01x01 - Magic Hour

[bunniefuu]

I'm a reporter.

I know it seems weird, but I've been like this for as long as I can remember.

I think if they cut me open, I would bleed ink.

My dad is a reporter too.

My mom says we're like Holmes and Watson.

My dad says that finding the truth is what makes everything work right.

I need to know the truth.

But since I'm a kid, people lie to me all the time.

So I learned how to look at things and really see them.

I write my own paper.

And self-publish.

My sister thinks it's a joke.

But it's my way of figuring out what's real.

My dad told me we have to move across country so he can work on his book, but I know it's because he lost his job.

He's trying to be happy to make it seem like everything's gonna be okay.

But I know that he's sad.

So we're going to stay at my grandpa's house, since he moved to an old folks' home.

My mom and dad say we're there to be near him, but I think it's because it's free, and we don't have anywhere else to go.

I'm sad to inform you that this will be the last editorial for The Bed Stuy b*at.

I'm moving to a place called Erie Harbor, where my dad grew up.

They say it's pretty and perfect, but...

I know that nothing ever is.

All right, let's go unpack. You okay?

Okay, guys. We're here.

All right, let's do it.

Hilde, you okay? I got ya.

Why do people think New York's so scary?

At least in an alley, someone might hear you scream.

Why would anybody need to hear you scream?

I don't know. Like if you get mugged or something.

There's no mugging in Erie Harbor, or honking or pollution.

That is why we are here. It'll be an adventure.

A vacation. A vacation.

Yeah, you said that.

But we don't go to school on vacation.

You probably would.

Just be honest.

We're not going back to Brooklyn, are we?

Yeah. Of course we are.

Yeah, in a couple of months. Yeah.

You know, you kids will see out the school year and...

And we will regroup, yep. Exactly. We'll regroup.

Yep. Last one to pick out a bed sleeps in the basement.

Hey, you.

Hey, you know, I think it's gonna be nice here.

I mean, look at that. You got a front yard to play in.

You know, I'll get a ton of work done.

Yeah. It's gonna be nice.

You said the word "nice" twice.

Say it again and I'm calling the police.

Hey, what were you writing in the car?

Can I take a look?

Let's see.

Hilde. Come on. It was just a yard sale.

But she didn't have any customers. Well, so what?

What about the guy with the shovel?

Do you think he was digging something up or burying it?

He was probably just planting something. You know, people plant.

I mean, they really do.

All right, listen up, you.

Life is not always about chasing the story, okay?

You got to enjoy yourself. It's okay.

You understand?

You sound like Mom.

Yeah. Well, you sound like me. You're cold.

I know. Well, don't be like me. You don't wanna be like me.

Help me up.

Dad. Richie!

Dad?

Dad?

Yeah. Yeah, come on, come on. Let's, uh, let's get inside before this peace and quiet drives us both insane, right?

Give me back my camera.

It's weird. Stop.

"Look at it"? I'm not gonna break it.

Sorry.

... go and hike in the woods.

Hike in the woods. How fun is that?

Love you.

Stop.

Oh, my God.

Maybe you should reach out to your editor.

Oh, so he can fire me again?

I'd rather not.

You know, besides, I'm done reporting the news.

Okay. Well, maybe I should go back to work.

Between your dad's care and what we ran through in New York, I think I might have to.

It helps that we can live here for free.

Yeah, well, if we could live anywhere else, believe me, we would.

Hey.

Hey, come here.

I'm okay.

Look, I know this is not what you signed up for.

Yeah. And I'm sorry.

I promise that I'm... that I'm not gonna let anything come between us again, okay.

Izzy!

Breakfast!

Sorry, babe.

Did anyone see the car outside our house last night?

And here we go.

Why? Where was it?

Street side. Rolled off at about 4:32 a.m.

"About 4:32 a.m."

Whoa, whoa, whoa. No, no. You were awake?

Okay, well. We all excited about our first day?

Are we all excited about our first day? Yes. Are we?

Yes. Yes. Are we?

Why are you deflecting? What? I'm not deflecting.

What's deflecting? No one's deflecting.

We're just talking, okay?

