All language subtitles for Elsbeth s03e13 Murder Six AcrossMurder Six Across

(lively chatter)

* *

(chuckles)
Last Saturday's 12-Down

nearly ruined my weekend.

Those crossings felt
especially cruel.

I still don't know
what that word means.

"Cheugy"?
It means outdated or uncool.

Just like you, Wallace.

Like all of us, I fear.

Well, Morris is just trying
to keep the puzzle relevant.

Relevant to whom?

I don't see any twentysomethings
here, do you?

And yet half the words
in the puzzle lately

-are text abbreviations.
-TRUDY: Shh.

He is right over there.

Have some respect.

WALLACE:
You're looking well this year, Simon.

What's different?

TRUDY:
You changed your hair.

And are you wearing cologne?

I guess this means you heard
about Elaine's divorce.

If Simon's preoccupied
with a crush,

we might all have a chance
at winning the tournament.

-(chuckles)
-(Albert and Wallace chuckle)

(gasps) Speak of the devil.

-(others greeting)
-Hi. Hi!

(laughter)

I'm so glad I made it
in time for the mixer.

My flight was delayed.
It was agony.

-Is everyone excited?
-(others chuckle)

My train was delayed.

(stammers) The subway, I mean.

I-I took the 1
from my apartment,

and, uh, someone said there was
an incident on 86th Street,

so I guess, uh, that was
the cause of the delay.

Huh.

But I... I'm staying
at the hotel for the tournament.

I booked a suite.

It's surprisingly roomy.

ELAINE:
It's going to be a fun week, hmm?

(others chuckle)

(old-timey jazz music playing)

(lively chatter continues)

(laughing):
Oh, stop.

(laughter)

MORRIS:
It's the moment you've waited for all year.

Many of you traveled from
far and wide to get here.

And as the editor
of our beloved puzzle

for these past 27 years,

and as founder
of this tournament,

I am truly honored that you did.

So, without further ado-

that's A-D-O, not A-D-I-E-U,
but you already know that.

(laughter)

Solvers, get ready, get set,
begin your crosswords.

* *

(hushed): So, walk us through
what's happening here, Morris.

These are Division A solvers

working on their first round
of crossword puzzles,

which get harder
throughout the day.

Solvers with the best times

advance to the semifinals
tomorrow.

-RADIO HOST: And then?
-MORRIS: Semifinalist winners

make it to the finals
next weekend,

where the top three players
will compete

for the title of
tournament champion.

I'll be on the edge of my seat.

And for all you listeners
at home,

if you like
what you're hearing today,

please consider donating
during our matching grant.

Now more than ever,
we rely on supporters like you.

* *

(dialogue inaudible)

That clue in puzzle three
was beyond insulting.

A TikTok dance, really?

Apparently, it was
quite popular.

Someone should really talk
to Morris.

This is getting out of hand.

They also spelled "yas queen"
with three "S's."

It's not right.

It's not right
with one "S" either.

I suppose
I could mention it to him.

Morris invited me out
for dinner this week.

He did?

But you're a competitor.
(stammers, sighs)

He's putting you on the spot
by asking you out.

It's an abuse of power.

Well, I don't mind.

I'd like to get to know
Morris better.

How about that last 8-Down?

Talk about a nail-biter.

(knocking)

Simon Carroll. What's wrong now?

Did you ask Elaine McClusk
on a date?

(chuckles)
That's none of your business.

It's unethical, Morris.
She's a competitor.

And she just got a divorce.

Would you give the woman
a moment's peace?

As if you're not
already circling.

It's against tournament rules.

Wrong.
I wrote the rules, remember?

There's nothing about
sharing meals,

but I do have a rule
about badgering the judges.

The penalty is 15 seconds
added to your time.

You can't do that.

See you down there.

Y-You used to thrill us!

You referenced the classics,
geopolitics and real music.

Now it's all lazy clues and
subpar pop culture references.

Who is it for?

Why are you bending to the will
of a generation

that gets their news
from an emoji?

This puzzle is an institution,
that you've destroyed!

And stay away from Elaine!

You're disqualified!
Permanently!

-But you...
-If I so much as see you watching,

security will escort you out.

I'm calling Marjorie
to let her know.

