Girl Who Wasn't Dead, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[panting]



[coins rattling]

[gasping]

What are you running

from, sweetie?

Um, I'm not running. I...

It never ends well.

Go home to your mom

before it's too late.

No... No!

No!

You didn't go outside, did you?

I did, I'm sorry.

I was hungry!

[firm knocking on door]

Police! Open up!

[knocking]

Andrew Jensen.

No...

No, no, no.

No!

[Erica] It was all my idea.

I asked him to get the room.

Andy! Andy!

It's okay. It's okay!

What's gonna happen to her?

This is so stupid!

He's my boyfriend!

He didn't do anything wrong!

You're Erica Bennett, right?

Yeah. So?

You're 15, right?

I'm practically 16, but I...

And that's Andrew Jensen?

He's my boyfriend,

I just told you!

And he's 21?

[sighing]

Right.

Get another boyfriend.



Hey, Mom?

Do we have anything to eat?

Why aren't you in bed?

I was gaming.

Honey, it's late.

Go to sleep.

[car approaching]

[car doors shutting]



How could you?

Oh, my gosh!

Jeez.

God, I thought you were...

I'm so glad you're safe.

Do you have any idea

what you did to me?

It's been three days!

She was at a motel outside town.

Motel?

Erica was staying

with a Mr. Andrew Jensen

for the last three nights.

You were in a motel

with that guy?

You know him?

Andrew Jensen?

I know who he is.

You're not supposed

to see him anymore.

I want to press charges.

What? Mom, no!

We're on it.

No! This is crazy.

He's my boyfriend.

I asked him to get me the motel.

He was just trying to help me.

I know what he was trying to do.

Go to your room.

[exasperated groaning]

- I'm so sorry, Detective.

- [door slamming]

[Detective Richards]

Mrs. Bennett...

It's O'Brien now.

[Richards] Ms. O'Brien,

this can't keep happening.

- It's the third time this year.

- Right.

We need our police out there

doing police work,

not tracking down

lovesick runaways.

Of course.

Look, I...

I know that your father

being gone

has been hard on you,

and I'm struggling myself...

I don't care about your divorce.

Of course you do.

Your entire...

Our entire lives

have been upended

by his actions.

I don't wanna talk about this.

Okay!

Okay, fine.

I know that you're looking

for independence,

but this older man...

He's 21, not 60!

- And you're 15!

- So?

So it's ill*gal, Erica.

Do you understand that, right?

And if you're ha...

[sighing]

If you're being intimate...

Oh, my god, Mom,

we're not talking about...

Are you?

We're not talking about this!

Look, my job is to protect you.

It's to keep you safe,

and I'm trying my hardest here.

I'm gonna be late for school.

Come home straight after!

No hanging out

with Liam either, okay?

And this conversation

isn't over!

[door slamming]

Mom...

do you think

she's going to run away again?

I hope not, sweetheart.

[school counselor] I thought

you were gonna tell me

if you were feeling like

running away again.

I was feeling

like running away again.

Right.

Why do you think

you have that urge?

'Cause I feel like a prisoner.

I mean, ever since the divorce,

she's been, like,

clinging on to me, or something.

I can't wear what I wanna wear.

I can't date who I wanna date.

Well, you are 15.

Exactly!

I'm 15, I'm not 12,

but everybody

treats me like I am.

I mean, we're in love!

Just get off our backs!

Tell me about him then.

How did you two meet?

We, um...

I was at the library,

and...

it's dumb, but I really

like these books...

they're science fiction,

but not the stupid kind,

they're legit,

and, anyways, he was there,

and he was looking for

the same book in the series,

and he just listened to me,

and he thinks that I'm smart.

He's not like the mean guys

that go here.

I mean, he's interesting,

and he understands me.

We don't fit in.

We're different.

It's just, the world is...

loud,

and... it's hard,

and it's cold,

but...

when I'm with him, it's quiet,

and it's easy,

and...

it's warm.

We're gonna be together forever.

[school bell ringing]

I hate that Art's the only

class that we have together.

I know.

At least we get to work

in the same group, though.

Yeah, that's pretty good.

Glad that worked out.

Hey.

Hey...

I'll see you in Art.

See you.

I'm glad you're not dead.

Pretty mean prank

to pull on your mom, though.

She'll live.

You missed the Music Bowl.

What?

We had tickets

to the Music Bowl,

and you never showed up.

Oh, I'm really sorry about that.

Did they arrest him?

Yeah, and then they let him go.

- It was so stupid.

- [alert beeping]

[giggling]

Is that him?

Gotta go!

Oh.

Don't get m*rder*d.











There you are.

I'm so glad you're okay.

I missed you.

I missed you, too.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I'm fine.

I mean, with everything

that happened with the police.

How are you?

Fine, yeah, whatever.

It was no biggie.

I mean...

they made me

stay the night in jail.

- What?

- Yeah.

So that wasn't so,

you know, cool,

but I survived, so whatever.

That's insane.

Yeah, it's just...

'cause you're underage,

- technically, I guess...

- Barely,

and it was my idea.

Did you tell them

that it was my idea?

Yeah, okay,

but it doesn't matter,

because I'm the adult, right,

and the room

was in my name and all.

But it's not like you forced me!

- No, I know, babe...

- I mean, I'm not a child!

- I know...

- And you're my boyfriend,

and we're gonna get married!

I know, I know, I know, just...

Look, they...

They told me

I shouldn't see you anymore.

What?

Yeah, they were just, like,

really intense about it,

saying how it could, like,

affect my future employment,

go on my record,

you know?

No.

So, maybe

we just, you know,

cool it for a while?

No, you can't be serious.

No.

I just gotta be careful, okay?

It's not because

I don't love you, babe.

I can't believe this.

I don't believe

you're doing this.

I'm sorry.

This is

the worst day of my life!

Erica, I don't have a choice!



[door opening]

Liam, what are you doing here?

I'm so sorry...

