07x22 - Dead from New York

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Castle". Aired: March 9, 2009 –; May 16, 2016.*
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Bored with his success, celebrated mystery novelist Rick Castle teams with NYPD Detective Kate Beckett to solve the case of a copycat k*ller who re-creates m*rder scenes from Rick's novels.
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07x22 - Dead from New York

Post by bunniefuu »

(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)

Wait, we didn't
approve this poster.

No, Sid Ross did.

What Sid wants, Sid gets.
(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

He doesn't care what
the network thinks.

WOMAN: (SIGHS) Then what's
the point of discussing

cast changes with him?

He's just gonna do what
he wants, regardless.

As always.

(ELEVATOR CREAKING)

(BOTH SCREAMING)

MARTHA: Is he dead?

Is he dead?

(SIGHS)

Is he dead?

Is he dead?

Hey, good morning, Martha.

Is he dead?

Is who dead?

No, I'm just...

Is he dead?

Is he dead? Is he dead?

Castle, something's wrong
with your mother.

You're just realizing this now?

No, no, no. Listen.

Is he dead? Is he dead?

Oh! She's doing
"48-hour first line."

Oh, that's right,

you haven't lived here while Mother
is preparing to open in a play.

This, believe it or not, is her little
ritual for getting into character.

Is he dead? (LAUGHS)

Okay, so this is normal?

She's an actor.
What's normal?

I call it
"48-hour first line"

because for the two days
prior to opening night,

she will say nothing but her
character's first line of the play.

Okay, that's unique.

Mmm.
Is he dead?

But doesn't her
play open next month?

That's right. It's previews
that are two days away.

Well now, that is odd.

(CELL PHONE VIBRATES)

Oh, Castle,
there's been a homicide.

Is he dead?

Yes, unfortunately, Martha...

Right. Never mind.

Be honest, when you vowed
"for better or for worse,"

you really had no idea what you
were agreeing to, did you?

(CHUCKLES)

# Is he dead? Is he dead? #

CASTLE: See you, Mother.

# Is he dead?
Is he dead?

(DOOR OPENS)
# Is... # (SUSTAINING NOTE)

We can stay at a hotel. That
way, you don't have to listen

to her say that line
over and over again.

No, it's okay.
I mean, we're gonna manage.

It's just, your mom's kind of...

Annoying? Yeah, I know. Trust
me, we're getting off easy.

One time, her opening line was,

"Come on, baby, I'll make
it worth your while."

(CHUCKLES)
Oh, I see what you mean.

Yeah. Most awkward
parent-teacher conference ever.

BECKETT: Hey, Lanie.

Good morning, you two.
This is...

CASTLE: Sid Ross!

The creator of
Saturday Night Tonight.

Yeah, not to mention all
the movies he produced.

The man's a mogul.

So, what happened?

He was strangled
with his own tie,

and then thrown down
that elevator shaft

from the SNT Studios
on the 7th floor.

His body was on the roof
of that elevator for hours

before the panel gave way,
and Sid popped out.

Like some
jack-in-the-box from hell.

Time of death?

Based on lividity,
between 11:00 p.m.

And 2:00 a.m.
(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)

Looks like Sid
was burning the midnight oil.

(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
Let's check with security,

see if they know if anyone else
was in the building with him.

(CELL PHONE BEEPS)

Considering where we are,

maybe one of Sid's employees
k*lled him.

Yeah, well, Ryan and Esposito
are bringing his wife in now.

Maybe she knows
who would've done this to him.

MRS. ROSS:
Everyone was scared of Sid.

But they didn't
know him like I did.

They thought he was just a
cold, tyrannical dictator.

Sounds like he had enemies.

Well, after 35 years of making
and breaking careers, you...

You're bound to
piss off a few people.

Anyone at Saturday Night
Tonight Studio?

Yeah, was he having trouble with
any of his employees there?

I don't know. Maybe. I...

Sid called me last night.
It was odd.

Uh, he said he was
going to be working late.

And that's unusual?

No, he was a workaholic.

The odd part was his tone,
it was anxious.

He said someone was out to get
him and he needed to handle it.

Any idea who that
someone might be?

Well, I just assumed it was
one of his big business deals.

Is there anyone else who might
know what Sid was involved in?

Yes, the head of his production
company, Gene Vogel.

Mr. Vogel is
right over here.

Chad... It's Chad, right?
Mmm-hmm.

Are these, uh, cast photos from
all 35 seasons of the show?

Yep, every performer
who has ever been on SNT.

Oh, I liked him. He played
Fluffy the Space Puppy.

That was my favorite.

You know, majority
of this nation's comedy

was born in the minds
of these geniuses.

Except for this season.
Those guys sucked.

Yeah, they were terrible.

Oh, this guy, uh, Ned what's-his-name.
He played, uh, Dr. Finger!

(IN GERMAN ACCENT) "I'm
sorry, sir, it's necessary.

"I must probe you."

