Sheriff Country (2025) s01e13 Episode Script
The Finest
1
I was gone before I left ♪
CALEB:debating which
superpower is the best,
- and Lola literally said "invisibility."
- LOLA: It's obviously invisibility.
GIRL: What's wrong with invisibility?
Teleportation is way more useful.
What?
I clearly won that debate,
and that's okay.
[overlapping chatter]
CANDACE: Okay. Train's leaving, people.
I'd like to get home, too, you know?
There was trouble on my back ♪
All set?
They tried to run me down. ♪
[siren wailing]
License and registration.
I wasn't going that fast.
You know, the speed limit is
there to keep people safe,
and you, sir, were going six
miles an hour over the speed limit.
[chuckles] We both know this is
not about six miles an hour, Boone.
It's about six runs.
I'm not sure what you're
referring to, sir.
Hmm. Last year's softball game.
No?
Bravest versus the Finest,
when Station 42 destroyed
the sheriff's office by six runs?
This year's game will
be a different story.
All right. Well,
I guess we'll see in a few hours.
- I guess we'll see.
- Mm-hmm.
Look on the bright side.
You should be able to run
those bases a little faster now
that your wallet's 150 bucks lighter.
You drive safe now.
[engine starts]
[truck driving away]
SHARON: Mickey, come on. You can be slow
- once you get on the field.
- MICKEY: I read somewhere
that smack talk is a sign of insecurity.
You worried you're gonna lose?
Yeah, since 42's going for a three-peat,
not so much.
Forgot my glove. Hold on.
SHARON: You might need that.
[knocking at door]
I guess I'm gonna get that.
Mom, what are you doing here?
Hi, sweetheart. How are you?
Are you going to the game with Mickey?
Such a fun tradition.
I know the Boys & Girls
Clubs really appreciate it.
- Who is it, Share?
- Oh, will you look at that?
I I just love seeing
my two girls together.
The two of you not talking all
those years, that-that really hurt.
- I wished you'd texted me first, Ruby.
- I know, I'm sorry.
I left my phone in my purse.
Have you seen it?
And what is her purse
doing at Mickey's house?
She invited me for a coffee. Uh, wait.
- I'm sorry, a "cortada"?
- It's a cortado.
Cortado, yeah. That-that's what I meant.
It wasn't a big deal,
we were just catching up.
Yeah, that you decided
not to tell me about,
which pretty much defines
it being a big deal?
Give her a break, Sharon.
At least one of my daughters
still wants me in her life.
Look, she just wanted to tell me
- her side.
- SHARON: Every chance
I've given her to have a
relationship with me, she hurts me.
I mean, come on. I give, she takes.
Okay, Share, what are you gonna do?
Not talk to your mom your whole life?
When I wasn't talking to my dad,
you're the one
- who encouraged me to
- No, it's not the same thing.
Wes is there for you when you need him.
Uh, for the last six months, maybe.
The 20 years before that? Not so much.
Oh, so, now it's gonna be a competition
of who has the worst parent?
RUBY: Ah! Here's my bag.
I will see you at the game.
Oh, Sharon, come on, don't be like that.
RUBY: Hey, Sharon What
[sighs]
The first two years of her life,
she wouldn't sleep unless I held her.
Now she can't spend five minutes
in the same room with me.
You lived with us when
you were a teenager.
- Was I such a horrible mom?
- Ruby,
I know you want to have
a relationship with her,
but you have to understand,
it's gonna take some time.
And patience. And fewer
"accidental" run-ins.
Well, what do you mean?
I really did forget my purse.
What? I really did I forgot my purse.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome, ladies and
gentlemen, boys and girls
EVE: All right.
Nice, gentlemen. Sharon.
to the annual Guns N' Hoses
charity softball game
- SHARON: Eve.
- EVE: It's a good day for a game.
- It's a good day for a win.
- Oh. See, I like that.
- Mm-hmm.
- As a matter of fact,
I brought Blue Thunder.
That's one homer, three RBIs last year.
You so good to me. Mwah.
[Sharon laughs]
Thought you were riding in with Mickey.
ANNOUNCER:all about raising support
for our local Boys & Girls Club
I'll see you on the field in five.
ANNOUNCER: Everything you purchase
MICKEY: Hey, I didn't
think you were coming.
This is Eve Edwards,
Station 42's team captain.
- HANK: Hmm.
- This is Deputy Hank Iglesias.
MICKEY: Cassidy's on desk duty,
so he's filling in.
[laughs]
You brought a ringer?
Hmm.
[Eve laughs]
Yeah, that's not gonna do you no good.
Oh.
ANNOUNCER: Tickets are on sale now.
Hank.
Sheriff?
Let's smoke these guys.
Copy that.
ANNOUNCER:you might
walk out of here a winner,
even if your team doesn't.
[cheering, applause]
Now at bat, Cal Fire's Bode Leone.
And with two outs at the
bottom of the ninth,
will Sheriff Fox strike out the side
and send Cal Fire packing?
- Batter up!
- Or will Leone's bat extend the inning?
Oh for three. It's not your day, Bode.
And don't think those raindrops
are hiding your teardrops.
- I prefer to let my bat do the talking.
- Oh, yeah?
Your bat seems pretty shy today.
Hey, how'd you like to
place a wager on the game?
Maybe try and win your 150 bucks back?
It's for a good cause.
[chuckles] Making you
look like a jackass?
I couldn't agree more.
AUDIENCE [chanting]: Bode! Bode! Bode!
Bode!
Bode Boy, yes!
ANNOUNCER: That's a hit to left center.
Leone may be able
to stretch this to second.
BOONE: Second base!
- ANNOUNCER: In at second is Leone.
- Hold!
- Hold!
- His bat came alive just in time
to bring Cal Fire's Eve
Edwards to the plate.
- [cheering, applause]
- Now at bat,
- Cal Fire's Eve Edwards.
- AUDIENCE [chanting]: Eve!
Eve! Eve!
SHARON: We have Eve Edwards!
Here we go, girl.
ANNOUNCER: This is the moment
the game hangs in the balance.
- Two outs!
- Two outs, tying run at second.
Will Cal Fire three-peat
or will the sheriff's department be
crowned your new Guns N' Hoses champion?
WOMAN: Come on, Mickey, let's go!
That line drive should
drop for a single.
Leone is being waved home.
Iglesias has an arm.
There should be a play at the plate.
Safe!
[scattered boos]
What the hell, Leone?
What was that, dude?
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Huh? Huh? What was that, man?
- You want to go?
- Whoa, whoa, guys!
- What was that? Come on.
- Get out my face.
- Back it up, back it up.
- SHARON: Hey!
Bode! Come on, this isn't football.
I thought it was a clean play.
Clean? He b Almost took out his legs.
Yeah, well, maybe if he
wasn't blocking the plate.
You know who you're
starting to sound like?
- Hey, guys, guys
- Hey, whoa, whoa.
- I'll tell you right now
- Hey, hey, hey!
- No, what?
- Hey! Hey!
- It's okay, it's okay. It's okay.
- Guys. Guys.
- Guys.
- [distant explosion]
BOONE: It's all right.
Yo. Boss.
[audience gasping, exclaiming]
WOMAN: What was that?
Let's go. Come on.
[sirens wailing]
Steves, go around the back.
SHARON: Bode, take the front.
It's 4:00.
That bus was taking kids home.
[indistinct radio chatter]
I'll start calling the parents.
SHARON: Yeah, you should. But it's not
the call you think it is.
The bus is empty.
BOONE: What do you mean "empty"?
Empty how?
Kids weren't on there. No one was.
They're just gone.
Where the hell are they?
Boot prints.
At least one person from the
bus went into these woods.
EVE: I think we need
to start a grid search.
'Cause there's a storm coming in,
so the sooner the better.
All right. Make sure
nobody disturbs the area.
Copy that.
Greencrest. Let's go ahead
and get Three Rock ready.
Search and rescue. I'm gonna
need some support out here.
DISPATCH: Copy that.
What you got?
[camera shutter clicks]
Tire tracks.
There was another vehicle here.
A big truck. Maybe another bus.
MICKEY: All right, we got
nine backpacks, so nine
students, plus the bus driver.
Let's get in touch with the
school to get a list of names.
Boone.
BOONE: How many we got?
Ten phones. That's
one for each passenger,
counting the driver.
It's like these were collected.
Someone wanted these to burn.
And they would have,
had we not been so close by.
All right, it was an
explosion, for sure.
Normally, we would check
the gas tank, right?
For a faulty fuel line or something.
But on this bus,
the tank is in the back,
and the explosion's in the
dead center of the roof.
So, if the fuel tank didn't
cause the explosion, what did?
An accelerant.
Either an incendiary device,
- or
- A bomb.
All right. So, they boarded the bus.
At least two of them, I'm guessing.
They made the driver come to this spot.
They collected all the phones
so nobody could call for help.
And then they walked the
kids either into the woods
or into another vehicle.
