01x06 - The Beast and Me

[bunniefuu]

[door rattling]

[door rattling]

[man whimpers]

f*ck!

[exhales]

[softly] f*ck.

[unsettling music playing]

[exhales sharply]

Why?

[Teddy whimpers]

I mean, look at this.

f*ck.

f*ck!

[whimpers]

What are we supposed to do now?

What am I supposed to do with you?

[music fades]

[sighs]

[door handle rattles]

[uneasy music playing]

Hi. Sorry to bother you.
Um, I'm visiting Brian Abbott in 4B.

Um, I'm his cousin.

Um, he was supposed to leave me a key,
but we must have crossed wires.

Is there any way you could
let me into his apartment?

I can't do that now, can I?

For all I know,
you could be an axe m*rder*r.

Right, no, of course.

It's… it's just I've been calling him,
and he's not answering, so…

Well, if you need to go somewhere
and wait until he calls,

there's a Starbucks up the street.

Okay. Thanks.

I'm outside your apartment,
so can you please call me back.

I'm really starting to worry.

[distant siren wailing]

[uneasy music continues]

-[indistinct chattering]
-[intriguing music playing]

Are you sure?

[sighs]

And they've checked the apartments,
bodegas, ATM cameras?

[reporter] …after a Right to Home…

[Elijah] Okay, thanks, Manny.

So my NYPD contact says
that they have not identified any suspects

or recovered any usable CCTV footage.

But apparently, there are
a handful of eyewitnesses

who are claiming that the instigators
were wearing Right to Home T-shirts.

There's a supercut all over social media.

It's not good.

[Olivia on video] Jarvis Yards
will k*ll this community!

These people are poison!

Poison! And we will do whatever it takes
to stop them, right?

-We will do…
-[crowd] Whatever it takes!

-We will do…
-[crowd] Whatever it takes!

-[Olivia] We will do…
-[crowd] Whatever it takes!

"Benitez acts like this
some Che Guevara sh*t,

and she's surprised it got violent?"

"Gimme a break."

-[Olivia sighs]
-Okay. We need to regroup.

Push the press conference.

Give the news cycle a few days
to play itself out.

It's only gonna get worse
if we don't respond.

This story's too hot, Liv.
You'll be pouring gasoline on the fire.

I'm not backing down

just because a few renegade assholes
who don't represent our cause

got out of line.

We're meeting this head-on

so we can nip it in the bud
and get back to work.

[sighs]

[uneasy music playing]

Hi. Uh, I'm gonna wait at that Starbucks
like you suggested,

but, um, could you maybe store my suitcase
until he gets back?

Look, I… I know you're busy.
I… I'm sorry to be a pain. I…

It's just too heavy to drag around.

All right, fine.

Um, thank you. Thank you so much.
You really saved me.

[man] Pain in the a*s.

[door lock clicks]

Hello?

Brian?

[unsettling music playing]

[breathing heavily]

[indistinct chattering]

[Olivia] Good morning.

Good morning.

First things first.

I have reached out to the victims
injured during yesterday's violence,

and I am pleased to report
that every one of them

is expected to make a full recovery.

Right to Home is
a non-profit, grassroots organization

with a singular mission.

To advocate on behalf of
our most vulnerable citizens, peacefully

and lawfully.

We condemn yesterday's violence.

Full stop.

But make no mistake,

this is a crisis manufactured

in no small part

by real estate speculators

like Nile and Martin Jarvis.

Oh, now she's getting desperate.

Profiteers willing to destroy
the social contract

in order to enrich themselves.

-Can she say that?
-She just did.

[Olivia] So the lies accusing me
of inciting this violence…

Where you been?

You just missed the best part.
She called us profiteers.

[Olivia] …how vigilant we all must remain

to keep a few bad actors
from hijacking civil discourse.

And to that end,
I am happy to answer any questions.

[reporters clamoring]

[man 1] Councilwoman, the perpetrators
haven't been identified,

so how can you claim
your rhetoric didn't incite them?

[Martin] There's my guy.

Right to Home is
a non-violent social justice movement.

