A Kidnapping in Amish Country (2024)

[bunniefuu]

[pleasant music]

Down the lonely road I go

To wash away my sins

When you hear

that mournful cry

You'll know

just where I've been

[vocalizing]

Whispering come answer

my prayers

[knock at door]

[rapid knocking continues]

- Aaron?

[knocking]

Aaron!

[knocking continues]

Aaron, please! Aaron!

Aaron!

- Lena.

- Thank God.

- Lena, what's going on?

- I'm so sorry.

It was all my fault.

It was all a mistake.

And I never should have left.

I, I should have stayed

and married you when you asked.

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

It's all my fault.

- Okay. It's okay.

[sobbing]

Take a deep breath.

[sharp inhale]

Whatever happened,

wherever you went with

the English, it's okay.

It's all over.

'Cause you're back now. Right?

[sniffles]

- You always have a home

here with the Amish.

And you will always

have a home here with me.

Especially if what you're saying

is that you are

accepting my proposal.

- You mean you haven't...

- Do you see a beard?

[laughs]

[laughs]

- Would you like to marry me?

[sniffles] Mm-hmm.

- Wait, wait.

- Upstairs.

[moans]

Okay.

[cell phone chimes]

[gasps]

[chiming continues]

[zipper opening]

[chiming continues]

[message pings]

[zipper closing]

[pleasant music]

- Roar!

[laughs]

I got you, Mommy.

- You did, Miri. Good job.

I got you!

[laughing]

- I love you, Miriam.

- I love you too, Mommy.

- Okay, we should go

and get some dinner ready

before your father

returns from the store.

- Okay.

- Okay!

- Let me help.

- I can manage.

You worked all day.

- And now I wanna show

my appreciation for my wife.

And everything she does for me.

- All right.

- What's Miriam doing?

- She's just playing with

Green Baby and Blue Baby.

[inhales and exhales deeply]

- You shouldn't have

let her name them.

It's idolatrous.

- She had to call them

something.

It's descriptive.

Besides, I know someone

who had a wooden horse

named Sam when he was young.

- I shouldn't have done that.

- Well, you turned out

all right in the end.

More than all right.

- We can't indulge her, Lena.

She needs to keep

to the right path.

- She will. She's a smart girl.

[somber music plays]

Do you ever think about what

she'll be when she grows up?

- Of course.

- Maybe she'll be a midwife.

She does love babies.

- Maybe.

- Or she could be a teacher.

- She is already reading.

- Or maybe you could teach her

how to do the books

at the furniture store.

- Maybe.

If her husband decides he wants

to take over the store one day,

and if he allows her to work.

- That's the question, isn't it?

Who she marries.

What he allows.

- She'll find a good man

to guide her.

And no matter what,

she'll be the stalwart

of her family's home.

Just like her mother.

- Of course.

- Ready?

- Ready.

- Okay. Let's get you in.

So, there is Green Baby.

And Blue Baby. All set?

- Yes.

- Hmm. Good night, Liebchen.

- Good night.

[tender music]

- Miri?

- Yes?

- Do you ever think about what

you'll be when you grow up?

- I wanna be just

like you, Mommy.

- Thank you, Miri.

Good night.

- Good night.

[music turns melancholic]

- Finished with the chores?

- I am.

- Then would you like to

go upstairs with me?

- You're ready to try again?

- Yeah, I think

Miriam would love to have

a little brother or sister.

[giggles]

- Lena, stop it!

[panting]

What was that?

- I'm sorry.

I thought you might like it.

- We can just do

what we always do.

- Was that...

Did you learn that from someone?

- What do you mean?

- Was that something you

learned with someone else?

- No.

- I just thought

it might be nice for you.

- Don't lie to me.

- I'm not.

- I know what you did out there.

- And I renounced

all of that when I came back.

When I married you. All of it.

- Obviously not all of it.

- When are you gonna stop

holding this over my head?

- When you finally

stop deceiving me.

- Aaron,

I do not lie to you.

- That is how I know you do.

Being a true Christian

means acknowledging that you

are a sinner and then

asking for the forgiveness

you do not deserve.

- But you are asking me to...

admit to sins

I have not committed.

- Then ask for forgiveness

for disrespecting

and disobeying your husband.

I am the head of this house.

You will treat me with

the respect I'm due.

Pray for the Lord's guidance

and then go to sleep.

We're visiting with

the Ebersoles tomorrow.

