Wisdom of the Crowd (2017) s01e06 Episode Script
Trojan Horse
1 Hi, I'm Jeffrey Tanner.
Welcome to Sophe.
We all know the Internet changed the world.
The only question is: into what? It can be a platform to bring us together or to tear us apart.
I know, because I spent my life trying to turn it into something that would connect us all.
Then - I love you, Dad.
- my daughter was murdered.
Nothing else mattered anymore.
Everyone was sure they knew who did it the police, my ex-wife but I was convinced the wrong man had been convicted and the real killer was still out there.
So together with my team, I built Sophe, a crowdsource crime solving platform powered by the smartest, most diverse, independent collection of detectives on the planet: you.
Let's get to work.
(PANTING) YOUNG MAN: I'm almost to the top.
I'm on top of the parking lot right now.
It's close, I can see it.
(EXHALES) (EXHALES) I'm sorry, Mom.
(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY) - (DISTANT THUMP) - (CAR ALARM WAILS) - (CAR ALARM CONTINUING) - (QUIETLY): Oh Man.
That is rough.
How old was he? 15.
His name's Evan Zymuski.
So, I mean, on the one hand, it's a cut-and-dried suicide, right? But? But I don't know, it's just something strange about it.
Did he leave a message - or a note anywhere? - That's what's weird.
No message, no note.
Look he erased all social media, but he leaves his phone behind on the roof.
The only thing on them were these videos.
- There are more videos? - Yeah.
Ten of 'em, including the jump.
They're all just selfies and stupid stunts.
It's everything from cutting himself - to climbing a construction crane.
- So maybe he was an adrenaline junkie that just took it too far.
No, his parents say that he's the quiet loner type.
He never liked to take risks.
And there's something that he says at the end here, I just can't quite get it.
(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY) Yeah, I can't hear him either.
Well, I know who can.
Jeffrey.
Can I have a moment? Yeah.
What you got? So ever since we posted all of Mia's personal stuff online, there's this sub-group of users who've been obsessed with her last video.
Do I want to hear this? No, no, relax, they're not they're not fixated on Mia.
They're fixated on something in the background.
This.
What is that? Is that a sweater? SARA: Mm-hmm.
- Not a single photo has ever - been posted of her wearing it.
Or of her with anyone wearing it, either.
I've seen this video a million times and I've never noticed that.
My eyes were always on Mia.
The group who posted it, it's a bunch of young mothers who call themselves the âMama Mias.
â - Well - They think it's important.
What do you think? I think we should let - Sophe decide.
- Agreed.
Move it to the front page.
Let's see what we get.
Ah.
(CLEARS THROAT) - Incoming.
- Mm.
Admit it, you're starting to like it around here.
Like a root canal.
What can we, uh, do for you, Detective? Sophe's good at deciphering garbled audio, right? Something crowds are useful for.
Look at him.
What? I read Crowdsourcing For Dummies, okay? Sue me.
As it happens, the Dummies guide is not wrong.
Yes, that is something the crowd is very good at.
What have you, uh, got there? (SIGHS) The last words of a 15-year-old kid before he killed himself.
Let's listen to it.
EVAN (VOICE DISTORTED): I'm sorry, Mom (INDISTINCT MUTTERING) See, there's a lot of car noise and wind.
It makes it hard to hear.
To me it sounds like âCat had ticks.
.
â" (ALL QUICKLY GROAN) - What? - I really wish you hadn't said that.
- Why, what does that mean? - Nothing.
But you've just created a confirmation bias.
- What? - In essence, you've infected our ears.
- What the hell's that mean? - It means that that's now all we can hear.
(INDISTINCT MUTTERING REPEATS) Damn that cat.
It's not a problem.
When I put the phrase out on Sophe, we'll compartmentalize the users to make sure there's no cross-talk.
Perfect.
That way, each user will hear the phrase fresh, with no bias.
- Now we wait.
- (PHONE RINGS) Cavanaugh.
SARA: Jeffrey Sophe deciphered Evan Zymuski's last words The reason we couldn't understand is because it's in Russian.
âDesyats zolotix shagovâ" It means âThe Ten Golden Stepsâ" Ten golden steps? SARA: Mm-hmm.
We couldn't find any reference to the exact phrase online, so we broadened the search, and We found the âTen Steps to Nirvanaâ" It's tied to a string of suicides last year in Argentina 12 kids died.
JOSH: Here's another from Russia four years ago.
âTen Steps to Immortalityâ" 11 kids.
Japan had one, too âThe Ten Steps of Solace.
â - 14 kids.
- And now we have this.
Every one of these outbreaks started with a single suicide, and then it just spread.
Like a virus.
(PHONE RINGING) - What do you got for me? - TANNER: Nothing good.
Based on our findings, this kid's suicide may just be the first.
I'm way ahead of you.
We got another one.
Desyats zolotix shagov.
Two teen suicides, ten almost-identical selfie videos and the same Russian phrase.
I mean, what the hell are we dealing with here, guys? From what we can tell, the first of these suicide games was in Russia four years ago.
Did you just call this a game? Dude, don't blame us, blame the press.
Alexei Kerlov he's a Russian online troll.
He launched the first version.
He was caught, but not before 12 Russian teenagers had killed themselves.
Yeah, this is the third documented copycat.
The specifics change, the outcome doesn't.
In every version we've seen, this is the first step the self-harm, followed by the increasingly dangerous behavior.
It's like they've been programmed.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah, but what I don't get is who would fall for this? Why play along knowing it ends in suicide? Maybe they didn't know that when it started, and then by the time they figured it out, they couldn't break away.
What I don't get is how these kids are finding the game, where they get the instructions.
I mean, there's not a single mention of it online.
It's completely off the radar.
Well, look, they have to connect somewhere.
To get ahead of this thing, we need to figure that part out.
Maybe one of the victims' families might have an idea.
The girl today, she was a freshman at UCSF, and her parents are flying in.
But maybe we can go back and talk to the Zymuskis again.
- Take Tariq with you.
- TARIQ: Sure.
- Tariq? - No, I've got this.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Uh do you want us to post all this on Sophe, or? - No, no, no, not yet.
- Okay.
It's right here.
(CLEARS THROAT) Thank you.
Sorry, it's kind of messy.
I haven't straightened up yet.
No, no, it's fine, Mrs.
Zymuski.
We're just trying to get a feel for Evan, that's all.
I'm sorry for the intrusion.
We're just still so confused, so anything that brings answers CAVANAUGH: Was there anyone new in Evan's life in the past few weeks? Any new behavior? I don't know.
To be honest, Evan really didn't share much with us, even when we asked him.
Sometimes the three of us, we'd be out for dinner, and I'd watch the other families.
They'd be talking with their kids and laughing and sharing things.
We never had that, ever, and I don't know why.
Did Evan ever mention something called the Ten Golden Steps? No.
