Previously on So Help Me Todd...
You did not speak to Beverly Crest, did you?
I am this close to getting my name above the letterhead.
Chuck, we have to talk.
Allison, are you living here?
Is it ethical for you to kiss me, and then spend two weeks
gaslighting me into thinking it never happened?
Did you know that Harry has Parkinson's disease?
My doctors, they told me
that I only have seven to ten years left to live.
♪ What you, what you, what you gonna do? ♪
♪ Feeling on the vibe in the room ♪
Portland's first Michelin-Starred restaurant.
I know.
Cheers. To some mother-daughter time.
I'm just your backup because your boss cancelled on you.
Mm-mm.
Well, yes, all right, okay. Yes.
Um, you know, Beverly is a foodie,
a big foodie like you,
and, um, next week
is my final interview for named partner, and...
I wanted to impress her.
But... I'd rather be here with you.
What, so you can grill me about Chuck
over grilled melon?
I am not going to grill you about Chuck.
Can we just enjoy our meal and enjoy the company
and enjoy our time.
Thank you. Thanks so much.
Thank you.
Just do have one little, tiny...
friendly thing
to say, to comment on.
Um, weren't you wearing that exact same outfit
at last week's family dinner?
Yes, because I am, yes, still living out of a suitcase.
No, not at the hospital. Okay.
Yes, at an Airbnb in Southeast.
- Southeast? - Yeah.
Allison... Excuse me, Margaret?
Hi, I'm Lauren Park. Welcome to Flora & Fauna.
Lauren Park. Uh, this is Susan's friend
from college, and-and Todd's as well. Mm.
Uh, it is just delightful to meet you,
and thank you so much for helping us with this,
uh, reservation. Yes. My pleasure.
Lauren, this is, um, my daughter, Allison.
Hi. The flowers are...
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Okay, so, Allison, here's another thing...
Oh, my God, you're not gonna...
You can't avoid Chuck forever. Okay...
I don't want to talk about this. Five weeks so far.
Yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell you.
This is crap!
How many times do I need to tell you, you got to taste
the food before it goes out?
Zero. 'Cause I quit!
Why don't you go back
to culinary school and learn how to use
a salt shaker! LAUREN: Screw you, Jax.
I'm gonna need a lawyer.
Get back into the kitchen. You're scaring everyone.
Come on.
Very sorry, everyone. Nothing to worry about.
Just a temperamental, but very talented chef.
Oh, my God.
Lauren Park? Or is it still freshman year,
and you go by "Lolo"?
Todd, you can catch up later, please.
So, we have more than enough evidence
to prove that Jax Price is an abusive boss
and guilty of "intentional infliction
of emotional distress."
Yeah, well, my therapy bills alone can prove that.
I can't believe
he's trying to throw out our lawsuit,
like, a week after we filed it.
Don't worry about that, it's very common.
We'll take care of that in the motion to dismiss hearing
this afternoon.
And two of your co-workers have already agreed to testify
on your behalf when we get to the actual trial.
Only two?
He berates everyone on a daily basis.
Half of the staff are on antidepressants because of him.
I find that personally offensive.
These alpha male bosses thinking they can just get away
with trampling all over their employees. Uh, Todd,
get the crumbs off the table, please,
and next time use a plate.
Not to mention alpha female bosses.
Jax has always been harsh,
demanding of excellence,
but lately, he's just been
cruel, like, trying to mess with our heads.
Accusing me of under-seasoning my food, which is a joke.
Was your meal under-seasoned?
Oh, no, not at all.
It was absolutely perfect.
And we will hold Jax
accountable for his atrocious behavior.
Right.
What is it?
I'm just scared.
Portland isn't that big.
Jax has a lot of influence in the culinary world here.
- He can ruin my career. - Lauren,
you told me that, although you love being a chef,
you could not stand one more second of his abuse.
That's why this lawsuit isn't just
about the money. These toxic kitchens have to change.
And I, for one, admire you
for standing up to a bully like Jax.
Wait,
and that pizza you made us... Okay.
When the fire department came?
No, that was not on me.
Those dorm kitchens had terrible ovens.
Yeah, yeah. Terrible.
I can't believe you two are working together now.
Yeah, but maybe not for much longer. Wait, what?
Yeah, well, I've got less than 100 hours left
until I get my P.I. license restored, and then, who knows,
I might go back out on my own, or...
Okay, got to go. I'll see you at the courthouse
later this afternoon.
And it's really nice
that you guys are friends and everything's fine.
Okay, bye.
Bye, Lauren.
It is fine, right? Yeah.
Yes, it's all totally fine.
Even Peter thinks it's fine, and I told him everything.
Wait, you what? You told him what?
I told Peter everything. He knows everything.
