04x05 - Saving Sammy

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Cold Case". Aired: September 2003 to May 2010.*
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04x05 - Saving Sammy

Post by bunniefuu »

♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪

April ,

Do I miss you ?

Only when I breathe.

Take-out tuesday,brent...your favorite.

Take-out tuesday,my favorite.

Ruby,off the phone.

I got to go.

Ruby,it's almost : .

It's not like you didn't see
the boy a couple of hours ago.

Yeah. Me,too.

Totally.

Doug says hi.

Hi,doug.

His parents still on the outs ?

If that's what you want to call it.

We're going to study later,if that's okay ?

Study ?

Yeah,dad,study. Over here.

'Cause the racket at his house
makes it,like,totally impossible.

Somehow I doubt that's the only reason.

can I just eat in my room ? I'm starving.

Ruby,you can wait seconds.

did you ever think that maybe
sammy likes yellow,brent ?

- No.
- Well,what if he does ?

- What if he loves yellow ?
- Ruby...

I'm sure sammy hates yellow,

- just like you do.
- Three red flakes,

two blue,one green,no yellow.

That's what sammy likes.

That's exactly what
sammy will get,because...

dinnertime.

So this kid,brent harris ?

Yeah,one of the orderlies told me
about him when I was here on a dhs job.

Parents were k*lled three years ago ?

Well,found in their car.

. caliber rounds to the chest,neck.

Well,it says here this kid,brent,was
at home when it happened.

But you think he knows something ?

Well,all I know is,I mention his parents'
m*rder,and he blurts out this number.

What kind of number ?

It's a long one. I don't know.

All right,we're here for a number ?

Look, a lot of people with autism have
photographic memories. Details matter

and I figured since I'm familiar
with this ace detective...

you mean me, right?

Yeah. I thought it'd be worth a sh*t.

I should warn you,though.
He's,uh... he's not real friendly.

I ain't lookin' for a friend.

He used to be real high-functioning.

- But not anymore ?
- No,not since his parents d*ed.

Good luck.

Brent ?

I'm detective rush,and this
is my partner,detective valens.

We want to talk to you about
what happened to your parents.

They d*ed three years ago.

They were m*rder*d.

. .

What does that number have to do
with your parents' m*rder,brent ?

. .

Brent. Did you hear the question ?

Brent,does that number
mei somethicb or what ?

It's a wild-goose chase.

Yeah.

Kid doesn't even understand the question.

It means something,scotty.

What ?

Harrises' car,night of the m*rder ?

Look at the odometer reading.

The same number the kid's been saying.

Down to the exact tenth of a mile.

Yeah,but that car was impounded.
How could he know that ?

'Cause he was there.

He saw his parents m*rder*d ?

steve and lisa harris.

Gunned down a block away from their house.

Theory was a carjacking gone wrong.

Cold from the start. No suspects,no nothing.

According to the daughter's statement, parents
were on their way to the local drive-thru.

These people had some serious bad luck.

Six months prior to getting whacked,
their tropical fish store burnt down.

Daughter said brent was with her at home
waiting for her parents to come back.

Well,now we know he was in the car.

- So why'd she lie ?
- Good question.

So this brent,can he count
cards,toothpicks,what ?

All we know is he can't show emotion.

Got to be rough, being a
parent to a kid like that.

No hugs,no affection.

I can't imagine.

Brent, your sister said
you were home with her.

Why would she say that ?

Did you see your parents m*rder*d,brent ?

. .

Did you see who did it ?

Do you remember anything
from that night,brent ?

Anything at all ?

look,you were in the car,brent.

You saw the odometer number, . .

What did you see before the numbers changed ?

What did you see when the
number was point zero ?

point zero.

Yeah. What happened ?

The light turned red.

"Are you high" ?

Uh,the k*ller was wearing those shoes,brent ?

Is that what you're trying to tell us ?

He tell you anything else ?

Yeah. Um... k*ller's shoes.

"Are you high" was written on them.

- Are you high. I went there.
- Come again.

Ritter union high school. That's
what all the kids called it.

So the doer went to the
same school as brent.

It's not such a bad idea,
me bringing you down here.

Serious lead on a double.

Not too shabby.

Maybe you should deputize
me like in the old west.

catch up with you in a second ?

So,um... I know it's been
kind of hectic lately.

What's going on,lil ?

An old friend's in trouble.

What kind ?

A long story. It'S...

no. I mean,what nd of friend.

He,uh... he asked me to marry him once.

You never told me that.

Just a dumb pipe dream.

Ray's not the settling down type.

And you are ?