(NORMAL VOICE) How can
you not like Dr. Finger?

Because, Castle, I wasn't
a 13-year-old boy.

Probe you.

That's Mr. Vogel.

He's the president of Mr.
Ross' production company.

GENE: Gather round, please.

Thank you, everybody.

As tragic as Sid's death is,

the network has asked us to go
on with tomorrow night's show

as a tribute.

Would you care to
say a few words?

Check it out! That's...

Danny Valentine!
Danny Valentine!

He's our guest host this week.

I remember when Sid asked me
to host the pilot of this

crazy show. (CHUCKLES)

Everybody said, "Turn him
down, show's a dud."

Well, 35 years later,
it's still going strong!

We honor Sid by
honoring his creation.

So, let's put on a show!

MAN: Yeah.
WOMAN: Yes.

Mr. Vogel? Excuse me, I'm...

Detective Kate Beckett!
And you're Richard Castle!

Hi, I'm Liz Bell.

I'm the head writer for SNT,
and I absolutely adore you.

And you. Especially you.

What? Me? Really?
Well, I...

Oh, of course. I mean, I
followed your career.

I wanted to be a cop,
but ended up a writer.

I know, it's pathetic.
(CHUCKLES)

Excuse me?

So, I've seen footage
of you at crime scenes

and I have to ask, how do you fight
crime and keep your hair like that?

And do it in high heels?
(GENE CLEARS THROAT)

Detective, I assume you're here

about Sid's death.
How can I help?

Well, uh, we checked
with security,

and I understand
that most employees

enter and exit
through the front door.

But apparently, there's also
a private VIP entrance?

That's right. Sid had it
installed for the actors

so they could come and go
with more privacy.

Are there any security cameras
on that private entrance?

(CHUCKLES)
They're actors.

So they also use it
to do other things, like...

Sid opted not to
have surveillance.

So, there's no way
of telling who came

in or out of
the private entrance?

I'm afraid not.

Was anyone
working here last night

between 11:00 p.m.
and 2:00 a.m.?

(CHUCKLES) Oh...

Yes, all the writers and actors.

Thursday is rewrite night, so most
of them were here until sunup.

Of those people, did anyone
have a problem with Sid?

Who?

(WHISTLING)

Sorry, sir,
we're not quite open yet.

I record all of our rehearsals.

This took place
yesterday evening.

Dude, why are you wearing armor?

Because this sketch sucks
and I'm trying to save it.

(LAUGHS) Mickey Franks
is hilarious.

Yes, well. Just watch.

WOMAN:
Mickey, you can't do this.

Sid already approved the sketch.

You know, screw Sid!

Screw Sid! You wanna know
what I think of Sid?

Look, that's what
I think of Sid!

Sid's dead, that's what he is!
He's dead to me!

I'll k*ll him!
(WOMAN SHRIEKS)

He's dead!
He's dead! He's dead!

He's dead! He's...

Over the season, Mickey's
become more and more unstable.

Mood swings, outbursts,
talks to himself.

And to people who aren't there.

But that was the first time
he ever went this far.

Well, did he have a reason
to be angry with Sid?

Aside from the lame sketch?

GENE: Actually, yes.

I talked to Sid
yesterday morning.

He said he was
planning to fire Mickey.

How can he fire his star?

Ah. He's volatile.
Unpredictable.

He's become more
and more of a liability.

Mr. Vogel, did Sid break
the news to Mickey last night?

I don't know.
But he might have.

Well, Mickey wasn't
at the gathering for Sid.

Is he in the building?

If he is, he'll be in the
wardrobe and props room.

He hangs out there
to develop new characters.

Hello? Anybody there?

I'm really hoping Mickey's
not the one behind this.

I mean, the man is just so
damn funny on the show.

Even the crappy episodes.
Guy's hysterical.

And quite possibly
suffering a psychotic break.

Yes, the fine line

between genius and madness.

(METAL CREAKING)

Mickey Franks, is that you?

MICKEY: I'm sorry.

You must've mistaken me
for another suit of armor.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

NYPD. We need to talk.

You'll never take
me alive, copper!

(GRUNTING)

Oh! My pancreas!

(CASTLE LAUGHING)

You see what I'm saying? Even
arrested, he's hilarious!

(LAUGHING)

Mr. Franks, you're a comedic genius.
I'm a huge fan.

(LAUGHING) It's his face!

Mr. Franks.

Please direct all your questions
to my personal attorney.

Mickey, don't say another word.

I am lead counsel for
Mr. Franks.

Uh, Mr. Franks, you made some threats
against Sid Ross last night.

You're damn right, I...
Don't answer that!

Detective, address your
questions to me, please.

Thank you.

Uh, where were...

Where was your client between 11:00 p.m.
and 2:00 a.m. last night?

He was minding
his own damn business!

My client is an upstanding citizen
and a pillar of the community,

not to mention, he's also one
funny mother-fudgsicle...

