Lady in the Lake

They say, "Until the lion tells its story,

the hunter will always be the hero."

Alive, I was Cleo Johnson.

But in my death, I became the lady in the lake.

You said you knew who took my life from me, Maddie Morgenstern.

You said no one cared till you came along.

Truth is...

you came at the end of my story

and turned it into your beginning.

- -

Happy fucking mailbox.

Okay. Santa's little mailbox. Hup!

All right. Here we go. Let's do it.

Hey, you got a letter for Santa?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

I'm here with Baltimore's favorite anchorman, Wallace White.

What do you think about our parade, Wallace?

Well, it's a wonderful time here on Maryland Avenue,

complete with gigantic balloons.

Look at the clowns!

Wow. And that juggler. I feel like a little girl again!

Being a kid again is what today is all about.

But don't worry, Dad. We have a treat for you too.

Look, here come our very own Baltimore Orioles

on their World Series tour.

Oh, here come the dancing mailboxes.

Well, if you've ever been to the Thanksgiving parade,

then you know that every little fella is waiting for one moment.

Got any letters for Santa, hon?

And that one moment is happening right now.

The grand entrance of the man known as Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, the Jolly One,

or as we like to call him here in Baltimore, Santa.

What an astounding ovation

as Mr. Claus finally arrives on Maryland Avenue,

all the way from the North Pole.

They brought with them lots of gifts and goodies for the little ones.

And won't they be happy to see.

- Tessie. - Excuse me. Tessie, come. Daddy's here.

Let's go. Come.

It's gotta be open at Brexton. You have the car keys?

They're in your coat pocket.

- Mom, how does Santa know we're Jews? - Yeah?

Because we have a mezuzah on our door.

Well, what if I sleep at Mary's house?

He'll still know.

Mary won't tell on me.

Tessie, Santa isn't real. Okay?

Mary's fat father dresses like Santa.

Don't tell Mary that your mother told you that.

Mary knows he's fat.

Daddy me... means don't tell Mary Santa's not real.

I'm tired of lying to you like a goy. You're a big girl now, okay?

Hanukkah's in four weeks and you can ask your father for whatever you want.

- I know what I want. I want a seahorse. - All right?

- All right. Well, for now... -

- ...let's just enjoy this beautiful parade. - A beautiful luch in kop .

It's blocked this way too. We're gonna have to go back to Cathedral.

All right. Give me David. Come here, honey. You're a big boy.

Okay. I don't understand why you didn't just park at the museum like last year.

I didn't park at the museum like we did last year 'cause you said that

- we couldn't park there again because... - No, honey...

This is a rare find.

Albino eyebiter.

- Are you looking for something? -

I was just looking at the fish.

You should come back with your parents.

Are... Are they here?

Did you know seahorses are fish?

You learned that in school?

I go to Bais Yaakov. We don't learn about fish.

Just that God made them on day five.

S-Same day as the birds.

Yeah.

Do you have any seahorses here?

Teaberry gum, please.

Oh.

- Hello. - Ah, Mrs. Schwartz. Uh, brisket or chuck?

Uh, brisket for three.

Actually, make it five.

Milton always finds some couple to invite last minute.

That's because he's a mensch.

It's because he's a macher.

A macher knows what money can't buy.

A beautiful ayshes chail running around to get him kosher lamb.

Six months old.

Oy, just a baby.

Don't worry, Mrs. Schwartz. No one will miss him.

No one will miss him.

Huh.

Excuse me. May I please try the yellow dress in the window?

- Of course, ma'am. Oh, I'm so sorry. -

She would like to try on the yellow dress in the window.

Of course, ma'am. I'll be right back.

Anything else I can show you, ma'am?

No, thank you. That dress will do.

If she can't find the dress in your size, I can also order you one.

- I need something right now. - It'll be here Monday.

I swear to God, we had three this morning.

Uh, what about the one in the window?

Are you sure, ma'am? The model is a Ne...

Yes, I don't mind.

The model has been wearing the dress all morning. It might be grody.

I'd like to try the dress on, please.

Of course, ma'am.

- - I'll walk you to the fitting room.

There's a lady that wants to try the yellow dress in the window.

She doesn't mind?

Ethel is walking her to the fitting room right now.

Wait... Come with me!

- Cleo. - We need the dress.

- Right now, miss? - Yes. Hurry.

- Stay here. - Oh.

Dress got the trickiest clasp.

It's the zipper.

- She's coming. Oh. - I can't get it to open.

I can... I can do it, Miss Shirley. You mind if I try?

Hurry up.

Oh, is that why the whole street is closed?

Yes. A girl from Pikesville went missing.

Her parents brought her to see the parade.

Oh, no. I-I'm from Pikesville.

Really? Why, I would have never guessed.

You don't look Jewish at all.

Well, I'm sure she'll turn up soon.

It's Baltimore after all, not New York City.

Oh, thank you so much. I'll take the coat too. Thank you.

Now, let's put you in something else.

Maybe a Mary Quant.

I'm sorry.

It's already noon and I was approved to leave early today.

Nobody told me a thing.

Oh, I-I-I notified Mr. Goldberg last week.

Oh.

I'll have to dock your pay.

Miss Shirley, could I have my clothes, please?

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

- Mrs. Schwartz. - Thank you, Aaron.

What's going on with your shoe?

What's wrong with your stupid hat?

Are you serious? You know I'm giving a speech today.

About hats?

You only got that little hat on so Myrtle will get these rich white folks

to think she saved your poor ass.

Or maybe if I get this speech right, she would let me work for her.

Sugar, you already working for her.

I volunteer.

- Another word for free labor. - I feel like you just don't do enough.

Looks like our boss got some of his cronies up in here.

You sure you wanna be making speeches for Myrtle?

Can you be nice, please?

I'm trying.

Black-Jewish alliance is weakened every day

by the Nation of Islam rhetoric of Black power.

It goes without saying that anti-Semitism is here to stay.

Mom. This traffic.

Hi.

- Oh. -

Hey.

Hey.

- Look who finally made it. - Sorry.

Is this Seth? He's growing faster than my debts.

- Hello, Mr. Weinstein. - Maddie.

- Milton, do me a toyve ... - Later, Sid.

Just you should know the studio apartment in Sandtown is up for rent again.

- The one in the Bottom? - Okay, okay.

One of your guys closed me a tenant last year.

- I'll be in the store... - It's Thanksgiving, Mr. Weinstein.

- Thank you, honey. - And you celebrate that?

- We do. - I don't.

We're Americans.

I'm sorry for my lateness.

Everything's backed up 'cause that white girl gone missing.

This is my friend, Miss Dora Carter.

Oh. Of course, we know who Miss Carter is.

Will you be singing for Mrs. Summer today?

She paying?

Uh, Cleo, have you met Linda?

She's the vice principal at Douglas High School.

We met at the Charm School giveaway.

I donated that hat.

I'm hoping to get my boy Teddy into your school.

- His math score is the highest in his... - Please help me welcome

America's first Black woman state senator, Ms. Myrtle Summer.

And for our prizes, we call up our beautiful patroness,

Mrs. Milton Schwartz.

Thank you, everyone.

I want to thank all of you and my husband, Milton,

for allowing me to represent our family here today.

Who needs me up there when they can look at you?

I wanna thank my peerless volunteers, the Gallant ladies.

Some of whom have been with me since they were knee-high to a tadpole

back in my teaching days.

As you all know, a Jewish man thanks God every single day

with the three "She Lo Asani" blessings,

for not creating him a gentile.