So Help Me Todd (2022) s01e18 Episode Script
Gloom and Boom
1
Hey.
Previously on So Help Me Todd
Huh?
You kissed me,
and now you're just like,
"No, it never happened"?
We can't be friends anymore.
- Na, na, na ♪
- [LIVELY CHATTER]
No, no, no ♪
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now ♪
Na, na, na ♪
No, no, no ♪
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now ♪
[MUFFLED]: Don't call it a comeback ♪
I've been here for years ♪
Hustling blood, sweat, tears ♪
I say what they won't,
I do what they don't ♪
I am what they ain't, go
hard like Shaq in the paint ♪
I'm a fighter ♪
Survivor, rider ♪
NASCAR team's all lined up ♪
Trackhouse bringing that fire ♪
Zac Brown and pit fire ♪
- 2:13 a.m.
- You can knock me down ♪
- 2:13 a.m.
To the nights that we can't remember ♪
With the friends that
we can't forget, get lit ♪
Get lost with me tonight ♪
Cruise slow motion ♪
Chase the sun as we burn one down ♪
- Get lost with me tonight ♪
- Hi.
You must be Tiffany,
Mr. Kurezar's niece.
- Uh, he told me
- Dope eye mask. Is that satin?
Silk. 100%.
Uh, I know that you are only
house-sitting for one week,
so you may not be aware
that quiet hours begin
at 11:00 p.m.
Quiet!
Quiet, everyone!
[PARTYGOERS WHOOPING]
Nothing's gonna stop us now ♪
Na, na, na, na ♪
[MUSIC CONTINUES MUFFLED]
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now. ♪
[YAWNS]
Hi, good morning, Jessica.
[ELEVATOR BELL CHIMES, DOORS OPEN]
- Good morning.
- Morning.
You're late. I was worried.
Oh, Susan.
I didn't sleep last night
for a variety of reasons.
- Good morning, Noojin.
- Um, okay.
Thank you. Well, first things first
and I can't believe I'm saying this
Jesse has requested for his
last meal a burger and fries.
Oh, Susan. This may be your first
death penalty case, but don't worry.
We're never going to get to that point.
And they always request comfort food.
[SIGHS] I just
I keep checking my watch,
dreading that 6:00 p.m.
Susan, the execution is
not going to go forward.
Uh, either the governor
will commute the sentence,
or the judge will approve
the stay of execution.
Jesse is not going to die today.
It's just, all of this last-minute
scrambling is so nerve-racking.
I know, believe me,
it's always like that
in these cases, always,
but here is the motion.
Now, I want you to take
it down to the courthouse
and file it right away, go.
- Okay. Got it.
- Yeah. It's gonna be okay.
- [THUNDER RUMBLING]
- Thank you. Great.
Good morning, Francey.
Have you heard back
from the governor yet?
- No. I've called four times.
- Well, make it five.
- Okay.
- Oh, and the journalist from the Portland Sentinel
is waiting in your office.
And your 10:00 a.m. is also waiting.
What 10:00 a.m.? 10:00 a.m.?
I don't have a 10:00 a.m.
Oh.
I just assumed she
booked directly with you.
- She said she
- [ELECTRICAL WHIRRING]
What is that?
It's a Cube-Brick.
Some new device for video
calling, video meetings, whatever.
Folding wanted it.
Of course Folding wanted it.
Probably to spy on us.
He can't spy unless someone turns it on.
[NOTIFICATION CHIMES]
Hmm.
I'll just put it in the conference room.
MARGARET: Super.
Maybe then Folding can attend
one of the board meetings
- for once.
- [FRANCEY SCOFFS]
MARGARET: But, wait, wait,
the 10:00 a.m. [STAMMERS]
I'll put her in the
conference room, too.
Until you can squeeze her in.
Well, I-I don't know
that I can squeeze her in.
Can you see me, you weird little thing?
- [THUNDER RUMBLING]
- Todd?
Good God, is that what
you're wearing to the office?
[CHUCKLES]: I mean, really,
it's as if we don't pay you at all.
Good morning to you as well,
Mother, it's lovely to see you
on this lovely day.
Todd, it is as if you have
been wrestling with tea bags.
Look, everything I own is stained.
There was a leak in Allison's garage.
Well, Chuck's garage.
Anyway, rain and mud just poured
right into the cardboard box
of my clothes, and now I don't
Todd, you're gonna have to
move out of there, someday.
Someday soon. What if Allison never
Look, I get it, but
it's easy and it's cheap,
and I think Chuck would miss me.
He leaves these little
chocolates on my pillows,
and he makes me an incredible
breakfast burrito every morning.
[LAUGHS]: Really, Todd?
That is what is important to you?
Chuck's chocolates
and breakfast burritos?
I mean, not security
and financial independence,
and a home of your own?
Are you just gonna keep
mooching off of people forever?
- Hmm.
- [THUNDER CRASHES]
Okay, well, don't you have
anything else that you can wear?
Well, I have my emergency T-shirt.
Yes, yes, go do that.
It is bound to be better than that.
I'll see you later.
Uh, I've got a busy day.
Oh, right. 6:00 p.m.
Today's the execution of
Today is not the execution
of Jesse Flegelson.
- [THUNDER RUMBLES]
- Okay.
Screw burritos. This is amazing.
Good morning
uh, Elise?
Yes, from the Portland Sentinel.
So nice to finally meet you.
It's a 1961 Château
Lauzat. I'm impressed.
[SCOFFS] As am I.
It-it was a gift,
but when do you open such a
rare bottle of wine, if ever?
Here, sit down, please.
My son-in-law, Chet,
was right about you.
- [CHUCKLES]
- That article that you did last week
on the water bureau scandal
in Scappoose, excellent.
Oh, thank you.
You know, I was hesitant
to write about the Jesse Flegelson case.
It just, it seemed so sad and scary.
Inhumane. Unjust. Wrong.
Can we start with the basic
details, if you don't mind?
Of course.
Jesse Flegelson was, uh, Vivian
Perrin's caregiver for nine years.
Vivian was 82 years old,
and they were actually very close.
In fact, Vivian left a
provision for Jesse in her will.
Right, which is why the police thought
that he killed her, for the money.
Yes, yes. Five years ago,
Vivian was found at the
bottom of her stairs,
neck broken she had been thrown.
The police never even
considered another suspect.
This is the original article.
And-and Jesse claims that
he was not home alone
with Vivian that day.
- He says an exterminator
- Uh, yes.
Jesse maintains that an exterminator,
wearing a large ventilation mask
that completely covered his face,
came to the house unannounced
to spray the attic.
Jesse went downstairs to make lunch,
and Vivian was upstairs taking a nap.
Then Jesse found her body,
and the exterminator was gone.
And no one could ever
prove, had any evidence,
that the exterminator
had ever been there.
And you believe Jesse,
you think he's innocent.
Completely.
Here's the clemency video
we produced for Jesse.
Perfect timing.
Lyle, Elise. Elise, Lyle.
I'm Jesse Flegelson.
Oregon death row inmate.
I know you don't know me, but
I knew Vivian Perrin.
I did everything for her.
I cooked for her, I bathed her.
I dressed her, we played
Scrabble every day.
She was like family to me,
and I miss her.
I'm innocent,
and I'm wondering if you
could find it in your heart
to grant me clemency,
so that I am not executed on April 27.
Wow. That's, um [CLEARS THROAT]
That's heart-wrenching.
LYLE: Videos like this,
and stories like yours,
are all part of our plan
to bring attention to our client.
They help us to get the public
on our side, and the governor.
Uh, and thankfully,
the governor has agreed to
make that phone call today
to reduce Jesse's death
sentence to life imprisonment.
But at the same time,
you guys are filing an emergency
motion to stay the execution?
Yes, and that motion
is based on new evidence
found just last week by
my investigator, Todd.
But no, no,
don't put his name in the paper.
That'll just swell his head.
Since I took the case over
six months ago, Todd we
found a new witness
who saw a man walking through the woods
that day near Vivian's house.
He was wearing a work suit
exactly the one that Jesse described,
and he had a scar right
here on his forehead.
It is the exterminator.
Uh, he's the real
killer. I am sure of it.
You know, I have to ask
a woman pushed down a flight of stairs,
can you really get the
death penalty for that?
If the accused is Black and
the victim is white, yes.
According to the 2020 census,
14% of the U.S. population
identify as Black,
while 71% identify as white.
But, on death row, the
current population is
41% Black and 42% white.
