A Man on the Inside (2024) s02e02 Episode Script

[gentle music playing]
I don't understand. You didn't get
any footage from the party?
[Charles] I got plenty of footage.
Oodles of footage.
Just not in the last hour
because I left to follow a lead.
A suspect.
Well, despite our best efforts,
Vinick is now fully aware
that someone here hates his guts.
I will remind you both
that if we don't secure this donation,
Wheeler College
may just disappear off the map.
Pepto coffee? It's disgusting.
- No.
- [Charles] I'm good.
We should review everything
from the time of the fire to be sure.
Yeah [sighs] I already tried.
It's not useful.
I think the file
got corrupted or something,
but let's focus on the positives.
I mean, we have a big new clue, the note.
The original threat was emailed, but this
is in the blackmailer's own handwriting.
Okay, I have a source,
a former con artist
who specializes in this kind of thing.
Forgeries, ransom notes,
lives nearby, so I'll head there now.
I'll go with you.
[clicks tongue] Okay.
- [knocking]
- [Charles] I'm so excited.
My first meeting
with an underworld source.
Ah.
Julie, what a surprise.
Hi, Apollo. Is she in?
Maybe, but first,
you gotta do something for me.
Read the first 1600 pages of my novel,
and tell me honestly
if it's too close to Little Women.
- Bye, Apollo.
- What. No.
Come on. You'll read it later, okay?
It's a story of four sisters who lived
during Civil War times in New England,
but not the Civil War
you're thinking about.
Vanessa, Julie's here.
Hey, who's this?
He works with me.
I need you to look at something.
Oh, of course.
Hang on, let me get my glasses.
I'm Charles, by the way.
Ah. Hey, Apollo Lambrakis.
I live here, sexually.
Well, congratulations.
Ah, thanks, it's great.
Just getting a little painting done
right now.
I'm a contractor by trade.
If you need anything, give me a call.
- [Charles] What's happening here?
- [Apollo] Oh yeah.
I found a box of these in a dumpster.
I don't know who Dr. Lucy Patterson is.
I'm assuming she's dead.
Whoa, is that the case you're working on?
Wait a minute, am I a suspect?
I had nothing to do with it.
No. No, you're fine.
Okay, that's a relief, huh?
[laughs] You hungry?
I got baby carrots, and I got hummus.
It's organic.
Wow, that seems a little risky.
No, not really.
I just gotta keep 'em straight.
This one's hummus.
This one's paint.
Huh.
Now, hang on.
Ah!
This is my bad.
They're both hummus.
- [laughs]
- No wonder this room smells delicious.
You taking off?
I'll talk to you later, Charles.
Whoever wrote this was smart enough
to disguise their handwriting.
The handwriting isn't the clue.
It's the pen. This isn't a ballpoint.
It's fancy.
Fountain pen.
See this dark streak
in the middle of the horizontal lines?
There's a chip in the nib.
And whenever they press down hard,
it releases extra ink.
[Julie] Huh.
Good catch.
Who would use a pen like that?
Artists like to use fountain pens
to sketch line drawings.
Con artists like to use them
to forge degrees
from Harvard Business School.
Class of '81.
Vanessa, thank you. We'll be in touch.
You don't have to run.
Lisichka, I could make a pot of coffee.
Sorry, work.
Or have those little cookies you like.
I got some.
We're leaving.
Well, it was great to see you.
[sad music playing]
"Lisichka"?
Leave it alone.
"I got those little cookies you like"?
Vanessa
is my mom.
[theme music playing]
[Charles] You didn't even hug her.
You barely even said hello.
We have a business relationship.
That's it.
But why?
And how?
And probably also when?
Okay.
I'm going to explain this one time.
Then we do not discuss it again.
Okay.
Vanessa started pulling scams
before I was in kindergarten.
Small-time stuff.
Over time, the scams got bigger.
More audacious.
And then one day,
the cops came
to the door and arrested her.
My dad, who is not Apollo
- Thank God.
- was not in the picture.
So I had to go live with my grandparents
because she had to go live in prison.
She ruined my life.
And also, as I found out
many years later, ruined my credit.
- Hm.
- I have repaired both, no thanks to her.
So I pay her for her expertise
as a criminal when I need it,
and that is
the extent of our interactions.
"Lisichka"?
Russian nickname my dad gave me
when I was a baby.
It means "little fox."
Annoyingly, she won't stop using it.
So this is why you became a PI.
[scoffs]
No, it's not why.
Her being a criminal
just put me on a path.
I'm just
I'm just interested in the
- It's why.
- Okay, fine. Yes, it's why.
- Who cares?