What's that? We think someone might have been communicating with Evan that he was getting instructions from someone.
Instructions for what? We don't know yet.
Are you saying someone told Evan to kill himself? Mr.
Zymuski, we're just trying to put the pieces together.
SARA: It would help to figure out how someone contacted your son.
I have no idea.
I don't know if I ever really knew anything about my son.
Is this Evan's computer? Would it be all right if we borrow this? I promise you that we will get this back to you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
WOMAN: In my practice, I see a lot of teens who struggle with depression and anxiety it's a difficult time.
Teens are malleable.
They're wrestling with who they are and who they want to be.
Yeah, I remember that.
Unfortunately, for some of them, it's just too much.
They may be looking for a way out.
These are the kids that a game like this - preys on.
- Okay, because they're susceptible.
Exactly.
You may have hundreds of kids exposed to the game, but only these vulnerable few will go through with it.
Look, well, what about the guy behind it? What can you tell me about him? Hmm.
Maybe a background of abuse, mental illness, a victim of bullying.
I wish I could give you a profile, but it's just not that simple.
Here's the real question: what can Sophe do about it? I'm worried that if we put it out there, I'm gonna be publicizing the game, glorifying suicides.
No.
Highlighting suicide isn't going to inspire people to seek it out.
That's a myth.
Talking about suicide and the permanence of it, raising awareness in a positive way, that's one of the best preventative things you can do.
Great.
Thank you so much.
Listen, it's rare that I get to talk to a Sophe user face-to-face, so this has been Thank you.
(CHUCKLES) Well, it's my pleasure.
But, uh, how are you holding up, Mr.
Tanner? Obviously, I know what you've been through over the past year.
Have you ever considered talking to somebody? Well, yeah, I did that for a while, and, uh, right now my-my work is my therapy, so (CHUCKLES) That's a fairly common mechanism of avoidance.
That's me.
I can avoid with the best of them.
Well, if you ever need to talk, we could make this a weekly thing.
Oh.
Yes, I will I will get back to you.
Thank you so much.
Tariq.
Post it.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BLARING) That was fast.
I just told you to post it.
No, it isn't about the suicides.
It's about the sweater in Mia's video.
What about it? They're guessing the size by measuring it relative to the door.
Top vote-getter is a men's extra large.
That's way too big for Carlos Ochoa.
Users also combed through the evidence logs and crime scene photos from the trial.
The sweater's not in any of them.
So it was in her apartment the day before she was killed But gone when the police arrived.
One more piece of evidence that says there was another guy.
We find that sweater, we find Mia's killer.
I can't imagine what those parents are going through.
To lose your kid like that.
Just Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) It's from a high school teacher in Broadmoor.
A student there broke her arm yesterday after trying to climb the stadium scoreboard.
When the paramedic took her blood pressure, the teacher noticed that there were scratch marks on her arm.
Recent scratch marks.
They were laid out like tally marks.
The same as the other two victims.
Exactly.
(SIREN WAILING) Do you mind if I talk to her? - Yeah.
- Thank you.
Hi, Zoe.
I'm Sara.
We we need to talk to you about what happened.
I know why you were up on that scoreboard.
It's part of the Ten Golden Steps, isn't it? I don't know what you're talking about.
The scoreboard thing, it was it was a goof.
That's all.
A friend dared me to do it.
(DOOR OPENS) Tyler, get out.
(DOOR CLOSES) I know what these scratches are.
- It's just a game.
- No, Zoe.
- It's not.
- Okay, look, I just do it for the thrill.
Or whatever.
I It doesn't mean anything.
Do you know how this game ends? What you're doing is-is so stupid and selfish and-and cruel.
You're not thinking about anyone but yourself.
You don't know anything about me.
I know exactly who you are.
I need to know how you access the game.
I need to know how you made contact with this man.
Zoe, wait.
Hey, hey, hey.
- Zoe, Zoe - Go away! I said I don't want to talk to you.
Get off of me! (OVERLAPPING CHATTER) Stop, everybody! Please, get out.
- Please.
- We're leaving, we're leaving.
- That's enough.
- So sorry.
- Please.
- Ms.
Sanford, we're leaving.
She needs to know that you that you love her and that she's wanted and that she's not a burden.
- I don't know how to make it better.
- Yeah, I know.
But just be more vigilant.
Take away her phone and her computer.
Keep tabs on her.
Okay? Sh-she'll be mad, but she'll know that you care.
- Okay? - Sara, we are leaving now.
- Let's go.
- Okay.
CAVANAUGH: Thank you.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Hey, you want to tell me what happened in there? I don't know.
I am I blew it.
I'm sorry.
(SIGHS) It's fine.
I'll call Ruiz, see if she can get a warrant for her laptop and her phone.
Maybe we'll find what we're looking for in there.
What? What is it? That sticker.
Evan Zymuski had the same one on his laptop.
Yeah, those are popping up everywhere.
All right? I saw one at a pizza joint last night.
Only this is not just a sticker.
See? That's a QR code hidden in the face.
âWant to play a game?â (SIGHS) TARIQ: âWant to play a game?â âWhat kind of gameâ" âOne with purpose.
One that will change your lifeâ" Do you think it's a bot or a real person? Let's find out.
SARA: âAre you worthy? Most people aren'tâ" âI'm not like most people.
â âThen prove your mettle by completing the Ten Golden Steps.
â âMettleâ? This guy's going a little D&D on us.
SARA: Easy, Tariq.
Don't push it.
She's right.
We don't want to spook him.
- It is what we want to know, right? - Yeah.
CAVANAUGH: Oh.
âI am the Gamemaster.
And the game is played by my rules, not yours.
â All right, prick.
This guy's pissing me off.
- SARA: Tariq! - Oh.
What the hell is wrong with you? What? We can just scan another sticker and use a different IP.
He won't even know it's us.
Except, thanks to you, he'll now know someone's onto him.
- Oh, my God.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- You are so much smarter than everyone, aren't you? - Why should you ever have to listen? - Hey, take it easy.
- No! He treats everything - Calm down.
- like it's a game.
- He's bloody irresponsible.
Sara.
- Sara, what are you doing? - Do not talk to me - right now, Jeffrey.
- No, come on.
- I'm fine.
- Sara, look.
Hey, Sara.
You just yelled at Tariq in front of everyone, all right? As if you've never yelled at anyone.
We've had this conversation before.
I discipline my staff how I see fit.
Look, we both know this isn't about Tariq.
- (LAUGHS) - All right? I'm Look at Sara.
I'm worried about you.
Oh, my God, Jeffrey.
It was 15 years ago.
I've dealt with it, so just stop trying to fix me.
I am not trying to fix you.
You lost your brother.
- It actually - No, I didn't lose my brother.
He killed himself.
Okay? It's part of who I am.
Nothing's ever gonna make that go away, and nothing's ever gonna bring him back, anymore than Sophe is going to bring back Mia.