[panicked breathing]

- Aaron! Aaron, please!

- Confess.

- Confess what?

[threatening music]

[shrieking]

[gasping]

[panicked breathing]

Aaron?

[footsteps approach]

Couldn't sleep?

- Not a wink.

There's a verse

I can't get out of my head.

Proverbs 15:1.

- A kind word turns away wrath.

But a severe one stirs up anger.

- More or less.

[sighs]

I wish I had thought of that

before I spoke to you

the way I did last night.

- I wish I had too.

- Tell me now that you've

been completely honest with me

and I promise

I will believe you.

- I have told you everything.

- Okay.

I love you.

- I love you, too.

- Go back to bed.

- I'll stay up if you are.

- All right.

- Going to put the last

touches on here for you.

One pin.

And...

Two pin.

You're so still. Thank you.

There we go. Got it.

- Thank you.

- Oh, who are we bringing

with us today?

- Blue Baby.

- Blue Baby. Okay.

But she has to stay

in the buggy, all right?

- All right.

- Let's go and put Green Baby

upstairs 'cause we gotta go.

- Okay.

- All right, perfect.

- So, I say all right.

I personally will deliver

it to your mother today.

Where in town

does your mother live?

- Oh, well my mother doesn't

live in town anymore.

- Where does your mother live?

- California.

[all laugh]

- Can you imagine?

I don't know with these people.

- It's been far too long

since we last came visiting.

How are your parents getting on?

- Very well.

- That's good to hear.

Is your father still

working his own farm?

- Indeed.

- Of course he is.

He'll outlive us all.

[chuckles]

Do you ever hear from Skye?

- No.

- Oh.

I just haven't been in touch

with then since I returned.

Skye used to send me letters

when we were on Rumspringa.

I hoped maybe they,

they still did.

Skye had just started journalism

school when I came back.

Do you know if

they ever graduated?

I'd bet they'd make

a great journalist.

- I think you're ready to sieve.

- Oh, of course.

Uh, Ruth, I...

[curious music]

- Lena?

- In here.

- Oh, there you are.

What are you doing?

Where's Ruth?

- Uh, she just went upstairs.

I don't think she's

feeling very well.

- Oh, that's too bad.

Do you need any help?

- No.

- Are you doing okay?

- You know what I realized

on the carriage ride over?

- What?

- It's the 14th.

- And?

Oh, it is.

Hmm. Five years.

- Mm-hmm.

To the day.

Or five years and a day,

since I got back at night.

[laughs]

- Mm-hmm.

Where does the time go?

- But when I think about

everything that's

happened since,

getting married,

your parents,

you taking over the store,

Miriam.

The miscarriages. I...

- We've been through a lot.

A lot of tough times.

But a lot of good ones, too.

Don't forget that, right?

- Right.

Okay.

- What can I do? Oh, all right.

- She's out.

- Yeah, she had a big day.

- I hope she has a little

brother or sister one day.

- She will.

If the Lord is willing.

- Ruth could hardly

bear to hear Skye's name.

- You shouldn't

have said anything.

- I know.

But I couldn't help but wonder.

Skye was my best friend.

- Whoa!

[horse neighs]

- Ach du lieva! Hello?

- Hello?

Sir!

- Stop.

- He's hurt!

- I have a bad

feeling about this.

Do you not remember the man

on the road from

Jerusalem to Jericho?

- Of course.

- You would have me

be the Levite?

- Aaron...

- I will not abandon

Christian charity.

- Please.

- Sir!

- Okay. You stay, okay?

- Sir!

- Sir!

He's breathing.

Lena, help me.

[car door shuts]

[gasps then screams]

[grunts]

[thudding blow]

[grunts]

- Miriam! Miriam!

[grunting]

- Miriam! Miriam!

[panting]

[thudding blow]

[siren wailing]

[somber music]

[panicked breathing]

Miriam!

Aaron.

Are you hurt?

- What happened?

- They took Miriam.

- No!

- Shh! Keep your voice down.

- What do we do?

- We do what it says.

- Mr. and Mrs. Bieler?

- I'm Detective Fisk.

Care to tell me

what happened here?

- Uh...

- There was a man

in the middle of the road

and when we stopped to help him,

a bunch of men jumped out

and attacked us.

- And uh, why did you

uh, yell "Miriam"?

- I was confused when I woke up.

Our daughter is staying

with her grandparents.

- So, she wasn't with you?

- No. She's safe and sound.

