02x02 - Boardwalk Empire

[bunniefuu]

♪

How can you not love The Beach?

It's the best neighbourhood in the city.

- Just ask anyone who lives here.
- I can't believe

the irony of that is lost on you.

I mean, look around. It's
like living in a small town.

Beautiful scenery,
great schools, quaint cafés...

Stroller convoys, yoga dress codes,

tiny dogs and their nosy owners...

Hey! Nosy's good. Nosy's safe.

You know what else is safe? Locks.

That we use in the rest of the
city to keep out nosy people.

Speaking of nosy, what
was in that envelope

your father left you?

A key? That's it? No message?

Nope. I figured out it's
for a safety deposit box.

Why did your father
keep a safety deposit box

- out here in The Beach?
- He didn't.

We're here for a client.

Woah, hold on, time out.
Your dad left you the key

to a mystery safety deposit box,

and you didn't hotfoot it
down to the mystery bank?

- You chose work?
- Yeah, it's called

self-control. You develop
it when you reach adulthood.

It's called avoidance, and
you develop it when you're

- afraid of something.
- Thanks, Dr. Freud,

- but case first, bank later.
- What do you think is in it?

- Your guess is as good as mine.
- Uncut diamonds... Wait...

Fake passports. No! A rare Pokémon.

I was wrong; your guess
is not as good as mine.

(sirens nearby)

This is it. Zoe Chow, apartment .

And why does she need
private investigators?

Don't you see..?

"It"?

The room has moved.

W... not the entire
room, just the couch.

It used to be... over here.

Is this a... Feng Shui thing?

Because I'm Chinese? No.

Here, I have a perfect
view of the beach.

A foot over this way,

and I don't have a
perfect view of the beach.

So you think someone broke
into your apartment and...

- moved your couch.
- It's not just my couch.

Someone touched my Inuit
soapstone carving,

and Popo Chow's bunny
salt and pepper shakers

more than once.

And...

When does it happen, this... touching?

- Always while I'm at work.
- Does anyone else

have access to your
apartment? Ex, relative,

- former tenant...
- My ex moved to Dubai.

I was hoping for further.
I've lived here with my popo

until she d*ed. And she was
living here years before that

and never gave out her key.

- Also, I hear noises.
- What kind of noises?

Squeaking. But only at night.

- Have you tried the police?
- They won't take me seriously.

- Imagine that!
- There was also the rat thing.

I woke up one night and they were
crawling all over my living room.

I ran out to call our building
manager, Tony Szyatowska...

when I came back... they were all gone.

Do you have any evidence?

Found a dead one. He's in
the fridge. You wanna see it?

Hm! I usually take my
rats on multigrain, but...

That's not mine. I don't eat gluten.

Someone must have switched it...

I know how this looks.

I'm telling the truth, I swear.

You have to help me.

Please.

What was your building manager's name?

♪

(city sounds)

- What the hell was that about?
- Not every case has to be

- big and sexy.
- I'm good with small,

I like small. I just don't like crazy.

- Maybe she's not crazy.
- (chuckling): Are you kidding?

That girl's got a one-way ticket
on the Wackytown Express.

- Her ticket is punched.
- My dad and I used to get

a case like this every once
in a while. Common sense

says to walk away. But
your gut tells you

- this person needs help.
- Oh, she needs help, alright.

(sighing): If there's nothing
to her story, we'll drop it.

Until then, we can build
up the "Throw Matt Shade"

"through the Window" fund.

Bruce Everett, box - - .

I'll leave you to it.

Oh boy. I've been totally
avoiding this moment.

Whatever it is, Everett,
I got your back.

(little suspense music)

Whoa...

That is so much better than a Pokémon.

♪

♪ I see you and you see me ♪

♪ Watch you blowin' the lines ♪

♪ When you're makin' a scene ♪

♪ Oh boy, you've got to know ♪

♪ What my head overlooks ♪

♪ The senses will show to my heart ♪

♪ When it's watching for lies ♪

♪ 'Cause you can't escape my ♪

♪ Private Eyes ♪

♪ They're watching you ♪

♪ Private Eyes ♪

♪ They're watching you,
watching you, watching you ♪

How the hell did your dad save up

eighty grand on a P. I. salary?