So just I'm s I'm so sorry.
No, no.
Listen.
Take all the time that you need.
How fired am I? Let me put it this way: I wouldn't plan any big purchases anytime soon.
Yeah.
All right, but you need to snap out of it.
All right, what about hacking this guy? - Can we find him that way? - No way.
The whole point of ChumHum Vault is the anonymity.
Without his phone, the encryption is bulletproof.
- Even for me.
- The stickers.
They're the key to finding this guy.
They popped up all over the city pretty fast, right? Almost overnight.
I mean, one day I was driving to work and they're everywhere.
I mean, on buildings, lampposts, shop windows.
- Why? - What are you thinking, mathlete? It's a long shot, but I could do a distribution pattern analysis.
If this guy went out and plastered these all over town, the location of these stickers could tell us roughly where he's based.
We just need to map out where they are.
Okay.
How do you do that? Really, Columbo? Sophe.
Sophe.
We get users to photograph them, then use the geotag info to map them out.
And then I find this guy.
All right, well, let's do this.
All right.
Come on.
Sounds good.
- Hey, what can I get for you? - Hey.
You got a sticker like this in your window.
Any idea who put it there? Couldn't tell you.
People post crap in here all the time.
If you want one, I think we've got a stack of them over there.
Something isn't working.
I-I assumed a somewhat random distribution, right? Guy has hundreds of stickers to get rid of.
He runs around, he puts them up everywhere.
But the distribution isn't random the array is clustered, right? Because he targeted specific spots.
You know, schools, record stores, pizza places Places teenagers hang out.
Well, still, I can account for that using geographic profiling and probability theory, I should still be able to pinpoint his hot spot.
- I don't get it.
- And you're not gonna.
Cavanaugh.
Whoever this guy is, he left a whole stack of stickers at the pizza place, probably other places, too, which means kids grab them, carry them around, and stick them up other places.
Well, there goes any hope of deducing his location.
Whoever our Gamemaster is, he's clever, or maybe lazy.
- Either way - Damn it, I-I should have seen it.
The sticker on Evan's laptop, the one on Zoe's car.
I I just need to make some adjustments.
If I, if I change the cumulative density function from sum to integral, - that'll redefine the variate - Dude.
Going all Rain Man on me isn't gonna do it.
It's just not gonna work.
(GAME CHIMING AND CLANKING) Listen, man, we're gonna find him It's just gonna take a little longer.
That's all.
(CLANKING AND CHIMING CONTINUE) You know what I was doing before I started here? Sitting in my parents' basement, grey-hatting corporate databases and screwing with frog meme-ers all day.
Then I heard what Tanner was doing, and I figured, âHell, I could do thatâ" So I hacked my way into a job.
But I still can't compete with you.
(LOUD CLACKING) So I cover with attitude.
(SIGHS) Look how well that worked out today.
But you You've got the mad math skills and the degrees and the discipline.
And I'm only gonna say this once, so pay attention.
You're pretty much the man.
I could have been one of these kids.
When I was that age, I had no friends.
My brother and sister were grown and out of the house.
My parents were divorced.
I was alone and isolated.
This game is targeting kids just like me.
Josh, seriously, you're giving this creep way too much credit.
He's a troll, that's all.
Even in San Francisco, growing up a crazy-handsome brown kid, I got bullied non-stop.
And it sucked, but I survived.
And you survived.
And these kids will survive, too.
We just got to We just got to get this loser.
(SNIFFLES) (EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) There you are.
I just got a direct message to my internal channel.
Some user claiming that he saw the post about the stickers and wants to help.
Wait.
How is a user accessing our internal channel? His IP's bouncing all over the place Idaho, Namibia, Fiji.
This is black-ops stuff.
Okay.
What do you want to do? Open up a video channel.
Yeah.
(TRILLING, STATIC) Um hello? Thanks for pinging me back.
TARIQ: What is this, Deep Throat? This is Cigarette-Smoking Man.
My guess is NSA.
Am I right? Sophe has friends everywhere, Mr.
Tanner.
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Except we can't see your mouth.
You could be talking out of your You said you could help us track down the stickers.
How? You'll need to send me a high-resolution scan of one of them.
Well I'm on it.
SARA: Well, what good would that do you? Set.
Since the '90s, all U.
S.
printers are built to record tiny, invisible marks on every page.
The marks enable us to pinpoint the origin of a document.
You're talking about microdots.
Sounds like Big Brother's big brother to me.
The point was to hedge against currency counterfeiting.
The marks are only visible under a narrow spectrum of light.
But when you strip out the proper color bands So do we know where they were printed? For that, you need a key, or a friend who has one.
I'll get back to you.
- (SCOFFS) - Okay.
This is either the most exciting, or most terrifying day of my entire life.
Yeah, I'll keep you posted.
- Hey.
- Sophe was able - to track down the stickers.
- Okay.
It was ordered online from a print shop in Maine, mailed to some guy named Jason Forde.
This is the address.
Unit B.
He rents the back house.
We need to talk to you, Jason.
RUIZ: Put your hands - where I can see them! - Hey! Hey! - Drop it.
- Hands.
Where I can see them.
- Damn it, let's go.
- Drop it! Drop it! (SIGHS) - What do you got? What? - It's locked.
What'd you do? What did you just do? Oops.
(LAUGHS) Too late.
(DOOR OPENS) - Hey.
- Hi.
That's him? He just looks so normal.
You do this long enough, your expectations of normal all fade away.
All I got is hope that somebody like this never comes within a mile of my kid.
I thought you didn't have kids.
No, I said I wouldn't talk about it.
(SIGHS) He's 14, he lives in L.
A.
with my ex.
Hmm.
So this one's got to be tough for you.
(DOOR OPENS) Well It's in the works.
All right.
I'll be back.
And to answer your question, yes, it's tougher than most.
You don't seem too concerned with your situation there, Jason.
No visionary is ever accepted at first.
I read that somewhere.
CAVANAUGH: A visionary, huh? So is that what that is? Is that your vision? You like? It's a It's an art project of mine.
Viral campaigns are a big thing, you know? What about what happens to the kids who scan those things? Nothing much happens to most of them.
As for the rest I mean, I feel terrible if anybody gets hurt, but all in all, it seems like a net positive, no? RUIZ: How do you figure? Well, there's too many people on the planet as it is.
Most of them are too stupid or weak to make any sort of real contribution, so, why complain if the runts of the litter decide to call it quits? And the Ten Golden Steps, that's your way of helping the runts along, right? Like I said, it's a an art project.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah.
JASON: All I did was put up some stickers.
Which, at worst, could be a 594, destruction of property charge, or more likely, a misdemeanor.
Littering citation.
You know how liberal this city is with its artists.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) (DOOR OPENS) OFFICER: Here you go, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, I do.
(DOOR CLOSES) RUIZ: So you probably know about penal code 401.
Assisted suicide, sure.
