01x13 - Wall of Fire

[bunniefuu]

Previously on So Help Me Todd

Peter's so sorry he couldn't

make it; he had to work.

Ah, yes, the elusive Peter.

You are never getting

anything like that from me.

Me, dating?

Oh, my God, is that Gus?

Back from Seattle yet?

Want to get that drink?

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)


EDDIE: Oh, I'm quitting this

job as soon as possible.

I mean, why we gotta stay late?

Luck of the draw, man.

- Hmm.

- (LOUD CREAKING)


Wait. What was that?

(CREAKING GROWS LOUDER)


- (LOUD CRASHING)


- (MEN CRY OUT)


Oh, Ma, hey, here. I got everything.

Just in time.

- Freddie?

- Freddie?

Freddie. Give this to the judge.

- The images are on this

- Hard drive in a folder

marked "Sacco/Incriminating."

- She has the

- Filing request right here, and he

Has the stamp.

Okay.

- Has to be in by 2:00 p.m.

- You have 11 minutes.

The previous request was nulled.

- And verified by the court.

- So use this one.

Initialed by Swanson.

BOTH: Thank you, Freddie.

(EXHALES)
You have got

to come back and listen

to these recordings I made.

- Uh, legal recordings.

- Of course.

Mostly legal. Bass and Valdivia.

Caught in the act?

Every word. Slam dunk.

- Oh, nice work.

- Mm-hmm.

And what about Breen?

Oh, well, Breen is a different story.

I am currently tracking his car,

which is being driven by his

- Mother.

- Son. No.

- The one who just got out of

- Bed.

TODD: Prison. Mom,

- what's going on? What are you

- Well,

uh, I don't have time to go

through all the details right now.

Can you bring these back to the office

- and I'll meet you there?

- Okay.

- Thank you.

- Sure.

Margaret. What are you doing here?

Working. And you?

I-I assumed that you had

headed back up to Seattle,

as you never returned my text.

What text? Oh, wait, I did respond.

Wait Wait, didn't I?

Oh! I got this new phone.

I have no idea how it works.

- I probably didn't hit the "send" button.

- Huh.

(CHUCKLES)
I, um

So what'd you text me?

Nothing.

- What are you doing here?

- Well, let's see.

I'm defending the City of Portland.

The new condo building that collapsed,

down by the river.

Ah, the two construction

workers who were k*lled.

What, are their families suing the city?

Well, the city said the land

was safe for development.

- But it's not.

- Don't know yet.

We're doing some tests, but

now everybody's suing the city.

The, uh, builder, the developer.

And now there's a second

site. Hasn't even gone up yet.

And we're just waiting for them to file.

And then I missed some court deadline.

The, uh, "OR24j."

What kind of weird court filing rules

you got going on down

here in "Ory-gone"?

Oh, it's not that difficult.

It's easier than returning a text.

But the real question is

how did you get this case?

You're not even a resident of the state.

Portland City Council

president's an old frat buddy.

Of course.

Hey, why don't you have

lunch with me tomorrow?

Come on, you can give me some

Oregon info and some pointers.

I'll pick you up at your office.

Say, uh, 1:00?

Oh, I gotta go. I, uh

Okay.

Lunch.

Is this a date?

SUSAN: Yes, yes, of course I understand.

TODD: Hello, hello, hello.

I, uh Oh, sorry, sorry.

- I didn't realize Susan had a client in here.

- I'm not a client.

You're not? Then who are you?

Oh, you're Peter. Peter Peter.

Pumpkin eater.

Ah, well

nice to meet you, Mr. Eater.

Didn't know you were coming in.

Didn't know you were you.

Didn't know you'd be wearing

such expensive-looking shoes.

I made these, in Africa.

You made these shoes in Africa?

Huh. Wow.

Well, so, what brings you in, huh,

to my office? I mean,

you're welcome to come at any time.

You're Susan's fiancé, you

can come and go as you please.

Hi. Todd, Peter. Peter, Todd.

- Honey, your

- (PHONE RINGS)


- My God, hang on.

- No, no, no. take your time.

Uh, Todd, I actually

have a private work matter

I need some assistance

with, and Susan thought

I might be able to

get some help from you.

- Me?

- Mm-hmm.

Me me?

Mi mi mi. (LAUGHS)


Yeah. Oh, of course, yeah. Certainly.

Wait, a private matter? What is it?

I mean, uh, what is it?

Someone I work with has gone missing.

- Oh.

- A young assistant at my firm.

Now, admittedly, she can

be quite flighty at times.

Takes spur of the moment

vacations and whatnot.

- But this particular absence feels different.

- Ah.

The police have done next to nothing,

and I'm concerned.

- So

- Yes. No, I'd be happy to help.

Are you kidding? A missing person?

I deal with this every

day. Well, not every day.

But a lo I have done this.

