The Good Ship Murder (2023) s01e05 Episode Script
At Sea
1
BEVERLY: Hello, cruisers.
We are now sailing
for the Bay of Biscay
and will be at sea
for the next 24 hours.
Just a reminder that
the Carousel Theatre and Lounge
is closed for a private event.
However, there's lots
to keep you entertained on board.
I've not been this excited
since we hosted Paul Hollywood's
sourdough masterclass.
Poker's the new rock 'n' roll.
Who knows where it'll lead?
Hm.
Televised tournaments.
Reality TV.
I could see you
fronting your own show.
Beyond the realms.
You are a natural, Beverly.
Thank you, Kate.
I am a people person.
# Going on an adventure
# And I've got a feeling
The sun don't shine
# Shine, the sun don't shine
# I'm in love with the ocean
# And I've got a feeling
I'm sailing tonight
# Tonight, I'm sailing tonight
# It's because of you
# Your love is an ember
# I'm going on an adventure
With you on my mind
# Going on an adventure
With you on my mind. #
Morning.
Are we all set?
All good to go.
This needs to run like clockwork.
So, tell us about these
high rollers?
Nicolai Volkov, AKA All In.
Number one poker player
on the planet.
Impulsive, ruthless,
the game's finest bluffer.
BL-Zeebub.
Self-styled bad boy of poker.
Mouth the size of the T49 tunnel
and an ego to match.
Keith Lomax.
Bitcoin billionaire
and the new kid on the block.
Wannabe number one.
A man in a hurry.
Lee Dead Eye Stannard.
Former resident of Las Vegas,
blind in one eye from birth,
the man with no tell.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Nicolai Volkov.
Kate Woods, First Officer.
My pleasure.
Beverley Carnell,
entertainments officer.
Wonderful.
This is Jack Grayling,
resident vocalist.
And MC for the tournament.
Ah!
My mother used to sing
for the prisoners at our gulag
when I was a child.
How wonderful.
Until she was executed
for stealing a loaf of bread.
I'm really sorry to hear that.
It was a long time ago.
INDISTINC
The heart says yes,
but the reflux says no.
Old man! Thought you'd be playing
snap in a nursing home by now.
No. I'm still here.
Jack Grayling.
Dead Eye Stannard.
Want me to order you something
a little easier on the stomach?
CHUCKLES
No, thanks. I'll stick with my milk.
Milk.
Don't mind if I do.
Still acting like every meal
is your last.
Is that meant to offend me,
cos actually it doesn't!
You've got mayo on your chin.
JACK SIGHS
Oh, come on!
Do we wait for The Widow?
No.
Get on with it.
Hm-mm.
Right.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to our first Global
Poker Stars Invitational Tournament.
This is a $1 million buy-in game.
Winner takes
Am I late?
Wendy The Widow Weston.
Self-taught
after her husband was shot dead
at a game of seven card stud.
Poker's original rock chick.
It's good
to see a woman in the tournament.
Just doing my bit
for the sisterhood.
Well, there's plenty
of testosterone flying around.
Well, once I sit at that table,
my balls are as big as anyone's.
Looking good, Wendy.
You're not looking so bad yourself.
Don't you think it's time
you stopped dressing in black?
Are you ever going to let him
rest in peace?
I miss him as much as you do.
Somehow I doubt that.
How about you coming later
to my cabin?
We could, ah, catch up in private.
Let bygones be bygones.
For old times' sake.
That could be arranged.
It's complicated.
I'd like my man to inspect where
the chips and cards are stored.
I'm sorry,
that's out of the question.
Why?
Ever the demanding child.
A spineless father
is a lifetime curse
for a sensitive young boy.
Enough.
Our Siberian friend
really isn't worth it.
Your beloved daughter
might disagree.
The wisdom of age.
Gentlemen, my lady,
the game is Texas Hold 'em.
Rebuys start at 500K.
The winner takes it all.
Good luck.
Best of luck, everybody.
KATE: How do we know
who's winning the hand?
JACK: Hard to tell without seeing
what they've got in the pocket.
10,000.
'Whose pocket?
'The cards they've got
facedown on the table.'
Not for me.
Fold.
Raise 30K.
Fold.
Just you and me, Lomax.
Before we continue,
I'd like to thank you all
for your generosity this evening.
We work in places, Mr Lomax.
I knew a sad little man,
he looked a lot like you.
Thought he had it made
just before I crushed him.
CHUCKLES
Re-raise.
60K.
100,000.
This is getting interesting.
All in.
JACK: Volkov has gone all in.
He's put in at least 100,000!
Let's see what you've got.
JACK: Pot's got to be worth
half a mil.
King high.
Same.
But my fifth card beats yours.
Well, well.
Hm.
What's in that pouch, you rat cheat?
Some sort of hidden camera?
Stop that!
Time to walk off, Mr Volkov.
You're a worthless punk,
just like your father.
Seems you are in good company.
I see you all in hell.
Hey
Here's a souvenir for the journey.
GROWLS
Thanks.
Well, Volkov's a bit of
a sore loser, isn't he?
Well, he's not used to being beaten.
Especially by an amateur like Lomax.
It's all about saving face.
Well, I don't think any of them
around that table will shed a tear.
He's been nothing but rude to them
since the start.
All part of the game plan, love.
He likes to get inside your head.
Well, he's just lost half a million,
so he might wanna give his game plan
a rethink.
You know, I think you'd make
a pretty good poker player yourself.
Really?
Mm-hm.
Controlled, competitive
cool under pressure.
Some people might even say uptight.
Uptight?
You and Piers are well-suited.
Is this about the engagement?
Just a casual observation.
Well, some of us
have responsibilities, Jack.
We know when to leave the party.
Hm!
You think performing is easy?
Well, I know you never seem to stop.
It must be exhausting for you.
We work on a cruise ship.
It's supposed to be fun.
Piers and I have plenty of fun,
thank you.
CLEARS HER THROA
What?
