Original subtitles

Previously on Wild Cards.

Next week I started volunteering at Hemsworth Prison.

Now I know it doesn’t pay.

George, I’m proud of you.

I love Jessica, but that doesn’t mean I should have

to choose between her and my best friend.

You’re my best friend, too.

This is my home.

My life.

We must be prepared to leave in a moment’s notice.

Just dropped by to make sure everything is on track.

Need I remind you failure is not an option.

We got this because one wrong move and we’re dead

and so is everybody else we love.

Would you please sit down?

I can’t sit, because if I sit, I’ll think.

And if I think I’ll picture all the ways

in which we end up in matching orange jumpsuits.

This is just your usual pre-show jitters.

You always get like this right before a big job.

This one’s different, I just--

The stakes, Max, the stakes are Everest, and I can’t.

Okay, look at me.

This isn’t our first rodeo.

The plan is tight, tested.

We’ve gamed it six ways from Sunday.

And the last time I thought I had it under control,

I blew our lives to smithereens.

Okay yes, but we survived.

So far.

Oh, look at the time, honey.

Aren’t you going to be late for work?

Day off.

Oh, so maybe brunch.

You, me, Ellis, a little Eggs Benny.

Ellis has plans, all right? It’s his high school reunion.

Flying solo?

Nope. He’s bringing Jessica.

Oh. Oh, I see.

See what.

I mean, that’s not just a date, darling.

That’s a declaration.

Ugh! Get out!

Well, you don’t bare your angst-ridden teen soul

to just any girlfriend.

Reunion equals intimacy.

Or humiliation, depending on your playlist.

He’s opening the vault for her, Max.

And I’d really like you to notice

before it slams shut on you.

Okay. Can we just get back to business?

Yes.

All we gotta do is stick to the plan.

Okay. Right.

And, Mom...

I promise everything’s going to be okay.

Right. Right.

I never thought I’d say this,

but I’m going to be sorry to see you go.

Oh, right back at you, George.

I mean, most guys finish their parole.

I’m just glad they’re not going to break into my car again.

But you...

you went full Ted Lasso on me and on those prison inmates.

Just trying to give back.

You were their mentor, their counsellor,

giving second chances to guys who never even had a first.

I really did enjoy it.

Today’s my last session with the guys.

Oh, yeah? How do you feel about that?

I’m not so good with endings or change,

which is odd considering the kind of life that I lead.

I mean, led.

Mm.

Well, look, this doesn’t have to be goodbye.

Just uh...

Au revoir?

Well, if it’ll help make the transition any easier,

we could still meet up every couple of months.

Are you saying you’re going to miss me?

I’m saying I’ve had worse company on this bench.

I’ll put that on a plaque.

You know what? I think I’d like that.

You’ve been more than just a parole officer to me.

You’ve been a real friend.

Take care, George.

♪...what’s the dealio? ♪

♪ Party crasher, penny snatcher. ♪

♪ Call me up if you a gangsta. ♪

♪ Don’t be fancy. ♪

♪ Just get dancey. ♪

♪ Why so serious? ♪

♪ So raise your glass if you are wrong. ♪

♪ in all the right ways ♪

Sorry, I’m late.

You weren’t about to bail, were you?

I was thinking about it.

And I’m still thinking about it.

The whole point of a high school reunion is the scoreboard.

Winners and losers.

Spoiler alert, you’re in the winner’s column.

Plus, the registration is giving out party favours.

Lip balm?

Emobomb more precisely, infused with aromatherapy scents.

The tagline is bloom softly, burn brightly.

Cute, right?

I also brought you this.

Your reunion badge.

I think you must have forgotten it.

Yeah, I must have forgotten it.

No, Jess, I’m not putting that on.

Everybody else is.

No. Absolutely not.

I think you look adorable.

You are enjoying this way too much.

Oh, yeah.

Wait. Cole!

Cole, the mole!

Ray.

You got guts, man.

I’ll give you that.

I’m gonna burn this place down.

Okay, let’s play a game.

And if I win, you tell me what all that was about.

Okay.

Mean girls at 12:00.

Cheekbones, brunette. She’s the alpha.

That’s Lexi.

That blonde, loyal sidekick.

That’s Amber.

Other blonde, human wallpaper.

And that’s Hannah.

Okay, you’re good at this.

Now, about the mole moniker.

Mole man.

I almost didn’t recognize you.

- Brock. - Came back for more, eh?

Oh, you always were a sucker for punishment.

Hilarious.