I'm asking about
your personal accountability.

[Olivia] I think I've answered that.
Next question.

[man 1] So you don't bear
any responsibility whatsoever?

No.

-You don't wanna hear the rest?
-No. I've seen this movie. She's done.

Maybe I'll let her stew a little longer
before I reach out.

No, you won't. I'll do it.

-But I made the offer.
-Yeah. And look how that turned out.

I'll take care of her,
just as soon as I take a leak.

Christ on a crutch, the only time
I don't have to pee is when I'm peeing.

We need to talk.

I'm listening.

After my father speaks with Benitez.
Just the two of us.

You said you'd do
whatever it takes to protect him.

Let's see if you really mean it.

[tense music playing]

[knocking at door]

[door opens]

[Erika] Hello? Brian?

[footsteps approaching]

[tense music swells]

Don't move!
Put your hands where I can see 'em!

Please. [splutters]
My name is Agatha Wiggs.

I know who you are.
I wanna know what you're doing here.

How did you get in?

I'm Special Agent Erika Breton.
I'm Abbott's supervisor.

So you can answer me now,

or we can go down to my office
and talk about it there.

I… I lied to the super, okay?

I'm… I'm a friend of Brian's.
I just came to check on him.

I've been trying to reach him,
and he's not responding.

I'm… I'm worried
something might have happened.

-Like what?
-I… I don't know.

But… but you're here now, which…

which makes me wonder
if you're not worried too.

[sighs]

I texted him last night.
Something important.

He said to wait until I saw him,
and then… he went totally silent.

I… I realize he may have crossed a line
by talking to me about Nile Jarvis,

but the thing is, he was right, okay?

I think I have proof
that Nile m*rder*d his wife.

What kind of proof?

[exhales]

Um, okay. Uh…

Madison Jarvis.

She left a suicide note, right?

Um…

So her parents made me a copy.

Nile claimed he found it. [sighs]

He… he brought it to the police.

They verified the handwriting was hers.

But then I talked to Madison's brother,
and he… he gave me a box of her things.

Stuff that he had
collected from her bedroom

after she disappeared.

Including… this.

It's a birding journal she kept for years.

And… and…

Here. Right here. See? Here.

This torn page matches.

Okay. This is where the note came from.

Um, it has to be, right?

-Okay.
-Yeah. So look at the date.

She wrote the note
two years before she went missing.

Her parents told me
she swallowed pills in 2017.

Nile found her in the bathtub.
He saved her life.

He must have found this note then and

never told anyone.

So, no, he didn't forge the note. He…

he repurposed it.

-Oh my God.
-Which he would only do if…

-Who else knows about this?
-No one.

That's why I'm here.

I texted Brian,
telling him I found proof Nile k*lled her.

He told me to keep it to myself
until I saw him, and then

nothing.

And when I got here,
I found bloody bandages in the bathroom.

You can look for yourself.

Oh Jesus.

Honestly, the fact
that he's not banging down my door

to see what I found
means something is wrong.

[gasps]

[sighs] Um…

Okay.

I'll call the Bureau.

We'll get a forensics team in here,
see if they can do an analysis.

Oh, and, um,

maybe they can look at this?

It was taped to the inside of a drawer,
like he was trying to hide it.

Any idea what's on it?

Um, I was trying to open it
when you came in.

You know his password?

What the f*ck?

Oh my God.

[gasps]

[Aggie] He's alive.

You recognize him?

Teddy. [gasps]

Oh my God.

[Erika] Hey. Hey!

Where the f*ck did he get this?

Tell me what you know. Everything.

[tense music swells, subsides]

[door opens]

[doctor] Well, your at-home test
wasn't wrong.

I'm guessing you're about

seven weeks.

Are you sure?

The blood work confirms it.

I…

I… I only took the… test yesterday.

I thought it must have been a mistake.

You told me yourself

I couldn't conceive.

I said getting pregnant
was highly improbable.

Not impossible.

And you think it's viable?

Well,

the endometriosis does increase
the chances of miscarriage.

So I'd like to perform an ultrasound.

