Episode aired on October 25, 2020
Grace Fraser is a successful psychotherapist who lives in Manhattan with her husband Jonathan, an oncologist, and their young son Henry, who attends the elite Reardon School. Grace helps some of the other Reardon parents plan an auction event, where she meets an enigmatic woman named Elena. Grace continues to encounter Elena over the next several days: once in a gym bathroom, where a fully nude Elena approaches her and remarks on her “kindness”, and later at the auction itself, where Grace finds Elena crying in the bathroom and consoles her. As she leaves the event, Elena kisses Grace on the lips in the elevator. The next day, Elena’s body is discovered in her studio by her young son, also a Reardon student. The police rule the case a murder and question Grace and her friends; Elena’s husband is noted as a potential suspect. Grace attempts to reach Jonathan, who is supposedly at an oncology conference in Cleveland, but finds that he has left his smartphone at their apartment. Unable to trace her husband’s whereabouts, Grace becomes paranoid and experiences visions of the scene of Elena’s murder.
♪ Stars shining bright above you ♪
♪ night breezes seem to whisper I love you ♪
♪ birds singing in the sycamore tree ♪
♪ dream a little dream of me ♪
♪ say nighty-night and kiss me ♪
♪ just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me ♪
♪ while I’m alone and blue as can be ♪
♪ dream a little dream of me ♪
♪ sweet dreams till sunbeams find you ♪
♪ sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you ♪
♪ but in your dreams whatever they be ♪
♪ dream a little ♪
♪ dream of me ♪
Where is she?
She’s in her studio.
She’s workin’.
Why hasn’t she come back?
Mm-hmm.
It’s crap. It’s cra… could you just turn that down a bit?
Please. I’m trying to concentrate…
What?
On a very delicate operation, here.
Blenders don’t have volume control.
Well, that’s a pathetic excuse. Just turn it down, anyway.
Dad.
Yeah.
I did some research last night.
Yes?
On golden doodles.
Oh, god…
And they don’t shed.
They’re hypoallergenic.
No, no… listen, hen.
They’re really, really, really cute.
We’re not having… Tell him. Tell him.
It’s the dog thing again.
But why, dad?
We can’t have a dog because as I’ve said before, all dogs make my throat close up, so no air gets to my lungs, which makes me die.
So it’s… It’s undesirable.
But…
Think of another pet. You know, you can have a, a cat, or a hamster.
Or… I don’t know what kids have these days.
Have a, have a vampire bat.
Is that a promise?
Yes. That is a promise.
Like the, the promise of…
A road trip, too? Just you and me?
That’s a low blow. That will happen.
Will it? It will happen.
Shit, my violin!
Help me, please. What is going on?
I don’t know why I’m suddenly six years old.
Oh, god. All right. Why the tie, hmm?
Not another funeral?
It’s the turd’s idea.
Oh.
And no, no.
Not all my patients die.
Oh.
Why are you so dressed up? What’s his name?
Ladies’ tea. Planning the fundraiser.
Oh, school auction. Did I mention I’m not going?
Oh, did I mention you are?
I think you’ll find I’m not, my love.
Isn’t it enough we give them tons of money anyway?
We actually don’t give them money.
Well, your dad does, which is very sweet of him.
Uh-huh.
Which reminds me, we have dinner with him next Thursday.
Right. So I have reardon and your dad in the same week.
I’m just the luckiest girl in New York.
Don’t you like reardon?
Well, do you like reardon? You, you like your school?
Yeah.
Hey.
And I love it. Go on, kiss your mom.
We have to go.
Mom…
No, I’m not kissing mom. You do it.
You need to clean this up.
I’m not doing this every single morning.
No, no, I want to kiss you. I like this.
Yeah. Right.
Henry? Henry?
What?
No more smoothies. You never, ever clean up…
All right, here’s a question and don’t lie.
Did you, in fact, practice that thing at all this week?
Because I heard nothing.
No, I practiced.
Really?
Yeah. I swear.
Do you know, he doesn’t even think I’m any good.
Mr. Rosenbaum.
He actually said that, did he?
No. It’s not that he says it.
It just… he used to say a lot more good stuff.
I mean, sometimes with the looks he gives me, I-I think he wants me to quit.
