Coroner (2019) s04e03 Episode Script
Neighbourhood Watch
1
JENNY: I'm off to work.
ROSS: Do they even know you're back? I'm also going to be looking for personal support workers.
Excuse me, do I get a say here? Hey, Mac, shouldn't you be at your morning debrief with uh, Staff Sergeant Waylen? The outcome was good, nobody got hurt.
Dr.
Thompson, I am Jenny Cooper.
You've been filling in for me? Nice of you to drop by, Dr.
Cooper.
I lost my daughter.
Yeah, you lost Katie, but you left me.
DONOVAN: You think you can kill me? Nobody gets the jump on me.
I'm the superhero.
Damn straight.
I don't need a debrief.
[KEY CLACKS.]
[VINE CRACKLES, TOMATO POPS.]
[SOIL RASPS.]
[LEAVES RUSTLE.]
[PLANT RUSTLES GENTLY.]
[WATER HISSES.]
[CAR HORN BEEPS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF, DOOR OPENS.]
RIZAL: Kamusta, Dr.
Cooper! - [DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
- Come on in, Rizal.
Dad's still sleeping.
Beautiful house! Oh, thank you.
Okay, here is a list of meds, contraindications, you know, favourite TV shows, things like that.
Peggy will fill you in on the rest.
I've gotta run upstairs and get ready for work.
Peggy? Does she live here as well? Uh uh, sort of.
Yeah, for now.
Just temporarily.
She's a PSW? Uh no, she is my mother, technically.
Your dad's ex-wife? Uh, they're still married, it's just, it's a very long story.
- But um - Jenny, - could-could I have a word? - [SCOFFS.]
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, this is not the PSW that I suggested.
Yeah, I went with Rizal.
He's got tons of experience with Lewy Body dementia, - so he knows what to expect.
- Well, we could've - discussed this.
- We did, discuss it and then, I made a decision.
[STAIRS CREAK.]
PEGGY: Ross was out all night, again.
Do-do you know his boyfriend? Ross and his boyfriend broke up.
So, he was with a stranger.
- As his moth - Okay, Peggy Peggy, okay, look, I appreciate everything you did for us, okay.
You uprooted your life, but you don't have to do that anymore, because I am home.
Rizal is here to help.
Okay, we can take things a little slower.
[DOOR CRASHES OPEN, SLAMS SHUT.]
- Oh.
- Hey, kiddo.
Have a good night last night? - Yes.
- Great.
- And a good morning.
- Fabulous.
[FOOTSTEPS STOMP AWAY.]
JENNY: Rizal make yourself at home.
Peggy.
Then I guess I'll have to pack.
[REGRETFUL EXHALE.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD UP STAIRS.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC, WATER DRIPPING IN THE DISTANCE.]
MARCUS: [SCARED PANTING.]
Go for it! [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[DOOR OPENS, BAG RUSTLES.]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT.]
[UPBEAT MUSIC.]
[SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
[MUSIC SLOWS AND DISTORTS.]
[PAPER CRINKLES.]
[WHOOSH, CAR HONKS.]
[STREET TRAFFIC WHOOSHES.]
[CARS HONK.]
JENNY: Hey, I'm the coroner.
[SIREN WAILS IN THE DISTANCE.]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
[ZIPPER RASPS OPEN.]
[GLOVES CRINKLE.]
HELEN: Please! JENNY: Hi.
Thank you.
[HELEN SOBBING.]
I'm so sorry for your loss.
It was unexpected.
It often is.
- May I? - Yeah.
Thank you.
[HELEN SOBBING.]
MICHAEL: Helen, coroner's here.
Come on, let's let her do her job.
Don't pretend like Mom went peacefully in her sleep.
She was murdered.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[HELEN SOBS.]
[WHISPERS HER MANTRA.]
[HAND TAPS GENTLY ON ARM.]
Let's try to figure out what happened, okay? Um, did your mother have any health issues? That's not what's happening here.
Asians are being randomly attacked daily in this city.
An 80-year-old grandfather was hit with a cement brick while shopping for broccoli.
Broccoli! If I was there, I would've done something.
I understand that.
If you guys wouldn't mind, answering my question, about your mother.
Well, the kids say she's a pillar of health.
She didn't even take any medications.
So sad.
Reminds me of my Lola.
Healthy 'til the day she dropped.
That's when everyone else started fighting about her money.
Hmm.
Kids seem pretty close to her.
MICHAEL: Mom worked tirelessly.
It broke her heart when we had to sell our place in East Chinatown.
I stayed on with the family biz, and Helen moved on.
HELEN: I thought Mom would be upset when I started apprenticing with a carpenter, but she totally got it.
Hmm.
And who is gonna run the business now? The restaurant's in the hole.
The only value is the land that it's on.
Which we would split, if we sold.
But we won't.
Not to that real estate vulture.
Oh, the Randy Groat guy? Groat is GOAT? Yeah.
- I see his signs everywhere.
- Yeah.
He's not subtle.
No, he's not.
Well, there doesn't seem to be any financial motive.
There's no visible injuries on the body.
[SIGHS.]
You think the kids are in denial? So caught up in their grief they're claiming murder? There's a good chance it's a heart attack.
It's more common in women than we realize.
I'll check for recent onset myocarditis.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET WHOOSHES.]
[GUNSHOTS POP.]
Okay, walk me through your version of events at the pharmacy, Donovan.
Well, textbook de-escalation.
I assessed the situation.
I was in full control.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET WHOOSHES.]
- STAFF SERGEANT: So, you had a plan.
- Yes.
Which you communicated with your partner? There wasn't time.
But I had his back, and he had mine.
That's not what Detective Abed said in his report to Professional Standards.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET RASPS LOUDLY.]
[GUNSHOTS POP.]
DONOVAN: Malik? What'd he say? [HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[GUNSHOT POPS, GLASS CLINK.]
[SHELL CASING CLINKS.]
[GURNEY RATTLES.]
[GURNEY THUMPS AND RATTLES.]
- I'll see you back there? - Yeah.
[VAN DOORS THUD CLOSED.]
What happened? - Who died? - Uh.
Ms.
Chan, unfortunately.
- Did you know her? - Oh! What? - Mrs.
Chan died.
- Oh.
I thought she'd live forever; she was like Teflon.
- [LAUGHS.]
- How did it happen? Do we need to beef up security around here? Uh, we're still looking into it.
Well, if there is anything we can do to help, I am Jason.
Mason, offer some grub to the uh, coroner, here.
- Um - Uh, this is a Chinese chop suey slider that is vegan, like our entire menu.
Enjoy the taste of cultural appropriation.
I'm good, thank you.
All right, I'm gonna head to the autopsy.
Can I show you something first? Yeah, of course.
Mommy, tell us what happened when you left Trinidad.
I came with a old, blue suitcase, and $100 TT.
What? That's only $43.
65 Canadian.
Cousin Winston had the butcher shop, down the street, on Broadview, and the wife's family was around the corner selling odds and sods.
We knew everybody.
Everybody knew us.
We looked out for each other.
There was recession, SARS.
People stopped coming.
Then we had to move from East Chinatown to Spadina to make things work.
Please remember our mom's humanity.
Of course.
RIVER: The CT scans are processed, Dr.
Cooper.
Awesome, thank you, River.
And Dr.
Thompson is? Reviewing cases in his Your office.
It looks normal.
Looks normal.
[FINGER TAPS ON SCREEN.]
There's an abnormality in the brain scan.
See this dark, shaded spot, here? DENNIS: Localized swelling.
The superficial veins in the cerebrum have torn.
- Yeah.
- [SHEET RUSTLES.]
I could feel an indent.
River can you [LIGHT CLICKS ON.]
JENNY: There's a large bruise.
Judging by the discolouration, it isn't fresh.
Okay, the brain shrinks with age and the space between the dura and the skull fill with cerebrospinal fluid, so A blow to the head, could cause the veins to tear, which would allow blood to leak into that space, killing her slowly.
- Classic delay injury.
- Mm-hmm.
Polymorphs are gone.
Yeah, those disappear after a few days.
