Original subtitles

Someone murdered The Gambler.

The fact is, it wasn't until The Gambler

came back to Blue Valley

that he was murdered,

making the former villains

all suspects,

including Cindy Burman.

The Gambler's laptop is missing.

Whoever has it, that's who killed him.

I really have to go.

You did this to me last year, Courtney.

You always leave.

I don't think The Shade killed The Gambler.

It's only a matter of time before they find out.

- I know.

- Good morning. - Hey.

- Hi, neighbor. - Hey.

Hey, how's it going?

Hi.

Hi. What can I get for you, sir?

I'll take your best cup of coffee.

- Sure. Coming right up. - Great.

- Here you are. - Thanks. Here you go.

- Thank you. - Ow. I'm okay.

- Anywhere you like. - Okay.

Everything here is quaint.

Wow.

Wow.

This tea is remarkably good.

Best in America, I'm told.

Hmm.

- Hi. - Hey.

Is breakfast okay?

Oh, yeah. The eggs are overdone.

The toast is burnt. It's good.

I mean, who wants crispy hash browns?

Soggy is the way to go... Yolanda.

Yeah. Yolanda Montez.

Wildcat.

I know I'm no Ted Grant.

Oh.

well, Ted was a real piece of work.

You were his friend.

Mm.

What would he have thought about me?

You? He would have thought you were a badass.

- Really? - Mm-hmm.

Yeah, Ted was tough on everyone.

So are you. That's good.

He saw people for who they were

and didn't let them slide

just 'cause it was the polite thing to do.

And the way you don't let Dragon King's kid off the hook,

it's very Ted.

It's good judgment.

- Thanks. - Mm.

I got a question for you. - Yeah, sure.

This town, Blue Valley.

When you're not going after the ISA or fighting Eclipso,

what is it you actually do around here?

There's school, church, work.

Well, look, I'm way past school.

Church was never my thing.

But work, that's an idea.

Courtney's been telling you to find balance, hasn't she?

Well, she's right.

I can't be Starman 24-7 anymore,

especially in this town.

It's not like there's danger around every corner.

Yolanda, table six.

Oh!

Morning.

Court, what's the special occasion?

No special occasion.

Yeah, she got caught ditching school,

and she's still kissing up.

Like I said, no special occasion.

Hey, it looks great, Court. Thank you.

- Yeah. - Hey, I learned from the best.

- Mmm.

So back to what's important.

We know The Shade was at the diner

when The Gambler was killed,

which puts us back at square one.

But what else do we know?

One, the killer had incredible strength.

Two, The Gambler was stabbed in the heart with something,

which was why there was so much blood.

This is a little too much murder talk than I'd like

to hear in the morning at breakfast, thanks.

It doesn't bother me.

Where's Sylvester? Is he coming up?

He went on a walk to find balance.

He said he actually wanted to spend the day

getting to know the real Blue Valley.

Wow, is he gonna be disappointed.

Well, see, that's where I disagree with you, Mike,

because I think Blue Valley, it's the perfect place

to hit the ole reset button,

'cause if you can't find balance here

in the heartland,

I don't think you can find it anywhere.

What, do you work for the chamber of commerce?

Oh, I agree, Pat.

Balance is important,

starting with a balanced breakfast.

This stuff'll kill you.

- Hey! - Morning, Whitmore.

Quinoa and tofu bowls.

You'll love it, Barbara.

Pull up a chair, gang.

Whole family's on the program now.

Dig in.

Dig in.

You still don't know who killed The Gambler?

Mom.

Let me conference in your dad.

He's gonna want to hear this.

Is this about The Gambler?

This is about The Gambler, isn't it?

I cannot...

I've gotta run now, okay?

Have a good day.

There was something about this guy.

- Sorry about that. - I don't know.

I think your parents being so into you

being Doctor Mid-Nite is kind of cool.

I guess.

Does your uncle ever get in the way of--

you know, of the Hourman thing?

Matt's gone.

Where'd he go?

I don't know.

And I sure as hell don't care.

What is it?

I'm not sure.

I've never heard the goggles make this sound before.

Someone's forwarding me a bunch of documents.

I think The Gambler was blackmailing someone.

Who sent that to you?

It doesn't say.

- Oh!

I'm sorry to say that's the wrong password.

Try again!

Try again!

Oh! Sorry.

Try again!

Cindy.

Hi. - Hi, new girl.

So any updates on the JSA front?

Yes, actually.

Apparently The Gambler's been blackmailing someone,

but we don't know who yet.

Huh.

Huh.

You don't seem surprised.

Birds fly. Fish swim.

Blackmailers blackmail.

Yeah.

What?