You're still seeing him?

Dad?

You-you called Dad?

You were gone for three days.

Three days with this loser,

and now you miss curfew?

And you're skipping classes?

You're such a jerk.

He's the only one

you ever talk to.

He's the only good thing

that I've ever had in my life!

Oh, oh, I-I'm sorry,

was expensive volleyball camp

last summer not enough?

Or the $300 shoes you wanted?

Or the car

you keep begging me for

when you turn 16!

Dan, that's not helping...

No, she has everything

she could possibly want,

and it's still not enough.

- You're a spoiled little brat.

- Okay...

No, you don't know me!

And you don't even live here!

You wanna blow up your life

on some idiot, that's fine.

- No, Dan, stop...

- You can't do that!

You're making it worse!

You do it on someone else's

dime, young lady!

I hate you!

[groaning, door slamming]

I should go.

Okay.

Thanks, Liam.

You've got to be stricter.

You're too soft.

She needs rules.

Oh, I've been strict.

I have so many rules,

I can't even keep them straight,

and it's a fight at every turn!

So fight harder.

I don't wanna fight at all!

I didn't sign up

to do this on my own.

It's a three-hour drive,

Carrie...

and I've got work, the baby.

It-it's just...

I still call her, right?

Every Friday, we talk.

So I'm trying my best here,

but it...

Okay, it's fine.

It's fine.

I'll figure it out.

[door opening and closing]



[reporter]

four months

since Ana Martinez vanished

near Lakefront Park,

and despite ongoing searches,

there remains no trace,

and police

are fearing the worst.

[news anchor] Okay.

Thanks for that update.

We'll be keeping

a close eye on this story

as it develops.

In other news,

a new environmental study

out of Boston Univ...

[turns TV off]



[knocking]

Hey, can I get five minutes?

Please?

Come on, we used to talk

all the time, remember?

I'm not six anymore, Mom.

I know.

I know, um...

I keep trying to figure out

how to talk to you,

and I think

that I'm doing it right,

and then nothing works,

and you keep pushing me

further away, and...

I wanna fix us, but...

I don't know how.

There's a girl missing,

from around here.

She's about your age,

and she's been missing

for four months.

She was just walking somewhere,

and then...

never came home.

If that were to happen

to you or Joey, I...

I'm sorry.

I just,

I feel trapped sometimes.

I know.

I know you do.

I've needed you a lot more

since your dad and I split.

I know.

Just, after

almost 20 years of marriage,

I was just blindsided...

but that's our stuff,

not yours.

I'm still trying

to figure out my footing here,

and that's not fair to you.

I'm so sorry.

If it makes you feel

any better, we broke up.

Oh.

Yeah.

Are you okay?

No.

I know that you think

he was trying

to take advantage of me.

He is a lot older and...

But he understands me

and he's a good person.

He really is.

He loves me.

I thought that he loved me.

Of course he loves you,

sweetheart.

You're wonderful.

I know how much

you cared about him,

but you will find another boy

who loves you just as much,

if not more,

and he'll be the same age,

and it won't be so hard.

Are you making breakfast?

Am I having a stroke?

I wanted to do something nice.

They're actually pretty good.



Syrup?

put them on potatoes...

I appreciate the help, sweetie.

But they're not mashed potatoes.

I was stupid.

This is yours.



[Carrie] Joey, come on, honey,

we're gonna be late.

I gotta drop you off first.

Oh, thank you, honey!

Hey, I'm riding up front today.

It doesn't matter,

we drop you off first.

I'm still riding in the front.

[Erica] Fine!



What?

It's so nice to see you happy.

It's a good day.

It's a really good day.

- Bye.

- Bye, honey.

Oh. Erica!

You forgot your lunch, honey!

Thank you.

Oh!

Mm.

What's that for?

I love you, Mom.

I love you, too.

Bye.

[school bell ringing]

All right, it's been a month.

I've apologized every day.

Are you really still mad at me?

I'm not mad.

I just can't tell you anything,

because you're just

gonna go run off

to your new best friend,

my mother.

I don't even know

what to talk about.

I was worried about you.

I thought that creep was gonna

drop your body in a ditch.

He's not a creep.

Okay?

Whatever.

I like you better

now that he's gone, anyways.

Your mom told me

when I was dropping off

comic books for Joey.

Okay, point proven!

Hey,

can I get you guys anything?

Yes, I will get

the chicken strips,

and...

cheese sticks,

and the fries,

and a large soda.

- Okay.

- And he's paying for it all.

I swear, sometimes,

I just wanna k*ll that b*tch.

[sighing heavily]

[chuckling]

Oh, Joey, we gotta

get you to bed, come on.

You said I could stay up

till Erica gets home.

I know.

Do you think she ran away again?

No, honey, she's just with Liam.

Come on, bed.

Let's go.

I'll be right up!

Goodnight, honey.

Sleep tight.











Erica?

Erica?

Erica.

Honey?

Daniel.

Wait, wait, it's Erica.

She's gone.

[Richards] Erica Bennett.

Brunette, 5'2", brown eyes.

Last seen by Liam Wilson

at the Mills Bowling Alley

at 5:30 p.m. last night.

Okay, so what are

the next steps?

We've been through this.

Yes, and you've

said it yourself,

the first 72 hours

are the most important.

She's run away multiple times.

This time, it's different.

It isn't.

Statistically, it isn't.

She didn't take

anything with her.

- Ms. O'Brien...

- She didn't take clothes,

she didn't take a toothbrush,

nothing,

there's nothing.

Nothing!

Could have been

a spur-of-the-moment thing.

It wasn't.

Listen, I'm telling you,

she has been happy, all month.

It just...

it feels different this time.

You know the drill.

We enter her

into the National

Crime Information Center

Missing Persons File,

release a bulletin,

conduct an investigation.

It all takes too long.

Here, I put this together.

It's her guidance counselor,

the teachers,

Liam's contact information,

the bowling alley.

