01x11 - Missing While Interracial

[bunniefuu]

[DARK POP MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[HUMMING]

♪ ♪

♪ What will I do in search of power ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Who will I turn to when it's over ♪

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

Are you ready to tell the truth?

Mm.

Well, I guess that means
you don't want your meals

returned to normal portions.

You don't want your chain
lengthened so you can engage

in your normal exercises?

Because if you do,

you will tell me what
you really did to Annie.

I thought you were above
withholding food, huh?

Isn't that what you said before,

- that you weren't a monster like me?
- You forced my hand.

Don't force mine.

Or what? You have no power here.

So for your sake, tell
me the truth about Annie.

[SCOFFS] I don't know how
many times I must say it.

I did not k*ll Annie.

Okay, tell me what happened again.

And this time, start at
the end and work back.

I trained you well.

Liars are unable to
tell a story backwards.

Liars also stall for time.
I learned that on my own.

Okay, fine.

[TENSE MUSIC]

I bought a red ribbon, like
the one Annie was wearing.

And I showed it to you,
implying that I k*lled her

in order to keep you under control.

And it worked.

Yes, I am a masterful puppeteer,

but I am not a k*ller.

Unless you see the person as a thr*at

to you and me, like Lacey,

like Annie.

Tell me, if you didn't k*ll her,

why didn't she come back for me?

Any decent person would
have called the police.

And that is your mistake...
assuming Annie is decent.

Truth is, she is unwell.

Annie only cares about
Annie... her wants, her desires.

♪ ♪

What you just described is you.

I am going to find the
truth, and when I do,

I will make you pay... for me and Annie.

♪ ♪

[LINE TRILLING]

Trent, hey, I need help.

It's a cold case. Her name
is Stephanie "Annie" Lopez.

♪ Let's be quiet for a moment ♪

♪ Watch the shapes begin to fall ♪

Okay.

♪ Keep your head above the system ♪

♪ Keep your eyes towards the... ♪

Now, remember, no matter what,

do not open your eyes.

♪ ♪

Can I look now?

Open them.

♪ It's the people we don't know ♪

♪ It's the people we don't know ♪

[GASPS]

So what do you think?

You're sure I can
borrow any book I want?

Yeah, it's why we're here, isn't it?

[LAUGHS]

Oh, my God, thank you, Mr. Evans.

- You're welcome.
- Um, by the way, where are we, exactly?

I got a little turned
around during the drive.

It's not easy to find, is it?

Don't you get lonely out here?

- I'd straight go crazy.
- [CHUCKLES]

Oh, remember, you need
to call your father.

I wouldn't want him to worry,
only it would be best if...

Oh, don't worry.

I know we're not
supposed to do field trips

without permission.

I won't get you in trouble.

[LINE TRILLING]

Hey, Dad, it's me.

Can we move dinner by an hour?

I'm at this cool old bookshop.

Just stuff for summer reading.

Okay, cool. [LAUGHS]

- You're the best.
- [CHUCKLES]

- An old bookshop?
- Close enough.

Besides, he knows how much I love books.

Gabrielle, I hope you know
how exceptional you are.

Without a doubt, the brightest
student I've ever had.

Thank you, Mr. Evans.

Recently, though, I've noticed a change.

A change how?

You've been paying less
attention to my teachings

and more to a certain boy,

Justin.

- Justin and I are just friends.
- I'm glad to hear it.

That said, I would be remiss
if I did not share with you

rumors that Justin has taken,
let's call them liberties,

- with some of your classmates.
- Mr. Evans, no offense,

but my friends aren't
really your concern.

Besides, what you're saying
about Justin isn't true.

Remember what I taught you.

You are the hero of your own story.

But still, one wrong step,
one wrong influence...

You know, we should probably get going.

Um...

My dad, he would... he would...

he would freak out if
I'm late for dinner.

I'm... I'm distracting you.

There are... there are
still so many more books

that I know you'll love.

Please.

[SIGHS] We'll leave soon.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[PHONE CHIMES]

I'm so sorry.

