[spoon scraping against cup]
[liquid pouring]
[spoon scraping]
Hey there. Morning, hon.
Come and have some breakfast, dear.
Elmer?
Elmer.
[thunder rumbling]
[distressing hum builds]
[low, eerie rumbling]
[unsettling notes playing]
[China] The first time you get your heart broken,
you think it'll never heal.
-[shears snapping] -[Elmer grunts]
[China] That you'll never feel truly whole again.
[eerie, distorted instrumentals playing]
-[Elmer breathing heavily] -[uneasy buzzing]
[China] It isn't true.
But it's a rite of passage we all go through.
The only way to learn and grow…
-[Elmer grunts] -…is by going through pain.
Eventually distance
and time heal those wounds.
[unsettling chord builds]
-[uncomfortable droning] -[Elmer sighs]
[Violeta] Are you okay?
[China] There is no other way to get over heartache.
[Violeta moaning]
[China] Please, clear his mind.
-[heartbeat echoes] -Accept it, sweetheart.
-[unsettling ringing] -[Elmer grunts]
[eerie music fades]
[uneasy chord slowly builds]
[chilling static]
[instrumentals build to a discordant droning]
-[eerie instrumentals cut out] -[Elmer panting]
[China] Love isn't worth suffering for.
[poignant string music playing]
[music builds to final note]
THE GARDENER
[door opening]
Well, look here.
Someone's feeling better.
Well, I got some sleep, finally.
Well, that's wonderful. Better?
-A bit better. -See?
-Want something to eat? -Mm. I'm not hungry.
Okay. It wasn't actually a question. You know?
I'm gonna get something for you anyway.
Just try a bit of this soup.
It has all the vegetables you can imagine and then some.
It has some pumpkin, cheese, chayote squash…
Which is pretty hard to find here, actually.
Try it.
Huh? [chuckles knowingly]
Thanks for your help, Mom.
[gently] You don't ever need to thank me, Elmer.
I'm a mama bear.
Being your mother is the best thing that ever happened to me.
I love caring for you.
[disquieting music playing]
You're right, you know?
About what? You might need to narrow it down.
That love is bullshit.
It hurts.
-It's so painful. -[China] Hm.
I don't want to hurt anymore.
I'm done.
[disquieting music continues]
[doctor] The tumor has grown aggressively
and come into contact with vascular structures
since you discontinued your treatment.
What does that mean exactly, Doctor?
There's a high risk of damage that could potentially disable him
or kill him.
But we'll act quickly.
As soon as the results of the other tests come through,
we'll schedule surgery for the resection, and then--
Could the tumor come back one day?
Never say never.
But we'll cross that bridge when we get there
and see if chemotherapy is needed to prevent that.
Elmer,
I'm really pleased you've decided to return.
You have your whole life ahead of you.
[China] There's this Deepak Chopra quote.
It says, "When you make a choice, you change the future."
It's hard for me to see a future right now.
You have no idea what life'll throw at you.
For example, think back to the accident.
Imagine what I was going through. Elmer.
All alone in the world with a kid.
How did I survive through it?
I just did what I had to do and got on with it.
So hold onto something. Just whatever you can.
But you keep pushing through.
You do know I love you more than life itself?
Sweetheart, you really have to let go of this pain.
It's not good for you.
How do I let go? I just can't do it.
Well, I think you have an idea of what needs to be done.
We're sure this kid is a coldblooded killer?
It doesn't seem possible.
Yep. It does, in fact, seem pretty unbelievable.
Look what I stumbled upon going through old files.
Antonio Berrocal.
Disappeared in Pontevedra in 2018.
He was investigated for involvement with a minor.
How's he related to our case, though?
What if I said he was the agent and boyfriend
of none other than China Jurado?
Two detectives took her statement and just assumed she'd gotten rid of him.
But what's the motive?
I don't know. He was his mother's lover? Who the hell knows?
[Torres sighs]
-I'm sure the mother knew. -[Carrera] For sure.
I'd bet anything that she's behind it all.
-[Torres] And this guy's still missing? -Yep. No trace. No rentals, no purchases…
-Just up and disappeared one day. -The pattern's the same.
