Finding Carter (2014) s01e02 Episode Script
The Birds
I just have to say, it's sort of pissing me off.
What is? How it's the same every time.
Hello, two people, wow, clearly they should be together, but you're gonna have to sit there watching them for two hours while they figure that out.
The end.
Nothing happens except the one thing we knew was gonna happen.
Because it's a romantic comedy, not "Anna Karenina.
" Great, mom, now you've ruined "Anna Karenina.
" Carter, there's cookie dough, fruity pebbles, ooh, crushed Oreos.
I can't believe I'm begging my child to eat crushed Oreos for dinner I am the worst mother.
Mom, you know how I feel about gummi bears.
I do, which is why if I always said if we ever get separated, I'll meet you by the nearest tub of gummi bears.
Sadly, that is my idea of a safety tip.
It's Max.
I thought you two broke up.
Yeah, we did, he's just Too lazy to find someone else.
So what is this, a booty call - Mom.
- Yeah? No, he's just letting me know everyone's hanging out.
And please never use the phrase "booty call" with me ever again.
Go, be with your friends.
No, this is our night.
We saw a movie, we had dinner, I'm good.
- You sure? - Yeah.
You can see me any time.
Okay.
Wait, here, take this.
Mom, I'm fine.
You might get cold.
Please, let me just do one mom thing.
Fine.
- I love you.
- Love you more.
Not possible.
Yes, possible.
Bye.
Carter, where'd you learn how to do that? Carter, what would we do without you? And I want the fast one.
Whoo! Dude, they're not moving.
Ye of little faith.
Hey, who left a backpack? You know, I get it.
We're broken up, but we're still friends.
Yeah, always.
So all I'm saying Is let's add the benefits.
That's basically all we ever were.
Carter, you're over thinking this.
That's it, ride's over, you're coming with us.
You heard him, let's go.
Come on, we're just kids having some harmless fun.
Look, don't worry, they're not gonna charge us.
They'll just They'll just let us off with a warning.
How do you know that? Hope you're right.
We'll never get out of here.
Next time this happens, you'll be talking to a judge.
See, what did I tell you.
Tonight, you just have to face your parents.
I'd prefer a judge.
Is that still an option? Move it.
Not you.
Yours isn't here yet.
You called her, right? Carter Stevens? And I was just getting comfortable.
It's okay, I'm not hungry.
Um, I just wanna go home.
I'm sorry, Carter, it's not that simple.
Look, where's my mom, can we just get her in here? Okay, right now, we're doing all we can to locate her.
What do you mean, is she okay? Carter, I need you to listen to me.
My name is Susan Sherman, I work with the children's protective services.
Hey, can you just skip to the part where my mom is missing.
Your mother, she goes by the name of Lori Stevens? What does that mean, "goes by"? That's not her real name.
Carter Stevens is not your real name.
Well, it's my name, and it's real, so When you were three years old, you were abducted from the front lawn of your home in great falls, Virginia.
The woman you think is your mother is not your mother.
She's your kidnapper.
That's crazy.
No, stop talking, stop talking! Please, please, please Carter, Carter.
I just wanna go home, okay? - Okay.
- I just wanna go see my mom.
All right, Carter, and you will.
But it's gonna be to a different home.
And a different mother.
Does the name Linden mean anything to you, Linden Wilson? No.
That's your real name, Linden Wilson.
Look, I know the FBI is Is really good at being the FBI but I really think there's been some kind of Computer glitch or Or something got filed wrong.
This is your mug shot from last night.
Okay.
And this is you a month before you were abducted.
I've never seen that picture before.
Okay, that might not even be me.
It's you, the ears are the same.
It's an ear, it looks like every other ear.
Actually, ears are as distinct and unique as dental records, which we also have.
And fingerprints.
These were taken last night.
And these were lifted from your toys after you disappeared 13 years ago.
My mom would never do this.
People abduct children for all kinds of reasons.
Stop talking about her.
She's an amazing person.
And even if what you're saying is true, I wouldn't care, I would I would still wanna live with her.
You understand that can't happen.
Your real parents are here.
And they're very anxious to see you.
Now? No, I'm not ready.
Linden.
You're so beautiful.
Do you remember me at all? No, I'm sorry.
Lizzie She needs time.
We all do.
I'm your dad.
Yeah, I figured.
Do do you remember your twin sister, do you remember Taylor? I have a sister? I didn't think I had any other family.
Is that what she told you, the monster that stole you - from us? - She wasn't a monster.
She took you.
She brainwashed you when you were only three years old.
Do we know who she was? Does she look familiar? She goes by the name Lori Stevens.
Can you please stop saying "goes by"? My God, David.
My God.
We know her.
That's impossible, she must be in the system.
When her one and only crime was stealing my child, I don't think so.
Sounds like a cop.
She is a cop sorry, detective.
And make sure everyone has her pictures.
TSA, train, bus, car rental agents.
And put out there's a reward.
$10,000.
Who's paying that reward, are we paying that reward? I want this woman caught, isn't that what you want? You know I do.
And you don't care what I want? Of course.
Okay, let me call you back.
So my mom.
She was your friend? More like acquaintances.
She did in-home hospice care.
One of them lived on our street.
She told us her name was Janet.
Why can't I remember her last name? She said we were such a beautiful family.
I thought she was being sweet.
You know what else she said? It's a shame you can't spend more time with your girls.
She was monitoring my work hours.
You didn't spend time with us? Linden, your mom had to work.
She was helping to support the family.
No, but you're right.
I'm gonna do it all differently this time, Linden.
Well, you could start by calling me Carter.
I don't know if I can do that.
You have to understand, that name Reminds us of the worst part of our lives.
Can you understand, I just had my entire life ripped from under me.
And my name is all I have left.
If that's what you want.
We'll call you Carter.
Thanks, you're a peach.
No.
What's going on? No you let this go out on the police scanner? No, because I didn't want this to happen.
Guys, please, step aside, let 'em out.
Step aside, step aside, ma'am, ma'am, step aside.
Toby, you did this? Don't worry, this is all under control.
Get out of the way.
Give us some room.
- Get back.
- Linden, Linden! My God, it is such an honor to meet you.
Namaste.
Hi, I'm your dad's literary agent, I'm Toby De Moray.
Not now, Toby.
Give us some space, please.
Okay, how about a quick photo op? See you later.
Linden.
Buddy, Joan, please, back off, she's not ready.
The hell with that.
Papa.
Welcome home, baby girl.
Come here, please! You remember your grandma Joan? Well, you will as soon as you taste a bowl of my Mac and Cheese.
I make it extra gooey just like you always liked it.
Elizabeth, would you put that phone down? She's trying to catch the kidnapper.
All right, all right.
Hi.
Hi.
So Taylor and Do I have a brother? They didn't mention me.
I couldn't be less shocked.
Grant, this has been an emotionally chaotic day.
Could you keep the sarcasm to a minimum? So obviously, you were born after Yes, I'm the replacement child.
Grant.
You said to a minimum.
I think that entitles me to one line.
Do you remember? Not really.
We used to call you little Linden and tiny Taylor.
What are we gonna call you now? - Carter.
- What? I would like to be called Carter.
- I don't think so - Mom, it's decided.
- I have an opinion - All right.
Back door was open.
I need you, two seconds, two seconds? I promise.
So he writes books.
He's only had one published.
Well, but Joan, it was a bestseller.
Does she know what it's about? No? It's about you.
What about me? It's called "Losing Linden.
" Well, I guess I should read it.
Right after I finish "Anna Karenina.
" Are you reading "Anna Karenina"? No.
David, what a godsend.
I never thought this day would come.
Me neither.
You should hear who's on my voice-mail Publishers, producers, Brad Pitt's development person.
My daughter is alive.
She's home.
That's the day I was referring to.
Obviously obviously.
But you are looking at a potential huge payday.
And that could resolve your current financial crisis.
Do we have to discuss this now? We haven't even been home for ten minutes.
It's my job to be insensitive.
You have a $500,000 book advance that has to be repaid.
There's always foreclosure.
I mean, you could tell Elizabeth, which I still haven't.
You don't have to now because your solution just walked through that door.
That's your sequel, "Finding Linden.
" Carter That's her name now.
It can't be Linden? God, it was so simple.
Okay, on the other hand, I like the twist.
You lose a child, but you find a stranger.
"Finding Carter," that works, okay, start taking notes.
Linden Carter, can I come in? Yeah.
Just a sec.
Okay, come in.
Hey.
Believe it or not, I gave this a lot of thought.
Your grandmother's out there making waffles and omelets.
But I didn't even know what you liked, and I, I don't know if you eat breakfast.
You don't seem like the Breakfast in bed type.
I didn't wanna subject you to another family onslaught.
Those are tough for me, and I know these people.
That's fine, thank you.
Great.
Okay.
I was thinking that maybe you and Taylor could take the car, and she could show you around town and maybe introduce you to some of her friends? Or, I could just go see the ones I already have? - Back where you - Yeah.
Back where I know people.
What is that, a two-hour drive? Sure, I can drive you.
I'm 16, I don't need my mommy to take me on play dates.
You don't expect me to just give you my car.
That is exactly what you just offered a minute ago.
No, I said you and Taylor.
In other words, someone has to be in the car with me.
Listen I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this relationship work.
But I need to know that you want it too.
It would help a lot if I believed you trusted me.
That was a joke! Good one.
I'm actually a very safe driver.
We're not worried.
Well, this is unexpected.
Would you let the daughter we do know go on a road trip with your car? No.
Hey, Kyle, she just left.
The tracker's on.
She should pass Denny's in about two minutes.
Are you having her followed? Well, like you said, we don't know her.
Well, I do know this.
She probably would not want us spying on her.
The owners closed it for the rest of the season? - Not because of us.
- No.
No, some four-year-old found a little joint on one of the bench thingies.
- So because of us.
- Well Brothers got room to talk Yeah.
Messing round on the block Amelia's not even answering my texts.
Guys had to work today.
Really? No.
I don't get it, I thought they'd wanna see me.
Carter, you gotta understand.
People are a little freaked out.
Let me tell you about freaked out.
So not only is my mom not my mom.
My name's not even my name and apparently Apparently, my friends are not really my friends.
For what it's worth, you got me.
Thank you.
And I Got this.
Thank God.
Yeah, I can see her.
No, they're not doing anything, just sitting on a bench.
So your people, these people, your family? You like 'em? I don't know, it's weird.
They're total strangers, right? But when the grandfather hugged me, it was like this spot in my brain just went halogen.
That's that's like a "Bourne Identity" That's a thing.
You might be an assassin.
Max, I was abducted when I was three.
So you're probably not an assassin.
No.
And I have a sister.
A twin sister who I don't remember at all.
But who I feel like I know really well.
I don't know, yeah, I guess I could get to like them eventually.
Except mom, I hate the mom, she is the human equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.
This isn't good-bye.
No never.
That's Mondo Creepy.
What? Some guy over there Is watching us in his side view mirror.
Hey.
Hey! Hey! I can see you! G-J-5-9-3-5.
My mom's a cop, we'll find you! Your mom's a cop? You probably shouldn't have had that weed.
No, it's okay.
