Episode 9: DP in the Drewniverse

We are back to discuss Episode 9 of Lethal Weapon. Nate orders a cameo that has dire repercussions on the Drewniverse...

## Episode 9: DP in the Drewniverse

### Previous episode:

Episode 8: Sex With the Beach Featuring Keith Ryan

## Episode Summary

The Grid. Have you considered the Grid?

This Episode of ClayneCast features an exclusive cameo by Drew Powell (Grundy). This cameo was amazing but unfortunately caused a second, alternate Drewniverse to spawn. It's a Christmas episode so get your ugly sweaters and gather round the speaker, cause there ain't no party like a Murtaugh party!

The episode starts in a Cowboy bar. A beautiful woman is having steak for dinner as the Barkeep tries to hit on her. The scruffy guy sitting next to her tells him to leave her alone and then starts flirting with her himself, sly dog. She tells him it'll be her first Christmas alone and asks what his excuse is for drinkin' alone in a bar on Christmas eve. Martin Riggs doesn't need an excuse to drink, lady.

That must have impressed her so much that she goes home with him. They enter the sparsely furnished appartment and she sees a tiny plastic christmas tree which he got from work. He offers her a Beer, like a gentleman. She looks around the pad and says it’s rough around the edges but has potential **(but she’s really talking about him!).**The door remains open as they chit chat for a bit and yuck it up at 3:30 a.m...

Suddenly Riggs is lying in his shitbox trailer - it was just a dream/flashback to how he met his wife, Miranda, who died in the first episode.

The Murtaughs are the polar opposite of Riggs, in both spirit and surroundings. They're discussing christmas plans at their marble-countertop island in their sprawling kitchen, and at one point RJ (Roger Junior) mentions that he can drive Rianna (his sister/Murtaughs daughter) to a party - which makes Trish (Murtaughs perfect wife) question which car he thinks he's gonna be driving. He's expecting a car for christmas, and doesn't accept anyone telling him otherwise. He's over-the-top nice to Roger and even winks at him. You could just cut and paste this scene straight into My wife and kids and no-one would notice.

Then we get introduced to the neighbour, Jim, who is decking his yard and house out in an insane amount of Christmas decorations, which in addition to looking gaudy (Rogers words) are sure to drain all the power from "the Grid". Roger stomps out to confront him about this, but Jim doesn't seem to care, nor is he threatened by Roger being an armed police officer. He's a dentist who carries water picks and floss around which don't seem like they would be much use in a gunfight but who knows, dentists don't know anything. Roger gets reigned in by Trish just in time to save him from the neighbours threatening floss-move. (Not the fortnite dance)

Next, a woman falls to her death onto a car. Soon after, Riggs and Murtaugh show up to the crime scene to investigate and further the plot of Riggs being a Grinch about christmas and Rog a jolly soul. It's a fancy appartment building and of course Det. Bailey has already done all the work for them (as always), like finding out who the victim was and which appartment she was staying in. Her name was Elena.

Murtaugh tries to convince Riggs that Christmas time is a *special* time where people care for their fellow man...but not their fellow woman apparently, because a guy walks out of the building and goes "MY CAR!" in shock at the crime scene (not the dead woman). Merry christmas!

Roger says "Bahhh Humbug!" and the title card blows up.

They investigate the balcony from which the woman fell or was pushed. Scorsese (from the Morgue) tries to tell them she was pushed but Riggs already figured it out with that giant brain of his. Note that this is very likely the same set as the weed office in episode 3 and the pharmacy office in episode 5

They learn that the appartment is not in the victims name, but is owned by some company. But not just any company, an infamous Cartel associate's company - Eduardo Flores. Or as Captain Avery says it "Eddie freakin' Flores!". Rigg knows the name from his time in El Paso, Texas. This guy is bad news. He's the newphew of Tito Flores, a or the Cartel Kingpin. Avery makes it out like they hit the jackpot, but Roger just wants to go home to his family, to film a *My Wife & Kids* christmas special, presumably.

Sonya somehow has found out there was a Text on the Victims phone from "H". Just "H". The texts reveal the victim was afraid of Eddie because "he knows" about her and "H". Sonya yet again doing all the work. Anyway, "H" is set to meet our victim for coffee in like 15 minutes, better hurry!

They go to the coffeeshop, and find out that "H" is Hannah right away, first place they go of course. Hanna is a Journalist who covers Cartels and Crime. She's no greenhorn and has been meeting with our Victim in the days leading up to her death.She knows all about how Eddie freakin flores and how dangerous he is and appears like she can handle herself. She clues our two very intelligigent Detectives in on the fact that Eddie has a very public profile, and his company recently bought a club. Probably could've figured that out with a quick google search.

