You wanna tell me what happened?
I can't say.
It's okay, honey,
just take a deep breath.
You can tell me anything.
Just tell me, are you okay?
He... put his hands on my...
And he tried to kiss me.
I pushed him away, and he, he bit my lip.
And then he... then...
Okay, okay, who did this?
Was it one of our students?
No, it was...
It was Principal Timmons.
Are you sure she's telling the truth?
I don't know, I don't know.
She was so upset, she had a bloody lip,
and she has never lied to me.
Just... it doesn't make sense.
We've known Blake, what, five, six years?
He's always been a straight arrow.
People just aren't what they seem to be.
Tess, you realize if you go to the police
you're gonna ruin this guy's life,
you're gonna ruin his family.
Everybody in the community's gonna be against us.
Look, I don't wanna do this any more than you do,
but I don't have a choice.
Hey, Mason, I think that I've got some apple pie.
I just don't know where I put it, so...
All right, slow down there, tiger.
Mason.
Honey, what's wrong?
Whoa.
You have a beautiful family, Tess.
Blake, what're you doing here?
I don't have any other choice.
You've taken everything from me, Tess.
This crazy, put the gun down.
Let's talk about this.
Mason, go on upstairs.
No.
He stays.
Come on, people, 20 seconds, you can do it.
Nice work, Susan, keep getting it.
All right, don't wimp out on me, little sister.
Show me what you got, show me what you got.
Time's up everybody, okay, grab a water.
Great job, you guys, nice work, ladies.
Hey, you're good.
What is this, boxing class or should we do yoga?
Oh, it's like that?
All right, ladies, sorry about this.
No break, everybody back on the speed bags.
- Give me a break. - We're going round two.
Thank you to my little sister.
Anytime.
Good morning, Mason.
I know it's not your birthday, but...
World Series starting next week.
Remember when we used to watch it together?
Still waiting to hear from my publisher.
Keep my fingers crossed on our book deal.
And tonight,
I am doing my very first public reading.
Your dad said he'd be there.
It'll be good to see him again.
It's so cool, 'cause it's not only helping me,
but Mason, it's helping a lot of other people too.
Seven years ago, a scared little girl came into my office.
I wanted to help her, so I did.
Our principal was a dangerous man,
and I stopped him from hurting other girls.
A part of me was so proud I was making a difference.
But sometimes when you help one person
you end up hurting another.
And this man had done something so terrible
he was going to jail.
He thought his life was over, so he came and found me.
No...
he stays.
He's just a kid, he's just a kid, Blake.
Okay.
Mason, get upstairs and get into bed right now.
- Mason, go, now! - It's gonna be okay.
Blake, please, please don't make this any worse.
Than what?
Than it already is?
I'm about to lose everything, Tess.
How much worse can it get?
Go home, go home, Blake.
I made a mistake, Tess.
One slip.
Why can't you just forget about it?
I'm so sorry, but I can't do that.
You know I can't, I have to report this.
No, no, no, no, no, no, you don't.
You don't have to do anything.
I can make a deal with this girl,
and it'll just go away.
Then we can just forget about it.
- You know I can't do that. - Tess, Tess.
Maybe you can, just stay calm.
Let's just hear what he has to say.
Maybe we can work something out.
Rodger.
- She's not gonna listen. - Yes, she will.
- Tess! - Okay, look.
I'm willing to forget that you've come here
if you would just please leave.
That's not good enough.
If I never get to see my boy again.
If I'm gonna lose everything that I love...
- So are you. - Mommy, Mommy!
- Shut up! - Mason, go to your room!
Now!
Look, you are not a murderer, Blake.
- You don't know me. - I do, I do.
You just told me, you're a family guy.
You made one mistake, please God.
Please, please, just don't do this.
Come on, Blake.
- Oh, no. - No, no, no, no!
Blake, no, no, no, Blake!
- Don't, Blake, Blake! - No!
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.
Oh my God, Rodger, call someone.
Yes, I need to report a shooting.
A... a, a suicide.
Rodger.
Rodger, why can't I hear Mason?
Mase?
Mase, Mase, Mase!
Mase, Mason, Mason!
No! ..Oh my God.
No! Mason, Mason!
No.
I can still smell the bullet smoke.
I lost my son.
Then I lost my husband.
And I almost lost myself.
Until one day I realized that every day
that I spent in that dark hole
I was disgracing my beautiful boy.
So I had to live on for him.
"No longer mourn for me when I am gone,
then the surly sullen bell."
Grieve your loss but don't ever let it become you.
Thank you.
You're my hero.
Thank you, thank you so much.
- It was very moving. - I appreciate it.
- Wow. - It meant a lot to me.
- Thank you so much. - Great turnout.
Combining the reading with the blood drive
really paid off.
I'm sorry Rodger didn't show up.
I really wanted him to as well.
Okay, I'm gonna grab us a coffee for the road.
- Oh, please. - Be right back.
"For I love you so that I in your sweet thoughts"
"would be forgot if thinking of me should make you woe."
That's Shakespeare, right?
Wow, a solider that knows his sonnet.