Uh... That you're dating Amy now, that I kissed you.
Wait, why would you... Are you serious?
You didn't actually... Does he hate me?
No, of course not.
Peter is very secure. He's not threatened by you at all.
Uh, thank you?
Yeah, he understands that I just, you know, got cold feet.
And I looked over my five-year plan,
and I did put an asterisk next to this year
and labeled it "a crisis of confidence."
I'm an asterisk on your five-year plan?
Yeah, an asterisk.
Marry Peter, buy a house, have a baby,
name it "Ruth" after RBG, become a partner here
and... write a children's book.
Hmm. So anyway, now that
we both have it out of our systems, and all of us know,
it's done, and fine, and we can both move on from it.
Why does everyone think they could write a children's book?
Your Honor, dismissing this lawsuit
sets a dangerous precedent for protecting employee rights.
Or perhaps your client isn't capable of performing
in a high-pressure environment.
Harry Truman said it best. "If you can't stand
the heat, get out of the kitchen."
And if it were 1942,
your archaic quote might bear some weight.
But today, the law protects employees
from the toxic behavior of Mr. Price.
Your Honor, we have signed affidavits from all
of Flora & Fauna's employees denying the allegations
against my client, including
the two employees that were gonna testify against him.
Your Honor, th-this is clearly witness intimidation.
Huh. Other than your client's testimony,
do you have any other witnesses?
Uh, no, Your Honor,
uh, we-we don't, but given the time...
I suggest you refile
when you find them, Counselor.
Motion to dismiss granted.
Don't worry. We will file an appeal.
Jax obviously threatened my co-workers.
They're all afraid of losing their jobs.
He's not gonna get away with it.
Well, you just 86'd your entire career. No decent restaurant's
ever gonna hire you. I'm gonna make sure of it.
Do not speak to my client.
You know, I just think while you deal with Lauren's appeal,
maybe you have another case that I could take on.
Or two or three.
You know, I have evenings and weekends off, so...
Oh, Todd, why the... why the frantic dash to...
sop up the last 100 hours
so you can get your P.I. license back?
Oh, why the mad push to get your name above the door here?
Because I now bring in 32%
of this firm's revenue. Right.
And I deserve it.
Yeah, you're a manager, not an employee.
A leader, not a follower. That's right.
Yeah, you don't want to be working under somebody else.
Oh, I do not. And that's how I feel!
My license will set me free!
I can't be working for my mother forever.
I want to be a professional private investigator again.
Roaming the streets, seeking out crime and fighting it,
a self-employed soldier of fortune.
Self-employed. Again.
Uh, without health insurance.
Again. Oh, boy.
Taking on a small-business overhead.
Again. And without a retirement plan again.
Why are you raining on this particular parade? Because, Todd,
you are my 32-year-old precious son
and my only unmarried child.
And after everything that you have been through,
I would like to see you have a semi-realistic plan
before you go trotting off into the great unknown. Again.
Uh, I have a plan. I have a big plan.
I have a five-year plan. Oh?
Um... buy a house, get married, have a baby,
name it "Ruth" after RBG, um, write a children's book...
Why does everyone think they can write a children's book?
Tell me about it. Uh, I'm sorry, Lauren...
I'm sorry. I... I didn't know where else to go.
Jax is dead.
Lauren, all you have to do is plead "not guilty,"
and I will handle the rest.
Is a jury really going to believe that I went
to go pick up my paycheck, and I found Jax's dead body?
That I left my bloody handprints everywhere because
I was trying to help him?
Our job is to make them believe it.
Who's going to take care of my parents if I go to prison?
Who's going to remind them what the Wi-Fi password is,
or take them to doctor's appointments?
They need me.
It's not going to get to that point, I promise.
All rise for the Honorable Judge Rajkovich.
Be seated.
The charge is murder in the second degree.
How does the defendant plead?
Not guilty.
Your Honor, based on the violent nature of the crime,
the prosecution recommends the defendant be held without bail.
Your Honor, Ms. Park has no criminal history.
We ask that she be released on her own recognizance.
Your client has no alibi, and stabbed Jax Price.
Allegedly. And then fled the scene of a crime
when a produce delivery man saw her.
She is a flight risk.
Your Honor, she fled because she was terrified.
And she did turn herself in.
I'm setting bail at $50,000.
The court will set a date for a preliminary hearing.
Uh, Lauren,
go with the bailiff, fill out the paperwork.
Then you can go home, okay? Okay.
Susan, let's start building a witness list of all of Jax's
current and former employees, and the produce delivery man.
I'll also subpoena Lauren's cell phone records
to bolster her alibi. Yes.
Whatever we can do to establish reasonable doubt. Okay.
What time is it? Good.