Either way, these kids were kidnapped.
- All right.
- Okay.
- Here's the plan, people.
- Here's what we're gonna do.
Sharon, this is a crime scene.
The sheriff's office should run point.
There are nine missing kids that
could be lost in those woods,
and no one does search
and rescue like Cal Fire.
And then you run into the
kidnappers. What then?
- Oh, come on.
- Sharon, whoever kidnapped these kids,
they could have just abandoned the bus.
They didn't. They're sending a message.
These guys are serious.
- The ECSO should take the lead.
- All right, fine.
But I'm gonna leave you a team, 'cause
it's gonna make the search go faster.
Eve, you're gonna quarterback this.
- Copy that.
- She's the best
search and rescue person I have.
You have explosive
ordnance training, right?
When I was in Oakland.
Okay, stay on the scene. Try to
figure out what explosives they used.
[phones ringing]
BOONE: Parents are starting to
wonder where their kids are.
- [indistinct chatter]
- Hello. Hi.
- Oh. Deborah. Hi.
- Hi.
Deborah's my neighbor.
Skye used to babysit her daughter Lola.
Mickey, I-I'm so worried.
What happened? W-Where's Lola?
- Where are all our kids?
- WOMAN: What happened, Sheriff?
What's going on?
Look, I know you must
all be very concerned.
Please, have a seat.
This is a very fluid situation.
Here's what we know so far.
Your kids boarded the bus at
Edgewater High at 3:00 p.m.,
and then, the bus was
found an hour later
abandoned outside of town.
We are investigating all leads
and actively searching the
woods where the bus was found.
This is my sister, Sharon Leone.
As most of you know,
she's a Cal Fire division chief.
They're helping us in our search.
We're gonna move heaven and
earth to find all your kids.
So, was this a kidnapping?
Right now we're not
ruling anything in or out.
Have you received any
sort of ransom demand?
No.
But if you receive any
unusual calls or texts,
- please let us know.
- So, then, they were kidnapped.
Again, it's an ongoing investigation,
- and right now
- You're not telling us a damn thing.
Pete's right. Mickey, what can we do?
Stay vigilant.
- MAN: Oh, come on.
- Trust us to do our jobs.
Let your community have your back.
Know that we are doing everything we can
- to bring your kids home.
- PETE: We heard the bus
caught fire.
What about that?
An explosive device may have been used,
but it's really early in our process
An explosive device may
have been used on the bus?
You're telling me there's
a bomb on the bus?
[overlapping chatter]
- Sharon.
- What?
I think they deserve not
to be lied to, okay?
I am the Cal Fire division chief,
the question was about fire.
I have to share information
with people to keep them safe,
even when it's really bad.
And I'm trying to run an investigation.
Any lead, any scrap of information
is on a need-to-know basis.
- Oh, and who gets to decide that?
- I do!
- It's kind of my job.
- Okay.
Well, I guess I'm just not as good
at keeping secrets as you are.
Sharon, I am so grateful for your help,
but if you don't mind,
I have to issue a press release,
call the FBI and start processing leads!
Dude, t-this is taking,
this is taking way too long.
We need to identify every piece of debris
that might have been part of the bomb,
and then we can test for
DNA and fingerprints.
Great. I'm sure a bunch
of kidnapped kids
aren't gonna mind waiting around
two weeks to get test results.
There's a storm coming in.
We're probably gonna
get some snow up here.
You might want to pick up the pace.
That's part of the evidence field. Leone!
- What are you doing?
- Following my nose.
[sniffs] Lot of incendiary
devices use chemicals, right?
[sniffing] Do you smell what I smell?
Kerosene. I smelled it
as soon we got here.
Right.
Well, kerosene can be combined with
various kinds of chemicals to make a bomb.
I bet you that's ammonium nitrate.
We used it in demolition when
I was working construction.
And we'd always wait to
combine the-the nitrate
with the fuel oil until
we were ready to detonate.
Not bad.
All that time you spent in the back
of police cars,
something must have rubbed off.
Yeah, dude. Yeah.
You're hilarious.
What is that?
It's a piece of a cell phone.
But you see this hinge?
It's a flip phone, which no teenager
would ever get caught with.
Not to mention, I found
it in the evidence field
and not in the backpack
with the other phones.
So, I'm thinking,
the kidnappers called this phone,
and that's what set off the explosion.
Remote detonator.
Hey. Boone, listen, man.
There was this guy that I
knew when I was in prison
Which time?
[chuckles] That's cute.
He was in for making pipe bombs.
And he knew how to rig detonators.
Right? All that kind of stuff.
Well, I helped him out of some
tough spots, and he's out now.
He might be able to tell us something.
What's his name? I'll go talk to him.
No, that, that-that's no good.
If there's one thing this
guy hates, it's cops.
I'm not gonna be in uniform.
He won't even know I'm a cop.
Tell that to your haircut.
Hey. This guy trusts me.
I know that I can get
him to sit down with us
and tell us what he knows,
but I got to come with you.
All right.
Hop in.
Hey.
You get to sit up front for once.
[laughs softly]
EVE: So, I was thinking we
would get a team that goes
a little bit down this way.
I have about 14 people here.
About ten of them are volunteers.
And then, I think we might
- have some luck over here.
- [twig snaps]
Hey, gentlemen. Sorry,
this is blocked off for a search.
DALE: Look, two of the missing kids,
they're from Deadwater,
so we want to help.
Gotcha. So we have some deputies
over here you can check in with.
And we can add you guys to the grid.
You Elroy Edwards' kid?
You know my dad?
I know of him. [sniffles]
My friend Bill was a rancher.
He and Elroy were tight, so
I'm Wes Fox.
I thought I recognized you.
You're Mickey's dad, right?
- Yeah.
- Ah, it's a pleasure.
And you run the Three Rock.
"Convict Camp," they call it.
- Oh, that's not what we call it.
- You know what I call it?
I call it state-sanctioned servitude.
- Excuse me?
- You heard me.
Uh, I don't think you understand
what Three Rock is all about.
I understand when this snow melts,
so does our trail.
I also understand your damn camp.
Okay, glad you understand.
I have a search happening
back here, though.
Not on your chain gang,
- so you don't get to boss me around.
- My men
at Three Rock are not in chains.
At Three Rock,
we work as a team, and we pull
in the same direction,
kind of like this search team.
So, if you want to go
ahead and freestyle,
you might miss something important.
Like the blood on those
leaves right over there?
Damn.
MICKEY [over TV]:
We urge all Edgewater residents
- HANK: And what time was this?
- anything unusual
4:45. Okay.
Thank you for your call.
[overlapping chatter]
So far, I've got sightings
placing these kids in town,
at The Meat Up and, oh,
yeah, Woodbridge Mall.
That place has been closed for years.
They were "getting high
in the parking lot."
Mark it down. You never
know what tips can pay off.
So, for now, we're on our own.
The FBI has a rapid deployment
team for child abductions,
but they're working a case in San Diego.
So, right now,
we're all these kids have got.
GINA: Mickey? Line three.
Another kidnapper wants
to talk to the sheriff.
[phone beeps]
Hello, this is Sheriff Mickey Fox.
Who am I speaking with?
MAN: You can call me Donald,
like the duck.
Because I'm Mickey?
Like the mouse?
All right, Donald,
before we speak any further,
I'm gonna need to know the kids are safe.
They're alive.
And if you want them to stay that way,
you'll pay us $2.6 million.
You're not from around here,
are you, Donald?
- Don't do that, Sheriff.
- Edgewater's not a wealthy town.
These parents don't
have that kind of money.
The county does.
These are Edgewater's children,
and if Edgewater wants to see
them alive, the county will pay.
Start putting the cash together.
I'll call back with instructions.
I don't think you understand
I don't think you understand!
I will blow these kids
into a million pieces!
Do you hear me, Sheriff?
I'm gonna need proof, Donald.
If you have these kids
like you say you do,
I'm gonna need proof that they're alive.
You already have it.
- [phone call ends]
- [cell phone buzzes]
GINA: Oh, my God, is that
- The kids.
- Put it on the big screen.
Sheriff. Check the time stamp.
They're live streaming this.
[quiet chatter]
Any luck tracing the live stream?
Not yet. The kidnappers
are using a decoy server.
They've got our techs
chasing their own tails.
GINA: I just got off the
phone with the comptroller.
The short answer is yes,
the county has enough money
in the emergency reserve
fund to pay the ransom.
But she doesn't have the
authority to turn it over.
The board of supervisors
is convening now.
Paying the ransom is
not my first choice,
but we should get the
money ready just in case.
The media is reaching out.
- Do you want to make a comment?
- No.
We're the only ones who
know about this live stream.
Let's keep it that way.
What about the parents?
[sighs]
No. I'll check in on them.
But let's just keep this between us.
What is that?
That shaking?
Look, it happens every so often.
Hank, I want you to make a
list of all construction sites,
railroad crossings and logging camps.
