
Nothing Concrete
Season 3 Episode 302 | 44m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Truth is stranger than fiction when a crime novelist is found dead, encased in a public sculpture.
Truth is stranger than fiction when a crime novelist is found dead, encased in a public sculpture.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
My Life is Murder is presented by your local public television station.
Distributed nationally by American Public Television

Nothing Concrete
Season 3 Episode 302 | 44m 9sVideo has Closed Captions
Truth is stranger than fiction when a crime novelist is found dead, encased in a public sculpture.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ ♪ [Line ringing] [Cellphone ringing] What?
Good morning, sunshine!
No, Alexa, it is not the morning.
Well, it is, but it's the part of the morning where I'm meant to be asleep.
Hey, listen.
If I need to hook up a screen to a laptop, do I need a USB to USB, HDMI to HDMI or a C?
What?
Why?
Why do you wanna do this?
Just in case I want to screen mirror.
Do you need to screen mirror?
Well, I might.
It is 3:23, Alexa.
It is 3:23 a.m.
Is that Madison?
Reuben says good morning.
I say bonjour.
How's things in France?
Tell him it's dark and quiet.
Almost as if everyone should be asleep.
[Speaking French] [Groans] Alright, then.
I'll let you go.
Au revoir.
Isn't it the middle of the night over there?
Yeah.
12 hours behind.
So, 3:23 in the morning apparently.
So you called her because...?
'Cause I miss the sound of her voice.
Besides, she won't tell me why she's suddenly on holiday en France.
So until she confirms my theories, I'm just gonna keep forgetting about the time difference.
♪ Let me guess.
Professor Whatshisface in the snail garden with a spade.
-Nope.
-Beer.
-Nope.
-Salt.
Nope.
Sebastian Kent in the bush... in a sculpture.
What do you mean, "in a sculpture"?
I told you it was macabre.
Sebastian Kent, best-selling author.
Disappeared a few weeks ago.
Oh, the crime-writer guy?
I take it he's turned up.
He sure has.
Found encased in a concrete sculpture on a bush trail near where he lives.
The sculpture just appeared there one day.
If it hadn't been for flooding in the area, he'd still be standing there.
Coroner found drugs in his system.
He was sedated, coated in concrete.
Death by suffocation.
About four weeks ago.
Well, given his profile, you have done an excellent job keeping the details quiet.
Well, the last thing we want is journos and obsessed Sebastian Kent fans offering their theory.
So what's the official theory?
I wish I had something solid.
Nothing concrete?
Had to.
He had some enemies.
Ngaire Green, local lady.
They've been involved in a pretty public war of words over a property development.
And who's Ngaire Green when she's at home?
Well, she's a sculptor.
We've been over and over her movements.
A sculptor hiding a body in a sculpture.
Bit obvious?
And Ngaire's only one of a dozen locals who couldn't stand Sebastian.
The only person with anything nice to say was his researcher, Adele.
She was away the night he disappeared.
But someone did this.
Put him right there in public view.
So you want fresh eyes on these two?
Oh, come on.
You know you want to.
You had me at "macabre."
♪ ♪ Alexa: Check this out.
Madison: Ugh.
People were walking past a dead body for a month?
Creep.
Yep.
The council's got no record of it being installed [Cellphone dings] and they've talked to all the local sculptors.
[Knock on door] God, who's that?
Go away, you bloody people.
No, no, no.
Answer it.
Madison, the only person I can tolerate at this time of night is en France, eating cereal.
Aw.
It's almost like you're missing me, Alexa.
It's okay.
I'll be back before you know it.
Now answer it.
It's Beth.
Come on.
She'll think you're out.
[Knock on door] Oh!
You're right.
She is home.
Hi.
I'm Beth.
She's here to help.
Help who?
You?
So that you don't keep calling Madison in the middle of the night.
What?
You didn't say she was scary.
Madison: She's not.
Most of the time, she's not.
