Original subtitles

Previously on So Help Me Todd...

- I am a private detective. - You were.

I lost my job.

Two years ago.

TODD: Mom, are you okay?

I think Harry has left me.

HARRY: Your mother loves you.

Why do you think she spent two years

fighting the city, trying to reinstate your license?

There is one thing I could do for you

to help you get back on your feet.

You're a detective again. An investigator.

And this is your bus pass.

TODD: I will wear the tie,

but I will not take the bus.

♪ Gotta get up, gotta get out ♪

♪ Gotta get home before the morning comes ♪

- (ELEVATOR BELL CHIMES) - ♪ What if I'm late? ♪

♪ Got a big date, gotta get home ♪

♪ Before the sun comes up ♪

♪ Up and away, got a big day ♪

♪ Sorry, can't stay, I gotta run, run, yeah ♪

♪ Gotta get home, pick up the phone ♪

♪ Gotta let the people know I'm gonna be late ♪

(SHUTTER CLICKING RAPIDLY)

♪ There was a time... ♪

Not today, pal.

- Okay, so the DuBois trial begins today. - Mm-hmm.

You had 9:30, 10:45 and noon meetings,

- but I'm guessing... - Yes. Thank you.

Shift everything to next week, Francey.

The mayor is coming at 11:00,

and I need a little more time to prepare.

♪ We never thought it'd grow cold ♪

♪ But now... ♪

Excuse me, sir, can I help you?

- Yeah, I work here. - Excuse me?

I work here. My mother Margaret Wright works here,

- and I work for her. - RECEPTIONIST: No, you don't.

Yep, it's true. I work for my mother.

- You can't go down there. - I work for my mother.

Security!

- Skadden McNeil. Friday? - Tuesday.

- Are you attending the deposition? - Yes.

- Is Hirschland settling? - Never.

Thank you, Francey.

- ♪ She never even knew a sailor before ♪ - _

♪ And those were happier days ♪

- ♪ But now ♪ - Yes.

♪ Gotta get up, gotta get out ♪

- ♪ Gotta get home before the morning comes ♪ - Ow!

- Oh, man. - ♪ What if I'm late? Got a big date ♪

♪ Gotta get home before the sun comes up ♪

♪ Up and away, got a big day ♪

- ♪ Sorry, can't stay ♪ - _

- ♪ I gotta run, run, yeah ♪ - Yes.

♪ Gotta get home, pick up the phone ♪

♪ Gotta let the people know I'm gonna be late ♪

Lyle? Hey.

Top o' the morning, partner.

No food in here.

I don't have any. I'm just...

Which office was Nadia's, the investigator I'm replacing?

That office has been repurposed

as a hold site for closed case files,

broken office equipment and junk.

Oh, junk. Okay. All right.

So, uh, where's my office?

LYLE: And so, first things first.

This cabinet in particular is off-limits to you.

Do not open it.

The lights are motion-activated,

so this switch does nothing.

And until a cubicle opens up, this will have to do.

Well, do I get a chair?

Top o' the morning, partner.

What am I, a tailor?

Ridiculous.

(SCOFFS)

(FOOTFALLS APPROACHING)

Oh.

And I guess I'll see you in an hour for the deposition.

Thanks, Susan.

(CHUCKLES)

I mean, hey, he could have put you in the parking lot.

- Or the restroom. - Yeah, or in hell.

(CHUCKLES)

Wow, that ring really is a supernova.

You were never getting anything like that from me.

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

So, are you excited for your mom's big case?

What big case?

The mayor sex scandal thing.

What mayor sex scandal thing?

Todd, the mayor of Portland

and the woman accusing him of a lurid affair?

A lurid affair?

He's denying it.

His wife is pulling an Alicia Florrick and standing by him.

But Lexy here claims that things were hot and heavy,

and she has some of the mayor's personal items as proof.

Now she's suing him for breach of contract.

$5 million.

Wait, this is my mom's case?

And I'll be working it? As an investigator.

Me. A big scandal with the mayor?!

Well, you were hired to work her cases, and this is...

Yes! I'm back!

Mom, amazing.

Big scandal, so exciting.

Okay, I'm already diving into it.

And this mayor seems super sketchy to me.

I mean, look at that. Can they be real?