Are there any microphages? - [MICROSCOPE DIAL CLICKS.]
- Got 'em.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Those white blood cells only show up after tissue damage.
Three days, to be exact.
Eva's blow to the head Was a subdural hematoma.
Helen might be right.
This could be murder.
ANNOUNCER: Protestors gathered early this morning and have continued throughout the day.
[COMPUTER KEY CLICKS.]
You know, Rizal, he doesn't even like birds.
He's telling me, "Oh, they've got evil eyes," or something.
Yeah, what does he know, right? I really appreciate everything you're doing for me, but It's kind of weird to have a stranger following you around, even into the bathroom.
It makes me feel old.
It actually makes me feel useless.
Dad, you're not useless.
You are independent, you are important, you keep all the local birds fed.
I just, I want somebody there with you while you do it.
Well, how am I gonna feed them? I can't even figure this out.
Here, I'll help.
- Will ya? - Yeah.
Okay.
There's no instructions.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's all right.
Let's see.
Can't Peggy be my person? She is, Dad.
It's just [DEEP BREATH.]
But, what if she leaves again? That's not really what I'm worried about.
Well, you know, I got dementia, so chances are, I won't even remember that she was here to start with.
[CHUCKLES.]
That's terrible.
You know, she is the love of my life.
[SIGHS.]
I know, Dad, I'm just I'm not trying to stop you from having a relationship with her.
Well, but you know, it's a bit embarrassing when I have to ask my daughter to have permission to have a sleepover.
It's uh, what's the word I want, "unmanly".
Yeah.
Um okay, how 'bout this? Uh, Rizal is the person that you work with, and Peggy is the person that you um [CLICKS TEETH.]
you [BIRDHOUSE CLATTERS.]
- Yeah, not so easy, is it? - [LAUGHS.]
DONOVAN: [EXHALES.]
[FOOTSTEPS CRUNCH.]
[RADIO CHATTER.]
You threw me under the bus with Professional Standards? I just told them what happened.
What happened? What did happen? [RACCOONS SCREECH, ELI SHOUTS.]
[PANTING.]
Where have you been? I just wrestled this away from two giant raccoons.
Is that a foot? I missed out on all the stray feet that washed up in Vancouver, five years ago.
Now, they said the feet were disarticulated by natural means, but, - you know West Coast coroners.
- Ah They're always puttin' their foot in their mouths.
[LAUGHS.]
Humorous, Detective.
If we have a foot mystery here, I might steal that, for a new book.
Oh, sure, Doc, it's all yours.
Who called it in? - I'll talk to them.
- I wouldn't know.
The Search for Ontario's Dismembered Foot Killer, by Dr.
Elijah Thompson.
Hey! We're gonna need public barriers.
Or you could call it "Trouble Afoot" - or "Six Feet Under.
" - [DONOVAN'S PHONE RINGS.]
All right, Detective, let's not get carried away.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Jenny.
Uh-huh.
Ye Oh yeah, I'll be right there.
- Malik.
- Hmm? You got this? Jenny needs me in Chinatown.
Yeah, I got this.
Looks like "heel" be reading your report later.
Ah, yeah, well I don't mind going sole-o.
[LAUGHS.]
- ELI: [CHUCKLES.]
All right.
- Oh.
JENNY: We found an elongated depression on the back of Eva Chan's skull, like she was hit with a rod or a pipe.
So, it looks like she was attacked.
Uh, anti-Asian attacks are usually random, and random attacks are tough to solve.
Yeah, well, we can date this one it's a three-day-old hematoma.
Well, some of these restaurants must have security footage from three days ago.
But first I need to talk to the kids.
Rule them out as suspects.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, SOBBING.]
[SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
MICHAEL: I know my mom meant a lot to you, to all of us.
I don't know what I'm gonna do without her.
She dreamed of making this community a safer place, for my sister and me.
For all of us.
Mom's memorial is the most views I've had, since the pandemic started.
- You're live-streaming this? - From the restaurant account.
People wanna connect.
I'm Detective Donovan McAvoy, Homicide.
Homicide? Michael, uh Your mother's autopsy showed blunt force trauma to her head, so we think she may have been attacked.
By who? Who did this to my mother? Look, I want whoever did this Michael, I just The Coroner just told me my mother was murdered.
Isn't that right? Anti-Asian hate crimes need to stop.
Do you, or don't you, agree? Please, Dr.
Cooper, we need our allies with us, - not behind us.
- Yes, Michael, I agree.
I agree.
Hate crimes have to stop, not just here in the city, but in the country.
We need to protect our elderly.
We need justice! This is an open investigation.
You just publicly declared it a hate crime.
- Donovan, I - Okay.
If I wanted to work with someone undermining my authority, I'd call Malik! What is going on? - Why are you acting like this? - If I want someone to psychoanalyze me, I would've stayed with Kirima.
You and Kirima broke up? Look, you-you just decreased the odds of us finding an unbiased witness, All right, you just made my job harder.
Donovan, okay, look, if you don't wanna talk about Kirima right now, that's fine, but I am on your team.
Then don't declare things on social media - without evidence.
- I Didn't! [FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DENNIS: There's never a dull day here.
Don't worry, foot, we're gonna find the rest of you.
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
[SCISSORS RATTLE.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DENNIS: [SIGHS.]
The bite marks from a raccoon obscure it, but, it's a clean cut.
This foot is not disarticulated.
Non-serrated blade, smooth like the edge of a shovel, or a carving knife.
ELI: All right.
What's that? A foot.
No That! Ugh! RIVER: There's something green under the toenail.
ELI: Uh, River, do you wanna do the honours? [SQUELCHING SOUND.]
RIVER: Toe fungus? Actually Haematococcus Pluvialis motile, a.
k.
a.
Algae.
Was there water, near the industrial park where we found that foot? RIVER: Carlaw Spit, juts into Lake Ontario.
And has many wetland ponds.
We're going fishing.
[SIGHS.]
Can you keep your voices down? Helen took some CBD oil and she's finally asleep in Mom's bed.
All right, we need to retrace your mother's steps from three days ago.
Can you remember what she did? Worked at the restaurant all day.
Closed up at 11:00 p.
m.
.
Okay, what happens after you close? Thursday night, Mom does the bank deposit, garbage, resets the rat traps.
I mop up and do final cleaning.
And garbage bins are? Out in the back alley.
She'll take the pathway then to the bank.
Okay, she never mentioned anything out of the ordinary happening? She didn't, but, that isn't strange for her.
She was proud.
Did you talk to her at all that night? I was stocking the fridges when she came home.
Bedroom door was closed when I came upstairs.
And did she act unusual at all the next day? She would've had a concussion and she wouldn't have known that the subdural hematoma - may kill her.
- She did seem worn out.
I thought she just needed a break.
I mean, does it make sense that she would hide the assault from you? She knew that I would lose it.
Did you ever lose it with your mom? [SEETHING EXHALE.]
You're trying to find my mother's killer.
That's why you're asking that question.
No.
We were close.
I wanted to carry on her legacy with Dumpling House after everything she did for me and my sister.
Do you have any cameras set up in back? HELEN: No.
Mom was too frugal for things like that.
Helen, go back to bed.
Come on.
I'm worried about you.
I'll have Forensics work up the restaurant and the apartment and I'll canvas the neighbourhood for cameras.
Okay, and if you could ask them to look for anything that's cylindrical, that could have been used as a weapon.
[HELEN SOBS.]
[EXHALES.]
He told her.
Hey [FOOTSTEPS THUD AWAY.]
[SIGHS.]
[PHONE RINGS.]
[SHARP EXHALE.]
Hey, Malik, Hey, Jenny, we need you here, ASAP.
Eli needs your help.
Uh yeah, I was just gonna head back to the office, but I can reroute.
ELI: [LAUGHS.]
- Oh! - Yeah! We've hit the motherload, Detective! Get off the phone! Eli just pulled out a bag of hand.
Um Oh, uh Yeah, I'll be right there.
[KEYS CLACK.]
[KEY CLACKS.]
Son of a [KEY CLACKS.]
