Original subtitles

[pop music]

[elevator bell dings]

♪ I'm only pretty sure ♪

♪ That I can't take anymore ♪

♪ Before you take a swing ♪♪

- Oh, Gail. - Hey, Larry.

I was just doing my woodworking.

- Needed a break. - Uh-huh.

I'm building a birdhouse for the tweeties on my balcony.

- You want a peek? - I'm in a rush.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm going for a walk anyway.

Enjoy it.

Hey, you wanna see one of the coolest spots in Philly?

'It's just three blocks from here. I discovered it.'

I've got a lot of reading to do.

And Bruce is coming over. Goodnight, Larry.

♪ When you're sure I'm not there ♪

♪ How's it gonna be ♪

♪ When there's no one there ♪♪

How's the Miller's Tale gonna help me in life?

[sighs] Totally unreadable.

So drop the class.

I'm going to med school anyway.

Hey.

What?

I'm done studying.

I'm not.

Yeah, you are.

Bruce, I have a seminar in the morning.

It's only summer school.

Skip it.

What am I gonna have to do, kick you out of here?

I'm getting sick of that story, too.

[intense music]

[train passing]

[meows]

Came in this morning, addressed to homicide.

I think it's one of yours.

Number one. Kitchen floor.

She had a useless cat who did nothing.

'Number two. Brunette.'

At least two useless cats.

Ellen Curtis had two cats.

Three. This one died on me.

And her useless cat just watched?

Oh, this bastard.

"I don't like what I do, but I can't go yet.

The days are still warm."

That's him.

Try to get prints off this?

Uh, This guy doesn't leave prints.

Where has he been for five years?

And why is he sending us this letter?

He's bragging.

He's telling us he's back.

And that he's gonna do it again.

[theme music]

Gail Chimayo. Summer '98.

Guy broke in through the window

raped her like all the others, but Gail...he killed.

He got through those bars?

'Guy was some kind of spider.'

He'd climb walls, get in tiny windows.

- So he's skinny. - He's a contortionist.

Boss, I don't have the constitution

to go after him again.

Why'd he kill Gail and not the others?

- She fought back. - Any physical evidence?

Just the DNA from his sperm, but we never found a match.

I got samples from everybody.

The neighbors, plumbers, handymen. Nothing.

It was like chasing a ghost. Boss, I can't do this.

I'm not asking you to, Nick.

This case became a health issue for me.

Didn't you get any direction where to look?

He only struck when the weather was warm.

So, I check out baseball teams

exchange students coming in for the summer.

- Circus. - Yeah?

Yeah, yeah, I interviewed a damn clown.

Who was the top suspect?

Bruce Elridge.

- 'Gail's boyfriend.' - How come?

He gave a shady, hostile interview.

'Refused to give his DNA.'

Had not one good alibi for any of the rapes.

Unfortunately, Vera's under orders not to talk to him.

Yeah, that's not official.

The DA's office was very clear, Nick.

Do not approach him again.

What did you do to him?

I was runnin' the case. He was a serious suspect.

He put him in the room four times.

What am I supposed to do, start all over again?

- I'll start it over. - Whoa, this is my job.

I'm not gonna get cut out of it.

Well, which one is it, Vera?

- You in or out? - I don't know.

Alright. Lil will read the case again.

'You wanna join her, okay.'

But I don't want you going to Bruce without new direction.

We got the letter.

Connect him to the letter, Nick

you can go back.

Not before.

You got an angle how to do that?

Yeah, I got an angle.

- No. Not you again. - Got some questions, Larry.

Forget it.

You browbeat this guy, too?

He's a material witness. I talk to him sometimes.

[sighs]

Okay.

Larry, um, it's Lilly Rush. With homicide.

I need to talk to you about Gail.

I'll talk to you. Not him.

Grow up.

Open the door, Larry.

Detective Vera will take a little walk.

Oh, this guy's sick, huh?

Anything about it say Bruce Elridge to you?

Ah, the smugness fits.

He was such a snob.

He'd never even say hello.

- So you didn't know him well. - Nah.