But if people choose, of their own free will, to end their life, again, that's not on me.
Unless you encourage them.
Then it becomes a felony.
(CHUCKLES) Look, here's the thing.
Um (CLEARS THROAT) Not that you'd find anything on it, but even with a warrant, you can't compel me to give up the password to open my phone.
I know my rights.
CAVANAUGH: You do.
Except, your lazy ass uses biometrics.
And this warrant says that we can compel your fingerprint to open it.
(SCOFFS) So you see, Jason, we can do this the easy way, or the hard.
And I'm leaning toward the latter.
(PHONE BEEPS) Phone's unlocked.
Go.
Got to admit, this is virgin territory for me.
Hacking under a warrant.
You guys think I can get a framed copy or something? Come on.
Focus up, Tariq.
Come on.
TARIQ: All right, all right.
Bad news is that the Tenth Step was sent to three different players.
The good news is, I got usernames on all three.
Josh, I'm gonna send them to you, so maybe - you can link up some numbers? - Yeah.
I'll start scouring social media, see what I can find.
I'll start a thread, and get some user help.
These kids already have a head start on us.
Here we go.
I've got one.
I've got a mobile number.
Tariq, take it while I work on number two? All right, I'll do a little magic, see if I can - pinpoint a GPS.
- We got cars on alert.
- Just waiting on your word.
- I've got an ID on Creeper.
The kid's only 14.
First one's on Fell near Buchanan.
I'll let dispatch know.
And the second one is Creeper, who's on Claymore, by Mullen.
SARA: That matches his home address.
Maybe he hasn't left the house yet.
I'll take that one.
All right, what about the third one? Where is he? JOSH: Um We've got a problem.
You can't locate the third kid? No, I found him.
But according to his GPS, he's in Portland.
TANNER: Portland? What does-what does that mean? Does it mean that the game has spread? I don't think so.
I'm on his ChumHum page.
He visited San Francisco last week.
RUIZ: I'll reach out to Portland PD, but it's gonna take some time.
(LINE RINGING) (PHONE RINGING, VIBRATING) (PHONE BEEPS) (SNIFFLES) Who is this? JOSH: Dylan.
My-my name's Josh.
Look, you don't know me, but I-I know what you're doing.
I know about the game.
I can't do it.
I want to, but I can't.
- I'm just too scared.
- No.
That-that-that's good.
That's good that you can't do it.
I don't want you to.
(CRYING): But I have to complete the game.
I can't fail at this, too.
No.
No, listen to me.
You only fail if you follow through.
The-the guy behind this, he's a bully.
He-he wants you to hurt yourself.
You can't let him win.
- Do you hear me? - (DYLAN CRYING) Look, I-I have a friend calling the police right now.
Just promise me you'll wait for them, okay? No, you don't understand.
The first two are safe.
What about Portland? Look, I-I can't pretend to know exactly what you're going through, but I do know what it's like to feel different.
You know, to-to not belong.
And-and not to go all after-school-special on you, but it does get better.
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE) They're here.
I should go.
This is my number, okay? Use it.
TARIQ: Nice one, Josh.
Just like we called it.
Score another for the good guys, I guess.
Uh, guys? I was digging a little deeper in the chat logs to look for players at lower levels.
And? He sent out a Step Ten to another user two days ago.
(PHONE RINGS) Zoe's lost her phone privileges.
You're gonna have to talk to her at school.
Oh, Detective? Well, I just checked on her ten minutes ago.
Zoe? Zoe.
(INSECTS TRILLING OUTSIDE) Oh, no.
I guess it's time.
Her mother says her car's still in the driveway, so she can't have gone far.
- I've got a thread up.
- Anything? The neighbors are searching nearby, and it's up on Sophe.
Listen, what about tracking her cell phone? She doesn't have it.
Her mother took it away from her, like I told her to.
Look, the-the rules of the game are she's supposed - to record herself.
- Right, which is why she's taken her mother's camera instead.
Cops have as many cars out there as they can.
No.
We've got far more eyes with Sophe.
(CAR BEEPS) Let's go home.
Is-is that her? I think so.
Message them.
- Let's go.
- Come on.
Someone spotted her.
A parking garage on Lafayette.
Put it out.
I'm gonna call Cavanaugh.
I'll start a thread with Sophe users.
Zoe! ZOE: Who? We're here to help.
ZOE: What is this? Just get away from me.
She's panicking.
- Someone needs to calm her down.
- You know what? Connect us with one of the Sophe users in that area and put him on a video chat.
On it.
Who are you? Why are you doing this? (PHONE RINGING) Steve, it's Josh from Sophe.
We need you to take your phone to Zoe.
Okay.
Give me a second.
JOSH: He's getting it to her.
Go on.
ZOE: J-Just get away from me.
Just, please.
I have to do this.
They want to talk to you.
Zoe, do you remember me? Zoe, it's Sara.
I-I was at your house.
Do you remember me? Please.
Please, just tell these people to leave me alone.
Zoe, I need you to listen to me.
ZOE: No.
I told you, you don't understand.
No.
I-I do understand.
Zoe I had a brother called Patrick, who killed himself when he was your age.
And my whole life, I've told people that that I felt guilty, as if it was somehow my fault, but you know what I've just realized? It's not, it's not guilt that I feel.
It's anger.
I'm so angry at him.
He abandoned me.
He robbed me of my big brother.
Took memories that we were meant to have together.
Is that what you want to do to your brother? To Tyler? He needs you, he really does.
Look around you, we all do.
Look at all these people on a rooftop in the middle of the night because of you.
You have this huge choice.
Are you going to steal from them? From-from Tyler, from your family? Take away memories that they deserve to have? You hurt, I know.
Worse than anyone can imagine, but this is not the way.
So let us help you.
Yeah, we're just getting to the roof.
She's coming down.
Zoe! - Mom.
- Zoe! No, baby! (CRYING): No, no.
No.
Zoe.
Oh, my baby.
(KAREN CRYING) (EXHALES) (SNIFFLES) Are you okay? Yeah.
(CRYING): She's gonna need so much help.
No.
You're incredible.
(LAUGHS) You know that? I've heard tell, yes.
My mother told me to never take delight in the misfortune of others.
Well, this one time I think she'd allow it.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah.
I'm taking a couple days off.
Going down to L.
A.
, pick up my son for a visit.
Well, I think that's a good idea.
(BOTH MOANING) Have I mentioned how sorry I am? Really? Good.
(GRUNTS) (EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) You know what, let it go.
No.
Just let it go.
- No, it doesn't matter.
- There is literally no version of what I'm about to do to you that is made better by you being distracted.
They've sourced the sweater.
It's an exclusive European label available only at a single boutique.
TANNER: $550.
- Rich people, am I right? - Yeah.
Under a thousand sweaters manufactured.
- It's a start.
- Yeah.
Post it.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING)
Welcome to Sophe.
