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[indistinct exchange]
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[sighing wearily]
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[indistinct conversation continues]
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Yeah. Take care, guys.
[camera shutter snapping]
[***]
[camera shutter snapping]
[grunts]
There you are. I got ya.
[text alerts chiming]
[crashing]
[***]
[engine revving]
[click]
[***]
Hello?
Who's there?
You!
Almost scared me to death.
[***]
[typewriter clacking]
[typewriter dings]
[***]
[super-cheery] Good morning!
[engine starts]
[***]
Nelly!
Helen! This place looks amazing!
-Congratulations. -Thank you!
You want a coffee? On the house.
Yes, please. Uh, to go.
To go! You got it--
to go.
Helen?
Is that Peter? I can't look.
Affirmative.
Peter Henderson-Huang-- incoming.
Okay, uh-- [loudly] ...bye, Helen!
Okay. We're open daily! Eight to eight!
[Nelly] Yeah!
[chuckles awkwardly]
[***]
-Hi! -Hi.
[spritzing]
[***]
Morning, Nelly.
Ooh! Sunflower test!
Who's winning?
Well, Sunny Delight is tallest,
but Suntastic has better seeds.
Ooh...
Looks like this foliage spray really does the job.
I'll have 1,500 words by end of day, no problem.
I heard Helen opened the diner?
-Mm! -Yes!
What you cooking?
Soufflés.
Three-part series-- "France at Home."
Hmm. Better get crackin'!
[groans]
Help yourself
-to middling profiteroles-- -Oh!
...Tastes like mediocrity.
Never stopped me.
Mm. Yum!
Oh, uh, Marty brought the mail?
He sure did.
Oh.
Mm... This is for you.
Ooh. Thank you.
So... I saw what you wrote in your column to Grace,
you know--
"Kitten-Less and Longing in Babbleton," Fiona.
Right.
You told Grace to, "Be patient. Good things will come."
-I said that? -So, yesterday,
I see Peter at the park, and he tells me
Grace "found" a kitten right after you wrote that.
Under the shrubbery, in their own garden.
Amazing!
I really hope he let her keep it.
How could he not? Does he have a choice?
The whole town was rooting for Grace!
[correcting her] "Kitten-Less and Longing in Babbleton,"
Fiona.
So, funny thing--
that kitten looks an awful lot like those tabbies
up for adoption near your place.
Ee...
You said one would be perfect for Grace.
[Nelly] Ah! Poor Peter.
[whispers] I've rather been avoiding him!
[Fiona] So long as everyone ends up happy, right?
Well... almost everyone.
Huh.
I just got a handwritten letter. No return address.
Snail-mail advice?
Don't they use the anonymous web form?
Yeah, they do.
[letter crinkles]
This woman is worried
that her boyfriend might be cheating on her.
Oh...
He was the bee's knees, now secretive.
She suspects
canoodling in the shadows with another woman!
How awful.
And mysterious!
Who's it from?
It's signed "Worried in Babbleton."
I wonder why it's handwritten?
Maybe an off-grid?
No Internet?
Hmm.
I think I know this handwriting.
Oh!
Yes, yes, yes.
She has been dotting her "I"s with hearts
ever since elementary school.
Dahlia Chatters!
-Which means-- -[gasping]
[together] ...Blake Jarvis!
No! Blake?
What are you thinking-- worrying our poor Dahlia?
Tch-tch-tch!
Nelly... where're you going?
You know, advice for an advice column
usually happens at a desk!
Type-type, type-type?
[chuckling]
Blake?
I need to talk to you.
[***]
Blake?
[***]
Oh, no!
Blake?
No.
No, no, no!
No!
[creaking]
Is anybody there?
[line ringing]
Uh, police, please?
Yes, I need some help.
Blake Jarvis's house.
[***]
[crash and thud]
[***]
Uh, yes! Yes, I'm here.
Yeah, please send someone.
There's been a murder.
[***]
[police radios crackling indistinctly]
It wasn't a robbery.
Nothing seems stolen.
He still had his phone and his watch.
Bless his soul. He took a terrible tumble.
Burgi! This wasn't an accident.
He was clearly pushed.
Oh! Detective Mickey.
Hey.
You met Nelly Parker? Nelly's got a knack for advice.
She's the one who found Blake.
If I could just get a--
You're not much of anyone in Babbleton
until you know Nelly, Mick.
[chuckles] He's so new here.
Nice to meet you, Ms. Parker.
Detective Michael Hogan.
Oh, uh, Nelly.
I've just been reassuring our Nelly here
that the medical reports will come back
and tell us poor Blake took a header.
Did Doc Balliol examine the body yet?
Oh, I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that.
-Oh? -Nelly.
Mickey's gonna tell us what we need to know
to put your mind at ease, okay?
-Let's hear it, Mick. -Thank you.
With all due respect, Sheriff,
uh, we should probably discuss this in private,
-don't you think? -Oh.
Um, o...kay then.
Well, uh, Dr. Balliol still
needs to conduct a full autopsy and run the tox screens,
but the preliminary comments
put the time of death somewhere between
10 p.m. and midnight last night.
And there is an indication
that the victim was pushed from the top of the stairs
-with significant force. -Oh, my.
I knew it!
Did you notice the sawdust? It had been swept away.
As though someone were trying to erase a trail of footprints?
Yeah. Yeah, we caught that.
And the light was off!
I don't imagine Blake went upstairs in the dark.
Certainly couldn't have flipped the switch
after he died-- obviously.
Obviously. Yeah.
Well, we're gonna dust everything for prints.
-Good! -Good.
Okay. Uh, Sheriff,
how do you see this investigation proceeding?
Oh. You got a handle on it, Mick.
Why not make it a trial run?
Yeah?
Congratulations!
Thanks. Um, okay, I guess what I'll do then is--
Oh! Uh, wait.
I did... find this.
-[gasps] Oh, my. -Whoa. Where did you find that?
$20,000!
It was in Blake's right-breast pocket.
Uh... [stammers]
Oh, yeah. I-- I don't...
Oh, man.
Huh.
[***]
So...
you were friends with Blake Jarvis?
Oh, I knew Blake for forever, but, uh, we weren't close.
What would you call "close"?
Birthday parties? Maybe...
Maybe more than that?
Did you go to Blake's birthday parties?
-No. -Did you date him?
What? No.
Date him?
We weren't close. Dating would be close.
-True. -Anyways, he was with Dahlia.
I used to babysit Dahlia.
I was friends with her brother in second grade.
-I didn't date him either. -Mm-hmm.
-Just, you know, for the record. -Right.
So, why come here this morning to see your acquaintance?
Well, I wanted to talk to Blake face-to-face.
About what?
Love. Life.
Pursuit of happiness?
Mm-hmm.
I'm an advice columnist. I was doing some research.
What kind of research?
Oh, it covers a wide range of topics!
You should read the weekend edition.
Well! That concludes my statement.
For now.
It's very tidy in here, don't you think?
Was Blake a particularly neat person?
I have no idea.
Huh!
If he wasn't,
maybe the killer came back and cleaned the place up.
That would tell you something, wouldn't it? Hmm?
[taps counter]
Well...
[gulping water]
Ah!
Thank you for the water, Michael.
[***]
All right, you guys fan out,
see what you can find, all right?
Hey, Sheriff.
[Dahlia] Nelly?
Oh. Dahlia. Oh!
I don't understand, is this real?
I'm so sorry.
Why would anyone want to hurt Blake?
I mean, everyone loved him.
I don't know.
But you can figure this out, Nelly, right?
-Wh-What happened to him? -I--
Please?
Maybe if we put our heads together,
we can come up with some clues to help the police.
[Dahlia] Clues. O-Okay. How do we do that?
Uh, um... why don't we step away?
Uh... yeah, we'll just go this way.
This way. Um...
Oh.
Um, why don't we start by...
remembering the last time you and Blake spoke.
Uh, that would be on the phone.
I think yesterday evening, after supper?
Okay, do you remember what time that was?
Uh... quarter to seven?
Okay. Good!
This is very useful.
And what did the two of you speak about?
Um... I asked him what he had for supper.
All right. And how did he sound?
Like, what was his tone of voice?
Did he sound like he usually did?
-No. He was rushing-- -Oh!
...Like he wanted to get rid of me.
