Original subtitles

[ Switch Clicks ]

[ Liquid Pouring ]

[ Woman ] I mean, I think about that if somebody would love me.

'Cause, I mean, that's what people want, right? They want to be loved, to be accepted.

And so, you-- I mean--

I don't even know what to do anymore.

I don't even know if I should get out of this pool.

* [ Man Vocalizing ]

I have love and, like, you say, like,

how are you going to find someone love you?

But, like, I have love and you don't even want it.

* [ Continues ]

If the world had an engine, then love would be the coal.

Like, it's like-- It's like you want to eat food,

and, like, you don't even, like, get to eat the food or something like that.

* [ Continues ]

Love is like a taco. Like, we have to eat tacos.

[ Man ] * But I'm not so proud of

* The way I behave

* I should have been a jewel

* But I was just a cage

* [ Fades ]

[ Woman ] You do solemnly swer the testimony you're about to give in this action...

shall be the truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

[ Man ] I do.

[ Woman ] State your name, your full name. Please spell your last name for the record.

[ Man ] Charlie Newton. N-E-W-T-O-N.

Is it possible to move a litte bit closer to the microphone so everyone can hear you?

Thank you.

Mr. Newton, please take a look at People's Exhibit C, 33-A.

- Do you recognize this? - Yes.

Can you describe it for the court?

It's a DVD R-- Plus R.

And what are the contents of the DVD R, Plus R?

A film that was made about me.

And what is the title of this film?

The Scenesters.

[ Charlie Narrating ] Down there. Right down there.

That's where this whole goddamn mess is gonna end.

The final showdown of good versus evil,

where the unhinged psychopath and the man obsessed with stopping him...

will come face-to-face.

Six weeks ago if you told me I'd be standing right here, right now,

I'd have called you a fool.

But I was a different number then.

I was someone else.

Before you see how it ends,

you need to know how it all began.

Let me start at the beginning.

[ Charlie Narrating ] Lotus land.

Someone once wrote, Why should anybody die out here?

They'll never get any closer to heaven.

Well, I can think of a couple reasons.

Most think of Los Angeles as its bastardized acronym: L.A.

They're actually thinking of a patch we disaffectionately call the west side--

a place of crowded beaches, plastic movie stars...

and dog bakeries with pithy names like Tailwaggers.

Well, people who think that are saps...

because that's only part of the story.

Inland from the Santa Monica twits and Beverly Hills fakers...

lies the east side,

a haven for the bohemian, the eclectic, the scenester.

This is the dive of a different kind of Angeleno,

of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett,

of cholos and güeros,

of swingers and shop girls.

And it's also where the murders happened.

Wallace Cotten. C-O-T-T-E-N.

Mr. Cotten, what was your role on the film The Scenesters?

Writer-director.

I live on the west side. I'm not a faker or a twit.

Don't you think that your opening voice-over was a bit condescending?

Yes.

Moving on.

Did you or producer Roger Graham...

ever film your day-to-day actions during the events of last fall?

No.

So you didn't hire several unpaid college interns...

off of a Web site called Craigslist.org to run the camera for you?

No.

Interns by the names of Mandy Jenkins and Jen Loveworth...

who were instructed to, quote, "document everything,

because filmmaking itself is the most fascinating film of all."

End quote.

I've never said that.

Mr. Cotten, are you aware...

that this court has obtained over 400 hours of this film...

when your residence was searched by law enforcement?

No, I was not aware of that.

[ Man ] Okay, are we ready? Game time? All right.

Testing, testing, testing. One, two, one, two. Rock and roll. Testing.

It's good. Yeah? [ Clears Throat ]

Hello and welcome to Luminescent Ether Productions.

Today we're going to take a look at our war room.

Now many of you don't know this, but the war room used to my wife's craft room,

although the only thing I ever saw her craft here was a hangover.

[ Chuckles ] You're going to have to excuse the mess.

We had what we call in the industry a category-five brainstorm last night.

And that brings us over to the Big Idea Board.

This is the list of ideas that we have--

Hey, have you seen my cameras?

Ah, ladies and gentlemen, our director Wallace Cotten.

And, Wallace, please meet our new interns.

This is Mandy. This is Jen. And this guy here is, uh--

Ted. Ted?

Wow. Congratulations.

Now, can I have my cameras that I paid for with my money?

We are actually shooting a little video tour right now,

so we are going to need to use these for a little bit.

Yeah, I got a--- I got a job, and I need the cameras now.

You got a what?

Can I talk to you for a second? Sure.

All right, a little producer-director meeting-- pretty common around here.

He cut me off.

Oh, that son of a bitch.

That's what I called him.

But, I mean, really, man, you with a job--

Wow. Now you sound like him, don't you?

All right, ease up. What are you going to be doing?

Freelance videography.

[ Laughs ] Like weddings and shit?

No, it's with the city. What city?

Our city. It's with the police department.

What do the cops need a videographer for?

Are you wearing a microphone?

[ Camera Beeps ]

[ Helicopter Hovering ]

Uh, what's this here? Oh.

[ Wallace ] Thank you.

[ Police Radio: Dispatcher, Indistinct ]

[ Conversation, Indistinct ]

Excuse me. What are you doing there, McG?

[ Wallace ] Um--

Oop.

Oh, shit.

Sorry.

What is wrong with you?

Hey, Carlita, quit busting the new guy's chapas.

Oh, I get it. I'm the bad guy.

[ Chuckling ]

You guys feel free to break some of this unimportant shit.

Hey, what's up, man? I'm Investigator Henry Muse.

Uh, Wallace Cotten. Cool.

Hey, don't worry about Travers, okay?

She just doesn't like you movie people.

She was a law enforcement adviser on a film...

and apparently they didn't really listen to her.

So anyway, the big thing is we got the dead body in the bathtub in the back.

So go ahead and get some footage of that before the coroner takes it away, all right?

[ Wallace ] The-- The-- The bo-- The dead body's here?

Yeah, bro.

It's a murder scene, so it's kind of what makes it a murder scene.

But, uh, go check that out, okay? And I'll see you later.

[ Wallace Mutters ] Jesus.

[ Hisses ] [ Wallace ] Oh, shit! Fuck! Shit!

[ American Accent ] Thanks, Linda.

I'm standing in front of the 2300 block of Laveta Terrace in Echo Park...

where police have discovered the body of a young woman who appears to have been--

She's not dead! [ Officers Laughing ]

[ Woman ] Douche bag!

[ Laughing Continues ]

[ Wallace ] Oh, it's hilarious. No, it was really funny.

Look, man, the real body's back in the bedroom, okay?

But be careful. She's actually a werewolf. [ Laughing ]

That's good, man!

[ Chuckling ]

What's so funny? [ Travers ] Go wait in the truck, Charlie.

I just saw one outside--

[ Travers ] We'll let you know when the crime scene is clear.

Excuse me.

[ Wallace ] That's a lot of blood, huh?

Is that, like, a normal amount?

I wasn't aware that this crime scene video came with a commentary track.

[ Wallace ] Sorry.

[ Female Officer ] T.O.D. between 10:00 and midnight last night.

Cause of death-- multiple stab wounds to the chest, most likely from a switchblade.

[ Wallace ] You can tell it's a switchblade just from the wound?

No, I can tell it's a switchblade...

from the switchblade.

[ Wallace ] Oh.

* [ Stereo: Rock ]

Sorry. * [ Volume Down ]

Sad, huh?

