The Lodger

Get back behind the line, please.

Detective. Wilkenson, right?

Yeah. Okay, what have we got?

Well, the techies are done, so they covered her up. This way.

What?

It's a hooker, sir.

It's pretty nasty.

Any witnesses? No.

What's wrong with you?

Bill and I had a couple of drinks after work last night.

Until 4:00 a.m.?

The victim was a young woman in her thirties.

L.A. County Police are expected to issue a statement here,

at the West Hollywood Sheriff's station, in a few minutes.

But speculation is they believe the murders

may have been designed to imitate

those committed seven years ago by Alonzo Rodriguez.

The murder weapon in use was a knife.

...knife...

...knife...

In July, after an extraordinarily short appeals process,

Alonzo Rodriguez was executed for brutally murdering two women

in West Hollywood, both prostitutes. Oh, my God.

Detective! Detective, do you have any indication

why the murderer would imitate the Rodriguez case?

I'm not going to talk about the Rodriguez case.

As far as I'm concerned, this is an isolated incident.

Can you confirm that the victim was a prostitute?

It does appear that the woman was a prostitute,

but I'm afraid that's all I can say right now.

Detective Manning, one more question!

So, how much is left?

We have enough for this month.

Maybe two more payments.

Only three people have come to look at it since May.

Drop the rent to 800.

Any more of those effeminate fucking little knocks,

you're gonna get some unwanted attention, Detective.

Who says it'll be unwanted?

Oh, Jesus Christ.

Hey, I asked for Palmdale,

but I guess LASD thought I'd fit in better in West Hollywood.

Yeah, maybe outside the building.

No wonder your last partner quit.

Let's get something straight. Can I use that word?

Somebody must have been fucking brain dead

to assign a rookie to this case.

Look, I spent 14 months...

I really don't give a fuck.

Just don't throw any of that shit in my face.

Man, you're worse than my dad.

This just came in.

Isn't that supposed to stay sealed?

Who else has seen this?

It's better to start up and dust down,

so the dust doesn't fly up into your face.

Good. Watch this.

I can hear you, Ellen.

I'm going out.

Take your damn pills.

No one's gonna rent this place

if they think the landlady's a lunatic.

Well, what if the landlord is?

Hello? Hi, hon. It's Dad.

Hi, Daddy. Listen, darling,

I was thinking about visiting your mother.

No, you can't. Please.

Why not? She's allowed visitors, isn't she?

Because she's isn't ready to see you yet, that's why.

Did she tell you that? No, the doctor did.

What about you? Did the doctor say anything about

you staying away from me?

No, Dad. Look, I'm just really focused on Mom right now.

What about dinner?

Dad, I've got midterms.

I've got a lab due on Thursday,

there's a paper due in a couple of weeks

and it's just... No, no, no, I understand.

I'm just really busy right now. Yeah. I know.

No, it's okay. I've got...

Got a lot of work to do here, myself.

I really gotta go.

Sure. Maybe tomorrow.

Tomorrow. Okay.

Just a minute.

Hello? I'm sorry,

I should have called first. I was walking past,

and I noticed your sign.

Yes.

I've been looking for a quiet room,

and a guest house sounded lovely.

Come in.

Smells good.

So, have you just moved to L.A.?

Not really.

I'm just looking for something new.

You know, something to inspire me.

Oh, I'm sorry. It's this way.

Great.

You would be welcome to use the kitchen on your own,

but the rent does include breakfast,

usually until about 9:00.

Or are you a late riser?

Yes, I'm afraid I am.

What is this, some kind of gang attack?

Not unless the others just stood around and watched.

This was one guy, and he was clearly copying Rodriguez.

It's identical. Look at this.

There are almost 40 separate incisions,

each with the same angle of entry,

same tearing motion.

Lefty?

He definitely used his left hand,

but each wound was created with varying force.

My guess is he was just trying to look like a lefty.

Bastard did his homework.

Yeah. Well, not completely.

The Rodriguez killings were acts of sadistic violence,

where both victims died after multiple wounds.

Presumably so that he could watch them die slowly.

This one died immediately,

after the first incision to her throat.

He had a conscience?

Well, it depends on what you call a conscience.

A case like this, actually,

you're casing an entirely different psychological profile.

Took pity on her, for Christ's sake.

Wow. Real fucking sweetheart.

Thank you, Sam. Hey...

I was sorry to hear about all that with your wife.

Is she doing any better?

No.

What do you do?

I mean, for work.

Oh, I write.

So, I must have complete quiet, and privacy.

I'd like to take it. Right away.

But you haven't even asked the rent.

Well, I'm sure it's fair.

I have a great sense of those I can trust.

I'm Malcolm Slaight.

I'm Ellen Bunting.

My husband, Joe, well, he works late...

It's important to me that I would have the only key.

Oh, yes. Of course. Except for me.

But I can't be disturbed.

You will talk to your husband. Not at all.

Oh, he won't bother you.

Would $1,000 a month be acceptable?

With breakfast.

I almost forgot. About references...

Oh, I won't be needing those. Just privacy.

Thank you.

This is Miss Sally Harrison.

Or what's left of her.

Her body was found at approximately 3:15 a.m. last night

on the 8400 block of Sunset and Olive.

She was 23 years old, 5'3" tall, Caucasian and a prostitute.

Thirty-nine separate knife wounds.

No witnesses,

no obvious suspects,

no motive.

Other than this bastard is clearly copying Rodriguez's MO.

Okay. That's it.

Who are they?

Smith, LAPD.

And he brought the Feds.

They'll be all over us on this

after Chandler smoked them on Rodriguez.

What are you doing? I told you not to disturb me.

I just thought you might like some tea.

I'm sorry. Just leave it there, please.

What's wrong with them?

They were all staring at me.

Following me.

Everywhere. It's a little unnerving.

Oh, well, I'll have Joe come and take...

No!

Please, we've already talked about this.

I don't want anyone else coming in here. Ever.

I'll bring them out.

Well, do you need anything else?

Just a little rest, I'm afraid.

Oh, and if you could pick up some things for me at the market?

Oh! That's way too much.

Keep it, please.

Whatever you think, bread, cereal, I'm not too particular.

Thank you.

About food.

I couldn't see his face. It was raining, and he was running away.

He was wearing one of those long coats, like Neo.

What was the color of the coat?

Purple, dickhead!

Have Jim come in here for a sketch.

We need height and build, male with a long, dark coat.

When Jim's done, let him go.

Let him go?