Anything with heavy machinery.
And then I want deputies
hitting those places.
Yes, boss.
Over here.
A bent branch.
Elroy teach you to track?
Well, sometimes,
the calves would get out
of the barbed-wire fence and
he would send me to find it.
And then he decided to not
talk to me for ten years.
[laughs] I know how that is.
- Your old man cut you off?
- Eh, my daughter.
You go to prison a couple of times,
suddenly, your kid don't
want to speak to you anymore.
Back in the '90s, when the feds
did those raids on those grows?
'90s? Hell, you can still go
to prison for growing weed.
Convicts still get used and abused,
as you'd know.
Okay, you have no idea
what you're talking about.
All right, look, Three Rock is
not perfect. I know it's not.
But you know, my guys,
they learn some skills,
they get to reduce their sentences
- and we work together for Edgewater.
- [chuckling]: "We."
"We."
Correct me if I'm wrong,
but you get paid and they don't, so
[nearby panting]
Cal Fire! Who's there?
Oh, thank God. Please
Help me. Help me, please.
- You have to help me.
- Yeah, no.
It's okay. Go ahead.
Take a seat, take a seat.
There you go, you're gonna be just fine.
Tell me your name and
what happened to your arm.
Candace. I'm the bus driver.
Oh, my God, the kids.
Are they okay? I heard an explosion.
No, it's gonna be fine.
The sheriff's looking for them.
- That's a bullet wound.
- There were two of them.
They had guns and masks,
and they hijacked the bus,
and they made me drive out here.
And then they loaded all
the kids into a truck.
And I knew I had to
go get help, so I ran.
And then I heard a crack,
and I realized that they shot me and
And I-I wasn't sure if it was safe,
so I was just hiding until someone came.
Need to let Mickey know.
EVE: Okay, Candace, you were very lucky,
because this is a flesh wound,
it did not hit the bone.
Are you okay to walk?
Okay, let's get up.
- Take your time.
- Okay.
[door creaks open]
[indistinct chatter]
There's my guy over here.
Just hang here, all right?
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Whoa, whoa, no.
You can forget that, man.
- Boone.
- No.
Not happening, Leone.
You say this guy knows how to
build remote-detonated bombs?
For all we know, he built this one.
Listen, this guy, he trusts me.
I can get him to come
to the ECSO and talk
with you and Mickey,
but you got to let me work here.
Boone. For real, man.
Two minutes, and
then I'm coming over.
After all this time, I still ♪
BODE: Yo.
[TV playing indistinctly]
Um, soda would be good. Thank you.
Thanks.
Oh, good times ♪
[speaking indistinctly]
[patrons yelping]
Don't move.
[chuckles]
Could tell he really trusts you.
FAUSTO: I knew it.
I knew you were a cop the
moment I saw that haircut.
[laughs] You know, I-I think
I'm starting to feel better.
FAUSTO: I'm telling you, I had
nothing to do with that kidnapping.
Then why'd you punch Bode?
Tempting as that may be.
FAUSTO: I did five years for making
illegal explosives.
Now the cops want to talk to me on
the same day that a school bus blows up?
I don't think that's gonna go my way.
Ammonium nitrate, cell phone detonator.
- It's your signature style.
- Sometimes people reach out,
want to know how to protect their grows,
make an insurance claim when their
business "accidentally" burns down.
- You teach them how to make bombs.
- You said that.
Not me.
MICKEY: Why don't you
give us some names?
Or I'm gonna call your parole officer
and let them know you're not
gonna make your check-in,
'cause you'll be in jail
for assault and all.
FAUSTO: Look, um
I don't know their names,
'cause I didn't ask,
but a few weeks ago,
a couple guys did come see me.
A long-haired dude and another guy,
in a wheelchair.
BOONE: They wanted to
know how to make a bomb?
FAUSTO: Actually, they already knew.
You know, the guy in the wheelchair,
he was all over it.
Smart.
No, just wanted to know where
to get the materials
the ammonium nitrate
and the other stuff
without being traced.
Well, my dad and Eve
found the bus driver.
She mentioned two guys getting on
the bus, but nothing about a wheelchair.
So, maybe the guys who approached Fausto
aren't our guys.
Or maybe there's more than two of them.
- Yeah.
- Wait, ammonium nitrate is found in fertilizer.
It's regulated. If you want to buy it,
you have to go through this whole process.
I'll start checking with
agricultural suppliers.
Not the big retailers, 'cause they tend
to follow the rules, but solo guys. Mm
Maybe I'll get a name.
- Yeah.
- [sighs]
Do I really have a cop haircut?
Goodbye, Boone.
I know. You want me to
check in on the parents.
They're just up the road.
The whole town turned out to support.
I have nothing to show them.
Mickey, you are doing the best you can.
You just being there will mean a lot.
[quiet chatter]
[conversing indistinctly]
MICKEY: I don't have anything
to share just yet,
but know that the case
is moving forward, and I will have
- some news for you very soon.
- PETE: I'm sick of this.
If you know something,
you should tell us.
Sheriff? My name is Brad Elkins.
I work for the county.
Could I have a word?
Yes. Excuse me.
I mean, I just didn't want to say
anything in front of the other parents.
Uh, I work at the comptroller's office.
I just wanted to let you know,
the county has approved
the release of the ransom money,
if and when you need it.
That's very helpful. Thank you.
- Where are the funds now?
- Uh, Edgewater State Bank.
I'll arrange to have my deputies
transfer it to my office.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
MICKEY: How are you holding up?
SHARON: Hey, Wes.
Hey.
I'm glad you could make it.
WES: Yeah, I heard
people were gathering.
So, seemed like the right thing to do.
Hey, Eve.
Uh, Minister Bates was looking for you.
Yeah, he, um,
called and asked me to sing.
What's going on with you and Eve?
Nothing.
I pointed out that Three Rock
puts prisoners in
harm's way for peanuts.
She didn't like it, so
Three Rock's a great program, Wes.
For the government, not for inmates.
- Three Rock gave me Bode back.
- Come on, Sharon.
Bode straightened out
because of you and Vince.
You know I love you, Wes Fox,
but you are dead wrong on this.
Bode could not forgive
himself for what he did.
And then he got into Three Rock,
and he worked really hard
and he served his community.
And he found a lifeline in
Manny and all the others.
And he could forgive himself.
That's how my baby came home.
Three Rock.
WES: Hey.
- Hey.
- Uh
Used to, every time that
Vince's guitar came out,
so did mine.
You know you're not gonna
get paid for this, right?
Eh, I'm sure I'll find
something of value.
Hmm.
If I needed you ♪
Would you come to me? ♪
Would you come to me ♪
And ease my pain? ♪
If you needed me ♪
I would come to you ♪
I'd swim the seas ♪
For to ease your pain ♪
Well, in the night forlorn ♪
Ah, the morning's born ♪
And the morning shines ♪
With the light of love ♪
And you will miss sunrise ♪
If you close your eyes ♪
And that would break
my heart in two ♪
It's a vigil for missing kids.
If I needed you ♪
Just don't take the bait,
Share. Leave it.
Would you come to me? ♪
Would you come to me ♪
And ease my pain? ♪
If you needed me ♪
I would come to you ♪
RUBY: I know what it's like
to be bereft of your children.
When I lost my granddaughter Riley,
something in me just fell apart.
You need to leave.
I'm sorry, I don't need to do anything.
This is my community, too, you know.
[Sharon laughs bitterly]
At least, it used to be.
Okay, can you guys not do this here?
You have no idea what
they're going through.
Right, but you do. I forgot,
you hold the corner on suffering.
- Oh
- Okay, come on. Take a breath.
And Lil agree ♪
Those parents, they are hurting,
and she waltzes in here
and then she, she makes
it all about herself.
- It's cruel.
- Maybe she came here to support them.
Maybe she doesn't have an agenda.
Oh, God. Wake up, Mickey.
Of course she has an agenda.
And part of her agenda is
using you to get to me.
I do not get what you see in her.
She was there for me, okay?
When she married my dad,
I hadn't had a mom in years.
Not since my mom died.
I-I really needed that.
She's using you,
and you can't even see it.
Okay. I'm an adult.
I get to decide who I want
to have a relationship with.
Yep.
And so do I.
What is that supposed to mean?
It's amazing, having you in my life.
I knew I wanted this,
I-I think before even you
knew you wanted this,
to have a sister again.
But if you can't honor
my wishes on this, I
Share.
[singing in distance]
[phone ringing]
Fox.
DONALD [over phone]:
Do you have my money?
Donald. The ransom has been approved.
We're just putting it together.
The ransom's been approved?
You're stonewalling, Sheriff.
I need a guarantee.
How do I know,
once I give you the ransom,
- that you're gonna release the kids?
- Wow.
You have really misjudged
who's in charge here.
Maybe this will clear things up for you.
- Donald, wait.
- [phone chimes]
[phones chiming]
DONALD [muffled]:
The sheriff is lying
DONALD [over phone]:
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things
from you about your kids.