I -- Hang on.
You work for Harry?
Sat next to Madison at the police station?
Actually, I'm in between posts.
Beth's a cryptologist.
Navy intelligence.
Beth, Alexa's got a doozy.
A dead body found encased in a concrete sculpture.
Amazing.
You don't get that out at sea.
Yeah, the only clues are traces of rat droppings in the concrete, and... This is very confidential information you're giving to some stranger in my lobby.
She's not a stranger.
She's my friend.
And my security clearance is higher than hers.
Sorry, Mads.
It's true.
You're a star.
Oh, you're the star.
Yeah, we're all stars.
Listen, I'm about to wrap my head around a murder investigation.
I don't want to attend this intergen affirmation party, alright?
But I'm here to help.
Beth is here to help.
When I want help, I'll ask for it.
Oh, wait -- [Cat meows] Alexa: Don't look at me like that.
[Meows] ♪ ♪ Nothing on the body, so someone knew how to kill him without leaving evidence.
Someone, like his assistant, who researches all his crime novels.
Madison filled me in on the rest of the details after you kicked me out.
Hi.
Coffee?
No, she's not staying.
No, I don't touch caffeine.
And she's not staying.
Ooh, actually, I'll grab some of that, though, please.
Alexa's bread?
Sure.
Toasted?
Ooh.
Fresh.
Splash of olive oil.
Okay.
Thanks.
It looks amazing.
Madison tell you to say that?
No, I'm just a huge fan of carbs.
Anyway, the assistant, Adele, has just been named as a beneficiary in Sebastian's will.
She's been ruled out by the police.
They like the sculptor.
Here.
You can see why.
"Left to feral NIMBYs..." What's a NIMBY?
Not In My Backyard.
People who oppose change.
Ah.
Copy that.
"NIMBY leader is Ngaire Green, whose idealism is as simplistic as the handicraft she hawks as art."
Ouch.
Sebastian Kent wrote that?
Yeah.
And plenty others besides.
Ooh.
Thank you.
Oh, my God.
Shut up!
No, you shut up.
Look, Ngaire owns a sculpting studio.
Ngaire hated the victim.
All things point to Ngaire except Harry and his team can find no hard evidence.
Nothing concrete?
Ngaire wasn't the only one that Sebastian gave a hard time to.
Check this out from eight months ago.
"An assault on our town's character, courtesy of billionaire Jack Sallinger, who plans to build himself a survival bunker with no concern for the impact it will have in our area."
He's a Doomsday prepper?
Oh, we have to talk to him.
Harry already did.
He came forward because he'd had a drink with Sebastian before he disappeared and his prints were confirmed at the scene.
Well, if he's got a bunker, I wanna see it.
I bet it's amazing.
You know, I've never understood why people with obscene fortunes don't do good for the world instead of gratifying their egos with things like survival bunkers.
Well, if I had the money, I'd totally get a bunker.
What on earth for?
Zombie apocalypse.
You do know that zombies aren't real.
Don't you?
Wait, you don't have a survival plan?
Nope.
♪ ♪ ♪ Hey, little darlin' Get this.
Adele worked for the victim, Sebastian, for 12 years.
So I reckon that -- I assume that Madison told you that I'm the one who does the talking.
Copy that.
Adele: Sebastian was very particular about everything having its place, his wardrobe's color-coded, books alphabetized.
Well, some people color-code their books, too.
I mean, it's a tough decision, right?
Alphabetical or color-coded, because you can't choose... both.
I keep expecting him just to walk in and ask me about a password.
How to buy capsules for the coffee machine.
So you were his assistant for a long time.
Over 12 years.
Well, you must have been close for him to leave you this nice house.
We were close, but not like that.
I had no idea.
That was Sebastian.
He loved surprises.
Still, a house is next level, isn't it?
You can't think that I was involved.
The police said they couldn't confirm your alibi on the night he disappeared, and you said you were in Auckland.
