All language subtitles for Cold.Case.S07E14.ROKU.WEBRip.x264-ION10

["Light my fire" by
The doors' begins]

[indistinct chattering]

♪ You know that
it would be untrue ♪

♪ You know that
I would be a liar ♪

♪ If I was to say to you ♪

♪ Girl, we couldn't
get much higher.. ♪

[bell rings]

(Barker)
'Step right up!'

Step right up, boys
and girls of all ages

for the final act of our
big top extravaganza!

♪ Try to set the night on.. ♪

[applauding]

(male #1)
'Let's hear it
one more time'

'for Zelda,
Queen of knives!'

And now, city
of brotherly love

birthplace of
The American Circus.

Let me introduce to you

our headliner,
the human butterfly

Mia Romanov and her
magical metamorphosis!

[cheering]

♪ Try to set the night on ♪

♪ Fire...yeah. ♪

[drumroll]

[drumroll continues]

[rim shot]

[body thuds and crowd gasps]

["Stars and Stripes Forever"
by John Philip Sousa]

[knock on door]

[door opens]

Well, boss,
you wanted to see me?

Sit down.

- Moe Kitchener.
- What about him?

He got shot last night outside
a bar over in Roxborough.

- You're serious?
- Large caliber slug.

Back of the head.

So...he's dead?

Where were you last night, Lil?

Home. I was, uh,
finishing up a report.

You're going to need
someone to confirm that.

Who-who's the
investigating detective?

Doherty wants the state
police to handle it.

They're gonna want
to talk to you.

- You alright?
- I don't know.

Listen, I told the boss

if anyone wants to know,
you were home when

I dropped off that
file last night.

- The file?
- Yeah.

Rodriguez file, '06.

(Valens)
'No way you could've been across
town when Moe caught one'

outside that bar.

Yeah.

- Thanks.
- Yeah.

(Valens)
Listen, I got a lady
waiting on a case.

I'll handle it.

I want to..

...keep working.

(Valens)
Detectives Valens. Rush.

You got something on an old
homicide, Miss Deluca?

Mia Romanov.

An aerialist for
the Jones brothers circus.

The circus?

Her death was ruled
an accidental fall

in 1971.

- You're saying it wasn't?
- Mia did a silk act.

Where she came out of a cocoon
high above the rafters.

I knew something was wrong
the moment she came out.

- This a bad time?
- What?

No. Uh, you were there
the night of her fall?

My mother worked
at Jones brothers circus.

She was a fortune-teller.

I'm a psychic.

Always felt Mia's "accident"
was anything but..

(Valens)
'Then just tell us'

who you "feel" killed her

and we'll clear this
up by lunchtime.

Doesn't work that way.

Yeah, it never does.

Always wondered how
Mia could've fallen.

And then I found these
at an exhibit

"Death under the big top."

Photographs of various

tragic falls,
including Mia's.

You can see how the other
performers braced for impact.

- Mia didn't.
- Fell head first.

Arms limp, hands at her side.

Might've been unconscious.

Or already dead.

You think that her fall
was some kind of cover-up?

Mia grew up in the circus.

Had the agility
of a cat.

Something wasn't
right. I felt it.

Yeah, we got that.

We'll be in touch, Isabel.

Your mother..

...will be fine.

You, I'm not so sure.

[theme music]

(Vera)
'Mia Romanov, 18.'

Died in St. Mary's
fairgrounds in '71.

Ruled accidental.

More like inevitable.

Flying through the air
on nothing but silk?

Not much here by the way
of statements.

Well, getting circus folk
to talk isn't easy.

Finally got warrants, you're
looking at an empty lot.

(Miller)
Assigned spoke to
a few audience members.

Said Mia looked fine
giving her pre-act bow.

So whatever happened to her,
happened backstage.

It's got the stink
of sabotage all over it.

A/v blew up the picture
of Mia's fall.

ME said the shadow around her
nose and mouth could be blood.

- Before impact.
- 'Autopsy report.'

Broken neck,
shattered skull

thought to have been
caused by the fall

but hands and wrists only
suffered minor damage.

She didn't brace for impact.

Survival instinct
never kicked in.

(Stillman)
'Run all the performers
for priors'

anything else we can
dig up on this big top.

"Mia was legally adopted
by Sheldon Burgess

AKA Cleo the clown."

Never gave a statement.

Got an address
over in point breeze.

Well, go talk
to this clown.

