Original subtitles

Nice spot, Harry.

Yeah, it's good to get some perspective sometimes.

How much damage do you think a concrete gargoyle would

do falling from this height?

Because you're curious or?

Or a guy was killed by one six weeks back.

A falling gargoyle.

Come with me.

Victor Townsend, 70 years old.

He was having his nightly ablution stop near a lemon tree

on his son's property.

Ah, a big believer in nitrogen theory, huh.

This night, there was a party, which didn't stop Victor

from his usual ritual, and then he

was hit by 80 kilograms of mythical creature.

I hope he managed to zip up first.

That's what worries you?

Well, that and the fact you used the words usual

and nightly, which implies you don't think

this was some kind of weird accident.

You think it's weird already?

This is Tish Willoughby, the doll that made Townsend Toys

their first million.

Townsend Toys being Victor.

His son and daughter-in-law, Byron and Diva.

On the night Victor died, they were celebrating the relaunch

of this doll, and on the guestlist,

a dozen life-sized Tish Willoughbys.

Harry, please don't tell me that--

You see where I'm going with this.

The Townsend security cameras caught

one of Tish dolls running away from the house

just before Victor's body was found.

Harry, this is an outstanding effort.

Victor was a decent old bloke.

He lived with Byron and Diva, helped take

care of their daughter.

He was a dad and a grandfather.

The higher ups are starting to lean towards freak accident,

but I can't see how.

That thing was heavy.

So this is my last run at it.

Harry, you had me at gargoyle and killer doll.

The Tish Willoughby doll is based on the toymaker's

childhood imaginary friend.

It's just a rag doll.

No, no, that's what's so cool about her.

She's, like, old, retro, analog, except that she speaks.

She has a software system that needs constant tiny upgrades,

costing like $0.99 a time.

It's microtransactions.

And these microtransactions are what made

the Townsends their millions.

Genius, right?

Money for nothing, sure.

No, Byron and Diva started out selling toys

at markets around Auckland.

And he wasn't wealthy growing up.

He was raised by a solo mom.

And you know this how?

'Cause my cousins were really into Tish, and Byron's story

was a big part of it.

You know, the lonely kid whose best friend is imaginary?

A lot of people can relate to that.

And then he reconnected with Victor after he

became a father himself.

Sad ending to that story.

The party was a launch for the updated

doll, Tish Willoughby 2.

Now she has AI capabilities.

So she can have an actual conversation.

It's like talking to a real person.

Or you could just talk to a real person.

Harry and his team have located and

spoken to all of the Tishes.

It's mostly staff and people hired for the gig.

Leaving us pretty much with the Townsend's inner circle.

What kind of a messed up kid plays

with a creepy doll like that?

So Mrs. Townsend was dressed up

as Tish that night, as was their personal assistant, Jeri.

All right.

I'm coming too.

You're gonna absolutely need me on site for this one.

You just want to see the toymaker.

Okay, this place is quirky as--

Tish gets her own car.

Fancy.

Alexa Crowe and Madison Feliciano.

I'm Jeri Woodruff, Byron and Diva's PA.

Follow me, please.

Jeri, you were one of the Tish dolls

on the night of the launch, right?

Location for Byron, please.

Escape room. Copy that.

Traveling.

What?

I understand.

I'll be there in--

Everything all right, Jeri?

So good.

Thanks for asking.

He's expecting you.

Come.

Hello.

Wow.

Byron Townsend.

Alexa Crowe.

Stop touching things, Alexa.

She's right.

This room is set to self lock.

Touch the wrong item and it triggers the sequence.

It auto resets to a new pattern each time.

Oh, good to know.

You wouldn't want to accidentally

trigger it if you're on your way to the loo.

Uh, that has actually happened once.

Which is why now I have this large vase over there.

I'm just kidding.

Byron Townsend.

And you'd be Alexa. - Indeed.

And?

Uh, Madison.

Hello.

