Original subtitles

What's that light up

yonder on that there porch?

Just the break of dawn.

And Juliet, my sweet tea sunrise.

Wake up, sugar,

and outshine that ornery old moon--

Cut!!

Cut! Cut.

Dean, no.

- No, no. - No?

Oh, no.

You have got to make us feel

the anguish of Romeo's very soul.

You're not just "I'm calling out" to Juliet.

What is that light

up yonder

on that there porch?

Tis the break of dawn.

Juliet's my sweet tea sunrise.

Wake up, sugar.

And out shine that ornery, old moon.

Yeah.

Get it, you get it?

Yeah.

So go slower.

No!

God bless America, Dean.

I think our director takes himself too seriously.

I don't know.

He did act in an episode of Sheriff Lobo.

I heard it was like two lines, and he was ten years old.

What is your motivation, hmm?

Personally I never even thought of getting into acting.

But Janet wanted to give this a try, so I--

Gosh!

Not your motivation.

Romeo's motivation in this scene.

- What is Romeo's motivation? - Right.

No, I.

He wants some-- oh, sweet tea.

- It's not here, Dean. - It's not?

It's right there.

Look at that beautiful woman.

That's your own wife Dean.

Yeah.

You want to

try it again?

- Yeah. - Yeah?

Let's do it Dean.

I believe in you, buddy.

Show me Romeo.

Okay...

My lord!

Romeo's dead.

- Here she is. - Oh.

Hey, Maddie.

- Follow me. - Okay.

A sandbag fell and hit him right on the head.

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah. No, I.

I don't know.

I've never had a sandbag dropped on my head before Sheriff.

You don't think it was intentional, do you?

Probably just old equipment.

Actually, the rigging is new.

It's an automated fly system that lifts

and lowers pieces on the stage.

- And you are? - Hayden Frazier.

- The director? - Ha! Ronald, director.

SAG eligible.

He is just the stage manager.

No, but I'm also the prop department, costumes, lights.

He's also Romeo's understudy.

And, I was also nowhere near

the system control panel, by the way.

So who was near the system control panel

when this happened?

- That'd be me, Sheriff. - Connor.

I'm the producer, thank you for coming.

This isn't your typical crowd.

Yeah, first and probably last time financing one of these.

So, you were near the control

panel when this incident happened?

Yeah, I had just showed up, but I didn't touch anything.

Okay.

Will you show me the control panel?

Over here.

Come on, Ronny.

Here's the cookie.

Come on.

Hey! What's happening?

Error code, I think.

All right, first things first.

Shut this thing down and then get someone out here to fix it.

Well, if Romeo is fine,

then, as they say in the theater, on with the show.

As they say in the sheriff's station's, safety first.

- Are you good? - Yeah.

Stay away from falling things okay?

And for the time being, why don't you

go back to doing things the old fashioned way?

By hand.

Ah! Thespian purist. I love it.

- I love it. - You got that?

Yeah.

- You good? - Yeah.

Dad, are you sure nobody could've done this on purpose?

Dropping a sandbag on someone's head

is how you heard somebody in a dime store novel.

- Yes? - How's it going with Dixie?

Dixie?

Dude.

Come on.

Okay.

We've been out on a couple of dates,

and I think she's really sweet.

- And I kind of like her. - Okay.

But we're keeping it under wraps for now, okay?

So please don't talk about this around the station.

I just got a report about a white sedan swerving

pretty dangerously over on Ellen Road.

Possible DUI, I guess.

Let's go.

You can kill the engine sir.

Huh?

I need you to turn off the car right now, sir.

Have you been drinking, sir?

I just had one drink.

Promise, officer.

It was just one drink.

And I-- Everything just started spinning.

Didn't know where I was.

All right, let's have you step out of the car.

Sawdust.

Said he only had one drink.

- You believe him? - We do.

I mean, as you can see, there's not much gone.

Plus, there was no open containers in the vehicle.

And he was coming straight from a sales call

at a home in Toccoa.

I guess he sells encyclopedias.

Anyways, I called, confirmed he was there.

And sober.

Oh, this isn't moonshine.

This is rocket fuel.

He said those jars were selling like hotcakes out

of the back of a minivan in Frazier County.