He was always hiding
money so my mom wouldn't

gamble it all away. Called
it his "bowling fund".

Now I get why he was so bad at bowling.

Still your dad must have loved

you a lot to work that
hard. But eighty grand,

that's a game changer for us.
We could redo the office,

hire staff, maybe do a TV spot...

Whoa there, Shark t*nk.
This is a rainy day fund,

not your personal slush account.
And why are you in such a hurry

- to change everything?
- You have to spend money

to make money. Tony?

- You are...?
- Friends of Zoe Chow.

Uh, young...

- black hair, a titch OCD?
- Yeah, that's her.

She thinks someone's been
going into her apartment

- while she's at work.
- Zoe thinks a lot of things.

I'll look into it.

Same way you looked
"into" her rat problem?

- I run a clean building.
- Look,

we're just trying to
help a friend. Is there

anything you can tell us
that might ease her mind?

My phone has been ringing
off the hook with her stories

about crazy furniture and
stuff inside the walls.

I'd be a little more sympathetic
if she paid her rent.

- What do you mean?
- She didn't tell you? Figures.

Her last cheque bounced. I called her

about it and she said she got
dropped by her temp agency.

I guess they got tired of her lies too.

♪

We talked to Tony, he said
your temp agency let you go.

Yeah, technically I got laid
off. But it's temporary,

and sleep-related. Like I can't get any.

What about our cheque?
Is it gonna bounce too?

I forgot to move money
from my savings account.

- I've been distracted.
- Because of the voices.

Noises. Squeaking.

You think I'm crazy, seeing things.

I think there are people out
there better trained to help you.

Check this out.

That's Shona Clement behind
the counter, the owner.

And...

Here comes Nick.

He owns the fruit stand next door.

She's gonna offer him a
piece of coconut cream pie,

he's gonna refuse
at first, then take it.

That guy, Hector, who just
walked in? He's in apartment .

Single dad, two daughters.

His wife d*ed a year ago,

but he orders lunches
as if she's still alive.

(words inaudible)

And over there?

Mitzi. She steals creamers for her cat.

- How do you do that?
- I'm compulsively observant.

Most people don't even
notice the little things,

but I file them away. Like

when your favourite
couch moves eight inches.

I didn't make that up. I'm
not makin' up the rats either.

Did you say rats?

I had that damn exterminator in

a week ago, but they're back.

- Do you have rats too?
- Cockroaches. But not

the usual kind, these suckers are big.

Hey, you guys talking
about the building?

- Yeah! Rats or roaches?
- Neither. My pipes

keep bursting, five times now. Thanks.

These guys are private
investigators. They're gonna get

- to the bottom of what's goin on.
- If you can fix my electrical

issues, I'll shake a few bucks
out of the old piggy bank.

- Me too.
- I'm in.

Unless you'd prefer some
other form of payment.

♪

All right, I'll grant you,

what's going on in that
building is a little strange,

but Zoe did lie to us about her job.

Would we have taken
the case if she hadn't?

You tell me. You're the one who hates it

when clients lie.
What's different this time?

"This is so you can take the cases

"you want, not the cases you need."

That's what the money's for?

I guess my dad was
worried about how I'd keep

the agency afloat once he was gone.

I...

I think this was his way
of taking care of me.

- That's nice.
- I don't know

if anything's happening to Zoe
or not, but it's clear she can't

handle it alone. None of them can. So...

This is one of the cases I want.

OK.

I'm with you, partner.
So what's the next step?

Take a right up here.

Let's go get some eyes
and ears in that place.

(sound of accelerating engine)

♪

Ah...

Where's that seven?

Where's that seven?

No.

Yeah... Oh!

Is there a carnival in town? Or...

- Is this another career change?
- I'm trying to improve

my memory, Dad. It's for a case.

I guess the short-term memory
gene skipped a generation.

- Now you're just showin' off.
- (Don chuckles.)

Well, it's nice to know
I'm still good for something.

- What's that supposed to mean?
- My company.

- They made me a retirement offer.
- That's great news!

- What's great about it?
- Well, now you can finally

kick back! Relax!

A guy your age, you
shouldn't have to work so hard.

- A guy my age?
- Dad, all I'm saying is

maybe it's time to hang up
your blades, let someone else

- carry the load.
- So now I'm obsolete.