[KEYS CLACKING.]
Come on, Eva! Good for you! [KEYS CLACKING.]
Jenny, Eva Chan fought back.
Hard.
And, thanks to your livestream, everyone wanted to talk to me.
Just forwarded you a neighbour's security cam video.
[WATER RUSHES.]
Yeah, it looks like he's waiting for her.
Exactly.
Which means it wasn't random.
Well, now we need to figure out who would have motive to hurt Eva Chan.
That's what I'm gonna find out.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS.]
ELI: Cooper! Caught your livestream, as did all 131 staff who work at the Coroner's office.
Ooh, the paperwork on that is gonna be a novel! One already-filled-out impact form.
Ah, little muddy.
Pro tip: next time you livestream, stand 45 degrees to the camera.
- It's more flattering.
- Thank you.
All right, now we get to figure out if all these pieces belong to one body.
- Freeze, leech! - What? [SCREAMS.]
Oh, my God, get it off! Get it off! Get it off! Well, don't let the pee-ons see you panic.
I'm not, just get it off, please.
Oh, my God, - oh, my God, oh, my God.
- Just, okay.
- [RETCHING.]
Get it off.
- Okay, okay.
[LAUGHS.]
Get it off me.
It's not funny Eli, get it off.
No, no, no, don't yank it.
Those toxins will release into your bloodstream, okay.
- [RETCHING.]
Get it off.
- No, I got it, I got it.
Here you go.
- Get it off, get it off, hm.
- So, listen, hey, fun fact.
There's nothing fun about this.
- Get it off my arm right now.
- Listen, it's mouth is the thinner, smaller side of its body.
I would've thought it would be the opp - Ah! - Okay! Oh, oh, okay.
- Okay.
We're good, - Ooh! we're good.
Ooh, look that classic Y-shaped bite.
Ow.
Looks like you're gonna have to do some paperwork.
You got personally involved.
Hmm.
[FEET SHUFFLE.]
Hey.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
[BOX CLATTERS ON DESK.]
[PLANT CLUNKS ON DESK.]
[PAPER CRINKLES.]
[BAG THUDS.]
What're you doing, Alphonse? Oh, you know, I'm just down here um Look, I think I have a stalker.
- I'm sorry, what's going on? - Shh-shh-shh! My latest hookup just showed up.
I-I don't know how he found out where I work, nor do I know why I keep falling for young, and clingy gays.
I mean, he's cute, yes, but Okay, I don't-I don't see any stalker, Alphonse.
I just Oh, hey, Ross! - Hey, Mom! - Hi! - What're you doin'? - [MOUTHS MOM.]
Well, I finally got a FoodScouts order, but they cancelled the Shirazi Salad, so I thought maybe you were hungry.
Oh, sorry, Honey.
- I'm - Also, Grandpa doesn't like the PSW.
Okay, well, I think he just needs a little more time - [HEAD BANGS ON DESK.]
- to acclimate.
- [EXHALES SHARPLY.]
- [PAINED GRUNT.]
Ooh.
Ooooo kay.
You guys know each other? - No, no! - No! Hi, I'm Ross.
Alphonse, your mother's assistant.
Mm.
Mm.
Right, right, right, okay.
I'm gonna just, I'm gonna go, and get a coffee.
Ross, you can leave my salad on in just.
- Bye, JC.
- See ya later! - She's your boss! - You're her son? Okay, last night Never again.
- [SCOFFS.]
- [FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
Oh, God.
[EXHALES.]
[BIRDS CHIRP.]
[DOG BARKS IN THE DISTANCE.]
[ROPE CREAKS.]
Just I told you never, never to come back around here, you thief.
After you bankrupted my business.
Mr.
Cooper, I'm Rizal.
- Your PSW! - You're gonna pay back every red cent! Yes, you are, and if you don't pay me back, I'm gonna throw you down a decommissioned mineshaft, - which I know where one is.
- Oh, Gordie! I'm gonna throw you down there.
- Do you understand me? - Gordie! Gordie, whoa.
- What? - Whoa.
Gord, Gord, do you know who this is? Don't-don't-don't, no, don't.
You're not gonna take his side again here, are you, Pegs? 'Course I know who this is.
This is Doug Frost, the swindler who took all my money.
Honey, you wanna grab a beer? - Come, let's make a pizza.
- Oh, pizza.
Yeah, come on, 'cause I got all your favourite - No pizza for Doug the Slug.
- That's right.
- That's right.
- None.
Because he's leaving, right now.
He's not leaving, he's sittin' right there.
- He's going.
Help me unpack.
- Don't you leave! Look, look what I got for you, all your favourites.
They're all here.
You unpack for me.
- Okay? - Okay.
Oh, for God's sake.
- I thought it was a game.
- Oh.
GORDON: Love it.
It's just, I think you trigger him.
You look exactly like an old business partner of his that stole from him 30 years ago.
That would've been good to know! Yeah, well, I tried.
Listen, I-I think that you - should probably not come back, - GORDON: Shh-shh-shh, - okay? - I'm thinking, I'm thinking.
I mean, it's nothing against you, it's just - Okay, got it.
- You should be safe at work.
- Ooh, onions.
- Thanks for everything.
God, what was I saying? What was I saying? Hold on, hold it! Hold it! Well, good night, Rizal.
I'll see ya tomorrow, eh? [DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
Take it easy, Bud.
- [DOOR SHUTS.]
- Yeah.
He was starting to grow on me.
I should be the one looking after you.
Well, but Baby, you are, aren't ya? - Mm.
- No? [FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
ELI: Let's go! Head to toe.
Keep moving, Keep moving Improving You're blooming Assuming you're moving All the time All the time ELI: Okay and the foot is a match, as I predicted.
RIVER: Isn't a prediction just a guess based on bias, and not evidence? - Shh.
- I heard that.
Well, many pieces, one victim.
A sad body mosaic.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
ELI: Oh, what are these marks? They look like they're from a foreign object.
Not the weapon used to dismember him.
These cuts are clean.
Dr.
Garcia? It's the same over here.
A smooth, sharp blade made all of these cuts.
Well, the fingertips are fish-nibbled, but the skin is intact, so I'd put body disposal within the past 24 hours.
Within the past 24 hours? The base of the skull's fractured.
That's fatal.
What kind of mammal got to the face before we did? - An otter? - DENNIS: We need another way to ID him.
[JAW CRACKS.]
Mandible's intact.
I'll take post-mortem dental X-rays and compare them to ante-mortem dental records.
Thank you, River.
[INDISTINCT MUTTERING.]
[ITEMS CLATTER.]
Randy Groat, the GOAT? [SIGHS.]
Someone's been defacing my signs, drawing moustaches on 'em, and worse.
- That's a crime.
- [SIGNS CLATTER.]
You know, a lot of people in the neighbourhood have been complaining about your overly-aggressive sales tactics.
- Dynamic.
- I believed the words used - were bullying.
- Motivating.
- Harassment.
- Persistence! That's why I'm the GOAT, Greatest of All-Time Real Estate King.
You're trying to push out the original owners of Chinatown businesses.
No.
Were you trying to buy the Chan's restaurant? They weren't exactly booming with business, all right? Nobody understood they'd make more money selling the property.
Could never convince that old lady.
Shame! - She could've retired wealthy.
- But instead she's dead! Yeah, I heard that.
I'm sorry.
Maybe now, the kids will see reason.
Can I see your right forearm? Why? Well, we could always go to the station and take a look there.
[SHIRT RUSTLES.]
Put in a good word for me with the Chan kids? Pick up your posterboards, or I'll charge you with littering.
- DONOVAN: Hey, Jenny.
- Hey.
Look what I found in the alley where Eva Chan was attacked.
ELI: Ah! Here you are again in the suite, Detective McAvoy, despite the multiple requests.
Is that what she hit her assailant with? Yeah.
Almost looks like dried blood on these nails, so hopefully we'll be able to pull some DNA.
Is that? Unknown victim.
Chances are, the rest of the body washed away or disintegrated.
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DONOVAN: What're you doin'? Hold this for a second.
No, no, no.
Nope.