Hey, watch your language!
That's just...

What happened, Mickey?

Did Sid tell you that you were fired,
so you snapped and k*lled him?

Hold on. What?

Sid... Sid's dead?

(STAMMERING)
Whoa! Hey, I...

I didn't k*ll him.

I notice you're no longer seeking
counsel from your attorney.

Yeah, no, that's, uh, just an act.
I mean, I'm not crazy.

I've just spent a year of my life
convincing people that I was.

Yeah, and you've done
a pretty good job of it.

I'm an actor, okay?
(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

I am an actor that's tied
to a long-term contract

that's, uh, not exactly
covering his expenses.

Are you were saying you
were trying to get fired?

I'm saying,
Sid controls my career.

Because of him, I'm missing
out on major movie roles.

That's why I att*cked you guys.

I figured maybe if you 5150'd
me on a Bellevue psych hold,

he would finally cut me loose.

Okay, look, crazy or not,

you still made some pretty
serious threats against Sid,

and hours later
he ended up dead.

Okay, you're asking
my whereabouts, right?

Mmm.

Okay, I was upstairs at the rooftop
bar, getting wasted all night.

And I stumbled
down to the wardrobe

and props room
at about 3:00 a.m.

And passed out.

I had just woken up
when you guys came in.

Plus, I had no idea
Sid was even dead,

so how could I have had
anything to do with it?

BECKETT: Okay.

Look, I might know who did.

Okay. We're listening.

Look, at around 9:00 p.m. last
night, I did go to Sid's office

to beg to be let
out of my contract.

But I never went in, because
I heard him on the phone.

He was yelling at someone.

Who was he yelling at?

MICKEY: I don't know.

But it had something
to do with a deal

that was going
down around midnight.

Midnight? Did he say
what the deal was?

No.

But Sid told that
person on the phone

they'd better
stick to the agreement,

or else.

Can I call my real attorney?

The bartender confirmed Mickey's alibi.
He's not our k*ller.

Well, then we can assume
Mickey was telling the truth

about the phone call
he overheard Sid making.

Yeah, but what kind of deal would
Sid be making at midnight?

Whatever it was, it went down in

the middle of his
time-of-death window.

CASTLE: So this deal could
be connected to his death.

We need to figure out who Sid
was talking on the phone with.

Well, that's easier said than done,
I just got Sid's phone dump.

That 9:00 p.m. phone call came
from an untraceable burner phone.

You know what? Why don't we
a hold of Sid's associates,

see if any of them know
what this deal was?

And I know exactly
who to start with.

Right after that mystery call,

Sid phoned none other
than Danny Valentine.

If anyone knows about that
deal, it's Valentine.

Detective, I have no idea
what you're talking about.

Look, buddy,
I'm a cop and a model,

so I know when
someone's lying to me.

And when their
outfit is clashing.

Now, stand back.
This could be dangerous.

DANNY: Don't worry.

My experience writing crime novels
has prepared me for danger.

Plus, I have my vest.

TINA: Look out, bad guys,
here we come!

Uh...

Model cop down.
I broke a heel!

And scene!
Great job, guys.

Okay, well, I don't know
whether we should be

flattered or offended.

Who cares?
Danny Valentine's playing me!

Well? What do you think?

Um, about the sketch?
It's cute.

Danny Valentine's playing me.

Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

Speaking of Mr. Valentine,
we need to talk to him.

Oh. Uh, Danny.

DANNY: Ah-ha!
The real police.

Here to give us some pointers?

Mr. Valentine, Richard
Castle, I'm a big fan...

Yeah, what about you, Detective?

Are you a fan?

(CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY)

Uh, Mr. Valentine,
we need to talk.

Sure. Let's go to
my dressing room.

Surely you've
seen some of my work.

Star Fleet? Family Practice? My,
uh, car-rental commercials?

Uh...

Yeah, well, (STAMMERING)
I did catch my fair share

of Hot Suspect
reruns in college.

(LAUGHS) I knew it!
The cop watched the cop show.

Come on, I inspired you to
become a detective, didn't I?

Huh?

Maybe a little bit.
(LAUGHS)

We're investigating
a m*rder. Right?

Right, yeah.

Uh... So, we checked
Sid's phone records,

and apparently, he called
you at 9:03 last night.

Can you tell us why?

Yeah, I was supposed to have drinks
with Sid and his ex, Evelyn.

But Sid called
last minute to cancel.

You and Sid were going
out with his ex-wife?

Isn't that a little odd?

Not for us.

Sid and Evelyn
split 20 years ago,

but we were all
still close friends.

Did he say why he was canceling?

Afraid not.

Anything about
a deal at midnight?

No, but he was going somewhere,

because while we
were on the phone,

I literally
bumped into him leaving

the building from
the private entrance.

Wait. Sid was leaving
the building

the night of his m*rder?
Mmm-hmm.

Uh, Mr. Valentine, did he
mention meeting with someone?