Well, contact Frazier P.D.

and get Sheriff Emerson on the phone for me.

Dad?

Hey, shouldn't you be at school?

Oh, I've got off campus lunch today.

Oh, you came to have lunch with dear, old dad?

Not exactly.

Can we talk?

Sure, what's up?

Last night, I checked the sand bag that hit Dean,

and I noticed it was way lighter than the other ones.

So I looked inside and the sand was mixed with sawdust.

Okay.

So I went back this morning to get a sample for you.

But now that bag is refilled with only sand.

So, what are you suggesting?

Maybe somebody wanted to hurt Dean,

but not necessarily kill him.

Or maybe the lighter sandbag caused a malfunction,

and that's why they replaced it.

No, I mean, you always tell me to trust my instincts, dad.

And something about this just feels off.

Well, for us to consider it

more than an accident, we need actual evidence.

That's how police work works.

Hey, boss?

I got Emerson on the line for you.

I got to take this.

Have a good day at school, Maddie.

You can't bring that in here, Sheriff.

As you know, shine's illegal here in Blue Ridge.

I'd have to report you to the--

To the deputy maybe.

I just got off the phone with Sheriff Emerson.

Said that someone is selling

this very potent moonshine out of the back of a van.

Hmm. You don't say.

We reached out to neighboring counties

who have the same issue that whoever buys it is

getting knocked out flat.

And... what does that got to do with me?

Oh, I'm glad you asked.

Even though this product doesn't have an official name.

People are calling it after its creator.

Boostin' Juice.

Well, we just have to thank the good

Lord that it hasn't found its way into our fine town.

Well, it seems as though the distiller of this Boostin'

Juice is avoiding Blue Ridge.

Well, as the owner of a bar, which is a legitimate

alcohol trade business, I, for one...

I sincerely hope you catch these rogue vagabond

moonshiners and bring them to justice Sheriff.

That's exactly what we intend on doing.

It's good to see you, Dixie.

Dixie.

You know where my knucklehead nephews are?

Booster said they were off to make some cabbage.

Cabbage?

That boy could screw up a one car parade.

I mean, I'm pretty much

the only real actor in this entire county.

No offense.

Some taken.

Just because Ronnie teaches acting at Rich Creek

Community College, he gets to direct, choose the cast.

I mean, Dean is terrible as Romeo.

Janet's a pretty good Juliet.

Oh, I'm sorry, just because she plays Juliet,

he gets to be Romeo because they're married.

It's literally nepotism.

Hey, hey!

Do you know where Juliet's knife is?

It's missing from props.

No, and we're in the middle of something.

- Yeah. - Okay.

Actors are not supposed to touch props unless

they're using them in the current scene.

Theater 101!

Is it true the only reason Dean got that part of Romeo

is because he did some work for Connor for free?

Look, this ends now okay.

Or you'll regret it.

You hear me?

It's not a joke.

This thing was a total train wreck.

But now ticket sales are picking up just overnight.

The whole town is talking about the sand bag incident.

Yeah, I kid you not.

If the dude had actually died, we'd have a hit on our hands.

What are you idiots up to?

Just make another batch.

Of Boostin' Juice.

I told him Tyler's Teashine sounded better.

I'm famous now.

Everybody's talking about me.

Oh, yeah? You are including the sheriff.

Listen, you hayseed.

The whole point of breaking the law is not getting caught.

What?

You think bank robbers put on ski masks

because they're going skiing afterwards?

I thought it was all about branding.

I mean, McGrath is making money

hand over fist with his Carolina Blue bourbon.

And like you always say,

our product is superior.

Now, it would be un-American if we couldn't

get to the people.

I mean, maybe we could even get a license.

Moonshine ain't supposed to be legal.

It's moonshine.

I think moving forward we just need to be careful

and calculated in our deliveries.

What exactly you got in mind there uncle?

Ya'll hear tale of a cinematic classic

called "Smokey and the bandit"?

No. No, no, no.

You were found leaning over the victim.

I went in to go talk to him about a scene.

And when I opened the door, there

he was with my knife in his back.

You mean Juliet's knife?

Yes, but--

It was also my knife.

Your knife?

Yeah.

It's a BYOP production.

You bring your own prop.

So we brought it from home.

So, you were using real knives in the production.

