♪♪♪
- Ryan, watch!
- Looking good, Michelle!
- (Giggles)
(Splash)
♪♪♪
(Approaching footsteps)
(Crickets chirp)
- (Sighs)
(Water burbles)
- Who are you?!
(Muffled screams)
(Frightened breaths)
(Gasps)
(Muffled screams)
(Car rumbles)
- To our newest state senator. - To us.
(Glasses clink)
- Watching you up there,
being sworn-in by the whole senate,
I've never felt so proud.
- (Chuckles)
- Mom would be too.
- I would think so.
What are you wearing, anyway?
- It's a Hmong pattern.
I made it for your swearing in.
Do you like it?
- Hm.
- You never teach me about our culture.
What is it?
- Look, we move forward by looking ahead.
Not what's past.
Where'd you find that?
- In a box in your closet.
It was Mom's, wasn't it?
- I was saving it for your wedding day.
(Car rumbles to a stop)
(Shutter clicks)
(Low hum of chatter)
- Hello. - Senator.
- Ryan!
- What's he doing here? - I invited him.
- Michelle, this is my day.
There'll be press here.
- I get it, he's Hmong-American.
- It has nothing to do with that.
He's a nothing. This punk has no education.
You can do so much better.
- Senator, here's your speech.
- Get rid of him.
- Senator Vang... Congratulations.
- Michelle?
- Get in.
- Okay.
- Michelle!
Don't do this.
- You did this.
Enjoy your big day.
(Door slams)
(Car rumbles away)
(Hip-hop music plays)
(Sounds from the video game)
- Oh. Res me, bro. Res me!
(Gunshots)
(Phone buzzes)
- Michelle... just leave it.
Don't worry about it.
♪♪♪
(Shutter clicks)
(Low hum of chatter)
- Thank you for coming.
Thank you.
- The banquet's about to start. - Okay.
- You'll need to say a few words,
thank the community for their support.
- Done.
(Phone rings)
♪♪♪
(Message chimes)
- Senator?
Is everything all right?
♪♪♪
Zara: "Say what you did, Senator."
- That's all it said. - But you don't have the video.
- The police said it was self-erasing.
- They took the senator's phone to try and recover it.
- So only you saw it?
- Yes. She was eating ice cream.
Her boyfriend was playing video games.
I did not trust that boy the second I saw him.
- What flavor? Ice cream...
- I didn't see the flavor -
I only saw someone point a gun in my little girl's head.
- Well, how did Michelle react, Senator?
- Like she didn't know she was being recorded.
- What makes you think your daughter was kidnapped, sir?
- Well, that video.
- It could be a stupid prank.
- Not Michelle. She always answers my calls.
- Well, the police went to Ryan Cheng's apartment.
Michelle told them that she was "fine"
and that it was quote,
"her jerk of a father" interfering.
- I don't care what the police say.
They want something,
and I was told you're the best there is.
So let's find out what.
- I'm so sorry, but the Speaker is waiting.
- Just hold on. The boy is Hmong-American,
he knows how important today is to our community.
- Oh, yes. Of course. - So how does this work?
- Well, I'll negotiate. Maxine is my second.
Oliver handles psychological profiling
and Zara is lead investigator.
- Senator.
- What's there to investigate?
- Well, quite a lot, Senator Vang.
At the moment you don't even have proof
that your daughter has been kidnapped.
- Just get her back, Mr. Beaumont.
- Oh, one more thing...
What did you do? - What?
- Well, the message said "Say what you did."
- Well, I have no idea.
Ellen.
- Well, there goes a textbook case of ASN.
- ASN?
- Acquired Situational Narcissism.
It's a personality disorder brought on by wealth or fame.
Success goes to your head.
You start thinking you're untouchable.
- Well, if Michelle was taken against her will,
we need a motive.
- Money is a good place to start.
- Mhm.
- I'll look into the Hmong angle.
- Good.
♪♪♪
Maxine: What do you think? Is Michelle really in danger
or is Senator Vang just an interfering father?
- Let's ask Michelle.
- Problem?
- My daughter's just busted out of boarding school.
- How do you know that?
- A little birdie told me.
(Car whooshes, music playing)
- Oh my God, I can't believe you said that.
- That's crazy.