Well, is it possible that, as your mom might say…
You’re actually projecting that sentiment.
Because somewhere deep down, in the bowels of your teenage psyche, you actually want to give it up.
I don’t want to give up. I love violin.
Okay, well, that’s great then.
You know, Rosenbaum, he’s an unhappy man.
It is never a good idea to take measure of ourselves through the eyes of the joyless.
Well, you can be joyless.
Beg your pardon?
Yeah.
You can be joyless when you’re… when you’re stressed.
Do I seem stressed a lot?
Some… lately.
Huh.
Brilliant. Well, now…
Now I’m stressed about being stressed, so…
Thank you very much.
You’re welcome.
You don’t, you don’t play your violin for Rosenbaum, anyway.
You owe him your respect and your hard work, but in the end, your relationship with song is between you and your music.
Got it.
Right. And you’re brilliant, okay?
So fuck Rosenbaum.
I’m telling mom you said that.
Take your violin, and shove it up his rosen-bum cheeks, okay?
Dad…
Morning. Morning.
Rebecca harkness has arrived way too early.
Oh. Great.
It just doesn’t make any sense to me.
Huh.
One minute, he’s attentive, loving.
The next minute, he’s borderline abusive.
I got both swings last night. The full pendulum.
And fucking forbid
I call him bipolar. I mean…
Fucking forbid!
So you’re back to thinking that he’s, um, that he’s bipolar.
I don’t know. The mood swings…
What do you think?
Well, I don’t know him.
I only know you.
Meaning?
Do not give me that look.
This is your third marriage. Isn’t it?
So, what, we’re keeping score?
No. No, I’m just…
I’m not doing that.
Okay, this is going somewhere, and I’m not exactly sure where, other than a direction not in my favor. So just say it.
Say it! I pay you. Say it.
Reb…
Rebecca.
I have met few people more discriminating than you.
You read 100 yelp reviews before choosing someone to install your carpet.
Am I right? You, you try on 20 pairs of shoes before making a choice.
You do background checks on your hair colorist.
You did a background check on me, no doubt.
You vet everything. Everything.
Which is fine. I mean, that’s appropriate.
But…
But an attractive man comes along, and shows an interest in you, and judgment be gone.
No. That is not what is happening.
I mean, the day that you met Kevin, you floated into this office.
It was an appointment that was made to deal with the anguish of husband number two, only to declare that you’d met husband number three.
So, I’m saying…
Maybe it’s possible…
That you’re less of a victim of Kevin’s moods than you are of your own.
So, excuse me, this is my fault?
No.
It is. You’re blaming me.
I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying there’s a particular type of person that you want to be with, and maybe you’re a little too quick to see that person in the men that you meet, instead of seeing what’s actually there.
Ugh. Well, I’ll probably never see her again.
Because they hire you to give them the hard truths, and then, then they fire you for delivering them.
Well, just… Just up your prices.
The more exclusive you seem, the more she’ll come begging.
Wow. I have some bad news.
The, um, the dress code for the fundraiser is fancy-glam.
I’m not wearing a tux.
Listen, this is for Henry’s school.
If I can tough out a ladies’ tea, you can stomach one fundraiser. For Henry.
I will do it. But not for Henry’s school.
I will do it for you.
Because you’re hot.
Anyway, I’m here. Okay?
Later, smart ass.
Yeah, later. Bye.
Come in.
Hi.
Let me take your coat.
Yes.
They’re waiting for you upstairs.
Hello! Sorry I’m late.
Not a problem.
We have a new mom.
Oh.
A scholarship.
She brought her infant. She’s changing her in the bathroom.
You look fabulous.
Oh, hi, grace.
Hi.
Hi.
Is she, uh, on the committee?
Uh, wants to be an involved parent.
Hi. Hi, hi. Sorry.
Hey.
Thanks.
Did any of you even know that she was coming?
I mean, I’m usually the first one to learn of anything.
People can’t wait to tell me stuff.
Because you’re so quick to disapprove.
Well, exactly.
All right, we should get going here.
Sorry!
She’s a bit nervous.
She’s back to being the auctioneer.
I thought you got the guy from sotheby’s.
No, he dropped out. We’ll be fine.
