- The JSA isn't gonna work if you let
people like Cindy Burman on the team.
- Whatever.
- [grunts]
- I am here to make amends.
- That Kentucky-fried felon is not to be trusted.
- The Gambler shows up in Blue Valley,
and his gang a few miles outside of it?
- We Crocks don't forgive, and we don't forget.
- What do you want? - To reform.
- What exactly caused this so-called change of heart?
- Oh, I have a daughter.
- You have no daughter
like you have no scruples.
You're not fooling anyone.
[engine revving]
[rapid beeping]
[overlapping chatter]
[gunshot]
- Go.
- I didn't do it.
[Chaka Khan's "Like Sugar" playing]
♪ ♪
- ♪ It's like su-- ♪
♪ ♪
♪ It's like su-- ♪
♪ ♪
♪ It's like su-- ♪
♪ ♪
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ So sweet ♪
- [humming]
- ♪ Good enough to eat ♪
- Mm-mm-mm. Home sweet home.
- ♪ When you feel the funky beat ♪
♪ Get up on a-yo' feet ♪
- Lucky number seven.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Whoa, what a state that I'm in ♪
♪ Everybody here is dancing ♪
♪ All I wanna do is get ya body next to mine, yeah ♪
♪ Baby, won't you step it to me? ♪
- Let's get this started.
7-7-7. [lock clicks]
- ♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ So sweet ♪
♪ Good enough to eat ♪ - There you are.
- ♪ When you feel the funky beat ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Get up on a-yo' feet ♪
- Quack, quack, little friend. [rubber duck squeaks]
♪ ♪
- ♪ I like it ♪
♪ Like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, ooh, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like su-- ♪
- Mm, perfection. Yes.
- ♪ I like it, it's like sugar ♪
- [hums] - ♪ So sweet ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Good enough to eat ♪
♪ When you feel the funky beat ♪
[car approaching]
♪ Get up on a-yo' feet ♪
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
[rapid beeping]
- Where are you, Becky?
♪ ♪
- It's payback time.
♪ ♪
- ♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ So sweet ♪
♪ Good enough to eat ♪ - [sighs] Damn!
- ♪ When you feel the funky beat ♪
- Hmm...
- ♪ Get up on a-yo' feet ♪
- [sighs]
- ♪ Like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, ooh, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like sugar, it's like sugar ♪
♪ It's like su-- ♪
[engine revving]
♪ It's like sugar ♪
♪ So sweet ♪
[brakes squeal]
♪ Good enough to eat ♪
♪ ♪
[rapid beeping]
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[knocking]
[door creaks]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Someone murdered The Gambler.
- Okay. Well, who'd have the motive to do that?
- Well, who'd ever met him.
- Yeah, so who cares?
- A man is dead, and there's a killer out there.
- Excuse me. Have you all lost your minds?
Cindy Burman did it.
- She was standing over his body.
- Okay. Yes, sure she was, but Cindy told us...
- I didn't do it.
I came here...
to see if The Gambler had any connection
to the lame robbery earlier.
- Oh! Case dismissed, I guess.
- Cindy went to investigate when she heard
the Gambler's old gang was back together.
When she showed up, she found the trailer destroyed
and The Gambler dead.
- But you said she was holding a gun.
- Cindy said she saw the gun, and picked it up, and--
[gunshot]
- It accidentally went off.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- The Gambler wasn't shot.
The goggles couldn't find a bullet wound anywhere.
- That doesn't mean that Cindy didn't kill him, Beth.
- And whoever twisted that trailer into a pretzel
had to be as strong as Solomon Grundy.
- Grundy's dead.
- You sure, kid?
- I hate to be a broken record here,
but Cindy's strong.
- Not that strong.
- She is a walking science experiment.
Who knows what else she's done to change herself, Court?
- Dragon King changed her, and he's dead.
- Yeah, because she killed him.
- If you really thought she was innocent,
she would be here at this meeting right now.
- The Gambler's laptop was missing,
and he always has it with him.
- I've been trying to track it.
It still hasn't come back online yet.
- Cindy didn't have it.
We find the laptop...
- We find the killer.
- Who I'm guessing was one of The Gambler's former colleagues
from the Injustice Society who you're hoping to reform.