♪ Cause if you're feeling naughty ♪
- Woo! (Laughs)
- Okay, okay, okay,
tonight Melanie's, then a secret rave mañana,
followed by dancing at...
(Phone chimes)
- It's my dad...
- Don't answer it. Don't!
- Yeah. Come on. Who cares.
(Rock songs continues)
♪♪♪
(Phone rings)
- Everything all right?
- It will be.
(Car rumbles up)
(Seatbelts unbuckle)
- Hey... um...
so my cousin's got this really sweet crib in the country.
Totally private.
With a pool.
- I don't know, Ryan.
- Come on, Michelle.
His family's away overseas.
We could hang out for a couple of days.
You're upset about your dad.
- I hate him sometimes.
But I know he thinks he's looking out for me.
- I'm looking out for you now.
So will you come?
(Car rumbles)
- Here is Ryan Cheng's address.
- There they are.
- If that's a kidnapping,
she's got an acute case of Stockholm Syndrome.
- Let's find out.
(Doors open and slam shut)
(Taps roof)
Nice ride. 0-60 in what, 4.2.
Quarter mile in 13?
- Uh, twelve six.
- Twelve six!
Oh. May I?
That's a fine fried potato.
- What do you want, man?
- I'm Eric Beaumont, this is Maxine Carlson.
We're private negotiators.
- Your dad thinks you've been kidnapped, Michelle.
- Does it look like I'm kidnapped?
Tell my Dad to leave us alone.
- Fair enough... but do us a favor.
No more threatening videos, okay Ryan?
- We already told the police there was no video.
- Burgers? Really, Michelle?
After all that ice cream?
Of course that was several hours ago...
- How did you know I had ice cream?
- How indeed, if there was no video?
(Engine starts)
(Tires screech)
- Who you calling?
- The Senator. He's right.
His daughter has been kidnapped.
She just doesn't realize it yet.
(Splash)
(Water burbles)
♪♪♪
Who are you?
(Muffled screams)
(Gasps)
- On your feet! - Ryan!
Who are you?! - Shut up!
- Let go! Please! - Shut up!
- Ryan! - Get in there!
Get in! - Ryan!
(Door slams)
- Ryan!
(Chains clink)
Help!
Please! Help!
(Banging) Help!
(Car rumbles up)
- If Ryan kidnapped her,
he's kinda hiding in plain sight.
- The plan seems to be make everything appear
as normal as possible.
Throw the cops off the scent. - Clever.
A couple rebellious kids hiding from an overprotective dad.
A bit too clever for Mr. Neck Tattoo,
don't you think?
- So judgmental.
(Seatbelts unbuckle)
- Twenty bucks says this isn't his show.
He's following orders.
(Knocks on door)
(Hip hop music plays)
- We wanna talk to Michelle.
- She's not here.
- Then where is she?
- No idea.
- Mind if we take a look around?
Unless you prefer the police again.
♪♪♪
- You saw her yesterday. She was fine.
- Her cell phone was turned off.
- So?
- So she's a 19-year-old girl.
It's a little unusual.
And you sped off in an awful hurry.
- We just want to be left alone.
- Chocolate chip.
- Ooh. Video games.
Where's the dude with the gun?
- Okay... so what is it you want Senator Vang to say?
- He knows.
- So you did send the message.
- All I know is... he's a liar
and she's better off without him.
- So you kidnapped her as a favor?
- Keep harassing me, man,
I'll be the one calling the cops.
- Definitely someone else's plan.
I doubt he even knows the full extent of it.
- Hey, did you ever find your daughter?
- Sure did.
(Loud music plays)
(Hollering, laughter) - Yeah! Baby! Wooo!
♪♪♪
(Siren wails)
- Are you kidding me?
- Shut it down.
Let's get out of here, people,
before we have to get serious. Let's go!
Boy: Come on! Are you kidding me?
- We're not even bothering anyone.
What kind of jerk called the cops?
- You got something?
- The Hmong are an indigenous people
spread across parts of China, Vietnam and Laos.
They're like the Native Americans of Southeast Asia.
With a comparable history of persecution.
The ones here in Minnesota arrived after the Vietnam War.
- And Senator Vang's financial records.
Investments, donations, tax audits,
I'm still going through 'em.
- Here is what I've got so far.
Oliver: Oh... - What's that?
- A list of people who have a grudge
against our dear senator.
