Elsbeth (2024) s03e11 Episode Script

1
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(CHIRPING STOPS)
(INHALES DEEPLY)
ARCHER: Studies show
there is power in routine.
(WHIRRING)
When we make every day the same
we eliminate the need
to make decisions.
It's when we give ourselves choices
"Should I work out today?"
"What time should I set my alarm?"
that we make bad ones.
"Don't let perfect be the enemy
of good," they say.
Unless you know
that "perfect" will always win.
It's fantastic stuff, man,
all super optimal.
These are stats
you usually see in teenagers.
ALP's still stubbornly high,
but other than that
Hang on. Still?
Look, it's not a problematic number.
It's just not as optimal.
Your Cellular Age has never been lower.
Well, should we revisit
my calcium intake?
I think where the liver
is concerned, you got to accept
that there's stuff
we can do on the margins,
but genetics are gonna play a role.
After everything we've
(DOORBELL RINGING)
- Can I help you?
- Hey, man, I'm Tyler.
I'm just with the grounds crew.
I was clearing some brush
and I kicked up a bees' nest
and got myself a nasty sting.
Wondering if you got some ice.
Come on in.
So, where are you from?
From West Virginia, originally.
Mom's a disaster, though, so
I was in and out of foster care
- till I was 18.
- Oh.
Been on the move since then,
just kinda exploring,
trying to figure out where I fit in.
Hey, this is a nice piece
of land, by the way, and big.
Think it took, like, 20 minutes
just to get up the driveway.
20? You must have been
driving fast. Here.
That's garlic and ginger extracts.
Studies show they're good
for inflammation.
You seem like you know a lot
about health and stuff.
Well, you seem to be
in pretty good shape yourself.
You must work out.
Not really. Just good genes, I guess.
What's your blood type?
("BORROWED TIME" BY STATE COWS PLAYING)
There you are.
(CHUCKLES): No, dude.
No.
Got a melting sorrow ♪
On my mind ♪
How did you get this good?
I see no bright tomorrow ♪
(TYLER CACKLING)
ARCHER (CHUCKLES): Come on.
But my hands are frozen ♪
Like shards of ice ♪
(MONITOR CHIMES)
While in the deep green ocean ♪
The marlin cries ♪
(BIRDS CHIRPING OVER ALARM CLOCK)
It's just a spot ♪
A pale blue dot ♪
(BOTH PANTING)
Living on borrowed time ♪
We're living on borrowed time ♪
- (CHIMES)
- Living on borrowed time ♪
We're living on borrowed time. ♪
- (PANTING)
- TYLER: Come on, Archer.
Come on.
(GRUNTS) That is the heaviest
set of five I've hit in years.
- (SMACKS HAND TWICE)
- Years. (LAUGHS)
We keep this up, I'm gonna add
30 pounds to my max by summer.
Oh, yeah.
Summer.
Hey, your blood pressure's up, man.
Clearly, something's on your heart.
Studies show that cortisol
I need to quit.
What?
It's not personal.
It's just time I move on.
Uh, uh, hang on. Wait, wait.
You're-you're not making
any sense. What's this about?
I am 22 years old.
I want to do stuff.
What kind of stuff?
Like, I want to try sushi.
- (SCOFFS)
- I don't care
if it has mercury in it,
people really like it.
And-and I want to try beer.
No, you don't.
Studies show
that alcohol can cause cancer.
I don't care if it causes cancer!
And I don't care
if it impacts my REM cycle,
I want to have sex with a woman
even if it's after 6:00 p.m.
It is hard getting laid
at 2:00 in the afternoon.
I promise you, I-I have lived
the life that you're imagining.
I-I tried it all.
And it might look attractive,
but trust me,
there's no joy
in those short-term highs.
Okay? I-I'm still paying
for the damage I did to my body
all those years ago.
But-but-but you?
Your stats are perfect.
And if you follow our methodology,
you may be the first man to live
forever.
Forget "forever."
I don't want to live like this
the normal amount of time.
I'm moving out at the end of the month.
I'm sorry, man.
I really am.