Hi, Byron

Hey, has anyone ever told you that you would make

a wonderful action figure.

Anyway, we're very sorry to hear

about your father, and hopefully we

can find some answers for you.

That would be good.

It's been a terrible time.

Terrible.

Mind if we look around?

Please do.

My house is your house.

Not really.

Uh, Jeri will have to accompany you.

Trade secrets in every nook.

The incident happened during a launch of a new doll.

Could it have been someone who was trying

to sabotage it or hurt sales?

The first drop sold out in under 60 seconds.

So if that was their plan, they failed.

- 60 seconds. - Mm-hmm.

Impressive.

Pretty normal for Townsend Toys.

In fact, I could release a small bag of rubber bands

and my fans would clamber over each other for it.

What would they be called?

'Cause I'd probably be in.

I like this girl.

So, um, where were you when your father was killed?

I was here in my escape room.

While there was a party going on.

That's why I chose to escape.

Unfortunately, I have a very limited capacity

for social interaction.

All right.

So how long would you say you were in here?

Well, I just came in for a breather

but accidentally locked myself in.

So around 60 minutes?

57.

I was pretty pleased with that time,

as I went through the door, and that's when

I found out my dad was gone.

If it's all right with you, we'd

like to get to know your father a little better.

So you've seen the bowling alley.

Home theater here.

And of course, '80s themed arcade.

Amazing.

Dad's wing is through here.

Your cop mates have been through already, of course.

But everything is as dad left it.

Jeri will have to escort you.

Jeri.

Jeri!

Victor was a rugby guy, huh?

I guess.

Looks like he had a great relationship

with his granddaughter.

Yeah.

Gizmo adored him.

They were pretty much best friends.

Yes.

I'm-- I'm with the private investigators.

Detectives.

Whatever they are.

But I'm not meant to leave them.

But-- understood.

I have to pop out.

Do not go anywhere else.

I'll be right back.

Victor must have liked being here, close to family.

Just to eat meals with them.

Check it out.

He's got a lot of single person meals,

just like you, Alexa.

I'm not single.

I live with you.

See?

You'll never get a boyfriend if you're telling people that.

I don't need a boyfriend.

I've got you.

That'll have the same effect.

What's wrong with this picture?

Pass.

Looks like a cute pic of grandpa and the kid.

Yeah, just like all the others.

Byron and his wife don't feature.

I wonder how close Byron really was to his father.

You get this read after being here for five minutes?

Shall we?

They said not to go anywhere unaccompanied.

I don't know if we should break the rules, Alexa.

Okay, Charlie Bucket.

Find Jeri, and ask her where she was at the time of.

There's something a bit cold about her.

Yeah, she doesn't love us being here, does she?

Catch you up later.

Someone pushed your friend, huh?

Put some effort into it, too.

Was it you?

Don't worry.

Just trolling you.

All right.

Understand this, Jeri.

We are in damage control mode.

It's a functionality adaptation glitch.

What are the tech team saying?

I don't want to be rude, but there's a whole floor of them

and only one of me.

I am looking to you to ringfence this situation.

Hello.

What's your name?

Gizmo, you're meant to be--

can I help you?

Alexa Crowe, friend of the New Zealand Police.

Oh, of course.

Diva Townsend.

Oh. Yeah.

In a second, darling.

Sorry.

The old pair decided she wanted to pursue other opportunities,

so off she went with no notice.

Oh, school holidays.

No, Gizmo's homeschooled.

She's not a fan of other children.

I'm with you, Gizmo.

Jeri, can you this out, please?

Come on, Giz.

I'll set you up with something fun.

Oh, we're just a little busy.

Is there anything I can help you with?

Actually, one question.

What do you think happened the night Victor died?

About a month before, we had the house wash guys here.

We have it done every year.

Anyway, one of them said that some of the-- the masonry

was a bit loose.

Oh, so what I think happened was that there

was a freak accident.

Yeah, there's a difference between a bit loose

and taking a flying leap off the roof.

