The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s13e18 Episode Script

Mr.
Parker's death will not go unavenged.
We will find out who did this to him.
Isn't she sitting in our jail cells? Suspecting isn't knowing.
Isn't that right, Murdoch? Sir.
It was a nice service.
Where was his body? I'll be sending him to his family in Pittsburgh.
Not quite yet.
I need Doctor Ogden to take a proper look.
He'll be released once we're done.
I see you have charged me formally.
I have.
Simply because you do not like me.
What I think of you has nothing to do with this one way or the other.
I'm a policeman.
Now, if we could discuss the events of last Tuesday night.
No, I won't be saying anything to you until my lawyer arrives.
She should be here in a moment.
I see.
Well then I suppose we'll just have to wait.
Sir, Miss Hart's attorney is here.
Miss Newsome, come in.
Detective Murdoch, I have looked at the case against Miss Hart.
It seems to me you have insufficient evidence to charge her.
- I don't share that sentiment.
- That's clear.
Miss Newsome, is this your first criminal defence case? I'm not sure that matters.
Well, I'm afraid you're not off to a good start.
Miss Hart here has murdered a good man.
I didn't do it.
What reason would I have kill Mr.
Parker? That is what I intend to find out.
Miss Hart, you have committed numerous crimes since arriving here.
It's time you paid for them.
Detective.
Miss Newsome.
You do understand I am simply doing my job.
Of course.
As am I.
Am I to understand Doctor Ogden will be performing another post mortem on Mr.
Parker.
She still has standing.
Of course.
I would request that I be present.
- As you wish.
- Thank you.
- Detective? - Yes? Have you heard from George? No.
Why? He had been writing me every day on his tour.
- It's been going very well.
- Oh, good.
It's wonderful.
But I haven't heard from him in the last three days.
I'm sure he's fine.
George can sometimes get preoccupied.
I know.
I do hope all of this can proceed with a minimum of rancour.
Of course.
We both have our jobs to do.
Effie.
You think something's happened to George? I'm sure it's nothing.
I'll ask around.
Thank you, Henry.
My mother was a prostitute.
What are you doing? She was my mother.
If that's what she was, maybe that's what I am too.
Don't you like me? Aren't I beautiful? Yes, you're beautiful, but this is you don't want this, Amelia.
No! It is what I was born for.
This is who I am.
This is what I want.
- You don't want this.
- You can love me, George.
No, I can't.
I love somebody else.
- Are you lying to me again? - I swear.
I swear it, it's my sweetheart.
Effie.
I love her.
They are my paintings we're talking about.
And you are supposed to be dead.
And obviously he is not.
So tell us why we shouldn't throw you in jail.
Not a single one of those men purchased my paintings.
- They were on loan.
- Why? They were prominent people.
I thought if people saw my art in their homes, - it could lead to sales.
- But it didn't.
- Sadly no.
- Until you died.
You want to tell me about that? I was a failure.
I was despondent.
I disappeared for a time.
And I reported him missing.
I honestly didn't know where he was.
And you were presumed dead.
- Apparently.
- And your paintings became more valuable.
This was not a part of a plan.
It just simply happened.
The scarcity of an item inherently increases its value.
I was completely surprised by that.
So I tried to retrieve Philipe's paintings.
And they refused.
They denied even knowing me.
They denied the fact the paintings were not their property.
And the paintings continued to go up in value.
Which meant I was no longer a failure.
- I was rich.
- Not without your paintings you weren't.
They were our property.
We were simply taking back what was ours.
I don't think those two are the criminals here.
Do you concur? I like the way you think.
Thank you.
Everything seems to be in order.
And this would be where the phenol was injected.
Anyone could have done that.
Anyone with access.
Phenol is available in every one of the city's mortuaries and hospitals.
And why wouldn't she just lie if the cause of death - was something that would implicate her? - Because I was right here with her.
I would have noticed.
I see.
- Doctor Ogden.
- Yes.
It was a full eight hours from the time Mr.
Parker was found dead until he was delivered to the morgue.