I've noticed
you've not been wearing your ring.
SHE SCOFFS
I don't need a ring
to define me, Jack.
Mr Volkov, your morning coffee.
Mr Volko
EXHALES
Single puncture wound.
Probably penetrating the right lung.
So someone stabbed him in the back.
Seems a fitting way to die.
Maybe not.
Check out his pupils.
They are like pin points.
Overdose?
These are track marks on his arm.
Let's check upstairs.
Bedside cabinet.
You might wanna bag it up.
Oh, yeah.
Hi.
OK, what have we got?
It seems Nicolai Volkov
had a heroin habit.
He was shooting up smack
when someone stabbed him.
OK, right, well, yeah,
I suppose that could happen.
We've also got vomit on the
bed sheets and a half-eaten burger.
Throwing up could have been
a reaction to the drugs.
You might wanna bag up that chip,
too
Oh. ..in case
forensics want to run prints on it.
So he came back here after the game,
he ordered room service,
he took a hit,
threw his burger back up
and then someone stabbed him.
Just about sums it up, yeah.
Well, then he must have known
the killer.
Why else would he answer the door?
The obvious reason?
A woman?
Not necessarily.
He was flirting with The Widow
at the reception.
In fact, he gave her his room key.
We'll get him to the med centre.
Do you think that one of the other
players could have done this?
Clearly all of them
had some kind of grudge. Yeah.
Obviously, our hearts go out
to Nicolai's family
after such a shocking incident.
We play on.
Without discussion?
Hear, hear.
You think Volkov would have walked
away if it was one of us?
Well, the Captain has agreed
to continue with the tournament
until we dock
and the police can come on board.
I came here to win.
Just saying,
we've gotta show some respect.
Anybody have respect for that man?
Well, then.
OK.
All those in favour of continuing
with the second night of poker,
raise your hands.
Decision made.
This way, please.
Sir.
Thank you.
Well, at least you tried.
And that's all you can do.
You mind if I ask you something?
Fire away.
Volkov said something to Lomax about
his father, and you had to step in.
What was the deal there? The Russian
ruined his old man in a poker game.
Lomax senior
never was much of a player.
Ended up losing
the family home to him.
The marriage ended
and he died penniless.
He lost everything
on a hand of cards?
Yep. The game gets
to some people like that.
Volkov took Lomax's dad
for everything in a poker game
when Lomax was still a kid.
Left the family destitute.
EXHALES
I mean, that is
one hell of a motive.
Hm.
Also, I found
this article in the Skylarch,
poker player magazine, Zeebub was
Volkov's protege as a teenager.
It's obvious they can't stand
each other's guts now. Hm.
What about Dead Eye?
Oh, Volkov made a comment
about his daughter at the reception.
Any reaction?
Didn't bat an eyelid.
Other than that, I could happily
listen to the fellow talk all day.
What about The Widow?
Why do they call her that?
Because her husband was shot dead
at a poker game.
Any connection to Volkov?
No.
But an old Interpol contact
told me there were rumours
it was a Russian hit.
Really?
Hm-mm.
And we know that she had a room key.
Hm-mm.
OK, I'll take The Widow.
Surprise, surprise.
And the old guy.
And that leaves you with Lomax
and Zeebub.
Er
Unless that's a problem.
Jameson has warned me off. He thinks
that you're a bad influence.
He's always been
a good judge of character.
Hm.
We could always
leave this one to the big boys.
No, we just need to be discreet,
that's all.
Right. Remember,
any of these people could
be the killer, or the next victim,
not to mention
they wear poker faces for a living.
They're professional liars.
Must have been tough
after you lost your husband.
These things make or break you.
Certainly made you.
Had no choice.
Two teenage kids
and a mortgage to pay.
So you taught yourself
to play poker?
Turns out I was better
than my old man all along.
HE CHUCKLES
So how did it feel
when the guy accused
of killing your husband walked free?
Hardest part was explaining it
to my girls.
And when he disappeared
off the face of the Earth?
Do you think I'm capable of murder?
Did you make any use of that room
key Volkov gave to you last night?
I'd love to be able to give you
a hot lead for your case,
but no, I did not.
And were you aware
of Volkov's heroin problem?
I heard he'd cleaned up years ago.
Really?
Hm.
Did you know he was married to
Dead Eye Stannard's daughter, April?
No.
Hm.
Sid and Nancy of the poker circuit.
Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll,
all the way.
Serious addicts.
Until he checked into rehab.
At which point, he dumped her.
April ran home to Daddy
still hooked on the junk.
That was the last I heard of her.
Feeling lucky?
I'm always lucky, baby.
I didn't realise that Volkov
bankrolled your early career.
What of it?
I don't know, it just must have been
really exciting.
He was only interested
in making money in me.
Why did it end?
It just did.
I had a bad run. He wanted to change
the way I played.
I refused and I lost big
in a tournament in Singapore.
So he dumped me.
He left me with no money,
no flight,
and he even took my passport.
I couldn't pay the hotel bill,
and I ended up in Changi Prison
for six months.
I got deported back to Mumbai
and I've had to start again
from scratch.
It's taken me years.
That must have been really hard
for you.
I was 18,
and he didn't care
if I lived or died.
I didn't see you in the bar
after the tournament last night.
I went back to my cabin.
Oh.
Alone, or
I watched a movie.
What film did you watch?
A romcom.
MACHINE PLAYS MUSIC
Like I said
I'm always lucky.
COINS CLINKING
Hm-mm.
Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Got it?
This one.
Ah!
How do you do that?
If I told you,
I'd have to kill you.
You never mentioned that you were
once Volkov's father-in-law.
That is a period of my life
that I try not to dwell upon.
How's your daughter these days?
COUGHS
You leave April
COUGHS
..out of this.
COUGHS
You OK?
Age is a cruel companion.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to upset you.
She lives in a nursing facility.
In my home town.
She's safe, she's close by.
So what did you do with yourself
after the game last night?