[instrumental music]

- Mr. Burgess?
- Hey, hey!

Hey, hey! Hey, welcome
to Cleo's fun house.

What can I do for you?

Homicide. We're looking
into the death of Mia Romanov.

Mia?

All these years later?

What can you tell us
about her fall?

She was trying a new stunt.

It's the worst night of my life.

(Valens)
How come you didn't give a
statement, Mr. Burgess?

I climbed deep into
a bottle that night.

Stayed there for
a long time after.

It never crossed your mind that
maybe it wasn't an accident?

No. Silks weren't cut or frayed.

Thought the moment
got the best of her.

So who was in charge
of sending up her cocoon?

Uh, Gaucho, day
players, in and out.

But Mia did her own rigging.

She was stubborn,
like her father.

Her father?

The Romanovs have been
kicking the sawdust

for five generations.

They were royalty
amongst us kinkers.

And Mia was like her folks

more comfortable in the air
than on terra firma.

(Valens)
How does a clown in a traveling
circus adopt a little girl?

I was her godfather.

Her parents willed her to me,
but the circus raised her.

Jones brothers was a one-ring
mud show, but we were family.

Anyone backstage with her?

No. The act before hers, Zelda
"The queen of knives" Panay.

Zelda and Mia
get on alright?

Oh, sure. Long as Zelda
was the headliner.

What the hell was that
tonight? Williamsport?

Used to pack 'em
to the stingers.

Now, we're lucky to be making
horse feed out there.

You still getting paid, Cleo?

This dog and pony show
is dying, Biggie.

We need an aerial act.

(Biggie)
Can't afford one, so' unless you
got one in that wig of yours

no way a knife-thrower
can carry the big top.

- Excuse me?
- No offense, Zelda.

- I've been--
- Stop it.

Everybody, please, just..

I ca-I can give us
an aerial act.

Mia, I didn't
mean you should--

I can fly. It's
in my blood.

She's a baby.

Well, what do we
got to lose?

Even a baby can
see we're dying.

I'll talk to management.

Start putting it together, kid.

I don't know, Mia.

It's going to be fine, Cleo.

Oops.

Accidents happen.

(Valens)
Zelda p-a-n-a-y...

...was the headliner
prior to Mia?

Yeah, ever since
the last aerial act walked.

I didn't want Mia up there.

Hate to think
I put a target on her.

Sounds like Zelda wasn't ready
to put her knives away.

Thanks for coming in.

Well, if I'd known
you were so handsome

'I would've sprinted all
the way from Atlantic city.'

I don't mean to be
rude, but, uh..

can we get going on this
because, I got a show, at 6: 00.

- Still performing?
- Yeah.

Well, it's mostly blue
plate dinners for seniors.

But they remember me
from the Ed Sullivan show.

How did you and
Mia Romanov get along?

Mia Romanov?

Fine.

I took her under my wing.

She was like my sister.

You always throw
daggers at family?

[laughs]
Darling..

...even a lady loses
her cool sometimes

which accounts for three

out of my four divorces.

Foolish. Jealous.

Jealous enough
to get rid of her?

What do you mean?

She fell.
I was there.

(Miller)
'You were there backstage
before her act.'

Your sister ends up dead

and you get to keep
your spotlight.

Now, I got my pride.

But I'm not stupid.

We needed Mia's
act to work.

It was all over,
for all of us.

♪ At first flash of Eden ♪

♪ We race down.. ♪

- Where's the Trapeze bar?
- Forget the Trapeze.

Biggie, we need something new.

We need dramatic.

You'll never be ready
in a week trying

to get a new act together. Just
do what your folks taught you.

I need a theme.
To tell a story.

- I need some time.
- You're not a clown anymore.

It's not about stories.
It's about wowing them.

Yeah, that's what I'm trying to
do, There's something groovy

with the silks,
the freedom it gives me--

People don't want groovy.

They want tradition.

For their kids to see
and feel what they did.

Maybe we can start a new one.

You know, we can capture
their imagination.

Great. Then imagine there's no
circus when we get shut down

waiting for you
to get your act together.

Now this is all on me?

You asked
for a shot, kid

and I gave it to you.

Convinced management
to roll the dice.

- Don't hang me out to dry.
- No, I'll do the silk act.

I'll use a mechanic
if I have to.

The advance men have
been pumping your act

as death-defying.

- But I--
- But nothing!