Oh, come on.
Don't contaminate the Je [ANNOYED EXHALE.]
DONOVAN: The dismembered man is the one who assaulted Eva Chan.
Yeah.
[LOW HUM OF OFFICE CHATTER.]
Hey, look, I know, I know there's a lot going on, for you right now, and I, I don't really, I don't wanna pry, but, you know, if anybody understands the difficulties between balancing work and life, it's me.
Uh, Dr.
Sharma, he really is the best.
Look, somebody knew, our John Doe assaulted Eva Chan.
I mean, this was revenge.
ALPHONSE: JC! River got an ID on the dental records.
[CHAIR RATTLES.]
Jason Pence from Lucky Barbecue Blitz.
That's the restaurant next to the Chan's.
Yeah, I'll go check it out.
Okay, I'm gonna keep trying to piece this guy together.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
Merci, Alphonse? So, de rien, Jenny.
No problem, Detective, I got your back, too! You're doin' a bang-up job.
Hey, Alphonse? Oh, hey! You're still here.
Yeah, I was just waiting for Mom to leave.
Which she did, without trying my Shirazi salad.
Oh, hey I'm famished.
I'll try it.
- Really? - Yeah, okay.
Um, be honest, but, maybe not like, too honest.
I've been sort of fiddling around with some of my Dad's recipes, trying to stay connected to my roots, while putting my own flair in there.
You know, so Oh it's-it's that bad.
Um, is there - Sesame? - Yeah! Yeah, that's the dressing.
Wow, that's, mm-hmm.
That's clever.
Allergic.
[DEEP BREATHING.]
Okay, um Don't move.
Okay.
EpiPen.
- What? - Drawer.
EpiPen.
EpiPen.
You didn't tell me that you were allergic.
Who puts sesame in a Shirazi salad? Ugh! [CALMING BREATHS.]
[EXHALES.]
Your competence - Is hot.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, I guess I guess all those years of CPR training finally paid off.
[SMALL LAUGH.]
Sorry for hiding from you.
Sorry for poisoning you.
DISPATCHER: 911, what's your emergency? BOTH: [CHUCKLE.]
[LOW HUM OF CHATTER.]
Hi there.
Hey, uh slider? We're trying a new brand of vegan meat.
No thanks.
I'm Detective Donovan McAvoy, I'm here about your brother, Jason.
Ah, did you find him drunk in an alley? Didn't show up for work and we're slammed.
I'm sorry.
We found Jason's body.
He was killed.
Wait, he was what? How? Doing what? Were you trying to push the Chan's out of their restaurant? You guys are busy.
You could use the room.
No! I mean-I mean we did offer, but, Mrs.
Chan didn't wanna sell.
Well, maybe you thought you could frighten.
Mrs.
Chan into leaving.
Took advantage of the rise in anti-Asian violence, attacked her? Jason said that he ran into her the other night, and he said she might sell now.
He did more than run into her.
[CHOKES BACK TEARS.]
Yeah, I told him it was a stupid plan.
[SIREN WAILS.]
Was it Michael who killed my brother? Wait here.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[HEAVY CHOPPING IN BACKGROUND.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
DONOVAN: Hey, how ya doin', Michael? Detective.
Where were you last night? I was here.
Can I see your hands? Let's talk at the station.
You're not under arrest.
Wait, you think I killed my own mother? What kind of monster do you think I am? That's not what this is about.
Someone killed Jason Pence from next door.
Of course you take immediate action after a white guy gets killed.
That's not what's happening here.
What about my mother? Let's talk at the station.
Sort it all out.
[APRON RUSTLES.]
[SLAMS HEAVILY ON COUNTER.]
After you found out your mother was assaulted Murdered.
You're pretty good with a cleaver, aren't you? From all these years working in your mother's restaurant.
Yeah, so? [FOLDER RUSTLES, RASPS ACROSS.]
You chopped up Jason's body so it would be easier to move.
Turned him into bags of meat.
The justice you said you wanted when you were live-streaming.
That's not justice.
That's disgusting.
Now, you're a smart guy, you cleaned the cleaver.
No, it was already clean.
What does that mean, Michael? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[DOORS CREAK.]
HELEN: Thanks for coming.
I didn't know who else to call.
I need you to help me get him out of there.
I'm not sure how much I can do.
He-he didn't do anything.
My brother is innocent.
MICHAEL: Helen? [INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
This mark on your arm, where did you get it? I don't know, I must've scratched myself.
No, this is a leech bite.
What are you talking about? You were in the water.
You helped Michael.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
He didn't do anything.
Then who did? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
I didn't mean it to happen.
Helen, what's going on? Mom made me promise not to tell you about the attack.
She didn't want you to snap.
I'm sorry, Mikey.
Jason texted me yesterday.
Said he wanted to talk.
But was pressuring us to sell the restaurant now that Mom is dead.
He said we were bringing down the value of their business.
He called me disgusting racial slurs.
I saw the fresh scars and I knew that he was the one who attacked Mom.
Did he admit it? [ECHOED FIGHTING GRUNTS.]
[ITEMS CLANGING.]
HELEN: I just couldn't take it anymore.
- Ugh! - Agh! I just snapped.
[HOOK CLANGS.]
[HITTING GRUNT.]
[HEAVY PIERCING THUD.]
[HEAVY EXHALE.]
[SHAKY EXHALES.]
HELEN: In that moment, I became just like him.
A monster.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Anti-Asian racism is killing us.
Our souls.
[REALIZING EXHALES.]
[INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
I had to make him into smaller pieces to carry.
When? Last night.
All night.
I got home before you woke up.
- Oh, Helen! - [CRYING EXHALES.]
You had no choice.
You had to fight back.
[SOBBING.]
DONOVAN: Uh, Helen You never should've been put in that position.
But I'm gonna need you to come with me and give a full statement.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[LIGHT PAT.]
[REMORSEFUL EXHALE.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[DOOR CLUNKS OPEN AND SHUTS.]
She'll go to trial and they'll argue self defence.
Maybe her lawyer can help get her some counselling.
Yeah.
Yeah, let's hope so.
Case closed, I guess.
Yeah.
Solved, not closed.
[DOOR CLUNKS OPEN AND SHUTS.]
Get up! [CHAIR RATTLES.]
What? Hit me.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm not gonna hit ya, Mac.
You felt powerless.
Take your power back.
It's not gonna help.
But badmouthing me to Sergeant Waylen will? You were supposed to have my back, Mac.
And you were supposed to have mine.
You held a gun to your own forehead.
That affects me, too, man! Know what? Maybe this partnership has run its course.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[CARD RIPS.]
[FINGERS RATTLE ON WOOD.]
[FLOORBOARDS CREAK.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
JENNY: Hey [DOOR CLUNKS CLOSED.]
I got your message.
Is everything okay? Everything is fine.
- I handled it.
- Oh, God.
I've gotta call Rizal.
- I've gotta call the agency.
- Jenny I handled it.
He just, he thought that he was getting the last word in an old betrayal.
- GORDON: [FRUSTRATED EXHALES.]
- Hey, Dad? - [FOOTSTEPS SHUFFLE, BAG THUDS.]
- Hi.
- Hi.
- You okay? No, I lost my temper.
- Oh, that's okay.
- I'm really scared.
Of who? Of Rizal? No! No, no, no, of me.
I mean, one minute I-I'm okay, I'm fine, and then, the next minute I'm seeing things that you would not believe.
- Okay.
- And then I become paranoid - for no rhyme or reason.
- It's okay, we'll just, up your dosage of galantamine.
I don't wanna become a monster.
Hey, Dad? You're not a monster, okay? Okay.
It's just Just You might need a little more support.
Hey.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[BIRDHOUSE CLATTERS.]
JENNY: Okay, just line that up there.
[REALIZING EXHALE.]
[SIGHS HAPPILY.]
ROSS: Do they even know you're back? I'm also going to be looking for personal support workers.
Excuse me, do I get a say here? Hey, Mac, shouldn't you be at your morning debrief with uh, Staff Sergeant Waylen? The outcome was good, nobody got hurt.
