The Librarians: The Next Chapter (2025) s02e04 Episode Script

1
[music]
Welcome back to COOKED!
The traveling cooking
competition show
in which local chefs compete
against each other
in culinary challenges.
I'm your host Hilda,
and this is my brother Gunther.
And we love to eat.
- Don't we, Gunther?
- Oh, that's right,
schwester Hilda.
We also love to deliberate,
which is exactly what we did
during the commercial break.
Now, while all of your meals
were simply wunderbar,
one of you simply has to go.
That's why it's time
for the final dish.
HILDA: None of you came here
to make friends.
You came to be
the last chef standing.
Claude, your goulash
was actually ghoulish. [giggles]
You know what that means.
- You got cooked!
- You got cooked!
Oh. What a sad day
for all of us,
but mostly for you, Claude.
Mostly for you.
[bell rings]
[door locks]
[clunking]
[banging]
Hello?
Is anyone there?
[door clunking]
[creature growling]
[screams]
[music]
WOMAN: How do I stay so young?
I don't know,
but it sure helps to look it.
- [Lysa sneezes]
- Bless you.
LYSA: Oh, thank you.
Is the show not back on yet?
- No.
- Not too close.
You don't want
a sick guardian, do you?
- What is that?
- My menthol paste.
Helps clear the--
- CONNOR: Bless you.
- sinuses.
I tried to use the branded stuff
but this wasn't strong enough,
- so I made my own.
- God, It's so pungent.
VIKRAM: [laughs]
Go magic-wave. Go!
Oh, isn't this contraption
marvelous?
Yeah, Vikram, it is awesome.
Now, come on,
you can still catch
the end of the show.
Ah. And what are we watching?
Oh, it is called COOKED!
It is my new favorite
cooking competition show.
It just came out of nowhere
a few weeks back.
I'm sorry.
A cooking competition show?
Yeah, chefs cook off
against each other
to see who's got the best dish.
It's kind of a guilty pleasure.
Uh, no guilt on my end.
I think cooking shows
are very comforting.
And who decides
what food is best?
Oh, it's the hosts.
It's this wacky
brother-sister duo
from Germany. [sneezes]
- Bless you.
- The show revolves around food
but you, the viewer,
cannot eat it?
- It's not about that.
- Well, if it's not about
the food, then what is it about?
It's, um,
it's just--ah,
you have to watch.
Ah. How very convincing.
AUTOMATED VOICE:
Your popcorn is ready.
Ah! My popcorn! Hmm.
Oh. Who needs a kitchen
when you can have
this funny little thing?
This tome denotes everything
one can concoct
within its walls.
- Oh. It's back!
- And the winner
- of this week's episode--
- Ah.
--is our reigning champion
from Slovakia, Olga Horváth!
GUNTHER: As you know, each week
we travel to a new city
to find the finest chefs
in all of Europe.
Next week, we'll be traveling
to beautiful Belgrade, Serbia.
Cool! Fun.
Connor's latest obsession
is gonna be in Belgrade.
Hmm.
You can stalk the German hosts.
Ask them why
they got rid of lederhosen.
They really were
quite fashionable.
Oh, do you guys smell that?
No, I can't smell anything.
My nose is as stuffed
as a Thanksgiving turkey.
VIKRAM: Just a package
of perfectly popped popcorn.
CHARLIE:
Perfect? You mean burnt?
Oh, it's not popcorn. It's
[sniffing]
It's coming from the TV.
- This is so strange.
- Connor, you're just hungry
and you think
you're smelling the lemon cakes
- Olga made on the show.
- LYSA: Ah, yeah,
Charlie's right,
that can happen.
It can really trigger
your olfactory systems.
You're just haunted by
my undeniable pheromones, huh?
Oh, God, Connor
is smelling the television.
He's finally losing it.
[laughter]
I'm not losing it, okay?
I can just
Connor?
Is it me or is that
a bit of an overreaction?
No,
we shouldn't have mocked him.
Remember the Bes Demon?
Oh, God.
Connor's greatest fear is that
the library will drive him mad.
And he'd be lost
down a rabbit hole alone.
- I feel terrible.
- VIKRAM: Charlie's right.
Let's give our pal
the evening to chillax.
- Chillax?
- And tomorrow we'll apologize.
[music]
[indistinct chatter]
[sniffing]
HILDA: Can't wait
to see you today, Belgrade.