I saw the space where the gargoyle sat.

I understand the police have their theories,

but this is my home, not a murder house.

And I really have to get back to work.

Jeri!

Thoughts?

- Many. - Mm.

Gonna share?

Well, there seems to be some kind of crisis going on.

Well, maybe we're the crisis.

No, it's business related.

I heard the words damage control

mode and functionality glitch.

A glitch.

Okay.

Well, Byron turned a little cold on me after he

caught me snooping around.

Yeah, his wife's a bit uptight.

Not to mention our outlier.

We have an outlier?

Don't look now, but she's staring straight at us.

So, according to Harry's statements,

Diva Townsend was watching a movie

with Gizmo in the home cinema.

Byron was in the escape room.

So these people throw a party and

then don't attend the party.

Well, it was a product launch, so more

business than social, I guess.

Jeri handed the guestlist over to the police.

Apart from the hired Tish dolls and the staff,

it was only the family.

So it was a product launch that no one was invited to.

I'd say they were probably going

to release some of the footage, but then Victor died,

so they can't.

So either somebody wanted exactly

that to disrupt the business, or

they planned the whole thing just to kill Victor

and not be picked out in a lineup.

Who organized this party then?

The woman who organizes everything in that place.

Jeri.

Who was also dressed as Tish Willoughby.

Phew.

'Cause for a second there, I thought

you were gonna investigate an eight-year-old kid.

Let's rule out Jeri first.

Oh, crap.

Well, good morning to you, too.

I'm sorry.

It's just that--

Some kind of crisis going on?

Jeri?

Oh.

Are you here with an update?

Well, actually, I was hoping that you could supply

me with the Tish 2 doll.

Uh.

I'm so sorry, Byron. I just--

It's fine, Jeri.

Alexa has important work too.

Please.

Thank you.

But, no, this doesn't involve her.

- Her? - Not her.

Tish.

What does Tish have to do with anything?

Oh, that's what I'm trying to find out.

You see, Victor died during her launch.

So was somebody trying to stop her going to market?

Or was somebody trying to distract from the fact

that there's something wrong with the doll?

Is there?

Of course not.

Well, I only have your word for that.

There is a consumer supply crush right now, so the best we

can do is pre-order for you.

It's going to be about four months, tops.

Okay.

In the meantime, could I take another look

around Victor's apartment?

Jeri can escort me, right? - Mm.

Uh, Byron, no, I--

Of course, she can.

Jeri, please take Ms. Crowe to my father's lair.

Oh, and I really do appreciate your diligence.

Thank you.

Were Byron and Victor close?

Sure.

That seems like a non-answer.

It's just I read an article that said that they reconnected

after Gizmo was born.

Oh, I wasn't working here then.

But, yes, when Byron became a dad,

he put an effort into tracking down his own father.

Heartwarming.

Was Victor a Hurricanes fan?

I wouldn't know.

But you're from Wellington, aren't you?

Oh, it's okay.

We look into everybody just to know who's who.

Yeah, I'm from Wellington.

So what?

I just thought you might be a Hurricanes fan, too.

Look, I don't mean to be rude,

but you're actually taking the piss.

That is rude.

I have so much to be getting on with and I'm babysitting.

Again.

Me?

Jeri, I get the feeling you're not happy in your work.

It doesn't help when you're wasting my time.

I'll speed things up.

Where were you when the gargoyle fell on Victor?

I've already been asked this.

And I was in the kitchen doing the dishes.

With the kitchen staff.

I thought you were an executive assistant.

I do whatever I'm asked to.

And somebody asked you to do the dishes.

You are keeping me from my actual work.

And you're giving me non-answers again.

Now that's okay, Jeri, because sometimes it's what we

don't say that speaks volumes.

Yes?

Yes, I know it's her morning tea time.

Look, I was pulled away.

Byron said to--

Hello again.

Hi.

Who's your friend?

Fleabear.

Hello, Fleabear.

Nice to meet you.

