The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s02e06 Episode Script

1
Pardon me.
I'm sorry to interrupt you, Detective,
but I must see you immediately
on an extremely urgent matter.
Yes, of course, Doctor.
What is it?
This.
I'm sorry, William.
I promise to exercise --
I do have another reason for this visit,
a slightly more appropriate one.
I should hope so, Doctor.
I would hate to think
you came all the way here
just to have your way with me.
Your present.
A present?
That's not necessary.
Oh, William, let me have my fun.
I saw it, and I simply couldn't resist.
Just open it.
A Collins bullet extractor.
It's the latest model.
I-I don't know what to say.
- Do you like it?
- Yes. Yes, of course.
I just thought,
what if you needed some evidence,
and I wasn't around?
Oh.
Sir?
Uh, terribly sorry, sir, Doctor.
Um you're both needed.
What have we got, George?
A man on his way to work
found her facedown in the creek, sir.
And I take it you don't believe
it was an accident?
Well, sir, someone took the trouble
of relieving the young woman
of all her clothing,
yet left behind a gold bracelet.
I thought that rather unusual.
Right, then.
Look for footprints, wheel tracks,
and pieces of cloth.
Her body may have been wrapped
in a sheet or a blanket for transport.
And begin the search
for any possible witnesses.
Sir.
Anything else?
See if anyone has reported
any young women missing.
I suppose the only clue we have
as to her identity is the bracelet.
Well, I'll try to locate its origin.
Right.
Doctor?
There's a significant amount
of bruising
on the left arm and torso.
I'd say it's at least a day old.
Any idea of the time of death?
Rigor mortis has already reversed.
The muscles are flaccid.
I believe she's been dead
at least 24 hours.
- There's something odd, however.
- What's that?
The body exhibits
an unusual lack of lividity.
One would expect blood pooling.
But there isn't any?
Exactly.
Her eyes are dull.
There's severe inflammation
of the conjunctiva,
as though she bled from them.
I'll have to examine her further,
of course.
But for now, I'd venture to say
our victim was somehow
drained of her blood.
Ah. Sir, Dr. Ogden is waiting for you
in your office.
I'll let the men know
that you are not to be disturbed.
That won't be necessary, George.
For sure, sir.
Doctor, have you
a preliminary report for me?
I do.
Shall I -- Shall I shout it?
Uh, no, that won't be necessary.
There was no water
in our victim's lungs.
Meaning she was dead
before her body was placed
in the drainage ditch.
The time of death
was approximately 36 hours ago.
Were you able to ascertain
the cause of the bruising?
It seems to be
blunt-force trauma of some sort.
And the cause of death?
Well, determination
in a case such as this
is extremely difficult.
The organs are extremely pale.
The aorta and heart chambers
are significantly reduced in volume.
The main pulmonary artery
and superior vena cava are collapsed.
And the cause of death?
Inconclusive.
Could she have died
of a disease of some sort?
A hemorrhagic fever, perhaps?
It's unlikely.
They're extremely rare.
We certainly would know about it
if it had been reported in the city.
And why were her clothes removed
but not her bracelet?
Perhaps the assailant
was about to grab the bracelet
before he was interrupted?
With that amount of blood loss,
her clothes would've been
heavily bloodstained,
wouldn't they?
Soaked through, I'd imagine.
Most likely the reason
that they were missing.
Someone didn't want us to know
that she bled to death.
Sir. Doctor.
We're down here, Constable.
Ah, yes.
Of course.
Sir, a Mrs. Bertha Dunn
has just arrived at the station.
Apparently,
her daughter is missing.
That's her.
That's my Lillie.
You say when you found her,
her clothes were gone?
That's correct.
What happened to her?
We're trying to determine that.
No.
I-I mean was -- was she --
No, Mrs. Dunn.
She wasn't forced.
Let me take you back to the station.
I'll make you a cup of tea,
and you can tell me all about Lillie.
Lillie.
