The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s09e03 Episode Script

(theme music) Good morning, Lillian.
Last day as Dr.
Grace.
Just because I'll no longer be Toronto's coroner doesn't - mean I'll cease being a doctor.
- Of course.
How are you progressing next door? My room is packed up.
Only some final errands to see to.
Then could I trouble you to pick up - my dress from the seamstress? - Of course.
To think in a only a few days we will be crossing the Atlantic for London, England.
I cannot wait.
I love you.
Good, good.
Yes, we look forward to having you, Dr.
Slater.
Have a safe journey.
I said, "Have a safe journey, Dr.
Slater!" Yes, yes, you will need a substantial coat for the winter Oh, I'll have to cut you short.
- My detective's calling.
- Sir, I can return.
I will, I will Thank you, Doctor.
(sigh) That was Dr.
Peter Slater, our new coroner from Vancouver.
He's en route.
- I see.
- Lovely man, - but perhaps a bit - A bit talkative, sir? Talkative? He's got more bloody rabbit than all of Margaret's female relatives put together, Murdoch.
He comes highly recommended and he is very experienced.
He's deaf as a doornail and he's worried his arthritis will flare up in the cold.
I do wish Dr.
Grace would stay on.
Yes, well, she's made her mind up, Murdoch.
Perhaps it's for the best, anyway.
- How do you mean? - Sirs.
There's been a shooting.
Sirs.
No witnesses.
(woman): Right here is fine.
- She's here.
- Thank you, Worsley.
Good day, Inspector.
A fresh corpse and a crime scene, what more could one ask for? I'll get someone else to attend the body.
I'm not yet in London.
Besides, I'm rather glad that my last day has offered some excitement.
- Let me do my job, Inspector.
- I can't.
(laughing): Why? - (sad music) - (inaudible words) Does anyone come to mind who may have wished Ms.
Moss harm? - Not specifically.
- What about friends? Family? She attended an embroidery group.
I never went but she said she had friends there.
She never talked about her family.
I took it to be a sore spot.
I I did meet her uncle once.
Yes, Lillian arranged for me to meet him last year.
He was sympathetic to our campaign.
Wayland Porter, I believe.
I know him.
He's a fellow Mason.
- Right.
- Henry.
Anything interesting from Ms.
Moss's room? - I found her appointment book.
- I've found this key.
I think it might be a safety deposit box.
Can you think of anything else, Dr.
Grace? No I we were packed for London, she was excited Emily, I'm so sorry Sorry to hear about your friend, Dr.
Grace.
- Terribly sorry, Emily.
- Thank you both.
Will you still go to London? - Ah - Henry.
I'm sure Dr.
Grace has plenty to think about without worrying about that.
I can't decide which to take.
Then bring both of them.
We're starting anew, Emily.
We should only take what we must.
(sigh) I prefer that one.
You were wearing it when we first met.
- Oh, was I now? - Mm-hmm.
And not only will you bring it, but you will wear it on the boat for me.
Or else? You wouldn't dare to find out.
Emily.
Are you alright? George, look at this.
It was in her date book.
"Morris Kerr, Private Investigator.
" Maybe Ms.
Moss was looking for someone.
- Thank you for seeing me, Wayland.
- What can I do for you, Tom? Your niece, Lillian Moss I'm sorry to tell you that she's been murdered.
We had just said our goodbyes prior to London - Do you know who did it? - I was hoping you could put me in contact with her family.
I don't know her family.
But you're her uncle.
Well, I'm not actually her uncle.
Not by blood, at least.
Then what are you to her? Merely a friend, Tom.
I'm sorry I can't be of more help.
A single .
38 calibre between the sixth and seventh true ribs.
Given the presence of gunpowder residue I would say she was shot - at close range.
- So this wasn't a random act.
She was deliberately targeted.
It would appear.
William, I received more than a few angry letters during the election.
I imagine Lillian did too.
Why didn't you tell me? I knew our campaign would result in rancour, but I guess I didn't take the threats as seriously - as I should have.
- Julia, if you could send along those letters when you have a moment? I want to see her, Julia.
