[gentle music]
[Charles] Julie, it's 6:51 a.m.
It's a cool morning.
Slightly overcast.
I am recording my first message.
End message.
[recorder beeps]
[phone ringing]
Oh, shoot.
-What do I…? Uh… -[phone continues ringing]
No. No, no. No.
Hey, sweetheart.
Whoa! Why's the phone so close to your face?
Oh, sorry. I can't figure this thing out. [laughs]
I was just calling to wish you good luck
on your first gardening-painting-photography class.
Thank you. Yeah.
Actually, I'm just heading out now.
I'm just, uh, locking the front door here.
[mimics a locking sound] Uh, and going down the stairs.
[out of breath] I'm gonna get in the car and head over.
I should probably sign off.
-Okay. Bye, Dad. -[disconnection tone]
Nice work, Nieuwendyk.
[intriguing music]
[theme music]
Okay. I brought everything you forgot to pack.
Underpants, dental floss, an electric blanket.
Is it cold in your room?
No. No, no. Just, I always hear about those things.
I thought maybe while you were out.
This cost me $110.
Oh, hey. Check this out.
I gave my spy persona a trademark.
Spy Charles… wears a pocket square.
That's how you'll know that I'm in spy mode.
Regular Charles. Spy Charles. Regular. Spy Charles.
You do understand that you are in spy mode the entire time you're here.
Then this sucker stays put.
Okay. So today, phase two.
Lay low, meet people, start compiling a list of suspects.
You all set? Got your phone?
Camera glasses?
Recorder? Are you just tapping different parts of your body?
Yes. [laughs nervously]
I left everything in my room. I'm just so excited.
-I'll be right back. -Mm.
Oh. Thank you. Sure.
Hello. I'm Charles.
-Jaylen. Great to meet you. -[camera clicks]
Welcome to Pacific View. I'm one of the drivers.
Hello. I'm Charles.
-[camera clicks] -I'm Jan.
Hi there, Jan.
I'm new here.
I don't want any.
Uh, don't want any what?
Whatever you're selling. Beat it.
Julie, it is 9:02 a.m.
Already met a lot of… potential contacts.
-I'm now on my way into breakfast. -[recorder beeps]
[indistinct chatter]
-[recorder beeps] -Julie, it's 9:03.
Changed my mind.
I think I'm going to do some more observing before I eat.
[recorder beeps]
-Hey, Charles. -Didi.
-Hey. -How was breakfast?
[sighs] I'm not really a breakfast kind of guy.
I think I'm gonna go back up and, you know, finish unpacking.
Sounds good. See you later.
[melancholy music]
[indistinct voices]
-Oh. -Oh.
-Good morning, Professor.
Welcome to Pacific View.
I'm Florence, and that's Virginia.
We've already met. I told you he looks good in a suit.
-Hm. -[Florence] You hungry?
Uh, you know, I'm not really a breakfast guy.
[Virginia] It's 11 o'clock. It's lunch.
-Come on, Teach. -Well… Look… Okay.
-You're gonna love this. -[laughing]
-Where'd you get this suit? -Is it a Brooks Brothers?
Ooh, it feels expensive.
Boy, everything looks so good. I don't know what to order.
Afternoon, ladies. The usual?
Yep. And he'll have a BLT, and I'm guessing an Arnold Palmer.
-Good guess. -[laughs]
And slip him a slice of that cheesecake.
-That's for dinner. -[Virginia] Oh, come on.
It's his first day. Charles, this is Laverne.
She works the lunch shift on weekdays.
And she's just so beautiful and so sweet. And make that three pieces of cheesecake?
-Last time. -[laughing]
[laughing]
So, what's with the decorations on my door?
Oh, we do that with everyone.
We are the unofficial Pacific View welcome wagon.
[Charles] Ah.
-Sign up for classes on Monday. -Hm.
Do not take any yoga classes from Nancy.
You'll need new legs.
I don't do yoga.
I'm naturally flexible.