Great. Well, shall I see you

at my office, then, later?

- Perhaps 4:00 p.m.?

- Sure. Yeah, yeah.

- Is this a date?

- No!

Excuse me, I was

speaking to someone else.

- Okay. Right.

- (SUSAN CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY)


Coffee.

- (IMITATING PETER)
: It's very hot.

- Ah, of course.

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

What are you doing? Where are you going?

Your lunch meeting is here

in the conference room.

(CHUCKLES)
No. I don't

have a lunch meeting.

I have a lunch date with

Hey, Margaret. Good to see you. Here.

Got you a sandwich.

(GROANS)


This is Eugene Kashmitz,

the lead engineer for

the Water and Soil Bureau

at the City of Portland.

I can't eat.

I'm sorry, I'm so upset that

I'm sweating; I'm terrified.

(EXHALES)
Okay.

How can I help you?

Well, investigators suspect

that the building collapsed

because it was built on bad soil.

Soil that the city said was okay.

So now the city's on

the hook for 147 million.

And if they lose, criminal

cases and civil lawsuits

will quickly trickle

down to the employees

- that are deemed responsible.

- MARGARET: Mm-hmm.

Mr. Kashmitz, I read about

the collapse in the paper.

Why were these projects

given the okay by the city

if the land was clearly

deemed so unsuitable

That's what I don't know.

I ran the tests myself two years ago.

The soil was fine.

Oh, I'm gonna throw up.

Uh, it's just around to the right.

You look nice. Special occasion?

No.

You should look up The

City of Salem v. Broadloop.

It's another similar

construction site accident

where the city avoided

any charges of wrongdoing.

You should do this case with me.

With you or for you?

Well, you can be my second.

No, thank you. I have

no interest in playing

local counsel to a to a frat boy

who favored his way into a big

case and can't even be bothered

to change his shirt from day to day.

Was I wearing this yesterday?

Okay, look, you could,

you could take the lead.

You know a hell of a lot more

about Oregon law than I do.

I-I could be your second.

Is, uh, Mr. Kashmitz your

client, or is the city?

Mr. Kashmitz is the human

face I'm putting on my client,

the City of Portland.

Smart move.

Well, I suppose I could be convinced

to make a little room

for you in my docket.

We should have dinner.

At my place. Tomorrow.

We can work out the, uh, details.

All right.

Um, Mr. Kashmitz,

- let's start at the beginning.

- Okay.

How long have you been

working for the city?

These are our offices proper,

purpose-built for the FBI

before they decamped for Salem.

Rumor has it there's

still a m*ssile silo

somewhere on the premises.

Oh, and right over there

is where Pink Martini sh*t

their first music video.

- Wow, this is so cool.

- Isn't it, though?

And now, a little less exciting

but far more pressing, over here,

this is June's desk.

- The missing assistant.

- June Ballister.

PETER: Last known sighting was on, uh,

Friday, I believe.

- Uh, Audrey?

- Yeah?

Audrey, sorry to bother you,

but when was it that

you saw June that day?

- At the office?

- Mm-hmm.

It was around 2:30 p.m.,

because she was just

- coming back to her desk from spin class.

- (PHONE BUZZING)


Excuse me, I think I

need to call my brother.

Seems he was bitten by a shark.

- Oh, God.

- Oh.

Seymour, great white or bull?

A shark? Does this guy

ever lose his composure?

Sorry, I'm Audrey.

June is my assistant.

Todd Wright, P.I.

Private investigator. Legit.

Working on a case for Peter.

It's a, uh, personal request.

I just, I wish June wasn't such a fool.

Such a fool?

I mean, she's 24. She's made so many

random and haphazard decisions.

I mean, she went to Brazil

for eight days in October,

and she didn't tell anyone.

Do you think she's off somewhere now?

Oh, well, I hope so.

- And I'm gonna fire her the minute she's back.

- Huh.

A lot of active wear and shoes.

Yeah. Spin class.

- June is a fanatic.

- Hmm.

- Here. Look over here.

- Mm-hmm.

Do you see that guy?

(INSTRUCTOR SHOUTING)


Uh, yeah. How could I miss him?

That's Thor, June's favorite instructor.

Huh.

God, I hope she didn't sleep with him.

(THOR SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)


Whoo!

MARGARET: You know, it's always

crowded at the courthouse.

We just had a sandwich.

Oh, thank you.

The City of Portland seems pretty

excited to have you on board.

- Well, my reputation precedes me.

- (CHUCKLES)


Now that I filed with

the city to join you,

we just need to let the office know

that I'll be giving this

case some of my time.

- (CHUCKLES)


- (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)


And I should be able to get

you access to June's email.

Nice. Perfect.

And I'm so glad your brother

Seymour gets to keep his arm.

Wait, why are all of us

going up to our offices?

Because Peter needs to sign some papers.