Former quarterback, still a bully.

Yeah, I was an easy target back then.

You could have landed a plane on my face from the acne glow.

I still hate him.

Now will you please tell me what’s with the mole thing?

Is it mole as in--

Mr. Loomis?

Cole. Oh, I was so hoping I’d see you today.

Yeah.

Look at you. You look great.

Thank you.

And this lovely lady must be your--

Human shield. Jessica.

Human shield.

Mr. Loomis was the high school librarian.

I still am actually.

You know, I’ve still got a few more years

before they stick me out on an ice floe.

And for Pete’s sake, will you call me Terrence now.

Okay, okay.

You know, I don’t think I would have made it

through high school without this guy.

Oh. Come on.

Well, I’m glad to hear all the memories aren’t bad.

Boy. Look at this, Detective Cole Ellis.

I always knew you’d make something of yourself.

I always said, you know what?

This guy is a lot tougher than you think he is.

Nice to meet you, Jessica.

- Good to see you, Cole. - You, too.

Okay, listen up losers. Your Queen has news.

As of this morning, my company, Emobomb,

was bought by a major global cosmetics brand.

Which makes me 500 times a millionaire.

Oh.

Which also makes me done with this dump.

Buh bye.

Still losers... always will be.

You’re all dead to me.

Oh!

Someone call 9-1-1!

Oh, nothing says high school reunion like chalk outlines

and trauma counselling.

A reunion nightmare.

There they are.

Ellis.

Hey, Chief.

You remember Jessica?

Hi.

Hey.

So, what exactly happened here?

Victim’s name is Lexi Chandler.

She just collapsed out of nowhere.

I went to go check her pulse, but she was gone.

Where are the others?

Not to worry, I already locked the place down.

I’m holding everyone in the gym until we know more.

And what was the--

Oh my God, look at the size of your head.

It needs its own area code.

Max.

And the zits.

I swear, if we connect the dots, it would spell "help me".

Okay, laugh it up.

Howdy, delinquents.

Somebody’s getting detention for this.

What’s a prelim, Olive?

Blue lips, blue fingertips.

Classic cyanosis.

And this.

Blood.

Yeah, but it’s brown.

Which means what?

Internal organs suffered extreme oxygen deprivation.

Translation, she was poisoned.

She looked drunk.

She was dizzy and slurring.

We just thought she had too much champagne.

Not champagne, chemistry.

What was it?

Best guess, sodium nitrite.

In the right dose, quite lethal.

Is it easily accessible?

Very.

In fact, it’s often found in your friendly neighbourhood

high school science lab.

Oh. Game on.

Hang tight. Okay? I’ll be right back.

Okay.

We need to talk sodium nitrite.

It’s kept in here with the other hazardous chemicals.

Who else has access to the keys?

I’m the only science teacher, so just me.

The cabinet’s been locked since Friday.

How can you be sure?

I take inventory at the end of every week.

Um... everything was fine.

And where were you when Lexi collapsed?

In the cafeteria with everybody else.

And before that?

I’ve been here since 10:00 AM, grading papers.

You didn’t leave?

Well, at noon, I opened the school doors

for the reunion crowd.

Are you sure it was noon?

Yeah. Even on the weekends, the school bell still ring.

I heard the lunch bell and went down to open up.

It’s my first year here.

Apparently, it’s the new guy who has to babysit

the former prom kings and queens on the weekend.

So, the sodium nitrite?

Oh, right.

Uh, okay. Yeah.

Wait. Um...

No, no, no.

What’s wrong?

I keep the sodium nitrite right here.

Always.

Alphabetical colour-coded, the whole deal.

It’s right there. So what’s the problem?

It’s been moved.

How can you tell?

I get real OCD about this.

You know, kids and chemicals.

Every bottle has its exact spot, label facing out.

If anything’s even a hair off, I notice.

Well, I noticed too, that bottle’s crooked.

The label’s turned.

So if it was all good yesterday

and you just opened the door at noon today,

And sodium nitrite can take up to

half an hour to result in death.

Then whoever grabbed the poison was in this room

between 12:00 and 12:30.

Looks like we got our murder timeline.

You know, it smells like a landfill in here, right?

I prefer stakeout chic. Thank you.

Stakeout chic?

Stakeout chic smells a whole lot like old stale burrito.

Just sit back and relax, okay? This could take a while.

All right.

Li said it could be a hotbed for drug runners,

money launderers.

We sit, we watch, we nail them.

All right.

Oh, man.

Look what Max just sent me.