My other mom's a felon.
She's the one I take after.
Well, it's official.
You're the good daughter.
You hungry? Mom made a plate.
A cop who cooks.
She really can do it all? Actually, I made that.
I do most of the cooking around here.
Every so often, grant makes a soup.
What, we don't eat those? One had a dollar bill floating in it, so, no.
- This is fantastic.
- Thanks.
I actually, um, I like to bake.
Yeah? I'm a big fan of dessert.
Some nights it's all I eat.
I say I'm going to dinner, and I meet my friend Gabe at this yogurt place.
Self-serve, all different kinds of toppings.
My God, can we go? - As soon as you're done.
- I'm done.
I'll just tell my mom, our mom mom.
It's fine, you can have her.
- Hey.
- You're back.
According to the FBI, this is where I live now.
Was it fun to see your friends? Yeah, loads of fun.
Even made a new one.
Guy in a silver Subaru who sat in his car all day watching me.
My God.
I hope you got his license.
As a matter of fact, I did.
You can find him, right? Or Maybe you already know who he is.
How would I possibly? Well, you were nervous.
I took your car.
Maybe you had me followed? No, she she would never.
- Would you? - Of course not.
You said that you needed me to trust you and I did I do.
Okay, well Let me know if you find anything.
Absolutely, I'll look into this.
Carter wants yogurt.
Great.
Go, have fun.
I know.
Hey, yo, try some Fro-Yo.
Do you know what you want? Um, yeah, yeah, I do.
I'll meet you inside.
Okay.
Excuse me, hi.
Um Who do I talk to about getting a job here? That'd be me.
Listen, Zubin.
You want me to work here.
Trust me, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
- Really? - Um- What's so great about you? I want it to be a surprise when I show up for work tomorrow.
I guess? I'll, I'll see you then, Zubin.
This is my friend Gabe.
This is Carter, my long lost sister.
Hi.
So welcome home, I guess.
Yeah, thanks.
It's been kind of an abrupt transition.
She didn't know until yesterday that she'd been kidnapped, and she doesn't remember any of us.
Holy crap, you must be majorly freaked out.
Yeah, to be honest, I'm trying not to think about how freaked out I am.
Hey, there's a party.
Would it help to go to a party? Yeah.
Party pretty much solves anything.
At least for a couple hours, right? I don't know, I've never been to one.
You've never been to a party? Not that didn't have a goody bag.
Wow, so glad I did not grow up here.
Let's go.
Drink, drink, drink Whoo! It's not that hard, it's not that hard.
The secret is Don't hesitate.
How did you do that? Well, as a wise man once said, science, yo.
Cheers.
What are you drinking? I don't know, something lethal.
Can I try it? I can't taste the alcohol.
That's what makes it lethal.
Okay, who's next? This is fun.
What is? Me watching you stare at my sister.
Sorry, really? You can't blame me for being intrigued.
Being abducted has its rewards.
She tell you what it was like? She lived in a two-bedroom apartment in York, Pennsylvania.
She wasn't sold into child slavery.
Well, you're happy she's back, right? Yeah, of course I'm happy.
I don't know how happy she is, though.
She looks pretty happy.
Gabe, as you can probably tell Because you can't keep your eyes off her My sister was having a totally fun and awesome life where she got to drink and smoke and probably be a complete slut.
While I've never done anything remotely fun or awesome because I lived in constant fear of the terrible thing that happened to my sister.
Except it didn't.
Whoa, slow down.
Taylor.
What are you doing? I'm making up for lost time.
- I don't believe you.
- It's true.
"Mean girls" is not your favorite movie.
All you - Sucka MC's ain't got nothin' on me - My God.
From my grades to my lines, you can't touch Kevin G I'm a mathlete, so nerd is inferred But forget what you heard, I'm like James Bond the third Jesus.
Okay, but that's a secret.
I use "bad grandpa" as my cover.
Really? Okay, I won't tell anyone.
You're very cool.
Thanks.
So are you.
Sorry it's been so rough for you.
At least you made one new friend.
Yeah.
You know what? You're actually my first one here.
Wasn't so bad, was it? No, not at all.
- Gabe - Sorry.
No Too fast, don't we can take this a lot slower.
No.
We can't take it at all.
I'm sorry, I just I can't do that to Taylor.
Do what to Taylor? Come on, I know you're not dumb.
Let's pretend I am.
Taylor likes you.
Yeah, we're friends since, like, the second grade.
She's like my sister.
What the hell? This isn't a coal mine, could you turn that off? - Gabe, is that you? - Hi, Mrs.
Wilson.
Mr.
Wilson.
Do you have any idea what time it is? Where's Taylor? Chill, she's there.
David, my God.
It's okay, she's just drunk.
And she may have had a pot brownie or two.
Tay-Tay, sweetie, let me get you inside, come on.
Can you stand up? I'll get her inside.
Night, Gabe.
Good-bye, Mr.
Wilson, Mrs.
Wilson.
Listen, thanks for tonight.
I had fun.
Me too.
And I'd like to do it again.
We'll see.
Is she still standing there? Yup.
Obviously, I'm happy for you two to get along.
But I'd prefer if you didn't pass on your bad habits to Taylor.
My bad habits? So there are already things about me that you don't like? What are they? What I meant to say was that Just name one or, I don't know, you could name something about me that you do like.
Name anything that you know about me at all.
I am trying to get to know you, but you're doing everything you can to avoid me! That's because you're stiff, you're humorless, you're a control freak.
You operate from this place of fear.
You know My mom used to tell me every day that she loved me.
And I haven't heard you say it once.
Not to any member of your family.
Please tell me you didn't hear that.
I hear everything.
That's one advantage to people not remembering you exist.
So I'm not wrong? That woman has the personality of a refrigerator.
She's not the hallmark commercial, for sure, but it's because of us.
What did we do? Nothing on purpose.
You were kidnapped, I was born ten weeks premature.
What? Yeah.
I was, like, this big.
Doctor said ten-to-one I wouldn't make it.
- Mom - Elizabeth, please, I am not on board with "mom.
" She kind of cracked.
All she wanted was to hold a baby, but instead it looked like she was about to have another dead kid on her hands Which, sorry, everyone thought you were.
Yeah, that that would be rough.
But I think it'll help having you back Maybe.
I would not hold my breath.
I know.
Although, I can hold my breath for a really long time.
Almost five minutes.
You need to get out more.
Yeah, no kidding.
If you love somebody She works here, that's her, right there.
I love you.
Whoo.
Excuse me, hey, we're family, excuse me.
- Who's next? - Me.
Duck lips? She's so cool, don't you think? Yes, she is.
So, feel free to put me on instagram, tweet about me, Facebook, if anyone still looks at that.
What about me, can I get a picture with you? Hell, yeah.
Hey, you can make that the cover of your next book.
I thought you didn't want me to write about you.
I don't.
The "J/K" was silent.
Next time it won't be.
Give me a chance.
I'm slow, but eventually I do catch on.
Don't forget to say where she works.
That's right, I want people to know exactly where to find me.
Crap, I know what she's doing.
What's she doing? She's sending a message to her mom.
The other one, the kidnapper? She's telling her to meet her here.
I'm calling your mom.
We need to pay more attention to you.
Yeah, that'd be nice.
Hey.
You're mad at me.
Of course not.
I screwed up, she saw me, your daughter.
She saw you and your license plate.
She was in the middle of a park.
I knew if I got out, she'd see me so I just Hey, it's not you fault.
This is a bad idea to begin with, and so is this.
This? This is way past an idea.
I love you.
You're leaving your husband.
I was.
I can't now.
Okay.
I understand.
It's okay.
Hey I'll wait.
No, you don't understand.
Carter is back, I have my family again.
I can't give that up now.
I'm sorry.
Tried calling you today, did you get my message? About the yogurt shop? Yeah, we're following up, thank you.
Can I make a suggestion? I don't think you should be there.
Of course I'm gonna be there, why wouldn't I be there? Because if Carter sees you arrest that woman, it's gonna make it that much harder for you to Build a relationship with her.
You say that like you have a relationship with her.
I have a picture with her.
It's a step.
Okay.
Well, you know what step I need? I need to arrest this psycho bitch who let me die inside because She, she took my baby.
And I couldn't protect her, I couldn't, I couldn't help her.
And I couldn't find her.
It' okay, Lizzie.
It's okay to not be strong all the time.
Whoa, look at you.
Yeah, that works.
Thanks.
Glad to see you recovered from the other night.
Yeah, boy, drinking? Not as easy as it looks.
I feel bad I've never taken you to a party before, I just Figured it wasn't your kind of thing.
Me too, but it is.
Can we go to more? Absolutely.
Carter too, right? Of course.
But we're not like the Olsen twins, I mean, we have our own lives.
I just Would like to get to know her better.
Yeah.
Sure.
Um You wanna go out with her? If you're okay with that.
Why why wouldn't I be, we're just friends.
Right, that's what I said.
Wait you said that to who? Carter.
She thinks you like me.
I told her you're like my sister.
But you didn't say it like that.
Please, tell me you didn't use those words.
Hey, you okay? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
Just not really in the mood for yogurt.
Hey, come on.
No, don't worry, I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry.
What was that? She said she didn't like me.
I wonder why.
Break's over, back to your post.
Come on, you can't both be mad at me.
Hi.
That is a very styling cup of yogurt.
What did you do there, layers? - Yeah.
- I'm gonna have to try that myself.
Thanks, bye.
Who's next? Here we go, someone after my own Heart.
Carter? I'm sorry, miss, I'll ring you up.
No, um no, it's okay, I got it.
Um, that'll be 4.
80.
Not possible.
Yes, possible.
- Mom I'm sorry.
Um Back here.
Put this on.
Carter, I'm sorry.
All right, look Take these free samples and And just walk out the front door.
Carter Carter They'll be watching the back.
There are things you don't know.
Things you should know.
Mom, you have to go.
Mom, go.
- Go.
- I'll be back.
Go, go, go, go.
Start over there let's move it.
Where is she? Where is who? Carter, this place is surrounded with police.
I promise you, Lori Stevens is not going to get away.
You need this many people to catch her? She's not exactly Lara Croft.
The woman can barely throw a frisbee.
But it was fun to watch her try.
Dad, what's going on? The less you know, okay.
Hey.
That's the guy, the one who was watching me.
Come on, let's go.
Who, my dad? That's your dad? You did have me followed.
- Carter - You lied to me.
You looked into my eyes and lied to my face.
I did.
I'm sorry, I was wrong.
No, you know what? You were right, Lori Stevens was here.
She risked her life just so she could see me for five seconds.
Just to tell me she loved me.
Because she's my mother.
And you've taken me away from her.
You want to find my abductor? It's you.
Maximilian, Maximilian.
Gabe.
Oops.
I was not supposed to do that.
You think this is cute? This isn't cute, you're high.
You're making a fool of yourself.
I liked you better when I thought you were dead.
Very funny.
She's having a seizure.
- Hey, Evan, call 9-1-1.
- Carter, I'm so sorry.
- Call 9-1-1.
- I didn't mean it.
- I love you.
- Love you more.
Not possible.
Carter! It's time to go! Carter! She wants to make me yell.
