Deception (2018) s01e10 Episode Script

1 Previously on "Deception" Tell whoever put a price on my head it's not gonna be that easy.
As a magician, the last person you want to pull onstage is a crank.
Hey, scram! A crank doesn't want to be fooled or tricked.
All they want to do is expose you.
They clock your every move and love to loudly point out how you did it.
Or how they think you did it.
They're usually wrong.
Ernie, views have been through the roof.
Okay, give us that same crazy energy.
In five, four, three Ernie Arbus here! The last honest man on the Internet! The powers that be aren't going to be happy with this, but today, I'm going to pull the curtain on NASA! Don't trust her! The Queen of England is just biding her time.
Do you know any birds that have it? 'Cause I sure don't! Microchips track your every move! That's why I do all my own dental work.
Folks, there's a topic I've been going on about for years, but no one's ever believed me.
But now I finally have video proof that will expose these powerful elites for the evil fiends they are.
This is serious, people! Please, tune in tomorrow! And cut! Beautiful.
Way to ham it up at the end there.
Nice touch.
I wasn't hamming it up.
The footage I got is serious.
Stevie Yeah, it's gonna be gold, I'm sure.
Look, we got to set up for Jan's show, okay? As wrong as the cranks often are, once in a blue moon, they have their eyes in the right place, they spot the deception, and loudly expose the trick for all to see.
And that's when it all falls apart.
Oscar tries to shank me, I stop him, and then a few hours later, someone burns him alive! I don't know who did it, but I think it has something to do with me.
Relax, Johnny, Kay looked into it, all right? This guy Oscar was a total pyro.
He burned down buildings for the mob because he liked it.
Yeah, but what about the timing? All right, it happened right after he attacked me.
Well, who's to say one of his projects didn't just blow up in his face? No Look, Johnny, no offense, but all these patterns, the the puzzles, I think they're making you a little What? Paranoid? Come on, Johnny.
We already got a mystery woman who's out to get us.
You don't need another conspiracy.
The bomb was a tilt fuse, placed magnetically.
The bomb squad said whoever made it knew their stuff.
The victim was Ernie Arbus, popular conspiracy theorist.
Described as weird and well, weird came up a lot.
No known family.
Ever seen his show "Truth Foes Exposed"? This guy is the reason my uncle got all his fillings taken out.
Any leads from the producers? Not really.
They said Ernie was a pretty private person.
He did say he seemed nervous about his show last night.
What was it going to be about? Secret society of crow people who control the world.
You know what that means, right? This case is for the birds.
Mike, what'd I say about puns before 9:00 A.
M.
? Car bomb, huh? Seems like a fun change of pace.
What's the story? Ernie Arbus, popular Internet conspiracy theorist was blown up in his car after work last night.
I'm guessing it wasn't him, right? Thinking body swap with a stolen corpse, then he slips through an open manhole and then Actually, Cam, there there is no magic angle to this one.
Am I working a non-deception-y case? Have I been promoted to full FBI agent? Easy, J.
Edgar.
It's all hands on deck when there's a car bombing.
Plus, he happened to be a member of the press, so Press? Wasn't this guy a kook? I thought the whole conspiracy thing was right up your alley.
All right, just 'cause I'm dealing with an actual, complex conspiracy around my brother doesn't mean I think the earth is flat or that Tupac's still dropping albums.
Right, but admit it.
All conspiracies sound a little crazy.
I found Arbus' address.
For someone who lived off the grid, he sure ordered a lot of Hawaiian pizzas.
Well, anything locked down that tight must be hiding something good.
Looks like somebody got here before us.
Whoever killed him was looking for something.
You don't think that means one of his conspiracies is true, do you? 'Cause I got a lot of fillings.
My God, they tossed the entire place.
Let's get it sealed down for processing.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait.
Paranoiacs have the best hiding places.
This could be fun.
Now where would a conspiracy-minded person hide a secret so big, it could get him killed? Well, paranoia is an instinct marked by fear.
Yeah, that's good.
A hiding place he's afraid of.
