Original subtitles

You're the journey, the source of all redemption.

Why is it that big of a deal?

Boy, we've been over this before, and the answer is still no.

But there's nothing, like, radical about it. And they're my ears.

Yes, but I'm responsible for them until you're 18.

Cheryl has three earrings on her left ear and four on her right.

And you have none.

So why don't we just take this one load at a time, okay?

Mom, we're studying world cultures.

Did you know that multiple ear piercing has been accepted practice in Tibet for

a thousand years?

Yes, well, so has eating yak butter.

Cheryl's mom thinks multiples are cool.

She even has a belly button ring.

When did she do that? Right after the divorce.

Mary Culver and her 11 -year -old daughter Brittany were killed when

engulfed their house at 411 Rexford Drive.

The house was not equipped with smoke detectors.

And fire department officials said the victims had no chance to escape the

intense blaze.

We're chatting about the classics with Michelle.

I never heard you mention her name before, Chloe.

What?

I never heard you mention her name.

She was just there.

She was at Michelle's skating party last week.

You know what, Chloe? I think I'm going to take the day off, and you and I can

just hang out. Oh, no, no, that's okay.

I mean, I feel bad and everything, but I didn't like... Nowhere.

I'm okay.

I'm okay, really.

I'm gonna go get my stuff.

Two people, including an 11 -year -old girl.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of this blaze, which

through the home with such speed and intensity that firefighters had no

to save the occupants.

A memorial fund is being established by Buckhead Elementary School in the names

of Mary and Brittany Culver.

Donations can be made directly to the school or through the Buckhead... Mary

Culver wasn't the one.

We have to keep looking.

You started both fires in the basements.

Confined areas with poor ventilation.

When the fire burned through this ceiling, yeah, the infusion of oxygen

it into a torch.

That went up like cellophane.

So he knew what he was doing.

Sorry. Up all night with my newborn.

Congratulations.

Yeah, thank you.

After three tries, I got myself a girl.

How long did it take for the fire to engulf the room?

With the amount of fuel it had, I think more than three or four minutes.

Twenty -three inches should be a point guard someday.

She's beautiful.

Thank you. Get her an agent now.

How's Chloe dealing with it?

She's not really.

We found residue from this type of accelerant at its first fire, too.

Alcohol -based gel.

Same pattern?

Yeah, if you call it that. Looks like you just sprayed it onto me.

No, it looks like a pattern.

It's almost as if his methodology becomes his signature.

Some form of artistic expression.

You know, lots of these guys, when they talk about fire, I mean to them, they

are making art.

He puts himself at risk being in the same room as the fire's spreading.

Most of them don't like to get that close. Being close made him a part of

Let's get a picture of his pattern and compare it to the other fire.

What we have here are bones.

I'm thinking an animal or a bird since they're so small. I'll take them back to

the shop and test them.

Did the Culbers have pets?

I'll have to check. What about the first victims, the bad ones?

None that we found.

You brought them with him.

He's not an artist.

He's a sadistic bastard who enjoys in something pain.

What about a triad kid?

A bedwetter, fire starter, cruel to animals?

No kid would have beat fires.

Fire was started over here, right?

Based on the amount of charred material.

This is where the animal died.

An animal that he brought with him.

Could be some sort of sacrificial offering or... I thought that went out

the Old Testament.

Let me see that.

Looks like a hinge.

I found another.

When I was 11, our house burned down.

The house he stayed in was our second house.

I was walking home from Little League one day, one afternoon, this kid, Joey

Goldfarb, comes running up to me, screams, George, your house is on fire!

I ran home so fast.

If I'd been that fast on the field, I might have made it to the majors.

Nobody was hurt, thank God.

It was not of suspicious origin or anything like that, but... I mean, it's

astounding to watch your house going up in flames.

Hi. Hey. Hi.

So far, no connections between the two sets of victims.

Albert and Gloria Van Owen, who died in the first fire, were from an old Atlanta

family. He was an architect. They lived really well.

Could a relative have killed them all for the insurance?

No. I'm sorry.

Mary Culver and her daughter were living from one alimony check to the next. I'm

sorry. Scratch that. That's the dumbest thing I've ever said. Don't exaggerate.

I've told you that a million times.

Mary's ex is landing at Hartsfield right about now. He was in Japan on a

business trip. Based on the lack of commonality... Atlanta PD doesn't

him to be a suspect.

So why are these victims?

In the wrong place at the wrong time?

No, he wanted to be close to them.

They were separated in age by 30 years.

The Van Owens were country clubbers. Mary Culver was barely holding things

together.