That was the last time we spoke. [gasps]
Oh...
Dahlia.
I know this is hard...
[deep breath]
...but I know
you're "Worried in Babbleton."
Worried?
That Blake was being unfaithful.
But cheating?
Dahlia, it just-- it sounds so harsh.
Oh. No. It was more of
a bad feeling than anything, Nelly--
the-the prickles.
Like, like I knew Blake had a secret.
-A secret? -Not a good secret.
Oh!
It was happening more and more,
where he just didn't want to talk to me, you know?
Like-Like he had more important things.
Than you? No way!
Oh, uh, his furniture business-- it kept him really busy, right?
Always! It wasn't that.
He w-- He was acting sneaky.
Wait, I don't have to tell the police, right?
I mean-- I mean,
I don't have evidence of Blake cheating.
You do have to tell them.
I wanted to talk to you first, but Dahlia,
I'm gonna have to tell them as well.
It could be really important.
Look, I am going to help you.
I promise.
Do you have any idea who Blake was sneaking around with?
Uh...
you don't think that's who did this to him?
Oh! Uh... I mean, it could be possible.
Ms. Chatters?
Mr. Jarvis's partner?
I don't think I know you.
He's new. Detective Michael.
Or Mickey? M-Mick? Uh--?
Detective Michael Hogan.
And I'm gonna have to ask you
to come with me, if you don't mind.
Detective, Dahlia and Blake were together for three years.
Right.
Yes. I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for your loss.
Um, I can arrange to have you meet
with a victim's advocate, if you'd like, but first,
I really need to ask you to come with me--
and, uh, Sheriff Brahm--
back to the station, for questioning.
W-- You'll-You'll come with me?
Yes, of course.
No, no, no. I've already taken Ms. Parker's statement.
I really must insist that you come with me alone--
I mean, and with Sheriff Brahm, of course.
But this isn't formal questioning.
Is it, Detective?
-Well-- -So wouldn't it be nice
if Dahlia had some support?
Or, I'm-- if this is formal questioning,
then maybe she should be calling a lawyer.
No. No, no, no.
She can have support.
Great. All right. I'll drive us. Okay?
We'll see you there.
Great!
Never a break.
See ya at the station, Burgi.
Right-o, kiddo!
[***]
Well, thank you guys for coming in, again.
[slurping loudly]
Good?
[chuckles]
Okay, so. Um, you were home all night, Ms. Chatters?
You didn't go out at all?
That's your statement, right?
Yes. That's what she said.
I heard it, too.
-Great. -Mm-hmm.
Um... right.
My last class ended at five.
Fine.
And what were you teaching?
Soc 101.
My mother used to teach it, too.
-Okay. -And my step-sister
picked me up at the Sub.
Oh, uh-- "Student... Union... Building."
Yes, I know. Thank you very much.
-Well, just-- -I've got it, thank you.
So, if you could, please, for the record, Ms. Chatters,
give me your sister's full name?
Oh! Formal.
Step-sister.
My dad was remarried.
Okay.
Colleen Hartell.
And we rent an apartment at the Mason Building.
And Ms. Hartell was home with you all night?
Yes.
Yeah. We made spaghetti. Vegetarian, with eggplant.
Yum!
So, you had dinner-- go on, please.
Well, like I told Nelly, I called Blake after.
It was, like, 6:45.
Yeah, 6:45. That's what you said.
[testily] Ms. Parker?
If you would please
stop interfering with my investigation,
that would be great.
Oh.
Thank you.
Now, this-- this call,
was this your only communication with Blake last night?
Yes. Yeah.
He was in a hurry,
which fit in with my suspicion lately that--
Mm-hmm.
...That he may have been cheating on me.
You suspected Blake of infidelity?
Well, just this morning,
I received a letter in the mail--
"Support person"--
you are not my person of interest.
Wait! Person of interest?
Does that mean I'm a suspect?
No, no, no. All parties are of interest
in the early stages of a murder investigation.
But... [sighing heavily]
...if I'm being frank, Ms. Chatters,
you just gave me a very convincing motive.
So, how long did you suspect your partner of cheating?
Uh, a few weeks, maybe? A-A-- A month?
I-I really don't know.
"A few weeks to a month." Okay.
[Burgi rapping on door]
Just one-- one sec. Um...
Oh.
Look, in light of this new, incriminating information,
I really need to consult with my, uh...
well, anyway, it doesn't matter.
I'll be right back.
[door opens and shuts]
You made me tell the police
and now they think I killed him for it.
No! No, I don't think they think that.
All right, maybe Michael is considering the idea,
but you had to tell him.
Otherwise, you'd be withholding, and that's gotta be worse.
[Dahlia] Everything's worse with Blake murdered.
I never even wanted to talk about the cheating,
even before-- and why does everyone
want me to talk about being suspicious?
Who's everyone?
-[door shuts] -Ahem.
Okay.
Sheriff says you can go, but please stay in Babbleton,
and we'll be in touch as the investigation proceeds.
You wouldn't happen to have the access code
to Blake's phone, would you?
No.
Hmm. All right.
Please, stay in Babbleton.
[***]
Oh, no, she should be pulling up soon.
Oh.
Do you think they'll really get into Blake's phone?
I mean, it's like a violation of privacy.
I don't know.
Oh, there she is.
Oh.
And what are you gonna do?
I'm gonna solve this case.
Dahlia...
I know you didn't do this.
Everyone else needs to know it, too.
Thank you.
You always take on everyone's problems.
But how do you know where to start?
Oh, I have an idea.
Don't you worry.
-Dahlia! -Oh.
She can't be away from work long.
She owns her business.
Coming, Colleen!
Oh, I could have driven you.
Oh, she wanted to. She's like that.
Oh, but...
you'll keep me in the loop?
So loopy!
I promise.
You okay?
Thanks for coming.
-Okay. -Yeah.
Forgive me for trespassing.
[***]
Hold up. What'd you find?
Peter!
You scared me half to death!
Why are you skulking?
I thought I saw something.
It's just a Bank of Babbleton pen.
Hmm.
Do you steal these?
Yeah, of course, you do.
Everyone does. Hmm.
What are you doing here?
Huh? Oh!
Uh, came to get something I left here last night.
I didn't know about Blake until I saw the crime-scene tape.
It's really awful!
Can't believe he was murdered.
Yeah, it's heartbreaking.
I was just with Dahlia.
Mm.
So, you were here last night?
Sure. Poker night.
Hey, that new detective-- strict!
I'm never getting inside.
Well, it is a secure crime scene.
We're not even allowed out here.
Ah, well. I gotta go.
Peter! What did you leave at the house?
What did you forget last night?
Oh. Uh, nothing.
Uh, listen, Grace needs my help with the cat.
First vet check.
Thanks for that, by the way.
We're doing a grand "kitten reveal" on Sunday.
I was starting to think you're avoiding me.
What? No! As if.
Wasn't gonna bite your head off, Nelly.
Only inviting you to a party.
Hmm?
Hey, uh, Peter-- who played poker?
The usual suspects.
Jody Day.
Connor Wooly.
Grace, Blake, me.
Played the first Friday of every month for years.
-Why? -Last night was Wednesday.
Yeah. So Blake changed it.
-Did he do that often? -Never.
So why did he do it last night?
Don't know. How 'bout you ask someone who actually knew him?
Sometimes, I think I really didn't.
[police radio begins crackling, indistinct]
[***]
What's hiding in here?
[***]
[rifle hammer cocks]
Please don't shoot me.
Tell me why not.
I-I knew Blake.
I'm a friend of--
Blake is no friend of mine, and this is my property.
Maybe we could be friends?
I'm Nelly Parker.
Rumple Snide.
Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?
Police already took my statement.
But maybe just one thing first.
Would you mind--?
Okay, yeah.
Great! Okay!
So much better.
Uh, do you know what happened to Blake Jarvis last night?
Murder.
Yes. Between 10 p.m. and midnight.
Mr. Snide--
Call me Rumple. Snide's my father.
Okay. Mr. Snide--
did you hear anything unusual last night?
Like, anything out of the ordinary?
No noise from Jarvis would be out of the ordinary.
-Oh? -Power tools--
day in, day out.
Customers going right to the door.
This is a neighborhood!
Yes, indeed.
But surely not customers at night?
Well, no.