Please, call me Danny.

And, no, Sid didn't say
where he was going.

But I did see something strange.

He went into the
subway on the corner.

And why was that strange, Danny?

Well, he had
an around-the-clock driver,

so why would
he take mass transit?

Unless it was
a secret rendezvous.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Well, wherever Sid went,

he obviously didn't want
anyone to know about it.

Oh, come on, Castle!

He was flirting with me.
I can't control that.

But you were
flirting right back!

Yeah, but what was I supposed to do?
He's Danny freaking Valentine!

(GASPS)

Espo. Hey.

You find out where Sid
went on that subway ride?

Not yet, but I spoke to Gene
Vogel from Sid's company.

The only deal that he knew about

was one that hasn't been
officially announced yet.

Apparently, Sid was gonna sell 49%
of his company to an equity firm.

Could that be the deal
Sid was talking about?

ESPOSITO:
Doesn't look like it.

The terms of the sale would've
been settled weeks ago,

there was nothing
left to negotiate.

Hey, guys, you're
gonna wanna see this.

So, Sid paid for
his MetroCard in cash,

but I was able to
use security cams

to track him all the way to Grand
Army Plaza subway station.

He got off there
at 11:30 p.m.

In Brooklyn? What was
he doing in Brooklyn?

You know, I wondered
the same thing,

so I checked with
the 87th Precinct.

Apparently, they responded
to a 911 call in that area.

About what?
Well, check it out.

Officers used
traffic-cam footage,

and they caught
the tail end of it.

This is about a block away from
where Sid got off the subway.

Now, keep your eye
on that alley right there.

Were those g*nshots?

RYAN: Fits with
the 911 call.

It was a report of "sh*ts fired."
Now, watch what happens next.

BECKETT: That's Sid.

You guys, look at the time stamp.
It's from just after midnight.

CASTLE: This must be the deal
he was talking about.

And judging by the speed his
60-year-old legs are moving,

I would say he's in danger.

Who's that?

I don't know,
but he's got a g*n.

And he's wearing a mask.

CASTLE: And, hours later, Sid gets
thrown down an elevator shaft?

What the hell was
Sid mixed up in?

You guys, is it just me or
does none of this make sense?

I mean, Sid was
a multi-millionaire.

Guys like that don't make shady
deals in the middle of dark alleys.

Or if you do, you have
someone else do it for you.

Yeah, and take a look
at our suspect there.

I mean, what is this? A deal
gone wrong, or a failed hit?

So, uh, what are we saying here?

That the masked
man followed Sid back

to the SNT
building and k*lled him?

Well, with a private entrance
with no surveillance cameras,

it's possible, right?

But after an apparent
attempt on his life,

why would Sid just go
back to the office?

And if Sid really was in danger,
why didn't he call security?

Well, we may find some
answers in that alley.

Let's go check it out.

Okay, Castle and I are
gonna scrub traffic cams,

maybe we'll find
the sh**t there.

Anything yet?

No. No blood, no shell
casings, no nothing.

Hey, doesn't this
remind you of, uh, that

sketch from
Saturday Night Tonight

where, uh, Mickey Franks plays
Sherlock Holmes' wacky cousin?

No, I don't watch
that stupid show, bro.

You don't?

No. Hell no. The sketches
never have any endings.

It's a big waste of time, just
like searching this alley is.

You know, Javi, I
think that you need

to find a way to
be more positive.

No, I don't.

And you need to stop
saying "no" all the time.

Instead, why don't you
try saying, "Yes, and..."

What the hell are
you talking about?

Oh, I learned it
in a SNT -sponsored

improvisation class
that I took in college.

See, by simply substituting
"no" with "yes, and,"

partners can't deny
one another's progress,

moving forward in a scene
and accomplishing goals.

(SHOPPING CART CREAKING)

Yo, that guy might've
been here last night.

Yes, and he might have seen

the exchange between
Sid and the gunman.

See what you can accomplish
by saying "Yes, and", hmm?

Yes, and you need
to shut the hell up.

Hey!

Martha, you okay?

Oh, yeah, yeah. Just a
little tired, that's all.

Shall we?

Hey.

(WHISPERS) Something's
wrong with your mom.

I thought we
already covered that.

No, no, no, she's not repeating the line.
Something else is going on.

Can't we just be happy
that she stopped?

Castle, I have to go to
the precinct.

Will you just talk to her
and meet me over there?

Yeah.

Okay. Bye. Bye, Martha.

Bye, honey.

So, previews tonight.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Pretty exciting, huh?

Come on. "Is he dead?"

(CHUCKLES) Wrong question.
Am I dead?

You know, I don't know
what I'm thinking.

Eight performances a week, major play.
On Broadway.

You've been on Broadway before.

Well, (SCOFFS) not since
the Clinton administration.

And now, it's all viral.

Bloggers. Tweeters.

You know, people actually
come to the previews,

record the show on their phone,

put it online,
and make comments.