I'm just giving her exactly what she wants.
Not what I want.
If that still matters for anything around here.
You know what? Bring that up at family therapy tonight.
The last thing I wanna do is spend another hour of my life talking about Carter.
That's the whole point of family therapy.
Finding Carter has made our lives very complicated.
This has been a tough month.
I'm happy she's here.
We're all happy she's here.
I'd be happier if she were here.
I am.
Come on, we don't wanna be late.
Carter, you can't go to school in your pajamas.
Why not? What difference does it make? Fine.
You take them.
No, I can't, I've got that meeting in the city today.
It's the editor of "Vanity Fair.
" They're looking for someone to do a true crime column.
One like Dominick Dunne.
So you never were gonna wear your pajamas to school.
Nope.
You did that just to annoy mom? No, I did that to distract her.
This is what I'm doing to annoy her.
Do you guys want a ride? Do not use her as a role model, grant.
Yeah, not when you've got so many other great options.
As you may know, the school is reevaluating its zero tolerance program.
So, for the time being, we are reinstating our point system.
Boo.
Each one of you will receive this booklet.
It's the list of infractions and the points you will receive as a result of those infractions.
For example, miss Gilroy, eating in class, one point.
Please put away that yogurt.
When you have accumulated enough points, you will begin to lose privileges.
For example, five points, no pep rally.
Ten points earns you cafeteria cleanup.
five Saturday detention.
- 15 points - Mr.
Sharkey.
Dear Lord.
- My God.
- I think she's having a panic attack.
Yogurt.
Does she want my yogurt? She can have my yogurt? It's my mom.
The last time she saw her mom, the kidnapper mom, was in a yogurt shop.
She almost got arrested by my dad.
Take her to the office, have her call her parents.
I'll call your mom.
Don't bother.
Wait, so you're not And please stop calling Elizabeth my mom.
She is she is not my mom.
So you faked that whole thing.
Well, not the part where I had to listen to you brag about how your dad almost arrested the "kidnapper" mom.
Please don't refer to her as that, she is just my mom.
I'm sorry.
It gets confusing sometimes.
Yeah, I know, I'm sorry.
Well, thanks for getting me out of there.
So Bam, we just got a whole day off school.
What do you wanna do? Gabe, I'm not spending the day with you.
Come on, I've got my car.
We can go into the city.
I'll take you to see the stairs from "The Exorcist.
" Gabe, I can't even say your name without Taylor going blech and walking out the room.
If she finds out I spent the entire day with you, she'll kill me.
How would she find out? She'll never find out.
Taylor.
Well, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister.
Now I know.
Who is that guy? I see him everywhere.
Ofe, you never met Ofe? Ofe? Stands for "One Freaking Eyebrow.
" What's his real name? Nobody remembers.
I don't even know if he remembers.
Okay, so what you wanna do is you wanna You wanna pick a date, okay, and then the buy-in's gonna be ten dollars.
Winner takes home three grand.
What if a year goes by, and they don't catch her.
Then we start a new pool, and the pot doubles.
Excuse me.
- Man! - Sorry, sorry.
That's my mom.
I just lost a customer, not your fault.
I do blame you, however, Gabe.
I didn't know.
You knew.
We decided not to tell him.
Right, that is what we decided.
Tell me what? I'm Ofe, by the way.
I'm Bird, we kind of met at that party.
Remember, she's the one that did that thing with the shot glass.
Shot glass, that was sweet.
I love that, I could never I'm afraid of fire.
Why have you got a photo of my mom in your briefcase? This is my office.
I make book, I take bets, sporting events mostly.
Anything from high school match ups to pro ball, pretty much full service.
I do straight, parlay, teasers, sides.
I calculate my own spreads.
If I may indulge in a little humble brag, and from time to time, I come up with a fun novelty pool.
So you're taking bets on the date my mom gets arrested.
If it makes you feel any better, most people are giving her at least six months.
You're an ass.
I know, I'm sorry.
I feel really bad.
Maybe don't do the pool.
I don't feel that bad.
You know what, it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, she promised me she'd be back.
I shouldn't even be here.
Where are you going? Somewhere I don't have to think about how much my life sucks now.
If there even is such a place.
There is.
Come on.
Wow, this is all yours? A 16th birthday present from my parents.
If there had been a card, it would've said, "we love you, now go away.
" This was supposed to be an art studio.
Now it's like the chocolate factory from Willy Wonka, only with booze and pot instead of everlasting gobstoppers.
I have everlasting gobstoppers.
So you're an artist.
A great artist.
She did the Alice in wonderland mural in the cafeteria.
Really? That's impressive.
Thanks.
Face of the mad hatter, that's me.
No, it's Johnny Depp.
God, would it kill you to one time say it's me? Hey, can I borrow this? I've got this family therapy thing tonight, and I think it can be very useful.
Family therapy? We tried that once, me and my parents.
Really, did it work? Yeah, we're closer than ever.
São Paulo is closer than Dubai, right? Poor little rich girl.
Smart, judgmental cop's kid.
Help yourself.
This place is bigger than the one I used to live in with my mom.
Sorry about that stupid pool, Carter.
I'm sorry you haven't heard from her.
No chance she'll come back to the yogurt store? No, I doubt it.
Anyway, they fired me.
Apparently, people don't like to be under police surveillance while they eat yogurt.
That's fine, though, I know she'll get in touch.
I just don't know how the FBI's got everything but a camera up my ass.
Screw the FBI.
We could, actually.
- It wouldn't even be that hard.
- What do you mean? So they're stalking your phone, right? In case your mom sends you a message.
So we get your mom I mean, us pretending to be your mom to text you.
With burner phones.
Cheapo phones with prepaid minutes.
You can get 'em pretty much anywhere.
Including right here.
It's a side business, I also sell glow sticks.
I do very well at parties.
Okay, so what should the message be? Something a mother would say to a daughter.
I know what it would say.
"Love you more.
" Love you more.
Phase one complete.
Elizabeth, I believe there was something you wanted to say to Carter.
I was really angry today when I found out that you went through my bag and had taken my car keys.
I Reacted immaturely.
I went into your room, and I looked through your closet, and I found something.
I found the backpack.
The one that's packed like you're ready to run away.
I can't do that again.
I can't come home one day and find out that you're gone.
Please, give me a chance.
How was that, Elizabeth? Not so bad.
I've always been able to talk to Carter when she wasn't there.
If we want her to come to therapy, we can't get mad at her for not coming to therapy.
I wasn't going to.
Morning, sunshine.
Did you borrow my car or just steal it? I'm only asking because it isn't here.
Carter, get rid of that.
Your 12-year-old brother is in the room.
Come on, has he never been to a sporting event? Not many.
It's a joke, it's a toy.
No, you know very well what it is, it's an obscenity.
From, like, the 1970s, geez.
Glad I didn't bring it to family therapy last night.
No, instead, you just decided not to show up.
Kids, you're taking the bus this morning.
The bus? I was gonna take them.
I hate the bus.
No, we have to deal with this.
This I'm a this now.
The bus is starting to look pretty good.
Yeah.
You can borrow my headphones.
I have headphones.
- Not like these.
- Thanks.
Look, I'm sorry, I was with friends, and I got a little drunk, and I thought I probably shouldn't drive.
Especially since it was your car.
So I got Gabe to give me a ride.
See, she was being responsible.
David She stole my car keys out of my purse.
She got drunk, she skipped a therapy session that we desperately need, and now this is how she talks to me? How does any of this qualify as being responsible? You're right, it doesn't.
I just want this thing out of my house.
That seems kind of fair.
Okay.
That's Gabe, I asked him to give me a ride.
It's leaving the house, as you requested.
She put it on my car, didn't she? - No.
- No? - I'm surprised.
- Yeah, me too.
Maybe she actually feels bad about the whole thing.
- How you doing? - Fine.
Really? 'Cause you look stressed.
Kyle, you don't have to keep checking up on me.
Okay, you can tell me that we're not seeing each other, but you can't tell me to stop caring about you.
It hasn't been easy.
Okay, well, maybe this will help.
Looks like Lori's been in touch with Carter.
She's been getting text messages from burner phones.
Any idea where she is? We can't trace 'em, but we can tell they're local.
- They're local? - Yeah.
Keep an eye on Carter.
Yeah.
Hey.
Is it okay if I tape our interview? Yeah.
Sure, ask me okay.
So you're, Carter's real mother.
- Elizabeth, right? - Detective Wilson.
Right.
I'm sorry, detective Wilson.
Is this, are we starting? - Yes.
- Okay.
Before we start, I just wanna say I really like Lori, Carter's other mom.
She is not Carter's other mom.
She is Carter's kidnapper.
Yes, I just I thought you should know, I have that thing where I'm not objective.
I see what Carter means about you.
Excuse me.
She says you never laugh, like, she's never heard what you sound like when you're laughing.
Not that this is funny, this is not funny At all.
Like a funny situation, it's not.
But she says you're, like, one of those people who brag, "I never cry.
" Only with you, it's "I never laugh.
" Man What else does Carter say about me? - Hey.
- Hey.
What's for dinner? I'm starving.
Tilapia with ginger and garlic.
Cool, as long as it's not fish.
- It's fish.
- Taylor, we have our entire lives to eat fish and steamed veggies.
We have this tiny, tiny window where we can eat onion rings and milkshakes and My God, I so want onion rings and a milkshake right now.
Hey.
What smells so good? Fish.
See? Fish can never be the answer to, "what smells so good?" Well, I hope we have enough for one more because I brought home a guest for dinner.
Well, there's plenty because I'm going out to eat.
Max, what are you doing here? Max, you should meet the rest of the family.
This is Taylor, Carter's twin sister.
- Hi.
- Hey.
And Grant Grant?! This is Grant, Carter's brother.
- Dude.
- What's up? David! Well, he's probably working, that's my husband, he's a writer.
I invited Max to stay for a couple of days.
- You did? - Yes, I thought you'd enjoy it.
You cleared it with your folks, right? Yeah, I don't think they believe me, though.
Cops don't usually bring me home.
To their home They don't bring me to their home.
I'm confused, this morning you were mad at me.
No, I wouldn't call that mad.
Okay, I really would.
So what, then, she just invited you here? Yeah, you know, like, invitation, subpoena.
- What's going on? - The usual.
Okay, now I get it.
- No, you don't, let me explain.
- Yes.
You didn't bring him here for me.
You brought him here for you.
You see, it's not enough that you're already listening into all of my phone calls and checking my emails.
Now you have to plant my friends in my home to spy on me.
Come on, we're leaving.
Nice meeting you all, I'm Max.
- David.
- You know what? Now would be the perfect opportunity to put a bug in my room.
So how long you gonna be here? Not sure.
Not like I brought a lot of clean clothes.
But I did bring a lot of dirty ones.
Man, I got this fat pile of dirty dinghies in the back seat of my car, it's stinking.
Can you recommend a good laundromat? Max, you can do your wash at our place.
Bonus.
What about school and You go to school, don't you? Yeah, um There's been some confusion about my grade, which grade I'm in, so I kind of been home schooling Without the schooling.
Man, I already got interrogated today by her mother.