That is systemic racism, right there.
I mean, not to mention
Mar, the governor's appendix burst.
She's in surgery at the hospital.
She's supposed to make the
call to stay the execution.
LYLE: I'll see what I can find out.
Okay, thank you.
Elise, I'm so sorry, will you excuse us?
Of course, and thank you.
I'll be covering the
story all day today.
Just contact me if anything develops.
Thank you so much.
[LINE RINGS]
ALLISON: Mom, I'm busy. I can't
Allison, how long is an appendectomy?
Um, like two to four inches.
Not the incision, the procedure.
Oh. An hour.
If it burst, they'll need
to clean out the abdomen,
patient'll come out of anesthesia.
Maybe three hours?
Why? Who Wait,
we're not talking about
- your appendix, are we?
- Three hours.
Okay, three hours.
That gives us till 2:00.
We'll be fine, it's plenty of time.
Uh, no, no, no, honey.
- Not mine, not mine.
- ALLISON: Okay, um,
I'm coming by your office
tonight to get my
Uh, Allison, listen, I-I
really can't talk right now.
Ma, you called me.
Oh. You're right. Sorry.
Um, listen, sweetheart,
I-I will see you up here later on.
Bye.
We will just get the
judge to grant the motion,
and it will be okay.
Okay.
Don't worry, Francey.
Oregon has not executed
anyone for 26 years,
and we are not going to start today.
- [THUNDER RUMBLES]
- Right. Right. All right.
It's gonna be a long day.
Mm.
Oh.
Uh, that 10:00 a.m. walk-in is
still in the conference room.
Oh! I completely forgot about her.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
MARGARET: Good morning, Noojin.
Uh, send flowers to the
governor in the hospital, please.
RECEPTIONIST: I'll take
care of it right away.
Uh, excuse me.
Hi, good morning.
I'm Margaret Wright. Did you
I'm here about Jesse Flegelson.
Oh. Really?
Uh, all right.
Uh, are you a journalist or
You will reverse everything
you've done to help him.
The appeals, the governor, everything.
Jesse will be executed
at 6:00 p.m. tonight.
Or everyone in this office will die.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
This is outrageous.
How do I even know that's a real bomb?
It's real, believe me.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
And Jesse will be executed
today at 6:00 p.m., on schedule.
Or this bomb goes off.
I don't believe you.
I'm calling the police.
Don't move.
[STAFF CLAMORING]
Let go of the doorknob and sit down.
[CHAIR RATTLES]
[STAFF WHOOPING, CLAPPING]
You're willing to blow
up this whole building
and yourself?
Are you really this desperate?
Yes.
Why don't you tell me what you need,
and-and maybe I can help.
[SCOFFS] W-well, who are you?
Why do you want Jesse dead?
You may not know this,
- but he is innocent.
- Just stop it!
I'm in control here,
and you'll do as I say.
♪
It will be business as usual
around the office today.
You will not tell
anyone what's going on.
You'll undo or stop everything
that you've done to help Jesse.
And let him die.
I have spent the last six
months fighting to save his life.
And now you're saving the lives
of all the people in this office.
You want me to trade one life for 80?
How do you expect me to
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I don't have my things.
I don't, I don't have
my phone, my computer.
I cannot work from here.
All of my-my case files,
they're in my office.
Then we'll go get them,
and we'll come right back.
Smile, Margaret.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[BUSY CHATTER]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[CHUCKLES]: Cindy. Cindy. Oh!
Oh, you shouldn't be here.
Your ankles are so swollen.
I want you to go home.
You can work from there.
And, Bob, you walk her down.
Oh, really? Thank you.
- Of course.
- Hi, Ms. Wright.
Yes? Uh-huh. I'm going to get the
lunch for the E.L.S.E. meeting.
Where did you want to order from?
We can do sandwiches,
Thai, a cheese board?
- Uh, no food. Cancel the meeting.
- Cancel it?
Yes, yes. I-I'm just so busy today.
This is my new client.
What did you say your name was again?
Uh, cancel the meeting, okay?
Tell everyone not to come in. Thank you.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Don't do that again.
Don't talk to anyone.
I am not going to let you start
killing innocent people, like Jesse.
Do you really expect me to
just suddenly do an about-face
and start arguing for the death penalty?
No one will believe it.
I don't care!
You will do that exact
- Hey.
- Ah!
Relax. I am so sorry
about that. Are you okay?
- I didn't see you there, behind the
- Todd?
What are you wearing?
Oh, this is my emergency T-shirt,
for laundry day and emergencies.
Pizza emergencies?
I mean, you never know.
- Who's, uh, this
- God!
It's worse than the shirt before.
Well, you're the one
who told me to change.
Hi, I am Todd, by the way.
- I'm so sorry about the door. Are you
- Todd!
- You are fired.
- Yeah, yeah, whatever.
- Are you OK
- You are fired.
I want you to collect your
things, all of your things,
and-and get out.
Fired.
No longer working here.
Are you being serious?
Because of my "Pizza
Attack Now!" T-shirt?
Yes, you do not know how
to dress professionally.
You do not act professionally.
Oh, is this because I expensed,
like, 17 lunches to
Lyle? You know, I could
- put the other shirt back on
- have a very busy day
- day today
- Or I could easily wear a coat.
- Why are you acting like this?
- and I I, I cannot take it anymore.
Todd, you are fired
because of your mishandling
of the Hedges case.
- What? The Hedges case?
- I have my things. Let's go.
- Get out. Go.
- What?
- No. Mom.
- Fired.
You know, I am two months away
from getting my PI license
back. Then you can fire me.
Mom.
Hey, Francey?
Hmm?
Who's that woman with my mom?
Who? Oh, that lady?
I don't know. Some walk-in appointment.
What the hell are you wearing?
My mom just fired me.
- Eh, it's about time.
- No, I'm serious.
For my work on the Hedges case?
I've never even heard
of the Hedges case.
Something weird is going on with her.
We had a Hedges case.
Six, seven years ago.
- Yeah?
- It would be filed in your office.
Should we go get it?
Okay, no more nonsense.
What do you have to do first?
To reverse the appeal for
Jesse's stay of execution,
first, I'd have to withdraw the motion.
And how do you do that?
I call my associate Susan.
Do it. Now.
[LINE RINGING]
Hey, Margaret.
Susan. [CLEARS THROAT]
I need you to withdraw
the emergency motion
for the stay of execution.
W-Wait, what?
What are you talking
about? I-I just filed it.
It's not going to work.
Undo it. But why?
We worked so hard on it.
It doesn't matter. Please, just do it.
Margaret, no. If we withdraw
this, Jesse could die.
Susan, I am your boss.
Stop questioning me.
Just do it now.
The motion will be withdrawn.
The governor is already
out of commission.
So, now?
We wait.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Wait, Hedges was a person?
Zis Hedges walked into city hall
and demanded that they
not tear down his home,
eminent domain, blah, blah, blah.
He didn't want to leave.
- Is this about me and Chuck's garage?
- Ay-yi-yi.
"He walked in with a
bomb in his briefcase."
- Is your mom trying to tell us
- That there's a bomb?
Wait, did the walk-in
lady have a briefcase?
No, she didn't have anything.
She didn't even have an appointment.
Should we call the police?
Uh, should I just go ask
her if she has a bomb?
No. What are you, stupid?
Well, how else do we
find out what's going on?
I put that dumb Cube-Brick
thing in the conference room
but someone would have to turn it on.
Wait, "Cube-Brick"? Like "Kubrick"?
Like Stanley? Like 2001?
- Like Eyes Wide Shut?
- [SHUSHES]
- Wait.
- What?
There is another way into that room.
Yeah?
How wide are your hips?
What is this?
All you have to do is
crawl in, turn right,
and then you'll be in that long
cabinet in the conference room.
Uh, okay, Francey-ana Jones
and the Temple of the Law Firm.
- I see you.
- Well, somebody's got to know all the law firm secrets.
All right. In.
- Go. Go, go.
- Okay.
- Watch your head.
- Okay.
[PHONE BUZZING]
It's the warden.
Answer it.
Shh.
[BALL CLATTERS SOFTLY]
[WHISPERS]: Oh, sweet.
Come on.
[SIGHS]
"Come out to the conference room.
We'll get together, have a few laughs."
WARDEN [OVER PHONE]: Margaret,
on behalf of everyone here
at the state penitentiary,
I-I got to tell you,
we just heard your motion was withdrawn,
and we're very, very confused.
