Only Murders in the Building (2021) s04e05 Episode Script
Adaptation
1
[DETECTIVE DONNA WILLIAMS]
The Feds are now on the case.
They don't want me
involved. The least I can do
is feed you idiots
some useful information.
A single casing was
found in apartment 14F
belonging to a tenant by
the name of M. Dudenoff.
[MABEL MORA] Look, there's
a footprint on the radiator.
- Come here! Come here!
- [CRASHING]
Ben Glenroy?
[IN IRISH ACCENT] I'm Glenn
Stubbins, Ben's stunt double.
I'm begging ya. Can you help
me get a job on your film?
I present to you the Brothers!
And when these gals read the fabulous
script that Marshall P. Pope wrote
I-I just tried to get you all
down in the right way, you know?
At least how I pictured you.
[EVA LONGORIA] I'm not telling
you to sell your life rights,
but if you do, ask them
for a shit-ton of money.
[OLIVER PUTNAM] Notice
this intruder. A male arm.
And I don't trust its intentions!
[CHARLES-HADEN SAVAGE] Sazz
sacrificed everything for me,
and by the time I realized it, it
was too late to make it up to her.
Someday, I won't be able
to take the hits anymore.
I'm gonna open up a trampoline park.
[MABEL] What is this place? A hideout?
Don't move or I'll blow
your fucking brains out.
[OVERLAPPING YELPS]
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
[MARSHALL P. POPE] What
makes a writer a real writer?
It starts with the look.
A look that says, I'm
smart, confident, worldly,
important, but not self-important.
I can quote David Foster
Wallace and Ace Ventura.
"Alrighty then."
It's about convincing the world, and,
honestly, yourself,
that you have the goods.
But the look only gets you so far.
- [TYPING]
- It comes down to what's on the page.
♪
And the page has to dazzle,
bright enough that it catches
the right person's eye.
♪
And then, you get the call.
They're making your movie.
You're a real writer now.
You're convinced the voice in your head,
the one that says you are a fraud,
is finally gonna go away.
Except, it doesn't.
And you start to wonder if
it [WEAK LAUGH] ever will.
[GUN COCKS]
Don't move or I'll blow
your fucking brains out.
The tragedy of it all!
Death comes for Oliver Putnam
in the prime of his life.
Fine, do it!
Extinguish my roaring
flame, but spare my friends!
[DRAMATIC CRESCENDO]
Oh, my God, it's you?
Oh, I'm so sorry.
I've just been a little on edge.
I really do not like being
this far east of Brentwood.
Do you mind putting the gun down?
Oh, this? It's not loaded.
- [GUNSHOTS]
- [ALL YELLING]
- [CLICKING]
- [SCREAMING]
[SIGHS] Okay, so I'll
be taking that away
from you.
Bev, what are you doing here?
And whose gun is that?
It's your dead friend Sazz's, I
assume. I found it here in this
I-I don't know what
you call this place.
A sad shack. A poverty cottage?
Stop deflecting. Did you kill Sazz?
Ooh, I really like what
I'm seeing over here.
Mabel the investigator,
stomping around in your
patchwork trench coat,
solving crimes like a
millennial Nancy Drew.
- I'm really excited for our movie, guys!
- [CHARLES] Bev.
Did you kill her?
No, I did not.
But I think someone
on the movie may have.
[LIVELY THEME SONG PLAYING]
[VOCALIZING]
[THEME SONG FADES OUT]
[BIRDS CAWING]
[CHARLES] Bev, where were
you the night she was killed?
Ooh, I was hoping you would ask!
Well, here's me that night, in LA,
at Variety's Power Women Party
for the 100 Most
Powerful Women Under 100.
It was, of course, at the Power
Room. I'm on top of the world.
I'm dressed head to toe in Chanel.
Ain't no one gonna fuck with this
bitch, you know what I'm saying?
Anyway, Sazz called me.
I didn't pick up 'cause
it was a random number,
but she left me a voicemail,
which I thought was interesting.
[CLICKS PLAY BUTTON]
[SAZZ] [ON VOICEMAIL]
Name's Sazz Pataki,
and I'm told you're the one to talk to.
Look, I can't get
into this in a message,
but you need to call me, okay?
There's a problem with
your Only Murders movie.
A big problem, and I
can't say more than that.
11:07.
That's right after she
left to get the wine.
And you didn't call her back?
- I know you're all new to Hollywood, but
- [OLIVER] New?!
I'll have you know that I directed
Singing in the Rain 2 for VH1 in '88.
Town's still talking about it.
Gary Busey was in it, and
he stole all the cameras.
Listen, what I'm saying is
no one wants to get that call.
It's really hard to get
a movie made these days,
and I just wasn't in the
mood to hear about a problem.
So I took my good old
time getting back to her.
Then, the next thing
I heard, she was dead.
So you're haunted by guilt.
But you think everything
would be different
if you'd just called her back.
Oh, I'm haunted
by the fear that this movie falls apart.
The stakes are through
the roof for me right now.
I passed on Barbie.
I need to find and fix this problem
before it takes down
the whole production.
So, I came here, and I
turned this place inside out,
but all I found were a couple of
sketches of trampolines and that gun.
[SIGHS] Can't believe I did that.
Guns are destroying our entire society.
[SIGHS] Can I have it back?
[OLIVER SNORTS]
What? No!
Please! It kinda turned
me on. I don't know.
I just felt so powerful holding it.
[SIGHS] And I really think my notes
to writers would land better with a gun.
It's "Tighten up act two, guys,"
or "Tighten up act two." I mean,
which one are you gonna listen to?
Yeah, I think I'm gonna hold on to this.
Fine.
Well, I'm really glad
I bumped into you guys.
Investigating murders is exhausting.
But you all seem to enjoy
this killer-finding thing,
so you find the killer,
I save the movie.
How's that for a deal?
[BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
[AMBIENT STREET NOISE]
- [CHARLES] Get ready to be dazzled!
- [WHEELS SQUEAKING]
What do you think?
I think the next time you
ask me to rush over here
for a break in the case,
you need to gimme something better than
20-fucking-thousand
murder boards, okay?
It's only three!
That's three too fuckin' many,
man. What is this? Amateur hour?
May I remind you that these
amateurs have thrice bested
the NYPD homicide department.
Now, I think there's something here.
Sazz called Bev Melon
and said that there was
a problem on the movie.
And right after that, she was shot.
Ergo, someone on the movie killed Sazz
to keep this problem a secret!
Okay, so if this is such a hot theory,
then where's the rest of
your crew to vouch for it?
- [DOOR OPENS, SHUTS]
- [OLIVER] We're here! We're here!
Well, the good people of
Page Six have solved it.
The bicep on Loretta's
Instagram has been identified.
- Wow.
- [OLIVER] It belongs to one Jack Jonk.
He has a four-episode arc on
Norfbun as Loretta's love interest.
Go ahead, Loretta. You
know Jack Jonk, right?
- The former Olympic swimmer?
- Yeah, I do.
[DETECTIVE WILLIAMS] So you
know what that means, right?
Big-ass arms.
Big-ass legs.
- Big-ass
- Oh, no, no. [STAMMERS] I think,
to me, he has a
perfectly normal physique.
In fact, he reminds me of me
when I was doing the
elliptical two times a week.
- [CHARLES] Mm-hmm.
- [MABEL] Sorry, not listening.
Guys, have you seen these checks?
Oh, our life rights checks have landed.
I sent mine to my accountant in Belize.
- Where?
- Where, uh,
my accountant is hiking
the Xunantunich Mountains,
and who will return with
the check and deposit here,
so I can pay the
appropriate American taxes.
I just can't believe they're
actually paying us. It's so official.
- That's because we're professionals now.
- [WILLIAMS GROANS]
Yeah, we're professionals.
