Original subtitles

Last season on The Hunting Party. It's called The Pit, home to the most

dangerous and violent criminals in history, all of whom the world believes

dead. Or at least it was, until the blast hit.

How many inmates got out? You're here, Agent Henderson, to help us catch them.

My name is Dr. Dulles. Your father is the only one who can tell me who my

biological mother is.

Please, just for one time, who is that woman?

She's not down there anymore.

She's graduated.

Special Agent Henderson.

My name is Colonel Lazarus.

Service at window two.

I don't know if I have it. Hi.

Service at window seven.

I knew you'd come to me, Laura.

What? Your name.

Laura.

It's from The Invisible Man.

I've never seen it.

It's in 1933.

Claude Raine, Gloria Stewart, William Harrigan. My friends are waiting for me,

so...

Do you want some, babe?

No.

This is nice.

Inmate E63 approaching 71 % accuracy.

Treatment continues to prove effective.

Correct responses are nearing acceptable measures.

Acceptable is bare minimum.

Increase the frequency, Doctor.

Yes, ma 'am.

Colonel Lazarus, your helicopter is here.

I'll be back again next week to check on the others.

I expect you'll be successful.

Colonel, pleasure seeing you, as always.

My name is Special Agent Rebecca Henderson.

Two months ago, there was an explosion at a nuclear missile silo in Cheyenne,

Wyoming. The public was told that this was an act of eco -terrorism.

But your government's been lying to you.

The blast actually occurred at a secret government prison called The Pit, which

was home to the worst killers the world has ever seen, all of whom the public

believed were dead. The blast killed many of these inmates, but many more

escaped and remain at large throughout this country.

Federal agents are not equipped to apprehend these killers. This is why

General Mallory assigned me to a specialized team, which she has since

with disastrous effects.

This is one of the largest government cover -ups in the history of the United

States.

It better work.

It will.

Got your message?

It's a shame things had to end this way.

Well, it's not over yet, is it?

The killers from the pit, they're still out there.

Before Oliver died, I made a promise that I was going to finish this.

I agreed to meet out of respect for you and for Oliver. I'm watching the news.

Federal officers killed in Spokane, Atlanta.

Whatever B -team you've hired to replace us clearly isn't up for the job, is it?

Plus, they're missing cases. The woman was just found dead in her own bed in

Austin. No signs of struggle, no fortune. Do you have any idea how much

mess you and your team made? Talk screen found evidence of a paralytic.

Pancreonium bromide.

Ron Sims.

How public is this?

Local papers are running copycat stories, but it won't be long before

find out the real Ron Sims is back.

You need a Mallory. Whether you want to admit it or not, my team has the best

chance you have at catching him. And if I say no?

Then this video goes out to every major news outlet.

It's everything.

The whole story.

I want my team back.

You do understand you are trying to blackmail the Attorney General of the

States, right? No. I'm not trying to do anything.

You're going to reinstate us.

Today.

Careful, Rebecca.

Morales.

Hey.

How you doing?

Oh, it's so good to see your face.

Hey! There she is. Hey.

All right, that's enough of that.

Sorry.

Hey, Morales.

Oh, careful, careful.

Don't hug him too hard.

Old man's still recovering.

I'll still take you any day, kid. Yeah? Want me to get you a chair? No, get him

one of the walkers with the tennis balls.

Are you kidding me? I put myself between you two and a bullet and missed the

thanks I get?

Last time I saved your lives.

Doubt it.

We got a hit.

Ron Sims.

A boogeyman.

You don't grow up in Texas and not hear the story.

I'm from Wyoming and I heard him. He killed like ten women, right? Twelve.

In each case, Ron would break into his victims' homes, waiting for them

underneath their bed before drugging them with a paralytic.

Sims was a companion control killer, which means he didn't actually want his

victims dead.

He just wanted them still.

For him, intimacy was only safe if he knew the other person couldn't leave,

it was after he had complete control that he felt fully safe expressing

He would stay with them for days on end, never leaving their side. They slowly

died from sepsis as their internal organs began to shut down one by one in

paralytic. Yeah, his creep was all over the news when I was in high school.

I still check under the bed at night.

So do I.

We better get to Austin before he makes it 13.

She's pouring the wine, you know, just to taste the way they do.

And I said, look, I love the movie Sideways, but you're going to have to

here because it all tastes like old grape juice to me.

The partner at my firm loves that wine shop, but they're so snooty. I think she

appreciated the honesty.