Um, yeah, well, I-I
Portland hasn't had an
execution in decades.
- Why would we do one today?
- Uh
Well-well, one-one might
argue that, uh, society
has an o an
obligation, under the law,
to protect its citizens,
and that fear of death
is ultimately what-what maintains order
and-and prevents, uh,
society from-from breaking the rules.
TANYA: No. Okay, just
just calm down.
I am not covering the camera.
You can't see anything?
I don't know.
Someone banged into me with a door
and I-I think it's broken.
I can hear you fine.
I'm not covering the camera. Please.
I'm doing everything you told me.
Please. Okay.
Calm down. I know.
Who is she talking to?
♪
MAN [OVER EARBUD]: I just
need you to stay calm.
Don't let her out of your sight.
Everything is going according to plan.
[PAPER TEARS]
[MARKER SCRATCHING]
[PAPER TEARS]
[MOUTHING]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Francey? [GROANS]
Francey? Whoa!
Oh, my God.
Wait, where are we?
We're in the Matrix.
We are?
- No, we're in the IT closet.
- Oh.
Oh. I didn't even know this was here.
Wait, how many secret
rooms does this firm have?
This place is our escape for when
certain people are annoying us.
You two are meeting in secret?
Wait, you have a
cappuccino machine in here?
See, I told you we shouldn't
have brought him in here.
This is a one-time thing.
Uh, okay, look, I had to
tell Lyle what was going on.
What did you find out
in the conference room?
That woman definitely has
something strapped to her body.
But she's taking orders
from someone else.
She has an earpiece.
What did the explosives
look like? C-4? Cyclonite?
I don't know, super
explodey, with, like, wires,
jacked up with duct tape. It's so cool.
I mean, not for us. I don't
know, it's a bomb, Lyle.
- I'm calling the police.
- No, no, no, no. Haven't you ever watched
a movie or any television show ever?
She is talking to
someone on the outside.
The evil mastermind.
And they are 100% watching the building,
so if the police show up, kablooey.
Yeah, I-I don't know,
I-I think I'm with Todd.
I mean, Margaret is smart.
If she wanted us to
call the cops, she would
figure out a way to let us know.
Well, if we don't call for backup
For right now
it's up to us.
[BUZZING]
Exactly as we discussed.
Hello, Susan?
I withdrew the motion,
but I still think this is insane.
The governor could be
in surgery for hours,
- and without the stay, Jesse could
- Thank you.
Now I need you to check the
area for a burger and fries.
I want you to bring Jesse his last meal.
[EXHALES]
And
And stay with him till the end.
The last face he sees
should be one of kindness.
Margaret, this doesn't make any sense.
I'm sorry.
Some things are just out of our control.
Thank you, Susan.
We need to get people out of here.
We can't have a stampede for the exit,
in case anyone is watching.
No, we have to do this slow.
No panic. We will tell
people one at a time.
Just space it out.
And we need an excuse.
Uh, gas leak? Toxic fumes?
Black mold. It's the new asbestos.
That's why they evacuated the
ninth floor three years ago.
- We have to
- [PHONE RINGING]
- [ALL SHOUT]
- Francey, change your ringtone.
No, no, no, it's just,
it's oh, it's Susan.
Hey, Susan, uh, you're on
speaker with me and Lyle.
What the hell? Margaret
made me pull the stay
for the motion of Jesse's
execution. Is she drunk?
- She what? She's been working on that case for months.
- Yeah.
- Why would she do that?
- Hold on, hold on.
Maybe it's connected.
[SIGHS] Is that Todd?
What's connected?
The woman, the stay, the bomb.
- Bomb?
- [ALL SHUSHING]
Um, uh, Susan, I-I know
you're not speaking with me, but hello,
and my mom may be being held
hostage in conference room A.
Or B. It's the big one.
The one next to the
- That doesn't matter.
- Yes, it does,
if she's trying to paint a
picture in her mind, Lyle.
This isn't funny, Todd.
No, he's telling the truth.
So that's why she pulled the motion,
because someone is forcing her to.
Look, uh, we need more information
about this death row inmate Jesse.
Okay, everything is on my desk.
The video, the files, the background.
But are you guys okay?
Should I call the cops?
- No, no, no, no. Don't call the police.
- Yes. Yes!
- Someone could be watching, okay?
- This is crazy.
- Yeah Someone could be watching.
- You don't know that.
I do know that, okay?
- Common sense says
- You have no common sense.
- You know what?
- Stop. Guys, stop. Stop.
Susan, we will call you back.
Don't do anything and don't say a word.
My mom's life might depend on it.
[SIGHS] Let's go.
We better not die.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Just go home
and we'll all be back
here later this week, okay?
JESSE [OVER VIDEO]:
My name is Jesse Flegelson.
I was convicted of the first
degree murder of Vivian Perrin.
TODD: I'm going through
the clemency videos.
But I am innocent.
[DISTORTED SPEAKING]
I've lain awake so many nights
knowing I've made a horrible mistake.
JESSE: It breaks my
heart to think of the pain
that the Perrin family has endured.
TODD: Wait.
That's her. That's the
woman in the conference room.
- Oh, my God, he's right.
- Are you sure?
Positive. You see that streak of grey?
That is definitely her.
But who is she?
Well, I don't know anything
about her, but I think
that that's one of the, um Bowen.
Bowen Perrin, one of Vivian's nephews.
How do you know that?
Your mother wanted to
talk to all the relatives
who inherited money, just
small sums, like 40,000 each,
you know, before we
filed our appeal, but
they clammed up.
They didn't want to anything
to do with saving Jesse.
Hold on. Zoom in on him?
Okay. Uh
LYLE: Look at his hand, the
way he's holding her arm.
That's not comfort. That's control.
He's controlling her.
That's-that's Kevin out there.
He injured his elbow playing
minor league baseball,
so he went to law school.
And t-that's Estelle.
She has a-a beautiful
14-year-old daughter
who just won second place
at her gymnastics meet
Stop. It doesn't matter.
It's all that matters.
You don't have to do this.
Yes. I do.
You're sweating.
That can't be good for
the wires and the
It's fine. He put a pad
underneath to absorb
He? Who?
Just shut up.
[PHONE CHIMES]
What is it?
It's-it's the governor's office.
Uh, "The governor is still in recovery.
Because of the anesthesia,
her memory and cognition
have been temporarily affected
and she can't commute Jesse's execution.
She's not legally
competent at this time."
[MOUTHING]
Uh
C-can I get some water, please?
Thank you.
Here.
Here's some for you. Water.
[SPEAKING INAUDIBLY]
♪
♪
[SNIFFLES]
Uh
[SNIFFLES]
[DOOR OPENS]
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]:
So sorry, Ms. Margaret.
I forgot to vacuum earlier.
Oh, Hank, do do you
have to do this now?
We're in the middle of a meeting.
Well, it will only take one minute.
Two minutes, tops. But
please, no, don't get up.
- [VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRING]
- Okay.
[THUNDER CRASHING]
Easy, easy, easy.
Okay.
Okay. Tanya, Tanya. Tanya.
You have less than two
minutes to tell us everything.
- Get the back?
- Okay, okay. Careful.
LYLE: Okay, it has a power source,
wires, load, initiator and a receiver.
Looks real. And it's locked on?
I can't take it off. It'll explode.
Tanya, your daughter. Where is she?
I don't know.
TODD: Okay, so Bowen.
He did this to you?
He took your daughter and
forced you to wear a live bomb?
He said I'd never see her
again if I didn't do his plan.
And what is the plan?
Why does he want Jesse Flegelson to die?
LYLE: This is crazy. We have to call
the police, get the bomb squad in here.
No. He's watching the building.
He's just downstairs.
- If the police come, he'll blow us all up.
- See? I knew it.
He was just up here this morning.
He-he was pretending to be a repairman,
and he-he rigged all of the lights
and-and the electrical panel.
That's how we controlled the lights.
He can control everything.
He can hear what I'm thinking.
It's like he's in my head,
and I just, I I
have to do what he says.
I have to do
Tanya, he cannot see you
or hear you right now.
No, but he, see-see
Margaret, if I can, if I
can just do what he says,
- then she Emma
- Tanya, we've all seen your face now.
He knows that we would find you
and that would eventually
lead us back to him.
He sent you up here to die.
So if you want to save your
daughter Emma and yourself,
you need to start working with us,
all of us, together right now.
LYLE: I'm gonna check
the electrical panel.
He's not taking control of my building.
He killed Vivian, didn't he?