Is that unusual? - I'm sure there was a reason.
- But would you say it was unusual? Effie, I don't care for your tone.
If there was a delay in delivering the body I am sure William had his reasons.
I'm sure he did.
But I will have to raise this discrepancy if this goes to trial.
Thank you for letting me observe.
- I would like a copy of the post-mortem.
- You will have it.
- Watts? - We've caught the actual thieves.
But not the real ones.
Stop talking in riddles, Watts, I don't have the time for it.
I believe the people who had their paintings stolen - in fact stole them in the first place.
- From who? Uh, the artist.
Isn't he bloody dead? Apparently he went missing and was presumed dead.
In fact, he was simply trying to obtain - his stolen - Watts, that's enough.
Just resolve it, then help Murdoch.
Of course.
And what have you been doing, Higgins? Been out driving that bloody taxi cab around? I'm trying to find George Crabtree.
He's on a book signing tour.
Not according to Miss Newsome.
She says she hasn't heard from him in over three days.
- Where was he last seen? - Belleville, sir.
- Have you been to the train station? - No.
Bloody hell.
Come with me, Higgins.
Yeah, I remember him.
You do? Gave me one of his books.
Anything else you can tell us? He left with a woman.
- You're sure? - Oh yeah, and she was a real piece of goods that one.
Way above his station.
Thank you.
- Well, that's settled.
- Is it now? He's getting a leg over behind Effie's back, sir.
Guess that's what you get if you're a writer.
I should try my hand at it.
That doesn't sound like Crabtree.
Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men, sir.
So who's going to tell Miss Newsome? You're the one related to her.
And you are prepared to state in a court of law that you saw this woman with the deceased.
I am.
And that they left together? I don't know.
Well, you said you saw her buying him drinks.
They were together.
Do you not know when they left? I was finished for the night.
I left before they did.
Who closed down the bar that night? Uh My assistant, Jeffrey.
Jeffrey.
Have you seen this man? Yes.
And this woman? - Yes.
- You're sure? We don't get a lot of them in the place.
I'm sure.
Right.
So they were here.
Did you see them leave together? No.
She left first.
And the man? He was joined later by another fellow.
They left together.
Can you describe him? White man.
Seemed like a nice fellow.
Did you get his name? Some kind of President.
- Lincoln? - Yes, that's right.
The one who freed the slaves.
- It is the way it is.
- I don't accept it.
I've just been to the Crown's office, it's been decided.
Release her.
- Sir, I have evidence.
- Yes, but not enough.
The Crown is not going to proceed in the prosecution of a city official with what you have.
- But - Just do it, Murdoch.
So we're going to play it by the letter and let a criminal go free? Yes, that's the way it works.
You say that despite what happened to Parker.
You'd be wise to stop talking right now, Murdoch.
Thank you.
A good man has died because of you.
I had nothing to do with it.
Then what can you tell me about this Mr.
Lincoln that Parker was pursuing.
I know nothing about him.
Now, if you don't mind I have work to do.
Congratulations on your first win, Miss Newsome.
The evidence is circumstantial at best.
Circumstantial but no less damning.
So this is done? No it isn't.
Far from it.
Take him to the hospital.
Think we're well past that, ma'am.
Just do it please.
What do you want? Since Mr.
MacAuley appears to be alive, we are here to retrieve his other paintings.
They don't belong to him.
We recently spoke with him.
He says they do.
Then he is a liar.
He told us he loaned you these paintings.
I purchased them.
Oh.
Excellent, then let us see a bill of sale - and we'll be on our way.
- I'm not required - to provide you with - A man has accused you of stealing his property.
You say you bought it.
A bill of sale will solve the matter.
There was no bill of sale.
It was a handshake agreement.
One that Mr.
MacAuley disputes.
- What are you doing? - Preparing to return this to its rightful owner.
You take that and I will see you in court.
Do as you please, Mr.
Ferdinand, and the court will see a rich gallery owner stealing paintings from a destitute artist.
Return them to us and the matter is forgotten.
And you think something has happened to Mr.
Crabtree? I didn't say that.
