Chapter 5

Contains spoilers

Overview

Molly regains consciousness onstage at the Regency Grand after fainting when Brown and Beagle appraise her jeweled egg as a multimillion-dollar Fabergé prototype. On camera, she recounts how she received the egg from Jenkins, the Grimthorpe gardener, and the hosts pledge to investigate its provenance. Backstage, the team pushes rapid airing and positions Molly as a breakout star, while Brown and Beagle assert that the egg likely belongs to her under finders-keepers. Friends and family react with excitement, and pressure mounts for Molly to sell the egg, raising the stakes for her future.

Summary

Molly awakened on the tearoom stage at the Regency Grand, surrounded by cameras and onlookers, with Juan Manuel, Mr. Snow, and Mr. Preston helping her to a seat. Brown and Beagle resumed filming immediately, joking about her fainting and asking how she felt after learning the egg was worth millions. Molly apologized for the scare and admitted she was shocked.

Prompted by the hosts, Molly explained how, as a child working alongside Gran in J. D. Grimthorpe’s mansion, she became enchanted by the bejeweled egg on the parlor mantel. She said that after Grimthorpe’s death she returned to the mansion, where Jenkins the gardener, clearing out items, gave her the egg because he knew she loved it. She emphasized she had no idea of its value and had only heard Mrs. Grimthorpe suggest it might be valuable, a claim Molly had discounted.

Brown and Beagle highlighted the importance of provenance, noting the egg likely left Russia around 1918 and that its trail went cold until now. They pressed Molly about prior ownership before Grimthorpe, which she did not know, and warned that lack of provenance could reduce value. They then vowed to investigate, starting with Jenkins, and elicited Molly’s on-brand “I Bee-lieve in you.”

The cameras panned to Juan Manuel in the audience as he loudly declared his love and joked that they were now richer, whipping the crowd into cheers. The hosts wrapped the segment declaring Molly a “maid, marvel, and millionaire,” and Steve hustled Molly offstage to the greenroom as the audience applauded.

Backstage, Steve praised Molly’s on-camera appeal, reported that a clip had already gone viral, and announced they would air the episode the next day while shooting other appraisals as “b-roll letdowns.” Brown and Beagle agreed to begin provenance research on the egg immediately.

Juan Manuel, Mr. Preston, and Angela joined Molly, expressing relief and excitement. Discussing next steps, Beagle said the egg’s value depended on provenance and Molly’s plans, while Brown suggested most people sell and promised top price through Brown & Beagle Auction House. When Molly asked about ownership without paperwork, Brown and Beagle asserted that, given the egg had been lost for over a century with no documents surfacing, finders-keepers likely applied and that the egg was hers.

Reassured but overwhelmed, Molly steadied herself with help from Juan and Angela. Brown told her life was about to change, and Juan imagined a lavish wedding—if she sold the egg. Surrounded by expectant faces, Molly asked rhetorically why she wouldn’t sell, ending on the question, “What could go wrong?”

Who Appears

  • Molly Gray
    maid and protagonist; faints, recounts how she got the egg, is told it likely belongs to her and faces pressure to sell.
  • Juan Manuel
    Molly’s fiancé; comforts Molly, publicly declares love, advocates selling the egg for their future.
  • Baxter Brown
    celebrity appraiser; hosts segment, emphasizes provenance, suggests sale through their auction house, asserts finders-keepers.
  • Beagle
    celebrity appraiser; details egg’s history, commits to provenance inquiry starting with Jenkins, carries and safeguards the egg.
  • Ironic Steve
    showrunner/producer; restarts filming, moves Molly backstage, plans rapid airing and capitalizes on viral interest.
  • Mr. Snow
    involved in assisting Molly after she faints; helps move her offstage.
  • Mr. Preston (Gran-dad)
    Molly’s grandfather; checks on her, asks about legal ownership, witnesses the finders-keepers claim.
  • Angela
    colleague/friend; brings tea, supports Molly backstage, encourages her to breathe.
  • Jenkins
    Grimthorpe’s gardener; discussed as the person who gave Molly the egg and as the starting point for provenance research.
  • J. D. Grimthorpe
    deceased author; his parlor displayed the egg, and his prior death by poisoning in the same tearoom is noted.
  • Mrs. Grimthorpe
    Grimthorpe’s widow; previously suggested the egg was valuable, mentioned as overestimating her worth.
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