Dr.
Thompson, I am Jenny Cooper.
You've been filling in for me? Nice of you to drop by, Dr.
Cooper.
I lost my daughter.
Yeah, you lost Katie, but you left me.
DONOVAN: You think you can kill me? Nobody gets the jump on me.
I'm the superhero.
Damn straight.
I don't need a debrief.
[KEY CLACKS.]
[VINE CRACKLES, TOMATO POPS.]
[SOIL RASPS.]
[LEAVES RUSTLE.]
[PLANT RUSTLES GENTLY.]
[WATER HISSES.]
[CAR HORN BEEPS.]
[ENGINE SHUTS OFF, DOOR OPENS.]
RIZAL: Kamusta, Dr.
Cooper! - [DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
- Come on in, Rizal.
Dad's still sleeping.
Beautiful house! Oh, thank you.
Okay, here is a list of meds, contraindications, you know, favourite TV shows, things like that.
Peggy will fill you in on the rest.
I've gotta run upstairs and get ready for work.
Peggy? Does she live here as well? Uh uh, sort of.
Yeah, for now.
Just temporarily.
She's a PSW? Uh no, she is my mother, technically.
Your dad's ex-wife? Uh, they're still married, it's just, it's a very long story.
- But um - Jenny, - could-could I have a word? - [SCOFFS.]
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
Hey, this is not the PSW that I suggested.
Yeah, I went with Rizal.
He's got tons of experience with Lewy Body dementia, - so he knows what to expect.
- Well, we could've - discussed this.
- We did, discuss it and then, I made a decision.
[STAIRS CREAK.]
PEGGY: Ross was out all night, again.
Do-do you know his boyfriend? Ross and his boyfriend broke up.
So, he was with a stranger.
- As his moth - Okay, Peggy Peggy, okay, look, I appreciate everything you did for us, okay.
You uprooted your life, but you don't have to do that anymore, because I am home.
Rizal is here to help.
Okay, we can take things a little slower.
[DOOR CRASHES OPEN, SLAMS SHUT.]
- Oh.
- Hey, kiddo.
Have a good night last night? - Yes.
- Great.
- And a good morning.
- Fabulous.
[FOOTSTEPS STOMP AWAY.]
JENNY: Rizal make yourself at home.
Peggy.
Then I guess I'll have to pack.
[REGRETFUL EXHALE.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD UP STAIRS.]
[OMINOUS MUSIC, WATER DRIPPING IN THE DISTANCE.]
MARCUS: [SCARED PANTING.]
Go for it! [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[DOOR OPENS, BAG RUSTLES.]
[DOOR SLAMS SHUT.]
[UPBEAT MUSIC.]
[SINGING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
[MUSIC SLOWS AND DISTORTS.]
[PAPER CRINKLES.]
[WHOOSH, CAR HONKS.]
[STREET TRAFFIC WHOOSHES.]
[CARS HONK.]
JENNY: Hey, I'm the coroner.
[SIREN WAILS IN THE DISTANCE.]
[DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
[ZIPPER RASPS OPEN.]
[GLOVES CRINKLE.]
HELEN: Please! JENNY: Hi.
Thank you.
[HELEN SOBBING.]
I'm so sorry for your loss.
It was unexpected.
It often is.
- May I? - Yeah.
Thank you.
[HELEN SOBBING.]
MICHAEL: Helen, coroner's here.
Come on, let's let her do her job.
Don't pretend like Mom went peacefully in her sleep.
She was murdered.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[HELEN SOBS.]
[WHISPERS HER MANTRA.]
[HAND TAPS GENTLY ON ARM.]
Let's try to figure out what happened, okay? Um, did your mother have any health issues? That's not what's happening here.
Asians are being randomly attacked daily in this city.
An 80-year-old grandfather was hit with a cement brick while shopping for broccoli.
Broccoli! If I was there, I would've done something.
I understand that.
If you guys wouldn't mind, answering my question, about your mother.
Well, the kids say she's a pillar of health.
She didn't even take any medications.
So sad.
Reminds me of my Lola.
Healthy 'til the day she dropped.
That's when everyone else started fighting about her money.
Hmm.
Kids seem pretty close to her.
MICHAEL: Mom worked tirelessly.
It broke her heart when we had to sell our place in East Chinatown.
I stayed on with the family biz, and Helen moved on.
HELEN: I thought Mom would be upset when I started apprenticing with a carpenter, but she totally got it.
Hmm.
And who is gonna run the business now? The restaurant's in the hole.
The only value is the land that it's on.
Which we would split, if we sold.
But we won't.
Not to that real estate vulture.
Oh, the Randy Groat guy? Groat is GOAT? Yeah.
- I see his signs everywhere.
- Yeah.
He's not subtle.
No, he's not.
Well, there doesn't seem to be any financial motive.
There's no visible injuries on the body.
[SIGHS.]
You think the kids are in denial? So caught up in their grief they're claiming murder? There's a good chance it's a heart attack.
It's more common in women than we realize.
I'll check for recent onset myocarditis.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET WHOOSHES.]
[GUNSHOTS POP.]
Okay, walk me through your version of events at the pharmacy, Donovan.
Well, textbook de-escalation.
I assessed the situation.
I was in full control.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET WHOOSHES.]
- STAFF SERGEANT: So, you had a plan.
- Yes.
Which you communicated with your partner? There wasn't time.
But I had his back, and he had mine.
That's not what Detective Abed said in his report to Professional Standards.
[HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[TARGET RASPS LOUDLY.]
[GUNSHOTS POP.]
DONOVAN: Malik? What'd he say? [HEAVY ROCK MUSIC.]
[GUNSHOT POPS, GLASS CLINK.]
[SHELL CASING CLINKS.]
[GURNEY RATTLES.]
[GURNEY THUMPS AND RATTLES.]
- I'll see you back there? - Yeah.
[VAN DOORS THUD CLOSED.]
What happened? - Who died? - Uh.
Ms.
Chan, unfortunately.
- Did you know her? - Oh! What? - Mrs.
Chan died.
- Oh.
I thought she'd live forever; she was like Teflon.
- [LAUGHS.]
- How did it happen? Do we need to beef up security around here? Uh, we're still looking into it.
Well, if there is anything we can do to help, I am Jason.
Mason, offer some grub to the uh, coroner, here.
- Um - Uh, this is a Chinese chop suey slider that is vegan, like our entire menu.
Enjoy the taste of cultural appropriation.
I'm good, thank you.
All right, I'm gonna head to the autopsy.
Can I show you something first? Yeah, of course.
Mommy, tell us what happened when you left Trinidad.
I came with a old, blue suitcase, and $100 TT.
What? That's only $43.
65 Canadian.
Cousin Winston had the butcher shop, down the street, on Broadview, and the wife's family was around the corner selling odds and sods.
We knew everybody.
Everybody knew us.
We looked out for each other.
There was recession, SARS.
People stopped coming.
Then we had to move from East Chinatown to Spadina to make things work.
Please remember our mom's humanity.
Of course.
RIVER: The CT scans are processed, Dr.
Cooper.
Awesome, thank you, River.
And Dr.
Thompson is? Reviewing cases in his Your office.
It looks normal.
Looks normal.
[FINGER TAPS ON SCREEN.]
There's an abnormality in the brain scan.
See this dark, shaded spot, here? DENNIS: Localized swelling.
The superficial veins in the cerebrum have torn.
- Yeah.
- [SHEET RUSTLES.]
I could feel an indent.
River can you [LIGHT CLICKS ON.]
JENNY: There's a large bruise.
Judging by the discolouration, it isn't fresh.
Okay, the brain shrinks with age and the space between the dura and the skull fill with cerebrospinal fluid, so A blow to the head, could cause the veins to tear, which would allow blood to leak into that space, killing her slowly.
- Classic delay injury.
- Mm-hmm.
Polymorphs are gone.
Yeah, those disappear after a few days.
Are there any microphages? - [MICROSCOPE DIAL CLICKS.]
- Got 'em.
[OMINOUS MUSIC.]
Those white blood cells only show up after tissue damage.