No, it's all right.
So am I.
I'm gonna go shower.
- Studies show that mobility work
- Dude, don't.
(BEEPS)
(CHIMES)
(PANTING)
TYLER: Night, Archer.
Don't forget your ring.
(INHALES SHARPLY)
(RAPID BEEPING)
- (BEEPING INTENSIFIES)
- (STIFLED GRUNT)
- (MACHINE BEEPS)
- (SWALLOWS LOUDLY)
(EXHALES SHARPLY)
(PANTING)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE)
(BEEPING)
(SIRENS APPROACHING)
- (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
- WAGNER: Yeah, okay.
No, that's all right,
sweetheart, I understand.
Things come up.
We can rain check it. Okay?
Yeah, love you, too.
Rivers.
Captain, is something wrong?
Yeah, Julia has had
something just "come up"
before our last three lunch dates.
Is everything okay with her?
I'm starting to worry she's avoiding me.
Yeah. Well, um
we broke up.
Or, well, she broke up with me, so
she's probably avoiding me
more than you.
Oh, no. That's a shame.
Yeah.
Thank you.
- It's been hard.
- Oh.
Your daughter is an amazing woman.
Oh, yes, she is.
But, you know, time heals all wounds.
Other fish in the sea, et cetera.
Chin up.
Honestly, it has been
really hard on the kids,
and I've really had to take a step back.
Hmm. And middle school is
such a tough time for girls.
I barely survived.
Oh, Captain Wagner.
Have you ever heard of this?
Cellular memory?
- Like on a cell phone?
- No, so,
it's actually
a little-understood phenomenon
wherein the organ transplant
recipients takes on
the characteristics
and personality of their donor.
ELSBETH: Like food cravings and phobias,
and, in some cases, even memories.
Isn't that fascinating?
Sounds a little out there,
but anything is possible. Why?
Cord was just telling me about
his heart transplant last year.
She is a really good listener.
Yeah, agreed.
How do you two know each other?
They don't.
He's being processed.
Y-Yes. Uh, I, uh,
I broke into the Organ Donor
Network Association offices.
(WHISPERS): Allegedly.
A-A-Allegedly.
I see.
- Elsbeth.
- Hmm?
- A word.
- Okay.
Yeah.
Before you say anything,
- he had his reasons.
- Which were?
His new heart thinks
its old owner was murdered.
- (GROANS)
- I know.
But ever since
he had his heart transplant,
he's been having these horrible,
violent nightmares.
And because of donor privacy laws,
he only received his donor's name.
He doesn't even know
how his donor died, so
So he breaks into the Organ
Donor Network's offices?
Exactly! You get it.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Elsbeth,
I admire your penchant for
making friends wherever you go,
- but this man seems unwell.
- Oh,
he'll be the first to admit it.
He just really
really needs answers.
To the questions raised by his organ?
Okay, uh, I-I don't even know
if I believe it myself,
but the donor did die young.
And Cord is worried this might
be a case of organ trafficking.
So I told him I'd find out what I could
after I meet with the others.
The others?
Let's all raise a glass.
One year on,
may his memory be as much of a blessing
as were the lifesaving gifts
he gave us all.
- To Tyler!
- OTHERS: To Tyler!
Yeah, Cord's theory is nuts.
But I tell you, ever since
he told us about the nightmares,
I started having them, too.
For me, it's vampires.
- Same for Left Kidney.
- CORD: You see?
- They all agree with me.
- Hang on. I didn't say that.
We're all on some pretty gnarly
pharmaceuticals post-surgery,
and that Calcinolate, it has
some funky side effects.
Could be that's all it is.
Well, I just think it's so impressive
that you all got together to do this.
Well, Tyler gave us our lives back.
That's why I feel like I owe it to him
to figure out if there's
anything to these memories.
Right.
Okay, so there's Heart,
Pancreas, Right Kidney,
Left Kidney, Intestines.
- No lungs?
- He didn't make it.
Oh, no.
Oh, no, sorry.
His son had a soccer tournament.
- Oh. (CHUCKLES)
- So
Uh well, where's Liver?