Must be from the reunion.

What’s Max doing there, anyway? I thought he was taking Jessica.

Maybe he wants the combo platter.

You ever go to any of your high school reunions?

No, no.

Leave the past in the past. You know what I mean?

I don’t know.

I think remembering beginnings is kind of nice.

Do you remember ours?

Hm?

The day we became partners.

I seem to remember that you took a while to warm up to me.

That’s because you attacked me.

Correction. I evaluated you.

Nice ski mask.

Surprise entry. Tactical pressure test.

That’s what you do.

Tactical pressure test. You bit me.

And you bit me back.

That’s when I knew we were meant for each other.

That’s it. We got movement.

Delivery for Yates.

Yeah.

Eternal thanks noble purveyor of foiled rap delights.

Whatever.

You ordered food?

To a stakeout?

Yeah, from your favourite, El Legislador.

This one’s yours, okay. Extra cheese.

Your favourite.

Oh, this one’s mine.

Extra beans.

Oh, God.

Okay, class. Pay attention.

Grant left the lab around noon.

Olive says it takes about 30 minutes

for the poison to kick in.

And Lexi dropped dead at 1:00.

Gold star, Cole.

Which means our killer had to spike the drink

around 12:00, 12:30.

A+ to the Chief.

That leaves about a 30 minute smash and grab window.

Break into the lab, grab the goods, spike the drink.

Olive’s taken Lexi’s champagne glass for testing.

Okay, but all of this presumes that Grant’s not our guy.

How can you be so sure?

Because he’s new.

He has no ties to Lexi or the sad reunion.

Presuming he’s telling the truth.

If Grant wanted someone gone,

why would he use poison with a neon flashing sign

saying "property of science teacher."

Fair. But I’m not ruling him out completely.

I’m going to double check his alibi.

In the meantime, let’s get a lockdown on the food and drink.

Already done.

And I confiscated everybody’s cell phones.

Including your journalist girlfriend’s.

Yes, including my journalist girlfriend.

Okay, look, we need to control the narrative of this thing

before it goes public.

Ellis, you’re off this.

What?

You were on the scene when it happened.

Making you a witness and with a conflict of interest.

Sorry, but you’re benched.

Ooh. This is delicious.

Chief, it’s me.

This is not up for debate.

I think you should hand over your badge and your gun

and your really nice office chair.

You know, the one with the only working lumbar thingy.

I can see you smiling.

You’re enjoying this way too much.

I am Switzerland.

Max, you and I are gonna split the witness list.

Let’s get eyes on anyone upstairs

between 12:00 and 12:30.

Since our poison only walked out of the lab around noon,

that screams crime of opportunity.

All we know is someone decided to kill Lexi.

Maybe it was the sale of her company.

500 million is a good reason to kill.

Well, there’s a lot of history in Clearasil under that bridge.

I think it’s time we let the real cops do their job.

Enjoy the lumbar support while it lasts.

I loved Lexi, okay?

She was prom queen. Like pure gravity.

I mean, sure, I was jealous.

Really?

Who wasn’t? But I was happy just to be in her orbit,

even if she turned her circle into a triangle.

So where were you around noon?

I wasn’t upstairs, that’s for sure.

Hitting on that new science teacher, Grant.

Everybody’s gonna tell you they loved Lexi.

But that’s not true.

She lived to humiliate people.

She’s the one who gave Ellis his nicknames.

Nicknames?

Sure. Like "Cole Cuts". "Cole Ellis".

Lexi made him a walking punchline.

Where were you between noon and 12:30?

With my former chess club buds.

On the second floor?

Nah, I got checkmated in the first floor gym.

Lexi wasn’t cruel.

She was a force of nature.

A tornado in a crop top.

BFFs. Even after all these years.

Always.

Life took us to different cities but Lexi was the glue.

One group chat, one text and...

it was like we were all 17 again.

Lexi and I even had lunch about six months ago

when she blew through town.

Lexi and I? Prom royalty.

But after graduation, she just wasn’t really my vibe anymore.

You two didn’t keep in touch after high school?

No. Not really. Different paths.

I’m, uh, happily married now.

Lexi never reached out, not even a reunion text?

No, I didn’t expect her to.

And no, I was nowhere near the second floor.

Lexi was toxic.

She dumped Brock after he was benched in the big game.

I know she’s dead and all, but let’s be real.

Okay, let’s.

Everyone hated her.

Including you?

Did you hate her enough to kill her?

No way.

But there was one person who did.

Senior prom.