Should we talk to Homicide?
The dorks with the Ray-Bans?
And let them steal the credit and both our jobs?
Yeah, no way.
We have to keep an eye on him. Let's go.
-Go where? -Hurry up, Torres!
[phone ringing, vibrating]
[grunts softly]
[ringing continues]
[ringtone cuts off]
What do you want? I have work to do.
[Violeta] Can we talk?
-I don't really have the time for that. -[Violeta] Please don't hang up.
I wanted to apologize.
I was an idiot.
Can we meet and talk about it a bit?
[Elmer] What for? You don't care about me.
That's not true at all.
Let me explain, and then you can tell me to fuck off.
But please don't leave things like this.
Hello?
Fine then. I will pick you up. When are you done?
[Violeta] At ten.
[haunting, ethereal vocals rising]
["Lacrimosa" from Requiem Mass by Wolfgang Mozart playing]
[haunting vocals continue]
[phone vibrating]
-Afternoon, Mrs. Jurado. -[China] Good afternoon, Mrs. Costeira.
I'm calling to say things are full steam ahead.
Almost thirty years ago,
I was about to give birth to my little Xoan.
It was a very painful and liberating experience.
-Akin to the experience you're about to-- -[China] I hate to cut this short…
…but I have to go, Mrs. Costeira.
[Sabela] Yes, of course.
[haunting vocals continue]
Thank you. Talk soon.
[song continues]
YOUR MOTHER REMEMBERS YOU, ALWAYS
[music ends on final, stirring note]
See you later, Violeta.
Hey, you sure you don't want a lift?
-Yeah, don't worry. I'm getting picked up. -Okay.
[Torres] Turn off the headlights.
And the engine while you're at it.
[engine turns off]
-I don't like this. -[Carrera] Well…
If you wanted to kill someone, this is the perfect spot.
-[Torres sighs] -[Carrera] Did you bring your gun?
-[Torres] I did. You? -[Carrera] Yup.
-But I've never used it in my life. -Me neither.
[guns cocking]
-[Carrera] Let's go. -[Torres] All right.
[rhythmic, suspenseful music playing]
[keys jingling]
Hey there.
Have an appetite?
I bought food. Thought we could have dinner at my place.
I'm not interested in that.
[tense music builds]
[Violeta] I'm sorry. I shouldn't have treated you that way.
I had some issues with Milky and was stressed out.
-You had issues with Milky? -[Violeta] Yeah.
You called to tell me you were having problems with Milky?
-No. -That's why you ghosted me, too?
Why you kicked me out of your house that day?
-That wasn't why, Elmer. -All right then. What?
[Violeta] Look, I… I pick the wrong men.
The men who treat me like crap. I'm just attracted to them.
So, for a moment, I thought you were like them.
I panicked.
[intriguing notes playing]
That's not fair to you.
Except I don't believe that.
[music fades out]
The other day, I hooked up with another dude.
I was in a bad place, and…
And I think I did it to push you away.
I guess so maybe… I'd ensure you'd never wanna be with me again.
[Elmer sighs]
I knew about it.
But how?
[inhales] That night, I went to your place to see you,
but you weren't home yet.
I decided to wait on the porch for a bit, and I saw you.
I'm so…
I'm sorry you saw it.
Well, now I guess…
[inhales]
Now you know who I really am as a person.
No, I don't know.
-[soft, anticipatory chords playing] -[Violeta sighs]
Well, someone who…
who- who doesn't know herself as well as she thinks.
Who doesn't even know what she wants.
Who can't recognize good things.
Who hurts others.
Someone who's lost her way.
We have all lost our way.
Sure,
but I'm doing it by myself.
I'm terrified of being alone.
But this scares me way more.
I dunno what'll happen here.
But I need you to know how much you've changed my life.
[suspenseful, sustained chord playing]
I love you.
[gentle, warped notes playing]
Doesn't look like he's killing anyone tonight.
