Episode 1 of Only Murders In The Building Season 5 kicks off with a somber funeral for Lester, the doorman of the Arconia. As Oliver stands before the gathering, reading Lester Coluca’s obituary aloud, his voice rises with an unexpected fervor, stirring the air with palpable tension. Charles and Mabel, observing from the sidelines, exchange concerned glances, noting Oliver's unusual agitation in the wake of the doorman's passing.
Just then, Howard saunters over, launching into an unexpected monologue about his feline companions. Amidst his meandering tales, he casually drops a bombshell about the security camera footage, a comment that doesn't go unnoticed by Charles and Mabel. They quickly huddle together, their whispers filled with speculation, wondering if Lester's demise was truly an accident or if it harbored darker, more sinister undertones of murder. Howard, however, insists that the footage paints a picture of a tragic mishap.
Disheartened by the lack of concrete evidence pointing towards foul play, Mabel and Charles share a moment of resigned acceptance, though deep down, they know such an outcome is probably for the best. Their contemplative silence is abruptly shattered when they notice something gruesome in Oliver's grasp—a shrimp that, upon closer inspection, reveals itself to be a gruesome human finger.
The trio stares in horror at the macabre discovery, their minds racing with questions. Before they can delve deeper, Mabel's memory jolts back to Sofia Caccimelio, interjecting a sense of urgency into the moment. She and Charles quickly fill Oliver in on Sofia's plea for help in finding her missing mobster husband, Nicky. Oliver's face contorts in frustration upon learning that his friends had dismissed Sofia's request without consulting him.
Determined to set things right, the trio makes their way to the basement, where Lester’s funeral service is still underway. Their arrival is met with a scene that leaves them dumbfounded—Mayor Tillman, a man with no apparent connection to Lester, is delivering a eulogy. Mabel, her eyes blazing with a mix of indignation and disappointment, directs her ire at Oliver, chastising him for missing out on covering such a significant event for Lester’s send-off. The atmosphere in the room thickens with a blend of grief, mystery, and unresolved tensions.
Oliver suddenly realizes with a sinking feeling that he was the sole resident of the building who neglected to submit a photograph of himself alongside Lester for the commemorative display. Charles, ever the schemer, suggests that Oliver and Mabel pay a visit to Lester’s widow to keep her occupied while he takes a clandestine peek at Lester’s hands.
Just as Charles is poised to inspect Lester’s fingers on the lifeless body, Mayor Tillman stumbles upon him. The mayor, eager for a bit of publicity, inquires about appearing on the podcast, to which Charles responds with a noncommittal "he'll think about it." Meanwhile, Charles tries to sneak another glance at Lester’s hands, but Mrs. Coluca uncovers the truth about Oliver being the tenant of apartment 10D. She unleashes her frustration on Oliver, berating him for his frequent clashes with her late husband.
With the quest to examine Lester’s fingers foiled, Mabel takes center stage, captivating the attendees with a riveting tale about Lester. Charles attempts to discreetly count Lester’s fingers once more, but Uma catches him in the act, forcing the trio to make a hasty retreat.
Since Charles couldn't get a clear look at Lester’s fingers, Oliver steps in, showing them a cherished photo of Lester from his wedding day. Mabel’s keen eye spots Lester engaged in conversation with the notorious mobster, Nicky.
Acting swiftly, Mabel contacts Howard, urging him to share the security camera footage. Charles proposes a direct approach: interrogating Sofia in Staten Island. Oliver, who has a shady past involving the mob and a $400 debt incurred years ago, is initially hesitant to join the expedition. However, after some persuasion from Mabel and Charles, he relents.
The trio ventures to Staten Island, where they are greeted by Sofia Caccimelio and her brood of sons: Johnny, Tony, Mikey, Vinny, and Braden. Contrary to their expectations, the sons prove to be far from intimidating, despite their mob lineage. Mabel, unafraid, confronts Sofia about the mysterious finger and Nicky’s final encounter with Lester before his untimely demise.
Sofia, with a tinge of regret in her voice, reveals that the mob’s glory days are long gone and that Nicky had sought out Lester to discuss his business venture, Clean Ups, which handles the dry cleaning for the Arconia. She paints a picture of Nicky as a man plagued by vices—drugs, gambling, and women—with a penchant for vanishing without a trace. Sofia had harbored hopes that the trio would locate Nicky before his true nature as a washed-up mobster was exposed to the world. Amidst the revelations, Sofia confirms that the finger does not belong to Nicky.
With their questions partially answered but more mysteries lingering, the trio prepares to depart. However, Sofia pulls Charles aside for a private chat, hinting at further secrets yet to be unveiled.
Charles vows to lend a helping hand, and Sofia lets slip that Nicky always used to keep his deck of cards close at hand. This time, however, he didn't bring it along, a subtle hint that something was amiss. Upon arriving at the building, Mabel heads off to meet Howard, determined to get her hands on the security camera footage, while Oliver and Charles engage in a heartfelt chat. Charles voices his concern, noting how Oliver has now moved on with his life, embarking on a new chapter as a married man, whereas he himself feels utterly hopeless about what the future holds.
Back at his apartment, Charles pours over the deck of cards and is startled to find a map cleverly concealed within. Meanwhile, Mabel meticulously reviews the security camera footage, and Oliver flips through his wedding photos, lost in nostalgia.
Mabel is in the midst of tracking Lester's movements in the footage when she unexpectedly bumps into Charles and learns about the map etched onto the card. The duo wastes no time, following the cryptic directions until they stumble upon a hidden closet, which ultimately leads them to a locked door.
Charles deftly uses the card to unlock the door, while Oliver takes Lester’s cap to Clean Ups for a thorough dry-cleaning. Charles and Mabel, pushing through the door, find themselves in an underground casino, its floor marred with bloodstains. They painstakingly decode the numbers on the card, leading them to the very envelope Nicky had handed over to Lester on the night of Oliver’s wedding.
Meanwhile, Oliver stops by the dry cleaners to pick up Lester’s uniform, only to stumble upon Nicky’s lifeless body by sheer accident, bringing the episode to a chilling and foreboding conclusion.
