Elsbeth (2024) s01e05 Episode Script

1
Yoyo, earlier this year,
you were the world number one,
playing some of the most
astounding tennis we've ever seen.
So I have to admit, I was pretty shocked
when you announced you were retiring.
How's that decision sitting?
Well, to be honest, I believe
I have much more to prove,
so I will be entering the upcoming
tournament in New York.
Wait, so, am I getting this right?
- Your retirement is put off?
- Indefinitely. Yes, I am back.
Hey, knock that off.
- Yoyo was supposed to go away.
- It's a speed bump.
Stop acting like a little child.
And let's talk about how
we're gonna beat him.
I've lost to him 11 times.
And you beat him once, in Shanghai.
He had appendicitis.
Stop moaning and get your head right.
Can you just stop being
my coach for half a second
and just be my dad?
We need to make a good run in New York,
get our ranking back up.
The sponsors are starting to get soft.
Yeah, I'm so sorry if Mom's
dying hurt their shoe sales.
[SCOFFS]
Look.
We've had a bad year, kid.
But Yoyo can't keep up his
level of playing forever.
Someone's gonna beat him and if it's us,
it'll make a huge statement
about who the future of men's tennis is.
This is an opportunity.
You know, people make TikTok supercuts
of every time Yoyo aced me on the serve?
And those videos are long.
Well, then, maybe you
should anticipate better.
- Just stop.
- Hey, check your tone.
Anything can happen in these
matches. You know that.
Yeah, maybe next time
he'll lose a gallbladder.
COMMENTATOR: It's day three in New
York at the Gotham Tennis Open,
and we've got our first marquee match.
♪
Checking in. How we feeling?
[DOOR OPENS]
YOYO: Fear not.
I have completed the most
important part of the warm-up.
Gracias for that, amor mío.
Yoyo, oh, my God, you are so crazy.
Uh, not crazy.
- Just Spanish.
- [LAUGHS]
Come on, man.
All right, let's talk coin toss.
If I win, I take the serve.
No. That's what everyone
figures you'll do.
Let's do something different.
Instead of taking the
serve, choose a side.
Let him serve first. It'll throw
him off and make him realize
that you're not afraid
of his biggest weapon.
But I am afraid of it.
Trust me. You win the coin toss,
take the far side of the
court that's closest to me,
and I can call out any early
adjustments, all right?
All right. Let's go.
Players can choose whether
to serve or receive
or if they'd prefer, they may
choose a side of the court.
I serve.
That means you choose a side.
This side.
COMMENTATOR: It's the hometown hero
Hunter McGrath versus Johann Arnaldo.
Now, McGrath is interesting,
he's shown a lot of promise,
but he's struggled a bit lately
in the face of some personal loss.
[GRUNTS]
- [SHOUTS]
- [CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
Let's go.
Way to stay on him.
COMMENTATOR: We're now
well into this opening set,
and Yoyo is in fantastic form, as usual.
But the real surprise is Hunter McGrath,
who has managed to hang with him
- at every turn.
- Stay on him.
- Let's go, let's go.
- And Yoyo is clearly looking a bit frustrated.
WOMAN: You got this.
COMMENTATOR: Bit of a
wobble there from Yoyo.
Need the medic?
¿Por qué?
Do you think I'm weak?
Do you think I'm old? I'm fine.
[GRUNTING]
[SHOUTS]
- Vamos.
- [CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
[PANTING]
[CROWD GASPS]
COMMENTATOR:
Something very concerning is
Just bear with us.
Oh, it looks like we're taking
an extended medical time-out.
Hunter.
Hey. Talk to me.
Th-They told me to wait here.
I Uh, D-Dad, I heard them talking
before I got off the court. They're s
they're saying
I think he's dead.
- S
- No.
No, that's a mistake.
It wasn't supposed to
It's, um, it's a mistake.
It's a mistake.
We'll have Manhattan ♪
The Bronx and Staten Island, too ♪
It's lovely going through ♪
The zoo ♪
Oh, this guy is so talented.
