So Help Me Todd – End on a High Note

By: Sammi Turano

The episode opens backstage of a play….with a prop knife being switched out for a real one. Meanwhile, Todd (Skylar Astin) meets with Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden) in the car, where she complains about having to fire more people. He tries to comfort her with flowers and the promise to go to the opera.

Todd complains about Allison cramping his style and overstaying her welcome. She wishes him luck like she did to Allison when he did the same thing to her.

After they walk in, Todd waits for Allison while  Margaret runs into Beverly  (Leslie Silva) and Susan (Inga Schlingmann). They are there for the Patron’s Reception, which Margaret cannot afford. At that moment, Allison (Madeline Wise) walks in wearing sweats and a t-shirt, embarrassing Margaret. Allison thinks it is no big deal, nor does Todd.

When they sit, Todd is next to the weatherman (Alex Rose)from the station where Todd went undercover. The two spar as Todd makes fun of him for bringing flowers to the star Jacqueline.

The opera begins and everyone is in awe…..except Todd, who fell asleep and the weatherman, who left. Todd wakes up confused and Allison explains that it is in French. He looks around and sees Lyle (Tristen J. Winger), realizing that the star is his mother….just as Jacqueline (Jenifer Lewis) throws what she thinks is a prop knife and hits one of her costars, Aubrey (Yu Matsushita).

The rest of the stars call for a doctor, leading to Allison telling Todd to call 911 as she rushes to help. However, it is too late because Aubrey is dead.

Todd wonders if all operas end like this, with Margaret shushing him. Jacqueline pulls a diva fit as Lyle tries to comfort her. She demands he hug her because a woman died during her performance.

The police question Todd and Margaret as Todd wonders if there is an opera police force or an opera jail. Jacqueline is questioned next as she says she is glad Aubrey (who was taking over her role) died….doing what she loved.

Jacqueline is brought downtown for more questioning with Margaret acting as her lawyer and Lyle thinking this is business as usual for his mother.

Jacqueline arrives in court, thinking of how big things can get if she has a trial with her fans and the press there. She talks to the press, only to make things worse. Todd and Margaret take her away and try to get her away from the press. Lyle can’t take her to the hotel for the same reason, so they allow her to set up camp at Margaret’s condo, which Jacqueline turns her nose up at. Lyle warns her to be polite, but Jacqueline begins to rant about him rejecting his family to become a janitor….even though he is actually a detective.

Margaret lets Jacqueline and Lyle spend time together while Todd and Margaret try to work on the case. They think she has motive, but wonder if they can prove it is an accident. Todd goes to investigate at the theatre, while Margaret goes to talk to Susan…..all the while being shunned by everyone.

She sees Susan getting her picture taken and wonders what is going on. Beverly explains that she is one of the 40 Under 40 for a big magazine and acts condescending about Beverly’s work ethic, calling her the Grim Reaper due to her firing frenzy.

Todd goes to the theatre and pretends to sing on stage, only to run into someone who has Jacqueline’s things. She tells him a superfan left her flowers and implies that there is motive for murder.

Meanwhile, Jacqueline and Lyle try to figure out how to handle things. He wants her to stay put, but she wants to talk to the public and show a brave face. She says she refuses to let this bring her down since she faced so much in the past. He is left confused.

Francey (Rosa Evangelina Arredondo) says the bagel shop sent them to collections and asks if Margaret signed the check. She cannot remember, so they decide to write another one, wondering if the firm can get back to normal.

Allison shows up in pajama bottoms, which infuriates Margaret. However, Allison is more focused on the inconsistent findings and poison in Aubrey’s system as the news says Jacqueline is about to be arrested, who, for her part, is hanging a Free Jacqueline sign on the balcony, driving Lyle crazier.

In court, Margaret tries to prep Jacqueline for court, but she insists on performing. She sings that she is not guilty and says she is the victim because someone wants her dead. Margaret tries to suggests a gag order and house arrest, with Jacqueline thinking she is being silenced. Lyle wonders why she is saying all this now, while Todd wonders if the killer could strike again.

Todd takes everyone to his apartment for Jacqueline to stay, but Margaret is the one to turn up her nose this time. Jacqueline actually likes it and thinks Allison is a ghost when she walks in, looking pale and silent.

Todd fills them in on how Chalice the weatherman left flowers and could be a suspect. Allison explains that the poison found is from Brazil and is very rare. They think Chalice could have gotten it due to never missing a show. It is decided that Margaret and Lyle will sus him out at the candlelight vigil he is hosting for Jacqueline.

As they wait in the car, Lyle and Margaret talk about their moms and how she wishes she settled her differences with her own mom before she died. She suggests Lyle do the same.

Lyle talks to Chalice, who claims he knows everything about Jacqueline, but fails to realize she has three kids when Lyle mentions all the people who are on her side. Another fan points out Chalice missed the Brazil show, eliminating him as a suspect.

Everyone gathers for dinner, which leads to Todd and Allison fighting over their living quarters, Jacqueline ranting about her case and thinking Allison is dead. The dinner ends with Allison and Lyle storming out.

Susan and Francey go over the pictures for the magazine while talking about the situation with Beverly and Margaret. Margaret herself is having a heart to heart with Lyle about Todd, Allison and Jacqueline. She wonders if things could be seen from a different perspective, with Todd calling with the same idea. Everyone gathers to talk about what happened that night, with them realizing someone pushed Allison and that Jacqueline was being coached by someone named Magda backstage. Jacqueline talks about how Magda went to the conservatory with her, but only became her assistant. She says she was there for her every step of the way but could have been jealous  of her success and therefore trying to get her out of the way. They all agree she should be questioned.

While on the stand, Magda (Karin Konoval) sings like a canary and admits Jacqueline held her back and that she is the talented one, not Jacqueline. She admits that she was intending to kill Jacqueline in order to protect Aubrey. She is arrested and Jacqueline calls SCENE. Later on, she admits that she could have thanked her once in a while. Margaret tells her to work on her relationship with Lyle. Jacqueline thanks her and goes to talk to her son, thanking him for his help….all the while wondering if his perfect pitch helped. They hug as Todd and Margaret watch.

Later on, Margaret talks to Susan to congratulate her on the 40 Under 40. Susan says Beverly has been helping her, which insults Margaret. However, Susan says that she wasn’t a mentor as Beverly comes in to talk to Susan herself.

Francey and Margaret sign the bagel check. They discuss the situation and say nothing lasts forever and this will pass. They go to dinner.

Todd comes home to talk to Allison, who says she is looking for a place. He apologizes and says he owes her for taking care of him. She admits she is clinging onto him because he is familiar in her world of unknown. She thanks him for everything and promises she will be on her own. He convinces her to stay as the episode comes to a close.