I know you prefer it if I
keep this off, but it's work.

No, no, it's okay. The
work you do is important.

Besides, our session is almost ending.

Oh, I... I almost, uh, forgot.

So tomorrow makes it a full week

since I've gotten to the bus station

an hour later than usual.

Congratulations.

That is significant progress, Margaret.

Thank you.

Um, but I feel like
there's a however coming.

I think it's time for the next step...

a whole night away from the bus station.

How? I... I don't think I can do it.

Have you heard of EMDR,

Eye Movement Desensitization
and Reprocessing?

Margaret, the injury that you suffered

when you lost your son is no less severe

than if you had been stabbed.

And for the past 13 years,
you've picked at that wound.

Every night, you go to the bus station.

I think by revisiting that day,

we can remove the guilt
you continue to carry.

Okay, I-I have to get to work,
but, um, I'll consider it.

And I would like to do a
little bit of research, too.

Of course.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

I'm sorry I'm late.

Russell, Savannah, this
is our colleague, Margaret.

She'll be helping us find your son.

Brandon Davis is 25 and has
been missing for two days.

You'd never believe
it by looking at him,

but all through high school,
Brandon was a scrawny little thing,

got bullied every day.

But now he's a nurse and
a reservist in the Navy.

You must be very proud.

Is there anything you can tell us

about his state of mind
the last time you saw him?

I don't know, last month,
he's been different.

[VOICE ECHOING] Different how?

[VOICE ECHOING] I don't know
if any of you are mothers,

but you just know
when something's wrong.

Two and a half days ago,
Brandon stopped answering our calls.

At first, it seemed silly.
I mean, Brandon is 25.

He can take care of himself.

But then I went to visit,
and he wasn't there.

- And his car was missing.
- Friends, coworkers?

We called all the ones we know,

but no one had any
idea where he could be.

So we went to the police.

Let me guess, missing


not exactly a high priority.

Actually, the detective we
spoke with was considerate.

But then it was like
he flipped a switch.

He stopped returning our calls.

That's when I knew
something was wrong...

something the police
didn't want us to know.

Who was the detective
assigned to your son's case?

Mark Trent.

♪ ♪

[VOCALIZING]

Uh, I'll call you back.

Hey, uh, if you're here
about the cold case...

Oh, I'm not here about Annie.

I'm here praying you have
a damn good explanation

for what's going on with
the Brandon Davis case.

[SIGHS] I see you've
met Russell and Savannah.

Okay, Brandon is 25 years old.

- He was reported missing...
- I need facts I don't know.

Well, this was Brandon's laptop.

Now, the hope was we could
use it to track his phone.

Unfortunately, we didn't
have any luck with that.

But there were two things
on here that were...

It's better if I just show you.

I pulled this video off his cloud.

Now, it's sh*t from a
distance and then zooms in...

Like a stalker. Who is she?

Allison Burkhart, 24 years old.

She's a paralegal,
and she's missing, too.

Now, who she is to Brandon,

this is where things get a little fuzzy.

This text was sent from
Allison to Brandon's phone.

"Stay away. I never,
ever want to see you again."

Did Brandon respond, any text history?

No, but he could have used
some other messaging service

that wasn't backed up on the cloud.

Point is, this text
was sent the same day

both Brandon and Allison went missing.

So what?

You just assume Brandon
must have taken her?

No, I'm actually trying to
not make any assumptions.

That's why I'm not talking to
Brandon or Allison's families

until I have more information.

I don't need either
family fanning the flames.

Uh, too late.

- [REMOTE CLICKS]
- Is that...

For two days, I have remained silent...

Veronica Burkhart. Allison's mom.

While the police have done nothing.

Well, I am done waiting.

My daughter, Allison, has
been taken by this man.

His name is Brandon Davis.

And my daughter does not know him.

He has abducted her,

and I am calling on
the public to please...

just help bring my daughter back home.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

I thought we weren't talking.

A young Black man and white
woman have gone missing.

The mother of the woman has gone public,

accusing the man of taking her daughter.