They might as well have been living on different planets.

Yeah, but they meant something to him.

I mean, otherwise he could have just poured some gasoline and lit a match,

but... He goes to all the trouble of performing this elaborate ritual inside

their home.

The hero thing? Rare events.

We've seen cases where a firefighter sets the blaze. Then it seems like

on the spot was the first to make the call.

Two different stations responded to the call.

33rd for the Culver's, 36th for the Benowitz.

Besides,

there were fatal fires.

Maybe, maybe they weren't intended to be.

No, I think they were.

But killing may not be his ultimate goal. I mean, he may be looking beyond

death.

Animal sacrifice may indicate some spiritual interpretation of fire as a

cleansing element or a conduit to a new life.

George, let's start a search of religions that have used fire or

part of their ritual of belief system.

So at this point, we're looking for a general landscape?

These fires are very personal.

As personal as his choice may be.

weren't the chosen one.

I failed you.

We have to keep trying.

These old fraternity houses were never built to meet current fire codes.

Chloe's still shut down about it.

Yeah, she...

Hasn't said a word.

No broken lines.

More fluid.

He's perfecting his signature. Getting better and bolder.

Bold enough to do it two nights in a row.

I'm sure he's following the media coverage.

So he's got to know we're pounding mud.

The bones in the first scene were a dove.

These look the same.

Never got out of its cage.

Trapped like the boys upstairs.

Four college kids, an elderly couple, your neighbor, a daughter.

What possible connection could they have?

There's something that didn't burn.

There's a coating on one side.

I'll have it analyzed.

Atlanta PD was out in force last night shooting pictures of the crowd.

They're trying to get a match to anyone with a history of arson.

I doubt this guy has a history of arson.

Even so, make sure they look for guys with hands in their pockets.

Well, I don't think that he's doing this to achieve a sexual thrill. I mean, at

least not in the traditional way.

This is all about the ritual.

I understand.

But he also puts a signature on these fires. His artistic expressions.

Wouldn't he still want to watch them? At least get the private satisfaction that

an audience appreciates his work.

Maybe.

That's all that's left of the birdcage.

He uses a dove.

Symbol of peace.

It's also the symbol of freedom, of love.

He kills them?

Yeah, till he kills the victims.

I mean, what if in his mind death isn't some sort of punishment, but it's a

reward, and the dove is the carrier taking them to a world that is better

this one?

Which means these people did mean something to him.

And if he's giving them a gift, they must have done something to deserve it.

But he kills them because he likes them? You've got to remember, Stan. He's

nuts.

Samantha Waters.

Awake. Yes, I'm Chloe's mother.

What do you mean she's gone?

Why aren't they monitored?

They should have security people.

She turned in a math quiz.

She didn't answer any of the questions, and then when the teacher went to find

her, she just walked off campus.

Alone?

Yeah.

That's correct, Lieutenant.

Chloe Waters.

White female five feet tall blonde hair blue eyes 11 years old

The

machine we're setting up a three -mile perimeter around the school

what about a friend's houses know that their mothers would have called me You

know what there's a park about a mile and a half away from school some of the

kids Go there after class. So why don't we go check that out, all right?

Yeah.

That's her over by the bathroom.

Well?

Not close.

Yeah?

Sam, it's John.

Did you find her, CRI?

Listen, Sam, I just called to tell you we can scratch Mary Culver's house.

Atlanta PD already has the place staked out in case the killer returns.

They haven't seen anybody matching her description.

All right.

Well, all right. Thanks, Tom.

She wouldn't go to Brittany's. I mean, she doesn't even know where she lived.

The address is in the newspaper. It was television.

Yeah, but if she wanted to remember, she would... What, Sam?

She'd go someplace where she was alive.

I'll call it in.

Should have known they'd call you.

Chloe, I'm sorry about Brittany.

I know how scary this is for you.

We had an assembly for her.

Cheryl and Michelle were all crying.

I wasn't.

Why? Because there's no point.

You don't cry when you see all the people get killed.

I do, sometimes.

You cried for Dad?

Yeah, I did.

And for a lot of other people.

But why?

I mean, Dad can be killed for no reason, and Brittany can be killed for no

reason. Why cry or do anything?

Why isn't he born in the... first place. What's the point?

You know, Chloe, when your dad died, I

just thought I was going to give up.

Why didn't you?

Because I had you.

And you were the point.

For a long time, you were the only point.

And then time went on, and I found that I had other people and

friends and my work.

Chloe, bad things happen in this world.

