Nocturne (2026) s01e04 Episode Script

1
[crows cawing]
[TV anchor] We start with new developments
on the disappearance of Rebecca Mendel.
Let's turn it over to Lindsay,
for the latest on that.
[Lindsay] Thank you, Dave.
Outside Fairhaven Chamber of Commerce,
where Chief Dave Ellison
addressed mounting public concern
over the disappearance of Rebecca Mendel
and several other missing residents
connected to the ongoing investigation.
Questions continue to surround
the absence of Detective Sam Mendel,
Rebecca Mendel's husband,
who was not present at today's briefing
and has not made any public statement
regarding his wife's disappearance.
[crows cawing]
[chattering]
[Saga] You can just leave that on my desk.
- [employee] No problem.
- [Saga] All right, bye.
Oh, my God. Jonah, hi! [chuckles]
What are you doing here?
I just flew in this morning.
Why? Is everything okay?
[Jonah sighs]
Is there some place we can talk?
Uh, yeah, um… Yeah, let's go to my office.
[Jonah] I didn't wanna do it
over the phone. And then… [sighs]
I thought it was better
you heard it from me.
Guess I should tell my mom.
How's she doing?
Same.
Not good. I don't… I don't know.
How'd he do it?
[somber music playing]
You know he sent me
a birthday card in March.
Yeah?
He hadn't done that since I was ten.
He was trying.
I knew shit was bad,
but then when Rebecca disappeared…
Your dad had his demons.
Yeah, and one of those demons
snatched his wife and buried her.
Someone should bury him.
Saga…
We both know that Walter's responsible
for Rebecca's disappearance.
And now Sam.
Flight doesn't leave till tomorrow,
if you wanna go to dinner tonight
or something?
Yeah, no, I can't. I gotta work. [sighs]
Hey.
You okay?
I'm fine.
Thanks, Jonah.
[chattering]
[thunder rumbles]
[nurse] Meds.
Sit.
Mm-hmm. Hand.
Swallow.
Mouth open. Head back.
[tense music playing]
Good job.
Let's try to make today easier, huh?
Esther,
I'm starting to think
you and I are gonna be good friends.
[door closes]
[suspenseful music playing]
[gags, groans]
[groans]
[music ends]
[Jonah] On your six, kiddo.
Talk to her.
There you go.
[chuckles]
[inhales, exhales deeply]
- [neck cracks]
- [groans]
[pensive music playing]
[breathes heavily]
[exhales]
Shit.
Morning. I made some coffee.
You want anything else,
you're on your own.
Where are you going this early?
[Jonah] Sally's house.
Wanna see if I can find her journal.
Was hoping you could go
through that inventory for me.
Give me a call if you find it.
It's in her photos,
but I couldn't find it in the log.
[sighs] Feds already combed through it
pretty thoroughly, I thought.
Yeah, that's what they said.
[Nathan] She left everything.
Passport, jewelry, purse.
[Jonah] Any updates
on the anonymous caller?
FBI said the call came from a mobile.
It's only a matter of time
before they find him.
I'm not so sure.
Why not?
Be the dog, not the sheep, Nathan.
[reporter on radio]
Now, this is the latest development
in the case that has gripped
Fairhaven for years.
Now drawing renewed attention following
the unexpected return of Michael Frost
after three years missing.
Anyone with information is urged
to contact the police immediately…
[Ellison] Didn't take long
for folks to connect the dots.
You know how many sightings
we've had of Jurek Walter
since that press conference?
This is exactly what I didn't want.
Dead-end pranks,
and nothing about Felicia.
It's only Jurek Walter lurking
in some playground…
I have an eight-year-old son.
Ezra.
His dad's lawyer said, in so many words,
that my job doesn't provide enough
stability for me to get joint custody.
So my son's in Maryland now, and I'm here,
just trying to ensure another mother
doesn't go another day without her child.
And, Chief, to do that,
I'm gonna use every
and any resource I can.
No offense, but your ex-husband
sounds like a jack-off.
[chuckles]
[taps table]
It's my burden.
Yours is protecting
the people of Fairhaven.
[Ellison] Mm-hmm.
[Quinn] Sorry about the phone calls.
I'll assign a couple more agents
to deal with that.
- Great. Thanks.
- Yeah.
- So how long?
- Huh?
Since you quit drinking?
Come on, I just spilled my guts.
