S1 Ep10: Pops

4 August 2021 / 5 August 2021 by Victoria

(Middle-aged woman is looking at the strawberries. A voice speaks from behind her.)

Lucifer: You know, there’s only one way to pick the perfect strawberry.

Woman: Are you talking to me?

Lucifer: Yes, of course. Why not? Uh, most people think it’s just about the outside. (He holds a strawberry up and speaks seductively) You know, the, uh, shape and the color. But they’re just like us. Sneaky little devils, hiding tasty secrets inside.

Woman: It’s never the ones you expect.

Lucifer: But there’s no way of finding out what deliciousness is underneath without giving it a little taste.

Woman: (Woman takes a bit of the strawberry and moans with pleasure) Mmm. Mmm.

Lucifer: You like that?

Anne: Oh… God!

Lucifer: (angrily) Really? You have to bring him up now? I mean, we were having a moment.

Chloe: Lucifer. The hell are you doing? (We can now see there is a crime scene on the other side of the produce department.)

Lucifer: Pardon me. (He turns and leaves.)

Woman: (stammering and wanting to stop him from leaving) Uh, uh, uh, uh…

(They are now standing over a body on the floor.)

Lucifer: Right, so what have we got?

Chloe: Well, this is an interesting one. Our victim’s a 60-year-old male. Collapsed in broad daylight. No obvious injuries, no sign of struggle.

Lucifer: And the interesting part is?

Chloe: (clears throat) This. Based on the bloodshot eyes and the closed throat, looks like this guy was poisoned.

Lucifer: (Recognizing the man) No, no, no, no, no, this is horrific.

Chloe: Dead bodies don’t usually affect you.

Lucifer: You know who this is? This is Chef Javier.

Chloe: Javier Arias, yeah. Owner of Sol De Javier. Did you know him?

Lucifer: Well, only by his work. I mean, this chap was, uh… an artist in the kitchen. He made the most exquisite Mexican cuisine I’ve ever had. And now… (sighs)

Chloe: It’s okay.

Lucifer: I’ll never taste his perfect tamales again.

Chloe: So this isn’t about the man, this is about your stomach.

Lucifer: This is about a crime against good taste, Detective. Well, someone definitely needs to be punished for this.

Chloe: According to the grocers, he came here every morning after having breakfast at his restaurant. M.E. says that the poisoning happened about 90 minutes before he fell, which puts him squarely at the restaurant.

Lucifer: Well, you can’t think his own staff poisoned him. I mean, the man was a visionary.

Chloe: With a hell of a temper, by all accounts. Everyone at the restaurant’s a suspect. We need to interview all of his employees and do a full sweep for toxins.

Lucifer: And find out whether he wrote down his recipes.

(indistinct radio chatter)

Lucifer: You smell that? It’s the last of Chef Javier’s brilliance gone forever. I wonder if the police recovered any leftovers from his last meal.

Chloe: Well, it was most likely poisoned.

Lucifer: Ah, well, it’s well worth the risk.

(They arrive where a group of restaurant employees is waiting.)

Chloe: Hi. So is this everyone that works here?

Officer: Yeah, that’s everybody.

Woman: You think one of us killed Pops?

Lucifer: “Pops”? What, are you his daughter or something?

Woman: Uh, no, that’s what we all called him. We were like a family here.

Lucifer: Well, hold on, so everyone here saw him as a father figure? Oh, this is much more interesting now.

Chloe: Why is that?

Lucifer: Well, my dear detective, this is patricide. It’s a tale as old as time. You know, Oedipus, the Menendez brothers, Voldemort.

Chloe: Okay. Yes. I know after what happened to Father Frank, you’re mad at, um…

Lucifer: You can say it.

Chloe: God.

Lucifer: My dad.

Chloe: Sure. I just don’t want you projecting onto this case. There are so many reasons to commit murder. Don’t let your, um, daddy issues cloud your judgment.

Lucifer: No, no, no, I simply understand what it’s like to want to escape the clutches of a difficult father. That’s all.

Chloe: Lucifer, not everything’s about your parents.

Lucifer: (scoffs)

Officer: Hey, Detective.

Chloe: Yeah.

Officer: Your sister’s here to see you.

Chloe: Oh, no, no. I don’t… I don’t have a sister. So it can’t…

(A woman sashays down the hall towards them.)

Penelope: Oh, no. Hi, sweetie, guess who’s back.

Chloe: Oh, what a pleasant surprise.

Lucifer: Detective, you never told me you had such a radiant sister.

Chloe: It’s ’cause I don’t.

Penelope: And who is this handsome devil?

Lucifer: No way.

Chloe: Mom, this is Lucifer. Lucifer, Mom.

Lucifer: Sorry, I’m a bit speechless, I… Penelope Decker? Well… As I live and breathe? The Vampire Queen?

Penelope: Yeah. (laughs)

Lucifer: Wow, are you a real vampire? ‘Cause you certainly don’t look old enough to have a daughter this age. (laughs)

Lucifer: (to Chloe) How old are you, Detective?

Penelope: Honey, your new friend is just delicious.

Lucifer: Oh, stop.

Chloe: Mom, what are you doing here?

Penelope: Oh, well, you know how exhausting those convention circuits can be. I just wanted to get home.

Chloe: Mom, I mean here, at my job.

Penelope: (gasps) Oh, well, you weren’t answering your phone…

Chloe: Uh, yep.