His dad's also a cop.
Yeah, in fact, his dad is the guy who followed me that day I came to visit you.
Nobody will be following Carter after my little FBI sting.
We're sending Carter texts from burner phones to make it look like they're coming from her mom.
Okay.
How's that going? It's phase two, now we find out.
I need a new phone.
Last one, then you gotta start paying, I'm not Amazon.
I get it, I get it.
You all free tomorrow after school? - Yup.
- Yup.
Always.
Good.
What are you writing? Don't worry, I got this, I know how cops work.
They like to solve things, figure stuff out.
Like Batman and the riddler.
Yeah, but you can't give 'em anything that hard.
Captain? Detective Wilson, this is Grady Smith from the FBI felony kidnapping unit.
Kidnapping unit, what's happening? Carter's been getting a series of texts from untraceable numbers.
We think it could be coming from her kidnapper.
Now one by one, they don't make any sense.
Then I line 'em up.
First word of every sentence.
Food court mall, 4:00 P.
M.
today.
It's a pretty basic code, we're obviously not dealing with a criminal mastermind here.
All sent within the last 24 hours.
We got undercovers in place already.
We've already got eyes on everyone going in or out.
- Captain, I have to be there.
- Detective, we need you to keep your daughter in your sight.
- I can get my husband to pick her up - I'm giving that job to you.
- I'll be there.
- And I'll be there.
We've got this covered, I assure you.
We will catch this woman.
You just take care of your daughter.
Kyle, help me, please, I have to be there.
You heard what the captain said.
Hey, I'm not gonna let you lose Carter again.
Hey.
Where's Carter? You don't actually think she's been coming to school, do you? What do you mean? She's got everyone thinking she's got post traumatic stress disorder, and they send her home.
Mom! That's our cue.
To the mall.
- To the mall.
- To the mall.
Carter.
No, no.
Please, God, no.
What's going on? What's going on?! - What's going on? - I don't know.
We have apples? Yeah, I couldn't find any peanut butter, though.
She keeps it in the fridge.
That's weird.
Yeah.
I know, I'm sorry, captain, I'm sorry, but she's not at school, and she's not at home, and her escape backpack is missing.
All right, you're here.
We've got every possible access covered.
You two eyeball this crowd.
On three.
She's not here.
I don't know, Kyle.
Something doesn't seem right.
Looks like this message was meant for you.
Good you were here to get it.
Max.
Max, come here, this is the best thing ever.
Everything to you is the best thing ever.
- What is it? - Okay, so Elizabeth thinks I'm meeting my mom in this food court, and she's looking around.
And she's looking around and Am I right, isn't that the best thing you've ever seen? Wait, wait, wait, this is my favorite part, it's my favorite part, look at her face, look at her face, look at her face She looks she looks so sad.
My God, Max, don't tell me you feel sorry for her.
A little, look at her.
Max This woman, the whole entire reason you're even here is because she is obsessed with the idea of putting my mom in jail.
She got me back, okay, I am here.
Why don't you make that your focus, or how about just being happy with that and leaving my mom alone? I love my mom, okay? More than anyone or anything in the whole entire world.
And I live with someone who would kill her if she could.
Which she can't, but you know what she can do? She can put her in jail for 20 years.
And that is what Elizabeth lives for.
That is why she was in the food court in the first place.
She knows how much it would hurt me, and she couldn't care less.
Hey, look, I'm sorry, I didn't I didn't think to see it like that.
Yeah, well, that's the problem, nobody does.
So then you gotta tell them.
When, how? Every conversation I've ever had with Elizabeth is her telling me what I've done wrong.
My opinion does not matter to her.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I mean, when she was interrogating me, she never asked me a single question about Lori.
All she wanted to do was talk about you.
So, how does this work? This is a safe space.
We do only two things in here.
We speak, and we listen.
Would you like to go first? I didn't see that coming.
And when we speak, we do it so everyone can hear.
You can go first.
No, clearly the doctor finds you much more fascinating than me.
The only fascinating thing about me is that I'm your sister.
Taylor, the only thing fascinating about me is that I was abducted.
That's the only thing anyone even really knows about me or cares about.
What would you like us to know? Well, I'm trying to figure that out myself.
Can you talk a little more about that? Well, it's it's hard because Because I have to do it with everyone watching me.
I feel like some elephant who accidentally got assigned to the penguin house, you know? It's so obvious that I'm an elephant.
But people keep coming up to me with a clipboard and saying, "You know, according to this, you're, you're actually a penguin.
" Actually, I also feel like that except in my version, I'm an Armadillo and they're giraffes.
At least, the penguins can see the elephant but they don't even know I'm down there.
I know you're down there.
Elizabeth, you've been very quiet.
It's just it's just hard to hear what terrible parents we've been.
Not him, you.
What has he done that I haven't? Well, for starters, he's never lied to my face.
He's not spying on me, he's not recording everything I say.
And with him, I don't have to be in a room like this for him to listen to me.
I asked him not to write that book, "Finding Carter," and he's not.
Do you have to do that, rub it in my face? That wasn't even about you, that was about me and him.
I've been married to this man for 17 years, Carter.
You just met him.
Yes, it was between you and him.
But it was also between him and me.
Let's open the discussion back up.
I'd like to go back to what you were saying to your mother.
Please don't use that word.
My mother is not here.
I can't see her, I can't talk to her.
She is not my mother and she will never be my mother because she is the person who is hunting my mother.
Hey, Armadillo.
Hey, Elephant.
Well, I guess that'll teach you to invite me to family therapy again.
I think it could help.
Well, I can tell you that kind of stuff is a lot more fun when you're high.
Taylor's right, don't use me as a role model.
Last time, ma Elizabeth made this whole speech to your empty chair.
She described the day she came home and you weren't there.
It sounded pretty horrible.
Yeah, I'm sure it did.
And how she's afraid she'll have to go through it again.
Will she? Will I? Grant I don't know.
I would tell you if I did.
But the not knowing is just as hard for me.
But you wanna go, right? If Lori showed up.
She's my mother.
And I'm your brother and Taylor's your sister, and you have a dad now.
That's not enough for you, is it? You'd still leave us.
I can't answer that.
You already did.
She found your escape backpack Elizabeth.
What? It's gone.
- Carter wait.
- She took it.
No, no, she didn't.
This woman is insane.
She is insane.
She tells me she is scared I'll leave, but then she does absolutely everything in her power to push me away from her.
She lies to me, she spies on me, she steals from me.
She has absolutely no idea what this might be like for me, and she is deliberately trying to make me mad.
Well, guess what, it worked, I'm mad.
And she is not gonna like me when I'm mad.
I'll just try acting a lot more like Taylor, but not with the cooking or anything.
Or maybe with the cooking, actually.
But I'll just start being really like nice and polite, like I really want this to work.
And then I'll just start doing little things like hiding her stuff, like her reading glasses or her driver's license or, ooh, her detective shield.
And then I'll, um, I'll just start cutting little holes in her clothes.
Carter? Have you ever heard the saying that holding on to anger is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person will die? No.
But you heard it right now.
When I said it.
What's your point? Okay, well, how about instead of thinking about ways to make Elizabeth miserable, you find a way to make you happy.
Why take the long way when there's a shortcut? I'm just saying.
- Molly? - You ever tried it? - No.
- I did it, once it was not for me.
I was in much too good a mood for much too long a time.
While you, on the other hand, have been unhappy for a while now.
I just think you could use a vacation.
And don't worry, it's very pure and very safe.
Yes, we get it from this guy, Crash.
If drug dealers were on yelp, he would be getting five stars.
You know, for drug dealers.
That's a potentially huge idea.
I'm not taking it alone.
You won't.
I hate to say it, man.
Are you good enough to take no for an answer? I can't.
You can't? There's a million chicks who'd love to go out with you.
They're not her.
I wish I had your problems.
Whoo! Now I'm supposed to tell her she's grounded? I love the job of nerd sister.
Ha-ha! Yeah, she probably won't be ready to leave for about six hours, my best guess.
My mom does not wanna hear that.
Maximilian, Maximilian.
- Gabe.
- Hi.
I got you, Gabe Anytime, anywhere.
Oops.
I was not supposed to do that.
Gosh, you look so much like Elizabeth when you pull that face.
Doesn't she look like Elizabeth when she pulls that face? Do you think this is cute? This isn't cute you're high.
You're making a fool of yourself.
I liked you better when I thought you were dead.
Very funny.
She's having a seizure.
- Hey, call 9-1-1.
- Carter! I'm so sorry! - Call 9-1-1.
- I didn't mean it! Come on, come on.
Call 9-1-1, man! Don't leave me, Carter.
I can't lose you again.
Carter.
Carter.
- Mom? - I'm here.
Don't leave me, Carter.
I'm right here.
I'm right here.
How long have I been here? Three years.
Three years? I'm kidding, but You've been out for a while.
But not a coma, right? Technically, a coma.
I was in a coma? It was a little coma.
Just long enough to scare us all to death.
Why does all the fun stuff happen to you? Abduction, seizure, coma.
I kissed Gabe, didn't I? Yes, you certainly did.
Taylor I really don't like him.
Except, you do Which is fine with me.
Or it will be, maybe.
Just get better.
Guys, let's let her get some rest.
I'll call your folks, let 'em know she's up.
Thank you.
I'm not staying but I I, I just wanted to give you this.
Hey, Armadillo.
Hey, you're up.
What are you doing here? I should've told you this sooner.
Because then maybe you wouldn't be here.
Elizabeth didn't take your backpack.
I did.
You did? I didn't want you to leave.
But I really don't want you to die.
I just I want you to be someplace you're happy.
And I get that it's not here.
I put a burner phone in here.
So call me.
David, my God.
A coma, how is she? She's fine, absolutely fine.
Thank God that would not be good for anyone if she overdosed on drugs her first month home.
So what's the good word? What's the great word, you mean? People are loving Loving your sample chapter.
But now, between this YouTube video and the coma.
You ain't even heard our family therapy session.
She is not my mother and she will never be my mother.
Because she is the person who is hunting my mother.
That's Eliza she's talking about Elizabeth? This next book of yours, "Finding Carter" It's gonna be huge.
I just wanna find my mom.
Everyone suffers losses It's how we handle them that says everything about a person.
There's not always a black and white, a good guy and a bad guy.
You kind of sneaked up on me.
We have a problem.
What are you writing that will put food on our table? Just trust me can you do that? Hey, I'm Crash.
You were at the police station earlier.
She cannot get sucked into this guy's life.
The only thing I really want is to be at home with my real mom.
That's all I want too.
You can never have anything to do with him again.
- Do you understand me? - Yeah, I understand you.
Do you understand me? - I thought you were my friend.
- I thought you were mine.
Stop! Will you get off of me? We wanna help her find her mom.
You know Crash.
This was inevitable.
No, I'm inevitable.
That was a lot of fun.
Can you save some oxygen for the rest of us, please? I don't know what that was.
I can't stay here and be with my mom at the same time.
I have to choose.
Everyone always says it's so great being a twin but they wouldn't say that if they had to be your twin.
You are too tiny to carry this enormous burden.
Your mom is here.
Love you more.