Ronald was a stickler for authenticity, I--

I ran over to go check on him

and then she started screaming.

Okay, you two stay here.

My deputies will come over and get a full

statement from the both of you.

Don't move.

Hey. Play's shut down.

Didn't you hear what the director said yesterday?

- The show must go on. - It mustn't.

And it won't.

Play's canceled.

Hey.

- You okay? - Yeah.

Seeing a dead body can be very traumatizing.

So, if you need to talk to me about anything.

I'm here for you.

I know, thanks.

Okay.

Actually,

I do need to talk to you.

So I did some investigating,

and I heard Janet and Ronald

talking in his office, and then she ran out crying.

- Okay. - Yeah.

And that stage manager, Hayden,

he was very mad that he didn't get the part of Romeo.

And I heard Connor talking about something on the phone.

How an actual death would increase ticket sales.

Oh, and Dean and Ronald were arguing in his office

about something that needed to end right then,

or else he would regret it.

- Anything else? - Yes.

Hayden was in charge of the props.

And just before the murder he went around

asking where Juliet's knife was.

Giving him plausible deniability.

- Plausible deniability? - Yes.

Plausible deniability.

It's where you set things up so you have an airtight alibi.

Good job.

I'll take it from here.

Okay.

Well, if you need any more help, you know where to find me.

Yeah, at home, studying.

According to all these statements,

Ronald was an egotistical jerk.

Just about everyone hated him.

Oh, yeah.

He told me my acting

made Steven Seagal look like Laurence Olivier.

For the record, I didn't kill him.

There's so many potential suspects, it's going to be

easier to figure out who didn't want him dead.

You want us to follow up?

No. I'm going to take point on this Shakespearean tragedy.

I want you guys to shut down Boostin' Juice.

I'm getting calls from all local sheriffs

that want to know why I'm allowing a Blue Ridge

criminal to run havoc throughout their town.

I mean, if Jeremiah knows we're onto him

he'll probably just pump the brakes himself, right?

No. Jeremiah...

He fancies himself a redneck Don Corleone.

Dollars and donuts.

He's going to raise the stakes.

You're going to need the bust Booster

to make it stick.

We have witnesses, said they

saw you leaving Ronald's office in tears.

You're also the one found over the body.

And the murder weapon belongs to you.

I know it looks bad, but it wasn't me.

I had just walked in there and found the body.

All right, let's start with why

you were leaving Ronald's office in tears.

Ronald wanted me to convince Dean to drop out of the play.

He said my husband was ruining his masterpiece.

Why would you agree to that?

I know it sounds silly now, but

Ronald promised that he would rewrite the play

so that my character didn't die in the first act.

It's been a while.

But doesn't Juliet die in the end?

Not in "Romeo and Who-liet."

Ronald wanted to write something that no one would see coming.

A twist, that Romeo was the killer.

And you told Ronald you would do that?

No. No, of course not.

I could never do that to Dean.

- A how did Ronald take that? - Oh, he was upset.

He was very angry with me, and he started yelling at me.

I left in tears.

I am an actress.

I take classes at the community college.

You were arguing with your husband, Dean.

What was that about?

Just typical husband and wife stuff.

We had been struggling to connect.

I mean, it's no secret that Dean isn't a great actor,

but he was in the play because he wanted to spend time with me.

This is going to be easier than we thought.

Boostin' Juice is on the loose!

Booster, come on out.

Nice hat.

Let's open it.

- Is this really necessary? - Yes.

No moonshine.

Say, Deputies.

Is it illegal to sell stuff

at the flea market in Nelson County?

Look out! Look out!

We're rolling out, baby.

Just like Smokey and the bandit!

Oh! Ha, ha!

Sheriff...

You mind if I come in?

No, no, not at all.

Please.

So how can I help you, Sheriff?

Well, mind handing me that loaded handgun

in your back pocket?

Yeah, sorry about that, Sheriff.

Just somebody tried to drop a sand bag on my head.

I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe I'm next.

Maybe the killer would come and finish what they started.

I understand that you and Ronald got into an argument

in his office yesterday.

Argument? No.

You yelled, he ends it or he regrets it?

Oh, no.

We were, just running some lines.

- Running lines? - Yeah. Yeah, just.