I'm a professional
Wait, what do I do?
You do this.
Well, what is "this" exactly?
God only knows.
Well, you you know,
w-we have a podcast,
s-so you are a pod-smith.
- A crime-fluencer.
- How about podcast producer?
I'm a podcast producer.
I am a podcast producer.
No, but it's more like
I'm a podcast producer!
Yeah, you don't have to overdo
it. You could just say
[ALOOF] "Oh, I'm a podcast producer."
[ALOOF] I'm a podcast producer.
[NORMAL] But why is that
so scary to say out loud?
Maybe it's 'cause you're
a producer on a podcast
about a crime that has
40,000 fuckin' suspects.
Not for long. We are headed
up to the production office.
We are gonna poke around and knock
a few more names off these boards.
Okay, great. Sounds good.
So, while you guys do that,
I'm gonna get some more information
on this gun. In the meantime,
tighten it up. You hear me?
Fuckin' amateur Take
this shit off the board!
- Think she was impressed.
- [OLIVER GROWLS]
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
- [PEOPLE CHATTERING]
- [TRINA BROTHERS] Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- Oh God. I have an idea.
- [TRINA LAUGHS]
These three should be
in the photo shoot, too.
[TRINA GASPS]
Why aren't you writing this down?
- [HEAVY BAG DROPPING]
- [OLIVER SNORTS]
Oh, [LAUGHS] well, Oliver
Putnam does love a photo shoot.
My hair guy is in a home now,
so there's a bit of paperwork
involved in getting him out, but
Well, what What is this photo shoot?
It's marketing for the
movie. Ready for the concept?
Full frontal nudity.
Two bodies ravaged by time.
And one dewy with promise.
Nobody's doing a naked photo shoot.
Wait, yes! It should be the opposite.
You drowning in your season one outfits.
- Oh
- Did you get that?
Season one outfits.
And the actors in identical looks?
Doubles, illusions.
So cliché.
- [HAUGHTY LAUGHTER]
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- Don't be late.
- [CASE WHEELS SQUEAKING]
Hey, Oliver! [GASPS]
I saw Page Six today. Oh, my God.
Sounds like your girlfriend's
about to get Jonked.
I'd prefer if you
didn't put it that way.
Well, you gotta tell her though,
'cause it's best to line up
a good orthopedic surgeon now.
'Cause she's gonna need
a big hip replacement
after he drops that Jonk on her.
I'm sorry, you've used "Jonk"
as both a noun and a verb
in the span of 10 seconds.
Well, it can be both. "The Jonk
jonked my jonk till I jonked,"
is a valid sentence.
Well, he and I don't
sound that different.
Both body guys.
- You know, love protein.
- Mm.
In fact, a lotta people don't
know this, but I-I myself
- went through a steroids phase.
- Hm.
Prednisone for my sinus infections.
[BEV MELON] Hm
That's so interesting.
It's funny 'cause you don't strike
me as someone who would, like,
"care for their body."
Excuse me. I need to go find someone.
Actually, uh, uh, uh, I-I-I'm known
as a bit of a Herculean figure
in the, uh, theater community.
Usually picked second for softball,
right after the lesbian stage manager.
And I don't wanna brag, but, uh,
I've been asked to be a
pallbearer. Many times.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [DOORS OPEN]
- [PRODUCTION OFFICE CHATTER]
- [PHONES RINGING]
- [STICKING]
- Ooh.
What is this I'm standing
on? It feels like fly paper.
It's a tacky mat. Production thing.
I work here now, know all the words.
"Comtex." "Gobo tweeny up and over."
"Grip." I can continue.
- I can't.
- It gets the dust off your shoes
so you don't track anything
into the sisters' nest.
It's a kick-off gift from Eva.
She has a full line of sticky products.
Boob tape, wound glue.
She's huge in adhesives.
Anyway, that's a wrap on me!
I gotta go martini two-shot
that best boy. [CLICKS TONGUE]
- This is a lot of suspects.
- [STICKING]
What'd Detective Williams
call us? Amateurs?
Ama If that's even the word
she used. I can't remember.
- It was amateurs.
- Yeah?
Well, would an amateur
pretend to be making a call
while secretly taking
photos for our murder board?
- Oh, yes! Uh
- [LOUD SHUTTER SNAPPING]
- yes, I can hold. Yes, I'll wait. Oh!
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
Yes, it's me, Martha! Hi! How are
- I just wanna order those nachos. Uh, na
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING CONTINUES]
Do you want nachos? You
don't? You don't want them?
Can you put some, uh, papa de gallo
- [MUTTERS] Pico de gallo.
- Paca de Pico de gallo on that for me?
- Oh, look at this. That's so interesting.
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Good work. Good work, everyone.
Yeah, that's fantastic.
I really hope the camera's
pointing the right way.
- Oh, shoot.
- [CLICKING]
[WHISPERS] Okay, here we go.
- [NORMAL] Yeah. Uh-huh?
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Well, that's interesting! Yes!
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING CONTINUES]
- Yes, I can hold, Martha.
[WHISPERS] How are we supposed to tell
if one of these people is the murderer?
I guess we look for
someone who gets nervous
when they see us poking around.
Like him.
[THUDS]
- [BUTTON CLICKING]
- [CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Marshall, right?
We need to talk with you.
Oh shit, it's the whole trio.
Uh, fine. L-L-Let's do it.
We have a few questions about Sazz
Pataki. Did you happen to see
Wait, I'm a suspect?
Oh, thank God.
Sorry, I-I thought you wanted to
give me more notes on the script.
It's just you're producers
co-associate producers
and everyone's been hounding me
about rewrites, and I figured you
[RAGGED BREATHING] But no, I'm
I'm just a suspect. [NERVOUS LAUGH]
Um, okay, great. So,
ask me where I was the
night Sazz got murdered.
- Not here.
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- Let's talk at my place.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [GASPS] Mabel! Hey! Hi!
- Hey, hi, hi.
I just went down to the
lobby to look for you.
Can you hang back and
talk with me for a second?
Come sit down with me. Let's see
if we can pass the Bechdel test.
[ROPES CREAK]
Oh, by the way, the checks landed.
What are we gonna splurge on?
Oh, I'm probably gonna
sink mine into my business.
I'm a podcast producer.
Yeah. And I oversee a few
a bunch of projects.
I'm sure you have a
million irons in the fire,
but I do happen to be looking for
a hot new podcast to adapt for my
next movie. So what have you got?
Oh! Um, I have lots of ideas.
You know, they're just not fully baked.
Mabel, nobody needs fully baked.
All you need is a hook.
So what's your next
podcast? Go on. Hook me.
- Like, now?
- Yeah, now. Why not?
Uh Um The
The first one is about
people.
Tall people, short people,
all different-sized people.
Hm.
And, uh, there's, uh,
another one about buttons
being pushed because of trauma.
Ooh, I like that.
You know what? Forget it. None
of these are really anything.
Mabel, do you want the
advice of a senior VP?
These ideas are fantastic!
They're relatable.
I mean, come on. Who hasn't dealt with
people and buttons?
You know what? I saw it in the shed.
I said, "The gal under 80,
she's the one you
wanna bet on long-term."
So, you know what? I'm
calling Billy Billberg.
He heads up the podcast
division of our corporation.
I can already see the potential!
Building brands, spreading trends
make that Gen Z get off
their asses and listen.
Okay, so here's the plan.
[SNAPS FINGERS] You're
gonna flesh out these ideas,
and I'm gonna set you
up on a meeting ASAP.
Oh, uh, uh, no, I'm not
sure about my schedule.
[GIBBERISH] I don't wanna hear it.
Shh. I don't wanna hear
anything. Mabel, listen to me.
They're not buying the idea
as much as they're buying you,
so don't stress. Case
closed. [POP] We're doing it.