I use one of those breathing
apparatus to fall asleep at night.
And your doctor Sharon provided me
with some fresh oxygen,
and that put me out like a light.
Thanks.
Jack,
you know it's just sleight of hand?
Everyone loves a bit of magic.
I read a profile on you in the FT.
Really?
Hm. Tough childhood.
Character building.
Sounds like
Volkov had a lot to answer for.
Whatever circumstances
our family found itself in
were down to one man only,
and that's my father.
Still, I don't suppose you shed
many a tear over Volkov's death.
Not a single one.
Did you get chance to unwind
after the tournament last night?
Late supper with the Captain.
I'm sure he'll confirm that for you.
Great. Well, good chat.
Where would you like to see yourself
in five years' time, Ms Woods?
Er
Well, skippering my own ship.
Did you know I own a superyacht?
It's moored in Portofino.
Impressive.
My captain's about to retire.
Right.
Details of the vessel are in here.
Once the tournament's over,
perhaps you'd consider the post.
Are you trying to buy me off?
I'm simply offering a job to someone
with the potential
to achieve a lot more
than her current position allows.
I'll triple
what you currently earn.
Think about it.
WIHSPERS:
Don't worry. You'll be fine.
You'll be fine, you'll be fine,
you'll be fine. Yeah? OK.
See you later.
Hey.
What couldn't wait?
Oh, I just wanted to see
how things went with Lomax.
Jack, you've called me
down from the bridge for that?
In case you'd forgotten,
there's a murderer on board.
Yeah, well, his alibi checked out.
The Widow's holds up, too.
She ordered room service around
11.30 and Jamil delivered it.
OK, what about Dead Eye?
The doc aid she brought him oxygen
around the same time The Widow
was tucking into her seaweed wrap,
he was already in his PJs,
she helped him hook up
his breathing gear
and didn't leave till after one.
Which leaves Mr Zeebub
and his romcom.
Hm-mm.
I spoke to housekeeping.
There's no history of him streaming
a movie last night, obviously.
And no-one to back up his story.
No.
DOOR OPENS
Jack, I just saw Zeebub
leaving The Widow's cabin.
Well, could you hear
what they were talking about?
No, not really, but
Here, look.
Jamil, me and you stay on BL.
Kate, you keep on digging on Lomax,
yeah?
Yeah. Absolutely. Leave it with me.
Let me see.
BL was wearing that last night!
Yes, definitely.
Does that look like blood to you?
Could be.
QUIET CHATTER
COUGHS
EXHALES
Hope you haven't been hustling our
guests with that find-the-lady scam.
Who, me?
Quick question.
Fire away.
Wendy Weston and BL-Zeebub.
What about them?
Do they have any kind of connection?
You mean outside of poker?
Any other history?
No, not that I know of,
but I will say this
COUGHS
The Widow certainly knows
how to hook a fish and reel it in.
COUGHS
You sure you're not
coming down with something?
All good.
Excuse me.
I have to visit
the little boys' room.
Mr Zeebub was seen
leaving your cabin this morning.
Well, you know what they say -
what happens at sea stays at sea.
So you two are
Oh! I just take my kicks
where I can get them these days.
Whilst you're here
..do you recognise this picture?
Course.
It's a photograph of my husband
the night he was murdered.
But do you recognise anyone else
in the photograph?
Like who?
Nicolai Volkov?
He was there the night
that your husband was shot. Yeah.
Yeah, I've been reading up
on the case.
He was supposed to be a key witness
for the prosecution, right?
Till he took the money and ran.
So you think he was paid off?
Why else would he leave the country
the night before he was due
to give evidence?
And you never got justice.
I don't even know
what that word means any more.
So, we found queried bloodstains
on Zeebub's shell suit.
Sharon's running some tests,
and if it's All-In's blood,
we can nail him.
Great.
Yeah. What's that?
Oh, it's, er, nothing.
Well, it doesn't look like nothing.
It is a job offer.
What, to work on a superyacht?
To skipper it. Yeah.
Does that thing belong to Lomax?
Maybe.
One minute you're grilling him,
the next thing he's trying to
install you on his wonder boat?
So, you think that this is a bribe?
Well, do I think a billionaire
murder suspect
might dangle
an amazing career opportunity
to put you off the scent?
HE SCOFFS
As if (!)
You haven't for one minute
considered that
I just might be
the ideal candidate for the job?
I guess everyone has their price.
You know what, Jack,
if you don't trust me,
I'll just have to solve this case
without you.
Oh, Jack. Glad you're here.
Did you have a look
at that tracksuit top?
Ketchup. Not blood.
Oh.
But I've got bigger news.
Yeah?
Volkov's results.
Go on.
As well as morphine,
there was ricin in his system.
Any idea how it got there?
Hard to say for sure, but
..this inflammation's
consistent with
handling something contaminated.
That would be enough to see him off?
If his hand touched his mouth
and he ingested it, yeah.
One of the deadliest poisons
on earth.
It doesn't take much
to kill someone.
So someone tried to poison him?
Certainly looks that way.
How's it going?
Lomax is still winning
every other hand.
Are you playing or what?
Yeah. I'm just
Let's go
and check out Lomax's cabin.
Movie night, is it?
WENDY: What's the hold-up, Lomax?
BL: Yeah, let's play poker!
This tournament is terminated.
What?
Excuse me.
What's going on, Jack?
Give that back!
I'm afraid Mr Lomax is a cheat.
He switched the ship's cards
with his own identical sets,
each fitted with a computer chip.
That sends images of everyone's hand
back to his cabin
then over to him via
..a listening device
inside of his cap.
So he knew every card
that was dealt in every game?
Exactly.
Did Volkov find out?
Is that why he was murdered?
No, he was killed for other reasons.
EXHALES
Isn't that right, Mr Zeebub?
I'm afraid you've been
played like a Stradivarius.
Miss Weston openly admits
you've been sleeping together.
So?