Penelope: So I called someone at the department. I can be very persuasive.

Lucifer: Oh, you clever little minx.

Penelope: Besides, it’s all over the news. Poor Javier. Such a wonderful chef.

Lucifer: A woman of refined taste as well. (laughing) I mean… (to Chloe) What happened to you?

Penelope: So you think one of these people might have done it?

Chloe: (Walking Penelope back down the hallway) Yes, uh… Mom, can we talk about this later?

Penelope: Well, sure. What about a family dinner tonight?

Chloe: Family dinner?

Penelope: That’s right, it’s been ages.

Chloe: Age…? We never had…

Penelope: And, Lucifer, you have to come.

Chloe: No, that’s really not necessary.

Lucifer: I’d love to.

Penelope: Oh, great! Well, then I’ll see you both tonight. I love you, pumpkin. (chuckles)

Lucifer: Ooh! Mama Decker. (sighs and continues to look at Penelope leave and seems lost in admiration.) Okay. Mmm.

Chloe: Hey.

Lucifer: Hmm?

Chloe: Crime scene?

Lucifer: Oh. Yes, of course. Right, well, where do we begin?

Chloe: Well, we know it was poison, we know it was here, so we have to go through anyone and everyone that could have had their hands on Javier’s last meal. That’s chefs, servers, bussers. Even the dishwasher could have done it.

Lucifer: Oh, so many people, so many reasons to kill Pops.

(This scene jumps back and forth between several employee interviews.)

Woman1: I loved him. Pops was like a father to me. He was such a nice man.

Lucifer: Except when you made a mistake.

Woman2: That’s right. Then he got upset, and he threw things.

Man1: He threw things… a lot.

Chloe: Where were you this morning?

Woman2: Here. I’m always here. Pops worked me to the bone.

Lucifer: A taskmaster, was he? No matter what you gave him, it wasn’t enough?

Woman1: It wasn’t. And I gave him a lot.

Man1: (Holds up his right hand to show a partial missing index finger.)

Lucifer: Ah, to the bone, indeed.

Chloe: Did you have any altercations with Pops?

Woman2: Sure.

Man1: All the time.

Woman1: Nothing I did was ever good enough for Pops.

Lucifer: And it never would be, would it? Which is why he left you with no choice but to take matters into your own hands.

Man1: He was like a father to me.

Woman1: He was like a father to me…

Woman2: He was like a father to me.

(Lucifer looks frustrated and annoyed.)

Chloe: And how was he to everyone else?

Junior:Tough, but, ultimately, he was fair. Uh, he cared about his people. He was…

Lucifer: “Like a father to you.” Yes, we’ve heard that one before.

Junior: He was my father.

Chloe: This is Javier’s son, Junior.

Junior: I don’t work here anymore. I-I’ve been away a while. I came over as soon as I got the call. (chuckles) I still can’t believe he’s gone, man.

Lucifer: Wayward son, are you?

Junior: Yeah, you could say that.

Chloe: You and your father had a strained relationship?

Junior: It’s… it’s complicated. You know, I feel like the only thing that made him happy was this place.

Lucifer: So let me guess, you tried to follow in his footsteps?

Junior: Yeah, I trained as a chef, yeah.

Lucifer: And Dad was domineering, acted like a god in the kitchen?

Chloe: Lucifer. (reaches over and touches his arm to try to stop him. Lucifer holds up a finger in refusal.)

Junior: You have no idea.

Lucifer: Oh, you’d be surprised.

Junior:I was never gonna live up to him, so I just, I…

Lucifer: Rejected everything he stood for.

Junior: Yeah. I gave up cooking, I hit the road…

Lucifer: Which is why I’m curious about your return. Was there something that you wanted to do when you came back? (Lucifer stands up and begins doing his mojo.)

Junior: Uh, I don’t know, like…

Lucifer: Oh, come now. The prodigal son returns to his overbearing father. What could you possibly desire?

Junior: I wanted…

Lucifer: Yes?

Junior: To have one more meal with my dad.

(Lucifer looks perplexed. Chloe touches his arm and Lucifer sits back down.)

Chloe: (Chloe clears throat) (sighs) So you just got into town last night?

Junior: Yeah, I-I met Dad here for breakfast.

Chloe: Did you notice anything strange about him or the meal? Anything?

Junior: Dad had them bring out our usual. (chuckles) We were actually getting along for once. Uh, after we finished eating, Dad left to do his pickup at the market. We were supposed to meet up later tonight. Said he had something he wanted to tell me, but…

Lucifer: So now that Dad’s gone, I’m guessing the restaurant goes to you?

Junior: No, I don’t… I don’t deserve this place. Dad knew that. (chuckles)

Chloe: Well, stay in town. We may have more questions for you.

(Junior gets up and leaves the room.)

Lucifer: Well. Isn’t that a coincidence? Boy returns home, and, conveniently, his pops drops the next day? (sighs) Lucky bs*rd.

Chloe: Maybe. Or maybe this is about something more than anger, which they all had, but if Junior isn’t inheriting the restaurant, then who is?

Dr. Linda: Well, I’m glad you decided to come here, but I’m not sure this is appropriate.

Maze: Why? (Maze sits sprawled out on the sofa.)

Dr. Linda: Well, Lucifer’s your boss and a client of mine. I can recommend you to someone else.

Maze: No, I like you. Look, you helped Lucifer, and I need you to help me.

Dr. Linda: (sighs) What seems to be the problem?