No, they spoke to the Airbnb owners and confirmed that's where I stayed.
I was at a concert, but I was on my own, so I can't prove it.
Do you often go to concerts alone?
If I can't find anyone who enjoys the same music, yes.
The ticket was actually a gift from Sebastian.
It was generous.
Really?
Look, I know that the police still don't have any strong leads, so I've made a list.
All of the people he's ever fallen out with.
Anyone who might want to hurt him.
Oh.
This is helpful... and meticulous.
No Ngaire Green.
Didn't she and Sebastian have a feud going?
Well, yes... Ngaire Green is a tree-hugging vegan.
She couldn't murder a mosquito, let alone a man.
I wouldn't bother with Ngaire if I were you.
We love your work, Ngaire.
I am big on reclaimed materials, you know, repurposing.
Which gallery did you say you were from again?
Ah...Trumans.
Yep, we're new.
We just opened.
Yeah.
Hey, I heard about that writer.
That must've been hard on the arts community.
Oh, it was, but, um... we're all a bit sick of talking about it, to be honest.
Really?
I would've thought you'd be dining out on that for years.
I mean, famous author, dead inside a statue.
That's pretty juicy.
Where did you hear that?
Where did we hear that?
Oh, um... Yeah.
Down the village.
Mrs.
Haveachat.
Okay, why don't you tell me what you're really doing here?
What are you, a reporter?
Police consultant.
And this is Beth.
Well, I don't really know what Beth does.
I just found her actually.
God, I'm so sick of being questioned.
Yes, I thought Sebastian was an arrogant pig.
No, I didn't kill him.
But if you had, last place you'd hide him is in a statue.
Am I right?
Exactly.
So, in your expert opinion, why did that thing fall apart at the first fall of rain?
Well, when you work with concrete, you have to make sure that the shape inside is solid.
If you skimp on the coating, it leads to thin concrete, which can easily crack.
Are we done here?
One more thing.
What size space would you need to produce a piece of rubbish like that?
A space about this size.
You could do it in a bloody garage.
Sebastian was a -- a vile, two-faced jerk.
Is the world better off without him?
Yes.
Would I risk everything to get rid of him?
No way in hell.
Thank you.
Beth: What a lovely spot to hide a body.
Our peace-loving vegan sure is carrying a lot of rage.
Question is, did she let it get the better of her?
Or there's, um... an obsessed fan who stalked Sebastian for a year.
Or a reviewer who he sued.
A local butcher he slandered.
Harry already ruled out the stalker.
So did Adele put herself on that list?
You reckon she's dodgy?
Meh, she seemed awfully keen to move us past her lack of alibi.
Maybe she's just desperate to help.
I think she takes a lot of pride in being clever.
Our killer thinks they're clever, too.
Well, how do you know?
The crime is hidden in plain view, and yet they weren't clever enough to consider that all that heavy rain would make the statue unstable.
How did they even get it up here?
They'd have to be pretty strong.
[Gasps] A bunch of local Sebastian haters did it together.
I mean, there are a lot of people on this list.
Including the crypto billionaire?
The Doomsday prepper?
No.
He's not.
That's a shame.
Madison: Hey, Beth.
How's it going down there?
Beth: Oh, yeah, it's going great.
She's letting me talk to some locals.
Ah, she's getting rid of you for a bit.
No, I'm being useful.
I've spoken to a butcher, a real-estate agent and a florist, but I just really wanted to meet the prepper.
There's a prepper?
Oh, now I'm jealous.
Yeah.
Did you know that Alexa doesn't have a zombie apocalypse survival plan?
I'd let that go if I were you.
Yes, but I would appreciate it if you could tell me when Mr.
Sallinger might be back.
Woman: He's out of the country, and I'm not privy to his travel plans.
Righto.
Thank you.
♪ ♪ Excuse me.
This is private property.
How did you even get in?
Do I need to call the police?
No, I'm actually with the police.