Funny, if we had gone to London four months ago when she wanted to, none of this would have happened There's nothing you could have done.
- Instead she waited for me.
- She was targeted.
If this was related to our suffrage efforts I should have just left when she asked.
Emily, I know what Lillian meant to you.
The Inspector told you? He's the only one who knows.
Women's intuition.
What about the others? George? The Detective? No.
At least not by my lips.
Lillian Moss may have hired this man as a private investigator.
His name is Morris Kerr.
And what did Mr.
Kerr have to say? Nothing, sir.
He appears to have vanished.
Now, I did gain entry to his office and I confiscated all his files.
But there doesn't appear to be one for Lillian Moss, nor does she appear as a client - in his receipt ledger.
- And what about the key we found in Ms.
Moss's room? Were you able to find the safety deposit box for that? Not yet, sir.
Were you able to glean anything from the letters Dr.
Ogden received during the election? They appear to be empty threats.
Thank you.
Sir.
- Dr.
Grace.
- I just wanted to apologize for my abruptness earlier.
It's not necessary.
You lost somebody close.
I understand.
- Any progress with the case? - Not worth mentioning, but we're working diligently.
You don't happen to know where Lillian did her banking, do you? The Imperial, I believe.
I think she may have had a safety deposit box.
We will get to the bottom of this, Emily.
I've just received a letter from a close friend of mine in London, England.
A friend of hers, Mrs.
Pankhurst, is forming a suffragette union and she's just put out a call - for international supporters.
- Oh, that's wonderful.
Going there to join them could be the adventure of a lifetime.
- Going there? - Together.
Emily.
When Lillian first brought up the idea of moving to London, she said that a friend had written encouraging us to join Mrs.
Pankhurst's suffrage movement.
Yes, I recall you telling me.
Yes, but in fact Lillian wrote to her first.
Her friend didn't even respond until three weeks later.
You shouldn't think anything of it, Emily.
Perhaps there's a missing letter explaining the discrepancy No, look at the date, Julia.
Lillian wrote the initial letter only after she brought up the prospect of London with me.
And not only that, her friend replied saying that Mrs.
Pankhurst suggested that we remain here in Toronto to continue the cause here.
I suppose she was very keen to go to London.
It's an understandable desire.
Yes, but why would she lie to me? She made up a story and then tried to make the letters match it after the fact.
Why did she lie, Julia? So far we don't know much about anything.
No witnesses to the shooting, no known enemies, and an uncle that's not even a bloody uncle.
And she had the business card of a private investigator - who is now missing, Morris Kerr.
- Do we know the connection - to the missing sleuth yet? - There's no indication that he was looking for her, or that she had hired him - to look for someone else.
- Sirs, I have something.
Lillian Moss had a safety deposit box at the Imperial bank.
I found this.
It's $400 in cash.
That's a tidy sum for a young girl to squirrel away.
And I know who gave it to her.
This is your seal, is it not? - Yes.
- Mr.
Porter, this money was found in Ms.
Moss's safety deposit box.
- Why did you give it to her? - She seemed desperate.
I just wanted to help.
How did you know one another? Well, we traveled in similar circles.
Perhaps you were paying her for favours.
Favours a man such as yourself could afford, and that ladies such as Ms.
Moss could offer.
- Perhaps.
- Bollocks.
Lillian Moss wasn't that type of girl.
She was a sapphist.
A devoted one at that.
You say you traveled in similar circles.
Perhaps if Ms.
Moss's desires were unconventional, yours are as well? It won't go beyond this office, Wayland.
You have my word.
Having Lillian on my arm at the right events kept such rumours at bay.
But that's not what the money was for.
I don't know why she needed it, only that she did.
We had become good friends and I just wanted to help.
Do you recall when you gave it to her? Around four months ago.
We attended a Christmas gala that evening.
December 10th, I would say.
Thank you, Mr.
Porter.
- Tom, the Masons - I said, you have my word.
Sir.
How did you know that about Ms.
Moss? A lucky guess.
December 10th.
Christmas ball at the - Queen's Hotel with Mr.
Porter.
- And the next day? It just says "Chartwell Pond.
