Nocturne (2026) s01e02 Episode Script

1
That's Cassie Ford.
Her son was a cop
over at Phillips Township.
Never seen her.
Buried alive
with a little bit of food and water.
Even a little pipe for air.
Somebody went through a lot of trouble
to make sure she died slowly.
It's a sad story.
Not sure what it has to do with me.
And who are you, Mr. Walter?
I can't find… [stammers]
There's-There's-There's no school records.
There's no payroll.
No driver's license, no doctor visits,
no taxes, no nothing.
And why is that?
You on the run?
[sighs]
Beth and Emmy Lee.
You know either of these two women?
No.
Come on. We've got witnesses,
said they saw you in the area.
You recognize these kids, Mr. Walter?
Michael and Felicia Frost.
Like I said, no.
Bullshit.
[sighs]
You've been drinking?
[stammers] No,
you-you don't ask the questions.
Vodka, right?
[suspenseful music playing]
Hey, Sam. Listen.
"I don't know, Your Honor.
Must have malfunctioned.
I have no idea
how Mr. Walter sustained those injuries."
Sam.
Is that what you say
when you hit your wife?
- [groans]
- The fuck did you say?
- No. No!
- What the fuck did you just say?
- What the fuck did you say?
- Stop. No, Sam.
- [Sam] Okay. I'm okay.
- [Jonah] Relax.
Rebecca, right?
[Jonah] Don't listen to him.
- What the fuck did you say about my wife?
- No. Hey!
- What the fuck did you just say to me?
- Look at me.
- [Sam] The fuck did you say to me?
- Hey!
I'll fucking kill you,
you fucking dickhead!
- [Sam] I will fuck you up!
- [Jonah] Sam.
What the fuck you talking about my wife?
Don't talk about my wife!
[theme music playing]
[pensive music playing]
[bird chirping]
Quinn, she wants two groups gridding the
sector between Harmony and Portersville.
Officer Kirkland,
he'll meet you guys up there,
- all right?
- All right.
Hey, Stu.
Tight groupings. Those woods are dense.
I don't want anyone getting lost.
Okay, listen up.
Agent Quinn asked me
to do today's grid briefing, all right?
So, we're looking for anything
that's gonna lead us to Felicia Frost.
That's footprints, tire tracks,
cigarette butts.
You grid it, you mark it, you call in ERT.
There's a lot of leaves
on the ground up there.
So kick 'em loose,
see what's underneath them.
My team, they're experienced.
They'll be with you, so use them.
It's gonna be winter soon.
Finding any trace of Felicia Frost
in the snow or the ice
is gonna be impossible.
Hey, one more thing, please.
Felicia is important to you
because you want to do your job well.
But she's important to us here in
the Fairhaven PD because we know her.
She sold us Girl Scout cookies.
We watched her play softball,
because we handed her candy at Halloween.
But… [sighs]
…mainly, because as far as we know,
she's still alive.
Now let's go find her.
[chattering]
- Hey, how you doing?
- [Saga] Hey.
Quinn, she's meeting Jonah. [grunts]
Why?
Uh… [sighs] My guess, breakfast.
It's a little early for lunch.
I'm kind of busy here, Saga.
So, he's doing it?
Well, uh…
Jonah.
- [grunts, sighs]
- He's doing the case?
- [agent] Chief.
- Oh…
This is that trail
you're talking about, right?
Yeah, yeah. That's it. Hell's Hollow.
[agent] All right.
You know Jonah. He wants to help out.
Yeah, I know Jonah.
[Ellison] Coffee?
Thanks, Stu.
That is a lot of acreage.
Michael had pneumonia
when he came in, right?
- Mm-hmm.
- So Felicia probably has it too.
Mmm. Winter's coming on.
It's gonna start freezing at night.
Hey, Mary Rose.
Make sure they don't get lost looking for
that trailhead up at Hell's Hollow.
Yes, Chief.
[sighs]
Hey, I don't wanna get in your business,
but what the fuck are you doing here?