I cannot wait to discover
the next wonderful chef.
Who will be
the last chef standing?
Oh, I cannot wait.
We've been
to so many wonderful cities,
- haven't we, Hilda?
- So many. So many.
Different dishes, oh, so--
GUNTHER: Yes. Once we had tacos.
HILDA: The tacos were very good.
Does anyone else smell that?
Anyone?
[beeping]
[buzzes]
[music]
Is that a bag of rice?
Hmm.
- I microwaved it.
- Okay.
VIKRAM: How's the dissection
coming along, hmm?
We must uncover the secret
of the mystery scent
for Connor posthaste so he knows
that we are taking him
seriously.
I have taken apart
the entire television
and there is nothing
out of the ordinary.
I've even scanned it
with the app and nothing.
Have you ever heard
of a magic television?
Lysa, you may recall,
I hail from the 1800s.
Every television
is magical to me.
Aphrodite was said
to have an intoxicating scent.
Uh, some deities were drawn
to the mortal realm
using incense.
Plus, I found a ton of articles
talking about the science
of smell.
LYSA: Yeah, it's complicated.
Smell is linked to emotion.
Our olfactory systems travel
directly through the areas
of the brain
that process memories.
And eating
is also connected to smell.
Yeah, the complex flavors
we taste
are actually possible
'cause of the smell.
Could the magic be coming
directly from the show itself?
But that doesn't explain
why only Connor could smell it.
They did say the next episode
was filming in Belgrade.
[music]
[birds chirping]
The Belgrade Studio Stages.
They must be filming
there today.
Well, that confirms it then.
There is something magical
afoot at that studio.
Hmm. We shall solve this smell
conundrum by suppertime
and surprise him.
[music]
Vikram.
Wonderful to see the can-can
is still going strong.
Sure.
Ah. Hello.
- Um, why don't we get inside?
- You work on the show?
- Yes, we absolutely do.
- Uh-hmm.
Where? Wardrobe? Sound?
No. We are the Librarians.
- Hmm. You should have said.
- Hmm.
- Here. This way everyone.
- Amazing.
Smashing, my good man.
[music]
GUNTHER: Our next guest
hails all the way from Belgrade,
goes by one name
and loves Bolognese,
please welcome Aleks.
HILDA: And our final
contestant joining us
for this scrumptious episode
is the delectable
Connor Green.
We certainly hope
you don't get cooked, Connor.
What?
[music]
How wunderbar.
Four amateur chefs
making delicious food
just for us.
That's right, Hilda.
Which chef will be cooked first?
Join us after the break
for challenge number one.
I can't wait
to slurp some soups.
And cut! Let's move on.
And move this light, please.
We'll be in hair and makeup,
fetch us when you're ready.
Okay. Guy, position
two, move, move.
You have five minutes
to prep your station, okay?
Five minutes everybody
to prep your stations.
- Connor, what are you doing?
- Guys.
No, no, no, Lysa,
it is a brilliant plan.
Connor has infiltrated the show
to get more information
from the inside.
- So what's our next move?
- Guys, I blacked out.
What do you mean
you blacked out?
I mean, I have no idea
how I got here.
One minute I was getting coffee,
then I smelled that smell again
during a commercial
for the show.
Next minute I'm here.
So it wasn't the television,
it was the TV show.
Oh, you believe me now?
- Hey.
- VIKRAM: Let's not play
the game of blame, hmm?
Let's get
to the bottom of things.
Connor, come with me,
we shall begin--
No, Vikram. I'm staying here.
Connor, you blacked
out and mysteriously ends up
being a contestant
on a magical cooking show.
You can't just
go through with it.
I have to go through with it.
Magic brought me here
for a reason.
I need to figure out
what that reason is.
The answer is here.
Food is the key.
I need to cook.
I don't like this.
Something's off.
Connor can handle it.
You continue
with filming the show,
we'll split up to investigate.
Yeah. Good luck. Come on.
Do you really think
we should let Connor--
No, no, no, Vikram's right.
We don't wanna repeat
of what happened
with the TV, do we?
Indeed.
Do not fear.
We shall remain close by.
Now, I wish to speak
to this other contestant, Olga.
She has been winning
this competition every week.
We'll poke around the other
contestants' dressing rooms,
see what we can find.
[music]
Ms. Olga, just the acclaimed
culinary connoisseur
I was looking for.