I didn't say that. You're lucky.

Now you get to find your second act.

Thanks for the pep talk, son.

You know, it's amazing you
didn't go into coaching

after your hockey career ended.

(bittersweet music)

♪

You called your dad obsolete?
That's son of the year material.

All I said was he
should consider the offer.

- He might enjoy the change.
- Maybe he's happy with things

- the way they are.
- You got anything yet?

Nah. I'm only a few hours in.

You really think this spy cam
idea is gonna yield anything?

At least if someone's screwing
with her apartment, we'll have proof.

What if it's the ghost of Grandma Chow?

Wait, what's that?

- I don't see anything.
- Not see, hear.

(sound of volume button)

- (squeaky sounds)
- Squeaking.

[See what I mean?]

♪

That was the last one. We
checked all the apartments

that share a wall with
yours, Zoe. No squeaking.

You said you heard it.

- Maybe it was just old pipes.
- Or ductwork.

- Is there a basement in this place?
- No.

No. No way. You don't do
heights. I don't do basements.

Says the tough guy who
played pro hockey for a living.

In giant stadiums, with
hundred-foot high ceilings!

We're in "The Beach". How
creepy could it possibly be?

OK, it's pretty creepy down here.

- (as The Shining): Redrum...
- Stop that.

- Do you hear that?
- (squeaking sounds)

Sounds like it's coming from back there.

(creepy music)

(all) Ugh!

(Zoe): What is that smell?

Stay here.

Oh my God.

(squeaking)

♪

Still think I'm making it up?

♪

Ooh! Are they on me? I
feel like they're still on me.

- They were in cages.
- OK.

Every one of your neighbours
has a different issue.

Water, heat, electricity, insects...

- And rats.
- Someone is running a creepy

campaign against
everyone in the building.

My money's on Tony. Lots
of complaints, no action.

But what's his angle?

Maybe he's blockbusting.
You know, trying to force

the tenants out so he
can jack up the rent.

- Why move my furniture?
- You're single, you live alone.

He's... he's trying to freak
you out. First, the rats...

And then with your fixation on detail.

I like to think of it as a gift, but OK.

It makes sense. The building
is rent-controlled, he can't

just evict tenants without just cause.

- Let's go.
- Oh, this I like.

If Tony's responsible,

revenge is a dish
best served right now!

♪

OK, thank you, we'll get right on it.

That was the city.

We're sixty days past
due on our water bill.

- How did that happen?
- I have no idea,

I put the invoices on your desk...

- Why, I didn't see them.
- That's not surprising.

Hey, I have a very
specific filing system.

Oh, what system is that? Gravity?

Ha! At least I don't throw
out important documents.

- That was one time!
- It was a year's worth

of tax receipts.

- You two disagree a lot.
- (together): No, we don't.

What's the best part about your job?

- (same time): The stakeouts.
- (same time): The chase.

When you talk to a guy like
Tony, who's the bad cop?

- (same time): He is.
- (same time): She is.

See what I mean? You're yin,

he's yang. What you need is a buffer.

- Got anyone in mind?
- We're not hiring.

- I'm so not the bad cop.
- (Matt chuckles.)

OK, you're staying here.

We don't know how Tony's
gonna react, so just text

if you see anything suspicious.

I told you she was the bad cop.

♪

I don't know what to tell you;

I'm just a facilities manager.

With a creepy hobby
involving rats and cockroaches.

(chuckling): I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Really? Because...

We took photos.

I hope your lawyer's on speed dial.

It's...

Not even my building. I don't own it.

Then tell us who's trying
to get rid of the tenants.

You help us, we'll help you.

I may have something...

Stay here, I'll be right back.

- Well played.
- Is that the good cop talking?

It's the only cop I do.
You know, this reminds me

of the night the lights
went out in the Forum.

- Game seven...
- It's a text from Zoe.

"Tony has left the building".

How did he know you were gonna
tell one of your hockey stories?

♪

I'll get the car, you go after him.

Hey! Stop!

- Left. No-no-no-no, my left!
- We're going

the same direction. How can your
left be different than mine?

Confession. I'm not really
good under pressure.

There he is!

♪

(sound of tires screeching)

(tires screeching and car honking)

OK, go, go! (panting)

(straining): Don't worry 'bout me!