We all know the Internet changed the world.
The only question is: into what? It can be a platform to bring us together or to tear us apart.
I know, because I spent my life trying to turn it into something that would connect us all.
Then - I love you, Dad.
- my daughter was murdered.
Nothing else mattered anymore.
Everyone was sure they knew who did it the police, my ex-wife but I was convinced the wrong man had been convicted and the real killer was still out there.
So together with my team, I built Sophe, a crowdsource crime solving platform powered by the smartest, most diverse, independent collection of detectives on the planet: you.
Let's get to work.
(PANTING) YOUNG MAN: I'm almost to the top.
I'm on top of the parking lot right now.
It's close, I can see it.
(EXHALES) (EXHALES) I'm sorry, Mom.
(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY) - (DISTANT THUMP) - (CAR ALARM WAILS) - (CAR ALARM CONTINUING) - (QUIETLY): Oh Man.
That is rough.
How old was he? 15.
His name's Evan Zymuski.
So, I mean, on the one hand, it's a cut-and-dried suicide, right? But? But I don't know, it's just something strange about it.
Did he leave a message - or a note anywhere? - That's what's weird.
No message, no note.
Look he erased all social media, but he leaves his phone behind on the roof.
The only thing on them were these videos.
- There are more videos? - Yeah.
Ten of 'em, including the jump.
They're all just selfies and stupid stunts.
It's everything from cutting himself - to climbing a construction crane.
- So maybe he was an adrenaline junkie that just took it too far.
No, his parents say that he's the quiet loner type.
He never liked to take risks.
And there's something that he says at the end here, I just can't quite get it.
(MUTTERS INDISTINCTLY) Yeah, I can't hear him either.
Well, I know who can.
Jeffrey.
Can I have a moment? Yeah.
What you got? So ever since we posted all of Mia's personal stuff online, there's this sub-group of users who've been obsessed with her last video.
Do I want to hear this? No, no, relax, they're not they're not fixated on Mia.
They're fixated on something in the background.
This.
What is that? Is that a sweater? SARA: Mm-hmm.
- Not a single photo has ever - been posted of her wearing it.
Or of her with anyone wearing it, either.
I've seen this video a million times and I've never noticed that.
My eyes were always on Mia.
The group who posted it, it's a bunch of young mothers who call themselves the âMama Mias.
â - Well - They think it's important.
What do you think? I think we should let - Sophe decide.
- Agreed.
Move it to the front page.
Let's see what we get.
Ah.
(CLEARS THROAT) - Incoming.
- Mm.
Admit it, you're starting to like it around here.
Like a root canal.
What can we, uh, do for you, Detective? Sophe's good at deciphering garbled audio, right? Something crowds are useful for.
Look at him.
What? I read Crowdsourcing For Dummies, okay? Sue me.
As it happens, the Dummies guide is not wrong.
Yes, that is something the crowd is very good at.
What have you, uh, got there? (SIGHS) The last words of a 15-year-old kid before he killed himself.
Let's listen to it.
EVAN (VOICE DISTORTED): I'm sorry, Mom (INDISTINCT MUTTERING) See, there's a lot of car noise and wind.
It makes it hard to hear.
To me it sounds like âCat had ticks.
.
â" (ALL QUICKLY GROAN) - What? - I really wish you hadn't said that.
- Why, what does that mean? - Nothing.
But you've just created a confirmation bias.
- What? - In essence, you've infected our ears.
- What the hell's that mean? - It means that that's now all we can hear.
(INDISTINCT MUTTERING REPEATS) Damn that cat.
It's not a problem.
When I put the phrase out on Sophe, we'll compartmentalize the users to make sure there's no cross-talk.
Perfect.
That way, each user will hear the phrase fresh, with no bias.
- Now we wait.
- (PHONE RINGS) Cavanaugh.
SARA: Jeffrey Sophe deciphered Evan Zymuski's last words The reason we couldn't understand is because it's in Russian.
âDesyats zolotix shagovâ" It means âThe Ten Golden Stepsâ" Ten golden steps? SARA: Mm-hmm.
We couldn't find any reference to the exact phrase online, so we broadened the search, and We found the âTen Steps to Nirvanaâ" It's tied to a string of suicides last year in Argentina 12 kids died.
JOSH: Here's another from Russia four years ago.
âTen Steps to Immortalityâ" 11 kids.
Japan had one, too âThe Ten Steps of Solace.
â - 14 kids.
- And now we have this.
Every one of these outbreaks started with a single suicide, and then it just spread.
Like a virus.
(PHONE RINGING) - What do you got for me? - TANNER: Nothing good.
Based on our findings, this kid's suicide may just be the first.
I'm way ahead of you.
We got another one.
Desyats zolotix shagov.
Two teen suicides, ten almost-identical selfie videos and the same Russian phrase.
I mean, what the hell are we dealing with here, guys? From what we can tell, the first of these suicide games was in Russia four years ago.
Did you just call this a game? Dude, don't blame us, blame the press.
Alexei Kerlov he's a Russian online troll.
He launched the first version.
He was caught, but not before 12 Russian teenagers had killed themselves.
Yeah, this is the third documented copycat.
The specifics change, the outcome doesn't.
In every version we've seen, this is the first step the self-harm, followed by the increasingly dangerous behavior.
It's like they've been programmed.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah, but what I don't get is who would fall for this? Why play along knowing it ends in suicide? Maybe they didn't know that when it started, and then by the time they figured it out, they couldn't break away.
What I don't get is how these kids are finding the game, where they get the instructions.
I mean, there's not a single mention of it online.
It's completely off the radar.
Well, look, they have to connect somewhere.
To get ahead of this thing, we need to figure that part out.
Maybe one of the victims' families might have an idea.
The girl today, she was a freshman at UCSF, and her parents are flying in.
But maybe we can go back and talk to the Zymuskis again.
- Take Tariq with you.
- TARIQ: Sure.
- Tariq? - No, I've got this.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
Uh do you want us to post all this on Sophe, or? - No, no, no, not yet.
- Okay.
It's right here.
(CLEARS THROAT) Thank you.
Sorry, it's kind of messy.
I haven't straightened up yet.
No, no, it's fine, Mrs.
Zymuski.
We're just trying to get a feel for Evan, that's all.
I'm sorry for the intrusion.
We're just still so confused, so anything that brings answers CAVANAUGH: Was there anyone new in Evan's life in the past few weeks? Any new behavior? I don't know.
To be honest, Evan really didn't share much with us, even when we asked him.
Sometimes the three of us, we'd be out for dinner, and I'd watch the other families.
They'd be talking with their kids and laughing and sharing things.
We never had that, ever, and I don't know why.
Did Evan ever mention something called the Ten Golden Steps? No.
What's that? We think someone might have been communicating with Evan that he was getting instructions from someone.
Instructions for what? We don't know yet.
Are you saying someone told Evan to kill himself? Mr.