*

(grunting)

(panting)

(tablet chimes)

(tablet buzzing)

(sighs)

(tablet chirps)

("Stalker's Tango"
by Autoheart playing)

(mouthing)

MARJORIE:
Solvers, get ready.

Start your puzzles.

* I know, I know, I know *

* This situation's strange *

* It takes a little getting *

* A little getting used to *

* Love me, love me, love me,
love me, love me *

* Love me,
love me, love me, love me *

* Love me, love me,
love me more *

* Than you possibly can *

* It's not that complicated *

* No matter what they say *

* You'll never meet
another me. *

*

(song ends)

-(applause)
-MARJORIE: Congratulations to

this year's semifinalists.

Well done, solvers.

We'll see you all at the finals
next weekend.

(Elaine chuckling)

(Elaine chuckles)

(old-timey jazz music playing)

(lively chatter)

* *

(locks click)

* *

(tablet chirps)

(tablet chimes)

* *

WOMAN:
Bailey? (whistles)

-(crow cawing)
-(owl hooting)

Bailey, where are you?

(whistles) Bailey?

(whistles)

(gasps)

(screams)

(siren wails)

Morris Long?

The Met Tribune
crossword editor?

Well, he was booked at
a rental cabin nearby.

Such a shame.

-I love the crossword puzzle.
-WAGNER: And this is a homicide?

Our ME said
he died of asphyxiation,

which was a surprise.

At first, we thought it was
a heart attack or something.

We don't get many homicides
up in Stillford.

-So, how can the NYPD help you?
-Our victim was staying

at the New York Pendleton Hotel
last weekend.

It's there that I think
he was murdered.

-Why is that?
-Well, for one,

our ME noted lividity all along
the backside of his body,

meaning he died face up,

but when we found him,
he was face down.

So someone moved him.

WAGNER:
But where did they move him from,

the cabin or the hotel?

And when does
the ME think he died?

Between four and six days ago.

We know Morris was at the hotel
in the city six days ago.

After that, it becomes unclear.

He never officially checked out

but somehow checked into
the cabin Monday morning.

WAGNER:
Any leads in Stillford, Deputy?

Uh, fingerprints in the car,
uh, witnesses?

Nothing.
And the car was wiped clean.

All right.
NYPD will take it from here.

We'll be in touch, Deputy.

Detective Edwards,
this one's yours.

Yes. Thank you, Captain.

As a fan of the crossword,
it would be my honor.

Elsbeth, you can go, too.

Oh. Are you sure?

I'm sorry.

What's wrong?

A crossword puzzle case seems
right in your wheelhouse.

The thing is, I don't do
the crossword anymore.

Uh, as you know,
I have a tendency to become...

consumed by puzzles.

I already have
too many words and thoughts

rattling around in my head.

And did you know
they have a crossword archive?

One vacation, I spent the entire
week trying to beat my time,

and I didn't make it
to the Eiffel Tower,

so I broke up
with the crossword.

Wordle is enough for me.

I'm sorry to throw you
back off the wagon,

uh, but you could be
useful here.

And who knows
where this case will lead?

You probably won't be around
crossword puzzles at all.

-* I am sitting here doing *
-(piano playing "Crossword Puzzle")

* The Sunday Times
crossword puzzle *

* Somehow the words won't come *

* I am staring at squares
but my eyes never focus *

* And my mind's feeling
strangely numb *

* What's a five-letter word
meaning *

* Here's an example, 2-Down *

* "A Peruvian poison dart" *

* Why, when Hecky and me *

* Used to breeze through
the puzzle, on Sundays *

* The answer would leap
in my heart. *

*

NARRATOR: Alec Bloom is not
who he pretends to be.

He had a comfortable
middle-class upbringing,

yet he plays poor for votes.

Don't fall for it.

He said he was homeless,
but Alec Bloom's family

lived in a building
where units sell

-for over a million dollars.
-(cash register dings)

Can you trust Alec Bloom
to deliver on his promises

if he can't even tell the truth
about himself?

No, you can't.

Paid for by the Coalition
of Concerned Voters of New...

-(remote clicks)
-(sighs)

I told you it was bad.

It definitely isn't good.