" Nothing else.
Ah, Dr.
Grace, thank you for coming in.
I hope I can be of some help.
Doctor, please have a seat.
Doctor, approximately four months ago, Ms.
Moss was in desperate need of $400.
Do you have any idea why? No, although she was quite anxious around that time, which would coincide with her pressing me to go to London.
- but that urgency seemed to pass.
- Sounds like the money was to get you two across the Atlantic.
No, I never asked for her to pay my way, nor was I even willing to go right then.
Borrowing money for London would have been premature.
Unless she planned to travel without you and then changed her mind.
She wouldn't have done that.
Doctor, were you aware that Ms.
Moss was a sapphist? Yes, I was aware.
Murdoch, why don't you look into this Chartwell business? Sir.
Why did you not tell us? It could be pertinent to the investigation I don't see how it is, Detective.
Well.
A victim's lover is often the first person we speak to.
Then I suppose you would want to speak to me.
Is there anything you would like to ask me that you haven't already? I Thank you for your candour, Doctor.
George.
Chartwell Pond.
(Sigh) I imagine that's a weight off, Doctor.
I suppose so.
(door opening) May I help you? Oh, uh, pardon me.
I wasn't expecting anyone.
- Who are you? - Daniel Miles.
I just moved in.
They rented the room already? - I was told it was vacant.
- It is.
It is.
My friend used to live here.
- I live next door.
- Oh.
Well, very nice to meet you, Miss Emily Grace.
And welcome.
- (door opening) - This is so exciting.
Transatlantic passage to London for a Dr.
Grace and a Ms.
Moss on the RMS Carpathia.
One might think us a wealthy doctor and his mistress when you say it that way.
(Laughing) Running off to start a new life together.
I wonder what Lillian Moss was doing in a place like this? In the dead of winter, no less.
The human heart certainly is a mystery, isn't it, sir? Indeed.
All that time I spent with Dr.
Grace, I never would have guessed.
We don't have to discuss it, George, if I don't mind.
I just, I would hate to think I did something wrong.
I mean, what could Lillian possibly have to offer that I do not? Or you know what I mean, any man for that matter? I really wouldn't know, George.
I suppose men do tend to be brutish, uncouth creatures.
As where women tend to be refined, caring.
- They certainly smell better.
- Yes.
In fact, if you think of it in those terms it's a wonder all women don't choose to be with other women.
Well for one, George, we would perish as a species.
Unless, sir, in the future we devise a way to procreate without the man, without the man actually having to put I really don't think that's possible, George.
Sir.
Look here.
A boot.
I suppose there's any number of ways a boot could have gotten here.
It's an awful weight though, sir.
The foot's still in it.
- Do the police know who's responsible? - Not yet, I'm afraid.
Ms.
Elms, may I ask how you knew Lillian? We became friends through our embroidery group.
She helped me through a difficult time.
And you? We both worked together on an election campaign - last year for Margaret Haile.
- Oh yes, I do recall Lillian appealing to our group for support.
I should give you some privacy to open her letter.
Stay.
You must be curious.
It's a wonder you didn't open it yourself.
I'd never been to Toronto Island.
Lillian took me there for the day.
- When was that taken? - Quite recently.
You two must have been very close.
I'm sorry for your loss.
My condolences to you as well.
As you can see, George, the boot has water damage.
So it's been in there some time, then? When a body decomposes, the extremities usually detach first.
It was likely dragged off - by an animal of some sort.
- Sir, the smell is unbearable (man): We found something! Right here! Sounds like they've found something, sir.
My God.
Good job, Lutz.
There's a calling card, sir.
Look who it is.
"Morris Kerr.
" Our private investigator.
Mr.
Kerr was struck fatally on the head.
Perhaps with a rock or a club of some sort.
When did he die? I'd say four or five months ago would be a fair estimate.
Her datebook places her at the scene of the crime around the time that Mr.
Kerr is said to have perished.
That coincides with her wanting to leave Toronto.
Do you think Lillian killed him, Detective? There's a strong possibility.
Have a look at this, George.
That's her, Henry.