Why do you always ask so many questions?

That was a question.

You can never just let anything go, can you?

Of course I can.

Oh, really? Go ahead. Let it go.

Let's just have a super chill breakfast.

Come on. It'll be fun.

Oh, look at her. She's just eating.

Just enjoying her food.

Not thinking about anything else.

Nothing else. Just her food.

This looks great.

I think it was an undercover cop car.

It had those hubcaps and spotlight on the driver's side, and I was like, "Oh..." See? I told you.

Hey. Can you tell her to stop being such a nosy little S-H-I-T?

Language. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Uhuh.

I'm a journalist. I can spell.

Okay, Hilde. The journalist thing's not a thing.

She had a hundred "perscribers" in Brooklyn.

"Subscribers," but thank you.

Hilde, I thought you said you were gonna stop this once you got here.

You know, so you can be normal.

I never said that. You said that.

Well, what are you gonna report on in Erie Harbor anyway?

An American flag that beats up an apple pie?

Mom, stop.

Look, I'm just saying, that guy outside looked like he wanted to...

M-U-R-D-E-R us.

I can too. What?

Spell. Yeah. Okay.

Time-out, guys. No.

You know, everything's... everything's gonna be fine, okay?

Mm-hmm. It's gonna be awesome. Yeah.

Yes? Yeah.

All right. Thank you.

Here you go. Will you have some fruit, please?

Great. I'll pick you up at 3:00... Bridget, don't pull all the way to the... God. Never mind. Honey. I'm not even...

Bridget.

Take care of your sister, and my name is Mom!

Okay. Okay, give it back.

Did you see his outfit?

It's snowing!

Don't freeze to death.

Yeah.

Okay. Be very serious.

No laughing. Snow.

Don't freeze.

Okay. Grab all the snow.

Grab all the snow.

It's freezing out. Two. Yeah.

But be very serious. No laughing.

No laughing. Very serious.

Let's make snow angels. Ready? Snow angels.

Watch the viburnums.

Oh, sorry.

Where are the prices?

For what?

Anything. Like, what about this?

You drink coffee?

I love coffee, but my parents only let me drink decaf.

Take it.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

How'd you know we just got here?

Small town.

Well, why are you having a yard sale right now?

Everyone's busy. You're here.

But grown-ups have all the money.

Do you have a yard sale every day?

I'm a reporter.

So, you are Matt Lisko's kid, aren't you?

Your dad and I used to be friends.

Haven't seen him for a while.

He okay?

Why wouldn't he be?

Well, when he left, he always said that he would never move back here.

He did? How come?

You wanna know the best way to keep a secret?

Pretend there isn't one.

Can you do me a favor?

Ooh, can I play?

Hey. Hey, how was school today?

How was writing today?

Uh, yeah. Okay, touché, touché.

What does that mean?

That means I'm trying to change the subject.

That's what that means. It's French, and it's fancy.

All right, you. All right, it's late.

Look, I'm glad you're out exploring, but I need you to be home before it gets dark, okay?

It's called magic hour, okay?

Then why would I wanna come home?

Well, because it is a new town, and because I asked you to.

It's okay.

The lady with the weird yard sale walked me home.

Ms. Gillis.

Wha... Wait. What? Yeah. Ms. Gillis.

She told me you used to be friends.

Penny Gillis? Yes.

Yeah. Yeah. We went to high school together.

Yeah, and she left something out on the lawn for you.

Let's hit the jumps.

Richie!

Oh, I thought you'd like it.

I do.

I do. I... I love it.

What did she say, Ms. Gillis, when she gave that to you?

She said that you’d be happy to have it back.

And that she has something else for you.

Okay.

Wow.

You know the results of the latest Gallup poll?

Half the country never even heard of the word Watergate.

Nobody gives a sh*t.

You guys are probably pretty tired, right?

Well, you should be. Go on home.

Get a nice, hot bath. Rest up 15 minutes.

Then get your asses back in gear.

We're under a lot of pressure, you know, and you put us there.

Nothing's riding on this except for the, uh, First Amendment to the Constitution, and the freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country.

Follow me.

Time of death, 9:08 p.m.

