Mr. Mercedes (2017) s01e07 Episode Script

Willow Lake

1 Previously on "Mr.
Mercedes" Thank you for this, but stay the fuck away from my house.
- I mean it.
- Yeah, I heard you.
You fucked yourself, and you fucked me because if they can't replace me, they can't promote me! It was the voices, that killed Ollie.
I tried so hard to hear them, but Ollie said that they knew that I was listening, - and so they'd whisper.
- Mom? Fuck.
[SIGHS.]
You burned a woman doing a dye job because you were shit-faced.
The woman sued.
Jaime almost lost the shop.
But I'm sober now.
Good for you, Deb.
Ta-da! - I figured you might want a drink.
- Why? Wean you off the stuff.
[HORN BEEPS.]
[HORN HONKS.]
[T BONE BURNETT'S "IT'S NOT TOO LATE" PLAYS.]
The wind turns like a dagger The rain falls like a hammer The sky has grown dark But it's not too late The weather crashes down What's lost cannot be found The night is closing But it's not too late It's not too late It's not too late The atmosphere is lethal But I will fear no evil [RADIOHEAD'S "MORNING MR.
MAGPIE" PLAYS.]
You got some nerve Coming here [KEYBOARD CLACKING.]
You got some nerve Coming here You stole it all Give it back You stole it all Give it back Good morning Mr.
Magpie How are we today? They took her body to, um, Silver's - Right.
- Funeral Home.
Do you know it? Yeah, my next-door neighbor used to run it.
Her son still does, I think.
Well, they'll see you right.
Uh, do you know anyone who can cater the after-funeral? Milligan's is pretty good.
- Milligan's it is.
- [RUSTLING.]
Olivia's.
Right.
It's grand stuff.
Brilliant.
Thank you.
That's good.
Thanks.
That's great stuff.
[WEED TRIMMER WHIRRING.]
MAN: Republican and Democratic leaders in the White House [GEARSHIFT CLICKS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF.]
[WHIRRING CONTINUES.]
Time to eat some shit.
Jerome? Jerome? [WHIRRING STOPS.]
A word A word, perhaps? [WHIRRING RESUMES.]
I was a bit of a dick.
Look, I could've handled things better.
Your father was worried.
I was worried, okay? [WHIRRING STOPS.]
There's a limit to the ass I'll kiss.
- I've no gift for puckering.
- You were a prick.
You could have just asked me to back off, but you got mean and showed me zero respect.
I'm dealing with a dangerous fella, Jerome.
I need you to steer clear of even the appearance of working with me.
So then, by all means, allow me to steer clear.
I'm sorry.
There was a "but"? But I don't know fuck-all about computers, as you well know, and I need to get into one that's password-protected.
[SCOFFS.]
Well, shit.
Someone in that position should definitely reconsider their puckering stance, then.
- I fucking apologized.
- No, you didn't.
I-I said I was an asshole.
No, you said you were a "bit of a dick.
" Well, I admitted that I could have handled it better.
All right.
I'm sorry.
I didn't show you respect.
You deserved it.
I didn't give it to you.
I'd throw meself down in front of your feet there, only there's a fence in the way.
For fuck's sake, I'd look stupid.
[CHUCKLES.]
[SIGHS.]
Shit, Nubian, I can work with that.
[LAUGHS, SIGHS.]
- So, whose laptop? - Olivia Trelawney's.
- Lady who owned the Mercedes? - Yup.
Well, I mean, do you know enough about her personal life - to help me crack that password? - Ah, I do not.
But I might know someone who does.
Go ahead.
Finish Ida's lawn.
I'll see you in a bit.
[CLAPS HANDS.]
Bye, Mom.
Off to work.
Have a great day.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
[CAP POPS.]
Open the door.
[DOOR OPENS.]
That is my workspace.
No fucking way.
[RATTLING.]
Here it is.
What is it? [RATTLING.]
If Robi said you have Saturday off, he has no idea what he's talk Brady.
Hey, Brady.
You can't go back there.
BRADY: Why? Here.
Come here.
The, um, D.
M.
stopped by for a little surprise visit.
He's back there with Robi.
So, what's up? Dude, I have no fucking idea.
But they called a whole company meeting - in about half-hour from now.
- [MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS.]
You're working on Sunday.
You know that, right? No Here comes the pain Ah, well, well, well.
Look who finally decided to show up.
It's not even five after.
He's too easy, this one.
Hey.
Holly, this is Jerome You don't have to laugh at his jokes.