(SCOFFS) There's got to be some serious dark secrets in there.

Maybe he's got some people

chained up in a subterranean basement somewhere.

- Todd? - Huh?

The mayor is our client.

We are defending him at all costs.

- Okay. - But is that one of the ties I bought you?

(LAUGHS) You look very handsome.

Yeah, without the tie.

Wait, what do you mean we're defending the mayor at all costs?

Like, even if he did it?

Even if he's a psychopath

and throwing baby bunnies into campfires?

- Yes. - Okay.

Fine. Then I'll start with the woman Lexy Fawcett.

I'll watch her, I'll tail her. I'll quietly surveil her.

Hey, does having this job allow me to make

law-abiding citizen's arrests?

- Todd. - Uh-huh?

This is a very important day for me.

I have worked here for over 17 years.

I generate 31% of this firm's income.

And now it is time for the senior partners

to recognize my value and put my name above that door.

Crest, Folding, Song and Wright.

Which is why I need to tap all my resources

and clear the mayor's name

and win this case.

Great. Where do I start?

There's a woman in Southeast Portland

named Jacqueline DuBois.

Her basement flooded because of

the city water main break,

and many, many of her belongings were damaged.

Okay. Okay.

And I need you to go down and observe that trial.

I want to know everything.

Evidence, witnesses, testimony.

This is your first case,

and I am sure you're going to ace it.

Wait. Where's the high-profile sex scandal in this assignment?

That's what I'll be doing.

You are doing the legwork for my next case

when I represent Jacqueline's neighbors

in a very similar lawsuit.

- What?! - Mm-hmm.

I took this job to work real cases.

No, I gave you this job because you are broke.

I want murders, kidnapping, blackmail, not water damage.

I mean, who-who's investigating the mayor, the woman, the sex?

Here's the preliminary report on Alexis "Lexy" Fawcett.

I'll have more on her financials in a moment.

Excellent. Thank you, Lyle.

Him? Poindexter?

Todd, you're still learning the ropes here,

and this is the mayor.

We need our top people on this.

I'm not one of your top people?!

My top people don't show up 33 minutes late.

Who told you I was thir... ?

Oh, my God.

Mom, this is crazy.

You can't stick me with this dead-end case!

- Todd, Jacqueline's trial is at 10:00 a.m. - Don't Todd me, Margaret.

- You will not be late to that, too, - Your ace detective

- if you want a ride home tonight from your mother. - went out of his way to find

your missing husband?

Fine. Have fun with your hall monitor.

Alistair Song wants to see you in the conference room. Now.

Alistair.

Hello, Margaret. Have a seat.

Thank you.

You know, I was just mentioning you

and my position here...

What's this about

you hiring your son?

- My son? - Wasn't he involved

in some illegal wiretapping situation

a few years ago? And now he's working here?

Yes. My son. Todd.

Well, as I'm sure you know, we had an opening

in the investigations department,

and he was cleared

of those charges that you mentioned.

Todd is an excellent detective.

I have seen his work up close.

Very close.

But can we trust him not to embarrass us?

Yes, we can trust him.

In fact, now that I'll be busy with the mayor's case, I...

The mayor's case?

Uh, yes.

The mayor, the scandal. I...

Margaret, I'll be taking lead on the mayor's case.

- I've already spoken to his office, and... - What?

Uh, he's my client.

I-I joined the board of the art museum a year ago

to befriend his wife and-and bring their business

- to this firm. He's only... - Margaret.

It's the mayor.

We need our top people on this.

You've come so far here, Margaret.

It seems like just yesterday that, uh, you were my secretary.

Executive secretary.

And I look forward to making space for you

here at the top.

Someday.

Alistair,

with all due respect,

I have the relationships, I've done the background.

This is my case.

Well, um, maybe you could be useful then.

Uh, as my second chair.

Oh...

I'm so sorry to interrupt, but the mayor's team is here.

Hey. Hi. We can't wait. We got to get going on this, kids, okay?

Oh, Margaret, isn't this awful?

This hideous woman making horrible accusations.

Thank God you'll be helping us through this.

- (ALISTAIR CLEARS THROAT) - Oh.

Um, Elaine and Mr. Mayor,

I will be right by your side.