- Not possible.
- Yes, possible.
What is? How it's the same every time.
Hello, two people, wow, clearly they should be together, but you're gonna have to sit there watching them for two hours while they figure that out.
The end.
Nothing happens except the one thing we knew was gonna happen.
Because it's a romantic comedy, not "Anna Karenina.
" Great, mom, now you've ruined "Anna Karenina.
" Carter, there's cookie dough, fruity pebbles, ooh, crushed Oreos.
I can't believe I'm begging my child to eat crushed Oreos for dinner I am the worst mother.
Mom, you know how I feel about gummi bears.
I do, which is why if I always said if we ever get separated, I'll meet you by the nearest tub of gummi bears.
Sadly, that is my idea of a safety tip.
It's Max.
I thought you two broke up.
Yeah, we did, he's just Too lazy to find someone else.
So what is this, a booty call - Mom.
- Yeah? No, he's just letting me know everyone's hanging out.
And please never use the phrase "booty call" with me ever again.
Go, be with your friends.
No, this is our night.
We saw a movie, we had dinner, I'm good.
- You sure? - Yeah.
You can see me any time.
Okay.
Wait, here, take this.
Mom, I'm fine.
You might get cold.
Please, let me just do one mom thing.
Fine.
- I love you.
- Love you more.
Not possible.
Yes, possible.
Bye.
Carter, where'd you learn how to do that? Carter, what would we do without you? And I want the fast one.
Whoo! Dude, they're not moving.
Ye of little faith.
Hey, who left a backpack? You know, I get it.
We're broken up, but we're still friends.
Yeah, always.
So all I'm saying Is let's add the benefits.
That's basically all we ever were.
Carter, you're over thinking this.
That's it, ride's over, you're coming with us.
You heard him, let's go.
Come on, we're just kids having some harmless fun.
Look, don't worry, they're not gonna charge us.
They'll just They'll just let us off with a warning.
How do you know that? Hope you're right.
We'll never get out of here.
Next time this happens, you'll be talking to a judge.
See, what did I tell you.
Tonight, you just have to face your parents.
I'd prefer a judge.
Is that still an option? Move it.
Not you.
Yours isn't here yet.
You called her, right? Carter Stevens? And I was just getting comfortable.
It's okay, I'm not hungry.
Um, I just wanna go home.
I'm sorry, Carter, it's not that simple.
Look, where's my mom, can we just get her in here? Okay, right now, we're doing all we can to locate her.
What do you mean, is she okay? Carter, I need you to listen to me.
My name is Susan Sherman, I work with the children's protective services.
Hey, can you just skip to the part where my mom is missing.
Your mother, she goes by the name of Lori Stevens? What does that mean, "goes by"? That's not her real name.
Carter Stevens is not your real name.
Well, it's my name, and it's real, so When you were three years old, you were abducted from the front lawn of your home in great falls, Virginia.
The woman you think is your mother is not your mother.
She's your kidnapper.
That's crazy.
No, stop talking, stop talking! Please, please, please Carter, Carter.
I just wanna go home, okay? - Okay.
- I just wanna go see my mom.
All right, Carter, and you will.
But it's gonna be to a different home.
And a different mother.
Does the name Linden mean anything to you, Linden Wilson? No.
That's your real name, Linden Wilson.
Look, I know the FBI is Is really good at being the FBI but I really think there's been some kind of Computer glitch or Or something got filed wrong.
This is your mug shot from last night.
Okay.
And this is you a month before you were abducted.
I've never seen that picture before.
Okay, that might not even be me.
It's you, the ears are the same.
It's an ear, it looks like every other ear.
Actually, ears are as distinct and unique as dental records, which we also have.
And fingerprints.
These were taken last night.
And these were lifted from your toys after you disappeared 13 years ago.
My mom would never do this.
People abduct children for all kinds of reasons.
Stop talking about her.
She's an amazing person.
And even if what you're saying is true, I wouldn't care, I would I would still wanna live with her.
You understand that can't happen.
Your real parents are here.
And they're very anxious to see you.
Now? No, I'm not ready.
Linden.
You're so beautiful.
Do you remember me at all? No, I'm sorry.
Lizzie She needs time.
We all do.
I'm your dad.
Yeah, I figured.
Do do you remember your twin sister, do you remember Taylor? I have a sister? I didn't think I had any other family.
Is that what she told you, the monster that stole you - from us? - She wasn't a monster.
She took you.
She brainwashed you when you were only three years old.
Do we know who she was? Does she look familiar? She goes by the name Lori Stevens.
Can you please stop saying "goes by"? My God, David.
My God.
We know her.
That's impossible, she must be in the system.
When her one and only crime was stealing my child, I don't think so.
Sounds like a cop.
She is a cop sorry, detective.
And make sure everyone has her pictures.
TSA, train, bus, car rental agents.
And put out there's a reward.
$10,000.
Who's paying that reward, are we paying that reward? I want this woman caught, isn't that what you want? You know I do.
And you don't care what I want? Of course.
Okay, let me call you back.
So my mom.
She was your friend? More like acquaintances.
She did in-home hospice care.
One of them lived on our street.
She told us her name was Janet.
Why can't I remember her last name? She said we were such a beautiful family.
I thought she was being sweet.
You know what else she said? It's a shame you can't spend more time with your girls.
She was monitoring my work hours.
You didn't spend time with us? Linden, your mom had to work.
She was helping to support the family.
No, but you're right.
I'm gonna do it all differently this time, Linden.
Well, you could start by calling me Carter.
I don't know if I can do that.
You have to understand, that name Reminds us of the worst part of our lives.
Can you understand, I just had my entire life ripped from under me.
And my name is all I have left.
If that's what you want.
We'll call you Carter.
Thanks, you're a peach.
No.
What's going on? No you let this go out on the police scanner? No, because I didn't want this to happen.
Guys, please, step aside, let 'em out.
Step aside, step aside, ma'am, ma'am, step aside.
Toby, you did this? Don't worry, this is all under control.
Get out of the way.
Give us some room.
- Get back.
- Linden, Linden! My God, it is such an honor to meet you.
Namaste.
Hi, I'm your dad's literary agent, I'm Toby De Moray.
Not now, Toby.
Give us some space, please.
Okay, how about a quick photo op? See you later.
Linden.
Buddy, Joan, please, back off, she's not ready.
The hell with that.
Papa.
Welcome home, baby girl.
Come here, please! You remember your grandma Joan? Well, you will as soon as you taste a bowl of my Mac and Cheese.
I make it extra gooey just like you always liked it.
Elizabeth, would you put that phone down? She's trying to catch the kidnapper.
All right, all right.
Hi.
Hi.
So Taylor and Do I have a brother? They didn't mention me.
I couldn't be less shocked.
Grant, this has been an emotionally chaotic day.
Could you keep the sarcasm to a minimum? So obviously, you were born after Yes, I'm the replacement child.
Grant.
You said to a minimum.
I think that entitles me to one line.
Do you remember? Not really.
We used to call you little Linden and tiny Taylor.
What are we gonna call you now? - Carter.
- What? I would like to be called Carter.
- I don't think so - Mom, it's decided.
- I have an opinion - All right.
Back door was open.
I need you, two seconds, two seconds? I promise.
So he writes books.
He's only had one published.
Well, but Joan, it was a bestseller.
Does she know what it's about? No? It's about you.
What about me? It's called "Losing Linden.
" Well, I guess I should read it.
Right after I finish "Anna Karenina.
" Are you reading "Anna Karenina"? No.
David, what a godsend.
I never thought this day would come.
Me neither.
You should hear who's on my voice-mail Publishers, producers, Brad Pitt's development person.
My daughter is alive.
She's home.
That's the day I was referring to.
Obviously obviously.
But you are looking at a potential huge payday.
And that could resolve your current financial crisis.
Do we have to discuss this now? We haven't even been home for ten minutes.
It's my job to be insensitive.
You have a $500,000 book advance that has to be repaid.
There's always foreclosure.
I mean, you could tell Elizabeth, which I still haven't.
You don't have to now because your solution just walked through that door.
That's your sequel, "Finding Linden.
" Carter That's her name now.
It can't be Linden? God, it was so simple.
Okay, on the other hand, I like the twist.
You lose a child, but you find a stranger.
"Finding Carter," that works, okay, start taking notes.
Linden Carter, can I come in? Yeah.
Just a sec.
Okay, come in.
Hey.
Believe it or not, I gave this a lot of thought.
Your grandmother's out there making waffles and omelets.
But I didn't even know what you liked, and I, I don't know if you eat breakfast.
You don't seem like the Breakfast in bed type.
I didn't wanna subject you to another family onslaught.
Those are tough for me, and I know these people.
That's fine, thank you.
Great.
Okay.
I was thinking that maybe you and Taylor could take the car, and she could show you around town and maybe introduce you to some of her friends? Or, I could just go see the ones I already have? - Back where you - Yeah.
Back where I know people.
What is that, a two-hour drive? Sure, I can drive you.
I'm 16, I don't need my mommy to take me on play dates.
You don't expect me to just give you my car.
That is exactly what you just offered a minute ago.
No, I said you and Taylor.
In other words, someone has to be in the car with me.
Listen I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this relationship work.
But I need to know that you want it too.
It would help a lot if I believed you trusted me.
That was a joke! Good one.
I'm actually a very safe driver.
We're not worried.
Well, this is unexpected.
Would you let the daughter we do know go on a road trip with your car? No.
Hey, Kyle, she just left.
The tracker's on.
She should pass Denny's in about two minutes.
Are you having her followed? Well, like you said, we don't know her.
Well, I do know this.
She probably would not want us spying on her.
The owners closed it for the rest of the season? - Not because of us.
- No.
No, some four-year-old found a little joint on one of the bench thingies.
- So because of us.
- Well Brothers got room to talk Yeah.
Messing round on the block Amelia's not even answering my texts.
Guys had to work today.
Really? No.
I don't get it, I thought they'd wanna see me.
Carter, you gotta understand.
People are a little freaked out.
Let me tell you about freaked out.
So not only is my mom not my mom.
My name's not even my name and apparently Apparently, my friends are not really my friends.
For what it's worth, you got me.
Thank you.
And I Got this.
Thank God.
Yeah, I can see her.
No, they're not doing anything, just sitting on a bench.
So your people, these people, your family? You like 'em? I don't know, it's weird.
They're total strangers, right? But when the grandfather hugged me, it was like this spot in my brain just went halogen.
That's that's like a "Bourne Identity" That's a thing.
You might be an assassin.
Max, I was abducted when I was three.
So you're probably not an assassin.
No.
And I have a sister.
A twin sister who I don't remember at all.
But who I feel like I know really well.
I don't know, yeah, I guess I could get to like them eventually.
Except mom, I hate the mom, she is the human equivalent of nails on a chalkboard.
This isn't good-bye.
No never.
That's Mondo Creepy.
What? Some guy over there Is watching us in his side view mirror.
Hey.
Hey! Hey! I can see you! G-J-5-9-3-5.
My mom's a cop, we'll find you! Your mom's a cop? You probably shouldn't have had that weed.
No, it's okay.
My other mom's a felon.
She's the one I take after.