I'm filing a lawsuit on behalf

of his company on Friday.

- Oh. Oh, Mom.

- Gus.

- Oh, hi.

- Hi, Margaret.

Margaret.

Everyone going up?

- Mm-hmm.

- Thank you.

- Here we go.

- Did you get the

All right. Yes, of

course I got it, Todd.

Okay.

(MUZAK PLAYING SOFTLY)


It's nice to see you again, Peter.

Oh, uh, Peter, this is Gus Easton.

Gus, Peter Chen.

Gus.

Wait, not the Peter Chen

from Chen Compass Developers?

As a matter of fact, yes.

Wait, so you Your company owns

Plot B on the riverfront,

next to the building that collapsed?

Yeah. And we're prepping a lawsuit,

suing the City of Portland.

Peter sunk all this

money into that land,

and now he can't build there.

Wait. You're suing the City of Portland?

- I am the City of Portland.

- What? Since when?

Yes, I just filed papers,

just now, just today

saying that we were

representing the city

- in these property cases

- Oh, my God.

- We can't be talking to you.

- Stop the elevator.

- Why can't we be talking

- Todd, Todd,

I work for the city now,

and you work for me, so

No, no, I actually work for Peter.

- What?

- I spent all day at his office.

Oh, my God!

Everybody stop talking,

stop talking, stop talking.

What is going on?

Conflict of interest, Todd.

Don't say another word.

- (INHALES)


- Don't.

♪

LYLE: To avoid conflict of interest,

and the appearance of impropriety,

legal ethical rules require

that we build a firewall,

separating the firm into two camps:

the City of Portland v.

Chen Compass Developers.

For the duration of these matters,

you must not communicate

with the other camp

- unless chaperoned.

- Chaperoned?

What is this, prom?

Oh, and let me guess.

- The adult supervisor is

- Me.

Ah. That's like putting Dracula

in charge of a blood bank.

And Peter isn't even suing the city yet.

I'm filing today.

And when she does,

we don't want anyone saying that

our loyalty is split or

our judgment compromised.

The verdict in my case

sets the precedent in hers.

Could you just not represent the city?

I mean, you've been on this

case for, like, seven seconds.

Absolutely not. This is an

incredibly valuable relationship.

Why can't Susan just

- Just what, break my engagement?

- Easy.

Even if Miss Yang were to drop her case,

she still lives with Mr. Chen,

who currently fraternizes

with the entity

formerly known as Todd Wright.

Great, I'm an entity now?

They stay on that side.

Your phones and your

computers will be set to

block contacts on the

other side of the firewall.

No texts, no emails.

This memo will help guide you through

the division of the workplace.

A map of routes we can

take through the office?

- Come on, are you kidding?

- Casual interactions are the devil's playground.

You schedule when we can use

the break room and the bathroom.

What? What if I really need to go?

It's only for a few weeks, Todd.

What, I have to hold it for a few weeks?

Thank you all for your

cooperation. Meeting adjourned.

Thank you, Lyle.

Bup-bup.

Bup-bup-bup.

LYLE: Remember, absolutely no

talking to each other for any reason.

- Caw!

- Oh.

Sorry, Deborah. Sorry.

LYLE (OVER INTERCOM)
:

No, you are not allowed

to go to a party together.

The firewall extends beyond the office,

and into your personal

lives. No contact.

Oh, and how are you gonna

know if we both just go?

Because I'm tracking all

of your mobile phones.

And if any of you come

within five feet of the other,

there will be hell to pay.

Okay, could someone I'm not

allowed to talk to named Mom

please call HR and fire this lunatic?

Oh. HR is on my side of the firewall.

Which means no contact. Buh-bye.

(BUOY BELL CLANGING)


(SEABIRDS CALLING)


He can't really be living here.

Oh, oh, it's slippery.

Oh

Oh, there you are.

You're not even dressed?

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I, uh, spilled

lasagna all over my pants.

God, it took me half an hour to realize

that this address was a houseboat,

- which you neglected to mention.

- Oh.

And I had to park a mile away,

And now you're not even ready?

What am I even doing here?

Well, hey, no, no, relax.

Relax. You're here now.

Why would I agree to work

with someone like you,

- let alone even consider

- Okay, don't back up. No.

No, don't back up. Don't, no, no! Oh!

Help me! Aah! Get me out of here.

- Help.

- (MARGARET SHOUTS INDISTINCTLY)


- Help.

- Help me!

Come on! Pick it up! You, new guy.

- Yeah?

- Pick up the pace or I will end you.

- I'm trying.

- Let's go! Whoo!

- All right, that's it.

- Okay. All right.

- Okay.

- Most pathetic class ever.

Get out of my sight.

Ow. Sorry.

Uh, wow, Thor, you really are tough.

You know, my stepsister

said you're the best.

- Oh, yeah? Who's that?