Bowen was the exterminator
who came to the house that day?
Tanya. He thought he was
gonna inherit millions.
We were so in debt.
He drinks and gambles.
He killed Vivian.
And then he just got a
small amount of money.
And then you, last
week, when you announced
that-that you had a new witness
It's a witness that I
found. Someone who saw a man
in the woods the day of the murder.
A-and B-Bowen has a
scar right here, right?
- Yeah.
- TODD: We are on the trail.
Bowen knows we are on
the trail to catching him.
And he knows that if Jesse
dies, that trail will go cold.
- Mm-hmm.
- But my daughter. He'll kill her.
No one is going to die today.
We have to get back
to the conference room.
- It's been 2.6 minutes.
- Okay.
- And we got to keep Bowen at bay.
- That's right.
Come on, come on, h-her
phone is blowing up.
- What?
- Not that kind of blowing up.
Francey, you can't say things like that.
Oh, my God, my phone,
if he's been texting me,
- and then he can't hear me, he'll get suspicious.
- No, it's okay.
[THUNDER CRASHES]
[VACUUM CLEANER STOPS]
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]:
Uh, that's it, Ms. Margaret.
- Thank you.
- Oh, yes, thank you, H-Hank.
- Great.
- Sorry for take so long.
There was tea stain under desk.
Bowen, are you there?
[MOUTHS]
[GASPS]
He's coming up.
BOWEN: Hold the door.
Yeah.
- Thanks.
- Sure.
What floor?
Uh, uh, 27.
Oh. Me, too. Who are you seeing?
My lawyer.
You?
Uh, same, sort of.
My mom is my lawyer.
Endlessly litigating my life choices.
What's your mom's name?
[WHISPERS]: Yes, yes.
Go, go, go, go, quick.
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Hold on.
Hi, Allison. Uh, listen, uh,
d-don't come by the office tonight.
- I I need to cancel our plans
- BOWEN: What a shame.
I was so looking forward to meeting
the brilliant Margaret Wright.
- Oh, my God.
- What?
- It's him.
- What?
- He has Allison.
- No.
Margaret, if you alert
anyone or call the police,
you will never see your daughter again.
Understand?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Great. See you in a moment.
- Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
- I'm so sorry.
- I'm so sorry.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[THUNDER CRASHES]
Margaret?
Margaret, where are you?
I'm here.
We're in the conference room.
It's right down this way.
Where is everybody?
Didn't Tanya tell you
not to let anyone go?
She said business as usual.
Most people leave
right before 6:00 to avoid the traffic.
We didn't want to raise suspicions.
Right.
Right, okay. Go on.
♪
[BEEPING]
Tanya.
What did I say about
not returning my texts?
I couldn't hear you. The-the vacuum.
Where's my daughter? Where's Emma?
BOWEN: You don't need
to worry about her.
Worry about me.
I had to come all the way up here
with my new friend Allison
just to make sure that things were okay.
Sorry, I'm just playing
a bit of catch-up here,
but is that a live bomb?
Yes, it is, and we will
do whatever they say.
Where's my daughter?
I need to know that she's safe.
What you need to do
is sit down and shut up.
Okay, let's just all
keep our wits about us.
Everything is
is fine, we are doing whatever you
It's almost 6:00.
Let's turn on the news.
I'm sure they'll be covering
Oregon's first execution in 26 years.
Go on.
Turn on the TV.
You, have a seat.
TANYA: And then we'll leave.
Together.
And pick up Emma, right?
Turn on the TV.
NEWS ANCHOR [OVER TV]:
programming for this breaking news.
Thank you, Ken. I'm Elise Callam,
reporter for the Portland Sentinel,
reporting live and on television today
from the Portland Correctional Facility,
where a very somber mood has descended.
Jesse Flegelson is scheduled
to die by lethal injection
15 minutes from now,
which, I have to admit,
is a point I never would've
thought we'd actually reach.
[HELICOPTER WHIRRING OUTSIDE]
Can I, um
get you anything else?
No.
Nothing else.
Is your family coming?
GUARD [OVER P.A. SYSTEM]:
Jesse Flegelson.
Ten-minute warning.
Officers approaching.
[LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
FRANCEY: Look, look, look, look.
She turned the Cube-Brick on.
[PHONE RINGING]
Susan. We just sent you a link.
You need to take it to-to
J-Judge Woodbridge, now.
Oh, my God.
Jesse, I will be right back,
I promise, but this might be it.
I'm coming out.
- Yes, ma'am.
- [LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
Your Honor, I'm sorry, but
something urgent came up.
Please! Please.
Make it quick.
MARGARET: Bowen.
Are you really gonna keep us in here,
with that-that bomb strapped to
Tanya until Jesse is executed?
BOWEN: I am. That's
exactly what I'm gonna do.
Your Honor, this man is the
reason why we pulled the motion.
He is holding Margaret Wright hostage.
You have to stay the execution.
ELISE: Tensions are very high. Oh, wait.
This just in.
In a last-minute decision,
the execution of Jesse
Flegelson has been stayed.
- All right, uh, yes.
- [CHEERING OVER TV]
I-I'm hearing
Uh, okay, it is unclear
exactly what led to this
BOWEN: Turn it off.
What the hell happened?
Uh, I don't know.
I-I did everything you told me to.
But it failed.
[MOUTHS]
Now, how can we all
get out of here alive?
TANYA: Bowen
It's over.
Let's go. Let's go get Emma.
Will you just shut up?
Emma's fine. I told you she's fine.
TANYA: She's my baby. Where is she?
BOWEN: She's with my cousin, okay?
But you're never gonna
see her again, Tanya.
These people all know who you are.
They've seen your face.
They've seen the bomb.
They've seen me.
They know too much. And it's your fault.
You did this.
You failed. And I told you
what would happen if
you failed, didn't I?
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]: So sorry,
Ms. Margaret, I forgot.
Do you want me vacuum drapes in your
Clear out now. Get down.
- Clear out now.
- [GRUNTS]
Okay, um, I-I have the
bomb detonator thing.
Someone take this away from me.
Clear out. Everyone, clear out now.
Except for you.
Stand still, no sudden movements.
AGENT: Ma'am, clear out now. Let's go.
Tanya.
AGENT 2: Bring in the bomb squad.
[AGENT SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
OFFICER: Take cover.
Everybody, take cover.
Go. Under the table. The table.
OFFICER: Get down, get down.
[MUTTERS SOFTLY]
- AGENT: All clear! Rendered safe!
- Whoa.
[ALL SIGHING]
Oh, my God. [EXHALES]
I really just came to get my umbrella.
[LAUGHTER]
That's, like, literally
the only reason I'm here.
Bowen was arrested,
and you will have a retrial next week,
and you'll be free, Jesse.
Thank you.
I am so sorry you went
through all of this.
It was so unfair.
[CRYING]
I will see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Hey. [SIGHS]
So, I just heard from
child protective services.
Emma is safe
- Oh.
- and in their custody.
- Thank God.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY] Yeah.
Aw, Francey
[LAUGHS]
Oh Okay.
Jack must be worried sick about you.
I'm going home to see him now.
Thank you.
That was close.
Good night.
[EXHALING]
Uh-huh.
You are coming with me.
[SNIFFLES] Oh
Anything else planned for the day, huh?
Any more bombs or falling
off the Nakatomi building?
Rappelling down a freight elevator?
Oh, you mean like from that movie
with Dimi Moore's husband.
Uh, Braveheart.
Die Hard. It's Bruce Willis.
He saves the day?
Just like you saved Jesse.
And it's Demi Moore.
Hey.
We saved Jesse.
Yeah, well, yippee ki-yay, Mother.
Ooh. I know what that's from.
What? It's from that
Clint Eastwood movie.
- Yeah. Let's go with that.
- Yeah. Like the western.
- Yippee ki-yay. ♪
- Right, right.
[PHONE BUZZING]
Hey.
Hey.
I'm glad you're okay.
Yeah.
Me, too.
Life's too short to not be friends.
Can we
Todd, are you still there?
Always, friend.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
Hey! Silk girl!
Oh, my God, are we being too loud?
Not at all. [LAUGHS] Can I join you?
It has been a long day.
Of course! Oh, my God, come in.
We're having a blast.
How are you feeling?
Pretty damn good!
- [WHOOPS]
- [CHEERING]
♪
Hey.
Previously on So Help Me Todd
Huh?
You kissed me,
and now you're just like,
"No, it never happened"?
