Original subtitles

♪ suspenseful music ♪

What the hell is this place?

[Dexter] Since the day Prater's vault

was discovered by the NYPD,

the five living serial killers

from Prater's Boogeyman Club

went into hiding. Al has been on an extended

family vacation across the country.

A female hiker was killed today in World's End State Park,

just outside of Forksville.

Hey, old friend.

My name is Dexter Morgan,

and I kill serial killers.

Let the world know Rapunzel is no longer a threat.

We found this file inside

Leon Prater's serial killer vault,

naming Don Framt as the New York Ripper.

[Mixon] We all know Framt's our guy,

but you got no hard evidence, no case.

Our old murder suspect...

[shouts]

...is becoming one of New York's Finest.

Do you mind if I, um, hit on your friend?

- [phone rings] - NYPD.

This is the Five Borough Killer.

I will kill a New Yorker at a baseball game tomorrow.

- Nobody cares. - What? [groans]

Did you learn anything useful from the security footage?

Nah. Between the dark and the rain, you can't see shit.

And if the Five Borough Killer is true to his name,

does this mean the city should expect four more murders?

[Dexter] I've been killing killers for half my life,

but no one knows.

[Harry] You're unhappy with where your life is.

Feeling unappreciated,

trying to prove yourself.

You're having a midlife crisis.

[Dexter] I'm not ready for that.

Are you?

♪ quirky music ♪

♪

♪

♪

♪ tense, percussive music ♪

["Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas playing]

- ♪ Turn it up ♪ - ♪ Turn it up ♪

- ♪ Turn it up ♪ - ♪ Turn it up ♪

♪ Come on, baby, just pump it...♪

[Dexter] What does a midlife crisis even mean

for a serial killer?

Do I go out and buy a sporty Italian knife?

Take out beautiful serial killers

half my age?

♪ Turn up the radio, blast your stereo right now ♪

♪ This joint is fizzlin' ♪

♪ It's sizzlin' right... ♪

Seems I'm not the only one dealing with this issue.

[host] Okay, you're having a midlife crisis,

and you're thinking that's a bad thing.

No, it just means you've grown up enough to understand

that the world has fucked you over,

despite all your hard work.

You can't help but think, "Is this it?

Is this really the reward?"

You want to fix this? What you got to do

is remind yourself you're a warrior, a monster.

You want something? Go out there and take it.

Be strong, be aggressive.

You know, as long as you don't hurt anybody.

[Dexter] Pass.

[reporter] Serial killer

known as Rapunzel for his habit of shearing off

the ponytails of his victims,

was found dead outside of a state park in Pennsylvania.

State Police have identified...

Wow.

Must've been someone pretty powerful

to take that guy out.

[reporter] His body was found hanging...

Rapunzel? [scoffs]

Sounds like someone my grandma could take.

[female reporter] We interrupt this broadcast

with a chilling local update.

A 28-year-old Queens woman was fatally shot

in a parking lot near Citi Field last night.

In a disturbing development, a video of the shooting

believed to have been recorded by the murderer

was seemingly AirDropped at random

to an unsuspecting woman

in Washington Square Park the following day.

Channel 2 has acquired the video of the incident.

We wish to caution our more sensitive viewers

that what you are about to see

is incredibly disturbing.

[Five Boroughs Killer] Nobody cares.

- What? - [silenced gunshot]

[female reporter] There is serious speculation

that the murder is tied to a call made

to the NYPD yesterday

by a man who called himself the Five Borough Killer.

Now that, that's a badass name for a serial killer.

He's not a serial killer.

It takes three kills to earn that title.

All I see is one murder and some mediocre branding.

Let's see if he can pull it off again.

And what are you, some kind of expert?

[female reporter] No leads or suspects

have been identified at the moment.

Officials are asking anyone

with any information on either

the shooting or the AirDrop

to reach out to the NYPD.

♪ "Movin' on Up" by Primal Scream playing ♪

First day?

Yes, sir.

Sorry, can't allow this apple fritter past security.

Good luck, kid.

Thanks.

♪ Now I can see ♪

♪ You made a believer ♪

♪ Out of me ♪

♪ I was blind ♪

♪ Now I can see ♪

♪ You made a believer ♪

♪ Out of me ♪

♪ I'm movin' on up now ♪

No fucking way.

♪ Getting out of the darkness ♪

[indistinct chatter]

♪ My light shines on, my light shines on ♪

♪ My light shines on ♪

- Thank you. - Yes, thank you.

Oh.

♪ I was lost ♪

Thanks, kid.

- Ooh, donuts. - ♪ Now I'm found ♪

- ♪ I believe in you ♪ - Ooh. My bad.