- I Okay.
You know, Emily and I went
through a rough patch for a while.
We are not discussing this.
Stop asking questions about my mom.
Okay.
Focus on the case.
Hi there.
- Oh, hey.
- Hey.
I was just thinking about you.
- Really? Neat.
- Hm.
Because I was also thinking about you.
- Hm.
- Wanna grab some lunch?
That would be lovely.
Perfect. Let's do it.
Let's get some lunch.
- Actually, I can't.
- Whoa.
[laughing] Getting real
mixed signals here.
I forgot. I'm I'm
I'm meeting a friend.
Stupid friends. Stupid friends.
They ruin everything.
Just go have a lovely time
with your friend.
And you know where to find me. Okay?
[uplifting music playing]
Okay.
Thank you.
Thank you for kissing me.
[Calbert] I can't tell whether you've
gotten better or I've gotten worse.
I must have gotten worse
because you stink.
I have to tell you something.
I met someone.
- Really?
- Her name's Mona.
She's stunning.
And funny.
Talented.
Brilliant. And gorgeous.
And sexy.
Stunning, gorgeous, and sexy
all mean the same thing.
Well, she's all of them.
We literally just met.
[excitedly] But every time
I see her, I sweat.
I stutter.
My heart races.
You sure it's not your thyroid?
Could be your thyroid.
Calbert.
Is this okay?
What do you mean, is it okay?
You mean because of Victoria?
You mourned Victoria.
You did right by her.
You don't honor her life
by not living your own.
The only question is,
is this something you want to pursue?
Yes.
Then go for it.
Now, how did you meet
this heart-racing lady?
She's one of the suspects in my new case.
Oh, for God's sake.
I know. [chuckles] Kinda bad.
It's very bad.
You remember how I reacted
when you told me you were a spy?
How's it gonna go when you tell
your girlfriend you've been lying to her?
You cannot be in a relationship
with someone you're lying to.
[Grant] Charles, old boy.
You're a very observant fellow.
Now, recently, between us,
I invested in a hair system.
Be honest.
Can you tell?
Not at all.
Money well spent.
Grazie.
What? I can't even lie to Grant?
[Charles] Julie, exciting news.
Vanessa's information
has led to a promising new suspect,
Dr. Elizabeth Muki, M-U-K-I.
She runs the fine arts department.
She was present at the event last night,
and get this,
she actually painted
the portrait herself.
Tonight, after the museum closes,
I'm gonna infiltrate her office,
maybe get lucky,
and find the smoking pen.
[indistinct chatter]
Hi. Are you here
for extension school class?
Oh, sorry. No.
I'm a visiting lecturer in engineering.
I'm just coming to look around.
Ah, we're usually closed now,
but faculty can come anytime.
Ah. Are you Elizabeth Muki?
Yeah, that's me.
Or you can call me Betsy.
And you must be Charles?
Mona told me
that she met you the other night.
She mentioned me? Huh.
What did she say about me, exactly?
Honestly, that whole night
was a blur because, um,
my painting was set on fire in protest.
Wow. You painted that portrait.
Jeez, that's That's intense.
Sorry about that.
Yeah. Yeah, thanks.
I just hope we didn't
scare that guy away.
I know we're suspicious
of corporate types around here,
but the museum could
really use his money.
Sure, sure.
So you don't remember
anything she said about me?
Ask her yourself.
[Charles] Oh.
- Hello.
- Hi. Hey.
Hi.
Fancy meeting you here.
I like your trench coat.
You look like a spy.
[laughing] That's
That's a ridiculous assertion.
I just came to look around.
What are you doing here?
Betsy's figure drawing class.
Hey, you still owe me a lunch.
How about tomorrow?
Yeah, that should work.
Let me just check my schedule here.
Um
I have uh, let's see.
Yeah, I have office hours at 11,
but after that, I am free all day.
Whoa.
Oh!
Oh, you're the noodle. Nude model.
I am. Yes. Every week.
Do me a favor
and throw those on that chair over there.
I'll see you tomorrow.
[Charles breathing heavily]
[softly] Get it together, Nieuwendyk.
It's just a naked woman.
You've seen hundreds of them.
You've seen four of them.
[inquisitive music playing]
[scanner bleeps]
[exhales]
[breathing heavily]
Oh my God.
No.
I can't work like this.
Oh my
Oh, Jesus.
Okay. Okay.
[chuckles lightly]
Nope.
God, is all art naked?
Okay.
Oh.
Oh. Oh.
You're Oh my God.
You're all over the place.
[knocking]
You have a visitor.
[door closes]
You're not supposed
to show up unannounced.