Maze: (sighs) I’m stuck in a place I don’t belong, and I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I need to figure out how to be more… normal.

Dr. Linda: So…

Maze: “So” what? Tell me what to do.

Dr. Linda: Well, that’s not how this works.

Maze: (suddenly looking interested, she gets up and slowly starts to come across the table towards Dr. Linda.) Do I need to sleep with you too?

Dr. Linda: What?

Maze: Is that it?

Dr. Linda: Uh, no. No, I’m good. I’m good. Really, I’m good. (Maze, a bit confused, sits back down.) What I can give you… is my advice. So… if we want to feel more connected to our environment, sometimes it’s helpful if we actively embrace it and those around you.

Maze: That still sounds like s*x.

Dr. Linda: Okay. I meant, uh, engage in caring and meaningful relationships. Making friends.

Maze: (Annoyed, Maze gets up.) Forget it. This was a mistake. (Maze quickly leaves.)

Dr. Linda: Mazikeen. Wait. If you could… What just happened?

(Dan is in the passenger’s seat and Malcolm is driving.)

Malcolm: Something on your mind, partner?

Dan: What’s the gun for, Malcolm?

Malcolm: Oh, you mean that gun you stole for me? That gun? I was wondering when you’d ask.

Dan: You know what? I’m done playing your stupid games. You want to tell everyone I shot you, you go right ahead. But I’m gonna put an end to whatever you’re planning.

Malcolm: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, chill, Dan. God, you went from zero to 100 so fast. The way I see it, I’m doing you a favor. (chuckles)

Dan: A favor? Another man spends so much time with my wife, I sure wouldn’t like it. Especially knowing this guy’s so dangerous.

Dan: You want to kill Lucifer? Why?

Malcolm: If I told you, I promise, you wouldn’t believe me. But before you go throwing any more balls, remember this… (sighs) You thinking about taking another shot at me, try to take me down? Don’t miss.

Chloe: So you’re Anne Martin, the sous chef. You’re Javier’s number two?

Anne: I mean, I guess I was. I mean, I-I can’t believe it. I… I just saw Pops this morning. He was fine.

Chloe: And you cooked his last meal, is that right?

Anne: So? You know how many people had their hands on that plate?

Chloe: Well, this is your kitchen, Anne. When Pops isn’t here, you run the show. And from what I understand, you’re not someone to be messed with, so… you really think someone’s gonna go behind your back?

Anne: I can’t control what they do. Who knows what kind of psychos we have?

Chloe: Well, are any of these psychos set to inherit the restaurant, like you are? I spoke to his estate attorney.

Anne: It’s no secret Javier was grooming me to take over. He was my mentor.

Lucifer: Well, of all the reasons to kill your father figure, greed is truly the ugliest.

Anne: You think I killed Pops to speed up my inheritance? I would never do anything to hurt him. He taught me everything. He meant the world to me.

(Chloe’s phone buzzes and she answers.)

Lucifer: (Leans in to do his mojo) Well… If you didn’t wish your dear old “Pops” ill, what did you wish?

Anne: To surpass him.

Lucifer: Ah! So the student becomes the master, eh?

Anne: What? No! It’s not like that.

Chloe: Preliminary tox screen came in. The poison used to kill Javier was mercury.

Lucifer: Oh. So you cracked open a few thermometers over brunch, did you? Not the trick I’d use, but clearly effective.

Chloe: There was something else in his system, too. (To Anne) Can I see the inside of your arms?

Anne: Why?

Chloe: Track marks.

Lucifer: Ah, so there was heroin as well? Generous killer, aren’t you? Wanted to give him a little high on the way out?

Anne: This is crazy. No. If you… if it’s heroin, you should talk to… I’m sorry. (Anne clenches her stomach and looks unsteady and ill.)

Lucifer: (Thinking she is swooning over him.) Don’t worry. I tend to have a rather striking effect on women. Come on. Just let it all out. (Anna throws up blood onto Lucifer’s shirt and jacket.) Oh! Okay.

Chloe: (yelling towards the other room) Someone call an ambulance!

Lucifer: Well, I’ve never had that effect.

(Anne is being wheeled out on a stretcher. Lucifer is now wearing a green T-Shirt with the restaurant’s logo on it.)

Lucifer: Do you still think she’s a suspect? We can arrest her now if you’d like. You know, once she’s done getting her stomach pumped.

Chloe: What I want to know is… did she ingest the same thing as Javier by mistake? Or was she poisoned, too? Why did she survive?

Lucifer: Well, perhaps the killer simply ran out of thermometers.

Chloe: Who would have a bone to pick with Javier and his number two?

Lucifer: Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps someone who was kicked out of the family biz?

Chloe: You mean Junior.

Lucifer: Well, he seemed like a very troubled young man to me.

Chloe: Yeah. It’s almost as if his dad just died.

Lucifer: (Seeing Dan arrive.) Oh, and look who decided to grace us with his douchedom. Daniel…

Chloe: Hey. Did you find something?

Dan: A Naomi Austen. She worked as a hostess here last year till she was fired. She has two arrests for heroin possession over the last year alone.

Lucifer: Poor girl doesn’t learn her lesson, does she?

Chloe: Naomi Austen. That name sounds familiar. Oh, okay. So one of the cooks said that she showed up two days ago, and was yelling at Javier and Anne, so… I’ll see if her P.O. has an address.