I just really thought The Gambler

was trying to be a better person

for his daughter.

Look, lots of bad fathers talk the talk.

Doesn't mean anything unless they actually follow through.

What about Starman? What does he think?

He--Starman's taking the day off.

He's taking the day off?

Yeah, he needs to find balance.

Okay, but what about you?

What about me?

Are you going to find balance too?

I'm balanced.

I made breakfast this morning. Waffles.

Waffles? Wow.

How far you've come finding a life outside of Stargirl.

Mm.

Beth's tracking the accounts.

We'll hopefully have an update soon.

I'll see you at lunch.

Okay.

Cameron, hey.

Hi.

Paula?

We've got a situation on our hands.

- We do? - Mm-hmm.

The German chocolate cake was a big hit

at the Women's Rotary Club.

Oh. That's great, right?

It is a nightmare, Barbara!

They want me to give an initiation speech

at tomorrow's meeting.

I don't know how to do that. What do I talk about?

Well, just talk about how much you're looking forward

to doing whatever it is the Women's Rotary Club does.

What do they do?

- I don't know. - Well, you joined because...

you want to be part of Blue Valley, right?

Mm-hmm.

So tell them how much the community is important to you.

Oh, Ms. Whitmore.

Hey, Barbara.

- Yeah? - Read the new proposal.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

Oh, slipping.

No.

Maybe next time.

Who's that geek?

He's my new manager, Tim.

He's the reason I will be staying up late

doing this proposal again.

I'm sorry, I really-- I have to get back to work.

- Mm. Of course.

- Good luck, Barbara. - Yeah. You too.

Pat! Pat!

here's another one. Farmhand.

Actually, that does sound promising.

"Experience in cow milking, egg gathering, horseshoeing.

Pig-breeding skills a plus." They always are.

You know, my second cousin Melvin has a pig farm

outside of Mason County.

Shocker.

I can give him a buzz and put in a good word.

- Thank you. - How is this difficult, Pat?

I'm at least as employable as the other JSA members, right?

Well, Doctor Mid-Nite, he was a surgeon.

That sounds icky.

Hourman was a chemist.

Lab nerd. No, thanks.

And the Green Lantern ran a broadcasting company.

Entertainment business, that's a lot of headaches.

What's your family history?

See, myself, my granddad raised me in his salvage yard,

and all I ever wanted to do was take broken stuff

and make it work again.

- True story. - Well, all my parents

ever gave me was a chip on my shoulder.

They treated my sister and I like props

to show off to their snooty friends.

I mean, that's why I love being Starman.

I'm not a prop. I serve a purpose.

I'm somebody important.

Without that...

I'm nobody, really.

- Whoa, whoa. - Don't say that.

Can you believe what you're hearing from this guy?

- Nope. - Hey, you're not nobody,

Sylvester, all right?

You're Starman.

That's right. You're Starman.

Let me tell you a little story.

I went to live with my grandparents

after I was born.

My mother dropped me off one day,

and she told them,

"He cries too loud."

Cried too loud.

Never saw her again.

Anyhoo, my granddad passed along a thing or two.

One thing he taught me was...

how quick someone will write off a good thing.

If something doesn't work the way they want it to,

they just toss it away.

They think it's "junk," but it's not, mm-mm.

You see, junk is junk.

Salvage-- salvage is an opportunity,

an opportunity to turn it into something new.

Yeah.

Sorry. Sometimes I get self-absorbed.

Were you still talking about car parts,

or was it a metaphor about me?

What's it matter for?

I don't have the foggiest.

You figure it out.

Hey.

Most important thing here: we're gonna get you

on a good career path, okay?

We're gonna find you a great job,

so don't worry about it.

Just gotta keep a good attitude.

Oh, yeah, picking a career. How hard can it be?

It's gonna be great.

So what'd you find out about those documents?

That the deposits made to The Gambler

came via wire transfer from an Irwin Hasen.

Irwin Hasen? Who the hell is that?

It's an alias... for Lawrence Crock.

Wait. What? Like, the Crocks?

Are you serious?

That's who The Gambler's been blackmailing?

- So what do we do now? - We can't tell Sylvester.

Why not?

Because he'll want to rush right in, like--

- Like you. - Like he did with The Shade.

If the Crocks are guilty, Court, we should all rush in.

- We have to wait. - Wait for what, dear leader?

Beth has solid evidence for a motive for murder.

Just because The Gambler was blackmailing the Crocks

doesn't mean they killed him.

Yo, man, what's up?

- Yeah!

Hey.

If we're going to take Artemis' parents

away from her again, we've got to be sure.

We'll regroup with Pat, come up with a plan.