I took a flyer on you.

You'd better not
make a fool of me.

Mia was way ahead of the curve.

She was cirque du soleil
before they were.

Now everybody's got a silk act.

What about David
and Goliath?

Ringmaster Biggie Jones
and his goon

Lester Gargantuan Smith.

Biggie pushed us hard.

Maybe pushed Mia too hard.

That's probably why he
pulled up stakes so fast

and left town that night.

You see Biggie backstage
with Mia before her fall?

Biggie always checked
on the featured acts

before they went on.

(female #1)
'Have information
that you called in'

'the 10-37 last week.'

- 'DUI check on Mr. Kitchener?'
- That's right.

Outside the same bar
that he was murdered?

The suspect was inebriated.

Suspect was awaiting trial.

And what were you doing

observing him in
the first place?

It was a continuing
investigation.

He had already filed
a complaint against you.

Which was completely
bogus, same as this.

Were you outside that bar
last night, detective?

No.

(female #1)
'You testified Moe Kitchener
tried to kill you.'

'And you believe that?'

And so does the commonwealth.

Maybe you should
talk to the DA.

Said you were home last night
between the hours of 9:25

and 10:10?

That's right.

Anyone who can
confirm that?

My partner, Scotty Valens.

He came by, dropped
off some paperwork

on a case I was reviewing.

What case?

Cesar Rodriguez.

The file's on my desk.

Bunch of gink squad BS.

I need you to surrender
your service weapon.

What?

Until this thing blows over,
you're on restricted duty.

Mia Romanov.

A real tragedy, that one.

Understand you checked on your
acts before they hit the stage.

So how'd she look
before going out?

Ready to fly. Girl
was good to go.

You're saying she looked good,
Biggie, ready to fly?

You whizzing on the wrong
hydrant there, Kemosabe.

I needed that girl.

Without her act I lost my main
moneymaker, lost the midway.

Lost that.

Lost the circus.

Then why the cover-up?

You pulled up stakes
before sunup, hit the road.

Now, hold your horses.

We had a long haul the
next day to Allentown.

The show must go on, huh?

Well, we was feeding
a lot of people.

My family survived
the ten-in-one

to turn around
and own this circus.

Ten-in-ones?

Ten freaks in one tent.

It was humiliating.

For three generations we fought
off larger predatory circuses.

Ringling.

(Miller)
'And you banked
everything on Mia'

but she crossed you up.

We were family.

Wouldn't sell.

Loyal. We circled
the tents around Mia.

But Mia stepped out of line,
made her own act, didn't she?

She make a fool
out of you, Biggie?

Wrong.

I was on board with her act.

Hell, I had to be,
times was desperate.

I helped her set
the whole thing up.

♪ Don't you love her madly.. ♪

[clears throat]

You heard of knocking?

Peace offering.

Thought about what you said.

Wanting a story
for your act.

How about this?

Silk worm goes up
into her cocoon

to emerge as the
human butterfly.

Call it the
metamorphosis.

♪ Don't you love her as
she's walkin' out the door.. ♪

I don't know what to say.

- Biggie, that's...perfect.
- So are you, kid.

We're all behind you here.
You're the best we got.

I'll be ready
for Philly.

And no mechanic
or safety harness.

Knock 'em dead, kid.

♪ Don't you love her.. ♪

I got an act, Lester.

I'm the human butterfly.

[giggles]

[Biggie clears throat]

♪ All your love.. ♪

[wheezing]

Management had them tack
spitters wallpaper

the town with that bill.

She was our homegrown star.

And who was management?

J.B. Ricketts investment.

Bunch of suits out of Florida.

Helped us through
the lean years.

Got a number?

[laughs]
No, ma'am.

That was a long time ago.

- 'What about this Paul Bunyan?'
- He have a thing for Mia?

[laughing]
Gargantuan? I don't think
he was wired that way.

His feelings were
simple, childlike.

With big boy plumbing,
that's reassuring.

- Some kind of condition?
- Cerebral gigantism.

[chuckles]

Made him huge.

Also made him about as
sharp as a bowling ball.

So what beanstalk
is he up right now?

I haven't seen him in years.

He's probably dead.
Giants don't last too long.

Heart can't take it.

Excuse me, um, I'd like
to talk to a Detective Rush.

'Thank you.'

[phone ringing]

Mr. Butler.

- What can I do for you?
- I want to make a statement.