(groaning)

Aah... (hushed): I got it.

(tires screeching)

- Sonova...
- Should I tell him to move?

No. Hold tight.

(tires screeching again)

♪

(clicking sounds of locked doors)

- (sighing) The keys are inside.
- I did say I wasn't good

- under pressure.
- (Matt and Angie both sigh.)

- (sound of police radios)
- OK.

Run the plates by me again. You first.

QLB...

- That's all I got.
- You?

The sun was in my eyes?

Well, thank you for
wasting my valuable time.

- What about the tenants?
- Not my problem.

And Zoe? Our client needs help.

The crazy girl from The Beach?
You know I have real cases here,

right? They give me a real badge
and my g*n sh**t b*ll*ts?

QLB -V .

Hello. Who are you?

Zoe Chow. Crazy girl from The Beach.

Oh, I didn't mean...

"Crazy" as a term is...

is an antiquated pejorative
whose time has come...

- You gonna run it?
- Yeah, the plates? Yeah,

Absolutely, yeah. Just, uh... you know,

it's gonna take me
a bit of time, here...

My job is pretty complicated;
protecting and serving...

But I tell you what, once I'm done,

I can give you a call, if you leave

me your number, or better yet, we could

- meet up in person maybe?
- At the agency.

- Detective, I have issues... .
- Oh, I'm...

- good with issues.
- I'm being stalked.

- By who?
- I think he's a cop.

♪

- Smooth.
- Why didn't you tell me

- she was within earshot?
- Thought you were professional.

Did I not come across as professional?

I thought I came across pretty good.

Since when did running a
plate become "complicated"?

OK, you know what? This
is not a drive-thru service.

You think you got a real
case, take it to city hall.

♪

We came to you because
of your reputation,

- Ms. DiMuzio
- As head of the planning

commission, we thought you'd
be interested in hearing about

- a case of blockbusting.
- I'm listening.

We believe our client and her neighbours

are being terrorized
out of their building.

So, take it up with the
landlord-tenant board.

The tenants have tried that,
but as you know, the wheels

of government can move
slower than a herd of turtles.

- No offense.
- There aren't enough

city inspectors to handle
all the complaints.

Yes, the ones we do have
are working files apiece.

No inspectors, no citations
and no fines means no change.

- Where is this building?
- It's in The Beach.

One of the last underdeveloped
parts of the city.

The building was sold a few months ago,

but its current owner
is a numbered company

in the Cayman Islands.
No other information.

Well, if you can get the
tenants to swear out affidavits

on the harassment, I can call
for a special investigations

- unit and see who's behind it.
- That'll be easy

- like Sunday morning.
- Well, you will need %

of the building to sign
on. You get me that

and I will set the wheels in motion, OK?

♪

We can save time by recording

- the affidavits in person.
- We'll start with a no brainer.

Mitzi. We need to talk about
your cockroach problem.

I can't. I'm sorry.

Wait, what's going on, Mitzi..?

Boots and I are moving
back to Yellowknife.

- Another time, handsome.
- (Meow!)

♪

No, no, wait, sir! We...

(little sigh from Angie)

Please Hector, we just need a statement.

I'm sorry, I can't. I
gotta think of my family.

Did someone thr*aten you?
We can get the police involved.

No puedo hablar
contigo. No hablo Ingles.

What the hell just happened?

That was so not easy
like Sunday morning.

♪

I don't get it. Those are my peeps!

- Not a single affidavit.
- They were all too scared

to say anything. Someone got to 'em.

Sorry folks, power's
out again. Everything

from the dishwasher to the
rice cooker is on the fritz.

You said you've been
having electrical problems

- for a couple of months...
- Yeah, the power's

- more off than on.
- Would you swear out

- an affidavit about that?
- In a heartbeat.

Has anyone threatened you or
offered to buy out your lease?

Oh yeah, honey. Tony tried
to close out the lease,

but he didn't get past the front door.

Huh... I may know someone

who can uncross your
wires. My father, Don.

- Can I pay him in stew?
- Won't have it any other way.

- Alright!
- Even with affidavits from Zoe

and Shona, two does not
eighty percent make.

(phone buzzing) Ugh...

Hey Maz, what have you got?

No, she's not with us.

OK, so the plates match
up to a firm called

Rampart Security. I sent you the link.

