Impulse (2018) s02e09 Episode Script

A Moment of Clarity

1 [OFF-KEY PIANO NOTE PLAYING REPETITIVELY.]
[FOREBODING MUSIC ESCALATING.]
Piano's out of tune.
Thought I could fix it for you.
Wesley.
[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[GROANS.]
- [POWER WHIRS DOWN.]
- [GROANS.]
[EXHALES.]
[RINGING SUBSIDES.]
ELAINE: Careful.
If you travel, I'm not sending anyone to retrieve you.
[GROANS.]
And you know what happens if you don't get your Factor.
[EXHALES.]
What do you want? You took him from me.
[GROANS.]
He was my father, too.
So, what, that makes it hard on you? Elaine [SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I did what needed to be done to protect you.
From what? Yourself.
I've always been an easy target, haven't I, for Dad, for you? But I don't need saving.
I need what I've always needed: a brother.
Somewhere along the line, you've forgotten about that.
You made me suffer.
And you deserve to know what that feels like.
Elaine, wait.
- No.
- [HIGH-PITCHED RINGING.]
[GROANING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[TOOLS CLANGING DISTANTLY.]
[BIRDS AND INSECTS CHIRPING.]
What would you like to know about him? When I was here last, I thought we had an understanding.
You let Lucas Boone go.
Why? He was not mine to keep.
Well, he's sitting in a jail cell right now.
Turned himself in for the murder of his father.
But you and I both know he didn't do it.
He couldn't have, not if he was here with you.
Can you help me? When you last came to me, you were in search of justice.
For your son's killer.
You're willing to accept justice by any means.
Now Lucas has offered himself, and you are not satisfied.
What has changed? I don't know.
[RICE RATTLING.]
What's changed for you? If Lucas has chosen this path, it must be for a reason.
It is God's will.
Right.
[SIGHS.]
I guess in the end, he still gets what he deserves.
If I had a son who was murdered, I'd want the same thing.
Take care, Mrs.
Miller.
BRYAN: [OVER PHONE.]
Hey, it's Bryan from Surf N' Pizza, the place you work? You need to call me back, or I'm taking you off the schedule.
You didn't clock out the other night, and Grady said [CELL PHONE BEEPS.]
Everything okay? Yeah.
[COFFEEPOT CLATTERS.]
[COFFEE POURING.]
Good luck.
[SOFTLY.]
Thanks.
You too.
[SIGHS.]
There's, uh, a fresh pot in the kitchen.
Okay.
Thanks.
[COFFEEPOT CLATTERS.]
[INHALES.]
[EXHALES.]
How'd you sleep? You know.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
Yeah, me too.
So last night got way out of hand.
And I said some things a lot of things, actually.
And I mean, we both did.
It was shitty, and I'm sorry.
[SIGHS.]
But I know that we can get through this.
I do.
I'm not so sure about that, Cleo.
I wanted last night to be special, like a culmination of everything that we've built together, you know like a kind of a celebration of our family.
- Yeah.
- And you said something that, you know, kind of stuck with me.
[SIGHS.]
You know, that I was "so fucking blind"? [CLICKS TONGUE, SIGHS.]
- I'm sorry.
That's not - That's it's yeah, it's okay.
- I just Can I just please finish? - Yeah, of course.
I thought about it all night.
And it kinda clicked that maybe you're right.
Not just about last night.
When we moved in, I knew, uh, that we had our differences, but I thought that those might might be a good thing.
Yeah, but really, all that I ended up doing was ignoring everything that wasn't working.
Like, what do you mean? You know, that we don't see eye to eye on how to parent our kids, that Jenna's obviously not adjusting to this family dynamic.
- Okay, wait, wait.
- And I Just wait.
Just wait.
Last night, the way you talked to me, the things that you said, normally, I would've run.
You know, I would've been gone.
But I'm not running.
I'm here.
I'm here because I love you, like, all of you.
And I love what we have together.
And want us to get through this.
- I love you, Cleo.
- [SIGHS.]
But I have never argued with someone so much! Yeah, but arguing can be good.
I mean, that's, you know that's how you work stuff out.
I think we should take a step back.
What do you mean? Like, um Maybe we rushed into all of this, and that wasn't fair not for Henry, not for Jenna, and not for us, but last night made it very clear that Jenna and I have, like, a lot of work to do, and we're gonna need some space to do that.
And, um, I can't I can't choose you and Henry over her.