- What are we doing?

We should have

talked to the police.

- Did you not read my arm?

- Still we should

have told them.

- No police or she die.

- The grammar is wrong.

Whoever wrote that

didn't speak Dietsch

but they knew we did.

This wasn't something random.

They came prepared.

- So, what do we do?

- I don't know.

- What are you doing?

- There's got to be

more to the message.

Take off your clothes.

- What?

- Just do it.

[panicked breathing]

[gasps]

- Lena.

- "Old house Newton Road

8 AM, $500,000."

That's impossible.

There's no way I could

ever get that much money,

let alone by morning.

There must be some mistake.

Right?

[breathing quickly]

Lena!

- Are the shovels in

the barn or the garden shed?

- Shovels? What for?

- Just trust me.

- Over here, this is it.

Hold this.

- Lena, just talk to me.

What are we doing out here?

- We're digging.

- Why?

- I said to trust me.

- I do trust you.

This is absurd.

- Do you have a way to

find Miriam right now?

- Lena, I just need you

to wait for a minute.

- No, answer me.

Do you, in this moment, have

a way to save our daughter?

- No.

- Well, I do.

I'll explain later when we have

more time but for now, we dig.

[tense music]

- Okay. Got it. Light.

[grunts]

- I've seen that before.

You had it with you

the night you came back.

But it was gone in the morning.

You said you threw it out.

It was full of all

your English clothes.

- I lied.

- And what is in it?

- Something like $500,000.

I don't know exactly. I never

got a chance to count it but...

Those guys knew

everything about us.

I bet they're right

about this, too.

Okay, good.

[suitcase zips closed]

Okay. Let's go.

- No, Lena, hold on.

Just wait a minute.

- Let's go.

- Where'd this money come from?

- Let's get rid of this light.

I don't want anyone to see us.

- Lena! You will listen to me.

[huffs]

I know you know your scriptures.

I am to this house

as Christ is to the church.

So, as we submit to God,

you submit to me.

[suitcase clatters]

Lena.

Lena!

You need to tell me the truth.

The whole truth.

Who are those men?

- I don't know.

- Then where did

the money come from?

- I told you, it doesn't matter.

- Of course it matters.

I always knew you

were hiding something.

You did something.

Something terrible and now

it's put our daughter in danger.

This is all your fault.

How could you?

- Get the carriage.

- No.

- Get the carriage, Aaron.

- I won't do it.

- Then I will.

- Lena, I am the master

of this house.

- Let go!

- What are you doing?

- I am getting Miriam back

and nobody's going to stop me,

not even you.

Get the carriage.

- Have you lost your mind?

- Carriage. Now.

- Fine.

You're my wife.

You're supposed to listen to me.

This is my house.

[barn door creaks]

Lena!

[panting]

Lena! Let me out!

- Sorry. But I have to do this.

I'll be back with Miriam soon.

[door rattling]

[shouts]

Lena! Lena!

[dark tense music]

[suitcase wheels rattling]

- Hello?

[gasps]

- Did you bring it?

- Yes.

- Show me.

- Where's your husband?

- He's not coming.

- I see.

- Now you got what you want.

Now, where's Miriam?

- There's actually just

uh, one more thing.

[inhales sharply]

[grunting]

- What are you doing?

[panting]

- Now...

Hold her and get that bonnet.

You know, I've had a lot of

interesting jobs in my life,

but this,

this definitely

gets the blue ribbon.

My employer says y'all don't

like taking pictures. That true?

Said it was about pride.

[pained exhale]

That pictures set you apart.

Makes you the focus.

The center of attention.

That it takes the focus

away from God.

Yeah well, makes sense, I guess.

He also said it

was about makeup.

How it induces vanity.

Another one of

the seven deadly sins.

- You know, my parents

are Catholic but uh,

I never really saw the appeal.

[grunting]

Stay still.

Good.

Now listen,

he said

that you've made yourself

more than just prideful.

You've made yourself

a graven image.

An idol to worship. Huh?

There you go.

- Are you happy now?

- There's actually

uh, one last thing.

Smile.

One for my employer.

And of course, one for you.

Now, always remember

that this is the sl*t

that you actually are.

- Fine.

Just give me my daughter.

- You're never

gonna see her again.

- What? No.

No, no, that wasn't the deal.

Get back here! Stop!

Stop and come back!