Uh, Flora & Fauna should not still be
an active crime scene by now.
She'll be right back.
So, I'm going to go out there with Todd
and see what we can find out.
I don't get fine dining.
Why spend a small fortune on tiny bites and weird sauces?
Because it's delicious,
and it's an experience.
Uh, seven-layer dip is an experience.
And it's only five bucks at that amazing food cart at Nob Hill.
Okay, we need to focus.
We need to speak to whomever we can to get a lead
on an alternate suspect.
Okay, uh, no, no, no, no, no.
Uh, we should separate.
You go on around the back to the kitchen.
You're banishing me to the back like a troll?
I guess you don't want those remaining hours after all.
Okay, fine, I am going, but I'm rounding up.
Sorry. We're closed.
Um, I'm Attorney Margaret Wright.
I'm representing Lauren Park.
Who murdered my friend. Goodbye.
I believe she is innocent, and I'm...
I'm here to collect information, uh, looking for the real killer.
Can we talk?
Lauren was a ticking time bomb with anger issues
who couldn't take criticism, and I don't want to...
Uh, is that the '82 Domaine Saint Rousseau?
You know your wine.
Yes, I do. In fact, last week,
I had a bottle of Chateau Lauzat, '61.
Sit.
Join me.
Thank you.
Oh, thank you.
My name is Rufus. Uh-huh.
Quimby. I own this place.
What's left of it now.
I can't imagine.
Oh, what can you tell me about Jax?
We were like brothers, spent every day together,
built this place from the ground up.
I believed in his talent.
Jax was on the cusp of culinary stardom.
A cookbook, TV offers, more restaurants.
And now he's gone.
I am so sorry for your loss.
Can you tell me about his personal life?
What personal life? He was here 24/7.
It sounds like he was
a very demanding boss.
If you worked here, it's because you wanted to be here.
Everyone wanted to learn from Jax
because he was simply the best.
Did his employees hate him? Yes.
But make no mistake.
They needed him alive.
We all did.
Oh. Uh, excuse me?
Oh, sorry. Didn't mean to sneak up on you there.
You scared me. I could have died. Oh...
I'm in here all alone doing CSI grunt work,
and you scare me to death?
Ah, CSI, huh? That's so cool.
Nothing like running a black light over a murder scene
and seeing it turn into a Pollock painting, am I right?
Who's Pollock? Hey, oh...
How do you go to the bathroom when you're wearing that suit?
You know, I thought about becoming CSI.
That or Batman, 'cause both have suits.
But I went with P.I. instead.
Todd Wright, almost licensed, but not to kill.
I don't shake hands while I'm covered in blood.
I'm Gavin West, CSI Portland.
Are you on a case, or are you just some weirdo
who wandered in here?
No, no, no, I'm on a case. I'm actually on this one.
That's why... I'm here.
Do you actually mind if I ask you a few questions?
What is next for you now that Jax is gone?
I have to deal with this place,
and then I'm taking a very long vacation.
I'm thinking Paris.
Oh, I love Par-ee. Nothing better
than sitting in the Tuileries Garden with a latte...
And a freshly baked croissant.
Steps from the Louvre.
Mm. Oh, it sounds so wonderful.
And you deserve it after everything you've been though.
You should meet me there.
Wow. Ooh.
That is very forward of you.
Do you have Parkinson's disease?
I'm-I'm... I am so sorry.
I didn't mean to snoop. It's just that my...
My ex-husband had Parkinson's.
It's okay. I'm managing it.
Here. If you ever want to talk,
I happen to know quite a bit about that diagnosis,
and... I'd be happy to give any insights.
Thank you.
So, you didn't find anything unusual at this crime scene?
No, it was a standard stabbing.
Led to death, as stabbings tend to do.
Yeah. And no knife?
Not that I saw.
We did find a massive amount
of substances on and around the body, though. Wait.
Substances? What do you mean "substances"?
It's most likely cooking ingredients,
but I bagged and tagged everything for testing.
We should have the results in 48 to 72 hours.
So cool. You know, this is my first restaurant crime scene?
So, I looked this place up.
$500 for one dinner.
I know, right? And cooked by a chef
that sounded like an obnoxious jerk.
Wait. People complained online about Jax?
Oh, yeah, lots of complaints.
Very, very much complaints.
Huh.
Good afternoon, Beverly.
It's not quite noon yet, actually.
I hear you're representing the alleged killer
in the Jax Price murder investigation.
Yes. Sorry I had to break off our dinner
at his restaurant, by the way.
I'm-I'm actually
just on my way to hear what new leads
we've rounded up.
Are you? Mm-hmm.
Maybe I'll join you.
Yeah, of course.
