in, so.
I, I can just leave it for her.
- Yeah, she told me to
come back this week.
Do I know you?
You look really familiar.
- I'm the plumber.
You know, we all look the same, so.
Ah, the gift.
I can just leave it in the
kitchen on my way out, so.
- Okay, hey, hey, do you mind if I just
use the bathroom real quick?
I mean, it was a long drive here.
I just, I'll be quick in and out.
- Yeah, right.
Whatever you want, huh?
- Thanks, man.
- Yeah.
- You sure we haven't met?
Did you work on one of my
houses in Lexington or Richmond?
Maybe the district?
- I don't think so.
Well, I gotta get to work.
- Yeah, yeah, sure.
Don't mind me.
- Police, where's the fire?
- Excuse me?
- Is this an emergency, sir?
- Yeah, could I get a wellness check
some time tonight or tomorrow?
- That's mostly
what we do out here.
Can I get the address?
- Sorry, fella, hey, don't flush.
I, I don't have all the
kinks worked out yet.
- Okay, yeah, just give me a second.
- Are you in,
are you in the bathroom?
- Will do.
I'll be downstairs.
- Okay.
Yeah, it's a long story.
Just send someone, please.
It's the old farmhouse
off of 123, you know it?
- There's like a
hundred people in this town, sir.
- Yeah, don't remind me.
She, she took down the mirror.
- Yeah.
Not her style, I guess.
She ordered a new one in town, so.
- Yeah, she really is
something, isn't she?
She had me map out where
the sun hits the atrium.
I must have spent four hours
drawing those diagrams for her.
- Girl could use a tan.
- Tried to talk her out of
buying this piece of shit.
It's a lot of house for someone like her.
- Well, I mean, this is a 19th
century farmhouse, you know,
one of the first ones built in the area.
I mean, look, at this mahogany
finishes and moldings,
I mean, she must have a good eye, huh?
- Right.
- Well, you take care, huh?
Drive safe out there.
- What a creep.
- Are you gonna take him out next?
- Is that what you think I am?
Some heartless murderer
with a hair-trigger impulse.
No.
Besides, killing your
realtor, I'm not an idiot.
Did you come here to kill me?
- Oh, I haven't thought it through yet.
Were you gonna kill me?
- I was prepared to.
See, I followed you, and
when a dozen patrol cars
didn't break down my front door,
I kind of wanted to see
if you would come back.
- And I did.
- With a crossbow.
- You're real.
- Flesh and blood.
Ah, I mean, you know what I mean?
- How long will that body last
before you have to-
- Do it again?
Couple of weeks if I spread it out.
- I don't understand.
I saw you go outside.
- Well, dusk isn't so bad.
It's like turning the oven to 250.
- What about midday?
- It's the broiler.
- And the shipping crate.
- Oh, what, you were
hoping to see a coffin.
- I don't know.
- Yeah, I'm a side sleeper, so, yeah,
the crate just fits me better.
- I saw a picture of you in the bedroom.
- Did you know if you feed on somebody
who recently took LSD,
you get a body high.
God, I miss the '60s.
- Who's the, who's the man?
- My handler at the time.
And one of the many loves of my life.
He was very special to me.
There's one downside to never aging.
It's that everyone you
love eventually does.
Overnight, it seems.
He didn't wanna be like me.
He thought death was beautiful.
- No.
No.
Death is, um, death is brutal.
- I'm not what you think I am.
I've loved a lot of people in my life,
and I don't like feeding,
but I have to, okay?
It's a necessary instinct.
I have to live, John.
- Yeah.
If you've lived life
two times over, I mean,
why do you really need anything?
- Well, what else is there?
Besides, it's not like the
movies and the books, you know,
the folklore is mostly bullshit.
Garlic doesn't do anything,
silver is just a commodity,
and I don't feed on just anybody, okay.
I have a process.
- Sure, you do.
- I use bad people.
I help society, okay.
It's rapists and murderers
and creeps and addicts.
If only you normal people knew
how much cleaning up I do around here.
- Why haven't you killed me yet?
I mean, you joked about it.
I know where you live.
I know where you sleep.
I think I know what you are.
I'm a risk.
- Oh, I'm prepared to do anything.
- Now, Charlie has a
baseball game tomorrow night.
- So, where do you consider home?
- I've had a couple, I think
- Everybody has.
Where's that one then, huh?
Feels warm.
You look back and there's a memory there
that you can never forget.
- Well, um.