We all had to waive our privacy
rights with the Donor Network
in order to meet up with each other.
Liver was the only recipient
who didn't want to be identified.
Huh.
I wonder why.
Well?
The numbers are perfect.
I picked it up, and it turns out
I'm an incredible hula-hooper.
(LAUGHING)
Why does that not surprise me?
All right, jungle adventurers.
Here's your Shirley
and the Temple of Doom
and your Hippopotamoscow Mule.
Food's on the way.
- Anything else I can grab for you?
- Oh!
Maybe a song? We love it
when the waiters sing.
- We don't do that here.
- Oh.
- (MONKEYS CHITTERING OVER SPEAKERS)
- Oh.
I'm happy we're doing this.
- Yeah.
- Without Marissa, I mean.
I-I didn't hear from you
for a bit, so I thought
maybe you changed your mind
about tonight.
Which you still can, by the way.
I'm happy, too.
I just wanted to talk to you
about something, in person.
After Teddy wrote that story about Pete,
the MTA worker that fed you as a boy
he found out
that man suffers from dementia.
That wasn't the real Pete,
even though you said you would
recognize him anywhere.
Oh.
And Captain Wagner can't
find anything proving
that you were ever unhoused at all.
Your family was on a lease.
Well, I, uh
I imagine that our landlord
kept my mom's name on the lease
as a favor so that
I could stay in my school.
The truth is, uh
I don't remember a whole lot
from that time in my life and
the things I do remember
they're hard to talk about.
And after I read Teddy's story, uh
I couldn't say that
that man wasn't familiar at all.
I'm a people pleaser.
It gets me in trouble sometimes.
I'm sorry, I-I-I just
I didn't think I'd have
to justify all this to you.
No, I'm sorry. I di
- I didn't meant to upset you.
- No.
Just to be clear, though
there was a Pete, right?
Yes. Of course there was.
(CHUCKLES)
Hey, guys, I'm really
not supposed to do this,
but since you guys asked,
I'm actually in this musical
workshop next month.
It's a parody of One Tree Hill.
Do not tell my manager.
- (ELEPHANT TRUMPETS OVER SPEAKERS)
- (GIGGLES)
(KNOCKS)
Hey, I got that M.E. report
you asked for.
It's pretty much what you expected
Tyler Hollis. 22.
Cause of Death: Acute ischemic stroke
due to embolic occlusion.
Manner of Death: Natural.
Huh.
22, wow. That's so young.
Well, Cord will be relieved.
I got the police report, too.
Paramedics responded to a distress call
at the home of his employer,
Archer Kopunek.
Did a quick search on him and look.
ELSBETH: "Biohacking"?
Is that like
when someone adds mean things
to your Wikipedia page?
It's this movement of people
who think they can use science
to extend their lives, ideally forever.
Well, now, that's weird.
He worked for this longevity expert,
and he didn't make it to 23?
Huh.
(DOORBELL RINGING)
(KNOCKING ON GLASS)
Oh, hi. Hi, I'm Elsbeth Tascioni.
I'm with the police well, sort of
and my friend received a heart
from a man who used to live here
named Tyler.
And I had a few questions,
but your driveway is so, so long,
so first, could I please
use your bathroom?
Um, Tyler was my trainer,
but the job is unconventional.
The dynamic only really works
if the trainer is living
by the rules of the protocol.
Ooh, what kind of protocol?
Well, after I nearly burnt out at 35,
I realized, if I didn't change,
I was gonna die.
So I've devoted my entire life
to understanding human longevity.
Well, if Tyler was doing
- the same thing
- Mm.
isn't it odd
that he died so unexpectedly?
And so young?
Guess there's only so much
you can do to fight genetics.
Uh, isn't fighting genetics
your whole thing?
It was terrible, losing him.
He was like a son to me.
Oh, were you the one who found him?
No, I woke up to the ambulance
coming up the driveway.
Hang on. If you were asleep,
then who called 911?
Tyler was wearing an Externa Band.
It registered the stroke
and then called for help.