We can't be friends anymore.
- Na, na, na ♪
- [LIVELY CHATTER]
No, no, no ♪
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now ♪
Na, na, na ♪
No, no, no ♪
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now ♪
[MUFFLED]: Don't call it a comeback ♪
I've been here for years ♪
Hustling blood, sweat, tears ♪
I say what they won't,
I do what they don't ♪
I am what they ain't, go
hard like Shaq in the paint ♪
I'm a fighter ♪
Survivor, rider ♪
NASCAR team's all lined up ♪
Trackhouse bringing that fire ♪
Zac Brown and pit fire ♪
- 2:13 a.m.
- You can knock me down ♪
- 2:13 a.m.
To the nights that we can't remember ♪
With the friends that
we can't forget, get lit ♪
Get lost with me tonight ♪
Cruise slow motion ♪
Chase the sun as we burn one down ♪
- Get lost with me tonight ♪
- Hi.
You must be Tiffany,
Mr. Kurezar's niece.
- Uh, he told me
- Dope eye mask. Is that satin?
Silk. 100%.
Uh, I know that you are only
house-sitting for one week,
so you may not be aware
that quiet hours begin
at 11:00 p.m.
Quiet!
Quiet, everyone!
[PARTYGOERS WHOOPING]
Nothing's gonna stop us now ♪
Na, na, na, na ♪
[MUSIC CONTINUES MUFFLED]
Ain't nothing gonna stop us now. ♪
[YAWNS]
Hi, good morning, Jessica.
[ELEVATOR BELL CHIMES, DOORS OPEN]
- Good morning.
- Morning.
You're late. I was worried.
Oh, Susan.
I didn't sleep last night
for a variety of reasons.
- Good morning, Noojin.
- Um, okay.
Thank you. Well, first things first
and I can't believe I'm saying this
Jesse has requested for his
last meal a burger and fries.
Oh, Susan. This may be your first
death penalty case, but don't worry.
We're never going to get to that point.
And they always request comfort food.
[SIGHS] I just
I keep checking my watch,
dreading that 6:00 p.m.
Susan, the execution is
not going to go forward.
Uh, either the governor
will commute the sentence,
or the judge will approve
the stay of execution.
Jesse is not going to die today.
It's just, all of this last-minute
scrambling is so nerve-racking.
I know, believe me,
it's always like that
in these cases, always,
but here is the motion.
Now, I want you to take
it down to the courthouse
and file it right away, go.
- Okay. Got it.
- Yeah. It's gonna be okay.
- [THUNDER RUMBLING]
- Thank you. Great.
Good morning, Francey.
Have you heard back
from the governor yet?
- No. I've called four times.
- Well, make it five.
- Okay.
- Oh, and the journalist from the Portland Sentinel
is waiting in your office.
And your 10:00 a.m. is also waiting.
What 10:00 a.m.? 10:00 a.m.?
I don't have a 10:00 a.m.
Oh.
I just assumed she
booked directly with you.
- She said she
- [ELECTRICAL WHIRRING]
What is that?
It's a Cube-Brick.
Some new device for video
calling, video meetings, whatever.
Folding wanted it.
Of course Folding wanted it.
Probably to spy on us.
He can't spy unless someone turns it on.
[NOTIFICATION CHIMES]
Hmm.
I'll just put it in the conference room.
MARGARET: Super.
Maybe then Folding can attend
one of the board meetings
- for once.
- [FRANCEY SCOFFS]
MARGARET: But, wait, wait,
the 10:00 a.m. [STAMMERS]
I'll put her in the
conference room, too.
Until you can squeeze her in.
Well, I-I don't know
that I can squeeze her in.
Can you see me, you weird little thing?
- [THUNDER RUMBLING]
- Todd?
Good God, is that what
you're wearing to the office?
[CHUCKLES]: I mean, really,
it's as if we don't pay you at all.
Good morning to you as well,
Mother, it's lovely to see you
on this lovely day.
Todd, it is as if you have
been wrestling with tea bags.
Look, everything I own is stained.
There was a leak in Allison's garage.
Well, Chuck's garage.
Anyway, rain and mud just poured
right into the cardboard box
of my clothes, and now I don't
Todd, you're gonna have to
move out of there, someday.
Someday soon. What if Allison never
Look, I get it, but
it's easy and it's cheap,
and I think Chuck would miss me.
He leaves these little
chocolates on my pillows,
and he makes me an incredible
breakfast burrito every morning.
[LAUGHS]: Really, Todd?
That is what is important to you?
Chuck's chocolates
and breakfast burritos?
I mean, not security
and financial independence,
and a home of your own?
Are you just gonna keep
mooching off of people forever?
- Hmm.
- [THUNDER CRASHES]
Okay, well, don't you have
anything else that you can wear?
Well, I have my emergency T-shirt.
Yes, yes, go do that.
It is bound to be better than that.
I'll see you later.
Uh, I've got a busy day.
Oh, right. 6:00 p.m.
Today's the execution of
Today is not the execution
of Jesse Flegelson.
- [THUNDER RUMBLES]
- Okay.
Screw burritos. This is amazing.
Good morning
uh, Elise?
Yes, from the Portland Sentinel.
So nice to finally meet you.
It's a 1961 Château
Lauzat. I'm impressed.
[SCOFFS] As am I.
It-it was a gift,
but when do you open such a
rare bottle of wine, if ever?
Here, sit down, please.
My son-in-law, Chet,
was right about you.
- [CHUCKLES]
- That article that you did last week
on the water bureau scandal
in Scappoose, excellent.
Oh, thank you.
You know, I was hesitant
to write about the Jesse Flegelson case.
It just, it seemed so sad and scary.
Inhumane. Unjust. Wrong.
Can we start with the basic
details, if you don't mind?
Of course.
Jesse Flegelson was, uh, Vivian
Perrin's caregiver for nine years.
Vivian was 82 years old,
and they were actually very close.
In fact, Vivian left a
provision for Jesse in her will.
Right, which is why the police thought
that he killed her, for the money.
Yes, yes. Five years ago,
Vivian was found at the
bottom of her stairs,
neck broken she had been thrown.
The police never even
considered another suspect.
This is the original article.
And-and Jesse claims that
he was not home alone
with Vivian that day.
- He says an exterminator
- Uh, yes.
Jesse maintains that an exterminator,
wearing a large ventilation mask
that completely covered his face,
came to the house unannounced
to spray the attic.
Jesse went downstairs to make lunch,
and Vivian was upstairs taking a nap.
Then Jesse found her body,
and the exterminator was gone.
And no one could ever
prove, had any evidence,
that the exterminator
had ever been there.
And you believe Jesse,
you think he's innocent.
Completely.
Here's the clemency video
we produced for Jesse.
Perfect timing.
Lyle, Elise. Elise, Lyle.
I'm Jesse Flegelson.
Oregon death row inmate.
I know you don't know me, but
I knew Vivian Perrin.
I did everything for her.
I cooked for her, I bathed her.
I dressed her, we played
Scrabble every day.
She was like family to me,
and I miss her.
I'm innocent,
and I'm wondering if you
could find it in your heart
to grant me clemency,
so that I am not executed on April 27.
Wow. That's, um [CLEARS THROAT]
That's heart-wrenching.
LYLE: Videos like this,
and stories like yours,
are all part of our plan
to bring attention to our client.
They help us to get the public
on our side, and the governor.
Uh, and thankfully,
the governor has agreed to
make that phone call today
to reduce Jesse's death
sentence to life imprisonment.
But at the same time,
you guys are filing an emergency
motion to stay the execution?
Yes, and that motion
is based on new evidence
found just last week by
my investigator, Todd.
But no, no,
don't put his name in the paper.
That'll just swell his head.
Since I took the case over
six months ago, Todd we
found a new witness
who saw a man walking through the woods
that day near Vivian's house.
He was wearing a work suit
exactly the one that Jesse described,
and he had a scar right
here on his forehead.
It is the exterminator.
Uh, he's the real
killer. I am sure of it.
You know, I have to ask
a woman pushed down a flight of stairs,
can you really get the
death penalty for that?
If the accused is Black and
the victim is white, yes.
According to the 2020 census,
14% of the U.S. population
identify as Black,
while 71% identify as white.
But, on death row, the
current population is
41% Black and 42% white.
That is systemic racism, right there.
I mean, not to mention
Mar, the governor's appendix burst.
She's in surgery at the hospital.
She's supposed to make the
call to stay the execution.