That's Lillian Moss.
But it's filed under "Ms.
Helen Walker," I'll let the Detective know.
This is it, sir.
868 Jarvis Street.
(Knocking) You again.
Mr.
Porter, we found your address in a private investigator's file linked to Lillian Moss.
Well, Ms.
Moss did live here for a short time.
Why didn't you bloody mention that before? - How long ago? - About a year ago.
She was new to Toronto and needed somewhere to stay.
Do you know where she lived prior to that? No.
She never said.
Do you know Helen Walker? No but that name is familiar.
- How so? - Several months ago a man came here looking for a Helen Walker from Port Credit.
He came by twice, in fact.
- Is this him? Morris Kerr.
- Yes, I believe it is.
(quietly): You know what this means? Helen Walker and Lillian Moss could be one and the same.
Helen Walker? You had no indication Ms.
Moss was living under an assumed name? Of course not.
But then, we don't know anything about her before she arrived in Toronto.
The 1901 census confirms there was a Helen Walker in Port Credit at that time.
Included is an address and a date of birth.
February 17th, 1877? We're taking a trip to Port Credit, me ol' mucker.
I fell for her without meaning to.
Just because she wasn't who she said she was, that doesn't mean that what you had with her wasn't genuine what you fell for wasn't real.
(whispering): I'm afraid I've lost sight of what was real and what wasn't.
Ms.
Walker had been renting my coach house here on the property until just over a year ago.
- This Helen Walker? - Yes, that's her.
What sort of trouble is she in now? - Well, she's been murdered.
- Oh.
Well that's fitting.
What do you mean by that? Whatever ills befell her were earned twice over.
Get to the point.
She seduced my sister into a perverted relationship.
When Gladys came to her senses and tried to end it, Helen Walker killed her, along with her husband, Joe.
- Was this investigated? - Constable Conroy could barely be bothered to look into it.
But I know what she did.
Bit different to Yorkshire, Murdoch.
I imagine it is.
Mr.
Horsely belongs in the asylum.
You can't believe a word he says.
Tell us what happened, Constable Conroy.
Ms.
Walker, along with Joe and Gladys Holler, took their boat out for a sail.
The weather turned ugly, they lost control and hit a rock, puncturing the hull.
They went overboard.
Joe and Gladys perished, Helen made it to shore.
Mr.
Horsely contends that you were negligent - in your investigation.
- Joe Holler was a childhood friend.
I was every bit as eager to solve the case as Mr.
Horsely, but there was no case to solve.
It was an accident.
One of many we have each summer here.
Yet two people died and the third changed her identity and fled town.
You can appreciate why Mr.
Horsely is suspicious.
Her leaving town and assuming a new name can be explained quite simply Nicholas Horsely.
- Go on.
- He harassed her in the ensuing days.
Even threatened to kill her.
Can we see the report? This includes Helen Walker's account of the events.
- Where's the rest? - As I said, it was cut and dried as far as I was concerned.
Look at this.
Ideal sailing conditions.
Ideal! And I'm to believe that Helen swam back to shore but not Gladys or Joe? It's ridiculous! She killed them! Did you present this evidence to Constable Conroy? Repeatedly.
"Case closed," he says.
Where are you leading us, Mr.
Horsely? You said you wished you could see the boat, Detective Murdoch.
Well, this is what I was able to salvage from the Gladys.
- The Gladys? - Named after my sister by our father.
Pieces of her started drifting ashore weeks later, a mile down the coast.
Constable Conroy said this boat hit a rock and sank.
That's right.
But these slats are broken in the opposite direction.
Here, here, and here.
The hull was punctured from the inside, not the outside.
I knew it.
After Helen killed them she scuttled the ship and set it adrift to sink far away.
That doesn't necessarily prove that she killed them.
Actually sir, it might.
There's blood on this sailcloth.
I'm terribly sorry about this, Dr.
Grace, but Lillian may have murdered two people in Port Credit last year.
She was in a relationship with a married woman named Gladys Holler.
When Mrs.
Holler had enough of the tryst, she tried to put a stop to it.
According to Mrs.