And it's up to you to see the good things and make your life happy.

And that really is the point.

Brittany seemed really nice.

I wish I could have known her.

Well, why don't you tell her that?

She's dead.

Doesn't matter.

You can still tell her.

None of these onlookers had any criminal record, according to Atlanta PD.

All right, thanks, Chris.

A piece of unburned paper that Grace found in the ashes was treated with

cellulose triacetate. It was a photographic paper.

Was there a retrievable image on it? No, it was the corner. It was only like an

inch and a half.

Were you thinking that's how he starts the fires?

Well, she found it at the point of origin.

This guy is probably a loner. He immerses himself in the philosophy

fire.

Photographers think of themselves as artists, like to put a signature on

work. Maybe we shouldn't be looking for people in photographs.

Maybe we could be looking for someone who took them.

Bye.

Well, that's too bad.

I just really liked the idea it was a firefighter.

You check the records yourself, Georgie.

The only guy who would have worked both fires was at home in bed with a fever of

102.

So we're saying it's not a firefighter looking to advance his career. It's a...

What about the burn patterns on the walls?

I sent copies of the pictures to a friend of mine at CIA Linguistics.

far. I can make a letter if anybody wants.

No.

If this guy is a photographer, he's probably not a pro.

I don't think that career advancement has anything to do with it.

Why would he go to the trouble of performing a ritual if all he needed was

photograph? Not one great picture can make a career.

He kills eight people for a career?

Talk to John Gotti.

I really think this guy is obsessed with some kind of theology.

I don't think he's looking to get a Pulitzer Prize.

I understand, but we can't eliminate possibilities because they don't fit a

profile that's still being formed.

John, I want you to check every photographer who submitted pictures to

the Atlanta papers and the wire services.

Yeah, you bet.

Here's the burn pattern from the first fire, the one that killed the Van Owens.

This is from Mary Culver's basement.

And this is from the fraternity house.

He's getting better at his signature.

Here, as CIA linguistics can make out, it most closely resembles Farsi, which

is, you know, the native tongue of Iran.

But we don't know what it means.

CIA started thinking some kind of terrorist connection.

You know CIA.

Most Iranians are not terrorists.

There may be something about the Iranian culture that has attracted him.

Grace got an analysis of the wood at the point of the fire's origin. It's

sandalwood. It's native to the region. It's rare, expensive, used mostly as

incense in Middle Eastern churches.

So it could be part of a ritual that dates back hundreds of years, if not

George, have him keep working on that burn pattern. Does it suggest other

languages or if it is Farsi, what the hell does the word or phrase mean?

We need to get a handle on this guy.

How about a name?

Clint Farrow, a photographer who sold pictures from all three fires to the

papers. One of them had the front page of the Gazette.

Were the pictures time -stamped?

Yep, before the fire department arrived.

Listen, I know we argued about the career advancement thing, but this guy

something for everybody. He's a loner.

He eats at the same greasy spoon five nights a week. He's ritualistic. He's

habitual, and he has the sexual stability of a minx.

He was once a hotshot with the Associated Press, but they bounced him

conduct unbecoming.

Clint Farrell,

Bailey Malone, FBI.

You want Renee. She's two booths down. She gives discounts to bureaucrats. I'd

like to ask you some questions, Clint.

About fires.

It's my specialty.

I just sold a page one to the Gazette.

You're a tasteful guy.

Come with us, please.

I'm not going anywhere.

Your nose run all the time, Clint?

Sensitive membranes.

Yeah, we get your sensitive membranes out of here, right?

Hey, you've got no right to take me in.

And you have no right to take pictures in this emporium of the dance.

I don't do weddings and bar mitzvahs, okay? I mean, you're not going to find

bunnies and baby chicks because that's not what sells, and I've got to make a

living.

You covered Desert Storm in 91.

Found your pictures in the news magazines.

Won some awards.

I know how to ship.

Then it all started to fall apart.

They said I got too graphic.

The world is graphic.

No, and I know it.

But was that all that happened?

Wasn't there an incident in Miami?

Oh, now, wait a minute, wait a minute. You're not going to bring this up. I

no problem with how a guy relieves the tension.

Believe me, I've seen it all, from cross -dresses to shoe lovers to guys who bet

their hearts for the latex crusader.

See?

See, the thing was... You see, they were just looking for stuff.

They're just jealous people.

They were, like, trying to find stuff on me.

So you had to rehabilitate your rep and you did it the only way you know how.

By taking page one shots.

Which is what I did.

Of all three fires.

Exactly. You scooped them all.

That's right.