He knows they're going to check the books, file cabinets.
What in here isn't his? What doesn't belong? Mike, does your paranoid uncle have a microwave? Oh, no way.
He call them "cancer machines.
" Heats up all his food in the oven.
Like a crazy person.
Yeah, Ernie would not be into electromagnetic waves.
Huh.
There are a couple of names in it, too.
Charles Quaid.
Bruce Conners.
Alicia Davis.
As in Senator Bruce Conners? Whoa, whoa.
The astronaut? We're going to meet an astronaut? This is so cool.
We have met all the same presidents.
How fun is that? Sir, I got to tell you.
This is a huge honor for me.
As a kid, I Always wanted to be an astronaut.
Oh, no, math was way too hard.
I wanted to make the moon disappear.
Now, I had a couple ideas for - Cameron.
- Yeah? Put the moon down.
But it's going to be cool.
Right.
Sorry.
Senator, we know you're busy.
We're investigating the murder of Ernie Arbus.
Did you know him? Not really.
But he sure knew me.
Couple months ago, he started following me around in my town halls, insisting that I'd never been to outer space.
Huh, a deception of that scale is categorically impossible.
Well, that didn't stop Mr.
Arbus.
He'd chase me around with that damn camera of his.
Even followed me to the men's room once.
- Damn near to punch his ass out.
- Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Is that an Omega Speedmaster? - Kay, only astronauts get those.
- Yeah.
Is the FBI onto anything? We're tracking down a few credible leads.
Mr.
Arbus believed we were secretly using our gout medication to spread what he called "the New-bonic plague.
" Clearly, the man had some issues.
Well, records show you had a restraining order against Mr.
Arbus.
Yes, at the suggestion of our head of security, Mr.
Holt.
We caught Mr.
Arbus rifling through our dumpsters.
If you ask me, it was only a matter of time before someone that paranoid got himself into some real trouble.
I can't believe it.
The Jonathan Black in my office.
Gotta say, huge fan.
Your escapes and the stealthy moves.
You were amazing.
I take it I'm not here to sign an autograph.
Not unless it's at the bottom of a confession.
What? Oh, uh, for the murder of Oscar Billows.
I mean, who else but a world-famous escape artist could pull that off? Huh? I mean, getting in and out of the cell after a lockdown.
I kind of got to tip my cap.
I had nothing to do with that.
Really? Well, then why did I find this little beauty in your cell, huh? Well, that's not mine and you know it.
I've heard that one before.
Check the security footage.
Yeah, someone deleted it.
Looks like you thought of everything.
Look, let's make this easy.
You confess and I add eight more years.
'Cause I like you.
Eight years? I didn't do anything.
You know, they all said the same thing.
Look, confessing makes both of our lives easier.
And 8 years is way better than 20.
Why don't you take a day and think about it? Guard.
Agent Kay Daniels with the FBI.
- Are you Alicia Davis? - I am.
- What's this about? - Do you know Mr.
Ernie Arbus? That's my father.
Why? What did he do now? My dad and I weren't very close.
We've been estranged for 10 years.
- Can we ask why? - Do you know what it's like to grow up at the whim of your father's obsessions? I grew up believing that the Illuminati and Corvus Vale were secretly running the world.
That's why I got into journalism.
I wanted to prove him right.
And then, I woke up.
Is that why you changed your name? Yeah.
Once I started working for the press, things got strained.
Didn't stop him from constantly sending me hot leads, though.
In fact, I got something yesterday from him.
Of course.
Dad always transferred everything to Betamax.
He said digital can't be trusted.
Where can we even play that thing? I think I know a guy.
Pbht! Ah, forget about your HD4Ks.
This is a quality video.
What's on this, anyway? Let's find out.
Got it.
Hit the lights.
Folks, what you are about to see is the most secret society of them all.
Corvus Vale is real.
Oh, no, not another horror movie, guys.
No, this is evidence.
Dark as midnight, cold and shrewd Oh, no, no, no.
No, no, don't follow the chanting.