Here's the truth: your
children have hours left to live.
The county has the money to pay
our ransom, and the sheriff knows it.
If your kids die,
their blood will be on her hands.
[overlapping chatter]
- MAN: Is this true?
- WOMAN: You know where they are?
- How long have you known?
- How could you keep this from us?
You need to pay them the money.
DEBORAH: You knew they were alive
this whole time?
How could you?
DONALD [over video]:
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things
from you about your kids.
Here's the truth: your children
have hours left to live.
The county has the money
to pay our ransom
You made a judgment call.
I could've told them
their kids were alive.
I could've given them that.
Not without tipping our hand.
And you only would've
freaked people out.
- The sheriff is lying to you
- Look, it was a tough call,
but you made it and you stuck by it
and that's why you're you.
- Your children have hours
- HANK: Special delivery.
The county has the money
$2.6 million.
That does not leave our sights
until Donald calls with instructions.
[volume increases]:
blood will be on her hands.
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things from you
about your kids. Here's the truth
Could you turn that son of a bitch off?
Well the video gave us a clue.
Maybe the audio can, too.
Let's listen for any telltale sounds.
Machinery, heavy equipment.
The county has the money to pay
our ransom, and the sheriff knows it.
If your kids die,
their blood will be on her hands.
- BOONE: Hmm.
- Sounds clean.
- Yeah. I don't hear anything.
- I do. He said,
"The county has the money,
" like he knows they have the money.
That's also what he
said on the call to me.
Gina?
When you spoke to the
comptroller earlier,
did she tell you how much was
in the emergency reserve fund?
No. The number for this year's
budget hasn't been released yet.
Get her on the phone.
Concert by the sea ♪
[knocking at door]
You and me ♪
And it's ♪
WES [whispers]: Damn.
Oh
Wes, open the damn door.
[knocking]
I need to talk to you
- about something.
- [Wes sighs]
Please, Wes?
[knocking]
Feel the tides ♪
I don't have any money.
You mean that's not buried underground.
I hear a melody ♪
Is that my Rickie Lee Jones album?
I've been looking for it for ages.
Hell, I bet half of these are mine.
You know, you always had a
broad definition of "yours."
You remember when you were mine?
[Ruby humming]
Dum, da-dum. ♪
Yup, yup, yup, yup, yup.
Come on. Come on.
Come on, come on. For old times' sake.
Old times' sake? Like when you dumped me
when I was sent back to prison?
Please. You cut bait
on me long before that.
I knew six months into our marriage
I'd never be able to compete with her.
Mickey's mom?
I never had a chance.
Poor woman's been dead for over 30 years,
and I bet you're still in love with her.
You keep her name out of your mouth.
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria.
- What do you want?
- It's simple.
I want to know
I want to know how the
hell you're standing here.
A strong survival instinct.
And a little luck.
[laughs] We still have
something in common.
No, I mean here, under Mickey's roof.
How did you patch things up with her?
I need to do the same with Sharon.
And don't give me some
BS about going legit.
I had beers with Mama Joe
last night, and she says
you and some growers are
making more than you ever did,
and Uncle Sam is getting none of it.
I wonder what Mickey would make of that.
Hmm.
You can see yourself out.
Okay, fine. I
[sighs] I want my daughter back, Wes.
I want to
feel part of a family. That's all.
Please tell me.
How did you make things
right with Mickey?
You have to let her come to you.
Mickey came to me and needed a favor.
She wanted help with Skye.
So I did.
Takes patience.
Mm. Not exactly my strong suit.
[chuckling]: Well, not mine, either.
I know.
[chuckles]
A great symphony ♪
Maybe, uh maybe this'll help.
Help you to find a little patience.
Nah, you keep it.
Just think of me every
time you listen to it?
I already do.
[Wes laughs]
NEWSWOMAN: The authenticity
of the live stream
has been confirmed, and it looks like
the nine missing children
are being held
Brad.
- at an unknown location.
- Lieutenant Boone.
- Hi.
- Thanks for coming in.
Always happy to help the sheriff.
Edgewater County sheriff's office,
where frantic parents
are camped out in the lobby waiting
Is this about the ransom funds?
She's right in here.
Hi, Brad.
Have a seat.
Uh
Please.
Okay.
We've got the ransom money together.
Thank you for helping us with that.
Oh, yeah, of course.
It was lucky, huh?
Uh, I'm sorry?
The kidnappers asking for $2.6 million,
and that being the exact
amount the county has
in the emergency reserve fund.
It's almost like the kidnappers
knew how much was in there
before the budget has even
been released for the year.
Out of curiosity, how many people
have access to those numbers?
Uh, officially, the county auditor,
a few of us in the comptroller's office.
Unofficially, support staff, assistants.
It could be quite a
few people, actually.
BOONE: And how many of them
have recently filed for bankruptcy?
Besides you, I mean.
Having financial problems
- is not a crime.
- No, but kidnapping is.
MICKEY: How's Danny feeling?
That's your son, right?
The principal let us know
that he was out sick.
He takes the bus usually?
I'd say he picked a
pretty good day to miss.
[door closes]
MICKEY: Is there anything
you want to tell us, Brad?
And before you say, "I want a lawyer,"
just remember, nobody's died yet.
There is the chance you
might make parole someday.
Where are those kids, Brad?
I don't know.
It wasn't supposed to
happen this way, I swear.
They were only supposed to
hold the kids for a few hours.
But these crazy bastards
have gone rogue.
I can't even get them on the phone.
And by "these crazy bastards," you mean
the men that you hired?
- How'd you meet them?
- [inhales sharply] Over Discord.
- I want names.
- [panting]
[Brad sighs]
There were two of them.
The one in the wheelchair
never said his name.
The other one was Holt.
Lawrence Holt.
Move! Move! Move!
Move right.
[garbled radio transmission]
OFFICER: Garage is clear.
Living room clear!
OFFICER 3: Bedroom clear!
OFFICER 4: Perimeter clear.
Utility room clear.
The live stream.
Ugh. The search history's been erased.
BOONE: We got phones
and ammonium nitrate.
Sheriff, you should see this.
MICKEY: "La Mirada Quarry."
Holt works security there.
Lots of heavy machinery.
Perfect place to hide a bunch of kids.
- [siren wailing]
- Go ahead.
Sheriff One, all available
units to La Mirada Quarry.
Okay, we're on our way.
All right, see you there.
- Was that Bode?
- I told him
that I'd call him as soon as
we got a location on the kids.
- He's close by.
- You two friends now?
Yeah, right. Me and the ex-con.
- It's good. You could use some friends.
- I have friends.
[siren wailing]
Everything okay, Sheriff?
- Sheriff's office!
- Hands!
- Hands. Let me see your hands! Hands up!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't shoot!
- What did I do? What's going on?
- Turn around!
- Lawrence Ray Holt?
- What?
No, no. He-He's the day guard.
I work nights.
My-my name's Abbott. Sean Abbott.
All right, Sean,
you're gonna have to help us out.
Turn on all the lights.
Okay. We'll split up.
Look for any structure
that can hold kids.
We're looking for a trailer,
cargo container, anything.
- Sharon, you're with me.
- Okay.
[engines start]
Clear!
- MICKEY: Clear.
- SHARON: Okay.
Clear.
- You check with your good eye?
- Guy's got jokes.
Bet you didn't see that coming,
either, huh?
[groans]
Clear.
[grunts]
Clear.
Thanks for having my back at Smokey's.
Yeah, well, my old partner used
to always jump first without looking,
and I got used to bailing him out.
Sounds like somebody I'd like to meet.
That'd be tough.
Hey, hey. This tread pattern looks like
it matches the one from
up at the bomb site.
Look at that.
- These are truck tracks.
- BODE: Yeah, a dually.
They just go this way,
and then, like, disappear. Look at that.
Hey, Boone, the sand
is all soft right here,
like it was just moved.
They buried 'em alive.
Mickey, we got something.
We're in the south pit.
MICKEY: Copy. Coming to you.
[metallic clanging]
Boone, give me a hand right here.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, hold on.
- Boone,
- give me a hand over here!
- Wait. Hold on.
I don't like this! I don't like this!
Hold on. Hold on.
- KID: Help!
- Boone.
[muffled kids shouting]
- Help us!
- Help!
[overlapping shouting continues]
BOONE: I got a
I got a hard edge here. Look.
[muffled kids shouting]
There they are.
All right, come. This way.
[overlapping shouting continues]
BODE: Boone, we got a hatch here.
[creaking]
[grunts]
Boone, give me a hand.
[hatch creaking]
[groans]
- Bode.
- [rapid beeping]
Bode!
[groans]
- Bode!
- Boone!
Sheriff One, Adam One.
We've had an explosion in the
south pit of La Mirada Quarry.
I've lost visual on Lieutenant
Boone and Firefighter Leone.
No!