I looked into this
Coalition of Concerned Voters.

It's made up of
a bunch of foundations,

one of which is run
by Winnie Crawford.

Judge Crawford's widow
has been keeping busy.

I should've never had lunch
with her.

I knew she couldn't be trusted.

And where did her people
get all this stuff, anyway?

Alec Bloom's opposition

has been tracking
the same contacts I did.

Only they managed to get
more people to talk.

You mean lie.
None of this is true.

Politics is a dirty game.

You know that better than most.

I thought Chicago was bad.

Plus, Teddy is still
keeping his distance,

which means
he's been avoiding Gonzo,

and that really hurts.

She stopped smiling in photos.

Teddy's probably
just feeling protective.

Not that you need protecting.

Teddy thinks
I'm not very rational

when it comes to my love life.

Are you?

No. But can you blame me?

The eyes of the entire city
are on Alec Bloom,

and his eyes are on me.

And, oh, he can
really wear a suit.

Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry. (laughs)

I think I need more girlfriends
to talk to.

You do.

-EDWARDS: Elsbeth.
-Yes?

-You ready to go?
-Yes. (chuckles)

EDWARDS: I read through
the entire autopsy report.

There were traces of
black-and-white nylon fibers

in Morris Long's nasal passages,

maybe from a scarf or pillow
of some kind.

Huh.

If Morris lived in New York,
why was he staying at the hotel?

You'll see.

-(elevator bell dings)
-(lively chatter)

* *

Only in New York.

(gasps)

I thought I was obsessive.

Excuse me. NYPD.

Can you tell us
where we could find

the people
who run the tournament?

I can't believe it.

Murdered?

I'm sorry, ma'am.

When was the last time
you saw Morris?

Last Saturday, during
the Division A starting rounds.

He went up to his room
at the lunch break,

and he never came down.

Morris texted me to say
he wasn't feeling well.

Did anyone else working the
tournament see or hear from him?

No.

He messaged me Monday morning

to say he'd left town
to recuperate.

I assumed it was serious

since he hasn't missed
a tournament in 27 years.

This whole time
I thought he was sick,

and you're saying
Morris was dead?

That's horrible.

But it's just so odd.

What do you mean?

Well, you said he was staying
at a rental cabin upstate,

but Morris has
his own cabin in the Poconos,

which is just as far
from the city.

Mm.

Who here knows the tournament
and Morris Long best?

That's easy: the best solvers.

We all heard he was out sick.

Who would do such a thing?

Morris Long is
a controversial figure.

He's beloved, of course,

but he received
a ton of hate mail.

Morris had been hiring
younger constructors lately.

Constructors?

The people
who create the puzzle.

I thought Morris did that.

No, Morris edited the puzzle.

He wielded a lot of power.

TRUDY:
People would get furious with him

for allowing the use of slang,

the Internet lingo,
the younger musical references.

Did anyone complain to his face?

No one would dare.

Except maybe Simon.

He's won more times than anyone,
so I suppose Simon felt

he had carte blanche
when it came to Morris.

ALBERT:
Come to think of it,

Simon was carping about Morris
last weekend.

Something about Morris
asking Elaine out on a date.

I get the sense Simon is kind of
enamored with her. (chuckles)

WALLACE:
But who here doesn't have a crush on Elaine?

Especially now
that she's divorced.

-(piano note plays)
-(tuning fork ringing)

(ringing continues)

(playing piano notes)

Hear that?

Now it's in tune.

I think so?

(laughs)

(sighs):
Wow.

So, how long have you been
a piano tuner?

-Oh. (sighs) 38 years.
-Wow.

I used to be a concert pianist.

I went to Juilliard.

But performing lost its appeal.

Everyone has an opinion.

Whereas pitch,
it's either right or it's wrong.

We heard you were upset about

Morris asking out
another player named Elaine.

Someone said
you had a crush on her.

Who told you that?

I thought she was married.

Divorced, actually.

So you told Morris
about your disappointment?

I mentioned it to him
in between rounds.

May he rest in peace.

My disfavor with Morris

didn't have anything to do
with my friendship with Elaine.

It was a tournament issue.

I just didn't think he should be
singling out competitors.

Oh, I can understand that.