And you represent the young man,

who now has a very large
bull's-eye on his back,

so time is of the essence.

♪ ♪

What are you waiting for?

You, to acknowledge
how much you need me.

See, this is why I
know, without a doubt,

nothing will ever come
between us, not even Annie.

And the fact that you are bartering

with a young man's life to prove a point

is why as soon as I find
out the truth about Annie,

I have no more use for you.

I take it you think the
young man is innocent?

Isn't everyone until proven otherwise?

Oh, I see now why you like him.

He looks familiar.

Who was your first
crush? What was his name?

Justin.

I expect you to have
something when I get back.

And let me ask you,

if this Brandon were white
and this young woman Black...

Wouldn't matter.

You need to put aside
your own personal bias

and assume Brandon is guilty.

I assume nothing.

For all I know, she
could be a danger to him.

Assume the worst. You'll
rarely be disappointed.

Brandon's phone is a dead end.

It's off or disabled.

Car is a '93 Wrangler, no
GPS, no LoJack, nothing.

All right, thanks to Allison's mother,

we're likely no longer the only
ones looking for Brandon now.

We need to move fast
before some wannabe hero

takes justice into their own hands.

We can thank Detective Trent for that.

You think he leaked Brandon's
photo to Allison's mother?

- How else did she get it?
- Trent said he didn't do it,

- and I believe him.
- Margaret, you and Dhan

get over to Brandon's,
see what clues we can find.

Zeke, I need to know everything
about Brandon and Allison's

last 24 hours before they went missing,

what stores each went to, what they ate,

- who they hugged, everything.
- You think Brandon took her?

As far as I'm concerned, we look at

both of them as suspects
and both of them as victims.

What we know is that
both cases are connected.

If we find one, we're
likely to find the other.

Zeke, Trent is gonna give us
access to Brandon's laptop.

Maybe you can find
something the DCPD missed.

I need you to call Paula,

try to get me on the air right now.

The narrative out is that
Brandon is the kidnapper.

- We need to change that now.
- On it.

In the meantime, I need to
talk to Allison's mother.

If we want Brandon home safe,

she needs to put out
the fire she started.

♪ ♪

There's no sign of a struggle.

Empty hangers, missing
shoes, missing toiletries...

Brandon planned to leave,
and judging by what he took,

it's likely he only meant
to be gone for a few days.

You find something?

No, just remembering.

Okay, so he was planning a trip.

Doesn't mean something
didn't happen to him.

I agree. Nothing here
speaks to him being a thr*at.

His minimalist approach does
speak to a rather lonely life, though.

The minute it gets out he had PTSD,

people are gonna think he snapped,

decided to kidnap
himself a pretty woman.

Or they'll think that
his seeking therapy

is a sign of hope.

Is that what you're hoping
Taylor will think about you?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

When you called me,

I believed it was about
an update on my daughter.

I know. Please just hear her out.

I'll be speaking to your superiors

about being removed from Allison's case.

We're trying to help your daughter,

even though you put an innocent
young man's life in danger.

How dare you.

I haven't done anything that any
decent mother wouldn't have done.

And what about Brandon's mother?

Have you considered how she's feeling?

Not only does she believe
in her son's innocence,

she fears he might be
missing or in danger.

I want to help you both.

[SIGHS]

♪ ♪

All I know is that my daughter
texted that man, Brandon,

and told him to leave her alone.
Now, I know my daughter.

She has never once
mentioned this Brandon.

She did not know him.

Except her texting
him suggests otherwise.

Fine, maybe they knew
each other in passing,

but the text clearly shows she
wanted nothing to do with him.

Allison is in a long-term relationship

with a wonderful, wonderful man.

You mean Robert Franklin,
the hedge fund manager?

Let me help you, Veronica.

I can take your daughter on as a client,

work with the DCPD to find her.

Give me access to her apartment,

her laptop, and her
friends, and I promise you,

I will bring her home.

No, Brandon's family came to you first.

You wouldn't prioritize my
daughter, and we both know it.