And you don't feel
your performance is ready?

Well, (STAMMERING) I'm still
honing my performance.

That's what a... That's
what previews are for!

And I just...

I just don't want
to be humiliated.

When I got this part,
I thought, "Well, hey!

"There's a chance, you know?
This could be my second act!"

It is.

No, it isn't.

It isn't. I'm not gonna
have a second act. I...

(SIGHS)

I think what I need
to do is just drop out,

let my understudy
take over. She's very...

Oh, absolutely not.

You will not,
and do you know why?

Because you're a fighter.
What have you always told me?

No one will give you
anything in this life.

You must earn it.

And look at you, almost 20 years
later, and you're back on Broadway?

You have earned this.

I have, haven't I?

You have.

Please don't let some idiot with

a cell phone take
that away from you.

Do you want me
to come to tonight's show?

Just for moral support?

I want you to come
to the opening, kiddo.

Just like you always do.

All right.

But if I have to wait,
at least let me hear

that sweet first
line one more time.

Okay. Um...

Is he dead?

But with feeling!
(GROANS)

(SIGHS)

Is he dead?

One more, for the cheap seats.

(LOUDLY) Is he dead?

He's so dead!

Ah.

And, bow.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Hey. So what'd you guys get
from the homeless man?

Well, he didn't
witness the exchange

between Sid and
our masked gunman.

However, he did
hear the g*nshots,

and then a few minutes later he saw
a black Explorer speeding away.

Did he get a plate?
Yeah.

The last four numbers,
which got us

a match to an SUV
rented by this guy.

Kurt Van Zant.

Just did a 35-year stretch in
Folsom for drug trafficking,

but he was just released.

Is there any connection
between Sid and this ex-con?

Oh, yeah. Uh, while he was in
prison, Van Zant filed a lawsuit

claiming that he financed the
pilot for Saturday Night Tonight

and that Sid screwed him
out of all the profits.

Wait a minute.

You're telling me that a drug kingpin
bankrolled that comedy show?

Yeah, I know, it sounds like one
of their comedy sketches, right?

So, a show that
brought joy, laughter

and Judge Booty to
people everywhere

may have been
built on drug money?

RYAN: Yeah, but the lawsuit
was thrown out,

so while Sid was getting rich,
Van Zant was rotting in prison.

You know, maybe Van Zant
was who Sid was talking about

when he told his wife
someone was after him.

Makes sense, right?

Van Zant felt that Sid owed him

a share of the profits
from the show,

maybe he came to collect.

And when Sid
didn't wanna go along,

Van Zant opted
for revenge instead.

Where is Van Zant now?

He's registered at
a hotel up in Queens.

Yo, I sent Van Zant's photo
to security at SNT.

Asked if anybody
saw him last night.

No one did.

However, 30 minutes ago,
Van Zant

entered the building
on a day pass

called in from
someone at the show.

Kurt Van Zant?
You've got to be kidding me.

Yeah, do you know him?

No, but Sid told me all about him.
He's dangerous.

You're telling me
he's here, in the studio?

Do you know who
called in his pass?

No, but I can find out.
Follow me.

Um...

Can I help you?

Oh, no, it's fine. You just
have a very bizarre gait.

Um, I'm sorry, what?

I'm sorry, what?
Nailed it.

(SCOFFS)

Castle, please tell me I don't
move like that. I mean, do I?

Is this a trick question?

What answer is not gonna have me
sleeping on the couch tonight?

Chad, find out who called in a
day pass for a Kurt Van Zant.

You're looking at him, sir.

Wait a minute. You
called in the pass?

Why?

I was told to.
By Mr. Valentine.

Danny Valentine?
Danny Valentine?

Oh, I knew it.
That smug, no-talent

playboy is up to
his neck in this.

DANNY: Hey! Hey! Hey, help!
Help! He's gonna k*ll me!

Hey, help!

BECKETT: NYPD!
DANNY: Help!

Help!
(GRUNTING)

Let him go!

What? No!

Pull him in,
Van Zant. Now.

Hey, lady, relax.

Come on, let me see your hands.

Thanks.
Guy's a psychopath!

Then why did you give
him a pass to get on?

He left a note at my hotel.

He said he had information
about Sid's m*rder.

You're saying you
don't know this man?

I never met him before today.

Listen, this whole thing
is a big misunderstanding.

I'm sure it is.
Come on.

So what information did he
have about Sid's m*rder?

Nothing! This was a shakedown.

He claimed Sid owed him money
for Saturday Night Tonight.

But since Sid didn't pay,
he wanted me

to sign over my
shares of the show.

You own a piece of the show?

5%.

Sid needed a celebrity
"get" for the pilot,

so he gave me a piece
of the back end.

It was the best deal of my life.

So, Van Zant wanted his cut,

but with Sid dead, his only
option was to come after yours.

I refused. I said, "Hey,
that's show business, baby."

But that's when he started
shoving me out the window.

