01x02 - Ghosts of Highway 20

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Clarice"...

Ruth: Two dead women floated down the Anacostia River.

Somebody sliced them to ribbons.

Krendler: s*ab wounds.

Bite marks.

Looks like a serial guy to me.

Clarice: Sir, that man is a professional.

He was paid to clean up after some kind of clinical trial.

Those women were whistleblowers.

You will go to the press, and you will tell them that these murders were the work of a serial k*ller.

Thanks to the ViCAP Task Force, we got the guy.

And they were not random victims of a serial k*ller.

They d*ed trying to tell a story.

A story that isn't over.

Twizzlers and Diet Coke are food groups now?

Oh, I see.

We're starting the day cleaning a deadly w*apon.

Okay.

Enough of that.

They're gonna make you apologize.

You goingto apologize?

This is not a serial k*ller.

It's a series of killings.

Krendler issued a statement that I spoke prematurely, and that all the evidence I found was inconclusive.

He has to salvage an investigation that you just kicked into the toilet by letting the bad guys know we're onto them.

Someone had to speak up for those families.

And you know better.

I know!

I know.

I lost control.

I shouldn't have said it that way.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

You also sh*t a guy yesterday.

You haven't done that since Bill.

Think that might have something to do with it?

Maybe.

I don't know, Ardelia.

Maybe I should just go back to the BSU lab.

Good.

Hide like a bridge troll.

Your best is in the field.

You know that.

But here's the thing.

Going rogue like that sends your team the message that you don't trust them.

That's no way for anyone to survive out there.

I know.

You know.

You know.

I better know you if you calling this early.

Clarke: Starling there?

Oh.

We need her here ASAP.

Yes.

Starling.

Male reporter: A siege is under way in Eastern Tennessee.

It began early this morning when an A*F agent...

Female reporter: ...when an A*F agent was sh*t and wounded by a fringe militia group who call themselves The Statesmen.

The agent is being treated at a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident began...

Male reporter: The incident began when the agent was prevented from serving a warrant.

The leader of the group, Lucas Novak, has issued a statement that he will not allow the federal government...

So, how long has it been?

When's the last time you went back to "Appalaysha"?

Appalachia.

It's been years.

A lot of old ghosts.

Lucas Novak, standard-issue country gentleman, described as "charismatic." Novak leads a group that calls themselves The Statesmen.

Started off as a hillbilly rehab clinic and somehow turned into a heavily armed secessionist militia who want to form their own state within Tennessee.

The Statesmen sh*t an A*F agent serving a search warrant.

He's in stable condition, but now we're in the middle of a standoff.

So, let me address the elephant in the room.

This won't be another Waco.

Those of us who were there know it was a cluster seven different ways.

This is Tennessee.

It's the AG's home state, and she sent ViCAP.

We want the weapons, we want the sh**t, we want to make it home.

Good?

Good.

Good.

Special Agent Paul Krendler.

Sheriff Tucker Rowan.

Pleased to have you on the scene.

We know there are women inside.

Any kids?

No reports of children among them.

And no word from anyone inside?

They don't acknowledge federal authority.

That's why they wouldn't let A*F serve the warrant.

They're not gonna give us the sh**t, and they want the feds off the property.

What were you guys looking for?

Our intel says they're strapped -- modified r*fles, black market stuff.

So we'd better use caution, 'cause we both know how fast this can go south.

Let's get that PA system going.

You got it.

Need to talk to the man inside.

Starling.

A word.

Agent Krendler, I want to --No.

I talk, you listen.

I want to be clear -- When we get back to Washington, I'm gonna formally request your transfer off of ViCAP.

Yes, sir.

Clarke.

Yeah.

You're on Starling.

Have her set up cell towers.

Keep her away from the press.

You went wildly off-script at the press conference.

The only reason you're here is because I don't trust you out of my sight.

If you can't follow orders, you're gonna get somebody k*lled today.

Got it.

Krendler: A*F's pretty hopped up.

I understand.

One of theirs is down.

I've been at this 30 years.

And now you got this.

Met Novak a dozen times.

Seemed smart, decent, really wanted to help people.

Eccentric, sure, but we got a lot of eccentrics.

Think he'd light up that place, risk everyone inside?

I don't know.

But why does a man keep that many a*t*matic weapons?

10 steps forward, you're in speaker range.

Thanks.

What?

Did you have a criminal profiler at Waco for Koresh?

You want to tell me it would've worked out differently if we just maybe listened to the shrink?

I wasn't there.

I wouldn't say that.

Good.