Oh. No, no, no,
I'm just a simple woman
who loves to cook.
Oh, no, nothing simple
about you, my dear.
Oh, your work on this
televised tournament of taste
has been terrifyingly terrific.
- Who are you?
- Me?
- Uh-huh.
- Oh.
Well, I,
- I am--
- Oh, he's an agent.
For chefs.
I didn't know chefs had agents.
Yeah. He's the best of the best.
He can get you cooking
in any kitchen in the world.
Yes, it's true.
All the top restaurants,
um, such as, um,
- Giant Light in Rome--
- Uh-hmm.
and, um, Mixer in Barcelona,
and, um, Butter.
Of course
you've heard of Butter, right?
- No.
- Exactly.
Yes. So tell me,
what's your secret?
How do you keep winning?
No secret. I just love to cook.
Hmm. Did you study the arts?
Culinary or otherwise?
No. All that I know
I learned from my grandmother.
I worked in her bakery
when I was younger.
Yes, it's very nice,
but what drew you
to be a contestant on this show?
I just saw the advertisement
that they are coming to my town.
- Advertisement?
- Uh-hmm.
No strange smell?
Just the sweet smell of success.
[laughter]
And what about this
ancient-looking receptacle, hmm?
- Where did this come from?
- Guys, clear the stage,
we are back.
Let's go.
Okay. Last two contestants'
rooms were a wash.
Let's try
contestant number three.
Hmm. Where would one hide
a magical artifact?
Earth to Charlie?
I'm, I'm sorry.
Um, what were we doing?
We're searching Olga's
dressing room.
- Are you okay?
- Olga?
Yeah. You know, she's won
five weeks in a row.
She certainly
made herself at home.
[sneezes]
Olga.
Oh, oh.
And you're Lysa.
And you have a cold.
Yeah. And you won't seem
to let me forget it.
Are you okay?
Oh, no, I've made you sick.
Is it the brain fog?
No, no, no, I'm fine.
- I swear.
- Okay.
We just have to be quick
before she returns.
[water boiling]
[music]
Are you okay?
Huh? Yeah.
Yeah. [clears throat]
Never better.
[Olga humming]
What are we even looking for?
What kind of artifact would
- Lysa?
- Yeah.
[music]
Oh, that kind of artifact.
- [music]
- [clock ticking]
We have ticked and tocked
down to the final wire.
[music]
Gunther, our first course
is ready.
Which contestant will bowl us
over with their amazing soup?
[music]
Aleks, feed us!
This is my family recipe
for leek soup,
passed down for generations.
Hmm, generations. Plural.
So, not just mama's soup.
Ah, good.
It seems our returning champion,
Olga, owns a cauldron.
Interesting.
Look what we found
in her dressing room.
Yeah. Doesn't exactly look like
a first edition Julia Child,
does it?
VIKRAM: Soup of Loneliness,
Haggis of Heartbreak,
Stroganoff of Self-Loathing,
Moussaka of Misery.
Oh, I knew it.
Oh, this is my worst nightmare.
We are dealing
with another witch.
Aleks, your leek soup
tasted more like eek soup.
It gives us no pleasure
to say this,
but Aleks
- you got cooked!
- You got cooked!
[music]
Oh, why did it have to be a witch?
A kraken, I can handle.
A chupacabra, a cakewalk.
One time,
there was a loquacious troll
that had me
deviously discombobulated
with his impossible riddles.
But even that, even that,
could not compare
to the absolute depravity,
the unwavering guile,
the abject terror of witchcraft.
Okay. Whoa, we don't know
if Olga is doing any depravity.
She might just be, you know,
trying to win a cooking show
by cheating.
But why would a witch use magic
to win a cooking show?
Trust me,
if a witch is involved,
malfeasance is at play.
We must deduce
what kind of witch Olga is,
and from there,
figure out her plan.
- DIRECTOR: That's a cut.
- [buzzer buzzes]
DIRECTOR: Hilda and Gunther,
to hair and makeup.
- We're back in 30.
- Most importantly,
we need to free
Connor and the others
from whatever magic
is affecting them.
Indeed. We must quell
the smell spell.
Why do witches
always make you rhyme?
Connor!
Hey, how's it going?
Hey.
Sorry. Who are you?
What? I'm Lysa.
This is--what is happening?
Lysa, Vik, Charlie.
Oh, my God. Of course.