- Uh
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
[RHYTHMIC KNOCKING ON DOOR]
- [STOPS KNOCKING]
- Ah-ha! It's me favorite trio!
Ah, when'd you grow the beard, lassie?
That's not Mabel.
Oh, well, um I's just
leaving you dis gift.
- Oh. Mm.
- There you go, Chuck.
It's me old gran's soda bread.
[SIGHS] Dropped your name.
Got meself a gig on the film.
Just odd jobs for now,
but I'll be, uh, doublin' for
you at the photo shoot later.
[LAUGHS] Oh, Dublin.
That's Doub Oh, Glen!
Um, you're a stunt guy.
Would you say I'm physically fit?
- [CLICKS BUTTON]
- Oh, sure. You're a right Conor McGregor.
- [STAMPING]
- I'll scrap ya! Motherf
[WATER TRICKLING]
[RECORDER BEEPS]
I can't believe I'm getting
grilled by the actual trio.
[LAUGHS] I've spent months picturing
how you would do an interrogation scene,
and now I'm inside one! Wild.
Y-Yeah, you're really living the dream.
Um, can you tell us where
you were the night Sazz died?
It's funny you ask
- Marshall, this script is amazing.
- You like it?
I love it! I've never seen myself
portrayed so accurately before.
"Charles peers shrewdly at the evidence,
his keen analytical brain
thumping with thought."
Does a brain thump?
Well, apparently, this one does.
[OLIVER] "Oliver flits around the room,
a septuagenarian Peter
Pan or a male Tinkerbell"?
Okay, that's just bad writing, Marshall.
- Pick a metaphor.
- [MABEL] Aren't you supposed to be
printing out the photos we
took in the production offices?
Fine, fine.
B-But Marshall, take a look at
how you wrote me in the script
because I do not walk like that.
It's classic trio bickering.
It's my favorite part
of the podcast. [LAUGHS]
God, I love you guys!
[CLEARS THROAT] But to get back
to your question on where I was
the night Sazz died, the truth is
I've been trying my hand at
standup. Observational stuff.
I-I'm more of a storyteller
than a punchline guy.
Think Jonathan Winters meets Ali Wong.
That night, I was in West Hollywood,
doing a set at the Laugh-eteria.
Oh, I can show you on YouTube!
Actually, that would be useful.
It's my first time
doing this hour and
- Uh, that's okay.
- Wow. An hour.
Uh, Mabel, we oughta let
this kid get back to work.
The only thing he's guilty
of is great character writing.
- [EXCITED GIGGLE]
- [MABEL] [SIGHS] I'm sorry, Marshall,
before you go, is your beard fake?
Oh God, is it that obvious?
Th-This is supposed to be
costume-grade human hair!
[MABEL] I-It's a great
beard, it's just
can you tell me why you have it?
Uh [LAUGHS] Yeah,
this is so embarrassing,
but I-I can't really grow facial hair.
I-It's my first time on set,
and I wanted to sell
myself as a "real writer,"
and this is the look, right?
Oh, these aren't these aren't
real either. I have 20/10 vision.
How could a writer of your
talent have imposter syndrome?
Actually, I get it.
Really? You're not an imposter.
Sometimes, I feel like one.
That's crazy. You're my inspiration.
It's what drew me to your podcast.
You never pretend to be
anything other than what you are.
- Amateurs.
- Hey, hey. Whoa.
[MARSHALL] I was gonna say amateurs,
flailing their way to success.
You haven't missed.
I-I mean, look at these murder boards!
They're a little
homemade, and yet you're
You're probably on the
verge of a breakthrough.
Finally, someone who sees it.
You want me to walk you through it?
It could be helpful with the script.
That would be incredible.
You'll notice how this is organized
around the theme of questions.
The who, the how, the
why, and the why now?
You know, we really should contact
the MasterClass people about this.
Wow. So, you don't
know who the target was?
Oh, no. Th Don't look at that.
That's not ready for prime time.
That "Why" section has a
lotta different motives
No, no, th-th-that's
not, yeah But this.
This is my magnum opus. The "How" board.
Note the timeline.
- This baby's airtight.
- It's beautiful.
Although the Ah, forget it.
- [MABEL] No, what?
- Nothing. It
It's just th-the timing.
Sazz left a voicemail at 11:07,
but her body hit the
incinerator at 11:19.
That would mean someone
shot from the West Tower,
came all the way over here,
cleaned up the crime scene,
and disposed of the
body, all in 12 minutes?
It could totally happen.
You just haven't thought
about it the way I have.
In fact, that might be the secret
to my crime-solving ability.
I'm able to channel
the mind of a killer.
You might wanna put that in the script.
[MARSHALL] Uh
You're still not getting it? All good.
- Let me pitch the murder to you.
- [MUSIC SWELLS]
Picture this.
[JAZZY SPY MUSIC PLAYING]
Our killer takes his place
- [COCKS GUN]
- or her place,
and waits for the
target to come into view.
- Minute one, our killer takes his shot.
- [GUNSHOT, GLASS BREAKING]
Can I just commit to male
pronouns? It'll be easier. Anyway
Boom.
Minute two, he takes the stairs
so as not to run into
anyone on the elevator,
but he's gotta be quick!
Minutes three to six,
our killer exits the West Tower
and traverses the half-block
to the Arconia main entrance.
[GLOVE SNAPS]
[PEDESTRIAN] Oh! Brazzos!
[CHARLES] Just another
face in a New York crowd.
[SPY MUSIC CONTINUES]
Minute seven,
our killer enters the lobby
and expertly distracts
the doorman on duty.
[MIMICS BIRD CALLING]
Why, that sounds exactly
like a black-capped chickadee.
What's a forest songbird
doing in my lobby?
- [BLOWS]
- [DOOR OPENS]
[CHARLES] Minutes 9 through
11, he enters my apartment
and removes any trace of the crime,
a task made easier by the
high-quality cleaning products
I have neatly organized
in my high-quality
cleaning product cabinet.
♪
And finally, using what I assume
is one of my missing suit bags,
our killer hoists the
body over his shoulder,
- [ECHOING SNAP]
- and disposes of it
causing the power to
surge at exactly minute 12.
♪
[GUNSHOT]
- [POWER WHIRRING]
- [MUSIC FADES OUT]
Stylishly done.
Huh. I-I'm just saying, in order
for it to happen in 12 minutes,
the person who did this would
have to be extremely fit.
A gifted athlete in the
best shape of their life.
You're describing our killer exactly.
No, you're describing me.
- I'll do it.
- Do what?
The murder. I can
reenact it in 12 minutes.
I don't think that's a great idea.
[LAUGHS] Mabel, Mabel, Mabel.
You have no idea what
this body of mine can do.
In 1981, I participated
in a 24-hour kickline fundraiser.
- Like a Rockette?
- Exactly like a Rockette.
It was called "Let's
Kick Rickets to the Curb
and If We Have Extra Send It to AIDS."
We only had enough for rickets.
Um, I-I'll test the theory.
Or Marshall can.
You don't have anything
you need to prove.
Who's proving anything? I'm
simply a man in his prime,
looking to use his rock-hard
bod to prove a murder timeline.
Oliver, just the same,
you have a lot of things
that Jack Jonk doesn't.
You're sweet, for one. Your
scarves and
Yes! And even if only 10%
of your stories are true,
you've had an interesting life.
Thank you, but this has
nothing to do with Jack Jonk.
Now, here are your photos. I
have to locate my athletic wear
and fly through this
killer's obstacle course.
[CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Bang!
[SIGHS]
Are you just gonna leave me up here?
Do you want me to stop the clock?
No, just help me down. I sunk
20 grand into these knees.
[GRUNTS, SIGHS]
See you punks at the finish line.
[MABEL SIGHS]
Okay.