Who follows creepy chanting? cold and shrewd, so the raven feeds the brood Dark as midnight, cold and shrewed - Who's that? - You can't be here! - Stop him! - We can't let him leave! Get him out of here! Gunter, rewind.
I thought I saw something there in the scuffle.
There! That's an Omega Speedmaster.
And only astronauts get those.
We think this is Bruce Conners.
You want me to bring in a former astronaut, sitting senator, and current American hero based on a blurry still and a watch? Look, it's no coincidence.
Senator Conners' name is all over the victim's notes.
Among other things.
Yes, Ernie Arbus got a lot wrong, but it looks like he finally got something right.
I admit this tape is disturbing, but if you want to question a senator, you'll need more proof.
Can you tell us what theories your dad investigated the most? All of them.
He was obsessed.
With him, there was no such thing as coincidence.
Everything was tied to some evil organization.
Did he ever talk to you about Corvus Vale? He wouldn't shut up about it.
In the 1880s, 12 of the most powerful men in America came together to control the world, and to this day, Vale still rules from the shadows.
Well, some secret societies are real.
Skull and Bones.
Bohemian Grove They're just snobs playing dress up.
Did your father ever show you any evidence to back his claim? You guys think Corvus Vale is real? We're following some credible leads What the hell was on the tape? We're not at liberty to discuss that right now.
What? It's my tape.
My father sent it to me.
It's an active investigation.
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
Um I didn't expect to be so upset.
No, I, uh, I'm sorry that we couldn't tell you more.
I understand.
Like father, like daughter.
He was exasperating to be around.
But I loved him.
Yeah.
That, um, that gets better, by the way.
It doesn't go away entirely, but I also had a father who was demanding.
Had some weird ideas.
Like keeping one of his sons a secret from the world? I did a piece on you and your brother after he was arrested.
Oh.
Hope it was one of the nice ones.
It wasn't a hit piece.
- Okay.
- Just the facts.
Hey, can I ask you what it was like growing up like that? Honestly, we thought it was great.
It was like international hide and seek.
You know, luggage, uh, milk cans, crates.
It wasn't until we were teenagers it started to get old.
Yeah, it's crazy.
The things that I loved about him then became the things that I hated later.
Yeah.
Cam.
I should go.
We got a lead.
Cuerna Blanca, note that was scribbled on the video.
Spanish for "White Horn.
" Sounds mysterious.
It's Mexican takeout spot in Brooklyn.
Ooh, fantastic.
So, best-case scenario, we find a murderous secret society.
Worst case, fajitas.
You lost, school boy? What do you know about Andy Faust? Enough to mind my damn business.
He's trying to frame me for Oscar's murder.
Well, get comfy, magic man.
'Cause if Andy's trying to get you for this, it's already done.
What'd he frame you for? I came here on a three-year grand larceny bid.
When some addict got knifed, he pinned it on me.
I'm halfway on a 30.
'Cause of Faust.
He can't get away with this.
He been getting away with it since he got here.
The only way up the warden's ladder is on the inmate's back.
If I wanted to get on to Faust's computer, would you get me to his office? It's doable.
But what makes you think I'm-a help yo' ass? You hate me.
I get that.
But he stole 30 years from you.
I'm guessing you hate him more.
Mmm.
This is fantastic.
Thought you said this place was a takeout joint.
It was.
It used to be right there.
Got shut down by the health department for its D rating.
D for delicious.
What? Well, that's the fourth cab that's pulled up there since we got here.
I don't know, should we call for backup? It's not the taxi, it's the people getting out of it.
They look like they're going to a gala.
This isn't really a gala kind of neighborhood.
Let's go check it out.
Huh.
What kind of New York apartment building doesn't have any buzzers? Why are they taking trays of food into a hardware store? Maybe, uh Hap is a gourmet? Take your clothes off.
What? Okay, not what I was expecting.
Are you my temp wait staff? Did you sign the non-disclosures? Yeah, what are we doing? Roving derv trays? Drink service? Drinks.
Even tables.
Don't look anyone in the eye.
Grab your trays.