Hey. Hey. Uh-uh.

You need to get outta here, now.

But I know Ms. Gillis. I was just with her today.

I got this. Yeah.

Hey. Hey, sweetheart. Well, she, uh... she had an accident.

No. Hey, hey.

Look, this is an active investigation, sweetheart. You...

You could disrupt evidence.

Of what? You said it was an accident.

It's late. Shouldn't you be asleep?

What's your name?

I'm Hilde Lisko.

Sheriff?

Heard it on the scanner.

Penny Gillis fell down a flight of stairs changing a light bulb.

Any signs of foul play?

No, come on. In Erie Harbor? Come on.

It's just a shame she lives alone.

She probably would've been all right.

Man, it's like this family is cursed.

Yeah.

She had an accident, you understand?

There's nothing to be afraid of.

Yeah?

Hi. I'm a reporter for the news.

Nothing's riding on this except the, uh, First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of the press, and maybe the future of the country.

Principal Collins. Have you read this?

My child thinks there’s a m*rder*r in Erie Harbor.

I'm reading it.

What did you do? I'm a journalist.

No, you're a fourth grader.

You sent this to the whole effing school?

Ooh. Izzy, language.

Technically, effing isn't... Hilde, not now.

Look, you left the house in the middle of the night?

Come on. What were you thinking?

Mom said we could have more freedom here.

Yeah, well, that's gone now.

Someone we know got m*rder*d last night.

Okay. Come on, Ginny. Screen time.

Okay, first of all, you don't know that.

The shed was ransacked. There are weird footprints, signs of forced entry. There was...

Yeah, it could have been the paramedics.

Huh? You think about that? No, you... You know what?

I'm not... Mm-mm. I'm not going there with you.

She was your friend.

Don't you wanna know what happened?

I don't understand.

You used to take me out and cover homicides in the South Bronx all the time.

Yeah, well, that's 'cause we couldn't afford a babysitter, okay?

I don't believe you. How is this any different?

All right, look, this is a small town.

You know, and New York was bigger.

Nobody was keeping track of what crime was happening and when.

Here, everyone knows everything.

Here, everyone's hiding everything!

I'm not gonna just make nice, if that's what you're asking me to do.

Oh, come on. That's not what it is.

Okay, maybe it is a little bit of what it is, but that's not the point.

Ever since we got here, you've been acting weird.

And this house?

There's stuff I've never noticed before.

Oh, God, just go to school.

Come home. Do your homework. Eat, sleep, rinse, repeat.

It's not that hard.

You'd have never let a story like this go.

Damn it, Hilde!

Why can't you just be a little kid for once in your life?

Huh?

It's okay, Dad.

I know you didn't mean it.

God.

Hey.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. I'm sorry.

Okay? That wasn't cool. I didn't mean that.

Yeah. Hilde... Hilde.

Help your sister out a little. Help your sister!

Okay. I heard you.

Have a great day, honey. Love you.

Yep.

I mean, she just comes here and starts sh*t out of nowhere.

There she is.

What a weirdo.

I've had 20 calls this morning from angry parents.

I don't know what things are like in New York, but this is a quiet town.

And it's developmentally inappropriate for her age.

Yeah, with all due respect, Hilde is an unusual case.

With all due respect, every parent thinks their child is exceptional.

But at this school, Hilde is like any other kid.

If she breaks the rules, she has to face the consequences.

Listen, I may have yogurt on my shirt, and I look like I haven't...

I haven't showered in a week because, you know, I haven't.

But I'm also a former public defender, so I know a thing or two about rules, and my daughter has not broken any of them.

I'm sure her extracurricular activities have been inconvenient for you, but my guess is that you're f*ring this trumped-up warning sh*t across my bow so that when you feel like pursuing disciplinary action, you'll have a proper paper trail.

Is that about right? Mrs. Lisko.

Bridget.

Hey. What are you in for?

I'm... Just... Just kidding.

I totally read your article. I'm Donny.

I'm... But maybe we should pretend you don't know me for a couple of days, maybe a week, you know?

Until this whole thing blows over.

Fair enough.

What about you? What'd you do?