Until then, nobody say a word to Sylvester.

Agreed?

Yeah.

Mr. Mahkent, do you have a moment?

I spoke with Mr. Deisinger this morning,

and he said that you haven't been painting.

And you didn't turn in your assignment to me today.

That's not like you.

- Is everything all right?

Yeah. Everything's fine.

I've just been a little bit preoccupied.

Can I do the assignment tonight?

Don't worry about this one.

I know I'm considered

the strictest teacher at Blue Valley.

Even my coworkers avoid me at the lounge at lunch.

But...

I only put up a wall because I dealt with things, too,

in school that I've carried.

So if there's anything you'd like to talk about,

I'm happy to listen.

I said I'm fine, so leave me alone.

Hey.

Don't be a jerk.

She's only trying to help.

Sorry, Ms. Woods.

That's quite all right.

Just because you are a spoiled rich kid

doesn't mean you can talk to people however you want.

I said I was sorry.

Boys.

Talk to her like that again...

And you will be.

Cool?

Yeah.

Cool.

I know your heart's in the right place, Rick,

but calling Cameron names isn't going to help.

Okay.

Sub Shack. Sandwich artist wanted.

Oof, that takes years of training and dedication.

What the hell else am I gonna be besides Starman?

Oh, hi, Mr. Pemberton.

Is Courtney here?

She's not back from school yet.

Really? 'Cause I thought

we were supposed to meet here for a JSA meeting.

A JSA meeting? About what?

About how The Gambler's blackmailing the Crocks.

Didn't they tell you?

Didn't tell me.

Don't take it personally.

They leave me out of stuff too.

I have a good idea, Sylvester.

How about we go get the Crocks right now, you and me?

Hey, that sounds terrible.

Work with Dragon King's demon spawn?

I don't trust you any more than I trust the Crocks,

The Shade, or I did The Gambler.

In fact, I trust you less.

I'm a member of the Justice Society of America now.

Why don't you go find someone

who's impressed by a dime-a-dozen cheerleader

in green Spandex with daddy issues?

I'm not your run-of-the-mill Blue Valley idiot.

I'm Starman.

Careful on the stairs with those shoes.

If you fall, it'd be like falling off an overpass.

So the Crocks.

Let's go get 'em.

Attention, shoppers. Good evening.

Please make your way to the cashiers.

The store will be closing in five minutes.

Oink, oink.

Put it back.

Sorry. Habit.

Plus, the sodium content of that steak sauce alone

will put you back in prison.

Hey, everyone gets a cheat day, babe.

Is that what you call it?

Did you kill The Gambler on a cheat day?

Day like "The Purge"?

I haven't seen it, but I read a summary online.

It's a day where there's no laws.

We know what it is. We've seen 'em.

They're hilarious.

What are you doing bringing that Staff in here, Pemberton?

In public? Are you out of your mind?

I know The Gambler was blackmailing you,

and I know you're the ones that killed him.

You don't know your ass from your elbow.

We're shopping.

Store is closing.

Please bring your items to the cashier, thank you.

The store is closing.

Yeah, we heard.

We don't want to fight.

This is your last chance, guys.

Why don't you go back to your basement...

and polish your little Staff?

Confess.

Final call.

Late, Rick.

Had a flat.

So what's the plan?

We going after the Crocks?

Pat and I are going to talk to them,

give them a chance to explain.

As soon as Cindy gets here, we can--

One sec.

Mike, what's up?

Go, go, go! Go!

- I was getting bored anyways. - Me too.

Mm.

Hello, friend.

Let go!

Come on!

Batter up!

You done?

No.

Eat this!

Come on, tough guy!

You. Come on.

That's enough!

Fight's over.

Walk away, Sylvester.

The Gambler was blackmailing us.

That part is true.

Ah! But we didn't kill him.

We wanted to, but we stayed strong.

All right, so why was he blackmailing you?

ISA crimes we didn't commit.

Stuff other members did without us.

They're dead now,

and we wouldn't have had a chance in hell

of proving our innocence.

Not that you're all that innocent.

Look, yes, I mean,

we're guilty of plenty of things.

Some of it, we even went to prison for,

and truth be told,

we wouldn't even be sitting here with our freedom

if it wasn't for a legal loophole.

Well, some, like Sylvester,

they might call that just a little bit unfair.

Who cares what he said? That guy is a freaking lunatic.

Regardless, we couldn't risk going back to prison,

so we paid Sharpe.

But the payments stopped two months ago.

How come?

That putz stopped blackmailing us.

Didn't say why, and we thought he was playing a new angle.

Then he paid us back right before he died.

Every cent.

Here you go.

- Thank you. - Thanks.