- June. June Ballister.

Oh, yeah, the one who

lacks commitment and grit.

Huh. Really? Uh, is that true?

Yeah. As you can see, June finishes last

in just about every category

we have every time.

- Wait, you track all of your students' vitals?

- Of course.

I'm Portland's number one

accountability spinstructor.

- I force losers like you to win.

- Oh. Wait a second.

Do we all get to wear those bracelets?

And do they also, like, track location?

Within about 100 miles,

unless it stops registering,

like June's did three weeks ago.

Is your sister hiding from the truth,

- that she's a loser?

- Most likely, yes.

But, Thor, I just gotta

say, you are very diligent

and constructively menacing.

Is it possible that I could

maybe take a quick peek

at the GPS data just so I could see

where my stepsister is

hiding from the truth?

- Hell no. Maggots!

- Hey, maggots.

On your bikes.

Look, when you find your half sister,

tell her she should

probably move her car.

Her car?

It's been parked two streets

over since her last class.

She's got about 15

parking tickets by now.

- Huh.

- Loser.

- All right.

- All right, maggots!

Okay. Take care, maggots.

Take care, Thor. Thank you.

Bye, loser.

Mmm.

So mmm this is delicious.

Um, two years ago,

Eugene does the soil test

on the riverfront, and it's fine.

The city deems it okay for development.

Then two projects are planned.

Project A goes up,

and comes down last month.

- Project B, still to be built, is Peter Chen's.

- Right.

- And now both developers are suing the city.

- Mm.

Not to mention the families of

the workers that were k*lled.

And if the city's found liable,

Portland will be brought

to its very knees.

I guess we'd better win.

We're gonna need a

bigger bottle. You done?

Uh, yes, thank you.

Mmm.

Ooh.

Ah, this is nice.

Um

(CHUCKLES)
Armani?

Yves Saint Laurent? Hermès?

Oh, yeah, my wife my

ex-wife has expensive taste.

She was always trying to dress me in

designer suits, Italian shoes, but

Let me guess, it's "not you."

Not by a mile.

So, when we finally separated, I, uh,

bought this non-designer beaut,

floated her down to Portland, and, uh,

"started over," I guess.

You?

When my husband left, I

- I just worked harder.

- Mm-hmm.

And I-I tried to appear strong.

Mm.

And then, one day, I woke up,

and I realized I am strong.

I don't need to pretend.

And that's when I knew I

was over him. (CHUCKLES)


And ready for dating apps.

(CHUCKLES)


Oh, those men on those dating

apps are just so unreliable.

I mean, they can barely return a text.

Hey, I pressed send.

Okay, you know what? You try

switching from Apple to Android

and see how well you do.

- (CELL PHONE CHIMES)


- Speak of the electronic devil.

Ooh, the independent soil report is in.

Okay, I have no idea

how to get it from here

- onto my laptop.

- Yeah, no

Maybe it's already in there.

I can't get Wi-Fi or

"Blueteeth" out here.

There we go.

(EXHALES)
Oh. Well, that's bad for us.

The soil at the construction

site was re-tested yesterday,

and it is "not advisable" to build on.

What? Where is the o-original

soil report from Eugene?

From two years ago?

Oh, it's right here, hold that.

It's over here, I think.

Well, no, I think it was over

Oh, yeah, here it is. You hold

that. Oh, there we go. Yeah.

Okay, there it is.

GUS: Okay, so two years ago,

it was red clay at that site,

- and now it's silt?

- Mm-hmm.

These two tests are not

from the same location.

- Huh.

- We need to talk to Eugene.

Okay. Let's go.

What, right now?

(CONVERSING INDISTINCTLY)


- (CAR BEEPS)


- What is that?

What?

- (STAMMERS)


- Oh, that.

Uh, yeah, it's long story. Come on.

My, uh, my daughter, she (SIGHS)


You know what, I'll

I'll tell you later.

No, no, this is impossible.

These are two different samples.

I wouldn't mix up silt and clay.

Am I losing my mind?

What's going on here?

That's the $147 million

settlement question.

- Okay, let's just calm down.

- (EXHALES)


Why don't you walk us through

the process, step by step?

I went out to the riverfront

on April 6, 2020, alone.

After dark, when the soil

is better for testing.

I took my sample, put it in the trunk

and came straight back here, and

ran my tests like I always do.

The soil was safe.

It was red clay. I

okayed the construction.

Okay. Now, is possible that

you mixed up the samples,

- or that someone else

- No.

They're always in my possession.

(SIGHS)


The only person I saw that entire night

was the lady security guard.

Lady security guard?

EUGENE: Yes, they fenced off the

riverfront, and she was at the gate.

Friendly face, nice

smile. She let me in.

Did she touch anything?

Well, she checked the trunk

when I left, but that's standard.

I mean, she only had it

open for a few seconds.