Well, it's official.
You're the good daughter.
You hungry? Mom made a plate.
A cop who cooks.
She really can do it all? Actually, I made that.
I do most of the cooking around here.
Every so often, grant makes a soup.
What, we don't eat those? One had a dollar bill floating in it, so, no.
- This is fantastic.
- Thanks.
I actually, um, I like to bake.
Yeah? I'm a big fan of dessert.
Some nights it's all I eat.
I say I'm going to dinner, and I meet my friend Gabe at this yogurt place.
Self-serve, all different kinds of toppings.
My God, can we go? - As soon as you're done.
- I'm done.
I'll just tell my mom, our mom mom.
It's fine, you can have her.
- Hey.
- You're back.
According to the FBI, this is where I live now.
Was it fun to see your friends? Yeah, loads of fun.
Even made a new one.
Guy in a silver Subaru who sat in his car all day watching me.
My God.
I hope you got his license.
As a matter of fact, I did.
You can find him, right? Or Maybe you already know who he is.
How would I possibly? Well, you were nervous.
I took your car.
Maybe you had me followed? No, she she would never.
- Would you? - Of course not.
You said that you needed me to trust you and I did I do.
Okay, well Let me know if you find anything.
Absolutely, I'll look into this.
Carter wants yogurt.
Great.
Go, have fun.
I know.
Hey, yo, try some Fro-Yo.
Do you know what you want? Um, yeah, yeah, I do.
I'll meet you inside.
Okay.
Excuse me, hi.
Um Who do I talk to about getting a job here? That'd be me.
Listen, Zubin.
You want me to work here.
Trust me, it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
- Really? - Um- What's so great about you? I want it to be a surprise when I show up for work tomorrow.
I guess? I'll, I'll see you then, Zubin.
This is my friend Gabe.
This is Carter, my long lost sister.
Hi.
So welcome home, I guess.
Yeah, thanks.
It's been kind of an abrupt transition.
She didn't know until yesterday that she'd been kidnapped, and she doesn't remember any of us.
Holy crap, you must be majorly freaked out.
Yeah, to be honest, I'm trying not to think about how freaked out I am.
Hey, there's a party.
Would it help to go to a party? Yeah.
Party pretty much solves anything.
At least for a couple hours, right? I don't know, I've never been to one.
You've never been to a party? Not that didn't have a goody bag.
Wow, so glad I did not grow up here.
Let's go.
Drink, drink, drink Whoo! It's not that hard, it's not that hard.
The secret is Don't hesitate.
How did you do that? Well, as a wise man once said, science, yo.
Cheers.
What are you drinking? I don't know, something lethal.
Can I try it? I can't taste the alcohol.
That's what makes it lethal.
Okay, who's next? This is fun.
What is? Me watching you stare at my sister.
Sorry, really? You can't blame me for being intrigued.
Being abducted has its rewards.
She tell you what it was like? She lived in a two-bedroom apartment in York, Pennsylvania.
She wasn't sold into child slavery.
Well, you're happy she's back, right? Yeah, of course I'm happy.
I don't know how happy she is, though.
She looks pretty happy.
Gabe, as you can probably tell Because you can't keep your eyes off her My sister was having a totally fun and awesome life where she got to drink and smoke and probably be a complete slut.
While I've never done anything remotely fun or awesome because I lived in constant fear of the terrible thing that happened to my sister.
Except it didn't.
Whoa, slow down.
Taylor.
What are you doing? I'm making up for lost time.
- I don't believe you.
- It's true.
"Mean girls" is not your favorite movie.
All you - Sucka MC's ain't got nothin' on me - My God.
From my grades to my lines, you can't touch Kevin G I'm a mathlete, so nerd is inferred But forget what you heard, I'm like James Bond the third Jesus.
Okay, but that's a secret.
I use "bad grandpa" as my cover.
Really? Okay, I won't tell anyone.
You're very cool.
Thanks.
So are you.
Sorry it's been so rough for you.
At least you made one new friend.
Yeah.
You know what? You're actually my first one here.
Wasn't so bad, was it? No, not at all.
- Gabe - Sorry.
No Too fast, don't we can take this a lot slower.
No.
We can't take it at all.
I'm sorry, I just I can't do that to Taylor.
Do what to Taylor? Come on, I know you're not dumb.
Let's pretend I am.
Taylor likes you.
Yeah, we're friends since, like, the second grade.
She's like my sister.
What the hell? This isn't a coal mine, could you turn that off? - Gabe, is that you? - Hi, Mrs.
Wilson.
Mr.
Wilson.
Do you have any idea what time it is? Where's Taylor? Chill, she's there.
David, my God.
It's okay, she's just drunk.
And she may have had a pot brownie or two.
Tay-Tay, sweetie, let me get you inside, come on.
Can you stand up? I'll get her inside.
Night, Gabe.
Good-bye, Mr.
Wilson, Mrs.
Wilson.
Listen, thanks for tonight.
I had fun.
Me too.
And I'd like to do it again.
We'll see.
Is she still standing there? Yup.
Obviously, I'm happy for you two to get along.
But I'd prefer if you didn't pass on your bad habits to Taylor.
My bad habits? So there are already things about me that you don't like? What are they? What I meant to say was that Just name one or, I don't know, you could name something about me that you do like.
Name anything that you know about me at all.
I am trying to get to know you, but you're doing everything you can to avoid me! That's because you're stiff, you're humorless, you're a control freak.
You operate from this place of fear.
You know My mom used to tell me every day that she loved me.
And I haven't heard you say it once.
Not to any member of your family.
Please tell me you didn't hear that.
I hear everything.
That's one advantage to people not remembering you exist.
So I'm not wrong? That woman has the personality of a refrigerator.
She's not the hallmark commercial, for sure, but it's because of us.
What did we do? Nothing on purpose.
You were kidnapped, I was born ten weeks premature.
What? Yeah.
I was, like, this big.
Doctor said ten-to-one I wouldn't make it.
- Mom - Elizabeth, please, I am not on board with "mom.
" She kind of cracked.
All she wanted was to hold a baby, but instead it looked like she was about to have another dead kid on her hands Which, sorry, everyone thought you were.
Yeah, that that would be rough.
But I think it'll help having you back Maybe.
I would not hold my breath.
I know.
Although, I can hold my breath for a really long time.
Almost five minutes.
You need to get out more.
Yeah, no kidding.
If you love somebody She works here, that's her, right there.
I love you.
Whoo.
Excuse me, hey, we're family, excuse me.
- Who's next? - Me.
Duck lips? She's so cool, don't you think? Yes, she is.
So, feel free to put me on instagram, tweet about me, Facebook, if anyone still looks at that.
What about me, can I get a picture with you? Hell, yeah.
Hey, you can make that the cover of your next book.
I thought you didn't want me to write about you.
I don't.
The "J/K" was silent.
Next time it won't be.
Give me a chance.
I'm slow, but eventually I do catch on.
Don't forget to say where she works.
That's right, I want people to know exactly where to find me.
Crap, I know what she's doing.
What's she doing? She's sending a message to her mom.
The other one, the kidnapper? She's telling her to meet her here.
I'm calling your mom.
We need to pay more attention to you.
Yeah, that'd be nice.
Hey.
You're mad at me.
Of course not.
I screwed up, she saw me, your daughter.
She saw you and your license plate.
She was in the middle of a park.
I knew if I got out, she'd see me so I just Hey, it's not you fault.
This is a bad idea to begin with, and so is this.
This? This is way past an idea.
I love you.
You're leaving your husband.
I was.
I can't now.
Okay.
I understand.
It's okay.
Hey I'll wait.
No, you don't understand.
Carter is back, I have my family again.
I can't give that up now.
I'm sorry.
Tried calling you today, did you get my message? About the yogurt shop? Yeah, we're following up, thank you.
Can I make a suggestion? I don't think you should be there.
Of course I'm gonna be there, why wouldn't I be there? Because if Carter sees you arrest that woman, it's gonna make it that much harder for you to Build a relationship with her.
You say that like you have a relationship with her.
I have a picture with her.
It's a step.
Okay.
Well, you know what step I need? I need to arrest this psycho bitch who let me die inside because She, she took my baby.
And I couldn't protect her, I couldn't, I couldn't help her.
And I couldn't find her.
It' okay, Lizzie.
It's okay to not be strong all the time.
Whoa, look at you.
Yeah, that works.
Thanks.
Glad to see you recovered from the other night.
Yeah, boy, drinking? Not as easy as it looks.
I feel bad I've never taken you to a party before, I just Figured it wasn't your kind of thing.
Me too, but it is.
Can we go to more? Absolutely.
Carter too, right? Of course.
But we're not like the Olsen twins, I mean, we have our own lives.
I just Would like to get to know her better.
Yeah.
Sure.
Um You wanna go out with her? If you're okay with that.
Why why wouldn't I be, we're just friends.
Right, that's what I said.
Wait you said that to who? Carter.
She thinks you like me.
I told her you're like my sister.
But you didn't say it like that.
Please, tell me you didn't use those words.
Hey, you okay? Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.
Just not really in the mood for yogurt.
Hey, come on.
No, don't worry, I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry.
What was that? She said she didn't like me.
I wonder why.
Break's over, back to your post.
Come on, you can't both be mad at me.
Hi.
That is a very styling cup of yogurt.
What did you do there, layers? - Yeah.
- I'm gonna have to try that myself.
Thanks, bye.
Who's next? Here we go, someone after my own Heart.
Carter? I'm sorry, miss, I'll ring you up.
No, um no, it's okay, I got it.
Um, that'll be 4.
80.
Not possible.
Yes, possible.
- Mom I'm sorry.
Um Back here.
Put this on.
Carter, I'm sorry.
All right, look Take these free samples and And just walk out the front door.
Carter Carter They'll be watching the back.
There are things you don't know.
Things you should know.
Mom, you have to go.
Mom, go.
- Go.
- I'll be back.
Go, go, go, go.
Start over there let's move it.
Where is she? Where is who? Carter, this place is surrounded with police.
I promise you, Lori Stevens is not going to get away.
You need this many people to catch her? She's not exactly Lara Croft.
The woman can barely throw a frisbee.
But it was fun to watch her try.
Dad, what's going on? The less you know, okay.
Hey.
That's the guy, the one who was watching me.
Come on, let's go.
Who, my dad? That's your dad? You did have me followed.
- Carter - You lied to me.
You looked into my eyes and lied to my face.
I did.
I'm sorry, I was wrong.
No, you know what? You were right, Lori Stevens was here.
She risked her life just so she could see me for five seconds.
Just to tell me she loved me.
Because she's my mother.
And you've taken me away from her.
You want to find my abductor? It's you.
Maximilian, Maximilian.
Gabe.
Oops.
I was not supposed to do that.
You think this is cute? This isn't cute, you're high.
You're making a fool of yourself.
I liked you better when I thought you were dead.
Very funny.
She's having a seizure.
- Hey, Evan, call 9-1-1.
- Carter, I'm so sorry.
- Call 9-1-1.
- I didn't mean it.
- I love you.
- Love you more.
Not possible.
Carter! It's time to go! Carter! She wants to make me yell.