[ Wallace ] What?

A young woman getting murdered.

[ Wallace ] Oh. Um... yeah, I guess.

Charlie. Oh. Wallace.

You, uh, stealing that?

No. It's a C.D. It was on the nightstand.

There was blood on it. Just cleaning it off.

It's ironic though. Le Switch.

You ever heard of them?

Uh, no, I don't really follow popular music.

Local band out of Silver Lake.

A little bit of indie rock mixed in with some soul.

They play at Spaceland a lot. You ever been to Spaceland?

[ Wallace ] A couple times, yeah.

They do a free show. Tomorrow night actually.

Maybe we can grab a beer if you're interested.

[ Wallace ] Um, no.

Mr. Newton, where were you employed when production began on The Scenesters?

At a company called Aftershocks.

- * [ Bar Tone ] - * [ Theme ]

So now we've talked about the four basics:

proper uniform,

blood decontamination,

insect removal...

and nausea prevention.

Now let's move on to step 5: Auxiliaries.

When a violent crime occurs, there's oftentimes more than just blood spatter as a result.

You might find what we call auxiliaries.

The most common auxiliaries include, but are not limited to:

brain matter, skull fragments,

hair, teeth and shell casings.

These items are to be placed in your standard-issue biohazard disposal bag.

That's the red one.

Um, sorry. What's your name again?

Charlie. Charlie Newton. Charlie Newton. I got it. Thank you.

Do you have any hobbies?

I play guitar. I'm a musician.

Is that going to take away from your work here? No, sir.

All right. You ever seen American Psycho?

Yes. Did you think it was a comedy?

Maybe a dark comedy.

You get queasy?

I-I don't think so. All right.

These are crime scene photos.

How old do you think this guy is? [ Clears Throat ]

[ Sighs ] What are you, a pussy? Come on. How old?

Fifty. Thirty-two.

And what about her?

Where's her head? Where's her head?

Uh, right by her shoe. Right down there.

She's 22. She's 15.

And?

She's 20. Correct.

But it's a he.

See that-- Right-- It's confusing.

It's right by the hot dog, but that's a penis.

See that? I can--

Hey, it's me.

Yeah, I need to talk to you when you have a second.

Yeah. I'm in the editing studio.

Cool. [ Phone Beeps ]

[ Monitor: Charlie ] Silver Lake. A little bit indie rock--

Why did you call me? You knew I was--

- [ Voices Playing Backward ] - What are you doing, man?

- You can't be looking at this. - I'm your producer, man.

I watch your dailies and I'm a little disappointed.

This is boring.

It's pedestrian. It's...

Ratner-esque.

I like this Charlie guy though. I think he's got a good face.

-Yeah, this is for juries. I don't really think they care. -Exactly.

Juries today are more and more populated by Generation "Y."

- You watch music videos. - No.

All right, well, these kids, they need smash cuts and harsh lighting...

just to get out of bed in the morning.

And I mean, honestly, Wallace,

do you want to be a Los Angeles crime scene videographer,

or do you want to be the Los Angeles crime scene videographer?

You're right.

The prosecutors would appreciate it...

if I spruced it up, if I brought it into the now.

Exactly. This could be revolutionary.

You could be the Francois Truffaut of forensics.

I'll do it. Next scene I'll do it my way.

Great.

And we are coming with ya.

What?

[ American Accent ] Thanks, Paul.

I'm standing near the Metroplx Condominiums downtown...

where earlier tonight police discovered the body of Kimberly Rockwell,

the victim of what appears to have been a tragic accident...

involving an over-the-counter insect pesticide much like this one.

These are available at any corner drugstore...

and are of course more commonly known as bug bombs.

Now, if you've ever used one f these devices you'll know that after you remove the tab...

you're instructed to leave your residence for a length of time,

due to the poisonous chemicals released into the air.

It appears Ms. Rockwell did not follow the proper directions...

and the results were lethal.

[ Charlie Narrating ] Kimberly Rockwell, scenester.

This tomato was fresh off the boat from Indiana,

seeking out L.A. as an indie rock journalist.

Little did she know the closest she'd get to the papers...

was her obituary,

and no one would read it.

[ Police Radio Squawking: Indistinct Voices ] [ Chattering ]

Mandy? Are you gonna throw up again?

[ Door Closes ] [ Laughing ]

What? I'm just saying, man.

No self-respecting groupie wants to go to the show to bang the drummer.

Dude, whatever.

But Stewart Copeland is a genius, all right?

Hey, cotton picker, your producer here is my kind of asshole.

I know.

Actually, Investigator Muse has been pretty cool.

He's going to let us stay after they close down the crime scene and shoot some pickups.

Really? Yeah.

Yeah. You guys feel free. Head over to the fridge.

When I was processing it I noticed some beer in there. Go at it.

I would love to join you, but I gotta get to band practice.

[ Falsetto ] Speaking of which-- my demo. Ah.

I don't know if you guys ever need any music for your projects or whatnot,

but give it a listen.

"Chokehold."

* [ Guitar, Violin ]

* [ Guitar, Drums Join In ]

* So you say

* Things just aren't working out *

* This apartment's as small as my heart *

* And you've just got to break free *

Yeah, it was me and a few other officers. I write most of the songs though.

Would you play often?

Yeah, pretty often.

First we were just doing cop fund-raisers,

but then we got a residency at the Black Echo on Sunset-- second Tuesday of every month.

You guys should come check it out after the trial's over. We go on around 10:00.

Would the jury please disregard Investigator Muse's solicitation?

Actually it's a little more new wave than any of that.

I just think a microphone and a gun is so on point.

Hey, I hate to interrupt this Empire Records staff meeting,

but could we talk about the body for a second?

Oh, yeah. Hey, uh, Travers, what's the haps on the dead chick?

Investigator Travers. Been looking to meet you.

I'm Wallace's producer.

That's my card.

What does "G.F.Y." mean?

Go fuck yourself. [ Laughing ]

He did the same thing to me. [ Laughing ]

Just a little producer joke. Let's keep that.

Awesome.

Well, it appears she has a contusion on the back of her head here.

So it seems pretty obvious.

She set up the bug bomb.

In a rush to get out, she fell, hit her head, knocked herself out...

and sucked in some poison for a few hours.

[ Wallace ] On what?

What?

She hit her head on what?

A plush couch?

[ Charlie Narrating ] Some cultures believe that a photograph captures the sou,

that celluloid can somehow seize the immaterial essence that makes us who we are.

I wonder if--

* [ Dramatic ]

It's a shame.

Chick was a real piece of ass before she got on the old ghost train.

Excuse me, bro.

Um--

What are you doing?

I'm sure ol' Kim here would want us to honor her memory by firing up a video game.

Hey, guys. * [ Music Stops ]

[ Video Game Noises Stop ] Did the investigators notice this?

Notice what?

This CD.

The rest of the CD's on the rack are in alphabetical order except for this one,

which is out of place and upside down.

Um, if there's no little plastic number next to it,

then they didn't think it was important.

Huh. Maybe I should give them a call.

Dude, some girl misfiled a CD. I would chill out.

It's just that at the last crime scene next to the woman that was stabbed with a switchblade,

there was a CD from a band called Le Switch,

and this CD is from a band called Airborne Toxic Event, which is how she died.

Are you saying that this crime scene...

and the other crime scene are connected?

No, I'm not saying that.