- Almost three years.
- Mmm.
When we thought
this asshole was behind us.
[line rings]
[phone buzzes]
- Hey.
- [Quinn] Hey. Any news on our messenger?
Nothing concrete yet,
but she's working. [sighs]
[chattering]
- [sighs] Jesus Christ.
- You ever just do flowers?
This is a flower. You don't like it?
Mmm.
[patient sighs]
They say he can walk through walls.
He'll climb through gross sewers.
He doesn't care.
But you know his real power?
Getting in here.
[patient] Mm-hmm.
That's why I make these. To keep him out.
Who's that supposed to stop?
[patient] You never heard of Jurek Walter?
[patient 2] Oh, he's a mind reader.
[whispers] But some people like it.
Hold up, Josie.
You met Jurek?
[chuckles] Oh, God, no.
But I want to.
And you belong here.
[clicks tongue, sighs] When I get out,
all I'm doing is eating diri djon djon
and watching Love is Blind. [sighs]
I swear.
[guard] You're thinking about it,
aren't you?
What?
That candy bar you got in your pocket.
I see you every day.
You're gonna spoil your lunch.
[Karl] It's for my break,
gives me something to look forward to.
It's the little things, right?
- [guard] Yeah.
- [keypad beeps]
[elevator bell dings]
[air lock hisses]
[guard 2] It's nobody.
It's just some nurse.
[guard speaking indistinctly]
What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Something's changed.
No, it hasn't.
Something's happened.
[groans, winces]
[breathes shakily]
Did you…
[inhales deeply]
Did you make Sally Gifford disappear?
It was on the news.
Sally Gifford?
She was your nurse, before me.
I've had lots of nurses.
Yeah, well, now she's gone.
So is her family. [breathes heavily]
And people are saying you did it.
[suspenseful music playing]
What people, Karl?
Be specific.
Like the police?
I don't know. Just…
people.
[Jurek] Karl,
look where I am.
I can't escape, can I?
And if I could… [chuckling]
…do you think I'd come back?
- [Jurek chuckles]
- [Karl sighs]
[guard 2] What are you doing, Anders?
I'm doing my job.
I'm making sure he's not having a reaction
or choking again, all right?
[scoffs, sighs]
Whatever, I gotta go.
You're my only contact
with the outside world.
Please…
Don't believe what you know can't be true.
[softly] You're my lifeline.
[Karl] Got you something.
[chocolate bar wrapper crinkling]
Thank you, Karl.
[elevator bell dings]
[keypad beeps]
[guard] You did it, didn't you?
You ate it.
I knew you were gonna eat it, man.
[chuckles] Yeah, I couldn't wait.
[guard] It's the little things.
- That's right.
- [guard chuckles]
[mouthing words] Help.
Clue me in, baby. Why this guy?
[mouthing words] Please.
Please.
[keypad beeps]
- Hi.
- You're supposed to ask permission
- before leaving the Day Room.
- I am being hurt.
Excuse me?
Someone is hurting me.
[whispers] One of your staff
is abusing a patient.
Okay, I'm not assigned to the female ward,
but you need to speak to Lloyd.
- He's the nurse of this ward.
- No, no, no, no, no. I can't, I can't.
No, I can't do that.
He's the abuser.
[Karl sighs]
[softly] You're kind.
I can tell you're not like the guys
at my last place.
[breathing heavily]
They didn't listen at all. Please.
Dujardin! Did you ask for permission
to leave the Day Room?
- We were just talking.
- Did I ask you?
I don't have time for this today.
You just keep making things harder.
That's another infraction.
We're changing the protocol.
[typing]
[chuckles] Got you loud and clear.
[phone rings]
Hawthorne.
- Special Agent Quinn.
- Yeah?
[Hawthorne] It's for you.
This is Quinn.
[Nathan] Hey, um,
I think she found the messenger.
Karl Anders. He's a nurse.
He got promoted
to the RHU a few weeks ago.
One drug bust as a juvie,
plays social justice warrior,
but online only.
He has a mom and a brother at home.
The brother's on disability.
You sure?
Saga flagged him directly coming out
of the RHU agitated and acting cagey.
Karl Anders. This is the guy.
Okay. Okay. Great work, Nathan.
I'll take this to the team right away.
If this proves out,
we'll have Saga home in no time.