Dan: It’s already in the file.

Lucifer: Look at you two, like Cagney and Lacey.

Dan: You don’t care who you piss off, do you?

Lucifer: Not in the slightest, no.

(Dan turns and starts to walk out, Chloe follows him.)

Chloe: (under breath) Oh, my God. Oh, wait! Um, Dan. Um… So, uh, if you don’t have plans tonight, my mom is having this family dinner…

Dan: And you could really use a buffer.

Chloe: Yeah.

Dan: Sure. Send me the details.

Chloe: All right.

(Dan leaves.)

Lucifer: Detective… do you mind if we make a stop on the way? I mean, this shirt’s more of a loaner, really.

(Chloe is pushing a button on a panel of door buzzers.) (buzzing)

Chloe: (Chloe sighs) Still no answer. (Lucifer, now wearing a suit, looks into an apartment through partially opened drapes. Chloe comes over and looks inside also.) OJ… spoons, foil. Looks like a junkie… (She looks to see the door now open. Inside the apartment Lucifer is looking through a backpack.) What do you think you’re doing?

Lucifer: Well, I found something far more interesting.

Chloe: We don’t have a warrant.

Lucifer: We don’t have time for warrants, Detective! Look. Junior was here.

Chloe: Junior was staying here? He and Naomi must be close.

Lucifer: Yeah, well, they probably chased the dragon together after Junior killed his dad and then sat and looked at the twinkly lights. Why have they still got their Christmas tree up?

Chloe: We don’t know what happened.

Lucifer: Well, maybe something in here will help clear that up. (Continues to pull items out of the backpack.) Right. Uh… Board shorts. Don’t know what more proof you need that he’s deranged.

Chloe: We’re not supposed to be in here.

Lucifer: Oh, come on.

Chloe: (sighs) So let’s just search the place fast.

Lucifer: Oh! Well, well. Lead the way, Detective.

Chloe: All right.

(couple moaning in pleasure from the adjoining apartment, bedsprings squeaking)

Lucifer: Oh… I… can… can you hear that?

Chloe: Yeah. And since when has that bothered you?

Woman: Oh, God!

Lucifer: (annoyed) And dear old Dad strikes again. I mean…

Chloe: (giggles)

Lucifer: It’s not funny.

Chloe: It’s kind of funny.

Lucifer: Well, that’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one being taunted, are you? “Oh, God” this! “Oh, God” that! He’s popping up everywhere and spoiling my favorite things!

Chloe: I’d really hate to be in your head.

Lucifer: Well, why would you understand? Your mother’s absolutely delightful.

Chloe: Oh, of course, you think she is.

Lucifer: Oh… Do I detect some angst?

Chloe: She’s like a child.

Lucifer: Oh, and I bet it drove you crazy.

Chloe: Yeah. All she wanted was to doll me up and take me to auditions.

Lucifer: Would make anyone mad with rage.

Chloe: She made everything about her.

Lucifer: So you could just murder her!

Chloe: Sure. But I didn’t. And you’re still not proving your point about Junior.

Lucifer: (sighs) Fair enough. So how did you handle it, anyway? You know, besides taking your anger out on criminals?

Chloe: I don’t know. I guess I just always tried to focus on something else. This is… weird. (Chloe sees a painting ajar on the wall, takes it off the wall, and finds a small bag of white powder attached to the back.)

Lucifer: Well! That painting just became far more valuable.

(Door opens. Chloe moves out of sight and Naomi walks in and is shocked to see Lucifer standing there.)

Lucifer: Oh. Hello, Naomi.

Naomi: Who the hell are you?

Lucifer: Heroin inspector. I’m afraid your spoons aren’t up to standard, so… (Naomi turns to leave but Chloe now stands between her and the door.)

Chloe: Hold on. We have some questions for you.

(Moments later, Naomi is sitting on the sofa and answering questions.)

Naomi: You think I killed Javier?

Lucifer: Well, I don’t. But she definitely does. But she thought it was the sous chef before, so don’t take it personally.

Chloe: (Chloe clears throat) The poison that killed Javier was laced with heroin. We know you use and we know that you had a fight with Javier and Anne Martin two days ago.

Naomi: Okay, I admit, I went to see Pops a few days ago, ’cause Junior called me to tell me he was coming back home. I just wanted to make peace with his dad.

Chloe: Make peace? Why?

Naomi: Because he didn’t want us together. So you’re dating Junior.

Naomi: We were. A year ago, before he left. And I thought, maybe, when he came back… But Pops never approved.

Lucifer: Well, I can’t see why they’re not fans of your whole Kurt and Courtney vibe.

Naomi: I tried to tell him that Junior got clean on his travels, but it didn’t matter. Javier said he would never support us. I got upset.

Chloe: What happened with you at breakfast?

Naomi: Nothing. I wasn’t even at breakfast. Junior wanted to see his dad alone. I went to see my sponsor. I’ve been having a tough time of it lately.

Chloe: All right. Until we can confirm that, we need you to come down to the station.

Lucifer: Why, pray tell, did Junior want to see his dad alone?

Naomi: He just said that he wanted to make it right. That all he needed to do was confront his father and settle things.

Lucifer: (Laughs and looks at Chloe as if to say ‘I told you so’) Hmm.

Naomi: You don’t think that…

Lucifer: He killed him? Junior told us he wanted to have one more meal with his dad. It seems he did… a rather final one.

Chloe: Do you know where he is?

