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1
I can hear you
staring at her.
I'm not staring.
You think she'd go with me?
I don't know.
Look, what the worst
that could happen, she says no?
It wouldn't be the first
time you heard it.
And the blue lace trim
will go perfect with my eyes.
Your eyes are brown.
Contacts.
Duh.
Now all I need
is the perfect date.
[Text message ding]
There's a car in the road.
- Did he run out of gas?
- What's going on?
That sucks.
Should I call for help?
Uh, probably just a flat.
I need you all
to remain in your seats.
[All groaning]
Driver:
Everybody quiet down!
You all right?
[Screaming and shouting]
Come on.
[Elevator bell dings]
Kevin.
I need you.
Hey, I got your text.
I've been meaning to call you
back about dinner the other night.
Look, I had
a really great time.
Oh, uh,
what are you talking--
No.
Have you seen the news?
No.
Why? What's going on?
We need all hands on deck.
What we have
is a school bus abduction
which occurred at approximately
What we do know is there
were 24 students on board,
along with the driver
and a monitor.
GPS appears to have been
disabled.
Last known ping was
a little over two hours ago.
Highway patrol has traced
the route it was last traveling
but found no signs
of any accidents.
We have helicopters and
ground units in the D.
C.
area
working local search and rescue.
Which means we're likely dealing
with more than one unsub.
We've attempted to contact
everyone on board,
but so far all calls
have gone unanswered.
But we can confirm that
the students dropped off
at the first two stops
have been accounted for.
The average school bus
holds approximately
making it possible for them to travel
up to 550 miles on a single tank.
Which is why we believe
they're still within a 200-mile radius.
It could be a kidnapping,
but we can't rule out
anything from a terrorist act
to a child trafficking ring.
How does a busful of kids
just vanish into thin air?
It doesn't.
Whoever's got them's
got a two-hour head start.
We're treating this
as a mass abduction.
The SUVs are outside and we'll set
up our command post at Central High.
[Driver groaning]
[Groaning]
[Gunshot]
[Screaming and shouting]
Criminal Minds s08e08
The Wheels On The Bus
Synced by Ali's Ultimately
♪
Hotch: French novelist
Jean Giraudoux said,
"I'm not afraid of death.
"It's the stake one puts up
in order
to play the game of life.
"
Ok, thanks.
Local P.
D.
says they just found
a backpack full of
the kids' cell phones
half a mile
from the second bus stop.
Disarming the GPS,
disposing of cell phones
feels less random
and more premeditated.
There were 7 other buses
from different schools on their route.
Why target
this particular bus?
Maybe a group of kids
got together to pull it off?
Waited for their friends
to get off at an earlier
stop, then made their move.
Ok, I'm checking school
disciplinary records
seeing if I can find
any recent suspensions.
It could be about
a specific target
and the other kids
just got in the way.
[Cell phone rings]
Alex, you're on speaker.
Uh, I've been looking over
the personnel files
of the bus driver,
Roy Webster.
Something isn't adding up.
What did you find?
Over the past 3 years,
Webster had several
altercations with students
but was never formally
reprimanded.
It sounds like the school
hasn't told us the whole story.
We know how disrespectful
some teenagers can be.
Maybe he snapped.
It could be payback
for years of abuse.
What about the woman
who was on the bus?
That would be Carol Roberts,
retired teacher,
assigned to monitor
Webster's bus 6 months ago.
What's that about?
I took a bus
all through high school.
We never had a monitor.
Makes you wonder
who she was there
to keep an eye on--
the kids or Webster?
Please, it's too tight.
Just let us go.
We won't tell anyone.
[Beeping]
Hey, hey, wait, wait.
Wait!
Morgan: Addyson transferred
to Central High last year.
Did she mention any enemies?
So Sean's been riding the bus
since he was a freshman?
Did he have any run-ins
with Mr.
Webster?
I know this is difficult
for both of you.
I just have
a couple of questions.
Billy's a sophomore, right?
Can you tell me
a little bit about him?
He's a good kid.