Would you like a lawyer
present, Mr. Butler?

I would not.

I recommend you get one, Hank.

With all you've been through.

My wife doesn't eat anymore.

She doesn't sleep.

She just cries.

Do you want to tell us
what happened, Hank?

When I saw him
at the courthouse, I knew.

Moe Kitchener?

(Hank)
'Ten, 20 years,
didn't matter.'

It wouldn't go away.

'I couldn't go on'

thinking that-that
smug son of a bitch

was walking the earth.

Someone had to put
that dog down.

[soft music]

[car lock beeps]

[music continues]

[gun hammer clicks]

Hank.

Listen, Hank, I didn't
kill your daughter.

Shut up. You buried
her in a box.

You let me twist forever.

Sorry, Hank.
It wasn't personal.

I'm sorry, too.

[gun shot]

I went home.

I thought I'd feel better.

Katie's gone.

Nothing's ever going
to change that.

[banging on door]

[dogs barking]

[doorknob rattles]

What do you want?
What do you want?

Leave me alone.
You hear me?

I seen you standing here.

[straining]
I'm a cop.

[coughing]

'I'm sorry.'

Police. I didn't know!

I didn't know!

I-I didn't know.

[door closes]

People paint on my wall..

...break my windows.

I thought you was one of 'em.

Gonna hurt me.

You thought I was gonna
hurt you, Gargantuan?

(Vera)
'Lot of performers
at Jones brothers'

had priors, Lester.

You're the only one
with a history of violence.

(Valens)
'In and out of
institutions as a kid.'

Beat a grown man within an inch
of his life at the age of 13.

He attacked me..

...'cause I was big.

What about Mia Romanov?

Yeah, you...
remember her, right?

Yes. Mia.

You liked her?

Pretty. Soft.

'She smelled nice.'

She just wasn't into the whole
beauty and the beast thing.

(Valens)
'So you squeezed
her too hard'

like you did me?

No!

Mia was special.

- "Special"?
- Friend.

She was my friend.

I could never hurt her.

Well, someone did hurt
your friend, Lester.

'Someone backstage.'

And then they dropped
her from the ceiling.

There was this Gaucho.

[The door's playing
"wild child"]

♪ Wild child ♪

♪ Full of grace ♪

♪ Savior of the human.. ♪

- Hey. Eddie, right?
- That's right, darlin'.

I haven't checked my rig yet.

It's looking fine to me.

Get rid of that carabiner
and mount it on a swivel.

Carabiner's twice as
strong as a swivel.

What do I look like,
some first of may?

That swivel's going to let me
get out over the audience.

Now, lose the carabiner.

Looks like you're calling the
shots around here, huh, kid?

How long you
been doing this, Eddie?

Ten years experience, rigged
every big rock and roll

show from Vancouver to Miami.

Then you should know a performer
needs to check their rig

before it's flown.

How old are you, sweet cheeks?

Old enough. Are you
hopped up, Eddie?

I'm the one 50 feet in the air.

If you're gonna be on that
junk, you can stay

away from me and my rig.

I want you out
of my tent. Now!

Get out. Or I'll have
you dragged out.

Alright, look.
Easy, big fella, easy.

Alright, I dig it.

If that's what the
little lady wants.

[rig thuds]

Ouch!

Now that would hurt.

Eddie wasn't one of us.

Not circus folk.

He poisoned her.

You mean with drugs?

Was he selling to the crew?

This rigger, he responsible for
putting Mia's cocoon in the air?

Till she kicked him
out of the big top.

They made him shovel
after the elephants.

Eddie left..

...after Mia..

...fell.

[instrumental music]

[knocking on door]

I went to Jones.

The bartender said
you took Nick home.

Yeah. He was plastered
by the time I got there.

- Something's up.
- Lot of that going around.

- Hmm.
- Still thirsty?

I heard about your
dance with Gargantuan.

Had him right where
I wanted him.

Yeah.

You ring him up
for assault?

Guy belongs in the puzzle
house, not county.

'Punks were
harassing him.'

Tagged freak on his building.

Cruel world.

'I filed three separate
police reports.'

He was just protecting himself.

I'm sorry I wasn't there.

Almost...lit him up, Lil.

Wanted to.

Thanks for...having my back.

With Moe. The alibi.

Partners, right?

Yeah.

I still can't believe it.

- What Hank did.
- Just beat you to it.

So what does that make me?

Human.