Naomi: I haven’t talked to him since this morning.

(Police officer takes Naomi away in handcuffs then Lucifer and Chloe exit the front door.)

Chloe: APB on Junior’s out. We’re trying to ping his cell.

Lucifer: I’m glad we’re finally on the same page.

Chloe: You know, ever since we met this kid, you’ve had it in for him. Why?

Lucifer: Guess he’s a bird of a feather. Someone who had a shadow cast over him his entire life. Whereas I could never escape from under mine… he could. I wonder how that feels.

Chloe: (phone rings) Decker. No. No, you did the right thing. I’m on my way.

Lucifer: Did they find Junior?

Chloe: (frantic) No. I gotta go.

Lucifer: But we’ve a killer to catch!

Chloe: And we will. This is an emergency. (Chloe starts her car and leaves Lucifer outside and knocking on the door to be let in.)

Lucifer: (knocking) Detective! Come on! Oh… (tires squealing away) You’ve got to stop doing that! (sighs)

(Chloe enters the front door to find her daughter standing on a step stool and her mother standing over her putting makeup on Trixie.)

Chloe: Oh, no.

Trixie: Nana says we’re gonna be in a movie!

Chloe: (scoffs) So the babysitter called and said that you let her off early.

Penelope: Yeah, ’cause we didn’t need her anymore. We were just on our way to our first audition. Ooh, isn’t that a thrill?

Chloe: You didn’t think to ask me about that? What do you mean, “our” audition?

Penelope: I am up for a new role, and I thought it would be good to play off of somebody.

Chloe: Oh, okay. Can I talk to you for a sec? (Takes Penelope aside to speak where Trixie can not hear) So you thought it’d be a good idea to use Trixie as a prop?

Penelope: A co-star. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere. And isn’t she the cutest little lounge singer you’ve ever seen?

Chloe: She looks ridiculous. How can you exploit your family for your next acting job?

Penelope: You know, for someone who hated acting, you sure know how to be dramatic.

Chloe: You can’t do this. You can’t push Trixie into this the way that you pushed me. You can’t walk in here…

Penelope: Like I own the place? The place you’re living in rent-free?

Chloe: You asked me to stay here. You have no right to take her… (Now Chloe looks back to find the step stool empty and the front door open) Where is she?

Penelope: She was just here.

Chloe: Trixie? Trix? Trixie? Trixie! She’s gone.

Chloe: I’ve called her friends, I’ve called our neighbors. No one has heard from her. (speaking on phone) No. All right, I’ll call you if I hear anything. (To Penelope) Dan hasn’t heard from her.

Penelope: Take a breath, Chloe. She’s a smart girl… where would she go? I don’t know. She left and… (phone chimes, Chloe looks at her phone) What?

Penelope: What is it?

Chloe: She ordered a ride from my Uber account.

Penelope: Where’d she go?

(It’s afternoon and few people are in the bar. Maze is tending bar.)

Trixie: Is Lucifer here?

Maze: Who are you supposed to be?

Trixie: I’m Trixie, his friend.

Maze: His friends get worse and worse. Hate to break it to you, but he’s not here.

Trixie: That’s okay. I’ll wait.

Maze: (pour two shots of whisky and places one on the bar in front of Trixie) So, what do you want with Lucifer?

Trixie: He cheers me up. I hate it when people fight over me.

Maze: What people?

Trixie: My mom and dad used to a lot. But this time it was Mom fighting with Nana about how I look.

Maze: Which one wants you to look like an old drag queen?

Trixie: My grandma, I guess. They’re fighting over what they want me to be when I grow up.

Maze: What do you want to be?
Trixie: I want to be the first president of Mars. Or a zookeeper.

Maze: Mm-hmm. I used to be a zookeeper. In a way.
Trixie: Really? That’s so cool.

Trixie: Is this a Shirley Temple?

Maze: (Maze plucks a cherry from a nearby tray and drops it into the shot in front of Trixie.) Sure.

(Just as Trixie puts the glass to her lips to drink, Chloe arrives.)

Chloe: Trixie! Thank God you’re okay. What were you thinking, running away like that?

Trixie: I wanted to see Lucifer. But he wasn’t here. So I made a new friend. (Looking at Maze) What’s your name?

Maze: (smiling) Mazikeen. But you can call me Maze.

Chloe: (sighs) Thank you, Maze.

Maze: (no longer smiling) I didn’t say you could.

Chloe: Right. (Chloe gives Trixie a big hug.)

(Junior is sneaking in through the window.)

Lucifer: How does it feel? (Startled, Junior catches his balance to see Lucifer relaxing on the sofa) You know, to finally be free. I mean, you’re about to be arrested. (Lucifer sits up) But, uh, at least you’re free of him.

Junior: What are you talking about?

Lucifer: Your father! You killed him. Tell me all about it. I mean, is the air a little sweeter? Is the sun a little brighter?

Junior: I didn’t kill my dad, man.

Lucifer: Oh, come on… why return to dispose of the murder weapon then? The heroin. Sorry, it’s all gone. Police took it away for testing. Well, (chuckles) most of it.

Junior: “Heroin”? No, I came for this.

(Junior picks up a large carving knife.)

Lucifer: Ah-ah-ah-ah Careful, Junior, you don’t who you’re playing with.

Junior: What? No. (sighs) My dad gave me this knife. It’s all I have left from him.

Lucifer: (a bit astonished) You’re not relieved he’s gone at all.