He stays out of trouble
for the most part.
Been just the two of us
for a while.
His dad passed
when he was 10.
Please, find my baby.
He's all I've got.
I compiled background info
on every kid on that bus.
Their cell phone records,
their texts, Twitter feeds,
Facebook activity, everything.
Great.
Can you help me
go through these SIM cards?
Thanks, by the way.
Of course.
Uh, that's, uh, Sean Parker.
He never posts
a status update
without being witty
or sarcastic.
That's Trent Walker,
your classic
high school jock.
Oh, my God.
That's Addyson Jones.
Look at the time.
That was taken
while they were
still on the bus.
That's right before
they went missing.
[Indistinct chatter]
In the Chowchilla case,
the unsub used car trouble
as a ruse to get
the bus driver's attention.
Yeah, I remember.
The driver became
a hero overnight.
The most isolated part of the highway.
It's surrounded by nothing.
No witnesses.
Nobody to interrupt.
Making them
the perfect target.
Mm.
Mr.
Webster has worked
with the school for 15 years.
According to his file,
he was never reprimanded
for the altercations
he had with the students.
Why is that?
He agreed to complete
mandated classes.
In exchange, the incidents
wouldn't go on his record.
Were the parents made aware
of the school's disciplinary actions?
Look, being a bus driver
can be stressful.
You're responsible for getting
these kids to and from school.
Add a few unruly teens and
someone's bound to bump heads.
Is that why Carol Roberts was
assigned to monitor the bus?
Agent Hotchner.
We found a body.
[Indistinct police radio]
It's Roy Webster.
He suffered
two bullet wounds.
The first was a clean shot
to his left leg.
The second in his chest.
Why not go for
the kill first?
They probably still
needed him to drive.
If they dumped Webster
this quickly,
I'm sure Carol Roberts
isn't far behind.
There's no way somebody
pulled this off alone.
One unsub probably
controlled the adults
and one controlled
the kids.
Well, why get rid of them before
they reached their destination?
[Cell phone rings]
You're on speaker, Garcia.
Hey, I reran the last
GPS signal of the bus
through a proxy server,
retracing the route,
and it turns out that the signal
was never disabled,
it was just masked.
So I sent
the coordinates to your phones.
This is less than
a mile away.
Bus is all clear!
Morgan.
All clear.
Grab that pack.
[Dog barking]
Northeast corner clear.
[Over radio]
South corner clear.
Barn was registered
to a Violet Burgin.
She died a few months back.
It's been abandoned
every since.
Making this a perfect
transfer point.
[Barking]
They found something.
Please don't hurt us.
It's ok.
You guys are safe now.
There's only 14 here.
We need to find the other 10.
Move!
Are you ok?
Oh!
Uhh!
He's mine.
Why only take
some of the kids?
Smaller numbers.
Easier to control.
If this was a child
trafficking ring,
they wouldn't have left
any of them behind
regardless of the risk.
Whatever the reason,
they only needed 10.
[Rattling]
What do you want with us?!
I don't hear anything.
Do you?
No.
Mine is dead, too.
What is this thing?
Where are we?
What happened
to Mrs.
Roberts?
They probably killed her
like they did Mr.
Webster.
[Crying]
They're gonna kill us, too.
- Sean.
- Cut it out.
Why do you think
they took their masks off?
[Static]
Welcome to hell, people.
Did you hear that?
Number 2 and number 5
step forward.
- Wait, am I number 2?
- Who's number 5?
It's you, man.
Addy
Let's go.
It's time.
The rules are simple.
You follow our
instructions, you live.
You don't
[Click]
[Screaming, electricity zapping]
That's enough.
They got the message.
You ready?
May the best man win.
[Gasping, crying]
You ok, Addyson?
I'm fine.
You all right?
Yeah.
What was that?
Players, the game
will commence
in 3
[Indistinct chatter]
Well, whenever I'm trying
to remember important details,
I find it really helps
if I close my eyes
and try to relax.
Mm.
Yeah, that's great.
You guys were on your way
home from school.
