03x04 - The Magic Ghost, Part 1

[bunniefuu]

[LAYLA] This doesn't make sense.

I had the Eloquent Peasant authenticated
six months ago.

I wanted everything in order
before we sent it to Cairo,

and clearly everything
is not in order, Todd.

I'm not sure what to say,
but the children are correct.

It's a forgery.

But how? Why?

Mom, are you okay?

No. This is a priceless artifact
of immense historical importance.

And now it's just gone?

Please tell me again
how you put this together.

From the beginning.

[SAMIR] Uh... Y-Yes.

I was doing an assignment
for the Young Anthropologists Clu...

Archaeologists.

Young Archaeologists Club. [CHUCKLES]

Of course. So many clubs,
I get them mixed up.

Anyway, Samir was here looking
at the Eloquent Peasant the other day

and took some pictures.

Yes. I saw that the photo
on the library's website

was different than
the photos I had taken.

See, the original Eloquent Peasant
has a tear right here.

But that version has no hole.
It must be a fake.

And I remembered you said

that the Eloquent Peasant
was getting sent back to Egypt,

so we told you right away.

You did the right thing.
You all did. Thank you.

[LAYLA] What are we gonna do?

[MCCORMACK] We need to call the police.

No, not yet.
We should handle it internally.

If this news gets out,
it'll be a media circus.

You're right. I'll contact the board

about hiring a private investigator.

Great.

Thanks, kids. We'll take it from here.

See you at home, sweetie.

But there's still so many questions.

Who stole the Eloquent Peasant?
How did they do it?

[STAMMERS] Why did they do it?

What about those hieroglyphs
we found in Oliver's office?

[SAMIR] I'm still translating.

I hope this investigator is good.

'Cause I have no clue
how someone got something out of there.

Yeah. It would've taken a magician
to pull it off.

[MAGICIAN] Where am I?

Excuse me. [SPEAKS SPANISH]

Well, I called her last week...

Um... [SPEAKS SPANISH]

Hello?

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Hello?

[SPEAKS SPANISH]

W-What's going on?

[GRUNTS]

Just a guess,
but I don't think this is over.

I think Oliver released
another character.

Right. No one can
see or hear him but us.

It's just like The Wizard of Oz.

But I don't know this book.

Is he just gonna keep releasing
characters? Like, forever?

I can't think about this
when I'm an old lady.

Like, I wanna enjoy my retirement

without worrying that Pippi Longstocking
will show up at any minute.

Let's just worry about
the present for now.

Hello? Hello? Wh...

We can't tell him the truth, can we?

No way.

Do you know where
the press conference is?

The what?

You know, big room
with a bunch of reporters?

My producers, assistants, sponsors?

This is the Miami
Convention Center, yes?

Um, no.

Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no, no.

[SPEAKS SPANISH]

Where is Leo El Magnífico?

Who's that?

Me.

You talk about yourself
in the third person?

Uh, Leo does, yes. My trademark.

Please just tell me where I am.

Um...

Congratulations. You've teleported
from a different dimension,

which is weird, I know,
but, uh, sometimes...

There's a ghost named Oliver.

We think he's releasing
fictional characters into our world

to help us solve a mystery
involving a stolen Egyptian scroll.

And it looks like
you're one of those characters,

but we don't know
what book you jumped out of.

[WHISPERS] Hey, I thought we weren't
gonna tell him the truth.

Sorry, but the truth is just as
ridiculous as the lie you told him.

This is perfect.

[SAMIR] It is?

You see, back in Miami,
I'm a very popular magician.

Right before I came here, I was in
the middle of a press conference.

The Miami Herald said to me,

"Leo El Magnífico,
you've promised for months

that you will do an incredible trick
nobody has ever seen."

I froze.

All the cameras around me
going cli-cli-cli-cli-click.

But the truth is,
I have no big trick up my sleeve.

I have no idea what to do,
and I'm totally stuck.

I still haven't had my big wepa.

What's "wepa"?

When most people say wepa,

they mean "cool,"
"awesome," "congratulations."

But when Leo says "wepa,"
it is a way of life.

It is pure excitement.
It is endless discovery.

It is a catchphrase on all my merch,
now available in countries.