Junior: Why would I be relieved?

Lucifer: Because he was judgmental and cruel, and he tried to force you into being someone you’re not. And he’s gone now. So you can finally be your own man. Oh, dear. You didn’t kill him, did you?

Junior: Of course not. (sighs) So, are you gonna arrest me or what?

(Chloe and Trixie enter the front door.)

Penelope: Hi, Trixie! I’m so glad you’re back. Listen, Nana needs to explain something…

Chloe: Mom, let’s just have dinner, okay?

Dan: (Knocks on the front door) Hey, hey, hey. (Dan arrives holding a small chocolate cake in a see-through container.)

Penelope: (Standing with a bottle of wine in both hands) Dan! What a pleasant surprise. And you brought dessert.

Dan: Of course.

Penelope: So thoughtful as always. (Dan and Peneleope hug.)

Dan: So good to see you, Penny. Something smells amazing.

Penelope: Mmm.

Chloe: (annoyed) Yeah, Mom. Where’d you buy this nice home-cooked meal?

Penelope: Oh, there’s no take-out tonight. Lucifer has provided the meal.

Dan: (surprised) Wait. Lucifer’s here?

Penelope: He and his friend have been here a while.

Chloe: His friend?

(Lucifer steps out of the kitchen area wearing an apron and holding a bowl with Junior behind him.)

Lucifer: Ah! Detective! Just in time. Uh, you remember Junior? (puts his arm around Junior) Of course. Just wait until you taste his molé. It is to die for.

Trixie: (excitedly she moves towards him) Lucifer!

Lucifer: Oh, get back!

Dan: (Dan pulls Trixie back and bends down to her holding out the cake.) Okay, monkey, surprise. You get to eat chocolate cake in bed tonight.

Trixie: Why?

Dan: Does it matter?

Trixie: Nope.

(She takes the cake and goes to her room. Chloe motions she wants to talk with Lucifer privately.)

Lucifer: Junior, if you wouldn’t mind. (Hands Junior the bowl he was carrying. Junior takes the bowl to the dinner table.) (Clears throat. To Chloe.) Yes?

Chloe: So you brought a guy who’s suspected of murder by poisoning to cook for my family?

Lucifer: Well, if you arrest him, he’s just going to lawyer up, isn’t he? So why not have a nice meal whilst you get all the answers you need, hmm? I’m certain he’ll open up.

Chloe: Why is that?

Lucifer: Because I convinced him you’d hear him out. After all, he’s innocent.

Chloe: Oh, you think he’s innocent now?

Lucifer: Come on, Detective. If you’re not satisfied with his answers, you can always arrest him afterwards.

(Lucifer and Penelope are on one side of the table, Dan and Chloe sit next to each other on the opposite side. Junior is talking as he walks around the table putting the final touch on each plate.)

Junior: I stopped eating meat while backpacking through India, so I had to get creative with my dishes. This is my vegetarian take on Oaxacan molé with a tart, vegan crème fraîche.

(Junior sits down at the head of the table.)

Penelope: Sounds so exotic.

Lucifer: Lovely.

Penelope: I cannot wait to dig in.

Chloe: Mom, don’t eat that!

Penelope: Why not?

Chloe: She’s worried it might be poisoned.

Penelope: You are?

Lucifer: Oh, that’s right. Let’s catch you up, shall we? Um, I brought Junior here tonight because Detective Decker believes that he killed his father.

Penelope: You do?

Dan: What are you doing, man?

Lucifer: But I believe he was after something far more foolish. Reconciliation.

Junior: That’s right. I didn’t kill my dad.

Chloe: Do you have proof?

Junior: Just my word.

Chloe: Well, we might need something more than that.

Lucifer: Oh, come on, Detective, you said yourself you may want to kill your mother, but you don’t do it.

Penelope: Oh, so you want to kill me now? Just because I put makeup on your daughter?

Lucifer: No, because she thinks you’re a child and forced her to grow up too quickly. Am I wrong?

Dan: You’re way out of line, man.

Lucifer: There he goes leaping to her defense again. You know, perhaps you two are closer to getting back together than I thought.

Penelope: You are?

Chloe: No, we haven’t decided.

Dan: Things are moving that way.

Chloe: We just had the one kiss.

Lucifer: So you’re kissing now? Right. Maybe that explains why you won’t have s*x with me.

Dan: (incensed) I’m sorry, what?

Chloe: No.

Penelope: You’re juggling both these handsome gentlemen?

Chloe: I’m not juggling anything.

Penelope: Well, trust me, honey, you better do something, ’cause you’re not getting any younger. However, what do I know? Because I’m just a child.

Chloe: If you don’t like it, why don’t you stop acting like one?

Junior:(laughing) You guys sound just like me and my dad. We used to fight all the time over the dumbest stuff. That’s why I left. But no matter what I did, I couldn’t get away. You know, ’cause every time I cooked a meal or I looked in the mirror, there he was staring back at me.

Lucifer: That’s a tad bit creepy.

Junior: Because he’s a part of me, man. You know, he may have pushed too hard, and-and-and tried to make me something that I’m not, but in the end, it made me the man I am. And I’m proud of who I’ve become. Yeah, I came back home so I could tell him that I was clean. And I want to be a chef again. And this meal? Was what I was gonna make for him to prove it.

Penelope: Well, it looks very good.

Junior: (to Chloe) I didn’t kill my dad. All right, so either arrest me or let me go.