And I wasn't kidding.

I know nothing about wine, less than nothing. But I do know a little

about pot roast.

Mmm. That's delicious.

You're a good cook.

I love to cook when I've got time.

And a great kitchen like this one.

When do I get to see your place?

Maybe next weekend.

You know, you said that last weekend.

You don't need to hide anything from me.

Cheers.

I mean, honestly,

After all these years of therapy, I'm in a really good place.

It's not easy doing the work on yourself, but it's so rewarding.

Oh, I totally agree.

Therapy was the best decision I ever made. Right?

I'm an imperfect person.

Aren't we all?

And it's healthy to admit that.

You're right.

I don't want to hide myself from you.

I've done things I regret.

Oh, like what?

I have to live with the fact that I've taken a life.

More than one.

What do you mean? Were you in a car accident?

No.

Were you in the military?

Yes,

you know.

Wait. What are you doing? Don't let me go. Don't talk to me like that.

Stop, please. You're scaring me. No.

I'm just trying to be honest.

I didn't want you to know that.

I thought this time would be different, but, you know, of course it ends like it

always ends.

I've never seen anyone with anxiety this extreme.

It started when he was a kid, but he never got treated for it, so he didn't

how to form true emotional bonds with others.

Sure, but a lot of people struggle with anxiety. What turns this guy into a

killer? It wasn't about the social anxiety. It was about the isolation that

created.

And everyone wants connection, right?

Everyone needs intimacy.

Bond didn't know how to get it.

Belonging is an essential human need.

Level three of Maslow's hierarchy.

I had a lot of time for reading the past couple weeks.

I understand the essential human need, but what part of Ron Sims' brain equates

immobilizing women with intimacy?

So in police interviews, Ron talks about being a kid and watching his mom pass

out from barbiturates and alcohol.

He would lie with her sometimes, putting his head on her chest.

Seeking connection.

Because she was immobilized? Mm -hmm.

I regret asking that question.

So are all these videos just of Ron acting weird and ignoring people? For

first three years in the pit?

Yeah, pretty much. It was just standard cognitive behavioral therapy. But then

he starts to work with Dr. Dresden Charles, a psychiatrist that specializes

animal -assisted therapy.

He was a pioneer in this particular modality.

That's when the real breakthrough happened.

Is that a bunny?

There it is.

Whoa. Please tell me the rabbit lived.

Good job, bunny. AAT can be a highly successful complement to traditional

behavioral therapies.

Sort of like emotional training wheels for antisocial personality.

Why a rabbit? Well, horses weren't allowed in the pit. Not exactly.

Ron, as a kid, had a neighbor with rabbits. He wanted one too, but his

wouldn't spring for it.

Simple as that.

So, this actually worked?

This was Ron six months ago, after 17 years of AAT.

I was always afraid what people thought of me.

Couldn't even look him in the eye, you know.

Oh, he speaks.

I was worried that I was doing the wrong thing or saying the wrong thing.

And honestly, most of the time, I was.

I don't know why I was so afraid, but it drove me to do it.

Bad news.

We've got a crime scene.

Morales sent this through.

It's him.

Look at how he posed the body.

Detective, the vets are here.

Whoa, whoa, can I help you?

Hassani, U .S. Marshal. That was fast.

I guess this seems copycat's national news.

Yeah, something like that.

Do you have an ID on the body?

Christina Ward.

42, tax attorney here in town.

Estimated time of death between 10 and 11 last night.

Madam Attorney General.

Have a seat, Major.

I'm happy to see that you have not wasted any time getting this operation

up and running.

Yes, it's great to be back. Not the crap, Jennifer.

Did you know about Agent Henderson's plan to blackmail me?

No, I swear.

I brought you into this path forced to be my eyes and ears, so I expect to

remain informed.

Respectfully, madam, you shut us down.

Whatever Beck did during that time has nothing to do with me.

I'm part of a team. You are an intelligence officer who works for the U

government, which means you work for me.

So you are whatever the hell I say you are.

Yes, madam. Lord knows Colonel Lazarus is just waiting for any excuse to take

control of this entire thing.

Colonel Lazarus?

What? That name.

It's just, the day Odell died, Shane asked me to do voice rec on an audio

clip. It was just a fragment, but it matched a personnel file for Colonel

Lazarus. What did you tell him?

Nothing.

Good.

Who is she?

You don't want to know.

Thanks, everyone. We'll take it from here.