But-but we have decided that one of our founding partners

would be better equipped to handle a case of this magnitude.

This is... Alistair Song.

It's a pleasure to meet you. Mr. Mayor.

Under very strange circumstances.

This is my campaign manager Moe Simms.

Yeah, okay.

We got an election in four short weeks, my friends.

I want to assure you all that we will mount

a strong defense against this flimsy, opportunistic lawsuit.

MOE: That's right.

So, how are we gonna bury her?

Uh, well, we have our tried and true means and, uh...

Breach of oral contract is very difficult to establish

unless there's written proof that the mayor was planning

to financially support her or leave his wife.

Uh, Margaret, I've never actually met this woman.

I never promised to leave my wife.

None of this is true.

We'll overwhelm her with an expensive countersuit,

and she'll fold, I guarantee it.

And?

And?

We have already requested an ex parte hearing

for later this afternoon. Of course,

- you won't have to be there. - ALISTAIR: That's right.

But she will.

I want this woman to have to come down

- and face the judge. - (CRYING)

Oh, Elaine. Elaine, shh. It's okay. It's okay.

It'll be all right.

We will get through this.

Together.

Now, this is Christine "Chrissy" De Pointe, a Parisian flapper,

and she was made in 1935

from very fine, delicate porcelain.

Now, can you see this little brown stain here on her skirt?

Here, right here,

down near the hem?

That was caused by the water damage.

This doll used to be worth at least $250,

and now she's garbage.

Your Honor, that was exhibit number nine of... 117 exhibits.

Don't... die.

No. This-this is your fault.

This is not my fault.

You dragged me into this.

Lexy?

You never said anything about me getting hauled into court.

You promised me 20,000 bucks.

I only did this for the money.

Look... I have to go in

and see some stupid judge now. I'm done. Bye.

(SIGHS)

(WHISPERING): What are you doing here?

(WHISPERING): I'm just...

(MOUTHING)

Go.

(WHISPERING): Okay. I'm going.

Back to the Valley of the Dolls.

TODD: Allison, can you believe

Mom stuck me with this junk case? Me? She doesn't value me.

She doesn't trust me. After what I did for her?

I have incredible skills that are just being ignored.

117 dolls. Give me a break.

Yeah, but you're earning money, you're working.

Maybe you can get out of my garage in, like, maybe a month,

you think? Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

This is about respect, of which she is giving me none.

Maybe the way to look at this

- is, you've reached a crossroads in life. - Uh-huh.

- You hit bottom. - I haven't hit bottom!

You lost your P.I. license and you almost went to jail.

Oh, my God. I've hit bottom.

But now you're working your way back up,

and this job is a lifeline, okay?

So you need to suck it up, pull yourself together,

and stick it out.

So you're saying I need...

to find myself in this job?

Um, yeah, okay, sure.

I need to be true to myself

and get out from under.

- Yes... ? - Yeah, she can't tell me what to do.

I'm a detective. I detect!

I'm not observing water-damaged dolls.

- No, you're misinterpreting this. - No, you're right.

I'm hers from 9:00 to 5:00, but I'm mine from 5:00 to 9:00.

- Yeah, not understanding me. - I got to go.

I'm gonna look into this Lexy person on my own.

She was on the phone with someone at the courthouse,

and I don't know. Something.

- Thank you. - No.

- (RUNNING FOOTFALLS) - No. No. Okay, no.

That's not what I was saying at all.

(SIREN WAILING)

(DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE)

- Pizza. - MAN: Who?

- Pizzeria Pizza here. - WOMAN: I didn't order a pi...

- Peter Pete's Pizza. - WOMAN 2: Pizza?

- Peter Pita's Pizza Palace? - MAN 2: Yo, who dis?

- Pizza. - MAN 3: Hey, bring it up!

- Hey, pi... - (BUZZER SOUNDS)

Hey, I got pizza here.

Pizza?

Uh, Ms. Fawcett?

I have your pizza that you ordered...

for pizza.

Hello?

Pizza?

Uh, Lexy?

Ms. Fawcett?

Hello?

Uh, I'd like to ask you a few questions...

(GASPS LOUDLY)

♪ ♪

The mayor is a murder suspect now.

We need to quickly pivot to a criminal defense.

Can you please sit down now?