Maybe there's a camera

that we can take a look at?

We'll do

everything we can, okay?

She'll come back,

they always do.

Except Ana Martinez, right?

Tell me you will at least

look into the ex-boyfriend.

If she's anywhere...

That we will do.

What's going on?

Mr. Jensen.

Erica Bennett is missing,

again.

We'd like to look inside.

Okay.

[Richards]

You talk to Erica recently?

[Andrew] Um... yeah.

I mean, no, I-I didn't.

I-I-I haven't.

We broke up.

You look nervous.

You didn't k*ll her,

did you, Andrew?

No. God, of course not!

I-I'd never hurt her.

I love her.

You love her?

I thought you broke up.

Yeah, I...

We...

I-I love her, but...

I mean, you told me

it could ruin my life.

I-I just...

Look, I-I-I didn't do

anything wrong.

When did you break up with her?

It was, like, a few weeks ago.

Day after the arrest.

I just, I told her

I couldn't do it anymore.

She's too young.

It just doesn't look great

for you, Andrew.

We've barely finished

processing your first charge,

and now your victim

is missing again.

She's not my victim.

How are your scales coming?

Huh?

Apparently, not very well.

You live here by yourself?

Yeah.

Where were you three days ago

on August 31st?

Working for Hudson Electronics,

a few miles away.

My boss can vouch for me.

Let's take a look upstairs.

This your bedroom?

Yeah.

You see my problem here, right?

Last time she went missing,

she was with you.

Now, only

a month and some change later,

she's gone again.

You're telling me that,

this time,

it has nothing to do with you.

Help me out here.

Make it make sense.

I, uh...

I-I got her a motel room,

because she said if I didn't,

she'd k*ll herself, okay?

I mean, what was I

supposed to do?

I broke up with her

like you told me to,

and now you're saying

she's missing?

Don't leave town.

[Detective Richards]

Nothing at Jensen's house.

He's got an alibi

for the night of the 31st.

It sounds to me like

she's got a broken heart.

Probably ran off

to try and lure him

back with dramatics.

Keep your head up.

She'll come back

as soon as she realizes

he isn't worth it.

[ends call]



[sighing]

Erica?

Erica!

So sorry.

Oh, excuse me, sir? Um...

Have you seen this girl?

She was here about a month ago.

Sure, yeah,

I remember her.

Cops made a big fuss,

poor thing.

Have you seen her since?

Ma'am, we get

a lot of runaways here.

She's not a runaway.

She's...

She's my daughter,

and she's missing.

Add it to the wall.



Detective?

Carrie O'Brien's here.

She's asking to speak...

Detective Richards?

You've been avoiding my calls.

- Carrie...

- It has been a month.

Have you spoken

to the ex-boyfriend again?

Jensen's clean,

and I don't think

he has anything to do with this.

I think the idiot

actually really loved her.

Loves her.

What?

You said "loved".

She's still alive.

Do a news conference.

Do a press release.

Do a frickin' radio show.

Do something, please.

Let our neighbors know

that they can help find her.

Hell, they could even

help find the other girl, too.

Give my daughter a chance.

Carrie, we have been doing ev...

If you don't,

I will call

my own press conference,

and that will not look good

for your department, Detective.

Okay.

[Richards] One month ago,

15-year-old Erica Bennett

went to school

and never came home.

Just like Ana Martinez,

six months ago.

These families

miss their daughters.

Please, if you see Erica,

or Ana,

call the number on the screen.

Thank you.

Erica, honey.

If you're watching this,

please come home.

I'm not angry.

You're not in trouble.

I swear you're not in trouble.

I... I love you.

We love you,

and I miss you very, very much.

So... please, come home.

Okay, honey?

Just come home.

[reporters clamoring]

I appreciate it very much.

Of course.

Thank you,

for what you said.

I'm Martina.

I'm Ana's mom.

Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry

about everything

you've been through.

You too.

This is my number.

Please call me

if there's anything

I can do to help.

Okay.

Thank you.



months since Ana Martinez

and Erica Bennett went missing,

but now more girls

are missing...

[Joey] Mom?

Mom!

22-year-old Callie Porter,

26-year old Shawnee Mason,

19-year-old Gloria Carbone,

and 14-year-old Lana Bolski

have all disappeared

over the last few months...

Mom...

[increasing volume]

Now officers are wondering,

is someone targeting

young women in Hudson?

[reporter] Exactly. That's

what's on everybody's minds.

Do you think Erica was...

No, honey.

We'll find her.

Um, hey, play

your new video game, okay?

right now, we don't know

what the suspect looks like.

There's been no identity,

so far,

but, again, fear is growing

here in the community,

now spreading across

the State of California.

[knocking on door]

I'm so glad you called.

Would you like some tea?

Yes, thank you.

With 50 volunteers,

I think we could cover

the county

in just a few weeks.

Further with more help.

Oh, this must have taken you...

Months.

My husband worries I'm obsessed,

and I am.

The cops think...

She's a runaway?

Yeah.

Yeah...

Oh, those aren't very good.

They're-they're not bad.

You're lying.

They're terrible.

What do you say

we give Richards another shot?

Yeah.

Yeah...

[Carrie] I'm thinking

we could gather everyone

at the bowling alley.

[Martina] That's a great idea.

[Carrie] Detective,

this is...

Mrs. Martinez.

How are you holding up?

A little worse than last week.

Why don't you

come into my office?

[Carrie] Martina and I

are starting a volunteer group

to help find Erica and Ana,

and the other girls, too,

and you... the station doesn't

have to do anything.

We are purely independent.

We're just done

waiting around, so...

I think that's a great idea.

Oh.

Good.

In fact,

I think I can get the department

to approve some supplies,

and maybe even a small team.

Nothing huge, now.

I don't want to over promise,

but we've got a few folks

who have experience

with searches like this,

know what to look for.

Cooper here is one of them.

