A Man on the Inside (2024) s01e07 Episode Script

1
[mysterious music]
So, that's where we stand.
Thirty days of surveillance,
recordings, photos, all for nothing.
Well, no, it wasn't for nothing,
Mr. Cubbler.
We ruled out a great number of theories.
And you've ruled in squat.
I'm no closer
than I was before I hired you.
We just need some more time.
This investigation's ongoing.
There's nothing left to investigate.
Tomorrow I'm filing an insurance claim
for the necklace
and pulling my mother
out of that cesspool.
We're done here.
[door opens]
I'm beginning to think that guy
[door closes]
sucks.
Well, unfortunately, he's correct.
The thief figured out
who you were, somehow,
and left you Elliot's watch to send you
a message that they were onto you.
And now they're just waiting us out.
They knew we couldn't do this forever.
We can solve this. Don't give up.
You think I want to?
Charles, I love solving cases.
The moment you get
to sit across from some guilty fool,
and they're hemming and hawing,
just dripping in flop sweat,
and they're all,
"I don't know what you're implying,
but this is an outrage."
And then you show them undeniable proof,
and they just crumble to dust.
Their confidence shattered,
their ego just dashed
against the craggy boulders
of their own deceit.
Sounds fulfilling.
But we're not gonna get there.
I will let Didi know
that you're moving out.
What's on the docket today?
It's Wednesday. We're going to the mall.
Okay. Well, go kill a few hours
at the mall, have dinner, go to bed.
And then tomorrow,
you get your old life back.
Hm.
[theme music]
[gentle music]
[Beatrice] Okay, okay, folks.
Just a reminder,
we are gonna meet
in the food court in one hour.
Power walkers, be sure to hydrate.
- Have fun.
- Mark.
On your right.
[chuckles]
Where you wanna go first?
Don't care.
I don't really need anything. You?
I need socks.
You have socks.
- A man can never have enough socks.
- That's absolutely not true.
You ever been here?
St. Mary's Cathedral?
It was designed to look
like a conquistador's hat.
Pretty wild.
I haven't been anywhere.
My son said he'd take me
to see the sights when I moved from DC,
but we just never got around to it.
Hey.
Let's get outta here.
Let me show you the city.
It'll be fun.
- What's got into you?
- I just wanna make the most of the day.
Show my friend a good time.
Come on. You got your BART card?
Huh. If we're gonna do this,
we might as well do it right.
[light music]
[Calbert] This is it.
[Charles] Riding in style.
[Calbert] C.J. put me on his account,
so I'd have a way to get around
while he was at work.
I never actually used it before.
Well, we're gonna get our money's worth.
Hey, Emily. How can I help you?
Well, I wanted to let you know
that my dad decided to move in with me.
So he'll be leaving tomorrow morning.
Oh.
Wow. Okay. Um, this is unexpected.
I mean, it seemed
like he was pretty happy.
Yeah, but I have the room,
so we're gonna save money.
Um, can I ask,
was anything wrong with his stay?
Is there something going on
that I should know about?
You know, he didn't love the people.
Really?
Yeah. I mean, he got assaulted.
That part wasn't great.
Right. Um
Well, I'm sorry to see him go.
Thank you.
[intriguing music]
- Hi, Emily.
- Hi.
Susan, right?
President Susan.
Charles mentioned
that you are concerned with safety.
Yes, but, um
Why do you ask?
I've been targeted.
Somebody stole something
very valuable from my room.
Really?
Let's chat, Susan.
President Susan.
Follow me.
- Come on! Hurry up!
- [Julie] I'm coming.
[Calbert] So, that's Alcatraz.
If you gotta spend the rest of your life
rotting in a dank hellhole,
might as well have a nice view.
Heads up. If you ever wanna take a tour,
you gotta get your tickets way in advance.
I'm not touring a haunted prison, Charles.
Hey. C.J.'s office is
in that biggest gray building.
[Charles] Hm.
He asked me to go with him to Singapore.
Said he found
a nice senior community I could live in.
Wow.
You gonna go?