This is a date.

Not their first.

They cook dinner.

For a first date, you might bring someone home after you meet, but she's a

modern woman. She'd want to meet in public first.

The plan was just to kill Christina. Why bother with the wine and dinner? I

mean, you saw the tapes. Ron's therapy turned him into a completely different

man.

He still wants to connect with women, but now he's got the confidence to

them. Right, so he charmed Christina into dinner, but he still killed her.

I don't think he planned to.

They got through half a bottle of wine before something went wrong. Something

must have triggered him. He loses control.

And that's why he took off right away.

What are the chances he's throwing off then? I mean, he's comfortable here.

Ron isn't the same killer anymore.

He isn't hiding under beds this time.

I see this dinner date, and I see a man with new confidence, which unfortunately

means I don't think Christina's going to be our last victim.

And where did the serial killer go to meet women?

It's Monday.

Yeah, we're going.

I guess I was a little hesitant about showing up tonight, but I have a feeling

I'm going to be glad I came.

You spell trouble.

Good trouble, uh -huh. Me too, except for the second one. Oh, obviously not

second one, but the first and the third.

I hope so, but my vet tells me all of our cats don't live as long.

Right. I'm a huge animal person, too.

Rabbits. Well, they are the cutest.

Okay, favorite movie?

I still love black and white movies.

You know, the classics.

Does that make me old -fashioned?

No. That makes you very charming.

Beautiful, ladies and gents. Time's up. Please go to your next table. And don't

forget to enter your partner's name in the app if you're feeling their good

vibes.

This was really nice.

Yeah.

Welcome back, Major.

Major Morales?

Ben, you can just call me Morales.

What do you got? Copy that. How much do you know about wine?

I know that if it comes in a box, you're going to get a headache.

Well, I don't know about the box variety, but every bottle sold in the U

includes a lot number.

And I pulled the one that was on the bottle found at Christina Moore's

so I could trace it back to the regional distributor.

That lot was shipped to a wine shop in downtown Austin called The Great Divine.

Go find.

That Calvin Vineyard Syrah, yes.

2021 was a good year for that varietal. Really intense black pepper with notes

of charred herbs.

Yum. Okay, we're going to need a list of everyone who bought that wine in the

last few months.

Okay?

Okay. Excuse me, I'm sorry. I've got to take this.

Sarah. Hey, how's it going?

Any luck with your friend's voice recognition software?

No, no, nothing. Nothing yet. How's your dad doing?

His hospice. I should say he's doing about the same.

I'm sorry.

I can't get the words out of my head.

She graduated.

You found anything there?

I didn't keep a lot of thoughts in -house, but I've gone through everything

here. I'll send you all the files I can find from his time working at the pit.

Oh, you're not coming back?

No.

I'm sorry, Sam. That's actually why I'm calling.

The firm took on a big case, so... Oh.

Okay.

The northern exposure and high acidity in the soil blend seamlessly with the

dark.

Have you seen this guy?

Oh, yeah, that's Mitch.

What can you tell us about Mitch?

Very charming man. He's come in a few times, actually. Wants to know all about

wine. Says it helps to feel knowledgeable on his dates.

On his dates?

None of them. I mean, I saw this one guy.

Here you go. Excuse me.

Our DB, Christina Ward, was using the same speed dating app, Matchy Maker.

They arrange in -person events in major cities.

When was the last one in Austin?

It ended ten minutes ago. I spoke to the event organizer and confirmed Ron was

there under the name Mitch Lundy. He matched with four women and left with

a woman named Debbie Bolton.

Where's Debbie now?

I met my ex in college.

We were friends first, so it was different.

No facade, but guys now.

You have to wade through all the BS, to use my language.

I get it.

Most men are really disconnected from themselves and their feelings.

It's hard to be vulnerable.

But that's what therapy's for, right?

Yeah. How long have you seen a therapist?

Years.

You know.

You want somebody to fix you right away, but breakthroughs take time.

You know, I just have to be honest. I was really dreading tonight.

I mean, a lot of these things are just so full of... Crazies.

Right?

Well, um... Oh, this is you. Okay.

Well... It was really nice to meet you.

You too, Mitch.

You're right.

Debbie?

Can I be real?

I want to keep hanging out with you.

Hi, this is Debbie. I can't... Debbie's not answering her phone. We just pinged

her cell. She's been home for 15 minutes and she's not answering.

Hi.