Did you take up your disfavor
with anyone else?

Ah, you all use
such great words.

'Cause why say "disapproval"
when you could say "disfavor"

and make people stop and wonder
what you're talking about?

So, did you tell anyone else?

Someone like Marjorie,
the chairwoman of the newspaper?

No. I let it go.

Yeah, hold on.

Six seventy-five.

I always carry exact change.

-(coins clinking)
-One of my best qualities. -Oh.

-May I clear these for you?
-SIMON: No, no, no.

Don't touch those.
That's my study materials.

The finals are in two days.

Did I answer all your questions?

For now.

Oh. One more thing.

What did you think of the job

that Morris Long was doing
as editor?

I always respected Morris.
You know?

He was... he was letting
the puzzle evolve,

which I know
a lot of people didn't like.

I always relish the opportunity
to try new things.

You know, pop culture,
linguistic trends.

The puzzle keeps me young.

(piano playing lively music)

(Elsbeth chuckles)

Luckily, no one else
has stayed here since Morris.

(siren wailing in distance)

What are you doing?

What do you think this is?

Broken plastic?

Yeah.

Could be nothing.

So what are you thinking,
Detective?

I'm thinking I hope the next
guests don't use the bathtub.

-Why's that?
-Front desk got multiple calls

from this floor last weekend.

Apparently, the ice machine
kept running out of ice.

As in, somebody was trying
to keep a body cold?

Meaning the killer was waiting
to move the body.

Semifinals were last weekend.

So we're right to be looking
at someone from the tournament.

Mm-hmm.

But how did the killer move
the body down to Morris's car

without anybody noticing?

* *

Trudy.

-Hi. (chuckles)
-Hey.

-I love your bag.
-Oh.

Do you mind if I feel it?

Oh. Sure.

Thanks. (chuckles)

Ah, that is such
a cute crossword pattern.

The tournament hands them out.

I'm sure if you ask,
they'd give you one.

-Oh. (chuckles) Whoa.
-(bottles clank)

Yeah, uh, after we heard
the news about Morris,

I need to drink away my sorrows.

(smacks lips)
I'm so sorry about your friend.

Ah, thanks.

I really shouldn't be drinking
before the finals,

but I don't think it matters.

Simon will probably win
again this year.

I wish I knew his secret.

Simon says-

Oh, that's funny.

"Simon says." (chuckles)

He says that he loves
keeping up with pop culture,

that it keeps him relevant.

Simon said that?

(laughs):
Please.

We all try to keep up
with pop culture,

but none of us like it.

Simon least of all.

Years ago, the puzzle put in
a reference to Survivor.

This was before
reality TV took off.

And Simon got so mad, he wrote
an angry letter to Morris.

He pestered him until
the paper printed an apology

and promised to never reference
that genre again.

Of course,
that didn't last long,

but Simon made his point.

I think he takes a perverse
pleasure in complaining.

You don't say.

Well, I'll let you get back
to your sorrows.

-Oh. Thanks.
-Again, I'm so sorry about your friend.

Thank you.

-That feels so nice.
-(laughs): Okay.

You know, it's slippery
out there.

You should be salting it
every morning.

I registered my concern
with the concierge,

but apparently
no one got the message.

You know, if I slip,
I may have to...

What is she doing?

Thank you. (crying)

Excuse me.

Elizabeth- or-or Alice Beth.

I-I forgot your name.

Elsbeth Tascioni. 15 letters.

Elsbeth.

You are upsetting Elaine
with all this police business.

She's not bothering me.

I'm upset because of
what happened to Morris.

He was such a brilliant man.

-Mm.
-There was really no one else quite like him.

Oh, come on.

Elaine, cheer up.

I mean, we-we all
have to go sometime.

You don't have to cheer up.

It's a big loss.

It sounds like
you really loved him.

Loved him?
She barely knew the man.

Actually, I think
I did love him.

It's just so tragic
it took Morris dying

for me to realize it.

-(smacks lips) Aw.
-(crying)

(old-timey jazz music playing)

Uh, you know,
in times like this,

it's important to stay
connected to people.

You're right.

I should move up my flight
and head home to Boston tonight.

No, don't do that.

Stay and finish the tournament.