[screams]

[sobbing]

[ominous beat]

[grunting]

[somber music]

[exhales]

[sighs]

[digital beep]

- Hey folks,

Skye Kaufman here again.

By day I'm

the courthouse reporter

for Lancaster's only alt

weekly, the Metro Pulse.

So, hit that link in my bio

if you're into

criminal justice issues.

But it is the weekend, so it

is time for another installment

of "Ask an Ex-Amish".

Cool. Okay. Um, first question,

were you out as non-binary

when you were Amish?

No.

No, no, no, no.

The Amish have

very strict gender roles,

so doing anything outside

the bounds

of what a man or a woman

is supposed to do

is gonna be a big problem.

Hence, ex-Amish.

Okay. Um, next question.

Do the Amish wear sunscreen?

Huh. No.

Um, a lot of Amish

people work outside

but typically they wear

clothing to cover themselves up.

[knock on door]

- Uh...

[digital beep]

[knocking continues]

What are you doing here?

- I need your help.

- Seriously.

- Five years no word

and now you want my help?

- I'm sorry.

- Do you know how many times

in the past five years

I could've used help?

- No.

- Yeah, of course not.

- We had a pact, Lena.

Leave together. Never go back.

- I know. But...

- So, why did you?

- It's complicated.

- Really. It's complicated?

Wow, okay, well...

You're totally absolved

then if it's complicated.

- Skye...

- No, that's what Jesus

once said, right?

Father, forgive them.

It's complicated.

- They took my daughter.

- You have a daughter?

- And when I got home,

Aaron was gone.

He left a note saying that

he was going to the cops.

[somber music continues]

So, you'll help me?

- Where did the money come from?

- I can't tell you that.

- Did you hurt

someone to get it?

- No.

- Then...

Maybe we should go to the cops.

- They said no cops or she dies.

- But if we just tell them

who you took the money from...

- I can't.

- Lena, what happened?

- It's not important, okay?

We just have to find her.

Look, I know you have a million

reasons not to help me

but I am asking you to anyway.

You're smart, you're a reporter

and you're the only friend

I've got in the English world.

Skye, you're my only chance.

You're her only chance.

- A daughter. Huh.

- Were you ever gonna tell me?

- She's all I got.

- Okay.

- Thank you.

- And I know where to start.

- Where?

- Well, if you

stabbed their tire

I bet they couldn't

get very far on a flat.

- Well, let's see if

the fourth try is a charm.

[tools whirring]

- Hey.

Hi.

- Last night, did anyone uh,

come in here with a black SUV?

- Uh, I don't know.

I wasn't on shift.

- Are you sure?

- Uh well, are there any

cameras we can take a look at?

Or log books?

All we need is a license plate.

- It's against company policy.

Sorry, I can't do that.

- Yo, you do the ex-Amish

videos, right?

- Oh yeah, that's me.

- Yo! I got a page

too, CJ Hundred K.

- Oh, nice.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

- Uh, wait, CJ Hundred... Yeah,

no I totally recognize you.

Yeah, CJ Hundred K. Totally.

Yeah, your stuff is great.

I love your videos, man.

Do you wanna do a quick collab?

- Hell yeah.

- Okay, yeah. We could

use my phone right now.

- Yeah.

- Uh yeah, I might just

use the restroom.

- Uh yeah, it's...

- Okay, cool.

- Yeah, uh Skye.

- CJ.

- Hey.

So, yeah, I figure we keep it

short and sweet,

you know uh, pop in, pop out,

do our stuff.

- Your page is about...

- Video games.

- Video games.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, totally.

Okay um...

Hey folks, Skye Kaufman from

Ask an Ex-Amish here

with my guy,

CJ, AKA CJ Hundred K.

[muffled talking continues

in background]

Of course they don't.

But if you're watching this,

you're probably not Amish.

[muffled talking continues

in background]

Nice, good ending, yeah.

- Um, I don't know, do you wanna

like maybe do

another take just to...

- That... That was perfect.

That was the one.

- That was the one.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, thank you.

- Yeah, I --

- Thank you so much.

[exhales]

- Skye, come on.

I got a plate number.

I got a plate number.

- Oh, nice.

Oh, got just the guy.

Hey, Barry. It's Skye.

Remember that favor you owe me?

[call ringing]

- Yeah.

- Yeah, two people just came in.

- Were they cops?

- Nah, they were Amish.

- Amish? How do you know?

- One of them makes Amish

videos on social media.

Skye Kaufman Reports.