LYLE: I'll see what I can find out.
Okay, thank you.
Elise, I'm so sorry, will you excuse us?
Of course, and thank you.
I'll be covering the
story all day today.
Just contact me if anything develops.
Thank you so much.
[LINE RINGS]
ALLISON: Mom, I'm busy. I can't
Allison, how long is an appendectomy?
Um, like two to four inches.
Not the incision, the procedure.
Oh. An hour.
If it burst, they'll need
to clean out the abdomen,
patient'll come out of anesthesia.
Maybe three hours?
Why? Who Wait,
we're not talking about
- your appendix, are we?
- Three hours.
Okay, three hours.
That gives us till 2:00.
We'll be fine, it's plenty of time.
Uh, no, no, no, honey.
- Not mine, not mine.
- ALLISON: Okay, um,
I'm coming by your office
tonight to get my
Uh, Allison, listen, I-I
really can't talk right now.
Ma, you called me.
Oh. You're right. Sorry.
Um, listen, sweetheart,
I-I will see you up here later on.
Bye.
We will just get the
judge to grant the motion,
and it will be okay.
Okay.
Don't worry, Francey.
Oregon has not executed
anyone for 26 years,
and we are not going to start today.
- [THUNDER RUMBLES]
- Right. Right. All right.
It's gonna be a long day.
Mm.
Oh.
Uh, that 10:00 a.m. walk-in is
still in the conference room.
Oh! I completely forgot about her.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
MARGARET: Good morning, Noojin.
Uh, send flowers to the
governor in the hospital, please.
RECEPTIONIST: I'll take
care of it right away.
Uh, excuse me.
Hi, good morning.
I'm Margaret Wright. Did you
I'm here about Jesse Flegelson.
Oh. Really?
Uh, all right.
Uh, are you a journalist or
You will reverse everything
you've done to help him.
The appeals, the governor, everything.
Jesse will be executed
at 6:00 p.m. tonight.
Or everyone in this office will die.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
This is outrageous.
How do I even know that's a real bomb?
It's real, believe me.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
And Jesse will be executed
today at 6:00 p.m., on schedule.
Or this bomb goes off.
I don't believe you.
I'm calling the police.
Don't move.
[STAFF CLAMORING]
Let go of the doorknob and sit down.
[CHAIR RATTLES]
[STAFF WHOOPING, CLAPPING]
You're willing to blow
up this whole building
and yourself?
Are you really this desperate?
Yes.
Why don't you tell me what you need,
and-and maybe I can help.
[SCOFFS] W-well, who are you?
Why do you want Jesse dead?
You may not know this,
- but he is innocent.
- Just stop it!
I'm in control here,
and you'll do as I say.
♪
It will be business as usual
around the office today.
You will not tell
anyone what's going on.
You'll undo or stop everything
that you've done to help Jesse.
And let him die.
I have spent the last six
months fighting to save his life.
And now you're saving the lives
of all the people in this office.
You want me to trade one life for 80?
How do you expect me to
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
I don't have my things.
I don't, I don't have
my phone, my computer.
I cannot work from here.
All of my-my case files,
they're in my office.
Then we'll go get them,
and we'll come right back.
Smile, Margaret.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
[BUSY CHATTER]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
[CHUCKLES]: Cindy. Cindy. Oh!
Oh, you shouldn't be here.
Your ankles are so swollen.
I want you to go home.
You can work from there.
And, Bob, you walk her down.
Oh, really? Thank you.
- Of course.
- Hi, Ms. Wright.
Yes? Uh-huh. I'm going to get the
lunch for the E.L.S.E. meeting.
Where did you want to order from?
We can do sandwiches,
Thai, a cheese board?
- Uh, no food. Cancel the meeting.
- Cancel it?
Yes, yes. I-I'm just so busy today.
This is my new client.
What did you say your name was again?
Uh, cancel the meeting, okay?
Tell everyone not to come in. Thank you.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Don't do that again.
Don't talk to anyone.
I am not going to let you start
killing innocent people, like Jesse.
Do you really expect me to
just suddenly do an about-face
and start arguing for the death penalty?
No one will believe it.
I don't care!
You will do that exact
- Hey.
- Ah!
Relax. I am so sorry
about that. Are you okay?
- I didn't see you there, behind the
- Todd?
What are you wearing?
Oh, this is my emergency T-shirt,
for laundry day and emergencies.
Pizza emergencies?
I mean, you never know.
- Who's, uh, this
- God!
It's worse than the shirt before.
Well, you're the one
who told me to change.
Hi, I am Todd, by the way.
- I'm so sorry about the door. Are you
- Todd!
- You are fired.
- Yeah, yeah, whatever.
- Are you OK
- You are fired.
I want you to collect your
things, all of your things,
and-and get out.
Fired.
No longer working here.
Are you being serious?
Because of my "Pizza
Attack Now!" T-shirt?
Yes, you do not know how
to dress professionally.
You do not act professionally.
Oh, is this because I expensed,
like, 17 lunches to
Lyle? You know, I could
- put the other shirt back on
- have a very busy day
- day today
- Or I could easily wear a coat.
- Why are you acting like this?
- and I I, I cannot take it anymore.
Todd, you are fired
because of your mishandling
of the Hedges case.
- What? The Hedges case?
- I have my things. Let's go.
- Get out. Go.
- What?
- No. Mom.
- Fired.
You know, I am two months away
from getting my PI license
back. Then you can fire me.
Mom.
Hey, Francey?
Hmm?
Who's that woman with my mom?
Who? Oh, that lady?
I don't know. Some walk-in appointment.
What the hell are you wearing?
My mom just fired me.
- Eh, it's about time.
- No, I'm serious.
For my work on the Hedges case?
I've never even heard
of the Hedges case.
Something weird is going on with her.
We had a Hedges case.
Six, seven years ago.
- Yeah?
- It would be filed in your office.
Should we go get it?
Okay, no more nonsense.
What do you have to do first?
To reverse the appeal for
Jesse's stay of execution,
first, I'd have to withdraw the motion.
And how do you do that?
I call my associate Susan.
Do it. Now.
[LINE RINGING]
Hey, Margaret.
Susan. [CLEARS THROAT]
I need you to withdraw
the emergency motion
for the stay of execution.
W-Wait, what?
What are you talking
about? I-I just filed it.
It's not going to work.
Undo it. But why?
We worked so hard on it.
It doesn't matter. Please, just do it.
Margaret, no. If we withdraw
this, Jesse could die.
Susan, I am your boss.
Stop questioning me.
Just do it now.
The motion will be withdrawn.
The governor is already
out of commission.
So, now?
We wait.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Wait, Hedges was a person?
Zis Hedges walked into city hall
and demanded that they
not tear down his home,
eminent domain, blah, blah, blah.
He didn't want to leave.
- Is this about me and Chuck's garage?
- Ay-yi-yi.
"He walked in with a
bomb in his briefcase."
- Is your mom trying to tell us
- That there's a bomb?
Wait, did the walk-in
lady have a briefcase?
No, she didn't have anything.
She didn't even have an appointment.
Should we call the police?
Uh, should I just go ask
her if she has a bomb?
No. What are you, stupid?
Well, how else do we
find out what's going on?
I put that dumb Cube-Brick
thing in the conference room
but someone would have to turn it on.
Wait, "Cube-Brick"? Like "Kubrick"?
Like Stanley? Like 2001?
- Like Eyes Wide Shut?
- [SHUSHES]
- Wait.
- What?
There is another way into that room.
Yeah?
How wide are your hips?
What is this?
All you have to do is
crawl in, turn right,
and then you'll be in that long
cabinet in the conference room.
Uh, okay, Francey-ana Jones
and the Temple of the Law Firm.
- I see you.
- Well, somebody's got to know all the law firm secrets.
All right. In.
- Go. Go, go.
- Okay.
- Watch your head.
- Okay.
[PHONE BUZZING]
It's the warden.
Answer it.
Shh.
[BALL CLATTERS SOFTLY]
[WHISPERS]: Oh, sweet.
Come on.
[SIGHS]
"Come out to the conference room.
We'll get together, have a few laughs."
WARDEN [OVER PHONE]: Margaret,
on behalf of everyone here
at the state penitentiary,
I-I got to tell you,
we just heard your motion was withdrawn,
and we're very, very confused.
Um, yeah, well, I-I
Portland hasn't had an
execution in decades.
- Why would we do one today?
