Original subtitles

The following program contains mature subject matter. Viewer discretion is

advised.

Previously on Wild Cards. Next week I start volunteering at Hemsworth Prison.

Now I know it doesn't pay.

George, I'm proud of you. I love Jessica, but it doesn't mean I should

choose between her and my best friend.

You're my best friend too.

This is my home, my life. We must be prepared to leave in a moment's notice.

Just drop by to make sure everything is on track.

Need I remind you, failure is not an option.

We got this.

Because one wrong move and we're dead. And so is everybody else we love.

Would you please sit down? I can't sit, because if I sit, I'll think. And if I

think, I'll picture all the ways in which we end up in matching orange

Is this just your usual pre -show jitters?

You always get like this right before a big job. This one's different. I just...

The stakes, Max, the stakes are Everest, and I can't... Okay, look at me.

This isn't our first rodeo. The plan is tight, tested.

We've gamed it six ways from Sunday.

And the last time I thought I had it under control, I blew our lives to

smithereens. Okay, yes, but we survived.

So far.

Look at the time, honey. Aren't you going to be late for work?

Day off.

Oh, so maybe brunch? You, me?

Ellis, the little eggs, Benny. Ellis has plans, all right? It's his high school

reunion. Flying solo?

Nope.

He's bringing Jessica.

Oh, oh, I see.

See what?

I mean, that's not just a date, darling. That's a declaration.

Ugh, get out.

Well, you don't bear your angst -ridden teen soul to just any girlfriend.

Reunion equals intimacy. Or humiliation, depending on your playlist.

He's opening the vault for her, Max.

And I'd really like you to notice before it slams shut on you.

Okay, can we just get back to business?

Yes.

All we gotta do is stick to the plan.

Okay. Right.

And Mom, I promise, everything's gonna be okay.

Right.

Right.

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm gonna be sorry to see you go.

Well, right back at you, George.

I mean, most guys finish their parole. I'm just glad they're not going to break

into my car again.

But you, you went full Ted Lasso on me and on those prison inmates.

Just trying to give back.

You were their mentor, their counselor, giving second chances to guys who never

even had a first.

I really did enjoy it.

Today's my last session with the guys.

Yeah, how do you feel about that?

I'm not so good with endings.

More change, which is odd considering the kind of life that I lead. I mean,

Well, look, this doesn't have to be goodbye.

Just au revoir?

Well, if it'll help make the transition any easier, we could still meet up every

couple of months.

Are you saying you're going to miss me?

I'm saying I've had worse company on this bench.

I'll put that on a plaque.

You know what? I think I'd like that.

You've been more than just a parole officer to me you've been a real friend

care George

I am late. You weren't about to bail, were you?

Thinking about it.

And I'm still thinking about it.

The whole point of a high school reunion is the scoreboard.

Winner and losers.

Spoiler alert, you're in the winner's column.

Plus, the registration is giving out party favors.

Lip balm?

Emo balm, more precisely.

Infused with aromatherapy scent. The tagline is bloom softly, burn brightly.

Cute, right?

I also brought you this.

Your reunion badge. I think you must have forgotten it. Yeah, I must have

forgotten it. No, Jess, I'm not putting that on. Everybody else is.

No, absolutely not.

I think you look adorable.

You are enjoying this way too much. Oh, yeah.

Oi, Cole.

Cole the mole.

Ray, you got guts, man. I'll give you that.

I'm going to burn this place down.

Okay, let's play a game.

And if I win, you tell me what all that was about.

Okay.

Mean girls at 12 o 'clock.

Cheekbones brunette, she's the alpha.

That's Lexi.

That blonde, loyal sidekick.

That's Amber.

Other blondes, human wallpaper.

And that's Hannah.

Okay, you're good at this.

Now about the mole moniker.

Mole man?

Almost didn't recognize you. Rock. Came back for more, huh? Well, you always

were a sucker for punishment.

Hilarious. Former quarterback.

Still a bully.

Yeah. I was an easy target back then. Could have landed a plane on my face

the acne glow.

I still hate him.

Now, will you please tell me, what's with the mole thing?

Is it mole? Mr. Loomis? Cole.

