08x05 - Slow Burn

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

[flames whooshing]

[intense music]

Was there something you wished to discuss with me, dear?

Did you know this was gonna be on the front page of the paper?

[Greg] I can't dignify this.

[Laura] It stinks, it really stinks.

Politics...

stink.

You know, what really gets to me,

is that something this lame makes the front page,

and there is nothing written anymore about Karen.

Great shot, dear.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[instrumental music]

[fire crackling]

[gasping]

Let me out of here!

Please, let me out of here!

[knocking on door]

Let me out of here!

[knocking on door]

[Karen] Please, let me out of here!

[knocking on door]

Let me out of here!

[panting]

[banging on door]

Listen to me!

Answer me!

Let me know you're here!

[instrumental music]

[screaming] Help!

Hey, Chuck.

Greg Sumner.

Fine, fine, I've been fine.

Yeah, no, I don't go out with her anymore.

Listen, you sitting by your computer?

Would you do me a favor?

I need you to run a check on a California license plate for me.

[fire crackling]

Oh, God.

Put it under the door.

[panting]

Hudson?

Yeah, that's right, Phil Hudson.

Yeah, you got an address there?

Dillon, California, where the hell is Dillon, California?

Oh, up there.

Yeah, right.

Alright, thanks, Chuck. Hey, and listen...

I didn't make this phone call, alright?

Okay.

[coughing]

[eerie music]

[gasping]

[coughing continues]

[fire crackling]

[coughing]

[gasping]

Help! Help!

[screaming] Help! Help! Help!

Help! Help!

[suspenseful music]

[Karen coughing]

[grunting]

[panting]

[intense music]

[plank crackling]

Ow!

[coughing]

[groaning]

[intense music]

[fire crackling]

[flames whoosh]

[Karen screaming]

[coughing]

[intense music]

[screaming]

[expl*si*n]

[fire roaring]

[music continues]

[crickets chirping]

[receipt printer clicking]

[Eric sighs]

Eric.

-What are you doing here? -What are you doing here?

Trying to figure out what you're doing here.

You were you here last night, the night before that.

Well, somebody's gotta pick up the slack since mom's gone.

There's just a whole lot that needs to be done.

How many more nights is it gonna take?

[shouting] I don't know!

Look, if you're mad, because I've been getting home late--

I'm not mad, Eric.

-Hi, Mack. -Hi.

Marsha's been helping.

That's fine, but--

-I don't mind. -I'm sure you don't.

Would you just please go home?

See you.

We're not the only ones who miss mom.

I know.

Eric, I'm not mad.

Well, good, because I've called every time to let you know.

And I appreciate that.

[sighs] But let's cut it loose.

Well, this stuff won't keep, Mack.

I guess not.

It's a lot easier to keep working

than it is to keep hoping.

Yeah.

You know, it's your brother I'm worried about.

You collapse, and there goes Michael.

You're a lot stronger than he is.

I know.

You do?

I never realized that.

You know, it's...

It's funny what you learn when...

[instrumental music]

What have you got there?

Reserve ledger.

[intense music]

[footsteps approaching]

[car engine whirring]

[music playing over radio]

[panting]

[music continues]

[panting]

Stop! Stop!

[car approaching]

[engine roaring]

[Karen screams]

[car window shatters]

[music continues]

[music intensifies]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[Valene] Who was it?

Wrong number.

Again?

Yeah, again. Go back to sleep.

Ben?

Hmm?

We're gonna have to get our number changed.

-You know that that's not-- -I know, I know she--

No, that's just not Kathy's style.

I know.

-Yeah? -I do know.

[panting]

[car approaching]

[Karen] Help! Help! Help!

Wait! Stop! Wait!

[music playing over car radio]

[music stops]

Karen?

Are you there?

This is silly.

Karen!

Karen, I almost hit you back there.

It's getting dangerous.

Somebody's gonna get hurt.

Come on.

It's getting cold.

You can't stay out here all night.

[sighs]

Bet you're hungry, huh?

I know I'm hungry.

Got some apples.

Want an apple?

Karen.

[sighs] It's really getting silly.

You're gonna get yourself hurt.

[instrumental music]

You don't even know where you are.

I do.

[music continues]

[gasps]

[sighs]

Mama?

[sighs] Did the phone wake you, too?

I never got to sleep.

I don't know what we're gonna do about all these phone calls.

They're gonna drive us all crazy.

Maybe it's just me.

Wow.

Huh.

Mama, what's wrong?

I just had a cup of tea.

Mama.

Oh, I made up my mind

I wouldn't take things like this seriously anymore.

What kind of things?

Omens.

Premonitions.

Why?

What do you see?

-Karen. -What?

Look at all those tears.

Oh, I-I shouldn't say anymore.

No, mama, come on, go on.

Ah.

She's in terrible, terrible danger, Valene.

-Why? -There's fire.

And darkness.

And death is close by.

It may already be too late to help.

Mama, you were right,

you shouldn't pay any attention to that kind of silly nonsense.

I don't want to, but I just...

