Orpheus Descending (The Killing)

"Orpheus Descending," the thirteenth episode of the American television drama The Killing, aired on June 19, 2011. Nic Pizzolatto and series creator Veena Sud co-wrote the episode, with Brad Anderson directing.

Plot

In this installment, detectives look into Darren Richmond’s connection to Rosie Larsen. Mitch and Stan Larsen talk about what lies ahead for their family. Belko Royce acts to shield the Larsens.

After a quiet, tense moment with Sarah Linden in his apartment, Darren Richmond tells her the myth of Orpheus, who lost his wife by looking back while leaving the underworld. Sarah leaves safely and tells Stephen Holder that Richmond knows they suspect him, but they still need to link him to Rosie. They go to the police impound lot to search the campaign car thoroughly. Sarah notices the gas tank is nearly full and, after checking the car’s records, concludes someone bought gas for it the night Rosie vanished.

Terry Marek drives Stan Larsen home from jail. Stan sees his wife Mitch watching from a second-floor window and drives away in his pickup. He wakes up the next morning in his truck at the cemetery near Rosie’s grave. At home with her father, Mitch looks through scrapbooks from her teenage years and an empty travel journal listing places she wanted to visit.

At the station, Holder tells Sarah that 100 miles on the campaign car’s odometer are unaccounted for. They figure Richmond took a longer route back from the casino via a bridge.

Sarah asks Holder to get footage from a tollbooth camera. On the campaign trail, Richmond tells reporters that rumors of affairs are unfounded. He pulls aside his assistant, Gwen Eaton, admitting to unhealthy behavior after his wife Lily’s death but swearing it stopped when he and Gwen started dating.

Lieutenant Oakes warns Sarah she needs solid evidence to accuse Richmond. Holder shows her a newspaper featuring Richmond’s affairs with photos, noting the women all resemble Rosie. They meet Meg Connell, Gwen’s predecessor, who admits to an affair with Richmond. The detectives check gas stations along the casino route.

Holder speculates Richmond waited until his tank was nearly empty and suggests a station near the park not on their list. The manager there recalls the campaign car and a girl’s screams before the driver sped away. Sarah deduces Rosie broke free and escaped into the forest behind the station.