- Uh
Well-well, one-one might
argue that, uh, society
has an o an
obligation, under the law,
to protect its citizens,
and that fear of death
is ultimately what-what maintains order
and-and prevents, uh,
society from-from breaking the rules.
TANYA: No. Okay, just
just calm down.
I am not covering the camera.
You can't see anything?
I don't know.
Someone banged into me with a door
and I-I think it's broken.
I can hear you fine.
I'm not covering the camera. Please.
I'm doing everything you told me.
Please. Okay.
Calm down. I know.
Who is she talking to?
♪
MAN [OVER EARBUD]: I just
need you to stay calm.
Don't let her out of your sight.
Everything is going according to plan.
[PAPER TEARS]
[MARKER SCRATCHING]
[PAPER TEARS]
[MOUTHING]
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Francey? [GROANS]
Francey? Whoa!
Oh, my God.
Wait, where are we?
We're in the Matrix.
We are?
- No, we're in the IT closet.
- Oh.
Oh. I didn't even know this was here.
Wait, how many secret
rooms does this firm have?
This place is our escape for when
certain people are annoying us.
You two are meeting in secret?
Wait, you have a
cappuccino machine in here?
See, I told you we shouldn't
have brought him in here.
This is a one-time thing.
Uh, okay, look, I had to
tell Lyle what was going on.
What did you find out
in the conference room?
That woman definitely has
something strapped to her body.
But she's taking orders
from someone else.
She has an earpiece.
What did the explosives
look like? C-4? Cyclonite?
I don't know, super
explodey, with, like, wires,
jacked up with duct tape. It's so cool.
I mean, not for us. I don't
know, it's a bomb, Lyle.
- I'm calling the police.
- No, no, no, no. Haven't you ever watched
a movie or any television show ever?
She is talking to
someone on the outside.
The evil mastermind.
And they are 100% watching the building,
so if the police show up, kablooey.
Yeah, I-I don't know,
I-I think I'm with Todd.
I mean, Margaret is smart.
If she wanted us to
call the cops, she would
figure out a way to let us know.
Well, if we don't call for backup
For right now
it's up to us.
[BUZZING]
Exactly as we discussed.
Hello, Susan?
I withdrew the motion,
but I still think this is insane.
The governor could be
in surgery for hours,
- and without the stay, Jesse could
- Thank you.
Now I need you to check the
area for a burger and fries.
I want you to bring Jesse his last meal.
[EXHALES]
And
And stay with him till the end.
The last face he sees
should be one of kindness.
Margaret, this doesn't make any sense.
I'm sorry.
Some things are just out of our control.
Thank you, Susan.
We need to get people out of here.
We can't have a stampede for the exit,
in case anyone is watching.
No, we have to do this slow.
No panic. We will tell
people one at a time.
Just space it out.
And we need an excuse.
Uh, gas leak? Toxic fumes?
Black mold. It's the new asbestos.
That's why they evacuated the
ninth floor three years ago.
- We have to
- [PHONE RINGING]
- [ALL SHOUT]
- Francey, change your ringtone.
No, no, no, it's just,
it's oh, it's Susan.
Hey, Susan, uh, you're on
speaker with me and Lyle.
What the hell? Margaret
made me pull the stay
for the motion of Jesse's
execution. Is she drunk?
- She what? She's been working on that case for months.
- Yeah.
- Why would she do that?
- Hold on, hold on.
Maybe it's connected.
[SIGHS] Is that Todd?
What's connected?
The woman, the stay, the bomb.
- Bomb?
- [ALL SHUSHING]
Um, uh, Susan, I-I know
you're not speaking with me, but hello,
and my mom may be being held
hostage in conference room A.
Or B. It's the big one.
The one next to the
- That doesn't matter.
- Yes, it does,
if she's trying to paint a
picture in her mind, Lyle.
This isn't funny, Todd.
No, he's telling the truth.
So that's why she pulled the motion,
because someone is forcing her to.
Look, uh, we need more information
about this death row inmate Jesse.
Okay, everything is on my desk.
The video, the files, the background.
But are you guys okay?
Should I call the cops?
- No, no, no, no. Don't call the police.
- Yes. Yes!
- Someone could be watching, okay?
- This is crazy.
- Yeah Someone could be watching.
- You don't know that.
I do know that, okay?
- Common sense says
- You have no common sense.
- You know what?
- Stop. Guys, stop. Stop.
Susan, we will call you back.
Don't do anything and don't say a word.
My mom's life might depend on it.
[SIGHS] Let's go.
We better not die.
[THUNDER RUMBLES]
Just go home
and we'll all be back
here later this week, okay?
JESSE [OVER VIDEO]:
My name is Jesse Flegelson.
I was convicted of the first
degree murder of Vivian Perrin.
TODD: I'm going through
the clemency videos.
But I am innocent.
[DISTORTED SPEAKING]
I've lain awake so many nights
knowing I've made a horrible mistake.
JESSE: It breaks my
heart to think of the pain
that the Perrin family has endured.
TODD: Wait.
That's her. That's the
woman in the conference room.
- Oh, my God, he's right.
- Are you sure?
Positive. You see that streak of grey?
That is definitely her.
But who is she?
Well, I don't know anything
about her, but I think
that that's one of the, um Bowen.
Bowen Perrin, one of Vivian's nephews.
How do you know that?
Your mother wanted to
talk to all the relatives
who inherited money, just
small sums, like 40,000 each,
you know, before we
filed our appeal, but
they clammed up.
They didn't want to anything
to do with saving Jesse.
Hold on. Zoom in on him?
Okay. Uh
LYLE: Look at his hand, the
way he's holding her arm.
That's not comfort. That's control.
He's controlling her.
That's-that's Kevin out there.
He injured his elbow playing
minor league baseball,
so he went to law school.
And t-that's Estelle.
She has a-a beautiful
14-year-old daughter
who just won second place
at her gymnastics meet
Stop. It doesn't matter.
It's all that matters.
You don't have to do this.
Yes. I do.
You're sweating.
That can't be good for
the wires and the
It's fine. He put a pad
underneath to absorb
He? Who?
Just shut up.
[PHONE CHIMES]
What is it?
It's-it's the governor's office.
Uh, "The governor is still in recovery.
Because of the anesthesia,
her memory and cognition
have been temporarily affected
and she can't commute Jesse's execution.
She's not legally
competent at this time."
[MOUTHING]
Uh
C-can I get some water, please?
Thank you.
Here.
Here's some for you. Water.
[SPEAKING INAUDIBLY]
♪
♪
[SNIFFLES]
Uh
[SNIFFLES]
[DOOR OPENS]
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]:
So sorry, Ms. Margaret.
I forgot to vacuum earlier.
Oh, Hank, do do you
have to do this now?
We're in the middle of a meeting.
Well, it will only take one minute.
Two minutes, tops. But
please, no, don't get up.
- [VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRING]
- Okay.
[THUNDER CRASHING]
Easy, easy, easy.
Okay.
Okay. Tanya, Tanya. Tanya.
You have less than two
minutes to tell us everything.
- Get the back?
- Okay, okay. Careful.
LYLE: Okay, it has a power source,
wires, load, initiator and a receiver.
Looks real. And it's locked on?
I can't take it off. It'll explode.
Tanya, your daughter. Where is she?
I don't know.
TODD: Okay, so Bowen.
He did this to you?
He took your daughter and
forced you to wear a live bomb?
He said I'd never see her
again if I didn't do his plan.
And what is the plan?
Why does he want Jesse Flegelson to die?
LYLE: This is crazy. We have to call
the police, get the bomb squad in here.
No. He's watching the building.
He's just downstairs.
- If the police come, he'll blow us all up.
- See? I knew it.
He was just up here this morning.
He-he was pretending to be a repairman,
and he-he rigged all of the lights
and-and the electrical panel.
That's how we controlled the lights.
He can control everything.
He can hear what I'm thinking.
It's like he's in my head,
and I just, I I
have to do what he says.
I have to do
Tanya, he cannot see you
or hear you right now.
No, but he, see-see
Margaret, if I can, if I
can just do what he says,
- then she Emma
- Tanya, we've all seen your face now.
He knows that we would find you
and that would eventually
lead us back to him.
He sent you up here to die.
So if you want to save your
daughter Emma and yourself,
you need to start working with us,
all of us, together right now.
LYLE: I'm gonna check
the electrical panel.
He's not taking control of my building.
He killed Vivian, didn't he?
Bowen was the exterminator
who came to the house that day?
Tanya. He thought he was
gonna inherit millions.
We were so in debt.