That's a lovely name.
Can you think of anyone
who might have wanted
to harm Lillie?
No, no, no.
No one at all.
Lillie led a very quiet life.
The demands of her job, you see.
She put in very long hours at work,
and then she would come home
and she would help me with my work.
I-I take in ironing.
And when was the last time
you saw her, Mrs. Dunn?
The day before yesterday.
She was leaving for work,
and I was heading to the train station.
I spent that night
with my cousin in Port Perry.
And when did you return?
Yesterday afternoon.
Um
She often worked
very late into the evening,
so I-I wasn't concerned.
But then she didn't come home at all.
Mrs. Dunn, do you know
if Lillie had been ill?
Uh actually, she had not been
feeling very well at all this last week.
I thought perhaps she should
see the doctor, but she refused,
because she didn't
It's all right.
She didn't want to spend the money.
Please, take your time.
On the morning that I left,
I-I begged her to stay home, rest,
but she would have nothing of it.
Miss a day of work?
No.
Not my Lillie.
She was a very conscientious girl.
Yes, she was
an extremely conscientious girl,
but she was simply not cut out
for the exacting demands
of the insurance business.
Unfortunately, it was necessary
to terminate her employment.
This Crandall New Model
was simply too much for Miss Dunn.
It's quite
an impressive-looking machine.
And just when did you fire Miss Dunn?
The end of the workday,
day before yesterday.
How did she take the news?
She was disappointed, of course,
but she knew that I had grounds.
Do you know where she might have gone
after leaving here?
She went to see
her family physician.
Oh?
Miss Dunn was ill?
I suppose.
In retrospect,
that would go some way
to explaining why she was unable
to meet our standards, yes.
Did she happen to mention
the doctor's name?
She did.
It was, um Dr. Task.
No.
That's not correct.
It was Tash.
Dr. Tash.
Isaac Tash?
Yes.
That's it.
Dr. Isaac Tash.
I've heard that name before.
Wasn't he the fellow
who was quite helpful
during the murder
at the rowing club?
Yes.
Yes, quite an affable chap,
if I remember correctly.
I suppose so.
And he's a good friend
of Dr. Ogden's, isn't he?
- Yes, he is.
- That's right. I remember now.
Yes, I remember.
They were very close.
George
see if you can track
Miss Dunn's final moments.
I'll go see Dr. Tash.
Yes, sir.
Detective Murdoch.
What an unexpected pleasure.
Is this a social call?
I'm afraid not.
I'll only take up
a moment of your time.
I'm here about a patient of yours --
Miss Lillie Dunn.
Miss Dunn.
Yes, of course.
Is she all right?
Her body was pulled out
of a drainage ditch
early this morning.
How horrible.
Yes, and apparently the last time
anyone saw her alive,
she was feeling ill
and on her way to see you.
I don't understand.
She didn't have an appointment.
In fact, I haven't seen her
in quite some time.
I'm trying to understand
what you're telling me.
Are you saying that she was ill
or that she was murdered?
Has Julia completed the postmortem?
Dr. Ogden hasn't yet determined
the cause of death.
We were hoping
that perhaps you could help us.
Do you have any idea why she
may have been coming to see you?
No, none.
What were the circumstances
of her previous visits?
I feel I must remind you
of doctor-patient privilege, Detective.
Surely, privilege doesn't apply
under these
unfortunate circumstances.
On that, we will have to disagree.
Rest assured that her visits
were nothing out of the ordinary.
I'm sorry that I couldn't be
of more help to you,
Detective Murdoch.
All I can say is that if Miss Dunn
was on her way to see me
on the last day of her life,
I most certainly wish
that she had made it.
Now if you'll excuse me.
I have patients waiting.
Yes, of course.
Thank you for your time, Doctor.
Yeah.
Murdoch,
what have you got for me?
It's a record
of Lillie Dunn's movements, sir.
We know that she left home
at approximately 7:45 a.m.,
the day before yesterday.