Thirty-five years
in Folsom.

That's a long time to hold a grudge, Mr.
Van Zant.

Lady, I didn't k*ll Sid.

And yet, you were seen fleeing the
alley where those sh*ts were fired.

It's not hard to
imagine that you would

follow Sid and
finish off the job.

Look. You got this
all wrong.

When I got paroled,
I went straight to Sid.


We had it out,
and he apologized.

Except now he's dead.

Why would I move on him?

He agreed to give me
a major chunk of change

of an upcoming sale of
shares to some equity group.

So, we were good.

That doesn't square with you
sh**ting at him in the alley.

That wasn't me. I swear!

If it wasn't you,
then who was it?

I don't know.

Sid called me

and told me the paperwork for
my stake in the show was ready,

but he wouldn't sign off unless
I brought him something.

Okay, fine, I'll play along.

What did Sid want you to bring?

An unregistered g*n.

Why would Sid want a g*n?

Wait, no. Let me guess,
he didn't tell you.

It's true.

He just told me to meet him near
that alley at 11:30. So I did.

I gave him
a .38 Special

and he told me I could pick up the
signed papers in the morning.

And then he told me
I should take a hike.

But you didn't.

Well. A man asks for a g*n, he's
looking to dance with danger.

I thought it wise
to protect my investment.

So you're saying that you stuck
around just to see what would happen?

Yep. Saw Sid go down the
alley and hide in a doorway.

Twenty minutes go by, then
some dude in a mask shows up.

Opens the dumpster, pulls
out a green duffel bag.

And what was in the duffel bag?

Hell if I know.

But that's when Sid
jumps out with the g*n,

screaming, "You got what you
wanted, now where is she?"

Who is "she"?

I have no idea.

But the masked man
got the drop on Sid.

They wrestled
for the g*n, and then...

(MIMICS g*nshots)

sh*ts go off in the air.

You know what? If you were
protecting your investment,

then why didn't
you help him out?

Well, Sid ran off.

And the guy in the mask
wasn't giving chase,

so I figured,
well, I'm on parole,

I need to bug out
before the cops show up.

And that's all you did?

I drove to Sid's building
to see if I could catch him

and ask him what the
hell he got me into!

But he never showed up.

Next thing I know, he's dead.

ESPOSITO: I think
he's telling the truth.

Security video
outside of Sid's apartment

shows Van Zant waiting
out front, in his car,

from 12:30 a.m.
to 3:30 in the morning.

That's on the other side
of town from the studio.

Yeah, Van Zant
couldn't have done it.

Okay, that dumpster that you searched.
There was no duffel bag?

The guy in
the mask must've taken it.

Which means that Sid must've
been the guy who dropped it off.

This had to be the deal
that Sid was talking about.

And that duffel bag
was the payoff.

Yeah, it sure was.

I spoke with
the business manager.

He just discovered that on
the day he was m*rder*d,

Sid made a huge bank withdrawal.

How huge?

$4 million in
non-sequential bills.

BECKETT:
Non-sequential bills?

You guys, this was a
ransom gone wrong.

That's why Sid asked,
"Where is she?"

Some woman in his
life was kidnapped.

Yeah, but who?

That's what we gotta find out.

'Cause whoever took her
might be our k*ller.

The cast and crew
of Saturday Night Tonight

are all at the studio,
no one is missing.

So we've covered Sid's wife, his
family, his friends, and now his job.

Everyone's accounted for.

Uh, actually, not everyone.
Evelyn Ross, Sid's first wife.

She's missing?

RYAN: Well, I followed up
with Sid's son,

and he said that she hadn't
returned any of his phone calls.

So I spoke with her doorman.

He said Evelyn went on her usual 6:00 a.m.
run two days ago,

and he hasn't seen her since.
She's gotta be our kidnap victim.

Yes, and I was able to
ping her cell phone.

Yes, and.
I wasn't doing that.

No, you did it just now.

ESPOSITO: Anyway,
uniforms found the phone

dumped in a trash can
near a bodega in the Bronx.

Probably tossed there
by her kidnapper.

(SIGHS) Something's
not right here.

Starting with our
victim's behavior.

You're Sid, your ex-wife
gets kidnapped,

the deal in the alley
to get her back

goes south.
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

At that point, why wouldn't
you go to the police?

Why do you go
back to your office?

Well, I'll circle back with Sid's
office, see what I can find out.

Yo, unis just arrived
with Evelyn's phone.

WOMAN: This is
Evelyn's cloud account.

It's synced to her cell phone.

Map My Jog. That's a fitness app.
Can you click on it?

WOMAN: Mmm-hmm.

ESPOSITO: Looks like it's been
running this whole time.

BECKETT:
I've seen this app before.

They use GPS to calculate a
jogger's distance and pace,

and most importantly,
their route.

Can you replay
Evelyn's last path?

(BEEPING)

ESPOSITO: That's her
leaving her building.