Mm. You feelin' the wiggle?

Ooh, that's the best part. That's the stuff.

You and I both know that the world isn't always kind to troublemakers.

Especially little girls.

If a little boy did what Hilde did, he wouldn't be in trouble.

He would be the school president.

Your daughter made up a story about a woman being m*rder*d.

My daughter writes a newspaper in her spare time.

She is nine years old, and she has a passion in life.

She has work that she loves more than anything else.

I... I never had that, and I am guessing by that half-assed inspirational cat poster that you didn't either.

You mean the poster my colleagues got me as a present when the school board finally gave me this job after offering it to two men who were far less qualified than me?

So, yeah, I know all about being a girl.

I'm sorry.

You're right. But you don't know Hilde.

She's not like any other kid.

She's my kid.

And I'm her mom.

So no matter how tired I am, or how exhausting it can be to deal with someone who is so tiny and so driven, I am going to make damn sure nobody crushes her dreams.

Well, both problem sets were exactly the same.

Because she copied off me.

Yeah. I'm gonna say you copied off her, okay?

Thanks, Baby Einstein. You can leave now.

Bye!

But it's not the truth.

Who cares?

What are you gonna do about it, huh?

Write an article about me in your stupid little paper?

You know what? Go ahead. Any press is good press.

Hilde.

Life is not always about chasing the story, okay?

Hilde, I thought you said you were gonna stop this once you got here.

You know, so you can be normal.

Hilde, not now.

Why can't you just be a little kid for once in your life?

You guys are probably pretty tired, right?

Well, you should be. Go on home.

Get a nice, hot bath. Rest up 15 minutes.

Then get your asses back in gear.

My name's Hilde Lisko.

Sergeant Miller's kid already came by with the Thin Mints.

No. I wanna see a copy of the police report for the incident at 215 Oakdale Ave.

Uh-huh. You need to settle down.

Why can't I see the police report?

It's a matter of public record.

Why aren't you at school?

Because crime doesn't care if it's third period.

Hello again, little lady.

I'm not going away.

Can someone deal with this?

I warned her. I explained to her...

Nevertheless, I persisted.

Okay, Senator.

Come with me.

All right.

So, sit.

Oh, hold on. Let me get this for you.

Sit right there. Sit.

You know you can get into a lot of trouble saying something is m*rder when it isn't.

Well, by the way people are acting, looks like I was right.

I need to see the Penny Gillis file.

No, I can't do that.

You girls cr*ck the case yet?

You know what?

I changed my mind.

I'm gonna get you that file.

I can't show you everything, but here's what I got.

Something's missing.

It was a machine on the table, and it was, like, right here.

It looked like... this.

A VCR? Yes.

What's a VCR?

It's horrible. It's not good.

"This article, or paper, or whatever you call it, is so lame."

Oh, that's not good.

Keep... "Doesn't this girl have parents?"

I mean, come on. You know what? Turn off the comments.

She doesn't need to see this. Ah, that's not...

Look, I'm gonna print it out first, just in case.

In case what?

Well, remember when, uh, I got all those death threats?

Yeah, you taught me, always hold onto corroborating evidence.

Death threats?

Matt, this is our kid.

You know, maybe we just need to tell her she needs to stop doing this.

Bridge, come on. That's not gonna do any good.

Look, you know she's gonna do it anyway.

I'll just tell her nobody commented. Okay?

You know what? I'm done.

Lisko.

I know that name.

My dad's a reporter for the New York Sentinel.

Well, was.

He was covering this case about a missing girl.

Just couldn't let it go. I think that's why he got fired.

He's always been... Well, he used to be like me.

Can't let something go until he figures it out.

Hmm.

Well, I wonder if he lived here in '88.

What do you mean?

Well, it was before I came to town, but I heard about it.

The mayor's kid went missing.

His name was Richie Fife.

He was abducted one night while he was riding his bike home.

Everyone started locking their doors.

People moved away.

I mean, they caught the guy who did it, but... they never found out what happened to Richie.

What do the cops think happened?

I don't know.

They never released the file, and once it was in the past, folks around here wanted it to stay that way.

Well, do you think they caught the right guy?