You told 911 that you thought Gail and her boyfriend

were having a fight next door.

If I may speak.

I never saw anyone else

go inside that apartment.

What was your relationship with Gail?

Well, we were good neighbors.

Good friends.

Maybe something could have blossomed

if the world was laid out differently.

So now you're flirting?

'You didn't say that five years ago.'

You asked about the 911 call.

'Not my relationship with Gail.'

Did the noise from next door wake you, Larry?

I was up, working.

♪ But I miss you ♪

[distant scream]

♪ That is what I did ♪

♪ Hey hey hey ♪♪

[indistinct chatter]

[crash]

Gail?

What's going on in there?

It sounds like more than reading.

[distant screams]

- '911.' - I'm at 1832 Sansom.

I'm worried about my neighbor.

That was heroic, making that call, Larry.

It was instinct.

Anyway, uh, the cops came, knocked, left.

She was found dead the next day.

Cops can't break down a door

just because some guy senses something.

I gave a DNA sample right off.

I'll give another one if you like.

That's not necessary.

So back to Bruce. You seen him lately?

I did run into him a couple of months ago

up at the temple campus.

He does experiments at med school?

Yeah, he was full of hot air

about some kind of sleep study he's doing on cats.

- Thank you. - Oh, yeah.

Someday maybe we should check that out.

How'd you find out about his research?

I track this guy, I knew it was animals

but I always figured it was lab rats.

That's him.

You can't talk to me.

That letter you wrote gave me new cause.

Your pal here made my life miserable five years ago.

And you could have ended it at anytime by giving a DNA sample.

Let's not have that conversation again.

Bruce, I'm the one who wanted to talk to you.

- And who are you? - Detective Rush.

I'm looking back into Gail's murder.

Uh-huh.

I was wondering about the animal research you do.

What about it?

We're talking cats, right?

Yeah.

And I don't feel guilty about it

if that's your next question.

- Do you kill those cats? - If need be.

If a person's got cancer, I'm not gonna worry about testing

on some useless animal.

Why are they useless?

They're sub-human.

Small brains.

- Like women? - Women have a use.

Bruce, why not make this easy? Volunteer your DNA.

Fourth amendment says I got a right to privacy.

Don't you want to be ruled out as a suspect?

On the contrary.

I don't want desperate detectives

to act like it's a discovery if they match my DNA to semen

that was on Gail's sheets. I was her boyfriend.

We were very active, if you get me.

I'm sure my DNA's all over that place.

- I see. - I don't need a witch hunt.

Just 'cause you couldn't solve this thing.

'Vera.'

What is it about this job?

You yap on all the time about the other cases.

Why not this one?

This one did things to me.

Like what?

You ever work a job makes you feel helpless?

Yeah, I can always find motive, direction

'but that piece of crap, he stops.'

Leaves me with nothing.

I start second guessing everything, you know?

Maybe I'm not the bad ass I think I am.

I want this guy.

- So do I. - We can get him.

But I need you, Vera.

You know him better than anyone.

[siren wailing]

If he's following his MO

he's already hunting.

Stalking someone right now, following her home.

Let's hope she's got her windows locked.

I should have noticed that they all had cats.

It didn't mean anything.

Till we got the letter.

(Jeffries) 'It's a list of parolees'

who were locked up the last five years

and just got out.

One guy fits the time line, but he weighs 300 pounds.

Since when?

His whole life. It ain't him.

It was worth a try.

Well, how'd you do today?

Found out Bruce Elridge tortures cats for a living.

- Does he? - Mm-hmm.

Talks about useless animals, and won't give up his DNA.

I gotta go sit on him.

Make sure he doesn't climb through

anybody's window tonight.

I got new addresses on the first two victims.

They've both moved.

- Let's go. - Oh, wait till tomorrow.

I don't want you going to these girls at midnight

asking about their rape.

Yeah.

Tomorrow.

Goodnight.

[sighs]

[serene music]

My dad told me why you're here.

Can I come in?

No, I'd rather, I'd rather talk out here.

We think he's back, Ellen.

Oh, no.