She destroyed him in front of everyone.

He never got over it.

Oh, man. It was embarrassing.

So if you’re asking

who had the biggest motive to kill Lexi, that’s easy.

Cole Ellis.

Cole Ellis.

Chief, you can’t be serious. I’m a suspect?

According to everyone, you have motive.

Where there’s motive, there’s murder.

Mr. Ellis, tell us the truth and we’ll cut you a deal.

Max, come on. This isn’t a joke.

I know.

I could have been working with a murderer this whole time.

Ellis, tell us about prom.

Let’s just say back in high school,

I wasn’t exactly the most popular kid.

A couple of weeks before senior prom,

I got paired with Lexi to do this history project.

First, we got off to a rough start,

but, all of a sudden, one day we just...

we hit a groove.

You know, we started having fun together.

I think it surprised the both of us.

But long story short, we ended up getting an A+ on the project.

And then?

And then she asked me to prom.

From dud to stud. Classic.

On prom night,

I picked Lexi up, I gave her this corsage,

and I took her to the dance.

But as soon as we walked into the cafeteria,

that’s when the other shoe dropped.

Hannah, Amber Brock, they were all there waiting,

laughing their asses off at my,

believing that the most popular girl in high school

would have went to prom... with me.

Brock took Lexi by the hand threw the corsage back at me,

and then he walked her onto to the dance floor.

What a piece of work.

If she wasn’t already dead, I’d kill her myself.

Ellis, did you interact with Lexi this morning?

No. Between 12:00 and 12:30, I was in the cafeteria.

I said that.

So, no alibi.

Max, there was like 100 people there.

So you admit no one can confirm your whereabouts.

Hey, can we just get back to work, please?

I already told you you’re benched.

Chief, I’m an asset. I know everyone here.

I’m telling you.

That’s the problem.

You can’t be an objective investigator.

All right, fine.

Can you just tell me what you know so far?

We talked to everyone except a guy named Ron Zigowski.

He signed in, but no one’s been able to find him.

Nobody listens to me around here.

I just said he’s benched.

I know, old habits die hard, even with a murderer.

Ziggy’s here, huh? Wow.

He was like the, uh, Spicoli of our high school.

Total stoner.

Is he worth a look?

I mean, I wouldn’t have thought so,

but it has been 15 years, so people change, right?

Okay, civilian, we got this.

I’m keeping this.

Thanks, Ludo. Five stars, buddy.

Yates, what the?

I’m still burping up burritos. What is this?

Hold up. Are these- are these kebabs?

Mmhmm. Todd’s kebabs and cell phone emporium.

Okay.

One last time.

One last time? What do you mean by that?

Todd’s packing up his skewers for good this time.

His wife inherited a beauty parlour.

Just like that, huh?

Shocking, isn’t it?

You rely on Todd.

The consistency of his kebabs, friendship, camaraderie.

And then, out of nowhere, just leaves.

Like your relationship meant nothing to him

because he found something better.

Yeah, well, things change.

That’s life. It’s not all bad.

Change sucks.

Are...

Are you about to cry?

There’s no crying on stakeouts.

Hey, listen, there’s gonna be other kebabs.

Not like these ones.

There’s no sign of Ziggy anywhere.

Detective, you’re benched.

Oh, please.

It’s not like you’re already drafting an article

in your head about all this.

I’m not benched.

What did the Chief want?

Strangely, he wanted to know what you were

like in high school.

Oh, he did, did he?

- Mmhmm. - Okay.

I was more punk than popular.

I smoked in the girls’ bathroom. I wore way too much eyeliner.

And I was 100 percent certain

that I was gonna marry Jack White.

Okay, so unlike me, you were actually cool.

I was tremendously cool.

It’s too bad we didn’t meet back then.

Hard truth.

I think that Teen Jess would have ghosted Teen Ellis

before ghosting was even a thing.

Think so?

There was a big difference between cool and confident.

I hid behind ripped fishnets, Doc Martens and a bad attitude.

That you’re too cool to even go to your prom.

Oh, I went with 20-year-old bad boy Liam,

who smelled like cigarettes and sweat

and rode a motorcycle.

Okay. Yeah.

Teen Ellis definitely couldn’t compete with that.

What’s wrong?

I’m glad we didn’t meet back then.

I think you would have been wasted on Teen Jess.

She was nowhere near mature enough to appreciate

the genuine, honourable, sexy man you are now.

You think I’m sexy, huh?

Well, don’t let it get to your head.

Too late.