♪ I've got no bounds ♪

♪ I was lost ♪

♪ Now I'm found ♪

♪ I believe in you ♪

- ♪ I got no bounds ♪ - [line ringing]

- [phone vibrating] - ♪ I'm movin' on up now ♪

♪ Getting out of... ♪

- [Harrison] Dad. - Hey.

You're never gonna guess where I am right now.

Uh, does that mean guess or don't guess?

I got assigned to Homicide.

Is Homicide a good thing or a bad thing?

♪ My light shines on... ♪

A great thing.

Yeah, well, then congratulations.

We should celebrate.

We still on for tonight?

Uh, um, yeah, I think so.

Um, I'll-I'll-I'll see you then.

"Check in with Field Training Officer Mixon."

♪ My light shines on ♪

♪ Shines on ♪

♪ I'm moving out of darkness ♪

♪ My light shines-- ♪

[takes deep breath]

[loud, overlapping chatter]

[exhales]

Fiona.

Are you in Homicide?

I am.

Great. Um, maybe you can help me.

I'm looking for-for Officer Mixon.

You.

Um...

you're-you're my training officer.

[chuckles]

Wow. Who'd you have to fuck to get into Homicide?

Um... Uh...

No one ever scores this assignment

right out of the Academy.

I'm a nepo baby, and it still took me

two years to get in here.

Who's your... nepo daddy?

Only the captain of Homicide.

Nice.

Born in blue, what can I say?

So... sh-should we talk about last night?

Absolutely not.

[scoffs]

Great.

Fuck.

A woman is killed in a crowded parking lot,

yet somehow, we have no witnesses,

no evidence left at the crime scene.

But we do have a video,

which the killer sent to a woman

who made the brilliant decision to post it online,

which means my goddamn mother-in-law

probably saw it on Facebook before I did.

That is accurate, sir.

Although I cannot speak to your mother-in-law.

How is it we have no leads, even though we got

a phone call and a video

from this Five Borough Killer son of a bitch?

Captain, the warning call from FBK

was made on a prepaid phone,

which he likely tossed as soon as he hung up.

All right. What about the tape?

Cal, you're my tech guy. Can't we trace that?

It was an AirDrop, sir.

Sent device-to-device over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

There's no IP address, no metadata trail,

no account stamps, no way to geolocate it.

It's a digital ghost. It's untraceable.

So your Columbia degree gets us nothing?

I did successfully match the voice on the kill video

to the warning call. I can confirm it's the same guy.

And there's nothing else that you can see or hear?

We looked at all reflective surfaces,

puddles, car windows, chrome bumpers,

in the hope of capturing an image of our killer.

We did not succeed.

The individual was also wearing long sleeves and gloves,

which concealed his ethnicity.

We are dealing with someone who is

extremely careful and methodical.

We're also well aware that his chosen name,

the Five Borough Killer, suggests that he's

likely to strike again.

He's holding an umbrella, he's holding a gun.

How'd he film it? What, did he use a GoPro?

Hard to imagine nobody seen somebody

walking down the street with a fucking camera

attached to his head.

I think he likely wore smart glasses,

glasses which hold a miniature video camera

and microphone that are linked to the user's phone

or to the cloud.

Our victim was five feet four inches tall.

If we can safely assume our killer

was wearing smart glasses, I would estimate his height

at five feet ten inches tall, sir.

[chuckles]

So we're looking for a man who's five-foot-ten,

race unknown,

maybe wearing glasses.

That's about it.

Well, that ought to narrow it down.

[Oliva] You have to be within a 30-foot radius

to send or receive an AirDrop.

We're sending uniformed officers to Washington Square Park

to do knock-and-talks, look for potential witnesses

and pull all available camera footage.

Keep me posted.

Dis-fucking-missed.

[pop music playing]

It's-it's so cool,

and I get to work with Lieutenant Wallace.

Mm.

I mean, Oliva's great, too,

but Claudette's just, like, scary smart.

Yeah.

Took a bit of work for me to outsmart her a while back.

You know, when she was looking into you.

I'm-I'm gonna learn a lot from her.

And the crazy thing is

nobody gets Homicide right out of the Academy.

So why do you think you got it?

Mm.

My test scores were great.

I mean, I was at the top of my class.

Or maybe Detective Wallace wants to keep an eye

on her old murder suspect.

Geez, Dad. Can't I just be happy for a minute?

Oh.

Of course, be happy.

So, do you like your Field Training Officer?

What-what do you mean, "like"?

I don't know. Is your officer one of those

old-school types who's gonna ride you hard

day and night?

Can we...

we should, we should talk about something else.

Yeah, I'm just trying to--

Harrison? Are you--

Be cool.

I'm not a threat.

I heard you're a cop now.

How do you know that?

[Dexter] Charley's in the business of knowing everything.