[BANNISTER SQUEAKING]
- [THUDS]
- [SCREAMS]
♪
[SLURPING]
[OLIVER YELPS]
[STREET CHATTER]
[PEDESTRIAN] Oh!
Move it! Kids on leashes
should be illegal!
I'm trying to do something here!
- Get back!
- [MOTHER GASPS]
Hey, hey! Nice outfit, jackass!
- Yelling at children? Are you serious?
- [OLIVER WAILING]
- [OLIVER SCREAMING]
- You cannot be serious!
[OLIVER PANTING]
- How am I doing?
- It's been 38 minutes.
- What?!
- What happened to you, Oliver?
[PANTING] Well, I got
off to a good start.
- No, you didn't.
- No, I did not.
I've been on a journey.
I saw things.
I did things.
[VOICE BREAKING] I failed.
I failed as an athlete,
as a movie character,
as a fashion icon
as a guardian of the city's wildlife.
[NORMAL] I'd rather
not elaborate on that.
- Did you punch a bird?
- I said I'm not elaborating!
It's not your fault, Oliver.
Nobody could have done that in 12
minutes unless they were superhuman.
The only thing holding this murder
board together is my timeline,
and it's all wrong!
What are you doing? Oh, my God,
you're rewriting my character!
Don't take away my thumping brain!
- No, I-I mean
- [DOOR KNOCKING]
Oh, thank God. I'll get it!
[SIGHS] One little mistake,
and suddenly I'm thumpless!
[DOOR OPENS]
- [DOOR SHUTS]
- [WHEELS RATTLING]
Oh, good. You're all here.
I got your wardrobe.
Gee, photo shoot.
Reminds me of the time
I modeled for the, uh,
great Robert Mapplethorpe.
Uh, just Google, "Robert
Mapplethorpe, Lester Doorman."
Of course, you won't recognize
me behind the gimp mask,
but, uh, it's me in
there. Anyway, have fun.
- [DOOR OPENS, SHUTS]
- I never thought I'd say this,
but Oliver Putnam is
not up for a photo shoot.
[CHARLES] Me neither.
Guys, we have to go to that photo shoot.
[CHARLES] Wow, Mabel, money
has really changed you.
One check and it's, "Hey, check me out."
[SIGHS] No, look!
It's the pictures you took
in the production office.
This shoe print on that tacky mat
matches the one from
Dudenoff's apartment.
The killer was up at
the production offices,
which means they're
probably at the photo shoot.
Shit
It's like I'm already watching
the sequel to my movie. [CHUCKLES]
♪
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[TAWNY BROTHERS] Oh, you're here.
- This could be triggering.
- [TRINA] Shoot.
[CAMERA BEEPING]
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
[OLIVER YELPS]
Just wait.
[DOOR OPENS]
It's an honor to be
your stand-in, Putnam.
You, too, Mr. Anaphylaxis.
Yay! You made it! I'm so happy.
Don't you love this concept?
We have all of you multiplied.
Then, we add mirrors.
- [OLIVER GASPS]
- [BEV] It's so confusing,
just like your podcast. Check it out!
Look at this.
[OMINOUS CRESCENDO]
- [SHUTTERS SNAPPING]
- [RUNWAY POP MUSIC PLAYING]
Charlie's Angels.
- Aah!
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Ron, Harry, Hermione.
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- [QUIETLY] Harry Potter.
- Hm? Oh yeah.
- [OLIVER WHOOSHING]
Godfather 1, 2, 3.
[OLIVER GROWLS]
- Are you sure this plan is going to work?
- Absolutely not,
but I didn't have a better
idea on such short notice.
Let's take five. Charles, go to makeup.
Tell them we need you to look
a little less [HIGH HUM]
They'll know what that means.
This way, sir.
["CONTACT" BY BMGPM PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
[EVA] Howard!
- Howard! Ah.
- [CHATTER QUIETS DOWN]
Why is this box of
Eva Longoria Tacky Mats
not unloaded and laid out?
You think I want dust
particles in my nose all day?
What are we making, Dune?
[HOWARD MORRIS] Ms.
Longoria, I will lay out
the Ms. Longoria Tacky Mats,
but I will not be spoken
to like a common PA!
I am an on-set documentarian
slash talent liaison.
Great. Well, why don't
you liaise these mats?
PA, lay out the mats.
Are you kidding me?
Eva, thanks so much for playing
the crazy celebrity card.
Oh, honey, I've asked
for crazier things.
In season eight of Desperate Housewives,
I told them I wouldn't return
unless they legalized gay marriage.
And guess what? They did. [CHUCKLES]
You're welcome, gays!
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
["CONTACT" CONTINUES PLAYING]
[GASPS]
Oh, I get the plan now.
See, I'm a visual learner.
Do I have all my Olivers?
Oh.
- Oliver.
- [OLIVER SIGHS]
Oliver.
I'm Glen Stubbins!
Stubbins, out!
Zack and Oliver, get on your marks.
Wait! Conference.
Eye contact ♪
Ooh, baby, makin' eye contact ♪
[SIGHS] Okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
Have you read the new changes
to the script? They're awful.
What changes?
For some reason, and don't ask me why,
it seems as Marshall has done a
insecurity pass on your character.
"Oliver stares at the murder board,
insecurely wondering who the killer is.
He flits around the room,
an insecure Peter Pan or
an insecure Tinkerbell."
Okay, you know, this is all about Jonk.
Jack Jonk?
- Mm-hmm.
- [GLEN STUBBINS] Hey! Hey!
- [LAUGHS] That dude fucks.
- [GLEN] Aah! Bastards!
Hard.
We did a gender-bent
take on Snow White,
and he jonked all seven of the dwarves.
You could hear them
hi-ho-ing from his trailer.
He's playing my girlfriend's
new love interest on her show.
Ah, sorry.
Well, [STAMMERS] you know,
maybe he didn't jonk all
seven. It could've been
could've been five.
[TRINA] Try one back-to-back.
You share a vertebrae
and a shameful secret.
Shame A shameful secret. Okay.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
[TAWNY] Now, turn around.
Wiener-to-wiener.
- W
- Stubbins! Show 'em.
Penis
Just by makin' ♪
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Eye contact ♪
Makin' eye contact ♪
Thank you.
- Charles Oh, I'm sorry.
- Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
- My bad, I'm sorry.
- [AWKWARD CHATTER]
[CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
What, are we dancing?
Two people.
That's it.
♪
My brain is back to thumping.
Okay
[MARSHALL] The only thing that
gets you over imposter syndrome
is actually doing the thing
you wanna be better at.
Mabel, I figured out the how.
It wasn't one person who
did the murder. It was two.
One to shoot and one to clean up.
- [MUSIC BUILDING]
- Now, which two people coulda done it?
[MARSHALL] Putting ideas together
till they make some kind of sense.
Until you've got something that you did,
something you figured out.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Or it all makes less sense,
and then it's time for another rewrite.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
[MUSIC BUILDING]
Oh, Trina, he's off his
mark. Can you move him?
[OLIVER WAILS]
[QUIETLY] Thank you.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
♪
[GUNSHOT]
[BODY THUDS]
[SHUTS DOOR]
[ZIPPING BAG]
♪
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
Oh, my God, you're totally right.
They could've done this.
[MUSIC BUILDING]
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
Where's the other Brothers sister?
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
[MUSIC SWELLS]
- [GUNSHOT]
- [PEOPLE SCREAMING]
- [CREW MEMBER] Gun!
- [HOWARD] Oh, my God, they've been shot!
[PEOPLE SCREAMING AND SHOUTING]
[FADING OUT]
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[FANFARE PLAYING]
[DETECTIVE DONNA WILLIAMS]
The Feds are now on the case.
They don't want me
involved. The least I can do
is feed you idiots
some useful information.
