The Watcher

It's never quite that easy.

You go through the door, and they're never just sitting there waiting for you...

with a welcoming smile on their face.

Best you can do is hope they fuck up...

and do what you can to be there when they do.

And then blame yourself for the killings ?

Oh, no. I blame the asshole who did them.

This man's whole life is about killing.

He studies it. He knows forensics.

He understands police procedure.

He prepares methodically so as to not to leave any evidence at the scene.

After he picks his target, he'll watch her for weeks.

He'll study every detail of her routine--

When she comes home. When she goes to sleep.

In the morning before the sun comes up,

he can walk right up next to her.

Even though the sun's still down, no one perceives it as night.

Women who are careful at midnight, walk around half-naked seven hours later.

Finally, he'll pick a day.

Takes a kit of tools and props--

duct tape, handcuffs, a weapon-- whatever he needs.

He'll let himself in.

That night, she'll get home.

Go about her business, unaware that he's in the house.

Oh... this is good.

Shall we dance ?

No, don't play hard to get.

This will be fun.

Shh.

Shh. It's over. It's all right.

Shh.

I said, "Shut... up."

When she passes out... from foreordain,

he'll revive her over and over again to--

Um--

What were you going to say ?

Time's up.

Joel.

Why did you turn away from me ?

Why was it so hard for you to accept ?

'Cause you know I did it for you.

You came so close to me that night.

I remember clearly what I felt when I heard your footsteps following behind me.

Pride.

I thought it would keep us together forever.

For me,

it was our finest moment.

I can still see the flames.

Oh !

Shit. What the fuck ?

Oh, fuck !

I didn't see anything.

Wanda, you wanna run that in to Sarge ? Right on it.

Hey, I'm Detective Mackie. Welcome to my crime scene.

Can I help you find anything ?

I'm just going home. I live upstairs.

Did you not happen to notice that yellow police tape marked "Do Not Cross" ?

If you're done with that, I'll just take it and go home.- Do you know this woman ?

I've never seen her. What happened ? Is she dead ?

Oh, I haven't made any reference to homicide.

Why would you hasten to such a conclusion ?

Well, you got half the block taped off, and you got what,

about a dozen cops in there, fuckin' up your crime scene ?

It just doesn't seem like someone boosting stereos to me.

Look here. Give me a call if you think of anything.

All right ?

Hello. Yeah, this is Hollis. Hello.

This is Campbell. I'm the guy-- We met last night.

Yeah, Joel Campbell. Our ex-F.B.I. friend from apartment 805.

We did a little checking on you after you left. What can I do for you ?

I can hardly-- Are you busy ? It sounds like you're in the middle of something.

Yeah, some genius jacked a Honda a couple blocks ago. That's an '86.

- What, do you want me to call you back ? - No.

When did she die, the girl ?

Monday night. Three days ago. Why ?

'Cause I know who did it. And how might you know that ?

He mailed me a picture of her still alive.

I got it three days ago-- Monday morning.

Hold on a minute, Campbell. Teen hoodis on the run.

Okay. Sorry to keep you.

Now... you wanna meet me back at my office ? All right.

Is it your custom to open your mail four days after you get it ?

Nope. Sometimes it takes up to two weeks.

Well, this would appear...

to answer any questions we had whether these two cases were related.

Goodness gracious.

Nothin' like a good serial killing to kick off the holiday season.

Right in here.

Gimme a minute in that room. Okay, Lieutenant.

We got him sending his pictures in the mail.

Campbell, hell, we oughta get Bob Barker in on this son of a bitch.

It's a damn game show.

His last alias was David Allen Griffin.

I worked the case for three and a half years in Los Angeles.

We attributed at least 11 homicides to him.

- What's he doing in Chicago ? - I assume he's still strangling young women with piano wire.

All the victims were left partially unclothed, and all the swabs came back negative.

Exactly. No touchy, no feely.

Have you ever seen this guy ?

No. No one's ever seen him.

Well, then we can't necessarily conclude it's the same fella, can we ?

Come on. He sent me fuckin' pictures.

Shoved the vic right up my ass in my own fucking building.

- Sorry. - It's quite all right.

You looked adorable.

This film stock says it's for exterior sunshine,

but... how does it handle in fluorescence ?

Uh, I'm sorry. I have no idea what you're talking about.

I just work here.

- You do film processing here. - Uh, yeah, one hour.

- Do you mind ? - Sure.

- What are you doing ? - I'm going to test it out.

I'm gonna shoot some pictures,

and you're going to process them for me.

Perfect.

Yeah, chief of Chicago P.D. already called.

Not surprising, I suppose, they're inviting us in on this.

They're setting up a joint task force as we speak.

I'd like to know if you think you can handle it on our end.

I know that in L.A.--

Oh, no, this isn't L.A. It's not my job anymore.

You know what ? The only reason that your burnt-out, messed-up ass...

is standing in my office is because you had a three-year head start on us.

This perp is set on putting you in the middle of this shit whether we like it or not.

You're right. The field office in L.A. has the relevant files.

I can't tell you anything that's not in them.

I'm sorry.

Mike. Excuse me.

Mike, we got several sets of prints off the FedEx envelope and the photo itself.

I'm sorry. This is none of my business, but, uh,

you can run the prints.

You're gonna get me, the driver, three guys from the warehouse,

Santa Claus... a whole bunch of elves.

Definitely not this guy.

Who the hell is that ?

Run it.

Yes, sir.

Ooh-ooh

Can't anybody see

Well, you're young.

Do you plan to live on disability your whole life ?

I take 200 milligrams of Seconal just so I can sleep two and a half hours a night.

Twice a day, I take 400 milligrams of acebutolol...

and 20 milligrams of lotensen for high blood pressure.

I self-inject migraine medicine whenever the fuck I please.

They don't... mix well with work.

Hmm.

Maybe you're just afraid.

Fuckin' right.

I am afraid.

Okay.

Let's talk about that.

I go places, and I forget why I'm there.

I miss exits on the freeway.

I'm lucky to... find my way home from the grocery store.

And if I do, then...

most of the time I've forgotten my groceries.

But yet, you make it here every week.

Twice a week.

Yeah.

You do.

What if the next picture that arrived was of your daughter ?

Would you really want me to be the one looking for her ?

Yes.

Yes... I would.

From this moment

How can it feel

This wrong

Hello. Hi. It's me.

Me ?

Me who ?

It's freaking cold here. Why'd you move here ?

What the fuck do you want from me ?

You hardly leave your apartment. And when you do, it's to eat...

at that same terrible Vietnamese restaurant night after night.

You seem so bored. I was expecting a warmer welcome.

I didn't fuckin' ask you here, did I ?

The guy they replaced you with--

I tried to make it work, but we just didn't see eye to eye at all.

I was going to quit the game entirely, but then I thought, "Chicago's not so bad."

At least you didn't move to New Jersey, right ?

Yeah.

So, why don't you grab a pen ?

I'll give you the name and number of the... agent that's on your case.

You can... share your inner turmoil with him 'cause I don't give a shit.

I know your job is hard, Joel,

so I'm willing to take steps to try and make things work between us.

- What are you talking about ? - The photos, Joel.

I'll send you a picture, and you can have a day to try to find her.

I'll give you till 9:00. What do you say, Joel ?

I say I should have moved to New jersey, asshole.

Good night, Joel.

Are you all right ? I think so.

Shit !

Who is it ? Flowers for Joel Campbell.

You didn't answer the phone. The door downstairs was open, so I thought I'd just bring--

Put the flowers on the floor.

Thank you.

The photos, Joel.

I'll send you a picture, and you can have a day to try to find her.