I've just come to talk to Mr.
Sallinger about a recent case.
He's not here.
Alright, well, I can get out of your hair if you just tell me when he's gonna be back.
I have no idea.
Okay.
You know, your blink rate goes up when you're lyin'.
♪ ♪ Okay, Adele.
What exactly are you selling?
G'day.
Hey.
How was the prepper?
Not home.
Whatcha doing?
Okay.
So it turns out Adele made 9 grand selling Sebastian Kent memorabilia.
Ooh.
What's this?
Oh, I always bring a packed lunch.
But I thought it was gonna be awkward eating in front of you, so I made you one, too.
If you don't want it, you don't have to have it.
No, no.
I think I love it.
It's just a bit weird.
You're kinda like my Gen Z grandma.
9 grand selling signed manuscripts on eBay using the vendor name Crimebabe Adele, but she could've been selling on his behalf.
Nah, I doubt it.
He's a rich cheapskate, and she's the doormat who made his life run.
So she forged his autograph and flicked his manuscripts for some extra cash?
Well done, Beth.
I think I'm glad I brought along.
Madison actually gave me some pointers on remotely accessing... I'm talkin' about this.
Oh.
Right.
So Adele is hawking Sebastian memorabilia and doing quite well out of it.
Mm-hmm.
What about recently?
Getting better prices now, I reckon.
Because you know how to make an artist's work more valuable?
You kill 'em.
♪ Alexa: Adele?
Adele.
Oh.
I'm just heading to an exercise class, but I could give you five minutes.
I can see that you take your workouts seriously.
Adele: I've been doing a transformational program for the last six months.
According to eBay, you've been transforming your finances, too.
I needed to make ends meet.
By selling your boss' stuff?
Sebastian was so stingy.
He hadn't given me a pay rise in six years.
He owed me.
Adele, you said he was generous.
A concert ticket!
One ticket.
I couldn't have taken a friend even if I had one.
And do you know what he said to me the last time I asked him for a pay rise?
I'm guessing, "No"?
He said I should be grateful that he'd employed me all these years, that I would never find a better situation.
Ahh.
So that justified selling the signed manuscripts.
I wasted a third of my life in service to his career.
I was planning on leaving.
I didn't get the chance.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be.
[Engine starts] Thank you.
Who goes to an exercise class in hiking boots?
♪ Wanna guess who she's waiting for?
♪ Well, they both had reasons to want him gone.
Makes sense that they're working together.
But why come back now?
Checking they didn't leave any evidence?
Or planning to plant some?
Or just remorse?
♪ Adele was out of town the night that Sebastian disappeared, and Ngaire, according to Harry, was at the studio working.
But what if they tag-teamed?
Like, Ngaire did the murder and Adele came back later to move the body?
I mean, that way they would never be seen together.
That is brilliantly sneaky.
Yeah.
Find out how long those two have been friends.
Copy.
[Cellphone ringing] Hello.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, that sounds amazing.
Yeah, I'd love to.
Okay.
See you soon.
Our crypto billionaire heard I'm looking for him.
♪ ♪ I appreciate you meeting me here.
I like to avoid prying eyes.
Oh, yeah?
Local NIMBYs got you in their sights?
Oh.
Wow.
You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've heard Jack Sallinger gets up to.
[Laughs] Though I gather that you managed to win over one of the local detractors.
Sebastian Kent?
[Sighs] Yeah.
We, uh... We had a rocky start, but once we met, we were fine.
I just -- I hope that him supporting my building plans didn't have anything to do with what happened, you know?
Well, why would that get him killed?
Uh, because some of these people are nuts.
There's a reason I got CCTV running 24-7.
I gave the police a copy of the last month's tapes in case there was anything helpful.
Was there any particular nutter giving him problems?
Ngaire Green is the obvious candidate, but you'll already know that.
Look, I get why Sebastian got up people's noses.
He had a sharp tongue.
But he was a friend to me.
