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02x01 - The Before Times

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Matlock". Aired: September 22, 2024 – present.*
Watch/Buy Amazon


Show is a gender flipping reboot of the original Matlock TV series, which starred Andy Griffith.

02x01 - The Before Times

Post by bunniefuu »

I'm Madeline Matlock. I'm
a lawyer, like the old TV show.

Matty! The judge ruled in our favor.

You're incredible.

Most of what you know about me
is based in truth,

but it's also a lie.

Good evening, Mrs. Kingston.

- Grammy!
- MATTY: Oh!

- Alfie.
- Who the hell are you?

You looked at my picture
every morning,

and then came to work
and smiled to my face?

- You don't trust me?
- Do you trust me?

Look at the evidence. Your ex-husband,

Julian, hid documents

that could have saved lives.

Including my daughter's.

You're out of your damn mind.

Why are you hiding a missing Wellbrexa

- study about opioids?
- My dad

told me to get rid of the study.

Please. Let's shred it.

Alfie found me somehow.

I think I'm his father.

Come in.

♪ ♪

Well, I suppose we should start
at the beginning.

- Your name?
- Joey.

Joseph Danza.

He's a cute kid, Alfie.

Looks a little like my pops.

Is he here?

No, he's not.

[ENGINE STARTS, CAR PULLS AWAY]

Forgive me, but...

you didn't reach out to a guardian

before establishing contact

with a 14-year-old, Mr. Danza, so...

it's best to proceed with caution.

You know, you have to understand,

until a couple days ago,
I had no idea I had a kid.

So it wasn't you who sent
an email after Ellie's funeral?

Oh. Because I'd...

I'd wanted to give you this.

Uh...

Ellie left it with me
when I last saw her.

Maybe Alfie would like it.

Why don't we sit down?

So, yeah, I met Ellie in '08.

I didn't know her name
for the first few months,

I just called her "Karaoke."

I'm clean now.

I should make that clear.

Glad to hear.

- Since when?
- 2021.

We were in love, that's my point.

She didn't tell you she was pregnant?

I was a mess back then.

How long were you together?

About two years.

Which takes us to 2010.

Ellie was pregnant in 2011.

Right. Yeah. Well, uh...

I'm not great with dates.

Ellie's iPod...

You gave that to her, right?

After her swimming victory?

Or was it the injury?

I'll give it to Alfie.

But I do have to insist on a DNA test

before I'm comfortable
introducing you to my grandson.

I hope you understand.

Yeah. Sure, no problem.

We can make an appointment at a lab.

No need.

DNA only requires
seven strands of hair

with the follicular tissue attached.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Hey. Who was that?

Alfie's father.

Or at least that's what he said.

We have to run a DNA test.

But he knew things...

Why were you late?

You were supposed to come
directly from the bank.

Well, I had to copy
all of Julian's trusts.

You'll see there was no payout
from his father or Wellbrexa.

I'm telling you, Matty,

Julian would never remove
a document from discovery,

much less one that could
make a difference

in the opioid crisis.

So...

now we pivot to Senior,
like you promised.

He obviously orchestrated it.

And I have a new lead.

Wait.

Where's your crime board?

Edwin wants us to send
my evidence to the Times

and let them take it from there.

He's done.

I thought I could give you
a month, but now,

with this man showing up...

And I can't imagine
what you're feeling, Matty,

but it does not change
the facts of the case.

And the facts are:
you didn't find a payout.

But that doesn't mean
Julian didn't take the document.

All roads lead to him.

"All roads" are your
circumstantial speculations.

Nothing that would hold up in court.

And, Matty, you lose
your one shot at Senior.

Who you know is behind it.

Remember how you found that email?

The one Senior sent

from Australia that said,
"It's handled"?

Well, I searched my archived emails,

and a bunch of execs from Wellbrexa

were also there on vacation.

Did you know that?

And when Senior emailed me and Julian

to tell us that he was going to Sydney

to discuss a pretrial settlement,

he also said he was bringing his

"cute new friend from the gym,"

in case he had to "suffer
through dinner with the wives."

[CHUCKLES]

I'll bet Mystery Woman

can tell us what really happened
on that trip...

who Senior met with,

what they talked about.

Hell, maybe she overheard the call

when he gave the order.

That's a lot of maybes.

And a very long road.