A single casing was
found in apartment 14F
belonging to a tenant by
the name of M. Dudenoff.
[MABEL MORA] Look, there's
a footprint on the radiator.
- Come here! Come here!
- [CRASHING]
Ben Glenroy?
[IN IRISH ACCENT] I'm Glenn
Stubbins, Ben's stunt double.
I'm begging ya. Can you help
me get a job on your film?
I present to you the Brothers!
And when these gals read the fabulous
script that Marshall P. Pope wrote
I-I just tried to get you all
down in the right way, you know?
At least how I pictured you.
[EVA LONGORIA] I'm not telling
you to sell your life rights,
but if you do, ask them
for a shit-ton of money.
[OLIVER PUTNAM] Notice
this intruder. A male arm.
And I don't trust its intentions!
[CHARLES-HADEN SAVAGE] Sazz
sacrificed everything for me,
and by the time I realized it, it
was too late to make it up to her.
Someday, I won't be able
to take the hits anymore.
I'm gonna open up a trampoline park.
[MABEL] What is this place? A hideout?
Don't move or I'll blow
your fucking brains out.
[OVERLAPPING YELPS]
[GENTLE MUSIC PLAYING]
[MARSHALL P. POPE] What
makes a writer a real writer?
It starts with the look.
A look that says, I'm
smart, confident, worldly,
important, but not self-important.
I can quote David Foster
Wallace and Ace Ventura.
"Alrighty then."
It's about convincing the world, and,
honestly, yourself,
that you have the goods.
But the look only gets you so far.
- [TYPING]
- It comes down to what's on the page.
♪
And the page has to dazzle,
bright enough that it catches
the right person's eye.
♪
And then, you get the call.
They're making your movie.
You're a real writer now.
You're convinced the voice in your head,
the one that says you are a fraud,
is finally gonna go away.
Except, it doesn't.
And you start to wonder if
it [WEAK LAUGH] ever will.
[GUN COCKS]
Don't move or I'll blow
your fucking brains out.
The tragedy of it all!
Death comes for Oliver Putnam
in the prime of his life.
Fine, do it!
Extinguish my roaring
flame, but spare my friends!
[DRAMATIC CRESCENDO]
Oh, my God, it's you?
Oh, I'm so sorry.
I've just been a little on edge.
I really do not like being
this far east of Brentwood.
Do you mind putting the gun down?
Oh, this? It's not loaded.
- [GUNSHOTS]
- [ALL YELLING]
- [CLICKING]
- [SCREAMING]
[SIGHS] Okay, so I'll
be taking that away
from you.
Bev, what are you doing here?
And whose gun is that?
It's your dead friend Sazz's, I
assume. I found it here in this
I-I don't know what
you call this place.
A sad shack. A poverty cottage?
Stop deflecting. Did you kill Sazz?
Ooh, I really like what
I'm seeing over here.
Mabel the investigator,
stomping around in your
patchwork trench coat,
solving crimes like a
millennial Nancy Drew.
- I'm really excited for our movie, guys!
- [CHARLES] Bev.
Did you kill her?
No, I did not.
But I think someone
on the movie may have.
[LIVELY THEME SONG PLAYING]
[VOCALIZING]
[THEME SONG FADES OUT]
[BIRDS CAWING]
[CHARLES] Bev, where were
you the night she was killed?
Ooh, I was hoping you would ask!
Well, here's me that night, in LA,
at Variety's Power Women Party
for the 100 Most
Powerful Women Under 100.
It was, of course, at the Power
Room. I'm on top of the world.
I'm dressed head to toe in Chanel.
Ain't no one gonna fuck with this
bitch, you know what I'm saying?
Anyway, Sazz called me.
I didn't pick up 'cause
it was a random number,
but she left me a voicemail,
which I thought was interesting.
[CLICKS PLAY BUTTON]
[SAZZ] [ON VOICEMAIL]
Name's Sazz Pataki,
and I'm told you're the one to talk to.
Look, I can't get
into this in a message,
but you need to call me, okay?
There's a problem with
your Only Murders movie.
A big problem, and I
can't say more than that.
11:07.
That's right after she
left to get the wine.
And you didn't call her back?
- I know you're all new to Hollywood, but
- [OLIVER] New?!
I'll have you know that I directed
Singing in the Rain 2 for VH1 in '88.
Town's still talking about it.
Gary Busey was in it, and
he stole all the cameras.
Listen, what I'm saying is
no one wants to get that call.
It's really hard to get
a movie made these days,
and I just wasn't in the
mood to hear about a problem.
So I took my good old
time getting back to her.
Then, the next thing
I heard, she was dead.
So you're haunted by guilt.
But you think everything
would be different
if you'd just called her back.
Oh, I'm haunted
by the fear that this movie falls apart.
The stakes are through
the roof for me right now.
I passed on Barbie.
I need to find and fix this problem
before it takes down
the whole production.
So, I came here, and I
turned this place inside out,
but all I found were a couple of
sketches of trampolines and that gun.
[SIGHS] Can't believe I did that.
Guns are destroying our entire society.
[SIGHS] Can I have it back?
[OLIVER SNORTS]
What? No!
Please! It kinda turned
me on. I don't know.
I just felt so powerful holding it.
[SIGHS] And I really think my notes
to writers would land better with a gun.
It's "Tighten up act two, guys,"
or "Tighten up act two." I mean,
which one are you gonna listen to?
Yeah, I think I'm gonna hold on to this.
Fine.
Well, I'm really glad
I bumped into you guys.
Investigating murders is exhausting.
But you all seem to enjoy
this killer-finding thing,
so you find the killer,
I save the movie.
How's that for a deal?
[BRIGHT MUSIC PLAYING]
[AMBIENT STREET NOISE]
- [CHARLES] Get ready to be dazzled!
- [WHEELS SQUEAKING]
What do you think?
I think the next time you
ask me to rush over here
for a break in the case,
you need to gimme something better than
20-fucking-thousand
murder boards, okay?
It's only three!
That's three too fuckin' many,
man. What is this? Amateur hour?
May I remind you that these
amateurs have thrice bested
the NYPD homicide department.
Now, I think there's something here.
Sazz called Bev Melon
and said that there was
a problem on the movie.
And right after that, she was shot.
Ergo, someone on the movie killed Sazz
to keep this problem a secret!
Okay, so if this is such a hot theory,
then where's the rest of
your crew to vouch for it?
- [DOOR OPENS, SHUTS]
- [OLIVER] We're here! We're here!
Well, the good people of
Page Six have solved it.
The bicep on Loretta's
Instagram has been identified.
- Wow.
- [OLIVER] It belongs to one Jack Jonk.
He has a four-episode arc on
Norfbun as Loretta's love interest.
Go ahead, Loretta. You
know Jack Jonk, right?
- The former Olympic swimmer?
- Yeah, I do.
[DETECTIVE WILLIAMS] So you
know what that means, right?
Big-ass arms.
Big-ass legs.
- Big-ass
- Oh, no, no. [STAMMERS] I think,
to me, he has a
perfectly normal physique.
In fact, he reminds me of me
when I was doing the
elliptical two times a week.
- [CHARLES] Mm-hmm.
- [MABEL] Sorry, not listening.
Guys, have you seen these checks?
Oh, our life rights checks have landed.
I sent mine to my accountant in Belize.
- Where?
- Where, uh,
my accountant is hiking
the Xunantunich Mountains,
and who will return with
the check and deposit here,
so I can pay the
appropriate American taxes.
I just can't believe they're
actually paying us. It's so official.
- That's because we're professionals now.
- [WILLIAMS GROANS]
Yeah, we're professionals.
I'm a professional
Wait, what do I do?
You do this.
Well, what is "this" exactly?
God only knows.
Well, you you know,
w-we have a podcast,
s-so you are a pod-smith.