Do you have to choose? I shouldn't have to, and that but that's the thing.
It just right now, it feels like I do.
And Jenna has to be my priority.
Thomas, what if I'm sorry.
[SOMBER MUSIC.]
This is what I want.
I it's there's no rush.
[STAMMERS.]
You're not being forced out.
There's no deadline.
I'll go crash over at Stu's and Jenna'll stay at a friend's.
And you'll have as much space as you need for as long as you need it.
[STRAINED.]
Great.
I'm not off-limits or I just I'm sorry.
TEACHER: Now, from a geopolitical standpoint, that wasn't always the case.
The Versailles Peace Conference of 1919 [BELL RINGS.]
Okay, now, everyone be sure to read through to page 295 for tomorrow.
Jenna, hey.
Leave me alone.
Jenna.
Jenna, I never should have said that, okay? I fucked up.
I know that.
I said leave me alone.
I'm really fucking sorry.
I trusted you, and you promised me.
- I know.
- You know what? You always treated me like shit, and I just take it.
That's not true.
You're not totally innocent, Jenna.
[SOFTLY.]
You you have been dying to tell people about me, and that could put me in real fucking danger Yeah, but I never did.
I always kept your secrets, even now after everything that you You know what? No.
I'm done.
I'm done with you.
You are toxic and abusive and a mess, and I don't want you in my life.
Jenna.
[ECHOING.]
Henry.
- [NORMALLY.]
Henry, Henry.
- Yeah? The hacker he's dead.
What? How do you did Are you sure? Yes.
He left me a new stash of VHS tapes.
And this.
I don't know what it is Don't.
Sorry, Nikolai has he showed me one of those, and that hurts.
That can hurt me, Townes, so That's what they use to contain us.
Oh.
Then why would Sam give it to me? Maybe it's for self-defense.
Maybe it's for Nikolai.
Henry, if Nikolai killed Dominick, do you think it's possible he killed Sam, too? - To keep him quiet? - No.
No, there's no way.
I don't think that.
[BELL RINGS.]
Right.
Well maybe Sam left a clue about what happened to him on one of the tapes.
I'll watch them tonight and report back.
Okay, um, you know, I'll come over and I will help you get through them.
Okay.
Yes, that would be better.
Come over no later than 8:00 p.
m.
Okay.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Okay, I'm going to class now.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[LOCK RATTLING, CLICKING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSICAL STING.]
FISHER: It ain't easy being a cop.
Shit, things we see day in, day out? Leave most people a heap of a mess.
I don't even tell my wife the half of it.
You're married? Technically.
All right, these are your discharge papers.
Talked to the DA.
Department won't prosecute.
You should consider yourself lucky.
I appreciate that.
And thank you.
And congrats on nailing Lucas Boone.
Yeah, well [INHALES DEEPLY.]
Never really thought I could fill the shoes after Dale, but guess I'm a natural-born leader.
Lucas never mentioned where Bill's body is, huh? [CHUCKLES SOFTLY.]
That that female intuition talking? [CHUCKLES.]
Hey, I bet Karen wants this case wrapped up quickly, so what do I know? Exactly.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
CLAY: Mom, we've been here forever.
[DOOR OPENS.]
WENDY: Ms.
Hulce.
Are you Sorry, Ms.
Jacobson.
Lucas hasn't changed his mind.
CLAY: I told you, he doesn't wanna see us.
Let's just go.
Clay, please.
Could you please tell Lucas that we'll wait? Best of luck, Hulce.
You too.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You did this.
ANNA: Excuse me? The FBI they're at my house, rummaging through my things.
Said they got an anonymous tip.
Huh.
Well, I don't know anything about that, Mrs.
Dale.
[SCOFFS.]
Honestly, I just want what's best for this town.
Oh, fuck you.
Ethan! What in the living fuck is she doing here? FISHER: Karen [BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[EXHALES.]
[CIGARETTE FIZZLING.]
Hey.
What happened? [CLICKS TONGUE.]
I tried to smooth things over, but he couldn't see a way for us to keep living under the same roof, so [WIND GUSTING SOFTLY.]
This was Thomas' idea? He can't just kick us out.
He said we could take as long as we need.
Yeah, but this is crazy.
He loves you.
Like I'm sure he'll come around.
I'm I just wanna get this over with, you know? [SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I'm sorry we have to do this again.
Mom.
I'm so mad at myself.
It's not your fault at all.
