Gates of Heaven

"Gates of Heaven"
Season	4
Episode	2
Director	John Hoffman
Writer	Kristin Newman
Editor	Payton Koch
Original air date	September 3, 2024
Episode chronology
← Previous	"Once Upon a Time in the West"
Next →	"Two for the Road"

"Gates of Heaven" is the second episode of the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Selena Gomez and Martin Short. It originally aired on September 3, 2024.

Short Summary

Mabel & Oliver begin investigating Arconia's West Tower and get trapped inside an ominous game. Meanwhile, Charles is visited by two individuals from his complicated past.

Full Summary

Sazz does an interview in which she says stunt people are not daredevils. They find danger sexy, but they don't let it get into their pants. They do danger safely, so if they do get hurt, they live to fall another day. The best stuntman in the world taught her that. By that, she means her father, Slim Pataki. Sazz comes from a long line of stunt people. Her father taught her how to play in danger instead of keeping her out of it. There's no point in trying not to fall. The trick is getting up, dusting yourself off, and making sure you don't become dust.

Charles sits with his hands covered in Sazz's ashes. Mabel and Oliver ask if he's okay and offer to help. He asks what he should do, because he can't wash her down the drain. Mabel suggests a wipe, but Charles doesn't like that either. Charles decides to call the police, but can't touch his phone with his hands. He decides he'll wash Sazz into a bowl, then pour the ashes and water into something, and let the water evaporate. Mabel and Oliver offer to get him a mason jar. Once they're gone, Charles looks at his hands.

Charles carries the jar into the bathroom with his arms and washes his hands into a bowl. Then he pours the water into the jar. He cries out when some spills. He also wipes the floor with a rag and wrings it into the jar. Sazz comes in and tells him not to sweat it, that her being dead is the least of his worries. Then she tells him to get his hands off her breasts.

Mabel lies on the floor of Charles' place while Oliver uses a laser pointer to try to find the angle of the shot. He's fussing because he also has some of Sazz's ashes on him. Mabel tells him to get back to angling the shot. He says if that's where Sazz was when she was hit, the shooter was in the corner apartment. Mabel moves over slightly, which changes the angle to the apartment next to that one. Charles comes in with the jar and says his hands are clean and Sazz is in the jar, not in this room. He puts the jar on a counter, then moves it to the other counter because Sazz loved to sit on that one. Now it's time to call the police. Mabel and Oliver stop him. They say he can do whatever he needs to, but they thought it might be better if they're able to talk to some people in the building before it goes under siege. Charles asks what they know so far. Mabel lays it out. The bullet came in through the window and the body was then dragged to the trash chute. Charles sees Sazz again, sitting on the counter, but Mabel and Oliver just continue as they don't see her. Mabel says they need to know exactly where the body was to know which apartment the shot came from. Charles offers to Postmates a bottle of luminol. Oliver doesn't know what that is, so Mabel explains that it makes bodily fluids glow in the dark. It's how Mabel knew what the construction workers were doing at her old apartment. Charles questions who would kill Sazz because everybody loved her. Mabel and Oliver subtly suggest the killer might have mistaken her for Charles. He finds the idea preposterous. Charles redirects the conversation to the notes they found in Sazz's apartment. They find one that says, "Looking at Charles." Sazz tells Charles not to let them get into his head because if he was the target, she was killed because of him and he can't deal with that kind of guilt. He yells at her, startling Mabel and Oliver. Oliver suggests making a list of people that hated Charles and hated Sazz. Charles remembers that Sazz was dating Jan and had said she needed to break up with her. They know what Jan does to people who break up with her. Mabel says Jan is in prison and Charles also broke up with her. Charles decides it's time to call 911. It's been a week and Sazz's remains are still in the incinerator. He immediately gets put on hold. While they wait, Oliver wants to talk about the residents of the West Tower. They all look out the window as Charles says they're an odd bunch. Oliver starts recording as he asks Charles to tell them what he knows and why any of them might want Charles dead. Charles starts with Stink-Eye Joe. He seems hostile. He's always looking over at Charles' place, giving him the stink-eye. Then there's the Sauce family, always stirring some kind of sauce and looking over at him. Then there's Christmas-All-the-Time Guy. He's handsome and always working out, and never takes down his Christmas decorations. That's most of the floor he can see, outside that one apartment that never opens its blinds. The lights go on and off sometimes, but he never sees anyone there. Oliver wants to sniff around before the cops come. They have to go around the block to get to the West Tower because the Arconia sealed it off after a Westie opened a brothel. Mabel tells Charles to text them when 911 picks up. Charles is upset by that because he wants to investigate. Mabel closes Charles' blinds and says just to be safe, Charles should stay at his place, even though they don't know who the real target was. Charles is upset to be left with busy work, but Mabel says it's a big job, keeping him safe. Sazz reminds Charles that someone tried to shoot him in his apartment. He yells at her that he was not the target. They leave, telling him they love him and to deadbolt the door in case the killer had a key. Charles closes the door, then turns back to deadbolt it after Mabel yells at him.