I don't--I don't know
what came over me.
What is going on?
Hmm.
Charlie, you distract the hosts.
Lysa, you sneak
into their office
and see what information
you can find on Olga.
As for I, I shall look
after our intrepid chef.
Go.
You are alone on an island,
what sandwich would you bring?
Pretzel sandwich.
- Pretzel sandwich?
- Pretzel--oh.
What a curveball. I love that.
You know what I would bring?
A sausage biscuit.
I had one
in North Carolina one time.
- Absolutely.
- It was so delicious.
- Hmm.
- CHARLIE: Hi.
Uh, I'm Charlotte.
Charlotte with
the Belgrade Women in Media.
We're a online
entertainment blog for women.
And you're here to interview us?
Uh-hmm.
We're just two humble
Bavarian bakers
who now get powdered
and primped for television.
[laughs]
Isn't this wunderbar, Hilda?
- Wunderbar, Gunther.
- Wunderbar.
Uh, so great show.
Love you guys.
- Danke.
- Love what you're doing
with all the cooking.
Oh, danke schoen.
We so appreciate
the art of cooking.
- But don't forget the eating.
- GUNTHER: Oh, of course.
The eating. All for us.
[laughter]
I wanted to ask you about Olga.
Olga. She's so special.
I'd love to know
what makes her food so great.
Oh, her cooking is just
magic.
It's like nothing
we've ever tasted before.
And what's she like?
Off camera, I mean.
Oh, she's just a darling,
although quite competitive.
She keeps winning,
the ratings go up,
and the other contestants
are lining up
- trying to take her down.
- GUNTHER: Who knows?
Maybe she'll even get
her own spin-off.
- Or perhaps a movie!
- More food for us.
- GUNTHER: Exactly, yes.
- [Hilda giggles]
So, has your cooking
led you to figure out
what that smell is yet?
It's not just about a smell.
When it first hit me,
when it first came
through the TV,
it stirred something
inside of me.
Some emotion
that I can't quite place.
It made me lash out, I'm sorry.
There's no need to apologize.
We understand.
I'm not sure you do, Vik.
When you guys started
making fun of me,
it was just like being back
at the university.
You think I didn't notice
all the sidelong glances
and giggles when I'd mention
the occult or cryptids
or the Library?
I lost my whole career, my life,
because people wouldn't
take me seriously.
That must have been hard.
It's been so long trying
to prove myself to other people.
I was worried I had to do it
all over again with you guys.
I mean, you just wrote
the whole thing off
as another silly obsession.
Connor's losing his mind
over it.
I felt dis
Dis
Dismissed?
Dismissed.
DIRECTOR: COOKED! cast and crew,
return to set.
I gotta get back.
[music]
Okay. Olga, Olga, Olga,
where are you?
Okay. Olga, no kids,
works at a garden shop,
hmm, from Slovakia,
in for five episodes.
[music]
Brigit Burns.
[keypad tapping]
[music]
Huh.
Ah.
Okay. Claude Stetson,
where are you?
[keypad tapping]
Oh, no.
[music]
[sizzling]
VIKRAM: Psst! Psst!
DIRECTOR: We are back.
Stand by, everybody.
VIKRAM: Hmm.
An excellent spot to keep an eye
- on our culinary captive.
- I spoke to Gunter and Hilda.
Seems like they're thinking of
a spin-off show starring Olga.
And they said
her cooking was magic.
Interesting.
It appears Olga has some
kind of hold over them.
I also spoke to Aleks and Kat,
the other contestants.
They were both lured here
by some strange smell
- coming from their TV.
- Oh.
So Connor is not the only one
who is affected.
That is some sort of relief.
But I am still concerned.
I spoke with him
and it was most distressing.
I had no idea--
[music]
No idea about what?
I'm sorry.
What was I saying?
I lost the thought. Confound it.
We are no closer
to finding a way
to repel the smell spell.
Olga's book.
Maybe there's an answer
in there.
Excellent thinking.
My German isn't as good
as it used to be, but let's see.
Ah. The spice,
the scent, the lure.
CHARLIE: A witch using a smell
spell to lure people in.
This sounds like something
out of Hansel and Gretel.
Gingerbread. Oh, Charlie,
I think you've hit
the head of the nail.
This, this is
the Gingerbread Spell.
The Hansel and Gretel
of whom you speak
are no storybook siblings.