Oh, I was so hoping I'd see you today.

Look at you. You look great. Thank you. And this lovely lady must be your...

Human shield.

Jessica. Human shit.

Mr. Loomis was the high school librarian.

I still am, actually, you know. Still got a few more years before they stick

out on a nice float. And for Pete's sake, will you call me Terrence now?

okay.

You know, I don't think I would have made it through high school without this

guy. Oh, come on. Well, I'm glad to hear all the memories aren't bad.

Boy, look at that.

Detective Cole Ellis.

I always knew you'd make something of yourself.

I always said, you know what?

This guy is a lot tougher than you think he is.

Nice to meet you, Jessica. Good to see you, Cole. You too.

Okay, listen up, losers.

Your queen has news. As of this morning, my company, Emobomb, was bought by a

major global cosmetics brand, which makes me

500 times a millionaire, which also makes me

done. with this dump.

Bye -bye!

Still losers.

Always will be.

You're all dead to me.

Oh.

Someone call 911!

Nothing says high school reunion like chalk outlines and trauma counseling.

Reunion nightmare.

There they are.

Alice.

Hey, Chief.

You remember Jessica?

Hi. Hey.

So what exactly happened here? Victim's name is Lexi Chandler. She just

collapsed out of nowhere.

I went to go check her pulse, but she was gone. Where are the others?

Don't worry. I already locked the place down. I'm holding everyone in the gym

until we know more.

And what was it?

Oh, my God. Look.

size of your head. It needs its own area code.

And that's it. I swear if we connect the dots, it would spell help me. Okay,

laugh it up. Howdy, delinquent.

Somebody's getting detention for this.

What's a prelemolus? Blue lips, blue fingertips, classic cyanosis.

And this?

Blood? Yeah, but it's brown. Which means what? Internal organs suffered extreme

oxygen deprivation.

Translation, she was poisoned.

She looked drunk. She was dizzy and slurring. We just thought she had too

champagne. Not champagne.

Chemistry. What was it? Best guess, sodium nitrite.

And the right dose?

Quite lethal.

Is it easily accessible?

Very. In fact, it's often found in your friendly neighborhood high school

science lab.

Oh. Game on.

Hang tight, okay? I'll be right back.

Okay.

We need to talk sodium nitrite.

Uh, it... Kept in here with the other hazardous chemicals. Who else has access

to the keys? I'm the only science teacher, so just me.

The cabinet's been locked since Friday. How can you be sure? I take inventory at

the end of every week.

Everything was fine.

And where were you when Lexi collapsed?

In the cafeteria with everybody else.

And before that? I've been here since 10 a .m. grading papers.

You didn't leave?

Well, at noon, I opened the school doors for the reunion crowd.

You sure it was new? Yeah, even on the weekends, the school bells still ring.

I heard the lunch bell and went down to open up. It's my first year here.

Apparently, it's the new guy who asked to babysit the former prom kings and

queens on the weekends. So, the sodium nitrite?

Uh, right. Uh, okay, yeah.

Wait, um, no, no, no. What's wrong? I keep the sodium nitrite right here.

Always.

Alphabetical, color -coded, the whole deal. It's right there. So what's the

problem? It's been moved. How can you tell?

I get real OCD about this.

You know, kids and chemicals.

Every bottle has its exact spot, label facing out. If anything's even a hair

off, I notice.

Well, I notice too. That bottle's crooked.

The label's turned. So if it was all good yesterday and you just opened the

at noon today... And sodium nitrite can take up to half an hour to result in

death. And whoever grabbed the poison was in this room between 12 and 12 .30.

Looks like we got our murder timeline.

You know what smells like a landfill in here, right?

I prefer Steakout Chic, thank you.

Steakout Chic?

Steakout Chic smells a whole lot like old stale burritos.

Just sit back and relax, okay? This could take a while.

All right.

Lee said it could be a hotbed for drug runners, money launderers. We sit, we

watch, we nail them.

All right.

Oh, man.

Look what Max just sent me. Must be from the reunion.

What's Max doing there anyway? I thought he was taking Jessica.

Maybe he wants the combo platter.

