Elsbeth (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
1
[SHUDDERING BREATHS]
D-Don't
I'm sorry.
[GASPS]
[GROANING]
[DRUMS POUNDING]
And hit the slides.
[TYPING]
Stone woman. Iron woman.
To callously spill
with thine hand that life,
self-created of
thine own agony? A mother slew
I'm gonna go and congratulate
the cast. You got this, Todd?
Yep. Congrats.
Ino, god-maddened, whom the
Queen of heaven set frenzied,
flying to the dark:
And she cast her from sorry
to the wild salt sea,
forth from those rooms of murder
unforgiven, wild-footed
from a white crag of the shore,
and clasping still her children twain
JASON: Oh, God, thou hast
- broken me!
- MEDEA: My claws
have gripped thine heart,
and all that shines.
JASON: Thou must have grief.
Pain as fierce as mine.
MEDEA: Oh, I love the pain,
for thou shalt laugh no more.
JASON: Oh, what a womb
of sin my children bore!
MEDEA: 'Twas thy false wooings,
- 'twas their trampling pride!
- JASON: Thou hast said it!
For the lust of love they died!
[MEDEA AND CHORUS LAUGH]
LEADER: The hands of thine
old Argo, rotting where she stands,
shall smite thine head in twain.
MEDEA: And bitter be to the
last end thy memories of me.
LEADER: And the end men look for cometh not,
and a path is there where no man thought.
So hath it fallen here.
[DRUMS STOP]
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[WHOOPING]
[CAST SHOUTING, SHRIEKING]
WOMAN: I did it!
You see that?[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
So good.
It was fant well done.
- Oh, my God.
- Really great adjustments.
You have to go out there
and see the audience.
I'm gonna go out there, okay?
ACTRESS: You got to
come and celebrate with us.
- ALEX: All right. Okay.
- Okay. All right.
Hey, Olivia.
- That was great work.
- You mean with my one line?
Are you gonna go to the cast party?
No. This is over.
- Shh, shh. Please.
- Don't shush me.
I don't care what you say.
I'm going to the dean.
Olivia, I am not the enemy.
Please, don't go to the dean.
- You will have me canceled.
- Don't put this on me.
You are the one sleeping with the students.
- You canceled yourself.
- Look, I promised you
I will take you to all
new good agencies in town.
[SCOFFS] You just need to give me some time.
You are such a scam artist.
Just send me my keys, okay?
I don't want you near
my apartment ever again.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[BEEP]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
[GASPING]
[BEEP]
- [SIRENS WAILING]
- [HORNS HONKING]
[HIP-HOP BEAT PLAYING]
Live from the heart of the city ♪
With a lot to tell ya ♪
Nice to meet you, slice
of pizza with the mozzarella ♪
We rockin' rhythms on the beat ♪
Or even a cappella ♪
And getting lit like the tip ♪
Of the Rockefeller ♪
Are you sure you just
don't want to go downstairs?
It's, like, 28 degrees out.
Oh, I want the whole New York experience.
You go down, though.
- I'm fine.
- No, it's okay. It's my job.
So who here's from out of town?
Oh.
Where you from?
- Chicago.
- Business or pleasure?
Well, both, I guess. I mean
I'm here for business.
It's a temporary job
but I want it to be permanent,
- Okay. Okay, so
- because I really love New York.
- Yeah, no, I got-I got you.
- I mean, I've only been here on
I'm gonna do my thing now, right? Okay?
- [CHUCKLES]: Yeah.
- Hey, yo, we riding the bus ♪
And I'm bus sing a rhyme ♪
My girl fresh from the Chi ♪
Here to get a job ♪
Getting lit like the tip of ♪
- The Rockefeller ♪
- Wait, this is my stop!
Uh, this is not an Uber.
Yeah, but you were heading up this way.
Don't worry. I'll check out the rest later.
You're so
talented.
[SIREN CHIRPING]
Hi. I'm sorry to interrupt.
Um, I'm supposed to meet with Ooh!
That's a pretty scarf.
- Thank you.
- I'm meeting with Detective, um
Smullen.
I called Captain Wagner's office
and they said he was here.
Is Smullen expecting you?
Oh, I don't think anyone's expecting me.
[CHUCKLES] No. I decided to come a day early
to see New York.
I'm Elsbeth Tascioni.
I'm part of the uh, thing.
The thingy-thing.
The thingy-thing?
Uh consent decree.
I'm the outside observer.
The wrongful arrest lawsuits.
- Right.
- Right.
- This way.
- Okay.
Uh, I think you should, um
Oh, my gosh. I didn't even remember
I was wearing this. [CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Um, excuse me.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Um, hey. Wow. What is all this?
- A suicide.
- Wow.
With all these officers?
Yep. Major Case Unit.
They all come out for a VIP suicide.
Oh. Was it someone famous?
- No. Olivia Cherry.
- Huh?
Her parents own the Lindsay Yards.
- I don't know what that means.
- Money.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
You all right?
This is my first crime scene.
Okay. You can wait in the hall.
- I'll get Smullen.
- Oh, no. No, no, no.
I-I'm just saying
I'm a lawyer, so I mostly
see crime scene photos like that.
This is very different. Yes.
Better.
- Hey.
- Huh?
- Yeah.
- This way.
Do you ever go to open houses
just to go see them?
- No.
- I go on Sundays.
I think I like looking at
at how other people live.
Ooh, that's a pretty fabric on the wall,
isn't it? What is that, purple?
So, you were at a party?
The cast party. Yes, sir.
- At Pub 18.
- Uh, Detective, this is
And Ms. Cherry was
supposed to be at the party, too?
Yes. But then she texted
that she was depressed.
And she was worried about
what she might do to herself,
so we called the hotline.
Suicide hotline? Is that the text?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
- Excuse me.
- Don't worry, I can see it.
Could you go downstairs please, ma'am?
Oh, sure.
The consent decree.
She said Captain Wagner wanted her here.
I didn't want her there.
City hall wants her there.
It's the lawsuit from last year.
All those wrongful arrests
by Major Case Unit.
Yeah, that wasn't our fault, Captain.
Doesn't matter.
Judge ordered us to hire an outside attorney
for police oversight
to observe your investigations
- for a year.
- I know,
but what am I supposed to do with this lady?
Let her observe.
- Hey, Mike, how you doing?
- Captain.
Her DOJ boss in Chicago
thinks she's easily amused.
Yeah, well, she's easily amusing herself
all over my crime scene.
Bob, it's a suicide. Just humor her.
Tell her some old war stories.
She'll get bored and move on.
Huh. Parsley seed. I've never heard of that.
And skin
Hey, how many lorazepam
would it take to knock her out?
Probably around ten, 15.
But that's not what killed her.
She taped a plastic bag over her head.
Oh. Whew.
Hey, what's this in the garbage?
Who are you again?
Elsbeth Tascioni. What's your name?
- Ailune.
- Oh. Ailune.
What a pretty name.
I always hated mine.
Have you ever heard
of a woman using Old Irish?
- No.
- Have you ever noticed
you can learn a lot about a person
by looking in their medicine cabinet?
Was the victim dating someone?
I don't know.
What are you doing?
Diaphragm case.
Oh, it's empty.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
Have you ever been to the Statue of Liberty?
- No. Why?
- Oh, I'm just curious.
I'm just looking
for places to go in New York
while I'm here.
I like the High Line.
And the noodle shops
in Chinatown are amazing.
- Peking Dynasty, it's on Baird.
- Oh Oh, perfect.
- Have you been down there yet?
- No.
- I've been there.
- Okay. Yes. It's amazing.
What's going on here?
Uh, n-nothing. We were just
talking. I'm Elsbeth.
Yeah, I know.
I would rather you wait
in the hall, please, ma'am.
- Yes.
- I thought I made that clear.
Uh, by the way,
I'm not sure this is a suicide.
- In the hall, please.
- Yes.
Why do you say that?
Teeth whitening strips.
I'd check her mouth
because I don't know anyone
who whitens their teeth
right before they commit suicide.