I just can't shake it, it's-it's got me so upset.

Well, just...

[phone ringing]

[dial tone]

[Lilimae] Oh, I'm sorry, sweet pea.

I shouldn't have said anything.

No, mama. That's okay, it's alright.

But Karen is going to be just fine.

You'll see, she will.

Then you don't think I should say anything to Mack?

Absolutely not, don't you dare.

-Look at all those tears. -I don't care.

You don't say anything to Mack.

No.

[sighs]

Maybe I should have another cup of tea.

Maybe you should.

[bird squeaking]

[classical music playing]

[intense music]

[music continues]

[coughs]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

[leaves rustling]

[Abby] I want this rumor stopped,

and I want it stopped now.

I was as surprised to read about it as you were.

I don't want this campaign to hurt you in any way.

Stop trying to handle me, Peter, please.

Look, nobody expected Gary to make a race

out of this campaign.

At least of all, Gary, all he really wanted

was to clean up Lotus Point.

And now, all of a sudden, just because he doesn't give a damn

whether he wins or not, he seems fresh and honest.

[sighs]

He goes up a few points, you go down a few points.

You feel you need to do something, I understand that.

But what you have to understand

is you're not going to drag me through the mud to win.

-I don't write the news. -But you do make it, don't you?

And you're going to make some more today.

And headlines of the week, here, read that.

I'm not going to read this on the air.

I don't expect you to.

You'll say it in your own words.

You'll paraphrase it, but the substance...

is exactly what you'll say.

And, uh, what if I don't?

Well, then we'll have another nasty scandal

on our hands, won't we?

"Oh, Candidate Peter Hollister, a fraud."

"Galveston paternity disproved, Sumner vows prosecution."

"Ah, a sordid tale of larceny and deceit."

Ah. Tsk. Tsk.

[instrumental music]

[sighs]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

Come on. Come on.

Where are you?

[music continues]

[dial tone]

[calling tone beeping]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Paige.

Ah!

[line beeping]

Oh, I was concerned about you.

I just got off the phone with Mack,

and he said that you had, you had a cold,

and you're staying home from school.

Oh, well, I'm not really sick.

I just couldn't handle class today.

[line beeping]



[panting]

Ah!

[line beeping]



[calling tone beeping]

Damn it. Pick up.

Pick up!

-[dispatcher] 911. -Hello? Hello?

This is an emergency. I don't know where I am.

-I can't understand you. -Listen to me!

What is the nature of the emergency?

I'm being chased. I don't know where I've wound up, but--

Please slow down--

[instrumental music]

Hello?

Oh, God.

[Phil] I can't let you call, Karen.

You know that.

I can't let you call, Karen.

You know that.

[panting]

Still don't believe me.

Listen, you still think I want to hurt you?

I don't want to hurt you.

I-I just--

I want to take care of you.

That's all.

Ammonia.

[Phil] You must be hungry.

Are you, are you hungry, Karen?

You must be.

Karen?

I got food in the car.

I'll, uh, I'll...

I'll take you someplace,

and-and you can get cleaned up, Karen.

I know you-you want to get cleaned up, don't you?

Come on. Karen?

[suspenseful music]

[Karen screams]

[groans]

[Phil screams]

[music continues]

[water splashing]

[grunting]

[music continues]

[screaming]

[Phil] It's not what you think.

She's the one that's crazy.

-Is she in there, Phil? -[Phil] Yeah.

-Have you hurt her? -[Phil] No, I haven't hurt her.

So this is your idea of making things right, huh?

[Phil panting]

I-I admit, man, uh...

Things got out of hand.

But it wasn't my fault.

I-I had an accident.

I-I hit my head. Look, I'm cut, see?

I banged my head. I'm cut, see? I'm cut.

I-I must have lost my head for, for a while.

I'm-I'm alright now.

But I'll tell you, she's the one.

She's crazy, I swear.

Did she burn a house down, Phil?

She... No, well...

It was an accident, I...

I don't understand how it happened.

It was an accident.

I think you're the one who's the accident, Phil.

You burn a house to the ground.

And you leave your car on the side of the highway

in plain sight.

You trespass on your neighbor's property,

and start chopping down his house.

I think you're in trouble, Phil.

You're gonna turn me in?

Are you sure you didn't hurt her?

I-I haven't hurt her, I swear.

What the hell did you think

you were gonna do when you get in there, k*ll her?

[laughs]

I don't know.

It's always been your problem, Phil.

No master plan.

[sighs] You're never able to think things through.

I know.

[sighs]

I guess you're just an east coast guy, huh?

Lots of cloudy days.

Yeah.

What do you say, for old time's sakes,

you head back east, and set up shop there, good idea?

I think that's a good idea, Greg.

Okay, because I don't ever want to see you again, Phil.

I don't ever want to hear from you.

I don't even want to know you exist.

Okay.

[intense music]

So what are you waiting for, Philly?

[engine starts]

[tires screeching]

[music continues]

[car engine starts]

Eric is right.

You just can't...

I mean, you gotta do what you do.