- We can't assume anything at this point.
- Courtney, the fact is,
it wasn't until The Gambler came back to Blue Valley
that he was murdered,
making the former villains all suspects,
including Cindy Burman.
[somber music]
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
♪ ♪
- "Dearest Becky, my darling daughter,
"I write to you today to apologize for years lost.
"I wasn't there for your birth or your birthdays.
"I wasn't there for you.
"I wish I could offer more of an explanation
"for my past errant ways
"and the fact that it is only now that I seek you out.
But alas, I have no excuse..."
[Pigeon John's "Watch Me Move" playing]
♪ ♪
- ♪ Walking on air, I stay in my zone ♪
♪ So turn it up loud and let me shine on ♪
♪ Got a trick up my sleeve, I let it slide out ♪
♪ There ain't no holding me down ♪
♪ Said they want it, well, it's coming now ♪
♪ I'm on my way ♪
♪ I'm rolling ♪
♪ Got everything you need when I'm around ♪
♪ Baby, just call my name ♪
- [groans] - ♪ I'm golden ♪
♪ And at the count of three ♪
♪ I'm tearing it down ♪
♪ W-w-w-watch me move ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Just tell me the place and time ♪
♪ 'Cause, baby, baby, I can't lose ♪
♪ ♪
♪ Make it look like I never try ♪
♪ Now shake it, shake it, watch me move ♪
- [exhales shakily]
Okay.
♪ ♪
- ♪ Watch me move ♪
♪ Ooh, I feel it ♪
♪ Ooh, ooh, I feel it coming ♪
♪ See what I can do when they watch me move ♪
[somber music]
♪ ♪
[soft music]
♪ ♪
- Hey, you're gonna be late for school
unless you get a move on, Court.
Court?
Hey. You okay?
- I've read this a dozen times since last night.
- Read what?
- [sighs]
- The Gambler wrote a letter to his daughter.
He didn't expect anyone to see this except her.
I think he really was trying to be better, Pat.
He wrote about his regrets, how he wanted to know her.
You know what I would have given to have my dad say
half the things in this letter to me?
Look, I know the others don't care that The Gambler died,
but I do.
And after we find his killer, I'm going to find Becky,
and I'm going to give her this letter.
- Okay.
I think that's a great idea.
It sounds like a plan.
Sylvester wants to question
some of The Gambler's old colleagues.
So we'll see what we can find out
while you're at school, okay?
Let's hit it. - [chuckles]
♪ ♪
- "Bizarre accident in trailer park leaves one dead"?
The rest of Blue Valley thinks it was a tornado.
- This is the best thing
that could ever happen to us, Jakeem.
- A man being murdered?
- No, a murdering murderer being murdered.
A nation mourns.
Listen, if we can catch the killer,
everyone's gonna have to take us seriously.
- We're not detectives.
- We are now.
[zapping] - Oh, I love "Columbo."
Have you ever seen the one about the celebrity chef
and his twin brother?
Peter Falk has
this 8-minute cooking improv
that is simply brill!
Leonard Nimoy was a little over the top
for my taste, or was that Martin Landau?
- I never know what you're talking about.
- They look so much alike, though, don't they?
I know Julie Newmar was in that one,
not to be confused with Julie Neumark.
Very different women.
[pensive music]
- Barbara. - Yeah.
- Did you hear? - What?
- Mr. Sharpe was found dead.
They said a freak tornado touched down
right on top of him.
- Well, Blue Valley has been known
to have bizarre weather from time to time,
like this summer's storms.
Perfect example.
- Well, if you ask me,
serves Mr. Sharpe right.
God rest his soul.
- Aw, you're three minutes late, Babs.
- Oh, but you're not my boss, Tim.
- Not yet. [chuckles]
Oh, and don't be late to the park budget meeting.
I wouldn't want you to miss me
voting against your proposal, again.
[forced laughter]
- Paula.
- We didn't do it.
- Are you talking about The Gambler?
- Leaving the body there.
We would never be that sloppy.
Disposing of the corpse is 101.
- Don't tell me about that.
- We would never risk going back to prison
on some schmuck like Sharpe.
We're home with our daughter again.