You want to hold hands with the cool chick?

Yes, I do.

So you still got those fishnets?

Oh, keep dreaming, nerd.

This is our last session, boys.

And don’t worry.

I’m not going to turn on the sap

and tell you all how proud I am of you.

Because if you don’t know that already, you’re idiots.

Speaking for the group,

I just want to say how much our time together has meant to us.

Oh, thanks, guys. That means a lot.

How about we read our last journal entry?

Artie, do you want to start us off?

Sure.

So Block D’s been flooded.

What happened?

100-year-old sewage pipes is what happened.

Everyone’s been ordered to stay where they are.

You too, George. Get comfortable,

It may be a while.

Look, let’s double back this way.

Ah! These hallways bringing back any memories?

I dropped out of high school to join a certain street gang.

Crimson Vipers got you young, huh?

Yeah, too young.

You grow up quick when you’re in a gang.

What about you?

I was always on the move, so I was homeschooled.

I still learned trigonometry,

but I used it for drawing blueprints for heists.

So no problem for you, either.

Nope.

Never feel like you missed out?

Sometimes I think it would have been nice

to have a steady friend group.

Go to Sweet Sixteens, pep rallies.

You know, the ushe.

How about you?

Yeah, I guess a normal high school life

would have been a lot easier.

But then you wouldn’t have become the man you are today.

Hey.

Look at this.

Someone didn’t like Lexi.

Nope.

Olive.

I tested Lexi’s champagne glass and the champagne itself.

There are no traces of sodium nitrite on or in either.

So it wasn’t anything she ate or drank.

But I did find traces of the poison on her lips.

How did it get there?

Lip balm.

Her own brand.

Were you able to pull any fingerprints

off the tube of lip balm?

Only the victims.

But I did discover something surprising.

Cornstarch.

She needed to thicken something?

Surgical gloves.

Exactly.

The insides of surgical gloves are coated with cornstarch.

It makes them easier to put on.

So the killer used gloves to handle the lip balm.

If I find anything else, I’ll let you know.

What if Lexi’s lip balm isn’t the only one that was poisoned?

We have to gather up all those lip balms and test them.

I’ll go tell the unis.

Okay. We need to get the word out

before anyone else gets hurt.

The PA system. I’ll make an announcement.

What are you two doing?

We were going to go make out in the principal’s office.

Any updates?

Yeah. Lexi was poisoned by her own lip balm.

I was gonna make an announcement on the PA system.

Oh.

Oh my God!

That’s Ziggy.

Is he alive?

I’m going to call 9-1-1.

Yeah.

Oh, what the--

Smellis?

Oh, Smellis. Is that you?

Wait. What did he call you?

Nothing. He’s-- he’s delirious.

Oh. Smellis. Smellis, my dude.

Okay, this day just keeps getting better and better.

Look, Z, we have some questions we need to ask you, okay?

I’m sorry, civilian. You heard the Chief.

Go park yourself over there and stay there.

I cannot believe Smellis went full narc.

Tell me about Lexi.

Queen of mean.

What about her?

She died earlier today.

Oh, well... Oh, that’s a trip.

Oh. She’s okay?

She’s dead.

Okay. Where were you between 12:00 and 12:30?

Yeah, I was taking a stroll down memory lane.

I saw Amber ducked in here.

Why?

Yeah, Amber, Lexi and Hannah, they... suck.

What was Amber doing?

She’s gone nuts.

She was like tearing posters and swearing under her breath.

Interesting.

Right?

Can you remember anything else?

No. No. I saw Amber, hid out in here.

Place went up, and then I must have dozed off,

because next thing I know, there’s Smellis.

Oh my God, where is Smellis?

Found these in the trash can near the science lab.

That’s awful.

I mean, why would anybody do that?

Lexi was, like, the most beautiful soul ever.

And, like, I miss her already.

We have a witness who saw you.

Okay, fine. It was me. I tore them down.

I was mad, but only because

Lexi hijacked the entire reunion that I planned.

How?

I have been planning this reunion for months,

and then she just swoops in last minute

and pays for, like, a few bags of nachos

and plasters, her stupid lip balm posters everywhere.

And then what? She got all the credit.

We thought you two were best friends.

So did I.

And then I saw her and Hannah a few months ago

at Babette’s Bistro, like together,

and they didn’t even invite me.

And Babette’s has like the cutest happy hour ever.

And then this morning,

I saw the two of them huddled together in the gym.

And when I tried to join in, Lexi said that it was

a private conversation just for her and Hannah.