Look at the way you're dressed.

You gotta clean up your act, Mack.

You gotta take care of business.

Tomorrow you come in a jacket and tie, clean shave.

He's right, life goes on.

Need to fix some things at the house.

The patio brick needs to be replaced, you replace it.

Get an electrician to run the...

[door clicks open] I can run the electric.

Mack, there's a call.

Carroll County. The sheriff!

What?

MacKenzie.

I'll be right there.

They got a tip. She's in Carroll County.

-[Peggy] Is she alright? -I don't know.

If the boys call, you don't tell them anything

till you hear from me.

I won't argue the need for this country

to continue developing its energy resources,

both conventional and alternative.

That doesn't mean, however, that I agree

with the Coastal Commission's recent approval

of some 30 offshore drilling sites.

On the contrary, I think it was a very short sight

and potentially dangerous.

And you will fight their decision?

You bet.

Mr. Teller.

Well, if I'm not mistaken,

this program is called Headlines of the Week.

I'd like to know why we're wasting our time

on questions about our coastline

when the biggest headline goes untouched.

And, uh, that is, sir?

Don't be coy, Mr. Gibson.

Teller wants to talk about the juicy stuff.

You know, the scandal, his campaign manager.

Well, to tell you the truth, I am also interested

in what Mr. Ewing has to say.

Is it true?

Oh, honey, of course not.

You know Gary and I are back together again.

Just watch.

For a minute I thought we were going to stick

to the high road in this forum.

Shall we discuss it or not?

Well, I say let's not.

I mean it, there are serious issues

at stake in this election.

And I, for one, don't want this election

clouded by anything less than a serious discussion.

The state's economy,

its services and social programs,

controlled growth, education.

These are all real issues.

And anything less

than a real issue is irrelevant.

And frankly, if we're going to discuss irrelevancies,

I'd rather find another forum.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct radio chatter]

[music continues]

[sighs]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

[Karen sobbing]

[music continues]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

And she's okay?

Oh, that's wonderful, thank God.

They found Karen, and she's fine.

What?

Oh, no, no, no, no, not tonight.

No, tonight should be just for the family.

[laughs] You just give her my love and, and hugs,

and tell her that I'll-I'll see her in the morning, okay?

Okay, thanks for calling, bye-bye.

[laughs] Oh, mama, isn't that wonderful?

How could I have been so wrong?

What?

I will never trust tea leaves again.

Oh, mama, come on, I'd say that this time it's a blessing.

Well, that's what I thought.

But I also thought I had some kind of magic.

Well, you do, mama, you do.

But, see, just like any magic,

you know, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

I mean, thank God this time it didn't!

[both laughing]

Isn't it great!?

Yeah, but there was all that darkness and fire.

Oh, mama, stop it, she's back!

[both laughing]

[eerie music]

This race not close enough for you?

There were other factors to consider.

Besides, my statement is being applauded everywhere.

I bet it winds up helping me a lot more than Ewing.

But you're not smart enough to have anticipated that,

whose idea was it?

[sighs]

It was Abby's, wasn't it?

I should have known.

[sighs] She didn't like the way

the story was affecting her family.

But I wasn't influenced by that.

The-the statement and the decision to make it were mine.

I keep forgetting how good she is.

She always gets her own way.

Somehow she makes you think it was your idea to give it to him.

Hey, save your breath, kid.

I know it's the truth. I've been there myself.

Really?

What happened?

I live to regret it.

And so will you.

[reporter over TV] Thank you for agreeing

to speak with me, Mrs. Ewing.

[Abby] My pleasure.

[reporter] It would appear candidate Hollister

has put an end to the controversy

surrounding your marriage for the remainder of this election.

What's your reaction to his move?

[Abby] Well, I'm pleased, but not surprised.

[reporter] Relieved?

[Abby] I'm not sure what you mean.

[reporter] Certainly the rumors must have been painful for you.

[Abby] I'd be lying if I said they didn't hurt.

But our marriage is a solid one,

and Mr. Ewing and I have nothing to hide.

[reporter] Care to speculate on the damage done

to your husband's campaign?

[Abby] Well, I predict a Ewing victory in November.

Does that answer your question?

[reporter] Thank you for agreeing to speak--

She's good, isn't she?

[Abby] My pleasure.

[instrumental music]

Well, I guess now we can, uh--

Make an honest man of your opponent?

Yeah.

Remind me to buy him dinner sometime.

[Eric] We don't know anything, Diana--

[Michael] Hey, Eric, you got to get off the phone.

[Eric] Diana, we got to go.

Look, they're going to be here any minute.

[Michael] Mom might be trying to get through, come on,

she's-she's on her way home.

[Eric] Diana, look, I got to go, okay?

I got to leave. Please. Goodbye.

Goodbye, Diana. Goodbye.

Hello?

What's for dinner?

[Karen laughs]

[Karen laughing]

You didn't fix anything, did you, huh?

I leave for a couple days, everything falls apart.

What am I going to do with you?

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music on car radio]

[theme music]