I was gonna say that behavioral science can be used for your offense, too.

Anyone who lives like this, the --Delusional crap?

The mental effort it takes to hold it all together.

It's a lot to maintain.

Spinning plates.

A lot of pressure.

You shouldn't be here, Starling.

Well, Krendler's gonna transfer me.

Shouldn't be at the Bureau.

I -- Look, I get it.

I'm just ViCAP's resident knuckle dragger.

But you broke ranks at the press conference.

Maybe you regret it maybe not.

But something's eating you, and that's true wherever you go.

And if you stay in the field, Krendler's right -- we're all at risk.

Yes, sir.

You tell me you sleep eight hours a night yourself, and I'll hand in my credentials right now.

Wire cutter ain't worth a damn.

I'll get you a new pair.

My toolbox is in the tent.

Reesey!

Reesey!

The police are here!

Something happened to Daddy.

We got to get home.

Wait!

Please!

Are you from inside?

My name's Clarice Starling, FBI.

What's your name?

Wait!

Was that a kid?

Heat-mapping says 20 people inside, armed to the teeth.

The blueprints on file don't show anywhere near this square footage.

House has been added onto over the years.

Probably carved up like a rabbit warren inside.

Boss, there's a kid in the house.

You said there were no children.

Could be some local kid checking out the commotion.

He ran into the farmhouse, sir.

This changes things.

Get me the Attorney General on the line.

Man: There's movement at the front door.

Please advise.

It's a boy.

There's something in his hand.

It does not appear to be a w*apon.

I repeat, it does not appear to be a w*apon.

Lucas Novak wants to talk!

But he'll only talk to the woman I saw.

He wants to talk, but only to her.

Esquivel: So, the transmitter's built into the clip.

We'll hear everything, but he won't see it.

Alright, alright, here, let me.

You going somewhere after this?

Half the people in that file are young women.

Lucas Novak collects them.

He controls them, even if it is getting them clean.

And you really believe that's what he's doing?

I believe he's a narcissist.

I want him to think I took the time to put my face on before he saw me.

Okay, are we good?

Yeah.

We'll get pretty much everything you say in there, but, uh, try to get close if you can, okay?

That a good idea?

Probably not.

We can hide a w*apon for you.

Maybe I can't trust them, but they've got to trust me.

Okay.

We want to trust you, too, you know.

I'm a counter sn*per.

I work alone, but I can't do a damn thing without my team.

The team clears a space for me to work.

I clear the space for the team.

You don't trust us, we can't trust you.

Where's that leave anybody?

He doesn't just want you in there because you're a woman.

You're also Clarice Starling.

You're all over the news.

It's a power play.

If you get in trouble in there, look for us.

Let us know where you are.

We'll be there.

Alright, then.

Just give me five minutes to get into position, okay?

Good afternoon.

This is the official statement from the Department of Justice.

The militia group The Statesmen have reached out, and we have begun communication.

When did she record this?

A few hours ago.

Her plane's already touched down here in Tennessee.

She's on her way.

I'm traveling there because I am a human being who understands that every person in there is someone's child.

I've already sent down ViCAP, my team, and the woman who saved the life of my daughter.

They're talking she might run for governor down here.

So it has to be a nuanced resolution, not rolling in the tanks.

What if Novak decides to start World w*r III with Starling in there?

But my promise to the American people is that we will not leave until there is a peaceful resolution.

Thank you.

Man: Starling is moving into position.

Man #2: Jones, we count four hostiles on the roof facing southeast.

Copy that, I see them.

Moore, watch your 3:00.

We got two more armed hostiles on the balcony.

Esquivel: I got eyes on Starling.

She's with the boy.

Hey, there.

I brought y'all some food.

I'm Clarice.

Are you famous?

Sort of.

I saw you rubbing your shoulder.

Did you fall or something?

You know he saw you on TV?

I like cartoons.

My mom's friends like soaps, even though TV is bad for you.

So, is that who you live with?

Your mom and her friends?

Yeah.

My brother and I, we used to watch the Roadrunner.

I don't like him 'cause he don't talk.

She's making her way toward the house.

All those crazy artificial colors are gonna k*ll you someday.

You know what I see when I look at these gifts you brought?

The clutches of late-stage capitalism.

No one knows what real nectar tastes like anymore.

It's all just chemicals.

Yellow's just a number.

Red ain't red.

I think that's why all these people are losing themselves now, don't you?

I'm not sure I follow, sir.

The commodification of a person.

We're all just receptacles for corporations to pour chemicals into.