I know everything, kid.

Yeah, well, I'm not the same scared kid

that you met before.

So you be cool.

Hmm.

It's interesting you chose to be a police officer

while knowing full well who your father is

and what he does.

What do you want?

[Charley] Not to worry.

I'm meeting you here, out in the open,

to keep everything and everyone calm.

No one will be hurting anybody.

You haven't answered my question.

We have unfinished business to discuss.

Dad, I can make one call

and have this whole place swarming with NYPD.

Oh, that won't be necessary.

I spoke at length with,

and was completely cleared by, Detective Wallace

after my employer disappeared.

Harrison, I think you should leave.

Dad.

Call if you need me.

[Charley sighs]

It's nice that you can be so open with your son.

I was never that way with my mother.

However, just before she passed,

I confessed

to all the evil deeds I was up to with Prater.

I had convinced myself that because I used the money

to give her the best medical care available,

extended her life by years,

that it balanced out the bad.

But...

dear old Mom didn't see it that way.

She was angry.

Disappointed in me.

Told me I needed to make amends.

I don't need an apology.

[scoffs] I'm not here to give one.

What I have is an offer.

Unless your offer is to leave and never show your face again,

I don't think I'm interested.

Oh, I think you might like this.

I suspect you recently met with our old friend Al.

It was a nice touch,

leaving him out in the open the way you did,

so the whole world would know he was gone.

[Dexter] Finally, someone who appreciates my work.

And you've been very busy

seeing to other old friends as well.

That unfinished business I mentioned?

I'm here to help tie up some loose ends.

Am I one of those loose ends?

Not at all.

I've learned you're very different from the people

I was accustomed to dealing with.

You seem to have a sense of justice.

Rules that you follow,

almost like you have some sort of code.

Yeah, almost.

I know you took five files from my boss's vault,

and you've dealt with the Yonkers Slayer

and the Midnight Mangler. Hmm.

However, the New York Ripper,

who lives practically in your backyard,

still survives.

That's an active police case.

The NYPD hasn't done shit.

I don't step into the middle of police investigations.

Like you said, I have a bit of a code.

And you don't ever break that code?

Not when I can help it.

That's too bad. I wish you would.

But that leaves two others:

The JawSplitter and the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger.

I looked into both of them.

Mm.

They went underground

after Prater's involvement came to light.

I have no way of finding them.

But I do.

This is where I can help you.

I work alone.

We wouldn't be working together...

...so much as I would

serve as a facilitator.

I facilitate alone.

And that's why you haven't gotten anywhere with them.

I can get you the current names they're living under,

as well as provide you with the private email addresses

that were set up under Prater.

I am sure you can think of a way to lure them

out of their little hidey-holes.

At that point,

- I step aside... - [zipper opens]

...and leave it to you.

What's that?

Consider it an incentive.

That's not why I do what I do.

You are most definitely not like the others.

Why aren't you taking care of these two yourself?

- You've done it before. - [screams]

This is my way of taking care of it.

I'd prefer to

let you do what you do best. Hmm?

[scoffs]

I have no reason to trust you,

so forgive me if I don't jump at this opportunity.

Well, think it over.

You can reach me at my old number.

Oh, those two I mentioned, they've been laying low.

But you know how that goes.

Eventually, their craving will get the better of them

and they'll kill another innocent victim.

Maybe a lot of innocent victims.

If that's something you care about.

♪ mysterious music ♪

[Harry] You're still thinking about her, aren't you?

I told her no.

Yes, you work alone.

I heard that.

I have my process.

- So change your process. - [sighs]

You've been looking for the JawSplitter

and the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger for a long time,

and you haven't gotten anywhere.

They'll show up. Eventually.

After they kill how many more innocent people?

You still care about that, right?

I don't need someone else telling me what to do

and who to do it to, especially not Charley.

You know she's dangerous and you know I can't trust her.

If she wanted to hurt you or Harrison,

she wouldn't have sat down with you.

She's special ops, son. She could've taken you out

from a mile away.

She's got no reason to lie.

And you heard her,

she's not gonna tell you what to do, she's just gonna

hand these killers over to you.

They could be halfway across the country.

You saw what happened with Al.

When I'm out of my element, things don't go so smoothly.

I'm sure there's a way around that.

[sighs]

Geez, Dad, can't I just be happy for a minute?

I want you to be happy, son.

That's why I'm bringing this up.

[sighs]

I don't get it.

You're the one who was always telling me to work alone.

Who always pointed out how screwed up things got

when I brought someone else in.

That was true then.

But things feel a little different now.

Maybe being alone all the time has become part of the problem.

[sighs] Mm.

Dex, you've just realized that you're having

a midlife crisis, and you're not doing anything about it.