Yeah, she was flirty
with your former mentor
For old times' sake.
'..in order to get hold
of a key card for his room. Why?'
That could be arranged.
Because she talked you
into doing her dirty work
of avenging his betrayal
at her husband's murder trial,
and for the months
spent languishing in Changi jail.
You've got no proof of that.
Unfortunately, your notorious
appetite proved to be your downfall.
'You couldn't resist a bite of that
room service burger, could you?'
And what's left of it
has been bagged up as evidence.
So when we dock, the police
will run DNA and dental tests.
I'm sure
you'll be on the global database
given your criminal record.
She had nothing to do with it.
How chivalrous.
I'm serious.
It really is love, then.
I wouldn't say it's reciprocated.
Anyway, luckily for you,
it may be difficult to prove that
the stabbing actually killed him
because when you came to stab him,
he was already unconscious,
seemingly from an OD.
Mr Stannard.
Mr Grayling.
Look, do you mind me
asking how long you've got left?
Weeks, month or two maybe, at most.
Cancer of the lung.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks.
Nikolai Volkov broke your daughter
April's heart and spirit.
He most certainly did.
I contacted the clinic
to talk to April.
Well, you had no right to do that.
When they divorced,
she made a suicide attempt,
which has left her
in a permanent coma.
Resident of a care facility
in Las Vegas since 2014.
She hasn't spoken to anyone
in years.
This tournament gave you
a last chance of payback.
'And what a way to do it! You know,
'give the former addict an overdose
with your own morphine supply.'
Excellent detective work, Jack.
Although I very seriously doubt
that I will be around for the trial.
Dead Eye didn't know that
Volkov had already been poisoned
earlier that day, with ricin.
And that got me thinking,
why would any of you three
feel the need to poison him,
you know, given the stabbing
and the fake OD.
And I remembered that you threw
a gambling chip at Volkov,
just before he stormed out,
with your creepy surgical gloves on.
Maybe that was contaminated
with ricin.
This is ridiculous.
OK.
Here's the chip.
Take off your gloves
and take the chip out of the bag.
Take them off.
If you're innocent,
you've got nothing to be scared of.
I refuse
to take part in this charade.
Do you know what,
I think I actually believe you.
So I'm gonna take the chip
out of the bag,
and hopefully you don't end up
on a double murder charge.
No.
Close the damn bag.
So, how are you going to prove that
any of us actually murdered him?
Luckily, that's not my job.
Let's see what a jury think.
Stupid question,
but are we locking them all up?
Not The Widow.
Unless this mug sees sense.
Go easy on Mr Stannard.
You're a true gentleman, Jack.
She made me do it.
Shut up!
It was all her idea.
She's like a snake charmer.
LAUGHING
The
LOUD LAUGHING
I mean, this is literally one
big boys' club, isn't it, this boat?
Have you only just noticed?
Right.
Ooh!
More mojitos.
No. No, I'm fine.
Well, I'm having one.
Don't you think you've had enough?
I'm having fun, Piers.
Because Jack Grayling
thinks that I'm an uptight prig.
Since when do you care
what Jack Grayling thinks?
I was offered a job today.
Skippering my own big superyacht.
Why didn't you tell me
about this earlier?
Because I was keeping
my cards close to my chest.
Which is something
that you would know all about.
Wouldn't you?
Piers de Vreese.
Let's get you back to the cabin.
I don't need your help
Ooh! Ooh!
SHE GIGGLES
I'm fine. I'm fine.
There is nothing to see here.
Someone's had a big night.
Well, it is not every day you catch
four killers on one case, is it?
Whoo!
Ow!
THEY CHUCKLE
Was that chip was it fake?
Or was it real?
Mm-hm?
Let's get you to bed.
OK.
Yeah?
Mm-hm.
This way. Come on.
THEY CHUCKLE
Jack?
Hm?
Can you believe that Piers has
applied for the staff cat - sorry -
staff captain job
and didn't even tell me?
Well, now you mention it,
yeah. Just-Just shush!
And as for Jameson,
that stuffed shirt,
I don't think
he's got any intention,
he hasn't, of giving me that job.
Right, just shush! Yeah?
Shush!
SHE GIGGLES
He thinks that
I'm a silly girly girl.
Doesn't he?
His loss.
Well, no, it's not. It's mine.
I don't normally drink, because it
makes me go a little bit crazy!
CHUCKLES
Key.
Please.
All right!
Yeah?
SHE LAUGHS
What you need is some water.
Are you not sick of the sight of it?
Of what?
Bloody water.
You had me going
when Lomax offered you that job.
Thought you might
actually jump ship.
Got to admit it, though, the idea
of you not being around any more
scared the living daylights
out of me.
Night-night.
Are you ready for him?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
I'm delighted to welcome onstage
your resident house singer,
Jack Grayling.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
MUSIC: 'Every 1's A Winner'
# Never could believe
The things you do to me
# Never could believe
The way you are
# Every day I bless the day
That you got through to me
# Cos baby I believe you are a star
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy. #
Hey!
CHEERING
# Never could explain
Just what was happening to me
# Just one touch of you
And I'm aflame
# Baby it's amazing
Just how wonderful it is
# That the things we like to do
Are just the same
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy. #
CHEERING
The ship has now arrived
at the beautiful island of Sicily.
Jamil,
how do you fancy a little adventure?
I do love an adventure.
Ah. This is where it all began,
kids.
I'm standing down from the business
with immediate effect.
Does he have many enemies?
Just his own kids.
I actually hate him.
He's still our dad.
Kate, come on, please,
don't be like this.
The DiMarco family are linked
to organised crime.
It's always the girl.
Get lost, you little punk.
Il bacio della morte.
What's that mean?
The kiss of death.
# You thought you'd run away now
# From the troubles in your life
# And watch a new horizon
# In the sky
# But now the truth's
Caught up with you
# Forever is waiting for you #
BEVERLY: Hello, cruisers.
