Nightclub Secrets

I'm sorry I had to do this.

I know too much, so it's better

I just end it my way.

Everyone will be in a better place,

happier with me gone.

I hope everyone understands.

Love, Rachel.

Mrs. Herrington?

Detective Garcia.

I'm Detective Carlson.

Be a sadist.

No matter how sweet or innocent your leading character is,

make awful things happen to them

in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

Vonnegut once said this about writing.

And he was right.

The written word is a unique way for us

to explore new and exciting,

sometimes dangerous worlds

without having to ever put ourselves in any real danger.

So that is your assignment.

I want you guys to write me a story.

And I want you to thrust your main characters

into an environment that they're not prepared for.

Something unexpected.

What happens to them?

Do they fail? Do they succeed?

That is up to you.

But I want you to be bold, okay? Take risks.

Because that is what is gonna keep me turning the page.

New message.

Zoe, it's me. Mom.

It's about your sister.

Ju-just call me back.

- Zoe. - Yeah, what's up?

I don't know.

Mom, I told you not to call me, okay

when you're drunk.

Rachel's dead.

Zoe!

Rachel was like the happiest person I know.

Well, sometimes people hide how they really feel, mom.

You can't hide everything from your mother.

I-I think she fell for the wrong guy.

He was rich, he had a wife.

I mean, I think he was messing with her head.

It's a little early for that, don't you think?

I just lost my baby girl.

I think I'm allowed to have a drink.

She left a note at the party.

She was at a party. When she...

Is there anything you need me to do?

I'm gonna ask Father McCallan

if we can have a proper funeral.

The church doesn't allow sacrament

for... cases like Rachel's.

But he's known her since her first communion.

Maybe you could inform Rachel's workplace?

Yeah. I can do that.

Of course he would... Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Hold on a second. Hold on a second.

Ladies, come on inside.

Tell Mickey I sent you.

Yeah, of course I sent them. I know what I sent.

Bottle service waitresses can make

between $1000 and $3000 a night.

Which is why a bottle girl isn't just some waitress

jotting down drink orders.

They look and dress differently

because they are salesmen.

See that curtain back there?

Behind it sits Percy. Percy is the boss.

Notice Percy is back there and not out here with us, right?

That's because she leaves the hiring of bottle girls to me.

If I don't like you, she doesn't need you.

You two here with Lolo?

I'm gonna need your Jane Hancocks on some NDAs.

Hey, Bobby, I need some N...

Hi. I was... Excuse me.

You know we're hiring bottle girls

not cleaning ladies, right?

No, I'm not here for the job.

I'm here to talk to you about my sister.

Who's your sister?

Rachel Herrington.

I'm sorry about your sister.

- Thank you. - Of course.

So, were you two, um, friends or...

Uh, we-we work together here

so, yeah, we were friends.

You know? Um, she was, um...

Excuse me.

Here are your sister's things.

Oh.

Okay. Um... right.

And, uh, her last paycheck.

Let us know if there's anything we can do.

Oh! Wow, Rach.

Huh. Clearly I picked the wrong profession as a teacher.

- You're a teacher? - Yes, I'm a teacher.

Oh. Maybe you should apply here.

- Ex-excuse me? - Yeah, yeah.

A school teacher by day

a hot cocktail waitress by night.

Hey, show some respect.

- She just lost her sister. - All right.

You're right. I apologize. My bad.

- Sorry about that. - All right.

- You take care, Zoe. - Thank you. Yup.

Mo... Mom?

Uh... What are you doing? Mom?

- Hey. What are you doing? - She didn't do it.

She wouldn't leave me alone.

Rachel kept a journal?

Wait. Mom?

Rachel didn't kill herself.

Does this handwriting look the same?

Yeah. It does. It looks exactly the same.

- She was clearly depressed. - Oh...

Well, if she was clearly depressed then I would've known.

- I would have known. - Oh, really?

Why do you think that you would have known?

Do you think that you would've even noticed?

When was the last time you spoke to her?

I saw her two years ago, but she was barely there.

She came by my work and she left right away.

- I... - Exactly.

And I was here with her.

- I was here. - Okay, you were here, mom.

You were here with Rachel, and what happened?

She was working in some sleazy nightclub.

So what? You could just stay home and drink...

Oh, yeah, that's easy for you to say

because you left!

I had to.

I had to leave.

Look at you.

You, you're just like him.

When things get rough, you run!

Mom, you are, you're lashing out at me because you're upset,

but that's not gonna bring Rachel back.

Zoe sent me another book today.

Not sure why she keeps doing that.

I haven't read any of them.

Don't have the heart to tell her.

People think the club is some super-glamorous place

where everyone is beautiful and happy.

The reality is most people are there

because they want to escape real life.

Like Zoe does with her books.

Except I prefer interacting with real people,

not fictional ones.

Oh, thank you.

Rach.

Still obsessed with books, I see.

Yeah. The classics mostly.

But crime novels are your guilty pleasure, right?

Guilty.

What are you doing here?

Uh, just thought I'll stop by and see what's up.

- What's up? - What's up with you?

Oh, my God. You're here about mom, aren't you?

No, she doesn't know I'm here.

Mm-hm. I'm sure she does.

You know, Rach, this is, this is...

This is what she does. She uses people.

She just wants to see you.

I thought maybe you could come with me.

We could surprise her for her birthday.

Not for her to feel better,

but for me, and for you.

- She texted you. - Don't worry about it.

Rach, I'm your sister. Of course I'm gonna worry about it.

Hey. Why don't you come over to my place?

Stay with me for a few days.

We can have a, a sister slumber party.

Hm? I miss you. It'll be fun.

I miss you, too.

But I have to work tonight.

Rain check?

It's good to see you.

Excuse me.

Hi. My name is Larry. Uh...

I knew your sister.

I... Man, this is hard. Um...

I'm really sorry for your loss.

- Thank you. - This never should've happened.

Well, you know, sometimes you never know what someone's...

No, I mean there's something you should know about Rachel.

- Get out... - The night that she died, I...

Excuse me.

This is your fault.

I'm so sorry. I'm-I'm devastated.

- How dare you come here! - Rachel was an amazing...

You're even saying her name!

Just get out of here!

That's Richie Evans! He was with Rachel!

Stop pushing me! That's Richie Evans!

Last night, I went to an after-party

at a billionaire's house.