Is it any wonder when someone goes real dark, starts to cut us apart?

When there's no person left inside anymore.

Come on, Peter.

Come on.

Go watch your stories on the TV.

Maggie.

Wouldn't be proper for a man to lay hands on you.

I appreciate your consideration.

I'm Special Agent Clarice Starling.

But I'm guessing Peter already told you my name.

Oh, sure, sure.

You're the person who's been looking into the terrifying mouth of what we're all slowly becoming.

I'm pleased to make your acquaintance.

You know, Buffalo Bill...

Buffalo Bill was a man who breaks my heart, actually.

Thinking somebody would care for him if he was different.

But who hasn't thought that, hmm?

That Kentucky I hear in your accent?

West Virginia, sir.

Then I imagine what you see here is all too familiar.

How's a good girl like you become a fed, Clarice?

Only place to go was up or out.

There's always down, isn't there?

I didn't think you'd, uh, have a sense of humor, sir.

I can't help myself.

No, I hate the feds.

But you...

you are what this country's all about.

Or should be.

I'd like to shake your hand.

Oh.

Used to hard work.

Dry hands.

Maggie.

Ew.

I hate this guy.

Castor oil and rose water will take care of that.

That's really not necessary -- No, no, no, it's my pleasure.

You'll like it, right, Emma?

I sure do.

I know how hard that road is to up and out.

You have to give up a lot, leave people behind.

Did you leave behind people?

Family?

Someone who didn't get up or out?

Now, don't -- Don't wipe it on your clothes.

It'll stain.

M-Mr.

Novak, a federal agent was sh*t on your property.

We need the sh**t.

We need to get in here and search the place.

You know this.

There's steps to this going away, and I need to take them.

I-I truly don't know who sh*t your man, Clarice.

I know it's unorthodox what I do here.

I get people clean 'cause I won't take the padlock off the damn door for two weeks while they shiver so hard they think they're gonna die, and I know that looks like unlawful imprisonment, but we are dying down here.

I built something.

And I can't let the feds take it away from us.

You know your law, but that's not what we're here to do, sir.

Wasn't there someone in your life could've used someone like me?

I know there was.

I can see it in your eyes.

My brother.

S-Sir, I find it strange that you don't know who the sh**t is.

This is your place.

I saw you look at Emma's little one, our Rabbit.

I thought maybe you had a kid of your own, but now I see it different.

You had a brother.

Maybe some of your people know something about what happened here today.

You ever make leather britches out of beans?

String them up to dry.

All the time when I was little.

Please.

Emma, we're gonna need more green beans.

Mama, was that Daddy's cap?

What happened to Daddy?

I want to know what happened to Daddy.

Woman: Clarice, tell your brothers and sister to wash up and come to the table.

Sir, may I please use the restroom?

You were still a trainee when you stopped Buffalo Bill from skinning and k*lling more women.

These things make me think this agent needs to be out of rotation until she can heal from PTSD of the most egregious kind.

Don't.

Don't.

Novak: Oh, she's on the edge.

Now's the time.

Tell the boys on the roof to start raising hell.

Man: FBI security, we are approaching with the Attorney General.

Two minutes out.

Statesman: Get off our damn land, pigs!

Incoming!

Incoming!

Take cover!

Take cover, take cover!

Esquivel: We've got a situation.

Hostiles on the roof riling up A*F.

Aah!

-Take cover.

-We just got sh*t at!

Man: Open fire!

Open fire!

Who fired?

One of ours misfired.

Who the hell is sh**ting?

This is getting bad.

Agent Starling!

Agent Starling!

Okay, wait!

Y-Your people need you.

Got to get everybody out here safely.

Just let my team come in.

It can't be the feds.

My people are scared of the feds.

Local sheriff -- it has to be.

Come on!

Come, come, come!

Get that sheriff in here.

Starling?

Are you there?

Starling?

If you're in there, Starling, take cover.

Starling, do you copy?

Clarice: This is Starling inside the house.

Hold fire, hold fire!

Novak says he'll negotiate, but only with local law enforcement.

Hodge, cease fire.

The Attorney General is here.

Cease fire.

Hold your fire!

Lower your weapons!

Our time here's coming to an end, Agent Starling.

I saw you were upset when you went in the bathroom.

Tell me about "don't." "Don't"?

What makes you say that word to yourself?

Rowan: Lucas Novak, we're coming in!

That's far as you go!

We ain't gonna sh**t, but we don't want to get sh*t at neither.

That's the way I look at it, too, Lucas.

Go.

I'm Sheriff Rowan.