My grandpa died.

Yeah, I know.

I was very sorry to hear that.

I'll have a new one soon.

Okay.

When you die, you get new people.

When I lived in a wooden house in the valley,

the iron caught the curtains on fire and then I was me.

Gosh, when did that happen?

A hundred years ago.

Gizmo, morning tea's ready.

Goodbye.

Bye.

I didn't realize you were still here.

I'm just on my way.

Question.

Was Gizmo at the launch the night Victor died?

Until she got bored with the adult conversation

and went to watch a movie.

Your statement said that you watched it with her.

Yeah, that's right.

"The Shining."

That's a very odd choice for an eight-year-old, isn't it?

I have tried with all the princessy stuff,

but Gizmo is quite a sophisticated eight-year-old.

She's an old soul.

Oh, my God.

Gizmo has past life memories?

Or she watches too many scary movies.

One of my little cousins used to say

that when he was an old woman, he drowned in the well.

Don't make that face.

There is a study into children who remember

details of their former life.

Madison.

And the conclusion is that there's some kind

of non-physical mechanism which connects

them to details that they can describe really accurately.

Well, you're the one who brought up past life memories.

Could we just watch the CCTV Tish doll

footage again, please?

Is it just me, or is that a little microphone

under the wig?

Oh, like Jeri wears.

Exactly like that.

Would Jeri have any reason to sabotage the doll?

Well, you said that they mentioned

a functionality adaptation glitch.

Mm-hmm.

Maybe something to do with the software updates?

Let's take a look.

You sourced the doll?

Next best thing.

Prithee, let us consult the Toy Boy.

Tish 2 has finally dropped, and

wow, she is everything we could have dreamed she would be.

You're showing me a grown man playing with dolls.

Once activated, adaptive AI enables Tish to absorb

and respond like a human.

And right now, this one is worth 3,000

on the collector's market.

Hoo.

A first edition has to stay boxed or their value plummets.

Then why are we watching this?

First, you complain about watching a grown man

playing with dolls, and now you're complaining

because he won't?

No, we cannot find a glitch if that thing stays in its box.

Well, this is true.

Whoa, Shadowfax.

Worthy steed.

Greetings, disciples.

Hey, if there's a red light on, it means I'm recording.

Sorry.

Um, I'm Madison, and this is Alexa.

Um, you messaged me about Tish Willoughby 2?

Yes, we'd love a closer look.

Well, she's an icon.

No plastic.

Doesn't look mass produced, which we love.

We do.

And then there's her backstory.

If only everyone's imaginary friends came to life.

Told you.

Did you?

Mm-hmm.

Well, hello, dolly.

Let's open her up.

Oh, uh, this one stays in RFP.

Not removed from package.

Oh, did Madison tell you that we're investigating

a suspicious death?

Uh, Victor Townsend, yes.

And how we think that the new Tish doll has

a technical glitch, which could have something to do with

said death.

If there is a glitch, that actually

makes her even more valuable.

Yes, but it's also important we find out what happened

the night Victor died and why.

We just want to hear her speak.

Do not touch!

No.

Just-- no aggro.

These toys are my retirement fund.

I-- I-- I have a '78 Obi-Wan Kenobi over there.

With double telescoping lightsaber?

Yes.

Amazing.

Alexa, I'll meet you outside.

Could you help us get our hands on another Tish Willoughby 2?

Okay.

Neville went through his contact list for me,

and he's got some leads.

Great.

Let's leave him to it.

I may have agreed to go on the doll hunt

with him tomorrow.

What?

Well, we've talked about us both needing

some more murder-life balance.

Oh, is this like a date?

We made a pact.

No, we didn't.

Yeah, a date a week.

Since when?

And this week, it looks like I'm winning.

Okay, so this is Jeri Woodruff's Instagram account.

Uh-huh.

Here she is at Eden Park last year watching

the Hurricanes play the Blues.

Who won?

It doesn't matter who won.