(GASPS) The ring called for help?
- Yes.
- (CHUCKLES)
Is there anything
a good accessory can't do?
Well, the ring traces
30 distinct biometrics
uh, heart rate,
body temperature, most important, sleep.
I've worn it every day
for the past six years.
- See?
- ELSBETH: Wow.
- Look at that consistency.
- ARCHER: Yeah.
- That is impressive.
- Mm.
Me? Sometimes I'm a night owl,
sometimes I'm an early bird,
sometimes I'm just a loon.
Routine is the cornerstone
to good health.
Without quality, consistent sleep,
the systems in the body,
they begin to shut down.
- You're screwed.
- Oh, I don't know.
My grandmother, she used to
stay awake for weeks,
playing online bridge,
and she lived past 100.
So did her mother.
- And her sister, too, actually.
- Really?
It's extremely rare to have
more than one centenarian
in a single family.
Must be that strong
Guomundsdóttir stock.
Do you know,
my concierge physician, Dr. Kim,
is running a study
about people like you.
If you're interested,
I'll give you his number,
- but then I do need to get back to
- (WHIRRING NEARBY)
Ooh
What's that?
(CHUCKLES)
How did you get it to be
such an alarming color?
Blueberries, some cherry,
almond milk, flax seed, chia seed.
Spermidine powder,
manuka honey, chlorella powder.
Creatine, collagen peptides
and cocoa flavanols.
Oh, I'm all right.
I've been trying to cut back
on my flavanols.
Your body will thank you.
Ooh. Gosh.
I don't know
how you get through all these.
Sometimes I have to wrap my pills
in a little bit of deli ham.
Or American cheese.
(CHUCKLES): Or oh,
my favorite frozen yogurt.
Hmm. Yeah, my doctor and I have crafted
the perfect balance
of minerals, vitamins,
and nootropics to help counter
the aging process.
"Cal-cin-o-late." Huh.
That's the second time in two
days I've heard that drug name.
Isn't that for organ
transplant patients?
Uh Yeah. Yeah.
I had a liver transplant.
You're Liver?!
I don't know what that means.
In the stupidity of my youth,
I did irreparable damage to my liver.
Dr. Kim, he felt that I might benefit
from a partial transplant.
- From Tyler?
- No, not Tyler.
From my wonderful, amazing,
heroic son, Atlas.
Wow.
That must have brought you
and your son even closer.
It changed everything for us.
My father is a selfish,
vindictive prick,
and I'd take that liver back if I could.
That's a little different
than the way he told it.
When my father turned 40,
he entered the mother
of all midlife crises.
Well, I guess if he had his way,
it'd be more of
a quarter-life crisis, right?
My mom couldn't take it.
She packed her bags.
But I stayed.
You wanted to be close to your dad.
I stuck to all those rules,
ate all his terrible health food,
took all those pills.
I even started giving him my blood.
Sorry, uh, it-it sounded like you said
- you gave him your blood?
- According to his quack doctor,
studies in mice show young plasma
improving the health of older mice.
I didn't mind,
until he asked for
a chunk of my liver, too.
At first, he was grateful, I guess.
But then he started accusing me
of cheating on the protocol,
said I never took it seriously enough.
So I told him I was done.
He didn't want a son.
He wanted a lab rat.
(SIGHS): Oh.
- So
- Uh
Archer's son said that Archer
was grateful for the liver,
but then he turned on him later. Why?
Elsbeth, do not make me
put a bell on you.
Well, I wonder
Did Archer accuse Atlas of cheating
because his new liver wasn't
performing as well as he hoped?
I mean, what if Atlas's liver
wasn't good enough for Archer?
Maybe he killed Tyler to get a new one.
May I remind you, we need facts,
not gut feelings or organ prophecies.
Last time I checked,
major surgeries carry risks.
An elective one would be insane.
Archer built his life around perfection.
One organ doesn't work, get another one.
Plus, I pulled
Tyler's financial records.
He was paid over six figures last year.
I don't think personal training was
all Tyler was providing Archer.
Are you implying
That Archer was using
Tyler's blood plasma? Yes.