Uh, so, what we're doing, Beverly,
is we're looking at online comments
to see if anyone had a personal grudge against Jax.
Price. The deceased.
So far I've only seen, like, a hundred reviews
of his "yuzu foam."
Is that really a thing? - Yes.
And it's fabulous.
Oh, okay. Good to know.
Yeah... I just don't get why people feel the need
to discuss and photograph
every single thing they eat, you know?
But yeah, no, I-I like photography.
On Flora & Fauna's Yelp page,
the recent reviews all mention how Jax was rude to customers
if they complained about the food.
Oh, well, it sounds like that Michelin Star
went right to his head.
Here's a recent review
from username Noma97
targeting Jax, calling him an "egotistical monster
in need of anger management classes."
Wait, Noma97 also called Jax a "pompous pig"
on this foodie website.
And, look, here's Noma97 on Flora & Fauna's "Insta,"
saying they wish Jax dead.
We got to find this Noma97. I mean, I will. Me.
I will personally discover the identity
of this possible lead.
In a legal and aboveboard fashion.
I might have a way. Hmm?
I clicked on Noma97's Yelp profile page
and I can see all of their reviews.
When I drop pins of all the places
Noma97 reviewed on this map,
we can see that the majority of the reviews
are within a ten-mile radius.
Is there any way to narrow that down to Noma97's location?
Yeah. I... I believe so.
In another review, Noma97 complained about a vintage
mint-green chair and bench set
they purchased for their front yard.
Huh? And when I...
switch the map to street view and peruse the area,
there's that mint-green bench set,
at 7255 Oak Knoll Drive.
Okay, I totally would've figured that out
had I just had, like, a few more minutes.
And the owner of that home is "Beezus Miller."
That, too. Would've got that, too.
Oh, my God. Beezus Miller's on my witness list.
She was a former line cook at Flora & Fauna.
Nice work, Lyle.
Margaret.
Hey, you can't just prowl around
a suspect's house. Todd.
Todd. I am not prowling.
I'm perusing.
We tried the front door. Now I'm trying the back.
I am here at the dwelling
of the Yelp troll and possible chef killer,
but my teammate is grossly compromising
the surveillance effort.
And my teammate Todd Wright is trespassing.
You talk into your watch, too?
No, I'm... I'm mocking you.
And do not go in that door. Todd.
Todd. Todd, don't go in that door.
Todd. Todd!
Do not go in there. Whoa.
Hey, wait. Who are you? Get out of here.
Hmm? Mom?
Lyle! Lyle!
There's a stormtrooper!
Todd? Back it up, Noma97.
How did you know my screen name?
Wait.
What is going on down here?
What's all this Willy Wonka stuff?
It's my molecular gastronomy lab.
I'm making ice cream
with liquid nitrogen.
And the poor ventilation allowed the nitrogen
to displace the oxygen.
That's why you fainted.
Did not faint. I slipped.
Who are you?
And what do you want?
We're investigators,
and we want to know why
you were trashing Jax Price online as Noma97.
Because I got great satisfaction out of it
and I didn't have the guts to say it to his face.
Everybody hates Jax.
Everybody. Not just his employees.
Mm. And where were you last night?
At my new job at the Union Café.
Here, try some peach ice cream.
I've been selling it at the PSU Farmers Market.
No, thank you, I don't eat food
from unlicensed kitchens. Mmm.
Wow. Fainting was totally worth it.
I mean slipping was totally worth it.
So, you said everybody hated Jax?
Yeah, but I'm not gonna name names.
I'm no kitchen snitch.
Really? I wonder what
the Portland Health Department would think
- about the lack of proper ventilation in here. - No, Lyle.
You cannot report her.
This ice cream is fantastic.
Here. Look. But...
You didn't hear this from me.
Have you looked into Sofie Keller?
The head chef at Girl & the Wolf?
She hated Jax,
with, like, a raging passion.
They had this huge rivalry, and once, she threw
a beer bottle at him because she thought
he stole one of her dishes.
Oh, that sounds interesting.
This candy's weird, though.
That's not candy. That's corn smut.
Corn what?
Smut.
Mold that grows on corn.
Oh, Todd.
What in the world possessed you to eat something
called "corn slut"?
S-Smut, not slut. Oh, God.
I feel awful.
But at least we got a lead on a new suspect: Sofie Keller.
Um, do we have the autopsy report?
Yes, and some very interesting new information
on the murder weapon, which they have not found.
"Fatal stab wound made with an implement
"17 centimeters in length,
eight centimeters width with a fine dipped steel point."
"One-centimeter shirakashi Quercus oak wood fragment
from the knife handle found in the wound."
That is a very high-end, very expensive chef's knife.
Yes. One that Sofie might own.
Yes.
Oh. Hello, Rufus.