I can't believe you've
spent your whole life
in the city and you've never been here.
Yeah, I'm not sure anyone actually
from New York has ever been here.
No. One month in,
and already, I'm showing
you the hidden gems?
Fuhgeddaboudit.
Ooh, how's Captain Wagner?
Oh, you mean my boss' boss' boss?
I think he's good.
He seems a little stressed
about that Wali guy.
Never heard of him.
Captain Wagner doesn't
exactly confide in me.
Yeah, he's probably too busy
fundraising for his foundation.
[PHONE DINGS]
Whoa.
What? What is it?
Johann Arnaldo just died on live TV.
What? The tennis player?
Yeah.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[PHONE DINGS]
Oh, it's Captain Wagner.
It's about the news.
He thinks this is a police thing?
Yeah, it's high profile enough
that he wants me to observe.
Who's that?
KAYA: I think that's the guy
Yoyo was playing when it happened.
E-Excuse me, sir? Uh, could
we get some sound, please?
Oh, uh, no, I-I was about
to sing "Meadowlark."
From The Baker's Wife. Hello?
- Sure, how about some sound?
- Yeah.
Sorry. You're so talented.
REPORTER: Cliff, How are you
feeling in the wake of the match?
This was an awful tragedy.
Nobody wanted for anything
like this to happen.
That's a funny thing to say.
Huh?
That man.
He said nobody wanted this to happen.
Well, of course nobody wanted it.
Shouldn't that go without saying?
Who did they say that was again?
♪
Well, so much for a
basic medical episode.
BOBBY: The ME says that Yoyo
had exceptionally high levels
of nitroglycerin and
sildenafil in his system.
And when combined,
they can cause a catastrophic
drop in blood pressure,
especially if the victim
has been straining himself.
- Like playing professional tennis.
- ELSBETH: [WHOOPS] Yes!
We're distracting you, Ms. Tascioni?
Uh, yes, by all means,
don't let us keep you from a good time.
Oh. You're not.
I'm just watching the game.
No. The match.
Sorry. I'm just getting the lingo.
I mean, I know I know how it ends,
and I can't help but get
caught up in these points.
[SIGHS] It's so exciting.
It's a beautiful sport. Anyway
Oh, sorry. I actually do have a point.
- Captain.
- No, it's just
Johann or Yoyo,
as they call him, right
he's playing this American,
Hunter McGrath,
who, by the way,
the broadcaster just said
that he lost his mom to cancer.
That's so sad.
Right. Yoyo.
He started the match in
peak physical condition.
So, if he was poisoned
That hasn't been determined.
- No.
- ELSBETH: If he was drugged,
then it seems to me that it
would have had to happen
during the match or just before it.
So, maybe someone who was with him
in the locker room saw something,
like this Hunter McGrath. Or his father.
Okay, l-let's get something straight.
I am the lead detective
in this case, all right?
If you observe any misconduct,
by all means, say something.
- But otherwise
- Of course.
Point [WHISTLES] taken. [CHUCKLES]
I like that tie, by the way.
[CHUCKLES]
How do you want to proceed, boss?
We're asking anyone who was with Yoyo
just before the match started
if they might have seen
something suspicious.
So, then, do you suspect
some kind of foul play?
Uh, we're looking at all possibilities.
- Is that your son?
- Yeah.
He's pretty shaken by this whole thing.
Well, but they decided to
go on with the tournament
and Hunter advanced to the next round.
It's my job as his his
coach to prep him, so
That's so interesting.
You're his father and his coach.
That must get tricky.
Not so much. I used to
play professionally,
- so I know what he's going through.
- Whoa.
Uh, maybe you shouldn't
touch the equipment.
Right. Sorry. I hear these are
really great for your posture.
- Uh, so, who was better?
- Ms. Tascioni.
What, between my son and me?
Exactly.
It feels like it'd be competitive,
you both having played tennis.
Not at all. I was a complete mediocrity.