And I'm not gonna help
you dig up dirt on Allison

to try and exonerate
the man who took her.

Allison's mom won't help
us because and I quote,

"She doesn't want us digging
up dirt on her daughter."

Translation? all:
There's dirt to be found.

Zeke, I want you to dig deep on Allison

and do not stop until you get gold.

Dhan, track down Allison's
boyfriend, Robert Franklin.

Mom used "wonderful" twice unsolicited.

- I don't trust that.
- Exactly.

She's trying too hard. And
considering neither Robert nor Allison

have posted photos of each other
on their socials, something's fishy.

Anything at Brandon's
to give us any clue

as to where he could have gone?

No, just that it seemed planned.

Good news, Paula can get you on the air

to tell Brandon's side of the story.

Bad news is it's in 11 minutes.

That's 10 more than I need.

Paula, let me be clear.

I want Allison Burkhart home and safe.

But I want to also remind America

we have a missing hero out there,

a nurse and a reservist.

Brandon Davis has done nothing
but serve his fellow man,

giving this country his best,

and now we all need to return the favor

and assume the best about him.

We need to help bring him home.

I couldn't agree more.

I... Gabi, hold on.

My producers are telling me we
have an additional guest joining us.

I'm just getting caught up to speed,

but, uh, it's a bit of a surprise.

This isn't good. I can feel it.

Joining us is Harwell Justice,

the host of the popular
and controversial podcast,

"Worldwide Justice."

Harwell, welcome to the show.

Paula, thank you for having me.

Now, as much as I enjoy
listening to Ms. Mosely,

it is important to remember
that her background is in PR.

So what you just heard
is well-crafted spin.

The truth is that a
beautiful young woman

has been taken by a perhaps once heroic,

now dangerous young man.

Dangerous? Brandon Davis is a nurse.

He saves lives. He doesn't take them.

Sure about that, Ms. Mosely?

Thanks to a loyal listener,
I have an exclusive

that we've just confirmed.

On the day in question, Brandon Davis

made a purchase at a m*llitary
supply store in Bethesda.

Do you want to know what he bought?

A rope and a Kn*fe.

We're supposed to take your word for it?

We have video proof.

So what do you have to
say to that, Ms. Mosely?

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

What the hell just happened?

How is Harwell Justice, a two-bit
provocateur, one step ahead of us?

Earlier this week,
Brandon took out $300 cash.

That's what he used to
pay for the supplies.

Look, I am good, but
no one can track cash,

at least not from behind a computer.

So it's true. He bought
a rope and a Kn*fe.

I spoke with the store's owner.

Brandon purchased rope and a Kn*fe

just two hours before
Allison went missing.

Look, I know this looks
bad, but is it possible

- that it's merely a coincidence?
- It doesn't matter.

The court of social media
public opinion has spoken.

Gabi, Harwell's fear
mongering has gone mainstream.

People are calling for
Brandon to be sh*t on sight.

And some vigilante is
going to do just that.

We have to find him first.

There must be something we
can do to shut Harwell up.

Yeah, by finding the truth.

Zeke, Lacey, keep digging
into Allison's past.

If she as much as got
a school detention,

I want to know about it.

I want to talk to Brandon's
mother again, alone this time.

I feel like she was holding out.

Dhan, where are we with the boyfriend?

I finally got a lock on him.

Great, text me the address.
I'll meet you there.

Appreciate you, dude. Thank you.

Weird, I wouldn't have taken
you for the food-truck type.

Gabi Mosely.

- And you are?
- Her associate.

You don't seem surprised
to see us, Robert.

Well, Allison's mother
called and warned me

that you guys would show up eventually.

You know, I don't share her reticence.

The more eyes looking
for Allison, the better.

- How can I help?
- For a man whose girlfriend is missing,

you seem remarkably calm.

You should have seen me this morning.

But tearing my place
apart and frantically

calling all of our friends
wasn't helping, either.

Had any of the friends
seen or heard from her?

- Nothing, not a word.
- How did you and Allison meet?