You don't think

Why would she switch

Oh, my God.

Okay, okay, June's car,

parked on the street somewhere.

(GROANS)


Uh

What is that?

Is this red mud?

Oh.

Huh.

Huh.

- (LINE RINGS)


- (SIGHS)


SERVICE AGENT (OVER PHONE)
:

Good evening, Imperial Bank.

- How may I help you?

- Oh, thank God! I'm Timothy Ballister.

My half sister June

was just in an accident,

a a-a train accident.

- Oh, uh, that's horrible.

- Yeah.

Is she okay?

No, no, no, she's a fighter,

but these greedy bastards

at the hospital won't

operate unless we can prove

she can afford the treatment.

I just need to check on

one of her recent deposits.

She has the money, I swear she does.

Uh, well I suppose I could.

Yes, okay. Account number 6-3-2-0-1-9-0.

Um, o-okay.

- I'm in her account.

- Uh-huh.

- And I can see her last deposit.

- Oh, bless you.

It's a personal check from Peter Chen.

Peter? Peter Chen?

Yes, for $20,000,

and in the memo line it

looks like Mr. Chen wrote,

um, I uh

Yeah, it says "Kisses."

Tell your half sister to hang in there.

I-I just feel so awful now.

Yeah.

Me, too.

TODD: Oh, my God, there he is.

(SCOFFS)
This guy and his "kisses."

(SIGHS)
Okay, what would

Mom do? What would Mom do?

(GRUNTS)


(CLEARS THROAT)


Good evening.

How, uh, unusual to run

into the two of you here

at the office on this lovely night.

Uh, well, I had so much work to do,

so Peter brought Valentine's Day to me.

Wait, it's Valentine's Of

course it's Valentine's Day.

I knew that. February 15th, how lovely.

Uh, do you mind if I join you?

- Um, actually

- TODD: Just have a few

questions for Mr. Chen here on my left.

I believe I'm on your right.

- May I just ask you a couple

- No. What is going on?

No one special in your

life at the moment, Todd?

What? What do you mean?

It means that we are on a date,

and you are interrupting that date.

Uh, objection. I've had my

share of Valentine's dates,

and I don't see how that's immaterial

to the presiding motion at hand.

Ah, yes, how many Valentine's

Days did you two spend together?

- One. Only one.

- TODD: Two. Two.

One and a half. Well

she can't really testify

to dates and times of events

as Susan here was a bit of

a wild party girl back then.

"Wild party girl Susan," before my time.

Who may or may have been too hammered

to realize that somebody

did put together an entire

Valentine's Day date plan

even though the horse ran away

after repeatedly telling

him that he was a child

- who needed to get his, um, "ship" together.

- Peter

My witness, thank you.

And I just have a few

questions to my witness

about his relationship

to the party of the first part,

heretofore known as June Ballister.

- What about her?

- I found her car on the street,

near your office with some

not so inadmissible evidence

in the form of a deposit slip

that says you

gave her $20,000

for "kisses."

You don't have to answer that.

Yes, you do. I am cross-examining.

- And I object to this line of questions.

- Kisses

was June's dog, who d*ed

- rather tragically of bone cancer.

- (SIGHS)


The money was for doggy chemotherapy,

but unfortunately it didn't work.

Sorry for your loss.

- (WINE POURING)


- Thank you.

Oh, for me? Thank you.

- Mm-hmm.

- Wow.

Susan was right about you.

You are a fantastic investigator.

Thank you. I am. Wait, Susan said that?

Uh, but a terrible, terrible lawyer.

Did you find anything

else in June's car?

Um, no, just some dirt.

Dirt gossip or dirt dirt?

No, dirt dirt. Actually,

I think it was clay.

Like red clay.

It was all over the inside of her car.

Mm. Ca Can you meet me later tonight

at an address to be provided in, say,

- two hours?

- (SOFT CHUCKLE)


- Three.

- Gross.

Yes, of course. I can meet

you anywhere. Absolutely. Wait.

It is Valentine's Day.

Right now I am supposed to be at

MARGARET AND CHUCK:

Happy birthday ♪

To you. ♪

(MARGARET CHUCKLES)


And many more. ♪

- Thank you.

- (PHONE CHIMES)


Oh, goodness.

I swear, if Lyle texts

me one more time

Ah. Yes, he is on the patio.

Not speaking.

I'm allowed to speak.

No, not to me you're not.

Okay.

To my amazing,

accomplished, and

beautiful daughter Allison,

it is only fitting that you

were born on Valentine's Day

since I love you so much.

- Cheers.

- MARGARET: Happy birthday. Oh!

- Todd!

- Is this really necessary?

Unfortunately, yes. We don't

want to jeopardize either case.

Todd, I am not bringing

another glass out to you,

and we will slide the cake out the door.

Yelling through glass is still talking.