We are now sailing
for the Bay of Biscay
and will be at sea
for the next 24 hours.
Just a reminder that
the Carousel Theatre and Lounge
is closed for a private event.
However, there's lots
to keep you entertained on board.
I've not been this excited
since we hosted Paul Hollywood's
sourdough masterclass.
Poker's the new rock 'n' roll.
Who knows where it'll lead?
Hm.
Televised tournaments.
Reality TV.
I could see you
fronting your own show.
Beyond the realms.
You are a natural, Beverly.
Thank you, Kate.
I am a people person.
# Going on an adventure
# And I've got a feeling
The sun don't shine
# Shine, the sun don't shine
# I'm in love with the ocean
# And I've got a feeling
I'm sailing tonight
# Tonight, I'm sailing tonight
# It's because of you
# Your love is an ember
# I'm going on an adventure
With you on my mind
# Going on an adventure
With you on my mind. #
Morning.
Are we all set?
All good to go.
This needs to run like clockwork.
So, tell us about these
high rollers?
Nicolai Volkov, AKA All In.
Number one poker player
on the planet.
Impulsive, ruthless,
the game's finest bluffer.
BL-Zeebub.
Self-styled bad boy of poker.
Mouth the size of the T49 tunnel
and an ego to match.
Keith Lomax.
Bitcoin billionaire
and the new kid on the block.
Wannabe number one.
A man in a hurry.
Lee Dead Eye Stannard.
Former resident of Las Vegas,
blind in one eye from birth,
the man with no tell.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Nicolai Volkov.
Kate Woods, First Officer.
My pleasure.
Beverley Carnell,
entertainments officer.
Wonderful.
This is Jack Grayling,
resident vocalist.
And MC for the tournament.
Ah!
My mother used to sing
for the prisoners at our gulag
when I was a child.
How wonderful.
Until she was executed
for stealing a loaf of bread.
I'm really sorry to hear that.
It was a long time ago.
INDISTINC
The heart says yes,
but the reflux says no.
Old man! Thought you'd be playing
snap in a nursing home by now.
No. I'm still here.
Jack Grayling.
Dead Eye Stannard.
Want me to order you something
a little easier on the stomach?
CHUCKLES
No, thanks. I'll stick with my milk.
Milk.
Don't mind if I do.
Still acting like every meal
is your last.
Is that meant to offend me,
cos actually it doesn't!
You've got mayo on your chin.
JACK SIGHS
Oh, come on!
Do we wait for The Widow?
No.
Get on with it.
Hm-mm.
Right.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to our first Global
Poker Stars Invitational Tournament.
This is a $1 million buy-in game.
Winner takes
Am I late?
Wendy The Widow Weston.
Self-taught
after her husband was shot dead
at a game of seven card stud.
Poker's original rock chick.
It's good
to see a woman in the tournament.
Just doing my bit
for the sisterhood.
Well, there's plenty
of testosterone flying around.
Well, once I sit at that table,
my balls are as big as anyone's.
Looking good, Wendy.
You're not looking so bad yourself.
Don't you think it's time
you stopped dressing in black?
Are you ever going to let him
rest in peace?
I miss him as much as you do.
Somehow I doubt that.
How about you coming later
to my cabin?
We could, ah, catch up in private.
Let bygones be bygones.
For old times' sake.
That could be arranged.
It's complicated.
I'd like my man to inspect where
the chips and cards are stored.
I'm sorry,
that's out of the question.
Why?
Ever the demanding child.
A spineless father
is a lifetime curse
for a sensitive young boy.
Enough.
Our Siberian friend
really isn't worth it.
Your beloved daughter
might disagree.
The wisdom of age.
Gentlemen, my lady,
the game is Texas Hold 'em.
Rebuys start at 500K.
The winner takes it all.
Good luck.
Best of luck, everybody.
KATE: How do we know
who's winning the hand?
JACK: Hard to tell without seeing
what they've got in the pocket.
10,000.
'Whose pocket?
'The cards they've got
facedown on the table.'
Not for me.
Fold.
Raise 30K.
Fold.
Just you and me, Lomax.
Before we continue,
I'd like to thank you all
for your generosity this evening.
We work in places, Mr Lomax.
I knew a sad little man,
he looked a lot like you.
Thought he had it made
just before I crushed him.
CHUCKLES
Re-raise.
60K.
100,000.
This is getting interesting.
All in.
JACK: Volkov has gone all in.
He's put in at least 100,000!
Let's see what you've got.
JACK: Pot's got to be worth
half a mil.
King high.
Same.
But my fifth card beats yours.
Well, well.
Hm.
What's in that pouch, you rat cheat?
Some sort of hidden camera?
Stop that!
Time to walk off, Mr Volkov.
You're a worthless punk,
just like your father.
Seems you are in good company.
I see you all in hell.
Hey
Here's a souvenir for the journey.
GROWLS
Thanks.
Well, Volkov's a bit of
a sore loser, isn't he?
Well, he's not used to being beaten.
Especially by an amateur like Lomax.
It's all about saving face.
Well, I don't think any of them
around that table will shed a tear.
He's been nothing but rude to them
since the start.
All part of the game plan, love.
He likes to get inside your head.
Well, he's just lost half a million,
so he might wanna give his game plan
a rethink.
You know, I think you'd make
a pretty good poker player yourself.
Really?
Mm-hm.
Controlled, competitive
cool under pressure.
Some people might even say uptight.
Uptight?
You and Piers are well-suited.
Is this about the engagement?
Just a casual observation.
Well, some of us
have responsibilities, Jack.
We know when to leave the party.
Hm!
You think performing is easy?
Well, I know you never seem to stop.
It must be exhausting for you.
We work on a cruise ship.
It's supposed to be fun.
Piers and I have plenty of fun,
thank you.
CLEARS HER THROA
What?
I've noticed
you've not been wearing your ring.
SHE SCOFFS
I don't need a ring
to define me, Jack.
Mr Volkov, your morning coffee.