I’ve done this before.
Hi.
Hi. Hi.
I’m grace Fraser.
Elena Alves. Nice to meet you.
Hi.
Elena has a boy in fourth grade?
You said his name was Miguel?
Yeah, yeah.
Your baby’s gorgeous.
Thank you.
Hello. Boy or girl?
Girl. Teresa.
Oh. Teresa.
I love your eyelashes.
Okay, come on, folks.
The auction’s tomorrow.
Thank you so much for letting me join.
Are you kidding? We’re happy to get all the help we can.
That you even have the time with two kids.
I have twins. So regret it.
Jolene!
I mean, they’re so much work, right?
Okay, let’s, uh…
Let’s rank the items.
Yes.
We’ll start with the least expensive.
Work our way up to the… The big tickets.
There’s a lot of stuff here.
Well, we have over 200 people confirmed coming. That’s a record.
Thanks to the spensers lending us their home.
I did a walk-through yesterday. Oh, my god.
Mm. Did you see the David hockneys?
Two of them, on facing walls in the dining room.
And what about suki’s closet?
Oh, I’ll get there.
Maybe Monday night, with any luck.
Yes!
Okay, let’s do this. Okay!
We got four separate stays in the Hamptons.
A pair in vail and Aspen.
A cooking lesson at Tribeca for eight.
You never know how much those go for.
Stem-cell facelift.
Does anybody really believe in those?
Kathy sennot got one. Did not work.
We have a bunch of consults.
A college admissions counselor. A pre-school admissions counselor.
A genealogist that’ll come to your house.
That could actually go.
I don’t see any artists. Where are the artists?
Are you saying we can’t scratch up one lousy playwright in all of New York City?
Grace, maybe you could donate a therapy session.
I am not doing that. That is not happening.
Why not? “Do I hear $500 on saving your marriage?”
Uh, 500, and I will throw in my husband.
Grace, you know what would be awesome?
I think Jonathan would be a huge get.
You want to auction Jonathan?
Well… Yes! I’m putting him up.
Uh, grace’s husband is a doctor.
He was featured in “New York” magazine.
Oh.
He’s an oncologist, Sally. Who’s gonna bid on cancer?
A private, after-hours tour at the guggenheim.
They’re doing the salon de la Rose Croix.
You know, I was just there on Tuesday for the chagall exhibit.
I swear, I actually felt light-headed.
I don’t really get chagall.
I mean, who doesn’t get chagall?
Me. One minute he’s a modernist.
Then it’s stained glass. The guy’s all over the place.
If he were alive today, they’d put him on Prozac…
Hey. Hold on.
Tell me that wasn’t odd. My god!
She was just feeding her child.
Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no.
There was definitely something more going on.
Excuse me.
Like what?
Like she was…
Point! Point your foot!
Like she was being passive-aggressive about it. You didn’t get that?
No.
You know, I’ve seen her at the school before.
Sitting across the street on one of those benches.
After she drops her son off, she just sits there.
With the baby?
Well now with the baby. Before when she was pregnant.
She wouldn’t even be reading a book.
I feel like telling her, “you live in New York.
“It is a crime not to be frantically busy.” Who just…
Sits around quietly?
What an unfathomable state of being.
Albeit with…
Spectacular breasts.
You’re bad.
Oh, my god. They were beautiful.
Up, up, up, up, up.
Up, up, tall. Get your… tall.
Shoulders down. Shoulders down.
Stop smiling. Stop smiling!
Elena, what’s wrong?
It was hostile. It just was.
But I don’t blame her. I mean, we were talking about art.
We were talking about money. It was, it was pretty vulgar.
And she was just trying to say, “hey, here I am.”
“I’m a real, real woman. I’m a real mom.
I’m struggling, and…”
I don’t know. Sometimes I think we should move out of the city.
Said the most New York person I’ve ever met in my life.
No, but don’t you worry sometimes that you’re raising your son in a bubble?
I thought that was the whole essence of modern parenting, isn’t it?
Keep them protected from reality for as long as possible so that when they finally emerge, they can’t cope and end up self-harming.
I thought we were doing really well at that.
Mm.
Wow. What about schenectady, huh?
I’ve heard nice things about schenectady.