Three days, to be exact.
Eva's blow to the head Was a subdural hematoma.
Helen might be right.
This could be murder.
ANNOUNCER: Protestors gathered early this morning and have continued throughout the day.
[COMPUTER KEY CLICKS.]
You know, Rizal, he doesn't even like birds.
He's telling me, "Oh, they've got evil eyes," or something.
Yeah, what does he know, right? I really appreciate everything you're doing for me, but It's kind of weird to have a stranger following you around, even into the bathroom.
It makes me feel old.
It actually makes me feel useless.
Dad, you're not useless.
You are independent, you are important, you keep all the local birds fed.
I just, I want somebody there with you while you do it.
Well, how am I gonna feed them? I can't even figure this out.
Here, I'll help.
- Will ya? - Yeah.
Okay.
There's no instructions.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's all right.
Let's see.
Can't Peggy be my person? She is, Dad.
It's just [DEEP BREATH.]
But, what if she leaves again? That's not really what I'm worried about.
Well, you know, I got dementia, so chances are, I won't even remember that she was here to start with.
[CHUCKLES.]
That's terrible.
You know, she is the love of my life.
[SIGHS.]
I know, Dad, I'm just I'm not trying to stop you from having a relationship with her.
Well, but you know, it's a bit embarrassing when I have to ask my daughter to have permission to have a sleepover.
It's uh, what's the word I want, "unmanly".
Yeah.
Um okay, how 'bout this? Uh, Rizal is the person that you work with, and Peggy is the person that you um [CLICKS TEETH.]
you [BIRDHOUSE CLATTERS.]
- Yeah, not so easy, is it? - [LAUGHS.]
DONOVAN: [EXHALES.]
[FOOTSTEPS CRUNCH.]
[RADIO CHATTER.]
You threw me under the bus with Professional Standards? I just told them what happened.
What happened? What did happen? [RACCOONS SCREECH, ELI SHOUTS.]
[PANTING.]
Where have you been? I just wrestled this away from two giant raccoons.
Is that a foot? I missed out on all the stray feet that washed up in Vancouver, five years ago.
Now, they said the feet were disarticulated by natural means, but, - you know West Coast coroners.
- Ah They're always puttin' their foot in their mouths.
[LAUGHS.]
Humorous, Detective.
If we have a foot mystery here, I might steal that, for a new book.
Oh, sure, Doc, it's all yours.
Who called it in? - I'll talk to them.
- I wouldn't know.
The Search for Ontario's Dismembered Foot Killer, by Dr.
Elijah Thompson.
Hey! We're gonna need public barriers.
Or you could call it "Trouble Afoot" - or "Six Feet Under.
" - [DONOVAN'S PHONE RINGS.]
All right, Detective, let's not get carried away.
- [LAUGHS.]
- Jenny.
Uh-huh.
Ye Oh yeah, I'll be right there.
- Malik.
- Hmm? You got this? Jenny needs me in Chinatown.
Yeah, I got this.
Looks like "heel" be reading your report later.
Ah, yeah, well I don't mind going sole-o.
[LAUGHS.]
- ELI: [CHUCKLES.]
All right.
- Oh.
JENNY: We found an elongated depression on the back of Eva Chan's skull, like she was hit with a rod or a pipe.
So, it looks like she was attacked.
Uh, anti-Asian attacks are usually random, and random attacks are tough to solve.
Yeah, well, we can date this one it's a three-day-old hematoma.
Well, some of these restaurants must have security footage from three days ago.
But first I need to talk to the kids.
Rule them out as suspects.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, SOBBING.]
[SPEAKS FOREIGN LANGUAGE.]
MICHAEL: I know my mom meant a lot to you, to all of us.
I don't know what I'm gonna do without her.
She dreamed of making this community a safer place, for my sister and me.
For all of us.
Mom's memorial is the most views I've had, since the pandemic started.
- You're live-streaming this? - From the restaurant account.
People wanna connect.
I'm Detective Donovan McAvoy, Homicide.
Homicide? Michael, uh Your mother's autopsy showed blunt force trauma to her head, so we think she may have been attacked.
By who? Who did this to my mother? Look, I want whoever did this Michael, I just The Coroner just told me my mother was murdered.
Isn't that right? Anti-Asian hate crimes need to stop.
Do you, or don't you, agree? Please, Dr.
Cooper, we need our allies with us, - not behind us.
- Yes, Michael, I agree.
I agree.
Hate crimes have to stop, not just here in the city, but in the country.
We need to protect our elderly.
We need justice! This is an open investigation.
You just publicly declared it a hate crime.
- Donovan, I - Okay.
If I wanted to work with someone undermining my authority, I'd call Malik! What is going on? - Why are you acting like this? - If I want someone to psychoanalyze me, I would've stayed with Kirima.
You and Kirima broke up? Look, you-you just decreased the odds of us finding an unbiased witness, All right, you just made my job harder.
Donovan, okay, look, if you don't wanna talk about Kirima right now, that's fine, but I am on your team.
Then don't declare things on social media - without evidence.
- I Didn't! [FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DENNIS: There's never a dull day here.
Don't worry, foot, we're gonna find the rest of you.
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
[SCISSORS RATTLE.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DENNIS: [SIGHS.]
The bite marks from a raccoon obscure it, but, it's a clean cut.
This foot is not disarticulated.
Non-serrated blade, smooth like the edge of a shovel, or a carving knife.
ELI: All right.
What's that? A foot.
No That! Ugh! RIVER: There's something green under the toenail.
ELI: Uh, River, do you wanna do the honours? [SQUELCHING SOUND.]
RIVER: Toe fungus? Actually Haematococcus Pluvialis motile, a.
k.
a.
Algae.
Was there water, near the industrial park where we found that foot? RIVER: Carlaw Spit, juts into Lake Ontario.
And has many wetland ponds.
We're going fishing.
[SIGHS.]
Can you keep your voices down? Helen took some CBD oil and she's finally asleep in Mom's bed.
All right, we need to retrace your mother's steps from three days ago.
Can you remember what she did? Worked at the restaurant all day.
Closed up at 11:00 p.
m.
.
Okay, what happens after you close? Thursday night, Mom does the bank deposit, garbage, resets the rat traps.
I mop up and do final cleaning.
And garbage bins are? Out in the back alley.
She'll take the pathway then to the bank.
Okay, she never mentioned anything out of the ordinary happening? She didn't, but, that isn't strange for her.
She was proud.
Did you talk to her at all that night? I was stocking the fridges when she came home.
Bedroom door was closed when I came upstairs.
And did she act unusual at all the next day? She would've had a concussion and she wouldn't have known that the subdural hematoma - may kill her.
- She did seem worn out.
I thought she just needed a break.
I mean, does it make sense that she would hide the assault from you? She knew that I would lose it.
Did you ever lose it with your mom? [SEETHING EXHALE.]
You're trying to find my mother's killer.
That's why you're asking that question.
No.
We were close.
I wanted to carry on her legacy with Dumpling House after everything she did for me and my sister.
Do you have any cameras set up in back? HELEN: No.
Mom was too frugal for things like that.
Helen, go back to bed.
Come on.
I'm worried about you.
I'll have Forensics work up the restaurant and the apartment and I'll canvas the neighbourhood for cameras.
Okay, and if you could ask them to look for anything that's cylindrical, that could have been used as a weapon.
[HELEN SOBS.]
[EXHALES.]
He told her.
Hey [FOOTSTEPS THUD AWAY.]
[SIGHS.]
[PHONE RINGS.]
[SHARP EXHALE.]
Hey, Malik, Hey, Jenny, we need you here, ASAP.
Eli needs your help.
Uh yeah, I was just gonna head back to the office, but I can reroute.
ELI: [LAUGHS.]
- Oh! - Yeah! We've hit the motherload, Detective! Get off the phone! Eli just pulled out a bag of hand.
Um Oh, uh Yeah, I'll be right there.
[KEYS CLACK.]
[KEY CLACKS.]
Son of a [KEY CLACKS.]
[KEYS CLACKING.]
Come on, Eva! Good for you! [KEYS CLACKING.]