Assuming,

of course,

this is what you want?

My husband has never wanted kids.

Oh.

He's pretty adamant.

[uneasy music playing]

What about you?

I, um…

I did.

Until I found out

I couldn't.

And then

I kind of, uh,

decided it wasn't

meant for me.

And I told myself that that was okay.

And now?

Brian took the thumb drive to someone
to have the files decrypted.

But he… he said nothing was on it.

Why would he lie to me?

Hey, it's Breton.
I need to speak to ASAC Donahue.

Okay, well, find him and tell him
I need to speak with him. Urgently.

I'll bring this to our forensics team,
see if they can trace it.

We'll get a warrant
to search Nile's property.

Should I come with you?

Uh, not yet. I gotta move fast.

Just lay low for now. And whatever you do,
stay away from Jarvis.

We can't risk tipping him off.

Here's my card.
I'll call you as soon as I know more.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[uneasy music continues]

[phone line ringing]

[phone buzzing]

-Hey, I can't really talk.
-Hey. Um, are you at the office?

Uh, no. I'm on the road.

Where are you?
I really need to see you. It's… important.

It's really not a good time.

Let me call you in an hour. How's that?

Nile, I'm pregnant.

Somehow.

I just came from the doctor,

and she said
that it's real and it's viable.

And I know how strongly you feel.

And I know what we've always said.

But I never thought that this was…

I always thought
this was impossible for me, you know?

And, um, I…

I don't wanna get rid of it.

I don't think I can.

Nile?

It's fine, Nina. It's great.

-Really?
-Really.

But, um, I really do have to go.
We'll talk about it tonight.

[ethereal music playing]

We still have Olshansky's support.

I will reach out,
see if I can get him to issue a statement,

and post his support to social.

Sorry to barge in,
but I thought you'd wanna know.

Martin Jarvis, he's on line one.

-Let me see what he wants.
-No. Let me talk to him. Thank you, Mina.

[phone line beeps]

This is Councilwoman Benitez.

Thank you for taking my call.

What do you want, Mr. Jarvis?

Oh, I saw your press conference.

When those reporters
smell blood in the water--

Unless you're calling to gloat,

tell me what you want.

I have a proposal

I'd like to talk with you about
face-to-face.

A proposal?

To help you out of the corner
you painted yourself into.

Now hear me out, Councilwoman.

You don't like what I have to say,
you turn around.

This was you, wasn't it?

You staged this whole thing.
The demonstrators, the police.

[mysterious music playing]

I'm here when you're ready to talk.

But when you come, you come alone.

[exhales]

You happy now, huh?

Like I said, bloodlust.

[woman] This is what you wanted, isn't it?

[phone buzzes]

[sighs]

[phone buzzes]

[sighs]

[uneasy music playing]

[sighs]

[phone line ringing]

Hey. I'm, uh, just putting groceries down.
Give me one second.

Frank, I need you to pick up the kids.
I can't do it.

What's wrong? Are you okay?

Uh, no, I'm not okay.

I f*cked up. I made a… I made a mistake.

Oh, no, listen, hey.
I did not mean to ambush you.

I don't mean the affair. I mean
something worse. Something really bad.

What?

[softly sobs]

Erika.

It was years ago.

When you were in trouble.

I thought I was doing
the right thing for us,

for the kids, but I crossed a line,
and it's too late to step back.

Now I'm gonna have to tell the Bureau
there's gonna be consequences.

Just tell me what you're talking about
because you're really scaring me.

I'm gonna tell you everything
as soon as I can, I promise.

But right now,

I need you to trust me.

You need to take the kids to my parents.

I love you, Frank.

And I'm sorry.

Erika!

[melancholy music playing]

[breathes deeply]

[ominous music playing]

[groans]

[footsteps approaching]

[woman] Excuse me, Mr. Jarvis.

You have a guest.

-Ah, Councilwoman.
-Mr. Jarvis.

Can Olga get you something to drink?

Water, wine, hot cocoa?

No, thank you.

[in Russian] Leave us.

[in English] If you like,
I could show you around the property.