They Confront Eddie at a Club, but he stonewalls them. Murtaugh says he's a little nervous because he's never been so close to an actual psychopath or sociopath, but, his partner is Martin Riggs!? Anyway he gives them nothing but lip and they leave but appear in good spirits. So much so that when Eddie tells Riggs he's "..just like in El Paso, all bark and no bite.", Roger quips back "Well this time, it's gonna stick - *RWOOF*!" and barks like a dog! What an amazing scene in an amazing show. They chuckle and start to leave but then Eddie says something about Miranda (Riggs's dead wife), insinuating he may have had something to do with her death - which makes Clayne explode with rage. He ends up hanging Eddie from the balkony, like Mark in the the Room, but Roger tells him "not here" and Clayne plops him back on his seat.

Murtaugh heads back to the station to tell Avery it was no big deal that Riggs almost threw a person from a building because Eddie was rude. Riggs on the other hand heads to a storage locker with his old El Paso stuff, which might offer a clue about how to get Eddie. While digging through the crates he stumbles upon an old Christmas sweater. This triggers a Flashback to a christmas eve when Miranda was still alive. He's about to meet her family, and is wearing the "ugly" christmas sweater as this is a "ugly sweater party" so he aggreed to wear it. They meet her parents and all laugh because she got him to wear the sweater and it turns out this is *not* in fact an ugly sweater party, as everyone else is formally dressed. But Ronnie (Ronnie Delgado, Mirandas Father/Riggs Stepdad/Los Angeles District Attorney) is also seemingly in love with riggs and they all have a nice party.

Back at the Murtaugh Mansion, Trish asks Roger if he has anything to do with their neighbor Jims missing reindeer figure, which was stolen sometime today. Murtaugh is a busy detective, he doesn't have time to get up to that kind of trouble! Or does he..

Roger plays dumb and says he'll investigate it right after a quick cup of coffee, but when he turns on the coffee machine it blows a fuse. He blames Jim - he overloaded the grid with his damn decorations!

Riggs barges into the Morgue and hands Scorsese an already open bottle of whiskey. Christmas present heyyyy! However this is no present. It's a bribe to get Scorsese to go over Mirandas file and see if there's anything that doesn't add up - Clayne just knows Eddie had something to do with her death. Roger then also storms to the morgue to tell them that Bailey (Sonya) found out that Elena (the victim) recently bought a home security camera, to record Eddie. Speaking of gifts, Bailey really is the greatest gift Riggs and Murtaugh could ever wish for. She does all the work for them every single time. Too bad Cruz wasn't in this episode what with all his Cartel knowledge and gangster background? Maybe he was busy scaring people that day.

So our heroes go to the appartment/crime scene from the beggining, only to find out someone is there. Hannah! She also is there for the camera, but Roger is so smart he gets her to give him the camera, but doesn't check the rest of her bag. They let her leave, amazingly - truly good police officers. Riggs suddenly gets a call from Eddie, who knows they're in his appartment. That's bad but what's worse is the fact that Hanna removed the SD card from the camera! Oh no! Riggs is busy chatting with Eddie so Roger chases after Hannah.

But it's too late, just as he leaves the Building Hannahs car blows up. Eddie had set up a car bomb and was in control of the whole thing.

Same night, we're back at the Morgue. Hannah is dead, her Volkswagen is completely destroyed, everything is burnt. Well, not everything: Scorsese miraculously managed to recover the SD card from her bag! Woah! It survived the car bomb! But you didn't think they'd get off that easy, did you? It was badly damaged. But. There was a cache of Data. However - it's password protected! So what do they do when there's a really hard problem? Send it up to Bailey!

While she is doing the work, again, Roger and Trish are wrapping presents, discussing how sad and pathetic Claynes life is because he has no-one at christmas. Riggs is back at his trailer, having another flashback. He's unwrapping presents with Miranda when he gets to the final one which is: a positive pregnancy test! He's gonna be a dad! This cuts to Clayne cocking the gun and holding it up to his head - but just then Murtaugh busts in. Riggs aims his gun at Rog, who doesn't think any more about his partners almost suicide (not the first time). He thinks the gun (not his service weapon) is what he's planning to use on Flores, but asks him to think it through - what's left for him afterwards, he kills him and then what? What's left for him now, Riggs replies mopingly, sitting on the floor of his trailer. Roger says if he really feels that way then he needs to turn the gun on himself. WHAT?! Roger! I wonder if Damon Wayans wrote that line in, because it's just brushed over and Roger convinces him to do the right thing and arrest Eddie intead of killing him extrajudicially.

Then they head back to the station - why though, are they driving back and forth all this time on christmas eve? On the same night? In L.A.?

At the station, Sonya OF COURSE has cracked the password. We don't even find out what it was, but she's cracked it and they now have the video of the murder. Just like that. However it is very low quality, the way youtube videos used to be. They fear it can't be used in court because Eddies face isn't on it. Riggs gets pissed off but Rogers brain goes into overdrive and he orders Sonya to "zoom in" on the christmas tree in the appartment of our victim. She continues to zoom in onto an big shiny ornament - which shows a HD reflection of Eddies face. Busted!

They head to the Club to arrest Eddie and Riggs slams his head into the Bar just before Eddie can pull a gun on him. They cuff him and walk him out, but as they pass one of his bodyguards Eddie mutters "call him".