But Hunter he's got the
potential to go all the way
if he just stays
focused. I'm sorry, I didn't
I didn't get your name.
Oh, Elsbeth Tascioni.
[CHUCKLES] I actually have
a cousin named Elsbeth.
- [CHUCKLES] Tell her I'm sorry.
- BOBBY: She's just the lawyer.
They got her observing us.
At least, she's supposed
to be observing.
- Anyway, as I was saying
- Yeah. Right. No. Um
No, we haven't seen anything suspicious.
No one unauthorized or out
of the ordinary with him?
No. Just the usual entourage.
Coach, nutritionist.
He had a pretty girl with him.
He's going through some divorce.
- Oh, what kind
- BOBBY: Is there anything else
that you can think of?
Yeah, this-this doesn't have
any kind of special insight.
I just follow Yoyo like
any other tennis player.
But if you ask me, you should
be looking at the Russians.
The Russians?
Yeah, he was pretty outspoken
after the invasion.
I think he got under Putin's skin.
I mean, it wouldn't be the first time
this guy put a hit out on someone.
No, that's good. The Russians.
We'll look into that.
- I wonder, though
- I think we've taken up
- enough of this man's time.
- Good luck.
Yoyo was a legend. I just, I feel
awful about what happened.
Of course you do.
Anyone would, right?
Right.
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, towel dude.
Who are you?
I'm Ashlee, the ball girl.
I saw what you did with that towel.
Thought you were just trying
to mess with the dude,
but then you low-key un-alived him.
[CHUCKLES] So
I don't know what you think you saw,
but maybe we should talk about this
- somewhere private?
- [LAUGHS] I think
I'll stick to where people can see us.
And before you get any ideas,
I saved your towel.
[SCOFFS] Receipts, bruh.
Okay, so, why not go to the police
and tell them what you think you saw?
I could.
Or we could collab.
If you're gonna low-key sabotage
all your son's opponents,
just read in a girl in.
I could make arrangements.
No one is sabotaging anyone.
And what-what arrangements?
Vinny, the hot dog guy.
He takes the ball crew's action
- on all the matches.
- That's
Tournament staff should not be
placing bets on the matches.
Yeah, well, coaches shouldn't
be murdering other players.
So, I guess we're all
acting a little sus.
Listen, I could put
real money on Hunter.
I'd cut you in, obvi.
Hmm.
Nice shoes.
Thanks.
They look expensive.
I'm kind of entering my rich era.
Ah.
Is that because you
placed a bet on Hunter
before the last match?
[SCOFFS] What?
Yeah, so let me catch up here.
So-so you placed a huge
bet on the underdog
right before someone
sabotaged his opponent,
and now you have the murder
weapon in your possession.
[CHUCKLES]
I hate to break it to you, but
you look guiltier than I do.
You try to take me down,
and I'll bring you with me.
Damn! Uno reverse card.
Okay. Okay, so, uh
If we're fam now
- how are we throwing off the scent?
- We are not fam. What
The most important thing you can do
and I want you to listen to this
very carefully, young lady
is to never be seen
speaking to me again.
And anyway
I spoke to the detectives.
They're looking at the Russians.
- The Russians?
- The Russians.
That's original.
But [SCOFFS] fine.
- Yeah, I can "yes and" the Russians.
- "Yes and"? What?
N-No. Just don't-don't do anything.
Relax, bruh.
Let me cook.
I'm-a come in clutch for you. Yeah?
- Oh! Sorry.
- It's you.
Yes. [LAUGHS]
I was looking for the restroom.
I got a little turned around.
Who was that girl you were talking to?
Just-just a ball girl.
The restrooms are by
the, uh, practice gym.
- Right where I left you.
- Mm. Okay.
I love those ball kids.
They're so quiet.
[ROLLING TONGUE]
Feels like they could really
sneak right up on you.
Maybe you should try out next year.
Oh.
No, I don't think I'd be good at that.
Plus, my knees.
So, what were you two talking about?