He even helped me with my novel.
So not content to be a cryptocurrency mogul, he writes and he paints, too.
That is beautiful.
I can't get over it.
Is there anything you can't do?
Yes.
Yes.
Get the local council to approve my building plans.
You'd think in this day and age, people would respect your concern for climate catastrophe.
Right?
I'm investing in the future of the human race.
You want people like me around to rebuild.
Well, if you don't mind my saying, this place is absolutely spectacular.
May I have a tour?
Well, I don't mind at all.
And yes, you may.
♪ I needed a big chunk of land to sustain a vertical garden, but I made the mistake of clearing native bush.
Uh-oh.
Yeah, and then Ngaire Green, she got it in her head that construction would affect land stability, and now she's hellbent on blocking whatever I wanna do.
That sounds about right.
Check this out.
Thank you.
So no bunker.
Oh, everything's postponed.
But it looks like you were underway.
You see the archery range over there?
They can't stop my survival training.
And so far, I'm good at almost hitting trees.
[Both laugh] You think of everything.
[Sighs] I do.
Look, I got a call with Tokyo, but why don't you come back tomorrow?
I'll take you up to where the helipad will be.
Sure, I'd love that.
Me too.
♪ ♪ Hello again.
Alexa.
Hello.
Why didn't you tell me that you and Ngaire were best buds?
I kept it a secret because Sebastian hated her.
So Sebastian was allowed to control who you were friends with?
Not exactly.
There was a history with he and Ngaire.
Oh, I thought I was getting a rejected-lover vibe from her.
So what happened?
Jack Sallinger.
Interesting fellow.
"Interesting"?
He's an up-himself idiot.
Somehow Jack and Sebastian became drinking buddies.
And then suddenly Sebastian was publicly supporting his building plans.
All of it, and Ngaire was devastated.
Right.
So she dumped him.
Well, how did Sebastian feel about that?
Was he upset?
Angry?
More interested in boasting that Jack had offered him a place in the bunker when it was built.
Jack Sallinger loves surrounding himself with famous people.
It feeds his ridiculous ego.
So what did Sebastian see in him?
Everyone has a price.
The dollar signs are big enough; we all forget our ethics.
So Adele and Ngaire remained friends, but on the down-low.
They didn't want to upset poor, sensitive Sebastian.
But if Adele wanted to kill him, well, surely there's easier ways, right?
I mean, she had access to his schedule, to his food, to his drink.
Then why go to all the palaver of putting him in a statue?
Harry, Beth.
Beth, Harry.
-Hi.
-Hey.
What you got for me?
Nothing.
I just wanted to see the new girl.
Madison speaks very highly of you.
Aw, I love her.
We met in Stardew Valley.
Can't say I've heard of it.
Wait, you met on a game?
Mm-hmm.
Have you ever met her in real life?
Not yet.
But Madison is iconic.
Alexa: Okay, watch out.
It's hot.
So the sculptor.
Anything I missed?
Our billionaire prepper thinks she's mad enough to do it.
Ah, so you've met old mate Jack Sallinger.
Mm.
What did you think?
Terrible painter, thinks he's great.
But he is building a ventilation system that he didn't want me anywhere near.
Beth: Ventilation -- the number-one pre-req for a survival bunker.
The bunker he can't get permission to build, so... Ooh.
Maybe he's building an underground rat-breeding lab.
Rats are ideal microlivestock in apocalyptic times.
Well, I suppose if they're bred properly, they could be a good source of protein.
Exactly.
Well, he may not have his bunker, but he's definitely hiding something.
Why would a guy with all that power and cash risk it all by killing someone?
Boredom.
Revenge.
Notoriety.
Fun.
Bread and butter.
Alright.
Well, the last thing we want is an angry billionaire making our lives difficult.
In other words, I can't piss him off, but that's why I've got you, right, Alexa?
Oh, don't worry.
Jack Sallinger thinks I'm lovely.