I mean, he had a script revision,

and he wanted to hear me say it.

Yeah, I have them right here if you want to see them.

I been practicing.

So you bartered with Connor to get the part.

You did some free work to get the role.

I'm an engineer by trade.

You know, I did some work for him in the past.

I did a complete overhaul

of his reservation system over at the Blueview.

And I automated part of his Carolina Blue

Bourbon Distillery.

So how much would something like that cost?

20,000 give or take.

That's a steep price for a role in a community play.

Not that steep

if it means you get closer to a wife.

Kind of hit a rough patch

in the last little bit, and...

Somehow I thought that maybe if I was in the play,

that would help save the marriage.

You know, she's the love of my life.

And I've always known that

she's been like, way out of my league.

I guess in the last couple years

maybe she figured that fact out as well.

Started to grow a little more distant.

So I thought that maybe, you know, maybe if I could be her

Romeo, she'd somehow remember that she's my Juliet.

And I can reignite the spark a little.

Even if it meant me embarrassing myself

in front of the whole town.

But what I didn't want to do

was embarrass her.

And I did that a little.

So that's why I agreed to drop out of the play.

You dropped out of the play?

Yeah, yeah.

Ronnie said that if I agreed to drop out of the play, then

he would rewrite the first act so that Juliet didn't die.

You have any idea who would want to hurt Ronald?

Or you, for that matter?

Hayden. Stage manager.

He definitely hated me for getting the role.

He hated Ronnie for him giving it to me.

Don't know, maybe

he messed things up with the sandbag,

trying to get me out of the picture

and suddenly get rid of Ronnie instead.

Thought you were more of a Louis L'Amour man.

It's research.

I'm seeing if anything clicks.

Dad, you aren't going to believe this.

Mr. McGrath is letting Hayden step in to direct.

And he's now playing Romeo, too.

Don't you think that gives a motive?

"Romeo and Who-liet" is canceled.

Mr. McGrath said this was just a speed bump.

So, don't you think that confirms Hayden's motive?

I mean, he was--

This isn't some theatrical whodunit, Maddie.

This is a real life murder, murder...

with real life consequences.

I know that I--

I was just trying to help.

I can't believe we actually got a tip on our hotline.

Three vans.

This is a big one.

- Which one do we tale? - None of them.

What's our next move?

I have no idea.

Play's been canceled.

No, no, no, no, no.

Mr. McGrath said we need to keep rehearsing.

He said you were the best detective, and you would

catch the killer soon.

Looks like your attempt to stab everyone in the back

got you exactly what you wanted.

I mean, sure, maybe figuratively, but not,

you know, literally.

But the truth is, I was hoping this thing would flop

so Ronnie would get canceled from the local directing pool.

You're not a fan?

He got all his gigs because he teaches theater

at the community college.

I mean, are you kidding me?

He also got fired from his previous job

for dating one of his students.

Look, now I'm stuck trying

to salvage this dumpster fire of a script.

It's a lose-lose for me.

Okay, because if the play tanks, I'm the scapegoat.

And if it's a big hit, well guess what?

It's a long, slow clap for Mr. Orson Welles wannabe.

Wel, your fingerprints were found on the murder weapon

that you said that you misplaced.

Well, I'm the prop master.

So if they weren't on the weapon,

I would be a little confused.

Okay, let me ask you this, prop master.

Why use real knives?

Ronnie said it looked too fake and demanded realism.

As if anybody would ever notice.

I mean, most people in Blue Ridge

think hamlet is a fancy omelet.

If you want a real suspect, just go over there.

Knock on Connor McGrath's door and say, hey.

- McGrath? - Yeah.

He barely knew the victim.

Well, Ronnie lied to him to get him

to fund the entirely unnecessary fly system.

He also went way over budget.

Got Mr. McGrath to cover the excess.

Speaking of which, I got a peek at that little budget.

Ronnie was really splurging on himself and someone else.

He bought tickets for flights to Myrtle Beach

last week on the productions dime for research.

I'm telling you I caught on so easy.

I promise you, Connor McGrath would.

He doesn't just give away money.

You know the guy. Okay?

And if you cross him, what do you think's gonna happen?

Anyway, I believe that's what you refer to as motive.