Maybe.
I could also move to the moon.
I know the same number of people
on the moon as I do in Singapore.
Irony is I moved out here
to be close to him.
Well, these things have
a way of working themselves out.
Where's Oracle Park?
Oh, it's around the other side.
Ah.
Oh, that's right.
You're kind of a baseball guy, aren't you?
Aside from my late wife
and the son who bears my name,
there are only two other things
that made life worth living.
One was my 1979 C3 Chevrolet Corvette.
Black-on-black leather interior
with removable T-tops.
And the other,
my Baltimore Orioles season tickets,
which I spent
half my disposable income on,
and which were worth every penny.
So, yeah. I'm kind of a baseball guy.
Well
Let's go watch some baseball.
[suspenseful music]
You're suspicious? Of what?
I don't know.
Charles got here a month ago.
Then all this crazy stuff happened.
Then he settled in, and I let it go.
But now, out of nowhere, he bolts.
Something weird is going on.
The four of us are gonna figure out what.
First day here, he goes and sits
with Helen, who he doesn't know,
and asks her invasive questions
that creep her out,
including whether or not she felt safe
soon after she reported
her necklace was stolen.
How did he know?
Everybody gossips
about everything around here.
Fair.
Elliot accuses him of stealing his watch,
then punches him for stealing his wife.
Elliot's a lunatic.
Fair. Then there's the general weirdness.
People report him sneaking around.
He's in everyone's business.
There's something going on
with that daughter of his,
but I cannot put my finger on it.
She's a community college administrator,
and she bought him a Rolex.
What do you think is happening, exactly?
Like, what crime is being committed?
I don't know. Fraud.
It's always fraud with the elderly.
Emails about their UPS packages
being delayed.
Text messages about extended warranties.
Calls from fake IRS agents, saying they'll
get arrested if they don't send money.
If Charles and his daughter were doing
something shady to get money,
they would've just sued this place
after Elliot punched him.
Or sued Elliot.
The guy's leaving tomorrow.
Why does this even matter?
[orchestral music]
[Charles] Okay, here it is.
- When the Giants come to town ♪
- [laughs]
Okay. Enough of that stuff.
- Yeah.
- Let's go see some baseball.
- I think we're up here.
- Yeah, yeah, 149.
- 149.
- [laughs] Oh, yeah.
[baseball organ music]
[crowd] Charge!
[indistinct female voice over PA]
This is a gorgeous stadium.
Hm.
Does C.J. like baseball as much as you do?
Oh, yeah.
I made sure of that.
I got him a glove
before he could even walk.
Coached him in Little League.
When he was 12,
I took him to see Cal Ripken
break Lou Gehrig's record
for consecutive games.
Ripken ran all around the stadium,
high-fiving fans.
I elbowed us up
just in time for Ripken to high-five C.J.
Oh my God.
He looked up at me,
eyes shining like dimes.
He was so happy.
Man, you guys are lucky.
Emily and I don't really have
something like this in common.
But she's always coming to visit,
bringing you fancy watches
and checking on you.
No, you're right. That's true.
But it's complicated.
We just had this big conversation.
She wants
She wants us to have
a different kind of relationship.
And you think you might be
the old dog who can't learn a new trick.
- [crowd cheering]
- Yeah.
Got him.
I should stop talking
and let you enjoy the game.
That's okay.
I don't really understand baseball.
Like, what just happened there?
- Are you kidding me?
- What?
I like being here
because you like being here.
- Charles.
- What?
I can go and see stuff I like on my own.
If you wanna show me the city you love,
show me the city you love.
Okay.
Elliot, I'm worried
I didn't get enough shoe options.
Oh, I think we're good.
- Hey.
- Where's Charles? I need to talk to him.
Oh, he left.
- What? Why? Why?
- Not sure.
He and Calbert went out.
Said they'd find their way back.
Oh, Didi, have you ever tried
a Wetzel's Pretzel?
I tried one for the first time today
in the food court and
Oh, okay. Well, that was the whole story.
Okay.