And if she had her diaphragm in
she was probably expecting
someone to have sex with.
♪
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
Had you heard anything from her?
ALEX: She was talking about
doing a one-woman show
of Shakespeare's women.
WOMAN: I knew she was upset about
her career, but that's all.
ALEX: I know she was crushed
with my casting.
- CARLEEN: No, no.
- MAXINE: She had good parts last year.
LANA: Alex, you did nothing wrong.
You all knew the victim from school?
- Yes.
- W-Why do you think that she did this?
- I'm sorry, who are you?
- Oh, Elsbeth Tascioni.
ALEX: Are you with the police?
I think so.
I'm not sure yet.
I'm either with the police
or watching the police.
You said she was crushed by the casting.
What does that mean?
It wasn't his fault.
That had nothing to do with it.
- No, it was
- It's o-it's okay. It's okay.
I-I'm the director at-at her school,
I-I cast her shows.
So, she wasn't getting the parts she wanted?
- Well, that was my guess. And, um,
- Yeah.
should I be talking to you or
- Oh, yeah.
- No, you shouldn't.
Ms. Tascioni, could you
wait in the hall, please?
Sure.
Um, I'm Detective Smullen.
I'm in charge of the scene.
Now, it is my understanding
that you all received
texts from Olivia
that she was having difficulty?
ACTRESSES: Yes.
So, you're a director at this acting school?
- Yes.
- Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
I'm in New York for a week.
Thinking about seeing Cats.
Should I?
I don't know. There's another revival?
Is that your taste?
I guess.
I mean, I like that song. What is it?
- "Memory."
- No.
I think the cat's going
to heaven and she sings it.
Something about
I'm raising a glass to ♪
Oh, my God, you're right.
That is "Memories."
I like that song.
Yes. Many people do.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
What about The Lion King?
Yes, that might be a good one for you.
Did you like it?
I think theatre can be
more than one thing to people.
This is me.
Um, can you think of anyone
who would want Olivia dead?
No. Why?
Oh, for when the police start
investigating it as a murder.
Are the police investigating it as a murder?
No, but
Olivia's diaphragm case was empty,
so I think she was preparing
to see someone she was dating.
That doesn't mean anything.
Well, what do you mean?
Maybe she was waiting for someone
and they didn't show up.
Maybe.
I guess that could be.
- Um, do you know who she was dating?
- No.
- Do you have time for one more question?
- No.
Okay.
♪
Welcome to New York.
♪
So, where are we?
BOBBY: We were investigating
it as a suicide
and now the consent decree lawyer
has the medical examiner
looking into it as a murder.
So, we're saying that she
found something we didn't?
Captain, a lawyer
will always find something.
And what do you think of her?
Well, what do you mean?
He seems to think you two are friends.
Oh no. Uh, she just
came up to me on the street.
Bottom line, the judge wants a lawyer
from outside the city to observe us.
But it doesn't have to be her, so,
I want to know what kind
of nuisance this lady might be
before I request a switch. Officer Blanke,
you stick with her.
Well, uh, Captain, uh, I work patrol.
No, you work lawyer patrol.
If she colors outside the lines, call me.
That's it.
MAN: U.S. Department of Justice.
How may I direct your call?
Agent Celetano. Tell him it's Wagner.
[LAUGHS]
Elsbeth Tascioni, right?
So, you screwed me?
I was looking for a get-along lawyer
and you sent me a nutcase.
No, no.
You'll get used to her.
All right, well, tell me
about this other lawyer,
the other one you mentioned.
Oh, Cary Agos.
Tough lawyer, but I don't think
you'll like him as much.
Try Elsbeth out for one week.
She'll grow on you.
You've been lying to me the whole time!
You have been pushing me away!
WOMAN: No, I haven't! You come in here
and you tell me that you cheated on me
and then you want to turn it around on me?
Oh, my God! Oh, you're gonna
cry now really?
You always blame it on me!
Okay, good. Good, very good.
Some nice adjustments there.
If I were to have one note,
it would be the dreaded "M" word,
- which is
- ALL: Melodrama.
Right. That's right.
How do we avoid that?
- Pull it out of ourselves.
- That's it.
It isn't my fault.
You come here,
you come here and you say
you're cheating on me
and then you try and turn it around onto me?
How dare you?
[SHUDDERING BREATH]
[CLASS APPLAUDS]
Stop.
Thank you. Stop.
So, how do we know
when we are looking at fake acting?
We look at the face
and we look at the body,
and if they are in disagreement,
then we know that
we're looking at bad acting.
And that
that is the key.
Mr. Modarian!
Hello?
Hi! Mr. Modarian?
I-It's me, from yesterday morning
- Elsbeth. Remember?
- Yes, yes.
How are you?
Oh, I'm good. I'm just a Whew.
I'm a little out of breath here.
Um, I saw the end of your class.
That was so amazing.
- Thank you.
- Oh, I loved how
you-you cried and you fell down.
That was so real. How do you do that?
I've got to get to my office, Miss, um
Oh, you can call me Elsbeth.
I'll come with you.
And I just have a few questions.
Wow. Are all these your students?
ALEX: Many of them, yes.
[GASPS] I think she was in Wicked.
I only know
because I have the cast album.
I play it all the time.
- How may I help you, Ms. Tascioni?
- Well,
the police are looking
for who Olivia was dating.
What deodorant do you use?
- What?
- It's just that
we found Old Irish deodorant
in Olivia's medicine cabinet,
and her parents said
Olivia didn't use Old Irish.
So, we're looking for a murderer
who smells like Old Irish?
[CHUCKLES] Yes, okay. You're right.
That's like a Sherlock Holmes story,
but with scratch-and-sniff.
[LAUGHS] I'm sorry if
I can't find this funny,
but one of my students has just been killed.
Or
committed suicide.
Yes.
Or committed suicide.
So, sorry if I don't treat this like a game.
Now, if you don't mind,
I need to make a call.
Sure, sure.
[SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT]
You're trying to sniff me,
aren't you, Ms. Tascioni?
What? No. No, no, no. I was just
No, no. No, sniff away.
[LAUGHS] Come on,
Ms. Tascioni, get in there.
Oh, you're so funny, Alex.
No, no, no, no.
I-I don't need to smell
I am a Ralph Lauren man, Ms. Tascioni.
So, if you're ever looking for a killer
and there's a Ralph Lauren scent in the air,
then you can cuff me.
But, in the meantime,
I need to make my call.
Yes. I'm sorry.
[WEAK CHUCKLE] I've taken up
way too much
of your time.
[CHUCKLES]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Hey, it's me.
We better not meet tonight.
Look, I'll call you.
No, no, Lana, I will call you.
Uh Oh, I'm so sorry.
Go ahead and finish your call.
I-I think I left my phone in here.
I'll-I'll call you back.
What is it that you need, Ms. Tascioni?
I'm so sorry, it's just that
It's my phone. Oh!
[CLAPS] There it is.
It must have, uh,
fallen out of one of my bags. [CHUCKLES]
You know, I'm glad I caught you.
I'm sure you are.
This odd thing
I found do you mind if I show you?
- Does it matter?
- Yes.
Of course, it it matters.
Um, this is a copy of the text
that Olivia sent to her classmates
a few minutes before she killed herself.
Or was murdered.
Can you see it there on my screen?
- Yes, I can.
- Do you need me to make it
- No, it's fine.
- Okay.
It says "I'm so sick
of performing for idiots
who don't understand what I'm doing."
And then she writes "I'm done with it.
The hiding who I really am."
Do you see there are two spaces
- after every period?
- Okay.
Do you know that's something
that older people do,
not younger?
Two spaces.
Younger people like Olivia
they do just one space after every period.
So, what I did was I went back
through Olivia's old texts,
and, do you know what?
She always did one space.
So, let me get this straight.
You want me to keep my eye out for
someone who smells of Old Irish
and when they text, they use
two spaces instead of one?
Yes. If you don't mind.
[CHUCKLES]
You are a funny one.
Not as funny as you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE QUIETLY]
How would you like
some tickets for The Lion King?
How would I how would I like them?
I would love them.