[SIGHS.]
Hey, do you remember that, um, county fair that we went to when I was a kid? [LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
The one on the side of the highway? Oh, I remember.
You begged me to pull over.
I really wanted to go on that merry-go-round.
Yeah, and you insisted on going by yourself.
- Really? - [LAUGHS.]
You won major mom points that day.
Didn't know I was on a point system.
I'm glad you remember it that way because I actually lost you.
[LAUGHING.]
What? You slipped away from me in one of the lines, and I couldn't find you anywhere.
It was only for, like, five minutes, but I panicked.
Oh, my God.
It was the longest five minutes of my life.
[CHUCKLES.]
Well, I don't remember that at all, so I guess I knew you'd find me.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Come here.
[ENGINE TURNS OVER.]
Hey.
You want something, Clay? I heard the sheriff and Dale's wife talking about you.
Okay.
They said you were crazy because you saw someone disappear, like, out of thin air.
Was Henry there? [INDISTINCT CHATTER ON TV.]
[RATTLING.]
No! No! No! [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
[WAILING.]
[REMOTE CLICKS.]
Where are you? Um, I can't come over tonight.
What happened? Is something wrong? Everything's fine.
It's just, my dad left a note in my locker, and I'm I'm meeting him tonight, so Oh, wow.
Okay.
Where? I should come with you.
No, that's okay.
I wanna go alone.
Henry, I've been watching these tapes.
They're similar to the Dominick Babtiste one but different.
There's more torture than teleporting, and some of these people they're not okay.
They seem sick like, mentally unwell.
Townes.
I'm not saying your dad is like them, but we don't know what happened to him.
We don't know what he's been through or why he's hiding.
Just keep your guard up.
And maybe bring your Taser.
I'll text you when I get back, okay? Henry, I hope he is everything you want him to be.
Me too.
[TOADS CROAKING.]
[WATER RUSHING.]
[BIRDS TWITTERING.]
[PANTING.]
[EXHALES.]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING.]
[MUSIC ESCALATES.]
[TENSE MUSIC.]
[CLATTERING.]
Henry.
This is fucking trespassing.
I mean, I should call the police.
Go ahead.
I'm sorry I couldn't stop Bill from hurting you.
Yeah, I got that.
I really got that.
And I I forgive you.
So can you please stay out of my life now? There's always been something wrong with your story.
Like how you got to The Yolk.
It never made sense.
My mom was, like, literally bleeding out in front of me, so if I forgot a few details, I'm sorry, but I know you're somehow involved in Bill's disappearance, Henry.
Lucas killed him.
- He confessed.
- Sure.
But we both know that's a lie.
Lucas wasn't even in Reston when Bill went missing.
He didn't have anything to do with the attack or Bill's disappearance.
But you knew that.
No.
You need to tell me the truth right now.
No more lies.
No more games.
Are you afraid of Ken Davidson? 'Cause I know he's connected to this somehow, connected to you.
I've been asking myself, how does a 6'4" man just disappear? It's not logical.
But then again, I saw somebody disappear and vanish right before my eyes, so Yeah, that's insane.
Yeah, it is.
Maybe you should get some help.
You were in that truck with Clay Boone during his accident, and then you weren't.
You were with him in the fire, and somehow both of you are okay.
He told me that he disappeared with you.
I can't wrap my brain around it, except you can do something.
Look, I know I know Clay well, he's a little fucking prick.
I get it.
And I know what I'm talking about is a leap.
Hell, it's more than a leap, so d Help me out, Henry.
Help me understand.
'Cause I'm not gonna go away, not this time.
So let's do this.
We can sit down you, me, and your mom.
We can talk about this before it gets any worse than it already is.
You tell me about Ken.
Tell me about Bill.
We'll go to the police.
We'll go to the FBI.
We will do whatever we need to do.
And we'll do it together.
Okay.
[SOFTLY.]
Okay, let's go.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[WHOOSHING.]
[WATER RUSHING.]
Henry, how Where are we? I'm sorry.
What are you? My mom can't know.
No one can know.
- I was right.
- I just - But this is - I just need some time to think, okay? But I can't Look, I'm gonna come back, okay? - What? No - I'm gonna come back for you.
I will.
- Henry, you can't leave me - [WHOOSHING.]
[WHOOSHING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
Dad? [SOFTLY.]
Fuck.
[SNIFFLES.]
[PANTING.]
[SIGHS.]