I listened to a podcast.

You're stuck, son.

You're not happy.

You don't know what to do, so you're doing nothing.

You don't want to change anything.

[knock on door]

[sighs]

Hell, what does Blessing want now?

Holy shit.

You are fucking alive.

Get over here.

It's good to see you.

Fucking Joey Quinn.

Yeah.

How'd you find me?

I was, uh, talking to,

what's her fucking name?

Detective Robot-Talker. Claudette.

Right.

[laughs]

Uh...

do you want to come in?

Eh. Want to go for a drink?

[rock music playing faintly]

[Dexter] Oh.

It's a beer and a shot. You've never done

a beer and a shot before?

I usually have one drink at a time.

Yeah, same. I mean, you know, you take the shot,

then chase it with the beer.

Got it. Okay.

To Angel.

Fucking Angel, man.

I can't believe he went down that same fucking

LaGuerta rabbit hole,

thinking you were the Bay Harbor Butcher.

I mean, in what world does that even begin to make sense?

Excuse me.

Can I get some sliders and fries, please?

Order anything you want. It's on me.

I'll have the same.

Hey, I'm new in town.

Do you want be my first mistake?

[laughs] Sorry.

Old habits die hard.

Tell me about it.

So, how'd you end up in New York?

Harrison.

I wanted to be closer to him. He's NYPD now.

Wow.

I remember him when he was a little dude.

Yep.

Can't get away from that whole Morgan cop thing, huh?

Yeah, I finally did.

I'm a UrCar driver now.

I don't get it.

Dude, you were the best crime scene investigator

I ever worked with.

Yeah.

After working crime scenes for 25 years,

I'd seen enough blood to last a lifetime.

So this is me enjoying my new life.

I get it. That shit takes a toll.

So, how long you gonna be in New York?

I don't know. Uh, could be a while.

I left Miami Metro.

- Really? - I'm a P.I. now.

A P.I.?

- Yeah. - Wow.

When that Prater dude disappeared, the NYPD

found all these files of serial killers

he'd been buddying up to

all stashed away in some secret vault.

You heard about that, right?

Yeah, I think I saw something on TV about it.

Right, so I'm working for the families

who lost people to those evil fucks.

What made you decide to take that on?

NYPD's gotten nowhere trying to find Prater.

I know he's hiding somewhere.

If I can find him, I can leverage him

to find the killers, get some justice

for the victims and, obviously, Angel.

Good for you.

You know, I was looking at the, uh, case files

and the evidence log.

You have access to that?

Yeah, I was a cop for a long time.

I get whatever the fuck I want.

But, man, of all the creepy shit Prater collected,

it was like an all-star team of Miami killers.

He had shit from the Ice Truck Killer,

Arthur Mitchell, Travis Marshall

and, of course, the Bay Harbor Butcher.

[scoffs]

Go Miami. [chuckles]

Funny thing is, he had a Bay Harbor Butcher,

you know, "James Doakes" nameplate,

but nothing else that belonged to him.

No badge, no knife,

no sick-ass blood slides.

It's weird, right?

Yeah, it's weird.

[Dexter] New York's Finest made no headway on the Prater case,

but Quinn isn't any city's finest.

And that means I should keep an eye on him.

Hey, let me know if you need any help.

I mean, I miss Angel, too.

What happened with him, I wish it turned out differently.

Uh, I would really appreciate it if you'd be willing to help.

I mean, we always worked well together.

You got it.

♪ suspenseful music ♪

Why don't you take point on this one?

Oh, okay.

Sure.

[doorbell buzzes]

Hey, no cops here. Get the fuck out.

We're trying to find the Five Borough Killer, we're not here

- to step on anybody... - Bullshit. This is private

- property. Show me your warrant. - We're just here

to ask a few questions. It's not a big deal.

Get the fuck out of here. Now.

We'll be back tomorrow with a warrant.

You did that on purpose.

Once I saw those signs, I knew this place was a dead end.

You should've seen them, too.

Part of the job is taking the temperature

of a situation before acting.

- Okay, yeah. - For example,

not talking about private,

personal matters around other officers.

Oh, so we're finally gonna talk about the other night?

It was a one-night stand. It was fun.

Nothing more. It's never gonna happen again.

Got it. I feel the same way.

¿Puedo ayudarle?

Hola, amigo.

Um...

¿Será posible acceder a las grabaciones de su cámara?

Un segundo.

Gracias.

So, you speak Spanish?

That's what happens when you grow up in Argentina.

[podcast host] When people encounter a midlife crisis,

they often think they need purpose with a capital "P,"

the sense that their life should be focused on things

big and important.

But the truth is, those capital "P's"

start coming fewer and farther between,

often leaving us feeling unfulfilled.