(Chuckles) Popular guy...
Ellen: Politics is a bloodsport.
There is still some names I'm working on.
He fell out with a couple of property developers
and I'm trying to track down his ex-fiance.
- What happened there?
- Sorry. Above my pay grade.
Oliver: Thank you.
- Check out the ex-fiance. - Yeah.
- It's gonna take some time to go through all these.
- Time Michelle may not have.
We need them to come to us.
- How?
- Throw them some shade.
(Birds chirp)
♪♪♪
(Car rumbles outside)
(Doors open and shut)
- (Bangs) Help!
Help!
♪♪♪
Please help me!
(Banging)
Please!
Please help!
(Doors rattle)
(Crying)
(Banging) Please!
(Crying)
(Doors open)
(In Chinese)
- Hi Ryan!
- (Snaps his fingers)
- What are they doing here?
- (Sighs)
- Oh, no... No.
This was not the plan, Kaus.
Her Father admits what he did.
- You don't say what the plan is.
Your part's over.
Stay out of the way.
- (Sighs)
- I can't admit to wrongdoing.
The media will crucify me.
- You're not admitting anything,
that's the point.
You're just posting a blanket apology online
for any wrong that you may have done.
- What kind of negotiating tactic is this?
- It's called destabilization.
We provoke them, we get them to react emotionally
by acting like we're giving them what they want,
when we're not.
It'll force them to the negotiating table.
- There's gotta a better way.
- If there was I'd know about it.
We're trying to get your daughter back, Senator.
I assume that's your goal here
unless I'm missing something.
All right...
Action!
- As I take up my new position as Senator
of this great state,
I feel it's important to clear the air
with those in my past whom I have wronged.
If I've offended or harm you in any way,
let this statement heal the rift between us.
(Door opens)
- This is Olina, my mother.
I'm Nalanie. Ryan's cousin.
- What do you want?
- Nothing. We just want you to be happy.
Vang: With those in my past whom I've wronged...
if I have offended or hurt you in any way,
let this statement heal the rift between us...
(Phone beeps on)
(In Chinese)
(Phone rings)
- What do you got?
Zara: Hey. I talked to the ex-fiance.
Happily married, two kids. Definitely not a kidnapper.
- I sense a 'but'.
- It's not her but what she said about the Senator.
They're together nine years.
He keeps promising to marry her.
But breaks it off days before the wedding.
He finally admits
it's because of his deceased wife.
That it would dishonored her somehow.
- It took him nine years to work that out?
- Exactly.
- You'd think a man hell bent on getting elected
would see the benefits of getting married.
- Dig into his past.
Find out what you can about the wife.
Let's figure out what makes him tick.
I don't buy he doesn't know what he did.
(Engine roars, tires screech)
- Mr. Beaumont, get in.
- All right.
I'm guessing you saw the senator's apology.
Ryan.
Don't wait up.
(Door shuts)
(Tires screech)
♪♪♪
(Approaching footsteps)
♪♪♪
- Second thoughts?
- Shut up.
Sawm: You represent the Senator?
- Eric Beaumont. Negotiator.
Can I get a beer over here? Do you want a beer?
- There is nothing to negotiate.
Was that pathetic video your idea?
- Well, it worked.
We're sitting here. - It was an insult.
- Because Senator Vang says he has no idea what this is about.
I was hoping a face to face with you
might help me jog his memory.
- He knows what he did.
Well, I imagine he does. But... Mr... Kidnapper...
You and I both know he's the kind of man
who spits on you and calls it rain.
- (Small chuckle)
Lormong Vang thinks he can take whatever he wants.
- Did he take something from you?
- Everything.
- He did that to you?
- He wouldn't have the guts.
He told the lies that led to it.
But I survived.
And now I will take everything from him.
- But you'll let Michelle go.
- He must say what he did...
so the whole world knows.
- Slight pause. Rising pitch in your voice.
Pupils dilated. What are you not telling me?
- The longer he takes to remember,
the more he insults me.
We both know who will pay for that.
- And we both know an innocent young woman
does not deserve to suffer, whatever Lormong did.
♪♪♪
Maxine: Michelle's mother Was Su Lin Vang.
Late wife of Senator Vang.
They were both refugees, fleeing persecution in Laos.