I know the company manager.
I'll get some for you.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
[LAUGHS]
That is such a nice gesture.
I mean I love, I love the movie,
but the play's even better, I hear.
It's really quite something.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'll leave them at the box office for you.
- Okay.
- Now, in the meantime,
I need to get on with my rehearsal.
Oh, I thought you had a call.
Yes, I did, but now I don't.
I don't want to interrupt your life.
Ms. Tascioni, how can I put this?
But at some time in your life
you have done some acting.
[CHUCKLES] No.
- No, I wish I had.
- Well,
you're doing some
very fine acting right now.
- Captain Wagner.
- Ms. Tascioni.
Glad you could meet me here.
Oh, my God, how could I not?
I mean, I've seen this in postcards,
but to be here ah.
Officer Blanke said that you wanted
to experience the real New York.
- We have to go ice skating.
- No.
- Oh, come on.
- No, thank you.
- Please? Okay.
- No.
So, I've been reading the language
of the consent decree,
and you have a great deal of freedom
in questioning who you want
and going where you want.
Yes, I know. It's wonderful.
Yes, but the intent is more
to follow our officers.
Instead, it appears they are following you.
Captain, can I tell you
a little bit about why
- I took this job?
- I can't wait.
I spent 30 years being a lawyer,
and I sometimes knew
the person I was defending
was was guilty.
And then this DOJ agent
Celetano he mentioned this job
and said I didn't have to lie anymore.
That my work could be
all about finding the truth
and not just some better way
of telling a lie
for someone I was defending.
Why are you hounding Professor Modarian?
Uh, Alex? I
I'm not hounding him.
- I like-I like him. He
- Elsbeth.
- Yes.
- Come on.
You just talked about the truth,
so please be truthful with me.
- You're right.
- Mm-hmm.
As a lawyer, I could always tell
how guilty a client was
by how much he talked, and Alex talks a lot.
Also, he came to the crime scene.
Guilty men always want
to be there, you know that.
- So you think he killed his student?
- Yes.
- Why?
- I don't know.
That's what's bothering me. I mean,
ugh, I have ideas, but
no proof.
Mr. Modarian, I wasn't sure if you Oh.
Ms. Tascioni, how are you? Come on in.
We were just talking about you.
Did Ms. Tascioni
ever ask you about this, sir?
No. She showed a lot of interest
in my deodorant use,
but you never asked me about a Trevor James,
- did you?
- Who's Trevor James?
- Someone allegedly stalking Olivia.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
Here.
BOBBY: And what do you know about this man?
ALEX: Uh, not a lot, really.
A lot of our students
have fans, and I've warned them
about the perils of social media.
But some of these people
can get a little bit toxic.
Where did these letters come from?
The dressing room.
Olivia Cherry's makeup station.
And did Mr. Modarian find them?
[CHUCKLES] Let it go, okay?
40 students saw Alex Modarian
at the cast party at the exact time
of Olivia's text and then her death.
- How did he manage that?
- Oh, I don't know yet.
- And what's his motive?
- I don't know yet.
Then stop hounding him.
What I'm doing is police work.
I have a suspect and a motive.
- Stalking?
- Yes. Look,
let me do my job and then you can come in
afterwards if you want and criticize me.
Are you staying?
I've been ordered to follow you.
Mm.
Who found these stalking letters?
- Was it Mr. Modarian?
- Yes.
And did you notice two spaces
after each sentence?
I did.
I think we need to find
some writing of Mr. Modarian
to see if he leaves two spaces
after each line
What?
I don't know.
♪
No, Mr. Modarian's been a perfect gentleman.
Yeah, I like him, too.
But I was just wondering Oh!
By the way, I love that scene
that you did in class.
Oh, the scene I'm being cheated on?
Oh, my gosh, yes. That was so great.
I was worried I went too big.
Oh, no, no, I like big. [CHUCKLES]
So
you two dating?
Excuse me?
You and Alex are you dating?
Is he in trouble?
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It's just a simple question.
No, I'd never date a teacher.
Oh. Well, it's just that
when I was in Alex's office,
I heard him on the phone with a Lana.
Oh. Must have been another Lana.
You know what was
so fascinating
about that acting class that I saw?
It was how Alex said that
acting was only convincing
if you could do it with
your face and your body
at the same time.
I'd never thought of that,
but I think it's true.
If you're dating Alex, it's no big deal.
I'm just curious.
I know what you're thinking,
but I got these parts on my own.
I didn't sleep with him for them.
Um
is this a syllabus from your class?
Yes.
Can I borrow it?
Two spaces after every period.
Great. Great, great, great.
Now, motive.
Alex looks every to new semester
for a pretty replacement.
Lana replaced Olivia.
So that means Olivia must have replaced
Let's see, who did he cast
in the lead before her?
KAYA: Beatrice Bruni.
Thank you.
Good luck with your mom.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[GASPS] Look.
It's right there. [CHUCKLES]
So, are you asking if I was dating Alex
or are you asking if I was sleeping with him
to get ahead?
Well, both, but the second question's
- more interesting, isn't it?
- [SHORT CHUCKLE]
Yeah, it is.
But I'm a nun now, so, uh
I don't kiss and tell.
Why are you a nun now?
The musical. Flying Nun mixed with
Singing Nun. ♪
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
Excuse me?
Uh, do you know
Olivia Cherry, the actress?
Oh, God, yeah, I heard.
That was awful.
She was a good actress.
Well, I noticed your last semester
that your parts got smaller
- as hers got bigger.
- Yeah.
Alex has his favorites.
The wider you spread your legs,
the bigger the part.
Are you willing to sign
a statement to that effect?
No.
Even if it helped stop a killer?
Alex isn't a killer.
He's just a scumbag.
Unless
he was worried about cancelled.
Do you know that for a fact?
- No, but that's why I need you.
- No, no,
that's a toxic accusation.
Prove it, then come back to me
and I'll sign your statement.
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
Well, that's the motive.
Now we just need to prove it.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Okay, fast. Where are we?
Investigating the stalker,
but he has an alibi for the death.
- He was at a comedy show in Brooklyn.
- And you?
- I've been following Elsbeth Tascioni.
- And?
She thinks the acting teacher
was sleeping with the victim.
Is it true?
We have no evidence
to that effect, Captain.
- Officer?
- Tascioni has gone back through the plays
for the last three years
and found that the acting teacher
features a new actress every six months.
It's her theory that that's because
he was sleeping with that student.
And what do you think?
Well, I don't think it's my position
Officer, just spit it out.
I think there's a chance she's right.
Tascioni thinks he killed her
because he was afraid she
was going to the school
- to get him fired.
- No.
Captain, this is all
just nonsense intuition.
- We need proof.
- Then get it.
I don't care who's right or wrong.
Either follow her lead
or come up with your own.
And you stay on her.
- Where is she now?
- A play reading.
And why are you here?
Because y-you asked me here.
Go.
[LAUGHING] And she-she walks off the stage
and just leaves me standing there by myself.
- Mr. Modarian.
- Ms. Tascioni.
- Hi.
- It's good to see you.
- You too.
- Sounds like
you've been a busy little bee.
[CHUCKLES] Buzz-buzz.
[CHUCKLES] So, how was your play reading?
Oh, it was like all readings:
it was disappointing
and it was a half hour too long.
Oh, well, this ought to cheer you up.
I got you a present from
Times Square. I thought
you deserved something
for all of your patience.
- How nice.
- Yeah.
I even got your name on it.
"Best Director."
- Well, I will cherish this.
- [CHUCKLES]
My guess is that this isn't the only reason
that you're here, Elsbeth.
You used my name.
Well, it seems appropriate,
when playing chess against a good adversary.
I'm gonna get myself another
drink and then we can talk.
Can I get you anything, Elsbeth?
Oh, no, no, I'm kooky if I drink.
You really don't
want to see that. [CHUCKLES]
Here is the syllabus from your class.
And these are copies of Olivia's texts.
So, Olivia sent 12 texts
to friends saying she
wanted to kill herself.
Did you know that there's
a typo on your syllabus?