The path to true contentment

is to find small "P" purpose.

♪ suspenseful music ♪

The little things that bring us pleasure and fulfillment.

[Dexter] And sometimes pleasure and fulfillment

arrive on an electric wheelchair.

[woman] Oh, my God.

Are you the New York Ripper?

Well, all depends on who you ask.

It is you. Um,

can I take my picture with you?

Sure thing, sweetheart.

[Dexter] It's called hybristophilia.

A sexual attraction to violent criminals,

particularly those who've committed multiple murders.

Say, "rip it."

- Rip it. - Rip it. [laughs]

That's it.

Sadly, people have to actually know you're a killer

to attract that kind of attention.

[laughs]

My friends are gonna freak.

- Bye. - Bye.

♪ suspenseful music ♪

♪ I'm looking for a partner ♪

♪ Someone who knows how to ride ♪

♪ Without even falling off... ♪

Give me a Silas Holler on the rocks

and keep 'em coming.

♪ Takes me to my limits ♪

♪ Girl, when I break you off ♪

♪ I promise that you won't want to get off ♪

♪ If you're horny, let's do it...♪

This seat free?

Free as the wind.

♪ My pony ♪

- ♪ My saddle's waiting ♪ - [Dexter sighs]

♪ Come and jump on it ♪

♪ If you're horny, let's do it ♪

♪ Ride it, my pony... ♪

- Hey, aren't you... - [snaps fingers]

...that guy, the New York Ripper?

Don Framt.

That's it.

Holy shit.

The biggest serial killer in New York.

Yeah, well, I would never admit to that in public.

No, of course not.

♪ Just once if I have the chance...♪

But it is you, right?

Well, even if it was,

I think I've more than paid the price.

Eh?

Oh.

Yeah, I thought that was a work accident,

a cave-in or something.

It doesn't matter. I still can't walk.

You deserve a break.

♪ If you're horny, let's do it...♪

You must get a lot of grief from some people.

[groans] Bunch of pathetic losers.

Friends and family of my alleged victims.

Sometimes I-I get a-a-a crazy mother screaming at me,

or some poor daddy all boo-hoo sad, making lame threats.

Nothing I can't handle.

They need to move on.

Yeah.

I mean, it's not like I could hurt anybody anyhow, you know?

Not on these legs.

But you used to?

Now...

- No, of course. - Now...

Yeah. Right, right, right.

But, hey, what was it like

when... when word got out

and the NYPD said you were the Ripper?

Oh, man. Man, I was scared shitless.

I didn't know what was gonna happen.

But it became pretty clear pretty quickly

the cops had nothing. No DNA, no witnesses, no nothing.

They couldn't touch me, and that,

that's when it got good.

- It got good? - Oh, hell yeah.

[laughs]

It was probably the best thing that could have happened.

They couldn't arrest me, they couldn't prosecute me.

And now,

now... everybody,

everybody thinks I'm the New York Ripper.

[giggles] I'm not, of course.

But, I mean, people, people stop me in the street.

They want to take their picture with me.

I get love letters from girls all over the country.

And there's this one gal in Florida,

keeps sending me

her panties. [giggles]

[sniffs, laughs]

- Oh. - Attention.

- Oh. - Adoration.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[sighs] That's awesome, man.

- Yeah. - [alarm beeping]

Oh. Hold on. Ah.

I got to keep taking this shit

every four hours.

Mm. [groans]

God.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

I've paid.

I've certainly paid.

Can I get you anything, sir?

No, I'm good, thanks.

Hey. Ooh, all right.

How about you and I go into the back for a little lap dance?

Uh, I'm serving drinks right now.

You will do what I say.

[bouncer] Hands off of the ladies.

Oh, come on, man. It was nothing.

I was just shaking her hand.

[Dexter] I told Harrison I'd leave the Ripper

to the NYPD, but a lot of time has passed,

and here he is, no closer to jail than he was years ago.

Wheel your ass out of here before I throw you out.

- All right. - Let's go.

Okay, I'm out of here. I'm going.

How long do I have to wait?

♪ If you're horny, let's do it ♪

♪ Ride it, my pony ♪

♪ My saddle's waiting ♪

♪ Come and jump on it... ♪

Hey, you, uh, need a ride somewhere or...

No, no, I'm good.

I'm going to another club down the street.

They know how to do a lap dance. [laughs]

Have fun.

Yeah.

[Dexter] It might just be your last dance.

We had a very promising lead

on the Five Borough Killer yesterday.

We were aware of the precise location

of where he made his AirDrop.

We scoured all the footage from city cameras,

residential cameras, private businesses,

and we came up with absolutely nothing.

Everything we did, nothing?