♪ Okay, so this is around 8:30.
It fits the story Jack told Harry.
Went to Sebastian's place, had a drink, came home early, parked in his garage.
Well, maybe he's telling the truth.
I'll soon find out.
Well, I should come.
I mean, you're not really down with the whole Doomsday-prepping thing.
Well, that's 'cause I'm not a lunatic obsessed with the end of the world.
Yeah, but I bet you've got a basic survival kit.
May have a torch around here somewhere.
♪ You'll need to put this on.
Well, lucky I spent all that time doing my hair this morning.
Alexa: Whoo-hoo!
Jack: You've done this before.
Never like this.
[Both laughing] Alexa: Where are you taking me?
Jack: You'll find out.
I can't believe this is all yours.
We've seen nothing yet.
Whoo-hoo!
Whoo!
Oh, wow!
Huh?
Well, congratulations on buying the most spectacular view in the area.
Thanks.
Well, the helipad's a work in progress, obviously, but I'm up there all the time.
Can't do much until the permit comes through.
Must be so frustrating to have all this resistance to your vision.
Visionaries always have to endure mockery from those without ideas of their own.
Right.
Sebastian got it.
He was clever.
One of the scariest things I've ever done was, uh, ask him to look at my novel.
Let me guess.
Cyber thriller.
No.
Hard-boiled crime.
Didn't even take me that long.
Sebastian said it showed a lot of promise, which is high praise coming from him.
Well, I'm looking forward to reading it when it's published.
I'll send you a signed copy.
So what's the plan with these NIMBYs?
Well, everybody wants something.
So everyone has their price?
You ever met anyone who didn't?
Yeah.
Me.
Mm?
I will pay you... anything... for that bread recipe.
Well, how about I just give it to you?
Well, you're going to need bread-baking skills down in that bunker.
Oh, you keep that up, I'm gonna think you're angling for a place down there with me.
Guess who has an appeal for the decision on his bunker plans for over a year.
So he already has a bunker and screw the permits.
Mm-hmm.
And if he does it on the down-low, the locals can't do a thing.
And the cops can't search a place they don't know exists.
I always say the best murder site is one that no one knows is there.
♪ Sebastian was offered a place in Jack's bunker.
The bunker that hadn't been built yet.
Well, I suppose he thought he'd win the battle to build.
So when Sebastian went up there, did he say anything about it?
Had he noticed anything?
I mean, a show-off's gotta show off, right?
You think he was already building?
Yeah, maybe.
Well, Seb didn't mention anything.
Sorry.
I thought you said that he was fastidious about the way he ordered his books?
About everything.
Why?
This book -- it's upside down.
Oh, my God.
Ngaire Marsh.
All the other books are alphabetized by surname.
Why is this in with the N's?
How did I not notice that?
I mean, I've been in and out of here pottering about.
What's this?
It turned up anonymously in a gift box a while back.
Sebastian was convinced it was a peace offering from Ngaire.
And was it?
I don't like to cast aspersions.
For God's sake, Adele.
This book, of all books, was left out of place.
That's not a coincidence.
A message from the grave?
Okay, so on the night he died, Sebastian was in here drinking with Jack, and at some point, he was drugged.
And he starts to feel that something's wrong, so he staggers in here, and he's desperately trying to find the book clue for you, Adele.
But the killer notices, and they pick it up, and before they drag Sebastian away, they put it back.
Only they put it back in the wrong place.
Leaving a clue without even knowing it.
Right.
Telling me that it was Ngaire?
I'm actually working, if you don't mind.
Did you give Sebastian this book?
So what if I did?
Better than a flaming poo in a box, isn't it?
What about this?
It's Latin.
"A rich man is either a knave or the heir of a knave."
And a knave is another name for a jack in the deck of cards.
So what is this?
A warning to stay away from Sallinger?
It's a shame Sebastian ignored it.
Still, they deserved each other.
Entitled egomaniacs.