How?

I mean, how were you able to get there before the fire department, before the

cops?

I got three scanners.

I just happened to be nearby.

It's always a combination of preparation and luck.

That's right.

And sandalwood.

What are you talking about?

These were in Pharaoh's darkroom.

Car crashes, explosions, fires.

No people.

Crimes our killer is committing are all about people.

Here we go.

The word in Farsi is atash. It means, might come as a big shock to you, fire.

That's it?

That's it.

So he sacrifices a dove, starts his blaze with sandalwood, and writes the

fire on the wall?

Could be the one word in Farsi he knows how to spell.

What would you have expected?

Maybe something as symbolic and evocative as the tools he's using.

You set those fires, Glenn.

Wait, wait. I didn't set those fires. You set the fires because you wanted to

Mr. Associated Press!

All over again. No, no, no, no. I did not set those fires. I was there. I set

those fires. These people died so you could get back on top. Look, I told you.

Tell me what, Clint.

All right, all right.

I told you.

I was driving around when my scanner went off.

All right? I drive around a lot at night. You know? I mean, I'm a night

I'm a night owl.

You're a line of work you'd have to be.

Maybe it wasn't in your line of work.

Meaning what?

Meaning the locals went through your place, having obtained a warrant, and

stock of your inventory.

It's pretty funny, you know, with all these sex toys. I don't see where you

the energy to take pictures.

That's not illegal.

Did I say what?

What are you going to do with that?

What are you going to do?

This guy's dark room was a mess. The guy we're looking for would be as habitual

and precise with his appearance as he is with everything else.

We know that. Yeah, then why bring it up? Get out, you little punk! Why are

bringing it up?

Oh.

Oh, man.

You don't understand.

You.

Sure we do.

Lives of ape people don't mean diddly squat to you if it gags the buck.

What don't we understand?

I used to be up there, you know.

Having Clint Farrell cover an event made it an event, you know. Getting back on

top was important.

Yeah. How important?

So important that you... Yeah, it was important to me. I'm an artist, damn it.

I want my work seen.

You said he thought of himself as an artist?

I hold up a mirror to where the world is. That's my life.

And now my life is over.

It's over.

It's time, Claire.

It's time.

You'll bring me to her.

Finally, after four years, I finally get a break.

You know, I'm back on the right road.

I'm going to be up there again.

But if it gets out that you guys brought me down here, I'm so,

so screwed.

George Fraley.

...report today that yet another fatal fire, presumed to be arson, has blighted

the Buckhead area. Thanks, Joan. This evening's blaze at 24 Lincoln Avenue

killed Jonathan and Kathleen Putnam and their 17 -year -old son, Christopher.

There is, however, one bright spot amidst the tragedy.

15 -year -old Claire Putnam, once thought dead, was miraculously revived

efforts of her men.

She is currently listed in stable condition at Atlanta General and is

to fully recover.

We'll be together, Lenny, I promise.

I found the girl who will lead you to me, Lydia. I found the chosen one.

Four

more

dead at the scene.

Pharaoh was here when the fire was set.

He's probably selecting these victims because they bring something unique to

rituals. Billy?

Sam? The guys at linguistics kept working it. They realized the word is

which is a root form of atash. It doesn't just mean fire. It's the god of

according to ancient Persian traditions.

How would he find out about a Persian fire god?

He's listed on some kind of occult website.

Indeed he is. He's worshipped by nomadic tribes of the 3rd and 4th centuries B

.C. Some scholars think this is the source of the phoenix myth.

The bird that rises from its own ashes.

And never died.

Atar's followers believed in trial by fire.

Every 12 years, the strongest male and female members of the tribe were chosen

to walk through a wall of fire. And anyone who lived would become one of

chosen ones.

How many lived?

None. Big surprise, right? And which only made them believe even more.

I don't know how many chosen ones they thought might be walking around among

And how they talked them into walking into certain agonizing death was with

promise of eternal life and wisdom.

The gift of raising the dead.

He's not interested in death.

He's looking for someone who survived it.

Someone who's cheated death.

George, hospital records, insurance payouts.

The Death Cheaters webpage.

There's a commonality.

One person in each location where a fire was set lived through a near -death

experience. Surviving made each of them a candidate for his phoenix.

Evan McDyess, hit by an 18 -wheeler, bounced off, skateboarded away.

Albert Van Owen survived a 10 -story plunge off of one of his buildings.

Mary Culver was in remission for breast cancer.

He's hoping that one of them will cheat death again and bring back whoever he

lost. But none of them survived his trial by fire. Not one did.