[Oliva] We're looking for an adult male

who was in Washington Square Park.

Maybe five-ten, on his phone.

Could be wearing smart glasses, which look exactly

like regular glasses, so that describes

about half the city there.

Now, we're talking to people in the victim's life,

but we believe that she was chosen at random.

[Claudette] The call that the Five Borough Killer made to us

was not so much a taunt as a demand to be witnessed.

It is not enough for him to simply end the life

of one individual, he wants to traumatize all of New York City.

He is an exhibition narcissist.

He wants to show the world how brilliant he is.

He wants to feel his power over all of us,

and that will ultimately be his downfall.

He is unable to see past his own grandiose delusions

and mistakenly believes he is smarter than all of us.

And I promise you, he is not.

He will make a mistake.

And until then, I need everyone to stay focused and vigilant.

Thank you.

We're gonna find this guy, I know it.

Easy, big boy. Come on.

They got us doing inventory in the evidence closet.

- I'll catch up with you. - Okay.

[knock on door]

Lieutenant Wallace. I don't know if you remember me.

Harrison Morgan.

I know exactly who you are.

A previous murder suspect

in the Ryan Foster case a few years ago.

I just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity.

[Claudette] That is my oldest case.

Those photos will stay up there until I solve it.

I... I just hope I live up to your expectations.

I am sure you will,

because I have no expectations.

♪ quiet, dramatic music ♪

Air conditioners have filters

that need to be cleaned at least once a century.

Otherwise, the unit will overheat and trip the breaker.

Where's your panel?

Do I have one of those?

[chuckles]

I was wondering what that was.

So, how's your first week going?

It's good. It's good, I like it.

Yeah, being part of a team, you know.

Just everyone working together,

trying to do something positive.

I'm glad to hear that.

So, uh, I need to ask you something.

Okay.

It's about the New York Ripper.

What about him?

I want to take him out.

N-No.

No. No, no way.

You said you wouldn't.

It was a long time ago.

NYPD has done nothing.

He's still out there, harassing the families of his victims,

phoning them in the middle of the night,

taunting them, haunting them.

No, I-I know that, Dad.

But it's-it's not true that Claudette's doing nothing.

She wants this guy more than you.

- She's going to arrest him. - When?

I don't know.

I could take him out tomorrow. Tonight, even.

Dad, no. J-- I'm-I'm asking you.

If you disappear him the way you do, she's...

- she's gonna be devastated. - [sighs]

She needs to be the one to get this guy.

It's important to her.

And it's important to me.

Okay.

I'll leave him alone. For now.

Thank you.

And now I have a question.

What the fuck was with Charley?

She's had a change of heart.

She wants me to take out the JawSplitter

and the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger.

Didn't they kind of disappear after the whole Prater thing?

She knows how to find them.

That sounds risky.

I mean, how-how can you trust her?

Well, if she wanted either of us dead,

she never would've shown her face.

And, um...

the truth is, I don't know how to find those two killers

on my own, so...

like you said, maybe teamwork is the answer.

So, I mean, wouldn't it be smarter

and safer to just

hand the info over to the police?

And have them sit on it for a few years? No, thanks.

Fair enough.

Leave the Ripper for Claudette,

and if you absolutely feel the need

to take out the JawSplitter

and the fucking Sleepy-Eyed-Whatever,

fine.

[Dexter] I wasn't asking permission.

Thank you.

[Harrison] I mean, now, everybody's just obsessed with

this FBK freak. I mean, he's...

kind of become our number one serial killer.

FBK is not a serial killer.

You have to kill in a serial to be a serial killer.

It takes three. He's killed one person,

putting him in the same category as Aaron Burr

and Phil Spector.

Okay. Got it. Sorry.

Does this mean you're gonna be heading out of town again?

I don't know the logistics just yet.

[chuckles]

[switch flicks]

Is it... is it...

[air conditioner beeps]

Oh, shit. Thank you.

[air blowing]

[sighs]

[laughs]

You know, when my friends' dads go out of town,

it's usually for fishing or poker.

Sorry I'm not most dads.

♪ gentle music ♪

I'm good with that.

Thanks.

[Dexter] Everything has changed

for Harrison.

And it's also changed for me.

[door closes]

But it seems I'm still trying

to hold on to some things,

my way, my rules,

just to remind me that I'm still me.

Maybe Harry was right.

Maybe that is part of my problem.

Maybe I can change more than I think.

[Charley] Tonight's wine is courtesy of my former boss.

You're making amends with Prater's bank account?

I consider it part of my severance.

What I'm owed after years of doing his dirty work.

This is a Château Latour,

at a very reasonable $8,000.

It was a favorite of our dear friend Mia.

She was the perfect example of how careful we must be.

Are you here to accept my offer?