No. This is the tale
of the Kitchen Witch,
a very real witch
who would lure youths
to her gingerbread home
with magic so that she could
cook and eat them.
So, Olga's The Kitchen Witch?
The very witch
from the true tall tale.
The same witch that tried
to kill Hansel and Gretel
all those years ago
and has now somehow returned.
And using some
kind of smell spell
to keep people
doing her bidding.
If that's true,
we need to take her down. Now.
Agreed.
HILDA: Olga.
It pains us to say, but
- you got cooked!
- You got cooked!
[music]
LYSA: Oh!
[music]
[door closes]
[music]
[door closes]
[gasps] Oh, my God.
Are you guys okay?
[chain rattling]
[door creaks open]
[music]
Don't they look delicious,
Gunther?
Hmm. I am simply
salivating, Hilda.
[music]
[Lysa gasping and panting]
Guys. Guys, guys, guys,
guys, guys. Hey, hey.
So, uh, we might have a bigger
problem than we thought.
Oh, I don't think
that is possible.
Well, when the contestants lose,
they are tricked
into some kind of
a little holding cell.
And Hilda and Gunther,
they have these like
sharp, scary teeth
and I'm pretty sure
they're gonna eat them.
Well, I'd say,
that is much worse.
And we thought
Olga was the witch
from Hansel and Gretel.
But apparently, our jolly
and good-natured hosts,
Hilda and Gunther,
are actually Hansel and Gretel
in witch form.
So, they remained
in the gingerbread house
and took over the witch's role?
Precisely.
Gingerbread Spell affects
a certain type of person.
One who is alone, sad,
abandoned, what have you.
It targeted Hansel and Gretel
because they were quite
literally abandoned
by their family.
And Lysa, you yourself wondered
why the smell spell
had not affected
the rest of the team.
See, all of us were present
at the show.
But the three of us were not
as present as we needed to be,
not for our friend, Connor.
The Gingerbread Spell
targeted Connor
because he felt abandoned by us?
Oh, God.
Ah, the spell's really
doing a number on him.
And this whole thing
is a ruse to eat people?
It is a powerful spell.
It makes you forget who you are
and where you come from.
DIRECTOR:
Your attention, everybody.
Our final elimination segment
is up. Desserts!
Okay. You guys grab Connor.
I'm gonna fire up
the Magic Door.
Let's get out of here.
[music]
Okay. So, now we just need to--
- [door closes]
- where is Connor?
- Who's Connor?
- What? I--
[exhales] I told you to grab him
so we could save him
from the witches.
Witches? Where?
Ah, have at thee!
Who are you calling a witch,
you steampunk punk?
Okay. No one is a witch
and no one is a steampunk punk.
We needed to rescue Connor.
- Who's Connor?
- Who's Connor?
We were just with him.
How do you not, remember?
Huh. I have to get something.
Stay here.
[music]
Five, four, three, two, one.
Time for something sweet.
Desserts to the front.
[music]
I didn't realize that witches
have become so adept
at physical combat.
I didn't realize they had
a Hot Topic at the Ren Faire.
Oh, I don't know
what any of that means.
I can't imagine
that's rare for you.
Oh, how, dare you?
- [grunting]
- Oh, God. Don't hit me!
Don't hit me!
Don't hit me! Don't hit me.
What is this?
My menthol paste.
A potent concoction
that can clear sinuses,
block out odors,
and even cure seasickness.
- Did you know that morticians--
- How come you weren't affected?
- [sneezes]
- Sinuses stuffed with mucus.
Oh, please don't say mucus.
Brilliant work, Lysa.
But that Gingerbread Spell
permeates the soundstage.
And while we and the crew
are not the intended targets,
it's been slowly working
its way through our systems,
- making us forget.
- Which is why
the crew didn't realize
anything was wrong.
Yeah, and why
they weren't concerned
about the missing contestants.
We need to go back
and save Connor
but we need a way to protect
ourselves from that spell.
- Lysa, bring that gel.
- Well, about that.
You used the last of it?
It's been a bad cold.
I can whip up some more.
- It just might take a while.
- We don't have a while.
Hilda and Gunther have already
claimed numerous victims.
Oh, we must go back
and save Connor
from these accursed witches
and dispel this smell spell,
gel or no gel.
- Let's go.
- That made my head hurt.
[music]
I am so sorry, Connor.
Your crème brûlée
was just a little bland
for my taste.
