Death of a Fool

- Oye, you missed the flamingos.

Are we close?

Almost there, partner.

Look alive, will you?

Hmm, here.

He looks like a nice kid.

Few weeks ago his ex-girl took off.

That's when he started acting strange.

How?

He got a pet bunny.

- Well, after all, the boy did just get his heart broken.

- I told him, "Clarence, don't let the girl move in here.

"Two women under the same roof means trouble."

But the youth don't listen.

Anyhow, that night, I was knitting in this chair.

Next thing I know Clarence's hands

are around my neck

and his eyes are dark and distant.

The room got really hot.

Smelled like burnt flesh.

I felt an evil presence behind him watching me

till I passed out.

When I woke, I found myself on the floor

covered in ashes.

And Clarence?

I told you, he was taken by Satan.

Um, Gertrude, on the phone you said

that you had physical proof that Clarence had been taken,

you know, to Hell, I mean.

He's been communicating with me.

At night I hear his voice whispering in pain

like his throat's been cut.

I wake up, I have these scratches.

He uses my blood to send me messages.

And a few days ago he told me where he is.

Where?

Your ad says you work free of charge.

Did I read that right?

I think we're gonna have to decline.

But I need your help.

- Your son is alive, living in Vegas with his ex-girl.

And you, you just want a free ride.

- But what about the scratches, Abuelo?

Are you calling me a liar?

No, no, no, no, no.

But you see, nightmares and the afterlife

are two different things.

You're afraid of what you'll find.

I'll tell you what I'll find.

I'll find a son who fled the nest

trying to get away from his mother's ghost.

Out, imposters, out with you!

Out!

Get outta here!

- Next time be meticulous about your fact-checking

so we don't have to drive over here all the time.

She couldn't show me the evidence

on the phone, Abuelo.

- Oh, she ran out of ketchup writing on her wall.

So the girlfriend is Satan?

- Ah, she and Clarence probably wanted to get rid

of the old girl.

Oh, at least he left her alive.

Well, of course.

Otherwise it would have been murder.

They probably didn't wanna end up in jail.

Or Hell.

Abuelo, are--

It's so cold.

Are you okay?

You're sweating.

Should I call 9-1-1?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

It's okay, it's okay.

It's just a stomach pain.

- Then why are you holding your chest?

What?

If it's stomach pains,

why are you holding your chest.

It's all connected.

Listen, why don't you take the wheel, huh?

Come on.

Did you bring your permit?

Yeah but--

(speaking in foreign language) Go, go.

Ah (sighs).

I'm going, you have to

put this it in.

Look (speaking in foreign language).

There we go.

Okay, thank you, Abuelo.

Baby, I had to borrow your bathing suit.

But I'll be back pronto.

Okay, call if you need anything,

.

You guys are back early.

What was that tune you were playing?

I like it.

Oh, I never learn the titles,

just the melodies.

Oh, keep on playing it.

Maybe will lighten the mood.

(scoffs) You got it, Herman.

Hey.

Hey, you, how was it?

You know, slow progress.

Oh, buck up, buddy.

Maybe you weren't meant to be an afterlife investigator.

Maybe you were meant to be a musician.

What?

Come with me tomorrow to my music group.

You could pick something up like a piano

or a guitar or flute.

I gotta file this.

- You can find other hobbies and Herman, too.

You should see your faces every time you get back

from a case.

We always have fun.

You just never see it.

- All I see here is a bunch of fake stories.

Okay, well, what if one day

we actually get a small clue that the afterlife exists, hmm?

I mean, don't you ever wanna know if people

aren't really gone?

- Maybe you should focus a little bit more on this life

and come with me tomorrow.

Be normal for once.

- I have to take Abuelo to the hospital tomorrow.

Oh, sorry.

I can take you.

No, no, no, it's cool.

You do your thing and we'll just take a cab.

You sure?

Yeah, yes.

All righty.

Which pill is that?

Relax, Pablito, it's only aspirin.

Yeah, and you're gonna OD on it

if you don't slow down. - I already told you,

I had too much breakfast.

We need to change your diet.

There's too much red meat.

It's all connected like you always say.

There you go again with the red meat.

You need to stop listening to the internet.

Look, you know that one day

we're gonna be apart, huh?

Ah, that will only be temporary.

- If you truly believe that then what's the point

of even looking for proof?

Well, even if you knew the answer,

don't you still want to ask the question?

There's nothing wrong with me.

The only thing is that my thumb keeps falling off.

Look.

See?

- Abuelo, I think I'm a little too old for that trick.

(chuckles) It's not a trick.

You do it.

It looks bad.

You can keep coming here every week.

It's up to you, Hermano.

The Lord knows we're doing our best.

Eh, I think this is working.

Hmm?

- Yeah, yesterday's incident coulda been just stress.

Well, it could also be the sickle cells

causing lung damage, hence, the acute pain in your chest.

- Are you trying to get rid of me, Perdomo?

- (chuckles) We both know you always like the truth.

Pablito's gonna need a new legal guardian.

Have you thought about that?

What?

Pablito, please step out.

Doctor needs to check my prostate.

- Why don't you do things his parents used to do with him?

- Hey, we're doing something important here.

My daughter would've approved.

You'll see the Heavens, Herman.

Sooner or later we all do.

Oh, there are other places than Heaven.