Strange Angel

I hate that you have to work weekends.

Off to fight the bad guys, Daddy?

Hi-ho, Silver.

The explosion tore the cast-iron casing of the pipe bomb

into pieces no bigger than eight millimeters.

And it takes what we call

to produce that level of debasement.

I-Is this speculation

No, sir.

Through a series of controlled detonations

at my Arroyo Seco testing facility,

same blast pattern found

in Inspector Raymond's driveway.

I blew up junkers

That's a lot of effort to go through.

I wanted to leave no room for doubt.

I'm sick of leaders

Through meticulous experimentation,

I was able to identify the exact fuel type used

to bomb Inspector Raymond's car:

of the insoluble variety.

Order. Order.

No.

Order. Order!

Interesting. Hmm.

Not quite.

Slight calculating mistake, but...

it is very promising work.

Not yet.

Shame Mr. Parsons couldn't get the day off.

It is his section that raises the most questions,

not surprisingly.

His job is not the problem, sir.

Jack actually decided to volunteer

Um, he was summoned to court this morning,

He thought his work would speak for itself.

He's right about that.

But look.

Red fuming nitric acid as oxidizer?

I checked his equations.

Can control the reaction.

It's not volatility I'm worried about.

It's price.

At projected burn rate,

fuel will cost more than prototype itself.

Too bad he's not here to make his case,

two figs about that, sir.

He just likes the title that they gave him.

What, "witness"?

No, sir.

"Expert."

gentlemen.

That's P-A-R-S-O-N-S.

And I'm the head of Caltech's first-ever

That's a heck of a parking job.

We don't get to pick our neighbors.

Thank you for looking after your sister.

I remember you being left alone even younger.

Yes, "alone."

I told you, Jeffrey was only over to help with my schoolwork.

She is too naive for her own good.

Well, I will be at

the church retreat all weekend; here's the number

if there's any problems.

I-I could call the tow company.

I'll take care of it.

Have a blessed weekend.

When I work, I need something to move to.

The whole driveway.

My husband will be coming home, and...

Mrs. Parsons.

I am so sorry about that.

I made a real hash of that parking job.

Please, come inside.

What'll you have?

Sorry?

You're not one of those temperance gals.

Oh, no, it's just...

of myself.

Maggie Donovan.

Ernest's wife?

One and only, I hope.

It's nice to meet you.

And you.

I feel like I owe you something

for being so welcoming to my Ernest while I've been away.

He told me you made him that banana bread?

Uh, yes.

Do you know, it was still sitting

covered in mold.

Ugh, he is really too much sometimes.

How about a glass of water?

Oh. I work costumes at RKO Pictures.

The movie studio?

Have to bring my work

Here's that water.

Now, tell me.

Into the neighborhood?

I'm-I'm sorry,

Uh, my sister's staying this weekend,

not to leave her alone.

Well, another time then.

Uh-huh.

There must've been

all shouting questions.

And guess who introduced himself to me outside the courtroom?

Clifford Clinton.

Mr. Civic himself.

He shook my hand

Can you believe that?

Should be in all the papers tomorrow.

That's great, Jack.

Well, at least

Mrs. Donovan.

You're kidding. She lives?

Not only is she alive, she's... not what you'd expect.

What do you mean?

She-she was friendly.

Charming.

Katharine Hepburn.

Well, I'll be damned.

It doesn't fit, a woman like that

being married to a man like Ernest.

Hey, you know, I didn't just take this case

Jack, we can't; Patty will hear.

We can be quiet.

Jack, listen to me, I-I've been thinking...

Jack.

How long are you gonna keep this up?

We went to that... thing, whatever it was.

I feel like you're punishing me.

I'm not.

I realized you're right, about having a baby.

It would be too big of a distraction,

with everything else you have going.

Especially since your project is still awaiting...

We've just submitted the proposal.

I know, I... I just think it makes sense to wait

until things are a little more certain.

Okay.

But we can still...

We can't, actually.

I'm pretty sure we can.

You're gonna take the words of a priest

over the needs of your husband?

I know it won't be easy,

Nice costume.

You might want to check your calendar, though.

Ha.

Anyone happen to read the paper this morning?

We all saw it.

That's some position you gave yourself.

The guy misquoted me.

Fit in the caption.

'Cause the picture they got of you wasn't big enough.

Rich.

You don't really think I'd forget about you.

It's not just him you forgot.

About the article.

Mesulam had concerns about the fuel,

and you weren't there to address them.

Well, that's too bad,

but I can't control

You didn't have to testify at all.

You could've been here, focused on our work

instead of chasing the spotlight.

You think I did this for me?

Caltech can't very well shut down

our project now that it's a matter of public record.

Oh, really? You did this

Think of the publicity we're getting.

Rocketry's mentioned at least five times.

Goddamn it, Jack! You don't seem to understand...

Gentlemen?

Am I interrupting anything?

To drop these off.

I saw your picture

Very dramatic.

Finally, someone appreciates it.

Thank you, Alice.

The professor wanted me to emphasize

that tomorrow's event is black-tie.

Mm-hmm.

The Athenaeum?

Uh, is this Halloween or April Fools'?

And remember, dress to impress.

Maybe Jack wasn't wrong about the publicity.

We made it, Rich.

What the hell are we gonna wear?

Well?

Don't think of it as your father's.

He never put it to good use. Think of it as the tuxedo

your grandfather bought so you could come into your own

in the very same room Einstein ate in.

Il you if you keep standing there gawking.

Don't make the break too heavy.

He's a scientist, not a jazz man.

Patty, how's it coming?

I only used the sports page.

Figure that's good for half a size.