- A crime-fluencer.
- How about podcast producer?
I'm a podcast producer.
I am a podcast producer.
No, but it's more like
I'm a podcast producer!
Yeah, you don't have to overdo
it. You could just say
[ALOOF] "Oh, I'm a podcast producer."
[ALOOF] I'm a podcast producer.
[NORMAL] But why is that
so scary to say out loud?
Maybe it's 'cause you're
a producer on a podcast
about a crime that has
40,000 fuckin' suspects.
Not for long. We are headed
up to the production office.
We are gonna poke around and knock
a few more names off these boards.
Okay, great. Sounds good.
So, while you guys do that,
I'm gonna get some more information
on this gun. In the meantime,
tighten it up. You hear me?
Fuckin' amateur Take
this shit off the board!
- Think she was impressed.
- [OLIVER GROWLS]
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
- [PEOPLE CHATTERING]
- [TRINA BROTHERS] Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
- Oh God. I have an idea.
- [TRINA LAUGHS]
These three should be
in the photo shoot, too.
[TRINA GASPS]
Why aren't you writing this down?
- [HEAVY BAG DROPPING]
- [OLIVER SNORTS]
Oh, [LAUGHS] well, Oliver
Putnam does love a photo shoot.
My hair guy is in a home now,
so there's a bit of paperwork
involved in getting him out, but
Well, what What is this photo shoot?
It's marketing for the
movie. Ready for the concept?
Full frontal nudity.
Two bodies ravaged by time.
And one dewy with promise.
Nobody's doing a naked photo shoot.
Wait, yes! It should be the opposite.
You drowning in your season one outfits.
- Oh
- Did you get that?
Season one outfits.
And the actors in identical looks?
Doubles, illusions.
So cliché.
- [HAUGHTY LAUGHTER]
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- Don't be late.
- [CASE WHEELS SQUEAKING]
Hey, Oliver! [GASPS]
I saw Page Six today. Oh, my God.
Sounds like your girlfriend's
about to get Jonked.
I'd prefer if you
didn't put it that way.
Well, you gotta tell her though,
'cause it's best to line up
a good orthopedic surgeon now.
'Cause she's gonna need
a big hip replacement
after he drops that Jonk on her.
I'm sorry, you've used "Jonk"
as both a noun and a verb
in the span of 10 seconds.
Well, it can be both. "The Jonk
jonked my jonk till I jonked,"
is a valid sentence.
Well, he and I don't
sound that different.
Both body guys.
- You know, love protein.
- Mm.
In fact, a lotta people don't
know this, but I-I myself
- went through a steroids phase.
- Hm.
Prednisone for my sinus infections.
[BEV MELON] Hm
That's so interesting.
It's funny 'cause you don't strike
me as someone who would, like,
"care for their body."
Excuse me. I need to go find someone.
Actually, uh, uh, uh, I-I-I'm known
as a bit of a Herculean figure
in the, uh, theater community.
Usually picked second for softball,
right after the lesbian stage manager.
And I don't wanna brag, but, uh,
I've been asked to be a
pallbearer. Many times.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [DOORS OPEN]
- [PRODUCTION OFFICE CHATTER]
- [PHONES RINGING]
- [STICKING]
- Ooh.
What is this I'm standing
on? It feels like fly paper.
It's a tacky mat. Production thing.
I work here now, know all the words.
"Comtex." "Gobo tweeny up and over."
"Grip." I can continue.
- I can't.
- It gets the dust off your shoes
so you don't track anything
into the sisters' nest.
It's a kick-off gift from Eva.
She has a full line of sticky products.
Boob tape, wound glue.
She's huge in adhesives.
Anyway, that's a wrap on me!
I gotta go martini two-shot
that best boy. [CLICKS TONGUE]
- This is a lot of suspects.
- [STICKING]
What'd Detective Williams
call us? Amateurs?
Ama If that's even the word
she used. I can't remember.
- It was amateurs.
- Yeah?
Well, would an amateur
pretend to be making a call
while secretly taking
photos for our murder board?
- Oh, yes! Uh
- [LOUD SHUTTER SNAPPING]
- yes, I can hold. Yes, I'll wait. Oh!
- [JAUNTY MUSIC PLAYING]
Yes, it's me, Martha! Hi! How are
- I just wanna order those nachos. Uh, na
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING CONTINUES]
Do you want nachos? You
don't? You don't want them?
Can you put some, uh, papa de gallo
- [MUTTERS] Pico de gallo.
- Paca de Pico de gallo on that for me?
- Oh, look at this. That's so interesting.
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Good work. Good work, everyone.
Yeah, that's fantastic.
I really hope the camera's
pointing the right way.
- Oh, shoot.
- [CLICKING]
[WHISPERS] Okay, here we go.
- [NORMAL] Yeah. Uh-huh?
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Well, that's interesting! Yes!
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING CONTINUES]
- Yes, I can hold, Martha.
[WHISPERS] How are we supposed to tell
if one of these people is the murderer?
I guess we look for
someone who gets nervous
when they see us poking around.
Like him.
[THUDS]
- [BUTTON CLICKING]
- [CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Marshall, right?
We need to talk with you.
Oh shit, it's the whole trio.
Uh, fine. L-L-Let's do it.
We have a few questions about Sazz
Pataki. Did you happen to see
Wait, I'm a suspect?
Oh, thank God.
Sorry, I-I thought you wanted to
give me more notes on the script.
It's just you're producers
co-associate producers
and everyone's been hounding me
about rewrites, and I figured you
[RAGGED BREATHING] But no, I'm
I'm just a suspect. [NERVOUS LAUGH]
Um, okay, great. So,
ask me where I was the
night Sazz got murdered.
- Not here.
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- Let's talk at my place.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
- [GASPS] Mabel! Hey! Hi!
- Hey, hi, hi.
I just went down to the
lobby to look for you.
Can you hang back and
talk with me for a second?
Come sit down with me. Let's see
if we can pass the Bechdel test.
[ROPES CREAK]
Oh, by the way, the checks landed.
What are we gonna splurge on?
Oh, I'm probably gonna
sink mine into my business.
I'm a podcast producer.
Yeah. And I oversee a few
a bunch of projects.
I'm sure you have a
million irons in the fire,
but I do happen to be looking for
a hot new podcast to adapt for my
next movie. So what have you got?
Oh! Um, I have lots of ideas.
You know, they're just not fully baked.
Mabel, nobody needs fully baked.
All you need is a hook.
So what's your next
podcast? Go on. Hook me.
- Like, now?
- Yeah, now. Why not?
Uh Um The
The first one is about
people.
Tall people, short people,
all different-sized people.
Hm.
And, uh, there's, uh,
another one about buttons
being pushed because of trauma.
Ooh, I like that.
You know what? Forget it. None
of these are really anything.
Mabel, do you want the
advice of a senior VP?
These ideas are fantastic!
They're relatable.
I mean, come on. Who hasn't dealt with
people and buttons?
You know what? I saw it in the shed.
I said, "The gal under 80,
she's the one you
wanna bet on long-term."
So, you know what? I'm
calling Billy Billberg.
He heads up the podcast
division of our corporation.
I can already see the potential!
Building brands, spreading trends
make that Gen Z get off
their asses and listen.
Okay, so here's the plan.
[SNAPS FINGERS] You're
gonna flesh out these ideas,
and I'm gonna set you
up on a meeting ASAP.
Oh, uh, uh, no, I'm not
sure about my schedule.
[GIBBERISH] I don't wanna hear it.
Shh. I don't wanna hear
anything. Mabel, listen to me.
They're not buying the idea
as much as they're buying you,
so don't stress. Case
closed. [POP] We're doing it.
- Uh
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
[RHYTHMIC KNOCKING ON DOOR]
- [STOPS KNOCKING]
- Ah-ha! It's me favorite trio!