It sounds horrible.
Even phonetically.
So, is this a serious conversation?
Yeah.
Yep. Manhattan is a lonely place.
I mean, when you think about it, we don’t have a lot of close friends.
Well, that’s only ’cause we hate everyone.
You hate everyone. I don’t.
I wouldn’t call us isolated.
Our days are stuffed with people and their problems.
I mean, we’re right up close with them at their most vulnerable.
It’s not a conventional social life, but in terms of meaningful human interaction, I would say we did very well.
Mm.
I don’t like you being lonely.
Mm.
You lonely in there?
Would you like some company?
Would you like to be washed?
Grace, Dr. Fraser, with his magic hands.
Shall I get my rubber gloves?
Come on. Come in.
I’m coming, grace.
Grace?
Hi.
Elena.
We met at the fundraiser committee.
Yes, yes. Of course.
How are you?
I’m, I’m well.
Good.
Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome.
The other women…
I don’t know, I felt like an intruder.
But you made me feel at home. So…
Thank you.
Well, I know that, um…
Everybody was very happy to have you there.
We need all the help we can get.
How can I help?
‘Cause nobody actually made me do anything.
Um, I suppose…
Because most of the work was already done, and…
And you were occupied with your sweet baby.
Yeah.
But I want to be a part of it.
At school.
I really do.
I know.
I really do.
She was just standing there.
Naked.
Yeah?
I’m all for women being comfortable with their bodies, but it was…
Weird.
Good weird?
Were you a little bit…
St…
Aroused?
No.
Oh, Christ. We’re nearly there.
The sooner we can get out, the better.
Look, I’ve got that early flight to Cleveland.
When do you get back?
Possibly tomorrow night, if I can get away, but you know, I do hate to forfeit my Hyatt reward points.
And that’s how you get the complimentary breakfast, grace.
Okay, here we are.
Slump, dread, sob…
Despair…
Look at me.
Mm.
I’m very proud of my wife. Come on.
Oh, Christ. They’re coming.
Hold the elevator!
Oh. Sorry. Sorry! Just…
Couldn’t face it.
You’re so bad.
Profound, and existential dread.
♪ Do do do do ♪
Hi. May I take your coat?
Thank you.
Thank you.
♪ Do do do do, do do do ♪
Thanks.
Thank you.
♪ Count every star ♪
♪ in the midnight sky ♪
Champagne? Thank you.
Thank god. Thank you. I love you very much.
I thought there was gonna be some glam.
I didn’t think this much.
Ugh.
Can we hide?
Let’s go and pretend to be interested in those hockneys, mm?
No, we’re stuck here for a bit.
We have to have cocktails with the headmaster first.
Come on.
Oh, Christ.
Robert. Hi.
Grace.
Jonathan.
Hey.
Oh, thank you both so much for coming.
There you are.
It’s a…
Dad? Hello.
Franklin.
Such an honor and a privilege, sir.
You left out “thrill.”
Yes, I did.
Well, thank you for coming.
I’m not coming. I’m going.
Really? Now? I bid on the silent auction.
I’m apt to win one of Henry Ford’s original dipsticks.
Mm. I would like to be long gone before that happens.
Jonathan.
Franklin.
You’re looking well.
I am?
Uh, very surprising. Thank you.
Dinner Thursday?
Absolutely.
Hello.
Hi.
Hi. Hi, hi.
Hi, darling.
Jonathan.
Franklin.
You’re not gonna fucking believe this.
What? They’re not even here.
Who? The spensers.
Oh.
What, you don’t think that’s rude?
We could take it as rude or it could be, “while we’re gonna be out of town, happy to let you use our palace.”
Can’t you ever just be not nice?
Oh, she can, I promise you.
You hear those fucks didn’t show?
It’s a fabulous turnout. I was worried that people wouldn’t show, and it seems that absolutely everybody is here, so we can relax.
There she is.
Ugh. Our lactator-in-chief.
She looks a bit uncomfortable.
That’s the mom I was telling you about.
Oh, that’s her?
Mm-hmm.
The nudist?
I want those boobs.
You know, we should go talk to her.
She must be feeling so awkward.
Actually, she seems okay.
Mm, maybe better than okay.
Am I missing something?