The Gambler really was trying to be better.

Now, we didn't realize that until after he was killed.

Well, as long as we're...

getting everything on the table,

I'll admit I did go pay him a visit

on the day he was murdered.

- What? - Look, he shows up

in Blue Valley, spouting off his,

"I'll, turn over a new leaf," jambalaya jive talk.

Well, I wasn't buying it.

Figured he came back to start blackmailing us again,

so I drove out to his trailer to have a little chat with him.

But I got too worked up,

and I left

before I did something stupid.

So why didn't you tell us this before?

I was just trying to protect us

from any unnecessary heat.

I'm sorry, Barbara.

We should have been honest with you.

The last time we went to prison,

it nearly destroyed our family.

Not to mention the food.

So many carbs.

Please believe me.

We would never make the same mistake twice.

Whoever killed Sharpe, it wasn't us.

I'll be right back.

Okay, I talked to the Crocks--

How could you step in front of me like that, huh?

You chose to protect them over me.

- Sylvester-- - You're my sidekick,

not theirs.

You got that?

I'm nobody's sidekick.

Oh, is that so?

I'm your friend, Sylvester,

and I always have been.

The Crocks, they didn't do it.

And even if they had,

this isn't the way to deal with things.

Oh, and you know how to deal with things?

You let half the villains that killed our friends

move in next door!

Is that how you deal with things?

You don't destroy everything around them.

It sends the wrong message.

To who?

To Courtney.

When the staff first lit up for Courtney,

she thought it was because you were her father.

What? Me?

Why would she think that?

Courtney's real father disappeared

the same Christmas Eve that the JSA died.

And for her to think that her father's a superhero

who sacrificed his life saving the world,

that was a hell of a lot easier than knowing

that it was just some guy that didn't love her

and hit the road.

Right?

Jeez.

What happened to him?

I don't know.

I mean, he showed up in Blue Valley last year.

He wanted to get this locket...

This locket that he'd given to her

when she was a little girl,

'cause it was worth some money.

Also happened to be the thing that she cared the most about.

So she gave it to him.

He took it, and he left.

What did you do?

I knocked him on his ass.

Good.

And I'm not proud of it.

But that pain?

It'll never leave her,

and that's why you and I--

that's why we gotta be there for her.

Sylvester,

you can't just be a friend to Courtney.

You have to be like a father.

All right?

She puts you on a pedestal,

and she has since she first picked up the Staff.

And whether you like it or not,

you have a responsibility to set an example

to Courtney and to all these kids

not just to be a better man

but to be the Starman that you set out to be.

I don't know who I set out to be.

I just feel like a crazy person now

who blows up grocery stores.

I don't even have my costume anymore.

Costume doesn't make the man.

Well, it's a start.

Yeah.

It's a start.

So the Crocks didn't kill The Gambler?

No.

They said they paid him blackmail money,

but that was it.

And you believe them?

They seemed pretty sincere.

And if you really think about it,

the way The Gambler's trailer was left ripped apart,

that isn't really their style.

If they didn't do it, who did?

Well, we know it wasn't Grundy or The Shade.

What about Cindy?

She did exactly what you said not to do, Courtney.

She went straight to Sylvester.

Yes, because I didn't want

to just sit around and do nothing.

Look, the Crocks looked guilty,

and I wanted to take them down, and...

I wanted to prove myself.

And I thought that if the great Sylvester Pemberton

gave me his seal of approval,

you would all too.

And by the way, it turns out,

he's kind of an ass.

Well...

if you do something like that again,

you're off the team.

Okay. Got it.

Hello, everyone.

Hey.

My name is Paula Brooks,

and I love Blue Valley...

and the people in it.

Hey.

Hi.

I'm really sorry I've been a jerk,

actually, to everyone

but, most importantly, to you.

Is everything okay?

Everyone keeps asking me that.

Well... is it?

I'm not sure I'm ready to talk about it just yet.

I'm sorry.

That's okay.

We don't have to talk about it, Cameron.

We can just...

go for a walk together, if you want.

Hmm.

Well, we've turned up empty again, huh, Cosmo?

I just keep thinking...

There must be something at the crime scene that...

we all overlooked, right?

We should go back.

No. Nope.

It's not my turn with you.

I gotta respect the rules,

be a better Starman.

I have to go.

I'm sorry.

That's okay.

Wish me luck, buddy.

- Hi, Tim. - God.

We need to talk about a friend of mine.

Is this about Sarah or Susan

or whatever her name is?

Tell her to let it go.

Different friend,

one that you're gonna be a lot nicer to, hmm?

Try again!

- Try again!

Greg, move your head.

Mad Ghost.