The last fire had that one survivor, Claire Putnam.

Four months ago, treated for frostbite after being stranded for seven days

during a snowstorm, she was the only survivor in her ski party.

They were probably all treated at the same place.

Some place that you would have access to.

Atlanta General, where Claire Putnam is now.

Excuse me, we need to talk to Claire Putnam.

Through the door, virtual monolith.

Thank you.

She's not there.

She was there.

Was she moved for any reason? She went down to x -ray, but that was hours ago.

Who took her there?

I don't know. I do.

The nurse said she saw her being wheeled out of here. The guy pushing her was an

orderly named Ted Harris.

people. You need not fear death, Claire.

Death becomes you.

Look, your little servant.

My little one.

Your job is done.

We found our Phoenix.

If Ted Harris worked at this hospital, there's no record of it here. He knows

computers. He's deleted his employment file.

Step into Social Security, IRS.

He has to have some kind of address.

No one knows anything about this guy. Worked here for seven months.

Half the place hasn't heard of him.

I'll be right back.

You don't have any relatives?

Well, Grant is on route from Memphis. I got Atlanta PD staked out at the Putnam

fire. No one's seen anything.

Nurse Taylor, you were helping to treat Claire Putnam, weren't you?

I was.

Very sweet girl.

Losing her family the way she did, it's terrible.

Still no word on her?

Look,

Ted did not do this.

How well do you know Ted?

I don't know him well, but...

A few months ago, I had a health problem, and it was a very difficult

me.

Ted helped me with the insurance people.

They weren't going to pay.

I would have lost my house.

He used to be a very successful insurance broker.

Do you know if he has any family here?

No, he doesn't have family. He was married, but his wife... She died.

They never did have any children.

It was a tragic accident. He was very much in love with her.

She died in the fire?

She fell asleep with a cigarette while Ted was at work.

Nurse Taylor, where is Ted? I don't know where he is.

He was there for me when I needed somebody.

And I know that you don't want to see him get into trouble, but if you know

where he lives or where he may have taken him... Look, he did not do this.

Ted's life is a shamble.

And you're going to ruin what's left of it.

He's going to kill this girl.

Then you have to help us.

This is Lydia.

In this world, she was my wife.

Kindest, most loving woman I've ever lived.

One day, fire took her from me.

It took her from all of us.

But you get to bring her back.

Lydia, we'll soon be together. All you have to do is believe.

The wisdom of Atar has thrown his light on me and he brought me to you.

And now you to my wife.

So you can bring her back.

I'd like to take that off.

Do you promise not to scream?

It's a transition from darkness to light. It's a place to learn, to gain

knowledge. But only if you have the courage to embrace it.

You have been given a special gift, Claire.

Do not refuse it.

You'll see your family.

The ones who didn't survive.

You will be in the presence of everyone who passed before us. But you must...

Not bring anyone else back but Lydie.

Her passing was the word of Vatar.

The message that opened my eyes to his gift to the world. This gift that

in me.

Claire, it's you.

You are the Chosen One.

No harm will come to you, Claire.

As long as you accept the wisdom of Atar and bring my Lydia back to me.

Get away from the girl, Ted.

No, no, you don't understand.

Move away from her now.

Nothing's going to happen to her.

No harm will come to you.

You are the chosen one.

She's the chosen one.

No, no, she's not, Ted. She's not the chosen one.

She's just an innocent girl.

That's not true. No, it isn't.

You have to let her go. I can't.

Ted, we know about your wife.

About Lydia. Then you know that she's the only chance that we ever have of

seeing Lydia again.

Look, I know how much you love her.

She was my life.

I know how hurt you are and that you would do anything to see her once again.

I'm all done.

Claire can't help you with that.

All she has to do is believe.

No, no, she can't, Ted. You have to let her go.

It may be my only chance.

No! Please!

Now die.

They need to come home to me!

No, Tim!

Time to go to bed.

I'm going.

Hey.

I wrote this to Brittany.

Seemed kind of dumb at first, but... Do you mind if I don't show it to you?

It's your letter, Chloe.

I don't mind.

I guess it doesn't matter what I do with it now.

That's the point as I wrote it.

Yep, that is the point.

What was he like?

The guy who did it?

He was sad and lonely.

And he made other people sad and lonely?

Yeah, well, people who do these kinds of things, they're so wrapped up in their

own pain.

They don't realize what they're doing, and they really don't care.

At least we can't hurt anybody else.

I get that point, too.

I'm proud of you, Mom.

I'm proud of you, Chloe Waters.