Ah.
Most important thing to know, happy hour starts at three o'clock.
I guess the best part about going to bed at eight
is you get to start drinking at three.
-Yeah. -[laughing]
He's got it. [laughs]
[Virginia] You're gonna fit in great.
[phone ringing]
[sighs]
Hey, sorry. I got caught up. I'm leaving in just a sec.
[man] Remember the kids wanted a trampoline,
and we tried to guess who'd be first to break a bone?
Oh, God.
[sighs]
Which kid and how bad?
[man] Three-way tie.
[Emily] Okay, so first they saw a basketball.
Then they saw a ladder.
-Then they saw the trampoline. -Correct.
And they decided to dunk the ball by climbing up the ladder,
jumping off the trampoline, toward the hoop?
Well, Nico tried and then went flying and landed on his wrist.
Then, undeterred by Nico's screams of pain,
Jace put Wyatt on the trampoline,
jumped off the ladder to try to bounce Wyatt up to the hoop,
and then Jace went flying,
and then Wyatt went flying
and landed on Nico.
And everybody broke everything.
Yo, I left my shoes at the hospital.
-[camera clicks] -[Charles] Thank you.
Trying to document everything for my daughter.
And that's…
Beverly.
-Beverly and Peggy? -Peggy.
Two lovely names for two lovely ladies.
Virginia told us you were a real charmer.
-Ah. -Ah, that one.
She's such a flirt.
-Watch out for her, Professor. -Okay.
Hello, darling.
-Oh. -I have something for you.
I used to work in theater, doing costumes.
I give them away as welcome gifts to all the new residents.
This is from a revival of Guys and Dolls.
As is my dress.
Thank you, um…
-Gladys. -Gladys. Sorry. Charles.
Um, would… would you like a drink?
Oh, I never stay long at these things.
First rule of show business, leave 'em wanting more.
Ah.
-I'll take that drink, Professor. -Okay.
Maybe he can help.
-Charles. Beverly. -A Manhattan, please.
Sure. Excellent choice. Let me just Google a Manhattan.
[Charles] Jaylen, right?
Didn't you tell me you were a driver?
Yeah. Garrett threw his back out.
And when Didi hired me,
she said the one thing no one ever says around here is,
-"That's not my job." -[Beverly laughs]
May I?
I make a mean Manhattan.
-Sure. Yeah. -It was my wife's drink.
Hey, we're quite the team, now, here.
-We'll have to put you to work, Charles. -[laughing]
Elliott. Whiskey neat, right?
Good man.
Hey, do you smoke cigars?
I get only the finest direct from Cuba.
-Really? -Well, not direct from Cuba.
From a smoke shop. But, you know… Cuba before that.
Join me sometime.
We tomcats gotta stick together in a hen house like this.
Actually, you would be amazed
at how well felines and chickens can cohabitate.
-What? -Oh, ladies.
Where have you been?
Don't make me explain the concept of fashionably late.
And why are you behind the bar?
The whole point in moving here is to avoid working.
-[laughs] -That's 'cause he's a man of the world.
I'll take one of your famous Manhattans.
-How about I make you a whiskey sour? -How about you make me miserable?
Step on it, Professor, and make it dirty.
A dirty Manhattan?
[funky upbeat music]
[laughing]
Shame on you.
You were a professor of engineering.
Did you enjoy that?
[Charles] Yes, very much.
I like structures, puzzles.
I'm very good at finding solutions.
You look like you could use a drink.
Well, that's the last thing I need, but thank you.
[laughter]
It's good to see you loosening up.
Last time I was this drunk was, ah, at a Jackson Browne concert in 1975.
[others laugh]
-Yeah. -When's the last time you smoked grass?
-At a Jackson Browne concert in 1975. -[laughing]
[soft jazz music]
That is the most beautiful bridge in the world.
The original design, made by Joseph Strauss,
was rejected 'cause it was too ugly.
He had to do the whole thing again.
You sure know a lot of facts.