(PHONE CHIMES)


"Bring a flashlight"?

- (PHONE CHIMES)


- Whoa.

Hold on.

- Oh.

- What?

Oh, no, I'm so sorry.

Um, Allison, it's work,

and, uh, I-I have to go.

You're leaving me in your home with Todd

at a birthday party I did not want?

- No, no, no, I'm leaving, too.

- (GASPS)
Todd, get out!

- TODD: No, no, I'm leaving.

- MARGARET: Get out. Okay.

I'm just telling you

Covering your face

accomplishes nothing, Todd.

Can I just uncover for a

second to find the door?

Okay. Happy birthday, Al.

Allison, darling, happy birthday.

- Yeah.

- (DOOR CLOSES)


And I just want you to stay

as late as you like, okay?

Ah. Mmm. Okay.

- Oh, okay.

- And happy Valentine's Day.

- Yeah, thank you, that's great.

- Happy Tuesday.

Chuck.

- (DOOR OPENS, CLOSES)


- I am taking the elevator.

TODD: What? No, I got here first.

MARGARET: No, I-I'm older.

TODD: Okay, yeah, who's talking now?

Wait, where are the stairs anyway?

So what did you wish for?

A sister.

(BELL RINGING)


This is the firm that handles

all security for construction sites?

Right, so now we just got to

find out which guard was on duty

- the night he took the soil samples.

- Okay.

But wouldn't the security company

keep that information secure?

Secure, yeah.

- Yes?

Okay. (SIGHS)


What would Todd do?

Can I help you? It's kind of late.

Uh, yes, yes, yes, yes.

I am Marguerite Blomp,

and I am the manager for these two men.

They are a twin brothers

from Iceland, in a band named

Soil Samples.

Yes, and as I'm sure you

read in the paper last night,

their plane went down.

No survivors.

Except them. They are alive.

And now they need security guards

to protect them because

they are wanted by deadly K*llers

in their homeland of Ireland.

Okay, so security.

Uh, you should come back during the day.

- Are these your employees on the wall here?

- SECURITY GUARD: Mm-hmm.

Do you see any faces that

you are familiar with?

I mean, not that you're

familiar with because we haven't

hired them yet, but that you would

like to be familiar with?

No that's actually not right either.

Do you see anyone that you like?

- No.

- EUGENE: No.

There were probably some staff turnover

since the two years when he

took the original soil sample.

(GASP)
Yes.

We need faces from the past.

Someone who would be

willing to work at night.

Or a female one who works

on construction sites on

the Portland riverfront.

SECURITY GUARD: You mean the collapse?

Oh, yeah, we have someone

there, but only in the morning.

We don't do nights

on construction sites.

ALL: You don't do nights

on construction sites?

That's what I just said.

Okay.

- Well, thank you.

- Yes, thank you.

- Uh, yeah.

- Yes, thank you.

- GUS: Let's go, Margarita.

- MARGARET: Marguerite.

- Marguerite.

- Marguerite. Blomp. (LAUGHS)


- Blomp.

- Yes, and we're going on a tour now.

You're welcome to follow us on Insta.

- (LAUGHS)
Insta.

- (DOOR CLOSES)


PETER: Just a ways further.

Years ago, I had a development

planned for Forest Park

right here. We had the

paperwork done, the soil tests,

and we were ready to buy the

land when the State swooped in,

declared it a protected preserve,

but I do remember one

area in particular,

a large stretch of red clay just

through here. Got all over my shoes.

Had a devil of a time getting it off.

Ah, here it is. This

section, it's all red clay.

Okay, so June, or somebody,

was walking around this

area and then got red clay

all over June's car,

like, three weeks ago

when she disappeared? But why? Oh!

- Ow!

- You all right?

Is that

That (SIGHS)


is a human hand.

And what's that on

the wrist? Is that ?

A fitness bracelet.

I think we just found June Ballister.

MARGARET: Is that ?

TODD: Red clay.

Huh.

Hmm.

(QUIETLY)
: I know.

LYLE: Hello, Debra.

TODD: Mom, I found

Oh. Eh.

Er.

Sup?

Oh

I know, I know.

(COUGHS)


Think something's going around.

Okay.

(PEN CLATTERS)


(COUGHS)


Something's going around. (CHUCKLES)


(MOUTHS)


Oh, oh, oh.

- (MOUTHS)


- (WHISPERS)
: No?

(SIGHS, CHUCKLES)
Thanks.

(SIGHS)


(WATCH CHIMES)


(PHONE RINGS)


Hey. What are you

doing? Oh, you look sick.

- Thank you, I am sick.

- Wait, like like sick sick?

Or "I don't want to go to work

because it's my birthday" sick?

No, like I actually am sick.

But, yes, I also didn't want to

listen to my coworkers singing.

Gosh, I hope I don't get sick.

Wait, why are you so against

your birthday this year?