Only if I can do things my way.

And that is?

I want to deal with them here,

on my turf.

And you're gonna bring them to me.

I don't care to be that involved.

It's the only way I'll do this.

Reach out to them,

the JawSplitter and the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger,

one at a time. Tell them Prater's had enough of hiding

and wants to see his old friends.

Invite them to a gathering of Prater's Boogeyman Club.

[scoffs] Oh, and now I'm throwing a party for them?

They won't get past the welcome drink.

I have a signature cocktail,

so to speak.

I see.

Bring the Sleepy-Eyed Stranger first.

Introduce me to him as...

fellow club member Red Schmidt.

The Dark Passenger.

I'll take care of the rest.

I feel like I'm being pulled into the middle of this.

You are the middle of this.

You define the middle of this.

They know you.

They'll feel safe seeing you as the face of the operation.

Besides, this is supposed to be your penance.

You've thought this through.

It's nice to work with a professional.

It's nice to be recognized.

We need a place that looks the part.

I know somewhere that might work.

I'll reach out.

Would you like me to cork the bottle for you?

Why don't you enjoy it yourself?

Let's meet tomorrow.

I'll call you.

[Dexter] I used to worry about the limited shelf life

of a serial killer.

I outlived that without even realizing it.

I only died once.

A midlife crisis is usually seen as a bad thing,

when the truth is, I should be thankful I made it this far.

It's an opportunity to reassess my life,

look back honestly at the mistakes I've made

and... see what I want to change.

So, this is it?

Nice, isn't it?

I've rented it for the week.

You can move in whenever you like.

Prater's world definitely had its perks.

Yes, it did.

I invited Ray Ballard.

The Sleepy-Eyed Stranger.

Yep.

I should hear back soon. He was always quite punctual.

- Hmm. - Shall we?

Let's go.

So, tell me about him. What's he like?

[Charley scoffs]

Well, to be honest,

he creeps me out more than most of them.

His whole life is built around killing.

Okay.

I think if you were to peel back the layers,

you wouldn't find an actual human in there.

♪ gentle, somber music ♪

Like all serial killers,

it's all about power and control.

Is that what we're like?

With him, it's in overdrive.

Uh-huh.

He sneaks into people's houses

and watches them while they sleep.

He knows he's going to kill them but not just yet.

He might visit the house two or three times before finally

stabbing them with an ice pick while they sleep.

[sighs]

That's unusual.

Typically, serial killers like

to see the horror in their victims' faces.

Mm.

He likes to torture them.

When he sneaks in, he turns over photographs,

moves furniture and other things

ever so slightly.

The people,

they think they're going crazy,

because the reality that someone

would come into their house at night and do these things

is just too insane.

♪

Two bedrooms upstairs,

one for Sleepy

and one for Red Schmidt.

Glad I kept the hoodie.

Windows up here let in plenty of light.

♪

But not visible from the street or any other buildings.

[Charley] And downstairs,

I think I have something you'll especially like.

[buzzing]

[elevator whirring]

This feels oddly familiar.

♪ quiet, mysterious music ♪

Like the rest of the house, it's fully soundproofed.

No windows. Rear exit's sealed.

Otherwise, the only way in or out is the elevator.

It's the perfect kill room.

So it meets your approval?

It is missing something.

No furnace.

It'll work, but...

[Charley] But what?

There's one more thing I need.

♪ "Subway Joe" by Joe Bataan playing ♪

♪ Well, I took the subway downtown one day ♪

♪ Just to find me some Chinese food ♪

♪ And as I sat down and looked up...♪

[Harry] A boat? In the middle of New York City?

You expect me to believe this isn't

part of your midlife crisis?

[Dexter sighs]

This is me being practical.

♪ I've been workin' all day ♪

♪ My back is achin' and my feet are beat ♪

♪ And I'm afraid I'm gonna need your seat ♪

♪ Hey, hey, hey ♪

[Charley] Dear Friend,

it's been far too long since our last gathering

of like-minded individuals.

You are cordially invited

to our latest opportunity for conversation,

camaraderie and connection.

Yours remains a lonely path.

Address to come.

Trophies always appreciated.

♪ "The Day the World Went Away" by Nine Inch Nails playing ♪

[drawer closes]

♪ I listen to ♪

♪ The words he'd say ♪

♪ But in his voice ♪

♪ I heard decay ♪

♪ The plastic face ♪

♪ Forced to portray ♪

♪ All the insides ♪

♪ Left cold and gray ♪

♪ There is a place ♪

♪ That still remains ♪

♪ It eats the fear ♪

♪ It eats the pain ♪

♪ The sweetest price ♪

♪ He'll have to pay ♪

♪ The day the whole world ♪

- ♪ Went away ♪ - [squeaks]

♪

♪

♪

[reporter] Detective Oliva!