Matty...

...the minute this goes public,

Senior will lawyer up and try
to pin it on Julian.

You know he will.

And there is no way that this
does not hit me and my kids.

We are in the blast radius.

Please?

I know our friendship meant
something to you.

If there's any hope
for us to get it back...

You think that's possible?

I don't know.

If I had said yes,

you'd know I was lying.

We know each other too well.

Yes, we do.

But if there is a way back...

...it's this way.

The fastest DNA lab takes two days.

While you wait on the results,

just give me a chance
to find out this woman's name.

Because I know how.

How?

ALFIE: What does that even mean?

That's not what
we're talking about, darling.

I know.

- Are you mad?
- No.

I just wish we'd known you were
trying to find your father.

It was all that guardian stuff.

And then I heard you guys
talking about an old email,

so I looked it up and tracked it
to a motorcycle club.

Do you think he's really my dad?

Well, we'll get the DNA results
in two days.

But Joey definitely knew your mother.

- This belonged to her.
- Hmm.

What is it?

- [MATTY AND EDWIN LAUGH]
- It's...

it's an iPod.

Plays songs.

She took that everywhere she went.

Loved music.

Sang karaoke.

How are you feeling, Alfie?

Like I want to find
the right charger for this.

Maybe on eBay.

- [DOOR CLOSES]
- You think he's all right?

I think he's smart.

No use getting ahead of ourselves.

Joey used to call Ellie "Karaoke."

Well, yeah, but you said
he knew her, and...

- Edwin, I...
- Madeline, in two days,

when we get the DNA results,

our entire life could change.

Another Before and After.

And if that's happening,

I would like to stay
in the Before Times part

as long as I possibly can.

I understand.

♪ ♪

[SIGHS]

[PHONE CHIMES]

[SOFT CHUCKLE]

[SIGHS]

WORKMAN: Finished up in here.

Looks great.

Key can't be copied?

You're absolutely sure?

I'm sure.

We're staying
in the Before Times, right?

You keep a-cleanin',
I'll keep a-workin'.

What about Olympia?

She'll keep a-trying to convince me

to give her more time to tie

the missing Wellbrexa
document to Senior...

- Madeline...
- which I won't do.



you have to let me
finish my sentences.

- Are you finished?
- Never.

But have at it.

When we send our research
to the Times,

you know your friendship is over.

Right?

Actually, I don't.

Our friendship was real.

And rare. And...

I'm not ready to throw it away.

I just have to figure out a way

to get Olympia and her kids

out of the blast radius, that's all.

And how are you going to do that?

Well, I've got a...
a terrific plan. It's...

highly detailed.

It's mastermind-caliber.

- So no idea?
- Not yet. But I have

two whole days to figure it out.

JULIAN: Don't worry, Bill,

we can handle this.

Uh, listen, I'll see you soon.

That's what happens
when you throw a temper tantrum

after getting passed over for partner.

- [GATE CHIMES]
- You quit, son.

Can't risk a security breach.

I had a plea deal on the books
that was supposed to be

resolved today, and I just got a call

that new evidence came in.

So unless you want Bill Richards

furious with Jacobson Moore...

Hey, now. The perfect solution.

I was just trying to get
some time on your calendar.

Partner business. Yes.

Look, in the meantime, do me a favor.

Take over Julian's case.

How could you not come out
last night to celebrate

my amazing victory in court?

I had to brag about myself,

which I really hate doing

- even though I'm excellent at it.
- Sorry.

Claudia and I were talking,

and after, I had to decompress.

Why? What's going on?

I just need a little space, Sarah.

- Got it.
- Thank you.

And while part of me wants
to give you that space,

the other part of me needs you to know

that I am here for you.

I do have to say it
out loud to someone.

Claudia is pregnant.

Just checking. It's yours?

Sorry, sorry.

And is she having the baby?

She's not sure yet.

Which means I'm just waiting
to hear which way my life goes.

[PHONES BUZZING]

My team is getting up to speed.

- I'm sorry this happened.
- It's not your fault.

But, uh, any decision
about the other thing?

OLYMPIA: Watch the camera.

Someone else knows
what you did, remember?

And we don't know
who that other person is.

They could be at Jacobson Moore.

Yeah. That's why we need
to shred the document.

- Do you want us both to go to jail?
- No.