I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?
Ugh, no, no, no.
There's a man on your floor.
Yes, come in. Come in. No, no. Come in.
This is my son Todd. Hi. Hello. I'm dying.
We've actually been discussing the case. Just come... Good morning.
Hello. I'm dead. The work is here. Come, sit down.
I'm Todd. We can help. Um...
What can you tell us about, um, Chef Sofie Keller?
Are you investigating her? Yes.
Oh, I suppose that makes sense.
It does, doesn't it?
Actually, does it?
Sofie and Jax had been rivals since culinary school.
Last year, when Jax won
Portland's Best Chef over Sofie, she stabbed him
in the arm with a fork.
Do you think that, um, Sofie could have killed him
with, uh, this knife?
Rare Japanese wood? Definitely a custom knife.
And Sofie does collect expensive Japanese knives.
This, by the way,
is for you.
Oh, my.
Consider it a bribe.
I could really use some legal help sorting through
the restaurant lease and some other various
contract matters.
Oh, I-I would be
happy to help.
What do you think this pairs the best with?
A fine tagliatelle with pesto sauce.
Oh, God. Jax showed me how to make an excellent pesto.
I could teach you while we go over the lease.
Oh, well... A trade-off.
Sounds wonderful.
Now if you'll excuse me,
I have another meeting to attend.
We will be in touch.
Mm.
Todd.
You did not just set up a date
during a murder investigation, Mom.
No, no, no, Todd, no.
A-Anyway, my window for dating is closed thanks to Gus Easton.
Rufus and I are just...
new friends, and he...
well, he happens to have Parkinson's, like Harry,
and I offered some advice and support.
He has Parkinson's? That guy?
Yes. Now, Todd,
how are we going to get close to Chef Sofie Keller?
The police are not looking at her as a suspect,
so we do not have access to a search warrant for the knife.
Well, when I have the strength to stand in six weeks,
I will be looking at her as a suspect.
Can you c-close the blinds, please?
It's so bright in here!
Mmm, these are the best muffins you have ever made.
You know me. Stress baking.
Plus, it gave me an excuse to stop by.
Tell me it's gonna be okay and mean it.
It's gonna be okay. I mean it.
And we got the autopsy report back this morning,
and it shows that Jax was killed between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
And your GPS cell phone data suggests
that you were at home until the produce delivery guy
found you with the body at 9:00 a.m.
Okay. Won't they just say that I left my phone at home,
and that I dodged all the surveillance cameras?
We can establish reasonable doubt.
And if we find a viable alternative suspect,
then we have a very strong case.
If I'd just listened to my parents
and not gone to culinary school, I would not be in this position.
That was never gonna happen. You love cooking.
And if I hear my parents say one more time
"We did not leave Korea so that you can be a...
Cook in the kitchen."
I'm just...
I should've been the "good Asian daughter" like you
and become a lawyer. Or a doctor.
But I didn't just become a lawyer
because my parents pressured me into it.
It just so happens that I'm a big nerd
and ever since mock trial in high school,
I enjoy curling up to a stack of law journals.
I'm sorry.
You're such a weirdo.
I can't believe you're the same person
who did keg stands in college, and dated Todd.
Well, you know, I was a different person back then.
Mm-hmm. Well, Peter is a total course correction.
I know your parents love him.
They are hardcore Team Peter. Just like I am.
Oh, good, you're here. Lauren.
I need a favor.
How do I go about getting a table at Girl & the Wolf?
Girl & the Wolf? Are you okay?
Smut, yeah. I need to investigate Sofie Keller.
Apparently, she had some ugly past with Jax.
Is she the alternative suspect?
Uh, yeah. Wow.
She's terrifying. Uh...
Okay, uh, Girl & the Wolf.
I feel like they're gonna be booked up solid forever.
So if you're not gonna get in with a reservation,
the only way in would be through the back?
As a dishwasher.
Huh.
Oh, Todd, I'm not going to let you go in there.
You are barely alive.
Not to mention you've never washed a dish in your life.
Mom, they're expecting me now.
I had to pull every trick in the book to get this job.
Okay? I had the lady call five burner phones
and it was me on all of them... Okay.
Being French, Polish, elderly,
all of us recommending me
as dishwasher. Okay.
Now, luckily they were "hideously short-staffed"
so I'm in. Okay. Okay.
I just got to go in there... All right.
Find that knife... Okay.
And I'm gonna puke. All right.
What-what... No, no, no, no! Don't get it in the car.
No, out, out, out. Don't get it on the car. Ow!
Oh, my God. Okay, I'm fine. I am fine.
I'm just very cold and it's really bright out.
No, God, it is night outside.
Wright? T. Wright?
Here for the dishwasher position?