I mean, like, excuse me. She could be so fickle.

Oh, but I didn’t kill her.

You were the only person on the second floor.

No, I wasn’t.

Ziggy doesn’t count.

I’m not talking about Ziggy.

Welcome to my old hideout.

I knew you weren’t a behind the bleachers kind of guy.

It’s definitely no making out happening here.

The library was always empty, so I’d always come here to escape.

Mm.

Ah, see, I knew you’d be back.

I dug this out for you.

Oh, my God. I can’t believe you still have a copy of that.

Justice Begins With Us, an essay by Cole Ellis.

So you haven’t changed at all, then?

Actually the essay is pretty good,

but the story is the real gold.

Tell me everything.

Cole was a senior and some of the football boys

were picking on this scrawny little freshman.

Now, Cole reported it to the administration,

but they didn’t do anything.

So Cole, even though he was smaller than all of them,

he walked right up to the biggest jock

and right in the middle of the cafeteria,

he broke his nose.

Well, those boys never picked on that kid again.

That’s right.

But it also put a huge target on my back,

which is why I’d always hide in here.

Oh, that’s why they called you Cole the Mole.

Holed up in the library.

Oh, my scrawny hero.

Okay.

I bet I can guess who the jock was.

You lied about your whereabouts earlier.

You were both seen on the second floor.

We were just talking.

With your tongues.

Fine. It’s my fault.

I saw Brock go upstairs, so I went looking for him.

I’ve had a crush since school,

but Lexi got to him before I did.

So today, after a few glasses of champagne.

I saw my chance and I took it.

Why did you lie to us?

Because he’s married.

And my wife would kill me.

So why were you up there?

I went to look at the trophy case.

The MVP title was supposed to be mine.

I just wanted to see it again.

Supposed to be yours?

The night before the championship game

Lexi made us dinner.

She knew all about my allergies.

Corn, tomatoes, peanuts, cats. You name it, I’m allergic to it.

There’s something in that meal triggered an attack.

But she didn’t do it on purpose.

No, but it ruined my life.

She couldn’t remember something that might kill me?

What kind of a girlfriend is that?

But you didn’t die.

No, but I couldn’t play.

We lost the championship.

Football dreams gone.

And Lexi dumped me.

Please don’t tell my wife.

Are you- are you okay there?

Yeah. I don’t know what it is.

Something- something must have set me off.

Tell us again about your allergies.

Yeah, I was always rooting for you

to solve your brother’s case.

I’m so glad you were able to put that to bed.

And, you know, find some peace.

Thank you. So was I.

You seem happy.

Yeah, I am.

Good.

Hey, I was looking through these yearbooks

for more awkward Cole photos,

and I found something interesting.

Okay, well, look, whatever it is,

I don’t have any secrets left.

Yeah, you might not, but I think somebody does.

We need to find Max and Li immediately.

How are you hanging in there, Artie?

Shouldn’t be too much longer.

Hey, we got coffee, donuts.

Things could be worse.

Yeah.

Hey. I’m sorry we didn’t get to your story, man.

Don’t worry.

It’s about a dumb thing when I was a kid.

Oh, tell me. I want to hear it.

Well, it’s about me and my big brother.

After my first day of high school,

he takes me to a convenience store to celebrate.

He says it’s gonna get me something.

He goes over to a rack, grabs a pack of gum, grins,

drops it in my pocket, and he walks away.

And you got caught?

Since I wrote it, I realized...

I’ve been taking the rap for this guy ever since.

Is that what landed you in here?

Yeah.

Job of his went south.

I took the heat.

Sounds like he’s using you.

That’s the only family I got.

Listen up.

Cell block D will be transferred

to a different facility in the morning.

We will move you to another section for the night.

Let’s go.

Well...

Looks like I’m being transferred.

Thanks for everything, George.

Yeah, it’s been a pleasure.

You know, I have a feeling the best is yet to come

for both of us.

It’s come to my attention that some of my pupils

have been caught cheating.

That means you’ve been called up here

because one of you killed Lexi.

Someone here was lying about where they were

during what we like to call in our business,

the murder window.

It’s not actually what we call it.

All of you were on the second floor

during that critical 30 minutes.

Uh. Doesn’t that mean we couldn’t have killed Lexi?

On the contrary, Ziggy.

It’s actually quite the opposite.

One of you went to the science lab, unlocked the cabinet,

put on a pair of gloves,

and laced a lip balm with sodium nitrite,

and made sure that Lexi applied it.

