03x14 - Lady Ambrosia

[bunniefuu]

[ "Had You So Long" by Rick Coyne plays ]

♪ I know you too damn well ♪
♪ to let it go ♪

[ Woman gasps ]

You-- you all right, son?

Are you hurt?

Son, do you need help?

♪ don't tell me that you're still in... ♪

Hey.

Hey.

What's this?

A trust account for your child.

I-I can't take this.

I'm sorry.

When I was young, I loved fairy tales.

I was always partial to shapeshifters, who seemed good and sweet, but they were full of unimaginable darkness.

Once upon a time, there lived a woman in the woods.

She was neither purely evil, nor purely good.

She gathered unwanted children and gave them a home in which to stay.

She promised them they'd live forever and a day.

She changed them into colors, so beautiful, so bold.

She cared for them so sweetly, they never grew old.

[ Laughs ]

You know it.

Lady Ambrosia.

Ugh. Always creeped me out.

I'm more of a Wizard of Oz fan.

You just can't b*at a farm girl in great shoes.

[ Laughs ]

Every culture has their version of a mythic creature who takes children.

The Germans have Der Grossmann, the Mexicans-- La Llorona.

But there are whispers that Lady Ambrosia is not a myth, that there's a real woman out there-- takes unwanted children and raises them with the promise of eternal youth.

[ Paper rustling ]

This little boy turned up out of nowhere yesterday, and I wonder if Lady Ambrosia played any part in his disappearance.

Missing children turn up.

He wasn't missing.

He d*ed four years ago.

And he's not the first.

I love Annapolis.

I had a friend who went to the naval academy, and we used to go to this little Italian restaurant, Marias, on the water.

Is it even still open?

I don't think we know it.

Beside the point.

Anyway, um, it seems like a lovely place to raise a child.

It really is. Um...

We've got great schools, a lot of outdoor activities.

Oh, there's this-- this tall ship in-- it looks like a pirate ship.

It's in the harbor. Uh, we take my niece.

She is obsessed with it. [ Chuckles ]

Can I be honest?

I like you guys a lot, and you're probably too polite to ask about it, but you do know about my past?

Yeah. We do.

All we want is a healthy baby.

And we know that, with this process, there are compromises.

I'm sure if we work together, we can come up with a plan.

But I have gotten my hopes up before, so I just want to make sure you're completely comfortable with me being a part of my child-- our child's life.

Three children, all missing and presumed dead.

Mary Jones d*ed on a family camping trip in 2003.

Jeffrey Childs disappeared from his backyard two years later.

In 2012, Ethan Linley drowned on the Ohio River.

All three were later found alive.

All three had traces of these ritualistic patterns painted on their bodies.

Were they able to explain what had happened?

Identify their captors?

No. Jones was also autistic, and Childs was blind.

Can you zoom in any closer on the pattern on Ethan's body?

Aram: Hang on.

Okay.

They don't look like strokes from a paintbrush.

It looks like finger painting.

Cooper: Check with his doctor.

If Navabi's right, lift the prints from the finger paint in the photos and run them.

Ressler, take Keen to that hospital.

I want a psych eval on the kid.

Agent Ressler?

Hi.

Judy Sickler, Child Services.

This is Elizabeth Keen.

She's a clinical psychologist.

She'll be assessing the child.

Well, that might be tricky.

He's a sweet boy, but nonverbal.

Liz: I understand he's autistic.

Is there any sign of abuse?

Aside from a few bumps and bruises, being a little dehydrated, he got a perfect bill of health.

Hi, Ethan. I'm Liz.

I'm here to help.

Okay, how are you feeling?

How do you feel?

Don't think you're gonna get that back.

First thing he's been excited about all day.

[ Footsteps approaching ]

Oh! [ Gasps ]

I can't believe that he's here.

[ Pen clicking ]

Ethan.

Hey.

It's me.

It's dad.

I just-- I-- I-I-I don't understand.

Where did you find him?

The cops won't tell us anything.

They're still investigating, but, uh, we'll give you two a moment.

[ Clicking continues ]

[ Sighs ]

I can't imagine what it must have been like for them all these years, thinking their child was dead.

[ Cellphone rings ]

What is it? What's wrong?