It's just... I feel like we've known each other a lot longer than we actually

have. Same.

I mean, it's her first date, but it doesn't feel like it.

You're just trying to get lucky.

I'm not. I swear.

That's not what I'm looking for at all.

Debbie,

I want a partner.

A friend.

I don't want to play games.

I'm looking for someone I can share my true self with.

Mitch, me too. That is exactly...

What I am looking for.

Can I take a risk?

Yeah.

I want to show you something.

Well, of course.

Yeah, what is it?

My favorite movie.

Interesting. It's not where I thought you were going, but I can roll with

Oh, what? Is this like a true crime thing?

Just watch.

The great city of Austin, Texas is known for many things.

It's music. It's food.

It's nightlife.

But in 2005, it became known for murder.

The killer?

Ron Sims.

God, I look so young.

Each of Sims' 12 victims lived out their final days, not with family or friends.

He's a young kind of child.

I want you to know who I've been.

You need to get out of my house. We do not look at them like that. I'm calling

the police.

Yeah, me too.

The one they were anything but.

The Boogeyman nickname made him sound like some kind of urban legend, but make

no mistake, Ron Sims was one of the most brutal killers in the history of Texas.

FBI!

Clear! There's Claire.

He's up here!

Debbie, can you hear me?

Call 911!

Hey, Deb, can you breathe?

Clear the back room. Hey, my name's Jacob. We're here to help.

Everything's going to be okay. Just relax.

He needed a lot of victims. He wrote down names and addresses of any

he came across in the job that was unfortunate enough to spark his

He had this craving for romantic connection that was so consuming that

fixated on a woman, she was as good as dead.

Debbie, I'm so sorry this happened, but we do have to ask you some questions.

Are you up for that?

Yeah, I'm good. Okay, I know it's difficult, but can you try to walk us

what happened last night?

At some point, Mitch changed, didn't he?

Mm -hmm.

He was great at first.

He said he wanted honesty and didn't want to play games.

But then he put on his favorite movie.

The documentary.

I can't believe he was that awful killer.

He wasn't. The real Ron Sims was executed over two decades ago. The man

assaulted you is mentally disturbed.

He's suffering from dissociative identity disorder.

He just...

Believes he's Ron Sims.

Why would he do this to me? Debbie, nothing that happened to you last night

your fault.

It's important you know that.

I was honest.

I was honest. And I was vulnerable.

And still, he rejected me.

People say they want the truth. They want the truth. They don't mean it. They

don't want the truth. They don't want the true me, no matter how much I have

changed.

It's hard for people to accept what they're afraid of.

You are extremely agitated, Ron.

But you do your affirmations. That always centers you.

I am worthy of love and respect.

My well -being is a priority.

I'm committed to nurturing it.

That's good, Ron.

Keep going.

I extend kindness to myself.

I am worthy of love and respect.

Look, here's what we do know. Ron showed her the documentary because he wanted

to show her his true self. He was proud of what he did.

I don't think so.

It feels more like he wanted acceptance from her, for her to love him for him,

unconditionally. Like a pet rabbit would. Bingo.

So, if Ron wants love, let's give it to him.

Hey, Morales, I'm going to need you to hack into the dating app.

We're going to send Ron a message.

Can somebody please explain to me how he dripped coffee at 6 o 'clock?

I blame your generation.

What are you, my grandpa?

What's with all the generation talk?

Feeling old, Asani?

Yeah, something like that.

Okay, well, fuck up. You still got a couple good years left.

Uh -huh, very funny.

Guys, the CCTVs have a million blind spots. I should be in there with you.

no, you're right. He could recognize your face from the documentary.

Oh, besides.

There's something wrong with the coffee in this place.

It tastes like fruit.

It's five after. I didn't peg Ron to be the fashionably late type.

Guys, I think we have a problem.

That's Lisa from the dating app.

She's another one of the women Ron matched with.

Wait, how is she there?

This can't be a coincidence.

Yeah, I got Julia approaching, too.

Guys, Ron knows we set him up.

Hi. Sorry. Are you looking for Mitch by any chance?

Yeah.

How did you know? He sent me flowers and a note to meet him here.

Guys, this is not good.

Where is he?

I'm sorry.

He made me do it.

I was hoping you were

dead.

For your sake.

What happened?

He's kept me here for months.

Doctor, you're out.

There's no way out.

I'm trying.

Bone and comms are still here.

I can't find the keys, so Sim's probably ditched them to slow us down.