You'd be surprised what you end up reading
- out of boredom over there. - Wow, I bet.
What you said, it really hit home.
- Well, um... - Wow, I'm sorry, I just...
Your blog kept me alive overseas, ma'am.
I've been wanting to shake your hand for a while.
I'm sure it's not all the blog.
You really have to give yourself a lot of credit.
Right, you gotta move on, like in your speech.
I really think it's the start of something for me.
Wow, that's just so sweet, Mr...
Uh... Winters, like the season kind of winters,
and I already know yours, obviously.
Uhm...
Look, if you, if you ever need to, you know, talk--
A cup of coffee would be nice.
Oh, oh.
You know what, actually, I've been having bad dreams.
Haven't been sleeping that well.
Maybe an evening coffee's a bad idea.
How about tea?
Yeah... okay.
So, this is actually one of my favorite spots.
- Really? - Hey, Tess.
Hey, Sharon, can I get two teas?
You got it.
- So, how about that speech? - So, you're in the military.
I'm sorry, I'm so used to just talking to people
- behind the computer. - No, it's okay.
I've been talking to the same 15 guys for the last year.
They ain't nearly as pretty.
Seriously, it was miracle if we talked about anything
- besides the Dodgers. - Dodgers?
- That's my team. - No kidding?
- Yeah, I'm a baseball lifer. - Really?
I pitched in high school, but went army instead.
You know what else I love?
- What's that? - Pie.
Apple or pumpkin, one, two, three.
- Apple. - Apple.
Sharon, can you get me and Ms. Nolan apple pie, please?
Absolutely.
No, seriously, I don't know what it was with these insurgents
but they had kick ass video game taste.
Tiger Woods, Halo, Madden.
Oh, Madden, do they even know what American football is?
Hand to God.
That is amazing.
- Well, don't be stingy. - Yeah?
- It's whiskey. - I'm a writer.
Goes with the territory.
So, tell me, was it weird
going into strangers' homes?
At first, but once you find an IED
in a baby's crib, it goes away.
I don't know how a mother could possibly do that.
I don't know, my captain used to say searching a house
is like any other part of the battlefield.
Good guy.
Hey, was that the one that you lost?
We were in this town to help stabilize it.
And I was just there doing my job, but,
our captain took this family and helped them out a lot.
But he went missing.
So, I tracked the family down,
searched the house room by room.
Found a hidden basement.
God, it smelled so nasty, so...
we started digging.
And we only had one shovel, so,
I was on my knees, using my fingers.
I dug through the sand, then the clay, and then...
hit his boots.
He just wanted to help that family,
and they bury him in some dirty hole
while I am at base playing stolen video games.
Hey, hey, you know none of this is your fault.
- Right? - I'm sorry, I just...
the whiskey, and...
I've never shared that with anyone.
Yeah, well, I get it.
'Cause I definitely have those nightmares too.
You got it?
Wait, wait, the door, the neighbors.
Oh goodness, oh, Conall.
I think maybe this is just
maybe going a little too fast.
I don't feel like nightmares tonight.
Do you?
No... no.
How'd you sleep?
Very good.
Me too.
I haven't slept that good in ages.
Mmm.
Tess, it's Rodger!
Sorry I'm so early.
Who is that?
That is my husb... my ex husband.
- Your ex? - Yeah, look, um,
I'm really sorry about this, but I don't want any of this...
- I get it, I get it. - Okay.
- Back door? - Yeah.
Tess?
Hi, am I too early?
Actually, you're too late.
Sorry about that too.
I heard you went up,
and you were amazing.
Could I talk to you for a minute?
Yeah, come on in.
You sure, I thought I heard someone else's voice.
Oh, well, I had the TV on.
Oh, okay, so are you happy with how it went?
Actually, it was, it was really great.
Oh, I'm so happy to hear that.
Uh, Tess, I wanted to come.
What can I say?
Same old story, I just...
it's too hard for me with everybody knowing our business.
Yeah, you know, people are actually telling me
that this is helping them too.
That's great, for me, you know,
I just can't get past it reminding me of what happened.
It makes me relive it and I, I just... I can't do that.
I get it.
No, I don't think you do.
I miss you.
I miss what we had.
You divorced me, so...
I know I did, and I messed up.
You and Mason were the best things that ever happened to me.
I know that we can't be mother and father anymore, but...
maybe we can still be a family.
I, I've thought about that.
I have, I don't know, maybe there's just been too much time.
I just want one last try.
One last chance, for Mason.
I'm not gonna stop writing or visiting Mason.
That's, that's fine, anything you want.
I just wanna do right by you.
Rodger, I mean, wow.
You'll see, I'm gonna spend
every day of our life making it up to you.
- What was that? - I... just... one second.
- Oh wow, what the hell happened? - I mean, it was cracked,
but I just didn't think the whole thing
- would fall apart like that. - You don't have any shoes on.
Why don't you let me clean this up, let's go grab
a trash bag or something.
Yeah.
What about soldier boy?
You should be happy for me, I'm moving forward.
By getting back together with your ex-husband?