He drinks and gambles.
He killed Vivian.
And then he just got a
small amount of money.
And then you, last
week, when you announced
that-that you had a new witness
It's a witness that I
found. Someone who saw a man
in the woods the day of the murder.
A-and B-Bowen has a
scar right here, right?
- Yeah.
- TODD: We are on the trail.
Bowen knows we are on
the trail to catching him.
And he knows that if Jesse
dies, that trail will go cold.
- Mm-hmm.
- But my daughter. He'll kill her.
No one is going to die today.
We have to get back
to the conference room.
- It's been 2.6 minutes.
- Okay.
- And we got to keep Bowen at bay.
- That's right.
Come on, come on, h-her
phone is blowing up.
- What?
- Not that kind of blowing up.
Francey, you can't say things like that.
Oh, my God, my phone,
if he's been texting me,
- and then he can't hear me, he'll get suspicious.
- No, it's okay.
[THUNDER CRASHES]
[VACUUM CLEANER STOPS]
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]:
Uh, that's it, Ms. Margaret.
- Thank you.
- Oh, yes, thank you, H-Hank.
- Great.
- Sorry for take so long.
There was tea stain under desk.
Bowen, are you there?
[MOUTHS]
[GASPS]
He's coming up.
BOWEN: Hold the door.
Yeah.
- Thanks.
- Sure.
What floor?
Uh, uh, 27.
Oh. Me, too. Who are you seeing?
My lawyer.
You?
Uh, same, sort of.
My mom is my lawyer.
Endlessly litigating my life choices.
What's your mom's name?
[WHISPERS]: Yes, yes.
Go, go, go, go, quick.
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Hold on.
Hi, Allison. Uh, listen, uh,
d-don't come by the office tonight.
- I I need to cancel our plans
- BOWEN: What a shame.
I was so looking forward to meeting
the brilliant Margaret Wright.
- Oh, my God.
- What?
- It's him.
- What?
- He has Allison.
- No.
Margaret, if you alert
anyone or call the police,
you will never see your daughter again.
Understand?
Yes. Yes, I do.
Great. See you in a moment.
- Oh, my God. Oh, my God.
- I'm so sorry.
- I'm so sorry.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[THUNDER CRASHES]
Margaret?
Margaret, where are you?
I'm here.
We're in the conference room.
It's right down this way.
Where is everybody?
Didn't Tanya tell you
not to let anyone go?
She said business as usual.
Most people leave
right before 6:00 to avoid the traffic.
We didn't want to raise suspicions.
Right.
Right, okay. Go on.
♪
[BEEPING]
Tanya.
What did I say about
not returning my texts?
I couldn't hear you. The-the vacuum.
Where's my daughter? Where's Emma?
BOWEN: You don't need
to worry about her.
Worry about me.
I had to come all the way up here
with my new friend Allison
just to make sure that things were okay.
Sorry, I'm just playing
a bit of catch-up here,
but is that a live bomb?
Yes, it is, and we will
do whatever they say.
Where's my daughter?
I need to know that she's safe.
What you need to do
is sit down and shut up.
Okay, let's just all
keep our wits about us.
Everything is
is fine, we are doing whatever you
It's almost 6:00.
Let's turn on the news.
I'm sure they'll be covering
Oregon's first execution in 26 years.
Go on.
Turn on the TV.
You, have a seat.
TANYA: And then we'll leave.
Together.
And pick up Emma, right?
Turn on the TV.
NEWS ANCHOR [OVER TV]:
programming for this breaking news.
Thank you, Ken. I'm Elise Callam,
reporter for the Portland Sentinel,
reporting live and on television today
from the Portland Correctional Facility,
where a very somber mood has descended.
Jesse Flegelson is scheduled
to die by lethal injection
15 minutes from now,
which, I have to admit,
is a point I never would've
thought we'd actually reach.
[HELICOPTER WHIRRING OUTSIDE]
Can I, um
get you anything else?
No.
Nothing else.
Is your family coming?
GUARD [OVER P.A. SYSTEM]:
Jesse Flegelson.
Ten-minute warning.
Officers approaching.
[LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
FRANCEY: Look, look, look, look.
She turned the Cube-Brick on.
[PHONE RINGING]
Susan. We just sent you a link.
You need to take it to-to
J-Judge Woodbridge, now.
Oh, my God.
Jesse, I will be right back,
I promise, but this might be it.
I'm coming out.
- Yes, ma'am.
- [LOCK BUZZES, LATCH CLICKS]
Your Honor, I'm sorry, but
something urgent came up.
Please! Please.
Make it quick.
MARGARET: Bowen.
Are you really gonna keep us in here,
with that-that bomb strapped to
Tanya until Jesse is executed?
BOWEN: I am. That's
exactly what I'm gonna do.
Your Honor, this man is the
reason why we pulled the motion.
He is holding Margaret Wright hostage.
You have to stay the execution.
ELISE: Tensions are very high. Oh, wait.
This just in.
In a last-minute decision,
the execution of Jesse
Flegelson has been stayed.
- All right, uh, yes.
- [CHEERING OVER TV]
I-I'm hearing
Uh, okay, it is unclear
exactly what led to this
BOWEN: Turn it off.
What the hell happened?
Uh, I don't know.
I-I did everything you told me to.
But it failed.
[MOUTHS]
Now, how can we all
get out of here alive?
TANYA: Bowen
It's over.
Let's go. Let's go get Emma.
Will you just shut up?
Emma's fine. I told you she's fine.
TANYA: She's my baby. Where is she?
BOWEN: She's with my cousin, okay?
But you're never gonna
see her again, Tanya.
These people all know who you are.
They've seen your face.
They've seen the bomb.
They've seen me.
They know too much. And it's your fault.
You did this.
You failed. And I told you
what would happen if
you failed, didn't I?
[RUSSIAN ACCENT]: So sorry,
Ms. Margaret, I forgot.
Do you want me vacuum drapes in your
Clear out now. Get down.
- Clear out now.
- [GRUNTS]
Okay, um, I-I have the
bomb detonator thing.
Someone take this away from me.
Clear out. Everyone, clear out now.
Except for you.
Stand still, no sudden movements.
AGENT: Ma'am, clear out now. Let's go.
Tanya.
AGENT 2: Bring in the bomb squad.
[AGENT SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
OFFICER: Take cover.
Everybody, take cover.
Go. Under the table. The table.
OFFICER: Get down, get down.
[MUTTERS SOFTLY]
- AGENT: All clear! Rendered safe!
- Whoa.
[ALL SIGHING]
Oh, my God. [EXHALES]
I really just came to get my umbrella.
[LAUGHTER]
That's, like, literally
the only reason I'm here.
Bowen was arrested,
and you will have a retrial next week,
and you'll be free, Jesse.
Thank you.
I am so sorry you went
through all of this.
It was so unfair.
[CRYING]
I will see you tomorrow.
Okay.
Hey. [SIGHS]
So, I just heard from
child protective services.
Emma is safe
- Oh.
- and in their custody.
- Thank God.
- [LAUGHS SOFTLY] Yeah.
Aw, Francey
[LAUGHS]
Oh Okay.
Jack must be worried sick about you.
I'm going home to see him now.
Thank you.
That was close.
Good night.
[EXHALING]
Uh-huh.
You are coming with me.
[SNIFFLES] Oh
Anything else planned for the day, huh?
Any more bombs or falling
off the Nakatomi building?
Rappelling down a freight elevator?
Oh, you mean like from that movie
with Dimi Moore's husband.
Uh, Braveheart.
Die Hard. It's Bruce Willis.
He saves the day?
Just like you saved Jesse.
And it's Demi Moore.
Hey.
We saved Jesse.
Yeah, well, yippee ki-yay, Mother.
Ooh. I know what that's from.
What? It's from that
Clint Eastwood movie.
- Yeah. Let's go with that.
- Yeah. Like the western.
- Yippee ki-yay. ♪
- Right, right.
[PHONE BUZZING]
Hey.
Hey.
I'm glad you're okay.
Yeah.
Me, too.
Life's too short to not be friends.
Can we
Todd, are you still there?
Always, friend.
[LAUGHS SOFTLY]
[DANCE MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER]
Hey! Silk girl!
Oh, my God, are we being too loud?
Not at all. [LAUGHS] Can I join you?
It has been a long day.
Of course! Oh, my God, come in.
We're having a blast.
How are you feeling?
Pretty damn good!
- [WHOOPS]
- [CHEERING]
♪