It's probably just a coincidence.

That's weird.

It's not a CD. It's a DVD, and it says "Play Me."

We should definitely give them-- Let's take a look at this.

[ DVD Player Clicks ] * [ Rock ]

What ya doin' over there?

N-Nothing. Just, uh, puttin' on some tunes.

You're putting on the band we just saw. You're that guy.

I have to.

It's my... seduction music.

Ooh, sexy.

You're turning me on. Admit it. you can't resist this.

[ Both Laughing ] I can't.

How much is it going to cost me? More than you can afford.

Oh, I think I can find a way to pay you.

Oh? [ Beeping ]

What was that? What was what?

[ Beeping ]

What the fuck, Brian?

Come on! Get out now. Let me just get my camera.

Now! Get the fuck out of here!

[ Arguing Continues ]

[ Woman ] I will scream at the top of my lungs! Get the fuck out of here! Now!

* Oh, and your friends say what is it *

* You look like you've seen a ghost *

Oh, my God.

A serial killer.

The east side hasn't seen a serial killer since the Night Stalker.

Man, the cops didn't find this. You did.

You should win something.

I don't think they give out prizes. Well, they should.

I mean, you should make them.

I mean, apparently you're a lot smarter than these C.S.I. guys.

You should totally call them up and tell them...

that you have information on the murder...

and you're only going to give it to them if they give you $50,000.

That sounds like a really bad idea. I should give them--

You're pretty perceptive, aren't you?

What?

You notice little details that other people don't.

Yeah, I guess.

Really, I just watch a lot of those crime scene TV shows.

Fancy yourself an armchair detective? Always looking for clues?

Sure.

Can I talk to you for a second?

Uh, yeah, sure.

Did you see that 9/11 documentary that was on TV a couple months ago?

The one with Robert De Niro? Yeah, it was amazing.

Okay, the French guys who made it, these two French brothers,

they were doing this documentary about New York City firefighters.

All of a sudden, there they are, they catch the 767 fly into the towers. Okay?

So they go in the towers, they get this amazing footage.

Suddenly, their little movie about firefighters...

turns into this worldwide event seen by people everywhere...

and they become famous overnight.

Yeah, they hit the jackpot.

That is our 767.

And that's how The Scenesters was born.

Right then and there. Hmm.

You do realize that conspiring to withhold evidence...

and interfering with a police investigation are both felonies.

No, I did not.

Are you serious?

Why would you want to make a documentary about me?

Because you're fascinating.

An average schlub with a Sherlockian sensibility of deduction.

- Schlub? - It's Yiddish.

I can examine who you are as a person,

how seeing death on a firsthand basis...

and matching wits with a serial killer affects you.

How does it affect me?

Well, indignation mostly--

at the system for not being able to put this guy behind bars,

at yourself for not being able to stop the rampage,

at God for creating such a beast.

That's a lot to feel.

Charlie, this could be the high point of your life.

I mean, people all over the world,

from Berlin to Venice to Toronto,

would get to know the real you.

Hmm.

Charlie Newton, documentary film star.

I like the sound of that.

And if you catch the killer before the cops do, you're not gonna hear me complaining.

Me catch him?

Look, I'm just a normal guy with too many channels and an overactive imagination.

[ Charlie Narrating ] I was just a normal guy...

with too many channels and an overactive imagination.

I was a working stiff,

a corporate stooge who pulled a 9-to-5 in order to put dinner on the table...

and a deck of butts on the dash.

Who was I to think I could catch this monster?

Atwater Village, just east of the L.A. River.

Not too far from here was the site of the Night Stalker's first pre.

On June 28, 1984,

Richard Ramirez broke into the house of a 79-year-old woman,

stabbed her to death and then--

Okay.

What do we know...

about this killer?

- Well, he's probably a white male in his 40s. - Okay.

We need to put the brakes on the whole racist train right now.

Well, it's statistics. Ninety percent of all recorded serial killers are white males.

Okay, white male.

What else?

Since both murders happened within a few miles of each other here on the east side,

it'd be a good guess that he lives or works around here.

Eastsider. What else?

Both victims were young blondes,

so he may have some bad past experience with a blonde,

maybe some sort of Oedipus complex.

Is that that thing where you want to fuck your own mom?

Yeah.

[ Chuckles ] This serial killer is fucked up.

Uh, I think it's spelled O-D. It's O-E-D.

Okay, wants to fuck Mom.

What else? Well, he's chosen to make CD's the connection.

Maybe he has an association with music, is in a band or was in a band.

Really? Okay, let me recap here, Charlie.

White guy, lives on the east side, into blondes, likes music.

Okay, you just described every single person I know.

Every single person you know wants to fuck their mom?

- [ Chuckling ] - [ Charlie Chuckling ]

Well, look, there's only been two murders.

Maybe if there were a couple more I'd come up with something better.

And if I know this serial killer, there will be more.

[ American Accent ] Thanks, Peter.

I'm standing on the northeast side of Griffith Park...

where the body of an unidentified Caucasian female...

was found this morning by a jogger out for a run.

I'm here with the jogger now, a Mr. Irving Shaw.

Mr. Shaw, can you tell us exactly what happened?

[ Stammering ] Well, I was training for the L.A. Marathon,

which used to start downtown but now it's in the valley, which is really--

The body, Mr. Shaw. Just tell us about the body.

Right. Um, f-freakiest thing.

So I'm coming down the trail and I see, like, these pair of chicken legs...

at the end of a tunnel.

And-- Not literally chicken legs, of course,

but, like, a woman whose legs are, like, real skinny.

[ Police Radio: Dispatcher, Indistinct ]

[ Sirens Blaring ] [ Helicopter Hovering ]

Hmm.

What do we got?

Uh, what we've got is a shitty shot composition. Can I move her hair?

Customarily the first step in preserving the crime scene is preserving the crime scene.

Yo, Graham Cracker, Cotton Picker. What's shakin', boys?

[ Roger ] Same old shit. Right on, man.

Hey, did you have a chance to listen to my band's demo?

- What happened to her? - Well,

it appears that she was strangled to death.

Because of bruising.

No, because of the guitar string wrapped around her neck.

* [ Humming Notes ]

Could you stop doing that, please?

[ Charlie Narrating ] Griffith J. Griffith,

the millionaire developer who owned this land back when it was an ostrich farm.

On September 3, 1903,

Griffith shot his wife in the face...

but, unfortunately for him, didn't kill her.

After serving two whole years in San Quentin for the crime,

he offered to build the city an observatory as repentance.

But it turned him down.

It didn't want his philanthropic blood money.

Ten years after he died,

when he left the money in his will,

Los Angeles changed its mind.

How quickly this town forgives the sinners.

How quickly our misdeeds fade into the dust.

Well, I'm like an elephant.

I never forget.

She was unlike the others.

This didn't appear to be the crime scene, just the dump site.

But what was so different about this girl?

Maybe the dirt would tell me.

Maybe not.

A tat.

I'd seen it before. But where?

Might as well be a question mark.

It wasn't that bad.

Yes, it was.

Would it kill people to find bodies during magic hour?

I feel like we're on the face of the fucking sun. Check it out.

Looks like our boy's got a crush.

[ Roger ] Maybe a potential love interest for our film? [ Wallace ] Ugh. No.

It's irrelevant to the plot. Fleshes Charlie's character out.