Zymuski, we're just trying to put the pieces together.
SARA: It would help to figure out how someone contacted your son.
I have no idea.
I don't know if I ever really knew anything about my son.
Is this Evan's computer? Would it be all right if we borrow this? I promise you that we will get this back to you.
Yeah.
Thank you.
WOMAN: In my practice, I see a lot of teens who struggle with depression and anxiety it's a difficult time.
Teens are malleable.
They're wrestling with who they are and who they want to be.
Yeah, I remember that.
Unfortunately, for some of them, it's just too much.
They may be looking for a way out.
These are the kids that a game like this - preys on.
- Okay, because they're susceptible.
Exactly.
You may have hundreds of kids exposed to the game, but only these vulnerable few will go through with it.
Look, well, what about the guy behind it? What can you tell me about him? Hmm.
Maybe a background of abuse, mental illness, a victim of bullying.
I wish I could give you a profile, but it's just not that simple.
Here's the real question: what can Sophe do about it? I'm worried that if we put it out there, I'm gonna be publicizing the game, glorifying suicides.
No.
Highlighting suicide isn't going to inspire people to seek it out.
That's a myth.
Talking about suicide and the permanence of it, raising awareness in a positive way, that's one of the best preventative things you can do.
Great.
Thank you so much.
Listen, it's rare that I get to talk to a Sophe user face-to-face, so this has been Thank you.
(CHUCKLES) Well, it's my pleasure.
But, uh, how are you holding up, Mr.
Tanner? Obviously, I know what you've been through over the past year.
Have you ever considered talking to somebody? Well, yeah, I did that for a while, and, uh, right now my-my work is my therapy, so (CHUCKLES) That's a fairly common mechanism of avoidance.
That's me.
I can avoid with the best of them.
Well, if you ever need to talk, we could make this a weekly thing.
Oh.
Yes, I will I will get back to you.
Thank you so much.
Tariq.
Post it.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BLARING) That was fast.
I just told you to post it.
No, it isn't about the suicides.
It's about the sweater in Mia's video.
What about it? They're guessing the size by measuring it relative to the door.
Top vote-getter is a men's extra large.
That's way too big for Carlos Ochoa.
Users also combed through the evidence logs and crime scene photos from the trial.
The sweater's not in any of them.
So it was in her apartment the day before she was killed But gone when the police arrived.
One more piece of evidence that says there was another guy.
We find that sweater, we find Mia's killer.
I can't imagine what those parents are going through.
To lose your kid like that.
Just Are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) It's from a high school teacher in Broadmoor.
A student there broke her arm yesterday after trying to climb the stadium scoreboard.
When the paramedic took her blood pressure, the teacher noticed that there were scratch marks on her arm.
Recent scratch marks.
They were laid out like tally marks.
The same as the other two victims.
Exactly.
(SIREN WAILING) Do you mind if I talk to her? - Yeah.
- Thank you.
Hi, Zoe.
I'm Sara.
We we need to talk to you about what happened.
I know why you were up on that scoreboard.
It's part of the Ten Golden Steps, isn't it? I don't know what you're talking about.
The scoreboard thing, it was it was a goof.
That's all.
A friend dared me to do it.
(DOOR OPENS) Tyler, get out.
(DOOR CLOSES) I know what these scratches are.
- It's just a game.
- No, Zoe.
- It's not.
- Okay, look, I just do it for the thrill.
Or whatever.
I It doesn't mean anything.
Do you know how this game ends? What you're doing is-is so stupid and selfish and-and cruel.
You're not thinking about anyone but yourself.
You don't know anything about me.
I know exactly who you are.
I need to know how you access the game.
I need to know how you made contact with this man.
Zoe, wait.
Hey, hey, hey.
- Zoe, Zoe - Go away! I said I don't want to talk to you.
Get off of me! (OVERLAPPING CHATTER) Stop, everybody! Please, get out.
- Please.
- We're leaving, we're leaving.
- That's enough.
- So sorry.
- Please.
- Ms.
Sanford, we're leaving.
She needs to know that you that you love her and that she's wanted and that she's not a burden.
- I don't know how to make it better.
- Yeah, I know.
But just be more vigilant.
Take away her phone and her computer.
Keep tabs on her.
Okay? Sh-she'll be mad, but she'll know that you care.
- Okay? - Sara, we are leaving now.
- Let's go.
- Okay.
CAVANAUGH: Thank you.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey! Hey, you want to tell me what happened in there? I don't know.
I am I blew it.
I'm sorry.
(SIGHS) It's fine.
I'll call Ruiz, see if she can get a warrant for her laptop and her phone.
Maybe we'll find what we're looking for in there.
What? What is it? That sticker.
Evan Zymuski had the same one on his laptop.
Yeah, those are popping up everywhere.
All right? I saw one at a pizza joint last night.
Only this is not just a sticker.
See? That's a QR code hidden in the face.
âWant to play a game?â (SIGHS) TARIQ: âWant to play a game?â âWhat kind of gameâ" âOne with purpose.
One that will change your lifeâ" Do you think it's a bot or a real person? Let's find out.
SARA: âAre you worthy? Most people aren'tâ" âI'm not like most people.
â âThen prove your mettle by completing the Ten Golden Steps.
â âMettleâ? This guy's going a little D&D on us.
SARA: Easy, Tariq.
Don't push it.
She's right.
We don't want to spook him.
- It is what we want to know, right? - Yeah.
CAVANAUGH: Oh.
âI am the Gamemaster.
And the game is played by my rules, not yours.
â All right, prick.
This guy's pissing me off.
- SARA: Tariq! - Oh.
What the hell is wrong with you? What? We can just scan another sticker and use a different IP.
He won't even know it's us.
Except, thanks to you, he'll now know someone's onto him.
- Oh, my God.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
- You are so much smarter than everyone, aren't you? - Why should you ever have to listen? - Hey, take it easy.
- No! He treats everything - Calm down.
- like it's a game.
- He's bloody irresponsible.
Sara.
- Sara, what are you doing? - Do not talk to me - right now, Jeffrey.
- No, come on.
- I'm fine.
- Sara, look.
Hey, Sara.
You just yelled at Tariq in front of everyone, all right? As if you've never yelled at anyone.
We've had this conversation before.
I discipline my staff how I see fit.
Look, we both know this isn't about Tariq.
- (LAUGHS) - All right? I'm Look at Sara.
I'm worried about you.
Oh, my God, Jeffrey.
It was 15 years ago.
I've dealt with it, so just stop trying to fix me.
I am not trying to fix you.
You lost your brother.
- It actually - No, I didn't lose my brother.
He killed himself.
Okay? It's part of who I am.
Nothing's ever gonna make that go away, and nothing's ever gonna bring him back, anymore than Sophe is going to bring back Mia.
So just I'm s I'm so sorry.
No, no.
Listen.
Take all the time that you need.