- (SIGHS) - Thank you.

May I ask you, where was the mayor last night?

And his wife?

And you. Were you... ?

They're questioning the mayor later today.

And if this escalates, there's a process

for charging an elected official with a crime.

Uh, Margaret, will you get volume 19 of the Oregon

Penal Code from the credenza?

It's, uh, volume 14.

- (KNOCKING) - (WHISPERING): Hi.

What are you doing?

I need to talk to you.

What are you doing?

(WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY)

- Mom. - What are you doing?

So, there's been a bit of a, uh, development.

- What is it now? - Um, the woman Lexy,

- who is... - Yes.

Um, I think I kind of found the body.

And I tipped off the police. I know.

I know. I know I said I wanted a murder case,

but then there she was, bam, murdered, and...

Todd, you have to speak to the police right now.

- We have to... - No, no, no, no, no, let's not do that.

I don't want them to know I was there or that I took this.

- You took evidence from the scene of the crime? - No. No, no.

This evidence was definitely outside the crime scene.

It's her trash.

- She was taking it out. - No.

- This is illegal. - Okay, but you said

that we have to defend the mayor at all costs.

- And look what I found. - No, no, no, don't you open that.

- Todd, do not... - You want me to open this. Mom!

(SIGHS)

Okay, so, there's all this gross stuff

and this weird, uh, "quit smoking" nicotine gum.

I cannot believe that you just...

Wait. Are those men's underpants?

Yes, these, but she lived alone,

so what if they were the mayor's?

Wait. She did say she had some of his personal items.

Are you sure this is her trash?

- Yes! - Okay.

Well, no. I think so. It might have been the neighbor's.

I don't know. The bag was tipped slightly to the...

- You know, trash bag science is not exact, and I... - Oh!

My God. You have just dumped a stranger's trash

all over the office floor?!

Those could be anyone's underpants!

Do we know what waist size the mayor is?

Oh, for...

We need to find out

when the police forensics will be released.

And please have someone organize some food.

- We'll be here all day. - Of course.

Perfect.

Organize some food?

You're organizing food? What is going on?

Aren't you supposed to be down at the court

observing Jacqueline's case?

Oh, uh, I left a burner phone under my seat.

- Oh. - It's recording the trial in a transcription app,

and it will text me if a word

like "interesting," "significant,"

or "important" pops up, which I promise you

- will never happen. - Mm-hmm. Uh-huh.

You can't even do the one thing I asked you to do.

I cannot deal with you right now.

I want you to clean up this mess and go to your office.

I don't have an office.

- (WATCH CHIRPING) - All this trash is pretty trashy.

Nothing too weird.

All very gross.

Someone likes grapefruit.

Wait a second.

(LINE RINGING)

WOMAN: Hello. Hello?

- Um... - (CLICK)

(SIGHS)

Hey, I need login access for all the municipal search databases.

Right away. I need reverse phone number directory lookup,

local business guild info...

Because you're an unlicensed detective,

your searches will have to be run and approved by me.

Now, fill out these three forms.

What? That's ridiculous. I work here now.

Look, all I want is to find out which local business uses this symbol.

And you think I have access

to some magic database that can do that?

Uh, yes. Don't you? What's the point of all this equipment

if you don't have some incredible machine

that analyzes things and instantly identifies them?

I wasn't aware I was starring on CSI: Portland.

Look, this is for the mayor.

And that is my case.

And if you don't have the appropriate billing code

to log your "work," you won't get paid.

Oh, my God! Fine. Okay, fine.

- Forget it. I'll do it my way. - You do that.

I do. I am.

I will.

Okay. r/Portland Answers.

Copy and paste.

(LIGHTS WHIR OFF)

(SIGHS)

"What is this?" And... post.

MARGARET: Do you think the mayor killed Lexy?

SUSAN: No.

Not at all.

That campaign manager, though?

She's intense.

Do you listen to PDX-RAY?

The podcast about local politics?

They did this whole episode about her.

She's... kind of notorious.

Notorious? How?

She wanted to be mayor herself once.

She has motive.

But then she had some serious problems with drinking and anger.

She got into this big accident.

She's the one who crashed her car

into Powell's Books on New Year's.

Wait. Powell's? On New Year's Eve?