Skye with an E.

- All right.

- Look man, you said there

wasn't gonna be any loose ends.

- I'm handling it.

- Yeah, but --

[exhales]

[Skye]:

Hey guys, Skye Kaufman here.

Uh, just out for a walk around

my neighborhood

and thought I'd do a quick video

because I got a lot of questions

on my post about whether

or not Amish men wear underwear.

[video rewinds quickly]

Just out for a walk

around my neighborhood.

Wouldn't you love

to know, you pervs?

So, the answer to that is

that I actually have no idea

because I was not allowed

to see any of that.

A lot of you asked if

I knew any Mennonite humor.

Why don't Mennonites

have sex standing up?

'Cause it might lead to dancing.

[phone rings]

- Hey, Barry, what's the word?

Yeah, got it.

No, thanks anyways.

[sighs]

Car was reported stolen

this morning in Harrisburg.

He said there's an APB out.

- So, what, we just wait?

- I don't think

there's much point.

If they were smart enough

not to use their own vehicle,

they were probably smart enough

to ditch it as soon

as they could.

- Okay, so we try to find

the car and we go from there.

- Chances are it's in

a hundred pieces in a chop shop

or on a shipping container

in Baltimore harbor.

- Which means you need to tell

me where that money came from.

- No.

- It's our only lead.

- I said no.

- I can't find someone

with no information.

You might as well

ask a Ouija board.

- I told you, I can't.

- Why not?

- Because anyone

who could tell us is dead.

[sighs]

- They're almost here.

- I don't wanna hear it.

- Come on, we have --

- I don't wanna hear

how these guys are so solid.

I don't need to hear about

how important this deal is.

I don't wanna hear how

this is the deal of deals.

- Do you realize what's

on the table right now?

Do you understand

how big this is?

- What I want to hear is

let's go out wherever you want,

put on your makeup,

we're gonna have

the night of nights. Okay?

[knock on door]

[sighs]

Fine. But hurry up.

And I still wanna

hear that first part.

Hey.

Go get your purse.

Touch up your makeup

just a little bit

'cause I'm taking you out.

We're gonna go

wherever you wanna go.

We're gonna have

the night of our lives.

[chuckles]

[knocking continues]

Go.

[sighs]

[exhales]

- Hmm.

[g*nsh*t cracks]

[g*nshots continue]

[panting]

[tense music]

[whimpers]

[gasps]

- Eddie?

[sobbing]

Eddie.

[breathes shakily]

[sobbing]

[sobs]

[sobbing]

[sobbing]

[energetic tense music]

- The only people didn't wind up

dead on that living room floor

were me and whoever

texted Eddie's phone.

And I have no idea who that was.

I took the money.

I knew that God

had seen what I'd done

and I knew that

he was punishing me,

and I still took it.

Just in case, I thought.

And now he's punishing me again.

- I don't think God

is punishing you.

- There's no hedging

your bets with God.

This is all my fault

and I'm gonna make it right.

I'm gonna find her.

I just need to figure out

what we do next.

- When was

the last time you slept?

- Maybe we go back to

that old farmhouse.

- Lena... How long?

- I don't know, maybe since

the night before last.

- Yeah. You need to sleep.

- No, I don't.

- You're exhausted.

- I'm fine, I just...

I need to take

a shower to wake up.

[water rushing]

[water rushing]

[rock music through headphones]

[knock at door]

[knocking continues]

- Yeah, who is it?

- I got a package for uh...

Skye Kaufman.

You gotta sign for it.

- Okay. One sec.

- Sign here.

[grunting]

[choking]

[water rushing]

[grunting continues]

[rock music plays loudly]

[grunting continues]

[gasping]

[grunts]

[screams]

[grunting resumes]

[choking]

[grunting]

[screams]

[shrieks]

[vase shatters]

[panting]

[coughs]

[upbeat pop music]

- What?

[coughs]

I like a mix.

- Nice.

- I got zip ties.

- I don't think we need them.

- What, he's still

not responding?

- Not a bit.

- I just covered

an as*ault case

that involved

a traumatic brain injury.

Being out this long

is not a good sign.

Yeah, one of his

pupils is definitely dilated.

- What does that mean?

- It means we need to

get him to a hospital.

- But I was knocked

out last night.

- Yeah, and I bet

the paramedics tried to get you

to go to a hospital too.

- Yeah.

- And you probably

should've listened to them.