Actually, the person they arrested for Richie's m*rder... that was Penny Gillis's brother.

Keep diggin'.

Hey. Everything I said here...

You do know what an anonymous source is, right?

Don't worry. I've seen All the President's Men 36 times.

I won't quote you.

Why are you helping me?

I don't like when they pat me on the head either.

Dad?

Dad?

Dad.

All right.

Hey. Hey, what are you doing up?

You told me there were no comments.

Oh, sweetie.

Look, I... I just didn't want you to get hurt, okay?

But it... it's so mean.

Look, I know. I know, I know.

Look, when people don't have to say things to your face, like on the Internet, yeah, they can... they can be really mean.

All right?

I was talking about you.

I thought we didn't keep secrets.

Oh, my God. How embarrassing.

"This article, paper, or whatever it is, is so lame."

"Go home. You're a loser."

"Perhaps you're too young to understand the words

'sensationalist' and 'trash.'"

"Cute little girls aren't supposed to be journalists.

Stick to tea parties."

Freak.

You're probably never gonna talk to me again.

"Keep it up.

Maybe someday you'll write something intelligent."

"Maybe Hilde k*lled her."

"See, this is why you shouldn't educate girls."

"I hate whoever wrote this."

"Who even let this little girl on the Internet?"

"Hate to break it to you, but you suck."

"You're ugly."

Well, that felt off-topic.

"You're just a stupid little girl.

Why don't you learn to keep your mouth shut?"

Excuse me, ladies. Do you want to sit down?

A friend of mine once said that the best way to keep a secret is to pretend like there isn't one.

Well, I thought she said it, but then it turned out to be Margaret Atwood.

I don't like secrets.

And I don't like pretending.

You asked who cares about the truth.

I do.

'Cause if the truth doesn't matter... nothing ever will.

No, no, no!

Hi. I'm Donny.

I'm Spoon. Wesley Witherspoon.

I'm Izzy, Hilde's sister.

Stop!

You.

Hilde Lisko, come with me.

Sit.

I have a change of clothes in my car.

Don't move.

Yes, Principal Collins.

Money.

What are you doing?

Uh, I get sweaty when I'm nervous.

You are your father's daughter, aren't you?

Isn't everybody?

Today I'm gonna show you how to hook up your VCR.

There's two slots.

One is your out, and one is your in.

You're gonna want to go from your out, plugging the color-coded yellow cable into the slot there.

I don't understand why some old VCR is so important.

And you'll have to find the appropriate source on your television.

Typically it's called video one.

Hilde?

Iz. Iz, you guys here?

I mean, mine would stick better, but...

Oh, yeah, right. I'm definitely gonna need a new tire.

- Yeah. - Yeah, probably a new bike.

- Come on! Grandma, today!

Half an eternity later. Yeah.

You're so slow. Can't make it up the hill.

Oh, 'cause of my broken bike.

Hey! No!

Stop! Help!

Get off Richie!

No!

Richie!

Richie!

Help!

Is that... Dad?

Hilde.

We just got here, okay?

Dad's acting weird enough already.

You can't show him that tape. Not right now.

Maybe this is why he's been sad.

Look, you don't even know if it is him.

And if it is, then that's really serious.

I wanna help him.

Then don't go up there.

Hey.

Hey.

Mm.

Hey, what's this for?

It's just...

I love you, and I want everything to be okay here.

Oh, well, thank you, scout.

Hey, you know what?

I think I love you too.

You know, I'm pretty sure I do. Yeah.

Wow.

Bye.

Hey, where... where are you going?

I'm going to make it right.

Make what right?

I'm going to figure out the Penny Gillis case.

I know there's something more here.

Look, Hilde, I know what happened to Penny was... was terrible, but...

Look, you gotta let it go.

I don't think you hid those comments from me because you didn't want me to get hurt.

I think you did it because you don't want me to stop.

Look.

I know that you don't think that you're a journalist anymore... but I don't believe it.

So you can come back when you're ready.

But until then...

I'm gonna find out the truth, for both of us.

Hilde!

Get back here.

Be smart.

I'd rather be brave.

Yeah. Well, be both.