ALLISON: Yes. I was working on New Year's, per my yoozh.

- Uh-huh. - And we are the closest ER to Powell's.

- What's her name again? - Moe Simms.

She's the mayor's campaign manager.

Maureen Simms.

Apparently, there's a "popcast" about her.

Yes, I know who she is.

And while I cannot disclose her medical history,

hypothetically, a woman like her might have been in here

that evening with a serious head injury.

Which can lead to erratic

or aggressive behavior down the line.

How erratic?

Could it have caused her to snap and maybe murder somebody?

Whoa.

Um, that seems like a stretch, but maybe?

Who do you think that she might have murdered?

Why aren't you wearing your wedding ring?

Mom, I'm at work.

I don't want to lose it inside somebody.

- Allison. - It happens.

Why are you wearing your wedding ring?

Oh. (CHUCKLES) I don't know. Habit, I guess.

How are we doing with everything

since that whole situation took place?

It's been, what, like a week?

I'm fine, I'm fine. I...

I just want to move past it and, um, get back to work.

- Yeah. And then someone got murdered. - Yes.

Which is why I'm asking about Moe.

A woman got murdered who was claiming

to have an affair with the mayor.

Oh, yeah. She's here.

What do you mean, she's here?

I mean, downstairs.

- In the morgue. - Oh.

They brought her in this morning.

My friend Kelly is the coroner.

Huh.

Well, can you bring this Kelly up here,

and maybe I can ask her some questions?

So, Kelly, she was strangled.

And the bruising on the neck is angled up,

which would suggest...

Uh, killer was short?

- Yeah. Well, shorter than her. - Mm.

Or just... sitting.

- Right? - (LAUGHS) Yeah.

- Kind of... reaching up. - Mm-hmm.

- (GUTTURAL GROAN) - (LAUGHS)

- Thank you. So nice. - Um, well,

thank you very, very much.

Oh, how nice.

You're married.

He leaves his on.

- (CHUCKLES): Oh, no. - So, the mayor.

That's exciting. Moving on up.

Well, it was exciting

until Alistair Song took the case for himself.

I mean, he doesn't value me.

You know, he doesn't trust me.

All of my achievements have simply been ignored.

Maybe you're at a crossroads

and you just need to be true to yourself

to come out from under.

(LAUGHS)

You're right. He can't keep me down.

He's not the boss of me.

Well, I mean, I think he literally is, but...

What I mean is, I can pursue this case my own way.

I don't need to sit around in some second chair

- while some man tells me... - Sounds like the mother I know.

- Allison. Thank you, honey. - Mm-hmm.

It was so very helpful.

- What are you looking at? - The mayor.

... to know that I am cooperating fully with this investigation.

I had no involvement or...

or knowledge of this crime, this... murder.

I am innocent.

But effective immediately,

I will be stepping down as mayor.

(REPORTERS CLAMORING)

I just want to...

- I need to protect my family. - MARGARET: Eric.

I know you didn't kill her.

And instead of playing defense,

I suggest we get ahead of these charges.

You could sign this affidavit,

stating your exact whereabouts the night of the murder,

promising to turn over your phone and your computer

and to cooperate in every possible way.

- You and Elaine. - (PEN CLICKING)

Eric, where is she today?

I don't know.

Just, um, she's been so panicked

and acting so strange since the murder.

Last night she... she said we should divorce.

I don't... want to lose her.

But I don't know what's going on.

She took Ryan to my parents'.

Said she wants to be alone,

somewhere quiet.

Somewhere private.

She said she needs to think, be alone...

And relax.

- You're welcome. - Thank you.

Hello.

- Thank you. - Here you are.

BOTH: What are you doing here?

I am looking for the mayor's missing wife,

and you are supposed to be in court.

Mom, they're only on doll 34. Nothing is happening.

What makes you think the mayor's wife is here?

Elaine knows something about Lexy's murder.

She's processing.

She's mentioned this place to me many times.

She adores the spa here.

She finds it relaxing and calming.

And it is.

But the bird poop facials are a complete scam.

Oh, okay, I'll cancel my appointments immediately.

But why did Lexy have a valet stub

from this place in her trash, which obviously is her trash

if you're here, too, so, ha, I was right.

But maybe she knew Elaine?