Jerome, this is Holly.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Holly.
- Go ahead.
- Okay.
Now it's all you, my man.
Time to shine.
I'll shine so bright you're gonna need Ray-Bans, man.
Excuse me, Jerome? I was just wondering if it would still be a pleasure for you to meet me, but this time with your left hand? Oh.
- Pleasure to meet you, Holly.
- Thank you.
Hey, what do you say we break into this computer and show the old man how it's done, yeah? I guess.
Oh.
Olivia left the password hint blank.
Probably didn't even know that was an option.
So, what do we do? Well, this, my friends, can crack any password there is.
It uses a program called "Dictionary," and what it is, is you set it into the computer Hang on.
Is Is this thing legal? Is anything we're doing here legal? Excuse me? I have a question.
Yeah, hold on.
Let me just set this up real quick.
I was just wondering if maybe you knew that you were about to destroy everything.
Uh, I'm sorry? Well, Apple's been onto DPCs for a while now, so if you even try to run Dictionary, you'll wipe out the entire hard drive.
So if what you're looking to do is break in through an unknown exploit, we should just create a new Admin Account by opening up Terminal in Recovery Mode.
Do you think that maybe they have chocolate milk here? Um Dolly? Can we get a chocolate milk? Coming right up.
- [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
- Thank you.
[RINGING CONTINUES.]
Janey's calling you.
Yeah, I'll just I'll just take this real quick.
Hiya.
Yeah.
Everything okay? No, no, no, we don't need to bring two cars.
How 'bout I swing 'round about 15, 20 minutes? Thanks for that.
Uh, Jerome, think you'd be able to drop Holly off on your way home? Y-You're leaving now? Well, Janey needs my help.
You guys, I can't help you with anything there, so I mean, I can drop you on the way if you need it.
But since you saved me just now, I'm pretty sure I can't crack this code without you, so I mean, do you mind sticking around long enough to help? I think that's probably a very good idea, yes.
[CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, me too.
All right.
Great.
Well, here.
That should cover it.
Well, Jerome and I have lots of work to do, so you can go be with Janey now if you want.
Okay.
[CHUCKLES.]
Hey, mad gratitude.
Uh, you mind if I slide around next to you there? Sure.
Awesome.
Cool.
So Trying to figure this out.
Here's your chocolate milk.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.
WOMAN: Give me just one moment.
- Mmm, that's good.
- Yeah.
[BUTTONS BEEPING.]
[MICROWAVE WHIRRING.]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS.]
[THUD.]
[SNIFFS.]
- JOSH: They all here? - ROBI: Yeah.
No, you sit with them, please.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
[BREATHES DEEPLY.]
[CLEARS THROAT.]
You know what "plan" is? Not a plan.
Plan.
"Plan" is the projected earnings that a manager has to achieve every year if he wants to contribute to keeping this company solvent.
Plan is 6% beyond what was made the previous year.
That's it.
That's all there is to it.
He's not making plan.
He's making 5%, not 6%.
You know what's keeping him from making 6%? Losers.
World's real simple It's made of winners and you.
Now, you might assume that I feel sorry for you and your "disadvantages" whatever the fuck they are.
I don't.
You don't work hard, you don't believe in shit, and you never pull together for the greater good.
You whine and make sarcastic comments, but when it comes time to get paid, you're always there sticking your hands out.
So how about you all go find a job somewhere else? [RUSTLING.]
[GROUP MURMURING.]
Oh, that's right.
There is nowhere else.
We cut you loose, and you're three missed paychecks away from 70-hour workweeks and a meth habit doing day labor at Cartman Grains.
So, should I care? Do you pay my bills? Feed my kids? Keep my heat on in February? No.
So fuck you and your bills and your kids.
You can sit in the dark and starve.
Or you can step up and accept who your Daddy is.
You better get it through your heads right fucking here and right fucking now, or you can stay home tomorrow and forevermore.
Now, this 1% that he's short right now? That's coming out of your hides.
Not his.
He's a good man.
Limited, sure, but good.
No, to make up this 1%, we have to go full-on fucking Mayan.
The gods demand a sacrifice.
That gonna be you? You? You? Nah, you're the best tech guy we got, and your customer-satisfaction ratings are God knows why stellar.
So who's it gonna be? Clean out your locker, DeGeneres.
We're parting ways.
What are you t Are you kidding me? - [DOOR OPENS.]
- Brady.