See, you typed "decieve"
but you accidentally
switched the E and the I. Did you know
that's the most common
spelling error in English?
- Really?
- Yes. Now,
look over here on Olivia's
texts. She writes, "I'm sick"
"of 'forfieting' my career,"
but she
switches the E and the I too.
So, what do you deduce from that, Sherlock?
I deduce, Watson
- [CHUCKLES]
- you wrote those texts
to supply yourself with an alibi.
Mm. How would I have sent those texts
from Olivia's phone?
Well, Officer Kaya
was telling me all about
Was is it?
- A SIM card cloning tool.
- Right.
I think you copied Olivia's SIM card
so you could text from her phone
whenever you wanted.
[CHUCKLES]
Todd, do you have a moment?
TODD: Yes, sir.
This is my TA, Todd Ritter.
Todd, this is Elsbeth Tascioni.
She has something to do
with the police department,
but nobody knows exactly what.
Todd, who types up my syllabuses?
TODD: I-I do, sir.
And you see here this typo?
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
- Is it
- It doesn't matter, don't worry.
It's the most common error
in the English language.
Isn't that right, Elsbeth? Oh,
just one more question, Todd.
I hope it's not too personal,
but Elsbeth was commenting
on how much she loves your cologne.
What is it?
I don't use cologne.
Um, your deodorant, then.
Old Irish.
I like their commercials.
Me too. Thank you, Todd.
I'm sure Elsbeth will have
some follow-up questions.
Anything, Elsbeth? Officer?
You let me know how you like
The Lion King, won't you?
- WOMAN: Hi.
- Hi.
Most Shakespeare is so overdone. Thoughts?
That's a fact. Or
- Damn.
- you can dig in to the iambic
I didn't kill her. I loved her.
But you do admit to having been
- at her apartment that night?
- No. No, no, no, no.
I was heading to her apartment
but no one answered the door.
- Did you write these texts?
- No.
But you did write this syllabus, right?
Yes, yes, but it's not my typo.
I think I judged you wrong, Ms. Tascioni.
You pointed us in the right direction.
Good job.
Forensics found some DNA
on a hair on the deodorant.
It belonged to him.
- Todd Ritter.
- ELSBETH: Why would he do it?
He was jealous.
Olivia was seeing other people,
when he showed up that night, they fought,
he killed her and made it
look like a suicide.
Anyway, good job.
When I'm wrong, I admit it.
Oh.
[SIGHS]
BOBBY: Where'd this happen?
[TODD SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Fast forward to 32:05.
♪
Look, I just
I just cut and paste parts of the syllabus
from the notes on Mr. Modarian's computer.
Those are not my typos.
It's not him.
Ms. Tascioni. Unlike you, apparently,
I have 46 other ongoing homicide cases.
So, you'll have to specify.
Todd Ritter.
He didn't kill Olivia Cherry.
[SIGHS] Ms. Tascioni
Hey, here's a thought.
Why don't you take yes for an answer?
I mean, this kid was sleeping with Olivia,
he lied about going to
the apartment that night.
People lie about a lot of things.
Yeah. And guilty people lie about even more.
Now, this is our job, Elsbeth.
Let us do our job.
Now, I have to go.
Um, I'll come with you.
No. No.
You go and apologize.
That acting teacher is bringing charges
against you and the department
for harassment,
so you go to him and you grovel.
And then we'll talk about your future.
W-What does that mean?
I need you to know when to stop.
You solved this. Now move on.
Or I'll call Cary Agos.
You know Cary.
Yes. From Chicago.
You know he's good.
Then take the win and move on.
You solved the case.
But did you find the SIM card reader
on Todd Ritter?
- Go and apologize.
- But
Ah. Let go of this door or I'll shoot you.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, more blue.
Less white here. Great.
- Thank you. Carrying on.
- [ACTORS REHEARSING INDISTINCTLY]
Mr. Modarian?
Elsbeth. What are you up to tonight?
An apology.
And, uh
cookies.
[SHORT CHUCKLE] I found this book on baking
and I thought I'd give it a try.
- Thank you.
- They're supposed to be
Halloween cookies.
But I put in too much food coloring,
so they're a bit red.
- Try one.
- I'm good.
I will later, though. Thank you.
I-I'm just trying to say, sir, that
you've been so nice to me
and I have to apologize.
You really don't.
I really actually do. [CHUCKLES]
The captain says I need to-to grovel.
[CHUCKLES] So he heard
- about my complaint, did he?
- Yes.
And all I want to say, sir, is
I'm a great admirer of your craft.
And I-I really enjoyed our little jousts.
I have to say
I occasionally have, too.
[SHORT CHUCKLE]
Is, um
someone gesturing to you?
Captain Wagner.
- Um, I'm so sorry, I will be right back.
- No.
Captain Wagner got a search
warrant for his dorm room.
Ugh, it's not gonna be there.
I told him Todd Ritter had
nothing to do with her SIM card.
KAYA: That's why Wagner wants you there.
He wants you to observe the search.
It's a waste of time.
Is Mr. Ritter still denying it?
We had to let him go.
We could only hold him for 24 hours.
I
have to go. Mr. Modarian, um
enjoy the cookies.
Goodbye, Ms. Tascioni.
Come to my woman's breasts
and take my milk for gall,
you murdering ministers,
wherever in your sightless substances
you wait on nature's mischief.
Come, thick night
So they let you go.
Yeah. Not enough evidence.
But, uh, they want me to come
in tomorrow for questioning.
I'm sure they're just fishing.
Yeah.
They keep asking how
I sent texts for Olivia.
But I didn't.
Well, I'm glad you're able to get here
for the tech rehearsal tonight.
You mind holding the fort
while I go to the restroom?
Sure.
Thanks.
LANA AS LADY MACBETH:
In the dunnest smoke of hell,
that my keen knife see not
the wound it makes,
nor heaven peep through
the blanket of the dark
to cry, "Hold!"
♪
the attempt and not the deed
confounds us. Hark!
I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss them, mmm.
If he had not resembled
my father as he slept,
I had done't.
My husband. I have done the deed.
Didst thou hear a noise?
I heard the owls scream
and the crickets cry.
- Did not you speak?
- MACBETH: When?
- LADY MACBETH: Now.
- MACBETH: As I descended?
BOBBY: Mr. Modarian.
MACBETH: Hark, who lies
in the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH: Donalbain.
BOBBY: Mr. Modarian.
[REHEARSAL CONTINUING INDISTINCTLY]
I was just I'm just
I was just I'm-I'm just
So you followed me.
[SHORT CHUCKLE]
Oh
Nicely played.
You too, Alex.
ALEX: No, no.
I mean over at the director's table.
That was some good acting, both of you.
How did you know?
All this time?
What was it that gave me away?
Acting.
- You weren't convinced by my acting?
- Oh, no,
I was.
People in life don't act.
[SHORT CHUCKLE] Hmm.
Have a cookie.
[CHUCKLES]
Stand up.
Alex Modarian,
you're under arrest
for the murder of Olivia Cherry.
[CUFFS RATTLING]
Did you get to see Cats?
No, tonight.
Think of me.
"Memories."
Good job.
ELSBETH: Thanks.
Want to go see a play?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Oh, you don't have to be a hypocrite.
You won.
I can still feel sad.
I liked him.
WAGNER: Now, how are we
gonna make this work?
You and the department?
You want me?
You don't want Cary Agos?
The department wants you.
You want me, too.
- We need to hug.
- No, we don't.
Oh
Wow!
Yeah.
- We did that just for you.
- [LAUGHS]
[PHONE VIBRATES]
Yes, sir?
Is he there?
No, sir.
You ready to get started?
I think you're wrong about him, sir.
Captain Wagner's been nice to me.
Nice people can be corrupt too, Elsbeth.
I'd rather not do this.
Too bad.
You're not a defense lawyer anymore.
The truth means putting people in jail.
Call me in the morning.
[SHUDDERING BREATHS]
D-Don't
I'm sorry.
[GASPS]
[GROANING]
[DRUMS POUNDING]
And hit the slides.