Look at the men.
Like pavlov’s dogs.
Grace, I, I think she might be looking at you.
Really? Is she?
Uh, yeah. I think she is.
Well, here you all are.
I think they’d like to get started. It’s bidding time.
Start herding the people.
All right. Here we go.
Come on.
Is that enough? We’ve put in an appearance.
Can we go?
Would you stop?
Hey. I’ll make it up to you later.
Make it up to me now. Let’s find a room. They must have a few.
You’re so bad.
Come on. In suki’s closet.
In suki’s clothes. Both of us.
Stop!
Make an englishman happy. Come on.
Aah.
You know what I love about this?
What?
You could never tell they were rich.
It’s all so classy and understated.
Hi. We’re ready to start.
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I’m Sally maybury, head of the auction committee,
for our wonderful reardon school!
Woo!
We have a positively fabulous afternoon in store for you.
Now, some of you might be thinking, “don’t I already pay enough in tuition?”
Damn right!
Yes. Of course you do. Yes, I feel the same way.
But, it is our responsibility to make sure that reardon can accept the students it wants to accept, and that those students are able to attend, despite their financial circumstances, ensuring that the name reardon is always synonymous with…
Diversity!
And of course, we have to make sure that our teachers are so well paid that we do not lose them to other schools.
We love our teachers at reardon! Woo!
Just not enough to invite them to the party.
Shush.
Okay, now,
Diane Porter is gonna start the party. Let’s go!
Woo!
Before we turn to our scheduled items for bid…
Observe.
This may look like an ordinary glass of tap water, but it is much more than that.
This is very special water that will serve to prime the pipes to your generously deep pockets.
Aw…
What is the value, you may ask, of an ordinary glass of tap water?
That depends.
What is the value of your children’s education?
The value of his or her teachers?
The opportunity of the less fortunate to enjoy the privilege of your offspring.
Who will bid $1,000 for this glass of water?
Who is gonna stand up and clang that bell?
1,000!
$1,000!
Thank you. Money for our kids.
2,000!
2,000!
3,000…
5,000 right here…
Eight!
8,000, right here!
I bid 10!
10,000!
Oh, uh…
Elena. Sorry…
I… Sorry.
Are you okay?
I’m sorry.
‘Cause sometimes I just feel…
Overwhelmed.
And lost.
Mm. I…
Do you ever feel that?
If you ever want to talk…
For free, uh…
I apologize. I didn’t mean it to sound like that.
But if you do ever wanna talk…
You’re so kind. Thank you.
And please, don’t be intimidated.
The parents at reardon can be a little, um…
Yeah.
Yeah.
But…
Most of them are very kind. They’re…
They are nice people. Kind people and…
But you are the most kind.
It’s true.
I feel it.
All right, our next item…
Knicks tickets. Wow.
You can rub elbows with spike Lee.
Pitch him your idea for a new movie.
Hey, you never know. They might even win the game.
All right. Who’s gonna take these tickets off my hands?
Let’s start the bidding at 1,500.
Thank you.
1,500, right here.
2,000, in the front. 2,500. Do I hear 3,000?
3,000 over here. 35?
Yeah.
4,000, near the piano.
Right here.
$6,000!
Going once, going twice…
Elena?
Yours, for… Oh, hi.
I’m going home ’cause I forgot to pump, and it’s getting a bit uncomfortable.
Oh. I have a car.
My driver could take you, if you want.
Oh. Oh, no, I’m…
Please.
I’m in Harlem, so, it’ll be faster to take the subway.
Are you sure?
Yeah. I’m sure.
But thank you.
Oh, hey. It’s all right.
Thank you.
For your kindness.
Do I hear 80? 80,000?
Gentleman in the front. 90? 90,000.
If we reach 100,000, we’ll donate a c-class to a child in need.
So what was all that?
What’s going on with you and the nudist?
She was upset, and she just, um, I suggested she use our car but she didn’t want to, so…
You are a very nice person.
Come here.
I love you.
Thank you so much. It’s been an incredible evening.
You raised so much money for a good cause. Thank you.
We’re good?
Joanna…
Well, you’re not gonna be happy.
Why?
I just got paged.
Mm-hmm?
Shelby McGibbons’ lungs just filled up with fluid.