- ♪
- _

That's the lady from the SUV.

What does a Random Security
company have to do with...

Tony something or other?

Hey, do have any buddies
who moonlight with Rampart?

- Maybe.
- [It would...]

[Help Zoe a lot if we knew
who their clients were.]

Give me an hour.

♪

Oil execs, hedge fund managers,

- investment bankers...
- Now why would any

of these people need private security?

Wait, here we go: Jack Sugar,

millionaire property developer.

Oh, this guy's too good to be
true: humanitarian of the year

and filthy rich captain of industry?

Those must be the only
things he does well.

- He does a tux pretty well.
- Yeah, but is he our guy?

If it was him, why not just pay
off the tenants? Why start

with rats and cockroaches,
and end with threats?

I'm guessing he didn't get
rich by paying people off.

Sugar's annual charity
gala is tonight. It's a...

Fundraiser for the Historical Society...

In the ballroom just below his office.

How did you get into my computer?

Your password's "password".

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

It's time to find Mr.
Sugar's sweet spot.

It's not exactly what I was thinking.

This is perfect.

I can confront him about what
he's doing to my building and...

No. No! You're not benching me!

We need to fly under the radar
on this, and you said yourself

you're not exactly
graceful under pressure.

But... you can stay here if you want.

(sigh)

(door closing)

Oh hey, Dad. Can you help
me with this? I'm all thumbs.

- Sure.
- Thanks.

I haven't done this for
you since your senior prom.

Jules was always the expert.

Yeah. I miss her too.

Listen, Dad, about what I said...

- Don't worry about it.
- No, Dad, if you want to keep

working, that's exactly
what you should do.

Speaking of which, you still
have your electrician's license?

Sure.

Remember The Red Bird Diner, on Queen.

Yeah, I know it. Great chicken roti.

She's been having some wiring
issues and I happened to mention

that I knew the best
electrician in The Beaches

who'd probably be happy
to work for his supper.

Well.

Let me think about it, son.

Alright.

There.

Hm! Not bad!

Aren't you gonna ask me where I'm going?

Well, I know it's not
the Hall of Fame dinner.

- Wow!
- (He laughs.)

I'd say you're getting all gussied

up for your P. I. partner. Am I right?

- It's for a case.
- Yeah. Of course it is.

♪

(chamber music and
indistinct conversations)

You clean up nicely, Mr. Shade.

Well, right back at you, Ms. Everett.

I see you put some of your
father's money to good use.

A necessary business
expense. Did you get us in?

- Not yet.
- Are you kidding?

I left you in charge of one thing.

How are we supposed to find
anything if we can't even get

- in the door?
- Sorry for the delay,

Mr. Shade. Come with me.
They're guests of Mr. Sugar.

- He says to find him inside.
- Thank you.

- You were saying?
- Well played.

So this is how the one per
cent of the one per cent live.

- So, what's the plan?
- We need to get into Sugar's office.

Find evidence linking him to what's
happening in Zoe's building.

Assuming you know where that
is, race you to the elevator.

The building uses a double
redundant tap card system.

Likely on all floors.

Executive offices, definitely.

So we're screwed. Well,
at least there's free pâté.

Sugar's employees need
their cards on them

in order to get around. I'm
betting he has his on him.

You think you can get
close enough to steal it?

I didn't pour myself into
this thing because it's comfy.

- Thought you did to impress me!
- Hm!

- Here. So we can communicate.
- Hm.

- Another business expense?
- Top of the line.

- Heads up.
- Matt Shade?

Jack Sugar. I was thrilled
to hear you were coming out

- tonight. I'm a huge fan.
- Ah, glad to hear it.

- So, who's your beautiful date?
- Ah, allow me

to introduce Darlene Pepler,

heiress to the Pepler
pharmaceutical empire.

Lovely to meet you... Oh my goodness!

I'm so sorry! These heels!
I don't get out much.

I know how you feel. But all
work and no play makes...

... Jack a dull boy, which
I doubt very much he is.

Matt, be a darling,

and, uh, fetch me some champagne?

That would be my pleasure,
Darlene. Excuse me.

Take care.

- So, Darlene...
- Hi!

That was amazing.

Remind me to check for my wallet later.

