The Drowning Page #6

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Tom.

Tommy.

Did you actually think this was

never gonna get back to us?

Just because we sent that kid away

doesn't mean he's going to stay away.

Come on.

I, uh... I'm going to

go back to my meeting.

If you, uh... if you

would like to grab a drink

and forget that we ever got involved

with this f***ing thing to begin with,

please just give me a call,

but calm down.

She's going to run whatever she has

tonight, tomorrow, whatever,

and it'll be done.

And the number one thing

we can rely on are people

and people's complete lack of

follow-through and long-term memory.

So calm the f*** down.

Danny.

Listen, I think me, you, and Angela

need to get together, make a plan.

And if you want, we can try and

work on this together, okay?

But call me back.

I will make the time.

I went to Lizzie to feed the cats.

Kittens. We needed to feed the kittens.

My mother stayed at home,

and my father was back,

back from the war.

Are you tired, Danny?

No. I'm...

I like Lizzie.

She couldn't see so good.

She had, um, cats,

cats in her eyes.

When I went, she wasn't there,

so I went upstairs.

She had this powder,

lady powder,

smelled like flowers.

It was sticky.

And then what?

I heard her.

Um, I heard her come in and upstairs.

I run. I have to get past her,

but she was blocking me.

She wouldn't move, so I kicked her.

I kicked her down.

And she was twitching,

making this noise,

so I took the cushion off the chair...

She had these cushions from Boston...

And covered her face to get her to stop.

To get her to stop.

And she kept kicking and kicking.

And what did that feel like?

Like a chicken

with its head cut off.

Why did you go back?

You went back.

I don't know.

But if you knew it was wrong,

why did you go back?

I don't know.

'Cause your fingers were clean.

Under your nails...

I don't know.

I don't know who this kid is.

It's okay, all right?

It's okay.

Just... just tell me what else

happened back there?

It doesn't f***ing matter what happened!

You're not gonna believe me, anyway.

Well, how can anybody help you

if you continue to take

no responsibility?

And what about your responsibility?

I'm sorry that I took that.

It was wrong.

She's very sweet.

And give those back to my father.

I don't want them anymore.

Wait. Danny, listen.

For your own safety,

you need to call Angela.

Danny.

Ange, it's me.

I found him.

Where?

In my office.

Still there?

No, he just left.

You didn't hold him?

No, I didn't.

Why?

Because he broke in.

Because he stole from my house.

Because he's not my case or my patient!

It is not known where Daniel Miller

was relocated after his release,

but Miller's father spoke with

us earlier this afternoon.

Why he's out is beyond me.

Last I heard, he was

somewhere in Connecticut,

New London, most likely.

The release of convicted juveniles

like Daniel Miller has

become a hot topic

in the wake of recent violent crimes...

I'm going to bed.

...by juveniles in the area.

Oh, hey.

I'll be in in a minute.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

You?

I don't know.

I don't know if I'm okay.

Why didn't you just tell me

that that was him?

Because it was over

a dozen years ago, Lauren.

Because I didn't want to put

that back on you, on us.

That kid needs your help.

Yeah, I don't know if I can help him.

Excuse me?

They put him away...

Because I thought he was bad.

And do you still think that?

I don't know.

I don't know what I think anymore.

That's the problem, Lauren.

I was trying to protect you, is all.

No. No, no, no.

No, I was.

You were trying to protect yourself.

You know what?

Things are good or bad.

But people,

sometimes people are just not easy.

I'm going back to the city for a while.

You know where to find me.

Are you sure?

Pretty sure.

Don't do anything before I get there.

How far away are you?

Not far.

All right, I'm going.

And I said...

Before he does something

to himself or who knows what.

Danny.

Her niece lived here

for a while, I heard.

Danny, that gun's

gonna get you put away.

It might.

It's crazy, though, right?

I mean, I can't even close my eyes

without seeing her face...

Upside down right there,

staring back at me,

even if they burnt

this whole place down.

Why don't you just

give me the gun, Danny?

No.

You know, I thought it was gonna be

my father who came here first.

Search and destroy.

Mr. Miller, that's what he was good at.

Now, little Danny Miller

kept on coming back here,

because every time he did, he thought...

I thought...

That Lizzie would be walking around,

feeding her cats.

"Up and about," that's what

my mother used to say.

Like none of this happened,

Lizzie or my mother.

Danny, I don't know if I ever

told you this before, but...

When I was a kid...

Me and some friends,

we pushed this boy in the water,

and we watched him almost drown.

You watched.

See, Tom, that's your problem.

That's your real problem,

is you like to watch.

You are a f***ing tourist, Tom.

That's what the rich do.

They tour.

But he would have drowned

if my father didn't jump in.

You jumped in to save me.

Danny...

Or I guess we could have

gone down together,

but you saved me, Dr. Seymour.

Did I tell you that before,

about the drowning?

Did you know it was me at the river?

I don't think you did.

Danny...

You like to watch, Tom,

until you don't.

But people like me

don't have that choice.

Why didn't you help me?

Why?

I thought I was, Danny.

Don't lie!

Danny, put the gun down!

Don't lie!

Danny.

Open it.

Pick it up.

Pick it up.

Do it, or I'll kill you

and then kill myself.

Do it!

Now! Now!

Do it! Open it!

Okay, okay.

Pick it up.

Pick it up!

Good.

Hold it.

Danny, why are you doing this?

Danny, come...

Don't do this, Danny.

Danny, don't do this.

Close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

Don't do this.

Close your eyes.

Don't do this.

Now, that is feeling.

That is not watching.

That is feeling.

Is that what you were afraid of?

That feeling?

That someone could like that feeling?

Why?

Because we're killers?

We are, all of us, killers, Tom.

But liking it...

That is a whole 'nother story.

Did you like how that felt?

No. No, I didn't.

Neither did I.

I kicked her...

And she fell,

and she started shaking, and...

I... I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

It's okay.

Danny, it's okay.

I-It's okay.

It's my... it's my dad.

He... he knows where I am, Tom.

Um, okay, listen.

Everything's gonna be okay, all right?

I need you to go upstairs

and stay out of sight, now.

Get the hell away from the car!

Just... just back off

and leave him alone.

I swear I'm so sick

of you f***ing idiots!

Just leave him alone!

Who do you think told me he was here?

Ah, bullshit.

Bullshit, huh?

Argh!

Bullshit?

Bullshit?

Bullshit?

Huh?

Huh?

Ahh!

He can play you,

but he ain't gonna play me.

"It's the stories,

the stories children tell themselves,

after the event or the act."

"That's what we work with,

not to punish or accuse,

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