It's Aram.

Apparently, two weeks before Ethan disappeared, the Linleys tried to give him up for adoption.

All right, children, who else is excited to celebrate Matthew today?

Everybody?

Yay!

Child: Yay!

All right, children, let's stop here.

My little angels, this is where it begins.

We're going to celebrate who?

Children: Matthew!

♪ 'cause don't you know it's Matthew's day? ♪
♪ he'll be safe and always play ♪
♪ today's the day he learns to... ♪

.. fly!

♪ he'll be so happy in the... ♪

.. sky!

And then what's he going to be in the sky?

A butterfly!

A beautiful butterfly.

Whoo, Matthew!

Yay!

[ Body thuds ]

Oh!

Matthew!

Bye-bye!

How beautiful! How many butterflies?

How many? Can you count them?

[ All counting ]

So beautiful!

There he goes!

There he goes!

[ Children cheering ]

I know what you've done, Theodore.

I know what you've done.

Ethan Linley disappeared on May 20, 2012.

In the six months before he "passed away," his parents met with four different adoption agencies.

Ethan apparently requires around-the-clock care-- medical therapy, speech and language therapy.

In fact, Jeanne quit her job to be Ethan's full-time caregiver.

My cousin has special needs.

The burden it places on his parents-- the way they deal with it is incredible.

I'm not saying it's easy, but I'd never give up my kid for adoption.

People give their kids up for all kinds of reasons.

Cooper: Investigators may have talked to the Linleys about adopting out Ethan, but I doubt they spoke with adoption agencies.

Question them. See what they know.

Get warrants.

There's something these parents aren't telling us.

[ Muzak plays ]

[ Telephones ringing ]

Woman: Number 48.

Hey. How you doing?

I've seen you before.

I doubt it.

Yes, it's you.

I know I know you-- from my spin class, right?

Hot stuff.

I think you have me mistaken for somebody else.

No, no. You are one kooky little white man.

[ Chuckles ]

I'm telling you, when Calvin plays Donna Summer-- mnh-mnh-mnh-mnh-mnh-- you just go.

I'll tell you.

Now, you know all the girls in class got a crush on you, right?

Especially me-- I think you're really sexy.

Thank you.

So, you want to get some food after this, hot stuff?

Like I said, I think you have me mistaken for somebody else.

♪ lookin' for some hot stuff, baby, this evening ♪

Come on. [ Chuckles ]

♪ I need some hot stuff, baby, tonight ♪

Come on. We could have some fun.

[ Laughing ] I bet we could.

♪ I need some hot stuff, baby, this evenin' ♪

Come on.

45 minutes, Glen?

45 minutes.

Make it quick.

I'm meeting Trudy for a nooner at the Old Colony Inn.

Vasilia Patinka, former KGB-- I need you to find her.

[ Sighs ]

It'll take time.

I'm stacked up.

Stacked up?

Employee training is always 1st of the month.

We're getting the parking lot re-striped.

I got to get the cones.

I got to book the deejay for the New Year's party.

It's February.

Always thinking ahead, hot stuff.

I do not wait for 45 minutes in that petri dish of humanity unless I absolutely have to.

This is a matter of life and death, Glen.

So's my nooner with Trudy.

As the French say, la petite mort.

If you find this woman, if you get it done fast, your tawdry liaisons at the no-tell motel will be a thing of the past, as I will personally introduce you to two young ladies you will never forget-- soft, warm, blond, and willing.

Willing?

Tell Trudy you have to cancel.

[ Dialing ]

[ Ringing ]

Noah.

It's Jeanne Linley.

Have you heard about Ethan?

He's back.

You told me that he would never be found, and now he just... shows up?

Calm down. It-it's gonna be fine.

Calm down?

Gretchen: I didn't work directly with the Linleys--

Noah Shuster did.

Ressler: Could we speak with him?

I have to go.

We need to talk.

You know where to meet me. One hour.

We'll figure this all out.

[ Beeps ]

Noah finds homes for children who are difficult to place-- kids with emotional disturbances, special needs, health issues.

That's strange. He was just here.

Do you have a home address, contact information?

Yes, of course.

Client information is privileged.

Not anymore.

They said yes?

Open adoption-- you can have qualified contact-- everything we wanted.