That's my cue.
Wright? Todd Wright?
Oh, God, okay. Okay, never mind.
I will go do it myself.
I don't want Beverly thinking
I'm just dropping the ball on all this.
I'm not even dressed to be a dishwasher.
This is a very expensive suit.
There we go. Okay.
Hello.
Hi. I'm Toddalina Wright.
I am here for the dishwashing position.
Why didn't I bring my jacket?
Wow, you look really... dressed up.
Well, you know, I just like to dress to impress.
Shall we?
Okay. Oh, God, it's so bright.
Oh, my God.
Do you know who that is?
Oh, it's Jean Paul Depuis, the notorious restaurant critic.
He always wears disguises. He's here.
That guy looks sick.
Oh, he is disgusted by everything.
Get him a table.
Quick, Ansel, take his car.
Someone, play Erasure, now.
This is huge.
Excuse me, sir.
Mr. Depuis? Uh...
We have a table waiting for you.
Please follow me. Uh, o-okay.
♪ A little something to make me sweeter ♪
♪ Oh, baby, refrain... ♪
Good evening, Mr. Depuis. A pleasure to serve you tonight.
Tonight's amuse-bouche, a foie gras tartlet
with sour cherry sauce and a goat cheese foam.
Oh.
Please enjoy it
before this foam dissipates.
Ooh. Hmm. You mean, right-right now?
Yeah, sure. Foam, my favorite.
This is, uh, cheese foam.
That's, uh, different.
I can see you are a true gourmand.
Yes, I'm gonna put this foam in my review, for sure.
You know, um...
this meal is already better than the one I had
at Flora & Fauna, right before that prick Jax got killed.
Chef Sofie Keller, more like Sofie Killer,
is an emotionless Swedish robot.
High probability she killed Jax...
along with my stomach.
Be sure to log an extra hour for digestive distress.
Yes, Chef!
Yes, Chef. Yes, Chef.
Okay.
Oh, God. I don't know what this stuff is.
Okay, what is this?
This is how you dress.
For scullery work.
Yes, Chef!
It shows initiative. Style.
You are promoted. Go out and clear tables.
Yes, Chef. Thank you, Chef.
Rory, I've told you numerous times
never to go in there. Never.
And do not touch my knives.
Yes, Chef. Sorry, Chef.
Mmm. Oh.
Sorry. Thank you.
Todd?
Huh? What are you doing here?
And wearing my jacket.
I don't know, okay? They think I'm some food critic.
They just shoved me in here. What have you found out?
Sofie is guarding her knives very carefully,
and she is hiding something in the pantry.
We have to get in there.
Come on.
Busboy. In a minute.
Beverly.
Margaret?
Oh...
What are you doing here?
I might ask you the same thing.
I believe you know Eve Wexler.
Oh, yes, I do. Uh, Eve.
It is so lovely to see you again.
Well, clearly, Beverly doesn't pay me enough,
so I'm moonlighting.
No, I'm just joking.
I am doing research. That's what I'm doing here.
I've got to go.
Enjoy your meal.
Did you throw up in my purse? What?
I cannot believe that Beverly Crest saw me here.
In an apron. It was humiliating.
And now she's eating dinner with Eve Wexler.
Yeah. Who was that? Oh, Eve is a prominent
Portland patent attorney.
And I heard rumors that Beverly was considering her
for named partner, and now they're here having dinner.
Yeah, well, joke's on them, the food here is disgusting.
Although I think throwing up
all that foam actually made me feel better.
Now, if I was a knife used to murder my sworn enemy,
where would I be hiding?
I mean, it makes perfect sense.
With the booming tech sector in Portland,
hiring a patent attorney
would fill a certain niche at the firm.
Meanwhile, my niche is apparently now washing dishes.
Whoa.
Hello, small hidden potential murder freezer.
Mom, open it. W-Wha... Why me, Todd?
Well, I'm a little queasy, still.
Whoa.
I wouldn't touch that if I were you.
What are you doing in here, Mr. Depuis?
And are you wearing her jacket?
Or are you wearing his pants?
He is not a food critic, and I am not a table busser.
We are a lawyer and an investigator.
That's right, she's terrible at bussing,
and we demand to know what is in this freezer.
Is it dead bodies? Parts of dead bodies?
Obviously, you used that knife to chop up
your victims, put it in there.
Is that the same knife you used to kill Jax?
Huh? You make a foam out of his blood?
Wait, did I just eat blood? Is this a cannibal restaurant?
This is a cannibal restaurant, isn't it? Oh, my God, I knew it.
Stop talking.
What is all that? Heads and hands?
Shark fin. Japanese puffer fish.
Which is illegal in the U.S.
We serve private dinners to our very exclusive clients.