I'll get started

on the approvals today.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

[Richards]

I'm on your team, you know.

I've always been on your team.

Hmm.

So what are we thinking?

[sighing] Jeez...

[Richards] From this morning.

Lana Bolski.

We've got a lead on a suspect,

a guy named Jeremy Carver.

He was seen talking with her

the day she went missing.

Rap sheet

to make your blood run cold.



Thank you so much for coming.

We'll sign you in over here.

Here.

So use... use this,

and when this fills up...

- Hey.

- Hi.

We're doing this.

We're doin' this.

- This is a great turnout.

- It's such a good turnout.



Call the number if you see her.

Call the number if you see her.









- [knocking on door]

- Detective?

Yeah?

Brody here says

he has some information

about Erica Bennett.

Okay.

[Brody] Yeah, um...

So... a while ago,

um, that girl in the-

that girl in the flyer there,

she, um...

she came into the alley,

and she was with some dude,

and they were fighting.

He seemed pissed off.

Go on, tell her.

Okay, um...

Well, it's just, I remember him

saying something like,

someday, um,

he's gonna k*ll that b*tch.

How old was he,

the kid who threatened her?

Like, her age.

Erica's age.

Were they on a date?

I don't know.

Um... no.

Maybe.

And why are you only

coming forward now?

Well, I forgot.

I-I, um...

until I saw the flyer,

and then,

I-I remembered her face.

I thought she was hot.

[chuckling]

[cell phone ringing]

Hello?

Carrie, it's Detective Richards.

I tried you at home.

Please tell me you're not parked

outside

the ex-boyfriend's house again.

I am not parked outside

the ex-boyfriend's house again.

How well do you know

Liam Wilson?

He's like family.

He's been Erica's best friend

since, like, forever.

He's basically

a brother to Joey.

What?

We just got a tip.

We think he might have

something to do

with her disappearance.

What's going on?

Liam Wilson, we are bringing

you in for questioning

in connection

with the disappearance

of Erica Bennett.

What?

[Richards] But you admit

you two were fighting.

It wasn't a fight,

it was...

I mean, we had fought,

like I said,

but we weren't anymore.

We ribbed each other,

that's just how we talk...

talked.

I-I just...

I didn't trust him.

She pretended to be tough,

but she was so sensitive,

so fragile,

and I-I was worried

that he was drawn

to those parts of her,

preying on it maybe.

I-I...

I missed her.

She was my best friend,

and she just...

I-I'd never hurt her.

I was just joking around.

It was a dumb joke,

but I'd never hurt her, I swear.

I swear.

Thanks for coming.

I didn't really want my dad

finding out about all this.

No, I'm so sorry

you had to go through that.

I mean, this is ridiculous.

Thank you.

Can I ask you something?

Yeah. What?

Do you ever just... wonder.

I mean...

sometimes,

I just feel so guilty.

Like, if I had just

accepted Andrew,

or if I had supported Erica...

I wonder the same thing

all the time.

I just replay

everything in my head

over and over and over again,

and... and I still

just ask myself, you know,

"What if it is my fault?"

You're a good friend.

Let's get you home.

Yeah.

Come on, Finny.

Come on.



What's that?

Oh, my god!

Hey!

[knocking]

[Cooper]

Coroner's report came back.

The body is Ana Martinez.

She's been dead

for quite some time.

So we think it could be...?

A serial k*ller?

It could.

It could.

What a mess.

You couldn't possibly have

more bad news?

Remember that guy we picked up

on fraud a while back?

Lange?

Real hairy, eager to rat?

That's the one.

Wants to talk.

No thanks.

Little busy.

Serial k*ller, and all.

Yeah, I thought you'd say that.

So, that guy

who's awaiting trial

for k*lling that Bolski girl

a few years back...

Jeremy Carver?

Yeah.

Lange's befriended him

in prison.

Carver's been telling him

that Bolski

wasn't his only victim.

He better not be

messing with us.



[Richards] Okay.

I'm listening.

So...

Carver and I, we go, uh...

we go back.

I know him from before.

Vacation buddies?

Something like that.

He's been talking, a lot.

Get specific.

About girls he's hurt,

girls he's k*lled...

years ago,

before this arrest.

Other than just the girl

you had charged him on.

Lana Bolski.

At first, I was taking notes,

but then,

I convinced him

to write a confession letter

under a different name.

Under a different name?

Yeah.

I told him that if he wrote

a detailed confession letter

about the girls he m*rder*d,

and signed it off

as someone else,

I'd take it to the cops,

and you would let him go.

You know, because you'd think

someone else admitted

to the killings, not him.

That's the dumbest thing

I've ever heard.

Yeah, well,

Carver's one of the dumbest

monsters you'll ever meet.

Terrifying,

but damn stupid.

You got the letter?

More than just the letter.

The freak drew maps.

Maps?

Of where he buried the girls.

Give 'em to me.

Funny, now that I'm here,

I, uh...

I can't seem to remember

where I, uh... where I put 'em.

We'll help you get

a reduced sentence.

You know what, I just remembered

where they were.

Pleasure doing business

with you, Detective.



[Richards]

Just bag that up over there.

[Cooper] According to

Carver's map, this one is...

Shawnee Mason.

Callie Porter.

Still no Erica.

She's out here somewhere.

Yeah.

I have to tell Carrie.

[Richards] Jeremy Carver

has just confessed to the m*rder

of your daughter.

No, that's not possible.

She's not...

No.

You sure he's telling the truth?

We have good reason

to believe so.

No, I would know.

She's not.

I'm so, so sorry.

[Carrie]

So what did he say?

He wrote a confession letter.

Erica, along with

the other missing girls,

were named in it.

How do you know he's not lying?

Because he pointed us

to the locations

of their bodies.

Using his map,

we've been able to find

Shawnee Mason

and Callie Porter.

Did you find Erica?

Not yet, no,

but...

I have every reason

to believe we will.

Okay.

Well...

my daughter is alive.