She was at work until 5:15,
when she was fired.
Feeling ill,
she decided to visit Dr. Tash
but never did arrive
at the doctor's office.
She wasn't seen again
until her body was found
at approximately 8:35 a.m.
So if she had been dead
for 36 hours,
she must have died
shortly after leaving work.
So it would seem.
Ah, Dr. Ogden.
Perhaps you can shed some light.
Well, I do have some additional
postmortem results.
It appears that Lillie Dunn
suffered a miscarriage.
She'd been approximately
eight weeks pregnant.
Which might explain
why she bled to death.
- Let me see that, Murdoch.
- Indeed.
But the question is whether
the miscarriage was spontaneous
or induced.
Are you referring
to the contusions on her torso?
Yes. That or the work
of an abortionist.
There were no signs
of a curettage,
though there are other methods
that are harder to detect.
The bruises on the girl tell us
everything we need to know.
The boyfriend panics,
didn't want the kid,
decides the best way to get rid of it
is to give her a good hiding.
Well, that may well have been
a contributing factor
to the miscarriage.
Course it was.
Why were her clothes taken?
He stole the clothes to cover his tracks
and confuse matters.
Listen to me,
if she was was up the duff,
some poor miserable sod
put her there.
Now, when you find him,
I'll be more than happy
to give him a good hiding and show him
how it's really done.
Mrs. Dunn, were you aware
that your daughter was pregnant?
How could I
not have known this?
Let me get you a glass of water.
I suppose that explains
why she was ill, doesn't it?
It could.
Do you have any idea
who the father was?
Mrs. Dunn?
Uh, no, no.
No one.
Lillie didn't have any suitors.
Are you absolutely certain
this is true?
- I am.
- Thank you.
But I don't understand.
Are you telling me
this man beat her
until she lost her child?
It's a possibility.
Who would do that
to such a precious girl?
That's what we intend to find out.
In the meantime,
it would help
if we could search Lillie's room.
What's that smell?
Insect repellent, I believe.
Aha!
Ah, a diary could prove useful.
Let's hope so.
I used to hide mine under the bed.
You kept a diary, George?
I find that rather hard to believe.
Oh, I had my secrets, sir.
There doesn't seem to be
any mention of a suitor
or even gentleman friends.
However, she does mention
a flea infestation.
Well, that would explain
the insect repellent.
Sir, in my personal experience,
a boring diary
was an excellent way to keep
a nosy mother in the dark.
While keeping your true secrets
hidden elsewhere.
"Countess Fausta's Female Regulators.
They do what a woman needs done."
Sir, my understanding
of this regulator business
is that it has to do
with a woman's monthly flow.
- You know, her moon time.
- Yes, George.
Well, perhaps this had something to do
with the blood loss.
Perhaps.
See what you can find out
about these pills --
where they're made
and where they can be obtained.
Never met a countess before.
It's not likely you will.
Doctor.
Have you analyzed the contents
of the pills?
I have.
So far, I've identified rue, savin,
black cohosh,
and cotton-root bark.
And all can be used
as abortifacients?
Yes.
But even in combination,
they could not have caused
her massive blood loss.
The dosage of these pills
is far too low.
What if she was desperate?
Took an overdose?
I suppose it's possible.
Though, brewing these herbs
for tea is far more potent.
And even then, she would have had
to drink an enormous amount.
And if she did, could that
have caused the hemorrhaging?
In theory.
Let's say that she did.
She would have begun to bleed.
And grow steadily weaker.
Which would explain
her sickness at work.
So, concerned, she finally decided
to visit her doctor.
Tragically, she never made it.
Or so the doctor says.
And you don't believe him?
Who is this doctor?
Isaac Tash.
Isaac?
You didn't tell me.
Well, the opportunity never arose.
Oh, William.
You know him.
He's beyond reproach.
And I don't doubt that.
However, when I spoke with him,
he seemed
not totally forthcoming.