Okay, solider boy, he was nice,
but Rodger, he's family.
I get it.
I don't like it, but I get it.
I'll go slow.
You have never gone slow a day in your life, sister.
I guess I'll just have to give up my dream
of seeing you with the commander.
Too bad.
Hey.
Hey, beautiful.
So, last night was the first time
I've slept through the night since I got home.
I had a really good time too.
- But... - But you're done with me.
Conall, it's, it's complicated.
You know, and we were drinking,
and the speech, and all the emotions.
So I was a drunk mistake.
I thought you were a woman, Tess,
not a girl, I told you things.
And I can still be here for you if you want anyone to talk to.
Did I scare you, my story?
You know, look, you and I have been through a lot,
and it's just... we're just a bad idea.
Am I too young, you don't think I can handle your past or what?
Look, the man that showed up at my house,
he's the father of my child.
He was.
Look, I'm the only one who understands your loss, Tess.
What you feel every day, I feel it too.
We're connected.
I'm really sorry, Conall.
Oh, you need some help there?
No, I'm good, I'll get it later.
Here you go.
Oh, oh.
Yeah, it's...
I eat out mostly.
Cooking for one is a little lonely.
I like my chicken well done.
Yes, I remember.
Thanks for coming.
I miss having dinner with you.
I really like your place.
Ah, it's a little boring, but you know,
I couldn't stay at the old house.
I'm still trying to sell it, by the way.
Speaking of which, um,
I was thinking of taking the day off tomorrow.
Do you think that I could come visit Mason with you?
Yeah, I mean, if,
if you're ready for that.
I'm ready to try.
Unless you think it's moving too fast.
I'd hate to rush you or us.
I'd really like that.
Great.
Just the way I remember it.
Yeah.
Oh, what is... what was that?
I don't know.
Stay close.
What knocked that over?
I'm not sure, I've been hearing raccoons the past few nights.
There's probably a whole family of 'em or something.
- I'm gonna go grab a broom. - Mhm.
You don't have to do this.
It's ay, I can do it.
Sometimes I just talk to him.
What do you say?
Anything.
Hey, buddy.
I think about you all the time, um...
I miss you so much.
And I know that I failed you,
but you'll always be my little boy.
And I'm never gonna stop fighting for you.
I'll just be an hour.
All right.
I think going off your medication
might be a little rash.
You're doing great on them, why change?
I don't need them anymore.
The pills helped a lot, but meds are for people that are sick,
and I'm feeling really healthy, so...
This have anything to do with Rodger?
Okay, how did you just know that?
Eyes are the window to the soul.
Yeah, very poetic.
And my window opens to the parking lot.
Mhm.
I'm happy for you.
No one understands you better than him.
- Better than who? - Rodger.
Yeah, that's right, mhm.
I just wanna make sure you're looking after
your health, not his.
Tess.
Conall.
What're you doing here?
Just in the neighborhood.
I'm waiting for someone, so...
Look, uh, I miss you.
Conall, I know that you felt something...
A connection... and I know you felt it too.
Even if it scares you.
Um, have you ever thought about maybe talking to someone here?
Maybe they can help you out better than I could.
Are you pawning me off?
Why, you'd rather swap spit with your ex?
Okay, I'm really, really sorry if I mislead you,
but this has to stop.
I'm just being honest, unlike you.
What do you think Rodger would think
about me being in your bed,
having pillow talk with his wife?
Think he'd wanna try one last time?
For Mason?
Now you need to stop.
- Hey. - Hey.
- How'd it go? - Good, good.
Um, you know, can I,
can I stay at your place tonight?
- Is everything all right? - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's just, um...
can I stay?
Yeah, I mean as long as you don't think
we're moving too fast or anything.
No, I just don't wanna alone.
Okay, sounds good, great.
Rodger, Rodger, listen to this.
It's from one of my readers.
"I was lost when I first read Tess Nolans' blog,"
but she really listened.
"She saved my life."
Wow, who wrote that?
It's an anonymous.
You really are changing lives.
"And I know her too, we are connected."
I finally know what I want,
"and nothing will stop us from being together."
Anything wrong?
It's just stupid internet stuff.
I feel safe in bed with you.
Hey, you remember those family photos
we used to have around the old house?
Mhm.
You think you could help me place a few around here?
If you're gonna be staying for a while.
Yeah, that'd be good.
Okay.
Go ahead, Stephanie.
I wanna get healthy.
I want a life.
I miss my daughter, and...
I don't even know where to start.
There's just... there's no rules for any of this.
When a child loses their parents, they're an orphan,
but there's no word for when
a mother loses their child.
Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt,
but you have room for one more?
Um, you can't be in here.
Oh, this is only for women?
All right, but, um,
there aren't many of these groups, and...
I don't really feel ready
to open up to other men.
We understand.
We can make room, right, Tess?
Thank you, ma'am.
And please, go on.
Well, I was just saying
that when I first lost my daughter...
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, can we just...
may I please have a word with you?
What are you doing?
You said I should see someone.
You know what I meant.
Tess, but I'm a victim of loss.
Okay, so this, this is not a joke.