It doesn't matter.

I'm here with you.

Are you ?

Foster parents don't let me
out of this pit, but whatever.

I visit brent every weekend.

Barely says a word.

How'd you guys get him to open up ?

Asked him about your parents' murders.

Rattled off a bunch of
numbers at the mention of it.

Well,I guess that's good, right ?

I mean,if he can do that,
maybe he'll be ready.

Ready for what ?

Living with me.

I'm turning ,moving out.

You know,he's the only family I've got left.

So,why'd you lie to the cops,ruby ?
Say brent was at home with you ?

I didn't lie.

He was home in his room.

No possibility you're wrong ?

I was on the phone.

I just assumed. I mean,it
was take-out tuesday.

Take-out tuesday ?

Yeah. Every tuesday night, my parents would bring
back take-out while I stayed home with brent,

- unless...
- unless what ?

to people with autism,
routine is everything.

So ?

So sometimes,my parents
would bring him along.

You know,try to get him used to change.

So this could've been a practice run ?

What does this have to do with
what happened to my mom and dad ?

We think brent was in the car
when the murders took place.

- No.
- And he saw the k*ller's shoes.

The words "are you high"
were graffitied on 'em.

The guy who k*lled my parents
went to my high school ?

Anyone come to mind ?

Yeah. A big tagger.

Even bigger jerk.

no touching

oh,crap.

No,no,no. No,no.

- Here we go again.
- Brent ?

Ruby to the rescue.

I thought we was tight, brent,huh ? Homies.

I thought we shared our work.

No-no touching,no touching.

now,give me the math homework.

No touching ! No touching !

Why you got to be getting all
selfish on me ? Withhold the love...

leave him alone !

Little miss thang, getting all gangsta.

Look who's talking,moron.

Stealing brent's math
homework when you're,like, .

Least I ain't the one
with dumbo in my family.

No ! You just act like you're
not lily-white from the suburbs.

- Shut up before I cap you !
- Bring it on,dumbo !

Hey,you want to mess with my girl ?

I- I ain't got no beef with you.

See,you mess with brent, you mess with me.

That goes for all of you.

You touch my brother
again, and I will k*ll you !

Not if I k*ll you first,skank.

You say something, punk-ass ?

No,dawg,I ain't say nothing.

I didn't think so.

Know what happened to this jackass ?

Yeah,he dropped out of school
after my parents were k*lled.

So maybe he goes after some payback
on ruby or brent, wearing those shoes.

But the parents got in the way.

got to say, not bad for a
white kid from the 'burbs.

Or for a punk beats up
the special needs kids.

I don't even know what that means.

Ruby harris humiliates you
in front of all your friends.

And her parents wind up dead.

Ruby harris...

I do her ?

brent harris's sister.

The autistic kid.

Oh,dumbo !

Yeah,dumbo that wouldn't let
you cheat off his math test.

Why do you think I dropped out of school ?

When dumbo's lapping you, it's time to go.

k*ller wore shoes,like the
ones you're wearing now,greg.

That's impossible.

I mean,these dogs ain't even that old.

I just made 'em this past year.

So maybe you were wearing a prototype.

Lady,you know how many pairs of
shoes I've customized for people ?

We're only interested in one pair.

Said "are you high" on them.

That narrows it to,like,a hundred.

So you just let it go,then ?

Ruby dissing you in front of all your pals ?

I didn't just let it go. But I
sure the hell didn't k*ll nobody.

What did you do ?

I got some practice in.

Wasn't my finest work,but...

Principal's office.

What the hell happened ?

Brent,mom and dad are here,all right ?

We're going to take you home.

So you can see sammy.

He misses you.

Sammy's a fish. He doesn't miss people.

Did you do this ?

Do what ? I'm here for a
student council meeting,dawg.

- Mr. And mrs. Harris, I am so sorry.
- Sorry ?

You promised you'd have
someone looking out for brent.

- The state mandates it.
- The state bud

gets one special needs counselor
for the entire ninth grade.

I can't tell you how sick to
death we are of your excuses.

If you have a problem with the way
the special needs program is run...

don't you dare tell us to write
another letter or call the school board,

because we've already
done that a dozen times !

It's okay. It's over.

We are officially withdrawing
brent from your school.

Well,that is your prerogative.

You're glad,aren't you ?

I think brent might be
happier in another school,yes.

But I know the alternatives are expensive.

Yeah,they are expensive.

Too expensive.

There's no turning back now.

Come on,brent.

it's time for plan b

Plan b ?

Any idea what that could've meant ?