[all laughing]
[Charles] I do. I do.
I do know a lot of facts.
You have to know facts when you teach, so I learned them.
I wrote a whole book about the Golden Gate Bridge.
It's called…
-The Bridges of Madison County. -[all laugh]
No, that's a different book.
-Meryl Streep was in that book. -[all laughing hysterically]
I can't remember the name of my book.
[all laughing hysterically]
And I wrote it!
It's getting chilly. Maybe we should go inside.
I, for one, would like more bridge facts.
Maybe I could hear more facts over dinner tomorrow night.
-I would love that. -Ooh!
[snoring heavily]
-[Julie] Morning. -[gasps]
Ha.
Oh, thank God.
Coffee.
Well, one of those was very obviously for me.
-But-- -Sorry.
No, keep it, 'cause clearly you're still drunk or hungover or both.
[coughs]
Hey, Charles.
When I said to lay low, what did that mean to you exactly?
[Charles] I did lay low. I…
Yeah, I met a ton of people, but I… I was very discreet. Blended right in.
There's an entire pizza stuck to your back.
[chuckles] Oh.
Thank God. I'm starving.
-Oh. -[Charles] So…
-No, this is better. -Okay.
[Charles clears throat] I do have a report.
-Smoked a little grass last night… -[Julie] Mm.
Just to be part of the group. Would have been suspicious if I didn't.
-I'm sorry, is that your report? -Yeah.
This place is insane!
It's like high school.
I never expected this. It's like…
All the people here are… You know, they're cliquey, and they're…
And they're rowdy, and they're horny.
-Uh. -Somebody…
Somebody asked me out on a date last night.
But who?
All right. Look, man.
This isn't the JFK assassination,
but Helen Cubbler did have her necklace stolen,
and I'm not about to blow this case because you got high
and smashed a meat lover's into a $110 electric blanket.
All right. You're right. You're right. What's next?
Make contact with Helen.
She doesn't know her son hired us. He doesn't want her to worry.
So… light touch.
And also, just generally…
pull it together.
Thank you.
Now, this is me and Steven and Mary Beth, Edgar, and David,
and we're on the bridge.
And this is me and Mary Beth, and we're in front of the hotel.
Well, you can't see David because he's taking the picture.
-I don't want to take up your time, Helen. -And I have--
Oh, it's fine.
Now, this is Steven, and this is Edgar and Edgar's friend Bill.
And they're at the restaurant.
And…
-Who the heck took that picture? -Helen. Helen, I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry, but I need to be in a… a different place.
But it's been a pleasure talking with you, Ms. Cubbler.
Oh, I'm not Helen Cubbler.
I'm Helen Braithwaite.
Uh, would you like to see a picture of Helen Cubbler?
-I'm sure I have one. -I probably should see that, yes.
Yeah, I think it's in this one here.
So, Ms. Cubbler.
-It is Ms. Cubbler? -Yes.
Right. Okay.
Um, are you enjoying Pacific View?
It's too foggy to enjoy anything.
Well, I… I just moved in, so I'm a little at sea.
But would you say you feel safe here?
I don't like that I can't see the horizon because of the fog.
Right, but fog aside, how do you generally--
Well, didn't that tramp Virginia show you around?
Why are you asking me all this?
You know, I really would like to hear more about how secure you feel.
For example, do you lock your door when you leave?
Or do you-- What are you doing?
I don't like this conversation.
No, no, no. Hey, don't. No, please don't. Listen, I beg you.
I'm not doing anything.
Don't pull it. Please don't. Oh, come on. Don't you dare.
Don't.
[alarm sounds]
So… you met Helen Cubbler.
[sighs] Didi, I am so sorry.
[Didi] It's okay.
She's a little cranky sometimes.
She's been on edge for the past few weeks.
She claims her necklace was stolen.
-Oh? -For the record, I don't believe it was.
But the point is, you spooked her, so do me a favor and steer clear.