The Hmong sided with the US during the Vietnam war,
so they weren't exactly popular when the US pulled out.
(Keys clack)
She wound up in a refugee camp in Thailand in 1989,
17, orphan.
There she met Lormong,
they emigrated to the US
and had Michelle two years later.
- So it says here that Su Lin died in Laos
when Michelle was three.
Why go back to a country that persecuted you?
- What's that?
- Consular Report on her death
issued by the US embassy in Laos.
Cause is listed as road accident.
But...
(Keys clack)
there doesn't seem to be a Laotian death certificate.
- Maybe they didn't issue one?
- No. The US embassy would have required it
for the consular report.
- Do you think it's forged?
- I don't know.
We'll call Annie.
Maybe she can hack into DOD records
in Laos and find out.
- (on the phone) Evie Beaumont. I'm her father.
Well, could you check again please?
- How'd it go? - He wants revenge.
Michelle is his way to get it.
He didn't care that I saw his face.
So whatever this is, it's a one-way trip
and he's gonna take the Senator down with him.
Yes, Eric Beaumont, call me back right away.
Check the button cam for a facial match.
(Computer beeps)
- Okay. We got him.
His name is Sawm Cheng. Hmong-American,
a refugee from Laos like Lormong.
And also Ryan's father.
Zara: His name came up when we did
the background check on Ryan.
But there's nothing on the N.C.D.
No criminal offenses whatsoever.
- Okay. What's that? Can you bring it up?
- Uh-ha.
(Computer beeps)
- SGU?
- Special Guerilla Unit.
When the war spread beyond Vietnam,
the SGU were Hmong, recruited by the CIA.
They fought the communists in neighboring Laos.
Zara: This goes way back.
- He blames the Senator for getting him sent to prison
and tortured.
- What?
- I said, Lormong took everything.
- He was imprisoned and tortured.
Isn't that everything?
- Yeah. Maybe.
(Keys jingle, doors open)
- (Nervous breathing)
- Let's go.
- (Whimpers)
(Water runs)
♪♪♪
- That feels better yes?
Isn't it beautiful?
It's a Hmong wedding gown.
Very special.
You never see one...
This too is Hmong.
Where you get it?
- It's my mother's.
- You respect your history.
This is part of it.
- Him?
Oliver: You fought together in the SGU?
- I can't believe... after all these years...
- You accused him of something that got him imprisoned
and tortured.
- I have no memories of that. I hardly knew him.
I'm a decorated soldier.
Men like him envy me.
- You really can't remember?
- He invented some grudge against me.
Is that my fault?
Look, I hired you to deal with this. Do it.
- A feature of narcissistic personality disorder
is a tendency to form false memories.
They get edited to remain consistent
with a positive sense of self.
- You're saying he truly doesn't remember what he did?
- Annie just emailed a Laotian death certificate
for Michelle's mother. - But what's weird is
there's no record of her returning to Laos.
She would've needed a visa.
- So how did she died in Laos.
When she never left the United States?
- See? Beautiful.
- My God you look just like her.
My name is Sawm.
I knew your mother.
These are from her... to me.
They'll help you understand.
- (disbelief) My mother...?
- I loved her very much.
Read them.
- Senator Vang.
How did you meet Michelle's mother?
- What do you mean?
- What? A party? Bumped into her on the street?
- We met at a refugee camp long after the war was over.
She was young, alone.
And she begged for my protection.
- How did she die?
- Visiting relatives in Laos, in a car accident.
Why does this matter?
- It matters because you're lying, Senator.
Your wife didn't die in Laos.
What really happened to her?
- I don't think this is getting anywhere, Mr. Beaumont.
You're turning this into a wild goose chase.
This has nothing to do with Michelle's mother.
I loved her deeply.
I ask the police to take over from here.
- Well, that's your prerogative,
but Senator... whatever Sawm's plan is...
it does not include returning Michelle to you.
Sawm has been biding his time.
Nursing his hatred.
He waited until you were a public figure,
when you had the most to lose.
It may be that neither I nor the police
can get Michelle back.
The one thing that might is your complete honesty.
Mr. Beaumont? - Yeah.
- There's someone here to see you.
- Hi, Dad...
is this a bad time?
- Well, she seems fine. I'll call you back.
- Did you really have to tell mom?
- She's worried sick.