You ever go to any of your high school reunions?

No, no, no.

Leave the past in the past, you know what I mean?

I don't know.

I think remembering beginnings is kind of nice.

Do you remember ours?

Hmm? The day we became partners.

I seem to remember that you took a while to warm up to me.

Well, that's because you attacked me.

Correction. I evaluated you.

Nice ski mask.

Surprise entry.

Tactical pressure test. That's what you do.

Tactical pressure test. You bit me.

And you bit me back.

That's what I knew we were meant for each other.

That's it. We got movement.

Delivery for Yates?

Yeah.

Eternal thanks, noble purveyor of foil -wrapped delights.

Whatever.

You ordered food.

To a steakhouse. Yeah.

From your favorite, El Legislador.

This one's yours.

Okay? Extra cheese, your favorite.

Well, this one's mine.

Extra beans.

Oh, God.

Okay, class, pay attention.

Grant left the lab around noon.

Olive says it takes about 30 minutes for the poison to kick in. And Lexi dropped

dead at 1 o 'clock.

Gold star, Cole.

Which means our killer had to spike the drink around 12, 1230.

A plus to the chief.

That leaves about a 30 -minute smash -and -grab window. Break into the lab,

the goods, spike the drink.

Olive's taken Lexi's champagne glass for testing.

Okay, but all this... Presumes that Grant's not our guy. How can you be so

Because he's new. He has no ties to Lexi or the sad reunion.

Presuming he's telling the truth.

If Grant wanted someone gone, why would he use poison with a neon flashing sign

saying property of science teacher?

Fair, but I'm not ruling him out completely. I'm going to double check

alibi. In the meantime, let's get a lockdown on the food and drink.

Already done. And I confiscated everybody's cell phones.

Including your journalist girlfriend's? Yes, including my journalist girlfriend.

Okay, look, we need to control the narrative of this thing before it goes

public. Ellis, you're off this.

What? You were on the scene when it happened, making a witness, and with a

conflict of interest. Sorry, but you're benched. Ooh, this is delicious.

Chief, it's me.

This is not up for debate.

I think you should hand over your badge. And your gun.

And your really nice office chair. You know, the one with the only working

lumbar thingy?

I can see you smiling. You're enjoying this way too much. I am Switzerland.

Max. You and I are going to split the witness list. Let's get eyes on anyone

upstairs between 12 and 1230. Since our poison only walk out of the lap around

noon, that screams crime of opportunity.

All we know is someone decided to kill Lexi. Maybe it was a sale of her

500 million is a good reason to kill.

Well, there's a lot of history in Clearasil under that bridge. I think

we let the real cops do their job.

Enjoy the lumbar support while it lasts.

I loved Lexi, okay? She was prom queen, like pure gravity.

I mean, sure, I was jealous.

Really? I wasn't, but I was happy just to be in her orbit, even if she turned a

circle into a triangle.

So where were you around noon?

I wasn't upstairs, that's for sure. Hitting on that new science teacher,

Everybody's going to tell you they loved Lexi. But that's not true. She lived to

humiliate people.

She's the one who gave Ellis his nicknames.

Nicknames? Sure, like Cole Cuts, Cole Ellis.

Lexi made him a walking punchline. Where were you between noon and 1230?

With my former chess club buds. On the second floor?

Nah, I got checkmated in the first floor gym.

Lexi wasn't cruel.

She was a force of nature. A tornado in a crop top.

BFF.

Even after all these years?

Always. Life took us to different cities, but Lexi was the glue. One group

one text, and...

It was like we were all 17 again.

Lexi and I even had lunch about six months ago when she blew through town.

and I? Yeah, prom royalty.

But after graduation, she just wasn't really my vibe anymore.

You two didn't keep in touch after high school?

No, not really.

Different paths.

I'm happily married now. Lexi never reached out?

Not even a reunion text?

No, I didn't expect her to.

And no, I was nowhere near the second floor.

Lexi was toxic.

She dumped Brock after he was benched in the big game. I know she's dead and

all, but...

Let's be real. Okay.

Lex, everyone hated her.

Including you? Did you hate her enough to kill her? No way that there was one

person who did.