Of course not. I'll do it.

While you're at work. Just
tell me where you're keeping it.

- The brownstone?
- Stop.

Because even though what you did
makes me sick to my stomach,

we have children together.

So I am trying to protect you.

And that document is my only leverage.

I... I'm... I just want to help.

Then go back to your client,
and make sure

when I walk into that room,
they trust me.

Tell me, Matty Matlock,

how do you feel about the theater?

Oh, I love it,
as long as I'm not in it

and I don't have to watch it. Why?

We're taking a case of Julian's.

His dad gave it to me
to humiliate him.

Senior is the worst in every way.

[CHUCKLES] Well, I know
what you're trying to do.

Is it working?

Not in the least.

So are we suing a theater?

Because, one time,
I saw a modern interpretation

of As You Like It, and I think I have

a strong case for

intentional infliction
of emotional distress.

No. Today, we are representing
Maya Richards,

the 18-year-old daughter
of a hedge fund client.

She and her best friend
Georgia were arrested

six months ago after they broke into

their high school theater
and threw a party.

We represent both girls?

No, Georgia's with Gibson Dunn.

But the two law firms have
been working in concert.

And two entities working together

towards a common goal is

exponentially more effective.
That land any better?

Not in the least.

So the girls threw a party
in the theater.

Big whoop. Why does the state care?

Because after they left,
the theater went up in flames.

Hundreds of thousands
of dollars of smoke damage

and the director's office burned down.

Investigation concluded
the fire started

with a space heater left on.

And the judge was going to sign off

- on misdemeanor trespassing this morning...
- Get to the point.

This is taking longer
than As You Like It.

A second fire report came in.

And this second report indicates

that there was an accelerant
called nitric acid

at the site of the fire.
And, unfortunately,

the presence of accelerant means

- the crime rises to felony arson.
- MAYA: What?

We brought food, booze,
little speakers...

not nitric acid.

I know. And the good news is,

the original report found
no evidence of arson.

So, I really think
we can convince the A.D.A.

to honor the plea deal.

But if not, then what?

Oh, my God.

We could get up to 25 years in prison?

OLYMPIA: That's not happening.

We can still push this deal
over the line.

We just have to stay the course, okay?

Good.

Now, let's get to court.

NAOMI: Why isn't Georgia here yet?

We drove the same way.

Well, they probably just hit
a patch of traffic.

Apologies, Your Honor.

I had to attend to some
late-breaking developments.

- JUDGE: I'm all ears.
- Due to new evidence,

the People move to dismiss
the original charges

and to file a superseding
indictment against Maya Richards

for arson in the third degree.

What? Your Honor, we are here
to finalize a plea...

A plea that's off the table,
given the new evidence.

The People don't have new evidence,

they have a new opinion.

The People have a new eyewitness.

Ms. Richards' co-defendant,
Georgia Brant,

who found the courage
to tell the truth

about what happened that night.

What?

Georgia will testify
that Maya Richards

had both the opportunity
and the motive

to set their school theater on fire.

Georgia thinks I burned down
the theater because I didn't get

the lead in the play? That's crazy.

Crazy or not, she came forward first,

so she controls the narrative.

She said you were
acting weird all week

and disappeared during cleanup.

Georgia must have
figured it was her or you.

Well, then, it was her.

I mean...

it could've been.

She went back in after we left.

What do you mean, she went back in?

She...

forgot her cocaine.

- NAOMI: What?
- MAYA: I'm sorry.

I didn't say anything before
because I didn't want

to get Georgia in trouble.

Maya, you need to go home

and make a list of every
bad thing Georgia has ever done.

If she so much as littered,
we need to know.

From this point on,
she is not your friend.

She is your adversary. Got it?

We need to find a motive...
even a whiff of one...

and construct a new narrative
that pins this on Georgia.

What do you say we interview
that stage manager fella?

His notes on that party are
very detailed.

A high school kid took notes
at a party?

What a hero.

Well, I'm sure that's
his nickname around campus.

It looks like these were
written in hieroglyphics.

MATTY: Oh, that's theater speak.

Luckily, I have a friend
who can translate.

- Let me guess, Cindy Shapiro?
- Oh. [LAUGHS]

Don't be silly.

Everybody knows the only stage

Cindy managed was in Vegas,

when she sat front row center

so she could tell
those Chippendales boys

exactly where she wanted 'em.