Detective Oliva!

[reporters clamoring]

What was behind NYPD's decision to not inform

the public about the threat from the Five Borough Killer?

We get threats all day long, every day.

We didn't believe this one to be any more credible

than the others and saw no reason to incite a panic.

But you did think it was wise to warn your own daughters.

[Juniper] OMG, you guys. We just saw the video of the girl

getting shot outside of the Mets game. So messed up.

And it literally could've been us.

Our dad's a cop and he told us not to go.

We're only alive 'cause he warned us.

Do you have anything to say to the rest of the city?

To the family of the young woman who was killed?

Not at this time.

Detective Wallace, how concerned should New Yorkers be

that this killer will strike again?

[Claudette] New Yorkers should be no more concerned than usual.

Although we are still gathering information,

there is a possibility that this killing was a one-off.

Regardless, there are 8.48 million people in our city.

That means there is a 0.00000012 chance

of being targeted by the supposed Five Borough Killer.

Our citizens have a greater risk of being killed by a squirrel.

Do you expect New Yorkers to be comforted by that statement?

Okay, that's all for now.

[reporter] Why do you think this killing is a one-off?

♪ dramatic music ♪

[phone rings]

Homicide.

Ask that Detective Wallace

why would I call myself the Five Borough Killer

if it was just a one-off?

Lieutenant, it's him.

I promise you, I've barely gotten started.

Someone will die on Broadway tonight.

A very special show.

[line beeping]

[Mixon] Everyone, muster up.

Let me make myself clear.

We are taking this threat very seriously.

Send unis to the Theater District

to patrol for any suspicious behavior.

We should assume he will be videotaping this again,

so as well as smart glasses,

he will be wearing long sleeves and gloves.

He's likely carrying a 9mm with a silencer.

I see no reason to alert the public--

We're gonna tell the public.

We're gonna shut down the Theater District

and cover that area with all available officers.

Nobody's dying tonight, not on my watch.

Let's get to it.

A one-off.

You're done talking to the press.

Not another word.

And you,

keep your daughters off fucking TikTok.

♪ tense music ♪

[siren wailing]

[Fiona] Right this way, try and clear out

right through here, right down 7th Avenue!

[Harrison] Down 7th!

- [Fiona] Right this way, folks. - [Harrison] Keep it moving!

Down 7th, please! Down 7th!

[Fiona] Gonna come down this way.

Try and evacuate as quickly as possible.

[Harrison] Let's keep it moving! Other side of the car, down 7th!

[Fiona] Just keep moving. Just keep-- Right this way.

Thank you, ma'am. Thank you.

Right this way, folks.

- Thank you. - [Harrison] This way!

Thank you for your urgency.

Yes, keep it moving, folks. Thank you!

It's a pretty big first week, right?

Biggest thing to happen my first week

was a drunk throwing up in the back of my patrol car.

- This is better. - [siren chirps]

- Keep it moving, folks. - Down 7th! Thank you!

♪ "Criminal" by Fiona Apple playing ♪

This is the master key to the town house.

The Sleepy-Eyed Stranger's key will be more limited.

Smart.

Where is he now?

On his way. He's driving.

Should get in tomorrow.

I've yet to give him the address.

Smart.

Don't want him surveilling the place ahead of time.

Exactly.

When he arrives, he's to call me.

I'll meet him at the town house.

And I'll be there ahead of you.

I'll have an expensive gift basket for him,

make him feel warm and welcome and relaxed.

And when you're ready, I'll make the introductions.

Explain Prater hasn't yet arrived,

and then I'll duck out and leave it in your hands.

[waiter] Anything else for the couple?

Uh...

thank you, we're...

- good for now. - Thanks.

It's actually not a bad idea.

Letting people think we're a couple?

It's the perfect cover.

Okay...

...sweetheart.

Do you mind my asking,

what changed your mind about working with me?

I think I just finally came to a point in my life

where I felt like it was okay

to do things a little differently.

To be open to change.

You've been doing this a very long time.

I have.

And no one knows?

Lots of people have known.

But only for a short while.

Right now, it's just down to two.

Your son.

[whispers] And you.

[whispers] I feel honored.

[waiter] Thank you.

[chuckles]

[sighs]

Shall we?

So, we'll talk tomorrow?

I'll let you know when--

[woman screams]

Someone call the police!

You okay?

Yeah. I'm fine.

I'm out of here. No cops for me.

♪ tense music ♪

[Dexter] Broadway.

It's the Five Borough Killer.

- Okay, that's two. - [siren wailing]

Still not a serial killer.

I'm going to stop you before you get to number three.

♪ somber, dramatic music ♪

♪