Are you fucking kidding me? What, security? Dude, get your hands off me! Robi! - Robi! - We're five steps ahead of you.
And we are fucking into it.
Oh, wow.
Get your fucking hands off me! Are you kidding me? You don't even know what I do here! What the fuck? Robi! Really? [SIGHS.]
Back to work, ladies.
All right.
Uh, let's get on the floor.
Come on.
- That's wrong, man.
- [INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS.]
Come on.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
Come in.
Ms.
Patterson? - Yes.
- Timothy Silver.
- Hi, Tim.
- Good to see you, Bill.
IDA: Hello, Bill.
Ida.
This is Janelle Patterson.
Janelle.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
Call me Janey, please.
Janey, then.
Why don't we head to the parlor so we can talk? TIMOTHY: And her date of birth? August 4, 1929.
She lived a good long life.
She did.
Sh Yeah, she did.
So, the service is at Immaculate Heart at 9:00.
Burial at Cedar Grove.
You said Father Ahern will preside over both.
He's a good man, Jack Ahern.
Very sensitive.
That's good to hear.
Thank you.
Is there a restroom? Just down by the stairs to your right.
We'll do right by her, Bill.
I know you will, Tim.
Thanks.
Well, she's quite lovely, isn't she? Very easy on the eyes.
Did you find your mom? I did, yeah.
Glad things worked out for you.
You see Lou after? [LIGHTER CLICKS.]
No.
She was already gone.
[COUGHS.]
Brady.
[COUGHING.]
This time yesterday, I thought I'd be in the upper-management track by now.
Lou thought she'd have a job.
Now I'm going nowhere.
Or worse.
And Lou's applying for unemployment.
You, though? You come out smelling like a rose.
[SIGHS.]
Yeah.
Yeah, that happens to me sometimes.
The other night? I went to Shop 'n Save 'cause I wanted a Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pocket.
Go to the frozen food locker, and they're out.
They got Steak and Cheddar.
They got Meatballs and Mozzarella.
No pepperoni.
I'm like, "Fuck!" You know? But just as I'm leaving? Out comes the stock girl with a stack of Pepperoni Pizza Hot Pockets! I'm like, "Man!" You know? I buy four.
Go home just so, you know, tickled.
[BOX THUDS.]
I will pick myself up.
I will focus, I will envision, and I will actualize.
I will be a district manager someday.
And a few years later, I'll be a helluva lot bigger than that.
[BOXES THUDDING.]
But you'll always be you, Brady.
And what could be fucking lamer than that? [MID-TEMPO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[SIGHS.]
HOLLY: I'm almost Done.
[KEY CLACKS.]
Uh [CHUCKLES.]
- [CHUCKLES.]
- Damn.
- We're in! - Yep.
- High.
- Oh.
Sessions.
Yeah.
I was just reading that, too.
Does that mean anything to you? No, but it definitely meant something to Ollie because it's the only file on her entire desktop that's not organized into a folder, and Ollie did not leave things lying around for no reason.
Well, aren't you curious as to what's in it? If what's actually in it is what I think is in it, then I'm very curious, yes.
So I say we open it.
Just to see what's inside, I mean.
Then get out.
It's not that big of a deal, right? Okay.
[KEYBOARD CLACKS.]
What the hell? Encryptions? Ollie definitely did not know how to encrypt files.
Okay.
Well, if she didn't, then someone did.
Okay.
We just have to figure out another way in.
- Mm.
- [SIGHS.]
[JACKSON BROWNE'S "THE NEX VOICE YOU HEAR" PLAYS.]
Okay.
Yeah, no.
I already placed the order.
Yeah.
Look, let me get a quick shower.
I'll come over, and we can go through the rest of the details.
But we got this, okay? No, nothing's slipping through the cracks.
You just concentrate on the eulogy.
That's plenty right now.
Gather your deeds Yeah.
Uh, write down the things you liked about her best.
It's probably what everyone else liked about her, too.
Yeah.
All right.
See you in a bit.
Forget your heroes You don't really need those lasting lessons Stand in the open The next voice you hear will be your own But, all right, they knew how they could hurt you And you let them cut you to the bone But God forbid You allow them to rid you of your virtue Forget their laughter The next voice you hear will be your own Throw down your truth and check your weapons Don't look to see if you're alone Just stand your ground And don't turn around, whatever happens Don't ask directions The next voice you hear will be your own [SIGHS.]
What's the first thing you think of when you think about her? Her poise.
Well, write that down.
I did.
Mm-hmm.