Who's the muscle?

- My nephew. - Where's Kansas?

On assignment.

So let's talk about Ronald and your whereabouts...

the moment of his demise.

Why would I kill my director, Sheriff, and jeopardize

my whole production?

Because the play was losing money hand over fist.

Not for nothing, as they say.

I could afford to lose this amount of money

- on 100 plays, so you know. - Okay, then, revenge.

You hate being cheated.

And Ronald, while he was using your money

for first class flights, five star resorts.

You can do better than that, Sheriff.

Let me tell you a story I know about you.

- About mean? - Yeah.

I love a good story.

You were an outstanding pitcher in high school.

I saw an article up in the museum.

Now your senior year, you picked six no hitters in a row.

In the last game of the season,

you were going for number seven,

which would have been a state record.

Now you got to the last out.

Now, this wasn't just a no hitter.

It was a perfect game.

And up steps Steve Elliott to the plate.

Now Steve Elliot's the big slugger for the other team.

So you threw the first pitch

and he lays down a bunt to screw up your no hitter.

Safe.

There goes your streak.

There goes your perfect game.

That is a good story.

That's only the first act.

So you graduate.

You leave and go make a fortune.

But Steve Elliott, he stays in town.

He opens up a family restaurant.

He does pretty well for himself until the crisis of 2008.

His restaurant goes into foreclosure.

- Tragically. - Now the whole town.

They agree they're not going to bid on this at the auction.

They're going to take care of their own.

But in the last minute.

There's a bidder.

You.

You bought the restaurant for a song.

And then you bulldozed it.

And donated the land to the town.

Under the condition they would build a new baseball field.

I love baseball.

It's America's pastime.

We should catch a game sometime.

What's your alibi?

Two things.

One, I was in a meeting on the other side

of the county and

- Ready? - two...

As a lover of the arts.

There is more than one reason to finance a play.

You ready for dinner, milady?

Mm-hmm. Hello, Sheriff.

Let's get Italian.

Italian sounds lovely.

I did not see that coming.

What?

I just haven't gone out

and actually just had fun with anyone in a while.

A long time, actually.

And not with a guy who took me anywhere

other than suds and buds.

I'm having a really good time too.

Although

our relationship is definitely a little complicated.

Mm-hmm.

You and your boss.

Me and my boss.

You ask me, it's kind of like we're two star crossed lovers,

doomed by the strong ties to their families.

Except for that doesn't work out, so.

Dixie, I--

I've been thinking about this for

a while now, and.

Jeremiah, I mean,

he's pretty much involved with every bad thing

that happens here in Blue Ridge.

I get what he means to you.

I know.

He helped your family a lot.

So I would understand if--

I don't know, maybe right now you just

thought maybe we'd be better as friends.

Is that how you really feel?

No, honestly, that's not what I want.

- Oh, neither do I. - Well, good.

Well, good.

Listen.

If you promise me that Jeremiah won't get in trouble.

I think I know where the next shipment's headed.

I promise.

Mom said you wanted to see me.

Yes, Yes.

You have a seat.

- Am I in trouble? - No.

In fact, I've,

run into a dead end on the case, and I really could use someone

with a fresh perspective.

Someone that is clued in to everything that's happened.

That is, if you're still willing to help me.

Well,

of course I'll still help you.

Great.

Let's get to work.

All right, so...

Let's go over this one more time.

We got four sets of fingerprints on the murder weapon,

giving us four prime suspects.

Janet, Dean, Hayden and Dwayne.

It is not Dwayne.

Dwayne said he used a knife to cut his baloney sandwich.

Now I'm starting to think that you were right

- all along about the sand bag. - It is related.

What if Hayden, who was in charge of the panel,

tried to knock Dean out so he could take the lead?

And when that didn't work out, he killed Ronnie

- to get both parts. - That's right.

But what about Janet and Dean?

Well, I don't see their motive.

They have nothing to gain from Ronnie's death.

But, Dean,

he seemed genuinely afraid for his life.

But what about the argument I heard?

Marital issues.

We all have them from time to time.

And I heard Dean and Ronnie arguing too.

Dean said that they were running lines

because they were given a rewrite,

and Janet confirmed the rewrite.

And Dean he-- gave me a copy of the script.