Can I show you a picture?

A detective showed me that five years ago.

I know. Just look again.

Could this be the guy who attacked you?

I couldn't say.

I never saw him.

Did his voice sound like anyone you knew?

I told the first detective no.

I don't think so.

You said at the time

you were certain it was a stranger.

Right.

You got a different feeling about that now?

It's okay if you do.

No.

No, I don't know him.

I really can't, I really can't tell you anything.

The lead detective on this case is female, Ellen.

Would you be more comfortable talking to her?

Maybe.

Okay.

I gotta go to work, but, um..

I'm home every day by six.

Alright.

[intense music]

Could be him.

Could be yo yo ma.

I didn't see crap.

He covered your eyes right away.

I'm in my kitchen.

All of a sudden there's a towel over my face.

Guy whispers that he's real sorry.

Rapes me right there.

And then stays for an hour, talking to me.

(male #1) 'Always nervous on first dates.'

'But we did okay, didn't we?'

You were playing such a sad song before.

You wanna play it for me?

I don't think so.

(male #1) 'That's okay.'

[heavy breathing]

'Those bars on your windows'

'are no good, honey.'

'They're too far apart.'

'You gotta be more careful.'

[snarls]

You know what he said to me right before he left?

"Wish that we had met under different circumstances."

I'm sorry, Niki.

I just hope you finally get the guy.

I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but, um..

you were obviously in close contact with him.

Yeah.

He touched you. You must have touched him.

Was there anything that you felt that was distinctive?

Um, scars? Moles?

- This is kind of weird. - That's okay.

I did touch him. I-I didn't do it to be intimate.

Of course not.

I was trying to get him off me.

And you noticed something.

Smooth skin.

Legs, arms, everything.

Soft and smooth like a woman's.

Excuse me a second.

What's that?

- Bruce Elridge's coffee cup. - You stole his coffee?

He abandoned it in a public place.

Now we got his precious DNA.

According to Niki Lamas we're looking at a guy

with super smooth skin.

Well, that's new.

Maybe he shaves his body before he attacks.

No hair ever found at the scenes.

Anything from Ellen Curtis?

Jeffries got the sense she knew something.

I'll go back to her today.

Hmm. And how's our boy Vera doing?

He's...passionate.

That passion almost compromised this case five years ago.

I'm watching, boss.

I hate to rat a guy out

but Vera just walked in with Bruce Elridge.

- I can't have this. - Let me go.

You'll want to look at this first.

This isn't gonna help.

(Elridge) 'You can't keep me here.'

I can keep you here for six hours.

So what's with the animal experiments?

[sighs]

What are you, an activist?

Lot of killers start off torturing animals..

...but a smart guy like you

know something about that.

So what?

Is that you, Bruce, hmm?

Did you go from cats to women with your viciousness?

That's, that's a leap.

You slip into their apartments

with that wimp-boy frame of yours.

You terrorize them and you pretend you're on a date?

I got a girlfriend.

We're very very happy.

Maybe you didn't mean to kill Gail.

- Just rape her like the others. - I didn't do anything to her.

So why don't you stop acting like a thug.

What'd you just call me, you little rube?

Say it again, come on! Say it again.

- Say it again! - Vera!

Looks like, uh, Bruce here thinks I'm wasting his time.

Come out here.

- Bruce has better things to-- - Vera!

We got the DNA back.

It's a negative match.

You bunch of thugs!

Bruce, what the hell's wrong with you?

What's that supposed to mean?

You knew we wouldn't match your DNA.

So?

So why not give a sample five years ago

like a normal person?

I got a right to privacy.

How's giving a swab of spit invading your privacy?

A guy's got a right to have sex with his own girlfriend.

Okay.

Okay.

You weren't having sex with her.

Excuse me?

You didn't want us to not find your DNA.

It wasn't anywhere in that apartment

'cause she was shutting you down.

We went out for seven months.

And by that time a guy's got a right.

You think I wanted all those macho cops, all my friends

knowing I was putting up with such a prude?

Hey, Bruce, this ain't high school.