Mr Volko
EXHALES
Single puncture wound.
Probably penetrating the right lung.
So someone stabbed him in the back.
Seems a fitting way to die.
Maybe not.
Check out his pupils.
They are like pin points.
Overdose?
These are track marks on his arm.
Let's check upstairs.
Bedside cabinet.
You might wanna bag it up.
Oh, yeah.
Hi.
OK, what have we got?
It seems Nicolai Volkov
had a heroin habit.
He was shooting up smack
when someone stabbed him.
OK, right, well, yeah,
I suppose that could happen.
We've also got vomit on the
bed sheets and a half-eaten burger.
Throwing up could have been
a reaction to the drugs.
You might wanna bag up that chip,
too
Oh. ..in case
forensics want to run prints on it.
So he came back here after the game,
he ordered room service,
he took a hit,
threw his burger back up
and then someone stabbed him.
Just about sums it up, yeah.
Well, then he must have known
the killer.
Why else would he answer the door?
The obvious reason?
A woman?
Not necessarily.
He was flirting with The Widow
at the reception.
In fact, he gave her his room key.
We'll get him to the med centre.
Do you think that one of the other
players could have done this?
Clearly all of them
had some kind of grudge. Yeah.
Obviously, our hearts go out
to Nicolai's family
after such a shocking incident.
We play on.
Without discussion?
Hear, hear.
You think Volkov would have walked
away if it was one of us?
Well, the Captain has agreed
to continue with the tournament
until we dock
and the police can come on board.
I came here to win.
Just saying,
we've gotta show some respect.
Anybody have respect for that man?
Well, then.
OK.
All those in favour of continuing
with the second night of poker,
raise your hands.
Decision made.
This way, please.
Sir.
Thank you.
Well, at least you tried.
And that's all you can do.
You mind if I ask you something?
Fire away.
Volkov said something to Lomax about
his father, and you had to step in.
What was the deal there? The Russian
ruined his old man in a poker game.
Lomax senior
never was much of a player.
Ended up losing
the family home to him.
The marriage ended
and he died penniless.
He lost everything
on a hand of cards?
Yep. The game gets
to some people like that.
Volkov took Lomax's dad
for everything in a poker game
when Lomax was still a kid.
Left the family destitute.
EXHALES
I mean, that is
one hell of a motive.
Hm.
Also, I found
this article in the Skylarch,
poker player magazine, Zeebub was
Volkov's protege as a teenager.
It's obvious they can't stand
each other's guts now. Hm.
What about Dead Eye?
Oh, Volkov made a comment
about his daughter at the reception.
Any reaction?
Didn't bat an eyelid.
Other than that, I could happily
listen to the fellow talk all day.
What about The Widow?
Why do they call her that?
Because her husband was shot dead
at a poker game.
Any connection to Volkov?
No.
But an old Interpol contact
told me there were rumours
it was a Russian hit.
Really?
Hm-mm.
And we know that she had a room key.
Hm-mm.
OK, I'll take The Widow.
Surprise, surprise.
And the old guy.
And that leaves you with Lomax
and Zeebub.
Er
Unless that's a problem.
Jameson has warned me off. He thinks
that you're a bad influence.
He's always been
a good judge of character.
Hm.
We could always
leave this one to the big boys.
No, we just need to be discreet,
that's all.
Right. Remember,
any of these people could
be the killer, or the next victim,
not to mention
they wear poker faces for a living.
They're professional liars.
Must have been tough
after you lost your husband.
These things make or break you.
Certainly made you.
Had no choice.
Two teenage kids
and a mortgage to pay.
So you taught yourself
to play poker?
Turns out I was better
than my old man all along.
HE CHUCKLES
So how did it feel
when the guy accused
of killing your husband walked free?
Hardest part was explaining it
to my girls.
And when he disappeared
off the face of the Earth?
Do you think I'm capable of murder?
Did you make any use of that room
key Volkov gave to you last night?
I'd love to be able to give you
a hot lead for your case,
but no, I did not.
And were you aware
of Volkov's heroin problem?
I heard he'd cleaned up years ago.
Really?
Hm.
Did you know he was married to
Dead Eye Stannard's daughter, April?
No.
Hm.
Sid and Nancy of the poker circuit.
Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll,
all the way.
Serious addicts.
Until he checked into rehab.
At which point, he dumped her.
April ran home to Daddy
still hooked on the junk.
That was the last I heard of her.
Feeling lucky?
I'm always lucky, baby.
I didn't realise that Volkov
bankrolled your early career.
What of it?
I don't know, it just must have been
really exciting.
He was only interested
in making money in me.
Why did it end?
It just did.
I had a bad run. He wanted to change
the way I played.
I refused and I lost big
in a tournament in Singapore.
So he dumped me.
He left me with no money,
no flight,
and he even took my passport.
I couldn't pay the hotel bill,
and I ended up in Changi Prison
for six months.
I got deported back to Mumbai
and I've had to start again
from scratch.
It's taken me years.
That must have been really hard
for you.
I was 18,
and he didn't care
if I lived or died.
I didn't see you in the bar
after the tournament last night.
I went back to my cabin.
Oh.
Alone, or
I watched a movie.
What film did you watch?
A romcom.
MACHINE PLAYS MUSIC
Like I said
I'm always lucky.
COINS CLINKING
Hm-mm.
Concentrate.
Concentrate.
Got it?
This one.
Ah!
How do you do that?
If I told you,
I'd have to kill you.
You never mentioned that you were
once Volkov's father-in-law.
That is a period of my life
that I try not to dwell upon.
How's your daughter these days?
COUGHS
You leave April
COUGHS
..out of this.
COUGHS
You OK?
Age is a cruel companion.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to upset you.
She lives in a nursing facility.
In my home town.
She's safe, she's close by.
So what did you do with yourself
after the game last night?
I use one of those breathing
apparatus to fall asleep at night.