Sub extracted from file & improved
I was gone before I left ♪
CALEB:debating which
superpower is the best,
- and Lola literally said "invisibility."
- LOLA: It's obviously invisibility.
GIRL: What's wrong with invisibility?
Teleportation is way more useful.
What?
I clearly won that debate,
and that's okay.
[overlapping chatter]
CANDACE: Okay. Train's leaving, people.
I'd like to get home, too, you know?
There was trouble on my back ♪
All set?
They tried to run me down. ♪
[siren wailing]
License and registration.
I wasn't going that fast.
You know, the speed limit is
there to keep people safe,
and you, sir, were going six
miles an hour over the speed limit.
[chuckles] We both know this is
not about six miles an hour, Boone.
It's about six runs.
I'm not sure what you're
referring to, sir.
Hmm. Last year's softball game.
No?
Bravest versus the Finest,
when Station 42 destroyed
the sheriff's office by six runs?
This year's game will
be a different story.
All right. Well,
I guess we'll see in a few hours.
- I guess we'll see.
- Mm-hmm.
Look on the bright side.
You should be able to run
those bases a little faster now
that your wallet's 150 bucks lighter.
You drive safe now.
[engine starts]
[truck driving away]
SHARON: Mickey, come on. You can be slow
- once you get on the field.
- MICKEY: I read somewhere
that smack talk is a sign of insecurity.
You worried you're gonna lose?
Yeah, since 42's going for a three-peat,
not so much.
Forgot my glove. Hold on.
SHARON: You might need that.
[knocking at door]
I guess I'm gonna get that.
Mom, what are you doing here?
Hi, sweetheart. How are you?
Are you going to the game with Mickey?
Such a fun tradition.
I know the Boys & Girls
Clubs really appreciate it.
- Who is it, Share?
- Oh, will you look at that?
I I just love seeing
my two girls together.
The two of you not talking all
those years, that-that really hurt.
- I wished you'd texted me first, Ruby.
- I know, I'm sorry.
I left my phone in my purse.
Have you seen it?
And what is her purse
doing at Mickey's house?
She invited me for a coffee. Uh, wait.
- I'm sorry, a "cortada"?
- It's a cortado.
Cortado, yeah. That-that's what I meant.
It wasn't a big deal,
we were just catching up.
Yeah, that you decided
not to tell me about,
which pretty much defines
it being a big deal?
Give her a break, Sharon.
At least one of my daughters
still wants me in her life.
Look, she just wanted to tell me
- her side.
- SHARON: Every chance
I've given her to have a
relationship with me, she hurts me.
I mean, come on. I give, she takes.
Okay, Share, what are you gonna do?
Not talk to your mom your whole life?
When I wasn't talking to my dad,
you're the one
- who encouraged me to
- No, it's not the same thing.
Wes is there for you when you need him.
Uh, for the last six months, maybe.
The 20 years before that? Not so much.
Oh, so, now it's gonna be a competition
of who has the worst parent?
RUBY: Ah! Here's my bag.
I will see you at the game.
Oh, Sharon, come on, don't be like that.
RUBY: Hey, Sharon What
[sighs]
The first two years of her life,
she wouldn't sleep unless I held her.
Now she can't spend five minutes
in the same room with me.
You lived with us when
you were a teenager.
- Was I such a horrible mom?
- Ruby,
I know you want to have
a relationship with her,
but you have to understand,
it's gonna take some time.
And patience. And fewer
"accidental" run-ins.
Well, what do you mean?
I really did forget my purse.
What? I really did I forgot my purse.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome, ladies and
gentlemen, boys and girls
EVE: All right.
Nice, gentlemen. Sharon.
to the annual Guns N' Hoses
charity softball game
- SHARON: Eve.
- EVE: It's a good day for a game.
- It's a good day for a win.
- Oh. See, I like that.
- Mm-hmm.
- As a matter of fact,
I brought Blue Thunder.
That's one homer, three RBIs last year.
You so good to me. Mwah.
[Sharon laughs]
Thought you were riding in with Mickey.
ANNOUNCER:all about raising support
for our local Boys & Girls Club
I'll see you on the field in five.
ANNOUNCER: Everything you purchase
MICKEY: Hey, I didn't
think you were coming.
This is Eve Edwards,
Station 42's team captain.
- HANK: Hmm.
- This is Deputy Hank Iglesias.
MICKEY: Cassidy's on desk duty,
so he's filling in.
[laughs]
You brought a ringer?
Hmm.
[Eve laughs]
Yeah, that's not gonna do you no good.
Oh.
ANNOUNCER: Tickets are on sale now.
Hank.
Sheriff?
Let's smoke these guys.
Copy that.
ANNOUNCER:you might
walk out of here a winner,
even if your team doesn't.
[cheering, applause]
Now at bat, Cal Fire's Bode Leone.
And with two outs at the
bottom of the ninth,
will Sheriff Fox strike out the side
and send Cal Fire packing?
- Batter up!
- Or will Leone's bat extend the inning?
Oh for three. It's not your day, Bode.
And don't think those raindrops
are hiding your teardrops.
- I prefer to let my bat do the talking.
- Oh, yeah?
Your bat seems pretty shy today.
Hey, how'd you like to
place a wager on the game?
Maybe try and win your 150 bucks back?
It's for a good cause.
[chuckles] Making you
look like a jackass?
I couldn't agree more.
AUDIENCE [chanting]: Bode! Bode! Bode!
Bode!
Bode Boy, yes!
ANNOUNCER: That's a hit to left center.
Leone may be able
to stretch this to second.
BOONE: Second base!
- ANNOUNCER: In at second is Leone.
- Hold!
- Hold!
- His bat came alive just in time
to bring Cal Fire's Eve
Edwards to the plate.
- [cheering, applause]
- Now at bat,
- Cal Fire's Eve Edwards.
- AUDIENCE [chanting]: Eve!
Eve! Eve!
SHARON: We have Eve Edwards!
Here we go, girl.
ANNOUNCER: This is the moment
the game hangs in the balance.
- Two outs!
- Two outs, tying run at second.
Will Cal Fire three-peat
or will the sheriff's department be
crowned your new Guns N' Hoses champion?
WOMAN: Come on, Mickey, let's go!
That line drive should
drop for a single.
Leone is being waved home.
Iglesias has an arm.
There should be a play at the plate.
Safe!
[scattered boos]
What the hell, Leone?
What was that, dude?
Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Huh? Huh? What was that, man?
- You want to go?
- Whoa, whoa, guys!
- What was that? Come on.
- Get out my face.
- Back it up, back it up.
- SHARON: Hey!
Bode! Come on, this isn't football.
I thought it was a clean play.
Clean? He b Almost took out his legs.
Yeah, well, maybe if he
wasn't blocking the plate.
You know who you're
starting to sound like?
- Hey, guys, guys
- Hey, whoa, whoa.
- I'll tell you right now
- Hey, hey, hey!
- No, what?
- Hey! Hey!
- It's okay, it's okay. It's okay.
- Guys. Guys.
- Guys.
- [distant explosion]
BOONE: It's all right.
Yo. Boss.
[audience gasping, exclaiming]
WOMAN: What was that?
Let's go. Come on.
[sirens wailing]
Steves, go around the back.
SHARON: Bode, take the front.
It's 4:00.
That bus was taking kids home.
[indistinct radio chatter]
I'll start calling the parents.
SHARON: Yeah, you should. But it's not
the call you think it is.
The bus is empty.
BOONE: What do you mean "empty"?
Empty how?
Kids weren't on there. No one was.
They're just gone.
Where the hell are they?
Boot prints.
At least one person from the
bus went into these woods.
EVE: I think we need
to start a grid search.
'Cause there's a storm coming in,
so the sooner the better.
All right. Make sure
nobody disturbs the area.
Copy that.
Greencrest. Let's go ahead
and get Three Rock ready.
Search and rescue. I'm gonna
need some support out here.
DISPATCH: Copy that.
What you got?
[camera shutter clicks]
Tire tracks.
There was another vehicle here.
A big truck. Maybe another bus.
MICKEY: All right, we got
nine backpacks, so nine
students, plus the bus driver.
Let's get in touch with the
school to get a list of names.
Boone.
BOONE: How many we got?
Ten phones. That's
one for each passenger,
counting the driver.
It's like these were collected.
Someone wanted these to burn.
And they would have,
had we not been so close by.
All right, it was an
explosion, for sure.
Normally, we would check
the gas tank, right?
For a faulty fuel line or something.
But on this bus,
the tank is in the back,
and the explosion's in the
dead center of the roof.
So, if the fuel tank didn't
cause the explosion, what did?
An accelerant.
Either an incendiary device,
- or
- A bomb.
All right. So, they boarded the bus.
At least two of them, I'm guessing.
They made the driver come to this spot.
They collected all the phones
so nobody could call for help.
And then they walked the
kids either into the woods
or into another vehicle.
Either way, these kids were kidnapped.
- All right.
- Okay.