Hey,I'm the guy who needed to
cheat off the dummy,remember ?

I been reading up on autism.

- Yeah ?
- They can't lie.

Incapable of it.

No kidding.

Same with humor. They don't get it.

You say something like,
"guy was high as a kite. "

And they're like,"how could
a guy be high as a kite ?

He weighs too much. "

Riveting.

hello,brent.

Remember me ? Detective valens.

.

- That's my badge number.
- Neat trick.

It's all about triggers.
I say,"detective valens. "

.

And he coughs up. I get it.

Listen,kid,I want to ask
you some questions. Okay ?

- Hey.
- vera.

You remember when your parents pulled
you out of ritter union high school,brent ?

You were covered in yellow spray paint.

You don't like yellow, do you,brent ?

Three red flakes,two
blue, one green,no yellow.

Not my favorite color,either.

Well,now that we got that settled.

As your parents were leaving
the principal's office,

your dad said, "it's time for plan B. "

Save sammy.

Plan b meant "save sammy" ?

Plan B. Save sammy.

Who the hell is sammy ?

Plan B.

Save sammy.

So sammy's a fish ?

Siamese fighting fish. Betta
splendens. Indigenous to thailand.

Males live alone...

who saved sammy,brent ?

Doug saved sammy.

Doug,your sister's boyfriend ?

Doug says hi.

Is that a yes ?

You did good,brent. Real...

good.

Had a talk with brent,doug.

Brent's talking ?

That's great.

Maybe not so great for you.

Why's that ?

He put you at the scene
of his parents' murders.

No way. That can't be.

Says you.

I was at the batting cages. I didn't
clock out till : . You can check.

We will.

Besides,i loved that kid. His
whole family, not just ruby.

- You still in contact with her ?
- No.

After her parents d*ed, she froze me out.

Why's that ?

I hung out with the harrises a lot on account
of my family being a total disaster area.

So you reminded ruby too much of the past ?

That's what I like to think,anyway.

Better than the alternative.

That she stopped loving me ?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Brent was real specific,doug.

Said you saved sammy.

Saved sammy ?

Said you picked his cup off the floor
of the car the night of the m*rder.

Yeah. I know what he's talking about.

Oh,yeah ?

You see,autistics like brent,
they can't keep time straight.

You made a study ?

No. Ruby told me.

You see,it's like brent can't
keep things in sequence,you know ?

Like,he talks about yesterday or a year
ago like it happened at the same time.

What's that got to do with brent
placing you at the crime scene ?

Everything. 'Cause I did save sammy.

Just not the night he was talking about.

No. No. No. No. No. No,no,no.

Go back to your room,brent.

No. No,no,no. No,sammy
doesn't like other fish.

Brent,calm down.

No,this is sammy's house.

You're right,brent, this is sammy's house.

And no one's gonna hurt him.

He's going to start stimming for sure.

No... the fish store is their house.

Brent,remember how we
talked about transitions ?

Well,this is one of them.

You're just going to have to get
used to these fish being here.

No,no,no,no. No. No,no,no,no.

Save sammy ! Save sammy ! Save...

it's okay,brent. See ? It's okay, brent,look.

See,look,i saved sammy. He's fine.

doug saved sammy.

Yeah,he did.

You know what,brent ?

I bet sammy would like
to look at the other fish.

Betta splendens. Males live alone.

Just-just look, not go near them.

Just look,okay ?

See,brent. He likes it. I can tell.

what were the harrises doing with
all those fish in the basement ?

I promised i wouldn't say.

When did this happen,doug ?

this was before the fire,wasn't it ?

Yeah.

They didn't want to k*ll their own fish.

So they brought them home.

That's what plan b was.

Burning down their own store.

so they're finally kicking

you out of here,huh ?

I'm driving the nurses

to distraction.

Keep coming in

and giving me sponge baths.

It's nice your guy

let you come visit.

I'm here to say good-bye,ray.

Good-bye,good-bye ?

Like sayonara ? Adios ? Forever ?

This isn't a joke.

Who's laughing ?

Um...

I'm leaving in the morning.

Back to jersey ?

Nah.

I'm thinking maybe california.

California.

Wow.

Yeah.

You know this guy,

he's just a rookie.

We go way back,lil.

I know.

So come with me ?

I got to stop running sometime.

I'm ain't running

from anything.

I meant me.

Then stay.

Bye.

Bye.

Bye.

Your brother may not

be able to lie,ruby.

But you don't seem

to have any problem with it.

What are you talking about ?

The fish store.

Your parents

burning it down.

My parents were the best,

so don't you dare.