Senior prom, she destroyed him in front of everyone.

He never got over it.

Oh, man.

It was embarrassing.

So if you're asking who had the biggest motive to kill Lexi, that's easy.

Cole Ellis.

Cole Ellis.

Cole Ellis.

Cole Ellis.

Cole Ellis.

Chief, you can't be serious. I am a suspect?

According to everyone, you have motive.

Where there's motive, there's murder, Mr. Ellis.

Tell us the truth and we'll cut you a deal.

Max, come on. This isn't a joke. I know. Could have been working with a murderer

this whole time.

Ellis, tell us about prom.

I'll just say, back in high school, I wasn't exactly the most popular kid.

A couple weeks before senior prom, I got paired with Lexi to do this history

project. First, we got off to a rough start, but all of a sudden, one day, we

just... We hit a groove.

You know, we started having fun together.

I think it surprised the both of us, but long story short, we ended up getting

an A -plus on the project.

And then?

And then she asked me to prom. From dud to stud.

Classic. On prom night, I picked Lexi up.

I gave her this corsage, and I took her to the dance.

But as soon as we walked into the cafeteria, that's when the other shoe

Hannah, Amber, Brock, they were all there waiting, laughing their asses off

my believing that the most popular girl in high school would have went to prom

with me.

Brock took Lexi by the hand, threw the corsage back at me, and then he walked

her onto the dance floor.

What a piece of work.

If she wasn't already dead, I'd kill her myself.

Alice, did you interact with Lexi this morning?

No, between 12 and 12 .30 hours in the cafeteria, I said that. So no alibi?

In fact, there's like a hundred people there.

Do you admit?

No one can confirm your whereabouts.

Okay, can we just get back to work, please?

I already told you, you're benched. Chief, I'm an asset. I know everyone

I'm telling you. That's the problem. You can't be an objective investigator.

All right, fine.

Can you just tell me what you know so far?

We talked to everyone except a guy named Ron Zygowski.

He signed in, but no one's been able to find him. Nobody listens to me around

here. I just said he's benched.

You know, old habits die hard, even with a murderer.

Ziggy's here, huh?

He was like the Spicoli of our high school. Total stoner.

Is he worth a look? I mean, I wouldn't have thought so, but it has been 15

years, so people change, right?

Okay, civilian, we got this.

Thanks, Ludo. Five stars, buddy.

Gates, what the?

You're still burping up burritos. What is this?

Hold up. Are these kebabs?

Mm -hmm.

Todd's Kebabs and Cell Phone Emporium. Okay.

One last time.

One last time? What do you mean by that?

Todd's backing up his skewers.

We're good this time.

His wife inherited a beauty parlor.

Just like that, huh?

Shocking, isn't it?

You rely on Todd.

The consistency of his kebabs.

Friendship.

Camaraderie. And then, out of nowhere, just leaves.

Like, your relationship meant nothing to him.

Because he found something better.

Yeah, well, things change.

That's life.

It's not all bad.

Change sucks.

You don't have to cry.

Crangling steakhouse.

Hey, listen, there's going to be other kebabs.

Not like this one.

No sign of Ziggy anywhere.

Detective, you're benched. Oh, please.

If you're not already drafting an article in your head about all this. I'm

benched.

What did the chief want?

Strangely, he wanted to know what you were like in high school.

Oh, he did, did he? Mm -hmm.

Okay.

I was more punk than popular. I smoked in the girls' bathroom, I wore way too

much eyeliner, and I was 100 % certain that I was going to marry Jack White.

Okay, so unlike me, you were actually cool.

I was tremendously cool.

It's too bad we didn't meet back then.

Hard truth.

I think that teen Jess would have ghosted teen Ellis before ghosting was

thing. Think so?

There is a big difference between cool and confident.

I hid behind ripped fishnets, Doc Martens and a bad attitude.

Bet you were too cool to even go to your prom.

Oh, I went.

With 20 -year -old bad boy Liam who smelled like cigarettes and sweat and

motorcycle. Okay, yeah.

Teen Ellis definitely couldn't compete with that.

What's wrong?