Well, Veronica introduced
us a couple of years ago,

a friend of the family.

When'd you break up?

Allison stopped posting
pictures of you a month ago.

Oh.

Well, I hate to poke holes
in your investigative skills,

but Allison and I
have never been better.

And what about Brandon?

You ever meet him
before, seen him around?

Nope.

If I had, don't you think
I would have mentioned it?

I guess so. Thank you for your time.

Thank you, guys.

Thank you for coming back in.

Anything to find my son.

[SIGHS]

Savannah, earlier when you said

that Brandon was acting differently,

your body tensed up.

You got shifty and anxious.

There's something that you're
not telling us, isn't there?

And please don't lie, because I'll know.

And every second that
we're wasting in here,

I'm not out there looking for your son.

The difference was...

he was happy.

- I think he was in love.
- Okay.

I mean, well then... then
why didn't you tell us...

oh, it's Allison, isn't it?

Brandon never told me who she was,

but he was constantly
asking me things like

if I thought opposites attract

or how I'd feel if he brought
home someone who wasn't Black.

And you feel guilty
about how you responded?

I told him I'd be lying if I said

I wasn't hoping he'd
bring home a Black wife.

You have to understand.

Our men get so much thrown
at them just for being.

And as a mother, all I
want is for my son to have

the best love and support.

And for me,

that's a woman who
inherently understands why

Brandon has to brace himself

before he walks into certain situations.

It's a woman who already knows to say,

"I got you, you're a king,"

before he enters those spaces,

a woman who immediately understands

when the world has
made her Black man wary

without him having to explain why.

So you felt like you couldn't tell us

when you suspected that he and Allison

were in a relationship?

I had no proof, and I
knew this would happen.

I knew that the minute
the world found out

about the both of them
that everyone would assume

that my beautiful boy had done something

to this white woman, and...

and not just see them both as victims.

Oh.

Have you seen the news? [SCOFFS]

Nobody cares about Brandon anymore.

The only victim in America's
eyes right now is Allison.

The hedge fund boyfriend is a lying ass.

Allison's a high school deviant.

Brandon and Allison are a couple.

Okay. Zeke and Lacey, first, go.

It turns out your hunch
about Allison was spot-on.

Her parents paid off the right people,

but the unofficial word is

she got expelled in the 11th grade.

- Expelled for what?
- Bringing a loaded g*n

to school and threatening
three witnesses.

- Why'd she do it?
- Does it matter?

If the situation were
reversed and Harwell Justice

found out Brandon brought a
loaded g*n to school, then...

We are not Harwell. We deal
with facts. Why the g*n?

According to sealed transcripts,

Allison claims she was being bullied.

Now, Brandon was also bullied in school.

That's something they have in common.

A lack of corroborations
is also apparently

something they have in common.

Nobody can corroborate
their relationship.

All we have to go on is
a mom's strong intuition.

Margaret's right. I've talked to
at least 20 of Allison's friends.

They're all sipping
the Robert Kool-Aid,

saying how lucky Allison was

and how she would never leave him.

Well, I put a tracker in Robert's car.

So whatever he's up to,

we'll find out sooner rather than later.

The sooner, the better.
Online chatter is getting worse.

Brandon's in real danger.

Zeke, cross-reference Allison's friends

- on her social with Robert.
- What are we looking for?

I got it. Almost all of
them, 91% mutual friends.

No wonder everyone's a
part of the Robert fan club.

Lacey, start calling all of the
friends exclusive to Allison,

- find one who will talk.
- Hold on.

That "leave me alone" text
from Allison to Brandon

the day they went missing,
when was that sent?



This is Allison's last
post from that same day.

Look at the time on
the clock behind her.



"Just drying off from
my three-mile swim."

How can she swim and
text at the same time?

She can't, which means
someone else sent it.

Three guesses who'd be
motivated to get Brandon

- to leave Allison alone.
- Bring him in.

I want another cr*ck at that bastard.

- Got it.
- I got this one.