You, you really... you have to leave right now.
Maybe I could tell these women how you use your authority
to take advantage of young, damaged soldiers.
That could be the theme for your next article.
Relax, I won't tell our secret.
You just gotta give me a chance--
Get, get out, get out!
Right now, thank you.
Ladies.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Please, Stephanie, continue.
That's a good one.
Hey, Tess, perfect timing,
I want you to meet a neighbor.
This is Conall Winters.
Ma'am.
That's me over there.
It's nice to finally meet you.
Rodger goes on about you.
He moved in a few months ago, military man.
Neighborhood feels safer already.
Yeah, bang, bang.
- That's so convenient. - Yeah.
Anyway, glad you came by, got your number.
Good luck tomorrow, don't be late.
Absolutely not, sir, hey, no more of this.
- Good idea. - Thanks again, sir.
Pleasure, take care.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Tess.
He's been there a few months?
Yeah, good kid.
And what was with the number?
Oh, he needed a job so I put him on one of my construction crews.
Uh, Rodger, do you think
it was really such a good idea to hire that guy?
I mean, soldiers, you know,
they can really be a little off.
Tess, he fought for our country.
What kinda man would I be if I didn't help him?
Rodger, there's something I have to tell you.
That's weird.
Who could that be?
- Hey! - Come on in.
- Oh my God. - Brought some Pinot.
Oh, I'm so happy to see you.
- Hey you! - Nice to see you, how are you?
- Good, good. - Good to see you, Rodger.
Why don't you guys just head through?
The kitchen's to the right, here, take this.
- Great, all right. - I love this.
I figured a nice little surprise.
Have everyone together again, huh?
- Yes. - Like the old days.
That's great.
So Rodger, how's the construction business?
It's going pretty well, I've a got project
in El Padena that's paying the bills right now.
It's a 3,400 square foot house, two-story.
Pretty sweet pad actually, you wanna check out the plan?
- Yeah, sure. - Okay.
Let's go this way.
You good?
No, actually, I am not.
So, you know Rodger's neighbor across the street?
He's the solider boy from the library.
- You're kidding. - And there's something else.
- We slept together. - What?
- How could you not tell me? - It happened so fast.
Well, I bet it did, what.
I'm not talking about that.
The problem is, he is everywhere.
Seriously, he is at my therapist's office,
he's at my support group.
- You think he's following you? - Yeah.
- And he threatened me. - To hurt you?
Well, not exactly, it's just...
you know, Rodger and I are doing so good,
and he just sort of hinted that he wants to get in the middle
of it, and he wants to start some sort of trouble.
Okay, my advice, even if you sound like a bitch,
you lay down the law.
Good solider boys understand that,
and if he doesn't back off, I will help you kick his ass.
Really, you're gonna fight my battles for me now.
Haven't I always?
Come on, sis, listen, as much as I hate to admit it,
Rodger's actually... he's doing pretty good.
Yeah.
Can't sleep?
Look, I am calling to tell you that this is over.
We are not happening ever.
Be honest with yourself, Tess.
Rodger left you, okay?
He abandoned you at your lowest.
I never will, ever.
You think because you read my blogs
and you follow me around that you know me.
Well, I know you're a liar.
You tell Rodger about our amazing night together yet?
Go on, go tell him
how much of a little slut his wife is.
Or maybe I will.
Really, really?
You're not gonna pick up the phone now?
You're just gonna ignore me?
I thought you were a man,
but really you're just a little boy.
You call me back, we are not done.
You look a little tired, you sure you're okay?
It's nothing I can't handle.
What the hell?
You believe this?
Damn kids.
This neighborhood's really gone down hill.
Doesn't look like they stole anything.
I think that we need to call the cops.
No, no, no, no, no, I'll call them from the road.
I got a meeting in 45 minutes.
Son of a bitch, I gotta drive this thing to work.
Hey, let's not let it ruin our day, okay?
Yeah.
- Wanna meet up later? - Mhm.
- You going to the gym? - Yeah.
I'll be there this afternoon.
Maybe we'll get in one of our workouts like we used to, okay?
Yeah.
- I'll see you later. - Okay.
All right.
No, no, no, no, no!
Hey, hey!
Hey, stop!
Stop!
Hey.
Where did you get this hat, huh?
Where did you get this hat?
Did a man give you this hat?
You're scaring me, lady!
Hey.
Finished at the site, I figured I'd come by
and join you for a little workout.
Oh, that's great.
And I brought a friend.
Let's do this.
Why did you bring him?
Why?
I don't know, he seems like he's kinda lonely, you know?
I figured it might be nice to work out with a man rather than
getting my ass kicked by your sister all the time.
Rodger, hey, enough fooling around.
You and me, let's go.
- I'm ready for you, kid. - No, no, no, Rodger, Rodger.
You don't even know how to spar, let's just hit the bag.
What's the worst thing that can happen, huh?
Whoa, whoa, guys, at least some head gear.
We're not riding bikes, ladies, the men are boxing.
- Good? - Oh, I'm good.
The question is, are you good?
Ohh.
Keep those arms up, old man.