[TYPING]
Stone woman. Iron woman.
To callously spill
with thine hand that life,
self-created of
thine own agony? A mother slew
I'm gonna go and congratulate
the cast. You got this, Todd?
Yep. Congrats.
Ino, god-maddened, whom the
Queen of heaven set frenzied,
flying to the dark:
And she cast her from sorry
to the wild salt sea,
forth from those rooms of murder
unforgiven, wild-footed
from a white crag of the shore,
and clasping still her children twain
JASON: Oh, God, thou hast
- broken me!
- MEDEA: My claws
have gripped thine heart,
and all that shines.
JASON: Thou must have grief.
Pain as fierce as mine.
MEDEA: Oh, I love the pain,
for thou shalt laugh no more.
JASON: Oh, what a womb
of sin my children bore!
MEDEA: 'Twas thy false wooings,
- 'twas their trampling pride!
- JASON: Thou hast said it!
For the lust of love they died!
[MEDEA AND CHORUS LAUGH]
LEADER: The hands of thine
old Argo, rotting where she stands,
shall smite thine head in twain.
MEDEA: And bitter be to the
last end thy memories of me.
LEADER: And the end men look for cometh not,
and a path is there where no man thought.
So hath it fallen here.
[DRUMS STOP]
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[WHOOPING]
[CAST SHOUTING, SHRIEKING]
WOMAN: I did it!
You see that?[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]
So good.
It was fant well done.
- Oh, my God.
- Really great adjustments.
You have to go out there
and see the audience.
I'm gonna go out there, okay?
ACTRESS: You got to
come and celebrate with us.
- ALEX: All right. Okay.
- Okay. All right.
Hey, Olivia.
- That was great work.
- You mean with my one line?
Are you gonna go to the cast party?
No. This is over.
- Shh, shh. Please.
- Don't shush me.
I don't care what you say.
I'm going to the dean.
Olivia, I am not the enemy.
Please, don't go to the dean.
- You will have me canceled.
- Don't put this on me.
You are the one sleeping with the students.
- You canceled yourself.
- Look, I promised you
I will take you to all
new good agencies in town.
[SCOFFS] You just need to give me some time.
You are such a scam artist.
Just send me my keys, okay?
I don't want you near
my apartment ever again.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[BEEP]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[GASPS SOFTLY]
[GASPING]
[BEEP]
- [SIRENS WAILING]
- [HORNS HONKING]
[HIP-HOP BEAT PLAYING]
Live from the heart of the city ♪
With a lot to tell ya ♪
Nice to meet you, slice
of pizza with the mozzarella ♪
We rockin' rhythms on the beat ♪
Or even a cappella ♪
And getting lit like the tip ♪
Of the Rockefeller ♪
Are you sure you just
don't want to go downstairs?
It's, like, 28 degrees out.
Oh, I want the whole New York experience.
You go down, though.
- I'm fine.
- No, it's okay. It's my job.
So who here's from out of town?
Oh.
Where you from?
- Chicago.
- Business or pleasure?
Well, both, I guess. I mean
I'm here for business.
It's a temporary job
but I want it to be permanent,
- Okay. Okay, so
- because I really love New York.
- Yeah, no, I got-I got you.
- I mean, I've only been here on
I'm gonna do my thing now, right? Okay?
- [CHUCKLES]: Yeah.
- Hey, yo, we riding the bus ♪
And I'm bus sing a rhyme ♪
My girl fresh from the Chi ♪
Here to get a job ♪
Getting lit like the tip of ♪
- The Rockefeller ♪
- Wait, this is my stop!
Uh, this is not an Uber.
Yeah, but you were heading up this way.
Don't worry. I'll check out the rest later.
You're so
talented.
[SIREN CHIRPING]
Hi. I'm sorry to interrupt.
Um, I'm supposed to meet with Ooh!
That's a pretty scarf.
- Thank you.
- I'm meeting with Detective, um
Smullen.
I called Captain Wagner's office
and they said he was here.
Is Smullen expecting you?
Oh, I don't think anyone's expecting me.
[CHUCKLES] No. I decided to come a day early
to see New York.
I'm Elsbeth Tascioni.
I'm part of the uh, thing.
The thingy-thing.
The thingy-thing?
Uh consent decree.
I'm the outside observer.
The wrongful arrest lawsuits.
- Right.
- Right.
- This way.
- Okay.
Uh, I think you should, um
Oh, my gosh. I didn't even remember
I was wearing this. [CHUCKLES]
[SIGHS] Um, excuse me.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Um, hey. Wow. What is all this?
- A suicide.
- Wow.
With all these officers?
Yep. Major Case Unit.
They all come out for a VIP suicide.
Oh. Was it someone famous?
- No. Olivia Cherry.
- Huh?
Her parents own the Lindsay Yards.
- I don't know what that means.
- Money.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
You all right?
This is my first crime scene.
Okay. You can wait in the hall.
- I'll get Smullen.
- Oh, no. No, no, no.
I-I'm just saying
I'm a lawyer, so I mostly
see crime scene photos like that.
This is very different. Yes.
Better.
- Hey.
- Huh?
- Yeah.
- This way.
Do you ever go to open houses
just to go see them?
- No.
- I go on Sundays.
I think I like looking at
at how other people live.
Ooh, that's a pretty fabric on the wall,
isn't it? What is that, purple?
So, you were at a party?
The cast party. Yes, sir.
- At Pub 18.
- Uh, Detective, this is
And Ms. Cherry was
supposed to be at the party, too?
Yes. But then she texted
that she was depressed.
And she was worried about
what she might do to herself,
so we called the hotline.
Suicide hotline? Is that the text?
- Yes.
- Thank you.
- Excuse me.
- Don't worry, I can see it.
Could you go downstairs please, ma'am?
Oh, sure.
The consent decree.
She said Captain Wagner wanted her here.
I didn't want her there.
City hall wants her there.
It's the lawsuit from last year.
All those wrongful arrests
by Major Case Unit.
Yeah, that wasn't our fault, Captain.
Doesn't matter.
Judge ordered us to hire an outside attorney
for police oversight
to observe your investigations
- for a year.
- I know,
but what am I supposed to do with this lady?
Let her observe.
- Hey, Mike, how you doing?
- Captain.
Her DOJ boss in Chicago
thinks she's easily amused.
Yeah, well, she's easily amusing herself
all over my crime scene.
Bob, it's a suicide. Just humor her.
Tell her some old war stories.
She'll get bored and move on.
Huh. Parsley seed. I've never heard of that.
And skin
Hey, how many lorazepam
would it take to knock her out?
Probably around ten, 15.
But that's not what killed her.
She taped a plastic bag over her head.
Oh. Whew.
Hey, what's this in the garbage?
Who are you again?
Elsbeth Tascioni. What's your name?
- Ailune.
- Oh. Ailune.
What a pretty name.
I always hated mine.
Have you ever heard
of a woman using Old Irish?
- No.
- Have you ever noticed
you can learn a lot about a person
by looking in their medicine cabinet?
Was the victim dating someone?
I don't know.
What are you doing?
Diaphragm case.
Oh, it's empty.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
Have you ever been to the Statue of Liberty?
- No. Why?
- Oh, I'm just curious.
I'm just looking
for places to go in New York
while I'm here.
I like the High Line.
And the noodle shops
in Chinatown are amazing.
- Peking Dynasty, it's on Baird.
- Oh Oh, perfect.
- Have you been down there yet?
- No.
- I've been there.
- Okay. Yes. It's amazing.
What's going on here?
Uh, n-nothing. We were just
talking. I'm Elsbeth.
Yeah, I know.
I would rather you wait
in the hall, please, ma'am.
- Yes.
- I thought I made that clear.
Uh, by the way,
I'm not sure this is a suicide.
- In the hall, please.
- Yes.
Why do you say that?
Teeth whitening strips.
I'd check her mouth
because I don't know anyone
who whitens their teeth
right before they commit suicide.
And if she had her diaphragm in
she was probably expecting
someone to have sex with.
♪
[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]
Had you heard anything from her?