Go.
You want to come?
Legitimate excuse to duck out early.
The driver could drop me at the hospital?
Oh, I can’t. I’m on the committee. Go.
Go, go. Take the driver. I’ll uber.
Really? I’m sorry.
I’m sorry. I’ll, I’ll call.
Mm.
Where’s he going?
Emergency. One of his patients.
Honestly, staring down cancer every day with children, maintaining a sense of humor all the while.
How does he do it?
I wonder myself.
Ten dollars.
Yep. You have my solemn word.
You can trust me. I’m a doctor.
Ten bucks if I beat leukemia.
Yeah.
I mean, if you prefer, I could give you a whole talk about, um, you know, being brave and fighting, and all that sort of stuff but I do find, generally speaking, money works best.
How ’bout $10, and when I apply to medical school, you write my recommendation.
I don’t know. I don’t know, Shelby.
I’d have to see your transcripts, because I can’t recommend just anyone.
You could be awful.
Am I going to die?
You’re not gonna die.
If you die, I’ll kill you.
Hey.
Did everything go okay?
Oh, no.
I’m so sorry.
Honey.
Yeah.
Fuck.
Oh.
Where is she?
She’s in her studio.
Why hasn’t she come back?
She’s working, okay?
You think you can take yourself to school today?
Catch the bus outside?
Yeah.
Go get your things. You’re gonna be late.
Shh…
Henry? Uh-huh.
Come on. Have you eaten?
Yeah.
We gotta go ’cause I’m, um,
I’m late and I’ve got an early session.
Quick! Put those books away.
Yeah. Okay.
Mom.
I don’t think dad is actually allergic to dogs.
I think he just says it.
Yeah. You’re right.
It’s not about being allergic.
He would never want me to tell you this, so don’t say anything, all right?
Okay.
But when he was younger, he was actually your age, he was home alone, he was taking care of the family dog, it got out of the house…
And it was hit by a car and killed.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
I mean, it was very traumatic for him.
And it was actually made worse because his parents…
Blamed him for it.
What?
Yeah. That’s why he hates talking about it.
What kind of dog?
Um… What kind of…
I think it was… It was a small dog.
That’s what I know.
Anyway, I honestly don’t think he’s ever gotten over it.
Quick. Put everything away, would you? Let’s go.
Put your coat on. It’s freezing outside.
All right.
At some point, you are gonna have to talk about it.
The why of it all.
It had nothing to do with us. Or you.
Bullshit!
Here we go.
So, what was it about, then?
Just sex?
If I had a clue, I wouldn’t be here paying these criminally high rates.
We are paying these criminally high rates.
Would I?
That’s just a bit deflective, isn’t it, Joseph?
Is it possible that you were drawn to the secret of it all?
Maybe more than you were to this other man, Dennis?
The affair got to be yours alone?
Michael couldn’t know about it, so he couldn’t micromanage it?
I don’t think that’s it.
I’m sorry. Are we keeping you from something?
I apologize. This is my son’s school.
It is programmed for emergencies only, so I do have to take it.
Now, you said that you knew Dennis when you were single, but you never had sex with him then.
I wasn’t even attracted to him then.
No one was attracted to him. He’s not attractive.
Okay…
Exactly. Then what changed?
Part of the thrill of adultery is that it exists in the shadow of a primary relationship.
It’s the clandestine part of it that provides much of the erotic jolt.
Could that have been it here?
The lie?
What about the fear of getting caught?
Maybe you wanted to get caught.
Why would I want that?
To show Michael that he can’t control you, after all?
I think this is more about Michael and your marriage than it is about this other man.
He doesn’t always love when other people are right.
So you wanted to get caught.
I think I better check on him.
So we’re gonna try and get the new protocol for the pro-bono work, uh, in place as soon as possible.
Sylvia?
Just a second.
It’s my… it’s my daughter’s school. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Sylvia, can it wait?
Two minutes.
Is this going to affect…
Did you hear?
What?
The school? It was a family… It was a family tragedy?
A fourth grader?
Grace.
It was Elena.
What?
She was found dead.
What?
Well, didn’t you get the school alert?
Yes. What happened?
There’s been no official word.