[Carrera chuckles]
-[mellow guitar intro playing] -[Carrera sighs]
["i love you" by Billie Eilish playing]
♪ It's not true ♪
[Violeta laughs]
♪ Tell me I've been lied to ♪
♪ Crying isn't like… ♪
[Violeta] Hurry up. Take your shirt off.
[Violeta gasps]
♪ What the hell did I do? ♪
[both breathing]
♪ Never been the type to… ♪
What?
[breathily] I love you.
-You're sure? -I really, really do.
I don't want you to ever feel alone.
And I don't want to hurt you ever again.
♪ Maybe won't you take it back? ♪
♪ Say you were tryna make me laugh ♪
♪ And nothing has to change today ♪
♪ You didn't mean to say, "I love you" ♪
♪ I love you ♪
♪ And I don't want to ♪
♪ The smile that you gave me ♪
♪ Even when you felt like dying ♪
♪ We fall apart as it gets dark ♪
♪ I'm in your arms in Central Park ♪
♪ There's nothing you could do or say ♪
♪ I can't escape the way I love you ♪
[song comes to a gentle close]
[birds chirping outside]
[ominous hum slowly builds]
[China] Orson.
We need to talk about something urgent.
Can you come to my place?
[server] How you doing?
-Hi. -Hello.
There you go. One coffee over here.
And one decaf.
-Thanks, Fátima. -Anything you need…
Thanks.
-What's up? -Huh?
Nothing.
-What's up with you? -Nothing.
You're not cut up?
No, no. I'm good. I'm good.
Yeah.
I mean, it's the first time you've cheated on your wife.
Jesus, don't… don't put it like that.
Well, how else should I put it?
Fine. [mocking] The first time you committed the act of adultery.
It wasn't really a question. I can tell you… haven't done it before.
-You think I'm a prude? -No.
I think you're a sweetheart. And you're faithful.
I once thought so, too.
We can work in shifts if you prefer.
Sure. Yeah. You go home.
I'll follow him.
Okay.
So, I'll go home, have a shower, and then stop by the office for a while
so you don't miss me too much.
Something happens, I'll call.
Okay then. Later.
Later.
Violeta's still alive then.
Look, I tried.
I tried, Mom. I did listen to you.
But I can't go against how I feel.
I love her.
Listen to yourself, Elmer.
Listen to yourself.
That girl has you wrapped around her finger.
Don't you get it?
Then this old lady is threatening to go to the police.
-What lady? -[China] What do you mean "what lady"?
Seriously? You had a job. Don't you remember?
A job from Sabela Costeira.
That woman's certifiably insane. She doesn't care about anything.
And she told me that if we don't do it, she'll turn us in.
But you said that you called off the job.
Well, I'll just phrase it like you. "I really tried to."
-I tried. I tried. -You didn't even tell her.
-[China] I tried. -Which means yet again, you lied.
So did you.
You never cared if I was happy or not.
'Cause the money is all you care about. And getting back to the house in Mexico.
-That's all you care about. -What are you talking about?
Elmer, that's not you speaking. You sound like somebody else.
These words sound like they're coming from that girl.
Someone who loves you doesn't turn you against your family.
Have you asked yourself what she wants from you?
-What do you want from me? -[China] What do I want?
Yeah, tell me. You want the old me. Is that what you want?
-I want you just to live. -How is it you want me to live, Mom?
You were happy before all of this. Steady, normal--
-[Elmer] Happy? -Yeah.
I couldn't be 'cause I couldn't feel remember?
What are you talking about, Elmer?
You want me to be how I was so you could keep manipulating me.
[China] Don't you ever speak to me like that again.
Don't you dare.
[Elmer breathing heavily]
All right. I have one more thing to say.
I will be moving out.
You turned your only son into a killer.
I killed 11 people 'cause you wanted it.
'Cause you were my mother.
That girl brainwashed you and put thoughts in your head.
Don't you lay a finger on her.
[threatening music playing]
[door buzzer rings]
[music fades]
-Well, hey. -[Elmer] Hey.
[Violeta] What's with the bag?
Could I maybe stay with you a few days?
-[car door opens] -[Carrera gasps]
[sighs] Jesus, Torres.