Ah, when'd you grow the beard, lassie?
That's not Mabel.
Oh, well, um I's just
leaving you dis gift.
- Oh. Mm.
- There you go, Chuck.
It's me old gran's soda bread.
[SIGHS] Dropped your name.
Got meself a gig on the film.
Just odd jobs for now,
but I'll be, uh, doublin' for
you at the photo shoot later.
[LAUGHS] Oh, Dublin.
That's Doub Oh, Glen!
Um, you're a stunt guy.
Would you say I'm physically fit?
- [CLICKS BUTTON]
- Oh, sure. You're a right Conor McGregor.
- [STAMPING]
- I'll scrap ya! Motherf
[WATER TRICKLING]
[RECORDER BEEPS]
I can't believe I'm getting
grilled by the actual trio.
[LAUGHS] I've spent months picturing
how you would do an interrogation scene,
and now I'm inside one! Wild.
Y-Yeah, you're really living the dream.
Um, can you tell us where
you were the night Sazz died?
It's funny you ask
- Marshall, this script is amazing.
- You like it?
I love it! I've never seen myself
portrayed so accurately before.
"Charles peers shrewdly at the evidence,
his keen analytical brain
thumping with thought."
Does a brain thump?
Well, apparently, this one does.
[OLIVER] "Oliver flits around the room,
a septuagenarian Peter
Pan or a male Tinkerbell"?
Okay, that's just bad writing, Marshall.
- Pick a metaphor.
- [MABEL] Aren't you supposed to be
printing out the photos we
took in the production offices?
Fine, fine.
B-But Marshall, take a look at
how you wrote me in the script
because I do not walk like that.
It's classic trio bickering.
It's my favorite part
of the podcast. [LAUGHS]
God, I love you guys!
[CLEARS THROAT] But to get back
to your question on where I was
the night Sazz died, the truth is
I've been trying my hand at
standup. Observational stuff.
I-I'm more of a storyteller
than a punchline guy.
Think Jonathan Winters meets Ali Wong.
That night, I was in West Hollywood,
doing a set at the Laugh-eteria.
Oh, I can show you on YouTube!
Actually, that would be useful.
It's my first time
doing this hour and
- Uh, that's okay.
- Wow. An hour.
Uh, Mabel, we oughta let
this kid get back to work.
The only thing he's guilty
of is great character writing.
- [EXCITED GIGGLE]
- [MABEL] [SIGHS] I'm sorry, Marshall,
before you go, is your beard fake?
Oh God, is it that obvious?
Th-This is supposed to be
costume-grade human hair!
[MABEL] I-It's a great
beard, it's just
can you tell me why you have it?
Uh [LAUGHS] Yeah,
this is so embarrassing,
but I-I can't really grow facial hair.
I-It's my first time on set,
and I wanted to sell
myself as a "real writer,"
and this is the look, right?
Oh, these aren't these aren't
real either. I have 20/10 vision.
How could a writer of your
talent have imposter syndrome?
Actually, I get it.
Really? You're not an imposter.
Sometimes, I feel like one.
That's crazy. You're my inspiration.
It's what drew me to your podcast.
You never pretend to be
anything other than what you are.
- Amateurs.
- Hey, hey. Whoa.
[MARSHALL] I was gonna say amateurs,
flailing their way to success.
You haven't missed.
I-I mean, look at these murder boards!
They're a little
homemade, and yet you're
You're probably on the
verge of a breakthrough.
Finally, someone who sees it.
You want me to walk you through it?
It could be helpful with the script.
That would be incredible.
You'll notice how this is organized
around the theme of questions.
The who, the how, the
why, and the why now?
You know, we really should contact
the MasterClass people about this.
Wow. So, you don't
know who the target was?
Oh, no. Th Don't look at that.
That's not ready for prime time.
That "Why" section has a
lotta different motives
No, no, th-th-that's
not, yeah But this.
This is my magnum opus. The "How" board.
Note the timeline.
- This baby's airtight.
- It's beautiful.
Although the Ah, forget it.
- [MABEL] No, what?
- Nothing. It
It's just th-the timing.
Sazz left a voicemail at 11:07,
but her body hit the
incinerator at 11:19.
That would mean someone
shot from the West Tower,
came all the way over here,
cleaned up the crime scene,
and disposed of the
body, all in 12 minutes?
It could totally happen.
You just haven't thought
about it the way I have.
In fact, that might be the secret
to my crime-solving ability.
I'm able to channel
the mind of a killer.
You might wanna put that in the script.
[MARSHALL] Uh
You're still not getting it? All good.
- Let me pitch the murder to you.
- [MUSIC SWELLS]
Picture this.
[JAZZY SPY MUSIC PLAYING]
Our killer takes his place
- [COCKS GUN]
- or her place,
and waits for the
target to come into view.
- Minute one, our killer takes his shot.
- [GUNSHOT, GLASS BREAKING]
Can I just commit to male
pronouns? It'll be easier. Anyway
Boom.
Minute two, he takes the stairs
so as not to run into
anyone on the elevator,
but he's gotta be quick!
Minutes three to six,
our killer exits the West Tower
and traverses the half-block
to the Arconia main entrance.
[GLOVE SNAPS]
[PEDESTRIAN] Oh! Brazzos!
[CHARLES] Just another
face in a New York crowd.
[SPY MUSIC CONTINUES]
Minute seven,
our killer enters the lobby
and expertly distracts
the doorman on duty.
[MIMICS BIRD CALLING]
Why, that sounds exactly
like a black-capped chickadee.
What's a forest songbird
doing in my lobby?
- [BLOWS]
- [DOOR OPENS]
[CHARLES] Minutes 9 through
11, he enters my apartment
and removes any trace of the crime,
a task made easier by the
high-quality cleaning products
I have neatly organized
in my high-quality
cleaning product cabinet.
♪
And finally, using what I assume
is one of my missing suit bags,
our killer hoists the
body over his shoulder,
- [ECHOING SNAP]
- and disposes of it
causing the power to
surge at exactly minute 12.
♪
[GUNSHOT]
- [POWER WHIRRING]
- [MUSIC FADES OUT]
Stylishly done.
Huh. I-I'm just saying, in order
for it to happen in 12 minutes,
the person who did this would
have to be extremely fit.
A gifted athlete in the
best shape of their life.
You're describing our killer exactly.
No, you're describing me.
- I'll do it.
- Do what?
The murder. I can
reenact it in 12 minutes.
I don't think that's a great idea.
[LAUGHS] Mabel, Mabel, Mabel.
You have no idea what
this body of mine can do.
In 1981, I participated
in a 24-hour kickline fundraiser.
- Like a Rockette?
- Exactly like a Rockette.
It was called "Let's
Kick Rickets to the Curb
and If We Have Extra Send It to AIDS."
We only had enough for rickets.
Um, I-I'll test the theory.
Or Marshall can.
You don't have anything
you need to prove.
Who's proving anything? I'm
simply a man in his prime,
looking to use his rock-hard
bod to prove a murder timeline.
Oliver, just the same,
you have a lot of things
that Jack Jonk doesn't.
You're sweet, for one. Your
scarves and
Yes! And even if only 10%
of your stories are true,
you've had an interesting life.
Thank you, but this has
nothing to do with Jack Jonk.
Now, here are your photos. I
have to locate my athletic wear
and fly through this
killer's obstacle course.
[CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
Bang!
[SIGHS]
Are you just gonna leave me up here?
Do you want me to stop the clock?
No, just help me down. I sunk
20 grand into these knees.
[GRUNTS, SIGHS]
See you punks at the finish line.
[MABEL SIGHS]
Okay.