A lot of loud people last night, though.
Wasn't even Friday.
What time did you hear the loud people?
10 p.m. Shouting.
And then, 11,
the light went on at the workshop over there.
Shines right into my window, right up there.
Well, that must be horrible for you!
[grumbling] Yeah.
But you said you heard shouting?
Uh, was it-- was it angry shouting?
Or-- Or joyful shouting?
Or maybe the scared kind?
-Angry. -Oh!
And then, an hour later, the workshop light goes on.
Mm. Could've been a half-hour.
Never place clocks in a bedroom.
No! Of course not.
No place for clocks in the bedroom.
Do you think it was the security light that went on?
Motion sensor.
Jarvis trips it every time he goes out there,
which is a lot of times in a night, if you ask me.
More, lately.
Did you see Blake go out there last night?
I mean, you've got a great view.
Nah, put my sleep mask on.
-Oh! -Ear plugs, too.
Getting ready for a final "walk-through,"
they call it.
Lot of work.
You're selling your house?
Oh, I didn't see a realtor sign out front.
Private sale.
Privacy is my constitutional right, you know.
Oh! Heh. All right.
Oh. Uh, Rumple, do you ever get intruders back here?
Sure.
Because I swear I heard someone in the bushes earlier today.
Get rats. Rabbits.
Slugs.
Snakes.
You.
[giggles]
[she stops giggling]
Yeah, I just...
yeah.
[***]
[Dahlia] No, Blake didn't have poker last night.
It was Wednesday.
But what do I know?
The five of them played for years without me.
Ice?
Colleen and I go to the movies on Fridays.
Poker wasn't a secret, though.
I mean, he always told me.
I think he always told me.
I was at Blake's house,
and there were no dirty dishes, no playing cards...
That was Blake.
Neat freak in the house,
dust all over the workshop.
But poker would explain
the wad of cash I found?
Hmm. Cash?
Yeah. I found $20,000 in Blake's pocket.
Cash?
[laughs] Yes!
-Could he have won it? -At poker?
Of course not! I mean, they didn't even play for money.
What about money?
[Nelly] I did talk to the old man next door,
-and he-- -No, no, no.
Don't listen to Grumple.
He hates Blake.
"Grumple"? Oh! [laughs]
All right. Could it have been
from a furniture sale, though?
Blake didn't take cash.
Huh.
Anyway, he was working on a bench until Monday.
Ask her!
Did you find out who he was sneaking around with?
The other woman?
Uh, no. Uh-- No. I'm on it, though. Okay?
Uh...
I'll talk to you later!
[***]
Oh.
Hello again,
"Detective Michael."
Ms. Parker.
What are you doing here?
I'm just, uh, visiting a friend.
That friend's name wouldn't happen to be Jody Day, would it?
Ooh, ah-- hey.
Chain grease, that's the worst.
Seriously... what are you doing here?
Are you following me?
Following you on-- on this thing?
No. But I have learned some information
you may find interesting.
Oh, yeah? Like what?
Blake hosted a poker game last night.
Yeah, I know that.
What I'm more interested in
is why your friend, Dahlia, didn't tell us about that.
Makes me wonder what else she's hiding.
She didn't know, because it was Wednesday.
You sure about that?
That it was Wednesday?
Yeah.
N-- No, no, no! That's not what I meant.
Hey!
-Are you following me? -No, I'm not.
Oh, Jody!
Nelly.
Ms. Day.
Just the person we're looking for.
Uh, yes. Uh...
We've got some questions for you.
No.
I have some questions for you.
[***]
[Michael] So, Miss Day,
you went to Blake Jarvis's Wednesday-night poker game?
Well, I thought Wednesday was a nice change for poker.
And was it? Nice?
No, actually.
It was tense.
Blake kept checking his phone--
which is a rule we have-- no phones at the table--
Sure!
...And Peter called him out, and I don't blame him,
but it seemed like Blake just wanted the game to end
after that.
He forced a bold move-- all in-- and lost,
then the boys started exchanging jabs.
Uh, some select words were thrown.
Blake's neighbor said that he heard angry shouting.
Peter and Blake?
But Grace stepped in.
She's so diplomatic.
Nice work, getting her that kitten, Nelly.
Thank you. She deserves it.
But it wasn't me!
[laughs]
Was shouting usual at these games?
Definitely not.
We're a "please, pass the pretzels" crowd.
Hmm.
Peter said
that he left something at Blake's that night.
-Do you know what it was? -Hey, could you just--
I'll ask the questions, okay?
Oh, right. Uh...
you--
Thank you.
Do you know what it was?
-No. -"No."
Blake gave me my first woodworking job.
I apprenticed under him.
Jody, I'm so sorry.
I know you understand, Nelly.
All right, Miss Day. Thank you. That'll be all for now.
Thank you very much. Um...
Yes, we should be going.
Um...
Uh, Jody?
Who won the pot that night?
Oh, that was Connor.
Connor Wooly.
The banker.
Thank you.
[***]
So, what do you think of that fight
between Blake and Peter?
Are you asking me?
Well, you knew 'em both.
I do know them.
But are you admitting that I'm helpful?
No.
But you wanna know what I think.
[sighs] The sheriff seems to think that you are an asset,
so...
Yeah. I would like to know what you think.
Deal.
No, not a deal.
I just wanna know what you think.
It's kind of a deal.
I was wondering
what Peter Huang was doing at Blake's this morning.
Something was definitely up.
We can't ask him right now, he's at an appointment--
a vet appointment... for the kitty!
Huh.
Do you want a ride?
You don't know where I'm going.
Connor Wooly's, right?
[chuckles]
-You sure you don't want a ride? -Yes! I mean, no. I--
Okay! Race you there!
[***]
See you soon!
[Connor] We never play for money.
I'm the one who won't go there.
So you gamble for stuff instead?
Money is work for me.
-This is fun. -Huh. Interesting.
And how much at they worth?
-Ah, it's worth a gamble. -[shutter clicks]
There were only 100 of these ever made.
You won all those at poker?
Some nights are luckier than others.
Wow!
What's this? What's going on?
Oh, hi, Paige!
Honey-pie, hello.
This is my wife, Paige.
Hi.
Nelly and Detective Michael were viewing my loot.
Oh. So, Connor told you he bet the weed whacker
and came home with collectible mallards?
They're worth a lot!
[dryly] If you place zero value on utility.
You're here about Jarvis?
I am.
Connor was one of the last to see him alive.
All everyone at Helen's can talk about is murder.
Wait. Everyone knows?
I heard from Peter Huang.
He heard it from Jody Day.
-Wait. Peter did? -You bet.
Jody's EMT friends spilled the beans
when the ambulance was dispatched.
She called Peter when he was banking with me.
We must've been the first to know.
Other than you authorities, and, uh, the killer.
So, what time did Peter get that call?
Came into the bank when we first opened.
That's nine a.m.
I was at the theatre last night, in case you're wondering.
Connor was at poker, but he came home right after.
-I told them that. -He was home by 11.
10:15. I told them.
[Paige] Right.
I mean, I was home by 11, after the play ended--
Death of a Salesman-- I'm sure you've heard of it.
Yeah, I have.
Yeah, me too.
Uh, can anyone confirm that you were home before 11?
[Connor] I walked home from Blake's.
I left when everyone else did,
so I must have been here by 10:15.
And you work at the Bank of Babbleton?
I do.
Blake Jarvis held an account there?
[Connor] Affirmative.
I do the books for his business, too.
Blake was a build-it-with- your-own-hands type.
Needed me to handle his money.
[Paige scoffing]
Do you have something to add, Paige?
No.
Okay. I'm gonna need to see Blake's bank statements
and his business records.
If you could help facilitate that,
I would much appreciate it.
Of course.
Oh, um...
he also had a very large sum of cash on his person.
Like, a really big stack.
You wouldn't know anything about that, would ya?
No.
Dinnertime.
Connor?
That's my cue to chop carrots.
Could you show the Detective and Nelly out?
Uh, we're gonna need you to, actually,
sign your statement.
We are?
Well, it's protocol, so.
[catching on] Yeah, yeah! Yeah, yeah.
Protocol. Please.
I didn't know you work with the police, Nelly.
Did you leave the lifestyle magazine?
Sure didn't.
Look for "monster-in-law" advice in the weekend edition.