Come on, kids, let's get to work.

Actually, Matty, hang back a minute?

So... "roses or tulips" just got
slightly more complicated.

Okay, so...

Senior sends women roses
when he asks them out,

tulips when he dumps 'em,

and, let me guess...

peonies when they shake the sheets?

Joke all you want,
but I'm telling you,

the easiest way to find Mystery Woman

is by looking up who
Senior sent flowers to.

I tried to get the info from Stuart,

but apparently Senior
sends them himself.

Probably because
he is a serial cheater.

His rolodex is on his desk.

You want to stand watch tomorrow?

As fun as that sounds,

I'd like to propose another option.

Take control of
the narrative yourself.

Go to The New York Times.

With me or without,

but bring my research
and you present it.

That's how we get you and the kids

out of the blast radius.

You're not the ex-wife of
a criminal, you're a hero.

I'm not implicating
the father of my children.

He implicated himself.

This way you get ahead of the story.

You shape it.

And Senior gets off with no jail time.

Now, how is that justice?

It's not perfect.

But it's where we are now.

And as soon as
those DNA results come in...

Edwin wants this wrapped up.

- What do you...
- And I agree.

I have to focus on my family.

Please?

Just think about it.

We need to discredit
this new arson report.

So, who's your theater expert?

Of course I'll help! You know
how much I love the theater.

- Thank you. And, please, for the love of God...
- Do you remember...

- ...do not mention Jaques.
- ...when I played Jaques...

- Ugh.
- ...in As You Like It?

All the world's a stage,

and all the men and women
merely players...

Oh, God help me.

My performance was epic.

My students talked about it
with rapture.

Well, it couldn't have
had anything to do

with them wanting A's.

Okay, how did it go with Olympia?

Convince her
to come around to our side?

I made my offer and she countered.

Let me guess:

- "Focus on Senior."
- Yes.

And the thing is,
she's not entirely wrong.

You see what's happening here,
don't you?

Olympia's manipulating you.

- No, she's not.
- Are you sure?

You have a lot going on,
with Alfie and... Joey.

Edwin, I'm fine.

I just need her to see
my point of view.

Okay.

I just want to make sure
you don't see hers.

Yup. Nitric acid is a banger.

No reason for it unless you're
trying to burn something down.

Objection. Speculation.

- Sustained.
- ROWAN: Can you explain

how you know that nitric acid was used

- on this fire?
- Well, burn patterns show

mixed light and heavy floor scorching

with well-defined edges.

Classic signs of a nitric acid pour.

Any chance a common
household item like metal polish

- could have accidentally caused this fire?
- No.

That type of stuff
only contains trace amounts.

The high concentration here
proves intentional use.

It's the only credible conclusion.

Your witness, Ms. Lawrence.

If it's the only credible conclusion,

why did the first investigator
rule it wasn't arson?

Fire is a sneaky little mistress.

Loves ya and leaves ya.

By which I mean,
she obliterates the evidence.

Hard to figure out exactly
what happened once she's gone.

Is that why arson forensics
has been largely debunked

in the last several years
as junk science?

Traditional methods...

like the ones the first
investigator employed...

limits accuracy.

- But your methods don't?
- Nope.

I use AI, same type FEMA uses,

trained on thousands of fire scenarios

to detect anomalies
the human eye never could.

Takes the guesswork right out.

Leaves us with facts.

Facts led us to arson.

Did Claudia give you an answer?

No.

She wants to meet tomorrow.

- In person.
- Okay.

One more day. [EXHALES]
How do you feel?

Excited to know how Claudia feels.

So, Matty's inside?

Well, she is our theater expert.

Looks like wrangling cats
at a mouse convention.

They're lucky you run
such a tight ship.

Don't need to butter me up,
just get straight to the point.

I spend my whole life with actors.

It's all about "motivation."
You clearly want something,

so spit it out, because at 4:30
I lose half my cast to lacrosse.

Sure thing. Um...

These notes that
you gave the detectives,

they're borderline encrypted.

Now, I know S.R. is stage right,

S.L., stage left,

upstage, downstage,

but what's all this hooey?

The left column is
the list of theater supplies.

That's what T.O. stands for,
"theater owned."