Dude, if he had a wife or a girlfriend he was neglecting I might go for it,

but I really don't feel like starting a relationship from scratch.

It might be out of your control. Looks like they're hittin' it off.

I doubt that.

She's harder to get into than Skybar.

Skybar? What are you, a time traveler from 1987?

I'm Jewell's cameraman, Hume Wonacott.

And trust me, at every live stand-up Jewell does the weirdos come out of the woodwork.

I swear, she must get, like, three or four marriage proposals a week.

[ Laughs ] This one guy--

Mandy, is Charlie still wearing his mike? Yeah, hold on.

[ Charlie ] People that just-- just-- Oh. Oh.

Yeah, the course only lasts about three days.

[ British Accent ] I thought you guys were supposed to wear gas masks.

Only when the health inspector's around.

[ Chuckles ]

Do you like it?

I don't think it's a job you really like.

I think it's one you more tolerate till payday. Oh, it's good money then.

Yeah. Great money.

I wouldn't think it'd be so hard to find someone to clean up blood.

See, I-- I would think that, 'cause, you know, it's blood.

[ Laughs ] True.

Um, I'd better go find my cameraman.

So-- Yeah.

It's good to see you again. Yeah.

You too.

Hume?

Was my mike on? Were you guys listening to my conversation?

Uh-huh. You said it was good to see her "again."

You know her?

Yeah, I know her.

We dated for two years.

[ Charlie ] Here we go.

All right, here we are at Big Bear.

Big Bear for the big one year.

We are surrounded by trees.

Ah, the wilderness.

And those leaves are obviously from the trees.

And there's the tent that I put up all by myself in the dark last night.

Let's see if Sleeping Beauty is stirring.

Hold on.

Let me get that.

And there she is.

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey. [ Grumbling ]

It's cold. Come on. It's time to get up.

We're on vacation. I want to sleep late.

This is no vacation. This is an anniversary trip.

We've got things-- Mmm.

We've got things to "anniverserate" here. [ Laughs ]

[ Laughing, Groaning ]

Okay. All right.

I'm up. I'm up.

There you go.

What are we doing then? It's a surprise. Get your boots on.

Okay. [ Groans ]

What time is it? It's 5:30 or so.

I hate you. Oh, yeah?

I love you too.

Now let's move. Okay.

You look really good in the morning.

Shut up. [ Charlie Chuckles ]

Are you rolling? Okay, just do it again.

Why do I have to do it again? Because the camera was not on.

So you want me to come back in again and act like I'm doing it for the first time?

No, I want you to come in and tell us again, coincidentally in front of the camera,

which is now on.

Well, doesn't a documentary-- Charlie!

Hey, guys, something just clicked.

- What? - You remember the tattoo on the girl in Griffith Park?

Yeah.

I knew I'd seen it before, but I couldn't remember where.

It might as well have been a question mark. And then it hit me.

What is that? It's the demo CD Investigator Muse gave you.

- He gave me the same one, too, when I first met him. - Did you ever listen to it?

Yeah, it was actually not bad.

So what does this mean?

What do you think it means?

That Muse is the killer?

[ Knocking ]

[ Wallace ] Which one's Muse?

[ Charlie ] He's the one with the-- Oh.

[ Wallace ] What do you call that? Soul patch.

[ Wallace ] Soul patch. Soul patch.

Is that ironic, or-- [ Charlie ] No.

[ Wallace ] Well, it doesn't really work for him.

[ Wallace ] Who was that? I don't know.

There was no one there. Left this though.

[ Clicks Tongue ]

- * [ Guitar ] - * [ Man Singing, Indistinct ]

* [ Continues ] * [ Customers Shouting, Chattering ]

* Two years ago

* When you had your birthday right up the street *

* Your friends were all there You were so surprised *

* You kissed my cheek

* I run up the stairs

* To your best friend's apartment *

* Hoping you're there

* Hoping this nightmare will end *

* And we'll see each other again *

* I opened the door

* There's a note that I know you were here *

* The tears, they take you

* Enough that we don't know where *

* Wherever you run to

* I'll find you before they do *

* Stay alive, stay safe

* I'm coming for you

* Yeah

- * [ Continues, Different Song ] - [ Chattering ]

* [ Continues, Muffled ] [ Woman ] You got your keys?

Are you okay to drive, babe? Yes.

All right. Bye, sweetie. Bye.

Just call me. Okay. Take care.

Bye.

* [ Rock: Drums, Loud ]

Can I help you? * [ Continues ]

You got a fucking problem? Turn that off. What is this for?

[ Male Singer ] * You make the record at night [ Woman ] Back off.

Get the fuck away from me. * 'Cause everyone knows that rock and roll *

* Is the language of night [ Woman Groaning, Muffled ]

* But this got made in the day It was bright *

* The drums are probably shaky but the bass is real tight * [ Woman Screaming ]

[ Loud Thumping ] * [ Continues, Indistinct ]

[ Screaming Continues ] * It always sounded bad

* What is the song, a pop song Is it a conduit *

* To give out feeling in a compact form, a short form * [ Woman Gasping ]

* But shorter is better [ Screaming Stops ]

* 'Cause it's physically much easier to share *

* A slogan versus a book A single versus a record *

- * And what if-- - [ Static ]

That, um--

That was awesome.

His composition's amazing.

He's like the Janusz Kaminski of serial killers.

That was the most disturbing thing I've ever seen.

I guess you've never seen my ex-wife's art.

You think this is funny?

These women are being murdered, all right?

Murdered.

And aren't you guys the least bit concerned...

that this guy knows exactly where you live?

Well, look, he only kills women, all right? So let's not lose focus.

Charlie, were there any clues in this video?

Oh, other than the fact that you were completely wrong about Investigator Muse?

I never said Muse was the killer.

Oh, no, you just stared at us dramatically.

Excuse me for misinterpreting.

[ Charlie Narrating ] They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

How many words is 24 frames a second? * [ Rock: Drums, Loud ]

What game was he playing? [ Monitor: Woman ] Can I help you?

Was there something he wanted me to see?

Or was what he wanted me to se was that there was nothing to see at all?

There.

[ Audio: Two Thumps ]

[ Doors Slamming ]

Not one door closing, but two in quick succession.

- [ Doors Slamming ] - The killer drove a van.

[ Doors Slamming ]

I was wrong.

The killer wasn't a cop.

The killer went to that show to toy with the cops, to shove it in their face.

So you had no idea this murder...

was occurring only feet away?

No. No, I didn't.

I know it's no excuse, but my guard was down.

[ Sighs ] I was intoxicated.

You'd been consuming alcohol.

No. No, nothing like that.

[ Sighs ] From the stage.

From being up there.

From feeling it.

I-I don't understand.

- Have you ever been in a band? - Uh, no.

Then you can't understand.

[ American Accent ] Thanks, Gene.

I'm standing inside Secret Headquarters,

a comic book shop in the Sunset Junction area...

where around 4:00 this morning someone broke in and vandalized the establishment.

With me is Dave Pifer, the shop's owner.

Dave, can you tell me what happened?

When I showed up this morning,

somebody had kicked down the door and knocked over a whole rack of back issues.

So they didn't steal anything.

Oh, no. Thank the Lord.

And this is news?

I just think this is a complete waste of time.

Your character needs a love life.

- Would you stop referring to me as a character? - Look, guys--

Are you still, uh, shooting?

You guys making a documentary or something? Or something.