(sound of the music from away)

(elevator tone)

(elevator door closing)

(beeping)

I wish I had more time, Ms. Pepler.

I understand. You have
to thank your donors.

Well, actually no, I just gotta go

upstairs and make a ton of phone calls.

- No rest for the wicked.
- (She laughs nervously.)

- Wait! Um...
- Mm-hm?

Do me the courtesy of a dance?

Well, I did overpay for
those dance lessons.

You're on.

I just bought you a few minutes, Shade.

- [You owe me.]
- (tango music in the background)

Is that a tango I hear, Everett?

- [I think you owe me.]
- (She sighs.)

(beeping sound)

(tango music)

- You're a bit of a puzzle.
- What makes you say that?

A fundraiser for the Historical Society

thrown by the city's
largest condo developer.

Which office was Sugar's again?

Can you hear me?

Angie, which way?

I'm all for progress as
long as it doesn't come

- at the expense of the city's history.
- Right.

- [Which way?]
- Right.

[Thanks]

(tango music still)

(music faint in earpiece)

(beeping and clicking)

(tango music still going)

(music faint in earpiece)

(music louder)

(end of music and applause)

That was invigorating. One more time?

I'm done. [Thank you. Yeah.]

[Ah, just... stay with me at
least 'til I catch my breath.]

Excuse me, Sir, someone was
seen getting into the elevator.

I have to attend to something upstairs.

- Of course.
- Thank you, Ms Pepler, enjoy the party.

Shade. You gotta get out of there.

[Sugar and Laney are headed your way.]

Angie, you gotta give
me a couple of minutes.

♪

(big blown sigh)

Ooh!

- Oh!
- Sorry.

- Hey, Darlene!
- Oh, hey! I'm just looking

for the ladies room. It's on three,
right? Twelve? Seventeen?

- Twenty-three... Oh!
- Actually, just down the hall.

Of course. My bad. And you're going

- to thirty-eight? Thirty-nine?
- Forty-nine.

Oh! Forty-nine? Ooh,

looks like you're taking
the scenic route.

(comical music)

I'm God's gift to the people,
where would I hide...

evidence of payoffs...

Written complaints and
general "douchebaggery"?

♪

(floors ticking and Sugar sighing)

(clicking and sliding sound)

Bingo!

(suspenseful music)

♪

I could have sworn I had my key card.

- (beeping sound)
- Thank you.

I don't remember leaving this here.

(sound of the bell of the streetcar)

What are you doing?

Don't get mad. I was bored, so I...

- Organized the office a little.
- You looked at our files?

I didn't look, I just sorted. See?

Alphabetical, grouped by year,
colour-coded by month,

and tabbed for secondary follow-up.

Oh, and here are the water
bills you were arguing about.

We weren't arguing.

They were tucked under the radiator.

No judgment!

Thank you, Zoe.

I don't know what to say...

- Tell me you found something.
- Oh, yeah.

Here...

(beeping)

It's a demolition permit.

- Sugar's gonna blow up my building?
- Yeah, looks that way

except, here's the
thing: there's no date.

Demolition permits are public
record once they're processed.

But until there's a date on it...

No one knows about it.
No one can protest it.

You and Shona are the
only thing between Sugar

and one of the last pieces of
prime real estate in The Beach.

And once you're gone, he's
free and clear to build this...

Sugar Tower.

Twenty stories, beachfront view.

Deep breath. It's still just a drawing.

- He can't do this. Can he?
- Not if we can help it.

♪

(sound of sirens)

- How did you get these?
- Let's just say it took

some... fancy footwork.

Is it enough to shut Jack Sugar down?

Well, he does have a lot
of sway at City Hall...

but these are pretty incriminating.

I will make some calls.
I think between this

and the two affidavits that you gave me,

we should be able to get a stop order.

♪

(birds chirping)

You know, I never made it
down here with my dad.

It would have been nice. He...
deserved some quiet moments.

Well, look who's coming
around to life in The Beach.

- It has its charms.
- (little chuckle from Matt)

Actually, do you mind if I
walk the rest of the way?

I wanna enjoy the village we saved.

Yeah, sure. I'll meet you at the diner.

You know, there's a quaint lil'
café filled with yoga moms

right over there if you get thirsty.

I'll stick to the boardwalk.
(little chuckle)

(indistinct conversation)

(engine revving)

(music from the diner)

- Here you go!
- (chuckling): Wow! Thank you!