- Here's the plan, people.
- Here's what we're gonna do.
Sharon, this is a crime scene.
The sheriff's office should run point.
There are nine missing kids that
could be lost in those woods,
and no one does search
and rescue like Cal Fire.
And then you run into the
kidnappers. What then?
- Oh, come on.
- Sharon, whoever kidnapped these kids,
they could have just abandoned the bus.
They didn't. They're sending a message.
These guys are serious.
- The ECSO should take the lead.
- All right, fine.
But I'm gonna leave you a team, 'cause
it's gonna make the search go faster.
Eve, you're gonna quarterback this.
- Copy that.
- She's the best
search and rescue person I have.
You have explosive
ordnance training, right?
When I was in Oakland.
Okay, stay on the scene. Try to
figure out what explosives they used.
[phones ringing]
BOONE: Parents are starting to
wonder where their kids are.
- [indistinct chatter]
- Hello. Hi.
- Oh. Deborah. Hi.
- Hi.
Deborah's my neighbor.
Skye used to babysit her daughter Lola.
Mickey, I-I'm so worried.
What happened? W-Where's Lola?
- Where are all our kids?
- WOMAN: What happened, Sheriff?
What's going on?
Look, I know you must
all be very concerned.
Please, have a seat.
This is a very fluid situation.
Here's what we know so far.
Your kids boarded the bus at
Edgewater High at 3:00 p.m.,
and then, the bus was
found an hour later
abandoned outside of town.
We are investigating all leads
and actively searching the
woods where the bus was found.
This is my sister, Sharon Leone.
As most of you know,
she's a Cal Fire division chief.
They're helping us in our search.
We're gonna move heaven and
earth to find all your kids.
So, was this a kidnapping?
Right now we're not
ruling anything in or out.
Have you received any
sort of ransom demand?
No.
But if you receive any
unusual calls or texts,
- please let us know.
- So, then, they were kidnapped.
Again, it's an ongoing investigation,
- and right now
- You're not telling us a damn thing.
Pete's right. Mickey, what can we do?
Stay vigilant.
- MAN: Oh, come on.
- Trust us to do our jobs.
Let your community have your back.
Know that we are doing everything we can
- to bring your kids home.
- PETE: We heard the bus
caught fire.
What about that?
An explosive device may have been used,
but it's really early in our process
An explosive device may
have been used on the bus?
You're telling me there's
a bomb on the bus?
[overlapping chatter]
- Sharon.
- What?
I think they deserve not
to be lied to, okay?
I am the Cal Fire division chief,
the question was about fire.
I have to share information
with people to keep them safe,
even when it's really bad.
And I'm trying to run an investigation.
Any lead, any scrap of information
is on a need-to-know basis.
- Oh, and who gets to decide that?
- I do!
- It's kind of my job.
- Okay.
Well, I guess I'm just not as good
at keeping secrets as you are.
Sharon, I am so grateful for your help,
but if you don't mind,
I have to issue a press release,
call the FBI and start processing leads!
Dude, t-this is taking,
this is taking way too long.
We need to identify every piece of debris
that might have been part of the bomb,
and then we can test for
DNA and fingerprints.
Great. I'm sure a bunch
of kidnapped kids
aren't gonna mind waiting around
two weeks to get test results.
There's a storm coming in.
We're probably gonna
get some snow up here.
You might want to pick up the pace.
That's part of the evidence field. Leone!
- What are you doing?
- Following my nose.
[sniffs] Lot of incendiary
devices use chemicals, right?
[sniffing] Do you smell what I smell?
Kerosene. I smelled it
as soon we got here.
Right.
Well, kerosene can be combined with
various kinds of chemicals to make a bomb.
I bet you that's ammonium nitrate.
We used it in demolition when
I was working construction.
And we'd always wait to
combine the-the nitrate
with the fuel oil until
we were ready to detonate.
Not bad.
All that time you spent in the back
of police cars,
something must have rubbed off.
Yeah, dude. Yeah.
You're hilarious.
What is that?
It's a piece of a cell phone.
But you see this hinge?
It's a flip phone, which no teenager
would ever get caught with.
Not to mention, I found
it in the evidence field
and not in the backpack
with the other phones.
So, I'm thinking,
the kidnappers called this phone,
and that's what set off the explosion.
Remote detonator.
Hey. Boone, listen, man.
There was this guy that I
knew when I was in prison
Which time?
[chuckles] That's cute.
He was in for making pipe bombs.
And he knew how to rig detonators.
Right? All that kind of stuff.
Well, I helped him out of some
tough spots, and he's out now.
He might be able to tell us something.
What's his name? I'll go talk to him.
No, that, that-that's no good.
If there's one thing this
guy hates, it's cops.
I'm not gonna be in uniform.
He won't even know I'm a cop.
Tell that to your haircut.
Hey. This guy trusts me.
I know that I can get
him to sit down with us
and tell us what he knows,
but I got to come with you.
All right.
Hop in.
Hey.
You get to sit up front for once.
[laughs softly]
EVE: So, I was thinking we
would get a team that goes
a little bit down this way.
I have about 14 people here.
About ten of them are volunteers.
And then, I think we might
- have some luck over here.
- [twig snaps]
Hey, gentlemen. Sorry,
this is blocked off for a search.
DALE: Look, two of the missing kids,
they're from Deadwater,
so we want to help.
Gotcha. So we have some deputies
over here you can check in with.
And we can add you guys to the grid.
You Elroy Edwards' kid?
You know my dad?
I know of him. [sniffles]
My friend Bill was a rancher.
He and Elroy were tight, so
I'm Wes Fox.
I thought I recognized you.
You're Mickey's dad, right?
- Yeah.
- Ah, it's a pleasure.
And you run the Three Rock.
"Convict Camp," they call it.
- Oh, that's not what we call it.
- You know what I call it?
I call it state-sanctioned servitude.
- Excuse me?
- You heard me.
Uh, I don't think you understand
what Three Rock is all about.
I understand when this snow melts,
so does our trail.
I also understand your damn camp.
Okay, glad you understand.
I have a search happening
back here, though.
Not on your chain gang,
- so you don't get to boss me around.
- My men
at Three Rock are not in chains.
At Three Rock,
we work as a team, and we pull
in the same direction,
kind of like this search team.
So, if you want to go
ahead and freestyle,
you might miss something important.
Like the blood on those
leaves right over there?
Damn.
MICKEY [over TV]:
We urge all Edgewater residents
- HANK: And what time was this?
- anything unusual
4:45. Okay.
Thank you for your call.
[overlapping chatter]
So far, I've got sightings
placing these kids in town,
at The Meat Up and, oh,
yeah, Woodbridge Mall.
That place has been closed for years.
They were "getting high
in the parking lot."
Mark it down. You never
know what tips can pay off.
So, for now, we're on our own.
The FBI has a rapid deployment
team for child abductions,
but they're working a case in San Diego.
So, right now,
we're all these kids have got.
GINA: Mickey? Line three.
Another kidnapper wants
to talk to the sheriff.
[phone beeps]
Hello, this is Sheriff Mickey Fox.
Who am I speaking with?
MAN: You can call me Donald,
like the duck.
Because I'm Mickey?
Like the mouse?
All right, Donald,
before we speak any further,
I'm gonna need to know the kids are safe.
They're alive.
And if you want them to stay that way,
you'll pay us $2.6 million.
You're not from around here,
are you, Donald?
- Don't do that, Sheriff.
- Edgewater's not a wealthy town.
These parents don't
have that kind of money.
The county does.
These are Edgewater's children,
and if Edgewater wants to see
them alive, the county will pay.
Start putting the cash together.
I'll call back with instructions.
I don't think you understand
I don't think you understand!
I will blow these kids
into a million pieces!
Do you hear me, Sheriff?
I'm gonna need proof, Donald.
If you have these kids
like you say you do,
I'm gonna need proof that they're alive.
You already have it.
- [phone call ends]
- [cell phone buzzes]
GINA: Oh, my God, is that
- The kids.
- Put it on the big screen.
Sheriff. Check the time stamp.
They're live streaming this.
[quiet chatter]
Any luck tracing the live stream?
Not yet. The kidnappers
are using a decoy server.
They've got our techs
chasing their own tails.
GINA: I just got off the
phone with the comptroller.
The short answer is yes,
the county has enough money
in the emergency reserve
fund to pay the ransom.
But she doesn't have the
authority to turn it over.
The board of supervisors
is convening now.
Paying the ransom is
not my first choice,
but we should get the
money ready just in case.
The media is reaching out.
- Do you want to make a comment?
- No.
We're the only ones who
know about this live stream.
Let's keep it that way.
What about the parents?
[sighs]
No. I'll check in on them.
But let's just keep this between us.
What is that?
That shaking?
Look, it happens every so often.
Hank, I want you to make a
list of all construction sites,
railroad crossings and logging camps.
Anything with heavy machinery.
And then I want deputies
hitting those places.