Aren't you supposed to be in Miami?
I'm sorry.
It's always great to see you, but
wouldn't you prefer palm trees to pines?
Well, I've got a couple of days off.
So I might as well put them to good use.
[country music playing on stereo]
[bell dings]
Hey, you.
- [Jonah] How you doing, Vee?
- I'm good. The usual?
No. Just, uh…
two large black to go, please.
You gotta eat.
You know this guy?
Yeah, that's Benny.
[Jonah] What do you think?
[Vee] He's all right.
Nice guy.
Quiet.
Drives a bus down at Noble Elementary.
Yeah.
You working again?
I don't know. Maybe.
How's Michael?
[Jonah] He's all right.
What about his sister?
- [bell dings]
- [Quinn sighs] Good morning.
Hey, are those for us?
- Yeah, I thought we could pick up…
- Can I actually get an Americano
with warm oat milk on the side?
How about a drip with milk from a cow?
Is this the FBI lady
everybody's been talking about?
[Quinn] Indeed. Do you mind if we sit?
No, sure.
Thanks, Vee.
- [Jonah] This all right?
- Mm-hmm.
So, this is Fairhaven, huh?
Yeah. Sorry about that.
Seems like a pretty big change of pace
for a cop from Philly.
You get used to it.
- [Quinn] I read your service record.
- Yeah?
Turns out
you're not the average homicide detective.
Army Intelligence, Rangers.
Clearance rate as a cop in Philly
was impressive,
and that was before
you caught a serial killer.
Not the kind of guy who usually retires
to the boonies.
What happened, Jonah?
A friend asked me to help him out
with a case.
[Quinn] Sam Mendel?
Yeah. Yeah.
We grew up together in Philly.
Went through the service together.
After that, he… he came here,
and I stayed in Philly.
Kept in touch.
I was here all the time and…
Actually, it's where I, uh… met my wife.
I bought a little cabin outside of town.
And Sam asked you to help
to find the Frost kids?
It's not that unusual.
Those guys gotta call Allegheny County
any time they get anything bigger
than a misdemeanor. They hate it.
So I decided to help him out.
And, you know, after my wife and daughter…
[Quinn] Right, right.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Walter said, "The truth for the truth."
What does he mean by that?
He just wants to get out.
That's it?
That's it.
[sighs]
[hair clippers buzzing]
When did you get the guitar?
A week ago?
Two?
You want to know how I knew that?
Yeah.
Tell me your favorite song,
and I'll tell you how.
"Radioactive."
It's by Imagine Dragons.
I don't know them.
[chuckles] That's okay.
They were big when I was in high school.
And the song made me feel…
I don't know. It doesn't matter.
Yes, it does.
[chuckles]
[clears throat]
The third and fourth finger on your
left hand are beginning to get calloused.
That's your fretting hand.
[chuckles]
Wow. [chuckles]
It's a weird word, isn't it?
"Fret."
[giggles]
- It is.
- [chuckles]
[muffled] Michael.
Hi.
My name is Alexandra, and I'm helping out
with trying to find your sister.
[normal] We're all so glad you're okay.
[coughing]
[Ida] Pneumonia.
Doctor said
it'll be fine with antibiotics,
but it's not contagious and that.
Oh, I'm a mom. I get it.
Jonah and I,
we really wanna bring your sister home.
We're worried about Felicia, Michael.
I know you're scared, but you're safe now.
We need your help.
Can you tell us anything about the place
they kept you, anything at all?
Color of the walls, feel of the ground,
any sounds you might have heard?
Michael, you…
I'm gonna show you a picture,
if it's all right with you.
- Mom?
- Yeah.
[stammers] I mean,
his eyes still aren't great.
You ever seen this guy, Michael?
[stammers] She's not there anymore.
[Jonah] Felicia?
Felicia's not there?
[breathes shakily] She…
She can't protect us.
Who can't protect you, honey?
Becky.
Becky who?
