Castle (2009)

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a missing plastic surgeon who is found dead in the front seat of his car after a week of being parked curbside. As they delve into the twisted world of surgery obsessed patients and secret operations, Castle experiences a fatherly rite of passage as Alexis attends her first prom. And while looking into Beckett’s past, he unearths information that could end his relationship with her forever. MORE -LESS

he found the vic, slumped over with a bag on his head.

From the state of decay, I'd say about a week.

His fiancée, Courtney Morantz. She reported him missing a week ago.

He'd always call. He'd always let me know.

Same reason a recovering alcoholic doesn't drink.

Last Tuesday. He was on his way to meet his fiancée.

- So? - So, she already had three.

Wow. Look at her. How can anyone do that to themselves?

I can assure you, each procedure was medically necessary.

Then I suppose you won't mind telling me where you were last Tuesday night?

of a disgruntled trophy wife turning 50.

Oh, newsflash. She already has body-image issues.

We spend our whole lives trying to feel that way again.

Checkbook. The guy locked up his checkbook.

How about this kind of procedure?

Get this. The hospital can't find the file. It's like it never happened.

Boy, I can't believe my little girl's going to prom.

Something befitting the name of Castle.

that information on a protected witness is confidential.

Without knowing who he is or who's after him,

Richard-frigging-Castle. Master of the macabre.

Thank you.

Professional hits are the hardest to close.

Yeah, hopefully this is a nice surprise as well.

The FBI and the US Attorney's Office have him in Witness Protection.

- Delighted. - Hi. Hi. Hi.

(IMITATING CHRISTOPHER WALKEN) "Whoa! Tell me, little man,

in a black Suburban with tinted windows.

Look, I already told the feds everything I know.

The duct tape, the bag. That was my MO. Don't you get it?

The guy pulls up at the light with a mask on, blew the tires,

And if I were a better cop, I would have.

(SIGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

Wow. I feel like I just lost 30 years of my life.

Hey. I've been reading on the Internet about this new thing called "sleep. "

Phone records don't indicate any calls to unknown numbers.

Because our "low man on the totem pole," Mario Guerrera,

If she left before Leeds' body was found, it would've looked suspicious.

after she was immobilized and on the ground.

When a two-year-old girl is discovered missing from her home, Beckett is called in to assist with the investigation only to discover that the FBI agent in charge is, in fact, her ex-boyfriend. The two of them try to put aside their unresolved feelings as they race to find the girl, but when Castle inserts himself into the investigation, competition quickly heats up for Beckett’s attention. MORE -LESS

He just left his kid?

and probably walked out the back door.

We dated for six months.

Two weeks. Is that the paper or the silk?

Looks like it wasn't a creepy-crawler, after all.

Nina could help.

That doesn't indicate, to me, a control of your emotions.

They said it's everything they have.

So he'd have something for him and Angela, you know, if something

They weren't performing, so I let him go.

Come on, Castle. Come watch from the bleachers with us.

You left that three months ago,

Run him down. Where he was all morning, who can vouch.

I need you to go home.

Well, you're here.

And remember, you is who you is. - Right.

you don't know how your ex-husband stole all your money,

After all, we are pod-mates. Another Martha-ism.

Yeah, thanks.

No.

Missing us.

Yeah. Apparently, we're peas in a pod. But the important point is,

We're talking about the baby and your regretting your decision.

No, no one. My mom even helped me with it.

You jealous, Castle? - Me?

He was over there, too, in Gulf I, and he only lost an arm.

It's not him, Will.

They were detailed, down to the make, model and color of the backpack.

We see police or FBI and she dies. You have the money?

So I'll make the drop.

Too many things could go wrong. He's too emotional.

Look at her go.

Oh, listen, you don't need to explain that, that's

He's quite a guy.

They just sent a text. It says, "We're watching you. "

"1201,1 st. " That's just ahead.

I see the shoeshine stand.

The poster used an IP anonymizer, making it impossible to trace.

If by "remember when" you mean Monkey-Bunkey, who has been washed

I bought her another one, but she knew it was not Monkey-Bunkey.

Oh, my God.

because I'm at work all day and you can "be there for her"?

Do you know how hard it was to adopt her?

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a woman found drowned in motor oil in a motel bathtub. They seek the help of a true crime journalist who might have a connection to the victim.

They were supposed to be out tonight,

Ticket stub for the Metro-North.

Said he knew something was wrong.

Then we had to give up the apartment.

"I'd like to talk to you about your employee, Allison Goldman. "

while he was slipping her something else.

He faxed this to me two hours ago.

this woman was living under a false name? That's crazy.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

"Bobby Socks And Blood. The true story of a cheerleader,

With your mystery buddies?

I am the cops. My name is Detective Kate Beckett.