He cited
doctor-patient privilege.
I'm sure if there was anything
of importance,
he would've divulged it.
Regardless, I'll continue
to perform additional tests.
I'll let you know my findings
as soon as I can.
Very good.
I demand
to see the Russian ambassador!
Unhand me,
you miserable Cossack!
I will lodge a formal complaint
with the Russian Embassy!
Detective.
Countess Fausta.
This man dragged me through street
like common criminal!
I have done nothing wrong.
Now, I want to speak
to your superior this instant.
Ah. Sir, I believe
you're being summoned.
Am I, now?
Ah. Well, well, well.
If it isn't
Countess Fausta Feodosia,
otherwise known as Sally Smoot,
the Siren of Sumach Street.
Nice to see you, too, Tommy boy.
Is all this really necessary?
I'm afraid so, Sal.
Tommy, what am I doing here?
I'm strictly on the up-and-up
these days.
I'm not so sure about that.
My pills?
My pills are not illegal.
Sal, it's me you're talking to.
Tommy Brackenreid.
We both know what promises
you're making the girls
who buy these pills, don't we?
Tommy, I never tell those girls
that these pills will make them abort.
And you never tell them
they won't, do you?
We fished a young woman
out of a drainage ditch.
Name of Lillie Dunn.
She was pregnant.
Isn't that right, Detective?
Yes.
Well, she lost the baby.
Seems she bled to death.
We don't know why.
All we do know is that she had
a bottle of your pills
in her possession.
My pills could never
do something like that.
Why should we believe you?
Because that's the whole point,
isn't it?
When those girls find out
that the pills are no good
and that their only option
is to have an abortion,
then they might hear
the name of a doctor.
A doctor who doesn't ask
too many questions.
A doctor who doesn't
leave you helpless
with your legs cocked up in the air
demanding an extra $50
to finish the job.
And perhaps you get a referral fee
if you happen to mention
this doctor's name?
Well, if someone wants to
show you their gratitude,
it'd be rude not to let them,
wouldn't it, Tommy?
And did Lillie Dunn get the name
of this commendable doctor?
Sal, you're not doing yourself
any favors, darling.
Miss Smoot, I am not interested
in your business,
and I'm not interested
in judging the young women
who come to you for help.
What I am interested in, however,
is who would throw a young woman's body
in a drainage ditch
like so much trash?
Now, please, help me.
The doctor's name.
His name is Ralph Fitch.
Taking the easy way, right?
You come after me
just because I've had
a spot of trouble in the past.
Indeed you have.
Arrests for public drunkenness,
receiving stolen property, forgery.
That one was dismissed.
The list goes on.
- That's all behind me.
- Really?
I believe you still need money
for gambling debts,
so much so, in fact,
that you've begun performing abortions.
Abortion is against the law, Detective.
And you would never break the law.
Not anymore.
I'm a changed man.
Then let's return
to my original question.
Have you ever treated
a young woman named Lillie Dunn?
No, I've never met anyone
by that name.
Perhaps I can refresh your memory.
I see a lot of these young girls
for all kinds of reasons.
They come in
with no appointment.
A lot of them use a false name.
And why would they do that?
They're scared is why.
So I don't make it worse for them.
I just help them when I can.
And exactly what kind of help
is it you provide?
I instruct them
about French letters and such,
and that is all I do.
Which is in itself a criminal act.
Sure, sure.
But for things like this,
most of you fellows look the other way.
Most of you.
What I want to know
is whether you were involved
in Lillie Dunn's death.
I-I'm telling you,
I never even met that girl.
And further,
I don't care what you've heard.
I am not an abortionist.
Then tell me who Lillie Dunn
may have gone to
if she didn't come to you.
Well, I don't have any proof,
of course.
It's only a rumor.
I'm not saying it's so.
- Dr. Fitch.
- All right.
But you understand,
it's only hearsay.
Just say it.
Isaac Tash.