Yeah, yeah. Um, can I ask you,
why don't you think that the necklace was stolen?
I've been doing this a long time.
Normally, when something is "stolen,"
it almost always turns up between couch cushions.
But if you have security concerns, come to me.
My only goal is for new residents to feel safe and happy.
You're the reason Florence and Virginia came to my room, right?
-I call them my closers. -Okay.
[Didi] Those two help ease the transition.
Although Virginia was coming to your room one way or another.
[chuckles nervously]
Julie, it's 2:36 p.m.
A few bumps in the road today, if I'm being honest.
But I have some theories.
I'm thinking back to a conversation I had yesterday with a woman named Jan.
-Beat it. -She seemed very agitated.
Like she had something to hide.
If we're making a list of suspects, I would put her name right at the top.
Julie, Jan is dead.
[elevator dings]
Looking forward to our date tonight, Professor.
Hm?
Oh. Yes, yes, yes, me too.
[chuckles]
See you tonight!
Okay.
[elevator dings]
[mysterious music]
Hello, darling.
[Charles] Gladys, right?
Charles. We met at happy hour.
Yes, I remember.
Can I ask you, did you happen to see anyone outside my room just now?
I didn't. We don't get that many visitors down at the end of the hallway.
Thanks anyway.
Know who put it there?
-I do not. -[Julie sighs]
What do you think it means?
I think it means someone already knows what you're up to,
which in turn means the operation might be over before it even begins.
Ah.
All right. Here you go.
This has red sauce. I hate red sauce.
I know. I made some with butter and Parmesan, okay?
-Can I have peanut butter and jelly? -Sure. If you make it yourself.
I can't. Because of my fingers.
They're not gonna make a separate dinner just for you.
-Shut up. -Wyatt.
Fine. I'll make it.
Where's the bread?
In the fridge.
-Where's the peanut butter? -In the fridge.
Just ask it. I know you want to.
-Where's the jelly? -In the fridge, buddy.
I can't find it. It's not in here.
-Bro. -What? It's not in here.
-Want to eat in the other room? -Yep.
Great.
-Where's a knife? -[man] Oh my God.
-Bro, where's a knife? -[man] Mm.
I mean, the baseline of our job is keep them alive,
and we're barely doing that.
Sometimes, I get so scared that we blew it.
-Did we blow it? We did. -Yep. No question.
-We blew it, right? Okay. -Oh, yeah.
I think we need to think about starting over.
Like, what's the deal with leaving kids at a fire station?
People do that?
-[laughs] -Mm.
[Emily] For real, though…
What are we doing wrong?
[melancholy music]
-[recorder beeps] -[Charles] Julie, it's 6:18 p.m.
About to head out to dinner with Virginia.
I've been mulling over the day's events, and…
I, I think…
I think I might be terrible at this.
I don't know how to be a spy.
I…
I'm not in law enforcement.
You know, this is nuts.
I… I'm not supposed to be doing this.
I'm supposed to be having a glass of red wine with my wife
and taking her to the dog park so she can… look at dogs.
Julie, I'm sorry,
but choosing me was a mistake.
[recorder beeps]
[recorder] Memo erased.
Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner,
but I need to tell you something. [clears throat]
Victoria died about a year ago.
Everyone said, "Give it time. You'll get back on your feet."
But that… just hasn't happened.
I'm still in love with my wife.
I lost my Steven six years ago.
It took me a long time to move on.
And I didn't even like him that much.
[both chuckle]
So, I understand.
Can't say I'm not disappointed.
Anyway… sorry again.
And, please, enjoy your dinner.
Oh no, you don't have to leave.
You can have dinner with a friend, can't you?
Yeah, I can.
Thank God, because it took me 40 minutes to create this updo with my bursitis.
[both chuckle lightly]
What's good here?
Everything.
If you drink enough.
[chuckles]
[Emily] Hi, Dad.
Hey, sweetheart. I'm just calling to say good night.
How's your class going?