Oh... I wouldn't miss it.
Neat pen!
Thanks. This is my lucky space pen.
Oh?
Wanna give it a try? It writes upside-down.
[gasps deeply] Oh, wow.
I bet you keep this in your pocket all the time.
-I know I would. -Solid bet, Nelly!
You should play poker.
Thank you.
Uh, do you have one of these neato pens, Paige?
No.
So what do you use?
Pens.
You know, I think you should probably
-sign the statement, too. -She should?
Mm-hmm. Well, it's protocol.
Yeah, so th-there's-- protocol.
-"Protocol"? -Yeah. Yeah.
[***]
I didn't say any of these things.
This is Connor's statement.
Why should I sign it?
Yeah, that's bonkers!
Michael, she doesn't need to sign the statement.
It's Connor's.
So, we should go. Cool pen!
Oh, thanks.
Uh, thank you.
Did you see Paige reach for that pen in her pocket
and then it wasn't there?
And then, she got a Bank of Babbleton pen!
Okay, okay.
Hey, what was with the signatures and the pens?
I didn't understand any of that.
Connor might be in the clear with that fancy space pen,
but I think Paige uses up those Bank of Babbleton pens
like they're going out of style.
"In the clear" how?
Because of a pen? I don't know how--
Oh! Hey.
Oh, uh, Connor.
Uh, what's up?
She doesn't know that I came out.
Michael, I need you to understand about the timing.
I didn't mean to make it sound suspicious.
Neither did Paige, I'm sure.
Okay. Well, I'm listening.
She's mad at me.
-Oh! -She lost her wedding ring.
I bought her a replacement.
I thought it would cheer her up.
But I was quite wrong.
I mean, I-I got the size quite wrong.
I don't think she has sausage fingers!
-Ohh... -It was an honest mistake.
Connor... I'm so sorry.
I get it.
Really?
I don't.
Sleeping in separate rooms...
Oh!
I went to the guest room like she told me.
I didn't know about the play!
I thought she was sleeping when I came back.
She hates it when I wake her up.
But you still don't have an alibi, Connor.
Paige can't confirm when you came in.
Correct! I mean, no.
He's right.
-It's not less suspicious. -No.
I want you to know there's nothing fishy,
whether Paige went to the theatre or not.
You suspect she didn't?
Death of a Salesman?
Oh...
She couldn't know where I was on account of different rooms,
so, unless she passed by me in the hallway...
[wistfully] Oh... like ships passing in the night.
-[she chuckles warmly] -Okay--
let me see if I get this straight.
-Oh. -You came out here
to tell us that neither of you has an alibi
from the time you left poker and she left the theatre--
if, in fact, she went to the theatre at all?
Because neither has a clue
if the other one was here that night!
But the car was here when I came back.
Oh!
Yeah. I came in through the garage
and I saw it parked there.
That-- That's why I thought she was sleeping.
Well, that's great. Very helpful.
Thank you, Connor!
But...?
-Not less suspicious. -No.
No, I suppose not.
Mm.
Okay, then! Um...
Why don't you come by the station in the morning
with Blake's financials
and we'll talk?
Okay.
-Great! -[Paige] Connor!
[Paige, hollering] Carrots!
Oh, Connor, you better go.
-Mm-hmm. -Honey-pie!
[***]
Poor Connor.
Well, he made his bed.
-With sausage fingers. -[snickers]
[Michael] Okay, that's kind of funny.
-Yeah! -Whoa.
Hey. Uh...
w-we were just on our way to the-the--
[Nelly] Yeah, we were gonna go to that place.
Yeah, yeah, the place-- to talk about, uh...
-Those things! -...The things!
-So, uh, bye, Paige! -Yeah! Bye, Paige!
-See ya. -Thank you so much!
[***]
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll see ya at the diner. Good?
Okay. Sorry about that.
It was the Sheriff on the phone.
Just, uh, more of the typical.
-"Typical"? -Mm-hmm.
Give me the typical. I wanna know typical!
You don't give up, do you?
You know I cannot talk to you about this stuff.
But you love my inside information.
People tell me things.
Mm-mm. Not everyone.
-Help me help you. -[groans]
Wasn't that the deal we made?
No, no. No, there was no deal.
What are you, five?
[sighing grudgingly]
Okay.
The tox screen--
-Oh! -...Showed nothing unusual.
And there were no fingerprints on the broomstick
or on your light switch.
[gasps] So the killer wore gloves!
No, no, no.
Gloves would've left old fingerprints intact.
The killer wiped the surfaces clean afterwards.
[gasps deeply] Interesting!
-Mm-hmm. -A clean-up effort.
-Yeah. -What about Blake's phone?
No, we're still waiting for the records on that.
-Tech can't get into the phone. -Oh.
Do you know everyone?
Everyone knows everyone in Babbleton.
Mm-hmm. Well, the Sheriff seems to think you have some kind of--
I don't know-- special knowledge.
Is that why you're buying me dinner?
[laughs]
Well played.
-[giggling] -Okay, fine, but,
-I wanna get my money's worth. -Oh!
Show me some magic.
How about, uh...
Oh...
"Yours truly, Feeling Jelly."
Intensely envious of his wife,
Darlene, when she started getting attention at work.
Ooh. Never underestimate jealousy.
Mm!
But it looks like
those two crazy kids worked it out.
[whispers] Oh... that's not Darlene.
Oh!
I didn't see that comin'!
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold that thought.
-I do see pancakes coming. -* Breakfast for dinner! *
-Thank you. -Extra whip.
Extra strawberries, Detective. -Oh...
Thank you so much.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
Oh, my goodness.
I am so hungry.
Mm!
Ohh... I really needed that.
Big first week, huh?
Oh, you have no idea.
The paperwork alone.
I think Sheriff Brahm is trying to test me with this case.
There is one thing that's been bothering me
-about Peter Huang. -Okay.
You want me to ask you what doesn't jive?
-Mm-hmm. -Okay, I will.
What doesn't jive?
All right, so...
well, he doesn't like kittens--
-there's that. -Yeah.
But also, the timing.
Jody said she called him when the ambulance was sent out.
-Mm-hmm? -But when I saw him,
hours later, at the house,
he made out like he had arrived all innocent,
just to pick something up,
and then, he dodged me when I asked him what it was.
Hmm?
Yeah. Yeah, that's odd.
But what about the pens?
I didn't understand
what was happening with the pens.
Yes. So, I found
this
under the bushes at Blake's house--
a Bank of Babbleton pen.
It's a bank-teller pen.
Yeah, I get that, but when did you find it?
And... at my crime scene?
I went back to interview the neighbor, grumpy guy.
They call him "Grumple," if you can believe that.
Ooh, probably not to his face.
Anyways, naturally,
I thought the pen belonged to Connor.
Banker, right?
Mm-hmm.
So, I thought to ask for signatures
to see who had a pen.
Now, I think probably Paige dropped the pen.
Or... well, anyone who steals bank pens.
Why would Paige be hiding in the bushes at Blake's place?
How many more times are you gonna do this to me?
Find things that are useful to the case?
No!
Come on! You're like a lone wolf.
You get that I'm trying to solve a murder here, right?
This is my first case with Sheriff Brahm,
and every time I turn around,
you're jumping out of the cake with jazz hands,
saying, "Oh, look at me, here's some more evidence I withheld!"
Oh. Well...
I guess I'm just used to working alone,
writing my column.
Do you live alone, too?
Do you live with someone?
[quieter] No.
No, not anymore.
[grumbling sigh]
I got divorced.
There. I said it.
That's why the transfer.
Fresh start.
Yeah, something like that.
Look. Good work with the pen.
I mean it. I'm glad you found it.
But, moving forward, maybe we need
to work on our communication just a little bit. Okay?
Okay.
Okay. Good.
That being said...
did it look like
anybody had been hiding in the bushes recently?
Definitely!
There were broken branches,
and I swear, I heard someone scurrying away
when I was finding Blake's body.
-Ah-- -Speculation, not new evidence.
-Hmm. -I promise.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Now we got something.
What? What now? What'd I do?
Uh, no, nothing. I just--
[laughs] I just like that you ordered that.
[chuckles]
[***]
[object tumbles]
[***]
[Fiona] Hmm.
Maybe soufflé isn't meant to be baked in a toaster oven.