And I wrote that she attended Pitt College on a full scholarship, which is where she met my father.
And then they moved here, where he set up his practice and she taught at community college, and blah-blah blah-blah blah-blah.
What did you like about her? I don't know.
- What do you mean, you don't know? - I-I don't know.
My My mother wasn't an emotional exhibitionist.
She kept herself to herself, as they say.
She was never really mean that I remember.
- I wouldn't write that down.
- W [CHUCKLES.]
She wasn't really particularly warm, either, unless she'd had too many glasses of Pinot.
I don't know.
What was your relationship like with your mother? Not bad.
Did you know her? I did know her, yes.
She was my mother.
Did you know her? Not really, I guess.
That generation.
Exactly.
That generation didn't talk about their feelings.
They didn't treat a cup of coffee as an invitation to a confessional.
They sure as shit didn't engage with their children.
My mother was nice, okay.
She She was full of grace and poi She knew a lot about European history.
And she she liked card games and W.
H.
Auden.
She liked veal scallopini [CHUCKLES.]
and, um "Jeopardy!" Okay.
Write that down.
Sh She liked riding her bicycle well, before she got her hip replaced.
- There you go.
- But that's not the person.
That's That's what the person did.
We are what we do.
Oh, thank you, Aristotle.
Are we? Is it possible that I didn't really know my own mother? You knew as much as any of us can about anybody else.
Mm.
[SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE.]
[CHUCKLES.]
You're amused.
I thought you burned all of my old journals.
I kept one to remember who you were before you changed.
And who was I? What are these plastic tubes? I use them for a lot of different projects.
You know, computer stuff, electronics stuff.
It's easier to buy in bulk.
How could you use this in a computer? Little tiny sections of it.
Wouldn't it burn? Melt? - No.
- But in electronics - Do you know a lot about electronics? - I know a bit about electricity.
Pillow talk between you and Dad? What else could this be used for? I don't know.
What else could this be used for? - That's what I'm asking.
- That's what I'm asking.
- Brady.
- Mom.
What could this be used for? [SIGHS.]
[HUMMING.]
Why was this in your closet? [POP-CAN TAB SNAPS.]
Why were you in my closet? - Do you go in there a lot? - I never go in there.
- Except you do.
- No, today I did.
- Oh, today.
- But never before.
Not in years.
Sure.
- Brady.
- Mommy? - Brady.
- I know my fucking name! Why do you have this mask? Why do you think it's okay to violate my privacy? Why do you have this mask? Because, you know, I've long dreamed of joining the circus.
The smell of peanuts and elephant dung and chimpanzee sweat, boy, that's the life for me.
You know, perhaps I'll find me a missus oh, a Russian trapeze artist or a kindly bearded lady, and we'll produce a warm-hearted brood of bearded children.
And great gosh almighty, we'll live out our days traversing the land with our circus, dispensing joy and good cheer on town upon grateful town.
And all will be right as the rain.
A-yup! You're not gonna tell me about the mask? But I just did.
Fair enough.
I shouldn't have snooped in your room.
I would not recommend doing so again, no.
[SIGHS.]
[SNICKERS SOFTLY.]
It's funny to you.
A little, yeah.
I was such a dramatic child back then.
What did this mean again? You know what it meant.
Refresh me.
"Die, Motherfuckers, Die.
" [SCOFFS.]
They wanted me to commit you, Brady, to send you away.
- You couldn't afford it.
- I loved you.
[DEEP VOICE.]
That's why all Americans deserve proper health coverage, y'all.
I didn't commit you because you told me you could change.
[NORMAL VOICE.]
Because you couldn't afford it! Because you told me you could change.
- And I did.
- Did you? That's 10 years old.
I have a good job now.
I have a good life.
- Did you? - I did.
I certainly did.
Don't you think I did? I don't know.
Clearly not, if you're snooping around my room.
This isn't about that anymore.
But it kind of is.
This is about Look at me.
Look at me.
What do you want to know, Mommy? Just ask.
Now's the time.
Here I am, right in front of you.
What do you want to know? Have you changed? From the soles of my shoes to the crown of my head.
[SMOOCHES SOFTLY.]
[PAN CLANKS IN DISTANCE.]
[UTENSIL SCRAPING.]
[FOOD SIZZLING.]
When were you going to wake me? [LAUGHS.]
When the eggs were done.
[LAUGHS, SMOOCHES.]
Morning.
Morning.
You okay? You're a god.
That's right.