Our boy Charlie here is about to make another trip up the Jewell of the Nile.

[ Laughs ] Good luck.

Lord knows I've tried.

Well, we have a history.

Okay, sure you do. You and everyone else who watches her at 11:00.

All right. Time to launch.

Come on. Come on. Get over there.

Hey, Jewell. [ British Accent ] Charlie.

What are you doing here?

You know, just-- It was really good to see you the other day.

Um, thanks.

So what are you doing here?

I know it's been a lot of years and...

a lot of things have happened, but...

I just thought it'd be nice to, you know, grab lunch or something sometime.

No big deal or anything. Just-- Just to catch up.

Charlie...

this is just a bit strange.

You know?

I mean... I thought you...

hated me.

Why would you say that?

Because you wouldn't call me back for two months.

Look, I went through a phase there,

but I'm better now.

Just trying to be a bigger man.

Thought it would be nice just to sit down and talk.

It could be nice.

Great.

I'm going to need to get your number again though,

'cause I deleted it.

Who edited all this footage together by the way? It's terrible.

A court-appointed editor.

Wow. Sounds prestigious.

Back to my question, Mr. Cotten.

Were you aware that your producer Roger Graham...

was pushing the relationship between Mr. Newton and Ms. Wright?

No. And had I been, I would've put a stop to it.

- Why is that? - Because I was making...

the greatest Los Angeles crime saga of our times,

not Sleepless in Silver Lake.

I had bigger fish to fry.

Hi. This is Wallace Cotten, director of The Scenesters,

and you are watching the DVD bonus extra on the art of editing.

Editing has long been-- [ Phone Ringing ]

[ Ringing Continues ] Not gonna answer itself.

Luminescent Ether Productions.

It's the killer.

Killer? Our killer?

That's what he says. On the phone now. Great. Put him on speaker.

Should be good.

[ Dial Tone ] What'd you do there, Jen?

I pressed the button. No, you hung up, then pressed the button.

You have to press the button and then hang up. Have you ever worked an office job--

- [ Phone Rings ] - Hello? Killer?

[ Processed Voice ] This is the Soloist.

Um, what can I do for you?

I see you at the crime scenes and I know what you're doing.

You're making a film about me.

You were-- I saw y--

Sorry. I saw you.

You were at the crime scenes?

I saw you and that cleanup boy making a documentary.

I thought that perhaps I could help.

Can you hold on for a second?

[ Wallace ] Help with what?

[ Wallace ] Charlie.

[ Wallace ] Y-Yeah, the old one or the new one?

[ Charlie Narrating ] The old zoo. Midnight.

Someone out there was ribbing me up.

The note had been slipped under the door of my apartmen.

But by whom? A witness?

A snitch?

Perhaps the killer himself trying to lure me into a trap.

The old zoo,

a little-known archaeological find of the east side.

It opened up shop in 1913...

and was abandoned for good almost 50 years ago due to neglect.

Some say it's haunted.

I was here to find out.

The old zookeeper station.

Seeing that this is where the trail came to an end.

Or perhaps this is where it really began.

[ Roars ] Ah!

[ Roaring ] [ Grunting ]

[ Jukebox: Rock ] * No one else around

* And if I've learned anything at all *

* You sure are not mine

Hey, bro, I paid for that beer,

so if you're not gonna drink it, then I will.

That was some serious shit back there, man.

I mean, that was-- that was a rush.

I haven't felt like that since I shoplifted in high school.

I knew you'd love this--

the adventure, the danger, the romance.

Romance?

You didn't forget about your date tomorrow? It's not a date.

It's just lunch.

Have you even thought about where you're gonna take her?

I've been a little bit preoccupied.

You're gonna start with a nice meal at El Compadre,

and then you're gonna stroll down Sunset on the south side of the street...

to that gelato place.

You're gonna buy her some gelato and then make your way down to Echo Park,

when you're gonna walk on the east side of the lake.

It's where my wife and I used to go every Sunday.

You were really married, huh?

Yes, indeed. Sentenced to three years.

If you don't mind me asking, what happened?

She died.

I'm sorry.

I'm kidding. She left me.

Well, to answer your question,

I-- I played for a little bit,

and then one of the strings broke,

and I just didn't bother to replace it.

[ British Accent ] Well, you should. I always thought you were really talented.

And truly, I wasn't just saying that 'cause I was your girlfriend.

Well-- Well, that's-- that's good to know.

How long has it been since you last played?

October 5, 2000.

Are you serious?

You may or may not know it,

but that-- that night sucks pretty bad for me.

But I had a lot of bad associations.

I don't do Irish car bombs anymore either.

[ Laughs ] Sorry for laughing.

No, it's okay. It was a joke.

The desired outcome is laughter.

Charlie.

I'm really sorry. I said it was okay.

No. Um, about that night.

Oh.

I wanted to tell you so badly how... shitty I felt,

but you wouldn't call me back and... it really sucked.

I mean, the whole situation sucked.

And I know you probably have this image in your head...

of me and some other guy on a beach somewhere laughing at you.

But in actuality, I just did a lot of crying.

A lot of crying.

Why did you and Jewell Wright end your previous relationship?

Does that matter? Why does that matter?

Your Honor, I would like to admit exhibit 3445-K into record.

It's amateur footage taken at the Tangier music club.

* And I still believe in a love so true *

* And now, baby, I'm wonderin' *

* Do you believe too

[ Woman ] Whoo! [ Cheering ]

Hey, thanks a lot, guys. I appreciate it. Thanks for coming out tonight.

I got one last song for you,

but, uh, first I wanna do something a little bit unconventional.

My girlfriend Jewell is here tonight. [ Cheering ]

She's been really supportive of everything I do...

and really just the greatest girl in the world.

And I'd like her to come up here for a minute if she would.

[ Woman ] Aw! [ Man ] Yeah!

This next song's for you, babe.

But first, there's something I've been wantin' to ask you.

[ Scattered Aws ] [ Man ] Oh, my God.

Jewell Wright, will you marry me?

Well, we can talk about something else now if you want.

Yeah, yeah. That-- That would be good.

So how about that Iraq war resolution, huh?

Think we'll ever invade?

Nah, that'd just be a cluster fuck. Yeah.

You hear about the beltway snipers getting arrested?

Yeah. It's crazy, right?

Father and son just picking people off.

At least our serial killer gives his victims a chance.

What serial killer?

Shit.

Nothing. No, no, no. What are you talking about?

I can't tell you, Jewell.

These three women, they're possibly connected, aren't they?

Charlie.

All right.

It has to stay between us.

Of course. I promise.

[ American Accent ] Insiders have now confirmed the murders were indeed connected,

dubbing the killer the Soloist.

Investigators were forced to confront the issue this morning...

when I, Jewell Wright, blew the lid off the secret.

We're doing everything we can to catch this guy, okay?

Law enforcement has known this whole time that the two murders were connected.

[ Reporters Talking At Once ]

We didn't wanna cause a panic. Young, beautiful, blond women should feel safe...

to walk our streets at night. We didn't want a repeat of 1992.

This is Los Angeles, not Detroit.

Do you have any suspects? No, not at this time.

We're not allowed to comment on an ongoing investigation. Any leads at all?

There's going to be a Night Out Against Crime fund-raiser tonight...

at the Black Echo on Sunset, featuring music by Chokehold.

[ Reporters Clamoring ]

It remains to be seen how successful investigators will be.