- Protect and serve, right?
- 'The innocent.'

Lil.

Need more Hanks out there.

The guy deserves a medal.

You believe that?

Yeah.

Yeah, I believe that.

Just be glad
someone else did it.

That he's gone.

That fortune-teller said
something about your mom.

'She okay?'

Time comes, Lil.

I might need you
to have my back, too.

Partners, right?

- Thought I was invisible.
- So did we.

Till we found your name
in a Jones brothers payroll.

Quite a healthy rap sheet
you got there, Eddie.

Mama always said I had a little
bit of the devil in me.

Sure she's real
proud, drugs

cons, kiting checks.

Youthful indiscretions,
detectives.

Made a few mistakes.

Is she one of those
indiscretions?

You might say that.

But she was far
from a mistake.

(Vera)
'Destroying Mia's rig'

threatening her
in front of witnesses.

- Those aren't mistakes?
- Wait a second.

I didn't even work the big top.

I know. She had
you kicked out.

Had you shoveling
pachyderm pies.

Cost you money, not
to mention your pride.

About to narc you out.

But you weren't
looking to do jail time

so you did her instead.

You got me. Guilty as charged.

- If you call love a crime.
- "Love"?

Anyone could see
that-that girl

was a bud about to bloom.

All she needed was
a double dose of Eddie.

I might just hit you
on principle.

Seem to have that
effect on women.

The other side of desire.

'That young lady'

was bursting with it.

♪ Riders on the storm ♪

♪ Riders on the storm ♪

♪ Into this house we're born.. ♪

Hey, I'm sorry about yesterday.

I've been shoveling
crap my whole life.

So don't lose any
sleep over me, okay?

[sighs]

I'm just under
a lot of pressure

and I could've
handled it better.

I heard about your folks.

It takes a lot of guts
doing what you're doing.

Well, I don't really know
what else to do.

I mean...family needs me.

I guess you had to grow up
a little fast around here.

So maybe, you and I aren't
so different after all.

Sounds like you've
been around quite a bit.

What about you? I never heard of
a circus that didn't travel.

I've been to a bunch of places

but I never get
to leave the lot.

Never?

Once.

When I was a little girl, my mom
took me down to Bourbon street.

New Orleans.

There was one
of those jazz funerals.

Something eerie about it, but..

...it was beautiful.

♪ Girl, you gotta
love your man ♪

♪ Girl, you gotta.. ♪

We should go out tonight.

I'm not sure Cleo
would like that.

Not all adventures
are out there.

♪ The world on you depends ♪

♪ Our life will never end ♪

♪ Gotta love your man yeah ♪

["Riders On The Storm"
by The Doors]

[music continues]

[panting]

You should
come with me.

Where?

Anywhere but this
stick and rag show.

[both laughs]

(Eddie)
'You're 18. You can
do anything you want.'

Mia! Giving it up
to some gaucho!

Have you lost
your mind?

- Come on!
- No!

- Get out. Come with me!
- Wait..

(Mia)
'Cleo! No!'

(Cleo)
'Come on!'

I felt bad for Mia.

If you ask me,
there was something

weird was going on
between those two.

You know, she was 18 and they
were still sharing a boxcar.

Sketchy.

Sketchier than an
alcoholic clown?

Next day, she had a busted lip..

...compliments of Cleo.

You painted a pretty
picture of Mia, Cleo.

But, uh, but she wasn't such
an angel, now, was she?

Droppin' acid, doing riggers,
then there's you.

Me? What the hell's
that supposed to mean?

Keeping tight quarters
with a teenage girl

all those years...
used to having her

by your side.

- What are you saying?
- Take a seat.

I slept on the floor.

I would never, ever do
what you're suggesting.

- Mia was my daughter.
- She was not blood.

Was to me!

Maybe I was strict
and overprotective

but that place was
swarming with snakes.

- Like Eddie Armstrong?
- Damn straight.

Combed the lot, found her
tripping with that..

...fink trying
to get in her pants.

I just snapped.

Oh, busted her lip trying
to show her who's boss.

No! Never laid a hand on her.

She was so out of it,
kept falling.

I watched her all night
till she finally came down.

Always there to catch her, huh?

Not always.

But I tried.

But you couldn't let go.

And all you had was
her and that bottle.

She was becoming a woman.
You were losing her.

Holding her back so much that...
you were suffocating her.

No, you're wrong.

Loved her so much,
I wanted her to go.