- Rodger. - Told you to keep 'em up.
No, no, it's okay.
Good, just watch this, huh?
Okay, enough!
Rodger, come on, please stop.
It's okay, I got him right where I want him.
No... come on.
Okay, Conall, that's enough, please.
Don't.
- Don't! - Hey, that's enough!
- Oh my God! - Enough!
Rodger, Rodger!
Rodger honey... hey, you okay?
Are you okay?
Son of a bitch.
So Nora is patching up Rodger.
Did you get what you wanted?
You know what I want.
You really think I'm gonna go running
into your arms after that?
Just thought you might wanna see what a real man looks like.
Oh, how was Mason's this morning?
Don't you say his name.
You stay away, you hear me?
You stay away from my family!
I cannot believe he attacked you.
I'm fine, he just got a little carried away.
No, he didn't.
Rodger, there's something I have to tell you.
Conall and I... we went out,
- and we slept together. - What?
We met the night that I spoke at the library.
We were alone, and we were both feeling the same thing
at the same time, and it just... it led to a mistake.
I didn't know that you knew him, I swear.
But this happened before we got back together, right?
Yes, and then I broke it off the next day...
at least I thought I did.
- Tess. - I should've told you,
- and I'm sorry. - And you think
that he hurt me on purpose.
Look, he's been following my blogs overseas,
and now he is stalking me.
That's why he bought the house across the street
and that is why he trashed your truck.
He's been playing me the whole time.
And he's been to Mason's grave.
He defaced the tombstone.
Son of a bitch!
You know, that crazy look I see in his eyes, I've...
I've only seen that one other time.
Look, we have to go to the police.
- We? - Yes, we.
I abandoned you once before, I'm not doing it again.
Thank you.
No more secrets, okay?
Yeah.
Tess, uh, look...
I've gotta ask, does he mean anything to you?
Nothing.
So, what happens next?
I'm gonna bring him in, but I can't make an arrest
because you two were in the ring voluntarily.
But I'll let him know what's gonna happen
if he continues to follow you and take it further.
- You think that will help? - Let me check something.
You said his name is Conall Winters?
Yeah, that's right.
- He's a veteran. - Does he have a record?
- What is it? - There's already
a restraining order, ma'am.
Corporal Winters filed it this morning against you.
What?
- There's gotta be a mistake. - Can you two wait outside?
I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.
No, no, the issue is one minute we're horsing around,
the next minute, the guy hits me while I'm down.
You invited me to that gym, sir,
and you threw the first punch.
Enough, enough!
Look, Conall, I served too, son.
I get coming home is confusing.
Tess, I can't imagine what you've been through
the last few years.
Can we solve this as adults right now?
- Was there a relationship? - Yes, sir.
- We met at a reading. - It was one night.
Yeah, and the next day she told me
she was still with her ex.
And that she wanted me for bedroom stuff.
Oh, God, that's ridiculous.
And I said no, I'm not a homewrecker.
Okay, you're totally twisting the story.
And then she started harassing me
even at her support groups.
Are you kidding me? Come on.
I told you, ask Stephanie from our group.
She saw the way Tess treated me.
You're supposed to feel safe at those things.
Oh, my God, he's totally lying right now.
He came there and he started harassing me.
I spoke to Miss Friedman.
She said that you were angry at Conall
and that you had some kind of meltdown?
No, it was not a meltdown,
it was just me trying to get him to leave.
Conall, what's this business about you moving
across the street from Mr. Nolans?
I rented that place several months ago.
I didn't know he was married to her.
Is it illegal for someone like me
to rent a house in his neighborhood?
No, but you have to admit it's a strange coincidence.
Yes, sir, it is, but when we got together,
she brought me to a house on the other side of town.
So how am I supposed to know she had a place for herself
and another one with him?
So you have two residences?
- No, we don't. - Yes, we do.
Okay, so that doesn't matter.
Obviously he found out about my husband
and he was trying to get to me through him.
Ma'am, the way I see it,
you moved across the street from me.
And then you started calling me?
- Remember? - No.
Really? Really?
You're not gonna pick up the phone now,
you're just gonna ignore me?
I thought you were a man,
but really you're just a little boy.
You call me back, we are not done.
That right there is completely out of context.
She, uh, started making angry threats
about wanting me back, and I didn't want
- to pick up the phone. - Oh, my God, that's a total lie.
He was threatening me!
All right, look, Detective,
I know my wife, she's a good person,
she's not gonna make this up.
You wanna see what he wrote on my son's tombstone?
Where's the photo?
I had the photo in here.
It was right before I saw the boy.
- What boy? - There was a boy,
and he was wearing Mason's cap
and he was running through the...
Can I go now?
Yeah.
Not you.
We have to discuss the rules of your restraining order.
God, the audacity of the...
I cannot believe that that detective took his side!
Rodger!
Wait a minute, you didn't actually believe
anything he said, right?
I think maybe we should make an appointment
- with your therapist... - Rodger!
You have got to believe me!
Tess, I'm not sure what to believe, okay?
Oh, my...
- What are you doing? - Calling the detective.