The right column is
"outside supply," O.S.,

which is anything brought in
by G... Georgia... and M... Maya.

I didn't want them using
the theater's cups

when they're doing shots
or playing beer pong.

Oh, you take very good care
of this place.

That's not flattery.
It's just a damn fact.

And I'm guessing
that's why you stayed late.

Make sure Maya and Georgia cleaned up.

Exactly. Then I hung out
across the street

to make sure they locked up
when they left.

Yeah. That's in the report.

Is there any chance
that you saw Georgia

go back into the
building after she left?

No, but I was snapping,
so I might have

looked away for a sec.

I assume you don't mean...

[BOTH LAUGH]

Pics and texts sent
over Snapchat that disappear.

Try to keep up, Counselor.

Oh, believe you me, I'm trying.

You have one more minute.

Good. 'Cause I have one more question.

Good news!

I got a lead on a new eyewitness

who could've seen right into
that director's office.

Elliot said he saw someone cross...

upstage... stage left...

anyway, at the end of the block.

A Latino man walking a dog.

- That's your big lead?
- You didn't let me finish.

A small dog.

You see, dogs and people,
they're creatures of habit.

Dogs have to wee.
People have to walk them.

On the same route,
near where they live.

So, if our man walked his dog

here the Saturday night of the party,

he'll walk here again at some point.

OLYMPIA: So they're on a stakeout

while we're on a stakeout.

Well, technically,
it's more of a look-out.

Go get the name of the flower shop.

I did my missions by myself.

Oh!

♪ ♪

Oh.

Ah.



Oh, sh...

[PHONE BUZZING]

- SENIOR: Matlock!
- h*!

What brings you
to the executive floor?

Lookin' for you.

I'd deny it if you told

any of the ladies from Canasta, but...

...I slept like a tick on a deer

after you gave me
one of those edible gummies.

- I wanted to buy some more.
- SENIOR: Ask Stewy.

He buys 'em for me.

Okay.

Why do you treat your son like that?

What did you say?

Giving Julian's case to Olympia.

Whatever parental lesson you're

trying to teach there,

that dog won't hunt.

It seems to me that because

I've eaten an edible gummy with you,

you somehow believe
that you and I are equals.

And that it is in any way acceptable

to ask me about my
relationship with my son.

So let me be clear.

We aren't. It isn't.

And if it happens again,

you will learn just how much
weight my name carries.

Because it will follow you

to every law firm
where you try to get a job...

...after you're fired
from Jacobson Moore.

Kinda contrary
to New York employment law.

Laws don't touch people like me.

Only kidding.

At least that's what I'd tell a jury.

♪ ♪

Hey, Mrs. Kingston. It's Joey.

I'm calling because I think
we got off on the wrong foot.

So, once you have the DNA results,

I was hoping we could sit down again.

Talk through arrangements for Alfie.

I got the name of the flower shop.

Now we just have to...

Are you okay?

What happened?

Alfie's father called.

You got the DNA results back?

No.

But I... I know it's him.

How?

Ellie was a great swimmer.

And, um...

...at the state championship,
she pulled her teres major.

- Mm-hmm.
- And it was so excruciating

that the doctor prescribed pain meds

to get her through the worst of it.

That's how opioid addiction
starts for so many...

Not Ellie.

I told people that story...

...but it was a lie.

Because it was easier for me

to tell my friends

that my daughter was a drug addict

if it came from a doctor.

Rather than admitting that

she was struggling
and I missed it and...

[SIGHS]

...she took pills at a party.

Mm.

Anyway...

...Ellie overheard me one time

and she said...

"You were ashamed of me,

"and you took the one thing

"that I was proud of...
my swim victory...

and you turned it
into something ugly."

And this guy...

- this Joey?
- Mm-hmm.

He knows that story.

So, he must've been someone important.

I have a tissue.

You know I carry them now.
'Cause of you.

Oh. [CHUCKLES]

There you go.

Thank you.

At some point...

you have to forgive yourself.

Not until I find justice for Ellie.

And justice means
bringing down Senior.

You're right.

That man cannot be

- above the law.
- Mm-mm.

Can you convince Edwin?

EDWIN: Joey left you a message?

Are you okay?

MATTY: I am now.

I broke down, and...

- ...Olympia was pretty great...
- Enough, Madeline.

I don't want to hear about Olympia.