She needed to get away
from that place.

From me.

[ "Moonlight drive"
by The doors']

♪ Let's swim to the moon ♪

♪ Uh-huh, let's climb
through the tide ♪

♪ Surrender to the
waiting worlds ♪

♪ That lap against our side ♪

♪ Nothing left open and no ♪

♪ Time to decide ♪

♪ We've stepped
into a river on our ♪

♪ Moonlight drive ♪

["Moonlight Drive by The doors]

[music continues]

♪ Let's swim to the moon ♪

♪ Let's climb through the tide ♪

♪ You reach your
hand to hold me ♪

♪ But I ♪

♪ Can't be your guide ♪

♪ Easy how to love you ♪

♪ As I watch you ♪

♪ Glide ♪

♪ Falling through
wet forests.. ♪

(Biggie)
'Let's hear it, Scranton'

'for Mia Romanov and her
amazing' metamorphosis!'

What's wrong, Cleo?

You were...beautiful.

You looked just like
your mother up there.

- You liked it?
- I've seen the future

And you're it, kiddo.

Your act is too good
for this top.

What are you talking about?
This is exactly what we need.

You heard the crowd.
This will save us.

This place is dying. You
don't need to die with it.

But this is my family.

Cleo, I'm not going anywhere.

You know how...when
a circus elephant is born

the bull handler will secure
it with a thin rope

tied to a skinny stick
in the ground?

Sure, and when
that elephant grows up

that rope and skinny stick
can still make him stay put.

That stick can't
hold you anymore.

Are you calling me an elephant?

I wish she'd listened to me,
but it was already too late.

She fell the next night.

Buried her in
the Romanov family plot.

A few days later, I was back
on the sawdust in Allentown.

A few days?

Thought the circus was
due in Allentown

the night after the accident?

Don't know who told you that.

No, we had a week
between stops.

Got the route card
to prove it.

(Rush)
Losing track of all
your lies, Biggie.

Told us you were due
in Allentown when you

had a week between gigs.

We had to wildcat it out
of there after Mia's nosedive.

Especially since you had
a murder scene to tear down.

Come on, who's going
to take their kiddies

to see us after
a fall like that?

Thought with a little
extra time, we could

drum up some business
in Allentown.

[inhaling]

I know what it looks like, but
it was a business decision.

You weren't the only one
making business decisions.

Found out Ringling
brothers wanted Mia.

Ringling, they tried
to poach everyone.

After everything your
family had done for her.

Raising Mia as
one of their own.

Knew if you lost her, it was all
over. Mia wouldn't fall in line.

Left a little man with a big
temper holding the bag.

And when it's all
said and done

Mia ends up eating sawdust.

Come on, you guys.

Do I look like
I could hurt anyone?

(Rush)
'Spoke to Biggie, Lester.'

Remember him?

Yes. Biggie.

(Valens)
Well, he says
you killed Mia.

Me?

(Rush)
'Biggie couldn't
have killed Mia.'

Couldn't have lifted her
up into that cocoon.

(Valens)
'I'm thinking he'

forced you to do it, Lester.

Like he always forced you.

(Rush)
'You don't have to be
scared of Biggie anymore.'

He can't hurt you.

No, you got it wrong!

(Miller)
'You put yourself at
the scene, Biggie.'

- Said she was "good to go"
- 'Mia was dead.'

You got Lester to stuff her
into silks just to cover it up.

I'd done some things
I had to do.

But I did not kill Mia.

[indistinct chattering]

'If you could please find it in
your heart to donate again'

'to help orphaned
children get a chance'

to see the human butterfly

(male #1)
'In return, for helping make
these children's dreams'

come true, your company
name will be featured

in our special program.

(Biggie)
'Hey, Mia.'

- What are you doing here?
- This makes no sense.

It says we've sold 800 tickets.
The top only sits 400.

- What are you doing, Biggie?
- Alright, everyone.

Scram.

Listen, sweetheart

to make sure that
the show can go on

I've had to be a
little creative.

We're not affiliated
with any charity

but you're selling
tickets in their name.

Where were these
kids in the stands?

It's a write-off
to local businesses.

It's one thing to rip
people off on the midway

but you're going to use my act
to scam charities for orphans?

What do you care?

You'll be flying under
the Ringling top soon.

- What?
- 'That's right.'

I know all about it.

I can't believe you, Biggie.

I was going to tell
them "no." But now?