You're such a talented solver.

Y-You've worked so hard.

Really?

It's what Morris
would have wanted.

I'll leave you two alone.

Good luck, Elaine.

Simon.

Ooh. (chuckles)

What?

We have a love triangle:

Simon, Elaine
and the memory of Morris Long.

And do you see all those
black-and-white swag bags?

-They're made of nylon.
-Good catch.

I'll call CSU.

They can collect one to test

against the fibers
from Morris's autopsy.

I also got copies
of hotel security footage,

so maybe we'll get lucky there.

Simon told us that he didn't
complain to anyone else

about Morris dating a player.

But after speaking with Trudy,

I don't think Simon is the type
to let anything go.

-Oh, okay.
-Yeah.

All right.

* *

Can't sleep?

Oh. (sighs)

Not a wink.
I hope I didn't wake you.

Ah, no, it's okay.
I can't sleep either.

You want to do
the crossword with me?

(Alec sighs heavily)

-You're halfway there.
-Mm.

On all of them.

I don't like being constrained
by one box.

(chuckles)

(sighs):
Ah!

You're still thinking about
the campaign ad, aren't you?

I-I don't know why
I'm surprised by it,

but to-to suggest
that my family lived

in a million-dollar apartment
is ridiculous.

I mean, what it costs to buy now

versus what it rented for
back then

is exactly what I talk about
in my campaign. (sighs)

It's too late to be this angry.

Alec, I have to
tell you something.

One of the foundations
that produced that ad

is run by Winnie Crawford,
Judge Crawford's widow,

who I recently had lunch with.

You had lunch with her? Why?

Well, she seemed to want
to know the truth

about her late husband.

Instead, she asked about you.

What did you tell her?

Nothing.

What is there to tell?

You're so clean they had
to manufacture dirt on you.

She really doesn't like you,
does she?

Well, the ideas I represent
are a threat

to people like Winnie Crawford.

We play for
very different teams.

I just wish
she didn't target you.

You're so good and honest.

You don't belong in
the ugly world of politics.

I used to defend
the governor of Illinois.

Did I not mention that?

You truly are
a remarkable woman.

Although you may have
taken on too much

-for 3:00 in the morning.
-(laughs)

Let's see. (clears throat)

Seven letters. "Alien bestie."

Starts with an "E,"
ends with a "T."

Oh. (laughs) E.T.

-The little boy.
-(chuckles)

(imitating E.T.):
"Elliott."

(normal voice):
Aw, I love that movie.

-I never saw E.T.
-(gasps)

We didn't have a VCR.
Don't tell anyone.

Really?

-Oh, we can watch it together.
-(chuckles)

But just be warned:

the ending always makes me
cry hysterically.

Elsbeth, if I win
this election...

...what'll that mean for us?

Well, I don't know.

I guess you'll
have to win first.

(Elsbeth chuckles)

(sighs):
Okay.

"South Dakota."

-Really?
-Mm-hmm.

To be clear,

nobody asked you to stay up
all night doing the crossword.

(sighs) All those empty squares
were taunting me.

(groans)

I looked through puzzles
for the last ten years,

and I found a pattern
in Morris Long's editing.

-Mm-hmm?
-(slurps)

The earlier puzzles
are definitely

more intellectually challenging.

They include harder words.

And there are an awful lot
of references to Ana�s Nin.

And the newer puzzles lean into

pop culture
and youthful expression.

I could have told you that.

Now, but it's still a fun way
to pass the time

while I drink
my expensive coffee.

And then there's today's puzzle.

There's something off about it.

It feels... old-fashioned.

Take 23-Across.

The clue is: "To behave
in a humble or servile way."

And the only thing that fits
is "cringe,"

which is one definition
of the word.

Unless you're under 35.
Then it means something else.

According to my children,

it's "cringe" when Claudia and I
dance in the kitchen.

Exactly!

Although I disagree
with your kids.

I think that sounds
really sweet.

-Aw.
-So why...

Wait.

When did Morris Long
edit this puzzle?

MARJORIE:
Morris sends us the edited crossword

in two separate batches:

the weekday
and the weekend puzzles.

He emailed us
this weekend's puzzles

last Monday morning
at 11:45 a.m.