When I was a more traditional human,
I had a family with a husband,
and we owned several acres of land,
and we had a few kids that were
impossible to keep up with,
but that was another lifetime.
- Are you a grandmother?
I'm sorry.
I'm, I'm sorry I didn't,
we don't have to talk
about it or anything.
- My husband's first wife,
my husband's first wife came from a big
land-owning plantation style family.
She was a jealous bitch,
she couldn't bear children.
That meant something at the time.
She watched over us
like a fucking vulture.
She just hovered for
years and years and years,
until one day she finally cracked
and her and her brother swooped
in and set fire to our farm.
My husband managed to get me out,
but when he went back in for
the kids, he never came back.
Shortly after my kids were taken from me,
I was given a gift, this,
for vengeance, I suppose.
Now, even two centuries later,
I remember every detail of that night.
Every freckle on my kids'
faces stays with me.
So I came to see it as a gift,
because the longer that I'm
alive, somehow they are too.
- That's a beautiful memory.
- Good morning, Vanessa.
Did you have any sleep?
You look awful.
- Jesus.
I look awful, look in the mirror.
Just pulling up old police reports.
- Hey, I didn't authorize that.
- Look at this one.
Three years ago, outside Fayetteville,
man found hanging upside down,
blood drained from his body.
Lacerations at the neck and wrists
where the blood was drawn.
Back was picked apart by crows.
- Good God.
This has nothing to do
with our missing person.
- Okay, what about this one?
Tom Mallard, reported
missing outside township
10 miles away from Fayetteville.
Family said he was
meeting someone on a date.
- I'll put a call in to
the sheriff's office.
- Those lazy fucks?
- Maybe you should get back to work
and drink some coffee or something.
- I'm wide awake.
Just let me keep digging through these.
You know there's something here.
- Legally, I can't allow you
to sift through this shit.
- Fuck the law.
I'm better at the computer stuff than you.
It's not your fault.
When you were growing up,
all you had was Oregon Trail.
- Hey, beat Oregon Trail, then we'll talk.
- Someone called yesterday
while you were in your meeting.
I don't know why they call
it anonymous, everyone knows.
- Keep it down.
- Wellness check.
- You have to start with this earlier,
like before all the personnel
files that you're pulling.
What's the address?
- The old mill place off the 123.
Guy was in the bathroom, it
was a whole fucking thing.
- John's old place.
- The guy you sponsored?
- Yeah.
Something was off with him.
- I was serious about
helping you, you know.
I'm sick of fucking creeps
getting away with stuff
all the time.
- We'll talk, I promise.
Do some work, actual work.
Please.
- Can I help you?
- Are you the homeowner?
- Yes.
There a problem, officer?
Do you have a warrant?
- Ma'am, there was a welfare check
called in for you yesterday.
I knocked but there was no answer,
and I saw your garage door was open.
- I was resting a migraine upstairs.
- Sorry.
I guess my imagination got the best of me.
You've got some worried neighbors.
You being out here all alone.
- I don't have any neighbors.
It's the whole point of
being out here all alone.
- Well, you worried somebody, Miss.
- Call me Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth.
Sorry for the intrusion.
- Can you shut the door on your way out?
I don't want any animals to get in.
- How did you find me?
- Same way I did last time.
Can I come in?
- Do I have to invite you in,
is, is that how it works or?
- I don't need to be invited.
It's just fucking polite.
- Right, right.
- Oh, shit, what the
hell are you doing here?
- Well, I was hoping to find John.
- Yeah, well, he ain't been
in in a couple of days.
Let me get you something?
- Water.
Yeah, he hasn't been around
much of anywhere lately.
- Yeah, well, you'll know he's dead
when he don't turn up
here in a couple of days.
- Hey, you have any young
women come by lately?
Out-of-towners, maybe?
- Now you know very well I
do not like out-of-towners.
- You don't have to hide anything from me.
I'm not looking for prostitutes.
I'm looking for a missing person.
- Think John's missing?
- Oh, well, I think he
may be into something.
I don't know what yet, so don't ask me.
- Kenny, another round.
- Yeah.
Hang on.
- Mm hmm.
- A cop came
by the house earlier.
- Oh.
- I found him in the garage.
He didn't see anything, but
he seemed like he was spooked.
- That's Abe.
- The one that pulled you over?
- Well, he's pretty much
the only cop in town.
Everybody knows him, yeah.
- Now that worries me.
- No, that's not necessary.
- You like him?
- Oh, he's good.
He means well.