If Dahlia's motive was Blake cheating,
why would she share that?
And this murder definitely didn't seem planned.
Ooh! Crime of passion?
[***]
So, Blake was pushed down the stairs.
There's no weapon.
How do the police find clues?
[***]
No weapon.
No footprints. No tire tracks. No fingerprints.
No access to Blake's phone, yet.
But the killer swept the floor where they walked,
they wiped the light switch and the broom handle clean.
Blake had cash in his pocket...
but they didn't steal it.
Unless they didn't know about the money. Hmm.
[***]
Paige Wooly at the theatre? I don't think so!
She's been working double shifts at Helen's and the DMV.
Paige could have been hiding in Blake's bushes.
Someone dropped a Bank of Babbleton pen there.
Could she be Blake's other woman?
I mean, people can surprise you.
Her marriage is on the rocks.
[Paige, yells] Connor!
An affair could contribute to that. Hmm!
[Fiona] Oh! Not Jody.
We don't wanna think that anyone we know did this,
but it happened in Babbleton, so chances are they did.
You know, I have to say--
a murder plan
to push a guy like Blake down the stairs
is not a very good murder plan.
It happened in the heat of the moment.
The killer scrambled to cover their tracks.
Now they're worried they made a mistake.
They don't want me, or anyone, looking that closely.
Hmm!
Nelly, how do you know all this?
Well...
[***]
...someone left this at my house.
"Get your nose out of where it doesn't belong"?
I know!
Somebody broke into your house with this?
Well, they threw it through the window with a rock,
but no hearts on the "I"s, so...
"Don't mess with me."
Nelly, this is a threat!
Question is, what was happening
when the killer pushed Blake?
What was the feeling that caused the push?
That is the motive.
[gasps] A crime of passion!
What makes people passionate?
Money!
Or romance.
Yes!
[gasps] Oh!
I spoke with Blake's neighbor, Grumple--
Rumple? Rumpole? Grumple? Grumple--
-"Rumple Snide." -Yes!
Yes, I wrote about him for the Bloom Count.
He was runner-up.
He does not like noise, or light,
or Blake, or--
-You. -...Me very much. Hmm.
And he just sold his house.
[sighs]
These are the things I know so far.
Okay, here he is.
This is the photo that I used in the Bloom Count issue.
-[both] Paige Wooly! -What?
She's, like, Rumple's niece, or something.
What?
-Yeah! -Huh.
[***]
-Hey. -[yelps] Oh!
Hello!
[Michael chuckles]
Uh, Mickey-- uh, Detective! Michael.
Detective Michael.
Uh, hey! Do you know Fiona?
She makes a great soufflé. It-- [stammers]
It's actually not your best.
But, um... she's great.
Hello, Detective. What can we help you with?
Yes.
I know you're in the middle of, uh...
Work?
...Work, right. Um...
You wouldn't happen
to know anything about "monster" mothers, would you?
You said something about a column, or an article...
Uh... ooh.
Uh...
Monsters-in-law?
-[snaps fingers] That was it! -Yes!
Close enough. Listen. I need you to come with me.
Okay? So, I drive really fast.
So, I'll just wait in the car for you.
Okay? Come with me? Nice to meet you.
All right! See you in a bit!
Uh...
"Detective Mickey"?
"Detective Michael Hogan."
Detective Dreamy!
Okay.
I'm going now.
[***]
[Nelly, amused] Oh!
You do drive fast.
Sheriff said hurry, so we hurry.
Dahlia's mom is kicking up quite a fuss.
Well, she probably thinks Dahlia should've had a lawyer.
Hey, that was a statement,
until she handed us a motive on a silver platter.
All right, where do I come in?
What do mean, where do you come in?
Aren't you always in?
Yesterday, you're in everything like a dirty shirt.
Suddenly, you wanna back out?
I don't wanna back out. [gasps]
[yells] Paige Wooly!
Hold on!
[Michael] Hey!
Wh-Where you going?
I-It's just a quick pit-stop.
Don't worry! We'll still win the race.
Paige!
Paige?
Paige!
Ohh! Paige!
Please! Yes!
What is wrong with you?
I am on my way to work.
Please tell me--
why did you make that noise--
about Blake and money?
-[groaning] Ugh! -Yes! That is the noise.
Because Blake had no money!
He wasted Connor's time.
He mostly didn't pay him.
He spent as much as he earned.
That's called a furniture hobby,
not a business.
You know, I saw him at Vera's Jewelry Store,
visiting an engagement ring he could not afford.
All, like-- [mimics Bilbo] "...My precious."
Honestly, I don't know how Dahlia could even stand him.
You took a second job. You can't relate?
Okay, Paige, I'm sorry.
I spoke with Rumple Snide.
Your Uncle Rumple?
I have to go.
The only thing
that my daughter is guilty of is her horrible taste in men!
It's bad enough
that she would've married the scoundrel,
but the way that you treated her,
like some common criminal--
Whoa, whoa. Dahlia was marrying Blake Jarvis?
He told me his intentions, of course.
Brazen, presumptuous man.
So he wasn't pulling away from her, then?
Of course, he wasn't! Why would he do that?
My daughter was paying for everything.
With my money, mind you--
mortgaged and remortgaged to the hilt,
he gets her to fund his business--
furniture!
So you were worried he was using her?
It's worse than that, Nelly.
I heard he was cheating.
One of those "has his cake and eats it too" types.
I've never really understood that--
who doesn't eat their own cake?
Can we-- Can we just sit down?
Please, sit down.
Why don't we sit down?
Thank you.
Um...
where did you hear about the cheating?
Women are intuitive, Detective.
Mm.
But she was smitten, and blind--
I had to take matters into my own hands,
for her protection.
Okay, I'm gonna need you to explain to me
exactly what you mean by that, Mrs. Chatters.
-"Ms." -"Ms." Chatters.
And please remember that it is your duty
not to obstruct justice.
This is the kind of person you keep company with?
Zinnia... I know.
[whispers] Detective Michael is infuriating.
He can be self-righteous, and really annoying.
He can also be right here.
But...
I do believe he means well.
He is an honest man
who would not have got a statement from Dahlia
without a lawyer present...
if he had thought she was a suspect.
She's not a suspect?
Well, I--
You were just protecting your daughter.
[sighs]
You were saying?
Well, I hired a detective to follow Blake--
a private investigator,
and I had to tell Dahlia this morning.
Oh, so she was angry?
Oh!
Did the P.I. get back to you with his findings?
Well, he said he would take photos
that I could use as evidence
to try to talk some sense into her.
That's all I wanted to do, Nelly,
was to catch Blake in the act.
O-Of course!
The P.I. was parked
outside of Blake's house Wednesday night.
Wait! What?
Wednesday night?
Mm-hmm.
You had a P.I.
doing surveillance the night of the murder?
Do you think that he might have seen
something to do with the murder?
He might have.
He probably did.
Yeah, I'm gonna need his name.
Larry Foot.
Okay.
From Larry Foot Investigations.
Oh! Yes, on Spruce Street.
Spruce Street.
-Mm-hmm. -Great.
So, remember, I am the detective,
so I will be asking the questions, okay?
But Burgi did say that I--
I know what the Sheriff said,
but this a murder investigation,
and though I do appreciate your help with Zinnia,
you are still just a civilian,
and there are procedures that have to be followed.
Of course, procedures!
So we're in agreement then?
I'm the leader of this investigation,
you are the observer. Got it?
Got it! Active observer.
No, no, no! I didn't say active.
Passive. Silent observer--
I'm not sure why I bother.
Oh, no.
No, Sheriff, there's no one here.
Yeah, one security camera, but it's smashed.
Yeah. Yeah, sure. I can go check again.
All right, I'll call you right back. Bye.
Don't... touch... anything.
I'll be right back.
[blows a raspberry]
[sighs deeply]
Oh!
[leather creaks]
* Ba-da, ba-ba-ba, ba bada, da, da-da *
* Da... *
Oh, have mercy!
Nelly Parker?
-What happened? -The office was robbed.
-My office! -Larry Foot?
The police are looking for you.
Oh, you've gotta be kiddin'. I didn't do it!
I think they just want to know if you're okay.
Ohh!
Did someone threaten you?
Uh... no, not lately.
[chuckles]
Your computer was stolen.