Can you tell me
what happened next?
The bus had stopped.
Think he ran out of gas?
That sucks.
Are you all right?
Is everything--
[gunshot]
[Screaming]
He shot Mr.
Webster
in the[Gasping]
Ok.
All right.
All right.
Slow down.
All right.
Let's go back.
Let's go back.
Did you get a look at the man
who shot Mr.
Webster?
No.
He wore a mask.
What type of mask?
Like a gas mask.
What happened next?
They both had guns.
One walked up and down
the aisle
while the other one
just stood there.
So there were
two of them?
Ok.
Then what happened
when you arrived at the barn?
They lined us up.
Our hands were tied.
I was so scared.
I wanted to run,
but they had guns.
They put collars
around our necks.
That's when they
started taking turns.
Taking turns doing what?
[Crying]
Picking.
[Overlapping chatter]
Where's Billy?
They said
you found the bus.
There's still a number
of students unaccounted for.
But we're still looking.
Oh, my God.
Stop it!
I can't open it.
These things aren't
budging, Billy.
No matter what,
we stick together, ok?
Ok?
Ok.
How about we get
the adrenaline going, huh?
It's all about endurance.
Training is as important
as the battle itself.
There's a table at
the end of the hallway
with a box on it.
Open it.
What's in it?
It's a flashlight.
What's this for?
Look to your left.
JJ: Dividing them into groups--
you think that was
to maintain control?
Mm, could be, but how do you
explain the shock collars?
Torture.
Still, there doesn't
seem to be any method
to how or why
they were chosen.
Ok, so far we have
two white males, early 20s,
and wore gas masks,
of all things.
Abducting a bus,
a form of transportation,
gas masks, shock collars.
Dividing people into teams.
This sounds a lot like
"Gods of Combat.
"
This is a video game.
[Hissing]
Oh!
It's ok.
It's just a little steam.
Almost there.
Now what?
I'm gonna get you
out of here safely.
To do that, I'm gonna need you
to follow my orders.
It's important that you listen
to each command.
Take the one on the right.
He's telling me
to take a right.
Addyson, I know
what you're thinking.
Don't follow him.
It's not worth it.
Take the path
to the left.
Why?
Just trust me.
I'm not leaving you behind.
Aah!
[Electrical zapping]
You see what you
made me do?
Aah!
Trent, just go.
Just do what they say.
Don't make me do it again.
These guys are replicating
a video game?
In the game, you take over
a form of public transportation.
Subway, train, bus.
That's how you get
your players.
Wait a minute.
You've played
this game before?
Well, I may have
played it once or twice.
As I remember, the game consists
of 5 players.
Captain, lieutenant,
a pair of soldiers,
and the pawn.
Maybe the unsubs picked them
based on their personality type.
Well, Sage and Trent
are both athletic.
So they probably would have been
considered lieutenants.
Wendy would most likely
have been considered the pawn.
They preselected
these kids.
Probably got details about their lives
from social media sites.
Most teens don't use privacy settings.
Anyone can gain access.
They planned their attacks
and struck the bus
when it was most vulnerable.
That explains why the unsubs
only needed 10 of these kids
and left the rest behind.
So how do the collars
fit into all this?
They're used
to keep your player
from straying
from their mission.
The object of the game
is to destroy
as many of your
opponents as possible.
The one with the highest
body count wins.
[Gasps]
[Squeaking]
It's just a rat.
Don't worry,
you'll get used to those.
[Squeaking]
Oh!
[Clatter]
What? It's only blood.
You haven't even
gotten to the best part.
[Gasps] Oh, my God!
Ohh!
[Overlapping chatter,
police radio communications]
My captain's asking
for an update.
He wants to release
a statement.
We're just concerned
if we release certain details
that we'll have
copycats.
Can you at least
give me something?
What kind of people
are we dealing with?
Well, based on the unsubs'
behavior at this point,
we believe they suffer from
an extreme gaming addiction.
They're avid gamers,
involved in the multi-user
online first-person shooter game,
"Gods of Combat.