That is everything.
Oh, speaking of Artemis,
I heard she did very well with the JSA last night.
Did Courtney mention it?
- No.
- She will. Trust me, Barbara.
We have been doing everything we can to fit in here.
I garden.
I...smile at strangers.
I even applied to join the Blue Valley Rotary Club.
- And how is that working out?
- They asked me to bake a German chocolate cake.
I don't know why.
I can just buy one.
- Well, it means more if you make it yourself.
- Why?
- Because when you put your personal time into something,
it makes it more special.
- Why?
- Because it shows you care.
- Interesting.
Baking makes people think you care.
I mean, I do care.
[chuckles]
Do you know how to bake?
- No, not at all.
[bell rings]
- The official cause of death was blunt force trauma.
- From a tornado?
- Grundy did not kill The Gambler.
Guys, I checked. He's still buried.
- According to the autopsy report,
aside from all the bruises and broken bones,
The Gambler also had a stab wound right to the heart.
The coroner theorized it was debris thrown by a tornado.
- It wasn't a tornado. It was--
[slams table]
- You had a meeting last night without me?
- Yes, but--
- Wait, is this another meeting?
- Yeah, about The Gambler who died from a stab wound,
you know, like a shiv.
- Or a knife.
Or an arrow.
Look, I'm sorry about the meeting, Cindy,
but considering the circumstances--
- The circumstances where you were
standing over a dead body.
- Those circumstances were completely circumstantial.
- What does that even mean?
- The Gambler's laptop is missing.
Whoever has it, that's who killed him.
- And the sooner we find the laptop
and catch the killer together...
the sooner we can all move on.
[tense music]
♪ ♪
[hopeful music]
♪ ♪
- Sounds great.
[cup rattling]
[upbeat 1950s music]
♪ ♪
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
- [inhales deeply]
My dear Maria,
Earl Grey himself could not have brewed a finer cup.
- I'm so glad you're happy. - Happy?
I'm absolutely delighted.
This is after only, what, 44 attempts?
The utter pinnacle of perfection.
Bravo.
At last.
[bell chimes]
Mmm!
- We need to ask you some questions.
- If that's okay. - And here I was,
wondering how my day could possibly get any better.
- We need to talk to you about The Gambler.
- Can I just get a...
I need a little...
It's not--
ahh.
Thank you.
- Comfy?
- Where were you last night?
- If you're referring to Sharpe,
I saw him yesterday, though well before he died.
- Where'd you see him?
- If you lie to us, you'll regret it.
- I saw him in this very booth.
We had a rather unpleasant exchange.
Later on, I thought better of it,
so I went to see him to say...
I'm willing to let the past go.
And the past, to someone like me, is everything.
- I do say, I would be eternally grateful
if we could reset the backgammon board.
- This is a time of new beginnings for everyone.
- Hold on, Hufflepuff.
You expect us to believe that?
I bet you said...
- I'm going to kill you.
- No!
- Oh, heavens.
Can you credit me with a little subtlety?
- Says the guy who wears a top hat.
- If I was going to kill The Gambler--
or you, for that matter--
I'd say something far more eloquent, like...
"I'm gonna snuff out your little glow stick,
and then you, you big, ineffectual dolt."
[people gasping] - Hey, Sylvester.
Hey, let's...
- This isn't over, Shade.
- It never is.
- Okay, guys.
- Enjoy the coffee.
Pat. - Yeah?
- Move. - Yeah.
Sorry about that.
Excuse me. Sorry.
Hey, see ya. - Maria, can I get a refill?
- Hey, Sylvester.
- What was that in there, huh?
You're the sidekick, okay?
I ask the questions. I take the lead.
- Well, that--that's not how
it's gonna work anymore, Sylvester.
- What?
- I know this town, okay?
And the bull-in-a-china-shop thing,
it ain't gonna get you very far.
- We're talking about The Shade.
He's a murderer. He killed the JSA.
- Okay. Well, I'm talking about Blue Valley, all right?
It's a small town. And you scared those people.
They're just in there trying to enjoy a cheeseburger.
That's all.
- I'm sorry. - Yeah.
- I'm sorry. - It's okay.
- Thank you. You always steer me in the right direction.