Jenny, Eva Chan fought back.
Hard.
And, thanks to your livestream, everyone wanted to talk to me.
Just forwarded you a neighbour's security cam video.
[WATER RUSHES.]
Yeah, it looks like he's waiting for her.
Exactly.
Which means it wasn't random.
Well, now we need to figure out who would have motive to hurt Eva Chan.
That's what I'm gonna find out.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER, CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS.]
ELI: Cooper! Caught your livestream, as did all 131 staff who work at the Coroner's office.
Ooh, the paperwork on that is gonna be a novel! One already-filled-out impact form.
Ah, little muddy.
Pro tip: next time you livestream, stand 45 degrees to the camera.
- It's more flattering.
- Thank you.
All right, now we get to figure out if all these pieces belong to one body.
- Freeze, leech! - What? [SCREAMS.]
Oh, my God, get it off! Get it off! Get it off! Well, don't let the pee-ons see you panic.
I'm not, just get it off, please.
Oh, my God, - oh, my God, oh, my God.
- Just, okay.
- [RETCHING.]
Get it off.
- Okay, okay.
[LAUGHS.]
Get it off me.
It's not funny Eli, get it off.
No, no, no, don't yank it.
Those toxins will release into your bloodstream, okay.
- [RETCHING.]
Get it off.
- No, I got it, I got it.
Here you go.
- Get it off, get it off, hm.
- So, listen, hey, fun fact.
There's nothing fun about this.
- Get it off my arm right now.
- Listen, it's mouth is the thinner, smaller side of its body.
I would've thought it would be the opp - Ah! - Okay! Oh, oh, okay.
- Okay.
We're good, - Ooh! we're good.
Ooh, look that classic Y-shaped bite.
Ow.
Looks like you're gonna have to do some paperwork.
You got personally involved.
Hmm.
[FEET SHUFFLE.]
Hey.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
[BOX CLATTERS ON DESK.]
[PLANT CLUNKS ON DESK.]
[PAPER CRINKLES.]
[BAG THUDS.]
What're you doing, Alphonse? Oh, you know, I'm just down here um Look, I think I have a stalker.
- I'm sorry, what's going on? - Shh-shh-shh! My latest hookup just showed up.
I-I don't know how he found out where I work, nor do I know why I keep falling for young, and clingy gays.
I mean, he's cute, yes, but Okay, I don't-I don't see any stalker, Alphonse.
I just Oh, hey, Ross! - Hey, Mom! - Hi! - What're you doin'? - [MOUTHS MOM.]
Well, I finally got a FoodScouts order, but they cancelled the Shirazi Salad, so I thought maybe you were hungry.
Oh, sorry, Honey.
- I'm - Also, Grandpa doesn't like the PSW.
Okay, well, I think he just needs a little more time - [HEAD BANGS ON DESK.]
- to acclimate.
- [EXHALES SHARPLY.]
- [PAINED GRUNT.]
Ooh.
Ooooo kay.
You guys know each other? - No, no! - No! Hi, I'm Ross.
Alphonse, your mother's assistant.
Mm.
Mm.
Right, right, right, okay.
I'm gonna just, I'm gonna go, and get a coffee.
Ross, you can leave my salad on in just.
- Bye, JC.
- See ya later! - She's your boss! - You're her son? Okay, last night Never again.
- [SCOFFS.]
- [FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
Oh, God.
[EXHALES.]
[BIRDS CHIRP.]
[DOG BARKS IN THE DISTANCE.]
[ROPE CREAKS.]
Just I told you never, never to come back around here, you thief.
After you bankrupted my business.
Mr.
Cooper, I'm Rizal.
- Your PSW! - You're gonna pay back every red cent! Yes, you are, and if you don't pay me back, I'm gonna throw you down a decommissioned mineshaft, - which I know where one is.
- Oh, Gordie! I'm gonna throw you down there.
- Do you understand me? - Gordie! Gordie, whoa.
- What? - Whoa.
Gord, Gord, do you know who this is? Don't-don't-don't, no, don't.
You're not gonna take his side again here, are you, Pegs? 'Course I know who this is.
This is Doug Frost, the swindler who took all my money.
Honey, you wanna grab a beer? - Come, let's make a pizza.
- Oh, pizza.
Yeah, come on, 'cause I got all your favourite - No pizza for Doug the Slug.
- That's right.
- That's right.
- None.
Because he's leaving, right now.
He's not leaving, he's sittin' right there.
- He's going.
Help me unpack.
- Don't you leave! Look, look what I got for you, all your favourites.
They're all here.
You unpack for me.
- Okay? - Okay.
Oh, for God's sake.
- I thought it was a game.
- Oh.
GORDON: Love it.
It's just, I think you trigger him.
You look exactly like an old business partner of his that stole from him 30 years ago.
That would've been good to know! Yeah, well, I tried.
Listen, I-I think that you - should probably not come back, - GORDON: Shh-shh-shh, - okay? - I'm thinking, I'm thinking.
I mean, it's nothing against you, it's just - Okay, got it.
- You should be safe at work.
- Ooh, onions.
- Thanks for everything.
God, what was I saying? What was I saying? Hold on, hold it! Hold it! Well, good night, Rizal.
I'll see ya tomorrow, eh? [DOOR CREAKS OPEN.]
Take it easy, Bud.
- [DOOR SHUTS.]
- Yeah.
He was starting to grow on me.
I should be the one looking after you.
Well, but Baby, you are, aren't ya? - Mm.
- No? [FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
ELI: Let's go! Head to toe.
Keep moving, Keep moving Improving You're blooming Assuming you're moving All the time All the time ELI: Okay and the foot is a match, as I predicted.
RIVER: Isn't a prediction just a guess based on bias, and not evidence? - Shh.
- I heard that.
Well, many pieces, one victim.
A sad body mosaic.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
ELI: Oh, what are these marks? They look like they're from a foreign object.
Not the weapon used to dismember him.
These cuts are clean.
Dr.
Garcia? It's the same over here.
A smooth, sharp blade made all of these cuts.
Well, the fingertips are fish-nibbled, but the skin is intact, so I'd put body disposal within the past 24 hours.
Within the past 24 hours? The base of the skull's fractured.
That's fatal.
What kind of mammal got to the face before we did? - An otter? - DENNIS: We need another way to ID him.
[JAW CRACKS.]
Mandible's intact.
I'll take post-mortem dental X-rays and compare them to ante-mortem dental records.
Thank you, River.
[INDISTINCT MUTTERING.]
[ITEMS CLATTER.]
Randy Groat, the GOAT? [SIGHS.]
Someone's been defacing my signs, drawing moustaches on 'em, and worse.
- That's a crime.
- [SIGNS CLATTER.]
You know, a lot of people in the neighbourhood have been complaining about your overly-aggressive sales tactics.
- Dynamic.
- I believed the words used - were bullying.
- Motivating.
- Harassment.
- Persistence! That's why I'm the GOAT, Greatest of All-Time Real Estate King.
You're trying to push out the original owners of Chinatown businesses.
No.
Were you trying to buy the Chan's restaurant? They weren't exactly booming with business, all right? Nobody understood they'd make more money selling the property.
Could never convince that old lady.
Shame! - She could've retired wealthy.
- But instead she's dead! Yeah, I heard that.
I'm sorry.
Maybe now, the kids will see reason.
Can I see your right forearm? Why? Well, we could always go to the station and take a look there.
[SHIRT RUSTLES.]
Put in a good word for me with the Chan kids? Pick up your posterboards, or I'll charge you with littering.
- DONOVAN: Hey, Jenny.
- Hey.
Look what I found in the alley where Eva Chan was attacked.
ELI: Ah! Here you are again in the suite, Detective McAvoy, despite the multiple requests.
Is that what she hit her assailant with? Yeah.
Almost looks like dried blood on these nails, so hopefully we'll be able to pull some DNA.
Is that? Unknown victim.
Chances are, the rest of the body washed away or disintegrated.
[PLASTIC CRINKLES.]
DONOVAN: What're you doin'? Hold this for a second.
No, no, no.