How fired am I? Let me put it this way: I wouldn't plan any big purchases anytime soon.
Yeah.
All right, but you need to snap out of it.
All right, what about hacking this guy? - Can we find him that way? - No way.
The whole point of ChumHum Vault is the anonymity.
Without his phone, the encryption is bulletproof.
- Even for me.
- The stickers.
They're the key to finding this guy.
They popped up all over the city pretty fast, right? Almost overnight.
I mean, one day I was driving to work and they're everywhere.
I mean, on buildings, lampposts, shop windows.
- Why? - What are you thinking, mathlete? It's a long shot, but I could do a distribution pattern analysis.
If this guy went out and plastered these all over town, the location of these stickers could tell us roughly where he's based.
We just need to map out where they are.
Okay.
How do you do that? Really, Columbo? Sophe.
Sophe.
We get users to photograph them, then use the geotag info to map them out.
And then I find this guy.
All right, well, let's do this.
All right.
Come on.
Sounds good.
- Hey, what can I get for you? - Hey.
You got a sticker like this in your window.
Any idea who put it there? Couldn't tell you.
People post crap in here all the time.
If you want one, I think we've got a stack of them over there.
Something isn't working.
I-I assumed a somewhat random distribution, right? Guy has hundreds of stickers to get rid of.
He runs around, he puts them up everywhere.
But the distribution isn't random the array is clustered, right? Because he targeted specific spots.
You know, schools, record stores, pizza places Places teenagers hang out.
Well, still, I can account for that using geographic profiling and probability theory, I should still be able to pinpoint his hot spot.
- I don't get it.
- And you're not gonna.
Cavanaugh.
Whoever this guy is, he left a whole stack of stickers at the pizza place, probably other places, too, which means kids grab them, carry them around, and stick them up other places.
Well, there goes any hope of deducing his location.
Whoever our Gamemaster is, he's clever, or maybe lazy.
- Either way - Damn it, I-I should have seen it.
The sticker on Evan's laptop, the one on Zoe's car.
I I just need to make some adjustments.
If I, if I change the cumulative density function from sum to integral, - that'll redefine the variate - Dude.
Going all Rain Man on me isn't gonna do it.
It's just not gonna work.
(GAME CHIMING AND CLANKING) Listen, man, we're gonna find him It's just gonna take a little longer.
That's all.
(CLANKING AND CHIMING CONTINUE) You know what I was doing before I started here? Sitting in my parents' basement, grey-hatting corporate databases and screwing with frog meme-ers all day.
Then I heard what Tanner was doing, and I figured, âHell, I could do thatâ" So I hacked my way into a job.
But I still can't compete with you.
(LOUD CLACKING) So I cover with attitude.
(SIGHS) Look how well that worked out today.
But you You've got the mad math skills and the degrees and the discipline.
And I'm only gonna say this once, so pay attention.
You're pretty much the man.
I could have been one of these kids.
When I was that age, I had no friends.
My brother and sister were grown and out of the house.
My parents were divorced.
I was alone and isolated.
This game is targeting kids just like me.
Josh, seriously, you're giving this creep way too much credit.
He's a troll, that's all.
Even in San Francisco, growing up a crazy-handsome brown kid, I got bullied non-stop.
And it sucked, but I survived.
And you survived.
And these kids will survive, too.
We just got to We just got to get this loser.
(SNIFFLES) (EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) There you are.
I just got a direct message to my internal channel.
Some user claiming that he saw the post about the stickers and wants to help.
Wait.
How is a user accessing our internal channel? His IP's bouncing all over the place Idaho, Namibia, Fiji.
This is black-ops stuff.
Okay.
What do you want to do? Open up a video channel.
Yeah.
(TRILLING, STATIC) Um hello? Thanks for pinging me back.
TARIQ: What is this, Deep Throat? This is Cigarette-Smoking Man.
My guess is NSA.
Am I right? Sophe has friends everywhere, Mr.
Tanner.
- Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
- Except we can't see your mouth.
You could be talking out of your You said you could help us track down the stickers.
How? You'll need to send me a high-resolution scan of one of them.
Well I'm on it.
SARA: Well, what good would that do you? Set.
Since the '90s, all U.
S.
printers are built to record tiny, invisible marks on every page.
The marks enable us to pinpoint the origin of a document.
You're talking about microdots.
Sounds like Big Brother's big brother to me.
The point was to hedge against currency counterfeiting.
The marks are only visible under a narrow spectrum of light.
But when you strip out the proper color bands So do we know where they were printed? For that, you need a key, or a friend who has one.
I'll get back to you.
- (SCOFFS) - Okay.
This is either the most exciting, or most terrifying day of my entire life.
Yeah, I'll keep you posted.
- Hey.
- Sophe was able - to track down the stickers.
- Okay.
It was ordered online from a print shop in Maine, mailed to some guy named Jason Forde.
This is the address.
Unit B.
He rents the back house.
We need to talk to you, Jason.
RUIZ: Put your hands - where I can see them! - Hey! Hey! - Drop it.
- Hands.
Where I can see them.
- Damn it, let's go.
- Drop it! Drop it! (SIGHS) - What do you got? What? - It's locked.
What'd you do? What did you just do? Oops.
(LAUGHS) Too late.
(DOOR OPENS) - Hey.
- Hi.
That's him? He just looks so normal.
You do this long enough, your expectations of normal all fade away.
All I got is hope that somebody like this never comes within a mile of my kid.
I thought you didn't have kids.
No, I said I wouldn't talk about it.
(SIGHS) He's 14, he lives in L.
A.
with my ex.
Hmm.
So this one's got to be tough for you.
(DOOR OPENS) Well It's in the works.
All right.
I'll be back.
And to answer your question, yes, it's tougher than most.
You don't seem too concerned with your situation there, Jason.
No visionary is ever accepted at first.
I read that somewhere.
CAVANAUGH: A visionary, huh? So is that what that is? Is that your vision? You like? It's a It's an art project of mine.
Viral campaigns are a big thing, you know? What about what happens to the kids who scan those things? Nothing much happens to most of them.
As for the rest I mean, I feel terrible if anybody gets hurt, but all in all, it seems like a net positive, no? RUIZ: How do you figure? Well, there's too many people on the planet as it is.
Most of them are too stupid or weak to make any sort of real contribution, so, why complain if the runts of the litter decide to call it quits? And the Ten Golden Steps, that's your way of helping the runts along, right? Like I said, it's a an art project.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah.
JASON: All I did was put up some stickers.
Which, at worst, could be a 594, destruction of property charge, or more likely, a misdemeanor.
Littering citation.
You know how liberal this city is with its artists.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) (DOOR OPENS) OFFICER: Here you go, sir.
Thank you.
Yes, I do.
(DOOR CLOSES) RUIZ: So you probably know about penal code 401.
Assisted suicide, sure.
But if people choose, of their own free will, to end their life, again, that's not on me.