GUNTHER: Connor Green
- you got cooked!
- You've got cooked!
[music]
- You got cooked!
- You got cooked!
- Connor.
- Connor.
Psst! Connor.
That means
our new champion is Kat!
HILDA: Congratulations!
Go and bask in the glory
of being number one.
Our crew will be right in
for your post-show interview.
Hilda, can you believe
after all that
my tummy is still rumbling?
Shall we get washed up
for supper, Hilda?
Yes, Gunther.
Auf wiedersehen!
See you next time on COOKED!
Guten appetit!
DIRECTOR: And cut!
That's a wrap for today.
Supper. That means he's
That they plan to eat
the losing contestants
right here in the studio.
What are we gonna do?
We can't just grab Connor
and leave.
Gunther and Hilda
need to be stopped.
We need to put an end
to this show for good.
But how?
You are all dismissed.
[music]
Whoa.
Dismissed?
[gasps]
He's got that look on his face.
VIKRAM:
If it's not about the food,
then what is it about?
Oh! I have it.
Lysa, you go get the contestants
and bring them back here.
- Charlie, with me.
- Okay.
To the cookery.
- What do need?
- Almond flour--
- CHARLIE: Huh?
- butter, eggs,
baking powder,
and of course, salt.
Okay. Please tell me
this is part of the plan
and you're not
just feeling hungry.
[music]
What are you doing?
Charlotte?
You told us you were a blogger.
Yeah, I lied.
Vikram, whatever you're doing,
it better not take too long.
[grunts]
[music]
[grunts]
[grunting]
[music]
[Charlie groans]
[music]
Oh, damn.
[chuckles] Okay.
Let's get you out of here.
Oh no, no rush,
no rush at all. Come on.
- Where am I?
- Come on.
Who am I?
Who are you?
Connor, it's me, it's Lysa.
Lysa?
You're under a spell.
The Gingerbread Spell
to be exact.
It is making you forget
who you are.
I don't remember the word
for how I feel.
I'm sorry,
we don't have time for this.
Just follow me, and I've got
to get you out of here.
Come on, guys. Okay.
Let's put that down.
Okay. Let's go. Go, quick.
Quick, quick. Great.
Okay. Excuse me, excuse me.
Let's get out of here.
[gasps] Oh.
Hey, what's going on?
- Is there an after-party?
- Not quite.
We are all in terrible danger.
We have to get out of here.
Congrats on the win, by the way.
If we make it out of here alive,
I'll get some of those
recipes off you, okay?
Quick, quick, let's go!
VIKRAM: [straining] Rats.
Arnold call?
[grunting]
You better speed this up,
Vikram!
Almost there! Any second now!
Okay, Vikram.
I've got the contestants now.
What--
oh, that escalated quickly.
Oh, no. Uh
stay back.
Why are you doing this?
For centuries, we subsisted
on rogue mountain climbers
who roamed the hills of Bavaria.
But then, one day
we discovered cable television.
Tell them about the plan,
Gunther!
GUNTHER: You see, we devoured
all these cooking shows
and thought, pfft,
we could do that.
For too long,
we've been at the mercy
of whatever healthy hiker
wandered our way.
With our own show,
we could lure in
the exact person we craved.
Grief, hmm. Loneliness, yummy.
Ennui, delicious.
All much better than that healthy,
well-adjusted hiker.
Who cares?
And now,
with the Gingerbread Spell
wafting through televisions,
we can find the exact flavor
we so craved.
- That is monstrous.
- Yeah.
[panting]
Stay back.
HILDA: Gunther!
I can't take her anymore!
Gunther.
Come on, Connor,
you can do this.
[grunting]
CONNOR: Hey!
GUNTHER:
What? This is impossible.
No one can break the spell.
It is possible
because I'm Connor Green.
And I'm a Librarian.
[grunts]
[music]
[growls]
- [screams]
- GUNTHER: No.
- Hilda!
- [Hilda screaming]
Hilda!
- No!
- [banging]
- [Hilda screaming]
- [Gunther groaning]
- [microwave beeping]
- Yes!
Connor was right.
Cooking is the key
to this whole ordeal.
Behold my creation.
Reveal to me my nourishment.
What is it?
Mug bread.
Another recipe made possible
by the magical microwave,
a mere 90 seconds.
And now, we have this.
This is what broke the spell.
I don't get it.