I'm glad we didn't meet back then. I think you would have been wasted on Teen

Jess.

She was nowhere near mature enough to appreciate the genuine, honorable, sexy

man you are now.

You think I'm sexy, huh?

Well, don't let it get to your head.

Too late.

You want to hold hands with the cool chick?

Yes, I do.

So, still got those fish fins?

Well, keep drinking, nerd.

This is our last session, boys. And don't worry, I'm not going to turn on

tap and tell you all how proud I am of you. Because if you don't know that

already, you're idiots.

Speaking for the group, I just want to say how much our time together has meant

to us.

Oh.

Thanks, guys.

That means a lot.

How about we read our last journal entry?

Artie, you want to start us off?

Sure.

So Block D's been flooded.

What happened? 100 -year -old sewage pipes. What happened? Everyone's been

ordered to stay where they are. You too, George. Get comfortable.

It may be a while.

Look, let's double back this way.

He's always bringing back any memories.

I dropped out of high school to join a certain street gang.

Crimson Vipers got you young, huh?

Yeah, too young. You grow up quick when you're in a gang.

What about you?

I was always on the move, so I was homeschooled.

I still learned trigonometry, but I used it for drawing blueprints for heists.

So no problem for you either?

Nope. Never feel like you missed out?

Sometimes I think it would have been nice to have a steady friend group, go

sweet 16s, pep rallies, you know, the years.

How about you? Yeah, I guess a normal high school life would have been a lot

easier. But then you wouldn't have become the man you are today.

Hey, look at this.

Someone didn't like Lexi.

No.

Olive. I tested Lexi's champagne glass and the champagne itself.

There are no traces of sodium nitrite on or in either.

So it wasn't anything she ate or drank.

But I did find traces of the poison on her lips.

How did it get there?

Lip balm.

Her own brand.

Were you able to pull any fingerprints off the tube of lip balm?

Only the victim's. But I did discover something surprising.

Cornstarch. She needed to thicken something?

Surgical gloves. Exactly.

The insides of surgical gloves are coated with cornstarch. It makes them

to put on. So the killer used gloves to handle the lip balm.

If I find anything else, I'll let you know.

What if Lexi's lip balm isn't the only one that was poisoned? We have to gather

up all those lip balms and test them.

I'll go tell the unis. Okay, we need to get the word out before anyone else gets

hurt. The PA system.

I'll make an announcement.

What are you two doing?

I think we're going to go make out in the principal's office.

Any updates?

Yeah, Lexi was poisoned by her own lip balm.

She's going to make an announcement on the PA system.

Oh.

Oh, my God.

Let's see.

Is he alive?

I'm going to call 911.

Yeah.

Smell it.

Smell it?

Oh, Smellus, is that you?

Wait, what did he call you? Nothing. You did delirious. Oh, Smellus.

Smellus, my dude.

Okay, this day just keeps getting better and better.

Look, Z, we have some questions we need to ask you, okay? I'm sorry, civilian.

You heard the chief. Go park yourself over there and stay there.

I cannot believe Smellus went full narc.

Tell me about Lexi. Queen of mean.

What about her? She died earlier today.

Oh, what?

Oh, that's a trip.

She's okay?

She's dead.

Okay, where were you between 12 and 12 .30? Yeah, I was just taking a stroll

down memory lane. I saw Amber ducked in here.

Why? Yeah, Amber, Lexi, and Hannah, they suck.

What was Amber doing?

She's going nuts.

She was, like, tearing posters and swearing under her breath.

Interesting. Right?

Can you remember anything else?

No. No, I saw Amber hid out in here.

Place went up. And then I, uh, I must have dozed off, because next thing I

they're smelling.

Oh, my God, we're smelling.

Found these in the trash can near the science lab. That?

Awful. I mean, why would anybody do that? Lexi was, like, the most beautiful

soul ever, and, like, I miss her already.

We have a witness who saw you.

Okay, fine. It was me. I tore them down. I was mad.

It's only because Lexi hijacked the entire reunion that I planned.

How? I have been planning this reunion for months, and then she just swoops in

last minute, pays for, like, a few bags of nachos, then plasters her stupid lip

balm posters everywhere, and then, what, she got all the credit?