And I did not kill Jax.
Yeah? Is your alibi as carefully prepared
as that nonsense you made me eat?
Which did help my stomach, by the way, thank you.
The night that Jax died, I was at a meditative sound bath
in Bend working on my anger issues...
Clearly, it worked. which a dozen people can verify.
Truth is, I stopped envying Jax when I saw how miserable he was.
He was in a very dark place lately.
Depressed, acting erratically.
I think that the pressure and success caused him to relapse.
Wait, relapse? He had a drug problem?
He was in and out of rehab early in his career, yes.
All those Yelp reviews saying
that he was rude to all of his customers...
Do you think that his erratic behavior
could've been caused by drug use?
If he was crossing paths with dealers and addicts...
Then maybe that's what got him killed.
How can you possibly eat a breakfast burrito every morning?
- It just goes down really well. - Morning.
Todd, there's a guy from forensics here to see you.
Oh, I know that guy.
Who is that guy? Mom, this is Gavin,
from CSI Portland.
CSI Portland? Mm-hmm. It's not a TV show.
It's a real job.
Ah, yes. Well, how can we help you?
Every crime scene tells a story, and from this story,
several chapters are missing.
I bagged 23 different substances
from on and around the victim's body
to send to the lab for testing.
I am very thorough.
But all 23 are listed here, aren't they?
Listed? Yeah, but only 14 of them were actually tested.
- And the other eight? - Nine.
And the other nine?
My supervisor just did a visual assessment,
assuming that they're just cooking ingredients.
They assumed?
Okay, so what are the other substances?
Is there any chance they could be illegal drugs?
Mm... We can't know unless we test them.
Contextual bias is clearly at play here.
The police are cherry-picking the evidence
that supports whomever they want to convict; clearly, Lauren.
This is insufficient crime scene testing.
It happens all the time.
Not to me. Not to me.
Susan, we need to file a motion
for independent testing right away.
These are the new test results from the crime scene.
It's not drugs, it's just food, cooking ingredients.
Vitamin E, curcumin?
Another dead end.
If Lauren goes to jail, it's my fault.
Our fault. None of our leads panned out
from the witness list, and the produce delivery guy
is standing by his original statement.
We are failing her, Todd.
Hey, don't be so hard on yourself.
We'll figure it out.
Something will show up. Something will.
Todd, hi. Hi, Susan.
Um, do you have my clothes?
Clothes? What clothes? I am working right now
with Susan on a murder case, so...
You're supposed to have my clothes.
From Chuck.
Oh, right, yes, I do have those.
Can you hold this for a second?
What is this list?
Coenzyme Q10, creatine,
vitamins C, E, curcumin.
They're cooking ingredients.
Well, someone's cooking up a big antioxidant smoothie.
Wait, seriously?
Todd, this is how you bring me my clothes? In a trash bag?
What am I, Oscar the Grouch?
Uh, you're welcome for your laundry service, thank you.
Wait. Allison?
Sorry, Allison, what did you just say about antioxidants?
Okay, the items on this list that Todd just thrust upon me
are all... yep, they're all antioxidants.
And this particular combo are often used
as a homeopathic remedy for various neurological disorders
like dementia or Parkinson's.
Parkinson's?
You said Parkinson's? Yeah, I said Parkinson's.
Rufus, Jax's business partner, he has Parkinson's.
Hmm, well, this report states
that Jax... That's the angry chef?
Dead angry chef. Dead angry chef apparently had kidney stones
due to high levels of curcumin.
So, as a doctor, I would hazard a guess
that he's the one taking these supplements,
and he's the one who has Parkinson's.
Had Parkinson's.
Rufus and Jax, they can't both have Parkinson's, right?
I mean, they can, but that's too weird a coincidence.
Right? Unless Rufus lied.
But why?
Hello, Rufus.
A little something from my travels in Tuscany.
You haven't lived until you've been to Parma
and tasted a freshly cut wheel of Parmesan.
Jax used to call the grated stuff
they sell in grocery stores a crime against humanity.
Oh, well, do not look in my fridge, then.
Did anything turn up with Sofie Keller?
Or are there any new leads?
Nothing concrete, unfortunately.
And we're not looking at Sofie anymore.
This wine is superb.
It's the complexity of flavor.
A wide range of notes.
Oak, cherry...
Uh-huh. Mmm, cassis.
Mmm. That subtle spice.
You are lucky that you have not lost you sense of taste.
My ex Harry, he couldn't taste a thing
because of his Parkinson's.
Turned every meal into a salt lick.
Well, I-I hope to dodge that bullet,
but until then, I'll drink as much wine as I can.
And cheers.
Excuse me one second.
Hello?
Hey, it's me. Uh, uh, tell her what you told me.