Nothing. She's a fan of Hunter.
Oh, was she working the match?
Maybe the detectives should
ask if she saw anything.
Don't do that.
Because I already did.
Um, you know, to be helpful.
That's what we were discussing.
And, um no luck.
Oh. That's too bad.
Ooh, do you think they have
that in an extra small?
No idea. Um
Aren't the detectives
focused on the Russians?
Uh Oh, yeah, they are.
They are, but I don't know
[GIGGLES]
- Sorry.
- You have doubts?
It's just
When the Russians assassinate someone,
they're trying to make a point,
you know, to scare the next person
who thinks of speaking out.
Killing a tennis giant on
the sport's biggest stage
isn't making a point?
Well, except for you
and a few people online,
no one's really suggesting them.
And their people haven't
leaked anything to change that.
So [CLICKS TONGUE]
Kind of defeats the [GROWLS]
purpose, doesn't it?
What do I know? I'm just a tennis coach.
Oh, but you're a really,
really good one, though.
I mean, I only had a
few lessons as a girl,
but I wish I'd had someone like you.
Oh. Well, I'll teach you
a few tips someday.
Really? [GASPS]
- I would love that.
- Any time.
Oh, but, um, like when?
Ah, we, uh, we're on the practice
courts most afternoons.
But I-I really need to go.
Oh, sorry, yeah.
Uh, tell Hunter good luck.
I'll be watching.
- I'm getting that sense.
- [CHUCKLES]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[SIGHS HEAVILY]
[CLEARS THROAT]
Yeah?
Oh. Captain Wagner.
Uh, no, sit-sit down.
Sit down.
Just seeing how you're doing.
Oh, I-I'm fine. Good.
It seems that you hit it off
with our consent decree
lawyer, Ms. Tascioni.
Uh, I'm not sure "hitting
it off" is the
Oh, but if it's inappropriate,
I can absolutely
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
I think it's good.
And we've got nothing
to hide here, right?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
Has she mentioned anything in particular
that she's looking
into while she's here?
Or anyone?
We don't really talk about that.
She mentioned someone named Wali.
Hmm.
Well, keep up the great work.
Officer, I appreciate you.
The mayor has her here for a year,
and then she's back to Chicago.
But you could have a long
future in this department.
You've shown you've got
the makings of a detective.
I appreciate that, sir.
Just keep me in the loop
if there's anything you
think I ought to know.
I'm so glad you invited me to lunch.
I mean, look at this. This is so nice.
Yeah, well, you've been
here a while now,
and we haven't really had a chance
to connect on a personal level.
I totally agree. Oh,
what's that one again?
Oh, this one, uh is fish.
[BOTH LAUGH]
So, you're getting everything you need?
It seems like you have
taken a real interest in us.
Oh, yes, it's so fascinating.
I really love being in the field.
Yeah. I miss it sometimes.
I mean, this administrative thing,
the press conferences, uh
it-it's not what
attracted me to policing.
Well, why not go back?
Be a detective again.
Oh, it-it doesn't work that way.
You know, when they
offered me a promotion,
there was a certain
prestige, and I thought
Claudia deserves to be
with someone like that.
Your wife.
Oof.
- She's amazing.
- Yeah.
Do you have family?
Yeah, a son. Teddy. [SOFT CHUCKLE]
He's in D.C., works for a nonprofit.
He doesn't love it.
I wish he was more proactive,
but, um [CHUCKLES]
he doesn't like it it
when I butt in, so
No torture worse than an unhappy
kid who doesn't want help.
Exactly. Oh, thank you.
Ooh, look at that, it's warmed up.
Yeah, I ask her to microwave them.
I know it's an office lunch,
but there's no need not
to make it an occasion.
I'm glad we get this time. I
I wanted to give you a chance
to ask me anything you
Um
No.
Elsbeth. The-the
That's really not how
you're supposed to
Of course.
Oh.
We need to see Detective Smullen.
Oh, so Uh, sorry.
But our lunch.