Hello. Please put your first name and a scent

you connect with.

Vanilla? Okay, so, do we go in separate

or storm in together, or... ?

Todd, this a women's-only establishment.

And I do not care to be embarrassed. Again.

Thank you.

The mayor's wife is here, so her car must be.

- Elaine. Hello. - (GASPS)

Oh, Margaret.

You frightened me.

I'm so sorry.

I knew I'd find you here.

This must be such a strange and confusing time.

- Perhaps a quiet day of reflection is exactly... - No. No, I...

No, I'm... I'm here because I feel safer in public.

(LINE RINGING)

(PHONE AND LINE RINGING)

(ALARM CHIRPS)

(PHONE RINGING)

Well, hello, cheap, untraceable burner phone.

I told Eric

I'll do whatever it takes to salvage his career.

I'll go away,

I'll...

I'll go to jail.

Elaine, what are you talking about?

What happened?

I, uh...

I did something...

... very bad.

- Did you ever... ? - Excuse me. I, um...

I need to use the ladies'. I'll... I'll be right back.

Oh, Margaret? The, um,

Valet Captain General needs to speak to you?

Immediately.

Mom! Get in! It's me. Get in.

Todd, I am working.

Elaine is acting very stra... Whose car is this?

It's her car. This is about Elaine.

I am in the middle of something, Todd.

- (HORN TOOTING) - No!

Mom, get in this car!

We are taking this car to the police right now.

Look, it's filled with evidence.

Money, burner phone, and the GPS shows she went

to Lexy's house the night of the murder. Maybe to kill her?

No, no, no. Maybe to talk her out of it,

to convince her not to do it.

- (ENGINE STARTS) - Wait. No, Todd.

You are not adding grand theft auto to your criminal record.

It's not grand theft auto if you're driving it to the police.

Oh, no, Todd. Abso... No, Todd! No!

What are you doing? Get off the wheel.

I'm driving this car.

Stop! Yeah, let-let's crash a stolen car.

- That's a great idea. - Oh. If we're gonna crash,

I'm gonna put my seat belt on right now.

Please put your seat belt on.

J-Just put your foot on the brake and stop the car. Okay...

- Yeah. - Wait. Elaine.

Where-where... where is she going?

- (STAMMERS) - (PHONE RINGING)

Oh, my God. I don't have my phone on me.

Is it the burning? It's the burning. But it's not me.

It's not the burning. No, it's, uh...

Wait. It's her phone.

- Huh? - Yes, it must be in her purse.

And the Bluetooth from the car

- is picking up the call. Uh... - Oh, God. No, don't answer it.

- Yes, yes, yes. - No, we shouldn't answer... No.

(HIGH-PITCHED VOICE): Hello?

MAN: Hello? Elaine, is that you?

(HIGH-PITCHED MUTTERING)

We must have a bad connection. You sound all garbled.

I told you something bad would happen if you stopped paying me.

Now Lexy's dead, and it looks pretty bad

for you and the mayor, and if you don't want it to get worse,

you bring that cash to the old ice rink

on Johnson today at 6:00 p.m.

We don't want our little secret slipping out, do we?

(CLICK)

Oh, no.

- I don't like this at all. - Where's she going?

- She's gonna walk into traffic, Mom. - Pull over.

She's desperate. We have to stop her.

Elaine? Elaine? No!

No!

- No, no! - (HORN HONKING)

Stop.

Just put me in jail.

I did it. I killed her.

- Oh, Elaine. - Put me away, please.

I'll-I'll be safe there.

(PIGEON COOING)

(WATCH CHIRPS) 5:58.

The old ice rink on Johnson.

Just received a free bird poop facial.

As promised, underwhelming.

Am now waiting for some goon to arrive

and... kill me? Great day all...

(PHONE CAMERA CLICKING)

(CLATTERS)

- Whoa. - (COOS)

(PANTING)

- (GRUNTS) - (ENGINE STARTS)

(PHONE CAMERA CLICKING)

(SIGHS)

It's a license plate.

6-D-2. I-I think there's a "B" in there somewhere.

On a moped Vespa thing, and I don't care

what the billing codes are. I need to know who owns this.

Oh, you don't care?

Must be nice. You don't have to care.