Yeah, well, nothing that ain't backed up on the cloud.
Brilliant!
Zinnia Chatters told us
she hired you to follow Blake Jarvis.
Any chance you caught any photos at his house?
Oh, big time!
-Oh! -Caught a skulker!
Bit of a "spray-and-pray" in the dark,
but probably something to I.D.
Amazing!
[innocently] I wonder what else Blake was up to this week...
Mostly worked, and, uh...
...he was buying a ring for his lady friend.
Oh...
Larry Foot.
Ya seem like a guy with a story to tell.
I probably shouldn't.
Yeah, all right!
-[clapping] -[Larry chuckles]
Uh...
I just came from Vera's Jewelry Shop.
-Oh? -Check this puppy out.
Wow!
Oh, if I'd had something like that--
[sighs] ..."ex" might just be a state of mind.
I've said yes to plastic.
[Larry laughs]
Get this-- Blake agrees to buy it from Vera
-two weeks ago. -Mm-hmm.
18 grand.
[aghast] $18,000?
-Yeah! -[grunting]
But he tells Vera he can't pay for it till today.
-Not even a deposit. -Oh?
He was all set to pick up the ring--
payment in full at three p.m.,
reservation at Gastronome at eight.
Oh...
Blake was gonna propose to Dahlia on Friday.
That's why he switched the poker night--
kept it a secret from her.
But wait!
Are we sure that Dahlia was the person he was proposing to?
Sure, we're sure! Vera says so.
-Oh? -Blake even brought a friend
to try it on-- same size as Dahlia.
Who was the person he brought to try on the ring?
And how did you end up with that big, fat diamond ring
in your pocket?
Zinnia got real protective.
Calls me this morning in a real tizzy,
fighting with the daughter--
wants me to secure the ring, she says,
before Dahlia learns it went out into the world
on someone else's finger.
She's high-strung, that Zinnia--
but a good mama.
I like the cut of her jib.
[Larry chuckles]
Everything's comin' up Larry!
Ahh. Well...
not everything.
Well, yeah.
Hey.
Oh! This is New Detective Michael Hogan.
He's gonna want to speak with you.
Larry Foot?
Whoa, whoa, whoa! You're leaving?
Deadline at the office. Type-type!
Okay, fine, but--
Larry has back-ups of all the photos.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'll deal with that in a minute,
but just so you know,
this break-in means the killer is escalating.
So you understand how dangerous that can be, right,
and you're okay?
-Sure. -"Sure"?
Positive?
Listen. I'm going back to the scene of the crime
this afternoon.
You're not gonna follow me this time, right?
Right. No way.
Good.
Now, please, be careful.
Michael... you got this.
[claps shoulder]
Yeah, I know I got this!
I got this, but does she have this?
[***]
Zinnia said that Blake is broke and needed Dahlia's money,
which, as it turns out, is her money.
Meanwhile, he's walking around with a fistful of cash,
shopping for a two-carat diamond ring.
Just doesn't make sense.
What does Detective Michael think?
He's, um, difficult-- to read.
Mm-hmm. You're never difficult.
Oh!
Look at this, a submission from--
hmm!-- "Jealous Green Monster."
What to say to all the monsters, hmm?
You know, you have this amazing talent
for being able to help everybody else
with their romance.
Maybe take your own advice sometime.
What, like about dating?
I mean, it's been years since Fred.
You do date sometimes, right?
Well...
What about-- tch-tch-- Detective Dreamy?
Is he single?
Maybe, you know, I--
I like to be carefree,
and maybe I don't want to be bogged down
with responsibility to others.
Maybe... I'm a lone wolf.
Ha!
Nelly, you are the most connected, caring,
community-minded person I know.
If anyone in Babbleton needs help,
you are there.
That is the opposite of carefree.
Well, that is not the point.
The point is--
who is Blake Jarvis sneaking around with? Hmm?
We're missing something--
over there.
I don't know.
Did you know that Rumple Snide
will be joining us at Babbleton Rose?
He was something of a beau of mine back in 1967.
I just met Rumple Snide.
He sold his house.
Yeah. I liked Rumple.
That is a rare response to Rumple, Granny.
Well, never judge a book by his cover.
[chuckling]
Do you know anything about his relationship
to Paige Wooly?
Oh, Paige? Yes, lovely girl.
Also not a widely-held opinion.
She sold his house.
But Paige isn't a realtor.
Oh! [laughs]
Rumple hates doing business with strangers.
[Nelly chuckles]
And Paige knew a buyer,
so the house never got on the market.
She got $300,000 for him.
So, now he can move here,
and he doesn't have to work so hard.
Granny, that can't be right.
That was the price years ago. Not now.
Numbers! [chuckles]
That's not the point, is it?
[Nelly laughs]
You're right. It's not, I suppose.
The point is,
your former beau is coming to live here.
Mm-hmm.
What will the others make of it?
I suppose it'll "Rumple" some feathers.
Granny! [laughs]
[both giggling]
[car door shuts]
Who are we watching?
Shh.
Jody's job hunting.
Oh, and we're hunting Jody?
Do you have your binoculars?
Or do you use a magnifying glass?
Okay.
Um, ahem, Ms. Day?
If I can just talk to you for
-a second, please? -Hi, Jody!
Hi, Nelly.
Officer?
"Detective," actually.
Ms. Day, I found something in Blake Jarvis's workshop.
It's of a personal nature.
Oh. Wow. This should be good.
Uh, a photo of you was found in Blake's possession.
Enchanted. Do show.
[laughs hard]
Oh, he kept it!
Nelly, look.
-Ooh-la-la! -I know, right?
Would you care to explain the circumstances
that led to that photo?
Detective...
have you ever lost a bet?
-[Nelly laughs] -So that's not, uh--?
I was so sure it would be Blake in that dress...
but somehow, he drew into the full house.
Next time.
Yeah. I'll take that.
Thank you.
[Nelly] Do you want a ride?
-No! -A milkshake?
[Michael] No!
[indistinct exchange]
Oh! Oh, here we go! Ooh.
-Goodie! -Thank you.
That looks fantastic.
Mm!
Thank you.
I do have a magnifying glass, by the way.
I am a detective, after all.
Mm.
Working on the weekend, huh?
Yeah. So how 'bout you?
How, uh... How's your weekend?
[deep breath]
Well, I went to go see my grandmother,
and the many, many gentlemen who love her.
Oh. So Grandma's a bit of a heartbreaker, is she?
Granny Lu? More... heartwarming.
I see.
So... kinda like you,
I guess?
Hmm!
Oh, don't think I'm a lone wolf anymore?
[laughs]
I didn't say that.
I'm still trying to figure you out.
Do I make it difficult?
My friend, Fiona, says I can be difficult.
I wouldn't say difficult.
Just...
it's a bit of a process.
Okay, well...
bring it on.
What do you want to know?
Oh yeah? Anything?
[nervously] Yes.
Okay.
Uh, let's see.
Um, oh, I know.
What makes you so relentlessly happy?
Oh!
Honestly? Um...
Most things make me happy.
Well, I guess a few things don't make me happy.
Okay, well, what are those?
If-- If you don't mind my asking.
Yeah.
Um, well...
I wasn't always a lone wolf.
Oh, really?
I was engaged to Fred, my childhood friend--
later, my boyfriend.
Hmm.
And then, he proposed.
It was...
[laughs] It was a dark and stormy night,
pouring rain,
in this parking lot behind the country fair midway.
He had won this little plastic, purple ring
in one of those, um, you know...
-Yeah, yeah, yeah. -...Toss games.
I know.
And, uh, he just dropped down to his knee right into a puddle.
[both chuckle]
We were laughing so hard,
I could hardly get the words out to say yes.
I remember, um...
on the car stereo,
the song was, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."
Poison. Tsk. Good song!
Yeah. Yeah, great song.
I'm sorry. It's not a sad memory. It's...
I have a lot of great memories with Fred, but...
[deep breath]
Time was not on our side.
He... um, he died in a car accident,
five years ago.
I'm so sorry.
Well, he, uh...
gave me an appreciation for glam rock.
[laughs] Yes, he did!
And dancing in the rain.
Taught me what it's like to... love and be loved.
Hmm.
I guess...
I just... choose not to be sad.
Hmm.
Nelly?
