Sadie(68)

And Mattie, clinging to those words until they pushed her into the passenger’s side of a truck driven by the stranger who would go on to kill her.

If I’m being honest, the enormity of what Claire revealed to me in that orchard still hasn’t hit me yet: She was never in L.A.

Sadie sent the postcard.


WEST McCRAY:

My God.


WEST McCRAY [STUDIO]: Sadie’s circumstances often forced her to compensate. When Claire left, Sadie saw Mattie sink into a deep, unreachable depression and threw out one desperate lifeline—a postcard in her mother’s handwriting—and it worked. But it also became the crack between them, something their relationship would never get the chance to recover from. Because of that postcard—and though it’s by no means Sadie’s fault—Mattie ran away and was murdered … and Sadie has moved through every moment since her little sister’s death knowing that.

Does any part of her believe she’s responsible?

The weight of that guilt.

I can’t imagine it.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

I loved my mother. She never gave up on me. Loved me, no matter how bad I fucked up. And maybe that wasn’t the best thing for me, but God, when I think of her, I just think of that love. And when she died, it was gone. May Beth … she didn’t have anything for me. So I thought Sadie—I thought Sadie would. And we all know how that turned out.

It hurt, her hating me. I couldn’t stand it. I had to push her away, otherwise I’d want for her. And I’ve made my peace with that. And Mattie—Mattie was so much easier. And neither of ’em—neither of ’em deserved this.


WEST McCRAY:

We could still find Sadie.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

I might be far, far away when you do.


WEST McCRAY:

Claire …


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

What happened to Mattie is killing me and that’s all I’m willing to take.


WEST McCRAY:

I don’t think that’s how it works.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Well, that’s how I work. [PAUSE] You should be with your daughter. What the hell are you doing out here looking for mine?


WEST McCRAY:

Nobody else was.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

That’s not why.


WEST McCRAY:

Well … having a daughter of my own has made me— CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Don’t even finish that sentence.


WEST McCRAY:

Claire—


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

You’re doing this because your daughter opened your eyes, is that it? Having a little girl makes you realize, what, there’s a whole big, bad, dirty world out there? So now you’re going to try to save mine from it and pat yourself on the back for leaving it a little cleaner than it was?


WEST McCRAY:

No.

[PAUSE]


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

I’m not an idiot, you know. I see the way you look at May Beth sometimes, when she’s talking, like we’re such poor little fools. You think you can take our pain, turn it into something for yourself. A show. A show …

I’ve been used by men my whole life, and you want the truth, I don’t think you’re going to be any different.


WEST McCRAY:

Claire, if you want the truth, I didn’t even want this story. And the more I have it, the less I want it because I don’t think it’s headed anywhere good. But I’m in this now, so I have to see it through.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Well, that makes me feel so much better.


WEST McCRAY: I don’t know if I’m getting close with Sadie, but I’ve learned a few things. I need you to tell me about Keith.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Keith?


WEST McCRAY:

The guy Sadie’s looking for, the one she’s been calling Darren? We’ve figured out that Darren is actually Keith. What can you tell me about Keith?


WEST McCRAY [STUDIO]: She asks if we can go back to the trailer, where May Beth is waiting. May Beth isn’t happy, but she takes one look at Claire and puts the kettle on.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

I need a drink.


MAY BETH FOSTER:

You can get right the hell out, you’re going to be doing that.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Jesus, May Beth, just because I want one, doesn’t mean I’m gonna have one.


WEST McCRAY:

Whenever you’re ready.


MAY BETH FOSTER:

Ready for what?


WEST McCRAY:

To talk about Keith.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Keith was a mistake.


MAY BETH FOSTER:

He did his best to help you and you threw it away, like you do everything.


CLAIRE SOUTHERN:

Can she leave?


WEST McCRAY:

May Beth, if you can’t let Claire tell it the way she remembers it, I’m going to have to ask you to please give us some time alone.


MAY BETH FOSTER:

This is my house. Are you kidding me?


WEST McCRAY:

This isn’t about either of you. It’s about Sadie.


MAY BETH FOSTER:

Fine. Have the place, I don’t give a damn.