Go upstairs.
Now! That was impressive.
Catering put me through college.
What the hell? What is this place? Whoa.
Welcome to Corvus Vale.
This place is incredible.
Makes you wonder what they did to keep it a secret this whole time.
This is where Ernie shot the video.
We need to find the room where the girl was tied up.
Maybe there's still some evidence.
- I say we split up.
- Yeah, I wish I had a disguise.
I mean, who's going to buy the Amazing Cameron Black as their waiter? You know, you don't have to add the "amazing" every time you say your name? Also, I wouldn't worry about it.
These aren't the type of people who notice the help.
Fair point.
Gunter! I thought you said you weren't scared of scary movies.
I-I'm not! I'm just mad you got popcorn everywhere.
Pests, dude! Hello? Hi, it's me.
Johnny, it's late.
Is everything all right? They're trying to pin a prison murder on me.
What? Oh, my God.
We gonna watch the film or what? Shh, it's Johnny.
Come here.
Come! Johnny, you're on with the team.
Hey, guys.
Go ahead.
I don't have much time, but I need your help.
I have to hack into a prison computer.
Prison.
That's crazy tough.
Not if I do it from inside.
You guys up for a deception? Thinking about becoming a member? How did you find this place? I followed you two after you ditched me at the FBI.
- You need to go.
- There is no way I'm leaving.
My father was right.
Look around.
You see the men in black suits? They're armed.
This place isn't for you.
- Ahh! - Oh, I am so sorry.
Please, allow me.
That is just let me get that fixed up for you before it sets.
See that you do.
All right there, Thurston, old pal? Tell me what was on the tape.
I need to know what my father saw.
For the last time, this is my case, not yours.
Is that Charles Quaid? You know him? Last year, I did an exposé on Quaid.
His company put out a cancer drug that they knew would kill 18% of the users.
It went to trial last month.
Class-action suit worth billions.
Yeah.
The judge just threw it out.
I've been trying to get him on the record for months.
You don't belong here, miss.
You belong in the pages of "Vogue" or, if I'm lucky, the bedroom on my yacht.
You're not that lucky.
Looks like your friend gave us some privacy.
Guess she didn't want to interrupt this vibe Touch me, I will break your fingers.
Dark as midnight, cold and shrewd.
So the raven feeds the brood.
Dark as midnight, cold and shrewd.
So the raven feeds the brood.
The Amazing Cameron Black.
Really earned that title tonight.
Someone was just telling me I use it too much.
What is this? Bruce Conners.
We don't take kindly to unannounced visitors here in Raven's Hall.
And I understand you just had a visitor.
You blew up Ernie Arbus.
You You killed a woman in this chair.
Number 10, if you don't mind.
Our newest member.
Thank you, Claudia.
What you saw was her initiation.
We use the knife to cut the bonds and the blinders of polite society.
Before you leave tonight, know this.
If you tell anyone what you saw here, we will sue your ass to kingdom come.
Why don't you take a walk with me? Oh, let me take off those I'm amazing, remember? The founders or Corvus Vale, robber barons, mostly.
They acquired their power through deceit and often brutal means.
Well, they don't look like nice guys.
Well, these days, we're more of a salon of ideas.
A social club, hidden from the world.
Ernie Arbus was killed for infiltrating a salon of ideas? We get infiltrated a few times a year.
Oh, yeah.
Back in the old days, gate-crashers were dealt with more harshly.
But now, we just sue 'em.
Why should I believe you didn't just have Ernie killed? No one took Ernie seriously.
If one of our members killed Ernie, he'd risk drawing unwanted attention to us.
And immediate expulsion.
So, you just kick 'em out? Or is "expulsion" code for something else? Don't you have another question for me? Yeah, what's with the picture of my great-grandfather in there? Alistair designed Raven's Hall.
For building her home and keeping our secret he was made an honorary member for life.
What is she doing? She took a picture! This is a private club, miss.
You're that reporter.
I got a story for ya.
She's with me.
We were just leaving.
You're not a member, either.
Different club.
Time to go.