You haven't found her body

because she's alive.

Carrie, please.

He was telling the truth

about all the other girls.

Okay, well, you can

trust a psychopath,

but I'm gonna trust my gut.

My daughter is alive.

Come back when you find her.

Please, just find her.

[Daniel] She was a vivacious

and caring daughter.

Adventurous.

She was a force...

and she was kind,

and loving, and funny.

She was her own person.

Even as a kid,

she knew who she was

and what she wanted,

and she was going

to give us hell

until she got it.

She was stubborn

in the best kind of way.

She never gave up.

Today would have been

her 18th birthday,

and I hope

we can all gather

a bit of her strength

as we say goodbye today.

This doesn't feel right.

[Joey] Mom...

[Daniel] Thank you,

everyone, for coming.

Please do stay

for coffee and pastries.

Thank you.

- I love you, Mom.

- I love you, Joey.

Beautiful tribute.

Thanks, Martina.

I'm so sorry, Carrie.

I know it feels horrible now,

and it stays horrible,

but the closure, it helps.

Carrie, please, no.

You have some nerve

showing up here.

I-I'm sorry. I'll go.

Are you crying?

Do you have any idea

what it feels like,

to sit here not knowing

if my daughter is actually...

I don't know what you did,

but I know you had

something to do with this,

and I am gonna figure it out,

and when I do, I will make sure

you rot in prison.

[sniffling]



[sighing]



Erica?



[judge]

The court will now proceed

with the sentencing

of Jeremy Carver

for the m*rder of Lana Bolski...

the manslaughter

of Ana Martinez...

the m*rder

of Shawnee Mason,

the m*rder of Gloria Carbone,

the m*rder of Erica Bennett.

[quietly] I can't believe

this is happening.

I know, Carrie.

I know.

There's been a change,

Your Honor.

I would like to inform the court

that Jeremy Frederick Carver

is not guilty

in the m*rder

of Erica Christine Bennett.

As you can see,

she's very much alive.

[rewinding sound]



What?

It's so nice to see you

so happy.

It's a good day.

It's a really good day.

Bye.

Bye, honey.

Erica!

You forgot your lunch, honey!

Thanks.

Aw, what's that for?

I love you, Mom.

I love you, too.



Get it together.

Okay. Where?

We can go to my place

if you want.

Your place?

Yeah. My parents

won't be home, so.

- Should be fun.

- All right.

- Hey.

- Hey.

I'll give you two some space.

Sounds good.

See ya.

[sighing]

Why do you look so... weird?

I don't look weird.

You look weird.

'Cause I am weird.

Also, I wanna go bowling

after school.

Yeah, I could go bowling.

Great.

Remember how we used to

do this all the time,

and it was super fun,

and you didn't hate me?

[Erica] I don't hate you.

[Liam] Yeah.

I kinda miss that.

I know. Me too.

You're my best friend.

You know that, right?

I know.

You're mine,

and I know that you hate him.

No, no, no, I don't hate him.

I never met him,

but he did break your heart,

so I kinda hate him forever now.

I just miss him so much.

You're a really good friend.

Well, obviously, b*tch,

come here.

You want a ride home?

No, I'm gonna walk.

See you tomorrow.



Hey.

[whispering]

What are you doing here?

You can't be here.

Please, you still

love me, right?

Erica, of course.

Of course, I love you...

Can't you just let me in?

I just need to talk to you

for a minute.

Please. [sobbing]

I miss you, just...

Just let me in, please.

Shh, shh. Baby, it's okay.

Come on, come in

Okay, okay.

[Erica crying]

Erica, it's good to see you,

but we're really

not supposed to...

This last month,

it's been awful.

I pretend like I'm fine

on the outside,

but on the inside,

I just feel like I'm dying,

and you won't even call me back!

It's not because

I don't want to.

It's the cop,

she freaked me out.

You don't think

it's k*lling me, too?

I love you so much.

I need to be with you.

Please.

Okay.

Please.

Okay, babe, we'll figure it out.

Us against the world.

You can stay here tonight.



I'm making breakfast.

[chuckling groggily]

Great.

Can I take your shirt?

Yeah, of course.

You need to buy syrup.

[chuckling]

Whatever Erica wants Erica gets.

Do you have a piano?

No.

Oh, I have a keyboard.

Can I use it?

I've always wanted to learn

how to play.

Whatever Erica wants.

So you grew up here?

Until I was 12.

When my parents died,

I went and lived

with my grandparents in Oregon,

but when I turned 18,

I found out

they left the house to me,

so I came back, moved in.

It was a little lonely at first.

Does it still feel lonely?

No.

[gasping] Can you pick up

the new Motherboard book?

- Yeah, that's out now.

- Yeah.

I forgot about that.

Me too. Me too.

Thank you.

Did you see this?

Oh, don't look at that.

It'll just make you upset.

I'm so lucky.

I'm so lucky.

[chuckling]





So, we can work on the wiring

until 11:00 a.m.,

when they open for business.

At this rate,

we'll be here for months.

Yeah.

Is it just me,

or are you pretty happy today?

You're practically giddy.

[giggling]

You got a date or something?

Maybe.

- Ah!

- Okay, let's go,

- we haven't got all day.

- [Roy laughing]

[car door slamming outside]

[Andrew] What's going on?

What-what are you...?

[Richards] Mr. Jensen.

[Richards]

Erica Bennett is missing,

again.

We'd like to look inside.

[Andrew] Okay.

[door unlocking]

[Richards]

You talk to Erica recently?

Um...

yeah.

I mean, no, I-I didn't.

I-I-I haven't.

We... We broke up.

You look nervous.

You didn't k*ll her,

did you, Andrew?

[Andrew]

No. God, of course not!

I-I-I'd never hurt her.

I love her.

[Richards] You love her?

I-I love her, but, I mean,

you told me

it could ruin my life.

When did you break up with her?

A few-few weeks ago.

Day after the arrest.