You all right, Agent Starling?

Yes, sir.

We still don't have a sh**t.

They gonna back off?

Not until the sh**t is in custody.

I don't know who he is.

I'll show you my armory -- show of good faith.

Hell, maybe the w*apon he used is in there.

David.

You've done a fine job here.

Agent Krendler wants you back at command now that we got the area secure.

Sir, the boy's still inside.

We'll find him.

Don't be a stranger, now.

Esquivel: Clarice, what are you doing?

Clarke: Agent Merengue, switch to channel Adam 4.

Esquivel to Agents Sad and Flaccid, over.

Who sh*t first, A*F or Statesmen?

Statesmen were throwing bottles, but A*F definitely sh*t first.

Well, it'd be good to find out if local A*F are friendlies.

Can we do that quietly?

I don't trust anyone at headquarters not to blab to the A*F.

You don't trust anybody, period.

I do.

Starling has a friend back at Buzzard's Point.

Find Ardelia Mapp.

Tripathi, put more paper in your fax machine.

There's a lot coming.

Everyone on that A*F unit down there turned up clean.

Okay, there's a contact I trust from Quantico.

It turns out he's been keeping a file on, and I quote, "That crooked son of a bitch Sheriff Rowan for years, but nothing ever sticks." You think all the as*ault weapons might've got the feds interested in you?

This is on you.

A*F showing up at my door.

You're losing it.

Yeah, well, who sh*t the agent on your watch?

I don't know!

You got to hand him over.

Get rid of the feds, I'll find out.

We got to give 'em someone.

Once they have someone in custody, they'll pull the hell out.

Maggie.

She's a good girl.

She'll keep quiet.

Extortion, narcotics, prostitution.

They made an arrest.

Whoever they're serving up is a patsy.

We only got the sh**t 'cause we agreed to pull out.

We cannot leave while Novak's in there with a bunch of women and a kid.

Sheriff Rowan is wired deep down here.

We have to be strategic.

We're not escalating.

Pull the team out.

Ma'am?

Do you want another Waco?

Do it.

Hey.

You got to get out of here.

Novak told the people on the roof to throw bottles at the police.

When you were in the bathroom.

Why?

He wanted them to start sh**ting.

He wanted things to escalate.

He wanted Rowan in.

Peter, you have a big old bruise on your right cheek, and you've been rubbing at your shoulder.

r*fles are heavy, and they have a lot of kickback.

It's like getting kicked by a mule.

Peter?

Did you sh**t the A*F agent?

I didn't mean to hurt anyone.

I just wanted someone to come.

Someone to...

Help?

You were calling for help.

Why didn't you ask Sheriff Rowan for help?

Mom says he's the worst one.

When he gets mad, my mom's friends end up dead in the woods.

Okay.

They call you Rabbit, right?

You got to rabbit right now.

Get to the command tent.

Go on.

Get.

Female reporter: The standoff that started early this morning outside of a Tennessee compound looks to be coming to an end as the sh**t of the A*F agent who was sh*t and...

Male reporter: ...informed us that the sh**t of the A*F officer has been identified and arrested outside of the Tennessee compound.

I can't believe she's making us lie down.

New AG got in the sewer real quick.

Be right back.

Clarice: Agent Krendler, this is Starling.

Starling, where the hell are you?

Sir, I'm trying to be real quiet.

Rowan and Novak are operating a prostitution ring.

Well, Rowan just made an arrest for the sh**ting.

Who confessed, Maggie?

Yes.

She's lying.

They made her confess.

I have evidence video about the prostitution.

That directly implicates Sheriff Rowan?

No.

Then end of discussion.

We have her in custody, we're pulling out.

That's from the AG.

I'm out of moves on this side.

She wants to take the arrest for the win.

Sir, Novak deliberately escalated things to get Rowan in because he knew Rowan would get him out.

I can make Novak give it up, give them both up.

Sir, I need your authorization.

I know you have every reason not to, but I'm asking anyway.

I know guys like this.

You're breaking up.

I can't hear you.

Use your best judgment, get back here A.S.AP.

Command out.

Better check your equipment.

Male reporter: The incident began when the agent was prevented from serving a warrant.

The leader of the group, Lucas Novak...

Novak: You're still here?

You come to watch TV?

Clarice: It was on.

They're playing a lot of stories about you.

They can't get enough of you.

What the hell is she doing?

She's telling us where she is.

You pull her out now.

I can't.

Her HT is off.

Esquivel?

You have a line of sight?

Negative.

No visual.