Let's.
- What are you doing here? - Catering.
So, the woman from the tape is alive and Bruce Conners is in Corvus Vale.
Along with your guy Charles Quaid.
Ernie got the players right, but not the crime.
We should watch Ernie's tape again.
I was hoping you would say that.
I took the liberty of transferring Ernie's Betamax tape back to digital.
Thought maybe there was something else there.
You're right.
We were so focused on the masks and the knife that we We didn't pay attention to anything else.
Like the cocktail party.
Yeah, yeah.
Well, no.
Yeah, it looks good.
I'm telling you, Ma.
Yeah, it's a matter of time 'til I get promoted.
Son of a I'm going to have to call you back, Mom.
All right, dear! Oh, my God, sweetie.
I am so, so sorry.
I didn't even see you there.
I was too busy arguing with this mook about which we don't have to deal with the insurance companies, okay? I'm good for it.
- I swear to God, I'm good for it.
- She's good.
- I'm honest.
- Okay, yeah, I-I'd rather just call the insurance company right now.
Okay.
You've reached Trustwell Insurance.
An agent will be with you momentarily.
Trustwell Insurance.
Greg speaking.
Can I get your account number, please? Uh, yes, it's 003218.
All right, that's perfect.
Hello, Mr.
Faust.
Could I get your online login password, please? Yes, it is SecureAF.
Capital "A", capital "F".
Oh, no, I'm sorry, that is incorrect.
Five minutes 'til the next patrol.
Oh, uh, try 252 L-I-F-E.
25 to life? A little prison humor.
That's hilarious.
Oh, that's it! I am in! Uh, okay, great, so listen, I just got r Please hold.
- I'm not waitin' for yo' ass.
- Okay, thanks.
Whoa, that's mine.
Gotcha.
Any luck getting a hold of your Let's go through it again.
There's got to be something here.
Wait, wait.
That's Charles Quaid.
Can you isolate Quaid's voice? the hell? You got to spend money to make money.
Let's see if we can get a close-up of who he's talking to.
Who is that? The facial recognition is done.
You should be able to find it quickly.
That's Judge Eric Walton.
He dismissed the lawsuit against Claxton.
They're both members of Corvus Vale.
Charles Quaid bribed a federal judge, and Ernie Arbus caught him on tape by accident.
And that's why Ernie got killed.
So, it was Quaid.
This is so cool, by the way.
All this zooming and enhancing.
It's awesome.
I mean, I wish we could've solved it with a deception.
But still, this is pretty good.
We got our guy, right? It's good, but it's just a start.
The tape is circumstantial.
We need to setup a proper sting to get Quaid and the judge.
Do we have anything that ties this to Arbus' death? Not directly, but forensics is still working on the bomb fragments.
Well, can we get a warrant for a wiretap? Not yet.
Quaid could get wind of it and destroy any evidence.
You said the reporter, Davis, wrote a story that didn't print? - Bring her in.
- I'll call her.
Hello? Alicia, we're getting close to nailing Quaid.
We need to you come in and talk about your article.
I can be there tomorrow.
No, we need you right now.
- I can't do that.
I'm meeting Quaid.
- What? He reached out.
- Said he wants to go on the record.
- Where? - The Claxton offices.
- It's a setup.
You can't go.
Oh, Special Agent Daniels, listening in on phone calls.
Cancel the meeting.
These people might've killed your father.
It's their corporate offices, not a back alley.
Listen, we have video evidence connecting Quaid to the judge who threw out the Claxton case.
Think about this, Alicia.
I have to go.
She's walking into a trap.
On the phone, you said you wanted to go on the record.
- Why? - To set it straight.
Forged test results, multiple deaths, collusion.
How did you expect to get away with all that? Boy, oh, boy.
When you latch on to something, you you just don't let go, do you? I get it.
You need your exposé.
Well here you are.
And I can assure you that if you continue to follow this story the only thing that you will find is a dead end.
Hey, whoa, whoa, can I help you? - FBI.
- He knows who we are.
- We're here to see Quaid.