What are you doing sitting here
in the dark, Murdoch?
Having one of your deep thinks
about the meaning of it all?
Not exactly.
Good.
So, what did Tash
have to say for himself?
I haven't yet gone back
to question him.
Why not?
You think Fitch can't be trusted?
Of course the slimy little sod
can't be trusted.
But we still act
on a bit of information
when it corroborates
with a bit we got before.
Sir, the situation with Tash
is complicated.
Yes, he did us a good turn
in the past.
But Lillie Dunn deserves justice.
So why don't you go and do
what you do best, me old mucker?
Step on some toes
and upset people.
I told you, Detective.
I cannot violate
doctor-patient privilege.
Dr. Tash, I can only assume
that you are trying to preserve
Lillie Dunn's good name.
And you can rest assured
that unless it pertains to this case,
I will divulge nothing
of our conversation.
Now, let me ask you again --
Did you know
Lillie Dunn was pregnant?
All right.
I did know that pregnancy
was a possibility.
And exactly what does that mean?
It means that your question has been
asked and been answered.
Fine.
Then I will pose another.
Did Lillie Dunn inquire
about an abortion?
That would be against the law.
Yes, against the law.
But I asked
if she inquired about it.
All conversations
with my patients, Detective --
Are strictly confidential.
Dr. Tash, your elusiveness
is becoming quite tiresome.
I'm sorry, Detective,
but that is the way it must be.
Women come to me knowing
they can seek medical attention
without exposing themselves
to the actions of the authorities.
And just what kind
of medical attention is it
you provide, Doctor?
We know Lillie Dunn left work ill,
heading for your office.
She died shortly after
of a massive hemorrhage.
Now, I will ask you again.
Did you provide her
with an abortion?
No, I did not.
Fine.
Tell me why Dr. Ogden was here.
W--
Julia and I have a personal
relationship, as you well know.
So it was a social call, then?
She wasn't here
to discuss this case?
I believe she would have informed me
if she owed you an explanation
as to her whereabouts
or her behavior.
I believe I've taken up
enough of your time today, Doctor.
We shall no doubt speak again soon.
I'm sorry to disrupt you, Julia.
That's quite all right.
Uh, Lillie Dunn's postmortem results.
She suffered from chronic
parenchymal liver damage.
Resulted in a deficiency
in her blood's ability to coagulate.
This explains why she bled to death,
but it doesn't address
what caused the hemorrhage
in the first place.
Well, it's very difficult
to do anything but speculate
when liver abnormalities
are involved.
There's no reference
to the stomach contents.
That's very unlike you.
Well, the discovery of her liver
condition gave me my diagnosis.
It wasn't necessary
to look further.
I see.
And just how long have you known
of this parenchymal
liver damage?
What do you mean?
Did you determine it
before or after your visit to Dr. Tash?
William.
Were you following me?
I went to his office
to question him.
My timing was inopportune.
Well, I don't believe
that my visit to Isaac
should have any bearing
on this case.
I agree.
It shouldn't.
But if it was believed
that you apprised him of your findings
because you suspected
that he had given her an abortion --
William, what are you insinuating?
It could be perceived
as dereliction of duty.
Perceived by whom?
Julia, I just don't want you
taking any chances.
Well, I appreciate your concern.
Sir!
This isn't the best time, George.
I think you might
want to hear this, sir.
Very well.
Even though we identified
Miss Dunn,
I continued to try to locate the shop
in which the bracelet was bought.
You might say I had a hunch.
A hunch, George?
Yes, a hunch, sir.
Something all the young people
are saying these days.
You know -- that feeling
where you have a push
toward something,
but you can't really explain why.
I see.
Anyway, I'd been looking
in the wrong places.
I thought the bracelet was
just some inexpensive trinket.
- But it wasn't.
- Exactly.
So I followed my hunch to some
of the more exclusive shops.
As it turns out, the bracelet
is a very costly item
made for an exacting customer
who's bought
a half dozen of them,
each time for, and I quote,
"A very special young lady."