Morris was dead Monday morning.

But I have his email right here.

We think someone else accessed
his email account.

Perhaps his text messages, too.

It's highly likely
that Morris was never sick.

Are you saying I was texting
with Morris's killer?

Oh, my God. I had no idea.

Ms. Lee, how hard is it
to edit the crossword puzzle?

It depends who's doing it.

They'd have to know the puzzle
and its language intimately.

Which many of
the top solvers do.

Solvers always think they can do
Morris's job better than him,

but editing the crossword is
much harder than it looks.

Is there any way to get

an advance copy
of tomorrow's puzzle?

What for?

It couldn't hurt to get
a few expert opinions.

The southwest corner was a mess.

You can't cross the name
of a town I never heard of

with the name of an obscure
18th-century publishing house.

Okay, see, I like this word:
"laity."

But the clue was too vague.

"The ordinary people"?

I thought he was referencing
the film, but nothing fit.

Are you sure Morris edited this?

No.

I'm sure of it now, this wasn't
edited by Morris Long.

I thought it was okay.

Better than usual, actually.

I notice your lanyard is broken.

Your string is tied, and
the others have a plastic clip.

What happened?

I... I don't know. (chuckles)

Cheap plastic things,
they break.

Are we done here?

Because I really would like
to study for the finals.

Sure. You're free to go.

Thanks.

Thank you. That was fun.

Oh. You dropped your key card.

You know, you shouldn't leave
the envelope on.

Someone could find it
and get your room number...

606.

That's Morris's room.

Why do you have his room key?

I knew it!

You were sleeping with Morris.

Please don't tell my husband.

Morris and Trudy were
having assignations?

And he still had the gall
to ask you out?

I guess you could never trust
a sleaze like Morris Long.

How long had you and Morris
been seeing each other?

Once a year
for the past four years.

We had no contact
outside of the tournament.

Well, one time
he wrote me a letter,

but that was in response
to my letter.

I took issue with a clue

for "damson plum" because
traditionally damson...

Maybe just focus on
this year's tournament.

When did you and Morris meet up?

Just the one time.

At the kickoff party,
uh, last Friday night,

Morris slipped me his room key
and told me to come by at 11:00.

But I swear, that was
the only time I was in his room.

Why should we believe you?

Because Morris never allowed
any romantic contact

on Division A puzzle days.

What about your husband?

Tom?
He doesn't do the crossword.

He's dyslexic.

Uh, I mean, was he jealous?

Maybe he came to confront Morris
and things got violent.

(laughs):
Oh, that's impossible.

Tom didn't have a clue.

(laughs) Good one.

Sorry.

I thought that was intentional.

Where is your husband now?

He won't get here until Sunday.

Tom drives me here and back
from Delaware every year.

I don't drive, so...

Y-You don't drive? Like, ever?

I never got my license.

Okay, Trudy. That's all for now.

I can go? Oh, thank you.

I'm so behind in my studying.

I'm so curious.

How does one study
for the crossword tournament?

Most of us review old puzzles.

Right. I noticed Simon had
a stack of those at the bar.

Oh, he has more than
a stack of them. (chuckles)

Simon always overdoing it.

He brings an entire trunk
full of them.

He does? What kind of trunk?

I know it's around here
somewhere.

There he is.

This guy.

He left the hotel at 4:30 a.m.
Monday morning with a trunk.

That's Simon, all right,
with a very big trunk.

Big enough for a body.

Now how do we prove it?

* *

There you are.

(Elsbeth chuckles)

Wow, it's humid in here.
(chuckles)

It's getting noisy down there.

People keep singing off pitch.

Can you tell us where you went
Monday morning at dawn?

We saw you
on hotel security footage

rolling a giant trunk.

That's my packing trunk.

I took it home with me uptown.

I needed a decent shower.

The hot water in this hotel
is a joke.

Can you prove you went home?

Sure. (smacks lips)

I have a taxi receipt
here somewhere.

ELSBETH:
If you were just going home to shower,

why did you bring your trunk?

Because I stayed there
all day to study.

Trunk is where
I keep my puzzles.

You should really consider
consolidating all of this paper

onto a tablet or something.

It's much more convenient
to do the puzzle online.