Look, he's the best chance

we have of finding Miriam.

- But if we take him

to a hospital,

the cops are gonna get involved.

- It's either that

or risking him dying

and taking his answers with him.

- Okay. Okay.

- But first,

help me check his pockets.

- Why?

- Because he doesn't keep all

of his answers in his head.

Thank God

for facial recognition.

- And we need his ride.

- I'll pull it up.

[breathing quickly]

[car beeps]

[grunting]

- Okay, go.

Uh...

[grunting continues]

- Are you sure about

the dilated pupils thing?

- No. I'm going off of testimony

I heard six months ago.

- And what else did

they say to look out for?

- Uh... seizures, or like,

anything clear fluids

from his nose.

- Or waking up?

- He's awake?

- No.

- Then why would you say that?

- I mean, it's possible, right?

[huffs]

- Maybe we should get him those

zip ties. Or a knife or...

- Or...

[siren wails]

- What do we do?

- I don't know.

- We can run.

- No, we can't run.

- We can't go to jail.

- Just give me a sec to think.

[siren approaches]

- Help. Help, officer!

Officer, help. Officer?

- Ma'am, you okay?

- Thank god you're here. We

gotta get him to the hospital.

He got jumped by package thieves

outside our building and-

- Call an ambulance.

- Listen, I'm a nurse.

This man has dilated pupils.

Clear discharge coming from

his nose and he's seized twice.

- He's gonna be dead by

the time an ambulance gets here

so pull up your car.

Help us get him in back.

[exhales]

- Uh yeah. Okay, here.

- What are you,

what are you doing?

- Looking for his ID.

- Why?

- So we can get

his home address.

- You mean like

the one on his GPS?

[car door opens]

- Quick. He's here.

- Okay.

- Okay, I've got his shoulders.

- Good.

- Okay, you got him?

[knocking on door]

[knocking on door]

- Hello?

Hello?

- I'll take this floor.

- Okay. I'm gonna go upstairs.

[uneasy music]

[breathing shakily]

- Miriam?

[door clicks open]

[zippers open]

- Found his laptop.

Any luck up here?

- Uh no.

Just the suitcase, empty,

and Eddie's broken phone.

- Is that hers?

- She calls it Blue Baby.

- What's she like?

- She's smart. Really smart.

She just started reading.

At first I thought she was

just memorizing books but no.

- Well, that's amazing.

- And she's really independent.

Or stubborn, more like it.

Especially when

she knows she's right.

Her dad's already had to have

a bunch of talks with her

about humility.

- I remember those talks.

- She reminds me a lot

of you when we were kids.

- I can't wait to meet her.

- Now, come on.

I'll uh, go through

his computer.

You do another sweep downstairs.

See if I missed anything.

[sighs]

You find anything else?

- Nothing.

- Yeah, I've been through

his phone and his computer.

I found messages from

one other guy involved

but none to anyone who seems

like they're actually in charge.

I texted "How's the girl doing?"

to that number but he just

sent back a confused reply.

- What do you mean?

- He said

the handoff is complete.

His job is done.

- Okay, so let's text them back.

Find out where the drop was.

- I did. No reply.

- He must have

taken out his SIM

as soon as I started

asking questions.

- So, who do you think

has her now?

- Whoever hired him.

- And there's no trace of him?

- None.

I don't know how, but

the guy in charge

has covered his

tracks completely.

No texts, no calls, no emails.

Nothing.

- Okay, so another dead end.

- Yeah.

[sighs]

Wait...

You said you got

messages on this phone

from the person that

we're looking for, right?

- Yeah, but I didn't get a name.

It was a burner.

Eddie was always

switching out his phones.

- But you said you

got the text message

and then immediately

snapped it in half?

- Yeah.

- And the number wasn't blocked,

or private, or anything?

- No, it just

came up as a number.

- I think I can work with that.

Let's go.

[computer beeps]

- Et voila.

Fully functioning digital

clone of Eddie's old phone.

Now the only question is,

what do you wanna say?

- What I want to say is

that he should start praying.

But I'm not gonna say that

because it's not gonna

get me what I want.

- Is there anything else we can

do while we wait for a reply?

- I mean, we've got

the number itself.

I could see if it's

registered anywhere.

- So, you can connect

that number to a name?

- I mean, it's kind of

a long shot but --

- Okay.

- Do know of a couple websites.

- He's calling.

What do you wanna do?

- Answer it.

I'll do the talking.