You disappear and then you show up here.
What's going on, Evie?
- Maybe I just missed you.
- You could have called.
Where is your phone, by the way?
- You tell me. You're the one tracking it.
- Oh, I see. So you're making a point.
- Oh, you just figured that out.
Dad's off his game.
- This is unbelievable.
That credit card is for emergencies.
What airline let you talk your way on?
Who even told you I was here?
Kevin is so fired. He is so fired.
- Or you could try treating me like an autonomous human being
and not some remote-controlled toy.
- You wanna be treated like an adult?
Try behaving like one.
- (Exasperated huff) - (Exasperated huff)
- Okay. So... you see here...
when you say "honesty."
That's a micro-expression.
Textbook emotional leakage.
- So he's lying?
- I don't think so. Not consciously anyway.
It's more like cognitive dissonance.
He's struggling with competing ideas of himself.
"I'm a great man. I did a bad thing."
- Hm.
- Bring up his financials again.
I noticed his charitable donations.
- Yeah. What about them?
Eric: Well, they're all under a few thousand
and then there is this one.
- Centre for Abused and Abducted Women.
Ten annual donations, $40 thousand each.
- Man believes he's great but does something terrible.
- He's easing his conscience.
- Okay. So there are 14 domestic violence shelters
in the state.
What's making him donate to this one?
- Well, let's find out. - Yeah.
Zara, talk to Ryan.
(In Chinese)
I care for her. Let me marry her.
- She's going far away where he will never find her.
- Where are you taking her?
She is innocent.
(Engine starts)
(In Chinese)
♪♪♪
- I'm Angela Marten, I run the shelter...
- It's very peaceful here.
- Our clients come from very challenging backgrounds.
Environments like this can really aid recovery.
- Well, thank you again for seeing us
on such short notice. - How can I help?
- Have you ever encountered women
abducted from home and coerced into marrying a man
against their will?
- It's very rare now.
Thankfully most cultures have left that practice behind.
- But not yours.
- It has not been part of the Hmong community
for a very long time, Mr. Beaumont.
Why do you ask?
- Well, we're looking for a missing young woman.
- And you think this has happened to her?
- Could you explain the process?
- Forced marriage is often accompanied by abuse
and manipulation.
Brainwashing.
It's simple and brutally effective.
They first isolate a young woman,
use fear and violence often.
(Slap) - Agh!
- Then they bring in women who groom and feed her.
And present her the prospect of a more comfortable, safe life.
Show her pictures of her future husband.
It's the carrot and stick.
And if they can, they'll try to convince her
that her home, her family...
everything that she's known is somehow compromised.
That she has no choice.
Except to embrace the life that she's being forced into.
- And how long can this process take?
- It can be as fast as three days.
- Is that what happened to you?
- We're working for Lormong Vang.
- Su Lin...
a man named Sawm Cheng has taken your daughter.
I think he's planning to do to her
what Lormong Vang did to you.
I understand why you left...
You couldn't live your life with a man
who forced you to marry him.
But I know there's not a moment
where you're not thinking about Michelle.
She thinks you're dead.
She thinks she's all alone in the world.
- You have me mistaken for someone else.
- How did you know Angela was Michelle's Mother?
- Why else would he make payments to this shelter?
He's swaging his guilt buying her silence.
- And he never remarried because he still is married.
- So Michelle's mother was in love with Sawm.
But Lormong bridenapped her.
- Now Sawm is bridenapping Michelle
to make Lormong suffer like he has.
It's eye for an eye.
- Michelle's mother could be a real help to us right now.
- Whatever Lormong did to her those scars haven't healed.
She's afraid of him.
Afraid of what he'll do if she doesn't keep his secrets.
- You know, she said it could take three days
to brainwash a girl like Michelle.
Day three is almost over. - Right.
(Keys clack)
(Music playing through the headphones)
- Evie...
so why'd you go AWOL from school?
- I went to a party.
You were young once, right?
- Nah, those are just rumors.
You know, your dad really cares about you.
- But he feels guilty that he's always away
so he deals with it by over-compensating
and interfering in my life.
- Did you get that at therapy?
- I'm not in therapy.
- Everyday he makes sacrifices to save other people.
- So I hear.
- Okay, come with me.
- But I thought we were supposed to...
Maxine!