Okay, so she jogged to the park.

ESPOSITO: Wait. Is this
when she got kidnapped?

It's gotta be. She's moving
at 30 miles an hour.

ESPOSITO: She had to
have been in a vehicle.

BECKETT: Yeah.

Can you fast forward, so that
we can see where she ended up?

(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING)

WOMAN: So she was taken
up to the Bronx.

Okay, looks like she
stopped at this building.

Evelyn might still
be in that building.

What do we know
about that place?

I don't know, we'll find out.
Okay.

(CELL PHONE VIBRATING)
(KEYPAD BEEPS)

Hey, Ryan, you find
anything in Sid's office?

Nah, just paperwork
and spreadsheets.

So, nothing that speaks
to a possible kidnapping?

Pretty straightforward stuff.

But I'll bring it in so we can go
through it with a fine-tooth comb.

(COMPUTER BEEPS) Beckett,
we got something.

Okay, Ryan, I gotta go.
(KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING)

ESPOSITO:
That building where Evelyn

was taken is
an abandoned warehouse.

It's the ideal location
to hold someone hostage.

MALE OFFICER: NYPD!

Go, go, go!

ESPOSITO: There. Over there.

Over here! Kick it!

Evelyn, we're the police.
(WHIMPERING)

You're safe now.

(WHISPERS) Oh, God.

EVELYN: I had just
stopped to stretch,

and the next thing I knew,
there was a rag over my mouth,

and, um, when I came to,
I was in that warehouse.

At any point in time did you get
a look at your kidnapper's face?

He always wore a mask.

It was like a ski mask,
but shiny,

with a silver
zigzag up the middle,

and a gold headband.

A gold headband.
Are you sure about that?

I'm pretty sure
that's what it was.

And, uh, how about his clothes?

Do you remember anything
distinctive about them?

No.

But he wore a ring.

A red and silver signet
ring, on his right hand.

I remember that.

Evelyn, back to the mask. Did
it look anything like this?

Yes! Exactly like that.

Is that from
Saturday Night Tonight?

It's from an obscure sketch
they did two years ago

called Lucha
Libre Brunch Buffet.

So our kidnapper
had access to the

props and wardrobe
room at the studio.

This was an inside job.

MAN: What do you mean,
"A banana sandwich"?

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

Carly! Carly Rae!
Carly Rae Jepsen!

I'm Rick! I'm Rick, this
is Kate, we're huge fans.

Oh, thanks,
that means a lot to me.

So nice to meet you. Um,
Castle, we really need to...

Yeah. Carly, quick question. That
one song, um, Call Me Maybe,

what did you
mean by the lyric...

Carly? Two minutes.

Oh... I'm so sorry. I have
to go perform this song.

Oh, that's cool. We gotta
go solve a m*rder, so...

Okay.
Nice to meet you!

Okay, let's go.
Bye!

Excuse me. Someone recently
checked out one of these masks.

And we need to know who.

Now? We're in the
middle of a live show.

It was from the Lucha Libre
Brunch Buffet sketch.

Yeah, that sketch sucked. We
haven't used those masks in years.

Well, is there a record of
someone signing it out?

Probably not, but I can check. Could
you give me, like, five minutes?

Okay. We'll be back.

We are so close.

(SIGHS)

Yeah, but who would be
so brazen, or so naive,

as to use a mask from the show
to perpetrate a kidnapping?

Ladies and gentlemen,
performing her hit single,

I Really Like You,
Carly Rae Jepsen!

(CROWD CHEERING WILDLY)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

This is for you, Sid.

(SINGING)

(LAUGHING)

Nice moves.

Hey, you guys want
a better seat?

There's nothing like watching
the show from house seats.

Hey, it's cool. You can
stay here if you like.

Beckett, check out his ring.

Just like Evelyn described.

Hey, Chad, we've got a
house seat for you.

Down at the 12th Precinct.
Let's go.

So, Chad, tell us. How long
have you been a page with SNT?

Uh, five
incredible years. Why?

Don't most pages quit
if they don't

get promoted
after a year or two?

Oh, for me it's worth
the wait. Any day now!

Yeah, sorry, I don't buy it.

I think you got
tired of waiting.

And after so many years,
you wanted payback.

Payback? What do you
mean, "payback"?

I'm talking about
the $4 million dollar kind.

You kidnapped
Sid's ex-wife.

Wait, what?

CASTLE: It was a
pretty clever plan.

All except for
that one tiny detail

that you could
not have foreseen.

Sid confronting you
at the money drop.

He recognized
your ring, didn't he?

That was when you realized your
only way out was to k*ll him.

You think
I k*lled Mr. Ross?

You can drop the act,
we know what you did.

Even Evelyn saw your ring.

My... (STAMMERING)
No, I bought

this ring at the SNT gift shop.

Lots of people have it.

Yeah, except lots of people don't
have evidence in their apartments.

What are you talking about?
I didn't do anything!