Oliver and Mabel talk about Charles talking to no one. Mabel says she's talked to some dead people before. As they get to the elevator, they see a flyer informing them of a building meeting about keeping the film crew out of the Arconia. Oliver says the movie has to happen. It's the only way he can keep up with Loretta. She has a co-worker who is famous for a "Jon Hamm in the pants" situation. Mabel knows because she went down that rabbit hole.

Sazz says "Gates of Heaven" was the first time she saw real people just being themselves.

Charles watches the interview with Sazz. Sazz comes up behind him and says "Gates of Heaven" was about pet cemeteries. Charles says Sazz was on film hundreds of times, but the only way people will remember her face is this old documentary. Sazz says being on film is not the only way to be remembered. Sazz says he doesn't have to feel bad even if he was the target. It's her job to take hits for her guy.

Charles pins the notes from Sazz's apartment to the board. He hears a loud thump in his closet. He opens the closet and sees shoes moving at the bottom. The clothes part in the middle to reveal Jan, in a blood-stained outfit. Charles starts to scream as Sazz says Jan's real.

Mabel and Oliver enter the West Tower and Oliver records an intro about it. Mabel says this is their one time to meet people casually before the cops come in. They need to look for the weird. First up is Stink-Eye Joe. Oliver knocks on his door. A man opens the door and greets them happily. He recognizes them as the famous podcasters from the East Tower. Mabel introduces herself and tells him they're going to be shooting a movie there based on the podcast. Oliver adds that they're scouting possible locations and asks if the man will show them his apartment. The man says yes, because he loves the movies. He introduces himself as Vince Fish. He apologizes for the eye patch he's wearing. He has antibiotic-resistant pink eye. It keeps jumping between his eyes. He came up with the eye patch to hold the compress on his eye. Oliver asks if they can look out his window to see if it gives a good angle of the East Tower. He leads them over. Vince says everybody looks so small out the window and you can pretend they're just ants. But he can see Oliver's place and Mabel's old place. As he talks, Oliver checks out the angle with the laser pointer. Vince asks what's up with Charles and his lonely omelets. Vince then says they couldn't get a good shot from his place because his windows are painted shut. Oliver and Mabel test it and see that that's true. Vince knows they can't imagine it as East Tower residents. Then he says he's going to the neighbors' to play "Oh, Hell." If they come along, they can check out that place, too.

Charles backs away from Jan, asking how she got out of prison. She used a mixture of parkour Sazz taught her and psychosexual mainpulation. She thanks him for the tips about the secret passageways in the podcast. They were super helpful. Jan tells him she's not there to kill him. She's worried about Sazz. That's why she broke out. Charles asks why. Jan says Sazz called her and was upset and Jan hasn't heard from her since. The hold voice comes on and says there are 32 emergencies ahead of Charles. Jan asks why he called 911 and he says he'll tell her if she doesn't kill him. She says she'll kill him if he doesn't tell her. Charles throws his knives in the dishwasher and closes it.

Vince says they're all more like family. The apartments may be smaller, but the hearts are bigger. Maybe that's why he has an enlarged heart. They pass by an apartment and Mabel draws Oliver's attention to the lockbox on the door. Charles knocks on the next door and calls for Inez. She opens the door and happily greets Mabel and Oliver. Inez calls out to Alfonso and tells Ana to fix her face. Alfonso is delighted to meet them. Ana says Inez wishes they'd brought Charles. Inez is embarrassed, but agrees. Alfonso adds that Inez is in love with Brazzos. When they first moved in, she almost peed herself when she spotted him across the courtyard. Alfonso thought he'd have to take Charles out. Charles thinks it must be hard to live across from his wife's crush. Vince says they should get started. Mabel and Oliver will love the game, but it's a little dangerous.