And your doctor Sharon provided me
with some fresh oxygen,
and that put me out like a light.
Thanks.
Jack,
you know it's just sleight of hand?
Everyone loves a bit of magic.
I read a profile on you in the FT.
Really?
Hm. Tough childhood.
Character building.
Sounds like
Volkov had a lot to answer for.
Whatever circumstances
our family found itself in
were down to one man only,
and that's my father.
Still, I don't suppose you shed
many a tear over Volkov's death.
Not a single one.
Did you get chance to unwind
after the tournament last night?
Late supper with the Captain.
I'm sure he'll confirm that for you.
Great. Well, good chat.
Where would you like to see yourself
in five years' time, Ms Woods?
Er
Well, skippering my own ship.
Did you know I own a superyacht?
It's moored in Portofino.
Impressive.
My captain's about to retire.
Right.
Details of the vessel are in here.
Once the tournament's over,
perhaps you'd consider the post.
Are you trying to buy me off?
I'm simply offering a job to someone
with the potential
to achieve a lot more
than her current position allows.
I'll triple
what you currently earn.
Think about it.
WIHSPERS:
Don't worry. You'll be fine.
You'll be fine, you'll be fine,
you'll be fine. Yeah? OK.
See you later.
Hey.
What couldn't wait?
Oh, I just wanted to see
how things went with Lomax.
Jack, you've called me
down from the bridge for that?
In case you'd forgotten,
there's a murderer on board.
Yeah, well, his alibi checked out.
The Widow's holds up, too.
She ordered room service around
11.30 and Jamil delivered it.
OK, what about Dead Eye?
The doc aid she brought him oxygen
around the same time The Widow
was tucking into her seaweed wrap,
he was already in his PJs,
she helped him hook up
his breathing gear
and didn't leave till after one.
Which leaves Mr Zeebub
and his romcom.
Hm-mm.
I spoke to housekeeping.
There's no history of him streaming
a movie last night, obviously.
And no-one to back up his story.
No.
DOOR OPENS
Jack, I just saw Zeebub
leaving The Widow's cabin.
Well, could you hear
what they were talking about?
No, not really, but
Here, look.
Jamil, me and you stay on BL.
Kate, you keep on digging on Lomax,
yeah?
Yeah. Absolutely. Leave it with me.
Let me see.
BL was wearing that last night!
Yes, definitely.
Does that look like blood to you?
Could be.
QUIET CHATTER
COUGHS
EXHALES
Hope you haven't been hustling our
guests with that find-the-lady scam.
Who, me?
Quick question.
Fire away.
Wendy Weston and BL-Zeebub.
What about them?
Do they have any kind of connection?
You mean outside of poker?
Any other history?
No, not that I know of,
but I will say this
COUGHS
The Widow certainly knows
how to hook a fish and reel it in.
COUGHS
You sure you're not
coming down with something?
All good.
Excuse me.
I have to visit
the little boys' room.
Mr Zeebub was seen
leaving your cabin this morning.
Well, you know what they say -
what happens at sea stays at sea.
So you two are
Oh! I just take my kicks
where I can get them these days.
Whilst you're here
..do you recognise this picture?
Course.
It's a photograph of my husband
the night he was murdered.
But do you recognise anyone else
in the photograph?
Like who?
Nicolai Volkov?
He was there the night
that your husband was shot. Yeah.
Yeah, I've been reading up
on the case.
He was supposed to be a key witness
for the prosecution, right?
Till he took the money and ran.
So you think he was paid off?
Why else would he leave the country
the night before he was due
to give evidence?
And you never got justice.
I don't even know
what that word means any more.
So, we found queried bloodstains
on Zeebub's shell suit.
Sharon's running some tests,
and if it's All-In's blood,
we can nail him.
Great.
Yeah. What's that?
Oh, it's, er, nothing.
Well, it doesn't look like nothing.
It is a job offer.
What, to work on a superyacht?
To skipper it. Yeah.
Does that thing belong to Lomax?
Maybe.
One minute you're grilling him,
the next thing he's trying to
install you on his wonder boat?
So, you think that this is a bribe?
Well, do I think a billionaire
murder suspect
might dangle
an amazing career opportunity
to put you off the scent?
HE SCOFFS
As if (!)
You haven't for one minute
considered that
I just might be
the ideal candidate for the job?
I guess everyone has their price.
You know what, Jack,
if you don't trust me,
I'll just have to solve this case
without you.
Oh, Jack. Glad you're here.
Did you have a look
at that tracksuit top?
Ketchup. Not blood.
Oh.
But I've got bigger news.
Yeah?
Volkov's results.
Go on.
As well as morphine,
there was ricin in his system.
Any idea how it got there?
Hard to say for sure, but
..this inflammation's
consistent with
handling something contaminated.
That would be enough to see him off?
If his hand touched his mouth
and he ingested it, yeah.
One of the deadliest poisons
on earth.
It doesn't take much
to kill someone.
So someone tried to poison him?
Certainly looks that way.
How's it going?
Lomax is still winning
every other hand.
Are you playing or what?
Yeah. I'm just
Let's go
and check out Lomax's cabin.
Movie night, is it?
WENDY: What's the hold-up, Lomax?
BL: Yeah, let's play poker!
This tournament is terminated.
What?
Excuse me.
What's going on, Jack?
Give that back!
I'm afraid Mr Lomax is a cheat.
He switched the ship's cards
with his own identical sets,
each fitted with a computer chip.
That sends images of everyone's hand
back to his cabin
then over to him via
..a listening device
inside of his cap.
So he knew every card
that was dealt in every game?
Exactly.
Did Volkov find out?
Is that why he was murdered?
No, he was killed for other reasons.
EXHALES
Isn't that right, Mr Zeebub?
I'm afraid you've been
played like a Stradivarius.
Miss Weston openly admits
you've been sleeping together.
So?
Yeah, she was flirty
with your former mentor
For old times' sake.
'..in order to get hold
of a key card for his room. Why?'