Interesting.
And did your hunch lead you
to the identity of this man?
It did indeed, sir.
Mr. Bixby is at an extremely
important appointment.
He's a very busy man, you know.
My, that's a lovely bracelet.
A gift from an admirer?
As a matter of fact, it is.
I received it just today.
Did you, now?
Excuse me, Inspector.
I'm sorry to bother you.
Not at all, Doctor.
Have a seat.
Actually, I have
a rather unusual request.
I wonder if I might be able
to chat with the prisoner?
The odor from her stomach
contents was overpowering.
Minty, but then
something underneath that.
Something reminiscent of camphor.
Well, I don't know
what you want from me.
You're the doctor.
And you're the expert.
Camphor and mint.
I -- Well, if the poor little thing
was as desperate as she seemed to me,
I suspect she swallowed pennyroyal oil.
Pennyroyal?
I know it as a --
a remedy for stomach disorders.
Yes, but it can be lethal
if it's cooked down to an oil.
I remember
when I was a youngster.
My mother used to soak rags in it
and stuff them into holes
to try to keep the rats away.
What we women do to ourselves.
We?
You were born with a silver spoon
stuck up your ass.
- What do you know about it?
- I just -- I --
Look, just because
you've seen a few dead bodies
doesn't mean you have any idea
about what those butchers
put women through.
And I'd bet my last dollar
on that, Doctor.
Well, in that case,
you'd be all out of money
Countess.
Sit down a minute.
Now, tell me about the effects
of pennyroyal oil.
I only saw one woman.
She just had a teaspoon.
She bled from her eyes,
from her ears,
and from every place else
that you can imagine.
There was nothing
that anybody could do for her.
Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.
If you say so.
It's just a horrible death.
I've seen a lot of women
die horrible deaths.
It just seems to come
with the territory.
Miss Binscarth,
when is my next appointment?
Oh.
Well, what in the world is this?
It seems Miss Binscarth discovered
that she and Miss Dunn
had the same taste in jewelry.
I see.
Mr. Bixby, I know
that Miss Dunn was pregnant,
and I know you were the father.
Well
you know what these
young career women are like,
don't you?
Actually, no, I don't.
They throw themselves at a man,
and then they can't handle it
when the inevitable happens.
Don't you think you had
some obligation to Miss Dunn?
I was scrupulously honest
with her from the start.
I told her
marriage was out of the question
and I had absolutely no interest
in a child.
And did that convince her
of your resolve,
or did you need to resort
to a more physical form
of persuasion?
What are you implying?
It seems Miss Dunn was severely beaten
shortly before dying.
No.
That is not the way it happened.
Once she knew I was serious,
she threw herself down the stairs,
hoping to bring about a miscarriage.
Right here in my place of business.
Can you imagine that?
Actually, I can.
I realized that I had to do something
to help this poor girl,
so I offered
to contact a doctor for her.
Do you know the punishment
for procuring an abortion?
Life imprisonment
is not out of the question.
You're not listening to me.
I said that I offered,
but she told me
that she already knew of someone.
So you see, none of this
has anything to do with me.
I mean, what I mean is that
I'm not guilty of a crime.
That's true, isn't it?
What is true is that
I find your actions deplorable.
You're one sanctimon--
Give me the name of the abortionist
Lillie Dunn went to.
- I don't know it.
- The name!
It's Fitch.
Ralph Fitch.
Yes.
Yes, I remember her now.
She wanted to know
why those pills she was taking
hadn't worked.
I told her the sad truth.
They're no better than snake oil,
pure and simple.
Then, as per your agreement
with Countess Fausta,
you counseled her
on how to abort the child.
- For a fee, of course.
- No, no. That was it.
She left.
I didn't see her again.
I never counseled her
or performed a procedure on her
or gave her a thing,
and that is the God's honest truth.
Then perhaps you told her
how to make her own concoction?