Yeah, I know. [forced chuckle]
Heart on my sleeve!
[***]
Oh, she's perfect!
Aw, I just love her.
[chuckling]
She was right under my peonies!
[laughs]
[sneezing]
Oh! Bless you!
Hey, Peter, when are those burgers gonna be ready?
Here you go.
Oh, hi.
[***]
Hey, you, Nelly Parker!
Thanks for showing up.
I was worried you were gonna hide on me forever
because you did a bad thing.
You can't think that kitten was a bad thing.
She's growing on me.
Mm-hmm.
Surf or turf?
Uh, surf, please.
So, Peter, um...
Jody called you before I saw you at Blake's.
You came there after you knew that he had been killed.
Hang on a second.
That's not what I knew.
Jody said an ambulance went to pick him up,
-that's it. -Uh-huh?
She said nothing about murder.
I know-- it looks bad.
Yeah, it looks bad! You lied.
I... had an argument with Blake,
I didn't wanna tell you.
I wanted to get something back.
It was a watch he won off Grace the Friday before.
-A watch? -Grace is no card shark.
She had the flush,
but she'd already bet away everything we brought.
Grace was so upset with herself,
and I'd become this villain who wouldn't let her get a cat.
Peter, that's not the reason.
Anyway... I went to see Blake.
Explained that the watch was worth too much for our game.
He wouldn't hear it.
He said he won, fair and square--
"rules are rules."
So you used the opportunity of him going in an ambulance
to sneak in and try and steal it back?
I'd copped to it when he realized what I did...
maybe, by then, he'd see the light.
I didn't know he was murdered, Nelly.
I just thought he'd cut
one of his big Blake thumbs on a table saw.
[***]
She's wearing Grace's bloody watch!
[***]
[text alert chimes]
[***]
How are you doing?
Sadness turned to anger, thanks to my mother.
She should never have hired that private investigator.
She's just trying to help you.
She was yelling at the police in your defense yesterday.
Well, yelling is my mother's specialty.
There was a robbery
at the private eye's office, right?
Yeah. But he has digital files,
so the police are gonna get everything.
-Really? They will? -Mm-hmm.
Maybe they'll solve this now, so they can stop persecuting me.
Dahlia, I have to ask you,
where did you get this?
From Blake.
Just out of the blue, too.
Probably buttering me up,
so I wouldn't suspect his cheating.
It wasn't really his.
You don't think he took this from the other woman, do you?
He took it from... Grace.
Blake stole my watch from Grace?
Not exactly.
He won it.
Fair is fair.
[sighing] When is this going to get easier?
I don't know.
I'm sorry.
Oh... boy.
Michael?
Dahlia Chatters, you are under arrest
for the murder of Blake Jarvis.
Please stand up.
Turn around.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say
can, and will, be used against you in a court of law.
You ready to go? Let's go!
Nelly!
[***]
How can you do this? She has an alibi!
She was with me.
There's no way she murdered Blake.
-Michael-- -She was texting him
-all night long. -Seriously?
-So, she-- -She lied!
She was texting him every ten minutes until 11:30,
which is when she could have killed him.
And, Nelly, the texts-- they were not friendly.
No, but Rumple said
the security light at the workshop
went on earlier than that.
Tell it to the judge, Nelly.
There's nothing I can do for you.
Michael, wait! Please.
[sighs irately]
Dahlia admitted she talked to Blake.
She said that call was her only communication with him!
Okay, so she was embarrassed.
My column was coming out.
What if her letter was chosen?
What letter?
[gasps]
Nelly...
what letter?
Dahlia
wrote into my column
for advice about Blake's cheating.
She signed it "Worried In Babbleton,"
but I knew it was her 'cause I know her handwriting.
I always figure it out, anyways.
I went to go see Blake
to talk to him about the letter.
We talked about this! We did!
The communication thing! No more lone-wolf stuff!
Were you ever gonna tell me about this?
I tried to tell you--
-You did not. -...At the police station.
[sighs, wrought]
I don't believe Dahlia killed Blake.
Nelly, don't you get it?
It doesn't matter what you believe!
This is police work.
Suspects get treated with objectivity,
and you just don't have that.
No.
I guess I don't.
And if it means turning my back on my friends,
I don't think I want it.
[sighs]
[sobbing] Nelly, fix this!
[Nelly] I can't.
I tried. I just made it worse.
But Dahlia didn't do it. Please, Nelly.
[***]
[Colleen] Nelly, Dahlia didn't do it.
Okay, so, that night, you and Dahlia...
making dinner-- vegetarian spaghetti.
With eggplant!
Yum! Then what?
Uh... we started a movie around 9:30.
What about Blake's neighbor?
He's a really mean old man. Do you think he's the murderer?
All right, so Dahlia's texting during the movie.
Angry with Blake?
Yeah, she was texting.
But I-I didn't ask about what. I know better.
What about Jody Day?
Did you know Jody worked for Blake,
but she got laid off?
Okay, so when did the movie end?
Around 11:30.
Then we went to our rooms-- to bed.
Okay. So Dahlia stops texting with Blake at 11:30.
Colleen, couldn't Dahlia just have snuck out
without you realizing?
No. No way.
I would've heard her, on account of her squeaky door.
Okay, the police are gonna need proof than that.
[sighing]
How do we prove that Dahlia stayed in her room?
[snaps fingers]
It couldn't be that easy.
It couldn't?
[***]
If she snuck out to Blake's, it would be on--
...camera.
And if she didn't, the tape could clear her.
[***]
That's when we got home--
5:00 on Wednesday, like Dahlia told you.
Mm-hmm, okay.
Here we go.
9:04.
Oh...
I forgot.
Dahlia wanted hot chocolate.
Ooh, the hot-cocoa run!
Don't gotta tell me about those, hey, Mick?
Yeah.
That's not enough time for a murder.
Anyway, it is too early. Blake was still playing poker.
We're headed into time of death.
[Michael] Yeah.
-That's it? -Yep.
See? Dahlia didn't go out!
Bupkis.
For the love of the Lord, let that girl out,
-before her mother shows up. -[Colleen laughs]
[phone rings]
-Boss? -[Michael and Burgi] Yes?
[Intercom] Larry Foot has something.
You'll want to see this.
Is it the P.I.'s photos?
Yeah. This might shake things up, huh?
Let's find out.
You were about to let Dahlia out, remember?
She said let her out!
Darling, not yet.
Yeah, could you take Colleen home
-for us, please? -Yeah.
No! I-I don't want to go without Dahlia.
Honey.
Sometimes, we don't always get what we want.
It's gonna be okay.
It's okay.
Thanks for everything, Nelly.
Something just doesn't add up.
I don't get it. What's bothering you?
Time of death is between 10 p.m. and midnight.
You and Dahlia watching the movie.
She's angry, she's texting Blake.
The movie ends 11:30.
She stops rage-texting Blake.
You both go to bed.
The police think that's when she goes to Blake's
and pushes him down the stairs.
The walk is ten minutes away.
T-The police are wrong!
Why haven't they released her yet?
Show me!
Show you what? None of this matters.
Yeah. You get to be Dahlia. I'm gonna retrace steps.
Show me her bedroom! Hmm?
Yeah?
[***]
There's no way she could've climbed out of here.
Is there another way she could have snuck out?
I guess that's the alibi.
[phone ringing]
-Michael? -Nelly--
No, no, it's me.
They're giving me one phone call since last night.
Dahlia. I'm so sorry.
I promised I would fix things,
and it's just such a mess.
I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry.
I should have told you about those text messages.
It's just...
we thought Blake was cheating,
and I was acting like a jealous girlfriend,
giving him the gears.
I-- I couldn't show the detective.
I'm ashamed-- I couldn't show anyone, not even you.
I understand.
Why do the police keep asking me about a letter?
W-- "Worried in Babbleton"--
the letter that you sent me for advice.
Nelly, I never wrote you a letter,
and New Michael keeps insisting that I did.
What-What-- What was it about,
and why do you think it came from me?
The hearts on the "I"s, that's you.
Or someone who knows you.
Well, lots of people draw hearts.
Uh, Dahlia, I gotta call you back.
Wait! No! I can't answer calls!
[***]
Nelly?
Where are you going?
[***]
Wait!
-Colleen, stop! -Nelly--
it's not what you think.