At first I heard…
Aneurysm, but…
What the school is being told is that…
She was murdered.
What?
I know. Oh, my god.
And, and apparently, her son, the poor thing. Discovered her.
God, this is awful. Um…
What do they know? Do they know who did it?
No. Nobody seems to really know anything.
I cannot bear it. That poor woman. I know.
And that poor little boy. It’s…
You know, they’re looking for the husband.
They are. Evidently, they were having problems.
It’s always the fucking husband.
Can you imagine? Letting his own son discover his mother like that?
You know what? Actually, I’m right in the middle of a meeting, so I’m gonna call you later when I know more.
Yeah.
Did I do something wrong?
No. I just… You seem unnerved.
Really?
Yeah. Just… do I unnerve you?
No.
Well, you would tell me… If I did something wrong.
You didn’t do anything wrong.
Okay?
Okay.
How well did you know Elena alves?
Not very well, but, um, she had just started…
Uh, she was part of the auction committee.
I arranged to have her participate.
She was a scholarship mom.
I’ve only met her a few times.
Just in the schoolyard, here.
Do you remember what time you left the fundraiser?
What time I left?
I think, uh, I was home by eleven.
And what time did you learn that something had happened?
The school sent out an alert.
An alert that went out from the school on all of our phones.
Did you know Elena alves?
No. Uh, we’ve met.
Mm-hmm.
I don’t know her.
The most time I’ve ever spent with her was at a, a meeting recently at Sally’s.
Do you know if Miguel took the bus, or did somebody come and pick him up?
Well, normally his mom comes to school to pick him up.
Did you know Miguel?
Uh, yeah, we were in math together.
Okay. Did you say you knew Miguel as well?
Yeah, sometimes we played together after school.
And did everything seem okay lately? He’s, he’s okay lately?
Hello, this is Jonathan Fraser.
I can’t answer your call right now, but I will get back to you as soon as possible.
If this is a medical emergency, please call 911, or go to the emergency room.
Hi, sweetheart. It’s, it’s me.
Um, can you give me a call, ’cause something came up at school.
E-Everything’s fine. Henry is fine, but I…
I just, I just want to fill you in. Um…
I hope Cleveland is good.
I love you, uh…
Mrs. Fraser.
I’m detective Paul o’Rourke. 23rd precinct.
Oh, my god. What happened? Is it my son?
No, it’s not about your son. I’m sorry if we frightened you. We…
We do that sometimes.
Right. Um…
I’m detective Joseph mendoza. NYPD.
We just want to talk for a minute.
Can you please just tell me what happened?
Well, the mother of a child who attends your son’s school was killed.
I’m sure you heard of that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
The school sent out a message.
I’m so sorry. I just…
No, no. No need to apologize.
I got two kids.
Right.
We just want to ask a few questions, if that’s okay.
Of course.
I didn’t know it was Mrs. Alves till, um…
Until I spoke to a friend.
And who was the friend?
Um…
Sylvia steinetz.
She and I are part of a committee at the school that we serve on.
The, uh, auction committee?
Mm-hmm.
She just joined.
And what time did you learn of her death?
Hmm. Let me check my phone.
Uh, at 2:46 P.M.
From, uh, Sylvia steinetz?
Yes.
Is that important? What time I got the call?
Well, you’re a shrink, right?
You only ask the important stuff?
She wasn’t, um, a patient of mine, Mrs. Alves.
She was a… she… I mean, I wasn’t treating her.
How well did you know her?
Uh, not well. As I said, she’d only just joined the committee.
And you saw her last when?
I saw her last night at the benefit.
And you didn’t talk to her after that?
No.
Did you notice anyone.
Mrs. Alves might have spoken to?
I mean, there were just some men who were paying her special attention.
What do you mean, special attention?
No, I mean, the, the special attention that men sometimes pay to a woman.
Mm.
And what about Mrs. Alves’ husband?
Was he there last night?
Not to my knowledge.
I mean, I never met him, so…
Do you suspect the husband of this?
Right now, we’re just, uh, gathering facts.
Would it be possible for us to speak to your husband?
Um, well, um, why?
Well, he might have seen something.
Oh. No. No, he didn’t.
So you’ve spoken to him since this news came to light?