She cares about Julian.
I care about ending this.

Hey, Matty. How's it going?

You all packed up?

On to new adventures.

But, um, it's been nice
working alongside you.

- I'll remember it always.
- Oh, hey.

Olympia's still in court, right?

Georgia, you told the court on direct

that, while you and Maya were
cleaning up,

she grabbed a trash bag

and disappeared for about 20 minutes.

- Yes. That's right.
- So, to be clear,

you didn't actually see
Maya start a fire.

No, but everyone else had gone home.

So she was the only one left.

Well, not exactly the only one.

After you and Maya left that night,

didn't you go back
inside the building?

Yes, I went back in. But it was quick.

- Like less than a minute.
- OLYMPIA: Gotcha.

Let's discuss cocaine use.

Isn't that why

you went back inside
of the theater that night?

To retrieve your coke stash?

I object to this
entire line of questioning.

It goes to motive.

I'll allow it, but get there fast.

- Yes. But...
- And how much do you spend

on cocaine? A week.

Um...

maybe, like, 100, 200 dollars.

But I swear it's not just for me.

Wow. Lot of money.

I'll direct your attention
to People's Exhibit H.

It's an insurance report
filed by the school.

Georgia, can you read
the highlighted section

out loud, please?

"Electronic equipment:

"three laptop computers,

"seven tablets, fifteen SSD drives.

Estimated total losses: $14,500."

Georgia, did you start the fire

to cover up that you were
stealing from the theater

to fund your drug habit?

- Objection!
- OLYMPIA: Withdrawn.

Made progress with Georgia.

Please tell me Sarah and Billy
found the dog walker.

Nope.

[QUIETLY]: But I made progress
on our other case.

According to a young lady
named Ashley,

who loves making TikToks,

her boss at the flower shop sucks.

She just can't believe
he's making her work tomorrow.

Ooh, are you saying that
this young lady named Ashley

seems pissed enough
that she would give us

customer information
from 14 years ago?

Even if it goes
against company policy?

Good thinking, kid.

We have to find out

everything about Ashley,
so you know how

to approach her at the shop tomorrow.

Right. Come back to my place.

Julian has the kids at his sublet.

He didn't get ahold of you? But

Kat had a stomach ache, he said

he was taking her to the brownstone.

Julian went to the brownstone?

- Mm-hmm.
- Oh.

Oh, yeah, he texted me.

I missed it. Let's go.

Julian...

Julian?

Hi, hey.

- How's Kat?
- Uh, better.

Both kids are asleep. Hi, Matty.

- Hey.
- [PHONE RINGING LOUDLY]

Oh, God. S...

- My building super.
- [PHONE CHIMING]

Uh...

There's a...

there's a leak in my apartment.

Is there somewhere I can talk private?

- Mm-hmm. Come with me.
- Okay.

[LINE RINGING]

- Everything okay?
- EDWIN: Madeline,

I think I saw Joey outside our house.

- MATTY: What?
- JULIAN: I'm sorry I forgot to text. I...

Did you? Or did you come here
to look for the document?

Absolutely not.

Kat is more comfortable
here than my sublet.

If I find out that you're
lying, I am done helping you.

I'm serious. Go. Now.

Okay.

MATTY: And he was
just driving in circles?

Right now I'm at Olympia's.

Olympia is prioritizing her family.

Why can't you?

Everything I'm doing is
for our family, Edwin!

MATTY: Stop saying that.

It's too much, Madeline.
I can't do it alone.

You're not alone.

[EXHALES]

I'm glad Joey's gone, but...

obviously we have a lot more
to talk about.

And I-I can't now.

Just please don't let
Olympia suck you in.

Stay focused.

Matty. You okay?

What did Edwin say?

He's convinced you're manipulating me.

And because I'm emotional about

Alfie's father, I can't see it.

- Okay...
- [PHONE RINGING]

Tell me you found
the dog walker, Billy.

Yes! And did he see anyone

in the director's office that night?

Okay. Bye.

The person he saw wasn't Georgia.

It was Maya.

This is hard for Maya to talk about.

And, um, obviously
I just found out, but...

My daughter was, um...
catfished, I guess, is the term.

She met a boy online
and she thought it was real,

but it was not.

Um, and she sent some pictures.

Naked pictures.

This catfisher was
blackmailing you, Maya?