Maybe if I help you with this mystery,

it'll give me time to find this wepa.

But you're still fine with the
whole fictional-character thing?

[SPEAKS SPANISH]

If Leo's not real in your world,

then how do you know
you're not real in Leo's world?

Maybe it is you
who are the fictional characters.

It's like Leo always says,

"If you wanna see the big picture,

you need to look at things
from a different angle."

You probably meant this one.
[CLICKS TONGUE]

It's about a kid magician
who wins a contest

and hits the big time in Miami.

No, no, no. All over the world.

Then the fame gets to his head,

and he starts trying to get everyone
to use his catchphrase, "wepa,"

which is a Spanish word
that he is totally misusing.

That's her opinion, okay?

Aw, it's super fun.
You would love this book.

Sounds great. I'd like to buy it.

Just keep it safe
and return it when you're done.

Oh, n...

We sometimes grant
special book-borrowing privileges.

Sort of a family
tradition. Happy reading.

Thank you.

The book is blank,
just like the last time.

¡Leo! El Magnífico by Pablo Cartaya.
We all need to read it this time.

Right. If there's a wicked witch
in this one, better to know now.

[SAMIR] Hey, guys.

- Hi there.
- Hi, Samir.

I was just reading to Idris.
We were just finishing up.

These are my friends, Charli and Nia.

Very nice to meet you.

[BOTH] Nice to meet you.

Oh, Samir, I want to tell you.
This Saturday night,

we will host a special party
for a family from my village back home.

They just moved to the US,
and we want to make them feel welcome.

We have two years of experience
in America to share with them.

Okay. [CHUCKLES] Sounds good.

And I have a special job for you.

Would you please pick up a namoura
at the bakery for them?

It's their favorite dessert.

Sure, no problem.

Thank you. And of course,
you're both invited to our party.

You haven't lived
until you've eaten a namoura.

It is, in my humble opinion,
the most delicious cake on the planet.

- We're coming.
- We'll be there.

- [SAMIR CHUCKLES]
- Wait... [CHUCKLES]

[SPEAKS ARABIC] Let's go.

[NIA GIGGLES]

So, meet tomorrow at the archive room
and try to figure out

how the Eloquent Peasant was stolen?

Uh, can we just say,
like, "the EP" instead?

I mean, "Eloquent Peasant" is
a real mouthful.

Eloquent Peasant, Eloquent Peasant,
Eloquent Peasant. See? It's hard.

The EP it is. [SIGHS]

[BLOWS]

[BLOWS]

Well, what do you think?

Not bad.

Not bad? That's my best trick.

Well, you flashed a bit through
the window on your left hand and...

[SIGHS]

No, no, no, no, no. None of that.

We have work to do.
Let's look through your kit.

Um. Mm-hmm.

Yeah, you did everything I had
when I was starting out,

but what you really need is...

Are you okay?

This is exactly like the wand
my friend Amanda used back in La Vista.

Wait, I thought you were from Miami.

I live there now,
but I grew up in La Vista.

It's this tiny town
along the coast in Florida.

Amanda and I used to do
free magic shows on the beach.

Our audience was usually
just the old men playing dominoes,

but it was great.

Amanda always said it was worth it just

to see the smiles on people's faces.

[CHARLI] No way.

That's exactly why I do magic.

[CHUCKLES] Anyway, this big TV show
called What's Your Talent?

Was holding auditions in Miami,
but she didn't wanna do it.

So I went solo instead.

I ended up winning,
and everything changed after that.

Now I'm Leo El Magnífico.

Well, it's getting late.
Do you have turndown service here?

Uh, we just have a
couch in the basement.

[SIGHS] Fine.

Buenas noches.

[NIA] Last night at dinner, my mom

said the board of directors just hired

a private investigator
who might shut down the archive room.

If that's true,
we better figure out this thing fast.

Then let's get to it.

Seriously?

It's my trademark.

How many trademarks do you have?

You could pick the lock and walk
out of here with the EP, but look.

The security cameras would see.

Or would they?

Please, slowly walk around
the perimeter of the room

and don't stop until I return.

Hey, uh, did you guys finish
reading the book?

- I loved it.
- Me too.