Who's her? Who are you talking to? I-It's Mom. It's your mother.
Ow, you just hit me in the face with your phone.
I am sorry, I didn't mean to do that. Would you just share
all the information you just dumped on me?
Oh, I dumped it?
Okay, imparted to me. Will you just tell her the thing?
Your phone smells like cheese. Whatever. It's vomit.
Hello? What is this regarding, please?
Okay, Mom, uh, we got the independent lab test results
back from the crime scene, and it wasn't drugs.
Now go. Okay.
The test results came back
with residue from an antioxidant regimen
that's typically used to treat Parkinson's.
No, no, no, but get this.
And? Next? Okay. God. Sorry. Okay.
So the report suggests that Jax Price
was the one taking these antioxidants.
He was the one who had Parkinson's. Happy?
Yes. They can't both have it, can they?
I'm... I'm not sure.
But, um, but I-I have to go.
Uh, I have a guest here now.
Rufus is here cooking dinner.
Wait, Rufus is there with you?
Yes, and if you could please just pick up the dessert
like we spoke about
and then drop it off here on your way home,
that would be great. We did?
I am? Did you tell Mom you'd get dessert? No.
Oh, wait. Wait, yes, oh, my God. Oh, my God. You know what?
Uh, we will leave right now and we'll call the police.
What? Yes.
Mom, you think Rufus lied to you?
I'm about to find out.
Find out what?
If you're a good cook.
I'll start chopping this.
And I'll slice the baguette.
Your knife skills are very impressive.
Fortunately, you're not experiencing any tremors yet.
Oof.
What are you doing?
You should always use
a serrated knife to cut bread.
And always cut
at a 45-degree angle like this.
Oh.
Hmm.
So...
are you on any kind of Parkinson's medication?
Not yet, no.
Oh.
I'm just curious,
uh, if-if you're not taking medication,
and-and you, you don't have any symptoms,
what led to your diagnosis of Parkinson's?
If you actually do have it.
I mean, come on. It all makes perfect sense now.
Jax berating Lauren for her lack of seasoning
because he had lost his sense of taste,
the yelling at customers, the erratic behavior.
Jax had Parkinson's. Not you.
And I bet that if we look
at your recent credit card transactions,
we'll find a purchase of a certain,
very high-end Japanese knife.
Jax hid his diagnosis from me.
Let me invest my money in his new ventures,
knowing he was sick,
knowing he wouldn't be able to cook much longer.
He was in denial.
And-and you felt betrayed.
Even when I finally found out the truth,
I told him I would support him.
But he wanted to quit cooking and leave town.
I would've lost... everything.
So you killed him.
No. No! No, no, please, let me...
Police! Get down on the ground! - Mom!
Down on the ground!
Oh! Oh, my God.
Mom, are you okay?
I'm fine.
And thankfully, so is this very expensive bottle of wine.
Your Honor, given recent developments in the case,
the State would like to drop all charges
against the defendant Lauren Park.
This case is dismissed.
Thank you so much.
And I look forward to having
some more of your cooking again very soon.
Well, actually, uh, there's a position open for a head chef
at this little place in the Pearl,
and I'm gonna go for it now.
Well, maybe you'll actually have the chance
to be the kind of boss that you deserve to have.
And I expect a standing table.
Obviously. You both will.
Especially since you risked your life to help me.
Who does that?
Oh, hey, Lauren.
I heard the great news.
Yes, case dismissed. 86'd.
Um, I'll see you guys outside?
Okay.
Out of the fire and into the frying pan. Mm-hmm.
A happy ending. For all of us.
Wait, what do you mean?
You know, like-like I said, you and Susan are friends again
and she got over the whole...
The whole... Breakup.
After college.
I mean, sure, she's the one that dumped you,
because she wanted a different lifestyle
and stability, but she was devastated.
For years.
For years?
You didn't know that.
But it's all good now, right?
Yeah. Look, I should probably
get going, but please thank your mom again for me.
Yeah, of course. Yes. Oh, and congrats.
Thank you. Yeah.
Hey, so I, uh, drew up a real five-year plan.
Oh, you did? I did.
Yes. Uh, get my P.I. license back...
Oh, I just signed off on 27 more investigative hours.
Great. Uh, get my own apartment,
solve more murders, 20 to 25 a year,
per year. Ooh, that's a lot of murders.
Well, I'm not committing them. I'm solving them.
I see. Visit Rhode Island.
Get married, have kids.
Ooh, helicopter battle. Mm-hmm.
Uh, go on the run. You know, like, be on the lam
for at least two weeks. I see.
I want someone to jump in my car and yell, "Follow that car."
I am not driving home with you.
Okay, well, it's not gonna happen today.
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