It scared me.

I told her

I couldn't do it anymore.

She-she's too young.

[Richards] It just doesn't

look great for you, Andrew.

We've barely finished

processing your first charge,

and now your victim

is missing again.

She's not my victim.

How are your scales coming?

Huh?

Apparently, not very well.

Where were you three days ago

on August 31st?

Working for Hudson Electronics,

a few miles away.

My boss can vouch for me.

Let's take a look upstairs.

Okay.

This your bedroom?

Yeah.

[Richards] You see

my problem here, right?

Last time she went missing,

she was with you.

Now, only a month

and some change later,

she's gone again,

and you're telling me

it has nothing to do with you.

I broke up with her

like you told me,

and now you're saying

she's missing?

Don't leave town.

[exhaling]

[Erica, faintly] Andy?

- Erica?

- Andy?

Erica, where are you?

Andy?

Oh!

Oh, you found that.

- Are they gone?

- Yeah.

I, um...

I-I found it when I was

moving the furniture.

That was scary.

Yeah, yeah, I, uh...

I-I-I think

we need to come clean.

What?

Yeah, I-I can't live like this.

That was awful.

I mean, they hate me,

the cops, they...

They'll arrest you again,

and they won't let you go!

You'll go to jail,

and not just for one night!

We don't know that.

We know that.

My mom told me.

It's... It's ill*gal,

us being together,

and, I mean, Andy,

you just lied to them.

Oh, I'm such an idiot.

No, you're brilliant,

because now they think

you live here alone.

This is the safest place

for me to be, for both of us.

These past few days,

they've been

the best days of my life.

Mine too.

So why would we let go of that?

We're meant to be together,

it's was all that outside crap

that was in the way,

but we're good.

We're right.

It's us against the world.

Us against the world.

[Andrew] Maybe we could

sell the house,

and I could buy some land.

I like that idea.

Can we get goats?

Goats are cute.

Goats are cute.

And a horse?

- I like horses.

- And bunnies.

Bunnies are hell a cute.

- [Erica giggling]

- Almost as cute as you.

[Detective Richards on TV]

One month ago,

15-year-old Erica Bennett

went to school

and never came home.

[Carrie] Erica, honey,

if you're watching this,

please come home.

Mom...

I promise you're not in trouble.

We're not angry, I swear.

I just...

I love you so much.

We love you so much,

and we just miss you...

miss you so, so much.

So, just please, come home.

Okay, honey?

Just come home.

I'm starting to feel bad.

I don't like this.

I just hate that she's scared.

Yeah.

I didn't mean to...

I thought that we would just

do this for a little bit...

Yeah.

I mean, I didn't think

that this would happen.

Should I send her a letter?

They're gonna arrest me.

What?

If-if you contact your mom,

they're gonna arrest me.

It's like you said.

I'd go to jail.

They're never

gonna let us be together.

Not-not until you're 18.

That's so long from now.

I don't know

how I'm gonna wait that long.

Maybe just

a little while longer?

Yeah.

I'm just not ready to...

Yeah, me either.

A little while longer,

and then I'll tell everyone.

It's romantic, really.

Right, right.

It's...

It's-it's romantic.

It is.



Erica?

It's 7:30.

I'm gonna...

I'm gonna head to work.

You okay?

Don't you wanna

say goodbye, or...

I need to go shopping.

What?

I need to get new clothes.

But I-I just... I got you

some new clothes last week.

W-we're trying to save.

[voice panicky] No, no,

they're just not fitting right,

and th-they're not my style,

and I don't like the way

that they look on me.

Why do you need new clothes

if you don't...

Sorry for wanting

to look nice for you.

What about this?

How about you pick some things

out of this catalogue?

You know, don't worry

about the price.

You can try them on.

Whatever doesn't fit,

I'll return.

It will be fun.

Yeah.

Okay.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, it's just...

it's getting

really stuffy inside,

and I just...

I wanna feel fresh for you.

[chuckling]

You always

look fresh to me, babe.

You're beautiful, I love you.



Hey...

You slept here all night?

[groaning] Mm-hmm.

Again?

Well, it's a half-day.

I'll be back soon.

[quietly] Okay.

Okay.

I love you.

[door opening]

You didn't wanna

drink a beer with me?

I don't know, I just...

Sometimes, I just-I just need

some time alone, babe, okay?

I-I'm either working,

or I'm here,

and, you know,

you're-you're always...

Where can I go?

My face is plastered

around town.

I know, that's not

what I meant, I just...

You don't like me being here?

No, I love you here.

I love you

more than anything, okay?

I just...

Sometimes, I just need

some space.

Okay?

Every person

needs some time alone.

Not me,

that's all that I have...

No, I'm sorry.

Let's not...

All right, we-we're both

making sacrifices, but...

you're worth it.

Really?

Of course.

Sorry.

It's okay.



[reporter] ...Jeremy Carver,

who's awaiting trial

for the m*rder of Lana Bolski,

has admitted to k*lling

several other

missing women in the area,

including Erica Bennett,

Shawnee Mason,

and Callie Porter.

Erica, come here!

Quick!

Yeah?

[reporter] ...are trying

to contain the community terror

amidst a slew

of missing girls...

What?

[reporter] ...while nerves

remain very high at this point,

and you can feel the tension

in the community right now

as investigators try

to put the pieces together...

I don't understand,

how did this...

I've never seen that man

in my life.

What do we do?

I don't...

I don't know.

[TV news continuing, indistinct]

[reporter] ...Ana Martinez.

The missing teen

was an exceptional student,

a beloved daughter,

with a big future...

[typing rapidly]

[TV news continuing, indistinct]

What are we gonna do?

I-I don't...

I don't know.

I don't think

there's anything we can...

You're...

You're not 18 yet,

so our relationship is still...

But I'm not dead.

My mom can't think

that I'm dead!

[reporter]... Carver is

expected to stand trial

in the next month...

This is insane.