The point is, she implied to me that she was not a fan.

So what's this got to do with anything?

Well, she also told me that she was not caught on camera

running from the house.

So I'm trying to find some connection

between her and Victor.

I can't find any connection between Victor

and anyone else in the house either.

Something weird about those Townsends.

Other than the fact that they live

in a toymaker's mansion surrounded by dolls

and concrete gargoyles?

They are not a normal, happy family, Harry.

And I'm a Crowe, so I should know.

All right, then.

Come on.

I haven't finished my coffee.

Go where?

The Townsend's.

It's my day off, Alexa.

We can call it a date.

Ey?

Yeah, going someplace, talking to people,

learning some stuff together.

See, to me, a date is a nice dinner,

some wine, maybe a movie.

No, this will be much more fun.

Come on.

Jeri.

You remember my friend, Detective Henare.

I just want to run a few things by him.

I'm pretty sure a cop needs a warrant.

No, it's not like that.

No, it's Harry's day off, you know.

He's just keeping me company.

- Alexa. - Oh.

Hello.

Diva, hi.

I just need to take another look around.

Oh, goodness.

This is gonna go on and on, isn't it?

Not really.

Hope not.

No, we want to get you some answers quicksmart.

Jeri, take Alexa and the detective

where they need to go, hmm?

Come on in.

You go with her.

Find out why she was running from the house that night.

Wait, where are you going?

Is it true that Byron has an '80s gaming arcade?

Oh.

Alexa.

I heard you were back.

Yes, thanks so much for having me.

What are you working on?

A new doll.

Gizmo Townsend.

Tish was inspired by my childhood imaginary friend.

This new doll, my real life pride and joy.

And how does Gizmo feel about being made into a doll?

Oh, she is beside herself with excitement, of course.

You do a lot of publicity with her.

Birthday parties, holidays.

Everything's in the women's magazines.

Diva does like to share our lives with our fans.

How did her grandfather feel about that?

The photo shoots?

The stories?

What?

They just seem super close.

I mean, was he a bit protective?

Why would Gizmo need protecting

from her own parents?

My child has everything she's ever dreamed of.

A house full of wonders.

Two parents that absolutely adore her.

I mean, I'm making her into a doll, for God's sake.

A doll which is going to make you millions.

I don't understand what any of this

actually has to do with Victor.

Well, you see, somebody killed him.

So an understanding of family dynamics

would help me immensely.

If you say so.

Well, you carry on.

Well?

Jeri still denies it was her caught on camera.

Yeah, of course, she does.

But she did spend a bit of time with Victor.

Took him to appointments, watched the rugby.

Byron palmed his dad off on her.

And his kid.

Well, how does Jeri feel about that?

She considered it part of the job.

No, I said, how does she feel, Harry?

Probably like I do right now, Alexa.

It's my day off.

So how about that dinner and a movie, yeah?

Sure.

Okay, I'll go this way.

Whoever it was is a fast mover.

Damn it.

- You okay? - Yeah.

You?

Yeah.

So who did you upset now?

Uh, Harry.

So you're saying someone did it deliberately again.

And this time, they left their crowbar.

I've got a unit on the way.

Just don't let anyone leave.

Tell your staff or whoever to stick around.

I want to talk to everyone.

Okay, you can take off now.

Sorry?

This just turned into an active investigation, Alexa.

Can I remind you that I invited you here?

No, I haven't forgotten.

By the way, as far as dates go, I've had better.

Rude.

Thank you for your help, as always,

but I'll take it from here.

Sure thing, Detective.

Oh, my gosh.

Here's one.

No, that's a Tish 1.

What?

And they're passing it off as a 2?

Well, this business is rife with scammers, Madison.

Um, Neville, I just got an eBay alert at retail price.

Is this also a scam?

The vendor is a civilian.

They don't know what they have.

Hit the buy now button.

Waiting, waiting.

Yes, sold! - Yes!

That is what I'm talking about.

Cool.

Love a happy customer.