I would never recommend
that a girl try and make
her own mixture.
The herbs are too unpredictable.
Several witnesses saw Miss Dunn
enter your building
on the night of her death, I believe.
They said that she appeared
quite distressed and very ill.
Yes, that's correct, sir.
They did say that.
All right. Um, but it --
it's not what you think.
You have to understand my situation.
No, Dr. Fitch.
We absolutely don't have to do
any such thing.
Now, you will tell us
why Lillie Dunn came to see you.
And keep in mind that what you say
may decide whether or not
you face the noose.
All right.
All right.
She was pounding on my door.
Please, please let me in.
Please let me in!
Please!
She was still alive, but just barely.
It was clear she had tried
to rid herself of the child.
She was hemorrhaging.
Her blood pressure
was practically nonexistent.
Her heart was giving out.
I knew it would be over in moments.
So I did the only thing that I could do.
I stayed with her
until the end.
This isn't right!
I didn't do anything!
Didn't do anything?!
You took off her bloodstained clothing
and threw her in a drainage ditch!
What was I supposed to do?
Leave a dead body
lying in the hallway?
Of course not.
That would have been bad for business.
If I had told the police,
you wouldn't have believed me,
none of you!
I am paying the price
for what others get away with every day!
If I had a fancy address
and catered to the upper crust,
you wouldn't do this to me!
And you know it's true!
You know it!
William.
Julia.
I have some additional information
for you.
Information that will support
my initial findings
as to the cause
of Lillie Dunn's death.
Further investigation
indicates that she consumed
approximately one teaspoon
of pennyroyal oil --
which has a component
that has an extremely
toxic effect on the liver.
What's that smell?
- It's used --
- Insect repellant.
Insect repellent.
You already knew.
Well, I didn't know until just now.
Well, it -- it's all there
in the final report.
I believe that's everything, then.
Uh, no.
No, it isn't.
What do you mean?
There is one more matter
to be resolved.
Tell me that your visit to Dr. Tash
had nothing to do with this case.
Julia
Please, William.
I'm asking you to just let this go.
How can I?
Oh, I'm sorry yet again.
That's quite all right, Constable.
I was just leaving.
Sir, I thought I might
pay Mrs. Dunn a visit myself.
Let her know
how her daughter died.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
That's very kind of you, George.
I've just spoke
with the solicitor for the Crown.
He believes we have Fitch
on interference with a dead body
and perhaps we can charge him
with failure to provide aid as well.
But you know what really upsets me
is that the boyfriend's still out there
probably buying more bracelets
as we speak.
Perhaps there's something
to be done about that.
It's not against the law
to be a bounder, Murdoch.
Case is closed.
We didn't get the result we wanted.
Sometimes that's just the way
it turns out.
Sir, a girl is dead.
Do you think I don't know that?
If I could hold someone responsible,
I'd wipe the floor with him.
- Someone is responsible.
- For her death?
She swallowed insect repellant.
And from what Crabtree tells me,
she more than likely got it
from her own mother's cupboard.
You want to throw Mrs. Dunn in jail?
If so, I suggest you wait
until after the funeral.
But, sir, how did she know
to take the pennyroyal oil?
I don't suppose we'll ever know.
Someone must have counseled her.
That could be anyone.
A friend, a neighbor.
Maybe she read about it.
The important thing
is that Fitch goes to jail
and Sally Smoot is out of business.
But, sir, if we accept this,
is Fitch not right?
About what?
That we haul his kind
off to jail and never bother
to question the actions
of someone like Dr. Tash.
Fine.
Make a few last inquiries.
But, Murdoch, tread carefully.
There's a line here
you may be sorry you crossed.
I thought the matter
of Lillie Dunn's death
had been resolved.
Not to my satisfaction.
Well, I have no new information
for you, Detective.
I don't think I can be
of any further help.
I'm now exploring the possibility
that someone advised Miss Dunn
to ingest pennyroyal oil.