Yes, boss.
Over here.
A bent branch.
Elroy teach you to track?
Well, sometimes,
the calves would get out
of the barbed-wire fence and
he would send me to find it.
And then he decided to not
talk to me for ten years.
[laughs] I know how that is.
- Your old man cut you off?
- Eh, my daughter.
You go to prison a couple of times,
suddenly, your kid don't
want to speak to you anymore.
Back in the '90s, when the feds
did those raids on those grows?
'90s? Hell, you can still go
to prison for growing weed.
Convicts still get used and abused,
as you'd know.
Okay, you have no idea
what you're talking about.
All right, look, Three Rock is
not perfect. I know it's not.
But you know, my guys,
they learn some skills,
they get to reduce their sentences
- and we work together for Edgewater.
- [chuckling]: "We."
"We."
Correct me if I'm wrong,
but you get paid and they don't, so
[nearby panting]
Cal Fire! Who's there?
Oh, thank God. Please
Help me. Help me, please.
- You have to help me.
- Yeah, no.
It's okay. Go ahead.
Take a seat, take a seat.
There you go, you're gonna be just fine.
Tell me your name and
what happened to your arm.
Candace. I'm the bus driver.
Oh, my God, the kids.
Are they okay? I heard an explosion.
No, it's gonna be fine.
The sheriff's looking for them.
- That's a bullet wound.
- There were two of them.
They had guns and masks,
and they hijacked the bus,
and they made me drive out here.
And then they loaded all
the kids into a truck.
And I knew I had to
go get help, so I ran.
And then I heard a crack,
and I realized that they shot me and
And I-I wasn't sure if it was safe,
so I was just hiding until someone came.
Need to let Mickey know.
EVE: Okay, Candace, you were very lucky,
because this is a flesh wound,
it did not hit the bone.
Are you okay to walk?
Okay, let's get up.
- Take your time.
- Okay.
[door creaks open]
[indistinct chatter]
There's my guy over here.
Just hang here, all right?
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Whoa, whoa, no.
You can forget that, man.
- Boone.
- No.
Not happening, Leone.
You say this guy knows how to
build remote-detonated bombs?
For all we know, he built this one.
Listen, this guy, he trusts me.
I can get him to come
to the ECSO and talk
with you and Mickey,
but you got to let me work here.
Boone. For real, man.
Two minutes, and
then I'm coming over.
After all this time, I still ♪
BODE: Yo.
[TV playing indistinctly]
Um, soda would be good. Thank you.
Thanks.
Oh, good times ♪
[speaking indistinctly]
[patrons yelping]
Don't move.
[chuckles]
Could tell he really trusts you.
FAUSTO: I knew it.
I knew you were a cop the
moment I saw that haircut.
[laughs] You know, I-I think
I'm starting to feel better.
FAUSTO: I'm telling you, I had
nothing to do with that kidnapping.
Then why'd you punch Bode?
Tempting as that may be.
FAUSTO: I did five years for making
illegal explosives.
Now the cops want to talk to me on
the same day that a school bus blows up?
I don't think that's gonna go my way.
Ammonium nitrate, cell phone detonator.
- It's your signature style.
- Sometimes people reach out,
want to know how to protect their grows,
make an insurance claim when their
business "accidentally" burns down.
- You teach them how to make bombs.
- You said that.
Not me.
MICKEY: Why don't you
give us some names?
Or I'm gonna call your parole officer
and let them know you're not
gonna make your check-in,
'cause you'll be in jail
for assault and all.
FAUSTO: Look, um
I don't know their names,
'cause I didn't ask,
but a few weeks ago,
a couple guys did come see me.
A long-haired dude and another guy,
in a wheelchair.
BOONE: They wanted to
know how to make a bomb?
FAUSTO: Actually, they already knew.
You know, the guy in the wheelchair,
he was all over it.
Smart.
No, just wanted to know where
to get the materials
the ammonium nitrate
and the other stuff
without being traced.
Well, my dad and Eve
found the bus driver.
She mentioned two guys getting on
the bus, but nothing about a wheelchair.
So, maybe the guys who approached Fausto
aren't our guys.
Or maybe there's more than two of them.
- Yeah.
- Wait, ammonium nitrate is found in fertilizer.
It's regulated. If you want to buy it,
you have to go through this whole process.
I'll start checking with
agricultural suppliers.
Not the big retailers, 'cause they tend
to follow the rules, but solo guys. Mm
Maybe I'll get a name.
- Yeah.
- [sighs]
Do I really have a cop haircut?
Goodbye, Boone.
I know. You want me to
check in on the parents.
They're just up the road.
The whole town turned out to support.
I have nothing to show them.
Mickey, you are doing the best you can.
You just being there will mean a lot.
[quiet chatter]
[conversing indistinctly]
MICKEY: I don't have anything
to share just yet,
but know that the case
is moving forward, and I will have
- some news for you very soon.
- PETE: I'm sick of this.
If you know something,
you should tell us.
Sheriff? My name is Brad Elkins.
I work for the county.
Could I have a word?
Yes. Excuse me.
I mean, I just didn't want to say
anything in front of the other parents.
Uh, I work at the comptroller's office.
I just wanted to let you know,
the county has approved
the release of the ransom money,
if and when you need it.
That's very helpful. Thank you.
- Where are the funds now?
- Uh, Edgewater State Bank.
I'll arrange to have my deputies
transfer it to my office.
- Thank you.
- Yeah.
MICKEY: How are you holding up?
SHARON: Hey, Wes.
Hey.
I'm glad you could make it.
WES: Yeah, I heard
people were gathering.
So, seemed like the right thing to do.
Hey, Eve.
Uh, Minister Bates was looking for you.
Yeah, he, um,
called and asked me to sing.
What's going on with you and Eve?
Nothing.
I pointed out that Three Rock
puts prisoners in
harm's way for peanuts.
She didn't like it, so
Three Rock's a great program, Wes.
For the government, not for inmates.
- Three Rock gave me Bode back.
- Come on, Sharon.
Bode straightened out
because of you and Vince.
You know I love you, Wes Fox,
but you are dead wrong on this.
Bode could not forgive
himself for what he did.
And then he got into Three Rock,
and he worked really hard
and he served his community.
And he found a lifeline in
Manny and all the others.
And he could forgive himself.
That's how my baby came home.
Three Rock.
WES: Hey.
- Hey.
- Uh
Used to, every time that
Vince's guitar came out,
so did mine.
You know you're not gonna
get paid for this, right?
Eh, I'm sure I'll find
something of value.
Hmm.
If I needed you ♪
Would you come to me? ♪
Would you come to me ♪
And ease my pain? ♪
If you needed me ♪
I would come to you ♪
I'd swim the seas ♪
For to ease your pain ♪
Well, in the night forlorn ♪
Ah, the morning's born ♪
And the morning shines ♪
With the light of love ♪
And you will miss sunrise ♪
If you close your eyes ♪
And that would break
my heart in two ♪
It's a vigil for missing kids.
If I needed you ♪
Just don't take the bait,
Share. Leave it.
Would you come to me? ♪
Would you come to me ♪
And ease my pain? ♪
If you needed me ♪
I would come to you ♪
RUBY: I know what it's like
to be bereft of your children.
When I lost my granddaughter Riley,
something in me just fell apart.
You need to leave.
I'm sorry, I don't need to do anything.
This is my community, too, you know.
[Sharon laughs bitterly]
At least, it used to be.
Okay, can you guys not do this here?
You have no idea what
they're going through.
Right, but you do. I forgot,
you hold the corner on suffering.
- Oh
- Okay, come on. Take a breath.
And Lil agree ♪
Those parents, they are hurting,
and she waltzes in here
and then she, she makes
it all about herself.
- It's cruel.
- Maybe she came here to support them.
Maybe she doesn't have an agenda.
Oh, God. Wake up, Mickey.
Of course she has an agenda.
And part of her agenda is
using you to get to me.
I do not get what you see in her.
She was there for me, okay?
When she married my dad,
I hadn't had a mom in years.
Not since my mom died.
I-I really needed that.
She's using you,
and you can't even see it.
Okay. I'm an adult.
I get to decide who I want
to have a relationship with.
Yep.
And so do I.
What is that supposed to mean?
It's amazing, having you in my life.
I knew I wanted this,
I-I think before even you
knew you wanted this,
to have a sister again.
But if you can't honor
my wishes on this, I
Share.
[singing in distance]
[phone ringing]
Fox.
DONALD [over phone]:
Do you have my money?
Donald. The ransom has been approved.
We're just putting it together.
The ransom's been approved?
You're stonewalling, Sheriff.
I need a guarantee.
How do I know,
once I give you the ransom,
- that you're gonna release the kids?
- Wow.
You have really misjudged
who's in charge here.
Maybe this will clear things up for you.
- Donald, wait.
- [phone chimes]
[phones chiming]
DONALD [muffled]:
The sheriff is lying
DONALD [over phone]:
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things
from you about your kids.