That is absolutely not
what I was gonna say.
- What in the Nosferatu?
- (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)
Tyler used the money
to buy an Airstream trailer
two weeks before he died.
ELSBETH: If we had
an official investigation,
with a detective on the case,
we could find out
where that trailer ended up.
I can't think about this right now.
I'm late for lunch with Julia.
But the trailer
JULIA: Of course he told you.
Yes, we broke up.
And yes, I don't want to see him
right now.
Did he do something to hurt you?
Dad, drop it.
I'm just saying,
the boy knows I have a gun.
- If he so much as puts his
- It was you.
Me?
- What did I do?
- Nothing.
That boy admires you so much,
it's really, really annoying.
He was always asking about you,
what you thought of him,
if you ever asked about him.
He's desperate for your approval.
You were right, okay?
I never should have dated
one of your officers.
Now, not another word about it,
I mean it.
- But I'm the
- Dad.
No.
Rivers. How you holding up?
I'm okay, sir.
Hmm.
Hey, I have an assignment.
Needs one of my best men.
And and that's me?
- Of course.
- Oh. (CHUCKLES)
Okay.
Yeah, uh, what's the assignment?
And you think this kid was
being paid extra for his blood?
Exactly.
And what exactly
are you hoping to find here?
Well, according to Archer,
Tyler was a rover.
No family, no close friends.
So who's in there?
Can I help you?
Bingo.
Tyler and I met during an Ashtanga yoga
teaching certification class last year.
Our eyes met during the Sun Salutation,
and right there we knew,
somewhere in our hearts,
we had met before.
In another life.
- Oh Soulmates.
- (CHUCKLES)
We were so happy. So alive.
For the next
three-and-a-half weeks, anyway.
That ring belonged to Tyler, right?
He was wearing it when he died.
It's all I have of him.
Did Tyler ever mention
anything about his boss?
Tyler didn't like to talk about his job.
And even if he wanted to,
he signed an NDA.
Sometimes he would come over
exhausted and pale.
If only he'd quit a little sooner.
- Hang on, Tyler quit?
- He was about to.
We pooled our savings
and we bought this trailer.
We were gonna travel.
Sleep under the stars.
You know?
I really thought he was my future.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
It was so sudden and shocking,
the way he died.
So sorry.
Did you ever question how he died?
Tyler always said
he thought the stress of his job
was killing him.
I just figured it finally did.
Either that, or someone really
wanted it to look that way.
Plenty of people quit their jobs.
Doesn't seem like an especially
strong motive for murder.
Except when your employer is
a health-obsessed perfectionist
with abandonment issues.
So did he kill him for his liver,
or because he felt betrayed?
Yes.
We know that Archer wasn't satisfied
with his son's liver. (GROANS)
Whereas Tyler's was probably
(ANGELIC VOCALIZING) pristine.
But if Tyler quit,
it wouldn't be anymore. (GRUNTS)
So Archer felt betrayed and abandoned.
He saw a perfectly good liver
(ANGELIC VOCALIZING)
about to go to waste.
What do you think, Detective?
Oh. Uh
Well, the timing is suspicious,
and we know Tyler's cause of death.
You know, he had a stroke.
I mean, yes, he was young.
Also, that does happen.
ELSBETH: Or does it?
I took a look at the M.E. report.
There was no suggestion of foul play.
So the organ donation took
priority over an autopsy.
- They didn't even do one.
- Okay, so
So, then what?
There are ways to induce symptoms
that could be mistaken for a stroke.
We just have to work
and sort out the ones
that are plausible.
If you and the M.E. can
come up with an alternative
cause of death,
then you actually might have something.
- We will.
- (CLAPS ONCE)
But first, I have
a doctor's appointment.
Be sure it gives my knees
an extra hard look.
I don't know what is going on in there.
That's not how it works,
and you really shouldn't be talking.
Oh, right, I'm sorry. (CLEARS THROAT)
Are you really here
at Archer's house every day?
I just said You know,
why don't I talk for a while?
Yes, I'm here every day.