The woman with the eye.
He took her away.
[breathing shakily]
[Jonah] Who took her away?
[Michael breathing heavily]
Who took her away, Michael?
- Jonah.
- [Ida] Okay, that's enough.
[beeping]
Excuse me, Jonah.
Becky with the eye?
Rebecca Mendel. Sam's wife.
She had something going on with her eye,
had it since birth.
[Quinn] You and Sam arrested Jurek,
and then his wife went missing?
And no one connected the dots?
Sam was a good cop,
but he could be hard.
He liked to drink, and when he did,
he became a different person.
He could get violent.
When she went missing,
everyone assumed that Rebecca split
because of Sam,
but I knew she didn't.
And you've been thinking
accomplice since then?
Jurek was in custody, yeah.
I just couldn't prove it.
And Dave wants it all wrapped up.
My staff inspector wants me back
in Philly, so I was on my own.
Jurek must have communicated
with them somehow, right?
To give the order for Michael
to be released.
That's where we start.
You take former staff.
I'll call Riverside.
What's this all about?
- We'll find out.
- Mm-mmm.
What the fuck's going on?
Anybody?
Thank you all for coming. This is
just a quick informal conversation.
You all have regular contact
with Jurek Walter.
All I need to know is if any of you have
been asked to carry a message for him.
- By who?
- [director] By Jurek.
- Why?
- It's a simple question.
Sounds more like an interrogation.
Where's Sally at anyway?
She's his regular day nurse,
when she decides to show up.
And you're his night nurse, Gary.
[Gary] I'm not saying anything
without my union rep. [scoffs]
[director] Because I asked you a question?
Because you're accusing us of shit.
I'm not accusing you or anyone
of anything.
I'm running this hospital,
and part of that job
is maintaining secure protocols.
So I will remind you, all of you.
Passing a message for an inmate
is a felony, state and federal.
You will lose your license
and you will go to prison.
[suspenseful music playing]
That's all for now.
[children chattering, laughing]
Excuse me. Benny Zalesky?
- I know you?
- My name's Jonah Lynn.
You mind if I ask you a few questions
about Jurek Walter?
[groans]
Do I have to talk to you?
No, sir. You don't have to do anything
you don't wanna do.
It's about those missing kids?
Yep.
Mmm.
Yeah, okay.
Sure. [sighs]
- How are you?
- Yeah.
How long were you with him?
Riverside, total four years.
RHU, seven months.
Why did you leave?
Well, everybody leaves.
Why'd you leave?
[chuckles]
Yeah. You look at him, you know,
in that concrete box,
and you think, you know,
"I wouldn't survive a week in that."
And then one day, he asks you something,
something simple like, mmm,
"Hey, Benny, you married?"
And you answer, well,
'cause you figure it's nothing, right?
And… [sighs]
And the next night,
he asks you if you got kids.
And you tell him, 'cause why wouldn't you?
I mean, he asks you like you're friends.
And now you're bringing him
a slice of lemon, you know, or candy bars.
You know, just little things.
And you feel sorry for him.
You feel sorry for a man
who buried people alive.
[Jonah] How sorry?
What do you mean?
He ever ask you to do anything
outside of work for him?
Get a message out, that sort of thing?
You're not in trouble, Mr. Zalesky. I'm
just trying to figure out what happened.
It felt like it was headed that way,
so I got out.
Okay. Appreciate your time.
Yeah.
Hey, you wanna know
what the worst part is?
Part of me misses talking to him.
Can you believe that?
[Karl] Dinner.
[sniffs]
Yeah, I can't help you anymore.
- Sorry.
- [door opens]
I know what it's like
in a place like this.
Hey, shit-bird. I do dinner.
Trying to make a little OT off me, huh?
Has someone threatened you?
You know what?
I have had it up to here with this place.
Just… I can't afford to lose my job.
I understand.
I'm still your friend.
Like I said…
I'm sorry.
[door latch closes]
[ominous music playing]
[scoffs]
Hi.