They play the game. After a round, Alfonso asks what they think of it. Oliver finds it a little confusing. Mabel has found herself unusually obsessed with doing well in the game. Inez says it's addictive. She thinks Charles would like it as well. Charles is her Hall Pass. Alfonso doesn't like that because it's supposed to be someone you actually have a chance to meet. Ana thinks Alfonso should relax because Charles couldn't handle Inez anyway. Ana gets up to leave, saying she needs a pick-me-up and asking where the knife is. Alfonso says it's on the bathroom sink because he just sharpened it. After a moment, Alfonso says he needs a hit and gets up. He takes the knife from a returning Ana. Oliver asks what's going on in the bathroom. Vince says it's a Westie secret.

Jan looks through the blinds at the hole in the glass. She says snipers are assholes. What's the point of killing if you're not up close for the release? That's the best part. She asks if Charles remembers. Jan says she really loved Sazz. Charles says they worked together for almost forty years. She took every blow for him. They'd come to the most dangerous part of the scene, then they'd freeze and Sazz would say, "Tap in." Then she'd do the dangerous part while he got to relax. Jan says Sazz couldn't find much doubling work because her height didn't match many women. Charles gave her the shot that started her life. That's the reason Jan hasn't killed Charles. Charles thanks Sazz for that. Jan says she needs to borrow a shirt because hers is covered with prison guard brain.

As the card game continues, Vince returns from his own trip to the bathroom. Oliver is proud of himself when he wins a round. Alfonso says that's earned him his own trip to the bathroom. Vince gives him the knife. Oliver is hesitant, but Inez says he's earned it. Alfonso insists. They chant to cheer him on and he goes to the bathroom. Alfonso follows with the knife. In the bathroom, Oliver sees a chunk of meat hanging from the curtain rod and asks if it's a person. Alfonso says it's a ham. It's from Portugal and very special. Oliver calls out to tell Mabel it's a ham. Mabel says it seems they've met almost everyone on this side except Christmas Guy and whoever's in the apartment with the lockbox on it. She asks who that is. Ana says that's the Dudenoff place, but quiets when Inez kicks her under the table. Mabel asks if they know how she could contact them. They make overlapping excuses for why she can't.

Jan changes her shirt and tells Charles that Sazz was worried about him. From the bed, Sazz says the day is looking up. Jan says Sazz thought someone had eyes on Charles and that's why she was poking around the building. Charles is surprised Sazz would be looking into someone who lives in the Arconia. Jan says Sazz thought there might be another murderer in the building. They talked about it last Wednesday after Jan's Lifers' Hop Hop Dance Club. Charles says that was the night Sazz died. Jan says destroying the body after you've killed someone means you kill the wrong person and don't want them on alert. Once you've tried to kill and failed, you come up with way more messed up ways to do it. There's a knock at the door and Jan says it's time to go. It's Oliver and Mabel at the door. Jan says she has to disappear or the cops will pin the murder on her. She was hoping to make love with Charles one last time before he was murdered. She says she hopes it's quick for him and then ducks back into the closet. Oliver and Mabel's knocking gets more frantic. Once Charles opens the door, Oliver says the closed blinds apartment belongs to someone named Dudenoff, like on one of Sazz's notes. They don't know who it is, but the Westies are weird about it. Mabel also says Stink-Eye Joe is just Pink-Eye Joe. Mabel is excited to see that Charles made up the board. Mabel doesn't know why Sazz was there, but there's a lockbox on the Dudenoff door. Charles gestures for them to be quiet and then opens his closet. When he sees it's empty, he says Jan was there. Mabel and Oliver don't believe him. Sazz says she can still smell Jan. Charles sees that the ceiling panel above his close is open. Mabel says Jan is in prison, so she couldn't be in his closet. Oliver starts to record again and talks about Charles' descent into madness. Charles says Sazz died for him. The electronic voice informs Charles there are 19 emergencies ahead of him. Mabel says he's going good at being on hold and asks if he ordered the luminol. He says it's on its way. Oliver says they're proud of him. Mabel sees a note with some numbers on it and takes a picture. She and Oliver wonder if it's the code to the lockbox. Oliver says they're going to try to get into the Dudenoff place, but they'll be back as fast as possible. Mabel tells him to text them if the cops pick up or the luminol arrives.