I'm cool. I've got my steps in
walking here from the curb.

Mm.

Then let's sit.

Please.

This, uh…

This all used to be
an unfinished root cellar.

We had it redone
after it was flooded by Hurricane Sandy.

So your house has how many bedrooms?
Twelve? Thirteen?

[Martin chuckles]

Sixteen.

So that makes, what, four for each of you?
Your wife, your two little boys.

I'm just curious

if owning all of this
actually makes you happy.

Oh.

Well, I don't own this house any more
than I own the clothes that I'm wearing.

None of us own anything, Councilwoman.

We are all just renting it
until it's time to check out.

Is that what you tell yourself
to sleep at night?

Well, that's what I tell myself
to wake up in the morning.

People like you don't get it.

People like me?

People your age.

Sure, you realize, in some corner
of your mind, you'll be dead one day,

but you don't really believe it.

Me? [scoffs]

[chuckles]

I know the end's coming,

and it's coming sooner than later.

That is why I am so keen to clean up

what has become
an unnecessarily messy situation

for both of us.

What am I looking at?

A proposal regarding one square block
that we have land banked uptown.

This is the exact offer your son made me.

Except now it's me that's making it.

And I told him
I wanted nothing to do with it.

I know what you told him.

I just thought you might be
more reasonable now, considering…

I was right,

wasn't I?

About you choreographing
what happened at my rally.

The milk spilled. What difference
does it make who spilled it?

So take your boot off my son's neck

and accept the proposal.

Because it expires
at the end of business today.

[sniffles]

Is that a yes?

Yes.

Good choice.

But putting out the fires you started
won't be easy.

We'll make the announcement together.

I started Right to Home
so I could fight for my community.

To make people's lives better.
Even just a little.

That's something people like you
will never understand.

Maybe because you can't.

But like you said,

you'll be dead sooner than later.

[footsteps retreating]

[sighs]

[phone buzzes]

Hey, Carol.

Finally!

-God, are you screening my calls?
-No. I--

I was this close to getting in my car
and driving out to wherever you live--

-Sorry.
-Because the pages are fabulous.

I literally read all four chapters
in one sitting.

The attack dogs at the window?

Are you kidding me?

It's like In Cold Blood
meets The Year of Magical Thinking.

The mash-up we didn't know we needed.

Okay, don't k*ll me. I had to show it
to Bob, and he flipped his lid, Aggie.

He wants to make a major push
in time for summer.

Get an excerpt
in The New Yorker or The Atlantic.

How soon do you think
you can bang out the rest? I mean,

you're on a roll.

Um…

Yeah, I'm not sure. Um…

What's the matter? You're not excited.

My God, there's so much of you in this,
Aggie. And so much life.

-Oh f*ck.
-What's wrong?

I have to hang up.
Call me back in five minutes.

If I don't answer,
I need you to call the police.

What?

-Just do it. Five minutes.
-Honey, what the hell is--

[uneasy music playing]

How you doing, neighbor?

I'm fine. You?

[Nile sighs]

Never better. Where are you coming from?

Um…

Just running some errands in town.

What are you doing here?

I was just out in the woods with my guys.

The jogging path is all staked and marked.

And I was hoping
you would come take a look

while we've still got some light.

Um…

Yeah, I would. Um, I'm…

I'm expecting a call
from my editor any minute.

I… I should really take it inside.

Is something wrong?

No. Why?

It's weird now, isn't it?

[Nile clicks tongue]

-Now that you've seen me dance.
-[chuckles]

Right. Um…

Yeah. Well, some…

some lines were

definitely crossed.

I think you're blushing, Miss Wiggs.

Am I?

You'll never look at me
the same way again, will you?

I

may not recover.

You getting out of the car?

[sighs] Uh…

Come on. Come take a walk with me.
It won't take long.

Uh…

It's just that, um, my editor… [scoffs]

…we've been playing phone tag all day.

She's… she's really excited
about the book.

Great.

Tell her you're collecting material.

Come on. I want you to see it
before it gets dark.

[uneasy music playing]

Okay.