-Did I scare you? -[sighs] You surprised me.
I'm sorry. Coffee?
Yeah, thanks.
You didn't have to come.
He's not killing anyone tonight.
I'll stay for a bit.
Just in case.
[dishes clinking]
[Violeta] Good morning.
[Elmer] Good morning. What a breakfast.
Sit down.
It'll take me all day to scarf this down.
-[Violeta chuckles] -Or even the whole weekend.
-[Violeta] This is for you. -[keys jingle]
[chair scraping]
-[Elmer] Are you serious? -Mm-hmm.
So you can come and go whenever you want.
[keys jingle]
-Thanks. -Welcome.
Bon appétit.
[town bell ringing]
[phone chiming]
I WOKE UP AND YOU WEREN'T THERE
DID YOU SLEEP AT HOME? CALL ME WHEN YOU CAN. KISS.
[sighs]
[groans sleepily] I miss anything?
No. He's inside.
[Carrera sighs]
You okay?
Yeah. Yeah.
I was just thinking how incredible it would be to catch him.
-So incredible. -Mm-hmm.
We could write a book about it like that FBI agent.
"Written by Torres and Carrera."
[Torres inhales]
-Carrera and Torres. -[Carrera chuckles]
Well everyone knows the second is the best one.
Torres and Carrera then.
[sighs] I'm going for coffee. Want one?
Yeah. Make it a strong one.
[eerie music playing]
[sinister note builds]
[tense, percussive music playing]
-[Carrera breathing shakily] -[Milky barking]
[barking continues]
-We were spotted. -[Carrera] Right.
[car door shuts]
Holy shit. I swear my heart stopped for a moment.
We'll talk to Homicide.
[tense music ends]
[man] China, honey.
Ay, ay, ay, ay, ay. [snickers]
-[chuckles] -[China laughs] Good old Orson.
Hm?
Yeah, the house looks nice.
Isn't it?
I lived there for ten years.
Until my mom lost it.
But now I'm able to buy it back.
And that's largely thanks to your efforts, Orson.
I haven't forgotten that first job.
You'll always be welcome in this house.
Can I get you a tequila?
[coughing] No. My liver chewed me out.
-"We've come this fucking far, buddy." -Right.
"No more."
[coughs painfully]
[clears throat, continues coughing]
-Listen to you. -[Orson grunts]
-When'll you stop smoking? -That's a lot harder.
Well, we're at an age where we have to take care of ourselves, Orson.
[Orson] Hm.
How's work?
My work?
I only work nowadays
if there's a whole bunch of money involved.
Or for an old friend.
Well, thank you.
You been put through the wringer, China?
How can I help?
[foreboding string music builds, fades]
Admit it. We're in over our heads here.
It's not only dangerous, but we probably won't catch him either.
Maybe, but no one else is gonna do anything.
You really wanna act like nothing happened and go back
to the same old looking for dads who "went out for milk"?
[Carrera sighs]
We gotta get them off the street. We are the only ones up for it.
Let's just hope we don't end up dead.
Jesus.
Jesus, Carrera.
Go get some rest, all right.
Trust me, Torres. Things'll look better tomorrow.
I sure hope so.
-Are you staying? -Mm-hmm.
There's something I wanna check out.
Don't worry about me. Go on home.
[typing rapidly]
[sighs]
[low, unsettling chords playing]
-[door opens] -[keys jingle]
[door shuts]
-Hello. -[Milky barking]
Milky!
What've you been up to?
Just playing with Milky.
Hey, what do you say to us ordering in or going somewhere?
-Which-- -I have to go somewhere.
I have something to take care of that can't wait.
Oh.
-Man of mystery… -No, it's- it's about a client.
-She called me with an issue and… -Right.
And you know me. I can't stand the thought of a dead plant.
-Sure, sure. -But I'll be right back. Don't worry.
Wait here.
Make it up to me later then.
[Elmer chuckles]
[suspenseful, rhythmic music overlapping]
[tense organ music playing]
WHAT HAPPENS TO PLANTS WHEN THERE'S A BODY IN THE SOIL?