[intriguing music]
[phone buttons beeping]
[phone ringing]
- [Megan] Orange Grove Community College.
- [phone disconnects]
[typing]
- [phone vibrating]
- Just one second, Susan.
Carlos? How are you?
Incoming call from Pacific View
to the Orange Grove College line.
No conversation.
That's neat. Was it who I think it was?
Didi's work line. She's poking around.
That's amazing.
Hey, listen, Carlos.
I'm with someone very important right now.
Can I call you back later?
I want to hear all about it.
It's so weird talking to you undercover
because you're nice to me,
and it freaks me out.
Incredible. Okay. Talk soon.
So, this is what was stolen from me.
[Julie] A set of Founding Fathers
gold-plated coins.
[Susan] They're very rare.
Only 50,000 sets were minted.
In these unstable times,
bullion is the safest way
to protect my retirement.
Okay. So to recap
someone came into your locked room,
stole these fake coins,
didn't take this cash,
or any of your jewelry,
and then just left.
Yep.
Susan, where are the coins?
In the cupboard behind you.
Good God.
I'm sorry.
I've been trying for so long
to get Didi to ramp up security,
but everything I suggest, she says no.
It's only a matter of time
before someone makes off with my coins.
Susan. Susan. Nobody wants these.
They're actual garbage.
You have to stop listening
to the people scaring you on your TV.
You're okay.
- Hey.
- I think I know why Didi's poking around.
She's the thief.
And she's trying to figure out
what you know before you leave?
Right. Maybe the reason she's been
so resistant to safety upgrades
is because she's stealing stuff.
Or she's helping whoever is.
- Motive?
- Overworked. Underpaid.
- Lives in San Francisco.
- [Megan] Makes sense. I'll look into it.
Hey, speaking of overworked,
underpaid residents, I could use a raise.
Oh no, Megan. I can't hear you. Megan?
Are you there? Can't hear you.
It doesn't matter how many times I see it,
it never gets old.
I literally wrote the book on it.
A book.
There are hundreds of 'em.
Mine was called Gateway to the Pacific.
It is something.
First time I walked across that bridge,
I was in college.
Reached the other side
I was a changed man.
- You ready to walk across?
- [chuckles]
[wonderful music]
- [music stops abruptly]
- I think I get it.
Yeah.
That's a really long bridge.
- Now, let's get back to that fancy car.
- [both chuckling]
Hi. I'm still here.
Obviously, getting a head start
on some packing.
I wanted to know
if you had that paperwork ready.
Sure. Actually, it would help me
if we could do the exit interview now
while you sign release forms.
There's an exit interview?
Yeah. It's pretty standard.
Internal use only.
Just to help us improve. Ten minutes.
Great. I actually have some questions
for you too.
- Great. Let's go to my office.
- Great.
Great.
The oldest trees in this grove date back
more than 1,000 years.
The tallest tree
is more than 300 feet high.
Charles, you're a nice guy,
but you're also a very boring tour guide.
[laughs]
You sound like Victoria.
Every time we came here, I'd ramble on
about the amount of water they need
or the evolution of the root systems.
And she'd say, "Oh, Charles, please."
"Just shut up and enjoy it."
I like Victoria.
Me too.
A million years ago
she was at this museum fundraiser thing
on campus.
She was chatting up
some major donor for hours.
But he was more interested in her.
So, she grabbed the arm
of some random guy
and pretended that he was her date.
An associate professor of engineering
who never would have had the courage
to even talk to her.
[laughs] That's a good way
to meet your wife.
Talk about right place, right time.
I mean, the only reason I was there
was just for the free food and drinks.
What if I had stayed home that night?
What if I had been standing
20 feet further away?
But you weren't.
Yeah, I know.
It's a miracle.
How'd you meet your wife?
I went to a party.
Saw this beautiful woman.
I hit on her all night long.
Tried everything.
Then she grabbed some tall nerd
and pretended he was her date.
- Good darn it, Calbert.
- [laughs]
So I hit on another lady,
and we got married.
I'm trying to be vulnerable here.
[laughs] I know. Sorry.