This is great.

That's awesome.

Byron told me what happened.

It wasn't me.

I know it wasn't you, sweetie.

As if a kid could push something that heavy.

I never suggested that.

So why is Diva saying Giz did it?

Is she?

She doesn't think it was you.

Like I told the cop, I've never even been up there.

I know what you told him, a big, fat lie.

It was you on the security camera footage running

from the house that night.

I saw your headset.

Look, I was just having a moment.

They'd asked me to do the dishes,

and I was just making a dramatic exit.

It's a bit over-the-top, isn't it?

Well, my friend and I were almost crushed by falling

cement, and we wouldn't have been the first,

so, no, not that over-the-top.

Not when you have a killer in the house.

No one tells me I'm off the job.

This is where she wanted to meet.

I'll be right back.

Hey.

Yeah.

Shit.

Yeah.

Madison.

Meet Tish Willoughby 2. Mission complete.

Yay!

Wow.

Look at that.

Yes.

Harry.

Alexa.

Is she meant to be here?

Byron, I was wondering about the overseas trips

you and Diva take.

Why is she asking me this?

It's just your dad never went with you.

Why is that?

He, uh, he didn't like flying.

But he just applied for a passport.

No.

No, I-- oh, hmm, you know what?

I'm very confused, actually.

Shall I unconfuse you?

Alexa.

Actually, I'll leave you to it.

Talk to you later. - Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Oh, you got one.

We did.

How do you make this thing--

Hi, I'm Tish.

Want to be friends?

Uh, unlikely.

Tell me your name and I will never forget you.

No, thank you.

I'm going back to my sourdough.

The internal temperature of sourdough

should be 205 degrees Fahrenheit.

Well, a real little know-it-all, isn't she?

Hey, Tish, who killed Victor Townsend?

I need more information to answer that question.

Yes. Me too, Tish.

Me too.

But I think we're getting closer.

You okay?

I found a Tish wig in Neville's car.

Ah.

Well, did you ask him about it?

I was locked in the car with him.

I didn't want to slip are you a killer into conversation.

Yeah, you usually want to cushion that one.

And I wanted to check the party footage again.

Because maybe-- maybe I've got the wrong idea.

I'm sure there could be many reasons

that he has the same wig that the killer wore.

How did I not notice him before?

And how did he evade the police checks?

Because he's not on the guestlist provided to them.

Why not?

That's a question for our friend Jeri.

She's gonna be real pleased to see me again.

But, Mads, go talk to Neville in a public place

with a lot of people around.

Your usual?

Uh, I think I might wait for my--

the other person to get here.

Same guy as yesterday?

Mm-hmm.

Bit of a spark, huh?

Or not.

Just let me know if you want me to boot him out.

Thanks, Reuben.

Good morning, beautiful.

So did, uh, Tish 2 give you what you were after?

No, Tish didn't, but hopefully you will.

Are you playing me, Neville?

What?

You're at the party the night Victor died despite telling me

that you've never been to the Townsend's place,

which means you lied to me.

I-- I promised I wouldn't tell,

and I never break a promise.

Well, you're about to.

Start talking.

Oh, good. You survived.

I did.

Are you going somewhere?

Yeah, to ask our friend Jeri about that dodgy guestlist.

Oh, about that.

Turns out the Toy Boy was personally invited by Jeri.

Uh-huh.

She wanted to get some influencers there,

but she didn't tell Byron and Diva.

So Neville had to pretend to be one of the hired dolls.

Go on.

And he's such a little fanboy, he snuck off to have

a look around, and guess what?

He was recording on his phone when it happened.

No.

And the gargoyle fell.

He got footage of it?

Well, not actual footage, no.

Oh, my God.

Oh, my God.

This is the painting that Byron commissioned way back when--

Look at the timestamp, Alexa.

1:15 AM.

Yep.

And suspect Tish was caught running away from the house

at 1:00 AM on the dot.

Before the gargoyle was pushed.