Archer undergoes so many procedures
that would be dangerous
if not administered
by a medical professional.
- (MACHINE BEEPS)
- You can sit up now.
And you can talk again.
Dangerous how?
Well, take IV injections.
He gets several.
Administered incorrectly,
they could lead to infections,
collapsed veins, air bubbles.
Ooh, jewelry.
Your very own Externa Band.
I've loaded your test results
into the system.
So, as soon as you put it on, we can get
your current stats, and
- Voilà.
- ARCHER: Remarkable.
Oh. Archer.
You're a medical miracle.
I would've thought the hair dye
alone would've added a decade.
Are you ready for our session?
Punch from your core.
- (GRUNTS, CHUCKLES)
- Great.
- I can feel it now. (GRUNTS)
- Yeah.
- Did you used to do this with Tyler?
- All the time.
Too bad they couldn't do
an ab transplant, right?
(GRUNTS) Oh, but then
whoever received
Tyler's rock-hard six-pack
would be having nightmares, too.
What? Nightmares?
Oh, all the recipients of Tyler's organs
have been having nightmares.
His heart recipient thinks
- Tyler was murdered.
- (GRUNTS)
Are you okay? I'm so sorry.
- No, I'm fine.
- Oh.
It was my fault.
Hey, Sven, prep my shake.
- (EXHALES)
- Oh. So sorry. (GASPS)
Do you think it's possible
that organs carry memories?
I believe in science, not ghost stories.
Yeah, I hate nightmares.
I have this recurring one
where I'm still married.
(GRUNTS)
Do you have bad dreams?
- Uh, no. I sleep perfectly.
- Right.
Well, except the night that Tyler died
and the sirens woke you up.
It was a rare night of bad sleep for me.
I'm rigorous about it,
including my wind-down routine.
- Which means
- (GRUNTS)
- it's time for you to leave.
- Aw!
But it's only 4:00.
Sven will show you out!
(GROANS, GRUNTS)
TEDDY: Thanks.
Uh, I just,
I just want to thank you again
for taking a chance on me.
I'm really learning a lot.
You are doing great.
But listen
Oh, my God. Am I fired?
Uh, no.
Look, I brought you here to tell you,
you're doing great,
but I am taking you
off the Alec Bloom beat.
What? Why?
You didn't tell me
your mom was dating the guy.
That doesn't work for us.
Oh, please, they're not dating.
Not really.
That's not what his very
aggressive campaign manager said
on the phone this morning.
Marissa? She called you?
Yeah, she was not happy about
the whole Pete/not Pete mix-up.
She called it sloppy journalism.
Now she thinks you're kicking up
dirt just to cover your mistake.
What? Wait, don't you see
what's happening?
She wants us to stop asking questions.
Don't you want to know why?
Of course. That's why
I told her to kiss off.
But she has a point about your conflict.
Our campaign reporters are
very good at this, Teddy.
If there's something
to know about Bloom,
someone will find it.
Just won't be you.
(SIGHS)
This strawberry might be
the most delicious thing
I've ever tried in my whole entire life.
But have you tried birthday cake?
Mm. Good point.
ARCHER: What the
hell is going on here?
- Ooh, Archer.
- ELSBETH: Oh, hi.
I admit, when I saw
your location pins together,
I was curious,
but never in my wildest imagination
could I have expect this.
Wait, these things track our locations?
It's in the contract you signed.
Oh. I'm glad you brought
that up. You know what?
I'm gonna go with
the peanut butter, medium.
And could I get rainbow sprinkles
and blueberries on that, or is it extra?
Oh, right, sorry.
Contract. Yes.
So, Sven and I were talking,
and I mentioned that I'm a lawyer
and he said he had some questions
about his employment contract.
And I will admit
- I do, too.
- (LOUD THUD)
For example, this clause on page 236.
She said if I die while working for you,
my anatomical remains legally
belong to your nonprofit.
Is that standard boilerplate
for all of your employees?
You'd have to ask my lawyer.
I just think it's funny.
Tyler's organs ended up going
to patients who needed them.