It's still christmas eve, as a lone middle aged man shows up at the Murtaughs house. Trish opens the door and he lies about being a colleague of Rogers and wants to bring in a present - however once inside he holds her hostage at gunpoint. He's been sent by the Cartel!

As Riggs and Murtaugh place Eddie into the backseat of their car, someone calls Riggs. It's the cartel kingpin Tito Flores - Eddies uncle and yet another criminal who has Riggs' phone number. He says the Murtaugh family is being held hostage and if they are to survive the night, he has to deliver Eddie to the airport, and he has 1 hour to do it.

Roger calls Trish but the cartel guy answers and says everything will be fine as long as they comply. Roger wants to speak to his wife, but the guy tells Roger he's not in control of the situation right now and he makes the rules. Then roger *demands* to speak to her and the guy just gives her the phone. She tells him the kids are fine and she loves him. Clayne wants to take Eddies ferrari to save the Murtaughs, but Roger has already got a shotgun from the trunk and tells Riggs that he's gonna take care of his family. He gets in the Ferrari and races off, as Riggs takes Eddie to the airport.

Clayne just drives onto the Runway, busy airport, no big deal. They meet with the cartel kingpin Tito who ends up shooting Eddie in the heart, since he was a loose cannon and threatened the cartels operations. Can't have that. Riggs asks about Mirandas death but Tito says he wasn't important enough back in El Paso and he isn't important enough now to warrant killing his wife. Riggs is sad yet relieved.

Roger arrives in the very loud yellow ferrari, and through eye-contact gets Trish to distract the burglar. She is so smart that she asks the man with the gun if she can have some coffee, which he allows - but no funny stuff. She goes to turn on the coffee machine which causes a blackout - the grid!

She leads the hostage taker to the garage, where the circuit breakers are, but once the lights go on Roger is standing behind him with the shotgun! Game over! He calls Sonya to take him to the police station, so the kids don't notice - these kids are not the brightest I'm afraid to say. Sonya is the GOAT. RJ thinks the Ferrari is his but all he's getting is a pair of headphones. Sorry freak.

Riggs is back in his trailer when suddenly someone knocks. It's the Murtaughs! They all come inside, giving Riggs just enough time to hastily hide the gorey case file photos. It's christmas time, where no one should be without family, and Trish considers him part of theirs. They brought him gifts and a pie, and one other thing - the reindeer decoration Murtaugh stole from his neighbor! Somehow they got it onto the roof of Claynes trailer without him noticing. Roger plugs it in, causing it to light up beautifully - but only for a few seconds, after which it blows up and causes a short fuse - merry christmas and/or happy holidays from the ClayneCast Wiki!

8/10, for the Lethal Weapon episode, 10/10 for the ClayneCast Episode. Our Hosts are really finding their groove, much like Murtaugh and Riggs are beggining to merge (whatever that means).

## AMPdate

Drew Powell is the newest member of the AMP cast. What a guy!

## Notable Quotes

### Drew

* "Keith we love you so much."
* "I'm not cutting this out. I'm just gonna censor it, just gonna have one big 'BEEP' over it."
* "Suck my winky.."
* "Well Starbucks is basically a Safe-Supply Site."
* "I keep my nose clean. But not...my ass."
* "I'm just texting my dad. I'm saying *dada*."

### Tom

* "He played Johnny Puff and the alternate title to that was 'Up in smoke' - cause that's where it went."
* "Arrow! Get some more beer to calm down!"
* "Nate I think you're a great friend of mine and I appreciate you."

### Nate

* "Keith we love you so much."
* "I'm trying to move the fuckin' episode okay, and I don't appreciate you guys giving me compliments - compies - in the meantime. It's distracting. Thank you guys, I love you both."
* "I used to think you were sabotaging my audio, but then I just realized: You don't know what you're doing!" (about Drews editing prowess)

## Trivia

30 Minutes before recording, Nates power went out, similar to the Murtaughs situation in this episode of Lethal Weapon. What a haunting happenstance!

Nate said he's gonna give his Wife a gaming PC and/or a fake gold necklace with an "R" on it for Christmas.

This is the first Episode to feature a party at night, as opposed to the usual daytime parties common in the greater L.A. area.

The first time Nate smoked weed he threw up. The first time Drew had a Mountain Dew he threw up.

This Episode features a recording of Keith Ryan, which must have been pre-recorded before his brutal death in the last episode. RIP Keith.

Rawhide is bad for dogs so they should eat No-hide (vegan dog chews)

Drew has no criminal background (he's never been caught).

## Clayne-foreCasting

The Lethal Weapon episode title for this episode is "Jingle Bell Glock", an allusion to the custom Glocks our hosts will soon be pointing at their webcams.
Andrew Patrick Ralston, Murtaughs annoying neighbor, Jim, will record a Cameo for AMP. However this may spawn yet another, alternate Drewniverse.

A Patreon seems imminent.

Globe Hell can help out with destigmatization.