ALEX: She was talking about
doing a one-woman show
of Shakespeare's women.
WOMAN: I knew she was upset about
her career, but that's all.
ALEX: I know she was crushed
with my casting.
- CARLEEN: No, no.
- MAXINE: She had good parts last year.
LANA: Alex, you did nothing wrong.
You all knew the victim from school?
- Yes.
- W-Why do you think that she did this?
- I'm sorry, who are you?
- Oh, Elsbeth Tascioni.
ALEX: Are you with the police?
I think so.
I'm not sure yet.
I'm either with the police
or watching the police.
You said she was crushed by the casting.
What does that mean?
It wasn't his fault.
That had nothing to do with it.
- No, it was
- It's o-it's okay. It's okay.
I-I'm the director at-at her school,
I-I cast her shows.
So, she wasn't getting the parts she wanted?
- Well, that was my guess. And, um,
- Yeah.
should I be talking to you or
- Oh, yeah.
- No, you shouldn't.
Ms. Tascioni, could you
wait in the hall, please?
Sure.
Um, I'm Detective Smullen.
I'm in charge of the scene.
Now, it is my understanding
that you all received
texts from Olivia
that she was having difficulty?
ACTRESSES: Yes.
So, you're a director at this acting school?
- Yes.
- Can I ask you a question?
Sure.
I'm in New York for a week.
Thinking about seeing Cats.
Should I?
I don't know. There's another revival?
Is that your taste?
I guess.
I mean, I like that song. What is it?
- "Memory."
- No.
I think the cat's going
to heaven and she sings it.
Something about
I'm raising a glass to ♪
Oh, my God, you're right.
That is "Memories."
I like that song.
Yes. Many people do.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
What about The Lion King?
Yes, that might be a good one for you.
Did you like it?
I think theatre can be
more than one thing to people.
This is me.
Um, can you think of anyone
who would want Olivia dead?
No. Why?
Oh, for when the police start
investigating it as a murder.
Are the police investigating it as a murder?
No, but
Olivia's diaphragm case was empty,
so I think she was preparing
to see someone she was dating.
That doesn't mean anything.
Well, what do you mean?
Maybe she was waiting for someone
and they didn't show up.
Maybe.
I guess that could be.
- Um, do you know who she was dating?
- No.
- Do you have time for one more question?
- No.
Okay.
♪
Welcome to New York.
♪
So, where are we?
BOBBY: We were investigating
it as a suicide
and now the consent decree lawyer
has the medical examiner
looking into it as a murder.
So, we're saying that she
found something we didn't?
Captain, a lawyer
will always find something.
And what do you think of her?
Well, what do you mean?
He seems to think you two are friends.
Oh no. Uh, she just
came up to me on the street.
Bottom line, the judge wants a lawyer
from outside the city to observe us.
But it doesn't have to be her, so,
I want to know what kind
of nuisance this lady might be
before I request a switch. Officer Blanke,
you stick with her.
Well, uh, Captain, uh, I work patrol.
No, you work lawyer patrol.
If she colors outside the lines, call me.
That's it.
MAN: U.S. Department of Justice.
How may I direct your call?
Agent Celetano. Tell him it's Wagner.
[LAUGHS]
Elsbeth Tascioni, right?
So, you screwed me?
I was looking for a get-along lawyer
and you sent me a nutcase.
No, no.
You'll get used to her.
All right, well, tell me
about this other lawyer,
the other one you mentioned.
Oh, Cary Agos.
Tough lawyer, but I don't think
you'll like him as much.
Try Elsbeth out for one week.
She'll grow on you.
You've been lying to me the whole time!
You have been pushing me away!
WOMAN: No, I haven't! You come in here
and you tell me that you cheated on me
and then you want to turn it around on me?
Oh, my God! Oh, you're gonna
cry now really?
You always blame it on me!
Okay, good. Good, very good.
Some nice adjustments there.
If I were to have one note,
it would be the dreaded "M" word,
- which is
- ALL: Melodrama.
Right. That's right.
How do we avoid that?
- Pull it out of ourselves.
- That's it.
It isn't my fault.
You come here,
you come here and you say
you're cheating on me
and then you try and turn it around onto me?
How dare you?
[SHUDDERING BREATH]
[CLASS APPLAUDS]
Stop.
Thank you. Stop.
So, how do we know
when we are looking at fake acting?
We look at the face
and we look at the body,
and if they are in disagreement,
then we know that
we're looking at bad acting.
And that
that is the key.
Mr. Modarian!
Hello?
Hi! Mr. Modarian?
I-It's me, from yesterday morning
- Elsbeth. Remember?
- Yes, yes.
How are you?
Oh, I'm good. I'm just a Whew.
I'm a little out of breath here.
Um, I saw the end of your class.
That was so amazing.
- Thank you.
- Oh, I loved how
you-you cried and you fell down.
That was so real. How do you do that?
I've got to get to my office, Miss, um
Oh, you can call me Elsbeth.
I'll come with you.
And I just have a few questions.
Wow. Are all these your students?
ALEX: Many of them, yes.
[GASPS] I think she was in Wicked.
I only know
because I have the cast album.
I play it all the time.
- How may I help you, Ms. Tascioni?
- Well,
the police are looking
for who Olivia was dating.
What deodorant do you use?
- What?
- It's just that
we found Old Irish deodorant
in Olivia's medicine cabinet,
and her parents said
Olivia didn't use Old Irish.
So, we're looking for a murderer
who smells like Old Irish?
[CHUCKLES] Yes, okay. You're right.
That's like a Sherlock Holmes story,
but with scratch-and-sniff.
[LAUGHS] I'm sorry if
I can't find this funny,
but one of my students has just been killed.
Or
committed suicide.
Yes.
Or committed suicide.
So, sorry if I don't treat this like a game.
Now, if you don't mind,
I need to make a call.
Sure, sure.
[SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT]
You're trying to sniff me,
aren't you, Ms. Tascioni?
What? No. No, no, no. I was just
No, no. No, sniff away.
[LAUGHS] Come on,
Ms. Tascioni, get in there.
Oh, you're so funny, Alex.
No, no, no, no.
I-I don't need to smell
I am a Ralph Lauren man, Ms. Tascioni.
So, if you're ever looking for a killer
and there's a Ralph Lauren scent in the air,
then you can cuff me.
But, in the meantime,
I need to make my call.
Yes. I'm sorry.
[WEAK CHUCKLE] I've taken up
way too much
of your time.
[CHUCKLES]
[DOOR CLOSES]
Hey, it's me.
We better not meet tonight.
Look, I'll call you.
No, no, Lana, I will call you.
Uh Oh, I'm so sorry.
Go ahead and finish your call.
I-I think I left my phone in here.
I'll-I'll call you back.
What is it that you need, Ms. Tascioni?
I'm so sorry, it's just that
It's my phone. Oh!
[CLAPS] There it is.
It must have, uh,
fallen out of one of my bags. [CHUCKLES]
You know, I'm glad I caught you.
I'm sure you are.
This odd thing
I found do you mind if I show you?
- Does it matter?
- Yes.
Of course, it it matters.
Um, this is a copy of the text
that Olivia sent to her classmates
a few minutes before she killed herself.
Or was murdered.
Can you see it there on my screen?
- Yes, I can.
- Do you need me to make it
- No, it's fine.
- Okay.
It says "I'm so sick
of performing for idiots
who don't understand what I'm doing."
And then she writes "I'm done with it.
The hiding who I really am."
Do you see there are two spaces
- after every period?
- Okay.
Do you know that's something
that older people do,
not younger?
Two spaces.
Younger people like Olivia
they do just one space after every period.
So, what I did was I went back
through Olivia's old texts,
and, do you know what?
She always did one space.
So, let me get this straight.
You want me to keep my eye out for
someone who smells of Old Irish
and when they text, they use
two spaces instead of one?
Yes. If you don't mind.
[CHUCKLES]
You are a funny one.
Not as funny as you.
[BOTH CHUCKLE QUIETLY]
How would you like
some tickets for The Lion King?