I don't know, it just feels

like this last year, like,

what exactly am I

commemorating or celebrating?

Or whatever, it doesn't

matter. Why are you calling?

Oh, okay, uh, what does this all mean?

Um

Okay, well, so those are vital signs,

and that looks like the heart rate

and the blood pressure seriously

spiked at the end there.

Yeah, so-so she was, like, terrified?

Or had a heart att*ck.

No, Al, she was found dead,

buried in mud.

Yeah, okay, that would

probably terrify her.

Yeah, probably.

Um, wait, is this from, like,

a fitness bracelet thing?

I used to have one of those.

There should be another page of info.

Whoa, wait, another page? Uh,

okay. Wait, how do I do that?

(COUGHS)
Okay, so click

on those little blue dots

up in the top right.

- Do you see it in the corner?

- Yes, I see, I see.

So, that's her GPS route.

So, like, for jogging or steps

or, you know, wherever she

went, it records your location.

Got it. Okay. Hello.

- (SNEEZES)


- Hey.

- (PHONE RINGING)


- WOMAN: Crest, Folding Song.

Thank you for coming in on

such short notice, Audrey.

Oh, of course. Anything to help.

So it appears, uh,

June visited your house

the night before she disappeared.

It's funny you didn't

mention that when we spoke.

I told the police all about it.

- Oh. You did?

- Yes.

June, she came to my house that

night, and she was very upset,

crying over some fight with Thor.

And then she asked if she

could borrow some money.

Did she say what the money was for?

No. I just assumed that she wanted

to get away for a while.

And that was the last time

you saw or heard from her?

Yes. (SIGHS)


I still can't believe that she's dead.

Have they found any clues at the scene?

Do they have a suspect?

Not one the authorities are

willing to share at this time.

Oh, of course. (LAUGHS SOFTLY)


Well, please let me know

if I can be of more help.

Of course.

Audrey, thank you.

You've been very helpful.

Okay.

Hey, uh, let me walk

you down to your car.

Oh, that's-that's okay. I'm fine.

I-I insist. Really. Here.

Oh.

Yeah, it's a tricky building anyway.

- Thank you.

- Yeah.

When Eugene gets here,

we'll have the sketch

artist do a rendering

of possible likenesses

of this security guard

and we'll take it from there.

Or, while we're waiting,

we could get her to do

some fun caricatures of us.

I'd like to see what she would do

with that mop of unkempt hair.

I'd like to see what

she'd do with your eyes.

Eugene, what's wrong?

(BREATHING HEAVILY)


We don't need to do a

sketch of the security guard.

- Why not?

- I just saw her.

Pretty, nice smile, same face.

- It was her.

- Where?

In the, in the parking

garage just a second ago.

- Are you positive?

- A hundred percent.

She was with a scruffy,

shifty looking guy.

A real hooligan with

a very wrinkled shirt.

- That's my son.

- That's her son.

Oh.

Do you see her?

Ah, damn it.

Looks like we lost them.

Okay. Well, what should we do?

Should we call the police or

(TIRES SCREECHING)


- Get in. I'm following

- A woman with a nice smile.

Uh, yeah, but who are you following?

LYLE (OVER SPEAKER)
:

Stop talking to each other.

- Now.

- Where is he? Oh! Lyle!

Oh, my God. The firewall

has to come down.

Are we following the same suspect?

- Yes, we are. Come on.

- Uh, okay, ignore him. Let's go.

- Hop in the back.

- No, you get in the back.

No, I got longer legs. Get in.

At least open my door.

- LYLE: These cases are too important.

- Sorry.

Ready? Okay.

- (ENGINE SPUTTERING)


- It's like it senses

when I'm about to have

a big, heroic moment.

LYLE: Everyone exit the vehicle

- and back slowly away from one another.

- Lyle.

Can you just call a tow truck?

All right, everybody

in my car right here.

Don't make me come

down to that parking lot

and physically separate you myself.

Grab the front seat now. Get it.

- Put him in the back.

- Hot and Fresh?

Oh, finally, we can talk to each other.

Who is this woman?

Okay, that is Peter's VP

of development Audrey.

She's the boss of the dead

woman found in the clay June.

So she pretended to

be the security guard

and she tampered with the soil samples.

Yes, but why? And why k*ll June?

Maybe this Audrey has some

financial stake in the property.

Yeah, so she knew that the soil

wouldn't test well and she

Swapped the soil samples out

to keep the whole waterfront

open for development.

Yes, and June was obviously onto her.

- Oh, my God. All that red clay found inside June's car.

- Oh.

- (OVERLAPPING CHATTER)


- Which, that means that Audrey

k*lled June three weeks ago,

buried her in the red clay,

and then took that car

She thinks she's

getting away with m*rder.

- all the way back to the street and abandoned it. Yes!

- Oh, yes!

