The Sinner

We cook a 25-pound bird.

Turkey sandwiches for a week.

My grandmother insisted we chew every bite of food 20 times.

Yeah.

- Is that it? - There's more.

I'll bring it in. But where's Dad?

- Do you need help? - No.

I got it all under control. It's all under control.

I'm just gonna... Dad?

- You cannot overemphasize the importance of mastication.

Now here's something you may not know--

Dad?

Saliva, it's a digestive aid.

- Dad? Everybody's waiting, come on.

Come on.

Hey. Dad.

Dad. - I'm hungry.

- Dad, come on. - We're really hungry.

All right. All right.

Hot, ow.

Ah. Not there.

Where are the, the coolers. Where...

Ah! Damn.

We cook a 25-pound bird.

Turkey sandwiches for a week.

Now here's something you may not know.

Saliva, it's a digestive aid.

- It's ready. - Sit, honey.

- Mom. - Sit.

No...

no, no, no.

Eat it.

Eat it.

Why did you leave me?

You left me all alone.

No, I didn't.

- Yes, you did. You little piece of shit.

Why don't you love me? - I...no.

Oh, yes.

- No. Don't.

Look at you.

- Don't do that. - Shh.

- Don't do that. Don't.

- Why don't you love me? - Don't--

Shit.

- One more thing. That's all right.

I gotcha. I'm here.

Breathe, breathe. Okay.

Come on, you're okay now.

Here. Here, here, here.

- Harry, don't. Hey.

Here, hey. It's okay.

Hey, you're okay.

Here, have some water.

You did it.

You did it, Harry.

I had to pull the pipe.

You had to believe you were gonna die.

It's the only way.

Nick did the same thing for me.

Hey. Yeah.

Yeah, you're okay.

You're okay.

Hey, hey.

You okay?

I don't know.

What did you see?

What was down there with you?

- I was at dinner. my family...

my father...

stayed in the bathroom, wouldn't come out.

Are you two estranged?

That's a nice way to put it.

- I know how intense it was down there.

But you've been through the worst of it.

Now you just need to process it all.

I promise I won't push you the way Nick pushed me.

How was that?

- When all this started back at school,

it was just the two of us looking for answers,

testing ourselves.

But then Nick would just keep looking for the next thing,

the next dare, pushing me to do it with him.

And it just got more and more dangerous.

I freaked out.

I couldn't handle it anymore. I...

I left school, and I cut him out of my life.

He came back?

All these years later? Why was that?

I was struggling.

I couldn't find meaning in my life anymore.

And I kept thinking about Nick, and what we did,

and how it gave me a sense of purpose.

Clarity.

So I called him.

I should have known better.

He was more extreme than he was back in school.

He is the one who wanted me to kill.

He thought it was the next step.

I never wanted any of that.

That's why I pulled the parking brake.

That's why I took the phone after the accident.

It's why I killed him.

Why I let him die.

He wasn't gonna let me go.

I never wanted this to go as far as it did.

And it will never be like that with us.

I need to take care of some things at school.

You'll be all right for a while?

- You're going to go teach school?

- No. No, I'm gonna quit.

School has been a part of the problem.

I can't be there anymore.

You'll feel the need to turn away from all this,

to go back to safety, routine.

I did.

That's just your ego getting scared,

not wanting change.

Please stay in it.

Even when it's uncomfortable, I'll help you through it.

All right? Hey.

You're just waking up.

I'll be in touch.

He thought it was the next step.

I never wanted any of that.

That's why I pulled the parking brake.

That's why I took the phone after the accident.

It's why I killed him. Why I let him die.

- Jesus. You got the confession.

Whoa.

I mean, congratulations.

- Yeah. - Wow, this is crazy.

Harry, this is really crazy. - It was.

There's something I had to do, and he wasn't gonna stop.

There'll be a Huntley Hearing.

- Oh, yeah, but this is pretty tight.

- Now at least we can get a warrant

and get him into custody.

- When are you gonna go get him?

- I want you to do it. - What?

No, no. No way.

Harry, this is all you, man.

This is your instincts, your amazing,

fucked up methodology.

This is your collar.

I want you to take it.

He has a meeting at the school today.

- Okay. - Thanks.

- I'll get the warrant going now,

and then I'll let you know when it comes through, okay?

Yeah.

I don't know where to begin.

Did you talk to anyone? - I told Soto.

I mean a doctor, a therapist.

Someone to help you process all of this.

Oh. Uh...

- Harry, this is not something to be toughed out.

You...

you must have PTSD.

Yeah...

- So what happens with the confession?

He'll be arrested today.

And go to prison presumably.

Presumably, yeah.

Why don't I feel relieved?

Yeah.

I saw you.

When I was down in there, I had...

These visions.

And you were there.

What did you see?

- Well, I was on my back in the woods.

And I wasn't sure whether I was dead or alive, and...

Your hands.

You were washing me.

Like a ritual, or--

Like a--like a baptism?

- Yeah, yeah. That's closer.

It made me feel calm.

- I know things have been strained between us.

- Yes, I have certainly felt that too.

- I think it's a good time for me to move on.

I put together a term sheet. The main points are there.

- I'm sure we can figure something out.

That'd be great.

I don't wanna drag anything out.

- Sorry. Can you just give me a moment?

- Sure. Take your time.

- James Burns, you're under arrest.

I need you to stand up, turn around,

and place your hands behind your back.

Stand up, please.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be held against you

in the court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you can't afford one, one will be provided for you.

You have the right not to answer any questions

without an attorney present.

Do you understand these rights