So it's not Jeri.

Or Neville.

Well, what do you know.

Your wild doll chase paid off.

I do believe it did.

Me again.

Don't worry, Jeri.

You're in the clear.

The gargoyle fell after you were

caught on camera taking off.

But you are guilty of one other thing.

That guestlist that you gave to the police

didn't have all the names on it.

That wasn't intentional

Oh, you didn't intend to mislead the police?

I was running two separate guestlists.

I know you were.

Byron and Diva were uptight about leaks,

but you had media pressure.

So you invited a few people without their sign-off.

People like Neville Sainsbury.

Who?

- The Toy Boy. - Oh.

Yeah, yeah.

And I gave the police the wrong list by mistake.

Did I invite a murderer to my boss's party?

Oh, shit.

I'm gonna lose my job.

Maybe I won't tell them that you let in some gatecrashers.

Thank you.

Wait, maybe--

If you escort me somewhere else.

Show me Gizmo's room.

Just so you know, this feels really wrong.

Now, that is not a Townsend toy.

All the rest are.

Fleabear was a gift from a family friend or something.

Byron doesn't usually like non-Townsend toys in the house.

Grubby as hell, but, um, Gizmo's very attached to it.

She used to sleep with it as a baby, apparently.

She's a funny kid, isn't she?

Yeah, she's a great kid.

Does she ever say any kind of spooky, ghosty things to you?

Sometimes.

But, you know, Diva and Byron let

her watch all kinds of movies.

There's always a logical explanation for these things,

isn't there?

Tell me your name, and I will never forget you.

Nope.

You're not my real mom.

Never said I was.

You're not my real mom.

Oh, is this the glitch?

Go, Hurricanes!

What did you say?

You're not my real mom.

Cats have fleas.

So Neville has intel that the Tish Willoughby glitch

is sorted.

Did he say what it was?

Yeah, apparently, it was saying random things,

but they've put out a new upgrade on the Tish app.

Okay, you're doing that thing again where

there's something going on.

What are you thinking, Alexa?

I was thinking about a conversation

I had with Gizmo and also something

you said about reincarnation.

What was that?

Oh, there are actual scientific studies into--

The conclusion.

The non-physical mechanism which

connects these children to their previous

lives and allows them to--

Non-physical.

We don't have that.

We have the physical.

What?

So Gizmo somehow found something that used to be hers?

Gizmo is not having previous life memories.

She's having this life memories.

What?

You think about it.

There is not a single picture of her with her parents

until she's like a preschooler.

And she's got one toy, a teddy bear that she's

had since she was a baby.

And it's not a Townsend toy.

Wait, are you saying--

Gizmo is not Byron and Diva's daughter.

Victor Townsend was not Byron's dad.

That's why he had to die.

Oh.

Alexa, what can I--

I've got a Zoom in 20 minutes, and now you've just gone and--

I don't think you're going to make that Zoom, Byron.

Well, not now that you've triggered the reset.

Well, in any case, 20 minutes is plenty long enough for you

to tell me how and why you killed Victor.

Sorry?

You heard me.

Well, I must have heard you wrong because you're

saying I killed my father.

Is that right?

No, you didn't kill your father.

I said you killed Victor, who we both know

has no relation to you whatsoever.

He was a stranger, a stranger that you

paid to be your family.

Really?

You're madder than I am.

Uh, yeah, but I'm on the money, aren't I?

'Cause you are the genius toymaker

and Diva is the business head.

At least that's what all your publicity says.

And it's not banging on about you

being the perfect, happy family unit.

And this, the perfect fantasy home for a child

and not a child in sight.

Now, you'd have to fix that.

A little junior Townsend would, uh-- it would really

complete the fairy tale.

So when Diva heard about the baby in Wellington, who

had lost her parents in a house fire

and was living with her only remaining family member,

you made the baby's grandfather an offer he couldn't refuse.

Except he did.

Victor may have been on the bones of his arse,

but he wasn't about to sell his grandchild.