But this much is true.

A reign of terror is sweeping over the east side.

No one is safe.

This is Jewell Wright, KSVU News.

So now the cat was out of the bag.

Yes. And serendipitously, a great point in the film actually.

I mean, the whole city gripped with terror,

not knowing where to turn or who to trust.

It really amped the scope of the project.

- And then the second tape came. - Yes, the, um, Halloween party.

- What did you think of that? - Oh, vast improvement over the first tape.

It was way creepier.

* [ Funk ]

[ Chattering, Laughing ]

[ Man #1 ] Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

Happy Halloween, my babies! Whoo!

[ Man #2 ] Yeah! Show 'em your dance, dude!

[ Women ] Yeah! [ Man #1 ] Ten more bucks.

One more time. [ Woman ] Show us!

[ Partyers Laughing ]

Whoo!

Oh, no! Do the dance!

Do it! Do it.

Yeah!

Do a bit more.

Whoo! Rock out with the cock out!

This is Silver Lake, bitches!

[ Women Chattering ]

That's the one that you said. Yeah, that's the one that I guessed.

"I'm So Wasted" is definitely the best one.

You are so fucking wrong.

You're telling me "T Rex" is better than "I'm So Wasted"?

[ Robot ] What are you bitches talking about? What Wallpaper track is better?

Easy. "T Rex." What? You're wasted. Both of you are wasted.

I can't believe that you're even my friend.

Everyone knows that song just wasn't even--

Okay, get a fucking room, sluts.

* [ Continues ]

[ Door Closes ]

Oh, hey, man.

You got any blow?

Sweet.

Take a seat.

What's with the camera?

Hmm?

Okay.

Oh. Do you?

No?

Okay.

[ Inhales ]

What happened?

Well, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say the witch is fucking dead.

Well, if he killed her, then why haven't-- [ Cell Phone Rings ]

Hello.

Did you notice when he was writing the message? Mm-mmm.

He used his left hand.

You ever do cocaine?

No. It's fucking awesome.

[ Charlie Narrating ] The nose candy the killer had given the frail...

was actually rat poison-- hydroxythiacoumarin.

A lethal dose right up the beezer.

One need not be a chamber to be haunted.

One need not be a house.

The brain has corridors surpassing material place.

Was that good?

I don't know if "good" would be the word.

I don't get it. So the band the dead girl's talking about...

is called Wallpaper.

So why didn't the killer, like, wallpaper her to death?

It's the money. What?

She snorted the rat poison through a rolled-up bill.

Wallpaper's drug slang for money.

How the fuck do you know that?

I read... books.

[ Chattering ]

Oh, look at this. Ho-ho!

This can't be good.

Cotton Picker. Graham Cracker. What's shakin', boys? Yeah.

What is this?

They're our camera crew.

Um, no, we're your camera crew. [ Muse ] Um, no.

You guys are crime scene videographers. These men are artists.

Yeah. They're from Denmark. [ Danish Accent ] Hello.

Hello. Mm-hmm.

Jesus Christ.

There's gonna be following us around during this whole Soloist thing.

Department's giving them full access to everything. [ Travers ] Mm-hmm.

Even the interrogation rooms. Interrogation rooms.

Wow. Hear that, Roger? Full access to everything, even interrogation rooms.

Wow. Well, I should give you guys my business card.

Oh, here-- Will you-- Give me that. There you go, Franz.

G.F.Y.?

[ Franz Speaking Danish ]

[ Danish Continues ]

Talk me through it, Muse.

[ Danish ]

Girl's at the party having a good time.

Comes here to the back bedroom.

Why?

She just found out from her friends...

that her boyfriend's cheating on her. I'm with you.

Killer comes in here through the window.

Her boyfriend. Obviously.

She knew him, because otherwise she would've hightailed it out of there...

like a cockroach when the lights come on.

Boyfriend tries to make nice. But she's not having any of it.

Ah, but she is at first.

Says he'll never do it again. Says he'll never see Debbie again.

Who's Debbie? Exactly. Who is Debbie?

Because her friend said that he cheated on her with Jeannie.

You get around, killer.

Boyfriend... [ Gasps ]

pushes her down to the bed.

He pulls out the rat poison. Yes.

And bam, shoves it up her nose. Ah!

Yeah. Whoo! Did it again.

Yes, he does. One more time, does it again.

F'in-A. Does it again.

[ British Accent ] How's it going?

I don't know if I should tell you. I might hear about it on the news.

Look, I didn't reveal anything you told me.

I saw the broadcast, Jewell.

He called me.

Who did? The Soloist.

- Bullshit. - I know it sounds crazy.

But when I got home from our date, he called me at home.

He told me all about himself. He had this weird voice-altering thing.

Why would he call you?

Because I'm a reporter.

Well, if he was gonna call a reporter, why wouldn't he call one that--

It's--

Look, it's the truth. You can take it or leave it.

I'll fuckin' leave it.

Is there a problem here, Jewell?

No. There's no problem at all.

Listen, a word of advice, dude:

she is so not the same person she is on TV.

[ Laughs ]

So you didn't believe her?

I wanted to,

but I just couldn't.

And nothing important happened plot-wise for a few weeks?

Yeah. The Soloist kept killing.

We continued to investigate,

and Jewell and I continued to have pretty intense,

you know, sexual tension.

Wallace said it would be the perfect time for a montage.

* [ Drums ]

[ Man ] * Whoa, baby

* You're driving me crazy

* I said baby

* You're driving me crazy

* Oh, well, you turn me on

* Then you shut me down

* Oh, well, tell me, baby

* Am I just your clown

* Psycho

* Oh

* Whoa, baby

* You're driving me crazy

* I said I'm losing my mind

* You treat me so unkind

* Psycho

* Whoa

I liked that song. Never heard it before.

Shocker.

At this point, you were contacted by the Soloist again, correct?

No.

Really?

You didn't meet with him at Spiderhouse Coffee on Vermont Avenue...

at 4:17 p.m., Monday, November 18, 2002?

Spiderhouse has surveillance cameras, doesn't it?

It sure does.

Boo.

Do I know you?

It's me.

The Soloist.

You fuckin' with me?

No, man. It's me, the one and only.

Prove it.

All right.

So how's your boy Charlie doing after the ass-whuppin' I gave him at the zoo?

You're black.

Yeah, I guess.

What's up?

Look, this whole murder spree thing's...

getting a little stale, you know.

I thought maybe you'd like to take things to the next level.

I'm so relieved to hear you say that.

I mean, don't get me wrong. We've got a ton of great footage-- a ton.

But where is this going?

Exactly. We need some momentum.

Ticking clock. You mean like a bomb.

Do you have a bomb? No.

Well, it doesn't literally need to be a ticking clock--

just something to kick in some urgency for the third act.

Well, what would you have me do?

Well, I wouldn't have you do anything.

This is a documentary. But I can throw out ideas.

What kind of ideas?

[ Wallace ] The Soloist opens the closet to reveal victim number 15 bound and gagged.

He removes the gag. Ready to die? [ Coughing ]

Please don't kill me. Please!

I have a family.

Death is your new family. Soloist stabs the victim.

Ah!

Uh, is that how you really scream in real life?

Uh-- Um, I-I don't know.

I guess. Never been stabbed before.

Aah!

Good. That was good.

Um, do you mind if we do a little improv?

Yeah. Sure. I've taken classes.