I can picture you, sitting here, relaxing at night.

You're thinking about me?

You remind me of someone.

My father.

My daddy.

He was a sheriff.

A sheriff?

You must've adored him.

You bet I did.

He d*ed before I left home for good.

You know, he used to take me for root beer floats.

And the soda jerk who made them, he was not a kind man.

Wonder why he chose to be around kids.

Maybe that's why he chose to be around kids.

Maybe.

Hadn't thought of that.

There was this one time, we found this neighbor boy crying 'cause of the soda jerk's meanness.

If there was one thing my daddy couldn't stand, it was someone who picked on folks weaker than them.

He told the boy to come inside with us.

And when my daddy, the sheriff, walked into that store, the soda jerk cowered.

He got small.

How did that make you feel, seeing the power your daddy had?

It was...

intoxicating.

Though I didn't have that word at the time.

How does it feel when your people...

your women give themselves over to you?

It feels intoxicating.

And I understand your daddy.

I have dedicated my life to helping my girls.

It makes me feel, um...

I don't know, like -- like your daddy felt, I guess.

You're not getting it.

You'rethe soda jerk.

Wait, now.

Oh, geez.

Other men remind me of my daddy.

Sheriff Rowan, he has that kind of walk, that kind of power.

And he'll use it to hurt you, to punish you.

He can't hurt me.

He's nothing without me.

He's the lawman.

He has the walk.

He feeds me johns.

I pay him.

He's my bitch.

Come on.

Come on, bring it home.

Come on, Lucas, everyone says that Rowan is the big dog.

The locals say it.

Hell, Magistrate Cotton says it -- Because Rowan needs to believe that.

I let him believe that.

All those nitwits down in government, that Jefferson, Cotton, McGeary -- McGeary?

Wait, which one is he?

It's the whole damn courthouse, girl.

I'm the big dog.

They're mine.

You don't talk when I am talking.

She did it.

Did she just --She got it.

She got every crook in the courthouse.

I want every copy of that tape.

Esquivel, you got eyes?

Esquivel: Negative.

No clear sh*t.

She's with Novak in the southwest corner.

Lucas Novak, you are under arrest for violations of the Mann Act.

Girl?

We have you on tape operating a prostitution ring.

Oh, that's smart.

You might have a little wire on you.

Mm.

But you know what you don't have?

You don't have backup.

You're pointing your w*apon at a federal officer.

Seems to me we're all alone.

You want to play police like your daddy?

Here you are, a little girl all on your own.

You don't mean nothing to them feds over there.

That's why I chose you.

That, and I was thinking it might be nice to see what was under that skirt of yours.

Esquivel.

Please, sir, please let me go.

"Please"?

Come on, girl.

I thought you'd have a little more fight in you than that.

Sir, you have no idea.

Starling?

Agent Starling, what's your twenty?!

Agent Starling, come in!

What's your twenty?!

Agent Starling?

Novak: He feeds me johns.

I pay him.

He's my bitch.

Clarice: Come on, Lucas, everyone says that Rowan is the big dog.

The locals say it.

Hell, Magistrate Cotton says it -- Because Rowan -- Fabric's awfully thin, Madam Attorney General.

You try to squeeze those trousers on me, I might just split 'em up the back.

These officers have active Internal Affairs investigations against them.

You're Secretary of the Eastern Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police.

There must be 50 names here.

I want half of them relieved of duty, or I play this tape for everyone Novak named, and you and I both know that powerful people don't like trouble.

You have six months to resign, or I'll fire you publicly.

Clarice: Rowan's not gonna be prosecuted?

Even with the tape?

Welcome to the world, Clarice.

It's a long game.

I extract Rowan, someone takes his place.

I have leverage thanks to you.

We're getting rid of dozens of dirty cops, and in six months, Rowan will turn state's witness.

How do you know that, ma'am?

Because men like him always do.

Ma'am, real people, decent people have to live here in all this.

And you're going to say it can't be a political decision.

And I'm going to say everything's a political decision.

I'm taking this as a win.

You should, too.

Do you want a ride back?

I'm gonna go with my team.

Earlier today, Agent Krendler requested I transfer you.

He's concerned I have some residual trauma from Bill.

Is he right?

Doesn't get in the way, ma'am.

He withdrew the request.

You spoke of your father.

Catherine was close to her father, too.

My father was a lawman sh*t on duty.

I'm so sorry.

I appreciate that.

I wanted to say -- I told you I had your back.

We all do.

Don't interrupt me.

I was doing you a favor.

Thanking me might make your head explode.