BOTH: Oh, my God, it's

so good to talk to you.

Wait, wait, wait, and that

cake at Allison's birthday.

- Oh, awful. I know.

- Yeah, so bad.

- I mean, who even likes

- Strawberry sprinkle frosting.

Well, I mean, I do, but

BOTH: And Lyle's driving me crazy!

Yep, firewall is toast.

But what if we are wrong

with all the Audrey theories?

Then we'll lose both cases and clients.

Be disbarred, won't be able to practice.

- Yeah, join the club.

- (GROANS)


But I don't think we're

wrong about Audrey.

Ooh, w w-wait.

She just stopped at

Lynch's drugstore up ahead.

- Uh, she she-she's going

inside. - We'll follow her in.

- No, call the police.

- Oh, we don't have time for that.

- Are you kidding me?

- What if she's a dangerous k*ller?

- What are you, a little baby?

- Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Just-just pull over and we

will go inside and go after her.

Okay? You can stay safe

and call the police.

And what are you going to

do in there, tackle her?

(WHISPERING)
: That way?

(WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY)


Security.

Hmm.

Hi.

What's going on? Oh.

What?

- She's going to dye her hair.

- Ah.

(WHISPERING)
: What do we do?

- Uh, let me think.

- Well, think faster.

- I I'm trying to

- Grab her.

- I'm not gonna grab

- Grab her.

D d don't, don't.

What are you doing?

Hi.

Todd, she's running!

- She's running!

- What? Oh, oh, uh

- TODD: Security!

- Oh, get her.

Hold her, hold her,

hold her! Call the cops!

Oh, my God, I just called them.

- Ow!

- (ALARM WAILING)


All right. We got her.

(GRUNTING)


MARGARET: Thanks to the incredible work

on both sides of the firewall,

Audrey will now be charged

with first-degree m*rder.

Can't believe it. Audrey.

Was she set to benefit from

the riverfront development?

Oh, massively. She's the

one who found the land

and originally brokered

the deal two years ago.

I mean, it was prime real estate.

This was her big moment.

And she wasn't gonna let some bad soil

get in the way of her plans.

GUS: It was pretty devious of

her to switch those samples.

Well, I suppose she

figured it wouldn't matter.

It's a minor detail, no one would know.

She's also charged with manslaughter,

and she will be held liable

for every other part of the crime,

while Eugene and the

city are off the hook.

- Todd.

- Mm?

Excellent, excellent work.

We are all so, so very grateful.

Oh, my God, are you kidding me?

It was so exciting. I

can't wait to do it again.

I mean, if there are no conflicts.

And I do have a day job here.

But, yes, no, yeah, I

love you. I loved it.

Thank you.

I don't think your

guy here is very happy

about how things turned out.

TODD: Oh, yeah, he's just upset

that his police state has ended.

But excellent work, everybody.

It's great to be touching and

talking to everybody again.

Everybody grab hands. Congratulations.

All five of us, we all did it.

Wonderful work, everybody.

Just the five of us.

Well, thanks again, Margo.

I couldn't have done this without you.

No, you could not have.

Listen

I'm asking you out for real this time.

Let's have dinner in

a restaurant, a date.

Friday night.

I'm busy. Family dinner.

- Saturday.

- Nope.

- Sunday?

- No.

- Next Friday?

- Mm, no can do.

Sorry, not available.

- The following Friday?

- No.

Um, uh

Saturday, March 4th.

I'll text you.

What I got, Lord, I got ♪

And ain't gonna lose ♪

Ah, ha, yeah ♪

Good God, don't you know that I got it ♪

Hey ♪

- Coming in hot.

- (CHUCKLES)


Todd, that's very sweet,

but Peter doesn't actually drink coffee.

Oh, yeah, no, I know.

This is a chai tea foamy thing.

It's his favorite.

I learned how to make it.

Or at least, um, I think it is.

It's green.

I don't know. Is chai green?

(INHALES)
I don't think so.

Wait, wait, are you,

are you two leaving?

Yeah, we're heading out right now.

Oh, wait, uh, Susan.

I want you to know, um,

I am so weirdly thrilled for you.

I mean, Peter is, he's an amazing guy.

I mean, he's who I want

to be when I grow up.

And you deserve him.

I mean, you deserve everything else,

but, um

you are gonna be so

so happy together.

And he's

very very lucky.

(QUIETLY)
: Todd.

You're

You'll find somebody.

(GRUNTS)


You're, um

Uh (LAUGHS SOFTLY)


I, um

I-I got to go.

Okay.

(LAUGHS)


♪

Can you feel it? ♪

An endless chance to grow ♪

Oh, can you feel it? ♪

And there's nobody for me,

and I will be alone forever.

Spreading like a wildfire ♪

Singing with my soul's choir ♪

Letting me just burn brighter ♪

Spreading like a wildfire. ♪