Well, if it has it will boost sales on his first book.
But it certainly won't do much for his second.
Had you noticed an attractive woman at any of his readings? An attractive woman.
At a book reading? That's an oxymoron.
Very good.
Nevertheless, George Crabtree was seen with an attractive woman when he arrived in Toronto.
And he hasn't been seen since.
Lucky George.
And you don't know anything about a woman with an unusual interest in George Crabtree.
- There were letters.
- Letters? Scads of them.
He had a reader who wrote him almost every day.
I have some if you'd like.
I would.
I'll have them sent over.
She was desperate to talk to George.
- About what? - Her mother.
She accused him of stealing her story.
Did you find this unusual? Not in the slightest.
Authors are always getting accused of stealing other people's stories.
In fact, many of them do.
And when they're not getting accused of theft they are getting suggestions from their readers.
They seem to think they know better.
- I have an idea.
- What's that? We are going to make everything better.
Don't move.
No Amelia, don't do this! - Don't do what? - Put that away! I'm not gonna hurt you, George Crabtree.
That's all that was for.
Now, we are going to fix this.
You are going to write me a story.
That does my mother's memory justice.
I thought you wanted the truth.
We can write our own truth, can't we? Congratulations.
I heard they found you innocent.
Of a crime you committed.
That's a baseless accusation.
And then set me up.
By using phenol.
Maybe I wanted to just see if you still had it in you.
You always were a master of duplicity.
Get out.
I think I'm going to be sticking around here a while, kid.
Might be time to for us to renew our old partnership.
You got morphine, codeine, cocaine you got your own little regular candy shop here.
They're for scientific tests.
And for more than that.
Government's gonna be making a lot of these things illegal soon.
So I heard.
So there's gonna be a big market for this stuff.
We could make out like bandits.
Just like old times.
Old times are over.
- No they're not.
- They are for me.
Well, I don't think so, Violet.
So how about you get to procuring some of this stuff for me.
I'll take as much as you can muster.
And don't worry, I'll make sure the split is amicable.
The exit wound on Mr.
Kingman's body was not made by a bullet.
So it was created.
Crudely, but yes.
And while it's difficult to accurately conclude, given the deterioration of the body, it's possible the bullet was extracted.
Miss Hart said she found no bullet inside the body.
Then Miss Hart is quite probably a liar.
Thank you, Julia.
Do you need me further? Do you not want to see her arrest? I brought Miss Hart into the fold.
I have no stomach for witnessing her downfall.
Do you mind? Does it matter? No, I suppose it doesn't.
Well, it seems you've managed to avoid a murder charge.
You mean I was wrongly charged for a crime I didn't commit and then was released.
It's hardly avoidance.
It's justice.
That's strange words to hear coming from your lips.
I don't know how much clearer I can be, but I did not kill Mr.
Parker.
I tend to believe you.
But that doesn't mean you haven't committed a crime.
I've ordered the exhumation of Mr.
Kingman's body.
I believe you tampered with evidence regarding his death.
You can believe what you want.
Doctor Ogden has confirmed it.
I see.
And you plan to pursue this? Your days at the coroner's office have come to an end, Miss Hart.
Well, if that's the case, so has your wife's freedom.
I have proof that she administered a fatal dose of morphine to a patient in her care.
A Miss Cooper if I recall.
What Julia did can hardly be considered the same.
Perhaps we'll leave that for the courts to decide.
She extended you a courtesy.
Gave you a chance.
That is all true, and I am grateful.
That's why I am leaving what happens to her in your hands.
Did you arrest Miss Hart? I've been unable to locate her.
Oh.
Well, I'm sure you will soon enough.
William, I think I should get back to the University to finish my obligations.
Yes, that's probably for the best.
Hmm.
It's beautiful.
I'm glad you like it.
So what will happen next? Will she find her daughter? Why don't I leave you in suspense? Whatever do you mean? Let me go.
I'll send you the rest.
George, where will you go on that foot of yours? You must stay here so I can take care of you.
Now hurry up and finish my mother's story.