[BANNISTER SQUEAKING]
- [THUDS]
- [SCREAMS]
♪
[SLURPING]
[OLIVER YELPS]
[STREET CHATTER]
[PEDESTRIAN] Oh!
Move it! Kids on leashes
should be illegal!
I'm trying to do something here!
- Get back!
- [MOTHER GASPS]
Hey, hey! Nice outfit, jackass!
- Yelling at children? Are you serious?
- [OLIVER WAILING]
- [OLIVER SCREAMING]
- You cannot be serious!
[OLIVER PANTING]
- How am I doing?
- It's been 38 minutes.
- What?!
- What happened to you, Oliver?
[PANTING] Well, I got
off to a good start.
- No, you didn't.
- No, I did not.
I've been on a journey.
I saw things.
I did things.
[VOICE BREAKING] I failed.
I failed as an athlete,
as a movie character,
as a fashion icon
as a guardian of the city's wildlife.
[NORMAL] I'd rather
not elaborate on that.
- Did you punch a bird?
- I said I'm not elaborating!
It's not your fault, Oliver.
Nobody could have done that in 12
minutes unless they were superhuman.
The only thing holding this murder
board together is my timeline,
and it's all wrong!
What are you doing? Oh, my God,
you're rewriting my character!
Don't take away my thumping brain!
- No, I-I mean
- [DOOR KNOCKING]
Oh, thank God. I'll get it!
[SIGHS] One little mistake,
and suddenly I'm thumpless!
[DOOR OPENS]
- [DOOR SHUTS]
- [WHEELS RATTLING]
Oh, good. You're all here.
I got your wardrobe.
Gee, photo shoot.
Reminds me of the time
I modeled for the, uh,
great Robert Mapplethorpe.
Uh, just Google, "Robert
Mapplethorpe, Lester Doorman."
Of course, you won't recognize
me behind the gimp mask,
but, uh, it's me in
there. Anyway, have fun.
- [DOOR OPENS, SHUTS]
- I never thought I'd say this,
but Oliver Putnam is
not up for a photo shoot.
[CHARLES] Me neither.
Guys, we have to go to that photo shoot.
[CHARLES] Wow, Mabel, money
has really changed you.
One check and it's, "Hey, check me out."
[SIGHS] No, look!
It's the pictures you took
in the production office.
This shoe print on that tacky mat
matches the one from
Dudenoff's apartment.
The killer was up at
the production offices,
which means they're
probably at the photo shoot.
Shit
It's like I'm already watching
the sequel to my movie. [CHUCKLES]
♪
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[TAWNY BROTHERS] Oh, you're here.
- This could be triggering.
- [TRINA] Shoot.
[CAMERA BEEPING]
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
[OLIVER YELPS]
Just wait.
[DOOR OPENS]
It's an honor to be
your stand-in, Putnam.
You, too, Mr. Anaphylaxis.
Yay! You made it! I'm so happy.
Don't you love this concept?
We have all of you multiplied.
Then, we add mirrors.
- [OLIVER GASPS]
- [BEV] It's so confusing,
just like your podcast. Check it out!
Look at this.
[OMINOUS CRESCENDO]
- [SHUTTERS SNAPPING]
- [RUNWAY POP MUSIC PLAYING]
Charlie's Angels.
- Aah!
- [SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Ron, Harry, Hermione.
- [SHUTTER SNAPS]
- [QUIETLY] Harry Potter.
- Hm? Oh yeah.
- [OLIVER WHOOSHING]
Godfather 1, 2, 3.
[OLIVER GROWLS]
- Are you sure this plan is going to work?
- Absolutely not,
but I didn't have a better
idea on such short notice.
Let's take five. Charles, go to makeup.
Tell them we need you to look
a little less [HIGH HUM]
They'll know what that means.
This way, sir.
["CONTACT" BY BMGPM PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
[EVA] Howard!
- Howard! Ah.
- [CHATTER QUIETS DOWN]
Why is this box of
Eva Longoria Tacky Mats
not unloaded and laid out?
You think I want dust
particles in my nose all day?
What are we making, Dune?
[HOWARD MORRIS] Ms.
Longoria, I will lay out
the Ms. Longoria Tacky Mats,
but I will not be spoken
to like a common PA!
I am an on-set documentarian
slash talent liaison.
Great. Well, why don't
you liaise these mats?
PA, lay out the mats.
Are you kidding me?
Eva, thanks so much for playing
the crazy celebrity card.
Oh, honey, I've asked
for crazier things.
In season eight of Desperate Housewives,
I told them I wouldn't return
unless they legalized gay marriage.
And guess what? They did. [CHUCKLES]
You're welcome, gays!
[INDISTINCT SET CHATTER]
["CONTACT" CONTINUES PLAYING]
[GASPS]
Oh, I get the plan now.
See, I'm a visual learner.
Do I have all my Olivers?
Oh.
- Oliver.
- [OLIVER SIGHS]
Oliver.
I'm Glen Stubbins!
Stubbins, out!
Zack and Oliver, get on your marks.
Wait! Conference.
Eye contact ♪
Ooh, baby, makin' eye contact ♪
[SIGHS] Okay. [CLEARS THROAT]
Have you read the new changes
to the script? They're awful.
What changes?
For some reason, and don't ask me why,
it seems as Marshall has done a
insecurity pass on your character.
"Oliver stares at the murder board,
insecurely wondering who the killer is.
He flits around the room,
an insecure Peter Pan or
an insecure Tinkerbell."
Okay, you know, this is all about Jonk.
Jack Jonk?
- Mm-hmm.
- [GLEN STUBBINS] Hey! Hey!
- [LAUGHS] That dude fucks.
- [GLEN] Aah! Bastards!
Hard.
We did a gender-bent
take on Snow White,
and he jonked all seven of the dwarves.
You could hear them
hi-ho-ing from his trailer.
He's playing my girlfriend's
new love interest on her show.
Ah, sorry.
Well, [STAMMERS] you know,
maybe he didn't jonk all
seven. It could've been
could've been five.
[TRINA] Try one back-to-back.
You share a vertebrae
and a shameful secret.
Shame A shameful secret. Okay.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
[TAWNY] Now, turn around.
Wiener-to-wiener.
- W
- Stubbins! Show 'em.
Penis
Just by makin' ♪
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Eye contact ♪
Makin' eye contact ♪
Thank you.
- Charles Oh, I'm sorry.
- Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me.
- My bad, I'm sorry.
- [AWKWARD CHATTER]
[CURIOUS MUSIC PLAYING]
What, are we dancing?
Two people.
That's it.
♪
My brain is back to thumping.
Okay
[MARSHALL] The only thing that
gets you over imposter syndrome
is actually doing the thing
you wanna be better at.
Mabel, I figured out the how.
It wasn't one person who
did the murder. It was two.
One to shoot and one to clean up.
- [MUSIC BUILDING]
- Now, which two people coulda done it?
[MARSHALL] Putting ideas together
till they make some kind of sense.
Until you've got something that you did,
something you figured out.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
Or it all makes less sense,
and then it's time for another rewrite.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
[MUSIC BUILDING]
Oh, Trina, he's off his
mark. Can you move him?
[OLIVER WAILS]
[QUIETLY] Thank you.
[SHUTTER SNAPPING]
♪
[GUNSHOT]
[BODY THUDS]
[SHUTS DOOR]
[ZIPPING BAG]
♪
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
Oh, my God, you're totally right.
They could've done this.
[MUSIC BUILDING]
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
Where's the other Brothers sister?
[SHUTTER SNAPS]
[MUSIC SWELLS]
- [GUNSHOT]
- [PEOPLE SCREAMING]
- [CREW MEMBER] Gun!
- [HOWARD] Oh, my God, they've been shot!
[PEOPLE SCREAMING AND SHOUTING]
[FADING OUT]
[SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING]
♪
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[FANFARE PLAYING]