[Nile] I love the smell this time of year.
Nothing like it.

I know you thought you were doing me
a favor, but you're gonna thank me.

We gotta find some way
of getting you out of the house, right?

I worry about you.

All that time cooped up inside.

-I'm actually getting a little bit cold.
-Well, we're here. Look. See?

So it'll loop all the way around.

And then connect back with my place.

All that's missing now is the concrete.

But if you really hate that,
I could do wood chips instead.

Uh, no. Yeah, I…

I trust you.

Do you, Aggie?

I certainly hope so.

I trusted you a lot.

Was that a mistake, you think?

How's the book coming so far?

Uh…

It's good. Yeah.

[sniffles] You know, early days.

When do I get to take a peek?
Because you did promise.

Right. Um…

As… as soon as I have something

worth your attention.

Modesty's not your thing, Aggie.
I would know.

I am… I am curious though.

Have you figured out how it ends?

That's why people are gonna read this.

Uh, no, I'm not…

I'm not sure. [chuckles]

But you must have some inclination.

Writer's intuition.

Give me a hint.

Did I do it, Aggie?

[phone buzzes]

Sorry. Uh…

-Hey, Carol.
-Aggie, where are you?

Yeah, no, I'm… I'm just in the woods
behind my house with Nile Jarvis.

-Um…
-What's going on?

Hold on one second. I wanna go inside
and do this in my office.

Um, I'm so sorry.

Um, it looks beautiful, really.

Um, I'll talk to you soon. Okay. [exhales]

Yeah, it's just I have to get to my desk,
but stay on the line.

[indistinct chattering]

-Where's Donahue?
-Just missed him. It's all hands on deck.

[Erika] What's going on?

We got a tip
about a possible kidnapping in Oyster Bay.

He's coordinating now
with local law enforcement.

[Carol] Aggie, hello?

I'm almost there.

[breathing anxiously]

Aggie!

-Aggie!
-I'm inside. I'm okay. I'm okay.

Honey, if you don't tell me
what the hell is going on--

I will, but I have to call the FBI first.

The FBI?

Look, I'm home now. I'm safe, I promise.

But I have to go, okay?

I'll explain everything, okay?

-Bye.
-Don't ha--

You've reached Special Agent Erika Breton
with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Please leave a message
with your name and number.

Hi, it's Aggie Wiggs.

Can you call me back
as… as soon as possible?

Uh, thanks.

[exhales sharply]

[man] Federal Bureau of Investigation.

May I have
your first and last name, please?

-Agatha Wiggs.
-Reason for your call?

I need to speak to Agent Erika Breton.
She knows me. It's urgent.

Hold, please.

[tense music playing]

Agent Breton isn't available. Can I have
the phone number you're calling from?

Can you page her, please?

Tell her to call Aggie Wiggs. It's urgent.

f*ck.

[music intensifies]

[music subsides]

[uneasy music playing]

[breathing nervously]

What the…

What?

[sighs]

[phone buzzes]

Hello?

How was your call?

Did she like the first four chapters?

You broke into my house?

A good start. Prologue's a little dense,
but it really picks up when I arrive.

You… you've captured me, I gotta say.

It's just such a shame.

What is?

I had high hopes for us, Aggie.

I could tell when we met.

There's something…

There's something about this woman.
She's not like most people.

She's a real one.

You remember outside Eleanor's?

We saw your pal Fenig?

Of course I do.

I could see it all over your face.

Everything you wanted to do to him.
Everything he deserved.

But I didn't know you had it in you

till I went upstairs.

What?

Oh, come on, Aggie. Let's not play games.

[breathing nervously]

Don't you think it's about time
we were honest with each other?

You know, the worst part about this
is that I…

I really did consider you a friend.

And that's what makes this so hard.

Because I get it.

Because part of me wanted to applaud.

But I couldn't exactly
look the other way, could I?

[tense music playing]

I just hope

it was worth it, Aggie.

-I really do.
-[gasps]

[dramatic music playing]

[sobbing]

-[music subsides]
-[breathes deeply]

[stirring instrumental music playing]

[music fades]