You make a mistake, someone else cleans it up.

If I made a mistake, I'd get fired.

Oh, come on! Can't you just

plug it into one of your little databases? Wait.

What is this? Is this the mayor?

This is my case,

and until you fill out the proper paperwork,

I don't want to see you in here again.

I'm not breaking rules for you.

My mommy isn't here to protect me.

(SCOFFS)

(CLEM CRYING)

Do you think your niece will ever stop crying?

She has the lungs of an opera singer.

- Mm. - It's wild.

Does she needs this?

Oh, no, thank you.

I put Clementine to sleep in your bed. I hope that's okay.

Yes, of course.

She can spend the night here if you want. You both can.

No. No, thanks. Lawrence will be home

early tomorrow, and he'll want to see her.

MARGARET: And I would like to see him.

That's why she's crying. She misses her daddy.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(PHONE CHIMES)

Come on. Okay.

"Lyle.

"Lyle, dear, I know Todd can be impossible,

but someday you'll understand that he's a genius.

Please assist him with this license plate situation and

bill my code for this case.

You can text the results to Todd directly.

Oh, and you don't need to report to me

if he's late for work.

Thank you."

(WHOOSHING)

CHUCK: Well, uh,

as always, welcome to our home.

I marinated tonight's fish in cumin and pep...

- So she's being arraigned tomorrow? - Mm-hmm.

- And she's pleading guilty to murder? - Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

But she didn't do it.

Why would she go to jail for a crime she didn't commit?

Well, to protect herself and her family from some horrible secret.

I mean, look at the life she's walking away from.

She's the mayor's wife. They live in the mayor's mansion.

They have that beautiful son.

Well, maybe she's unhappy. Maybe she wants out.

CHET: And you're the investigator working on this case

- with the mayor? - Yes. No. Well, not

officially. I, uh, am apparently one

of the bottom people at the firm,

- not the top. - Todd.

I can't be trusted with delicate matters.

I would trust you more if you could follow orders.

Are you following orders?

Did you arrange food and respect your elders?

- Yes, I did. Yes, I did. - No, you didn't.

No, you did not. So it's okay for you to go rogue and-and

- not play by the rules, but for me it's... - I am your boss.

- And he's your boss. - And I gave you that job.

- And he gave you a job. - And I am better than that job.

And so am I with mine.

Todd, I have earned my place

at that firm by working hard, rising to the occasion,

- completing the tasks assigned to me... - Okay.

... and compromising when necessary.

And even then, there are roadblocks.

But I work through them. While you... you just expect

to leapfrog to the fantasy life and career

you've always wanted like that?

You can go rogue all you want when you have

worked your way up from the bottom like I did.

Well, uh,

I think if it's all right with all of you,

I will leapfrog to my lair and finish my allotted gruel.

Oh, um, it's halibut.

And I will have you know that my chair at my fantasy career

in my mother's office is a rolling step stool.

- Get some bread. - Yeah.

(SIGHS)

(PHONE BUZZES)

LYLE: Oh, good evening, Todd Margaret.

So nice to hear from you-her.

Nice try, but I'm not searching anything

without an official written and signed request from your mother.

Your little Viking will have to wait.

I will see you tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. sharp.

My little Viking?

Is that the mascot for... ?

(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

(FOOTFALLS APPROACHING)

WOMAN: And here are a few more yearbooks.

- You said class of... ? - Uh, I don't really know.

He could've been 40 years old, could've been 30.

I'm not even sure he was a student here.

Well, we will just keep looking. (LAUGHS)

You did you say you were one of our graduates.

No, I only did summer school here. I went to Wilson.

Okay, Mr. Moped, where are you?

Wait. He was faculty?

Dragon Romano.

Seriously? Dragon?

That's the mayor's wife.

Wait. How old is... ?

No... way.

(PHONE BUZZING)

JUDGE: Yes, good morning. All right, I'm taking over today

for Judge Morrison who's stuck on another trial,

so please bear with me a moment.

- (LINE RINGING) - It's ringing.

Mom, pick up your phone.

Oh, hey there, bud. Sorry.

Floor is locked down. Mayor's here.

- What? It's locked down? - Yup.

No access to this level next three hours.

- No, no, no, but I... I have to get to that... - No, not unless

you're part of an active trial.