He doesn't fit your rule book.
- There are exceptions
to the rule book, John.
- He's small time.
He's so bad at his job, the
union sent him out here.
I mean this,
that's the kind of people
that Alderson attracts.
Fuck ups.
- Ouch.
- No, no.
- I'm just fucking tired.
- I have a surprise for you.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- A surprise.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
Hold on, hold on.
- Okay.
- Dun dun dun dun!
- John, what the fuck?
- Well, I don't have the
little medical vials.
I don't, I don't know
where you get 'em from.
- This isn't from the morgue, is it?
- Just try it.
- Okay, please do not tell me
that you did something stupid.
- Will you please try it?
- Fucking dog food!
- No, it was a beautiful buck.
I mean, you should have seen him.
- This is not helpful to me.
- You know, you said that animals work.
- In desperation.
- Yeah, but you don't
have to kill anybody.
- John, I take out one lowlife
criminal every two months
so that I don't tear
apart the entire town.
Do you get that?
- Yeah.
- Imagine if you had
to drink piss every day
for eight weeks, and then
you have to walk up and down
the grocery aisle tempted by the,
by the promise of satisfaction.
It's only a matter of time
before you're gonna snap, isn't it?
Before you're gonna just start
taking things off the shelf
without even fucking thinking.
- Sorry.
I was just, I was just trying to help.
Doesn't matter.
- Wait, wait, wait.
Thank you.
Thank you.
- Holy fuck!
Fuck!
Dammit.
Ah, shit.
Hey, Lilith, I got most
of the padlocks up.
I kind of cut myself a little bit.
You have any gauze or anything?
Lilith?
I was thinking if we were.
You okay?
Lilith, you all right?
- Don't look at me, I'm sorry, I'm just.
I just, I just need to
sit down for a little bit.
Sorry you had to see that.
- I've seen worse in people.
Doesn't bother me.
- I don't like that version of myself.
You should.
I just think I've been
rationing too hard this time.
- Take from me.
- No, no, no, that's, no.
- Here, look.
Take from me.
- No, John, that's, no.
- I mean it, take from me.
I want you to.
- And what if I can't help myself?
Do you wanna die tonight?
Is that it?
- Just take it.
- Do I remind you of your ex-wife?
Is that why you're trying to help me?
Because I'm in your old house?
- No.
- Listen, I don't wanna hurt you, John.
It's about time you figured out
that there are some things you can't fix.
- Come on, fuck.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, breathe,
breathe, hey, there we go.
Breathe.
What the fuck, come on.
Oh fuck.
Go down there.
That's what I'm gonna do,
I'm gonna go down there.
- What are you even gonna do?
- Oh, I don't know.
Maybe transfer our son to
Charlotte or DC or somewhere.
- He's home now, just
let him be home with me.
- He's dying here.
- I know!
He needs me, he needs his mom.
- Well, I'm not gonna sit around here
and just hold his hand and watch him fade,
I'm not gonna fucking do it.
- Then what are you gonna do, huh?
What the fuck are you
even gonna do then, huh?
- Oh, fuck you.
- Yeah go get drunk some more then.
- You know, it wasn't
until I stopped praying
that God found me.
This, this is a true story, y'all.
This guy was having an
overdose right in front of me,
and kind of grabs my hand that moment
in that chair right there.
And he says to me, with all
the energy he can muster,
"Keep going, Danny."
Then he died.
He said that shit and he
died right in front of me.
So I started praying again.
And Abe helped me get right
and I've been six months sober.
- It's easy to help someone
who actually wants it.
- Listen, we don't make new people share.
And I'm not willing to ask
someone to do something
that I'm not willing to do myself.
You know, for everyone
who is seeking help,
seeking sobriety, you know,
there are countless others
who are still suffering.
You know?
That's why I come here
and I try to facilitate this group.
I was a detective in Pittsburgh.
Man, in my community,
your dad teaches you to
suck it up, you know?
That's what we gotta do, survive.
You know, everyone in
here understands that.
So what am I gonna do?
I sucked it up all my life.
Sucked it up after every dead
kid I had to investigate.
Every domestic violence case.
Women beaten to within
an inch of their lives.
I sucked it up.
And then I got piss drunk.
We were on this stakeout
for this real piece of
work, a serial rapist.
And we were outside of a club
we thought he came around,
it was a real shot in the
dark, bullshit work really.
My partner and I, we decided
to crack a few in the car.
I had already had a few before on my shift
to steady the hand.
And then I saw him.