Um
- No, no. Work comes first.
- Okay.
[GIGGLES]
[MUTTERS]
Up until this point, Yoyo
has been playing great.
Until this changeover.
He's pretty sweaty,
so he's giving himself a
very thorough toweling off.
And you think he, what
toweled himself to death?
One of the drugs found in Yoyo's
system nitroglycerin
can be absorbed through the skin.
So, maybe someone put
the drug in his towel.
It seems far-fetched.
Right, Captain?
[GROANS]
Uh, okay, well, then, even if
the towel wasn't laundered
or destroyed, how the hell
would you expect us to find it?
♪
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
♪
♪
She's back.
- [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]
- [INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
What is this?
What is going on?
Ma'am, we received an anonymous tip.
Found it, sir.
You're going to need to
come with us, ma'am.
Your bio says that you're
a "model, makeup artist,
"wine lover, mermaid,
born Moldovan, now a citizen
of the 'Earth emoji.'"
You got a lot of followers on this app.
People like what I have to say.
Yeah, I'm sure they're coming
for the well-written captions.
I'm more interested
in the Moldovan thing.
'Cause we checked, and it
turns out that you travel
- on a Russian passport.
- Everyone bends truth on social media.
And since the war,
being Russian is not so good for brand.
I guess that's one reason to lie.
I can think of some others, though.
So how about you tell me
why we found a towel
in your bag soaked with the same
drug that killed your boyfriend?
I told you, I don't know how
that towel got into my things.
We know you were with Yoyo
just before his match.
You gave him that towel, didn't you?
You didn't like what he had to say
about your buddy Vladimir.
No! I was there because
Yoyo asked me to be.
But I didn't give him anything
that would kill him.
- Okay
- [KNOCKING]
Oh, he can't see me. [SHORT CHUCKLE]
[DOOR OPENS]
Do you mind?
No, not at all.
Try asking her whether
she gave Yoyo any drugs.
Lady, she just said that she didn't.
Oh
I hate to disagree, but I will.
What she said was,
"I didn't give him anything
that would kill him."
You see the difference?
This is why people don't like lawyers.
Really? I thought it was
the frivolous lawsuits
and overbilling.
[SIGHS]
You said that you didn't give him
anything that would kill him.
But on the day of the match,
did you give him anything at all?
All week, he wanted to go
two, three times a day,
but the man wasn't 22 anymore.
[SNIFFLES]
He would get so sensitive
about any sign of aging.
It'd make him so angry
when he couldn't perform.
I just wanted him to
do well in his match,
- so I slipped him something.
- Like ED medication?
You don't think that killed him, do you?
BOBBY: It doesn't change anything.
I got a girl in there who
lied about being Russian,
who admitted to drugging him
To partially drugging him.
There were two substances
in Yoyo's system
and their interaction caused his death.
What if they came from
two different people?
Meaning?
Well, the second person
couldn't have known
that Yoyo was on ED meds.
So maybe we're not looking for a hitman.
Maybe we're looking for somebody
who just wanted to hurt
Yoyo's tennis game
and wound up killing him by mistake.
BOBBY: We found the murder
weapon in their room.
It was you who told us to look
for the towel in the first place.
Just take the win, lady.
Well, isn't it convenient, though,
that we found the towel after
receiving an anonymous tip
telling us exactly
where to find the towel?
I mean, aren't you curious
who put in that call?
- No.
- Do me a favor.
Check the hotel footage and
see if there's anything there.
Elsbeth, I'm sorry, until there is,
I agree with the detective.
The evidence is compelling.
Let's process this girl.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
You. With me.
What'd you do?
They're saying on the
news that they arrested
they arrested the
girlfriend after finding
some kind of evidence in her hotel room.
Yeah, because that's
where I planted the towel.
- Not you losing the plot.
- I told you don't do anything.
Right.
And didn't you also say
we shouldn't be seen
in this side text?
[SCOFFS] Later, boomer.
CLIFF: You're playing tight, Hunter.