- It's my job.
- I gotta cool off, okay?
Thanks.
- [coughing]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Excuse me, Ms. Woods?
- Hey. - Hi.
W-w-what are you doing here?
- Well, Pat just gave me some great advice,
and I wanna pay it forward.
It's time to level up.
Like a video game. - [chuckles]
- Like "Frogger."
Yeah? Great. Let's go.
- Um...
- Oh. [chuckles]
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
[soft whooshing]
♪ ♪
[scraping]
[groans]
[breathing heavily]
[inhales sharply]
[groans]
[students gasping]
- Cam, you okay?
- I'm sorry, Paul.
I just need to take a break.
- I thought training was gonna wait until after school.
- Well, that was before there was a killer on the loose.
I want you to know everything the Staff can do now,
in case they try and strike again.
Plus, I need to have some fun, and so do you, right?
[Staff warbles]
So first,
I need to see what you can already do.
[heroic music]
♪ ♪
- Whoo!
- [clapping]
Maybe you should teach me.
- [chuckles] Your turn.
[exciting music]
♪ ♪
[timer dings]
[quirky music]
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
Huh.
I don't think we used enough...something,
or maybe we used too much of, um, something else.
- It does look different than the picture.
- You know what? Third time's a charm.
- Oh. - Yeah.
- Hey, Barb? - Pat. Hi.
He is the real baker.
- Courtney here?
- No, she's at school.
Isn't she?
- What was that?
- I call it the Shooting Star.
- Cool.
- You wanna try it?
- Hell yeah.
- Dig your feet in.
All right, you are gonna funnel your energy--
the positive emotions that you exude--
into the Staff.
Then, you're gonna amp it up.
And when you're ready,
slam the end of the Staff down into the ground.
Okay?
Oh, and hold the hell on.
- [chuckles] Okay.
[inspirational music]
♪ ♪
[grunts]
- You okay?
- Yeah.
- What were you thinking about?
- [grunts]
Not screwing up in front of you.
- This is not about me. It's about you.
You have to give yourself credit
for the hope you give everyone around here.
And for the love you have for your mom and Pat
and...sometimes Mike.
And for the faith you have in your friends.
- Like you.
- Yeah, throw that in there too.
- [chuckles]
[sighs]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
Whoo-hoo!
[indistinct chatter]
[quirky music]
- Your dad said we should only
use the Thunderbolt in emergencies.
- Will you please stop saying that?
Did you see the door that we just walked through?
It says "men," not "boys."
You can check it on the way out.
- That's the kind of attitude that leads
to toxic masculinity.
- What the hell is that?
Okay.
Read this.
- What is it? - It's the wish.
To find out who killed The Gambler.
I wrote it down already.
I went through, like, a dozen drafts.
It's foolproof.
- This feels like cheating.
- Look, just do it.
- "I wish to know the name of the killer of The Gambler,
"also known as Mr. Steven Sharpe,
formerly the CFO of the American Dream"?
He was?
- Keep going.
- "And former member
"of the Injustice Society of America.
Amen."
[zaps] - Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Yes!
Excellent question, Jakeem and Mike.
This is exactly why I spent years studying calligraphy.
Boom! Exclamation point.
- "The killer has many names."
What the hell does that mean? - Search me.
- No, this is such a rip-off. Wish for it again.
- You know the rules. Mike, you can't--
- Can't wish for the same thing twice, yeah.
- So what do we do now?
- We should probably get out of here
before someone sees what you did to that wall.
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[quirky music]
♪ ♪
- Are you sure this is a good idea?
- Well, I screwed things up with The Shade earlier.
And if we're ever gonna get answers, I have to apologize,
even if he is a douchebag. - [clears throat]
If you're here selling life insurance,
I'm sorry, but I have no intention of dying, ever.
- Very funny. Funny. - [chuckles] Yeah.
- Oh, my dear girl, how do you keep getting roped
into these witch hunts?
- We are not here on a witch hunt.
Sylvester is here to apologize.
- I came to make peace.
It doesn't clear you from being a suspect,
but I was out of line at the diner.
- Even if I did kill Sharpe,
why would I waste my time on gaudy theatrics
and rip his trailer to pieces?