You know, I can't remember
how deep I was in the bag.
Like my, my partner had
already fallen asleep.
But, but this guy,
he was grabbing at her and
forcing himself on her.
I, I don't know what came over me, man.
In the dark, six drinks in,
all you white boys look alike.
I just shot him.
Then his girlfriend started screaming.
She was so angry.
And he was on the ground bleeding.
- It's a disease, Abe.
- And that's why I don't
investigate anymore.
My family's all I got now.
They saved me.
Anyone else?
- Hey, if you're
trying to get Kenny,
you dialed the right number.
Just leave a message,
man, I'll call you back.
- Just fucking answer.
- What the fuck, you wanna fuck me?
- You aint my type, Ken.
- Bullshit.
- Yeah.
Have one more, Teddy.
- You driving?
- Oh, you know me, Teddy.
Big walker.
- Hmm.
Yeah, Abe was in the other day.
- Get the fuck out of here.
Did he get a drink?
- No.
Was asking about you.
I didn't say nothing, but you
have some kind of trouble?
- Oh, shit.
- How'd you like
looking at dicks, Johnny.
- Ah, you know, Teddy.
I'm always in some kind of trouble.
- You like boys, John?
- Oh, well, I mean, it's 2023.
I just figure all you fucking homophobes
had tiny little dicks, you know.
I just had to take a little peek, huh?
That pretty baby mama
of yours, man, come on.
Just had to get a look.
- Fuck you and your dead kid.
- Oh, oh shit.
Ah, oh, fuck.
- Put that on it before it swells.
You're your own worst
enemy, you know that.
But I guess Kenny can't kill you
if you decide to do it first, right?
- I think you might be onto something.
- Fucking knew it.
Goddamn Thursday.
Lacey.
- Yeah, fucking got him.
- Thank you so much.
- You gotta take
him back to court, hon.
I grew up with Ken and he ain't changing.
- He's been bringing him down
to the bar and I just, I-
- I got him.
Eddie's always good here, all right?
- Jesus, I
need to call you back.
- Kenny!
- Stop!
I work for the fucking police,
asshole, so stop hitting him.
- This is between him and me.
Go on home, you didn't see nothing.
- I, I'm gonna call the
police chief or an ambulance.
It's your choice.
- Hang on, I recognize you.
You're his ex-wife, right?
His kid's mom.
- Get away from me.
- He would hurt one of you eventually.
I'm doing you a favor.
- You know what, guys like
you are the fucking problem,
with your toxic serial killer bullshit.
You're fucking done, man.
- She was one of the good guys.
- I knew you couldn't leave it alone.
What if I wasn't here, huh?
You didn't fucking think
this through, John.
- They had a kid.
She didn't fit your fucking rule book.
- Yeah, you know what?
I didn't wanna fucking do that,
but she was gonna call that fucking cop.
Now, we need to go.
This is exactly why I
didn't want you involved.
- Yeah, what did you expect me to do, huh?
You needed help, you were sick.
- I don't need help from a fucking drunk.
I'm 200-years-old.
Do you think this is my
first time being sick?
- Yeah, but you let me live.
Why, huh?
Why, if you don't need help.
- Oh, I don't need anyone,
all right, I wanted you.
Because being like this, what I am,
you need little things and
small people to keep you busy.
- Oh, that's what you think of me.
- Yeah, that's it.
- That's what you-
- That's right, John.
You're useless.
It's pathetic.
You're just my little play
thing is all it really is.
Don't you get it?
I felt sorry for you.
- Yeah, well, it's no wonder that
nobody wants to live with
you for all of eternity.
You're fucking insufferable.
- Fuck you!
- Well, there you go.
Happy Thanksgiving.
- I'm sorry for what I said.
I was upset.
- I know.
- I need to make her go away,
and you need to get rid of him.
- Where am I supposed to go?
- He's a suspect now.
It's, I don't know, a
murder suicide situation.
And then come back in the morning
and clear out the freezer,
'cause we can't keep
anything here anymore.
- They had a little boy.
- This is about survival now, John.
That's all that matters.
- Bullshit.
We took that kid's parents away from him.
You're just like a fucking shadow.
All you do is just roam
from town to fucking town.
Who's keeping you here?
- I don't know.
But I do know that you made
a pretty big fucking mess.
I don't wanna have to hurt you
any more than I already have, John.
So how about you finish what you started,
because I don't think this
is gonna work anymore.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Abe, you ass, how
often do I call you at home?