[BICYCLE CLICKING.]
[FOOTSTEPS RUSTLING.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING SOFTLY.]
Look, I'm gonna come back, okay? I'll come back for you.
[CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
[SCREEN CLICKS.]
[BICYCLE CLICKING.]
Oh, shit.
[HANDLE CLACKING.]
Fuck.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[WHOOSHING.]
Nikolai? [LINE RINGS.]
WOMAN: The person you have dialed can't take your call now.
- Please leave a message after the beep.
- [BEEPS.]
Hey, um some some things came up, so, um, call me.
[LINE CLICKS.]
[HIGH-PITCHED RINGING.]
[WINCING.]
- [REMOTE CLICKS.]
- [RINGING SUBSIDES.]
[GROANING.]
Fuck.
[GROANING CONTINUES.]
We're better than this, you know? We were.
You know, you and I live in different realities, Nikolai.
You know that? You're special.
People wanna help you, and you don't even have to try.
You were given a gift.
A life of privilege is also a gift.
Never worrying about money, about what you're gonna eat.
Yes, well, you inherited that, too.
Nobody helped me.
Even Dad wanted something from me.
Don't be such a fucking victim.
You didn't have to stay.
I stayed because of you.
Then why didn't you help me? He listened to you, he worshipped you, and you did nothing.
You are the only person who could've helped me.
I killed him, didn't I? To hurt me.
To fucking free you! To make up for everything, so you wouldn't think that you had to do all this fucking crazy shit to try to please him.
You can't see that now but you will.
Later, you will, and you'll thank me.
Is that honestly what you believe? That you're some kind of hero? You killed our father, and now you wanna tell me what's good for me, what I need? What I needed was closure, and you took that from me! I was just trying to help.
No.
You were helping yourself.
You were helping that girl.
But don't you dare act like any of this was for me.
You don't get to do that, not after you let him get away with it for years the pressure, the fucking emotional abuse, the withholding, and you never stood up for me, not once.
And you think I'm the bad guy? No.
[SNIFFLES.]
No.
I'm done.
Here.
Now you have no reason to come home.
I destroyed the rest.
What? You took what you thought was bad for me.
And I did the same.
Think of it as one last free trip.
When you're ready, you can go wherever you please.
Until then, you have to be normal like the rest of us.
It's harder, by the way.
So this is it? Now we're both free.
I'm sorry For how fucked this all got.
Nikolai, if you care about this girl, like you claim, then do better than you did with me.
Tell her.
She deserves to know.
[SOFT DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC.]
[VHS TAPES CLACKING.]
Your dad probably had a good reason to not show up.
Maybe he's just waiting for the right opportunity.
And he's probably nervous.
It's been ten years, right? I'd be nervous, too.
- [TAPE CLACKS.]
- Here it is.
It's not like the others.
I don't know what to make of it.
Townes, I'm really not in the mood for this.
There's no name on the screen, no formal log.
It's more like a home video.
MR.
KIDO: [ON TV.]
Tell me how it first happened.
NIKOLAI: [ON TV.]
Um I was in church.
Um and then we heard gunfire.
My my family.
Then I tried to protect my my my little brother.
And then my body, uh That's Nikolai.
NIKOLAI: I had a seizure.
Are you sure? I saw a photo of him as a kid when I was in Romania.
NIKOLAI: And then You were in Romania? Shh.
A bomb killed everyone But not me.
I traveled.
MR.
KIDO: When you say travel, you mean you disappeared and reappeared in a new place? And your body took you home, correct? Why do you think that is? NIKOLAI: I don't know.
It was home.
It was safe.
MR.
KIDO: Do you still return there when you travel? No.
MR.
KIDO: What changed? What happened? NIKOLAI: My uncle he died.
MR.
KIDO: How? NIKOLAI: You know this already.
[STAMMERS.]
Why do I have to say it again? Sam must not have realized who this was.
Shh.
[SIGHS.]
I killed him Because, uh because of what he did to Wesley.
MR.
KIDO: Do you believe this is why you don't return there anymore? After this violent act, your home doesn't hold the same meaning - I'd like to stop now.
- MR.
KIDO: It no longer feels safe? [SPEAKS ROMANIAN ANGRILY.]
I want to stop.
Do you know what he was talking about? His tether.
He broke it when he killed his uncle.
That, um okay.
Well, what if Nikolai is patient zero and maybe whoever is talking to Nikolai is behind it all? - If we can figure - It doesn't matter anymore.