This case died five years ago

and you could have helped us bring it in.

And you coming off to your pals

like some big stud

isn't more important than a girl dying.

'My partner got the sense you knew'

we were on the wrong trail.

How would I know that?

Maybe you saw the guy.

No.

Maybe..

...you knew the guy?

I really try not to think about this.

That's understandable.

But he contacted us.

Let us know he's gonna do it again.

I can't worry about that.

- If you could describe him-- - I can't.

I know that's what you've been saying

for all these years, but maybe

it's because it's too painful.

Ellen...I'm just scared it's gonna happen again.

[sighs]

I never used to be scared of anything.

No?

Now I live with my parents.

I'm terrified if I'm not home before dark.

You had a life before.

Just want it back.

I don't think that's in the cards.

I do.

But you have to start by telling me

what you saw that night.

It might not be relevant.

I was at the Free Library, outside buying a coffee

and this, um...this guy started talking to me about books.

'And I can't even remember what else.'

But it was only for, like, a few minutes.

And then I went home.

That was it.

Did you get his name?

And the rape happened that night.

[soft knocking]

Olive?

Edie?

[cat meowing]

Hey, kitty, kitty, kitty. Meow.

You scared me.

(man) I'm so sorry.

[muffled screaming]

First dates are hard.

Especially with serious girls like you.

I just wish we could have met under different circumstances.

It was so quick.

It was like a flashbulb.

And I, uh... I could be wrong, but..

...the face I keep seeing..

...is the guy from the library.

Um, dark hair.

Kinda shaggy.

Smooth skin.

This is gonna help us a lot.

I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier.

You weren't ready earlier.

I should have told that first detective.

I was worried he'd think..

...that since I'd talked to the guy..

...I'd led him on.

You know..

Detective Vera only looks like a Neanderthal.

[knocking on door]

Excuse me.

What?

Sex Crimes got an assault, Ninth and Lombard.

Same MO?

Crawled through the second floor window.

[sighs]

Our boy is back.

[dramatic music]

[traffic ambience]

(Jeffries) 'Must have shimmied up that drain pipe'

'climbed across the wall'

'slipped in through the bars.'

Now, that's determination.

- Are there prints on the bars? - Of course not.

Ah, but he did leave a token behind.

Kenfield filter.

Left it right at the bedside.

This the victim?

Yeah. Sex Crimes took her to the hospital.

'They know you want talk to her, though.'

- We doing this together? - Yeah.

Please.

[camera clicks]

Maybe I should have fought or something.

There's no should, Tanya.

Does, uh..

...this look like him?

He covered my eyes so quickly.

- Did he speak to you? - Yeah.

Afterwards, he talked a lot.

He talked about art and books.

I'm in grad school for art history, but I don't..

I don't know how he knew that.

Did you recognize his voice?

No. He was a stranger.

[cat meows]

- You study art history? - Yeah.

Been to any museums lately?

Um, I was at the Rodin a few days ago.

Did you notice anything about his skin?

It was...smooth.

You know, like...hairless.

No hair at all?

Didn't seem like it.

Do you know what he told me before he left?

That he wished that we had met under--

Under different circumstances.

And that he was sorry.

(Rush) Does this guy stalk girls on Ben Franklin Parkway?

Gail worked at the Museum of Art.

Ellen was at the Free Library the day she was attacked

and Tanya went to the Rodin last week.

Niki was on Locust.

Leaving the Academy of Music.

Maybe he targets smart girls.

All the victims were college types.

Serious girls. He said it to Ellen.

Let's post this composite all over the Parkway.

I got it.

I interviewed a woman who worked with Gail

at the art museum.

Anna.

Anna Berlin.

They had lunch together the day of the murder.

We have this now.

Let's see if she knows our new friend.

(Berlin) Is this who killed Gail?

Could be.

Do you recognize him at all?

I don't think so.

Take your time.

I can't be sure, but..

But what?

It sort of looks like a guy

we'd see out here at lunch time.

You and Gail saw him?

He'd hang out here, smoking, watching people.

I kind of forgot about him.

He hasn't been around for years.