We thought you two were best friends.

So did I. And then I saw her and Hannah a few months ago at Babette's Bistro.

Like, together.

And they didn't even invite me, and Babette's has, like, the cutest happy

ever. And then this morning, I saw the two of them huddled together in the gym,

and when I tried to join in, Lex said that it was a private conversation just

for her and Hannah. I mean, like, excuse me.

She's being so fickle.

Oh, but I didn't kill her.

You were the only person on the second floor.

No, I wasn't. Ziggy doesn't count.

I'm not talking about Ziggy.

Welcome to my old hideout.

I knew you weren't a behind -the -bleachers kind of guy.

There's definitely no making out happening here.

The library was always empty, so I'd always come here to escape.

See, I knew you'd be back.

I dug this out for you.

Oh, my God.

I can't believe you still have a copy of that.

Justice Begins With Us, an essay by Cole Ellis.

So you haven't changed at all, then. Actually, the essay's pretty good, but

story's the real gold.

Tell me everything.

Cole was a senior, and some of the football boys were picking on this

little freshman. Now, Cole reported it to the administration, but they didn't

anything. So Cole, even though he was smaller than all of them, he walked

up to the biggest jock, and right in the middle of the cafeteria, he broke his

nose. Well, those boys never picked on that kid again.

That's right. But it also put a huge target on my back, which is why I'd

hide in here.

Oh, that's why they called you Cole the Mole. Hold up in the library.

Oh, my scrawny hero.

Okay.

I bet I can guess who the jock was.

You lied about your whereabouts earlier.

You were both seen on the second floor.

We were just talking. With your tongues?

Fine, it's my fault.

I thought Brock would go upstairs, so I went looking for him.

I had a crush in school, but Lexi got to him before I did, so...

Today, after a few glasses of champagne, I found my chance and I took it. Why

did you lie to us? Because he's married.

And my wife would kill me.

So why were you up there? I went to look at the trophy case.

The MVP title was supposed to be mine. I just, I wanted to see it again.

It's supposed to be yours?

The night before the championship game, Lexi made us dinner.

She knew all about my allergies. Corn, tomatoes, peanuts, cats, you name it,

allergic to it.

There's something in that meal.

Triggered an attack.

But you didn't do it on purpose.

No, but it ruined my life. What, she couldn't remember something that might

me? What kind of a girlfriend is that? But you didn't die.

No, but I couldn't play.

We lost the championship.

Football dream's gone.

And Lexi dumped me.

Please don't tell my wife.

Are you okay there?

Yeah, I don't know what it is. Something must have set me off.

Tell us again about your allergies.

Yeah, I was always rooting for you to solve your brother's case.

I'm so glad you were able to put that to bed and, you know, find some peace.

Thank you.

So was I. You seem happy.

Yeah, I am. Good.

Hey, I was looking through these yearbooks for more awkward Cole photos

found something interesting.

Okay, well, look, whatever it is, I don't have any secrets left.

Yeah, you might not.

But I think somebody does.

We need to find Max and Lee immediately.

Are you hanging in there, Artie?

Shouldn't be too much longer.

Yeah, we got coffee, donuts.

Things could be worse.

Hey,

I'm sorry we didn't get to your story, man.

Don't worry.

It's about a dumb thing when I was a kid.

Well, tell me. I want to hear it.

Well, it's about me and my big brother.

After my first day of high school, he takes me to a convenience store to

celebrate.

He says he's going to get me something.

He goes over to a rack, grabs a pack of gum, grins, drops it in my pocket, and

he walks away.

And you got caught.

Since I wrote it, I realized I've been taking the rap for this guy ever since.

Is that what landed you in here?

Yeah.

Job visit went south.

I took the heat. Sounds like he's using you.

He's the only family I got.

Listen up.

Cell Block D will be transferred to a different facility in the morning.

We will move you to another section for the night.

Let's go.

Well, looks like I'm being transferred.

Thanks for having me, George.

Yeah, it's been a pleasure.

You know, I have a feeling the best is yet to come.

For both of us.

Come to my attention that some of my pupils have been caught cheating.