Pretending to be someone else
in an electronic transmission,

that's identity theft.

Then there's the actual crime of

accessing the phone without permission.

That carries up to a one-year
sentence, unless, of course,

- it's determined to be part of a hate crime.
- Whoa, hate crime?

It was just one damn text.

I didn't even know Brandon
was Black until later.

Oh, so you did send that text?

Look, it was stupid, okay?

- Hmm.
- I was jealous.

We had been good for two
years, and then all of a sudden,

she ups and asks for a break.

She said that she met somebody else.

- And that was Brandon? Hm?
- Yeah.

They met in some rock climbing class.

- She said it was love at first sight.
- So you hacked her phone?

I went down to the rec center
to talk to her that evening,

but she didn't even want to do that.

So yeah, while she was swimming,

I tried to make Brandon go away.

But it was just a text.

Where are Brandon and Allison now?

I don't know. I swear.

Look, what I did was for her own good.

She was throwing her
life away over some guy.

I had to save her.

Mr. Evans, please. I'd
really like to go home now.

Okay, remember all the
conversations we've had

this past year, all that we shared,

our love for literature,

my lonely childhood, not
too dissimilar to yours.

I was there for you, remember?

- Even as your father abandoned you...
- What are you talking about?

I want to go home.

Our bond is real.

I do not understand why you
continue to stand here and deny it.

Take out your notebook.

Take it out now.

[TENSE MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Yes, see?

I saw it when you were
in class. H.E. Hugh Evans.

H.E. is not you.

That's... that's my
best friend, Hilary...

Hilary Edwards. She sits
next to me in chemistry.

No, no, we're...

we're connected, we're family.

Mr. Evans, please.

You're a wonderful teacher.
You've broadened my mind so much, but...

we are not family.

Now, please. I want to go home.

Gabrielle, remember the quote
that I taught you from Sartre?

It essentially sums up
to, "We are our choices."

I cannot allow you to
make the wrong choice.

This is... this is for your own good.

No, no.

- Hey, no, no.
- [SCREAMS]

[SCREAMING]

No plane tickets in
either of their names,

same for train tickets and bus tickets.

Okay, it's been over three
days for Brandon and Allison.

We... Margaret, you're still here?
You need a ride to the bus station?

I already asked, repeatedly.

No, no, I want to stay. I can stay.

I found Allison's friend, the
one she shared the truth with.

I'm so sorry.

I just got back from my
brother's wedding in Mexico,

and I saw everything on
the news about Allison.

- And then Ms. Quinn called and...
- It's okay.

You are here now.

What can you tell us
about Brandon and Allison?

I mean, they've just
been dating two months,

but Allison said she felt like

- she knew Brandon her whole life.
- Then why the secrecy?

Things with Robert were so messy.

He's a freaking narcissist,

so Allison just wanted
to keep this private.

Becky, can you think where
Brandon and Allison could be?

Allison said something about

a romantic camping getaway,
two nights just them,

but she didn't say exactly when.

Camping would explain
the rope and the Kn*fe.

Except it's been three nights now,

- almost four, which means...
- Something went wrong.

Becky, do you know where
they were planning to camp?

I'm sorry, no.

I... I just know that it was
someplace special to Allison.

It sounded like she
had been there before.

Lacey, Dhan, I need
both parents here now.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

Thank you for coming so quickly.

♪ ♪

Margaret, you have two options:

A ride to the hospital or
a ride to the bus station.

You have to make me stay.
Please, please, just make me stay.

You are minutes away from collapsing.

You tried. There's pride in that.

Trust you'll know when to try again.

[SHAKY BREATHING] Okay.

Okay. Okay.

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

- Don't be, go.
- Okay.

Okay, okay.

I don't think I can do this.

On that, we can agree.

You can and you will,
for Brandon and Allison.

Sit down.

I'm not here to shame you or cast blame.

I'm here to bring home your children.

Allison texted this photo

to a friend the day she met Brandon.

The simple caption, "I found my person."

They kept their relationship
hidden from you out of fear.