And you, Brock, you’re the key to solving this whole mystery.

Me?

Look, I swear I didn’t do it.

Really? Why do you keep scratching your face like that?

I can’t help it. I told you, I have allergies.

Dust mites, grass, lobster, corn.

That’s the funny thing about allergic reactions.

Sometimes it’s about what you touch.

And sometimes it’s about what or who touches you.

Isn’t that right, Hannah?

Oh.

I don’t know what we’re talking about.

You thought you were so smart putting on latex gloves.

You thought you wouldn’t get any fingerprints on the lip balm.

But you did leave something behind,

even more incriminating, on Brock.

When you left the lab, you bumped into Brock.

You knew you had been seen, so you distracted him

with a kiss.

It was a passionate one, too, wasn’t it, Brock?

Yeah, it was pretty hot and heavy.

Like, grab your face in her hands, hot and heavy?

Oh, yeah.

Sorry to break it to you, but it was fake.

All a cover up.

What are you talking about?

Fun fact.

Latex gloves are dusted with cornstarch powder.

Makes it easy to take the gloves off and on.

And guess who’s allergic to all things corn-based?

So when you grabbed Brock’s face,

you got some cornstarch residue from your fingers

onto his beard.

This is crazy. Lexi was my bestie.

Do you remember what your yearbook quote was?

No.

Let me refresh your memory.

Bloom softly. Burn brightly.

The same as Lexi’s lip balm slogan.

Except it wasn’t just the slogan,

it was the whole product idea.

A lip balm infused with aromatherapy scents,

each one designed to boost your energy,

enhance mental clarity, calm your mood.

And today, Lexi’s company was just acquired

for millions of dollars.

She stole it from you.

Quick patent search

turned up your application for a lip balm named Emobalm.

It also had the same slogan

because Lexi also applied and was granted the patent,

beating you to it,

cheating you out of the product you created.

She stole your idea just like

she stole your boyfriend Brock back in high school.

You’re all out of your minds.

Out of everyone here,

you’re the only one with a chemistry degree.

That doesn’t prove anything.

But the glove powder does.

So we’re gonna bag your hands and get you down to the station.

We’ve got a sophisticated infrared spectrometer

that can detect microscopic cornstarch residue.

Emobomb was my idea, not Lexi’s!

I confronted Lexi about it today and she just laughed.

She told me to get a lawyer.

She knew that I couldn’t afford to fight it.

You couldn’t let her win, so you killed her.

You’re under arrest for the murder of Lexi Chandler.

You know, if it makes you feel any better,

it is a killer lip balm.

Kebab burrito combo.

Never again.

All right, it’s getting late.

Who’s coming in for the next shift?

I don’t know.

All right, let me call the--

See if he can swap us out for some unis.

What are you doing?

We’re not going anywhere.

What’s happening?

Did you really think that you were just-

you’re just gonna leave without a word?

So that’s what this is all about?

Wait a minute.

This wasn’t.

This wasn’t even a real stakeout, was it?

You were just gonna slip out the back door

like a raccoon at a buffet.

You know, Simmons, when you move, I move.

And I know all your passwords.

That was you?

Yeah.

All right.

I’m leaving the precinct.

I put in for an undercover task force.

Li vouched and I just got clearance.

Different city, and I’m gonna need to lay low

for a little while.

How could you do this to me?

I mean, was it Max? Was it Ellis?

Because I if I need to beat someone up,

you know, I got it in me.

I was- I was gonna write you a letter.

A letter?

What is this, 1895?

Why don’t you send it via carrier pigeon

while you’re at it?

I’m sorry, I...

I didn’t know how to tell you face to face.

I’ve always been bad with goodbyes.

Especially with you.

I was hoping you’d be happy for me.

I am happy for you, you stupid idiot.

I can’t believe I’m going to walk into work

and you’re not going to be there anymore.

See, this is exactly why I didn’t want to do this.

Then don’t go.

Yates...

I’m sorry. I didn’t find a better way to tell you.

You still can.

What now?

Yeah, now. And I want it all.

Yates, you were the most dedicated

and tenacious and strange.

I mean, you are very strange, detective.

And you’re my best friend.

And you’re the best partner I’ve ever had.

Even better than Ellis?

Yes, but don’t you dare tell him that.

Okay, I won’t tell him. I’m not going to tell him.

Come here.

Oh.

Ludo. Thanks.

Are you crying?

Mind your own damn business.

God!

I’m not crying.

Just a little something for me.