Oliver tries the code on the door as Mabel says Charles isn't doing well. Oliver says they need to find the killer soon because Charles is a dead man walking. The code works and they step inside. Mabel locks the door behind them and Oliver says anyone who lives there is definitely a psychopath. Oliver opens the blinds as Mabel notices a footprint on the radiator. Paint chips indicate the window was pried open. It must be the sniper's nest. The apartment is spacious for a studio. Oliver finds what looks like tinsel on the ground by the window. Mabel calls to Oliver, who runs into the bathroom to find a pig in the bathtub. They hear a banging and someone starts to knock on the door and try to turn the knob.

As the banging continues, Oliver startles and hits the piano in the apartment, making noise. After a moment, Mabel looks through the peephole and then opens the door. There's no one in the hallway, but they hear a door slam. The pig runs out the door and Mabel cheers him on. They decide to gather up some things and get out.

Charles huddles by the wall and says he's scared to leave the apartment now. Sazz says they'll just stay down there, nice and safe. It'll be great. The operator says there are eight emergencies ahead of him. He's almost there. He gets a notification that his luminol has arrived downstairs. Sazz says he doesn't have to go down there. He can delegate. Charles thinks he has to go get the box.

Charles coaches himself as he gets ready to leave. He decides to go in disguise. As he opens the door, the NYPD comes in with guns. Donna Williams comes in last and asks if he's safe. He says he doesn't know and asks if he is or not. Williams tells him about Jan escaping from prison. Oliver and Mabel walk in as she adds that they found sketches of Jan doing some messed up things to Charles. They need to inspect his bathroom. Charles tells Mabel and Oliver that he was right. Jan was there. Williams hears that and questions Charles about it. He didn't report it, which is a crime. Williams sees the look on Charles' face and asks if there's something he wants to tell her. Finally, the 911 operator picks up and asks what his emergency is. He looks at Williams as he tells the operator he needs to report a murder. Mabel says Williams might want to check the incinerator. Oliver shows Charles that they brought his package up for him.

Charles unpackages the luminol and Oliver turns off the lights. They need to hurry because the cops won't be in the basement forever. He wonders if they're allowed to do this in a crime scene. Mabel says forgiveness instead of permission is their thing. Charles needs a moment before he can do it.

In his bedroom, Charles tells Sazz he failed her. She says she wasn't at her best either. And she's him. He wonders how he can find her killer when he's afraid to go outside. All he knows how to do is Freeze. Sazz says he needs a stunt double. He asks if she remembers in season one when they had a big explosion stunt at a strip club. For hours, she ran and dove into a filthy river. Her hair even caught on fire. He was having lunch alone as usual when Sazz came to his trailer door with five crew guys he'd never talked to before, who all thanked him for inviting them to a poker game. He hadn't. He had that weekly poker game for the next eight year. Sazz found him friends. She was more than a stunt double. She took care of him in every way. She's his oldest, best friend. He doesn't know what he'll do without her. Mabel calls to Charles.

Oliver sprays the luminol. They see that she wrote a message in her blood. Mabel asks if he knows what it means. He sees that it says, "Tap in," and says he knows.

Sazz says her father taught her that to be successful, she had to find her number one, the person she always fell for. When she met Charles, she knew she'd found hers.

Charles lifts his blinds. He, Mabel, and Oliver look across at Inez, Ana, Alfonso, and Vince, who are looking back at them. Charles grabs a note from the board and drops it. It flips over and he realizes it's not just random numbers. When turned upside down, it reads, "Oh, hell." Oliver wonders if one of the Westies killed Sazz. Charles says they're not investigating Sazz's murder anymore, but his.

Cast

Starring

• Steve Martin as Charles-Haden Savage
• Martin Short as Oliver Putnam
• Selena Gomez as Mabel Mora
• Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard Morris (credit only)

Guest starring

• Desmin Borges as Alfonso
• Richard Kind as Vince Fish
• Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki
• Kumail Nanjiani as Rudy Thurber
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Detective Donna Williams
• Lilian Rebelo as Ana
• Daphne Rubin-Vega as Inez
• Amy Ryan as Jan Bellows

Notes and Trivia

Soundtrack

• "Song", performed by Artist
  Written by Composer

Media

Episode Stills

Photography by Patrick Harbron for Hulu.

Behind the Scenes

Videos

Charles is in a Predicament - Only Murders in the Building- Season 4 Episode 2 Opening Scene - Hulu

Charles and Sazz - Only Murders in the Building - Hulu

See Also

A complete overview of this episode's crew can be found here.