- Who the hell is this?

And why are you texting me

from my dead son's phone?

- Margaret?

- Obviously. Explain yourself.

- It, it's Lena.

- Who?

- I used to date Eddie.

- Oh. The Amish girl.

- It's about my daughter.

- So, this is

a paternity scam then?

- No.

- Frankly, it's a little late

for that. But be my guest.

Might as well make use of

those idiots I keep on retainer.

- You kidnapped my daughter!

- Why would I do

a thing like that?

- That night that

Eddie was k*lled,

there was a bunch of money

and I know he stole it from you.

He sold one of my thoroughbreds.

- Still, that was a lot

of money I took from him.

- So, that was you.

- Of course it was.

And now you've got it back,

so I want my daughter.

- I wanna be very clear about

something, little girl.

Whatever happened between

you and my son,

I do not care.

And whatever happened to

that money, I do not care.

And whatever is happening

to you now I do not care.

In fact, the only thing

that I really regret

about what happened to Edward,

it was a damn good horse.

[dial tone]

[somber music]

- I never should have

taken the doll.

- What?

- I should have left it

at that old man's house.

That way at least

Miri would have it.

- Don't talk like that.

- Like what?

- Like you've given up.

- That phone was our last hope.

- No, it's not true.

- What then?

- I don't know.

- Exactly.

I don't know either.

I don't know where Miriam is.

I don't know if she's okay.

I don't know if she's hungry,

or cold or scared.

- So what, you're just

gonna give up then?

Just like when you went back?

I remember the girl

that you were before.

The girl who left with me.

The first person I came out to.

The person who said

that we didn't have to be

what other people

wanted us to be.

That the lives that we wanted

were worth fighting for.

What happened to her?

How did she wind up

someone's housewife?

- That's not fair.

- How did she end up

cooking and cleaning

and relying on

a man for everything?

- What would you prefer then?

That I was out drinking and

dancing and having sex

with some rich kid playing

at being a drug dealer?

- At least that was your choice!

- Going back was my choice.

Being a wife, a mother.

Living by God's will,

that was my choice.

- And what about

Miriam's choices?

The girl I knew would've never

held her kid back like that.

- I would do anything

for my daughter.

- I know you would.

You've done it for me.

So, let's get back

out there and find her.

- Okay.

- Okay, the only way

we're gonna find Miriam

is if we start from scratch.

So, what do

we know about this guy?

- Almost nothing.

He wasn't involved

in Eddie's death,

he wasn't at the kidnapping,

he wasn't even in

that guy's phone.

- That's not nothing.

We don't know a lot

about who this guy is...

- But we do know a lot

about who he isn't.

- Exactly.

- So, we can use that to get

an idea of what he's like.

Like, a picture in silhouette.

- Yes.

Not in phone. Not at

kidnapping. Not at Eddie's.

- What else?

Wait...

He had to know that

you had the money,

otherwise he wouldn't

have known to ask for it.

Uh, any ideas?

- He's Amish.

- What?

- That would explain why

he needed a physical photo.

- And why he wasn't

in the phone.

- No modern technology.

- Uh okay, so maybe it was

someone who saw you that night?

- No.

There's one thing we're missing.

That person also wanted

to take Miriam from me.

- Are you saying...

- There's only one

person it could be.

[worrying music]

[sinister music]

[door creaks open and shut]

[whispering]:

I'll take downstairs again.

- Okay.

[breathes shakily]

- Miriam.

- Mommy!

- Hi, baby. Hi. Hi.

[door opens]

- Whoa.

[impact grunt]

- I can't find

Blue Baby anywhere.

- Oh, it's okay, Liebchen.

My friend Skye and I found her.

- Really?

- I promise.

She's at Skye's apartment, okay?

Now, we are going to go

and find Blue Baby right now

so we can finish

packing later, okay?

- Okay.

- Okay.

- Oh. Hi, Daddy.

- Hello, Lena.

- Aaron.

- Daddy, Mommy found Blue Baby!

- I see.

- Where's Skye?

- Downstairs.

I think you and I

should go downstairs too.

To talk.

- Okay.

Uh...

Mommy and Daddy, we need

to go downstairs and talk.

And um, I need you to stay

up here in your room, okay?

- Okay.

- Why don't you just

play with Green Baby.

Don't come out until

I tell you to, all right?

No matter what.

- Okay.

- I love you, Miriam.

- I love you too, Mommy.

- Let's go.