Nikolai took care of the company to protect me.
Are you sure? I'm still alive, so Maybe you can ask Nikolai who the man behind the camera is.
He's gone.
I went to his hotel room.
It's all cleaned out.
Oh.
Well, I'm sure we can find him.
With a little more research No, Townes.
I don't want you getting mixed up in this.
It's not good for you, so thank you, but no.
Who is going to be able to protect you? Who knows how many more tapes are out there, and if these people have them, we need to protect your secret.
[TENSE MUSIC.]
If we don't do something, everything will fall apart, and then no one will be safe.
Especially you.
No one can know about your power, Henry.
[METALLIC TAPPING.]
[PANTING.]
[FOREBODING MUSIC.]
[WHOOSHING.]
[PANTING.]
- [EXHALING.]
- NIKOLAI: Tell me another story about a time you felt safe.
[GRUNTS.]
[CAR RATTLING.]
What now? Try going somewhere.
[WHOOSHING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[METALLIC CREAKING, THUNKING.]
[GLASS SHATTERING.]
Come on.
I know what it feels like to be the new girl.
You can talk to me.
- [LOUD THUD.]
- This isn't your fault.
I'm gonna make sure he never hurts you again.
[GRUNTS.]
I want you to feel safe.
[GRUNTS.]
Come on! [PANTING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SOFT SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[PANTING.]
[WHOOSHING.]
[DRAMATIC MUSICAL STING.]
[PANTING.]
[EXITMUSIC'S THE COLD PLAYING.]
A cold arm Returns the stolen A new start Erased A red light Came pouring Sing another song [DRAMATIC MUSICAL STING.]
[METALLIC CLUNK.]
[ZIPPER SCRATCHES.]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[PHONE TINKING.]
[SCREEN CLICKS.]
HENRY: [OVER PHONE.]
Hey, um, some some things came up, so, um - Call me.
- [LINE CLICKS.]
[SIGHS SOFTLY.]
[LINE RINGING.]
FATIMA: [OVER PHONE.]
I told you not to call me.
I know.
I'm I'm sorry.
This is the last time.
FATIMA: Simon, I can't keep doing this with you.
I'm going after them.
I'm done running.
I'm done lying.
I can't do this to my family anymore.
I can't I can't let these fucking people do this to my family, to Henry.
FATIMA: We all have families.
This is how they get hurt.
No.
This is how I save them.
FATIMA: So why even call? You're just saying goodbye before you get yourself killed? I'm leaving something for you at the Cedar Creek Campground, site 21, buried under the log with all the knots.
If, um if something goes wrong, you'll take care of her, right, like you promised? FATIMA: You promised you wouldn't ask me for anything again.
You're on your own.
[LINE CLICKS.]
- [CELL PHONE BUZZES.]
- CLEO: Where are these keys? - [ITEMS SHUFFLING.]
- Huh.
Where did I put those? Ah.
[CLICKS TONGUE.]
Okay, here it is.
Surprise.
Well, don't just stand there.
Come on in.
Check it out.
What is this? This is ours.
[SIGHS.]
I know that our old normal is hitting the road and seeing where we land, but I thought we should stay in Reston this time, and you can finish school.
I have a few leads on a job.
And we could put a coffee table here, a couch there, or maybe a loveseat might be less of a squeeze.
Oh, and I got us an inflatable mattress for the bedroom, you know, until we can test out real ones.
So be honest.
What do you think? Can we afford this? Actually, yes.
Bill Boone's insurance company sent us a liability check.
It'll cover us while I keep looking for work.
Ken Davidson.
Are you happy? It's amazing, Mom.
This is a fresh start for us clean slate.
Okay.
Right.
[KELLY LEE OWENS' KEEP WALKING PLAYING.]
City through the window Make it our own Run to it Plastic cherry blossom Eyes never close Run to it Run to it THOMAS: Hey, I was just about to tell you dinner's ready.
Are you, uh are you going somewhere? Yeah.
I mean, I was, I was just gonna stay at Patty's again tonight.
Oh, okay.
Well, I mean, I was kinda hoping we'd spend some solid us time together, given everything's that's happened, maybe watch a movie.
Dad, it's been a long week, so Okay.
[SIGHS DEEPLY.]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[CRICKETS CHIRPING.]
[CELL PHONE RINGING.]
[RINGING CONTINUES.]
[FOREBODING MUSIC.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]

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