And because of that, it costs us

precious time in finding
them, so we need your help.

We know Brandon and Allison
were headed on a two-day

romantic camping trip, but
we're almost at four days

with no contact from them, so...

So that means something is wrong.

Can any of you think of anywhere

of special significance that
your children could have gone?

It's Vista Array.

It has to be.

It's the vista where Allison's
father proposed to me.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Okay, remember what we're looking for.

Normally, Brandon would
try to signal with a fire.

This week's rain has made
that next to impossible,

so look out for other markers...

rocks piled together,
clothing tied to trees.

Yeah?

- Allison!
- Allison!

Brandon?

- Brandon?
- Brandon!

- Allison?
- Allison!

Brandon?

- Brandon?
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

I found something.

♪ ♪

Hey, come on, this way.

- Brandon!
- Allison!

- Brandon!
- Allison!

- Allison!
- Brandon!

- Brandon!
- Hold on!

Listen.

[FAINT WHISTLING]

This way.

This way, this way.

Brandon?

- [WHISTLING]
- Allison?

There they are.

Brandon?

Brandon, can you hear me?

- Oh, God.
- Can you hear me?

Hey, we need a chopper, immediate evac.

Brandon, talk to me. What happened?

She fell.

She landed on a branch that
punched her abdominal wall.

Okay, we're gonna need to move her.

- Are you ready?
- No, no, no, no, you can't.

You can't.

What is that?

An improvised IV, a walking blood bank.

Brandon's blood is what's
keeping Allison alive.

Brandon?

- Brandon?
- Brandon?

- We need the helicopter now.
- Look at me. Look at me.

[SOFT MUSIC]

Dr. Aston, extension 5722. Dr. Aston.

Allison's surgeon says she's awake,

but only because Brandon gave her nearly



Wait, he's gonna be
okay, too, though, right?

The odds aren't great.

♪ ♪

Mr. And Mrs. Davis?

Your son was a very brave man.

He's in recovery.

There's no organ failure.
Brandon's gonna be okay.

Thank you, God.

Thank you.

♪ ♪

Baby.

Sugar!

♪ ♪

You could have told me.

You could have told me.

May I just...

Of course.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for
saving my daughter.

♪ ♪

ALL: Welcome home.

Whew.

[MONDO COZMO'S "FEEL GOOD" PLAYS]

♪ Don't it make ya feel good ♪

♪ ♪

♪ Don't it make ya feel good ♪

♪ ♪

♪ I ain't gonna tell ya ♪

♪ I'm the one you need ♪

♪ I'm the bank teller ♪

♪ I'm the Visine ♪

[ALL CHUCKLE]

I'm sorry to interrupt. I just stopped

by to let you know we did track down

the officer who gave Veronica
Brandon's photo and name.

He didn't mean any harm.
He's just young and trying to help.

He's making a public
statement of apology to Brandon

and his family as we speak.

Hey, Trent, why don't
you grab yourself a glass?

Pour a sh*t.

Thanks, but, uh,

I'm on the job.

Uh, Gabi, you got a sec?

♪ ♪

So I found what you were
looking for on the cold case.

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Do you have time now?

Can I call you later? I
need to help out a friend.

Okay, so I'm going to ask
you to follow my fingers.

By offering bilateral stimulation,

it will allow the brain to
focus solely on the memories

and not the associated trauma.

Okay, are you ready?

Yes.

Let's begin.

We are going to the bus station,

to the day Jamie went missing.

What feeling does this memory give you?

Shame.

And what instead do you prefer to feel?

Like a good mother.

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

We were on our way

to the Baltimore Automotive Museum.

Jamie loved innovation.

He begged me to take the bus.

He thought riding buses was
magical, like riding a dinosaur.

I only looked away
for, like, 10 seconds,

just enough time to answer
a question in the crossword.

[STAMMERS]

- It's okay, keep going.
- [SHAKY BREATHING]

Oh, my God, I... mm.

[STAMMERING] I deserve this.

I'm a horrible mother. I deserve this.