Agent Bauer, you're back.
[sighs]
Jonah doesn't know I'm here.
But I wanted to make my case in person.
And what case is that?
I told Jonah… [clears throat]
…I think I know how to find Felicia.
You need to send in a UC
who can get to Jurek.
A UC?
I'm guessing you have someone in mind.
If you read my file.
If you're open to an undercover op.
It's a big move
that usually comes with a long lead time.
Besides, how do you think
Detective Lynn would feel about that?
How Jonah feels is irrelevant.
You need someone to observe
what's going on on the inside.
Who's Jurek talking to?
How's he getting messages out?
If you read my file, you'll see.
I'm highly qualified.
But what's not in my file
is an alcoholic father.
So I understand intimidation and coercion.
And a mom who's been institutionalized.
I've been in those places.
I know how they work.
I am your best bet for finding Felicia,
and that clock is ticking.
I already know this case.
You have to send me in.
UC is one thing. I just, um…
I don't agree it should be you,
especially not after I just learned
your dad had his new wife taken by Jurek.
[Saga] Rebecca?
You have that confirmed?
[Quinn] Mm-hmm.
Michael Frost put her on site
during his captivity.
I appreciate the offer, Agent Bauer.
[sighs] I'll take it under consideration.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
Jesus. [sighs]
You're milking it tonight, newbie.
I've seen it all.
[suspenseful music playing]
[sniffs, clears throat]
[coughs, chokes]
What is he doing?
Same shit, different day.
Shut up.
Gary, something's going on with Walter.
[gagging, choking]
[Karl] He's choking.
[choking]
- I don't think he's faking it.
- Get on it.
[Gary] Fuck, man. I just clocked in.
Okay, he's-he's gonna fucking die.
So what, man? Life will be
a lot fucking easier on all of us.
[choking]
You want me to call an EMT?
Get the hell in there. Go with him.
Don't let him get in there alone.
- I'm not getting stabbed for that jagoff.
- [beeping]
[automated voice]
Code blue, Restricted Housing Unit.
Code blue, Restricted Housing Unit.
- Okay. Calm down. Stay calm.
- [choking]
Stand him up. All right? Come on.
Don't push me away.
I'm trying to help you.
Lift him up. Lift him up!
- [coughing]
- What the… Gotta be shitting me.
Get the fuck off me, man.
[coughing]
- Look at me. I stink!
- It's okay. It's okay.
[Gary] Not anymore!
I've had enough of this shit.
Thank you, Karl.
[shushing] Just breathe. Just breathe.
[breathing deeply]
[exhales]
Just breathe.
And do you have an update
on the GPR drones?
- Should be arriving from DC today.
- [phone buzzes]
Just give me a sec.
This is Agent Quinn.
[director] There's been a situation here.
What kind of situation?
Jurek Walter had a choking incident
at dinner.
Has he done that before?
No.
And is he back on his normal schedule now?
Yes, ma'am. For now.
Thank you for the update. If anything
else develops, just give me a call.
Of course. [sighs]
[sighs]
- [Saga] Hello?
- Agent Bauer.
Why would Jurek Walter purposefully
choke himself on his own food?
It could be a lot of things. [sighs]
Maybe he's trying to get into medical.
Could be a power move.
But if I had to guess,
I'd say that I think he wanted as many
nurses and aides in there as possible.
To hurt them?
No.
I think to send another message.
Listen, I know you don't want me in there,
and I get it. It's risky.
But it's either me now or someone else
in three weeks,
and in three weeks' time,
that's gonna be too late.
[chattering]
[director] Sorry to do this, but we're
getting pressure from the authorities.
It's a violation of our CBA,
not to mention our privacy.
Lockers are clear.
Someone is smuggling messages out
for a convicted serial killer.
I offered you the chance to come clean,
but if no one's gonna do it voluntarily,
then I have no choice.
- He's clean.
- [director] Mr. Mazur.