"
Hotch: And like any addiction,
this took over their lives
and became an obsession.
Morgan: We think
that this video game
aggravated a pre-existing
affinity for violence.
Hotch: Then something
blurred the lines
between fantasy violence
and real violence.
They've managed
to depersonalize these kids
as a way of rationalizing
the body count.
And playing this game
taught them to be methodical
and dangerously strategic.
The fact
that they're mimicking
specific and unique
elements of this particular game
will help us predict
their behavior.
They probably
met online.
We think these unsubs
chose these particular kids
because they
displayed certain traits
that matched the
characters from the game.
These kids are motivated
and positive
when the game goes the way
that they want it to.
On the other hand,
if the game doesn't go as well,
they will be
the opposite--
blinded with utter rage.
[Scoffs]
Snap out of it.
All right? Let's focus.
There's a key in her sweater pocket.
Go grab it.
Move!
Ok.
Now put it on.
See? That wasn't so bad,
now, was it?
So these guys
just got together
and decided
to pull this thing off?
You know, something
this elaborate,
it's likely they've known each other
for years, actually.
Hey, I just got off
the phone with the people
who produce
"Gods of Combat.
"
Turns out they have
are D.
C.
residents.
Garcia, if they're capable
of this type of violence in real life,
do you think we'd see
some sort of evidence of it
in their gaming history?
What type of evidence?
Yeah, he's talking about
the universal
online gaming
code of conduct.
Sure.
It prevents against
stuff like harassing,
threatening other players,
cyber-bullying, that kind of thing.
How's this supposed
to help us find these kids?
Instead of looking
for people who play the game,
we need to look for people
who were kicked out.
What do you think
is happening to them?
I don't know, Wendy.
You think they're dead?
I said I don't know.
Come on.
Let's stick together, ok?
Yeah?
Hey, guys, I think
I found something.
When I downloaded
the TPF file,
I was able to extract
the source code
and generate an outpost based on
blacklisted hell mod players.
English, please?
Oh, yeah.
Mod levels are hacked
modifications
to the game.
They were not a part
of the original game design.
They're secret levels.
The only ones who could find them
are those that know
they even exist.
And the hell mod in this
game was like
a battle royale.
I mean,
literally, anything goes.
There are no rules.
If you get killed off
playing hell mod,
your entire gaming
profile is deleted.
A profile that would have
taken years for them to build.
Their sudden loss
of access to their game
could be what spun them
out of control.
Let me get this straight.
Instead of starting over,
they decided to build
their own game?
It's more than that.
This is a competition.
Trent, she's catching up.
Hurry up!
Come on, man.
Come on! Come on!
Damn it!
You blew the lead.
What happened to you?
Don't listen to her.
Keep going!
Unlock the box,
then blow his brains out.
What?
You complete this mission,
you move to the next round.
The next
What--what is this?
Make me proud.
I did what you wanted
already!
Trent, what's happening?
Focus, dude.
Say something!Happening?
Trent!
You know, I wonder
what your family would say.
What, you didn't think
I did my research?
I can't believe
you're blowing it!
Damn it, Trent!
You still live
on Deep Wood lane?
Maybe I should go get
your little brother Dylan
to come and take
your place.
He takes the bus, too,
right?
No.
Please don't hurt them.
Hurry up, Trent!
Use the key to open
the box on the table.
You'll thank me later.
That's the barrel.
It doesn't fit there.
Hurry up.
Hurry up, Addyson,
he's almost there.
Load it.
Load it! You got it.
You got it!
Go on, shoot him.
Shoot him!
Shoot her! Shoot her!
Yes!
Ohh!
Oh
Ok, a month ago two players
were kicked out at the same time
for hacking into hell mod.
Previous to that,
they both logged thousands
of hours playing the game,
dating back to early 2000.
You got any names, Garcia?
No, just online handles,
but--
you know what's weird?
They were both playing
from the same IP address.
So they live together.
They're roommates, maybe?
Or siblings.
Did you see that?