I love the part when he gets to Miami...

I'm not finished. No spoilers, please.

Wepa.

So, the security cameras do not see
from here to here.

A blind spot.

But the EP wasn't in the blind spot.
I-I don't understand.

[LEO] Me neither.

Yet. But remember, every discovery,

no matter how small, can be useful.

Well, in the meantime,

I think the big discovery we need is how

did they get the EP out of the glass?

Look. I think he's
checking something out.

[LEO] Perfecto.

Now we observe.

There are no security cameras in there.

So you can check out
the Eloquent Peasant

and look at it
in the special collections room,

but the librarian just stands there

looking over your
shoulder the whole time.

Unless you try some misdirection.

Exactly.
Someone could distract the librarian.

So the librarian is now distracted,

and this is the window of opportunity.

[NIA] And this is
when they would've switched

the real copy with the fake copy.

[CHARLI] Right.
The criminals could've snuck a forgery

inside a briefcase or something.

All just before the librarian returns.
Very smooth. [CHUCKLES]

[LEO] And now the criminals
would stand there and smile

as the forged Eloquent Peasant was
returned to its glass case.

- All set.
- Thanks.

And then the criminal
walks right out of the room.

With the real Eloquent Peasant
hidden safely in a bag just like that.

Whoa. We just figured it out.

Excuse me? I just
need to check your bag.

No exceptions, I'm afraid.

Thank you.

Huh. So much for our theory.

The librarian checks your bag
on the way out.

We're closer than you think.
Solving a puzzle like this isn't easy.

Like my abuela always says,
"Tengan fe." Have faith.

Is this the ghost?

- Meet Oliver.
- [SPEAKS SPANISH]

[SAMIR] "Sarcophagus"?

Isn't that a coffin
where they used to bury mummies?

Let's go! [SPEAKS SPANISH]

What's this ghost up to?

He's not the clearest communicator.

Let's knock on the door.

And say what?
We'd like to see your coffin upstairs?

No. Just say that
we're on a really weird scavenger hunt.

Or that we used to
live in the house as babies

and we just really wanna see our
old room because we miss it so much.

Or that we're real estate agents...

Maybe we should just observe for now.

I agree.
Pure observation can be very valuable.

And except for getting Samir
to the bakery,

we have nothing else
to do this afternoon.

Uh-oh.

- What?
- [CHARLI] I totally forgot.

I need to meet my sister on campus.

We're supposed to help our parents out
with a painting job.

Sorry, uh, but I gotta go.
Uh, let me know how it goes.

[SIGHS] Thanks for your help.

[SIGHS]

It's nice to have
some quiet finally. [SIGHS]

I love Charli,

but I'm tired of hearing her share

every single idea that pops in her head.

Just think a little
and pick the best one. [SIGHS]

It's just the way she processes stuff.

Yeah, well, it's a little annoying.

I mean, none of us is perfect.

For example, you do have the habit

of making decisions
for the rest of the group.

Like when you told Leo he was from a

book after we agreed not to tell him.

That might be a little annoying to her.

Wow. Truth b*mb.

Sorry, I was just agreeing with you.
[CLEARS THROAT]

I just know
Oliver picked us for some reason.

So, we have to learn
how to work together.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- [MOTHER] Okay.

- It's gonna be so much fun.
- Yeah.

- [MOTHER] Yeah.
- Let's go.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, we went to a couple... [CHATTERS]

Guessing they're
headed to a karate class.

Once we get there, we need to split up.

I'll follow the mom
and you two take the kid.

We need to figure out
how we can get into their house.

How am I supposed to get close to him
if he's doing karate?

We'll figure it out.

[SENSEI] One, two, three, four. Breathe.

Right, like this.

Uh, nice moves.

Thanks.

[SENSEI] On my count. One, two, three.

You're staring at him.
It's getting weird. Be cool.

I don't know how to be cool. [CHUCKLES]

[NIA] Hey.

I need you to listen
to what she's saying.

[MOTHER SIGHS]

I can't get close enough.

[SENSEI] Tracy, a little higher.

What is this building anyway?

[SYD] The Hawthorne Club.
Only the best and brightest get in.