Holler's brother, a Nicholas Horsely, Lillian didn't take well to being abandoned.
So she contrived a final boat trip and murdered Gladys and her husband, Joe Holler.
After she'd done the deed, she rolled the bodies overboard.
She then scuttled the boat, swam to shore, and reported the incident to the police as an accident.
Are you sure, William? Fatal boat accidents - happen frequently.
- There was no poor weather that day.
The lake was perfectly calm.
The blood was found on the sailcloth.
And the wood splintered in the opposite It's fine, Detective.
I believe you.
I'd rather not hear anymore.
Emily.
I was about to upset my entire life to be with a murderer.
There's nothing you could've done.
What confuses me is that I still love her, even though I so badly want to hate her.
Sirs, I've found a correspondence between our man in Port Credit, Nicholas Horsely, and the private investigator.
He hired Morris Kerr to track down Helen Walker, Lillian Moss as we knew her.
He was convinced from the start that Ms.
Moss murdered his sister and brother-in-law.
And since the police weren't doing anything, he took matters into his own hands.
We know that Horsely threatened to kill her before she fled to Toronto.
We also know the private investigator found Ms.
Moss.
In that case, Horsely would have known of her assumed identity.
It would have been easy enough to track her down.
And sirs, Horsely's secretary puts him in Toronto on business the day of the murder.
We need another trip to Port Credit, Murdoch.
Well, I suppose I should be relieved this is coming to a close.
As am I, Emily.
Your presence has brought me much comfort these last few days.
Thank you.
I should tell Lillian's friend we've found her killer.
Yes, of course.
We know you hired private investigator - Morris Kerr to locate her.
- Yes, I hired him, but I never found out where Helen was.
Mr.
Kerr stopped returning my calls months ago! He took my money and vanished! We also know that you were in Toronto on Tuesday, - the day Ms.
Moss was murdered.
- We spoke to your secretary.
She said you were there looking at your factory that day.
Not true! I sent my assistant that day.
Mr.
Horsely.
If you weren't in Toronto, as you claim, then where were you? Here in Port Credit, at the local police station, trying to convince Constable Conroy to look at the evidence again.
Ms.
Elms? It's Emily Grace.
I have some news for you about Lillian.
May I visit? See you shortly.
Sorry to intrude, Ms.
Grace.
I couldn't help but hear that you were in the hall.
- How can I help you, Mr.
Miles? - Your friend forgot this.
It had fallen behind the dresser.
Not sure if it means anything to you.
It does.
Thank you.
(Murdoch): And you're certain Nicholas Horsely - was here Tuesday morning? - Harassing me to re-open the Holler case, of course.
He wasn't in Toronto the day Ms.
Moss was killed.
Sorry to disappoint you, gentlemen.
Explain to me how some crackpot comes nearer to solving a double murder than a copper? I take great offense to any suggestion of negligence.
Joe Holler was a lifelong friend.
Nobody would want to see his murder avenged more than me.
Constable, you've now provided us with your very own motive for wanting Ms.
Walker dead.
I was here the morning she was murdered in Toronto, Horsely told you so himself.
The boat accident was a terrible tragedy and I'll forever regret that I was not able to recover the body.
"Body"? Excuse me? You said "recover the body.
" Singular.
Yet by your own account there were two victims.
Are you now saying there was only one? An innocent slip of the tongue.
- Perhaps not so innocent.
- Constable, did either Gladys or Joe Holler survive? - No.
- Stop right there, Constable.
You're lying.
You've been lying all along.
- What are you hiding? - Constable.
You failed to investigate.
You ignored key evidence, which I'm certain your superiors would be very interested in.
Now I suggest you tell us what happened.
We believe a man named Nicholas Horsely killed Lillian.
He was the brother of Gladys Holler, one of her victims.
Are you certain? The police are in Port Credit arresting him as we speak.
I thought the news would bring you some relief.
We can finally put all of this behind us.
It's just all been so overwhelming.
Will you please excuse me for a moment? George.
Nicholas Horsely is not Ms.
Moss's killer.
The real killer could still be living in Toronto under an assumed name.
Take this down Right.