I know.
But you ignored all my calls.
That's what people do when
they don't want to talk to other people.
- [laptop closes]
- I need to tell you something.
I don't want you to pay me anymore.
I want to help you with your work,
but I want to help because
you're my daughter and
and not because I'm on your payroll.
Well, I prefer
to keep things professional.
It's cleaner that way.
You do work. I pay you.
We don't owe each other anything.
What's this?
Every dollar you've insisted on paying me
over the years.
I never wanted any of it,
so I never spent any of it.
Mother-daughter relationships
aren't supposed to be clean
and professional.
[sad music playing]
If I can't be your mom,
then I don't want to be your source.
If you insist.
Sorry to see you go.
[door closes]
Everything okay?
Put this into petty cash for me.
[door closes]
[inquisitive music playing]
[dramatic music playing]
- No! No.
- [door rattling]
- [Betsy] Good job.
- [student] Oh, thank you.
[scanner bleeps]
Ugh.
[sneaky music playing]
- So you didn't find any pens that matched?
- Nope.
Did a methodical search.
Very professional. But no luck.
Muki wants Vinick's money for the museum,
so she's not a top suspect anyway.
All right. Then we move on.
Who's next?
Mona Margadoff.
What do you know about her?
Music teacher.
Pretty unremarkable.
Stays fully clothed all the time,
as far as I know.
Okay. Well, look into her.
Start one of your famous dossiers.
I don't think I need to.
She didn't do it.
- How do you know that?
- Gut.
Mostly just gut.
Also instinct.
Well, she was on Holly's list,
and she was at the party.
So maybe your gut should take
a back seat to actual investigative work.
- That
- Hey.
This is the juicy case you wanted, man.
Work the case.
[Charles] Julie, it's 8:53 p.m.
Uh, I just wanted to apologize
for our conversation earlier.
As you pointed out,
Mona Margadoff is indeed
a potential suspect,
just like anyone else.
So, beginning now,
I'm going to use
various undercover techniques
to secretly gather information about her,
never letting on,
not even for a second
that I am a private investigator.
[knocking]
- I'm a private investigator.
- What?
I'm an undercover private investigator.
I recorded our first kiss
with a spy camera.
But I deleted it. It wasn't pervy.
Also, I stole your purse, for the case,
and I feel bad about it
because even though we just met
I like you.
And I don't want to lie to you.
Anymore.
Anyway, this is all under the heading of
I'm an undercover private investigator.
[gentle music playing]
You burned your cover
on purpose to a suspect?!
First of all, Mona is not a suspect.
I guarantee we can trust her.
Just ask her. Mona!
Wha She she's here?
You brought her here?
I have never been
in a real detective's office before.
It's less interesting
than I would have imagined.
Have you told anyone else about Charles?
- Of course not. He made me promise.
- I made her promise.
Oh, well. [chuckles]
As long as she promised.
Why?
Why? Why in the world would you do this?
Well, to be honest,
it was something that Calbert said to me.
What could Calbert have possibly said
to make you do this?
I mean, you could just ask him.
Oh my God.
I did not tell him to confess.
I told him he can't have a relationship
built on lies.
I assumed he was gonna
break it off with her.
No offense. You seem terrific.
I've heard a lot about you.
[Mona] I've heard a lot about you.
You used to work at the Pentagon.
I was once arrested
at a rally outside the Pentagon.
Oh, small world.
[laughing] Oh. This is so wonderful.
You guys meeting.
That's why I invited him.
- We were going to have breakfast after
- Everybody shut up.
Charles, stay.
You two, scram.
Are you still down
for a breakfast burrito?
- Charles said you love breakfast burritos.
- I do, and I'd love one.
[Mona] So I know an incredible place
down the street.
My treat.
- Julie, do you want anything?
- Out.
You are on extremely thin ice.
That woman may be the perp
that we're looking for.
[Charles] Mona didn't do it.
She couldn't have.
Because she was with me.
She was with you?
Oh, of course.
She was the lead you were chasing down
when you were supposed
to be at the party.
And she was with me the whole time.
Are you sure?
The whole time?
Well, that was certainly
[laughs lightly]
Yes, the whole time.
Julie, look, I'm sorry,
but this is bigger than the case.
I I didn't think that
I could have this in my life again.
Another chance at
a meaningful relationship at my age?
You of all people should understand that.
- The hell is that supposed to mean?
- Your mom.
Your mom wants what I want,
a second chance.
And if you didn't really,
down deep,
want a relationship with her,
you wouldn't keep seeking her out.
You want to give her a second chance.
You're just
[laughs] You're too stubborn to admit it.