Maybe it's better.

What?

No, I-I mean, this...

this whole thing.

Say we tell your mom,

wh-what would she even say?

I mean...

I think we're probably

criminals, right?

Not just me.

I just don't think there's

a version of us coming forward

where we can still be together.

Maybe it's-it's better

for you to just be...

Dead?

[Daniel] ...and I hope

we can all gather

a bit of her strength

as we say goodbye today.

Thank you, everyone, for coming.

Please, do stay

for coffee and pastries.

Thank you.

- [Martina] Beautiful tribute.

- [Daniel] Thanks, Martina.

- [Daniel] Carrie, please, no.

- [Carrie] You...

You have some nerve

showing your face here.

I'm sorry, I'll go.

I know you had

something to do with this.

I don't know how,

but when I figure it out,

I will make sure

that you rot in prison.

[door opening]

How was it?

Andy?

[opening beer can]

Andrew...

how was everything?

[Erica] Aw... cake?

It was awful, okay?

I-I can't believe

I, like, let you...

let all this happen.

You were the one who said

that we shouldn't come forward,

who said that

I was better off dead.

I didn't know what to do.

I wasn't willing

just to walk into

a jail cell, Erica.

Are you saying

that this is my fault?

That's not what I meant.

You invited me to stay here!

I never invited you.

You showed up at my doorstep

and you never left!

You said that I couldn't leave!

I never said that.

- You implied it.

- Okay, you wanna go?

Just go!

You want me to go?

You...

You told me you'd k*ll yourself

if you stayed at home,

do you remember?

I don't wanna go.

I don't want you to go either.

I'm sorry.

No, I'm sorry.

I feel like

I need to get out of here.

I have an idea.

- For a little bit and...

- Okay, okay.

Do not peek, okay?

- Where are we going?

- Shh.

I feel like I'm gonna fall.

Oh, my god.

Okay...

keep going, keep going.

[Erica] Okay.

This is where we met!

Oh, my god.

Let's go see

if our books are here.



This is so great.

[gasping] They have it!



This was really sweet.

I really miss the world.

Thank you.

[whispering] You're welcome,

and happy birthday.

I love you.

I love you!

Us against the world.

Us against the world.



[reporter] Ms. O'Brien, there

must be some relief to know,

after all these years,

what happened to her.



[Andrew] Another round!

[Roy]

You better slow down, cowboy.

[Andrew] Well, I'm just trying

to let off some steam.

[Roy] Maybe you should

come out with me

more that once a year, man,

and look, I got that new girl

I could set you up with

from work.

Ah, no.

She's blonde.

Blue eyes.

She's cute, man.

You would absolutely love her.

What is up with you, man?

Nothing. I'm good.

[sniffing]

Mm-hmm. Okay.

Ooh...

That is one sad story, huh?

Can't imagine how the families

must feel, you know?

What if I told you

she's at my house?

What, that girl?

You're not talking

about the dead girl, are you?

She's not dead.

[Roy laughs]

Man, what are you talking about?

Look, all right,

she was my girlfriend.

She wanted to run away,

so I let her crash with me,

and now it's been years.

Are you serious?

No! [chuckling awkwardly]

Of course not.

I'm kidding, okay?

I gotta go.

No, no, hey.

Andrew!

[door unlocking]

[breathing hard] Okay...

Is everything okay?

What's going on?

[panting] I don't know.

I, uh...

I had a few drinks, and...

I-I told Roy about you.

What?

What are you saying?

No, no, it's fine,

it's fine, it's fine.

Andrew, what did you say?

Please just tell me

what you said...

Y-Your picture, it was

all over the bar, the TVs.

I-It just freaked me out.

I-I-I-I told him...

you were at my house.

No...

No, but I-I told him

I was just joking.

- It-it-it's fine.

- What?

There's no way

he'd actually believe me.

We just need to lay low

a little while longer.

Lay low?

Andrew, I've been laying low

for almost four years!

I can't lay any lower!

[panicked breathing]

[whispering] Andy?



[Carrie, quietly] Erica?

[Erica, quietly] Mom?

No.

[sniffling and crying]

[operator] Police Tip Hotline,

how can I help you?

Um, I...

I ran away.

[operator] Okay.

Well, I'm glad to speak

with you tonight.

How long have you been

away from home?

It's... It's been a while.

I've been living with someone.

Um, but I saw this man

on the news, and...

he's been charged with...

my m*rder.

I just wanna go home,

but I don't know how.

And I'm 18 now.

It's important to know

that I'm 18,

and no one forced me to.

N-No one forced me

to stay away, it was just...

it was just a big mistake.

[beeping phone off]

Erica, I've been-I've been

reading on this Carver guy...

I need to tell you something.

No, he's bad news...

No, I did something

really stupid...

[loud knocking on door]

Police! Open up!

We have a warrant!

Should I hide?

Yeah, hide, hide.

[insistent knocking]

It's been a long time,

Mr. Jensen.

We have a warrant

to search the premises

on suspicion that you've been

harboring a runaway.

Is Erica Bennett

living in this home?

Andrew, is Erica here?

Last chance.

Can I get a lawyer?

Erica?

Are you okay?

I'm sorry.

[exhaling]



[no audio]



How did you find me?

We got a tip.

Your boyfriend told someone

you were living with him.

So what now?

We take you the station,

and then the courthouse.

Are my parents there?

Yes, they are.

[panicked breathing]



the m*rder

of Gloria Carbone,

the m*rder of Erica Bennett.

I can't believe

this is happening.

[Daniel] I know, Carrie.

I know.

[prosecutor] There's been

a change, Your Honor.

Go on.

[prosecutor] I would like

to inform the court

that Jeremy Frederick Carver

is not guilty

in the m*rder

of Erica Christine Bennett.

[gasping]

As you can see,

she's very much alive.

Oh, my god...

I'm sorry.

[sobbing]



I'm sorry, Mom.