Nope.
Oh, come on.
Don't contaminate the Je [ANNOYED EXHALE.]
DONOVAN: The dismembered man is the one who assaulted Eva Chan.
Yeah.
[LOW HUM OF OFFICE CHATTER.]
Hey, look, I know, I know there's a lot going on, for you right now, and I, I don't really, I don't wanna pry, but, you know, if anybody understands the difficulties between balancing work and life, it's me.
Uh, Dr.
Sharma, he really is the best.
Look, somebody knew, our John Doe assaulted Eva Chan.
I mean, this was revenge.
ALPHONSE: JC! River got an ID on the dental records.
[CHAIR RATTLES.]
Jason Pence from Lucky Barbecue Blitz.
That's the restaurant next to the Chan's.
Yeah, I'll go check it out.
Okay, I'm gonna keep trying to piece this guy together.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
Merci, Alphonse? So, de rien, Jenny.
No problem, Detective, I got your back, too! You're doin' a bang-up job.
Hey, Alphonse? Oh, hey! You're still here.
Yeah, I was just waiting for Mom to leave.
Which she did, without trying my Shirazi salad.
Oh, hey I'm famished.
I'll try it.
- Really? - Yeah, okay.
Um, be honest, but, maybe not like, too honest.
I've been sort of fiddling around with some of my Dad's recipes, trying to stay connected to my roots, while putting my own flair in there.
You know, so Oh it's-it's that bad.
Um, is there - Sesame? - Yeah! Yeah, that's the dressing.
Wow, that's, mm-hmm.
That's clever.
Allergic.
[DEEP BREATHING.]
Okay, um Don't move.
Okay.
EpiPen.
- What? - Drawer.
EpiPen.
EpiPen.
You didn't tell me that you were allergic.
Who puts sesame in a Shirazi salad? Ugh! [CALMING BREATHS.]
[EXHALES.]
Your competence - Is hot.
- [CHUCKLES.]
Yeah, I guess I guess all those years of CPR training finally paid off.
[SMALL LAUGH.]
Sorry for hiding from you.
Sorry for poisoning you.
DISPATCHER: 911, what's your emergency? BOTH: [CHUCKLE.]
[LOW HUM OF CHATTER.]
Hi there.
Hey, uh slider? We're trying a new brand of vegan meat.
No thanks.
I'm Detective Donovan McAvoy, I'm here about your brother, Jason.
Ah, did you find him drunk in an alley? Didn't show up for work and we're slammed.
I'm sorry.
We found Jason's body.
He was killed.
Wait, he was what? How? Doing what? Were you trying to push the Chan's out of their restaurant? You guys are busy.
You could use the room.
No! I mean-I mean we did offer, but, Mrs.
Chan didn't wanna sell.
Well, maybe you thought you could frighten.
Mrs.
Chan into leaving.
Took advantage of the rise in anti-Asian violence, attacked her? Jason said that he ran into her the other night, and he said she might sell now.
He did more than run into her.
[CHOKES BACK TEARS.]
Yeah, I told him it was a stupid plan.
[SIREN WAILS.]
Was it Michael who killed my brother? Wait here.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[HEAVY CHOPPING IN BACKGROUND.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
DONOVAN: Hey, how ya doin', Michael? Detective.
Where were you last night? I was here.
Can I see your hands? Let's talk at the station.
You're not under arrest.
Wait, you think I killed my own mother? What kind of monster do you think I am? That's not what this is about.
Someone killed Jason Pence from next door.
Of course you take immediate action after a white guy gets killed.
That's not what's happening here.
What about my mother? Let's talk at the station.
Sort it all out.
[APRON RUSTLES.]
[SLAMS HEAVILY ON COUNTER.]
After you found out your mother was assaulted Murdered.
You're pretty good with a cleaver, aren't you? From all these years working in your mother's restaurant.
Yeah, so? [FOLDER RUSTLES, RASPS ACROSS.]
You chopped up Jason's body so it would be easier to move.
Turned him into bags of meat.
The justice you said you wanted when you were live-streaming.
That's not justice.
That's disgusting.
Now, you're a smart guy, you cleaned the cleaver.
No, it was already clean.
What does that mean, Michael? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
[DOORS CREAK.]
HELEN: Thanks for coming.
I didn't know who else to call.
I need you to help me get him out of there.
I'm not sure how much I can do.
He-he didn't do anything.
My brother is innocent.
MICHAEL: Helen? [INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
This mark on your arm, where did you get it? I don't know, I must've scratched myself.
No, this is a leech bite.
What are you talking about? You were in the water.
You helped Michael.
[FOOTSTEPS THUD.]
He didn't do anything.
Then who did? [OMINOUS MUSIC.]
I didn't mean it to happen.
Helen, what's going on? Mom made me promise not to tell you about the attack.
She didn't want you to snap.
I'm sorry, Mikey.
Jason texted me yesterday.
Said he wanted to talk.
But was pressuring us to sell the restaurant now that Mom is dead.
He said we were bringing down the value of their business.
He called me disgusting racial slurs.
I saw the fresh scars and I knew that he was the one who attacked Mom.
Did he admit it? [ECHOED FIGHTING GRUNTS.]
[ITEMS CLANGING.]
HELEN: I just couldn't take it anymore.
- Ugh! - Agh! I just snapped.
[HOOK CLANGS.]
[HITTING GRUNT.]
[HEAVY PIERCING THUD.]
[HEAVY EXHALE.]
[SHAKY EXHALES.]
HELEN: In that moment, I became just like him.
A monster.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
Anti-Asian racism is killing us.
Our souls.
[REALIZING EXHALES.]
[INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
I had to make him into smaller pieces to carry.
When? Last night.
All night.
I got home before you woke up.
- Oh, Helen! - [CRYING EXHALES.]
You had no choice.
You had to fight back.
[SOBBING.]
DONOVAN: Uh, Helen You never should've been put in that position.
But I'm gonna need you to come with me and give a full statement.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[LIGHT PAT.]
[REMORSEFUL EXHALE.]
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[DOOR CLUNKS OPEN AND SHUTS.]
She'll go to trial and they'll argue self defence.
Maybe her lawyer can help get her some counselling.
Yeah.
Yeah, let's hope so.
Case closed, I guess.
Yeah.
Solved, not closed.
[DOOR CLUNKS OPEN AND SHUTS.]
Get up! [CHAIR RATTLES.]
What? Hit me.
[LAUGHS.]
I'm not gonna hit ya, Mac.
You felt powerless.
Take your power back.
It's not gonna help.
But badmouthing me to Sergeant Waylen will? You were supposed to have my back, Mac.
And you were supposed to have mine.
You held a gun to your own forehead.
That affects me, too, man! Know what? Maybe this partnership has run its course.
[FOOTSTEPS RECEDE.]
[CARD RIPS.]
[FINGERS RATTLE ON WOOD.]
[FLOORBOARDS CREAK.]
[DOOR OPENS.]
JENNY: Hey [DOOR CLUNKS CLOSED.]
I got your message.
Is everything okay? Everything is fine.
- I handled it.
- Oh, God.
I've gotta call Rizal.
- I've gotta call the agency.
- Jenny I handled it.
He just, he thought that he was getting the last word in an old betrayal.
- GORDON: [FRUSTRATED EXHALES.]
- Hey, Dad? - [FOOTSTEPS SHUFFLE, BAG THUDS.]
- Hi.
- Hi.
- You okay? No, I lost my temper.
- Oh, that's okay.
- I'm really scared.
Of who? Of Rizal? No! No, no, no, of me.
I mean, one minute I-I'm okay, I'm fine, and then, the next minute I'm seeing things that you would not believe.
- Okay.
- And then I become paranoid - for no rhyme or reason.
- It's okay, we'll just, up your dosage of galantamine.
I don't wanna become a monster.
Hey, Dad? You're not a monster, okay? Okay.
It's just Just You might need a little more support.
Hey.
[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH.]
[BIRDHOUSE CLATTERS.]
JENNY: Okay, just line that up there.
[REALIZING EXHALE.]
[SIGHS HAPPILY.]