Chloe: Well, we are gonna need you to come downtown, and make a statement.

Dan: Please. Let me… I’m happy to have an excuse to leave.

Chloe: Dan… Don’t go.

Dan: (Taking Junior by the arm but addressing Lucifer) I wanted one reason to stick up for you. Just one. Let’s go, pal.

Penelope: Well… I have suddenly lost my appetite. (Penelope leaves the table leaving Chloe and Lucifer alone.)

Chloe: (sighs) Absolutely. (to Lucifer) I hope you’re happy.

Lucifer: No, actually, I’m extremely disappointed.

Chloe: Because you ruined dinner?

Lucifer: No. Because Junior’s answer was spectacularly unhelpful. He didn’t escape his father because he turned into him. I mean, that doesn’t apply to me at all! (sighs) (Chloe leaves the table.)

(Chloe sits at her desk going over the case files. Lucifer enters from kitchen.)

Lucifer: (clears throat) So I cleaned up. The food, I mean. It wasn’t quite the same as Chef Javier’s. But I have to admit, the boy can cook, so… I see you’re still working the case.

Chloe: You were right. Junior’s innocent.

Lucifer: Well, I’m glad you learned something at dinner.

Chloe: No, the lab called. The heroin that we found at Naomi’s doesn’t match the kind that killed Javier. So if Junior didn’t kill his dad, why use heroin?

Lucifer: To frame him, maybe?

Chloe: Yeah. I thought about that, too. But the only person with motive got poisoned herself. Unless she knew exactly how much to give herself.

Lucifer: Creating all the gruesome symptoms, but without the finale, yeah… But the restaurant was hers, so why would she do it?

Chloe: I don’t know, maybe Pops had a change of heart. Decided to bring Junior back into the fold after he found out he’d changed and was coming home? (She has a thought and picks up her phone and makes a call.) Yeah, this is Detective Decker. I’m calling about a patient, Anne Martin. Yeah. An hour ago? Yeah, thanks. (Hangs up the phone.) Guess who checked out against orders.

Lucifer: Well, I wonder where our lovely sous-chef’s headed in such a hurry. (chuckles)

(It’s late in the evening and no one is supposed to be in the restaurant. The sous-chef, Anne, is leaning over one of the grills trying to reach something behind it.)

Lucifer: (clapping) Bravo. That’s a brilliant hiding place. No wonder the police couldn’t find it earlier.

Anne: What are you doing here?

Chloe: Well, we’d ask you the same question, but we already know you’re destroying evidence.

Lucifer: Because you killed Javier.

Anne: I told you, I would never do anything to hurt Javier. Y

Lucifer: You seem genuinely upset. Like you didn’t want Javier to die. You, humans, are quite the paradox, aren’t you? You’re always killing your loved ones and…

Chloe: Unless the poison wasn’t meant for him. You meant to kill Junior, didn’t you?

Lucifer: What? Oh. Hence the drugs. He’d die a grisly death, and we’d assume he simply got a bad fix. Oh, that is very clever.

Chloe: Except you didn’t realize that Junior changed while he was away. He stopped eating meat.

Lucifer: Which is why his father ate his food, and you killed the man you love. Ooh, a cruel twist of fate.

Anne: You don’t know what you’re talking about.

Chloe: So when we test that powder in your hand, you’re telling me it’s not gonna match the poison that killed Javier?

Anne: That ungrateful kid did not deserve this place. He was given everything, and he threw it all away. But it didn’t matter. ‘Cause he was still the favorite.

Lucifer: Because he was worthy of his father’s love. And he had a chance at redemption until you ruined it.

(Anne kicks over a vat of grease. Chloe grabs Lucifer and pulls him out of the way as Anne lights a match and throws it on the grease spill. Flames engulf the kitchen. Chloe and Lucifer are trapped by flames blocking all exits.)

Chloe: Are you okay?

Lucifer: This place can’t possibly be up to code.

Chloe: We’ve got to get out of here. Damn it, there’s nowhere to go.

Lucifer: Oh, no, no, no, no, this is not how it goes down, not by a long shot, Dad.

Chloe: Lucifer, if you have any ideas… now’s the time.

(Lucifer carries Chloe, covered by his suit jacket, out the front door.)

Chloe: You can put me down.

Lucifer: Right. (Puts her down then checks the burn on his arm.) Happy now? (Lucifer scoffs) The Devil gets burned by fire. Could this be any more ironic?

Chloe: (chuckles)

Lucifer: Ah. Does my pain amuse you, Detective?

Chloe: A little bit. And so does this. (Chloe holds up the bag that Anne had been searching for in the kitchen.)

Lucifer: (laughs) You little rascal.

(Indistinct radio transmission. Police, ambulance, and fireman are on the scene. Lucifer is leaving the back of an ambulance with a freshly bandaged forearm.)

Lucifer: Nice and tight. Ah. Oh, thank you.

Chloe: Anne was arrested a few blocks away, so she’ll be eating prison slop for a long time to come.

Lucifer: Ah, her own personal hell indeed.

Chloe: Thank you. For getting me out.

Lucifer: Well, couldn’t exactly rush out of there alone. How would that look? (chuckles)

Chloe: That’s it? No “thanks for saving me first”?

Lucifer: Is that what happened? It’s funny, it’s all so fuzzy now. Must be the third-degree burns. (chuckles)

(They walk to the side of the ambulance where Junior is standing looking at the burned-down restaurant.)