- I feel overpaid!
- I don't mind.

Alright! You have done this before.

Thirty-seven years on the job.

- Mostly phone and cable.
- OK honey, you must be good

'cause no one keeps a
job that long anymore.

Yeah. well my company

just figured that out
and made me an offer.

My son thinks I should take the package.

- And what do you think?
- The truth is, I don't have

a choice. They're putting
me out to pasture.

(breathing in deeply):
But I lied to him.

Pride, I guess.

- I'd have done the same thing!
- Really?

Oh yeah. I'll fight for this
place as long as it'll have me.

Old ain't dead, honey.

- Old. Ain't. Dead.
- Damn straight.

I'm just getting my second wind.

- (door chimes)
- Yeah, I can see that.

(chuckles)

- Hey!
- Hey!

You look like the cat
that ate the canary.

The city on our side.
The wheels of justice

- are starting to turn.
- That's great.

Thank heavens for that.

And for this young man fixing my wires.

(radio still playing)

You made quite the impression, Dad.

Old ain't dead, son.

- Here you go.
- Thank you.

I have been on time for years.

And Popo Chow for before that.

I'm late one month, and they do this?

Woah, slow down. What
are you talking about?

- A Writ of Possession?
- Gives them the legal right

- to kick me out of my apartment.
- Who gave you this?

Dumb and dumber.

- _
- You're served.

Oh! So, it's not just you.

They're vacating the entire building.

♪

(seagulls screaming)

(indistinct conversations)

Ms. Pepler.

Or should I say, Ms. Everett.

Nothing like having a private
security company on retainer.

Comes in handy.

I understand what you're trying
to do. And I respect you for it.

You're trying to work for
the little guy, right?

But we're in your way.

- You're in the way of progress.
- Oh! How is it progress

to destroy someone's community?
Shona's diner has operated

out of that building for years.

Zoe's grandmother was there for
. Hector's kids play in the park

- down the street.
- They were given choices.

Terrorizing people into
leaving their homes doesn't seem

like much of a choice to me.

The Beach is changing, Miss Everett.

It's growing to reflect the city.

If I don't finish this job, someone
else will, you know that.

Besides,

- I'm not doing anything illegal.
- Then you won't mind that we've

turned our evidence over to
the head of the Urban Planning

Commission? As the saying
goes: "You can't fight city hall."

You don't have to if
they're on your side.

You bribed her. DiMuzio.

- It's just business.
- Word of what

you're planning will get
out, and when it does...

It'll be too late. Because
bulldozers are ready

to go, the second this
building is vacant.

The wheels move pretty
quickly when they're greased.

- (SMS alert)
- That'll be your partner.

- (gloomy music)
- _

Hm!

It's good to meet you, Ms. Everett.

I did enjoy our dance.

♪

Please. This couch can't be moved.

It has to go back inside.

- Come on!
- You got no right to do this.

You can't just break into
people's apartments and take

- their stuff out and put it on...
- Woah, easy, easy.

- What's going on?
- Courtesy of Jack Sugar.

- A Writ of Possession.
- We lost, Ang.

(Zoe protesting in background)

(Zoe sighing in desperation)

♪

I should have known Sugar
would have a city official

- on the payroll.
- There's got to be something

we can do. We can't just let him win.

- We're not going to.
- Please tell me you're about

to say, "This just got personal."

Goliath picked on the wrong David.

Yeah, that works, too.

We got all of Shona's
stuff into storage.

- Thanks, Dad.
- She's pretty upset.

The irony is, her place is
better than ever. I just

finished rewiring it.

Apparently knob and tube didn't
go out with the Lindy Hop.

- Knob and tube?
- Yeah, it's an old form

of electrical wiring. The
porcelain tubes carry...

Yeah, yeah, Dad, I know what it is.

How old would you say Zoe's building is?

Well, hard to say, but uh...

the fixtures I found,
it's uh... circa .

We need to track down Jack Sugar.

♪

It's my pleasure to give
this year's Wolfson Gold Medal

in acknowledgement of his
contribution to the preservation

of our city's heritage...

To Jack Sugar.

- (applause)
- Thank you. Thanks a lot.

I'd like to take this opportunity

to thank the Historical
Society for this great honour.