- How could you?

- Let's get one thing straight.

I am not the cause of this.

You are.

- You kidnapped our daughter.

- Don't be dramatic. She slept

through the whole thing.

- They pulled her away from

us while I was screaming.

- She doesn't remember a thing.

I gave her a large enough dose.

She was out for hours.

- You drugged her?

- It was for her own safety.

- Are you even hearing yourself?

- Of course I am.

For the first time in years.

Ever since you came back,

I've had a little voice

in the back of my head

telling me you were

sinful and prideful,

and a stain on my name.

But every day I told myself

to be a good husband.

To forgive you.

To give you a chance

to come clean on your own.

- Because I saw what

was in that suitcase

the day you came back.

[phone rings]

[phone ringing]

[breathing nervously]

I didn't follow you

because I thought

you were leaving again.

But the next morning,

there you were.

You lied to me, Lena.

Every day.

It wasn't enough

that you tempted me

to have sex before marriage.

- You wanted it too.

- Shut up!

You corrupted me

and I will not allow you

to corrupt my daughter.

- I love you and I love Miriam.

- You indulge her.

You allow her to stray

from the Lord's path,

just like you did.

- Naming a doll is not straying

from the Lord's path!

- But that is where it starts.

Little choices.

Like the one you made,

every day,

to not tell me about the money.

I set a date.

Five years exactly.

And if you didn't tell me

I was going to take the money,

take my daughter, and leave.

- You just needed me to tell

you where the money was first.

- And I needed to remind you

of what you really are.

[breathes nervously]

Now I have all I need

for Miriam and I to go live

with the Nebraska Amish.

- You will never

take her from me.

- Watch me.

[grunts]

Lena!

[panting]

[panting]

[panting]

- Lena.

[breathes shakily]

- Ah.

- Yah!

[shrieks]

[panting]

- You can't do this, Aaron.

m*rder is a sin.

- A sin?

Oh, that's rich coming from you.

But you do make a good point.

So, I'll give you a choice.

If you really want to

protect my mortal soul

from the stain of this sin,

tie a rope around

your neck and jump.

- No.

- Suicide is a sin but what's

one more for someone like you?

- Aaron, please.

- At least this way, Miriam

can attend your funeral.

Otherwise they are never

going to find your body.

So much farmland.

Come on, Lena.

Let Miriam say goodbye.

Tie it.

- Fine.

But I'm only doing this because

I want you to know

you don't control me.

You don't own me.

You never did.

I renounce you.

I renounce the Amish way of life

and I reclaim my soul

for myself and myself only.

- Did that help you feel better?

- It did.

It also gave Skye

enough time to get behind you.

[grunts]

- Ugh!

[screams]

[Aaron grimacing]

You still got those zip ties?

- Oh yeah.

- Good.

[police radio chatter]

- Okay, I just emailed you all

the contents of the guy's phone

that Aaron hired

to kidnap the kid.

It's got all the details of

the job and everyone involved.

Basically I just solved

the entire case for you,

so you're welcome.

Um... Excuse me for a second.

Ruth.

[chuckles softly]

- Hey.

- Hey.

You all right?

- I just had to explain

to my four year old

that her father is going to

prison for a very long time.

- That's rough.

- Yeah, it is.

It's uh...

Hard when you lose someone who's

supposed to be your family.

- Yeah.

- But I uh,

also told her everything

is going to be okay because...

We gained a family member today.

An awesome one.

And that person is smart

and kind and strong and...

They fought for her

as hard as I did.

- Thanks.

- Did you also mention that

they're extremely handsome?

- No, but...they are.

[laughs]

- Yeah, they sound amazing.

- Definitely.

[laughs]

There's actually something else

I um, forgot to mention to her.

- What's that?

- That...

That family member

is extremely good

at helping people

find new places to live.

- Wait, are you serious?

- Yeah.

We are definitely going to

need help with that soon.

- Well hey,

anything for family.

[laughs]

[both laugh]

- Okay, I'm gonna go

finish that report.

- Okay.

[somber music]

- Are you gonna be okay

on that? You got it?

- How is Miriam liking

her new school?

- Good.

She's still getting

used to things, so.

I think we both are.

- You'll get there.

- Oh, hi.

- Does she ever ask about

going back to the Amish?

- Yeah.

- What do you say?

- I say she can

when she's older.

That it'll be her choice.

Hi, baby.

[laughing]

Oh my gosh.