She just walked up
to him and boom!
It's just the first round.
Trent.
Oh, my God.
Oh, you felt that rush,
didn't you?
I knew you would.
No.
I didn't feel anything.
Trent, I'm sorry.
He made me do it.
Oh, yeah.
Not knowing whether
it was gonna be you or him
lying in that pool of blood.
[Vomiting]
Hey, you gotta
pull yourself together.
It's time to meet
your next opponent.
Girl.
Dude, I beat you
with a girl.
I get it.
Let me show you again.
Boom!
[Gunshot]
[Laughs]
[Sighs]
Let's go.
Come on.
Round 2.
All right.
Let's go, number 4.
You're up.
[Electricity zapping]
[Gasping and choking]
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
Maybe you didn't
understand me the first time.
I'm going.
Ok.
It's ok.
[Buzzer]
I'll take her place!
I'll take her place.
Dude, no, that's not
part of the rules.
It's ok.
Wait!
No!
[Screaming]
Wendy! Oh, Wendy, God!
Why are you doing this?!
You guys are crazy!
Hey, what the hell
was that?
What? He volunteered.
You don't need her anymore.
She was my player.
Oh, come on.
She was your pawn.
She was gonna die anyway.
You don't know that.
Can we please
get back to the game?
Take the corridor
to your left.
There's a box
with a gun near the end.
Take it.
You're gonna need it.
[Sighs]
It doesn't make any sense.
It they are siblings, how do you
explain the gaps in time
when they weren't logged in
at the same location?
Yeah, it looks like
it happened several times a year,
sometimes from
different states.
Maybe their parents
got divorced.
Maybe the parents got divorced.
Maybe the parents
got divorced.
Leave it to the genius
to come up with the obvious.
Here we go.
Here we go.
Joshua and Matthew Moore.
They both went to Central High.
Their parents worked
two jobs each to make ends meet.
Led to a messy divorce.
Joshua went to live
with his dad in Arizona.
Matthew stayed with
his mom in D.
C.
That's how they knew
when to strike.
They probably rode
the same bus route.
Long hours, different schedules.
They were latchkey kids.
Video games became
their sitters.
Reid: As they got older,
they got more competitive
and it became more about
bragging rights.
JJ: This game became
the core of their sibling rivalry.
Only it wasn't just a game.
"Gods of Combat"
was their one constant
connection to one another.
Oh, come on, Addyson,
get over it.
There's casualties
in every war.
Let's go.
Your enemy's closing in.
Are you all right?
What happened?
Don't come near me.
Oh.
What's going on?
Where's Trent?
Take out your gun
and shoot her.
She already killed Trent.
Trent--Trent's dead?
I had no choice.
You're going to be next.
It's either her or you, Billy.
No.
They said
they'd hurt my family.
Shoot her!
Now!
I'm sorry, Billy.
- Shoot her!
- Shoot him.
Clear!
Clear!
If they're in here together,
why are they using these?
It's what they're using
to communicate with their players.
Uhhh!
[Beep]
I recognize that "uhh.
"
I have gone through
every frequency and wavelength
and I haven't been able
to pick up on anything.
All right,
well, just slow down.
I'm frustrated.
I get that.
All right, let's go back.
You've checked Audix?
Yes.
All right.
Nady Systems? AKG?
Electrovoice? VocoPro?
Yes, yes, and yes.
I've gone through every frequency
in the frickin' northern hemisphere
and nothing.
I don't know.
I mean, these are
the only frequencies that I know
that are aboveground.
Wait.
Underground.
No, I said aboveground.
E-L-F,
extremely low frequency.
It's the only one
that can penetrate underground!
[Beep]
Got a hit.
You have lipstick
on your face.
Picked up a ping
on the E.
L.
F.
It's emanating from somewhere
in this 25-mile radius, west of Bolivar.
What fits?
Well, there's a few old factories and
a couple of bunkers from the seventies.
What is this?
The old paper mill.
You know, given the size
and location,
that could be
the perfect spot.
I'm gonna pull
the schematics.