The piece de resistance, if you will.

You gotta be? Are you kidding me?

I had them made special.

Big heads for the big brain guys.

Yates, and I mean this in the most platonic way possible,

I love you.

Okay, well, you’ve gone ahead and made it weird,

so now we have to leave.

That’s true.

Well, you know, I’m gonna be texting you updates

of what I’m eating every day.

Like I’m gonna be do not disturb annoying.

Well, you know, I’m gonna be undercover,

so it’s probably best you don’t do that.

Don’t text me. I’ll text you.

I love you so much, Simmons.

Have you thought about your undercover name?

You know, I don’t think I get to choose that.

Yeah. You’re right. I’ll pick it.

How about, uh, Dirk Thunderpants?

No, wait. Christophe von Tacolila.

Or maybe Trish Skedaddle. That’s fun.

You know, there’s no infrared spectrometer

cornstarch test, right?

How am I supposed to know, I never graduated?

Hey, Cole, come here for a sec.

I’ll just be a moment. You guys want to wait up?

No. We’ll head back to the station.

Okay. I’ll see you later.

Good night.

Jess.

Cole Ellis, will you be my prom date?

What’s all this?

I heard about your prom experience.

Did Max tell you?

I’m a journalist.

It’s my job to uncover people’s embarrassing secrets.

Plus, every single one of your classmates

couldn’t wait to tell me.

It’s definitely a night I’d like to forget.

Which is why I think you deserve a redo.

Can I have this dance?

Come on.

When the cool chick asks you to dance,

you gotta do it.

Okay.

♪ Oh, I was never the same. ♪

I’m sorry that happened to you.

Don’t be. It’s okay.

No, it’s not okay.

No, I mean, it’s okay.

Because if it all ended this moment, then

it was worth it.

♪ No, I was the one. ♪

♪ The quiet light... ♪

That settles it. High school sucks.

Absolutely.

And I’m kind of glad that we didn’t have

the typical experience, you know?

Typical is overrated.

Cliques, pep rallies, bad high school slow dances.

Exactly. And we got the scars and street smarts instead.

A way better conversation starter.

And way fewer embarrassing yearbook photos.

I’m saving this for a special occasion.

Don’t lose that.

I won’t. I uploaded it to the cloud.

Nice.

Shoot. I left my jacket in the cafeteria.

You need a ride?

Nope. I got my car.

Okay. Good night, Max.

All right. Good night, Chief.

♪ In a moment, ♪

♪ the wind is gone. ♪

♪ In a moment ♪

♪ of blazing sun. ♪

♪ And in the panic on the... ♪

Hey, Mom.

As usual, your timing is flawless.

Max, you need to get home now. We have a situation here.

Mom.

What’s going on? Is everything okay?

What is all this?

I’ve been thinking.

You mean spiraling?

Well, it’s, uh...

It’s the smartest move. You’ll see.

What’s in the bags?

Just the essentials.

Enough for us all to get settled.

I am settled.

I thought we already had this conversation.

I know, but it’s the plan.

There are too many variables,

too many ways for it to go sideways.

We can be out of the country by dawn.

Varga won’t even know we’re gone until it’s too late.

And then what? We just keep running.

That’s exactly what we’re trying to stop.

No, we stick to the plan.

I know, but plans change and this is the new one.

We can hide as a family. It is the smartest move.

And what about Ellis and my friends?

If we leave, then we put them all in danger.

Ellis is more than capable

and the rest can fend for themselves.

It’s a calculated risk we have to take.

And they are not family.

Maybe not to you, Mom, but to me, they are my family.

And I can’t run the risk of losing you again.

I won’t.

You didn’t lose me!

You left!

Do you remember the last thing we said to each other

before you disappeared?

No. Why does that matter?

We had an argument. A stupid argument about

how I didn’t take the chicken out of the freezer

before you came home.

You lectured me about responsibility

and how I need to put my family first.

You just wouldn’t let it go.

What does this have to do with anything?

Can you just help me get--

I hate you!

That is the last thing I said to you.

I hate you.

And then I stormed off.

And I never saw you again.

For 15 years I carried that guilt like a stone in my heart.

And you let me live with that.

Oh. Max, honey...

You were just a kid.

Those words-- I never thought I--

It was just temper, babe.

Do you know how hard that is for a kid

to replay that memory over and over again?

There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about

the fact that the last words I said to my mom.

Max, don’t. Don’t.

I didn’t know.

I am so sorry.

Can you ever forgive me?

Max, wait.

Please.