- I'm sorry.
You need an appointment to see Mr.
Quaid.
Is Alicia Davis here? There are no visitors after hours.
Look, you can let us in now or in an hour when we have the warrant.
Come back tomorrow at 8:00 and I'll get you an appointment.
Do you think that I came here without making arrangements for my safety? Every lead that I have on you is in an envelope Is right here.
What the hell is that? Shoo! Shoo! Shoo! Shoo, bugger.
You watch Quaid's guys, I'll find Alicia.
What the hell is this? I'm a member! I'm a member! Not anymore, Mister Quaid.
You've been expelled from Corvus Vale, effective immediately.
No, no, no!! Mr.
Quaid, the crimes you have committed could cast a light upon us.
Or just upon you.
What? Confess your crimes to the authorities.
Tell them everything.
Or we will do what we must.
The magician?! Who the hell do you think you are?! I'm a member of the Vale.
My great-grandfather's portrait hangs in Raven's Hall.
You see, he liked to build.
I like to make things disappear.
Wait, w-wait a second.
What are you what are you doing? Wait, no, no, no! Yikes.
You don't think Cam went too far this time, do you? No such thing, mate.
Looks like he passed out.
Leave him in the office.
Gotta get out of here.
Stop right there.
Playtime's over.
That's how you little rich boys have your fun? Playing pretend.
I assure you the Vale does not pretend.
Shut up.
I know your secrets NDAs, lawsuits.
That's not how I do things.
Thanks, Gunter.
All right, come on.
Let's go.
Cameron! We got to go.
Oh! Well-done, love.
Gunter, how'd you? Come on.
Why did you kill my father? Looking for these? I'll trade you for the truth.
- You're a part of this.
- Me? No.
I'm just a reporter.
Everything that I have ever done has been for the good of this company.
And for the people that work here.
Did you really think your cheap little tape recorder could take me down? If hers doesn't, mine will.
Turning your back in the weight room's a great way to get shanked.
Just came to enjoy the view.
Now, look, your little field trip was a bust.
The way I see it, you owe me for my valuable time and effort Shh, shh, shh, shh.
Hey! Hey, let go! What are you doing? It's not true! The The files on there are my personal property! Heard the Justice Department got sent some incriminating video.
Every case that Faust touched is going to be up for review.
Congratulations.
You could be out of here sooner than you thought.
Find out who killed Oscar? No.
I'll find out what I can.
Perfect every time.
Oh, my God, babe.
That's amazing.
Dina got the easy part.
I had to rig Quaid in the dark while Gunter was manhandling him.
Boo-hoo.
I was holding a grown man from certain death.
So, who do you guys think saved Cam? 'Cause it wasn't any of us.
It's Cam pulling your leg.
I'm not like you lot.
Shiverin' and shakin' every little Whew.
Looks like Quaid's going to jail for a while.
Clever.
How did it feel to give your dad the byline on the article? I think my dad would've hated having his name in the paper.
But he would've been proud of me.
Thank you.
Anytime.
Is that you or your brother? It's me.
I think.
After a while, Johnny just kind of avoided the camera instinctively.
Dad made sure of that.
I think you and I may have more of our fathers in us than we care to admit.
I always hated that.
Maybe it's not such a bad thing.
For some of us, maybe.
Not for you? Uh Johnny and I are who we are because of him.
We learned deception from the best.
Hello? Guys? How'd you get in here? Same way you got into the Claxton building.
Through the back door.
We saw what you did.
Do not do it again.
My lawyers are very serious about copyright infringement.
That was you in the stairwell.
What do you want? I came to take back that ring you stole.
You didn't think you'd get to keep it, did you? No.
This one This one, however, is yours.
Well, technically, your great-grandfather's.
His membership was passed down through generations.
Your father broke with tradition.
Wanted nothing to do with Corvus Vale.
But if you choose, both you and your brother can join as legacies.
He also wanted you to have this.
Ah.
You're good.
"A.
B.
" It's not part of it.
Did he leave any other instructions? A-A note, maybe? How'd he do that?