No, that's not how
you're supposed to do the...

Never mind.
You do the puzzle your way,

and I will keep doing it my way.

Ooh! I would love
to learn your way!

I just got back into
the crossword- temporarily.

This one's from two weeks ago.
I found it in my recycling bin.

What's the problem?

Oh. Well, I keep getting stuck
here in the corner.

17-Across.

The clue is "unrealistic,"
but I keep coming up short.

When you have a problem,
you have to work around it.

-May I?
-Mm-hmm.

"Everyday font."

-"Arial."
-(sighs)

That crosses with "atrium."

-Oh.
-Right, and you have

"data bank."

Now you have more letters
to tackle your problem word.

-Uh-huh.
-And there.

Wow. That was so cool.

I'm not familiar
with this word, though.

"Delulu."
What- Is that Italian?

No, it's slang.

It means delusional.

(gasps) Oh.

Like when someone thinks
they have a chance with a person

who's way out of their league?

Sure. That's one way to use it.

You must really have to keep
your finger on the pulse

to be so good at the crosswords.

Well, I'll let you
get back to studying.

It's nice talking with you.

(phone vibrates)

(gasps) Ah.

What are you so happy about?

(gasps) My son is finally
coming over for dinner.

He's been avoiding me,

so I had to coax him
with my famous lasagna.

Well, I hope you weren't
planning on dinner tonight.

Simon Carroll lied to us.

(sighs) I'm sure he did.

About what specifically?

Officer Paulson tracked down

the cab driver
from Simon's receipt.

He doesn't remember
any passengers

with a big trunk Monday morning.

And anyway,
the driver had his golf clubs

in the back of his cab
all last week,

so he wouldn't have been able
to fit the trunk.

So, Simon put Morris's body
in his trunk,

and then he took
the elevator down...

(clicking exhales)

...six floors,
loaded it into Morris's car,

and then, without the trunk,
Simon took a cab 30 blocks up...

(clicking tongue)

...and across
to his own apartment,

got a receipt,
and then he snuck back down...

(clicking exhales)

...to the hotel
to drive Morris's body...

(popping exhales)

...out to the cabin.
(clicks tongue)

(sighs)

That is quite the puzzle.

I think we need to see
that trunk.

See? Filled with puzzles,
just like I said.

Smells like brand-new leather.

How long have you had this?

It's hard to say.

What's this?

SIMON:
Just normal wear and tear.

Is it?

Or were you trying to age
a brand-new trunk by

scuffing it up
with a tuning fork?

That's a wild accusation.

Oh, I think
it makes perfect sense.

If, for some reason,
you got rid of your old trunk

and needed to replace it.

You have a fanciful imagination
for a gumshoe, don't you?

Do you really think
that I would kill someone

who I consider a friend, someone
who I've known for decades,

and I drag his body
out to the middle of nowhere?

And then what,
I-I hitchhike back to the city?

There's a train, actually.

I wouldn't waste
an entire day of studying

on such a macabre
and grotesque expedition.

I would never hurt Morris Long,
because of who he is.

He's the man behind
the one thing

that has consistently
brought joy into my life.

Since the age of nine,
I have been doing

the Met Tribune crossword puzzle
every single day, without fail,

in the newspaper,
the way God intended.

So, if you have
nothing else to ask,

please, would... (chuckles)

would you leave me alone
and let me study in peace?

*

I'm thinking of a six-letter
word for "he did it."

Mm.

What if we can find
Simon's old trunk?

I bet it's up in Stillford,
somewhere near the cabin.

If we can prove
that he was up there,

we can prove
he killed Morris Long.

Sure, but I don't have time
to go upstate.

I have other cases.

Simon wasn't even the first
suspect to yell at me today.

I'll call Deputy Bernard.

Leave it to us,
we will find that trunk.

ELSBETH:
Well, that was a bust.

We checked
every garbage dumpster

between the cabin
and the train station.

Not my favorite way
to spend an afternoon,

but you do have a lovely town.

I'm just so stumped.

Where did Simon put that trunk?

Best guess? It's at the bottom
of the Hudson River.

-(groans)
-But it was a noble effort.

Are you sure
you don't want me to drive you

to a station closer to the city?