Find him.
He's in there.
If you miss this time, you'll be sorry.
Oh, come on.
It froze!
Hello? Can anyone hear me?
If someone is there,
please say something.
My name is Penelope
and I'm with the FBI.
They're listening to us.
No, no, wait, listen.
You're safe.
I just--
I isolated the signal.
They can't hear us right now.
What is your name?
I'm
I'm Billy.
You gotta help us.
What the hell is he doing?
Why isn't it working?
[Loud static]
What the hell was that?
I don't know.
It was working
fine a second ago.
Damn it!
Lost the signal.
I bet that *** screwed up
something with that last shot.
No.
Somebody's interfering
with the signal.
You did this, didn't you?
Me?
What the hell
are you talking about?
[*** weapon]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Matt, you gotta be
kidding me.
Listen, Billy, we are
on our way right now.
You just need to hang tight
a little while longer.
I know you're
wearing a collar.
Yeah.
I'm gonna help you
take it off.
Ok?
I tried that already.
It keeps shocking me.
Billy, listen to me.
They can't
hurt you anymore.
Got it?
Um
Ok.
There you you.
Ok.
Now, I want you to find me
something sharp in there.
All right.
Remember, when mom
and dad split up,
we made a promise
That we'd stick
together always.
It's us against
the world, dude.
It's always been
that way.
Come on.
Put down the gun.
[Sirens]
What? Where is it?
Someone hacked into
our signal.
They know where we are.
Make sure that you--
Billy?
Billy,
can you hear me?
What happened?
They shut down
the system.
Shh, shh, shh.
Listen to me, ok?
The police
are on the way.
They can't hurt us
anymore.
Ok, Addyson?
Hold still.
I'm going to
get the shock collar off.
I had to reboot
the whole system.
It's gonna be a few hours.
Where are you going?
I'm not waiting.
What are you doing?
There's only one way
to finish this.
[*** weapon]
Game on.
Shh, shh.
Oh, no.
Come on.
Ok.
You can do it.
You can do it.
Ok.
Ok.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
You got it.
Ok.
Ok.
Ok.
No! No!
Where do you think
you're going, huh?
Uh-uh.
Now is not the time
to play hero.
Let her go!
Unless you want her blood
on your hands,
literally,
you'll put the gun down.
Billy.
Just put it down.
Go ahead.
Listen to the girl.
Do it!
You, come on.
Come on!
Let's go.
That's it.
That's it.
Billy
Uhh!
Now, I'm gonna do what
my players couldn't.
Hotch:
Drop the gun, Matt.
It's ok, it's over.
Come on.
FBI! Drop your weapon!
I'm Agent Morgan.
This is Agent Rossi.
We're the good guys.
But drop the gun.
How do I know this isn't
part of the game?
Kid, you gotta trust me,
just like you trusted
my friend Penelope.
Come on, now.
I know you're scared,
but don't do anything
stupid.
Rossi: Drop the weapon!
[Gunshot]
[Indistinct chatter]
Mom
My baby boy!
I'm so sorry, Trent.
Where's Josh?
Where's my brother?
Where's Josh?
You answer me.
Where's my brother?
He's dead?
I guess I won.
Morgan: Frederick Douglass said,
"It is easier to build
strong children
than to repair broken men.
"
[Elevator bell dings]
Hey.
Thanks for everything today.
I'm glad I could help.
Um, do you want
to go and get a drink with me,
right now, talk?
Oh, um
I, uh
I kind of already
have plans.
Oh.
It's just that we have
reservations and stuff.
Yeah, I get it.
You don't have to explain.
I'll see you around.
Right.
See you around.
[Footsteps approach]
[Sighs]
How you doing?
Do you ever have
one of those days
that you want to unplug
from everything
Literally?
Give me your phone.
And your tablet.
And your other phone.
Ok.
Tonight you're coming
to my house.
We're going to listen
to Tony Bennett on vinyl
and drink
I don't drink scotch.
You'll learn.
Thanks.
Anytime.
[Cell phone rings]