Oh, my God, sweetie, it's okay.



- I'm sorry, Dad.

- That's okay.

I've never seen Mr. Carver

or any of the witnesses

in my life.

He had nothing to do with it.

I just...

I just ran away.

[reporter] Oh, here they come.

[reporters clamoring]

Erica, how could you do this

to your family?

Ms. O'Brien, can you ever

forgive your daughter

for such a terrible lie?

I'm so sorry.

Okay, let's go.

Erica!

[reporters clamoring]

Can you tell us

how you're feeling?

[reporters clamoring]

What's gonna happen to Andrew?

Hopefully, he goes to prison

for a very long time.

Mom, he had

nothing to do with it.

I love him.

Please, please

don't press charges.

Look, if you're gonna

be mad at somebody,

be mad at me.

Seriously?

[Joey scoffing]

Joey...

Give him time.

He lost years of his life to...



Well, Jim, as you just

heard right there,

the community

is very unsympathetic

for Erica Bennett.

[woman] I'm glad she's safe,

but all those resources

spent on her...

it's a shame is what it is.

[man] She should go to jail.

What a horrible thing to do.

[reporter]

There's a lot of questions

that still need to be answered.

We will be pressing for that

in the coming days,

but right now,

there's a lot of relief

that Erica has been found safe.

It's fine.

I deserve to be punished.

Oh, honey.

Punished.

Oh, I don't even know

where to begin...

I know.

I know, Mom.

No, honey, you don't know.

You don't know what it's like

to have your daughter

be missing for four years.

Everyone telling you

that she's dead...

but I knew.

I knew in my gut.

But only to find out

you were, what, a mile away,

and you couldn't pick up

the damn phone?

[sobbing]

I'm so sorry.

[Carrie sobbing]

I know that I wasn't

a perfect mother.

I know, but...

Mom, no...

I mean, I feel like

you and Joey always knew

how much I loved you,

how much I'd be there for you.

I'm so sorry.

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

Hi, this is the National News.

We'd like to tell

your daughter's story.

It's the National News show.

They-they want to tell

your story.

So many people find it

hard to believe

that you would have

put your family

through so much pain,

tat, if you really loved them,

you would never

have done this to them.

I do love them.

Honestly, I didn't mean

for any of this to happen.

I just got in deeper and deeper,

and I couldn't climb out.

[interviewer] You were afraid?

Yeah.

It just kinda snowballed,

and it got out of hand.

Hey.

Sorry I'm late.

It's okay.

I, uh... I just...

I just wanted to say

I'm-I'm glad you're okay, but...

I-I don't think I'm ready

to be friends again.

Liam, I didn't mean to hurt you.

But you did.

Goodbye, Erica.

But wait...

[interviewer] What made you

decide you couldn't go home?

I thought I'd be sent to prison,

I thought I'd be sent away.

I was afraid

of the consequences.

I can wait a year, easy.

I'm just so glad

it isn't longer.

Things are so much better.

I mean, you being an adult

makes all the difference,

and your mom

dropped some of the charges.

I know.

Will you tell her thank you?

I will.

I love you.

I love you, too.



[interviewer] What was it like

when Erica was away?

How did you feel?

The pain, it's...

It's hard to imagine the pain.

It's, like, every day,

I would just

think about her, and...

You know, what...

what was she doing?

Or...

Like, what did she

look like that day?

The longer it went on,

the worse it got.

Hey!

[Joey sighing]

Do you wanna, like, hang out,

or we could see a movie

or something?

You think I wanna

just see a movie...

with you?

Joey, I miss you, and...

Wow. I...

Your, like, stunt...

For four years,

I've been living like...

a ghost, or something.

Mom was never around,

even if she actually was.

Whenever anything good

happened to me,

I felt guilty for even thinking

about being happy.

All anyone wanted to do

was think about Erica.

What happened to Erica?

Let's all be sad about Erica.

I wish you had just stayed away.

[judge] $115,000

to be paid back

to the City of Navoto

for resources related

to the false

police investigation.

Yes, Your Honor.

Of course, Your Honor.

[interviewer]

And how are things now?

At the moment, it's hard.

She's going to have to

rebuild that trust with me...

but I love my daughter.

All I wanted

was for her to be happy...

safe.

I still want that for her.



[Erica] Okay,

and... open.

[giggling]

Welcome home.

Us against the world.

[Erica] I never meant

to hurt my mom,

or my brother, ever.

I just wanted to live my life

the way that I wanted.

Are you working to mend

your relationship with them now?

I am.

With my brother, it's...

it's hard,

but I'm hoping that with time,

it gets better.

Me and my mom,

we're working on it.

We wanna be okay

with each other again,

you know?

Is that everything?

[interviewer] What's it like

going back to Andrew's house?

Is it like a prison,

or do you think of it

more as a home?

[Erica] It's home.

[interviewer] Are you sure?

[Erica] Yes.



Now, a lot has been made

of the fact

that you were a child

and he was an adult.

Do you think you were

making these choices yourself?

Yes.

Yes, I was.

But, you know, psychologically,

do you accept that maybe

he had some control over you?

No, that's not true.



Thought you might like it.



Thank you for having both of us.

Oh, honey, I'm so glad you came.

Really?

Yeah.

'Cause I just worry

that things aren't fully okay

between us yet.

Oh, honey, it is.

I-I want it to be.

I-I don't know

if I was too negative.

- No.

- Or...

Was I doing anything

to make you uncom...

No. No...

Okay.

I just wish things were easier.

I think it will be...

with time.

I just don't want

to lose you again.

Oh, Mom, you're not

gonna lose me again.

I love you.

Honey...

I love you, too.

Help me clean this mess up?

Fine.

[both chuckling]



[interviewer] What do you hope

for your future, Erica?

[Erica]

I just wanna live my life,

in peace,

and freedom,

not in hiding.

I don't want anyone to judge me

for who I love.

I just want to be free.

You know?

I just want to be free.