(Door opens and shuts)
(Footsteps thud)
(Floorboard creaks)
♪♪♪
(Door opens)
(Pills rattle)
- What are you doing? - You're drugging her.
- She need rest before the flight.
- Flight? - To Laos, to get married.
You need to leave.
- Michelle! Baby, this is our chance.
Okay. We need to go. Right now.
- No...
You lied to me.
- I didn't know they were gonna take you away.
- I read the letters.
Everything my father said about how happy my mother was,
was a lie. She never loved him.
She loved your father and mine took her away from him.
- But now mine is taking you!
He's doing this for revenge!
- I told you to stay out of this!
- Oof! - Stop!
(Fighting grunts)
(Punching thuds)
- Stop! Stop it!
- Ryan. I want to go.
There's nothing left for me here.
If you really care for me, let me.
- No, Michelle...
(Pained grunts)
(Breathes heavily)
(Low hum of chatter)
- I really appreciated it.
Thanks for coming.
- I know what my dad does, Maxine.
I don't need to be at some boring speech.
- This one you do.
(Readying exhale)
(Knocking) Ryan...
(Knocks)
We just...
we wanna help Michelle.
(Door creaks open)
I can help.
Just tell me where she is.
(Low hum of party chatter)
(Low piano tune plays)
- Okay. I know what you're gonna say
but she needs to see this.
- Mr. Beaumont, I thought I told you.
The police are handling this now.
- We spoke to Ryan Cheng.
They're putting Michelle on a flight to Laos, tonight.
- The police will stop them.
- Michelle is legally an adult.
I believe she's going willingly.
To marry a man she's never met.
Sawm's broken her spirit.
And there's only one thing you can do to stop her.
Say what you did.
Senator, this is not about you or Sawm or your career.
It's not even about Michelle's mother.
This is about Michelle.
- I saw her at a dance.
She was breathtaking.
But she was Sawm's.
And I took her.
Even after Michelle...
she was so unhappy. She wanted to die.
And she never loved me.
But I wouldn't let her take my daughter.
So the best thing for Michelle
was to think her mother was dead.
Everything I did,
I did for them...
- Senator...
it's time for your speech.
- Please bring her home, Mr. Beaumont.
(Low hum of party chatter)
- He might have told us,
but will he tell Sawm?
- It's not Sawm who needs to hear it.
- So if can just do that for me, okay?
- Okay.
(Phone chimes)
(Phone beeps on)
Vang: I saw her at a dance.
She was breathtaking...
♪♪♪
(Doors open)
(Doors shut)
- Get out.
(Michelle grunts)
(Door shuts)
- Michelle is leaving for a fresh start.
Tell him. You want this.
- Michelle, I know they convinced you,
there is nothing here for you. - I want to go.
- You think you know the truth, Mr. Cheng, but you don't.
- He stole the woman I loved.
It broke her heart so much she died.
- She didn't.
(Door opens and shuts)
♪♪♪
- Su Lin.
- My baby.
- Mother?
(Crying)
♪♪♪
(Crying)
♪♪♪
- This is what he does every day?
- Pretty much.
♪♪♪
(Vang on recording) she was Sawm's.
And I took her.
I thought she's settle in the United States
after we had our child.
- Michelle's father said what he did.
That's all you're gonna get.
(Phone beeps on)
(Phone rings)
Vang: Yes.
- Senator Vang, we have her.
- The hardest decision of my life was leaving you.
But I couldn't be with him
and I had nothing when I left.
He had so much - could give you things I never could.
I watched you, you were happy.
I thought I would ruin it... if I came back.
(Exhales)
- This is yours.
- It's part of the set.
You know what the symbol means?
The coil represents the union of two parts,
A mother, a daughter, connected,
growing together.
(Sniffles)
(Water splashes)
- Senator Vang notified the police.
- Sawm and Kaus have been taken into custody.
Ryan too.
- The son pays for the sins of the father.
- I'll just uh...
- You did a good job, Dad.
- Thanks.
I shouldn't have gone all NSA on you. I'm...
I'm sorry.
- And I shouldn't have made it "take your kid to work" day.
But on the bright side, at least I know
you're not missing my flute recitals for nothing.
- (Heavy exhale)
- I don't play the flute, dad.
- I knew that.
On three. One, two, three!
(Rocks skip and splash)