Dean is not a good enough actor to pull off what I heard.

He was legit angry.

Probable cause concealed warrant.

Judge Lehmann signed off?

- Yes sir. - You able to join us?

We're going to pay Jeremiah, visit.

Oh, I'll stay here and study the evidence.

Let's roll.

Jeremiah!

We got a warrant!

We're coming in on three.

One. Two. Three.

Clear! Clear.

Clear.

Looks like they hightailed it out of here,

Go get the toolbox.

Let's break this up.

All right.

Boostin' Juice.

Booster.

How's it going?

Be all batched up by tomorrow morning.

But this stuff's a little extra,

How'd you know the plan would work, uncle?

Well, boys,

I may have let it slip to Dixie

as to the whereabouts of our small operations in hopes

that she would pass on that information to that deputy

that she's been seeing.

By the way, I've known about it from day one.

So, gentlemen,

at this point, it looks like

Jeremiah Juice is going national.

Yeah.

Jeremiah Juice is on the loose!

After you left, I kept looking at our suspects,

and I couldn't come up with anything.

So I stopped thinking like a detective

and started thinking like an actor.

- I like where this is going. - Yes.

Okay, this is a script revision Dean gave you.

He said Ronald rewrote the script,

and that's what I heard from the hallway

when he said it ends now.

Right.

This is Ronald's official script.

I mean, he tracked everything.

Every dialog change, every new stage direction

and every single rewrite in this.

Guess what?

Those lines aren't in here.

Also, every cast member was required

to get a headshot for the board.

Me, Shari, Hayden.

Dean.

Even Dwayne.

This is the one for Janet.

That's a hotel room.

And if you look real closely at the floor, you see two things.

A monogrammed overnight bag.

With the name Ronald O'Malley.

And that's the script.

- He took the photo. - He took the photo.

There's your motive.

Great work.

Now we just got to find the star crossed lovers.

Yes, and it's a good thing rehearsal just began.

And I know exactly where Juliet is.

I already know you took theater classes

at Rich Creek Community.

Yes.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that

Ronald is your teacher.

Yes.

Who took that photo?

Ronald.

When and where was it taken?

Two weeks ago in Myrtle Beach.

He was so cultured.

So different.

He said I had the "it" factor.

And that he believed in me.

And that's all I ever wanted.

I went to go tell him I was in love with him,

and I was going to leave Dean.

And then he told me that I was just a showmance.

So that's the real conversation that you had at the office

where you were crying?

Yes. Yes.

But I was hurt and devastated.

But I didn't kill him.

If anything, it made me realize what a good man I have in Dean.

Someone willing to look like a fool for me.

Does Dean know about the affair?

No. No.

And it would break his heart if he finds out.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

Dad!

Dean, no!

Nobody come near me.

- Listen to him! - Nobody!

- Get back! - Dean!

You don't want to do this. Put it down, Dean.

Put the gun down!

- Put the weapon down! - You drop it.

It's understandable.

Your wife was having an affair.

Yeah, I knew the second I looked at him.

When he put his hands on you.

That's why you got the part of Romeo.

To get in between the two of them.

We get it, Dean.

That's why you did all that free work for Connor, right?

- Put it down, put it down. - Okay.

Yeah, it was really clever how you had that fake sandbag

hit yourself in the head.

Who would suspect you?

You're a victim.

And the fingerprints on your weapon.

Easily explainable, right?

No.

I'm sorry.

I loved you.

- I'm sorry. - I always loved you.

Okay, but I'm not going to jump.

- I'm not! - Ah!

Oh!

Good job,

partner.

Two households both alike in dignity and fare.

Blue Ridge where we lay our scene.

From an ancient grudge break to new mutiny.

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

What's that light up there?

Yonder on that porch?

Tis the break of dawn.

And Juliet's my sweet tea sunrise.

Wake up, sugar, and outshine that ornery old moon.

I hate you, Romeo.

I mean, I detest thee

like a batch of bad fried okra.

Thou art a villain.

We must talk in secret.

My daughter's of a pretty age.

May a plague be upon

both your trailer parks.

And may your mobile homes forever be unlevel.

Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.

Some shall be pardoned and some punished.

For never was a story.

More woe than this.

Of Juliet and her Romeo.