[suspenseful music playing]
[sighs]
[sighs]
[birds cawing]
[suspenseful music continues]
[music ends]
[door opens, creaks]
Arm or butt?
Pills.
[Lloyd] I thought we were
gonna be friends, Esther.
You were on thin ice after yesterday.
And then you sneak into the hallway.
You're combative with staff.
I didn't fight anyone.
Honestly, I wish it had been me.
[tense music playing]
Arm.
[grunts]
[grunting]
- [groans]
- You took too long.
[breathes heavily, groans]
Nice try.
- [breathes heavily]
- Maybe next time, baby.
[breathes heavily]
[door closes]
[Quinn] The letter,
found by Detective Lynn,
contained a coded message in Cyrillic.
Translation, "Release Michael."
It was addressed to Walter's lawyer,
FW Proctor.
No attorney by that name
in the state of Pennsylvania.
[agent] I assume it's not a law office?
Not even close.
Strategically, the location
should be easy to surveil.
Only one access road
and clear airspace for IR drone coverage.
Working theory is that it's a dead drop
on a prearranged schedule.
Shelby, Kibbons, get the team ready.
Detective Lynn and I have an idea on how
to goose Walter into sending a message.
Any questions?
[director] A transfer order?
How come I wasn't notified?
Because it's not exactly authorized.
What does that mean?
The Bureau feels like
we need a wedge for Walter.
Something to get him to send a message.
If he thinks he's moving…
Look, you people need to understand
that I have a board to answer to
and some very uncomfortable lawyers
that are doing everything they can
to ensure that I stick
to the letter of the law.
Now, whether you like it or not,
Mr. Walter has rights.
You know what he's done, Rola.
You know what he's capable of.
Felicia may already be dead,
but what if she isn't?
Who knows how long she's got?
Could be days, hours.
It's already getting cold out.
I don't want to be the person
who goes to Ida
and tells her we got hung up on paperwork.
[Quinn] I can get official clearance
for the transfer.
That's really not the issue here.
But it will take at least a week.
That's time Felicia may not have.
I don't wanna regret this decision.
You won't.
I'm gonna see to that personally.
[breathing heavily]
[pounding on door]
[hatch unlocks]
You have a visitor.
[grunts, sighs]
How's Felicia?
Been thinking about that poor girl.
She must be freezing to death.
If she hasn't starved already.
And here you are, wasting time with me.
Been thinking about
the trade I offered you?
Terms still apply.
You're being transferred.
You don't have the authority.
Not without a judge.
[Jonah] Wasatch Ridge
Secure Psych Unit, Utah.
As far as I can tell,
it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere.
You wanna tell us where Felicia is,
I'll see what I can do about the transfer.
Shame about your wife and daughter.
You must really miss 'em.
[hatch shuts, locks]
[chattering]
Hard to say, but I think he bought it.
Now we wait.
[sighs]
[Quinn] Hopefully
that was enough to force a move.
[Quinn] We confirm 100% Anders is our guy,
we scoop her up, mission accomplished.
[Saga] What the fuck are you looking at?
[patient] You look like a devil.
Yeah. My name is Esther.
What is your name?
I cast you out, devil,
into a herd of swine.
Hey,
you see that?
You see that? Over there.
It's past the tree.
Yeah, like, right there.
That's where you can fuck off.
[yells]
[grunting]
[Nathan] What the fuck?
[grunting]
She's the devil! She's evil!
She has demons inside her!
Sit down, ladies. Sit down.
[door opens, creaks]
[Lloyd] You like to fight, eh?
That confrontation you had
with the psychiatrist?
And Wanda?
You know where you go next
if you get in trouble again?
Downstairs. Restricted housing.
No painting, no music classes.
Just a toilet and a bed
and three square meals a day.
You know, people in the RHU,
they come to realize quickly
how much they've lost.
How about you work on your anger,
so we don't have to do this again?
How about you go fuck yourself?
[door closes, locks]
[chattering]
Hey. What's with them?
Oh, hey, good news.
I heard they're moving Jurek Walter.
Where? Back in the men's unit?
Are you nuts? God, no. I heard
they're transferring him out of state.
Utah, if you could believe it.
Honestly, first Gary, now Walter?
This is gonna be like
a normal place to work soon.
U-Utah? W-When? Is that today, or…
Who knows? They give him a medical first.
They got to verify the goods
before shipment.