I couldn't find any juice.
I'm not really a juice girl.
Ahh, I'm not really a juice guy.
Fuck juice.
What'd juice ever do for anybody? [STOVE CLICKS OFF, UTENSIL SCRAPING.]
Um listen, I was thinking.
Uh-huh.
Maybe after the funeral and everything, I could take you away somewhere.
Just to let you catch your breath, get a chance to grieve properly.
I'm going back to California.
- When? - As soon as possible.
A few days, maybe.
Yeah? Lovely, yeah.
Sure, that makes sense if that's what you've got to do.
I-I still want you to stay on the case.
I still want to receive reports and Yeah, of course.
Right.
I mean not that it's not Not? I mean, of course, I If I stay, I'll fall in love.
And And I'm I'm past that.
That was another girl, another life.
Do you not want that girl back? That girl got so lost that she allowed, even welcomed, a lot of abuse from someone who made her wonder if she was worthy of being loved or or even liked.
Made her wonder some nights if the world would be a a better place without her on it.
I-I don't ever want to see that fucking girl again.
Ta-da.
[CHUCKLES.]
Thank you.
You're welcome.
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS.]
[CELLPHONE CHIMES.]
FATHER JACK: For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
For if we live, we live unto the Lord, and if we die, we die unto the Lord.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the Earth be moved and though the hills be carried into the sea.
Before the mountains were brought forth or ever the Earth and world were made, Thou art God from everlasting, and world without end.
For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it has passed, and as a watch in the night.
For we consume away in Thy displeasure and are afraid at Thy wrathful indignation.
Thou hast set our misdeeds before Thee, and our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
And now, Elizabeth's daughter, Janelle, would like to say a few words about her mother.
[FOOTSTEPS ECHO.]
[BELL TOLLING.]
You okay? - It's all right.
- Oh! - Okay.
- Yeah.
Sorry.
It's all right.
Sit down here.
Nice and easy, okay? I got you.
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
It's all right.
Poor thing.
[TOLLING CONTINUES.]
Sorry.
I told you to eat the oatmeal this morning, but you turned your nose up at it.
- And now look.
- I'm fine.
- I think she's going to be okay.
- No, I'm fine.
Because it's all about you again.
Even at your aunt's funeral, it's now all about you.
- ART: Charlotte.
- I just can't.
Can I ride home with you? Well, I don't know.
Uh Why not? I think that's just a splendid idea.
Ahh.
Damn, I think that kinda worked out okay.
I know.
[CHUCKLES.]
- Did you do that on purpose? - [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
- Did you? - No.
How are you feeling? - I'm feeling a little better.
- Yeah? Yeah, a little.
Just take a minute.
Here, I'll grab the car.
- No, that's okay.
I'll do it.
- [CELLPHONE RINGS.]
The caterer.
- JANEY: Just - Yeah? tell him we're on the way Aw, Jesus.
Let me talk to him.
Give it! [KEYS RATTLE.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[JEEP UNLOCKS, HORN BEEPS.]
[BIRDS CHIRPING.]
[KEYS RATTLE.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYS.]
[ENGINE STARTS.]
Is your mom always so much fun? [CHUCKLES.]
[VIBRATES.]
[BEEPS.]
[VEHICLE ALARMS BLARING.]
[EXHALES.]
[BLARING CONTINUES.]
Get back in the church! [FLAMES ROARING.]
JANEY: My mother believed in life after death, but she didn't believe in time after death.
Time, she felt, was a human construct.
In Heaven, there was no before, no after, no waiting, no no clocks.
We're already there, she'd say, and all those who came before us and all those who haven't been born yet.
I asked her once, "What does this Heaven look like?" And she said, "Willow Lake.
" Willow Lake, it's in the Berkshires.
It's an hour from where my mother grew up, and her family would ski there and summer there.
The house had wide plank floors the color of honey and the shingles weathered so gray they were almost white.
In a winter squall, the place would seem to disappear.
My sister and I went there a few times as little girls, and the house smelled like afghans and wet sand, musty window screens a roast in the oven.
And my mother's there now afghan covering her legs, fire going.
And my father's there and my sister and all our ancestors.
And I'm there.
Yep.
All of you come to visit from time to time.
My mother would like that.
My mother does like that.
She said to me once, "It's all a beautiful accident, Janey, who we meet, who we love, who we're loved by.
And t-this life, it's our dream and it's God's dream, too.
And then we wake up.
" My mother's awake now.
She has the softest smile on her face.

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