He was going to send the pictures

to my whole contact list.

That's why I wanted
to throw the party.

We charged
and I turned it into crypto.

But the director's office was

the only place with decent Wi-Fi
to transfer it to him.

So I told Georgia
I was taking out the trash.

But I didn't start a fire or anything.

We are both really sorry

she didn't tell
the truth earlier. But...

this is good for us, right?

Like, it blows up
their theory about motive.

Unfortunately, it also
places Maya at the scene.

Right before the fire started.

How could Maya's parents
not know what was going on?

Uh...

Because there is no way
on earth to know

every single thing
that goes on with kids.

There are a million

different ways for things to go wrong,

and parenting is

- the hardest job in the world.
- [THUDS]

And most of the time
you feel like you're failing.

S-So all you can do

is show up your best every damn day...

Are you... Hey.
Everything okay, Billy?

Yep. All good.

- Claudia's pregnant.
- And it's his.

- Obviously.
- She's deciding what to do,

and we're meeting for breakfast
tomorrow and I guess...

thinking of parenting was
making me staple, apparently.

[CHUCKLES] That's understandable.

Um...

how else are you feeling?

Whatever Claudia chooses,
I'll support.

OLYMPIA: That's not what Matty asked.

She wanted to know
how you are feeling.

I guess I feel like...

...Claudia broke my heart.

Then I got over her.
I mean, yeah, sure,

I was responding to her booty
calls, but she was on the pill.

So how did this happen?

Because all I want to do

is go out on hot dates
with other people

and buy my own couch

that I get to pick out, alone.

I do not want to be a father.

I want to unsubscribe from this baby.

And that is a totally
valid way to feel.

Billy...

when you meet with Claudia,

you support her decision.

And afterwards, you come back here,

and we'll support yours.

Because this team...

we stick together.

EDWIN: I'm sorry I
have been so snippy.

Oh, it's in the air.

Billy just about stapled
his hand to the desk today.

And he's freaking out
about becoming a dad.

[INHALES SHARPLY]

- Edwin?
- [SOBS]

Oh, God, I'm so sorry.

I-I shouldn't...

I've been Alfie's dad his whole life.

Joey's his father, isn't he?

- Just-just tell me how you know.
- Well...

Actually, I don't. Uh...

He got his timelines all mixed up,

and that's a big red flag
in the legal world.

Either way, we'll know tomorrow.

So, tonight,

you want to forget our problems
and focus on someone else's?

'Cause this case
could use some fresh eyes.

Well, my cataracts have cataracts,

so I don't know about fresh. But...

yes. Yes, I would.

Okay, great.

Because I need to place Georgia

in the director's office to prove

she brought nitric acid
into the party.

Well, in As You Like It...

- Oh, my God...
- ...stage managers know

the comings and the goings of ev...

Ooh...

- Huh.
- Whoa.

- Here.
- Scared me.

Yeah.

Ha.

Baby, you're a genius.

[LAUGHING]: Oh. Stop.

[BOTH LAUGHING]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

Good morning, Matty.

Good morning.

I know how Georgia brought
accelerant into the party.

Fire in the hole!

[OLYMPIA SCREAMS, YELPS]

[COUGHING]

You could've burned down
my house, you maniac!

But also, you're a freakin' genius!

- [FIRE ALARMS WAILS]
- [WHOOPING]

- [YELPS]
- Oh...

Mr. Tanner, could this ping-pong ball

be the source of the accelerant
found in your report?

I mean, ping-pong ba*ls
do contain nitric acid,

but one doesn't have

anywhere close to the amount needed

to create the concentrated
levels found at the scene.

How about three ping-pong ba*ls?

[SCOFFS] Still not enough.

Ah.

How many would it take to achieve

what you called a "banger"?

I'd say...

minimum 25.

- Here's 50.
- Objection. Relevance.

I think it's plenty relevant

when ping-pong ba*ls contain
nitric acid

and according to
the stage manager's notes...

already in evidence...

there were 50 in a bag

"G" carried into the theater.

"G" is for Georgia.

She brought them in for beer pong.

That seems pretty relevant. Continue.

Mr. Tanner, would 50 ping-pong ba*ls

produce enough accelerant

to accidentally cause a reaction

when in contact with a space heater

left on for too long?

It would. Definitely.