Your persistence borders
on persecution, Detective.
I'm duty-bound to explore
the possibility, you understand.
Very well.
No responsible physician
would ever advise such a thing.
But an abortionist might.
We've been over this, Detective.
New information has surfaced.
A direct allegation that you are,
in fact, an abortionist.
A direct allegation from whom?
- I cannot divulge --
- Oh, of course not, no.
How convenient.
Even if my source turns out
to be less than reliable,
I have another reason
to suspect you.
And what would that be?
Dr. Ogden's visit.
What of it?
I highly doubt that Dr. Ogden
would leave an important
postmortem investigation
without a very good reason.
And what would that reason be?
Perhaps she feared
that you had been negligent
in your treatment of Miss Dunn,
or she suspected that you had
provided her with an abortion.
Perhaps she simply came
to visit a friend.
And as a friend,
gave you the opportunity
to square your story
with her postmortem results.
And if that's the case,
then Dr. Ogden is guilty
of a grave miscarriage of justice.
Julia did no such thing.
Then why did she visit you?
There are laws, Dr. Tash.
And if Dr. Ogden broke one of them,
she will have to pay.
And if she broke one because of you,
I will ensure that you pay as well.
I don't want her involved.
Then all you have to do
is tell me whether or not
you are an abortionist.
Answer me now,
or I will be forced to bring Julia
before the courts,
where she will have no choice
but to tell me the truth.
- You would do that to her?
- If that's what it takes.
You're going to wish
you had left this alone.
I'll be the judge of that.
If a woman comes to me
needing or wanting an abortion,
I do not turn her away,
whatever her reasons --
poverty, abuse,
ignorance, illness.
I ask no questions.
I make sure the procedure
is done safely, properly,
with the least amount of trauma
to the patient.
You realize what you're doing
by telling me this?
I do.
And I may soon find myself
dragged out of here in chains
for all the world to see.
But the truth is,
if Lillie Dunn had come
to see me, she'd be alive today.
I know it.
You know it.
And Julia knows it.
Now you have your truth.
What happens next
is entirely up to you.
Julia.
William.
It's good of you to come.
I'm very happy that you called.
You should know
that I have done nothing
about charging Dr. Tash.
It would involve
investigating his clients --
And others?
And others.
About the past,
it's why I wanted to speak with you.
- It's not necessary.
- Oh, but it is.
Isaac and I were not lovers
in university.
We were just good friends.
But there was someone else.
And like Lillie Dunn
I found myself
in an untenable situation.
And I had no desire to marry the man.
I wanted to be a doctor, William.
It was everything to me.
I had fought so hard for so long.
Wanting a medical career
was difficult enough,
but with a child
It was a choice of convenience, then.
It was anything but convenient.
It was what I had to do.
I went to Isaac and asked for his help.
He refused.
He would absolutely not consider
breaking the law
despite his personal convictions.
I was desperate.
So I went elsewhere.
The procedure
was an unimaginable nightmare.
I almost died.
I would have died
if it wasn't for Isaac.
He saved my life.
And after that, I know that he --
he hoped never to have to watch
another woman go through what I did.
He saved your life, and for that,
I am more grateful to him
than I can ever possibly say.
But he's still a criminal to you,
isn't he?
Of course he is.
But this has nothing to do
with you and I.
We can put all of this behind us.
But how do you propose we do that?
Are you willing to forgo
your principles, your values,
your your faith?
I don't think that's necessary.
Don't you?
I thought upholding the law
was everything to you.
And that will never change.
What does that mean?
Now that you know the truth,
that I freely procured an abortion
will you jail me for life?
Should I hang?
No, of course not.
So then you'll make
an exception for me.
I-I'll do what I have to do.
But that's just it, William.
I don't want to be an exception.
I don't want your pity or your mercy.
Do you regret it?
No.
Now tell me
nothing has changed between us.
I can't promise you that.
I'm sorry, William.
I truly am.