Here's the truth: your
children have hours left to live.
The county has the money to pay
our ransom, and the sheriff knows it.
If your kids die,
their blood will be on her hands.
[overlapping chatter]
- MAN: Is this true?
- WOMAN: You know where they are?
- How long have you known?
- How could you keep this from us?
You need to pay them the money.
DEBORAH: You knew they were alive
this whole time?
How could you?
DONALD [over video]:
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things
from you about your kids.
Here's the truth: your children
have hours left to live.
The county has the money
to pay our ransom
You made a judgment call.
I could've told them
their kids were alive.
I could've given them that.
Not without tipping our hand.
And you only would've
freaked people out.
- The sheriff is lying to you
- Look, it was a tough call,
but you made it and you stuck by it
and that's why you're you.
- Your children have hours
- HANK: Special delivery.
The county has the money
$2.6 million.
That does not leave our sights
until Donald calls with instructions.
[volume increases]:
blood will be on her hands.
The sheriff is lying to you.
She's keeping things from you
about your kids. Here's the truth
Could you turn that son of a bitch off?
Well the video gave us a clue.
Maybe the audio can, too.
Let's listen for any telltale sounds.
Machinery, heavy equipment.
The county has the money to pay
our ransom, and the sheriff knows it.
If your kids die,
their blood will be on her hands.
- BOONE: Hmm.
- Sounds clean.
- Yeah. I don't hear anything.
- I do. He said,
"The county has the money,
" like he knows they have the money.
That's also what he
said on the call to me.
Gina?
When you spoke to the
comptroller earlier,
did she tell you how much was
in the emergency reserve fund?
No. The number for this year's
budget hasn't been released yet.
Get her on the phone.
Concert by the sea ♪
[knocking at door]
You and me ♪
And it's ♪
WES [whispers]: Damn.
Oh
Wes, open the damn door.
[knocking]
I need to talk to you
- about something.
- [Wes sighs]
Please, Wes?
[knocking]
Feel the tides ♪
I don't have any money.
You mean that's not buried underground.
I hear a melody ♪
Is that my Rickie Lee Jones album?
I've been looking for it for ages.
Hell, I bet half of these are mine.
You know, you always had a
broad definition of "yours."
You remember when you were mine?
[Ruby humming]
Dum, da-dum. ♪
Yup, yup, yup, yup, yup.
Come on. Come on.
Come on, come on. For old times' sake.
Old times' sake? Like when you dumped me
when I was sent back to prison?
Please. You cut bait
on me long before that.
I knew six months into our marriage
I'd never be able to compete with her.
Mickey's mom?
I never had a chance.
Poor woman's been dead for over 30 years,
and I bet you're still in love with her.
You keep her name out of your mouth.
Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria.
- What do you want?
- It's simple.
I want to know
I want to know how the
hell you're standing here.
A strong survival instinct.
And a little luck.
[laughs] We still have
something in common.
No, I mean here, under Mickey's roof.
How did you patch things up with her?
I need to do the same with Sharon.
And don't give me some
BS about going legit.
I had beers with Mama Joe
last night, and she says
you and some growers are
making more than you ever did,
and Uncle Sam is getting none of it.
I wonder what Mickey would make of that.
Hmm.
You can see yourself out.
Okay, fine. I
[sighs] I want my daughter back, Wes.
I want to
feel part of a family. That's all.
Please tell me.
How did you make things
right with Mickey?
You have to let her come to you.
Mickey came to me and needed a favor.
She wanted help with Skye.
So I did.
Takes patience.
Mm. Not exactly my strong suit.
[chuckling]: Well, not mine, either.
I know.
[chuckles]
A great symphony ♪
Maybe, uh maybe this'll help.
Help you to find a little patience.
Nah, you keep it.
Just think of me every
time you listen to it?
I already do.
[Wes laughs]
NEWSWOMAN: The authenticity
of the live stream
has been confirmed, and it looks like
the nine missing children
are being held
Brad.
- at an unknown location.
- Lieutenant Boone.
- Hi.
- Thanks for coming in.
Always happy to help the sheriff.
Edgewater County sheriff's office,
where frantic parents
are camped out in the lobby waiting
Is this about the ransom funds?
She's right in here.
Hi, Brad.
Have a seat.
Uh
Please.
Okay.
We've got the ransom money together.
Thank you for helping us with that.
Oh, yeah, of course.
It was lucky, huh?
Uh, I'm sorry?
The kidnappers asking for $2.6 million,
and that being the exact
amount the county has
in the emergency reserve fund.
It's almost like the kidnappers
knew how much was in there
before the budget has even
been released for the year.
Out of curiosity, how many people
have access to those numbers?
Uh, officially, the county auditor,
a few of us in the comptroller's office.
Unofficially, support staff, assistants.
It could be quite a
few people, actually.
BOONE: And how many of them
have recently filed for bankruptcy?
Besides you, I mean.
Having financial problems
- is not a crime.
- No, but kidnapping is.
MICKEY: How's Danny feeling?
That's your son, right?
The principal let us know
that he was out sick.
He takes the bus usually?
I'd say he picked a
pretty good day to miss.
[door closes]
MICKEY: Is there anything
you want to tell us, Brad?
And before you say, "I want a lawyer,"
just remember, nobody's died yet.
There is the chance you
might make parole someday.
Where are those kids, Brad?
I don't know.
It wasn't supposed to
happen this way, I swear.
They were only supposed to
hold the kids for a few hours.
But these crazy bastards
have gone rogue.
I can't even get them on the phone.
And by "these crazy bastards," you mean
the men that you hired?
- How'd you meet them?
- [inhales sharply] Over Discord.
- I want names.
- [panting]
[Brad sighs]
There were two of them.
The one in the wheelchair
never said his name.
The other one was Holt.
Lawrence Holt.
Move! Move! Move!
Move right.
[garbled radio transmission]
OFFICER: Garage is clear.
Living room clear!
OFFICER 3: Bedroom clear!
OFFICER 4: Perimeter clear.
Utility room clear.
The live stream.
Ugh. The search history's been erased.
BOONE: We got phones
and ammonium nitrate.
Sheriff, you should see this.
MICKEY: "La Mirada Quarry."
Holt works security there.
Lots of heavy machinery.
Perfect place to hide a bunch of kids.
- [siren wailing]
- Go ahead.
Sheriff One, all available
units to La Mirada Quarry.
Okay, we're on our way.
All right, see you there.
- Was that Bode?
- I told him
that I'd call him as soon as
we got a location on the kids.
- He's close by.
- You two friends now?
Yeah, right. Me and the ex-con.
- It's good. You could use some friends.
- I have friends.
[siren wailing]
Everything okay, Sheriff?
- Sheriff's office!
- Hands!
- Hands. Let me see your hands! Hands up!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't shoot!
- What did I do? What's going on?
- Turn around!
- Lawrence Ray Holt?
- What?
No, no. He-He's the day guard.
I work nights.
My-my name's Abbott. Sean Abbott.
All right, Sean,
you're gonna have to help us out.
Turn on all the lights.
Okay. We'll split up.
Look for any structure
that can hold kids.
We're looking for a trailer,
cargo container, anything.
- Sharon, you're with me.
- Okay.
[engines start]
Clear!
- MICKEY: Clear.
- SHARON: Okay.
Clear.
- You check with your good eye?
- Guy's got jokes.
Bet you didn't see that coming,
either, huh?
[groans]
Clear.
[grunts]
Clear.
Thanks for having my back at Smokey's.
Yeah, well, my old partner used
to always jump first without looking,
and I got used to bailing him out.
Sounds like somebody I'd like to meet.
That'd be tough.
Hey, hey. This tread pattern looks like
it matches the one from
up at the bomb site.
Look at that.
- These are truck tracks.
- BODE: Yeah, a dually.
They just go this way,
and then, like, disappear. Look at that.
Hey, Boone, the sand
is all soft right here,
like it was just moved.
They buried 'em alive.
Mickey, we got something.
We're in the south pit.
MICKEY: Copy. Coming to you.
[metallic clanging]
Boone, give me a hand right here.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, hold on.
- Boone,
- give me a hand over here!
- Wait. Hold on.
I don't like this! I don't like this!
Hold on. Hold on.
- KID: Help!
- Boone.
[muffled kids shouting]
- Help us!
- Help!
[overlapping shouting continues]
BOONE: I got a
I got a hard edge here. Look.
[muffled kids shouting]
There they are.
All right, come. This way.
[overlapping shouting continues]
BODE: Boone, we got a hatch here.
[creaking]
[grunts]
Boone, give me a hand.
[hatch creaking]
[groans]
- Bode.
- [rapid beeping]
Bode!
[groans]
- Bode!
- Boone!
Sheriff One, Adam One.
We've had an explosion in the
south pit of La Mirada Quarry.
I've lost visual on Lieutenant
Boone and Firefighter Leone.
No!
Sub extracted from file & improved