Anytime there's someone
super successful on campus,

politicians, artists, scientists,

they always have lunch here
with the club members.

And the connections you make could get

you internships, jobs, you name it.

- How do you join?
- You have to be asked.

And they only let in, like,
ten or people each year.

I'm sure they'll want you.

You were the smartest person
in high school.

I'm just average here.

Honestly, it's been a lot harder making

friends in college than I thought.

[STUDENT] Sydney, right?

We take spin class together.

Oh, yeah. Surprised you recognize me
without all the sweat.

[STUDENT CHUCKLES] I'm Amber.

This is Liam, Stephanie and Ben.

Hi.

Oh, this is my sister, Charli.

Oh, so you guys are
painting the building, huh?

Our parents run a painting business.

We help them out on bigger jobs
sometimes like the Hawthorne Club.

- Huh.
- Cool.

Hey, Mr. Boyd. Good to see you.

Avery.

It's good to be back.

Well, we should get in there.

It was nice to meet you.
I'll see you at the gym.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Look at that. You made friends.

You'll be eating lunch in there
in no time.

I hope you're right.

[SENSEI] Okay, Todd,
just a little bit higher. That's right.

It was too hot over there, so I...

[SENSEI] There you go.

I-I'm Samir. What's your name?

Seriously?

[MOTHER] Uh-huh.

[SCOFFS] Thank you. Goodbye.

So she's having a birthday
party tomorrow for her son.

- We need to get to that party.
- Not so fast.

The mom had a petting zoo planned,

but the company's double-booked
and can't come tomorrow.

So there might not be a party at all.

[SIGHS]

- Did you just have a wepa?
- Yeah.

[CLEARS THROAT] Excuse me.
I couldn't help overhearing

that your son's having
a birthday party tomorrow

and that the entertainment fell through.

[MOTHER] That's right.

Well, I know a magician.

You did what?

Charli, this plan gets us
inside the house.

While you do your magic show,
the rest of us can find the sarcophagus.

[CHARLI] This is a nightmare.

I have one day to prepare.
Why didn't you check with me first?

I only had a moment to decide.

And, anyway, we have a total pro here
who can help you prepare.

You don't get it, Nia.

I... I only have three tricks
that are ready for an audience. Three.

I make a quarter disappear, I can
pull a long ribbon out of my mouth,

and I can hide a few cards
up my sleeve. That's it.

Sleeve! Did you say sleeve?

Sleeve. Sleeve. Sleeve. Sleeve. Sl...

Nia, I would like you to ask the
librarian to examine two items.

This first edition
of The Count of Monte Cristo

and this pelican painting.

Why?

I now know how the criminals removed
the Eloquent Peasant

from the special collections room.

And for my next trick, I shall
demonstrate their diabolical plan.

[LEO] It was really quite simple.

Our oh-so-crafty thief
asked to check out two items.

[LIBRARIAN] Yes?

I'd like to view the Eloquent Peasant

and that pelican painting, please.

I'd like to view
the Count of Monte Cristo book

and that pelican painting, please.

[LEO] An ID was presented.

[NIA] My mom works here.

[LEO] The logbook was signed.

The items were brought
to the special collections room.

A room, I may remind you,
that has no cameras.

Next, a second criminal
created a distraction.

I'm so sorry. I'll be right back.

Excuse me.

This keeps happening to me.

And this is the magic moment.

While the librarian was distracted,

the criminal hid the Eloquent Peasant
inside the pelican painting

and produced a forged Eloquent Peasant

just in time for the librarian
to return, none the wiser.

So sorry.

I'm all finished. Thank you.

I'm all finished. Thanks.

Thanks.

[LEO] Finally, the librarian locked
the fake Eloquent Peasant

in the glass case,

and then returned the painting to the

wall with the Eloquent Peasant inside.

And that is how
the criminal pulled it off.

That was amazing.

If this weren't a library,
I'd start clapping.

When Charli said the word "sleeve,"

I realized the key to any sleight of

hand is a good sleeve to hide your card.

I knew the thief needed a sleeve
to hide the artifact.

And there it is.

[CHARLI] Wait.

This is great and all, but...

we only know how they got the EP
out of the special collections room.

We still don't know
how they got it out of the painting.