Hey, hey, hey. You touch my dick,
I'll file a complaint with the PHRC.
Sexual harassment
and a hostile work environment.
Get your fucking hands off me, man.
- This yours?
- No fucking idea.
[director] It's a message to an attorney,
signed Jurek Walter.
[Gary] Now, that is bullshit.
That's not mine.
[director] Do you know
anything about this, Mr. Mazur?
[Gary] No, I don't know
anything about it. I just…
- What's it doing it in your pocket?
- [Gary] That note's not mine, okay?
[birds chirping]
[Gary] I don't know
what the fuck you guys are on about.
I already told the cops.
I didn't do anything.
I'm not about to risk my pension
for anybody, especially for that nutjob.
Neither of us think you did, Gary.
Can you tell us what happened
with Jurek Walter?
He was choking. I rushed in.
I cleared his airway.
I'm a fucking hero.
My humble opinion,
we should've let nature take its course.
But what do I know?
Probably some sort of stunt.
If it was a stunt, Jurek could have
used it to plant the note in your pocket.
That's what I told Riverside,
but those bastards wouldn't listen.
Not that it matters now.
On paid leave till they get it resolved.
Do you have any idea
what happened to Sally?
[Gary] Sally Gifford?
Fuck if I know.
I haven't seen Sally in weeks.
[train horn blaring]
Sally Gifford?
Walter's day nurse.
She was one of about
three or four people who had a…
[Quinn] What is it?
You ever get the feeling
you're being watched?
Do you ever get the feeling
you're being paranoid?
[Jonah] When you were in the RHU,
did you spend any time with him?
No, not much.
Just stayed in the women's ward mostly,
unless they were understaffed.
Right.
Uh… When you…
When you did interact with him,
did he ever ask you
to do anything for him?
Or… I don't know, like favors,
something like that.
They were very clear about protocol.
I just kind of went la-la-la
when he would talk to me.
Right.
- Thanks for your time, Ms. Barrnes.
- Mm-hmm.
Hey.
You got a minute?
What are you doing here?
- You okay?
- Yeah.
I spoke with Quinn.
She's making me the UC on the Walter case.
All right.
Quinn was gonna tell you,
but I wanted you to hear it from me first.
Oh.
Thanks.
Jonah, please stop.
What are you doing, Saga?
I don't know.
But I can't stop thinking about it.
What?
[Saga] All of it.
You, Sam, Rebecca.
That little girl.
She's waiting for us in the woods,
and I want her to see her family again.
That's the best part of me.
The part that would jump off a fucking
cliff to make sure that would happen.
Got that from you.
What did Quinn say?
I don't want Quinn.
- I want you.
- [sighs]
How am I supposed to do that?
No, don't bullshit me.
Sam said you were the best UC in Philly.
This isn't about busting drug dealers
in Philly, Saga. This guy's a psychopath.
This is about keeping you safe.
Then keep me safe.
You should have talked to me
before you talked to Saga.
She's a grown woman and a federal agent.
[sighs] She's too close to this,
and you know it.
Some might say the same thing about you.
If it's any consolation,
she wants you to prep her for launch.
She doesn't know what she wants.
[sighs]
We meeting at the lodge?
No, I want to keep the circle small.
I'm still looking for a place.
Okay. I might have something.
[Saga sighs]
Jesus.
Got bedrooms over there.
[car approaching]
Interesting vibe.
I didn't know Jonah was a hunter.
He's not.
It's his wife's family's spot.
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thank you.
A lot to do. We should probably get going.
What about the cafeteria staff?
It's meant to be trained staff only
in the RHU.
So to monitor who's coming and going,
you need to establish a clear eyeline
to the entry point that is right here.
Stay out of trouble.
Nice patients get pills.
Problem patients get injections.
- I know.
- [Jonah] Duress code?
"Gray skies."
- [Jonah] All clear?
- "Pineapple."
You fucking around right now, Saga?
It's "Sunshine."
He figures out who you are…
You're in there with no phone, no backup,
no one on the inside.