Now, if you don't mind... [Cellphone ringing] Adele's story pans out.
Now, if Ngaire did it, it'd be in a rage.
A messy crime of passion, not meticulously planned out.
Meticulous planning points to Adele.
Okay.
So we have an e-mail from Adele to Sebastian.
"Should I read Jack Sallinger's manuscript, too?"
And Sebastian's reply, "I would never do that to you.
It's hours of your life you'll never get back."
Wait.
I thought you said Sebastian liked Jack's novel.
No, Jack said Sebastian liked it.
Mind you, according to Jack, I also fancy the pants off him, so... Ooh.
You know, this book... Ngaire's warning to Sebastian is all about a millionaire trying to build a mansion.
Really?
So is the warning from the grave about Ngaire... or Jack?
The knave.
I think we take a trip out there tomorrow, see if there's a bunker or not.
We?
Wear something comfortable.
♪ ♪ Beth?
You still breathing?
Flashbacks to Navy training drills, but I'm okay.
Okay.
I've accessed his security system and jammed the CCTV.
No one will notice the same footage on loop for an hour.
Attagirl.
Alexa.
I've been looking forward to this.
Me too.
Come on in.
Alexa: Now, this is the important bit.
This is your sourdough starter.
You've got to think of it like a pet bacteria that you have to feed to keep it alive.
I've even named her for you.
This is Martha, after Martha Stewart.
The ex-felon?
What are you implying?
Well, if you had spent all your millions saving the world, I would have called it Gandhi.
Hey.
I do my bit.
Oh, I know you do.
Anyway, Martha ought to expand to twice her size.
You've just got to feed her every eight hours, a little bit of flour, maybe a little bit of water, and that's about it.
So now we wait.
What do we do while we wait?
I mean, I'd have lunch made, but I give the staff weekends off.
You do value your privacy.
Exactly.
I mean, what if I wanna, you know, invite someone over on a date or, uh... plan a murder?
I don't know which I should be more afraid of.
The latter obviously.
[Both laughing] ♪ ♪ This is from my own vineyard.
A vintner now.
Why am I not surprised?
[Cellphone buzzing] Sorry.
I need to take this.
Yeah, of course.
Yes?
♪♪ ♪ Yeah, no.
Great, great.
Let's talk tomorrow.
You're not leaving?
[Sighs] I'm sorry.
I just realized the time.
But look, leave Martha out, feed her tonight and I'll be back to check in the morning.
Was it the wine?
No, I know it wasn't the wine.
I know it wasn't my company.
Both were perfect.
See you tomorrow.
♪ ♪ Beth?
The CCTV is now reactivated.
There is no evidence that I was ever here.
Excellent.
Alexa: So our "Jack" of all trades has got himself a bunker after all.
Mm-hmm.
An underground bunker is the perfect place to stage a murder.
Now, is there any way that Jack Sallinger would be stupid enough to write about suffocating someone in a statue and then actually do it in order to prove a point to Sebastian?
He's not that stupid.
Okay.
So then why?
Boredom.
Fun.
Notoriety.
That would be... Ludicrous.
Impenetrable plot.
"The twist at the end of this chapter is more commonly seen in the work of over-sexed high-school students."
Whoa.
Harsh.
That's Sebastian's feedback.
I had a history teacher that used to mark essays like that.
But I mean, that was a teacher, not a friend.
Can you imagine a friend... I know what happened.
♪ Oh, my!
How she's grown.
I experimented with rye flour due to its high amylase.
As you can see, the results are impressive.
Well, you're an expert after only one lesson.
That's not intimidating at all!
So now that you know all my secrets, why don't you tell me one of yours?
I noticed that your ventilation systems are working.
Jack, do you have a bunker already?
Once a cop, always a cop, huh?
Oh, come on.
I won't tell anyone obviously.
I just wanna see it.
I bet it's incredible.
Oh, you got me.
It still needs some finishing touches, but Sebastian was impressed when I showed him.