I'm tight because
you're stressing me out.
- Can you back off?
- I'll back off when we win.
Don't you mean when I win?
Oh, yeah?
You think you'd be worth anything
without the work I've put into all this?
See, that's big words,
coming from the former number 87.
Let's go again.
Nah. I'm taking ten.
We don't have ten, Hunter
Hunter.
I have to admit, I didn't expect
you to take me up on this so soon.
Oh, well, you said any time.
I did. I did.
- Whoops.
- It's okay, no, no, no.
You can leave it there. Just
It's okay. Just nice and soft.
All right.
Oh. Sorry about that.
You must be feeling relieved.
I saw the police made an arrest.
Oh, yeah, they did. Irina.
Have you ever had chronic chest pains?
No. Why?
Oh. It's just, um, Yoyo was exposed
to two different drugs.
Irina helps us account for the first.
- Erection meds.
- Oh, my.
Yeah. And the second
one nitroglycerine
is often prescribed for chest pains.
Side effects include dizziness, fatigue.
Things that wouldn't by
themselves be likely to kill you,
but, um, definitely mess
up your tennis game.
Okay, service, please.
Ooh!
- Sorry.
- No, that's okay. Just fix your grip,
- like you're shaking hands, okay?
- Oh, okay.
So, I'm not sure I'm following
with the nitroglycerine.
Well, I think that we're
looking at a second drugger.
Someone who wanted Yoyo to lose
and got unlucky when he ended up dead.
Boy, whoever that is
must be feeling really guilty right now.
Okay, I'm ready.
Oh! I won a point.
You are a quick learner.
I don't know about that.
I think we should end the lesson here.
Oh. I-I just, um
No, actually, I got a call scheduled.
Uh, it's a big sponsor
circling Hunter, so
Oh, is that 'cause he's doing
so well in the tournament?
I read that he's one of
the favorites to win.
I can only imagine how much
you want that for him.
Of course. He's my son.
Oh, I get it. I have a son, too.
And I know we, as parents,
would do just about anything
for our kids.
I got to make that call.
- Okay.
- Okay.
Thanks for the lesson.
Hi, Hunter.
Hey.
Oh, wow. Look at her.
She looks so amazing.
Uh, yeah. She's won,
like, a bunch of majors.
We actually used to date.
Was that hard, dating
another tennis player?
I mean, well, we were, like, 14.
- Oh. [CHUCKLES]
- I was homeschooled,
so it was kind of the only option.
This really has been your
whole life, hasn't it?
Yeah. I mean, that's the deal
when your dad's the coach.
It's not easy.
Especially since my mom
She was the peacemaker.
You deserved more time with her.
I-I'll say this for him.
My dad was an amazing caretaker.
I mean, when the heart
stuff got really bad,
he took her to all her doctor visits,
tracked all her meds.
Heart?
I-I thought the TV said it was cancer.
Uh, no, they always get that wrong.
And everyone hears "dead
mom," "gone too soon,"
and they always just go
right to cancer, but no.
It was her heart.
You okay?
Oh.
Hey. Oh.
- His wife had heart disease.
- Slow down.
His who? What?
And also, what the hell are you wearing?
Um, Hunter McGrath's dad, Cliff
his wife died of heart failure.
And what do they frequently
prescribe patients with chest pains?
Transdermal nitroglycerine ointment.
The same substance we
found in the towel.
Hold on.
That's a fine theory, but
there were a lot of folks
that had access to those towels
and we just brought one in.
I'm gonna show you some
security footage stills.
How about that? This is you
in Irina Ivanova's hotel
walking down the hallway
towards the gym.
This is you in the gym.
And this is you leaving the hotel,
taking out your phone at
the exact same moment
that we received an anonymous tip
about the murder weapon
being in Irina's room.
What if and this is crazy, I know
more than one person in the world
made a phone call at the same time?
[IMITATES EXPLOSION]
We know that you poisoned Johann Arnaldo
with that towel.
What towel?
Okay.