But if you needed an organ
say, I don't know, a liver
then I suppose this contract
- would've given you first dibs.
- (KNOCKS ON CONTRACT)
Oh, thanks.
Well, maybe direct
Sven's attention to the part
that requires him to avoid
preservatives and processed sweeteners.
What?
- You're fired.
- (GASPS)
And as for you, Ms. Tascioni,
our study is over. Goodbye.
I'm not sure it is.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(THUNDER CRASHES)
No, no! (SCREAMS)
Hey. Dude. You're screaming.
And you overslept. It's 9:45.
I didn't sleep well.
Okay, well, my car is here, so
I guess this is goodbye.
(GROANS SOFTLY)
Blood. Plasma. Bodily autonomy.
Tyler signed away all of it
in his contract with Archer.
And I believe Archer killed Tyler
and exercised his claim on his liver.
(RING BEEPS)
Dr. Kim regularly warns Archer
about the dangers
of incorrect syringe usage.
Namely (POPS LIPS)
- air bubbles.
- RIVERS: Yes.
Now, an air bubble
in Tyler's bloodstream
would cause an air embolism,
which would register
on an Externa Band as a blood clot.
- (RING BEEPS)
- Uh, Elsbeth, you're beeping.
Uh, yeah, I know.
Uh, I-I haven't reached
my step count for the day.
- Just ignore it.
- (RING BEEPS)
Okay. Do you mind if I, uh
No. Go ahead.
Archer, he makes his bio data
public on his website
every single day for years,
except for two occasions.
The first, a two-month stint
after his first partial
liver transplant from his son.
And
a six-month dark period
after Tyler's death.
The recovery time for a partial
liver donation is eight weeks,
but a full liver donation
would require
Let me guess. Six months?
- You got it.
- Yes.
I'll admit, that raises questions,
but unless you can break
Archer's alibi, uh,
I'm not sure what you think
we can do, Elsbeth.
Oh.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Hey. Bad time?
(LAUGHS): Cord! Come on in.
(SIGHS) Sorry. This shouldn't
take much longer. Have a seat.
(CHUCKLES)
How are you?
Um, okay, uh, well,
I hate to say it, um
I'm not great.
- Oh.
- (RING CHIRPS)
Oh. Whew.
(SIGHS) Sorry.
Go on.
I mean, it's driving me nuts.
Like, I lay awake all night
just listening to my heart
and thinking about
how Tyler was killed for it.
Cord
(SIGHS)
That is not your fault.
I know, deep down, it's all in my head,
but the mind is a powerful thing.
And I am so scared that my
body's gonna reject this heart.
- (RING BEEPS)
- (GROANS)
(GROWLS)
Stuff it.
(SIGHS) I'm sorry.
It was a miracle I got a match
in the first place.
Do you know how rare it is
to get somebody's organ
into surgery in good condition?
- Mm.
- Every second counts.
You're right.
But Archer's house is
in the middle of nowhere.
The driveway alone
would have added an hour there and back.
(RING BEEPS)
Huh.
- (RING BEEPS)
- Ugh.
What now? I jogged.
I drank water.
I did calming breaths!
(BEEPS)
(RING BEEPS)
(BEEPS)
(CHIMES)
No!
Captain, I have something.
- (LAUGHS)
- (GONZO BARKS)
(PANTING)
- (DOORBELL RINGS)
- I'm coming.
(DOORBELL RINGS REPEATEDLY)
I said I'm coming!
(ARCHER GROANS)
Good morning.
(SIGHS SLOWLY AND HEAVILY)
Not sleeping well?
A recurring nightmare.
One which I seem to still be in.
We brought you something
that might make you feel a bit better.
It's Froyo. (CHUCKLES)
I hope you like birthday cake flavor.
Studies show red dye 40 causes
colonic inflammation.
Ugh, Archer
Wearing this ring, it made me realize
that my youthfulness isn't
a scientific anomaly.
I just enjoy living.
(CHUCKLES)
I surround myself
with people who make me happy
and good, delicious food
and bright colors.