He said he wants proof?
It's written on our damn wall.
This is breaking and entering.
- You can arrest him now, right? - Could be.
Did you lock up before you went to the station?
- Always. - Maybe leave a window open?
Maybe if I was a marine, you'd believe me.
Ms. Nolans, I wanna end this for everyone.
I agree that there's something off with the kid,
but I have to work within the law, do you understand?
All right, now I have your blood sample
and I'm gonna get his, too.
I will have your results tomorrow.
Now, "Connected," why would he write that?
Well, he keeps repeating it.
He thinks he's in love with me.
If that's his blood, the kid's in big trouble.
But if it's yours...
I'll show myself out.
Forget about him.
You were right.
Something terrible happened to that kid over there,
and he latched onto something,
and that something, unfortunately, was you.
I just... I don't know what to do.
It'll be okay.
- Just try to relax. - How do I do that
with him across the street?
Look, why don't you pour yourself
a nice glass of wine, go up, take a bath.
I'll stay down here and stand guard.
I won't let him hurt you, okay?
Room for one more?
Come on, it's nothing I haven't seen before.
Rodger is downstairs and he has a gun.
Let's end your pain right now.
- No, no, stop it! - Tess!
- Get off of me! - Tess, stop fighting me.
- Wake up! - Stop it... no!
- Tess! - I will kill you!
- Stop fighting me. - I will kill you!
- Wake up, Tess... Tess!
Wake up! Shh!
It's okay, it's okay.
It's me... shh, shh, shh.
Shh, shh, shh, Tess, what did you do?
I was having a really bad dream.
- What's this? - I don't know.
I don't know.
Tess, listen to me.
I need to know how many of these you took.
I need to know if I need to get you to the hospital.
I just wanna keep you safe, sweetie.
No... none, those aren't even mine!
- Tess. - What?
Rodger... Rodger, I threw those out, I threw them out,
that means somebody must have put them there.
Sweetheart, who?
Who... I was downstairs the whole time, sweetheart.
Please.
Please, just tell me how to help you.
Please, please.
- Hey, Tess? - Rodger, I'm in a hurry, sorry.
Where are you going, Tess?
We, uh... we need to talk to you for a minute.
What's going on?
We're officially not looking into Mr. Winters
for what happened last night.
Can I ask why?
I think you know why.
It was written in your blood, Tess.
No.
No, no, that wasn't me.
- This was Conall. - Tess, it's okay.
I donated blood last week when I spoke at the library.
- Maybe he stole it. - I'm gonna have to ask you
if you're on any medication or drugs or any prescription
- of any kind. - Nothing like...
Did you tell him?
It's for your own good, Tess.
- How could you do that to me? - Tess, please.
- You son of a bitch. - We're just trying to help.
I am not crazy here!
I am gonna keep an eye on Conall.
You need to stay away from him.
And maybe you should see your therapist.
Thank you, Detective.
- Tess, I'm so sorry... - Don't... don't...
don't you even touch me right now.
Look, we need to make an appointment
- with your doctor now. - No, I'm not going
- to see a doctor. - Tess.
I'm trying to help you.
We're in this together.
Are we?
Tess... Tess!
Dishonorable discharge?
"There's no choice but to submit immediate discharge"
for Winters' violent assault
"on unit member Marcus Lyle."
Hi, um, are you Marcus Lyle?
I'm Marcus.
My name is Jessica Powell and I'm a reporter,
and we're doing a piece on Special Forces.
I heard that you were recently overseas...
I'm sorry, ma'am.
I can't talk about any of that stuff.
Wait... wait, wait, wait, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, I lied.
My name is actually Tess Nolans,
and I'm being stalked by a man I think you may know.
His name is Conall Winters.
Conall was a good soldier.
Really, he was.
He was just... messed up.
- From the war? - Yeah.
But it goes deeper than just that.
Conall and I were like brothers,
and our captain was like his dad.
They were really close.
Did Conall tell you after he found Cap's body
he tried to kill the whole family?
What?
Conall just went haywire.
Said he kept on getting abandoned,
and he wanted revenge, so he went after them.
And then you two fought?
I just grabbed him.
I said, "Captain was a soldier," and then I told him
that it wasn't like Cap was his real dad.
That's when he just popped...
cracked me in my knee with an M4,
and went at my throat with his knife, too.
I mean, how was I supposed to know
Conall's dad committed suicide?
He committed suicide?
Yeah, four years overseas and he never told me.
His dad worked at a school.
I guess he was some kind of pervert or something.
Got in some trouble, then...
That's why we're connected.
Huh?
He didn't latch onto my blog, it was me.
He was after me.
"Blake Timmons is survived by his former wife Terry
and his only son, Mark Timmons."
You're breaking your restraining order.
Yeah, I know.
Go home, Tess, it's not our time yet.
You were right.
You and I are connected...
Mark Timmons.
Don't call me that.
I get it, I do.
But I lost someone that night, too.
So you leave now or I take this to the cops.
You actually think I was in love with you?
That figures, I guess.
You do believe everything you hear, right?
Like that bitch that lied about my dad?