Give me one reason I shouldn't rip your fucking heart out.

Um-- [ Laughing ]

[ Screams, Sobs ]

Well, I gotta tell you, Clare, I think you're the best we've seen all day.

I think we just found our new victim. Thanks.

If-- If I get it, do you know when you guys might need me?

Uh, we're not really sure yet actually,

so, uh, we might just surprise you.

While Wallace might call this a bullshit studio note,

I think that a strong protagonist needs a clear arc.

An arc?

Uh, personal development.

Starts off normal yet flawed, finds success, falls from grace...

and then seeks redemption in the third act.

Mmm. So you needed Charlie Newton to fall from grace.

By any means necessary.

[ Charlie Narrating ] I was dizzy for the dish,

and she broke my heart not once, but twice.

Her affections were as fake as that American accent.

Love never dies a natural death.

It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source.

It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals.

It dies of illness and wounds.

It dies of weariness,

of witherings,

of tarnishings.

[ Groans ]

Oh, God.

Why did I have to drink real whiskey?

[ Roger ] 'Cause you're a big boy.

Now let's pull it together. We gotta get out of here.

[ Groans ] Let's go.

Where are we going? We're going to meet Jewell.

Oh, that's not a smart idea.

Yeah, it is, man. Come on. Let's get out of here.

All right. Come on, trouper.

Help me up. There you go. Come on.

Oh, no!

Jewell!

[ Pounding ] Jewell, open the door!

Charlie. What's up, bro?

What the fuck are you doing here?

I'm just hanging out with my friend Jewell. What are you doing?

Friends? Yeah.

Friends, huh? Yeah.

Hey, man! What is your problem?

You need to relax. Calm it down. Just calm it down!

What the fuck, guys?

Just wait inside, Henry.

[ Door Slides Shut ]

What are you doing here, Charlie?

You wanna talk about what sucks, Jewell?

That night you shot me down onstage, that sucked.

That sucks real bad.

But when you used me--

used me for information after all that we've been through--

that just hurt, Jewell, hurt more than you'll know.

But you need to know-- you need to know how bad it hurts...

so the next guy maybe doesn't get it so bad.

Are you drunk? [ Scoffs ]

It took you that long in this conversation to ask me that?

Now I know I've done a lot to you--

and you can feel free to call me a whole slew of names--

but liar is not one of them.

I did not get the information from you. I got it from the Soloist.

Really? Really? How many times--

You're still sticking with that story?

After all this time, you didn't have the decency to come up with a better one?

[ Scoffs ] You have a good night, Charlie.

What, that's it?

That's all you got? I can take it. Come on.

King Kong ain't got nothing on me!

Let's go.

[ Woman Crying ]

[ Crying Continues ]

[ Crying ]

Don't blush, my sweet.

It's time to add a little terror to those cheeks.

[ Wallace ] Cut. Are you kidding me?

I thought you said-- No, no. Clare, you were great.

Irving, are you kidding me? What?

I don't know how to tell you this, but you're really bad.

Bad at what?

This, okay? This. Whatever it is you're doing.

You-- You told me not to act because this is a documentary.

What? I'm just being myself.

Yeah, well, you're terrible at being yourself. Okay?

And, honestly, I'm a little concerned. [ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]

Thought you were shooting pickups.

We wrapped early. What's going on here?

We're rehearsing. Clare.

[ Charlie ] Where have I seen you before?

People say I look like a young Larry Fishburne.

No.

You hang out at the crime scenes.

I've seen you at a bunch of the crime scenes.

What's behind your back?

Nothing.

[ Roger ] Hey, hey, Charlie. Charlie, Charlie, ease up.

This is the killer?

The killer I've been hunting is in the war room?

Wait. What?

How long have you two been chattin' it up, Wallace?

Couple of weeks.

And you don't think you need to tell your producer about it?

Oh, like you tell me everything, Roger?

You don't think I don't know about you shoving Jewell down his throat?

What? I'm not shoving anything.

Oh, really? Hey, step one of filmmaking.

Take the tape out of the camera when you're finished.

Gelato? Fucking gelato? Hey!

Did he sign a waiver?

What?

A release waiver. Did he sign one to be in the movie?

No. Not yet.

[ Charlie ] Could you get him to sign one now?

Okay.

I signed mine. [ Wallace ] Yes, I know. Thank you.

It's standard. Standard.

The killer's left-handed. Now turn the fucking camera off.

[ Laughs ] Yeah, right.

- So you lied. - Yeah, I lied.

I'm an actor looking for a good role.

So sue me.

And you came up with the name the Soloist?

I thought it had kind of a nice ring to it.

Uh, I hear...

you know who is kind of pissed off about it, but--

So what happened when Charles Newton found out that you were a hoax...

and that Mr. Graham and Mr. Cotten had been manipulating him?

[ Chuckles ] He was pissed. I mean, pissed.

[ Roger ] All right, this is life, Charlie. You can't quit on life.

I've done it before. You signed a contract.

Consider this a breach. Charlie, if you just thought about--

Stop it. Just-- Just stop it.

No more manipulation. No more smooth producer talk.

I'm tired of people screwing me around. I'm taking a stand, all right?

I'm taking a goddamn stand for once in my life.

[ Roger ] Well, there goes our third act. Thanks a lot.

Oh, it's my fault.

Yes, it's your fucking fault.

You didn't think to do a background check on your fucking psychopath...

while you're busy manipulating the facts? [ Engine Starts ]

You know, I guess I forgot. And you didn't seem to notice...

when you were off playing "When Charlie Met Jewell"...

to compensate for your fucked-up obsession with Jeannie.

Okay, you leave Jeannie out of this.

I think it's too late. I think Jeannie left on her own.

[ Yelling ]

[ Wallace ] You did not. You did not. You did not.

I did, bitch!

This is a $300 jacket.

[ Roger ] All your shit's fucking lame and pretentious.

I fucking wanna make real movies.

Maybe you shouldn't cheat on your wife. Huh?

I was trying to sleep with the distributor at Miramax.

[ Thud ] [ Woman Screams, Muffled ]

[ Muffled Screaming ] [ Thudding ]

[ Muffled Screaming Continue ] [ Thudding Continues ]

[ Yelling ]

[ Wallace ] You did not. You did not. You did not.

[ Muffled Screaming Continues ] I did, bitch!

This is a $300 jacket.

[ Roger ] All your shit's fucking lame and pretentious.

I fucking wanna make real movies. [ Thudding ]

Maybe you shouldn't cheat on your wife. Huh?

[ Engine Starts ] [ Muffled Screams ]

* [ Car Stereo: Rock ]

[ Charlie ] Jewell Wright, investigative reporter.

More like investigative bitch.

[ George ] Oh, man, come on.

I love that Jewell Wright. She's smokin' hot.

Way hotter than that Laura Ortega chick from KZAY. Way hotter.

Yeah, I'll give you that.

We used to go out.

I was in love with her.

You shittin' me? No. No, I'm not shittin' you.

We were good together too.

Really good together. The best.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that.

What happened?

Did you fuck up?

No. She cheated on me. She cheated.

With a career.

Korean?

[ Laughs ] No.

Career. Career.

Career. Sorry, man. You're-- You're slurrin'.

That's what a woman does though--

puts work ahead of family.

Isn't it true?

It's true. I'll toast to that.

I'll tell you one thing though.

This whole serial killer thing has done wonders for that career.