Instead, he made a counteroffer,

a two-for-one deal, a baby daughter

and your long-lost dad.

And so you made the announcement

about this precious child you'd kept so private--

the puff pieces, how you're this aspirational

fantasy family.

But behind the scenes, you're putting up with a stranger

who holds all the power.

Because all Victor had to do if you pissed him off

was tell the world the truth.

Buying a child.

Please.

Victor Gene and his granddaughter Avery Gene.

Little favor from a friend down at Births, Deaths, and

Marriages and bingo.

Name change documents.

Now Victor and his granddaughter

disappeared without a trace from Wellington

shortly after this fatal house fire.

Not that anyone was looking for them.

Well done, Alexa.

Very good.

But do you know what you've actually admitted?

That we gave Gizmo another chance at life.

We've given her everything.

And as for Victor, you should have seen where

he was living when we met him.

He got out.

We gave him that.

And, yes, we made a deal with Victor, but it was a win-win.

Nobody got hurt.

Oh, good one.

Yes, all right.

Victor may have died.

And why did he die?

I mean, you two didn't get on.

There was no love lost.

But that would have been fine until Victor

decided that he wanted out of your arrangement.

Victor did order a new passport and one for Gizmo,

too, 'cause he wanted to leave with her.

Sorry.

This wasn't what he signed up for.

His granddaughter was lonely here in the castle,

and so was he.

So they were gonna fly away and see the world.

And what could you do?

If you made a fuss, he'd expose your sham life.

And if he did nothing, you'd lose your daughter.

Yes, well, thank you, Alexa.

But like I told the police the first time around,

I wasn't here when Victor died.

In this room.

The escape room.

No way out.

Except there is.

There's always a bypass button.

You have to have an emergency exit by law.

Otherwise, this place could become a death trap.

So you set up your little alibi, and then you snuck out.

Only, Jeri was up there taking a break, which almost

messed everything up for you.

And then Jeri left, probably when

she saw Victor taking a pee.

And that was your chance.

Are you finished yet, Alexa?

Because I do have a short attention span.

Almost there.

Now, the other day, you realized that I was

getting close to the truth.

And maybe you didn't mean to kill one or both of us.

Maybe you only meant to scare us off.

But I don't scare easily, Byron.

Fear is a biological response designed to keep us safe,

to identify danger.

Oh, I know how to identify danger.

Oh, did you think that was the bypass

button for the emergency exit?

Did you get that wrong, Alexa?

Now that I have your undivided attention for at least an hour,

let's have a chat about how you're not going to be

telling anyone any of this.

Wrong again.

How do we get him?

You can't.

Not if Byron's triggered the sequence.

I'll tell you what I'm not wrong about.

You're a chicken.

I beg your pardon.

Yeah, your MO is to throw heavy things off high places.

But face-to-face, you haven't got what it takes.

Maybe we should test that theory.

Oh, wrong again.

This is actually becoming quite fun, isn't it?

No!

Well, that could have gone either way.

Detective, I would like to lay an official complaint.

We can chat about that down at the station.

Right.

Harry, don't touch a thing unless you want to be trapped

in a small room alone with me.

Another time?

Hello.

Hello, Gizmo.

How's Fleabear?

He's quite happy today.

Good.

How are you?

My name's Avery now, and I'm gonna be living with Jeri.

She's my favorite.

Well, that is the cool thing about growing up.

You get to choose your own family.

- Did you do that? - Yeah.

Yes, I did.

You know, when I took up my dream job,

I did not realize I'd end up adopting an eight-year-old.

Mm.

You want to play, too?

Yeah, she's gonna start school next term.

Meet some real kids her own age.

Overrated.

How about you, Jeri?

Me and Giz--

sorry, Avery, will get settled, and

then I'll look for another marketing position.

Great.

Thank you for being annoying and rude and

all up in everybody's faces.

It's what I do.

Come on, Avery.

Let's all get some ice cream.