That means you've been called up here because one of you killed Lexi. Someone

here was lying about where they were during what we like to call in our

the murder window.

It's not actually what we call it. All of you were on the second floor during

that critical 30 minutes.

Uh, doesn't that mean we couldn't have killed Lexi? On the contrary, Ziggy.

actually quite the opposite.

One of you went to the science lab, unlocked the cabinet, put on a pair of

gloves, and laced a lip balm with sodium nitrite and made sure that Lexi applied

it. And you, Brock, you're the key to solving this whole mystery.

Me?

Look, I swear I didn't do it. Really? Why do you keep scratching your face

that? I can't help it. I told you, I have allergies.

dust mites, grass, lobster, corn.

That's the funny thing about allergic reactions.

Sometimes it's about what you touch, and sometimes it's about what or who

touches you.

Isn't that right, Hannah?

Oh. I don't know what we're talking about.

You thought you were so smart putting on latex gloves. You thought you wouldn't

get any fingerprints on the lip balm. But you did leave something behind, even

more incriminating, on Brock.

When you left the lab, you bumped into Brock. You knew you had been seen, so

distracted him.

With a kiss.

It was a passionate one, too, wasn't it, Brock?

Yeah, it was pretty hot and heavy.

Like, grab your face in her hands hot and heavy?

Oh, yeah.

Sorry to break it to you, but it was fake.

All cover -up.

What are you talking about? Fun fact.

Latex gloves are ducted with cornstarch powder. Makes it easy to take the gloves

off and on. And guess who's allergic to all things corn -based?

So when you grabbed Brock's face, you got some cornstarch residue from your

fingers onto his beard. This is crazy.

Lexi was my bestie.

Do you remember what your yearbook quote was?

No. Let me refresh your memory.

Bloom softly, burn brightly.

The same as Lexi's lip balm slogan.

Except it wasn't just the slogan.

It was the whole product idea.

A lip balm infused with aromatherapy scents, each one designed to boost your

energy, enhance mental clarity, calm your mood.

And today, Lexi's company was just acquired for millions of dollars. She

it from you.

Quick patent search turned up your application for a lip balm named Emo

also had the same slogan because Lexi also applied and was granted the patent,

beating you to it, cheating you out of the product you created. She stole your

idea, just like she stole your boyfriend Brock back in high school. You're all

out of your mind. Out of everyone here, you're the only one with a chemistry

degree. That doesn't prove anything.

But the glove powder does, so we're going to beg your hands to get you down

the station.

We've got a sophisticated infrared spectrometer that can detect...

Microscopic cornstarch residue.

Emo bomb was my idea, not Lexi's. I confronted Lexi about it today, and she

laughed. She told me to get a lawyer. She knew that I couldn't afford to fight

it. You couldn't let her win, so you killed her.

You're under arrest for the murder of Lexi Chandler.

You know if it makes you feel any better?

It is a killer lip bomb.

So that's what this is all about.

Wait a minute.

This wasn't even a real stakeout, was it? We're just going to flip out the

door like a raccoon at a buffet?

You know, Simmons, when you move, I move.

And I know all your passwords.

That was you?

Yeah.

All right.

I'm leaving the precinct. I put in for an undercover task force.

We vouched. I just got clearance.

Different city.

And I'm going to need to lay low for a little while.

How could you do this to me?

I mean, was it Max?

Was it Alice? Because if I need to beat someone up, you know I got it in me. I

was going to write you a letter.

A letter?

What is this, 1895?

Why don't you send it via carrier pigeon while you're at it?

I'm sorry. I didn't know how to tell you face to face. I've always been bad with

goodbyes, especially with you.

I was hoping you'd be happy for me. I am happy for you, you stupid idiot.

I can't believe I'm going to walk into work and you're not going to be there

anymore.

See, this is exactly why I didn't want to do this.

Then don't go.

Yates.

I'm sorry I didn't find a better way to tell you.

You still can.

What, now?

Yeah, now.

And I want it all.

You were the most dedicated and tenacious and

strange. I mean, you're a very strange detective.

And you're my best friend.

And you're the best partner I've ever had.