[chuckles]
- [tense music playing]
- [keypad beeps]
[elevator bell dings]
[exhales heavily]
- They're gearing up to move you.
- How long do I have?
Minutes.
They're gonna bury me, Karl,
in a hole so deep,
the world will forget I ever existed.
I won't forget you.
I'm scared, Karl.
All that's happening right now
is a medical.
I need to sedate you for it.
It's the rules.
I need you to get this to my lawyer.
No time to mail it, Karl.
Once they move me, it's over.
I-I can't. I need this job.
If they catch me…
I understand.
I'm sorry.
Okay, I'll do it.
- [door buzzes]
- [whispers] Thank you.
I got you, man.
[inhales sharply]
[door buzzes]
[birds chirping]
["Radioactive" playing on radio]
[engine revs]
[Hawthorne] He's on the move.
[music continues on radio]
[volume increases]
[music ends]
He's approaching.
Copy that.
[bird cawing]
Hawthorne, eyes only, no approach.
[Hawthorne] Copy that.
- Jonah, you good?
- Yeah.
[Quinn] Okay, everybody. Get comfortable.
[door opens]
Meds.
I was sleeping.
And Thorazine will help you stay that way.
So no more pills for you, sweetheart.
You lost those privileges.
You'll have to earn them back.
Stand and give me a cheek.
I would really prefer the pills.
And I prefer a more cooperative patient.
Stand up and pull down your pants,
or I will have to pull them down for you.
- [inhales sharply, grunts]
- [yelling, grunting]
- I'm getting the fuck outta here.
- [straining, grunting]
[grunts]
- Badge it.
- No, fuck you.
- Badge it. [grunts]
- Fuck! Okay, okay.
[keypad beeps]
- Oh, hi. Thank you.
- Hi.
[straining, grunting]
- Get up.
- [grunts]
- [screams]
- You're screwed, bitch.
- I swear to God.
- Shut the fuck up.
- Open it.
- I can't.
[Nathan] Oh, shit.
- Open it.
- I can't. It's time-locked.
- [alarm blaring]
- Code gray. Main level. Female ward.
- Badge it.
- No. Fuck you.
- Fuck you.
- [grunts]
No, no, no.
[pants]
[shrieks]
Oh, fuck!
- I got her. You got a restrainer?
- Hang on. Hang on. I got it. Clear out.
[panting]
- [agent] Movement.
- Where?
Jonah, we have something.
Looks like 200 yards,
inside, moving towards you.
Copy.
Hundred yards.
[drone whirring]
They can hear the drone. Pull it back.
Jonah. He just stopped
and is now running east.
Pull it back. Shit.
Jonah.
Everyone, hold your positions.
Detective Lynn in pursuit.
[dramatic music playing]
Jonah, we're losing visual contact.
Talk to me. Where is he?
Jonah, can you hear me? Will you copy?
Quinn? Shit.
Fuck, he's gone.
- Drone team, get us back online.
- [agent 2] Copy.
All teams cover the exits,
- let's get that letter.
- [agent 3] Copy.
[tense music playing]
[objects clattering]
We've lost all contact.
Somebody get me eyes on Lynn.
[wings fluttering]
[grunting, straining]
[groans]
[footsteps running]
[agent 2] Shots fired. Shots fired.
[coughing]
[chattering on radio]
[groans]
[chattering]
[grunts]
[chattering continues]
[agent 3] Eyes on Lynn. Stand down.
[Kibbons] All units, we got him.
Detective Lynn.
Did you get 'em?
[Kibbons] No. They got away.
Where's Quinn?
Special Agent Quinn
would like to see you at the Elks Lodge.
We got the letter.
[tense music playing]
[Saga breathing heavily]
[Nathan exhales sharply]
Fuck.
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[breathing heavily]
- [keypad beeps]
- Sunshine.
Sunshine. Sunshine.
Sunshine. Sunshine.
[Nathan] What?
[sighs]
[sighs] Okay.
[line ringing]
[Jonah] Hey, it's Jonah. I can't get
to the phone right now. Please…
Fuck.
[elevator bell dings]
[breathing heavily]
[patients screaming]
- [keypad beeps]
- [door buzzes]
[door buzzes]
[grunts, pants]
[keypad beeps]
[breathing heavily]
[groans, pants]
[eerie music playing]
[music ends]