How would I how would I like them?
I would love them.
I know the company manager.
I'll get some for you.
Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
[LAUGHS]
That is such a nice gesture.
I mean I love, I love the movie,
but the play's even better, I hear.
It's really quite something.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'll leave them at the box office for you.
- Okay.
- Now, in the meantime,
I need to get on with my rehearsal.
Oh, I thought you had a call.
Yes, I did, but now I don't.
I don't want to interrupt your life.
Ms. Tascioni, how can I put this?
But at some time in your life
you have done some acting.
[CHUCKLES] No.
- No, I wish I had.
- Well,
you're doing some
very fine acting right now.
- Captain Wagner.
- Ms. Tascioni.
Glad you could meet me here.
Oh, my God, how could I not?
I mean, I've seen this in postcards,
but to be here ah.
Officer Blanke said that you wanted
to experience the real New York.
- We have to go ice skating.
- No.
- Oh, come on.
- No, thank you.
- Please? Okay.
- No.
So, I've been reading the language
of the consent decree,
and you have a great deal of freedom
in questioning who you want
and going where you want.
Yes, I know. It's wonderful.
Yes, but the intent is more
to follow our officers.
Instead, it appears they are following you.
Captain, can I tell you
a little bit about why
- I took this job?
- I can't wait.
I spent 30 years being a lawyer,
and I sometimes knew
the person I was defending
was was guilty.
And then this DOJ agent
Celetano he mentioned this job
and said I didn't have to lie anymore.
That my work could be
all about finding the truth
and not just some better way
of telling a lie
for someone I was defending.
Why are you hounding Professor Modarian?
Uh, Alex? I
I'm not hounding him.
- I like-I like him. He
- Elsbeth.
- Yes.
- Come on.
You just talked about the truth,
so please be truthful with me.
- You're right.
- Mm-hmm.
As a lawyer, I could always tell
how guilty a client was
by how much he talked, and Alex talks a lot.
Also, he came to the crime scene.
Guilty men always want
to be there, you know that.
- So you think he killed his student?
- Yes.
- Why?
- I don't know.
That's what's bothering me. I mean,
ugh, I have ideas, but
no proof.
Mr. Modarian, I wasn't sure if you Oh.
Ms. Tascioni, how are you? Come on in.
We were just talking about you.
Did Ms. Tascioni
ever ask you about this, sir?
No. She showed a lot of interest
in my deodorant use,
but you never asked me about a Trevor James,
- did you?
- Who's Trevor James?
- Someone allegedly stalking Olivia.
- [CLEARS THROAT]
Here.
BOBBY: And what do you know about this man?
ALEX: Uh, not a lot, really.
A lot of our students
have fans, and I've warned them
about the perils of social media.
But some of these people
can get a little bit toxic.
Where did these letters come from?
The dressing room.
Olivia Cherry's makeup station.
And did Mr. Modarian find them?
[CHUCKLES] Let it go, okay?
40 students saw Alex Modarian
at the cast party at the exact time
of Olivia's text and then her death.
- How did he manage that?
- Oh, I don't know yet.
- And what's his motive?
- I don't know yet.
Then stop hounding him.
What I'm doing is police work.
I have a suspect and a motive.
- Stalking?
- Yes. Look,
let me do my job and then you can come in
afterwards if you want and criticize me.
Are you staying?
I've been ordered to follow you.
Mm.
Who found these stalking letters?
- Was it Mr. Modarian?
- Yes.
And did you notice two spaces
after each sentence?
I did.
I think we need to find
some writing of Mr. Modarian
to see if he leaves two spaces
after each line
What?
I don't know.
♪
No, Mr. Modarian's been a perfect gentleman.
Yeah, I like him, too.
But I was just wondering Oh!
By the way, I love that scene
that you did in class.
Oh, the scene I'm being cheated on?
Oh, my gosh, yes. That was so great.
I was worried I went too big.
Oh, no, no, I like big. [CHUCKLES]
So
you two dating?
Excuse me?
You and Alex are you dating?
Is he in trouble?
Oh, no, no, no, no.
It's just a simple question.
No, I'd never date a teacher.
Oh. Well, it's just that
when I was in Alex's office,
I heard him on the phone with a Lana.
Oh. Must have been another Lana.
You know what was
so fascinating
about that acting class that I saw?
It was how Alex said that
acting was only convincing
if you could do it with
your face and your body
at the same time.
I'd never thought of that,
but I think it's true.
If you're dating Alex, it's no big deal.
I'm just curious.
I know what you're thinking,
but I got these parts on my own.
I didn't sleep with him for them.
Um
is this a syllabus from your class?
Yes.
Can I borrow it?
Two spaces after every period.
Great. Great, great, great.
Now, motive.
Alex looks every to new semester
for a pretty replacement.
Lana replaced Olivia.
So that means Olivia must have replaced
Let's see, who did he cast
in the lead before her?
KAYA: Beatrice Bruni.
Thank you.
Good luck with your mom.
[CLEARS THROAT]
[GASPS] Look.
It's right there. [CHUCKLES]
So, are you asking if I was dating Alex
or are you asking if I was sleeping with him
to get ahead?
Well, both, but the second question's
- more interesting, isn't it?
- [SHORT CHUCKLE]
Yeah, it is.
But I'm a nun now, so, uh
I don't kiss and tell.
Why are you a nun now?
The musical. Flying Nun mixed with
Singing Nun. ♪
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
Excuse me?
Uh, do you know
Olivia Cherry, the actress?
Oh, God, yeah, I heard.
That was awful.
She was a good actress.
Well, I noticed your last semester
that your parts got smaller
- as hers got bigger.
- Yeah.
Alex has his favorites.
The wider you spread your legs,
the bigger the part.
Are you willing to sign
a statement to that effect?
No.
Even if it helped stop a killer?
Alex isn't a killer.
He's just a scumbag.
Unless
he was worried about cancelled.
Do you know that for a fact?
- No, but that's why I need you.
- No, no,
that's a toxic accusation.
Prove it, then come back to me
and I'll sign your statement.
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
Well, that's the motive.
Now we just need to prove it.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Okay, fast. Where are we?
Investigating the stalker,
but he has an alibi for the death.
- He was at a comedy show in Brooklyn.
- And you?
- I've been following Elsbeth Tascioni.
- And?
She thinks the acting teacher
was sleeping with the victim.
Is it true?
We have no evidence
to that effect, Captain.
- Officer?
- Tascioni has gone back through the plays
for the last three years
and found that the acting teacher
features a new actress every six months.
It's her theory that that's because
he was sleeping with that student.
And what do you think?
Well, I don't think it's my position
Officer, just spit it out.
I think there's a chance she's right.
Tascioni thinks he killed her
because he was afraid she
was going to the school
- to get him fired.
- No.
Captain, this is all
just nonsense intuition.
- We need proof.
- Then get it.
I don't care who's right or wrong.
Either follow her lead
or come up with your own.
And you stay on her.
- Where is she now?
- A play reading.
And why are you here?
Because y-you asked me here.
Go.
[LAUGHING] And she-she walks off the stage
and just leaves me standing there by myself.
- Mr. Modarian.
- Ms. Tascioni.
- Hi.
- It's good to see you.
- You too.
- Sounds like
you've been a busy little bee.
[CHUCKLES] Buzz-buzz.
[CHUCKLES] So, how was your play reading?
Oh, it was like all readings:
it was disappointing
and it was a half hour too long.
Oh, well, this ought to cheer you up.
I got you a present from
Times Square. I thought
you deserved something
for all of your patience.
- How nice.
- Yeah.
I even got your name on it.
"Best Director."
- Well, I will cherish this.
- [CHUCKLES]
My guess is that this isn't the only reason
that you're here, Elsbeth.
You used my name.
Well, it seems appropriate,
when playing chess against a good adversary.
I'm gonna get myself another
drink and then we can talk.
Can I get you anything, Elsbeth?
Oh, no, no, I'm kooky if I drink.
You really don't
want to see that. [CHUCKLES]
Here is the syllabus from your class.
And these are copies of Olivia's texts.