Murdered? Murdered by who?

Yes. One was killed, one was caught, but Cynthia Dern was never found.

Cynthia told me that on the night of the bombing, she tried to back out.

No, no. Cynthia was really paranoid

Whoa. You're gonna go through with it? But Cynthia's dead.

Still, this is the kind of all-access pass most writers would kill for.

Allison Goldman, A.K.A. Cynthia Dern,

This is hard for him. He's still angry about what happened. We all are.

You know, my family waited 20 years for the cops to find Cynthia Dern,

That's just it. The FBI never knew, because she didn't leave a name.

I spoke with her. I told her to give Cynthia my regards.

I'm the reason that Susan Mailer is dead.

Oh. Well, that is a rather glaring omission.

"Kaboom! The True Story of a Domestic Terrorist Turned Suburban Housewife,

He remembers seeing a guy just like you outside their house

I didn't know if we should call the Feds or what.

After all, she sent the Pikes money year after year.

and I'm not a very truthful person. It'd be too easy to make myself look good.

(CHUCKLES) Oh, okay, Judge. Who was it that appointed you again?

Right. But the bomb was already set,

Oh, what's the matter? You afraid of a little action?

Don't you ever get tired of winning, Castle?

- Susan Mailer, alive? - Her body was never found.

- Didn't he sound positive? - Castle.

but everything I did back then, I did because I thought it would help.

I was, I was too late. When the bomb exploded, I was thrown overboard.

They had a son, medical bills. I was responsible.

- Her plan? - Her plan to murder me.

and that you finally decided to commit suicide.

But I just keep thinking that, if it wasn't for you,

Oh, no, no, no. It's not illegal, it's just slimy.

After discovering a young woman's body stuffed awkwardly into a jewelry safe, Beckett and Castle investigate numerous cases involving murders and home invasion jewel heists.

The first one was three months ago?

RYAN: Maybe the victim's daughter can tell us.

And I'm telling you, it's not your fault.

That's not true. They just save it for fantasy football trades.

So how much did you pay the reviewer?

They used a bump key. Bad guys file down a standard house key,

most of those people got records a lot like yours?

I got an ex-con with a gun and two fresh homicides just looking for a home.

Man, when I hit a wall,

(EXCLAIMS) Where have you been all my life?

You wouldn't use a normal fence for these.

I think it'll be fine.

(GRUNTS)

And to what do I owe the pleasure?

Seeing comes before wanting, Rick.

This new generation. How utterly vulgar.

More often than you'd think, actually. Ours is a very small community.

Tell your friend to keep up his disappearing act,

(CHUCKLES) Embedded reporter, huh? What, you gonna make me famous?

I got this one scene where a guy just like you

CAS TLE: Why not?

a waiter, dog-walker, doorman, personal trainer.

ESPOSITO: So we find an organization that all of our victims supported...

- Not yet. - No. Never.

What about their lives? Do your donors cherish those as well?

Whoa, hey, you seem a little stressed. Hey, you know what you need?

Because you'll show up.

(EXHALES) I was nominated for a Tony once, and...

Well, that, and you are the subject of my next book.

She's only after his money, so to speak. Oh, I'm Ruthie.

Listen, we're having a little gathering next month for our top donors.

I was just talking to the Head of Donor Development over there.

I don't believe this. The two of you are in on it?

as we auction off some of the city's finest items

2,500, beautiful lady in blue. Thank you so much.

Oh! Going once, going twice, sold for $7,000!

He's just a foot soldier. We're looking for his general.

put it all on a flash drive, but he wanted more and more.

and I can't have that on my conscience. Understood?

Castle and Beckett look into the Vudon religion when an immigrant is found tortured in a ritualistic killing. Meanwhile on the homefront Castle must deal with the possible homecoming of Alexis' mother, his first wife.

The blood in the bowl? Most likely animal.

Do you still have the research?

What about Alexis? Maybe she misses her mom.

Which, obviously, isn't much.

My junior year, I spent abroad in Nigeria.

practiced by millions of people across the world every day.

This is what they found.

Find out what you can about Darcy. See if she knew our first victim.

Who would do something like this?

- Looks like he decided to stay. - Lucky him.

Hands! Show me your hands!

I don't know this woman. I haven't killed anyone.

But Jamal was not a thief. Oni insisted.

No listing in the Tri-State area, and the address is a PO box in Jersey.

Oh, Beckett. Your new muse. Alexis told me all about it,

More tragic, of course, if it had been the real thing, but still...

That's Oni. That's Oni.

You know, Meredith kidnapped Alexis from school today.

Why do you think she's moving back to New York?

I never understood why we never shut these guys down.

CASTLE: That's weird. Shredded, like our victim's purse.

You know, knockoffs would be the perfect delivery system for a smuggler.