That could be arranged.
Because she talked you
into doing her dirty work
of avenging his betrayal
at her husband's murder trial,
and for the months
spent languishing in Changi jail.
You've got no proof of that.
Unfortunately, your notorious
appetite proved to be your downfall.
'You couldn't resist a bite of that
room service burger, could you?'
And what's left of it
has been bagged up as evidence.
So when we dock, the police
will run DNA and dental tests.
I'm sure
you'll be on the global database
given your criminal record.
She had nothing to do with it.
How chivalrous.
I'm serious.
It really is love, then.
I wouldn't say it's reciprocated.
Anyway, luckily for you,
it may be difficult to prove that
the stabbing actually killed him
because when you came to stab him,
he was already unconscious,
seemingly from an OD.
Mr Stannard.
Mr Grayling.
Look, do you mind me
asking how long you've got left?
Weeks, month or two maybe, at most.
Cancer of the lung.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Thanks.
Nikolai Volkov broke your daughter
April's heart and spirit.
He most certainly did.
I contacted the clinic
to talk to April.
Well, you had no right to do that.
When they divorced,
she made a suicide attempt,
which has left her
in a permanent coma.
Resident of a care facility
in Las Vegas since 2014.
She hasn't spoken to anyone
in years.
This tournament gave you
a last chance of payback.
'And what a way to do it! You know,
'give the former addict an overdose
with your own morphine supply.'
Excellent detective work, Jack.
Although I very seriously doubt
that I will be around for the trial.
Dead Eye didn't know that
Volkov had already been poisoned
earlier that day, with ricin.
And that got me thinking,
why would any of you three
feel the need to poison him,
you know, given the stabbing
and the fake OD.
And I remembered that you threw
a gambling chip at Volkov,
just before he stormed out,
with your creepy surgical gloves on.
Maybe that was contaminated
with ricin.
This is ridiculous.
OK.
Here's the chip.
Take off your gloves
and take the chip out of the bag.
Take them off.
If you're innocent,
you've got nothing to be scared of.
I refuse
to take part in this charade.
Do you know what,
I think I actually believe you.
So I'm gonna take the chip
out of the bag,
and hopefully you don't end up
on a double murder charge.
No.
Close the damn bag.
So, how are you going to prove that
any of us actually murdered him?
Luckily, that's not my job.
Let's see what a jury think.
Stupid question,
but are we locking them all up?
Not The Widow.
Unless this mug sees sense.
Go easy on Mr Stannard.
You're a true gentleman, Jack.
She made me do it.
Shut up!
It was all her idea.
She's like a snake charmer.
LAUGHING
The
LOUD LAUGHING
I mean, this is literally one
big boys' club, isn't it, this boat?
Have you only just noticed?
Right.
Ooh!
More mojitos.
No. No, I'm fine.
Well, I'm having one.
Don't you think you've had enough?
I'm having fun, Piers.
Because Jack Grayling
thinks that I'm an uptight prig.
Since when do you care
what Jack Grayling thinks?
I was offered a job today.
Skippering my own big superyacht.
Why didn't you tell me
about this earlier?
Because I was keeping
my cards close to my chest.
Which is something
that you would know all about.
Wouldn't you?
Piers de Vreese.
Let's get you back to the cabin.
I don't need your help
Ooh! Ooh!
SHE GIGGLES
I'm fine. I'm fine.
There is nothing to see here.
Someone's had a big night.
Well, it is not every day you catch
four killers on one case, is it?
Whoo!
Ow!
THEY CHUCKLE
Was that chip was it fake?
Or was it real?
Mm-hm?
Let's get you to bed.
OK.
Yeah?
Mm-hm.
This way. Come on.
THEY CHUCKLE
Jack?
Hm?
Can you believe that Piers has
applied for the staff cat - sorry -
staff captain job
and didn't even tell me?
Well, now you mention it,
yeah. Just-Just shush!
And as for Jameson,
that stuffed shirt,
I don't think
he's got any intention,
he hasn't, of giving me that job.
Right, just shush! Yeah?
Shush!
SHE GIGGLES
He thinks that
I'm a silly girly girl.
Doesn't he?
His loss.
Well, no, it's not. It's mine.
I don't normally drink, because it
makes me go a little bit crazy!
CHUCKLES
Key.
Please.
All right!
Yeah?
SHE LAUGHS
What you need is some water.
Are you not sick of the sight of it?
Of what?
Bloody water.
You had me going
when Lomax offered you that job.
Thought you might
actually jump ship.
Got to admit it, though, the idea
of you not being around any more
scared the living daylights
out of me.
Night-night.
Are you ready for him?
AUDIENCE: Yes!
I'm delighted to welcome onstage
your resident house singer,
Jack Grayling.
CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
MUSIC: 'Every 1's A Winner'
# Never could believe
The things you do to me
# Never could believe
The way you are
# Every day I bless the day
That you got through to me
# Cos baby I believe you are a star
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy. #
Hey!
CHEERING
# Never could explain
Just what was happening to me
# Just one touch of you
And I'm aflame
# Baby it's amazing
Just how wonderful it is
# That the things we like to do
Are just the same
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's the truth
# Making love to you
Is such a thrill
# Everyone's a winner, baby
That's no lie
# You never fail
# To satisfy. #
CHEERING
The ship has now arrived
at the beautiful island of Sicily.
Jamil,
how do you fancy a little adventure?
I do love an adventure.
Ah. This is where it all began,
kids.
I'm standing down from the business
with immediate effect.
Does he have many enemies?
Just his own kids.
I actually hate him.
He's still our dad.
Kate, come on, please,
don't be like this.
The DiMarco family are linked
to organised crime.
It's always the girl.
Get lost, you little punk.
Il bacio della morte.
What's that mean?
The kiss of death.
# You thought you'd run away now
# From the troubles in your life
# And watch a new horizon
# In the sky
# But now the truth's
Caught up with you
# Forever is waiting for you #