I'll have a look through Morris Kerr's files and see what I can find, sir.
You're Gladys Holler.
You two were lovers.
You've been lying to me this entire time.
Yes.
- What happened on that boat? - It no longer matters.
It very much does.
What happened? My husband Joe insisted the three of us go for a sail.
What Helen and I didn't realize is that he had discovered we were lovers.
But after a couple of drinks I fell asleep.
- I awoke to a scream.
- (Choking sounds) - (Joe grunting) - Joe was strangling Helen.
- (gasping) - He was in a rage.
- You killed him.
- I picked up an oar.
And from behind I broke Joe's head open.
I watched him bleed, face down on my boat.
That monster he was still breathing, but not for long.
Helen and I rolled the body overboard.
You saved her.
And she saved me.
We knew the police wouldn't believe what really happened.
Helen convinced me to disappear.
She then staged the boat accident and told the police I'd died too.
I was to start a new life elsewhere.
We were never to see each other again.
But I couldn't stay away from her.
I had to see her.
You found her in Toronto and resumed the relationship.
No.
Because of you.
She didn't look at me the same way she used to.
- You killed her.
- No.
You found out that we were going to London, and if if you couldn't have her no one else could.
I'm not lying to you anymore.
I'm so very lost, Emily.
(knocking) Oh, my God Emily.
(knocking) Hello, Gladys.
Joe You're alive.
How could you leave me - for dead like that? - You killed Helen.
It was all her fault, Gladys.
She seduced you.
Tried to break us apart.
- You're going to kill me too.
- No, Gladys.
I'm here to take you back.
To start over again.
I'm going to make you my wife again, without Helen - to get in the way.
- You're a monster.
- I want nothing to do with you - You don't have a say in the matter.
I'm taking you and I will do with you as I wish.
You're my wife, Gladys.
But first you'll tell me where your new lady friend is.
- I don't know who you are talking about.
- Don't lie to me! Where is Ms.
Grace? I know she's here.
It's how I found you.
I followed her.
She's gone.
(cries) Why did you make me do that? Please leave me, Joe.
(grunts) - Tell me what you did to Lillian.
- Do it, Emily.
Tell me! Now! I'd been looking for her a long time.
I didn't need anyone else knowing I was alive.
And your Lillian, or whatever she was calling herself, sure was surprised when I found her.
Hello, Helen.
I thought you were dead.
- (gasp) - Where's Gladys? Leave us be, Joe.
Leave us all be.
Where is my wife? Suit yourself.
- I'll find her.
- (Gun cocking) - (gunshot) - (gasp) Dr.
Grace! Emily.
Give me the gun.
He killed Lillian.
Emily, don't take the law into your own hands.
Take it from me, it's a mistake.
Please, Emily, give me the gun.
Emily, it's alright.
Emily.
You're under arrest.
(man groans) - To England.
- Yes.
To England.
- Cheers.
- Cheers.
Change will do you good, Doctor.
It's what Lillian would have wanted.
It's what I want.
Sorry to intrude.
I've put a call through for you, sir.
- It's urgent.
- Oh, right.
Well, if this takes some time, please remember: your heart will mend.
- Good luck.
- Thank you, Inspector.
You know, I've always wanted to visit London.
- Take care, Dr.
Grace.
- Thank you.
London, England.
I must say I'm somewhat jealous.
Perhaps you'll find occasion to visit.
I would very much like that.
Doctor.
You made me better at my job, Detective.
I can say the same about you.
Well goodbye.
- Good luck.
- Good luck.
We have a spot of bother, Murdoch.
- What's that? - We have a body on the way.
When does Dr.
Slater arrive? It is Dr.
Slater.
The old codger kicked the bucket on the train.
Oh, my.
It would appear we are in need of a coroner, then.
What? Would you like to drive? I would rather you did, George.
Next stop, Union Station.
So I suppose this is it.
I suppose it is.
Thank you.
You have to let go, Emily.
But what if I don't want to, George? What if what if this is a mistake? Well, that's what you need to find out.
Alright? Goodbye, George Crabtree.
Goodbye, Emily Grace.