I mean, you would not believe the things people do in front of a camera.

But this guy, he seemed heavy.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Azi, the man that you intimidated into finding Jamal,

Former child soldier. They call him the Butcher of Benin.

- Yeah. Our first vic, Jamal? - Yeah.

You don't need a vest.

It's for Alexis, too.

See? Not a complete bust.

So, we're looking for a yoga studio near a Java Loft,

Give me the passport!

I've only got two rounds left.

(POPS)

And you know what that means, don't you? It means you owe me.

Hypothetically, is it okay to love someone,

Castle and Beckett investigate the murder of a women found frozen and tangled in steel bars at a construction site. The case leads them to look into an old case and also has Beckett thinking about some memories of her past.

And when he comes around, she's gone. Street's totally empty.

as close as you might think.

- How'd you get her ID? - Her fingerprints were in the system.

A day? That doesn't make any sense.

There's no evidence of foul play, so the detective just closed the case.

- How long have you lived here? - About eight months.

and was about to go to the police with it.

(GIRLS LAUGHING)

We're aware your daughter had some issues.

What the hell's the difference? I mean,

Her parents led us to believe that you were pretty sure that she'd run off.

We had reports of her in Philly with a meth-head ex-boyfriend.

That what happened to your dad?

What body? I don't know what you're talking about.

You could have called the cops.

You know, we have air conditioning.

Mr. Wyler, the detective investigating Melanie's disappearance

BECKETT: Kevin Henson, Melanie's ex-boyfriend.

Sometimes when we were alone together...

That's where I was when she disappeared.

What about him?

We were both pretty unhappy at the time.

When I found out she was missing, I broke things off.

I sense fear in you.

- (CHUCKLES) Manners! - Right!

Yeah.

with his wife's body?

go to where the killer was and see what problems he had to face.

So, they're, what? Watching TV in the bedroom.

Yeah. Maybe the cabbie and the doorman

What do you mean, "Sort everything out"?

That's the same kind of truck we saw outside Charles Wyler's store.

He said he needed me to come over right away.

You made the payments?

Ironic that such a selfish act ultimately revealed the truth.

why would you talk to the neighbor about a freezer delivery?

You could just leave it like this.

Sir, I'm gonna have to take you with me down to the station.

I kept going over everything Sam said,

Well, you could certainly understand how a father might want to.

and she was gonna meet us at the restaurant.

So, I guess your Nikki Heat has a back-story now, Castle.

The investigation behind a body found wrapped in a rug on the sidewalk leads Castle and Beckett deep inside the world of New York City politics. The partners discover a world of expensive escorts, arrogant tycoons, corrupt investigators, and the effects of betrayal.

Did he seem troubled, like there was something wrong?

Thanks for not making it a joke.

I should really get that.

Hang on, kiddo. Hang on.

54th and lex.

A real robber would have left the wallet where he killed the guy,

Where was the fund-Raiser?

On the lower east side.

That was gonna be the end of the world.

I thought maybe she might be able

Creason? What makes you think he didn't do it?

No, but you know what it is? Memorable.

Wait, wait, wait. Hold on one sec. Hold on.

Mr. Bollinger's my father. Call me jason.

How is that so sexist?

Mr. Family values tells his wife he's gonna work late,

Are you counting my marriages?

Castle, you can't just call and arrange a date with a prostitute.

I got you... an espresso machine.

And you always say you have to love your characters.

Of course hers was literature, but still, i...

Hey.

Once, maybe twice a week.

Look, this just pays the bills.

No, but i would like a list.

Without the campaign finding out.

Look, dective...

The same caliber that killed councilman horn.

He wanted to know what it would take to make it all go away forever.

It's so bad, it might be true.

Detective... with all due respect,

Yeah, and if you don't show, she will...

I have a family, detective beckett.

So what do you think happened that night?

You were outraged.

Conspiracy to commit murder is the same as murder,

All i had to do was make a call.

And we were gonna change the world.

Politics was nesbit's life.

Oops! Sorry. Sorry.

When a teenaged boy whose family has recently fallen on hard times is found dead in a boat in Central Park, Castle and Beckett must piece together the mystery behind the boy's final moments. Meanwhile, Castle mulls over leaving Martha home while he chaperones Alexis' trip to Washington, D.C.

No, he seemed happy.

Hey, I'm a wise-ass, not a jackass.

Oh, Mother, slow down. What's wrong?

(EXCLAIMING IN ANTICIPATION)

That's gross. Gross.

It's a sloppy cover-up, but it does tell us one thing.

- That's just a dozen blocks from here. - Yeah.

Neighbors didn't want a bunch of drunken

So, I guess we could say you had motive.

Castle, what are you doing?

- He's totally the red herring. - The red herring?