So, Olivia sent 12 texts
to friends saying she
wanted to kill herself.
Did you know that there's
a typo on your syllabus?
See, you typed "decieve"
but you accidentally
switched the E and the I. Did you know
that's the most common
spelling error in English?
- Really?
- Yes. Now,
look over here on Olivia's
texts. She writes, "I'm sick"
"of 'forfieting' my career,"
but she
switches the E and the I too.
So, what do you deduce from that, Sherlock?
I deduce, Watson
- [CHUCKLES]
- you wrote those texts
to supply yourself with an alibi.
Mm. How would I have sent those texts
from Olivia's phone?
Well, Officer Kaya
was telling me all about
Was is it?
- A SIM card cloning tool.
- Right.
I think you copied Olivia's SIM card
so you could text from her phone
whenever you wanted.
[CHUCKLES]
Todd, do you have a moment?
TODD: Yes, sir.
This is my TA, Todd Ritter.
Todd, this is Elsbeth Tascioni.
She has something to do
with the police department,
but nobody knows exactly what.
Todd, who types up my syllabuses?
TODD: I-I do, sir.
And you see here this typo?
Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
- Is it
- It doesn't matter, don't worry.
It's the most common error
in the English language.
Isn't that right, Elsbeth? Oh,
just one more question, Todd.
I hope it's not too personal,
but Elsbeth was commenting
on how much she loves your cologne.
What is it?
I don't use cologne.
Um, your deodorant, then.
Old Irish.
I like their commercials.
Me too. Thank you, Todd.
I'm sure Elsbeth will have
some follow-up questions.
Anything, Elsbeth? Officer?
You let me know how you like
The Lion King, won't you?
- WOMAN: Hi.
- Hi.
Most Shakespeare is so overdone. Thoughts?
That's a fact. Or
- Damn.
- you can dig in to the iambic
I didn't kill her. I loved her.
But you do admit to having been
- at her apartment that night?
- No. No, no, no, no.
I was heading to her apartment
but no one answered the door.
- Did you write these texts?
- No.
But you did write this syllabus, right?
Yes, yes, but it's not my typo.
I think I judged you wrong, Ms. Tascioni.
You pointed us in the right direction.
Good job.
Forensics found some DNA
on a hair on the deodorant.
It belonged to him.
- Todd Ritter.
- ELSBETH: Why would he do it?
He was jealous.
Olivia was seeing other people,
when he showed up that night, they fought,
he killed her and made it
look like a suicide.
Anyway, good job.
When I'm wrong, I admit it.
Oh.
[SIGHS]
BOBBY: Where'd this happen?
[TODD SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Fast forward to 32:05.
♪
Look, I just
I just cut and paste parts of the syllabus
from the notes on Mr. Modarian's computer.
Those are not my typos.
It's not him.
Ms. Tascioni. Unlike you, apparently,
I have 46 other ongoing homicide cases.
So, you'll have to specify.
Todd Ritter.
He didn't kill Olivia Cherry.
[SIGHS] Ms. Tascioni
Hey, here's a thought.
Why don't you take yes for an answer?
I mean, this kid was sleeping with Olivia,
he lied about going to
the apartment that night.
People lie about a lot of things.
Yeah. And guilty people lie about even more.
Now, this is our job, Elsbeth.
Let us do our job.
Now, I have to go.
Um, I'll come with you.
No. No.
You go and apologize.
That acting teacher is bringing charges
against you and the department
for harassment,
so you go to him and you grovel.
And then we'll talk about your future.
W-What does that mean?
I need you to know when to stop.
You solved this. Now move on.
Or I'll call Cary Agos.
You know Cary.
Yes. From Chicago.
You know he's good.
Then take the win and move on.
You solved the case.
But did you find the SIM card reader
on Todd Ritter?
- Go and apologize.
- But
Ah. Let go of this door or I'll shoot you.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, more blue.
Less white here. Great.
- Thank you. Carrying on.
- [ACTORS REHEARSING INDISTINCTLY]
Mr. Modarian?
Elsbeth. What are you up to tonight?
An apology.
And, uh
cookies.
[SHORT CHUCKLE] I found this book on baking
and I thought I'd give it a try.
- Thank you.
- They're supposed to be
Halloween cookies.
But I put in too much food coloring,
so they're a bit red.
- Try one.
- I'm good.
I will later, though. Thank you.
I-I'm just trying to say, sir, that
you've been so nice to me
and I have to apologize.
You really don't.
I really actually do. [CHUCKLES]
The captain says I need to-to grovel.
[CHUCKLES] So he heard
- about my complaint, did he?
- Yes.
And all I want to say, sir, is
I'm a great admirer of your craft.
And I-I really enjoyed our little jousts.
I have to say
I occasionally have, too.
[SHORT CHUCKLE]
Is, um
someone gesturing to you?
Captain Wagner.
- Um, I'm so sorry, I will be right back.
- No.
Captain Wagner got a search
warrant for his dorm room.
Ugh, it's not gonna be there.
I told him Todd Ritter had
nothing to do with her SIM card.
KAYA: That's why Wagner wants you there.
He wants you to observe the search.
It's a waste of time.
Is Mr. Ritter still denying it?
We had to let him go.
We could only hold him for 24 hours.
I
have to go. Mr. Modarian, um
enjoy the cookies.
Goodbye, Ms. Tascioni.
Come to my woman's breasts
and take my milk for gall,
you murdering ministers,
wherever in your sightless substances
you wait on nature's mischief.
Come, thick night
So they let you go.
Yeah. Not enough evidence.
But, uh, they want me to come
in tomorrow for questioning.
I'm sure they're just fishing.
Yeah.
They keep asking how
I sent texts for Olivia.
But I didn't.
Well, I'm glad you're able to get here
for the tech rehearsal tonight.
You mind holding the fort
while I go to the restroom?
Sure.
Thanks.
LANA AS LADY MACBETH:
In the dunnest smoke of hell,
that my keen knife see not
the wound it makes,
nor heaven peep through
the blanket of the dark
to cry, "Hold!"
♪
the attempt and not the deed
confounds us. Hark!
I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss them, mmm.
If he had not resembled
my father as he slept,
I had done't.
My husband. I have done the deed.
Didst thou hear a noise?
I heard the owls scream
and the crickets cry.
- Did not you speak?
- MACBETH: When?
- LADY MACBETH: Now.
- MACBETH: As I descended?
BOBBY: Mr. Modarian.
MACBETH: Hark, who lies
in the second chamber?
LADY MACBETH: Donalbain.
BOBBY: Mr. Modarian.
[REHEARSAL CONTINUING INDISTINCTLY]
I was just I'm just
I was just I'm-I'm just
So you followed me.
[SHORT CHUCKLE]
Oh
Nicely played.
You too, Alex.
ALEX: No, no.
I mean over at the director's table.
That was some good acting, both of you.
How did you know?
All this time?
What was it that gave me away?
Acting.
- You weren't convinced by my acting?
- Oh, no,
I was.
People in life don't act.
[SHORT CHUCKLE] Hmm.
Have a cookie.
[CHUCKLES]
Stand up.
Alex Modarian,
you're under arrest
for the murder of Olivia Cherry.
[CUFFS RATTLING]
Did you get to see Cats?
No, tonight.
Think of me.
"Memories."
Good job.
ELSBETH: Thanks.
Want to go see a play?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Oh, you don't have to be a hypocrite.
You won.
I can still feel sad.
I liked him.
WAGNER: Now, how are we
gonna make this work?
You and the department?
You want me?
You don't want Cary Agos?
The department wants you.
You want me, too.
- We need to hug.
- No, we don't.
Oh
Wow!
Yeah.
- We did that just for you.
- [LAUGHS]
[PHONE VIBRATES]
Yes, sir?
Is he there?
No, sir.
You ready to get started?
I think you're wrong about him, sir.
Captain Wagner's been nice to me.
Nice people can be corrupt too, Elsbeth.
I'd rather not do this.
Too bad.
You're not a defense lawyer anymore.
The truth means putting people in jail.
Call me in the morning.