It's great, and I can't thank you enough.

Wow.

This is really gonna happen.

[ Cellphone beeps ]

Um, I'm-- I'm sorry.

Um, hang on just a sec.

[ All cheering ]

Liz! Liz, it's me!

Tom, where are you?

Listen, it's all good!

I figured out another way to make some cash.

[ Laughter, cheering ]

Boys, we're here.

You can celebrate later. We have work to do.

Tell the ball and chain you'll call her back.

What's going on?

No, all you need to know right now is that everything is gonna be fine, all right?

We are free.

From what?

Reddington-- all of it.

And, look, don't make any moves on the adoption.

Tom, what have you done?

I'll meet you at your place tomorrow night.

I'll bring Wing Yee's, and I'll explain everything, all right?

[ Engine starts ]

I got a good feeling.

I got to go.

I know you like to watch.

[ Beeping ]

You could have called anybody to do the job with, but you called me.

You need me.

We need each other.

Come with me to Zurich, right now.

Gina...

I can't.

[ Fire crackling ]

Freezing out there. Hop in.

♪ I still remember ♪

I'm so sorry about all of this.

I don't need an apology, Noah.

I want to know how this happened.

That does nothing to solve the issue at hand.

What's important is that we come up with a solution.

Now--

Now wha--

[ Gasping ]

♪ a few simple changes ♪
♪ and I needed no one but you ♪

Make her go to sleep.

[ Groaning ]

♪ what can I do? ♪
♪ turned around, I'm alone ♪
♪ now the sun don't shine ♪
♪ life's a waste of time since you turned me away ♪
♪ oh, how I tried ♪
♪ to hold on to you ♪

I think Mother hurts the children.

I don't think she turns them into butterflies.

Come up here.

[ Pats seat ]

♪ it's all I can do ♪
♪ life is no good without you ♪

You need to stop questioning your mother.

You let Ethan get away.

Now you need to help us clean this mess up.

Do you understand?

Sorry, Dad.

It's me, again.

Where are you?

Please call me when you get this.

Mr. Linley.

This is Agent Navabi.

You need to come with us.

Why? Is something wrong?

Noah Shuster.

I don't know who that is. What's going on?

He was the adoption agent that you and your wife met about Ethan.

The day after he disappeared, $25,000 from one of your accounts was transferred to his.

That's ridiculous. I never--

Sir, you're gonna have to come with us.

I-I can't. My wife is not here, all right?

She said she was going out for coffee.

She hasn't come back.

I don't know what's happened to her.

Now you want me to leave Ethan alone?

He'll be taken care of.

By who?

Come on.

[ Sighs ]

You hungry?

How do you feel about waffles?

Uh...

Ugh. No toaster.

No microwave. No problem. No problem.

I know, the whole idea that Mozart will improve cognitive skills is a myth, but they say babies start learning in the womb, so, on the off chance it'll get him into Harvard...

[ Classical music plays ]

Oh!

[ Water running ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Fire alarm beeping ]

It's okay, Ethan! It's okay!

It's just a smoke alarm. It's fine.

[ Grunts ]

Ethan?

What happened? Is everything all right?

What are you doing?! Put that away!

What are you doing?! Get out! Get out!

[ Music continues ]

[ Exhales sharply ]

[ Brakes squeal ]

[ Engine shuts off ]

One last chance-- Zurich.

You know I can't.

[ Van door closes ]

Thanks, boys.

Torch it. Call me when it's done.

[ Engine starts ]

[ g*nshots ]

[ Grunts ]

I want him gone.

He's here for your protection.

I don't want his protection any more than I want your money.

The money isn't for you.

It's very generous.

I can appreciate that it comes from a place of concern, but it's dirty money, and I just don't want it.

I don't need it.

No, but your child does.

I'm giving my child up for adoption.

Why would you do that?

How can you, of all people, ask me that question?

The life I have because of you is no place for a child.

I can't even make a waffle without one of your people bursting into my home with a g*n.

You think your life is too dangerous for a child.

But what is your life without one?

I can tell you from personal experience-- not much.

What?

You and Tom agree on something.

He wants you to keep the baby?

[ Sighing ] Oh, yeah.

Oh, my God. That's it.