I'd have simply dragged him off into the Shadow Lands.
- Right, like Dr. McNider?
[tense music]
- No.
I saved his life.
- Maybe.
What about the others?
Jay Garrick?
Wesley Dodds?
They died heroes, fighting you.
[Staff warbles]
♪ ♪
- Has Pat told you about your funeral yet?
They had rather an impressive ceremony
for the rest of the Justice Society of America,
but for plain, old Sylvester Pemberton,
Pat Dugan was the only one there.
Nobody wants you back.
Nobody wants you here.
So do us all a favor.
Give her the Staff...
[Staff warbles]
And go.
[suspenseful music]
[grunts]
- Sylvester?
- [growls] - Stop!
- [grunts]
You killed the JSA!
- Stop!
- Check with Maria at Richie's.
I was at the diner last night,
teaching her the art of tea brewing.
I dare say, Maria may now be the finest tea maker
in the world, thanks to me.
- Are you okay? - [panting]
- I'm sorry.
- [scoffs]
I had hoped to spend time in Blue Valley,
but I'm afraid you've made it intolerable.
What a shame. - Wait, please.
If you didn't do it, you can help us find--
- Help you? [panting]
I have problems of my own to attend to.
[whooshing]
- I screwed up.
- Court, what were you thinking?
- I'm sorry.
- Sylvester, come on.
Taking her out of school? Attacking The Shade?
- Look, I went to apologize, and...
both: Things got out of hand.
- Look, seeing The Shade at the diner,
at his house,
that took me back.
Shade was the one that told me
that the key to stopping Eclipso
was to kill Bruce Gordon.
I took that to the JSA,
and we killed a man cold blood.
I'm not running away from that.
It's just...
it all started with The Shade.
JSA broke up.
Got back together, still broken,
to take on the ISA.
Yeah, Shade, he played a role, but...
It's not him I'm mad at.
It's me.
I killed the Justice Society.
Why did I get to come back?
Why am I here and not them?
[voice breaks] I miss 'em.
I'm sorry.
[somber music]
♪ ♪
[pensive music]
♪ ♪
- I thought you'd fixed the hourglass.
- [chuckles]
I thought so too, but the timing's off.
I'm supposed to be Hourman.
One hour of super strength a day
every time I put this thing on.
But lately, it's been completely random.
48 minutes, and then 6,
and then 17.
I can't have my powers drop out mid-fight,
especially if The Gambler's killer
is as strong as we think they are.
[whooshing] - More problems, Rick?
I am sorry.
- You don't look so good.
- No, I'm afraid I ran into something rather large,
and rather stupid.
- What do you want?
- I'm leaving Blue Valley, for now.
There are things I need to attend to elsewhere.
And quite honestly, this town is too small
for the vast egos of Sylvester Pemberton and myself.
I just wanted to apologize
that I wasn't able to help you with Grundy's return.
But don't give up.
- Okay.
So what do I do with 'em now?
[whooshing]
[Staff warbles]
- No, I'm the one who should apologize.
I dragged you into this.
[Staff warbles]
Y-you were absolutely right to go back to Courtney.
[footsteps approaching]
Hi.
- Hey.
You okay?
- I'm alive.
- You know, you've already taught me so much,
but Pat's taught me a lot too.
And the most important thing he's ever taught me
is that my whole life can't be about being Stargirl.
I need to be Courtney Whitmore too.
- You really have a great life here.
- And you can too.
A life outside of Starman.
A life as Sylvester Pemberton.
- I don't even know who that guy is.
- Well, Blue Valley helped me find out who I am.
This place has been a second chance for me.
It's been a second chance for a lot of people,
and I really believe it can be that for you too.
[warm music]
♪ ♪
- Maybe.
I don't think The Shade killed The Gambler.
- Yeah, me either.
- So who else is there?
[tense music]
♪ ♪
- Every time I try and paint now, it hurts.
I can't do it.
- You're destined for greater things than art, Cameron.
- So much greater.
[mysterious music]
♪ ♪
[both grunting]
[both panting]
- It's only a matter of time before they find out.
- I know.
[growls]
[suspenseful music]
♪ ♪
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- Greg, move your head.
- Mad Ghost!