Oh, no. That's okay.
I love the train.

I can catch up on my reading.

-Is there a newsstand here?
-Oh, sorry, not at this station.

All we have is
that old newspaper box.

Oh, that'll do.

(groans):
Ah!

These old newspaper boxes
are so frustrating

if you don't have exact change.

Hold on.

I got it.

RADIO HOST:
Somehow, people are pushing through

after the devastating loss
of Morris Long.

The only thing that seems
to lift anyone's spirits

is the excitement of watching
Division A finalists

solve their final puzzle
onstage.

And now is a good time
to remind listeners

that we're still looking
for donations

during our matching grant.

(sighs)

Please.

We beg you.

I can't keep playing
this game with you.

The final puzzle
is about to start.

Oh, we're sorry, but I think
you'll want to hear this puzzle.

We solved every clue!

We know you had "words"
with Morris

in his hotel room last weekend,

most likely about Elaine, since
the two of you had eyes for her.

MARJORIE:
Calling Simon Carroll

to the main stage.

Simon?

Finals start in one minute.

Fine, yes,
I have a crush on Elaine.

That's not a motive for murder.

Well, that argument
got pretty heated,

which is how you broke
the clasp on your lanyard.

We found a piece of it
in Morris's room.

ELSBETH:
And then you

suffocated him
with a swag bag like this one!

(muffled groaning)

Using any kind of bag
to kill someone is just wrong!

But you had a problem:

You couldn't miss
the tournament.

So you left Morris's body on ice
while you kept playing.

MARJORIE:
All right, we have to move on

to the fourth highest score:
Elaine McClusk.

Come on up here, Elaine.

What? (gasps)

Okay, solvers, start
your puzzles in three, two, one.

ELSBETH:
You were smart, though.

Taking a taxi home was
a clever way to explain

why you and the trunk
weren't in the hotel on Monday.

But we know you didn't take
the trunk home.

You brought it and Morris's body

to the cabin that you rented
using Morris's email.

EDWARDS:
Where you left his body in the woods.

Had he not been found so soon,

you might have
gotten away with it.

ELSBETH:
But you didn't. Why?

Because you are
a creature of habit.

And what is the one thing
that you do

every day, without fail?

The Met Tribune
crossword puzzle!

Just like the one that
you bought at the train station

on your way back
from dumping Morris's body.

EDWARDS:
We found your fingerprints

on the quarters
in the newspaper box.

ELSBETH:
Lucky for us,

you always carry exact change.

EDWARDS:
Simon Carroll, you're under arrest

for the murder of Morris Long.

-(handcuffs clicking)
-(cheering and applause)

Thank you.

(door opens)

Simon.

SIMON:
You won?

That's as it should be.

What's going on?

I didn't mean
for any of this to happen.

ELSBETH:
I'm afraid Simon

killed Morris.

(breath trembles)

Is this true?

I did it because
I'm in love with you, Elaine.

* *

Who asked you to do that?

Not exactly how I imagined
my first win.

Oh, I hope it doesn't spoil it.

You earned that trophy.

(sighs)

Thanks.

My kids will be so happy.

They helped me study.
They're both in high school,

so they keep me in the loop
on new expressions.

(chuckles softly)

I really loved how Morris put in
all those younger references.

Lately, the best part
of doing the crossword

has been getting to do it
with my kids.

I do love The Goonies.

And, yes, I had
the vintage lunch box.

But if we're talking
best films of the '80s...

Otherwise known as
the late 1900s.

(laughs):
Please stop calling it that.

Then it has to be E.T.,
hands down.

Oh, I love that movie so much,
but the end always makes me cry.

Perfectly acceptable reaction.

Pass the lasagna, please.

(sighs) My sweet Teddy.

I missed you.

Let's not fight ever again.

(Alec and Roy laughing
in other room)

Mom, I need to say something.

I'm sorry I can't see
what you see in Alec.

M-Maybe it's my new job,
or maybe I'm just a cynic

and one seed of doubt
is one too many,

but all that matters to me
is that you're happy.

He seems pretty nice,
and he makes a real effort,

so if you like Alec,
um, I'll keep trying.

No.

Don't ever doubt your intuition.

I think Alec is a liar.

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