We don't hear "Sunshine" within 24 hours,
we pull you the fuck out. Understood?
Yeah, understood.
Run it again.
My name is Esther Dujardin.
I am a 32-year-old Haitian-American woman
born and raised in Queens.
My mother is schizophrenic,
involuntarily committed
to a state institution in Arizona.
My father is an alcoholic, deceased.
Suicide.
That's a little close to home, isn't it?
No, it's good.
Short window, hug the truth.
[breathing deeply]
[chokes]
[grunting]
[ominous music playing]
[grunts]
[chokes]
[panting]
[chuckling]
[knocks on door]
Hey. How's it going with the pills?
[chuckles]
I can palm 'em fine, but I got to work
on getting them out before they melt.
What's the worst that could happen?
I don't know, you OD on Thorazine?
Good point.
You think it's gonna work?
[Jonah] What?
This whole "find the messenger" thing?
Can you get me into the RHU?
Quinn doesn't want you that close.
And you?
I told her good luck keeping you out.
[chuckles]
Any ideas?
As to a schizophrenic?
I'm sure you'll figure something out.
Try to get some rest.
[sighs]
[door opens, closes]
[Saga] Hey.
[Jonah] You sleep okay?
Yeah, I always do here.
Well, that makes one of us.
[Saga] Micro-transmitter?
[Jonah] Yep.
It's got a lithium battery in it.
It should last longer
than you'll be in there.
What about regulations?
They'll probably take it from you at
intake. They got to give it back though.
They can't keep anything
that's worn for religious reasons.
[Jonah sighs]
When's the last time
you talked to your mom?
[scoffs]
I'm gonna see her later today.
Good.
Yeah.
[sniffs]
Walter has a way of getting to people.
And when he does, they don't come back.
Michael was the exception, not the rule.
Got it.
[Saga] You look pretty, Ma.
Isn't it nice, Ms. Bauer,
that Saga came by?
- Thank you.
- [grunts]
She always lights up when you're here.
Marci says
you've had a couple of good days.
Sam?
Not Sam, Ma.
Marci?
Your aide.
[humming]
I'm going away again, Ma.
[sighs]
Okay, okay, okay. Okay.
[humming continues]
I'm gonna end this.
Once and for all.
[Saga singing "Dodo Ti Pitit Manman"]
[suspenseful music playing]
[singing continues]
[Quinn] I followed up
on your ex-day nurse Sally Gifford.
What's up?
HR said she hasn't reported for work
in over three weeks.
And no one has seen her in that time.
- I called the school…
- Kids haven't been there either.
Husband's on disability.
Hasn't cashed a check since the fourth.
- You knew?
- I made a few calls this morning.
Heading to Sally's now.
Esther Dujardin. Transferred from
Braddock Hills Behavioral Center,
nonsecure facility
unable to manage violent patients.
Legal basis for commitment?
She set fire to the ward room
with staff inside.
So make sure you have security on hand
when you read her the rules
- and search her for contraband.
- Understood.
[ominous music playing]
Full search head to toe.
Let's make this easy, Ms. Dujardin.
Remove your clothing,
but keep your hands visible.
Arms out.
Palms up.
Lift your left breast.
Lift your right breast.
Lift your tongue.
Close your mouth.
No jewelry.
I wear it for religious reasons.
Remove the necklace and hand it to me.
Take her to observation.
[bird squawking]
Something you want to say to me, Karl?
- [device beeps]
- [door opens]
Keep moving.
[Jurek] You know,
you're lucky to have a friend
in a place like this.
Gary has no friends.
Thank you, Jurek.
You're welcome. [chuckles]
[chuckles]
[suspenseful music playing]
[shutter clicks]
- [grunts]
- [twigs snap]
[rustling]
[suspenseful music playing]
[panting]
[bird chittering]
[rustling]
[wind whistling]
[ominous music playing]
[eerie music playing]
[music ends]
["Life Song" playing]