Food is the key.
Or more specifically, bread.
The act of breaking bread
with other people
leads to connection,
bridges cultures,
and most importantly,
creates friendships.
When I saw you all working
together to save me,
I was able to break
through the spell
and realize what the smell was.
The smell that lured me here
and almost turned me
into a late afternoon snack.
So? What was it?
The day we all met.
After we defeated the Drekavac,
we went and got dinner
at this Italian spot.
I don't remember the name
and the food wasn't
really that good,
but it meant a lot to me
to have you three.
It meant everything.
It meant I finally had people
who believed in me.
And it was the smell
of that restaurant.
It was the moment
I realized I wasn't alone.
I, uh, had a family again.
That's the real magic of food.
It's not about a competition.
It's not even about
the meal, really.
It's about breaking bread
with people who accept you.
[sniffs] The smell is gone.
The spell is broken.
[screaming]
GUNTHER: Oh, Hilda,
what is happening to us?
[screaming]
It's all coming back to me now.
It was a smell that lured me
to this show weeks ago.
Strawberries and whipped cream,
- my husband's favorite dessert.
- Oh.
He would have it
every night before bed.
[chuckles] Entirely too often.
He's been gone
for five years now.
I'm very sorry to hear that.
I'm sure
he would have been proud
of how well you did
on this show.
Even if it was an evil plot
to eat people?
[laughs] Ah, yeah, even so.
You're cauldron, madam.
Cauldron?
That's a very
high-end Dutch oven.
Oh. Oh, I see.
A regrettable jumping
to conclusions on my part.
It's just that witches get me,
um, agitated.
Speaking of witch,
why did you have this
in your dressing quarters?
I'm not very proud of that.
The pressure of winning
week after week,
it just got to me.
So I figured if I can steal
their recipe book,
I could get some insights
into their taste.
But you couldn't make
heads or tails of it?
No. It turned out
their taste was me.
- [grimaces]
- [Olga chuckles]
Well, I shall leave you
to your Dutch oven,
as I tend to an oven
of a more spooky origin.
- Hmm.
- Hmm.
[sizzling]
It appears as though
they've been cooked.
I know you're not fond
of any witches,
but these two seemed
remarkably nasty.
[sneezes] Oh.
I'm glad they're taken care of.
Thank you.
That cold of yours
was quite the boon.
Yeah, but I'm gonna be glad
when I can breathe
properly again.
As am I. That menthol paste
has some staying power.
Smell is such a mystery,
is it not?
No, it isn't.
It's a science,
and science saved the day
once again.
The Gingerbread Spell
turns you into food
by taking away your memory.
Fine.
I'll begrudgingly admit
that your knowledge of the link
between memory and scent
was rather useful.
And your obsession
over the microwave was too.
Yes, although I've moved on
to the wonders of the air fryer.
Oh, do you think Elaine
will allow us
to get one for the Annex?
You know, I don't think
we have the counter space.
- [chuckles]
- What are you doing?
They go in the Library!
What? Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
This whole thing
has been such an ordeal
that I stopped by the market
on the way back and got these.
Oh, my God.
- [sighs]
- Do you want one?
Oh, I'm actually off
human-shaped cookies.
Ah, auf wiedersehen, huh?
I hope those cookies haven't
spoiled anyone's appetite.
Dinner's ready.
I've been giving it
some thought,
and I think I'd be a very good
reality television contestant.
- Oh, I don't know about that.
- Of course.
After all, I thrive
in high-pressure environments,
excellent at strategic
decision-making,
and I almost always know
when something is cake
or not cake.
[gasps]
[music]
LYSA: Connor,
this looks amazing.
Oh, you are kinder than
my last critics. Um
For instance,
none of this is cake.
- Sure?
- Positive.
Wait.
Food is memory.
It's your past,
it's your community,
it's your home.
I found my home.
And so I wanted to share a meal
that has brought me comfort
throughout the years,
and say thank you to the Library
for bringing me here.
You fought the Gingerbread Spell
admirably, my dear friend.
And you could only do so
by being such a good Librarian.
Yeah. And we got your back
no matter what happens.
We've always had your back
since day one.
Hmm, a toast.
A farewell to the smell spell.
A spell I cannot undersell
as it has no parallel.
To no more stupid rhymes.
To spending time
with the people that matter.
To family.
- ALL: To the Library.
- [glass clinking]
[music]