Like you said, he was someone who respected big ideas.
Oh, my gosh.
This place is incredible.
Well, this floor has six rooms, but ultimately will be another 20 rooms.
For your special guests.
I wouldn't wanna be down here without good company.
No, indeed.
We also have a lockdown feature that secures the bunker in case of attack or a significant weather event.
[Whirring] [Laughs] There we are.
You and I, locked away from the rest of the world.
Well, isn't that fun?
Uh, next level up will be a swimming pool, rec center.
Level three is food storage and the remaining floors, water filtration and med bay, but they're just big concrete spaces at the moment.
Wow.
I bet that'd be a great place to murder someone.
That's, uh -- That's... That's pretty dark, Alexa.
Suffocating someone in a statue, I mean, it doesn't get much darker.
What are you talking about?
You killed Sebastian.
[Chuckles] Oh.
Oh, I didn't -- I didn't pick you for crazy.
Well, that was your first mistake.
I believe you drugged Sebastian during one of your wine-club sessions at his house.
After you made the mistake of putting the book away in the wrong place, you led Sebastian out to your car.
Covered him up so there was no evidence on your CCTV of him arriving here, and you could confidently hand over the footage to the police.
Once he was inside the bunker, no one would ever find him, because no one knows this place exists.
You encased him in concrete.
♪ And you watched him set, then painted it with rust paint to seal it and disguise it as a sculpture.
Then you drove to the site in the middle of the night.
No one was around, and besides, people were used to seeing you shipping materials back and forth.
You'd been doing it for months.
You knew a sculpture would put Ngaire in the frame if the body was ever found, but that was just insurance.
You placed your masterpiece on public display.
But then...the flood.
Oh, you must have been furious when the statue dislodged.
I mean, it could have survived, but... God, it was just so poorly made, I mean... What did you do?
Watch a YouTube video on how to make a sculpture?
[Chuckles] Oh, this is ludicrous.
I mean, this is... laughable.
Like the plot of your novel.
Isn't that what Sebastian said?
Ludicrous, yeah.
Ludicrous.
[Sighs deeply] But you showed him.
I mean, really, you showed him, didn't you?
This was almost the perfect murder.
Mm-hmm.
And it was a just punishment for someone who would criticize your work.
You're an idiot if you think anybody will believe any of this.
I'm not amazing at everything, like you, Jack, but I'm pretty good at putting together a case.
You got conjecture, and I've got an army of lawyers who will destroy you.
I'm sure the cops, when they enter this bunker that they don't know exists, will find all the evidence they need.
If you really think I'm a murderer, why did you come down here?
You're in a prison no one knows about.
I have this new friend, well, associate, Beth.
She follows me around everywhere.
I cannot shake her.
She's upstairs as we speak.
Great.
Well, she can tell them where to pick up your body, then.
Jack.
[Sighs] Jack... You asked me this week, what's my price?
To make this go away?
Well, you know I can give you anything you want.
Just name it.
I kind of want you to spend your entire fortune on a global marine sanctuary.
Alright.
But as we've discovered, I'm crazy.
♪ ♪ Oh, good.
She got the sourdough starter.
Okay, let's move on in.
Good luck getting him out of there.
Always up for a challenge.
Here.
You drive.
Me?
You.
[Music playing on television] [Woman screams] Oh!
If this is what you based your survival plan on, you might want to reassess.
[Cat meows] It's okay, Chowder.
They only eat people.
[Woman screams] [Computer chimes] Oh, hey!
Madison: Hey.
We're just watching a zombie movie.
It's so implausible, I don't know where to start.
Wait.
You got Alexa to watch a zombie movie?
How did you do that?
I called it research.
I'm indulging her because she comes highly recommended.
You wanna watch this with us, Mads?
Yeah.
Go on.
Ooh.
This is a good one.
Nice choice.
Oh, thank you.
[Man screams] [Laughter] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
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