DECOMPOSITION ISLANDS AND HUMAN CADAVERS
Yes!
[tense music continues]
Shit.
-[phone beeps] -Violeta, um…
I know you'll say I'm just being paranoid or whatever,
but I- I just saw Elmer.
He was hanging around Sabela's.
Um, I don't know. Call me back.
[mournful organ tune playing]
[phone vibrates]
[Milky whining]
[metal gate rattling]
[lands softly]
Why'd you call?
-Decomposition islands. -What?
The soil over a buried body's called a "decomposition island."
So?
Well, I've been obsessing about the bodies over and over.
-We have to find them. -Hey.
-What are you on? -Lotta Red Bull.
If they were butchers, how would they hide the bodies after their crime? Tell me.
I have no idea. I guess… I dunno, they'd chop them up.
Do we really have to talk about this right now?
We really do. Sailors would dump them off the ship, right?
And they'd feed them to the pigs if they were farmers.
So where would a gardener do it?
You think they buried them at their own store?
Killers often bury their victims near their homes,
so that's not that weird.
And here comes the big kicker.
-Oh, there's more? -Get this, Torres.
The body of- of a big smoker, because of all the shit in their lungs,
when they decay, gives plants growing over them
these little blue spots visible only under ultraviolet light.
-Is that really true? -Totally true.
-Let's get to that nursery, Torres. C'mon. -Hey.
Lay off the Red Bull, please.
-First, we need a warrant, you know. -[Carrera sighs with annoyance]
I didn't make the rules. I just have to follow them.
Anyway… If you don't mind, I'm going back home.
-We'll discuss it tomorrow, okay? -Yeah, fine.
-Tomorrow. -Tomorrow.
[hushed] Hold on.
[Torres sighs]
[Carrera] Thanks for coming out.
[maid] Good night, ma'am. See you tomorrow.
[muffled voices from TV]
[door creaks]
-[door creaking] -[voices from TV grow louder]
[low, suspenseful notes playing]
[silverware clinks]
Who are you?
What do you want?
Hm?
What are you after? What do you want from me?
I'm here to talk to you. You gave a job to my mother.
Your mother?
Mrs. Jurado?
[exhales nervously]
What's going on?
We're not going through with it.
[tense music builds]
And you'll stay away from Violeta.
Violeta.
[chuckles, inhales sharply]
So this is her doing.
That little psycho. This is her idea.
You were supposed to kill her, but now you've come for me?
She doesn't know anything.
[phone ringing]
-[clattering] -[Sabela grunts, groans]
-[ringing continues] -[Sabela groaning]
[both grunting, breathing heavily]
[groaning with effort]
[ringing continues]
[Elmer groans]
-[knife slices] -[yelps with pain]
[Sabela panting]
[Sabela yelps]
[both grunting]
[Sabela cries out desperately]
-[Elmer grunts] -[Sabela panting]
[Elmer groans]
[both grunting with effort]
[Sabela grunts with pain, groans]
[Elmer panting]
[muffled music playing on TV]
[Sabela gasps for air]
[grunts]
[gasping]
[breathes rapidly]
[ominous musical sting]
[breathing stops]
[low, menacing instrumentals playing]
THE GARDENER
[menacing music continues]
VOICE MESSAGE
-[latch clicks] -[door opens]
-[door shuts] -How did it go?
Have a first aid kit?
[Violeta] What happened?
I was working with an acacia, and one of the spikes got me good.
[Violeta] Let me see? Jesus.
Come here. I'll fix you right up.
-Take it off. -[Elmer] Careful.
[Violeta] Okay, okay.
-[Elmer] It's pulling on it. -That's a serious cut.
-It's not as bad as it looks. -[metal clinks]
-[Violeta] Was it a super-big plant? -[Elmer gasps] Ah, that stings.
[Violeta] Sorry, but I have to do it.
[anticipatory music playing]
[insects chirping]
[spray bottle hissing]
[phone camera clicks]
[Carrera] Oh, shit.
[laughs in disbelief]
[camera clicking]
[tense music builds]
[camera clicking]
[intriguing music playing]