Why did you send using
a public pay app $200
to a hot dog vendor named Vinny
just before the match,
and why did Vinny send you back
a significantly larger
amount hours later,
right after Hunter was
declared the winner?
Can't remember.
Hey, can I vape in here?
Look, I get it.
Don't tell my superiors but,
you know, I've been known
to put a little action on my
Giants every now and then.
So, take some advice from me.
Pay your bookie offline.
I mean, you may think
that you're Danny Ocean,
but you're not as good
at this crime stuff
- as you think you are.
- Danny who?
From the movie.
Da
Never mind. Answer the question.
Fine.
I put money on Hunter.
But check the time stamp,
'cause I guarantee
it was before the coin toss.
So?
You're telling me someone
put some kind of murder towel
on one side of the court.
But if it was me,
how did I know who to bet on if
they hadn't picked their sides yet?
Your math's not mathing.
KAYA: This girl's a real piece of work.
Such a good point.
Uh, thank you?
I can't believe I didn't think to ask.
Ask what?
If the towels were placed
before the coin toss,
how could Cliff have known
that Hunter wouldn't be
the one to got drugged?
Maybe he didn't do it.
Uh, don't you need to be observing?
That was an astonishing
semifinal victory.
Obviously, we're all gutted
about the loss of a
legend in Yoyo Arnaldo.
But how have you managed to
put that trauma behind you
and it has be said
play the best tennis of your career?
Well, I think part of it is the energy
and crowd here in New York.
[CHEERING]
I grew up here. You know,
I still live and train here.
But really, I have to
attribute it to my mom.
You know, she always wanted
to see me win in New York,
and I got to believe
she's still watching.
So, I'm playing for her.
[CHANTING]: Hunter!
Hunter! Hunter! Hunter!
Great job. They've got a car
waiting for us downstairs.
- Congratulations.
- Forgive us,
but he really needs to get his rest.
Actually, I was just hoping
that maybe you would
autograph this towel?
- Got a marker?
- Yes.
Thank you.
You know they sell these
towels in the merch store?
The same ones the players use.
Anyone can buy themselves
one if they needed a spare.
Fascinating. Hunter, come on.
You know what, I've been studying
and reading up on tennis
since our lesson.
One thing the books never
talk about is the coin toss.
- What about it?
- How does it work?
Well, the winner gets to choose
whether to serve or to receive
but if he prefers, he can
pick a side of the court.
But players always change sides of
the courts after the first game,
so it rarely impacts the outcome.
Oh.
I think Yoyo would disagree.
Why do I get the sense
that you're not here
to learn about tennis strategy?
I've watched the match between
Yoyo and Hunter dozens of times
and I never thought to ask,
if he had won the coin toss,
which side would Hunter have chosen?
Hunter would have chosen to serve.
ELSBETH: Huh.
Isn't that interesting?
I'm not sure what you're getting
at, but my son's about to play
the biggest match of his life,
and we be both need
to be focused on that.
So if you need us to answer
any more questions,
I'll ask you to do so through my lawyer.
- Hunter.
- Yeah.
- Let's go.
- Mm-hmm.
- Bye, Hunter.
- Bye.
You did great.
Great win today,
but you're still not coming
in aggressively enough.
You lied to that woman.
- Huh?
- That match with Yoyo.
You told me to pick the
side, not the serve.
Why lie?
To that Elsbeth woman?
Who cares? She's a loon.
- I like her.
- I don't know.
I got mixed up, come on.
Just don't Forget about that.
Don't let this woman get in your head.
Just focus on the final.
[CHUCKLES] We're so close, man.
♪
Thanks again for inviting me.
This is very exciting.
I wish you hadn't insisted on
reimbursing me for the ticket.
The department gets comps every year.
Oh. [CHUCKLES]
I think this just keeps
things nice and tidy.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh, should be starting soon, right?
What's going on?
Why aren't you on the bike?
What's the point?
I-I mean, everyone just expects
me to choke out there anyway.