Well, you know, my… tools are a bit rusty,
but I'm getting the hang of it.
-How are you? -Oh, incredible.
It's just been a banner week here at 280 Clark Street.
All three of your grandsons have broken bones.
On the same day?
On the same trampoline.
Well, are they all right?
They'll be fine.
So, I pretty much locked up that Mother of the Year award.
Joel and I are just, um, really nailing it.
You know, when I was 12, I tried to jump my bike over a ditch
behind the house and got two stitches in my lips.
And when you were 14,
you tried to iron your hair on an ironing board.
Yeah, 'cause you wouldn't buy me a flat iron.
Also, my hair looked amazing.
And remember when you were 17?
You tried to sneak out, and the alarm went off?
And then you told your mom that a raccoon had gotten into your room
and you were just trying to get it out?
Why are you listing my childhood failures?
I'm trying to focus on my adult failures.
Look, every parent second-guesses every choice they make.
It's… You know, there's no avoiding it.
But… [sighs]
What's more likely?
That you and Joel, two smart and lovely people,
poured your lives into raising those kids, somehow both failed?
Or that they did something stupid because teenagers are stupid?
[chuckles]
The simplest explanation is usually the right one.
Thanks, Dad.
Night, sweetheart.
Good night.
[mysterious music]
[knocking]
Come in.
Well, look who's here.
The life of the party. The human disco ball.
-You wrote this, didn't you? -No. What are you talking about?
You saw Virginia flirting with me, and you got jealous.
That's what this is about. Not… you know, any other thing.
I don't even know what else it could be about, frankly.
Listen, buddy…
I did not write that note, and frankly, you are starting to piss me off.
This paper reeks of cigar smoke.
Okay, fine. I wrote it. Who cares? Stay away from Virginia.
There's a lot of history with us.
She gave me this watch.
A 1979 Cartier Tank.
This is the level of class she's accustomed to.
She's not going to go for a… cheap knockoff.
We're dressed pretty similarly.
-Well… -What's up, E?
Van's available if you wanna run out. Charles, errands you want to run?
Ah, no, there's no room in the van.
-Yeah, there is. Seats ten. -Van's full.
Okay. I'll be outside.
Does the staff just walk right into the rooms like that?
Some of them, if you know them.
Get out of my room, weirdo.
Sorry. Yes.
The note was just about a romantic entanglement,
not my cover being blown.
-Solved that, at least. -[Julie] Well, that's a relief.
All right, we'll assume the investigation's intact for now.
Oh, you know, one other thing.
Some of the staff members appear to be friendly enough
with the residents that they just walk in and out of the rooms
without even knocking, so…
you know, maybe that's how one of them was able to steal the necklace
without drawing attention.
[Julie] Huh.
Okay. Find out if Helen has a staff member who fits the bill.
-Good work, Charles. -[disconnection tone]
"Good work, Charles."
["For a Dancer" by Jackson Browne plays]
"Good work, Charles."
♪ Pay attention to the open sky ♪
♪ You never know What will be coming down ♪
♪ I don't remember losing track of you ♪
♪ You were always dancing In and out of view ♪
♪ I must've thought You'd always be around ♪
♪ Always keeping things real By playing the clown ♪
♪ Now you're nowhere to be found ♪
[door creaks]
♪ I don't know what happens When people die ♪
♪ Can't seem to grasp it As hard as I try ♪
♪ It's like a song I can hear Playing right in my ear ♪
♪ But I can't sing I can't help listening ♪
♪ And I can't help feeling stupid Standing 'round ♪
♪ Crying as they ease you down ♪
♪ Cause I know That you'd rather we were dancing ♪
♪ Dancing our sorrow away ♪
♪ Right on dancing ♪
♪ No matter what fate chooses to play ♪
♪ Nothing you can do about it anyway ♪
♪ Just do the steps That you've been shown ♪
♪ By everyone you've ever known ♪
♪ Until the dance becomes your very own ♪
♪ No matter how close to yours ♪