You got a temper,ruby ?

When it comes to people

talking trash

about my family,yeah,I do.

Ever occur to you that arson

might've had something

to do with their m*rder ?

My parents did what they had to do.

They had to burn down their own store ?

They were desperate.

Why ?

Because a couple months

before they yanked

brent out of school,

this jerk offered them

something they couldn't resist.

What ?

Hope.

On the autism spectrum

disorder,mr. Harvey,

high functioning.

He knows everything there is

to know about tropical fish.

And he's excellent at math,

aren't you,brent ?

I'm in algebra a.

Well,that's terrific.

But here at north bend,

our real focus is on emotional

and social development.

That's great. That's just

what we're looking for.

Here's an example

of what I'm talking about.

That's jason. When he came

to north bend,

he wouldn't let

anyone near him.

Now look at him.

That's amazing.

Has brent ever hugged you ?

Or held your hand ?

Touched your face ?

No.

Well,

that's the hope we hold out

for parents here at north bend.

But there is

one obstacle.

I'm afraid we have a

waiting list.

How long ?

We're not even taking names.

There is

an alternative,however.

It's,uh,an

incentive program.

One where I see

to it that

brent's name goes to the top

of the waiting list.

You see to it ?

Yes.

For an incentive.

How much ?

grand. In cash.

So your parents

b*rned their own store

to pay the bribe ?

Except the insurance company boned us.

Said the store

had faulty wirG.

Never paid the claim.

Your mom and dad

must've been devastated.

They were.

They lost everything

trying to pay off that pimp.

But they were determined,right ?

Desperate.

Would've done anything.

So what if they went

back to him ?

Turned the tables.

Used his bribe against him.

Got to hand it to you,harvey.

Heck of a scheme.

Extorting

desperate parents.

That's offensive.

You make $ , a year

and live in an $ ,

waterfront condo.

I have dedicated my

life to this school.

To these kids.

Doesn't explain the

discrepancy in your finances.

Do I receive gifts every now

and then from grateful parents ?

Yes. Guilty.

Now what about people who can't afford

to give you gifts ?

People like the harrises.

The harrises ?

Yeah,they came to you,

threatened to expose your

little incentive program.

Oh,they never

threatened me.

Sure about that ?

Yeah,they begged me

to let their kid in.

And you said no.

I gave them my best advice.

Gratis.

Which was ?

There's a school in vermont

for kids with autism.

Doesn't charge tuition.

Vermont ?

Yeah. I even made some

calls for them.

Made sure their kid could get in.

And did he ?

Yes. They were going

to move there.

The whole family ?

I'm all about the kids.

Yeah,you're a real champ.

Joseph.

I found a place for ruby

at a halfway house.


She can live there

with brent if she wants.

I've been calling you.

Went by your apartment

last night,'cause I thought we

were going to talk,but...

you never showed up.

I was at the hospital.

With him.

Saying good-bye.

And after...

I walked all night.

Now I'm here.

With you.

Sounds like it was

a tough decision.

It was.

It's just that,

ray knows me.

Everything about me.

And maybe if you let me in,

I'll leave you,too ?

Ray never left me.

No. He's just never around.

I mean maybe

that's what you really want.

No.

I want to be with you.

What,for like a week,

a month,then what ?

Can't we try ?

I left your keys on the table.

Don't leave,joseph.

Please.

Look,I'm not your

consolation prize.

I don't want to be alone.

Maybe you do.

Why not go to the normal

sibling,ask about vermont ?

'Cause the sister lies.

And your boy brent can'T.

That's right.

Take off your tie.

What ?

Your tie,it's yellow.

Brent hates yellow.

Forget it.

No way.

Uh,it's detective

valens,brent.

.

That's right.

Your parents cared a

lot about you,brent.

You know that ?

Mom and dad.

They cared so much they

were planning on moving

so that you could go

to a better school.

A school in vermont.

sw .

What do those numbers have

to do with vermont,brent ?

Vermont.

sw .

Brent,where did you

see those numbers ?

Okay.

Okay.

Okay,okay.

Forget vermont.

I know what that number is,

at least the last part.

What ?

Sw .

Smith and wesson . .

So the first part must

be the serial number.

Kid,you just gave us the g*n.

It's all about triggers,boss.

Triggers ?

Yeah.

Say the right word,

you get the right answer.

So you're clueing into brent ?

I don't want to take all the credit.

I mean,

scotty was there.

I got it.

The serial number.

Who's the g*n registered to ?

Steve harris.

Brent's dad ?

Parents were k*lled

with their own g*n.