(SIGHS)

But I am part of an active trial.

Jacqueline DuBois v. the Portland Water Bureau.

- Wow. Really? - Yes.

I specialize in water-damaged porcelain dolls

wearing satin recreations of 1830s ballgowns.

Damn. Well, all the experts are listed here, and...

Yeah, and I'd better be at the top of that list.

What-what name do you have?

Um, David Ainsworth? Worth?

That's me.

Oh, wow. Okay.

- Yeah, then follow me. - Sure.

They said no witnesses for this trial till tomorrow.

Yeah. Well, things have seriously deteriorated,

and the dolls are just dropping like flies.

- It's that bad? - Oh it's Dollmageddon.

(WHISPERING): Well, uh, Mr. Ainsworth?

Mr. Ainsworth, that's... that's the wrong courtroom.

We're over here.

(FIRE ALARM RINGING, GALLERY CLAMORING)

Okay. Stay calm. Everybody out that way.

Mom! Mom! He's right there!

That's the voice on the car phone.

- He's the guy who murdered Lexy! - Charley, him! Get him!

(GROANING)

I'm Ryan's father! I'm Ryan's father!

(CRYING): I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay. Shh. It's okay.

Okay.

TODD: The whole thing...

Lexy, the affair, her murder, was all a setup by Dragon.

MARGARET: And Elaine left him because he was insane.

Then she married the future mayor,

but she was already pregnant.

TODD: Dragon is the real father of the mayor's child,

and Dragon blackmailed Elaine for years,

but when she stopped paying, he framed her for Lexy's murder.

MARGARET: He wanted to destroy her family,

and I'll help put Dragon away for the rest of his life.

And I understand the mayor has resumed his campaign

and will stay with us at the firm.

As my client.

Yes. Of course.

- Margaret. - Alistair.

- Todd. - Sorry.

So, he can have access to these three databases.

- But? - According to municipal law,

without a registered P.I. license,

he is not allowed to...

To access the other eight databases.

All right, I understand. So, Todd,

you're just going to have to go through Lyle on occasion.

And we will get you your employee I.D. number

and the correct billing codes.

Okay, and what about the chair?

I'll get you a chair.

But if there are no empty offices...

There are no empty offices.

Okay, that's it. Let's get back to work.

Your office is so incredibly clean.

TODD: Careful. Careful.

Hot coffee.

And... they got the coffee out of this.

Wow. You picked up my dry cleaning?

Yeah, and paid for it. Well, just paid for this one item.

You had, like, 35 things in there.

Well, I do enjoy a dry clean.

So, wait. Tell me again what you overheard.

Yeah, it was your mom and Song in the library.

With the candlestick. (CHUCKLES)

Sorry. Continue.

Anyway, he was telling her,

you know, not the right time, soon,

she'll be a named partner by next year, blah, blah, blah.

- Lame. - But he also told her

that you did a really good job on the mayor's case.

And what did she say?

"I value him highly."

- Good. - (LAUGHS SOFTLY)

Wait.

This is not my sweater.

It's not?

This is a poncho for...

Suzanne Yard.

Well, it's clean.

("GOTTA GET UP" BY NILSSON PLAYING)

Oh, hi.

Oh, look at this little tough guy.

What's all this fuzz? Who is this?

Oh. Your mom had me put a few things in there for you.

Wait, what? What is it? Wait.

♪ Up and away, got a big day ♪

♪ Sorry, can't stay, I gotta run, run, yeah ♪

♪ Gotta get home, pick up the phone ♪

♪ Gotta let the people know I'm gonna be late ♪

♪ There was a time when we could dance until a quarter to 10:00 ♪

♪ We never thought it would end then ♪

♪ We never thought it would end ♪

- ♪ But now ♪ - _

♪ Gotta get up, gotta get out ♪

♪ Gotta get home before the morning comes ♪

♪ What if I'm late? Got a big date ♪

♪ Gotta get home before the sun comes up ♪

♪ Up and away, got a big day ♪

♪ Sorry, can't stay, I gotta run, run, yeah ♪

♪ Gotta get home, pick up the phone ♪

♪ Gotta let the people know I'm gonna be late. ♪

- Synced and corrected by chamallow - - www.addic7ed.com -