No, but anything that he would have seen,
I would have seen, so…
Where’s your husband now?
He’s in Cleveland.
He’s at an oncology convention.
Where’s he staying?
I think at a Hyatt, or something.
When did he go there?
Uh, this morning.
Early.
Mom.
Oh, Henry.
Um, orchestra ran over.
Mm-hmm. Wh-what’s going on?
Um, I’m just talking to these men.
Could you go to your room, and I’ll, um, I’ll be up in a minute?
I’ll make you a snack.
Is everything okay?
Yes. Yep. Everything’s fine.
I just need you to go upstairs, and, um, I’ll be right there.
Off you go. I’ll be right there.
Okay.
Good.
Go on.
Did your son know the alves boy?
Um, no. No.
I mean, they’re… They’re in different grades.
Yeah, but it’s kind of a small school, isn’t it?
That’s what I read on the website. Small school, individual attention.
That’s why it costs the big bucks, right?
What is the tuition there?
How much do you pay?
Um, it’s…
$50,000 a year.
Oof.
Fifty grand. How do you think they could afford that? The Alveses?
I mean, I think it was a scholarship.
But, I don’t really have any knowledge of, uh, the Alves’ financial circumstances.
Are we upsetting you, doctor?
If there’s anything, anything else I can do.
Sure.
Here’s my card.
My cell phone.
If you can think of anything else.
I will, I will give you a call.
Good.
Thank you.
Right. Thanks.
What was that about?
What?
The police.
Henry…
Are they here for the murder?
Yeah.
Oh, I saw it on my phone.
Really?
Yeah.
They mentioned Reardon.
Oh. Did you, um… Did you know the boy?
I think his name is Miguel?
I don’t think so.
Thank you.
Kind of scary, huh?
This happening at your school?
How you feeling about it?
Did the father do it?
It’s…
It’s too soon to know.
Did you know her?
Um, hmm?
The mom who got…
Did you know her?
Not really. I mean, she was…
She was on the auction committee.
Was she nice?
Yeah.
Yeah, she was very nice. She…
She seemed a little sad.
Where do you go to school? You go to reardon?
What… okay. What grade are you in?
Fourth.
Okay.
Do you like it?
It’s all right.
So, you were gonna go to school, but instead, did… You went where?
My mom’s studio.
She’s a, an artist?
I know it’s hard. We gotta find out who did this.
Hey.
Hi.
Hey, honey. Um,
I’m sure you’re at some scintillating dinner, but I really need you to call me and talk about this school incident.
It’s nothing bad with Henry, but can you call me, please?
Hyatt regency at the arcade.
Um, Jonathan Fraser, please.
Is he a guest? Yes.
I’m sorry. I’m not seeing a Jonathan Fraser.
Would it be under another name?
Hyatt place independence. This is Jessica.
Uh, Jonathan Fraser’s room, please.
I’m sorry. I don’t see any reservation.
Hyatt Cleveland legacy.
Could you put me through to Jonathan Fraser’s room, please?
Uh, can you spell that? Fraser. F-r-a-s-e-r.
Uh, yes. Transferring you now.
Hello?
Uh…
Who is this?
Who are you?
Excuse me?
Uh…
Can you, um, put me through to, uh, Jonathan Fraser, please?
Uh, hold on.
Jonathan?
This is Jonathan.
Uh, j-Jonathan Fraser?
Yes. Who is this?
I’m, I’m sorry. Um…
Sorry.
♪ ♪
I don’t know where your father is.
He’s not returning calls, he’s not returning my emails.
Mom, you’re acting strange.
Don’t worry, it’s fine.
If you know something, this would be the right time to tell us what it is.
Nothing about this makes any sense.
I just need to get the truth.
Did you guys hear?
The husband just turned himself in.
Of course it was the husband.
It’s always the husband.
Exactly how well did you know Elena Alves?
They still think you’re withholding.
Why?
Because it’s what rich people do.
They conceal the ugly truths.
You think you can handle everything.
This is bigger than you.
Exactly how weak do you think I am?
I will fix this.
I’ll fix this.
I’ve got a feeling your daughter is hiding something.
For all I know, she’s an accomplice.
I will fix this.
I’ll fix this.
♪ ♪