I found it.

I spoke to the shop owner across the road. She said she didn't see Bex.

Or what happened, just heard a car peel out down the alley. Hey, guys, we got a

new camera angle.

He's got Bex.

We've got his plate.

Put a bolo out on that and connect to every LPR in the state. On it. We're

to need a ride.

Way ahead of you.

Hey, got a call about someone that... We're going to need your vehicle.

Homeland Security.

This will wake you up.

Tell me that's a hit.

From an hour ago.

Ron's life in play was picked up by a couple LPRs on I -35 North coming into

Austin. He was on his way to the coffee shop, so wherever he's coming from is

probably where he's taking Bex. Hassani, we've got a direction.

We're missing something.

Okay, if Bex was here, what would she do? She's digging the sims, so what do

know? We know he loves rabbits.

And his documentary.

Right, and his favorite movie.

Which means he's probably watched it more than once.

Every time someone views anything on the internet, there's a record of it being

accessed, and I can pinpoint their location using their ISD.

Whoa. Why do people love shows about serial killers?

Yahtzee. There's a place right off of I -35 that's viewed it 37 times in the

past two months.

Wait. What is that?

I'm going to fix my memory.

I'm going to update it.

You're going to tell everyone that I've changed. I care about people now.

Because you're the expert.

Okay.

Yeah, I can do that, but... Ron, if you really want me to believe you've

changed, you have to get Dr. Charles to a hospital.

I know. I know that you're angry.

I know the pig did horrible, horrible things to you.

But he is dying.

And keeping him here, mocking him in that costume, that does not change.

Show me. Show me that you've changed and I will make your movie.

That's it, Ron.

I know it's in you. Please show me you've changed.

Show me.

No!

Take my movie, for the next one is in his head.

My name is Special Agent Rebecca Henderson, and everything you know about

Sims is wrong.

The world knows him as this violent offender, but I'm here to tell you today

that he's changed. No, no, no!

You're doing it wrong.

You don't believe the words you're saying. You have to believe in them, or

one else will believe it.

Do it again.

Ron Sims is misunderstood.

Oh, stop, stop, stop.

Come on, do it better.

Ron Sims is very misunderstood. No, no, again.

I'm here today to tell you that... Terrible, terrible.

I'm here today to tell you that he's changed. You want me to shoot you, too?

But you're not going to shoot me, are you, Ron?

Oh, really?

You're going to bet your life on that?

Yeah, I am.

Because I know you're just looking for a real connection.

And all this, the dating, the video, Debbie, Christina, I mean, you have been

searching so hard for someone who understands you, someone who gets you

you are, right?

I am right here, Ron.

I've been in front of you the whole time.

We have no idea where he's holding her.

We're going in loud.

Come on, Ron. We both know you're not a bad guy.

You just want to be accepted, right? Well, I understand you, Ron.

The other women were scared.

Not me.

McGregor!

It's over. Max, we've got him. Look at me. Look at me.

He's not worth it.

All

right,

just got off the phone with my guys.

Dr. Charles is stable, but he's got a long road to recovery.

What about Ron Sands?

Who?

You seriously gonna keep that?

Yeah. It's for my daughter.

She's been wanting a pet.

So get her a puppy, dude. Not a serial killer's therapy rabbit.

No, you should see his plans for the bunny suit.

Very funny.

Someone's feeling better.

You sure you should be on solid foods yet? I mean, I'm happy to put your slice

in the blender. Yeah, we can mash you up some peas.

So, how long exactly should I expect this comedy routine to last?

I miss this.

Yeah, me too.

Come on, Bunny Smalls. Find a one we're not wanted.

I need another beer.

You know, I might grab one too.

Thank you.

You doing okay?

Adele, I'm being back here. It must be hard.

I want to make sure you're good.

You know the last thing you said to me?

Finish this.

We keep catching killers like Ron Sims.

I will be good.

Okay.

Cheers.

What?

I'm not saying anything.

Well, good.

But, hey, I have the meaning to ask.

You get any hits with that voice recognition thing?

Uh... No, it's still nothing. These things take time.

Okay. Just thought I'd ask. Cheers.

May I have everyone's attention?

My name is Colonel Lazarus.

Effective immediately, Attorney General Mallory has been relieved of her command

regarding the inmate recovery effort.

There will be changes in the way we do things around here.

Some of you may not like or agree with them, but make no mistake.

I am in charge now.