The key to these abductions is parental consent.

No child can be adopted out without both parents agreeing.

So I had Aram look over Noah Shuster's case files.

There were 93 cases, including Ethan's, where parents considered adoption, then backed out.

Of those, 16 kids d*ed or went missing within a year of the visit--

16 kids with cognitive, physical, or psychological issues.

According to Ethan's father, adoption was his mother's idea.

He was working extra shifts to pay for Ethan's private school and therapies, leaving her alone with him.

He was trying to appease his wife by meeting with Shuster, but he maintains that he never wanted to go through with it.

Well, conveniently for him, she's not around to challenge his side of things.

No, but she had access to a personal trust account from which she transferred money to Shuster.

She could have paid him off, and he could have taken her to cover it up.

I think this Lady Ambrosia is using Shuster to identify mothers and fathers who want to get rid of their kids but can't because their spouses won't consent.

I searched the National Child Identification Program, and of the prints we lifted from the finger paint on Ethan's body, seven of them belong to that group of missing children.

We need to find this Noah Shuster and figure out where this city of lost kids is.

You lied to me!

We had a deal.

Two ladies for you, one address for me.

Ladies, the kind that walk on two legs, preferably hairless.

I want the address.

You think it's funny? Little dogs?

I thought they'd be a nice gesture.

I thought you'd like them.

I don't like them.

Or maybe you're afraid they won't like you.

Dogs are very intuitive.

They'll know if you're hiding something.

I am hiding something-- I hate dogs.

They're homeless.

[ Sighs ]

I'll call you when I decide to race the Iditarod.

Ah, you know what? Forget it.

Just forget it. I'll take them back.

Your friend Vasilia Patinka-- she's living under an alias in Gaithersburg, 1632 South Perry Drive.

What about the dogs?

I love 'em.

Taking an early lunch so we can hit the dog park.

These little marshmallows are gonna get my wienie roasted.

♪♪

Well, you are beautiful, Anya.

[ Chuckles ]

It's magical work-- magical!

Isn't Anya going to make the most gorgeous butterfly?

Oh, well, it looks like someone's coming through our door.

We need to talk.

The grown-ups will be right back.

Help your friends.

It's gone too far.

The FBI came to the office.

If they have Ethan, if he leads them here...

Well, you can't let that happen.

You know, what we do matters.

Unwanted children feel loved here.

We keep them safe until... we have to let them go.

Now, you took care of Ethan's mother.

You take care of him.

Theo says you hurt them.

He knows.

He doesn't know. I can handle him.

Can you handle Ethan?

[ Telephone ringing ]

Oh, no.

Agent Ressler.

20 minutes ago, Noah Shuster logged into the DCFS website.

Why wasn't his access denied?

He searched for Ethan, and in his file, his temporary emergency guardian is listed as--

Jesus. Call Keen. Get units there now.

[ Ringing ]

[ Cellphone vibrating ]

Hello?

Aram: Noah Shuster looked up Ethan in the foster system and found your address.

We think he's coming for the boy.

Agent Ressler's on his way.

[ Beeps ]

Ethan, I just realized I don't have an extra toothbrush.

We're gonna have to go back to the store, okay?

Let's go.

Drop it.

Okay.

We're taking the boy.

Ethan, run!

Go now!

[ Grunting ]

[ Groaning ]

Ethan?

Ethan?

[ Breathing heavily ]

[ Pen clicking ]

Oh, thank God.

Ethan, you can come out now. Everything's okay.

You're safe now.

You're safe.

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important.

[ Door closes ]

How did you find me?

What you endured, most people never recover from.

I doubt I would have.

But I've turned it into a calling.

Nikolai would be proud.

I never blamed him for what happened.

He blamed himself.

The Glasnost files-- there's something in them I need to see.

That was another life.

One of the bravest men I ever knew was deaf--

Zeeb Pasha, a Communist I shared a cell with in a m*llitary prison outside Ankara.

Zeeb and I were interrogated by the K Section-- foot whipping, hung by our wrists, electric shock.

[ Chuckles ]

I was nothing more than a groaning heap in the corner.

Every time our guard passed the cell, Zeeb would start signing.