[inhaling]

Once I told management

it was out of my hands.

"Management," huh?

Controlled the whole thing.

And just who was
this management?

- Bunch of suits out of Florida.
- You see, that's a crock.

The SEC has no record

of J.B. Ricketts investments.

But Wikipedia does.

J.B. Ricketts founded
The American circus.

Died in 1799.

There was no
"management." It was you.

No.

If it were just that simple.

You were diagnosed with, uh

is it "cerebral gigantism"?

It's a pretty rare disorder.

Often accompanied
with diminished

mental capacity.

The D.A.'s willing
to cut a deal for you.

We don't want to send you to
county, so you tell us

what happened and
we'll make sure you go

to a comfortable
medical facility.

(Valens)
'Oh, yeah, they'll get
you squared away.'

In a year or two, you're
a handyman and ready again.

Help us put Biggie
away for good.

[intense music]

Biggie was a...a monster.

[sobbing]

He...he...he made me.

This lifeline, those meds
pretty expensive.

I didn't know the circus
had such great benefits.

(Miller)
'So, we decided to check.'

Turns out they don't.

Your medicine is paid for
by a private company.

Same company pays your rent.

- You don't get it, do you?
- No, I get it.

And you're going to prison, and
there's no PPO in the pokie.

A guy like you
won't last six months.

(Vera)
'Last time, Big.'

Who was management?

[stilted applause]

[mockingly]
"He made me."

(Valens)
'Man, I hope we got
that on video.'

'Submit it to the academy.'

(Rush)
'See, the thing is'

people with cerebral gigantism

although usually
bigger as children

are often in the normal
height range as adults.

Far from normal,
Gargantuan.

(Rush)
'That country doctor
misdiagnosed you.'

'You don't have
cerebral gigantism.'

- You're just big.
- No, but you ain't no dummy.

See, I wanted
to talk to your boss.

Went to the city tax assessors

to see who owns that
building you maintain.

Found out, it's you.
You own it.

(Valens)
'Along with half
a dozen others.'

Big top, incorporated.

(Rush)
'Same company that
pays Biggie's bill.'

You were "management."

Me?

Biggie's confession.

I'd give it to you
in picture form

but we know you weren't
hit with the idiot stick.

In fact, you're a millionaire.

(Rush)
'Now, Biggie told us how
his circus was dying'

till you took it over.
You weren't his puppet.

He was yours.

Seen that fear
in your eyes

all my life.

But when those cake eaters
would step into ten-in-one

looking at me.

Laughing.

Pointing.

They thought I was on exhibit.

But I was studying them.

So you concocted a scam
to get back at them.

- Steal their money.
- Prove you were smarter.

No. It was about
preserving our family.

Our livelihoods.

The one place where no one
would treat me like a freak.

But Mia busted you on your scam.

Wouldn't take part.

We could've moved on.

Gone back to the family we were.

I couldn't just...sit by

and have her tear us apart.

(Biggie)
'Wanted to wish you
a good show, kid.'

But Mia, what you saw

'those phone calls, will
never happen again, Mia.'

(Biggie)
'We'll sell out
with your act and some'

old-fashioned bally.

Family again.

(Biggie)
'No blood, no foul.'

You expect me to trust
you? You're a con.

Mia, listen--

You know what
a con man hates most?

People knowing the truth.

Look, there's no need

to get the cops involved.

I'm a kinker. No cops.

After the show, I'm
telling the family the truth.

Mia! Don't be a fool.

Let them make their own
decisions, Biggie.

I've already made mine.

Now, I gotta fly.

[dramatic music]

["People are strange"
by The doors']

♪ People are strange
when you're a stranger ♪

♪ Faces look ugly
when you're alone ♪

♪ Women seem wicked
when you're unwanted ♪

♪ Streets are uneven
when you're down ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ Faces come out of the rain ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ No one remembers your name ♪

♪ When you're strange,
when you're strange ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ People are strange
when you're a stranger ♪

♪ Faces look ugly
when you're alone ♪

♪ Women seem wicked
when you're unwanted ♪

♪ Streets are uneven
when you're down ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ Faces come out of the rain ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ No one remembers your name ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ When you're strange,
when you're strange ♪

♪ Alright, yeah. ♪

♪ When you're strange ♪

♪ When you're strange
when you're strange ♪

(female narrator)
Stay tuned for scenes
from our next episode.

[theme music]