Your parents were k*lled

with their own g*n,ruby.

I don't know what you're talking about.

A g*n you had access to.

You think I k*lled

my own parents ?

You didn't want to move to vermont.

Vermont.

Yeah.

We know about that,ruby.

Moving away from doug.

Your amazing boyfriend.

"Forget vermont,"

your parents said

right before they were sh*t.

That's why they were k*lled.

None of us wanted to move.

But they said we had to,

for brent.

It was always about brent,wasn't it ?

Your cross to bear.

I understood.

You know,I have a sister,ruby.

A real screw up.

And no matter how perfect I was,

my mom was all about her.

It was like I didn't even exist.

That's not how it was with us.

Oh,yeah ?

You didn't bail brent

out of trouble all the time ?

You didn't hate them

for ignoring you.

For a freak ?

Don't call him that.

He didn't mean to do it.

Do what ?

What did brent do,ruby ?

That night...

the night

your parents were k*lled ?

Brent came home...

and all the roads

we have to walk wind

and all the lights

that lead the way are blind there are many things

that I would

like to say to you,

but I don't know how

I said maybe

you're gonna be the one

that saves me

and after all

you're my wonderwall.

I buried his clothes

and the g*n in the backyard.

Okay,ruby.

I won't be able to take care

of brent now,will I ?

No.

It's me,brent,

detective valens.

.

That's right.

We talked to your sister ruby.

She told us what happened.

You were in the car

with your parents

when they were m*rder*d.

. .

That's right,brent.

That was the odometer number.

Then you saw those shoes.

Are you high.

And you didn't want to move

'cause you don't like change.

That's why your dad said,

"okay,okay,forget vermont. "

sw .

The serial number

of the g*n.

The g*n that you fired.

The g*n you fired,brent !

The g*n your sister said

you were holding.

- - .

... ?

That's a philly

area code,brent.

That's a phone number.

What does that number have to do
with you holding the g*n ?

- ...

brent,whose phone

number is that ?

Sammy's house.

the k*ller got a call from

someone in your house,brent ?

Sammy's house.

Your house.

My house.

Brent,

detective valens...

.

...Is proud of you.

Okay.

Okay.

Hey,detectives. How you doing ?

Oh,brent's been talking

again,doug.

That's good,right ?

Ruby made a phone call

from her house

the night of the m*rder.

At : .

To your cell.

Don't lie,

'cause we got the phone records.

Yeah,your point ?

Brent saw his home number

flash on the k*ller's phone.

Your phone.

Whoa,wait,back up.

Uh,brent saw ?

That's right.

Brent.

And brent doesn't lie.

And you might have

clocked out of work

at : ,doug,

but nobody remembers you

being around

between : and : .

And we know you helped

the harrises move

their stuff

out of their store,

the g*n they kept there

included.

You said you loved

the harrises,doug.

I did.

They were like the

family I never had.

But they were going to move away.

You were going to lose ruby

and the family

that was better than your own.

See,you don't get it.

Get what ?

That brent's

the lucky one.

Not being able

to feel anything.

'Cause you felt too much ?

Look,I loved ruby more than

anyone's ever loved anybody.

And you couldn't let a love like

that just disappear on you.

The thought of her not being

with me,moving away forever...

not a possibility.

So you had to stop them.

I didn't want to,I swear.

But it was like my heart...

it was like...

lovesick.

What...

Oh,what are you doing

out here in the rain ?

You're soaked.

Hop in.

Come on,it's take-out tuesday.

I know.

I can't let you do it.

- Take her away from me.

- Do what ?

Ruby ?

She's my air.

I cannot breathe without her.

I will die,I swear.

What are you doing ?

- I mean it.

- You can't take her.

Okay,okay.

Forget vermont.

You say that now,but I know

you will do anything for brent.

No,no.

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

in my place,in my place

were lines

that I couldn't change

I was lost,oh,yeah

I was lost,I was lost

crossed lines

I shouldn't have crossed

I was lost,oh,yeah

yeah

how long must you wait

for him

yeah

how long must you pay

for him

yeah

how long must you wait

for him

for him

I was scared,I was scared

tired and underprepared

but I wait for you

and if you go,if you go

leave me down here on my own

and I'll wait for you,yeah

yeah

how long must you wait

for him

yeah

how long must you pay

for him

yeah

how long must you wait

for him

for him

sing it,

please,please,please

come back and sing to me

to me,me

come on and sing it out

now,now

come on and sing it out

to me,me

come back and sing

in my place,in my place

were lines

that I couldn't change

and I was lost,oh,yeah

oh,yeah.
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