His fingers were a blur-- pointing and tapping, twisting and swirling-- the same thing over and over again and again.

Lo and behold, one night, our cell was left unlocked.

Turns out the guard's daughter was deaf.

And old Zeeb had been signing, "my wife, my daughter, my life."

Six words, unspoken, convinced that guard to let us go.

[ Sighs ]

Such a beautiful language.

Like that girl just then-- what did she say to you on her way out?

"I'm grateful for you."

The Glasnost files.

I said no.

What if I could give you answers about your daughter?

Would that change your mind?

The only thing that could change my mind is you bringing her back.

But since that's not possible, the answer is no.

Judy: I don't care who you have approval from, I am not leaving Ethan in your care.

I feel like I've made a connection with him on some level and that he might tell me where he was being kept, where the other children are being held.

You need to say goodbye.

[ Pen clicking ]

[ Sighs ]

Hey, Ethan.

You're gonna go with Miss Sickler now, and she's gonna take you to a place that is so safe.

And you're gonna be surrounded by people who care about you.

And no one is ever gonna hurt you again.

Okay?

[ Clicking continues ]

You took Noah Shuster?

Baz did, after he saved you.

What is your interest in this case?

Same as yours-- missing children.

Brimley is in there, speaking to the only man who can tell us where to find Lady Ambrosia.

I need to take Butterscotch for a walk.

When I get back, I'm gonna need some ground mineral salt and a corded dremel drill.

Come on, Poopsie. Let's go. That's it. Very good.

When I said that Baz saved you, I wasn't looking for a "Thank you".

I'm just relieved.

I found a couple... to take the baby.

Thinking about it is one thing, but actually doing it...

How did she do it-- my mother?

Your parents loved each other very much.

The Cold w*r was hard-- too hard for your father.

When the Soviet Union was collapsing, he took you from her.

She gave up everything to follow him, to follow you.

The night of the fire-- that's what they were arguing about?

Your mother, despite what he'd done, she wanted him back.

She wanted them to be a family.

As much as it pains me to say it, he was probably... the only man she ever really loved.

And I sh*t him.

It was an accident.

Tell me. I need to know.

Your mother was never the same after that.

The man she loved k*lled by the child she adored-- it was... just too much.

Two months later, she went to Cape May and left her clothes on the beach, walked into the ocean, and was never seen again.

So, that night, I k*lled both my parents.

You were a child.

There should never have been a g*n for you to grab.

[ Sniffles ]

Looking back, I'm not sure I shouldn't have raised you myself.

I don't want you looking back with that kind of regret.

Where are they?

They're ugly, then they're beautiful.

Answer me. Where-- your father--

I'm ugly.

Where is he?

He took him-- the man with the g*n.

A policeman?

Oh, my God! Why don't you have answers for me?

I thought that you made them beautiful to keep them from being like me.

Look, we have to talk about this later.

Your job is to prepare Anya.

♪♪

[ Sighs ]

He refuses to leave.

I didn't want to force him and make things worse.

I think he wants to speak with you.

Liz: Hey, Ethan.

Can I come in?

So you decided to stick around, huh?

Ethan, what is this?

Cooper: Ethan drew this?

Liz: Isn't it amazing?

Look at the patterns on the wings.

They remind me of...

The finger painting.

Ressler: That's the same pattern that was painted on Ethan and the other two kids who escaped.

Same dark edges, same spotting.

So whoever was holding these kids was painting them like butterflies.

Some sort of ritual?

Feniseca tarquinius-- also known as the harvester butterfly-- highly localized, related to a species found in Africa and Asia.

The only carnivorous butterfly in North America. - Carnivorous?

If there is a ritual, maybe it involves this species.

Why would Ethan want me to know that?

Track all sales of this species of larvae for the past 12 months-- I want a location.

Ressler: We need Shuster, but Reddington has him.

And, Keen... where the hell is Reddington?

I believe you abducted Anya Patinka.

Where is she?

[ Sighs ]

If that's who you're looking for, you're too late.

It's her birthday.

I don't know what that means.

[ Sighs ]

Lady Ambrosia-- she-- she means well.

By abducting children?

No.

We always try to keep our process as humane as possible.

What process?

What process?

Anya is turning 12... the end of adolescence.

She'll be... transformed.