And fun hats and, oh, those fabricky,
upholstered wallpapers
that you see in
- (RIVERS CLEARS THROAT)
- What? Oh, right. Sorry.
Got carried away.
Another thing that keeps me young.
You people act like I'm denying
myself all these pleasures,
but I actually like the way I live.
But Tyler didn't, did he?
He wanted to sleep under the
stars with the girl he loved.
He wanted more than this.
Just like your wife,
and your son, and Sven.
I don't need anyone else.
You needed Tyler, right?
Or part of him, at least.
And that's why you had to kill him.
It was the ring that gave you up.
(CHUCKLES): What are you talking about?
Well, the day that Tyler died,
your Cellular Age
was the lowest it had ever been.
- 22. It's impressive.
- (WHISTLES)
But after getting Tyler's Externa Band
from his secret girlfriend,
we realized that that day
Tyler's Cellular Age shot up to 31.9.
You switched ages.
Because you switched rings.
That night, Tyler was the one
who slept soundly, not you.
He was wearing your ring,
giving you an alibi.
Meanwhile, you wore Tyler's ring,
and faked a medical episode
to trigger the 911 call.
Then the software update
gave you the window you needed.
You didn't actually kill him
until 30 minutes later,
when the paramedics were close by.
Then you switched rings and went to bed.
The perfectionist in you
had to make sure
that that liver stayed
as fresh as possible,
despite your long
driveway.
You people really are exhausting.
You're having them, too, aren't you?
The nightmares?
Ever since I told you the others
weren't sleeping well.
There's no such thing as organ memories.
Memories, power of suggestion,
drug side effects
who knows what's causing them?
But the data doesn't lie, Archer.
You were wearing Tyler's ring
before he died,
and he was wearing it again
by the time the paramedics arrived.
That means you were with Tyler
the moment of his death.
Which is enough for a warrant
on your medical records.
So we'll see
whose liver you really have.
Now, they don't serve flavanol
smoothies in prison, so
you might as well break protocol now.
(GROANS)
Oh, damn it. That's so good.
Yes.
Are you Ana?
I am so sorry about
what happened to Tyler.
Thank you. For pursuing the truth.
And you, too, ma'am.
I just hope it puts
both of your hearts at ease.
Would you want to hear him?
Could I?
(GASPS SOFTLY)
(CHUCKLES): There he is.
That's Tyler.
(SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
You're here late, Detective.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
You know, I just, uh,
I-I had a free evening,
so I figured I'd put a dent
in some paperwork.
Uh, you know,
I think I need to cleanse myself
- of this longevity business.
- (CHUCKLES)
Take a few days off of my life
with a good glass of Scotch.
- Yeah, that's a great idea.
- (BOTH CHUCKLE)
You have a good night, Captain.
Maybe, um
you can join me.
Uh (STAMMERS)
That would be awesome.
Uh, let me just, uh, grab my coat.
Probably not a good idea to,
uh, mention this to Julia.
Oh, yeah, no, no, definitely not.
Right.
Let's go.
Teddy? I got your text.
It's late. Are you okay?
Oh, yeah, sorry, I let myself in.
Um, I was finishing a work event nearby
and, um, yes, I did have
a glass and a half of wine,
so I'm being brave.
- Now? I'm kind of
- Mom,
why didn't you tell me that you
and Alec have actually been dating?
- Oh, Teddy, this isn't
- Not that it really matters,
but it does sort of complicate
things for me at my job.
Mom
Marissa called my editor on me,
which is, like, so aggressive,
and it kind of makes me think
that there's a "there" there.
Teddy, he's here.
No, Mom, I'm sorry,
I have to say this.
I really want you to be happy,
whether it's on your own
or-or with someone special,
but your instincts are just
usually so sharp,
and I'd hate to see you
setting them aside
just because this guy's charming
and you like his politics.
Hang on.
Who's here?
ALEC: Do you have any Q-tips?
By the way,
your water pressure is so good,
I'm starting to wonder
if it violates city code.
Oh.
Hello.
Alec, you remember my son, Teddy.
(CHUCKLES)