My relationship with my estranged mother,
which you know nothing about,
and which is none of your business,
is not an excuse to screw up my case.
And that's what this is, by the way.
It's my case.
Mona is my suspect.
You are my employee.
And if you don't understand that,
then you won't be my employee.
- You
- This conversation is over.
[somber music playing]
I'm really sorry
this caused so much trouble.
So, what's our next step?
Lie low and hope Julie doesn't fire me.
Charles, I know
we don't know each other very well,
but no matter what happens,
I'm glad you told me the truth.
It gives me a good feeling
about you, and
I already had a good feeling about you.
You will figure this out, I promise.
But the only clue I have
is this theoretical pen.
It's like looking
for a needle in a haystack.
[dramatic music playing]
That party was a cash bar, right?
At Wheeler, it's always a cash bar.
Why?
Huh. So that's what it's like
when I do that.
It's annoying.
I cannot believe Charles.
I started working on a cover story
in case we need to pull him.
He said I don't understand
my own feelings about my mom.
The hell does he know?
I mean, he's a pretty good detective.
- Don't tell me you agree.
- I didn't say that.
I do agree. I didn't say it
because you're scary. I'm scared of you.
I'm going to explain something
to you, okay?
Vanessa and I have
a purely professional relationship.
Had. Apparently, it's over,
which is fine.
I'm fine with it.
That's all I wanted from her.
She was my source.
She was one of my many, many sources.
You know? And And the fact
that I used her as a source,
it just doesn't mean anything.
Okay, fine, fine.
I pay to see my mom
on a semi-weekly basis.
Who cares?
It's not that weird.
It's not like I'm like, "Boo-hoo."
[fake crying] Like, "Mommy, can we please
rekindle our relationship
so I can actually have a real mom
in my life
without needing to be
an emotionally vulnerable person
and tell you how I feel and"
[clicks tongue] Crap.
[gentle music playing]
[knocking]
Oh, hey, Julie.
Word of caution.
My guinea pig, Joni Mitchell,
has escaped from her cage,
and she's in a mood.
Okay? So get in here,
but leave your shoes on.
She's a biter.
[laughs]
I'll tell Vanessa you're here.
Joni! Joni!
[sighs heavily]
[poignant music playing]
- Hi.
- Hi, Vanessa.
Hi, Mom.
[puffs lips] Okay.
Okay.
"I would like to examine the possibility
of having a non-work-related relationship
with you."
- Sweetheart.
- Just wait. Just wait.
I wrote this out,
and I need to get it exactly.
"I'm not sure what that would look like,
and I need it to move very slowly."
"If these terms are acceptable to you,
check this box and return it."
I'm sorry. I was considering
just leaving this on the doorstep.
I made a lot of mistakes.
All I ever wanted
was for you to forgive me.
And I will do literally anything
to make that happen.
Okay.
[Apollo] Found her!
I found Joni Mitchell.
- She was in the toilet.
- [Joni Mitchell squeals]
[Charles] There's no way
we're gonna find that pen,
but we don't have to if we find
another piece of paper it wrote on.
The dining hall caters
all the school events,
and it's almost always a cash bar
because the school is broke.
Which means people
sign credit card receipts.
If we can get a hold of receipts
from the night of Vinick's party,
we might find a match,
and it will literally be the name
of the person who wrote the note.
Look.
I made a judgment call telling Mona.
I knew the risks,
and I'm sorry if you don't like it.
But either fire me or let me keep going.
Your choice.
Yeah, I know
because that's what being a boss is,
and I'll remind you that I am your boss.
I went to see my mom.
We're going to try
and do whatever it is people do
in these situations.
Well, I think that's great.
And that's all I'll say.
Look, we're on the right track.
I can feel it.
We're gonna have hard evidence
as soon as I find that receipt.
I hope you're right.
[indistinct chatter]
Give me a second here.
Thank you for looking.
I think I used my personal card
instead of my business card.
Need those miles.
Oh yeah, you gotta get the miles.
I don't see the receipts from that night.
I must have sent them in already.
Okay, thanks for looking.
Oh, hey, Charles.
How's it going? What's the, uh,
haps, as they say?
I was just trying
to switch out a credit card
I used at the party.
What are you doing?
I wanted to see
what was for lunch tomorrow.
Huh. Beef stew.
Beef stew. [laughs]
That's great.
That's my favorite thing to
put beef in.
Okay, bye.
Julie? Looks like there's
a new potato in our clue stew.
The potato is a suspect.
Griffin is the potato.
The stew is the case.
I'm gonna start over.
Sub extracted from file & improved by
[inquisitive music playing]