It was a blind date.
I knew right away.
Margot wasn't sure
until I cooked for her.
[chuckles]
That felt like a miracle too.
Every great thing in your life,
looking back on it,
feels like a miracle.
Sure does.
I tell you,
this has got to be a really tough job.
- How long have you worked here?
- Twelve years. Eight as director.
Wow. I bet you those fat cats
up in corporate don't pay
nearly what you're worth.
[laughs] Well, no. They actually
just offered me a promotion.
But I turned it down.
I find this job a lot more rewarding.
Yes.
"Rewarding."
I was thinking we could have
a little lunch for Charles tomorrow.
A goodbye lunch.
We're heading up to Napa first thing,
so we'll be out of your hair super early.
Huh. I'm sorry you're in such a rush.
And will your cousin, Julie,
be playing a role in Charles's care?
That's a question on the discharge form?
Well, she was here
the day Elliot punched Charles.
And you weren't.
So, I figured the two of you
were kind of working together.
- Mm.
- What's her address? So we have that.
You know, Julie is so private.
I don't wanna give out information
without her permission.
I get that. [laughs]
Why don't we just give her a call?
[phone buttons beeping]
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Hi, Julie. It's Didi from Pacific View.
I have questions.
[Julie] Hey, Jules.
Yes, your cousin Emily is here as well.
I just have questions
since your uncle is moving out tomorrow.
Uh, yeah, sure.
Will you be coming in to help him move?
I would love to, but he and Emily are
heading up to Napa
first thing in the morning.
Right.
And would you mind just telling me
why you think your uncle wanted to leave?
Um, well, he liked Pacific View okay,
but he never totally found his groove.
He didn't really click
with some of the people.
I mean, Elliot punched him in the face.
Okay.
Thank you so much.
[Emily] No problem. And if you have
any other questions, feel
Did you get everything you need?
- Mm-hmm.
- Great.
Didi is not the thief.
She is, however, very much onto us.
Wrap it up?
Wrap it up. Now.
- [Charles] Hello. Wait for the beep.
- God damn it.
Have a nice day.
Where are you?
Why aren't you answering my calls?
Your cover is blown. We need to pull you.
I'm gonna find some boxes,
and I'm gonna pack you up. Call me.
As your designated boring tour guide,
I gotta ask you.
Wanna hear any interesting facts
about the Palace of Fine Arts?
No.
I wanna talk about
how that dog reminds me of Elliot.
[Charles laughs]
That is absolutely Elliot.
[as Elliot] "What are you looking at?
Leave me alone."
[Calbert as Elliott] "This city's going
to hell in a handbasket."
[both laughing]
Ah, we better get going
if we're gonna get back for dinner.
I have a better idea.
- [soft jazz music]
- [glasses clinking]
Now, that was a damn good meal.
I'm glad you liked it.
This is my favorite spot in the city.
Gentlemen.
Espresso coffee, on the house.
Oh, thank you, Matteo.
This is my good friend, Calbert.
- Piacere.
- Matteo.
It's so wonderful
to see you again, Charles.
I'm so sorry about Victoria.
I just wish she had
a better time on your last visit.
Ah, that that wasn't your fault, man.
- She loved this place. Always loved it.
- [Matteo] Yeah.
- Grazie. Grazie.
- Yeah.
Enjoy.
Matteo brought her favorite dish,
the one she always ordered.
And she refused to eat it.
She got agitated, started yelling.
Said she wanted
apple slices and peanut butter.
Matteo explained
that they didn't have that,
but she said, "Of course you do."
"I eat it all the time, after school."
[sighs]
She thought she was
back in St. Louis, 60 years ago.
Nothing I could say
to convince her that wasn't true.
I knew she was
too sick to go out to dinner.
I guess I was just in denial.
We're all in denial.
You have to be. Only way to cope.
One day, your knee starts hurting.
But instead of getting better
like it used to, it just hurts forever.
So, you ignore it.
Then the words start to leave you.
- Hm.
- The nouns.
- Goddamn nouns.