Got some serious shit
going on at the bar, man.
That contractor guy is
getting into it with Kenny.
Oh shit.
- Lilith!
Elizabeth!
Can we talk?
- Fuck.
- John is that you?
- Ah, fuck.
- John!
What you doing out here, man?
- She's onto you, Abe.
It's over.
- Hey, hey, don't move.
I'm gonna have to ask you to
come in with me, old friend.
- Get the fuck outta here, Abe.
- What did you do?
- I fucked up, Abe.
- I can help you.
Look, I know you got yourself
into some weird shit,
but something's not right, I can see that.
Put the bow down.
Put the bow down.
This is your last warning.
- Fucking get out the way!
- No John, don't, don't, don't!
Fuck!
Why did you, why did you shoot that arrow?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Why didn't you listen, why
didn't you fucking listen!
- Abe, be careful.
- What are you saying?
- Be careful.
She's dangerous.
- Who's dangerous, who John?
Hey, hey, keep pressure on this.
I need to go find help.
Hold tight.
- Abe, no.
- Dad?
You believe in heaven, right?
- I do.
I don't know what heaven is
exactly, but I think it's real.
But you don't need to be
thinking about that, okay?
We're doing all right, huh?
You feel good, right?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Keep pressure on it, go
on, keep pressure on it.
- Look at his eyes.
He's fading, he's fading.
- Stay with me,
stay with me.
- Russ, he's about to code.
Come on, we gotta get.
- Why on earth we stopping?
- I got some jackass
parked in the road up here.
- Come on, Russ, let's
get the fuck on, man.
- I'm gonna go check it out.
One of you guys come out with me.
- I'll go check, okay.
- Yeah, yeah.
- Let's go, let's go.
- Make sure this
motherfucker don't die.
Ma'am.
Everything all right?
- Try not to die on me.
- I want you to carve your
initials on this tree right here.
- Why?
- Look.
If we're lucky, this tree
will live to be 300-years-old.
But no matter how old it gets,
if we carve our mark
deep enough in the bark
then it can last centuries.
- But even trees don't last forever.
- Well, I mean, nothing does, but.
- Oh my God, I'm so sorry,
this is all my fault.
You've lost a lot of blood,
you're not gonna make it.
Now listen, the last time
I asked you this question,
I didn't know if I could trust you.
But now I really need you to decide.
Do you still wanna die?
- No.
- Okay.
Okay.
- Definitely a lot of work, but.
There's a good part.
There's lots of good parts, overall.
- Honey, you home?
- Hey.
We have a new neighbor.
- Hi.
So sorry to just drop in, but, well,
Lisa was nice enough to
invite me in for coffee.
I'm new to the neighborhood,
so it's taken me some time
to get around to introducing
myself, I'm terribly shy.
Elizabeth, hi.
- Honey.
- Sorry.
Abe.
Can I get a glass of
water, please, sweetie?
It's been a long day.
- Yeah, sure.
- Have a seat.
You have a beautiful home, Abe,
and your kids are adorable.
I had the pleasure of meeting them both.
- Yeah, right?
You hear that?
That is why I had to send them upstairs.
Excuse me for a minute.
You guys better not be fighting up there.
- Were you drinking tonight, officer?
- I don't drink.
- Be our little secret.
- Why are you here?
- I heard that you were a good
man with a beautiful family.
- You lay one hand on them.
- That's not my intention.
- I know what you are.
- Then you know not to
fuck around, Abraham.
- Are you threatening me?
- Oh, please.
By the time you pull out that gun,
I'll have broken your neck
in two different places
and drained all of the blood
from your pathetic fat cadaver.
And then your wife or your kids
are gonna have to walk in
here and see you like that,
and I'll have to off them one by one,
and I really don't want
to have to do that.
I've got a family I love too.
I get it.
- You are the fucking devil.
- No.
The devil's much worse, trust me.
Kenny was a troubled man in a lot of pain.
I think I heard around town
that he was beating his missing wife.
Poor kid, having to learn about
both of his parents that way.
It just, it was that terrible
accident on the roadway.
- What accident?
- Maybe you missed a couple
of calls on your bender.
- What do you want me to say?
- Whatever it takes to
protect your family.
- All right, it's your turn.
- I just realized it's getting so late.
I, I should really be going.
- Oh, you've barely finished your coffee.
- Oh no, it's just too late for me.
Well, next time you two
should come over to my place.
We'd be happy to have you.
Maybe I'll make brunch.
- I'll walk you out.