I'm just giving her exactly what she wants.
Not what I want.
If that still matters for anything around here.
You know what? Bring that up at family therapy tonight.
The last thing I wanna do is spend another hour of my life talking about Carter.
That's the whole point of family therapy.
Finding Carter has made our lives very complicated.
This has been a tough month.
I'm happy she's here.
We're all happy she's here.
I'd be happier if she were here.
I am.
Come on, we don't wanna be late.
Carter, you can't go to school in your pajamas.
Why not? What difference does it make? Fine.
You take them.
No, I can't, I've got that meeting in the city today.
It's the editor of "Vanity Fair.
" They're looking for someone to do a true crime column.
One like Dominick Dunne.
So you never were gonna wear your pajamas to school.
Nope.
You did that just to annoy mom? No, I did that to distract her.
This is what I'm doing to annoy her.
Do you guys want a ride? Do not use her as a role model, grant.
Yeah, not when you've got so many other great options.
As you may know, the school is reevaluating its zero tolerance program.
So, for the time being, we are reinstating our point system.
Boo.
Each one of you will receive this booklet.
It's the list of infractions and the points you will receive as a result of those infractions.
For example, miss Gilroy, eating in class, one point.
Please put away that yogurt.
When you have accumulated enough points, you will begin to lose privileges.
For example, five points, no pep rally.
Ten points earns you cafeteria cleanup.
five Saturday detention.
- 15 points - Mr.
Sharkey.
Dear Lord.
- My God.
- I think she's having a panic attack.
Yogurt.
Does she want my yogurt? She can have my yogurt? It's my mom.
The last time she saw her mom, the kidnapper mom, was in a yogurt shop.
She almost got arrested by my dad.
Take her to the office, have her call her parents.
I'll call your mom.
Don't bother.
Wait, so you're not And please stop calling Elizabeth my mom.
She is she is not my mom.
So you faked that whole thing.
Well, not the part where I had to listen to you brag about how your dad almost arrested the "kidnapper" mom.
Please don't refer to her as that, she is just my mom.
I'm sorry.
It gets confusing sometimes.
Yeah, I know, I'm sorry.
Well, thanks for getting me out of there.
So Bam, we just got a whole day off school.
What do you wanna do? Gabe, I'm not spending the day with you.
Come on, I've got my car.
We can go into the city.
I'll take you to see the stairs from "The Exorcist.
" Gabe, I can't even say your name without Taylor going blech and walking out the room.
If she finds out I spent the entire day with you, she'll kill me.
How would she find out? She'll never find out.
Taylor.
Well, I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister.
Now I know.
Who is that guy? I see him everywhere.
Ofe, you never met Ofe? Ofe? Stands for "One Freaking Eyebrow.
" What's his real name? Nobody remembers.
I don't even know if he remembers.
Okay, so what you wanna do is you wanna You wanna pick a date, okay, and then the buy-in's gonna be ten dollars.
Winner takes home three grand.
What if a year goes by, and they don't catch her.
Then we start a new pool, and the pot doubles.
Excuse me.
- Man! - Sorry, sorry.
That's my mom.
I just lost a customer, not your fault.
I do blame you, however, Gabe.
I didn't know.
You knew.
We decided not to tell him.
Right, that is what we decided.
Tell me what? I'm Ofe, by the way.
I'm Bird, we kind of met at that party.
Remember, she's the one that did that thing with the shot glass.
Shot glass, that was sweet.
I love that, I could never I'm afraid of fire.
Why have you got a photo of my mom in your briefcase? This is my office.
I make book, I take bets, sporting events mostly.
Anything from high school match ups to pro ball, pretty much full service.
I do straight, parlay, teasers, sides.
I calculate my own spreads.
If I may indulge in a little humble brag, and from time to time, I come up with a fun novelty pool.
So you're taking bets on the date my mom gets arrested.
If it makes you feel any better, most people are giving her at least six months.
You're an ass.
I know, I'm sorry.
I feel really bad.
Maybe don't do the pool.
I don't feel that bad.
You know what, it doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter, she promised me she'd be back.
I shouldn't even be here.
Where are you going? Somewhere I don't have to think about how much my life sucks now.
If there even is such a place.
There is.
Come on.
Wow, this is all yours? A 16th birthday present from my parents.
If there had been a card, it would've said, "we love you, now go away.
" This was supposed to be an art studio.
Now it's like the chocolate factory from Willy Wonka, only with booze and pot instead of everlasting gobstoppers.
I have everlasting gobstoppers.
So you're an artist.
A great artist.
She did the Alice in wonderland mural in the cafeteria.
Really? That's impressive.
Thanks.
Face of the mad hatter, that's me.
No, it's Johnny Depp.
God, would it kill you to one time say it's me? Hey, can I borrow this? I've got this family therapy thing tonight, and I think it can be very useful.
Family therapy? We tried that once, me and my parents.
Really, did it work? Yeah, we're closer than ever.
São Paulo is closer than Dubai, right? Poor little rich girl.
Smart, judgmental cop's kid.
Help yourself.
This place is bigger than the one I used to live in with my mom.
Sorry about that stupid pool, Carter.
I'm sorry you haven't heard from her.
No chance she'll come back to the yogurt store? No, I doubt it.
Anyway, they fired me.
Apparently, people don't like to be under police surveillance while they eat yogurt.
That's fine, though, I know she'll get in touch.
I just don't know how the FBI's got everything but a camera up my ass.
Screw the FBI.
We could, actually.
- It wouldn't even be that hard.
- What do you mean? So they're stalking your phone, right? In case your mom sends you a message.
So we get your mom I mean, us pretending to be your mom to text you.
With burner phones.
Cheapo phones with prepaid minutes.
You can get 'em pretty much anywhere.
Including right here.
It's a side business, I also sell glow sticks.
I do very well at parties.
Okay, so what should the message be? Something a mother would say to a daughter.
I know what it would say.
"Love you more.
" Love you more.
Phase one complete.
Elizabeth, I believe there was something you wanted to say to Carter.
I was really angry today when I found out that you went through my bag and had taken my car keys.
I Reacted immaturely.
I went into your room, and I looked through your closet, and I found something.
I found the backpack.
The one that's packed like you're ready to run away.
I can't do that again.
I can't come home one day and find out that you're gone.
Please, give me a chance.
How was that, Elizabeth? Not so bad.
I've always been able to talk to Carter when she wasn't there.
If we want her to come to therapy, we can't get mad at her for not coming to therapy.
I wasn't going to.
Morning, sunshine.
Did you borrow my car or just steal it? I'm only asking because it isn't here.
Carter, get rid of that.
Your 12-year-old brother is in the room.
Come on, has he never been to a sporting event? Not many.
It's a joke, it's a toy.
No, you know very well what it is, it's an obscenity.
From, like, the 1970s, geez.
Glad I didn't bring it to family therapy last night.
No, instead, you just decided not to show up.
Kids, you're taking the bus this morning.
The bus? I was gonna take them.
I hate the bus.
No, we have to deal with this.
This I'm a this now.
The bus is starting to look pretty good.
Yeah.
You can borrow my headphones.
I have headphones.
- Not like these.
- Thanks.
Look, I'm sorry, I was with friends, and I got a little drunk, and I thought I probably shouldn't drive.
Especially since it was your car.
So I got Gabe to give me a ride.
See, she was being responsible.
David She stole my car keys out of my purse.
She got drunk, she skipped a therapy session that we desperately need, and now this is how she talks to me? How does any of this qualify as being responsible? You're right, it doesn't.
I just want this thing out of my house.
That seems kind of fair.
Okay.
That's Gabe, I asked him to give me a ride.
It's leaving the house, as you requested.
She put it on my car, didn't she? - No.
- No? - I'm surprised.
- Yeah, me too.
Maybe she actually feels bad about the whole thing.
- How you doing? - Fine.
Really? 'Cause you look stressed.
Kyle, you don't have to keep checking up on me.
Okay, you can tell me that we're not seeing each other, but you can't tell me to stop caring about you.
It hasn't been easy.
Okay, well, maybe this will help.
Looks like Lori's been in touch with Carter.
She's been getting text messages from burner phones.
Any idea where she is? We can't trace 'em, but we can tell they're local.
- They're local? - Yeah.
Keep an eye on Carter.
Yeah.
Hey.
Is it okay if I tape our interview? Yeah.
Sure, ask me okay.
So you're, Carter's real mother.
- Elizabeth, right? - Detective Wilson.
Right.
I'm sorry, detective Wilson.
Is this, are we starting? - Yes.
- Okay.
Before we start, I just wanna say I really like Lori, Carter's other mom.
She is not Carter's other mom.
She is Carter's kidnapper.
Yes, I just I thought you should know, I have that thing where I'm not objective.
I see what Carter means about you.
Excuse me.
She says you never laugh, like, she's never heard what you sound like when you're laughing.
Not that this is funny, this is not funny At all.
Like a funny situation, it's not.
But she says you're, like, one of those people who brag, "I never cry.
" Only with you, it's "I never laugh.
" Man What else does Carter say about me? - Hey.
- Hey.
What's for dinner? I'm starving.
Tilapia with ginger and garlic.
Cool, as long as it's not fish.
- It's fish.
- Taylor, we have our entire lives to eat fish and steamed veggies.
We have this tiny, tiny window where we can eat onion rings and milkshakes and My God, I so want onion rings and a milkshake right now.
Hey.
What smells so good? Fish.
See? Fish can never be the answer to, "what smells so good?" Well, I hope we have enough for one more because I brought home a guest for dinner.
Well, there's plenty because I'm going out to eat.
Max, what are you doing here? Max, you should meet the rest of the family.
This is Taylor, Carter's twin sister.
- Hi.
- Hey.
And Grant Grant?! This is Grant, Carter's brother.
- Dude.
- What's up? David! Well, he's probably working, that's my husband, he's a writer.
I invited Max to stay for a couple of days.
- You did? - Yes, I thought you'd enjoy it.
You cleared it with your folks, right? Yeah, I don't think they believe me, though.
Cops don't usually bring me home.
To their home They don't bring me to their home.
I'm confused, this morning you were mad at me.
No, I wouldn't call that mad.
Okay, I really would.
So what, then, she just invited you here? Yeah, you know, like, invitation, subpoena.
- What's going on? - The usual.
Okay, now I get it.
- No, you don't, let me explain.
- Yes.
You didn't bring him here for me.
You brought him here for you.
You see, it's not enough that you're already listening into all of my phone calls and checking my emails.
Now you have to plant my friends in my home to spy on me.
Come on, we're leaving.
Nice meeting you all, I'm Max.
- David.
- You know what? Now would be the perfect opportunity to put a bug in my room.
So how long you gonna be here? Not sure.
Not like I brought a lot of clean clothes.
But I did bring a lot of dirty ones.
Man, I got this fat pile of dirty dinghies in the back seat of my car, it's stinking.
Can you recommend a good laundromat? Max, you can do your wash at our place.
Bonus.
What about school and You go to school, don't you? Yeah, um There's been some confusion about my grade, which grade I'm in, so I kind of been home schooling Without the schooling.
Man, I already got interrogated today by her mother.
His dad's also a cop.