Even better than Ellis?

Yes. But don't you dare tell him that.

Okay, I won't tell him. I'm not going to tell him.

Come here.

Pluto.

Thanks.

Are you crying?

Mind your own damn business.

Not crying.

Just a little something for me. The piece de resistance, if you will.

God. Are you kidding me? Kidding me?

I had them made special.

Big heads for the big brain guys.

Gates, and I mean this in the most platonic way possible.

I love you.

Okay, well, you've gone ahead and made it weird, so now we have to leave.

True.

You know, I'm going to be texting you updates of what I'm eating every day.

Like, I'm going to be, do not disturb annoying.

Well, you know, I'm going to be undercover, so it's probably best you

that. Don't text me.

I'll text you.

I love you so much, Simmons.

You thought about your undercover name?

Yeah, I don't think I get to choose that.

Yeah, you're right. I'll pick it. How about, uh, Dirk Thunderpant? No, wait.

Christoph von Takalila. Or maybe Trish Skedaddle.

That's fun.

You know there's no infrared spectrometer cornstarch test, right?

Am I supposed to know? I never graduated.

Hey, Cole.

Come here for a sec.

I'll just be a moment. You guys want to wait up? No, we'll head back to the

station. Okay. I'll see you later. Good night.

Jeff? Cole Ellis.

Will you be my prom date?

What's all this?

I heard about your prom experience.

Did Max tell you?

I'm a journalist.

My job is to uncover people's embarrassing secrets.

Less every single one of your classmates can wait to tell me.

It's definitely a night I'd like to forget.

Which is why I think you deserve a redo.

Can I have this dance?

Come on. When the cool chick asks you to dance, you gotta do it.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

Don't be.

It's okay.

No, it's not okay.

No, I mean it's okay because if it all ended this moment, it was worth it.

That settles it. High school sucks.

Absolutely. And I'm kind of glad that we didn't have the typical experience, you

know? Typical is overrated. Cliques?

Pep rallies, bad high school slow dances.

Exactly. And we got the scars and street smarts instead.

A way better conversation starter.

And way fewer embarrassing yearbook photos.

I'm saving this for a special occasion.

I won't. I uploaded it to the cloud.

Shoot.

I left my jacket in the cafeteria.

You need a ride?

Nope. I got my car.

Okay. Good night, Max. All right.

Hey, Mom.

As usual, your timing is flawless.

Max, you need to get home now. We have a situation here.

What's going on? Is everything okay?

What is all this?

I've been thinking. You mean spiraling?

It's the smartest move. You'll see.

What's in the bag?

Just the essentials.

Enough for us all to get settled.

I am settled. I thought we already had this conversation.

I know, but it's the plan.

There are too many variables, too many ways for it to go sideways.

We can be out of the country by dawn.

Varga won't even know we're gone until it's too late. And then what?

We just keep running?

That's exactly what we're trying to stop.

No, we stick to the plan. I know, but plans change, and this is the new one.

We can hide as a family. It is the smartest move, honey. And what about

and my friends?

If we leave, then we put them all in danger. Ellis is more than capable, and

rest can fend for themselves.

It's a calculated risk we have to take, and they are not family.

Maybe not to you, Mom, but to me.

They are my family. And I can't run the risk of losing you again. I won't. You

didn't lose me.

You left.

Do you remember the last thing we said to each other before you disappeared?

No. Why does that matter? We had an argument.

A stupid argument about how I didn't take the chicken out of the freezer

you came home.

You lectured me about responsibility and how I need to put my family first. You

just wouldn't let it go.

What does this have to do with anything? Could you just help me get past... I

hate you!

is the last thing I said to you.

I hate you.

And then I stormed off.

And I never saw you again.

For 15 years, I carried that guilt like a stone in my heart.

And you let me live with that.

Oh, Max, honey.

You were just a kid.

Those words that I...

I never thought I... It was just temper, babe.

Do you know how hard that is for a kid to replay that memory over and over

again?

There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about the fact that the

words I said to my mom were... Max, don't.

Don't.

I didn't know.

I'm so sorry.

Can you ever forgive me?

Max, wait. Please.