Junior: Can’t believe it’s gone.

Chloe: We found out what your dad never got to tell you. He was gonna leave you the restaurant all along. If you even want it.

Junior:I think I do. And maybe I could rebuild it. You know, make it my own.

(Dr. Linda is alone and standing in the middle of the room looking at a book when there is knocking on her door.)

Dr. Linda: Uh, hang on, just a second. (Maze walks in.) Maze. I’m surprised you came back.

Maze: I made a friend today.

Dr. Linda: That’s fantastic news. Who?

Maze: An eight-year-old girl who wandered into the bar.

Dr. Linda: Well… That’s a start. Perhaps the next one can be of legal drinking age.

Maze: Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Yeah. So are you… busy tonight.

(Linda is pleasantly surprised and smiles.)

(Chloe comes in the front door covered in soot from the fire. Her mother, Penelope, sits drinking wine on the sofa.)

Penelope: What happened to you?

Chloe: Oh, it’s, uh… it’s been kind of a rough night. So I could use a drink.

Penelope: Here. (Hands Chloe her glass of wine.)

Chloe: What are you… what are you doing up?

Penelope: I have an early flight. And I didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.

Chloe: But you just got home.

Penelope: Look, I know I haven’t always been the easiest mom. I could be pushy. Overbearing. I am sorry that you felt that you always had to be the adult. All I ever wanted was for you to be happy.

Chloe: I know.

Penelope: And sometimes I think you could just take a leap.

Chloe: Hmm. (chuckles)

Penelope: Good night, pumpkin. (Penelope gets up and goes to bed.)

Chloe: Good night.

(Malcolm leans against his parked car eating food from a fast food container. Dan has just parked near Malcolm and gets out of his car.)

Malcolm: What’s up, partner? It’s awfully late to be calling a meet, huh?

Dan: You were right. Lucifer Morningstar is insane and dangerous. And he deserves everything he gets.

Malcolm: Well, that works out perfectly. (chuckles)

Dan: (Throws his handcuffs on the ground in front of Malcolm’s feet, and draws his gun, pointing it at Malcolm.) But I can’t let you kill him.

Malcolm: Come on, man. I mean, we talked about this. You know, I go down, you go down.

Dan: Then I go down.

Malcolm: It’s too bad. (Malcolm picks up handcuffs and puts them on, handcuffs clicking) I mean, I thought we had something really special going.

Dan: Go to hell. (grabs Malcolm by the shirt and pulls him towards Dan’s car.) Come on.

(Malcolm chuckles and walks to the car with Dan. Dan looks away to open his back door and Malcolm attacks him. They fight. Finally, Malcolm gets behind Dan, putting him in a chokehold.)

Malcolm: (laughing) Go to sleep. There you go. (Dan passes out. Dan’s phone chimes. Malcolm looks at the text message.)

Malcolm: Don’t worry. I’ll answer for you.

(Lucifer looks happy, dances a little waiting for the elevator. Elevator bell dings, doors open to show Chloe standing there bracing herself against the elevator wall.)

Lucifer: Detective? This is unexpected.

Chloe: You said the door’s always open, and I’m walking through it. (She staggers in and goes to his bar and pours herself a very large glass of liquor.)

Lucifer: Mm. Right, well, I was just on my way out to meet the Brittanys, but… I suppose they can occupy each other.

Chloe: Great. Then have a seat.

Lucifer: Yes. Has something happened… I’m guessing by the looks of it… with Dan perhaps?

Chloe: Mmm. You mean Detective Douche?

Lucifer: (laughs) Yes, well, of course, that’s what I mean, but the bigger question here is… why do you mean that?

Chloe: We weren’t even back together, and he ended it with me tonight. With a text. I mean, what, are we in high school?

Lucifer: Well, we’re certainly drinking like we are. (Takes the glass out of her hand and leads her to the sofa where they sit down.) Why don’t you have a seat over here and tell me all about it, hmm?

Chloe: I just feel like an idiot. I can’t believe that I would let myself care for him again. I mean, why? So I get hurt?

Lucifer: Um, no, because you’re a kind person who puts the needs of others before your own. It’s a horrible irony that my father invented.

Chloe: But you don’t do that. You just take what you want.

Lucifer: Since the beginning of time.

Chloe: That’s nice. (both chuckle)

(Chloe looks at Lucifer and leans over to kiss him. Lucifer lays back away from her and holds up his finger in an effort to stop her.)

Chloe: Uh… What’s happening?

Lucifer: It would seem that I’m saying no.

Chloe: But you’ve been trying to get me into bed since day one. Why are you saying no?

Lucifer: Well, frankly, my dear, I’m as baffled as you are. I mean, usually, I’d leap at the chance to fulfill my carnal desire, but… (sighs) for some reason, I can’t.

Chloe: (sitting back up) What am I doing? Why am I here, drunk, throwing myself at you? This is so sad.

Lucifer: Well, it happens to the best, I promise.

Chloe: But not to me. I don’t do this. This is something… my mom would do. (chuckles) That’s who’d do it.

Lucifer: Come here. (Pulls Chloe over to him and wraps her in one arm, comforting her.) We don’t all turn into our parents, Detective. (laughing) I mean, look at me. I don’t think I’ve ever been the son that He wants me to be. I, uh…

Chloe: (snoring)

Lucifer: (Looking upward.) Oh, God.