Yeah, two sluts.
Birds of a feather, I guess.
You don't know.
- You weren't there. - Yeah, I wasn't there.
You took my father from me.
- Don't. - And I'm gonna take
your whole world.
Back off!
Now!
You know Conall isn't even really his name?
He had it changed legally once his father died.
And Conall was dishonorably discharged
for nearly killing his best friend.
You know why?
Because he said one thing about his dad.
Now the guy can barely walk.
You know what?
I am gonna get that asshole on tape threatening me.
Tess, no.
No, I'm telling you, this is the only way.
No, that is way too dangerous.
Look, we need to take this to the cops right now.
They'll listen to us this time.
This doesn't actually prove anything.
Yeah, it's motive, but it doesn't incriminate him.
At least it's a start, right?
Don't you see?
That's exactly what he wants.
He wants me to feel like his dad.
A sexual scandal that ruins my family
and then my career.
Not having it.
So what, you're gonna feed yourself
to this snake instead?
You said he threatened to kill you.
Yes, but this time I'm gonna get it on tape.
Tess, stop!
Why don't you ever listen to the people who love you?
I know you feel like I abandoned you again,
and I know you're feeling all alone right now,
but you are not.
So please just don't put yourself in danger like this.
Just all I'm asking is sleep on it.
If you still feel this way in the morning,
then you'll have us to back you up.
I'm with Rodger on this one.
No, no, no, no, no, please, no!
No!
Wait, no, no, wait, don't...
Yes, I need to report a shooting.
- Suicide! - Rodger.
Rodger, why can't I hear Mason?
Mason!
No.
Rodger?
Rodger? Rodger?
Oh, Rodger, no.
We need to talk, man to man.
All right, come on in.
Rodger, no.
No.
No... no, Rodger!
No, Rodger!
911, what is your emergency?
Hi, my husband is being attacked.
- Attacked? - Yes, right now.
We're at 92...
Rodger!
Shouldn't have done this, Tess.
Where is he, you son of a bitch?
If he is hurt...
Feel alone yet?
No, I'm telling you, he has Rodger.
- Conall took him. - Take a look, he's not here.
She's the one who broke into my home
- and threatened me. - Hold on a second,
do you wanna know why we are connected?
Because his real name is Mark Timmons.
He is the son of Blake Timmons,
and he is blaming me for his father's suicide.
Is that true?
Where's Rodger?
- I don't know anything about it. - You're such a liar!
Did you kill my husband?
Did you kill him?
- Where is he? - Take her to the station, now.
- Wait, what? - We're holding you
- for breaking and entering. - What?
You're gonna stay right there.
No, you're making a mistake!
- We're not done here. - Where is Rodger?
Where is he... no!
You're making a mistake!
He was my old man, sir, but I didn't wanna keep his name
for obvious reasons, okay?
All right, look, I didn't know
she had anything to do with his suicide
- when we hooked up. - That's hard to believe, Conall.
Hey, Alvarez.
We got something.
Blood... tech said it's pretty fresh.
A couple hours at most.
Tear this place apart.
Find me a body or a crime scene.
Copy.
Neighbors did confirm the sound of gunfire.
I told you.
And he's got Rodger,
and you should be out there looking for him.
We are.
But nobody saw Rodger enter Conall's residence.
It's dark and people are sleeping,
- but I saw it, so... - Tess, we found blood
in your vehicle.
- It was Rodger's. - No, no, no.
Your husband told me he was worried,
he told me about your history, you're battling depression.
He also said that you were yelling something
about wanting to kill him.
- I was having a nightmare. - You were angry at your husband
last time we all spoke.
Don't you get it?
This is him.
This is Conall, all of this.
He has Rodger, he's been watching me for months,
he's running surveillance on me like he's still in the army.
I am his mission.
Ms. Nolans, Conall's a messed up kid.
Barely graduated from high school,
he's not smart enough to do this, but you are.
Okay, have it your way.
But I know you've made mistakes,
and I'm gonna find 'em.
Over here.
Mark it for blood.
She used the neighbor's garbage.
Not smart enough.
Looks like I dodged a bullet, huh, Detective?
Hey, Alvarez.
Good bit of blood down here, too.
Looks like our crime scene.
Hey Detective, found this in the chimney.
Bag it.
- Nora? - Tess.
Oh, are you okay?
Wait, did you post bail?
- Of course. - How much was it?
We have the house and the gym as collateral.
No, Nora, no!
Yes, it's already done.
So they have charged me with breaking and entering,
and now they wanna charge me with murder.
- What? - This is getting really bad.
Okay, I am here with you,
and we are gonna figure this out together.
Okay?
Come on, come on.
Tess, we should head back.
Or we could just go in.
Shakespeare, baseball, apple pie.
He always knew exactly what to say
and when to say it.
Come on, that's enough.
Let's get out of here.
He set me up...
and I walked right into his trap.
And he's taken everything.
He's won.
He's won!
No, he hasn't, come on.
Let's just sit down.
Tess, I told you.
I am your big sister...
and I have your back.
I love you.
So what's next?
We figure out his next move, right?