Here it comes, and...

Yeah, but not for long.

Well, he seems to think that you have some information on Horn.

Yes, I did. And then I saw him.

Twenty minutes later, he is "polling his constituency. "

You don't just pay for the two minutes that you used.

I'm just a lonely upscale gentleman looking for a date. Bet I find her first.

That's part of the delivery, right? Excellent.

Found out why your books aren't selling. Listen to this review.

Funny. Neither do I.

because the people in their lives don't listen anymore.

Yeah, he was desperate to find out who was behind it.

But if you release those photos, you'll be doing irreparable harm

Detective Beckett, we cross-referenced Horn's campaign payouts

I never thought he'd say yes. He did. He got the money.

Then Horn had a quarter-million dollars on him when he was killed.

(CROWD APPLAUDING)

But anything else and you're on your own.

or reading to a crowd,

and you needed a quarter of a million dollars, where would you get it?

My wonderful husband forged my signature on the papers,

And that was the last thing he said to me.

Mr. Nesbit, you have the right to remain silent. Any...

"squeezing it for the very last time.

When a body of a young woman is found inside the dryer at a laundry room, Castle and Beckett uncover that the young woman worked as a nanny in the upscale building. Meanwhile, as Castle works on his "Nikki Heat" novel series he watches Beckett's actions as she works the murder case.

She just has a gift with kids, you know?

One of us is then home for dinner.

- Uh, I don't think Sara ever mentioned it. - Not to me, either.

Well, if it is, CSU will find it.

rides the elevator back down to the basement again.

- Who? - 8-B. Quiet guy.

When he looked into her vacant, lifeless eyes,

Just saying, better story. Coffee?

So who got killed today?

You know, not everybody can sit at home

Which means I am one-quarter responsible for your success as well.

The heat from the dryer makes it hard to pinpoint.

would have been smart enough not to have sex in the laundry room.

You can't just not call me back, Sara. Don't be a bitch.

If I had loved her? Wow. I don't know

But just don't leave town until we speak again.

You used to take your daughter to the park?

Hmm.

and heard that the Petersons were looking for someone.

Sometimes Sara would stay late.

those were the only nights Sara stayed late.

Hi. Remember us?

Come on, you gotta guess.

It would have been easy to sneak into the building.

Because my cheating husband has no idea

The police just let you burn a DVD?

It's in her hand the first time she brings the clothes down

It takes 32 seconds to get from the basement to the 12th floor.

- I'm sorry. Do you live here alone? - Yeah. Why you wanna know?

She and Sara were friends,

So... Tuesday.

You know, maybe you should talk to Chloe about this.

You followed her in the basement, and then you killed her.

We're just trying to check out his story.

- Can I help you? - Does Chloe Richardson live here?

I got a victim down, guys. Stack them up.

Please just go away.

Only the whole time, he was sleeping with me.

She didn't get how we felt about each other.

Author Richard Castle joins NYC Detective Kate Beckett to help solve the case of a serial killer, who is reenacting murders from Castle's novels. Castle becomes very intrigued with the murders and continues to shadow Beckett, much to her chagrin.

Yeah. Real messy, too. Big exit wound.

Really, doll face, who does homework at a party?

Whatever I have and haven't done,

There were no more surprises. I knew exactly what was gonna happen

Mr. Castle. You've got quite a rap sheet for a best-selling author.

You have no idea how jealous those would make them.

Hey, kiddo! I'm just showing Burt here how we did it at the Palace.

No, we had a deal. Surf all the Internet you want. Stay off the fan sites.

Maybe because he's psychotic. Come on. It's bedtime.

someone who has, or thinks he has, a personal relationship with our author.

You don't care about the victims, so you aren't here for justice.

Well, you're not bridge-and-tunnel. No trace of the boroughs when you talk.

And that, Detective Beckett, is why you're here.

- A week? - Welcome to reality, superstar.

No, no. I get it. I can call the mayor, and you can't.

Um, you just stay here and don't touch anything.

Yeah, I know. Can I have a word?

Twenty-two caliber.

Yeah. Her files indicate that he was on pretty heavy antipsychotics.

I know that look. Story trouble.

Well, that leads the cops to his apartment,

MARTHA: I wish I could say I was surprised.

Marvin Fisk, first murder. Kyle knew him from the diner.

How do you get away with one murder by committing two more?

Thank you, sir.

Well, now there is. You got hot mustard?

My employees mess up, I lose my bond.

Actually, I was out of the country for all three murders.

Perfect alibi, perfect murder.

We need a search warrant. She needs a search warrant.

Thank you, sir.

Castle, if you're going in, you should be armed.

He's coming down the fire escape.

- Let him go, Harrison! - Come on!

- Who are you? - Harrison, let him go. It's over.