An honour that would not have
been possible without the help

- and support of Maxine DiMuzio...
- So true.

How's that stop order coming, Maxine?

Whatever this is, let's
just take it up tomorrow.

Oh, tomorrow's bad for me.

That's the day your wrecking
ball is slated to demolish

- a piece of our city's history.
- Is this true, Jack?

"City's history"...

Come on, it's just a cockroach-infested

- eyesore in The Beach.
- That eyesore is home

to some good people who got
kicked to the curb last night.

- Legally.
- True! Sort of.

The building Mr. Sugar plans
to tear down is actually

- a heritage site.
- It turns out the designer

of the famous Scarborough
Beach amusement park

used to live above...

The Red Bird Diner.

You can't see it from the outside,

but the wiring behind those walls?
Over a hundred years old.

Jack...?

I didn't know that it was a
piece of our city's heritage.

Oh! Then why would you
have to bribe Ms. DiMuzio

- to cover it up for you?
- Hey! That's not true!

Ah, perfect timing.

Just so you didn't think Jack
Sugar was the only one getting

- the royal treatment today.
- I bet if we went through your bag

right now, we'd find a couple of
stacks of cash, right in between

the pepper spray and the anti-gas
tablets, wouldn't we, Maxine?

- Ahem! Ahem!
- I'm gonna take that throat

clearing as a yes. Gentlemen,
if you wouldn't mind.

This is ridiculous. These
charges will never stick.

You're right. Bribery is hard to prove.

- Extortion, on the other hand...
- So, we went back

to the other tenants in Zoe's building

and wouldn't you know,
they all came around.

Turns out there's strength
in numbers after all.

That has got to leave a bitter
taste in your mouth, huh, Sugar?

Oh, that's original.

- (sound of police radio)
- Let's go for a ride.

Thanks, copper.

Oh, it's no problem

Hey, you know, if you wanna get
a drink after I get off work, or...

- Yeah, don't push it.
- OK.

(smooth transition music)

Hey, Matt! How'd it go?

Well, Sugar and DiMuzio
have been arrested,

and the building's residents
all get to stay in their homes.

- That's great!
- I'd say it went pretty great.

And it was all thanks to you.

And here I thought you
were ready to hang it up.

Yeah, about that. Uh...

The offer my company made...

You already told me about it, Dad..

Yeah, I didn't tell you the whole story.

It was more like, uh...

An ultimatum.

Wow.

You gonna fight it?

Well actually, it might
not be that bad a thing.

Your advice might have been a
bit harsh, but it was accurate.

It made me realize that I
can choose my second act.

(pop of a cork)

Any idea what that might be?

I'll get back to you. (little chuckle)

♪

(dull clinking of the glasses)

♪

Feels good to save a village, Everett.

It's a village worth saving.

(easy laughter)

Have a seat, Zoe.

If anything's moved at
the agency, it wasn't me.

Some things were moved,

but with... Angie's blessing.

Like a desk...

- And a chair with your name on it.
- I didn't touch...

Wait,

you mean a job? Like...

Actual employment?

Welcome to Everett
Investigations, Zoe Chow.

You are officially the
buffer to our yin and yang.

Turns out we need some
help around the office,

so that we can take the
cases that we want,

and not just the ones that we need.

Can I have your attention please?

I just want to say, thanks
to Everett Investigations,

our lovely old building
has a new lease on life.

(general cheering)

♪

♪ White smoke risin' up off the coast ♪

♪ Heaven surrounds me now ♪

♪ And it'll be no joke
now that everyone knows ♪

♪ You got something to live for now ♪

♪ OH! ♪

♪

You know, we used to
bring Jules here when

- she was a toddler.
- You really love it down here,

- don't you?
- No place I'd rather live.

You know, I have to admit,
I'm beginning to see why.

Wow. City girl changing her tune?

I was going to read you
the rest of my dad's note,

- but now...
- Eheh-eh-eh...

"I know you'll resist it,

"but one day you'll find
the perfect partner.

"And every day will seem

"like a new and exciting adventure."

You know he wasn't
talking about you, Shade.

Everett face it, your dad

was the smartest man I never knew.

♪

♪ And I woke up in the
morning feeling barely alive ♪

♪ And I wanna say something... ♪