What do you mean? Face time, man.

Nobody even knew who Jewell Wright was...

before the Soloist came to town.

Now she's like Lois fuckin' Lane.

Yeah.

You're absolutely right.

You're absolutely right.

* [ Car Stereo: Rock ]

[ Heavy Breathing ]

Jewell. Jewell.

Muse. Muse.

Muse. You all right, buddy?

Muse.

We got some help on the way.

Jewell?

Jewell?

[ Door Closes ] Jewell.

Jewell?

Jewell.

Jewell?

Jewell. [ Heavy Breathing ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

That's all you got? I can take it.

King Kong ain't got nothing on me!

Is he gone? Yeah.

You okay? Yeah. Yeah.

* [ Guitar ] [ Heavy Breathing ]

* There are places that I know *

* There are places I won't go *

* There's people that I've met *

* There's some that I regret *

* There's a million things I've done *

* One in a million of them were fun *

* There's miles of road to drive at night *

* But that doesn't make it right *

* What's the point of going back *

* When you can't--

[ Heavy Breathing ]

[ Shower Running ]

[ Jewell Gasps ]

It's you. [ Screams ]

I mean,

what did you expect?

You really thought killing 14 women would impress me?

I mean,

you thought-- Read it!

He's got me, Charlie.

He wants you to finish the film.

Come at sunrise or it'll be your loss,

to the place where the red would cross.

Charlie, if I don't see you again,

I should've said yes.

What does he mean by finish the film?

The final conflict--

good versus evil.

This won't be over until the unhinged psychopath...

and the man obsessed with stopping him come face-to-face.

Let's make one thing clear.

I think you guys are scum.

Below scum.

But if I gotta finish this piece-of-shit film to save Jewell--

- Let's not judge the movie. - Shut the fuck up!

I'm talking.

If we're gonna do this, we're gonna do this my way.

All right?

I'm a producer on this film now.

An executive fucking producer.

Got it?

Good.

Let's shoot a finale.

[ Charlie Narrating ] A place where the red would cross.

I knew instantly he wasn't talking about a communist or an Irishman.

He wasn't talking about a Joe at all,

but the one thing that most represented the downfall of old Los Angeles--

the final undoing of the east side.

The red car line,

an efficient and cheap streetcar system...

that ran all over town until the 1950s...

when the big three automakers pressured the city into shutting it down...

to make way for their highways and gas-guzzlers.

This is where the red car used to cross the Los Angeles River.

Nothing but a bunch of pylons now,

giant slabs of concrete that sum up what was...

and what will never be again.

"Follow the river north and up you'll look...

when you reach the bridge at Sunnynook.

Well, I think that about brings us up to speed.

[ Sirens Blaring ]

[ Charlie ] You okay, Jewell?

Hello, Hume.

[ Helicopter Whirring ] [ Sirens Blaring ]

Who's that? I think it's the cameraman.

Why would her cameraman-- Because he's in love with Jewell...

and he always has been.

He knew her dream was to become an investigative reporter.

He wanted to see her rise to the top.

He wanted to see her grab the city's attention.

What better story for her to cover than a serial killer, right?

You kill her, and these cops are gonna plug you something fierce.

Oh, I'm counting on it.

Then the whole world will see me fall...

and they'll know I did it for love.

These cameras will tell my story.

This film you've been making...

will show the world what really happened.

And it'll be up to the viewers to choose who was right or who was wrong,

if I was crazy,

brilliant.

The audience will decide.

[ Jewell Crying ]

No, they won't.

Excuse me?

You push her,

and I'll personally make sure that every piece of tape...

that has documented this entire event is destroyed.

Incinerated. What?

You heard me.

Every single shot from every camera...

will disappear into thin air,

and no one will ever even know Hume Wonacott's name.

You can't do that.

You just watch me,

except you won't be able to because you'll be fucking dead.

If you step away now,

I'll let them finish this movie.

I'll let the whole world see what you've done up on the big screen.

[ Whimpering ]

[ Travers ] Down! Down on the ground! Hands on your head right now!

Hands on your head right now!

You're okay. You're all right.

Uh, Mr. Wonacott, would you please stand and face the jury...

as the verdict is read?

Mr. Foreman?

[ Foreman ] The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles...

in the matter of The People of the State of California...

versus Hume Edward Wonacott, case number VD67778.

We the jury in the above entitled action...

find the defendant Hume Edward Wonacott guilty...

[ Spectators Murmuring ] on 14 counts of the crime of murder in the first degree...

in violation of penal code 187A, a felony.

[ Charlie Narrating ] It was all over.

I had caught the bad guy and the city would sleep safe-

at least until the next villan came knocking at its door.

But the big mystery still remained.

Would it ever work between us?

[ Jewell ] All right, are we ready? Ready? [ Charlie ] Yeah.

Say hello. Hello. I'm ready. I'm driving as well. Hello.

Oh, can we go to the Liberace Museum? It's right by our hotel.

Oh, I don't know. I've actually been, like, 15 times already.

How about the Elvis museum?

Who? Elvis Presley.

[ Laughs ] I'm surprised you know who that guy is.

Oh, here we go.

[ Jewell ] Oh! There they are.

[ Charlie ] Hey, boys. Smile.

[ Jewell Laughing ]

Classic.

[ Charlie ] Have we seen enough?

[ Jewell ] Yeah, I guess so. [ Charlie ] All right.

[ Jewell ] That's so funny.

[ Charlie ] All right, you guys take care. [ Jewell ] Bye!

[ Horn Honking ]

[ Jewell ] Here we go. The trip begins.

* In a crowded bar your ringer tones grab my mind *

* I can see you through the phone, the phone, the phone *

* And I'm wide awake at home at home, at home *

* So they all see my coquette *

* And hope you don't catch

* The bourbon on my breath my breath, my breath *

* Catch a cab outside on Seventh Street *

* And the cars fly by through the Bowery *

* I come to your door and I hear a moan *

* Then another voice So, Christ, she's not alone alone, alone *

* And my heart sinks like a stone, a stone, a stone *

* And the tears won't even come *

* I feel so numb

* So swept aside, so dumb so dumb, so dumb *

* When the words are wrong and my patience gone *

* Will you tell me Does this mean you're moving on *

* [ Instrumental Break ]

* From the balcony you call my name *

* I see you standing in the rain *

* Your words so dry Your face so wet *

* Said I broke your heart but it hasn't happened yet *

* I'll bet your friends all hate me now *

* I get the strangest looks from that bitchy crowd *

* And though they must think they have every reason to *

* I guess I'm still not quite yet over you *

* When the words are wrong and you're hanging on *

* Another guy's arm

* Does this mean you're moving on *

[ Woman ] One, two, three, four!

[ Man ] * I lost my friends today

* Yi, yi, yi, yi-yi

* I lost my friends today

* Yi, yi, yi, yi-yi

* I don't know what happened to them *

* La, la, la, la-la

* I remember when they turned and ran away *

* It's true

* It's true

* It's true

[ Man ] I did it to ya.

* [ Vocalizing ]

* I lost my friends Lost them *

* It's such a crying shame 'cause then *

* I lost my friends today

* I don't know what happened to them *

* Subject to the underground

* They didn't even make a sound *

* It was so intense I didn't like it *

* Though I can't even start to fight it *

* It's true

* It's true

* It's true

[ Chattering ]

[ Man ] I did it to ya!

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends

* I lost my friends