Unless you encourage them.
Then it becomes a felony.
(CHUCKLES) Look, here's the thing.
Um (CLEARS THROAT) Not that you'd find anything on it, but even with a warrant, you can't compel me to give up the password to open my phone.
I know my rights.
CAVANAUGH: You do.
Except, your lazy ass uses biometrics.
And this warrant says that we can compel your fingerprint to open it.
(SCOFFS) So you see, Jason, we can do this the easy way, or the hard.
And I'm leaning toward the latter.
(PHONE BEEPS) Phone's unlocked.
Go.
Got to admit, this is virgin territory for me.
Hacking under a warrant.
You guys think I can get a framed copy or something? Come on.
Focus up, Tariq.
Come on.
TARIQ: All right, all right.
Bad news is that the Tenth Step was sent to three different players.
The good news is, I got usernames on all three.
Josh, I'm gonna send them to you, so maybe - you can link up some numbers? - Yeah.
I'll start scouring social media, see what I can find.
I'll start a thread, and get some user help.
These kids already have a head start on us.
Here we go.
I've got one.
I've got a mobile number.
Tariq, take it while I work on number two? All right, I'll do a little magic, see if I can - pinpoint a GPS.
- We got cars on alert.
- Just waiting on your word.
- I've got an ID on Creeper.
The kid's only 14.
First one's on Fell near Buchanan.
I'll let dispatch know.
And the second one is Creeper, who's on Claymore, by Mullen.
SARA: That matches his home address.
Maybe he hasn't left the house yet.
I'll take that one.
All right, what about the third one? Where is he? JOSH: Um We've got a problem.
You can't locate the third kid? No, I found him.
But according to his GPS, he's in Portland.
TANNER: Portland? What does-what does that mean? Does it mean that the game has spread? I don't think so.
I'm on his ChumHum page.
He visited San Francisco last week.
RUIZ: I'll reach out to Portland PD, but it's gonna take some time.
(LINE RINGING) (PHONE RINGING, VIBRATING) (PHONE BEEPS) (SNIFFLES) Who is this? JOSH: Dylan.
My-my name's Josh.
Look, you don't know me, but I-I know what you're doing.
I know about the game.
I can't do it.
I want to, but I can't.
- I'm just too scared.
- No.
That-that-that's good.
That's good that you can't do it.
I don't want you to.
(CRYING): But I have to complete the game.
I can't fail at this, too.
No.
No, listen to me.
You only fail if you follow through.
The-the guy behind this, he's a bully.
He-he wants you to hurt yourself.
You can't let him win.
- Do you hear me? - (DYLAN CRYING) Look, I-I have a friend calling the police right now.
Just promise me you'll wait for them, okay? No, you don't understand.
The first two are safe.
What about Portland? Look, I-I can't pretend to know exactly what you're going through, but I do know what it's like to feel different.
You know, to-to not belong.
And-and not to go all after-school-special on you, but it does get better.
(SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE) They're here.
I should go.
This is my number, okay? Use it.
TARIQ: Nice one, Josh.
Just like we called it.
Score another for the good guys, I guess.
Uh, guys? I was digging a little deeper in the chat logs to look for players at lower levels.
And? He sent out a Step Ten to another user two days ago.
(PHONE RINGS) Zoe's lost her phone privileges.
You're gonna have to talk to her at school.
Oh, Detective? Well, I just checked on her ten minutes ago.
Zoe? Zoe.
(INSECTS TRILLING OUTSIDE) Oh, no.
I guess it's time.
Her mother says her car's still in the driveway, so she can't have gone far.
- I've got a thread up.
- Anything? The neighbors are searching nearby, and it's up on Sophe.
Listen, what about tracking her cell phone? She doesn't have it.
Her mother took it away from her, like I told her to.
Look, the-the rules of the game are she's supposed - to record herself.
- Right, which is why she's taken her mother's camera instead.
Cops have as many cars out there as they can.
No.
We've got far more eyes with Sophe.
(CAR BEEPS) Let's go home.
Is-is that her? I think so.
Message them.
- Let's go.
- Come on.
Someone spotted her.
A parking garage on Lafayette.
Put it out.
I'm gonna call Cavanaugh.
I'll start a thread with Sophe users.
Zoe! ZOE: Who? We're here to help.
ZOE: What is this? Just get away from me.
She's panicking.
- Someone needs to calm her down.
- You know what? Connect us with one of the Sophe users in that area and put him on a video chat.
On it.
Who are you? Why are you doing this? (PHONE RINGING) Steve, it's Josh from Sophe.
We need you to take your phone to Zoe.
Okay.
Give me a second.
JOSH: He's getting it to her.
Go on.
ZOE: J-Just get away from me.
Just, please.
I have to do this.
They want to talk to you.
Zoe, do you remember me? Zoe, it's Sara.
I-I was at your house.
Do you remember me? Please.
Please, just tell these people to leave me alone.
Zoe, I need you to listen to me.
ZOE: No.
I told you, you don't understand.
No.
I-I do understand.
Zoe I had a brother called Patrick, who killed himself when he was your age.
And my whole life, I've told people that that I felt guilty, as if it was somehow my fault, but you know what I've just realized? It's not, it's not guilt that I feel.
It's anger.
I'm so angry at him.
He abandoned me.
He robbed me of my big brother.
Took memories that we were meant to have together.
Is that what you want to do to your brother? To Tyler? He needs you, he really does.
Look around you, we all do.
Look at all these people on a rooftop in the middle of the night because of you.
You have this huge choice.
Are you going to steal from them? From-from Tyler, from your family? Take away memories that they deserve to have? You hurt, I know.
Worse than anyone can imagine, but this is not the way.
So let us help you.
Yeah, we're just getting to the roof.
She's coming down.
Zoe! - Mom.
- Zoe! No, baby! (CRYING): No, no.
No.
Zoe.
Oh, my baby.
(KAREN CRYING) (EXHALES) (SNIFFLES) Are you okay? Yeah.
(CRYING): She's gonna need so much help.
No.
You're incredible.
(LAUGHS) You know that? I've heard tell, yes.
My mother told me to never take delight in the misfortune of others.
Well, this one time I think she'd allow it.
CAVANAUGH: Yeah.
I'm taking a couple days off.
Going down to L.
A.
, pick up my son for a visit.
Well, I think that's a good idea.
(BOTH MOANING) Have I mentioned how sorry I am? Really? Good.
(GRUNTS) (EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING) You know what, let it go.
No.
Just let it go.
- No, it doesn't matter.
- There is literally no version of what I'm about to do to you that is made better by you being distracted.
They've sourced the sweater.
It's an exclusive European label available only at a single boutique.
TANNER: $550.
- Rich people, am I right? - Yeah.
Under a thousand sweaters manufactured.
- It's a start.
- Yeah.
Post it.
(EVIDENCE ALERT BEEPING)