We use nitrous.

And the children are happy, relaxed, euphoric f-for their rebirth.

[ Both laugh ]

And the other children?

They help prepare for the celebration while the wrapping of the butterfly child continues.

Where is she?

We call it The Colony-- an abandoned schoolhouse, Route 2 south of Richmond.

After our son d*ed... she wanted to save other children.

She turns them into butterflies, sets them free s-so they can stay children forever.

[ Grunting ]

[ Grunting ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Door closes ]

[ Gasps ]

Okay. This is amazing.

Uh, well, maybe not amazing.

I mean, how many people are in the market for carnivorous butterfly larvae?

Aram.

Okay, I tracked nine shipments in the last six months-- eight to sanctuaries, wildlife preserves, and zoos.

And the ninth?

[ Paper rustles ]

Exactly.

Oh, Anya.

I know you can't hear me, but you're almost there.

You're almost home.

Oh, bless you, child.

Bless you.

Anya Patinka-- where is she?

Who the hell are you?

Her fairy godmother.

I hear it's her birthday. We've come to celebrate.

It's been some time since freshman English, but I seem to recall that fairy tales about abandonment, death, and witches are supposed to allow children to deal with their fears in symbolic terms, but there's nothing symbolic about this place.

You're a real witch.

I don't know who you are, but if you don't get off my property right now, I'll call the police.

I believe they're already on their way.

While we're waiting, how about I tell you a story?

It's about a mother, her two sons, and a canoeing accident.

You've talked to Noah.

The family lived by a river.

The boys often took a canoe out to fish.

One day, the canoe tipped.

Inexplicably, the elder son, the golden child, the champion swimmer, drowned, while the younger, the lesser child, survived.

The way Noah tells it, you allowed Theo to believe it was his fault, that he was the reason his brother d*ed, that he would have been better off dead.

They could have d*ed together, beautiful and innocent.

Theo would have been spared all this.

By "this," you mean the horror of being different.

Is that why you k*ll them?

I save them.

From what?

I make sure the damaged ones don't grow up to be outcasts like Theo-- hated, pitied.

No one loves an outcast.

Not even his mother?

I couldn't send my son away, but when I look at him, I see what these children shouldn't be and what they won't be because I see the life I save them from.

I'm ugly.

From where I sit, there's only one ugly person in the room, and it's certainly not you, Theo.

[ Footsteps approaching ]

She's breathing. She'll be okay.

Excellent. We must be going.

Theo, you are entitled to as much as anyone-- happiness, joy, a mother's love.

Theo, stop him.

[ Door opens ]

Stop him.

Theo, what are you doing? Stop him!

[ Door closes ]

Theo.

Theo.

Theo, what-- Oh, my God! No!

No, Theodore, what are you doing?!

[ Grunts ] Let me g-- Let me go!

I'm not asking!

Theodore James!

Let me go!

No!

[ Screams ]

[ Body thuds ]

[ Police radio chatter ]

[ Children cheering, applause ]

[ Body thuds ]

Follow me.

[ Don Brownrigg's "Just Breathe" plays ]

♪ here's another cold day ♪
♪ in that old November way ♪
♪ once again it's begin ♪
♪ I'm stuck and out astray ♪
♪ and you came in like a wave ♪

[ Dialing ]

Liz: Hey, Tom.

I'm just wondering where you are.

Give me a call when you can.

♪ just breathe ♪

Anya? Anya!

Ohh, Anya!

Anya!

[ Crying ]

Oh, baby!

♪ there's no use riding waves ♪
♪ crashed to the shore ♪
♪ through the same pale grin ♪
♪ I gave ♪

Cooper: I still don't understand it--

Reddington's interest in this case.

What does he get?

♪ I can just breathe ♪
♪ just breathe ♪

Thank you.

♪ I can just breathe ♪
♪ just breathe ♪

It just keeps getting worse.

Liz: "'How can I get there?' Asked Dorothy. 'You must walk. It is a long journey through a country that is sometimes dark and terrible. However, I will use all the magic arts I know to keep you from harm.' She came close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead. 'When you get to Oz... do not be afraid of him, but tell your story and ask him to help you. Goodbye, my dear.'"

♪ just breathe ♪