Lone Wolf

**"Lone Wolf"** is the eighth episode of the first season of *Almost Paradise*. The episode first aired on May 18, 2020, on WGN America (now NewsNation).

## Synopsis

American country music star August Crowe and his manager Shelton Dwaid arrive in Cebu for August's comeback tour. Fans begin to mob August as the pair make their way out of the airport and a teenager steals August's cowboy hat and runs off with it. August gives chase and almost gets to a minivan where kidnappers are waiting for him, but police interrupt him and ask that he accompanies them to the police station.

At the police station, Chief Ike Ocampo informs August and Dwaid that there has been an uptick in celebrity kidnappings in the area recently and that for August's safety it would be best if he had a security escort. Ocampo recommends Alex Walker for the job. Detective Kai Mendoza goes to Alex's gift shop to ask him to take the job, but Alex refuses citing being busy with the gift shop. However, once he hears that the job is protecting August Crowe, he jumps at the chance as he is a huge fan.

Alex goes to meet August at his hotel room and introduces himself to both August and Dwaid. Alex tells August how big of a fan he is and how his hit single "Lone Wolf" got him through a lot of tough operations at the DEA. While at the hotel room, Alex notices August has a large amount of prescription painkillers under false names. Dwaid says August is addicted and developed the addiction following a downturn in his career ten years earlier. After "Lone Wolf", August developed writer's block and was unable to continue making music. This subsequently led to his wife divorcing him and taking custody of their children, furthering his downward spiral. August is in Cebu to do a comeback tour that will hopefully bring him out of it.

Over the course of a few days, Alex gets to know August a bit better. However, August manages to get away from Alex and Alex has to follow him. August attempts to buy drugs from a local dealer, however they turn on him and Alex needs to intervene to save him. Alex gets August back to the hotel safely. While this is happening, Kai and Detective Ernesto Alamares continue to find the kidnapping group. They find the teenager who stole August's hat and they find out that the kidnappers hired him to lure August to the van.

The next morning Alex and August are sitting at the beach. August thanks Alex for saving his life and says that he is finally feeling better. He says he is finally feeling inspired to write new music thanks to Alex and heads closer to the water to brainstorm. Alex looks away only to look back and see August being kidnapped. Alex gives chase but is unable to catch up with them.

Alex reports the kidnapping to Kai Mendoza and Ernesto and they wait for the ransom call. Shelton Dwaid goes to deliver the ransom while Alex follows a hunch on where he thinks they are holding August. The ransom drop is unsuccessful but Alex finds where August is. Alex frees August and is joined shortly after by Dwaid, who pulls a gun on Alex. Citing increasing frustration with having to work with August for years, Dwaid says he set the whole thing up with the plan for August to get kidnapped in an area known for kidnappings, so no one would question it, and have the kidnappers kill him. This would increase the value of August's music catalog and make Dwaid, who had manipulated August into making him the sole beneficiary years earlier, a lot of money. August knocks Dwaid out with his guitar and Dwaid is arrested once Kai and Ernesto arrive.

The episode closes with August starting his concert and dedicating his performance of "Lone Wolf", the first since his career went downhill, to Alex.

## Cast

### Main

* Christian Kane as Alex Walker
* Samantha Richelle as Detective Kai Mendoza
* Arthur Acuña as Detective Ernesto Alamares
* Nonie Buencamino as Chief Ike Ocampo
* Ces Quesada as Cory Santos

### Guest

* Billy Ray Gallion as August Crowe
* Michael Saccente as Shelton Dwaid
* Lloyd Zaragoza as Kidnapper
* Gilbert Balanza as Cauliflower Ear
* Elijah Canlas as Dealer #1
* Rodney Cook as Shady
* Roland Empleo as Police Officer #1
* Mary Joregina Fernandez as Middle-aged Woman
* Al Gatmaitan as Dead Eye
* Zaijian Jaranilla as Teenager
* Reynel Manta as Shaved Head
* Shanice Heart Ysmael as Birthday Girl