Choke? Where's this coming from?
I overheard some of the staff.
Apparently they're all
betting on the match.
This is getting crazy. These
people work for the tournament.
Whatever.
The point is they're
betting on me to lose.
You have beaten Dmitri a dozen times.
You are the better player.
Listen, hey, pay no attention to it.
You and I know the work you've put in.
We know what you got to show out there.
You go out there, relax and execute.
- Yeah?
- Mm-hmm.
Hey.
I believe in you.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Now, who were these guys?
[SIGHS] Just just
a couple of ball boys.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
You telling your friends
to bet against my son?
Nah, dude [SIGHS] I'm off all that.
What do you know?
Dude, I thought we said no talking.
- Tell me exactly what
- Step back or I'll scream.
- I'm not even touching you
- Stop gaslighting me!
Sir, you're too close.
Geez
Here we go.
[CROWD CHEERING]
Hunter!
I'll receive.
Hey. Hey, Hunter.
[MOUTHING]
[WHISPERS]: Don't touch your towel.
What? Speak up.
Don't touch your towel.
My towel? Why?
UMPIRE: Will the player please
proceed with the game?
What's wrong with my towel?
Just trust me, get a new one.
Why shouldn't I touch the towel?
UMPIRE: Delay of play.
Point penalty, Mr. McGrath. Love-15.
Why shouldn't I touch the towel, Dad?
Never mind. Just go-go-go-go play.
No, not until you tell me.
Just trust me. Get out there right now.
UMPIRE: Delay of play. Point penalty,
Mr. McGrath. Love-30.
Tell me why I shouldn't
touch the towel, Dad.
Because that ball girl drugged it
'cause she's trying to sabotage you!
- I would like to withdraw.
- What?
I'm withdrawing from the tournament.
What's he saying?
What's he doing?
[CROWD MURMURING, WHISTLING]
[CROWD CLAMORING, JEERING]
Hunter.
Hey, Hunter.
WAGNER: Cliff McGrath,
you're under arrest for the
murder of Johann Arnaldo.
What?
No. What are Wait-wait a minute.
What are you doing?
- Come with us.
- Stop
- Come on.
- CLIFF: This is a mistake.
I'm telling you, it's the ball girl.
That's the one you want.
Oh, we want her. But we
definitely want you, too.
Look, you test that towel that she
handed to Hunter and you'll see.
She-She's she's the one
who's poisoning the players.
Well, that's the thing.
You seem to know exactly how
Yoyo's killer got to him.
But the police never said
anything publicly about a towel.
The ball boys. My son heard 'em.
I asked him to say that.
The towel's clean. The ball
girl didn't do anything.
So you were, what, acting?
Son, you were acting with-with
this nutjob against
against your family?
I didn't want to believe her.
I-I thought you were
gonna prove her wrong.
I hope you know that you just
threw away your whole career.
Fine. I mean, look at
how crazy it made you.
You killed someone, Dad.
I'm gonna get out of this. You think
I can't afford a good lawyer?
Psst.
I'm gonna flip on you so hard.
Not me entering my
snitch era. [CHUCKLES]
- Oh
- I got to say,
I wouldn't have minded
if Hunter had played a little
longer before conceding.
Those were good seats.
[CHUCKLES]
I don't know. I think I'm
gonna get into pickleball.
Much lower stakes.
- Whew.
- So, how's your Teddy doing, by the way?
Oh, you're so sweet to ask.
He is doing great.
He just got this new job at a non-profit
- that he's really excited about.
- Aw, that's fantastic news.
Yeah, it really i
Hang on.
Why don't you look surprised?
- Me?
- You didn't
Oh, no.
Okay, okay.
Our foundation does some work with them,
and I mentioned I knew
a great candidate,
and your son did the rest.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
I mean, thank you.
[WEAK CHUCKLE] You made Teddy
very happy, and that's the mo
Thank you.
That was so thoughtful of you.
Of course.
I think of us as friends.
And I'm sure you'll do
the same for me one day.