But he's been back lately.

- Ever get a name? - No.

We only talked to him once.

How's the pre-med student?

Arrogant. Pushy.

In other words, the same.

I know, I have bad taste in men.

(man) You ladies work here?

Yeah.

How's the new exhibit?

The Monet? It's beautiful. I recommend it.

Maybe I'll take a look.

See you in there.

I didn't think to mention it to you back then.

People are always asking questions.

Do you think he may have been watching Gail?

He wasn't there for the art.

Got something.

Girl was with a friend and her mom

on Ben Franklin Parkway.

Saw your composite.

This is Lilly. She's a police officer, too.

Tell her what you told me.

That's Carl.

My mommy's boyfriend.

What do you got?

Carl Heeley, grew up in a trailer park in Trenton.

Moved to Philly at 18

worked as a security guard

in the Franklin Institute from '92 to '98.

- Across from the Free Library. - Yeah.

And the last five years

he was at an army base in Portland.

- Just got back to town. - How'd he behave in Oregon?

Dishonorably discharged six weeks ago

breaking into a female officer's room.

Through the window.

She was trained in combat though, unlike our girls.

She fought him, ID'd him, and they sent him packing.

Military will have the blood type.

(Rush) 'We're getting a subpoena right now.'

Pick up this soldier.

What's this about?

A woman was raped in Old City, last night.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Where were you last night, Carl?

At home. Reading.

Can anyone verify that?

My girlfriend and her daughter.

You a big reader, Carl?

You could say.

You lived in the area five years ago

when three women were raped.

Do you remember anything about that?

- Not really. - Mm.

But you heard about it, right?

Yeah, I think I remember something about it

but that was a long time ago.

This looks a lot like you, don't you think?

Sort of.

Can you arrest a man for looking like a drawing?

We're asking guys who look like this picture

to take a DNA test. Would you do that?

I'm sorry, I prefer not to.

'Look, I'd love to help you out'

but I got to get back. New job and all.

So, is there anything else?

No.

Crap.

It was a Kenfield filter.

Carl and I used to date, so..

Well, you lived together.

That's a bit different than dating, isn't it?

Cait, honey, take dolly and play in the room, okay?

We lived together five years ago.

We broke up when he moved.

If you broke up, how'd you get this Army picture?

We kept in touch.

Caitlin says that Carl's still your boyfriend.

That he's around the apartment a lot.

Yeah, well.. Maybe I never got over him.

Do you remember those rapes five years ago?

Yeah.

Do you remember that a girl was murdered?

What, you trying to say that was Carl?

This is the guy.

You tell me, Bridget.

No. Carl is a good person.

He is.

He is. You'll should see him with Caitlin

and the animals.

Down at that shelter you work at?

Yeah, he helps out sometimes.

- You got any pets here? - No, no.

Carl always says that dogs are for families

and cats are for single girls.

Mm. Carl says that, huh?

Yeah, we joke about it.

You know, cats and book clubs.

Two sure signs that a woman's all alone in the world.

I'm guessing you wouldn't be caught dead at a book club.

I noticed your Shakespeare collection over there.

Yeah, Carl got that at a garage sale.

You guys read the tragedies together?

He looks at 'em sometimes. I don't like books.

Maybe that's why he took off five years ago.

What do you mean?

- Nothing. - No, what?

We talked to Carl earlier today

and he just wasn't, uh..

very complimentary about your...brain power.

That's mean.

I thought so.

Was he with you last night?

Yeah, he was here.

- He go out after? - He went out for a walk, late.

'Cause there was another rape last night.

Another woman

who lives alone, with a cat.

Carl take a lot of walks?

Yeah. He has trouble sleeping.

He always did.

[water flowing]

Honey, what's wrong?

Nothing. Can't sleep is all.

Come back to bed.

I'm gonna get some air.

Okay.

Be careful.

You, too.

Keep the windows closed.

Yeah, he-he did that a lot.

He'd leave in the middle of the night.

Didn't you think it was pretty odd

that he shaved like that, Bridget?

He always shaved, you know?