[sighs] Good grief. Just...
[exhales]
Was it the letter?
Or stupid P.I. Larry and his photos?
I never even saw him!
You knew the security camera would show
that you two had stayed in the apartment all night.
But you climbed down the garden trellis
to sneak out back to see Blake.
Do you suppose I was Blake's other woman?
Desperately in love with my step-sister's boyfriend?
No. No, I don't suppose you liked him at all.
There was no other woman.
Blake loved Dahlia.
Either you were mad
because you genuinely believed that he was cheating on her,
or you made up that bogus cheating story yourself.
[groans] Why?
I was 20 when Dahlia's dad and my mom got married,
so we didn't get to grow up together.
I'd never had a little sister,
and she'd never had anyone to look out for her,
like I could.
So that's what this is about-- protecting your sister?
Blake was always too busy!
He wouldn't even invite her to poker.
But the thing is,
Blake was never too good to take her money.
Dahlia cares...
about me.
She cared about Blake, and you-- everyone--
but I could see that her life wasn't gonna be good with him.
She just couldn't see it,
because he wasn't bad enough, you know?
You knew that he was gonna propose.
You were the one who went to Vera's
and tried on the engagement ring.
He thought I'd be happy for them.
How crazy is that?
Why fake a letter to me, then?
I thought you would advise her to dump him,
if he was unfaithful to her,
and I guessed if I sent something personalized,
you'd think it came from Dahlia,
and you'd get right in there, and you'd fix it.
But I didn't get to Blake in time.
No.
Neither did I.
Wait, what?
He was dead when you got there?
I didn't go there to kill Blake.
I went to finally confront him!
And when I saw him
crumpled like that, at the bottom of the stairs--
[inhales sharply]
You're gonna have to tell the police all of this.
But, Nelly, who killed Blake?
[***]
[phone rings]
Don't answer it!
Paige!
[ringing]
Put the phone down.
[ringing continues]
-[beep] -Hi. It's Nelly.
Hi, Detective!
I don't wanna hurt you.
Just don't say anything.
Don't tell him I'm here.
[***]
Don't speak to the detective, Nelly.
I came here to talk to you.
Nelly! The police let me out.
Nelly, are you there?
Yes, Detective, I'm just at the office right now.
-[cries out] No! -Nelly?
I've got big news to tell you.
The P.I. had photos of Paige Wooly at Blake's house.
New Michael just sped out of here
to arrest her.
[sobs]
-[cries out] -[knife drops]
[phone clatters]
I am not trying to hurt you.
Nelly?
I am asking you to listen!
Paige,
they have photos of you at Blake's house that night.
Yes!
Because I was there!
I waited until the game ended,
and I hid so Connor wouldn't see me.
Why?
I thought you might know.
Ohh...
you stole from Rumple Snide.
[Paige sobs]
So you do know.
[sighs] Nelly...
Blake was blackmailing me.
I had to meet him after the game with the cash.
[tearfully] I'm mortified.
Uncle Rumple trusted me.
It just got so complicated.
Connor is a banker, but he is also a shopaholic.
Our bank accounts are all drained.
I was already working full-time.
So you used it as a chance to get out of debt.
I met one of Connor's clients
who said he'd cut me in for half the difference
if he got the house for $80,000 under market value,
and I advised Uncle Rumple it was a good deal.
He has these hang-ups about privacy and strangers.
I thought it was low-risk.
I knew he would never gossip about the sale price.
Well, there was one person he was willing to tell.
Except for that's not how Blake found out.
He overheard me
talking with the buyer in the yard.
It was just...
so stupid of me.
So you had to cut him in?
I saw him at Vera's, looking at her diamonds.
He was so desperate to propose,
but all of his money was tied up with Dahlia,
and her mom, and the business.
I convinced him
to keep his mouth shut for half my share.
But with that cash coming in,
why did you have to take a second job?
Oh... guilt.
I decided I was gonna pay Uncle Rumple back,
no matter how long it takes.
I have to get Connor out of debt, Nelly,
or we'll lose our home.
I didn't know what else to do.
Were you hiding in the bushes when I found Blake's body?
I went to tell him
that I was coming clean with Uncle Rumple.
I hoped he'd return the cash.
We could both do the right thing.
[sobs] But... I was too late.
So did you trash Larry Foot's office
to destroy the photos of you?
No!
O-Of course not.
I didn't even know about Foot at all until tonight.
I didn't damage any property,
I didn't hurt anyone,
and I didn't kill Blake!
So, who else knew about Larry Foot?
Dahlia, Zinnia, Colleen...
I guess any of the poker players
who were there that night and saw him when they left.
Connor said that he heard that Blake had been murdered
when Jody called Peter at the bank...
but Jody didn't tell Peter that Blake was dead,
which means...
...Connor knew because he killed Blake.
That's enough, Nelly.
Connor!
What are you doing? Put the gun down. Put it down!
You don't even know how to--
[gasps] Mmf!
Say nothing, Nelly...
or Paige dies.
[Paige whimpers]
[gently] Connor...
Connor, you don't wanna hurt her.
You're the one who knew that she was being blackmailed.
You were trying to be her hero.
It won't make any difference.
She thinks I'm a failure!
-[Paige cries out, muffled] -Connor, please...
give me the gun.
You don't wanna hurt her.
You love your wife.
You're right, Nelly.
It would be better if you died.
[Connor cries out in pain]
[Connor yelling]
[Connor grunts]
-[spritzing] -Ah!
[spritz-spritz]
[shot fires]
[gun clatters]
[police sirens wailing]
-Hands up! -[Connor gasps]
Connor Wooly...
you are under arrest for the murder of Blake Jarvis.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can,
and will, be used against you
in a court of law.
You good?
-Yeah. -All right.
You have a right to an attorney,
if you can't afford an attorney,
one will be provided for you.
[***]
[chuckling]
Thank you.
You good?
Mm-hmm. You?
Yeah, not bad. Considering.
[overlapping] How did you know--
[chuckling]
You go first.
You came for Paige?
Yeah, I did, but, uh,
then I realized she couldn't have done it,
'cause if she had,
she would've picked up that cash.
Only Connor Wooly was so bad with cash
that he didn't have the good sense
to pick up a stack of it sitting right under his nose.
-"So bad"? -Mm-hmm.
I--
[whispers] I saw the financials!
Larry Foot's surveillance photos
caught Paige sneaking around Blake's.
At 10:15, and then again ten minutes later.
Not enough time to commit a murder.
And it was way before
Rumple saw the light turn on, too, so...
Well, that is some solid evidence, Detective.
-Yeah. -Objectivity!
Hmm.
Magnifying glass?
No!
[laughing]
Shh...
[inhales sharply]
It doesn't explain why you came here
instead of going to the Woolys' house?
No, I guess it doesn't.
So why did you come here?
Because, Nelly, by now, I realize
that anyone who has a problem in Babbleton
comes to see you.
So what next?
[Burgi] Mickey!
I need you over here for a minute.
Ah...
A detective's work is never done.
-Mm-hmm. -Mm-hmm.
[***]
Good morning!
[***]
What a beautiful day!
[meowing]
[***]
[text alert chimes]
Hey!
Time to make it official.
[chuckles]
Well-deserved.
Welcome to the force, Detective.
Thank you, Sheriff Brahm.
-I mean... -Mm?
"Burgi."
-You'll get it. -I will get it.
I will.
Thank you.
[***]
[text alert chimes]
[***]
Meow!
You got the cat?
I sure did.
"Kitten-Less and Longing in Babbleton"
turns out to be
"Regretfully Allergic in Babbleton."
Hmm.
So "Nelly Knows"
doesn't always know everything about everything, then, huh?
Well, I do have it on good authority
that congratulations are in order.
Well done, Detective Michael!
Thank you.
You're gonna have to get used to seeing me around town.
Ooh!
"Single and Ready to Mingle in Babbleton?"
[groaning lightly] Oh, brother.
You know, some of us around here have work to do.
[groans playfully]
Come on! Helen's for lunch?
Yeah. It's a Belgian waffle kind of day.
-Ooh, international! -Mm-hmm.
Sophisticated. Fancy!
[chuckling]
What are you gonna have?
I think I'll have the special.
I want to be surprised.
[chuckles]
Why doesn't that surprise me?
[***]