Yeah, in fact, his dad is the guy who followed me that day I came to visit you.
Nobody will be following Carter after my little FBI sting.
We're sending Carter texts from burner phones to make it look like they're coming from her mom.
Okay.
How's that going? It's phase two, now we find out.
I need a new phone.
Last one, then you gotta start paying, I'm not Amazon.
I get it, I get it.
You all free tomorrow after school? - Yup.
- Yup.
Always.
Good.
What are you writing? Don't worry, I got this, I know how cops work.
They like to solve things, figure stuff out.
Like Batman and the riddler.
Yeah, but you can't give 'em anything that hard.
Captain? Detective Wilson, this is Grady Smith from the FBI felony kidnapping unit.
Kidnapping unit, what's happening? Carter's been getting a series of texts from untraceable numbers.
We think it could be coming from her kidnapper.
Now one by one, they don't make any sense.
Then I line 'em up.
First word of every sentence.
Food court mall, 4:00 P.
M.
today.
It's a pretty basic code, we're obviously not dealing with a criminal mastermind here.
All sent within the last 24 hours.
We got undercovers in place already.
We've already got eyes on everyone going in or out.
- Captain, I have to be there.
- Detective, we need you to keep your daughter in your sight.
- I can get my husband to pick her up - I'm giving that job to you.
- I'll be there.
- And I'll be there.
We've got this covered, I assure you.
We will catch this woman.
You just take care of your daughter.
Kyle, help me, please, I have to be there.
You heard what the captain said.
Hey, I'm not gonna let you lose Carter again.
Hey.
Where's Carter? You don't actually think she's been coming to school, do you? What do you mean? She's got everyone thinking she's got post traumatic stress disorder, and they send her home.
Mom! That's our cue.
To the mall.
- To the mall.
- To the mall.
Carter.
No, no.
Please, God, no.
What's going on? What's going on?! - What's going on? - I don't know.
We have apples? Yeah, I couldn't find any peanut butter, though.
She keeps it in the fridge.
That's weird.
Yeah.
I know, I'm sorry, captain, I'm sorry, but she's not at school, and she's not at home, and her escape backpack is missing.
All right, you're here.
We've got every possible access covered.
You two eyeball this crowd.
On three.
She's not here.
I don't know, Kyle.
Something doesn't seem right.
Looks like this message was meant for you.
Good you were here to get it.
Max.
Max, come here, this is the best thing ever.
Everything to you is the best thing ever.
- What is it? - Okay, so Elizabeth thinks I'm meeting my mom in this food court, and she's looking around.
And she's looking around and Am I right, isn't that the best thing you've ever seen? Wait, wait, wait, this is my favorite part, it's my favorite part, look at her face, look at her face, look at her face She looks she looks so sad.
My God, Max, don't tell me you feel sorry for her.
A little, look at her.
Max This woman, the whole entire reason you're even here is because she is obsessed with the idea of putting my mom in jail.
She got me back, okay, I am here.
Why don't you make that your focus, or how about just being happy with that and leaving my mom alone? I love my mom, okay? More than anyone or anything in the whole entire world.
And I live with someone who would kill her if she could.
Which she can't, but you know what she can do? She can put her in jail for 20 years.
And that is what Elizabeth lives for.
That is why she was in the food court in the first place.
She knows how much it would hurt me, and she couldn't care less.
Hey, look, I'm sorry, I didn't I didn't think to see it like that.
Yeah, well, that's the problem, nobody does.
So then you gotta tell them.
When, how? Every conversation I've ever had with Elizabeth is her telling me what I've done wrong.
My opinion does not matter to her.
I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I mean, when she was interrogating me, she never asked me a single question about Lori.
All she wanted to do was talk about you.
So, how does this work? This is a safe space.
We do only two things in here.
We speak, and we listen.
Would you like to go first? I didn't see that coming.
And when we speak, we do it so everyone can hear.
You can go first.
No, clearly the doctor finds you much more fascinating than me.
The only fascinating thing about me is that I'm your sister.
Taylor, the only thing fascinating about me is that I was abducted.
That's the only thing anyone even really knows about me or cares about.
What would you like us to know? Well, I'm trying to figure that out myself.
Can you talk a little more about that? Well, it's it's hard because Because I have to do it with everyone watching me.
I feel like some elephant who accidentally got assigned to the penguin house, you know? It's so obvious that I'm an elephant.
But people keep coming up to me with a clipboard and saying, "You know, according to this, you're, you're actually a penguin.
" Actually, I also feel like that except in my version, I'm an Armadillo and they're giraffes.
At least, the penguins can see the elephant but they don't even know I'm down there.
I know you're down there.
Elizabeth, you've been very quiet.
It's just it's just hard to hear what terrible parents we've been.
Not him, you.
What has he done that I haven't? Well, for starters, he's never lied to my face.
He's not spying on me, he's not recording everything I say.
And with him, I don't have to be in a room like this for him to listen to me.
I asked him not to write that book, "Finding Carter," and he's not.
Do you have to do that, rub it in my face? That wasn't even about you, that was about me and him.
I've been married to this man for 17 years, Carter.
You just met him.
Yes, it was between you and him.
But it was also between him and me.
Let's open the discussion back up.
I'd like to go back to what you were saying to your mother.
Please don't use that word.
My mother is not here.
I can't see her, I can't talk to her.
She is not my mother and she will never be my mother because she is the person who is hunting my mother.
Hey, Armadillo.
Hey, Elephant.
Well, I guess that'll teach you to invite me to family therapy again.
I think it could help.
Well, I can tell you that kind of stuff is a lot more fun when you're high.
Taylor's right, don't use me as a role model.
Last time, ma Elizabeth made this whole speech to your empty chair.
She described the day she came home and you weren't there.
It sounded pretty horrible.
Yeah, I'm sure it did.
And how she's afraid she'll have to go through it again.
Will she? Will I? Grant I don't know.
I would tell you if I did.
But the not knowing is just as hard for me.
But you wanna go, right? If Lori showed up.
She's my mother.
And I'm your brother and Taylor's your sister, and you have a dad now.
That's not enough for you, is it? You'd still leave us.
I can't answer that.
You already did.
She found your escape backpack Elizabeth.
What? It's gone.
- Carter wait.
- She took it.
No, no, she didn't.
This woman is insane.
She is insane.
She tells me she is scared I'll leave, but then she does absolutely everything in her power to push me away from her.
She lies to me, she spies on me, she steals from me.
She has absolutely no idea what this might be like for me, and she is deliberately trying to make me mad.
Well, guess what, it worked, I'm mad.
And she is not gonna like me when I'm mad.
I'll just try acting a lot more like Taylor, but not with the cooking or anything.
Or maybe with the cooking, actually.
But I'll just start being really like nice and polite, like I really want this to work.
And then I'll just start doing little things like hiding her stuff, like her reading glasses or her driver's license or, ooh, her detective shield.
And then I'll, um, I'll just start cutting little holes in her clothes.
Carter? Have you ever heard the saying that holding on to anger is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person will die? No.
But you heard it right now.
When I said it.
What's your point? Okay, well, how about instead of thinking about ways to make Elizabeth miserable, you find a way to make you happy.
Why take the long way when there's a shortcut? I'm just saying.
- Molly? - You ever tried it? - No.
- I did it, once it was not for me.
I was in much too good a mood for much too long a time.
While you, on the other hand, have been unhappy for a while now.
I just think you could use a vacation.
And don't worry, it's very pure and very safe.
Yes, we get it from this guy, Crash.
If drug dealers were on yelp, he would be getting five stars.
You know, for drug dealers.
That's a potentially huge idea.
I'm not taking it alone.
You won't.
I hate to say it, man.
Are you good enough to take no for an answer? I can't.
You can't? There's a million chicks who'd love to go out with you.
They're not her.
I wish I had your problems.
Whoo! Now I'm supposed to tell her she's grounded? I love the job of nerd sister.
Ha-ha! Yeah, she probably won't be ready to leave for about six hours, my best guess.
My mom does not wanna hear that.
Maximilian, Maximilian.
- Gabe.
- Hi.
I got you, Gabe Anytime, anywhere.
Oops.
I was not supposed to do that.
Gosh, you look so much like Elizabeth when you pull that face.
Doesn't she look like Elizabeth when she pulls that face? Do you think this is cute? This isn't cute you're high.
You're making a fool of yourself.
I liked you better when I thought you were dead.
Very funny.
She's having a seizure.
- Hey, call 9-1-1.
- Carter! I'm so sorry! - Call 9-1-1.
- I didn't mean it! Come on, come on.
Call 9-1-1, man! Don't leave me, Carter.
I can't lose you again.
Carter.
Carter.
- Mom? - I'm here.
Don't leave me, Carter.
I'm right here.
I'm right here.
How long have I been here? Three years.
Three years? I'm kidding, but You've been out for a while.
But not a coma, right? Technically, a coma.
I was in a coma? It was a little coma.
Just long enough to scare us all to death.
Why does all the fun stuff happen to you? Abduction, seizure, coma.
I kissed Gabe, didn't I? Yes, you certainly did.
Taylor I really don't like him.
Except, you do Which is fine with me.
Or it will be, maybe.
Just get better.
Guys, let's let her get some rest.
I'll call your folks, let 'em know she's up.
Thank you.
I'm not staying but I I, I just wanted to give you this.
Hey, Armadillo.
Hey, you're up.
What are you doing here? I should've told you this sooner.
Because then maybe you wouldn't be here.
Elizabeth didn't take your backpack.
I did.
You did? I didn't want you to leave.
But I really don't want you to die.
I just I want you to be someplace you're happy.
And I get that it's not here.
I put a burner phone in here.
So call me.
David, my God.
A coma, how is she? She's fine, absolutely fine.
Thank God that would not be good for anyone if she overdosed on drugs her first month home.
So what's the good word? What's the great word, you mean? People are loving Loving your sample chapter.
But now, between this YouTube video and the coma.
You ain't even heard our family therapy session.
She is not my mother and she will never be my mother.
Because she is the person who is hunting my mother.
That's Eliza she's talking about Elizabeth? This next book of yours, "Finding Carter" It's gonna be huge.
I just wanna find my mom.
Everyone suffers losses It's how we handle them that says everything about a person.
There's not always a black and white, a good guy and a bad guy.
You kind of sneaked up on me.
We have a problem.
What are you writing that will put food on our table? Just trust me can you do that? Hey, I'm Crash.
You were at the police station earlier.
She cannot get sucked into this guy's life.
The only thing I really want is to be at home with my real mom.
That's all I want too.
You can never have anything to do with him again.
- Do you understand me? - Yeah, I understand you.
Do you understand me? - I thought you were my friend.
- I thought you were mine.
Stop! Will you get off of me? We wanna help her find her mom.
You know Crash.
This was inevitable.
No, I'm inevitable.
That was a lot of fun.
Can you save some oxygen for the rest of us, please? I don't know what that was.
I can't stay here and be with my mom at the same time.
I have to choose.
Everyone always says it's so great being a twin but they wouldn't say that if they had to be your twin.
You are too tiny to carry this enormous burden.
Your mom is here.
Love you more.
- Not possible.
- Yes, possible.