Scheherazade

**Written by** | Nora Zuckerman
 **\* GALLERY**

## Synopsis

When an up-and-coming ballet dancer is mysteriously poisoned, the NYPD dives deep into the rigorous world of dance. Meanwhile, Jessica reunites with an old friend, socialite Nicholas Endicott, and Bright and Eve turn to Martin for answers regarding the girl in the box.

## Plot

Malcolm was working late trying to mentally map out his thoughts, having come to know the identity of the Girl in the Box. She physically no longer haunted him as a scary dead woman, instead she resembled the woman in the photo Eve had shown him. Although, in dark clothing and still angry. Sophie continuously asked him to solve her murder. He was now able to talk to her more cohesively. Malcolm stopped his hallucination to look over at Eve sleeping. The two appear to have reconciled their relationship.

Jessica was at an incredibly fancy ballet banquet. She was on the phone with her son, very angry he had not shown up as her +1 to the function. She was forced to make passive aggressive small-talk with another woman, but was saved from further conversation by Nicholas Endicott. She thanked him for his hospitality, as, even after husband, the only one to never shun her. He insisted it was nothing and was even willing to take a photo with her. She congratulated him on his well prepared function, before they entered the ballroom to watch the performance. Nicholas announced both dancers, and only a few minutes into the performance, did the male lead fall to the ground dead.

The crime scene was already being heavily looked over by Edrisa, by the time Malcolm showed up. Though she had yet to do a full investigation, she was confident that this man was poisoned. Malcolm saw his mother in another room with an un-named gentlemen. Gil went over to Jessica and she introduced him to Nicholas. Gil had a few questions to which he answered before excusing himself. Jessica thanked Gil for his concern but made her exit when she saw her son. She scolded him for not arriving to the function with her and he apologized, though she insisted it was because he missed seeing how the victim died. Malcolm didn't deny it.

Malcolm and Eve made it to Claremont Psychiatric Hospital, while Mr. David walked her through the expectations of being inside the hospital prison. Warning her to never cross the red line. She nodded she understood before they both entered. Martin was happy to greet them, but the mood soon turned sour when Eve accused him of murdering her sister. Martin insisted he did not and the two became rather aggressive with each other when Eve crossing the red line. Malcolm pulled her back but she was already upset and furious before leaving. Telling Martin how pathetic she thought he was. Malcolm followed her out, and Martin was left upset and alone. Outside Eve asked how well of a performance she did, and Malcolm said she did great.

The entire team gathered around the dead dancer as Edrisa explained what happened. He appeared to be poisoned, but wasn't sure why it didn't affect him sooner, as he shouldn't have made it to the dance floor in the first place. Malcolm explained dancers are so well trained they would've ignored any discomfort to proceed with the performance.

The team made their way to the stage as everyone continued their reversal performance. Malcolm and Dani began interviewing a few of the female leads. They both insisted the recently deceased male dancer, like most of them, they all had sexual relationships with each other, but it meant nothing. As was the norm in ballet culture. While explaining this, one of the female dancers put in her eye contact but began screaming in pain. Her eyes were burning as something in her contacts had been laced with something. Malcolm was eventually able to help her by pouring milk on her eyes before taking out the contacts. Realizing how serious this was, Gil called all dancers and performers to the main stage. After looking over everyone's personal property he found more proof of attempted foul play. Announcing to the group, he had found less incriminating evidence in drug dealer's apartments. He introduced Malcolm as their profiler. Malcolm walked up and down the parallel line of dancers, explaining his job and what he looks for. He accused the female dancer they had talked to earlier as the one to poison the contact lens. She admitted she did but would not say who put her up to it. It became clear, no one crossed the female lead, *Fiona Vara*.

Meanwhile Jessica picked up the phone, greeting her ex-husband as if he were Mr. David, telling him to send the ashes of he ex husband somewhere else. This was all part of Malcolm's plan to cut off his dad's supply in order to ring him for information. Jessica was more than happy to do so as she berated her new relationship with Nicholas in front of her husband. Even pointing out the photo with them in the paper before hanging up. Furious, Martin began reminiscing about the last time he saw the *Girl in the Box*. He cackled to himself as Mr. David looked on In annoyance. Later, he called Eve and she ignored him.

Gil and Malcolm interviewed the Lead female dancer *Fiona Vara*. she confirm she did have a relationship with the deceased dancer, that he had called it off much to her annoyance. Though, he had just arrived in America, he was already looking to leave the city, and She never asked why. Though it was curious. They both realized that one of his beneficiaries was Nicholas, the man who had hosted the party. They arrived at his house and asked him a couple questions but he soon referred them to his lawyer. Malcolm was very surprised and embarrassed when he saw his mother there, as their lunch date had turned into drinks. Jessica wasn't bothered by Nicholas being questioned, she was sure it was simply a misunderstanding.

Back at the precinct, they were beginning to realize Nicholas was more at fault then they first thought, but they had no way of proving anything. Back at the performance Hall, Gil and Malcolm continue to watch Fiona’s performance. They questioned her again, this time about Nicholas to which she notably would not say anything against him. They realize something was amok and after what was possibly an attempted on their lives, began looking for all male Russian dancers. They called it in and insist the rest of the team get everyone else outside. When they realized no one could locate Fiona, they found her being held at knife point after chasing outside their prime suspect. Malcolm was able to convince him there were police outside waiting as he worked for the FBI. He fell for it and Gil shot him non-fatally, and they saved Fiona.

Afterwards, Malcolm and Eve made another trip to the hospital to see Martin. He reluctantly confessed to what he did and did not know about her sister. And that he never killed her. Because she told him the story about a man she was running from name Nicholas, and gave her all the information on him, he knew he could eventually use this to his advantage. To which he did and let her go. Eve insisted he was lying because she hasn't heard from her sister and 20 years. Martin said it was not because of him. As far as he knows, she was still alive. Back at Malcolm's place, distraught and confused Eve broke up with him. Insisting she had to find her sister.

## Quotes

**Martin Whitly:** My boy, Oh, I've missed you. I was getting worried you were avoiding me.

**Malcolm Bright:** Why would I ever avoid you?

**Martin Whitly:** You must have mixed feelings about *stabbing* your old man.

**Martin Whitly:** I've made a speedy recovery by the way. I've made a speedy recovery. And I *accept* your apology.

**Malcolm Bright:** I'm not apologizing.

## Notes

* Paul Lazar was mentioned, but does not appear.
* Malcolm Bright has become more aware of his hallucinations, and even converses with them.
* Malcolm Bright took ballet for 5 years as a child.

## Trivia

* Halston Sage was credited, but does not appear.

## Cast

* Tom Payne as Malcolm Bright
* Michael Sheen as Dr. Martin Whitly
* Bellamy Young as Jessica Whitly
* Lou Diamond Phillips as Gil Arroyo
* Aurora Perrineau as Dani Powell
* Frank Harts as JT Tarmel
* Keiko Agena as Dr. Edrisa Tanaka
* Dermot Mulroney as Nicholas Endicott
* Esau Pritchett as Mr. David
* Molly Griggs as Eve Blanchard
* Anna Eilinsfeld as Sophie Sanders

**Others**
* Joseph Melendez as Ivan
* Annet Mahendru as Fiona Vara
* Andy Karl as Joseph