Or we go first.
Just tell me what to do.
- I need you to leave. - No.
- Tess, no, I am with you. - I know, I know.
- I'm not leaving. - I know, but he wants me alone
and broken.
I haven't suffered enough for him,
and I swear, if I get one more of my family members hurt,
I couldn't live with myself.
Tess, no.
Trust me.
- If that's what you want. - Yeah.
Keep driving.
I saw you in the house.
And yet I'm here.
Oh, yeah!
Where's Rodger?
This is between me and you, remember?
Well, then you shouldn't have brought him into it.
Collateral damage, Tess.
It's one of the hardest things to get used to in a war.
Yeah, you see, you're not over there anymore,
- and this isn't war. - Sure it is.
And it started a long time ago when you took away
the only person that ever loved me.
Take me to Rodger now.
All right.
You're not gonna like what you find.
He'd better still be alive.
You brought him here.
My old house.
You're scared.
Good.
All right, get out.
Move it!
Rodger.
Rodger, it's okay, I'm here.
It's okay.
Rodger, I'm here.
It's okay.
What the...
Welcome home, sweetheart.
- What? - I told you
- you wouldn't like it. - Wait a second.
You... you helped him?
No, no, no, no, see, he helped me.
He and I have a lot in common, Tess.
You ruined both of our lives.
- Rodger! - I told you to wait.
I pleaded with you not to be a hero.
But no, no, you were more concerned
about saving strangers
than you were about protecting your own family.
You killed our son, Tess.
- You did it. - I lost him, too.
I lost everything, isn't that enough?
Shoulda been.
Oh, it definitely shoulda been.
But instead, you had to broadcast our tragedy
to the whole world
with your blogs and your support groups.
You know, I never told you, Tess.
He was still alive when I got to him in our room.
I had to watch our little boy die...
in front of my eyes.
And you've made me relive that every day of my life since...
and now I'm gonna pay you back.
No, Rodger!
It's not so fun being dragged through the past, is it?
What... what, you don't think she earned it?
Huh?
See, when I first met this poor kid, he was lost.
He was a ball of raw anger, but I gave him purpose.
You used him.
Time to end the nightmares.
No.
Who's that?
Who is that?
Is that Nora?
- All right, keep her quiet. - No, no, no!
No!
Rodger, no!
Nora, thank God.
- Where's Tess? - Thank God you're here.
Are you okay?
She wasn't supposed to be here.
She's inside the house, he's got a gun.
Did you call the police?
No, I just came straight over here.
That was stupid.
Nora, Nora!
You son of a bitch!
You have yourself to blame, Tess!
I'm sorry.
Don't you see?
Don't you see he's using you?
- No. - Oh, my God,
think for yourself, Conall!
He's going to kill you too.
Don't you know that's the only reason he needs you
is because you're his out.
No, Rodger trusts me.
Would you please look at what's going on?
He's helping me, okay?
- Look, my dad... - Your dad loved you.
Don't talk about my dad, okay?
Didn't Rodger tell you
that you were the last thing he talked about?
How much he loved you?
Yeah, he did.
He loved you so much.
He loved you so much, he couldn't live
one day without you.
He made a mistake, Conall,
he just made a mistake like you're doing right now.
But it's not too late.
Listen to me, you and I are connected.
We are connected because I needed you
to be with me right here, right now.
You're a soldier.
You wanna do good, you wanna help people,
now is your time.
You still have a chance.
You can still be a good person and a good son.
Do this for your dad.
Make him proud of you!
What the hell are you two talking about?
It's time to shut you up for good, Tess.
No, no, no, no.
No!
What is it with you, Tess?
You keep getting people hurt!
And with everything that's happened with you,
no one's even going to question it.
First you lost your son,
then you went crazy, you killed your ex-husband,
you killed your lover...
Even your sister.
- No. - Then you ended your own life.
You bastard!
I told you I would never stop fighting for him.
Neither will I.
Game over.
I'm not going to jail, Tess.
You're gonna have to kill me.
Ahh!
Tess?
Oh, my God, you're okay.
Call 911!
Call 911.
Okay, it's gonna be okay.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for everything.
Hey, it's about you and me.
You were right.
Okay?
I just... I just wanna see my dad.
No, Conall, Conall, I need you.
I need you, okay?
I need you to save my life.
I need you to tell the police what really happened.
Hey, hey, can you do that?
Soldier!
Soldier, I need you to fight.
I need you to fight for me.
You need to fight for me!
Okay?
I have to ask you a few more questions
at the hospital.
Okay.
He's gonna make it.
I managed to get a few words out.
He told me what happened.
I'm sorry, Tess, I was wrong.
We all were.
My book got accepted by the publisher!
I am going on a nationwide tour.
Can you believe that?
I'm gonna be able to help other people who have lost
the most precious thing in their life,
and help them find the courage to live and be happy again
just like I have.
I love you, Mason.
'Cause no one can predict the future,
but I know who I'm gonna be living it for,
because that's all that really matters
is living for the ones that you love
and for those that love you.
Well, I hope my words have helped you
as much as they've helped me.