- Huh. Good point.
- [NIA SIGHS]

Well, maybe the answer will be at the

birthday party, in the sarcophagus.

Why else would
Oliver want us to find it?

The second we got stuck,
he showed us that clue.

[NIA] I agree.

Whatever's in it, presumably a mummy,

will somehow help us solve this mystery.

Hey.

...really no alternative. We're gonna
have to shut it down completely.

[LIBRARIAN] Pardon the interruption,

but the archive room is now closed.

Please check the university's website
for updates.

That must have been the investigator
that the school hired.

What do we do now?

We need to look at this
from a different angle.

- [CHARLI] Let's get a snack.
- Excellent angle.

So I do wanna satisfy my hunger,
but I don't wanna spoil my dinner.

Oh, wait. Duh. Sunflower seeds.

[SHOPKEEPER] 'Ey,
hold on there a second.

Me?
- Yeah. Open the backpack, please.

Why?

Yeah, and why not my
backpack? Or theirs?

Come on.

- Happy?
- Mm-hmm.

Come on. Never coming back here.

No way.

Are you okay?

It's just like the way the woman thought

I was stealing because I'm Black.

He didn't even try to hide his racism.

Should we say something to him?

Leo does not use magic for revenge.

But in this case,
an exception can be made.

No. I don't wanna make a scene.
I can't believe this.

Even in my world,
it doesn't matter how successful I get,

there's still people who look down on me

because I often speak
Spanish in my shows.

When we first came to America, a man

on the street started yelling at us.

Said that we weren't welcome here

and that we should
go back to where we came from.

[NIA]
"The manager said I looked like a thug."

"He straight-up racially profiled me."

"Watch out for the r*cist manager."

"Boycott."

Lotus. What's that supposed to mean?

[PARENT] Where's the namoura?

I-I'm sorry.
I didn't get to the bakery in time,

so I went to a different bakery
and got baklava instead.

[PARENT SIGHS]

You like baklava.

Namoura's very special
to this family, okay?

And they made the exact same journey

that we did from
Syria to Turkey to here.

That wasn't easy for us, was it?

No, it wasn't.

So you know they're as confused
and overwhelmed as we were.

So let's do everything that we can

to give them
a taste of home tomorrow, okay?

Okay. I am sorry. I understand.

I'll get the namoura tomorrow.

Okay. Good.

[LEO] Don't hold the cards so tight,
and watch your thumb, all right?

Slowly. Relax.
It's better if you don't drop it.

You think?

- Just a little...
- [CHARLI] I'm gonna drop it.

Okay.

Good, but you need to go
a little bit faster.

Good. You flashed a little bit
with your Tenkai palm right there,

but keep going.

- Was this your card?
- Uh, not my card.

Just be relaxed and smooth.
There you go. That was amazing.

- The two of diamonds?
- Excelente.

All right. Slowly.

[BLOWS]

- Ta-da! [CHUCKLES]
- Very nice. Wepa. Wepa.

You really think so? 'Cause, uh,
I-I felt like such an amateur.

Charli, don't be discouraged.
I started the same way.

Amanda and I were performing
on the beach one day,

and nobody was paying attention,
like usual.

Then this abuelita walks up to us

and asks us to perform
at her granddaughter's quinceañera.

We only had one day to get ready.

How did it go?

- It wasn't perfect.
- Great. [SIGHS]

But it was good enough to impress
other people at the quinceañera.

And pretty soon, more gigs came in.
You're on the right track.

Gracias.

Come on in. Look at all your stuff.

I'm so happy we were able to get you
on such short notice.

Ethan will be so excited.

Thank you so much for having me.

Uh, where can my... assistants, uh...

Uh, where can my assistants set up?

[MOTHER] Oh, right here.

[ETHAN] Mom?

So sorry. [CHUCKLES]
Just a moment, please.

Charli, what's wrong?
You just spaced out.

Look.

- [SAMIR] Oliver.
- [LEO] The ghost?

[ETHAN] Maybe we shouldn't have a party.

[MOTHER] Oh, Ethan. After everything
we've been through this month,

I think a party might be a nice idea.

[ETHAN] But I miss Uncle Oliver.

Uncle Oliver?