- [Calbert laughs]
"Remember when we were at that store?"
"You know. What's it called?"
"And we saw your friend,
the one who looks
like that actor from that movie."
"The movie with the lady
who was in the other movie
with the guy
that looked like the senator."
"What's his name?"
So So, the nouns go.
And the knee still hurts.
And then you start waking up
every two hours.
Now, that never used to happen.
And you know what it all means.
We know where all this is headed.
Hm.
So you pretend that it's not,
just to get through the day.
We all do it.
You had to do more than most
to get through your days.
And to get your wife through hers.
What was her favorite dish?
The one she always ordered?
[clicks tongue and sighs]
[laughing softly]
- I forget. [laughs]
- No. Really?
I can't remember.
Oh, come on.
No. No.
[laughing] Linguine and clams.
Linguine and clams.
- Oh. Thank God.
- [both laughing]
Close one. Ah.
Date's. But this is basically
all of an Italian area.
Dad.
[chuckles] What have you
been doing all day?
- Sightseeing with my friend.
- Why have you been ignoring my calls?
And why are there $800 worth
of company car charges on my account?
[laughing]
This isn't funny.
C.J., I'm sorry, man. This was my fault.
No. Nuh-uh.
How many times
have I seen you in the past year?
Ten, maybe?
But now you want to show up here
and yell at me about a company car?
Don't try to turn this around on me.
I was worried.
You haven't been worried about me
for a while now, son.
And that's fine.
You're a busy guy.
But all this you're doing,
moving me all over creation,
it's to make your life easier, not mine.
We agreed that you moving closer
was for the best.
- Where is this coming from?
- It's how I feel.
And I've had quite a bit of wine,
so I'm saying what I'm feeling.
[sighs]
Okay. It's been a long night.
I'll take you guys back to Pacific View.
Charles, you got Uber?
Um, yeah, I do.
Charles got me.
You go on and live your life in Singapore.
Mine's here now.
I'll be fine.
Okay. [sighs]
You okay?
Yeah.
It needed to be said.
Parents and kids, man.
Parents and kids.
[gentle music]
Huh.
What?
Oh, nothing. Sorry. Um.
I just figured something out.
What the hell are you guys looking at?
[laughing]
Perfect.
Oh man. Fun day, right?
Oh, great day.
Thanks, Charles.
What do you say?
Game of backgammon to cap the night off?
I'm beat. We'll play tomorrow.
Okay.
[sentimental music]
[chuckles lightly]
- Hi.
- Hey.
I'm just, uh I'm just packing up here.
Cool. Good thinking, Julie.
Hm?
It is Julie, isn't it?
That day Elliot punched Charles,
two people signed in as Emily Nieuwendyk
half an hour apart. [laughs]
In different handwriting.
Check the police report.
And right here,
as a witness, it says Emily Nieuwendyk,
which is weird because you weren't here.
But Julie was.
[laughs]
Listen.
[laughs]
I don't know what you think you know
or or or what you're implying,
but I [hesitates]
You know, I'm insulted,
if I'm being honest.
- Evening, ladies.
- Charles, stand over here behind me.
Okay.
What do you think
is happening here exactly?
I don't know.
I think you and your cousin
are perpetrating fraud on Pacific View.
Maybe Medicare or banking fraud.
And I think you and your cousin
have roped in this sweet, innocent man,
somehow, maybe blackmailing him.
Didi, this is not a fraud.
And I've actually been in on it
from the beginning.
- Charles, get over there with her.
- Okay.
Okay.
I'm a private detective.
My client hired me to investigate
the theft of his mother's jewelry.
Charles works with me
as my man on the inside.
And the woman you know
as Julie is my actual daughter, Emily.
- She had nothing to do with this.
- You lied to me.
Lady, there have been
at least two significant thefts here
in the last couple of months.
Someone in this place is a criminal.
Do you even care?
You don't know what you're talking about.
I don't know what I'm talking about?
Someone stole Helen's necklace.
There haven't been any thefts.
You're both wrong.
I solved the case.
[intriguing dramatic music]