He said, um..

It had to do, you know, with biking, for speed.

(Rush) 'Did he always shave at midnight?'

I don't know.

You remember the rapes though, don't you?

Yeah.

Didn't you ever think--

That I was living with a rapist?

No, I never thought that. Would you?

Does it make sense now?

[Bridget sighs]

Yeah, I guess.

'With the walks and all.'

'Now that I think about it'

he's only ridden that bike a couple times

since I've known him.

Hey, Bridge.

I'm so sorry, Carl.

You really should be more careful.

I just wish we could've met under different circumstances.

Why are you here?

We just wanna chat. Again.

We called the base up in Oregon.

Seems you got the same blood type as our rapist.

[chuckles] Type A is pretty common.

We've got your letter, too.

[chuckling] I'm not much of a writer.

Plus that cigarette you left at Tanya's

tells me you're just about ready to stop this.

How'd them army boys deal with you

shaving your chest and your legs?

I cut that out up there.

Didn't want to be on the wrong side

of "don't ask, don't tell," huh?

I just didn't get much of a chance to bike in Oregon.

Yeah.

Hmm. What kind of people do you come from, Carl?

Nothing special.

- Educated? - No.

Low rent?

You could say.

Not a lot of books in the trailer, I take it?

My mom couldn't read.

(Vera) What about that sister of yours?

The one that's in jail for prostitution?

She a...big scholar?

Yeah, you come from trash, you end up trash.

(Rush) 'With a trash girlfriend, you were looking'

'for someone better.'

A classy girl with education.

I like girls with culture who don't eat their takeout

right out of a box.

Hm, like Bridget?

Bridget's never been to a museum in her life.

So you went looking for a girl

with a little something upstairs.

(Vera) 'Trolling through the museums and libraries'

till you found her, then you followed her home.

Looked to see if there was a cat in her window

'cause that meant she was all alone in there.

And you got that talent for getting into tiny places.

Talk or don't talk, it doesn't matter anymore.

Bridget gave us your razor.

- It's at the DNA lab right now. - Yep.

We're just waiting for the official word.

I used to slide down the laundry chute

at my best friend's building.

You can't believe how narrow it was.

I'd get into the neighbors' house and steal things.

It was, like, the one thing that I was really really good at.

Getting into small places.

I was, like, known for it.

That's sensational, Carl.

I told you, I was ready soon

as soon as the weather changed.

Yeah. You told us.

I just had these demons.

Is that why you joined the military?

To maybe get some discipline?

I kept them down for a while, but they came back.

The one in Oregon was a fighter, like the other one that--

Gail.

'The girl you murdered.'

I just wanted to..

...date her, you know, not hurt her.

[intense music]

[thunder crashing]

[cat meowing]

[dramatic music]

Quiet. I am sorry.

Studying, huh?

- College girl? - Let me...go!

[Carl grunting]

You should be more careful.

That window's wide open.

[knock on door] 'Gail?'

- 'Be quiet.' - 'What's going on in there? '

Keep quiet, quiet, quiet.

(neighbor) 'Sounds like more than reading.'

(Carl) Quiet. Quiet.

[muffled scream]

I just wish we'd met under different circumstances.

[Carl panting]

["Heroes"]

♪ I ♪

♪ I will be king ♪

♪ And you ♪

♪ You will be queen ♪

♪ Though nothing ♪

♪ Nothing will drive them away ♪

♪ We can be heroes ♪

♪ Just for one day ♪

♪ We can be us ♪

♪ Just for one day ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I remember ♪

♪ Standing by the wall ♪

♪ And the guns ♪

♪ Shot above our heads ♪

♪ And we kissed ♪

♪ As though nothing could fall ♪

♪ And the shame ♪

♪ Was on the other side ♪

♪ Oh we can beat them ♪

♪ For ever and ever ♪

♪ Then we can be heroes ♪

♪ Just for one day ♪

♪ We can be heroes ♪

♪ We can be heroes ♪

♪ We can be heroes ♪

♪ We can be heroes just for one day ♪

(Rush) Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode.

[theme music]