So then why don't you explain how
detectives found a .38 revolver

and a Lucha Libre mask
under your bed.

(SHUDDERS) Um...

Must've been an evil tooth fairy

who put it there,
'cause it wasn't me!

(LAUGHS NERVOUSLY)

(STAMMERING) Please,
I didn't do this.

All right, then where were you
the night that Sid was m*rder*d?

At home.

BECKETT:
Can anyone verify that?

No.

Sid was a tough SOB,
but he loved his job,

and his job was to get us
to make America laugh.

And tonight we honor him
by doing just that.

Chad can't be
the k*ller, can he?

Well, it doesn't feel right. But
there is an abundance of evidence.

Yeah, it's too abundant.

The mask, the g*n, the ring.
It's just too perfect.

So, what, you think
he was framed?

I think there's
more to this story.

You know, it's possible

that the k*ller wanted Evelyn
to see the mask and the ring.

Chad is the perfect fall guy.

Okay, but if Chad didn't
do it, then who did?

Uh, I may have a line on that.

I figured out what Sid was doing

in his office with
those spreadsheets.

He was going over his
corporate bank accounts.

Sid went from paying a
kidnapper at gunpoint

to checking his
corporate financials?

That's weird.

That's not the only
thing that's weird.

Check out those expenses
he highlighted.

Oh, these are weird.
Because?

Because I called the bank
in the Cayman Islands.

All of those expenses are bogus.

So, someone with access at Sid's
company was embezzling money.

Almost $4 million, the exact
amount of the ransom.

Wait, that's it!

The embezzler was
trying to replace

the money he'd stolen from Sid.

I know who the k*ller is!
I know who the k*ller is!

Nice. In fairness, though, I
walked you right through that.

STAGE MANAGER:
Places for the final sketch!

Places for the final sketch!

(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

Oh. Hi.
Is everything all right?

Yes. In fact we
have some good news.

Great, let's talk
after the show.

Actually, show's already over.
At least for you.

Excuse me?

Drop the act, Mr. Vogel.
We know that you k*lled Sid.

That's insane.

CASTLE: Not really,

not considering the partial sale

of Sid's company
was on the horizon.

A sale that would mean a
review of the company's books.

Which would expose the $4
million that you embezzled.

What? Are you
out of your mind?

CASTLE:
No, but you must've been.

Faced with the inevitability
of being caught,

you had to do something.

So you kidnapped
and ransomed Evelyn

in order to reimburse
the money you'd stolen.

BECKETT: A duffel bag full of
cash would be easy to deposit

in the company's Cayman Island bank,
where no questions are asked.

After that, all you'd have to do

is falsify a few bank statements

and you'd be in the clear.

How dare you?
This is absurd!

BECKETT: We followed
the money, Gene.

You siphoned the $4 million to
invest in a start-up company.

And when that
company went belly-up,

you could not get
your money back.

Sid must've recognized
you at the drop.

But he didn't
confront you until after

he discovered
the faked expenses.

So you k*lled him?
Gene, how could you?

No! These are...

These are baseless accusations.
They can't prove anything.

BECKETT: Actually, we can.

We went through your financials

and found millions in undeclared
deposits from Sid's company.

Oh, by the way,
nice touch wearing

the mask and SNT
ring that Chad has.

Only problem
with your frame job?

You were
witnessed hanging around

outside his
apartment this afternoon

when you planted them.

Oops.

Gene Vogel, you're
under arrest for...

Model cop down!
I broke a heel!

Damn it!

(CROWD CHEERING)

Gene Vogel, you're under arrest
for kidnapping and m*rder.

(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)

Beckett, that was a badass
takedown tonight on that show.

It was strong, yet sexy.

Yeah, Beckett, the
camera really loves you.

You guys, shut up, both of you.

What about me, guys?
How did I look?

Like you should
stick to writing.

Yeah, I think so.

There's only one star
in this family, kiddo.

Mother, how was
your preview performance?

Well, check out the, uh,
Twitter-verse, as they say.

CASTLE: All righty.

"Martha Rodgers
is a revelation."

"Martha Rodgers gives a
masterful performance."

"A display of why theater
is still a relevant art form."

"Martha Rodgers
is amazeballs!"

MARTHA:
Yeah, that, about that.

Is that amazeballs a
good thing? Because...

It sure is. Congratulations.
Congratulations!

Okay! Great!
Then we can celebrate!

I brought some champagne for everybody!
If you'll open it.

CASTLE: Sure.

Do we have some glasses?

Well, we don't do a lot of
entertaining here, Martha.

But... Ta-da!

Ah-ha!
Here you go.

MARTHA: That'll work.
Thank you, thank you.

May I?
ESPOSITO: Thank you.

Perfect. Thank you,
Detective Ryan.

BECKETT: Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen,
to my amazeballs mother.

The best second act on Broadway!

Cheers.
Cheers!

Well done.

Hear, hear!
Congratulations.
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