No. You are human.

Guilt and pain will
not bring back your son.

It's okay.

I need you to stand up
and leave the bus station.

I need you to leave
all your guilt behind.

I'm sorry, I can't leave.

I can't. I have to keep looking.

I have to keep looking.

I can't leave.

[GASPS] Oh, hi.

- Hi, Mommy.
- Hi.

- Are you leaving?
- No. No, no.

I will never, ever leave you.

But you know what?

I have to forgive myself
because I looked away.

I shouldn't have.

But I did.

So can you... can you forgive me?

I love you, Mommy.

I love you.

No, don't go. No, don't go.

I need a little bit more time.
Please don't go, don't go.

Are you okay?

Honestly, no.

I mean, I know it's not the
end of the bus station for me,

- but still...
- You took a step forward.

[SIGHS]

Thank you for being here for me.

You're welcome.

- Now, come on.
- You know, I was thinking

about getting a rideshare
and... and going to see Taylor.

I'm proud of you. I'll see you tomorrow.

Gabi, you're always the one, you know,

the one that shows up for everyone.

And I just want you to know that if...

if and when you need someone

that we'll be there for you.

[SOFT MUSIC]

♪ And I know I can't change ♪

♪ The world outside ♪

♪ It feels easy to blame myself ♪

♪ When I'm alone ♪

♪ Buried under a blanket ♪

♪ Just trying to forget
that I'm all on my own ♪

[PHONE RINGING]

- Hey.
- Hey.

You said you had something on Annie?

Yeah. Um, is Margaret okay?

She will be.

Good.

'Cause the news I've got isn't so good.

I'm sorry, Gabi.

Annie Lopez is dead.

Let me guess.


the time I was taken?

No. Um, two years ago, March 23.

No, you're mistaken.

Gabi, I double checked.

Annie d*ed in a car accident.

She was k*lled by a drunk
driver who d*ed on the scene.

Also, there is no record
of her ever being kidnapped

or reported missing as a child.

The only other thing on her record

is that she spent some time
in a mental health facility

in late 2001, early 2002.

So you're saying Sir
is telling me the truth?

[TENSE MUSIC]

Gabi, what did you just say?

Sir istelling the truth?

Have you been in contact with Sir?

O-of course not. Um,

something he told me
when... when he took me.

- Look, I got to go.
- [DIAL TONE]

♪ Maybe I'm a monster ♪

[DARK POP MUSIC]

♪ Maybe all the things
they said were right ♪

Please! Mr. Evans, don't do this!

Please let me go home!

You are home.

This is where we will
complete your education.

Gabrielle, listen to me.
You must trust me. You're confused.

You and I, we want the
same thing, to be a family.

Until then, I am your teacher.

You are the student.

Ah! Help!

Help me!

Somebody, please! God, help me!

I'll finish with the locks,
and then we'll have dinner.

Please. Mr. Evans!

Please!

And from now on, call me Sir.

♪ ♪

It's been two days.

You cannot just leave me without food.

[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[SCOFFS] I see.

You found out the truth about Annie.

I told you.

Her parents had her committed.

That's why she didn't show up
at my window until that day.

After you let her go, somehow,

you convinced them that she
was crazy and making things up.

The place they sent her was
better than she deserved.

You destroyed her life.

That day she returned,

I told her that if she ever came back,

I would ensure that her parents

locked her away for good this time.

Needless to say, the thr*at
worked. She stayed away.

Annie chose to protect herself over you.

You made her crazy, just like
you made me into a kidnapper.

That is what you do.

You turn people into you.

- Gabrielle.
- No, I am done with your lies.

I am done with your manipulations.

You have cost me everything.

While everyone around
me has been healing,

I let you drag me into hell.

All I was holding on to was
a chance to avenge Annie,

and now there is nothing to avenge.

I should have buried
you the day I found you.

Gabrielle. Gab...

- [LINE RINGING]
- What are you doing?

- What are you doing?
- It's me.

I need you to come over.

It's about Sir.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

Greg, move your head.