I can't, I can't stay here any longer.
People will be looking for me.
Well, then you'd better hurry.
I'm anxious to see how it turns out.
Edwards.
- You wanted to see me? - Interesting developments, it appears Mr.
MacAuley's paintings have only continued to increase in value.
Apparently the remarkable newspaper story and the news of the thefts have spurred desire even further.
You learn that from the fruitcase? This is an 1890 Fume De Pouilly: a very fine vintage.
- For solving your first case.
- I don't want it.
You don't like wine? I don't like your kind.
What kind is that? A disgrace.
This isn't the last of it.
And if you are looking for your friend from last night.
He's in the cells at Station House One.
- Henry.
- Miss Newsome.
- Any news about George? - No.
Something must have happened to him.
Out on the road or somewhere.
Please don't worry, Miss Newsome, I believe he is in Toronto.
- Then where is he? Is he all right? - I'm sure it's nothing.
But he was seen leaving the train station with a woman.
We're still looking for him.
A woman, I see.
Well, please find him regardless.
So do you want me to rip this up now or after you leave this office? Neither, sir.
It's my intention to resign.
That's just ridiculous.
No, it's not.
Sir, if I pursue Miss Hart, she will reveal that Dr.
Ogden was responsible for a murder.
- An act of mercy.
- But murder none the less.
If I can't do my job without bias or under compromise then it's best I not do it at all.
You can't resign.
I can't change what I believe.
And I will not put Julia at risk.
I'm sorry, sir.
Your friend brought me in here last night.
Let some of the others know who and what I was.
- I'm going to get you out.
- No.
Just let me handle it.
You can't be implicated.
He already suspects me.
Let him.
I'll tell anyone who will listen that you were immune to my advances.
You're a policeman, Llewelyn.
Don't throw that away.
And he didn't discuss this with you? He didn't say a word.
I thought you were one of those couples who talked everything through.
Kept no secrets.
I'm not sure those people really exist.
- William is a very private person.
- And you're not.
We all have secrets, Inspector.
Mistakes we've made, fortunately sometimes we're given a chance to make things right.
Can you get him to change his mind? Just leave this one alone.
He is the finest policeman I'll ever work with.
William's not one to change his mind.
But I may be able to help.
Do you like it? I do.
But it is a fairy tale.
I thought that's what you wanted.
I wanted a mother who loved me.
Not one that would throw me away.
Amelia, you don't know your mother's circumstance.
Perhaps her leaving was for the best.
The truth is I am the child of a fallen woman.
Nobody cares about me the way the mother cares about the child in your story.
I care about you.
- You do? - Yes, I do.
I think you're probably a good person.
I think your mother was a good person.
I think those women, those prostitutes, my aunts, they were mostly good people who just tried to make it through.
Just trying to make it through this world the best they knew how.
For some of them, the only way they knew how.
Look, let me go, I promise to say nothing of this.
I'll protect you.
Why? Because I know how you feel.
We've both been abandoned.
We've both sought comfort from stories.
But that's all they are, though.
Yes, but stories can be wonderful.
I mean, your story has barely begun.
Look, I will say nothing of this, on my word.
You go out there and write your own story.
But what about your broken foot? I'm a clumsy man.
I, I tripped over a podium.
That's my story.
Jack Walker is being held in custody in Station One's cells.
On what charge? Indecency.
Well, I don't know what I can do about it.
He's a good man, Inspector.
If he's guilty of what he is charged with, my hands are tied.
Then charge me.
What? I'm as indecent as Jack Walker.
Charge me.
You shouldn't have told me that.
Well I did.
Bloody hell, Watts.
Jack Walker should not be persecuted for being a human being.
Nor should I.
So Inspector, I leave it to you to do what you think is right.
City morgue.
I'll be right there.
William, the Inspector told me of your intention to resign.
You would give up all that you do for me? Absolutely.
But you wouldn't tell me.
You wouldn't let me.
You would convince me to stay.
Which is why I'm giving you this.
Violet Hart has nothing on me now.
- You stole this.
- Don't ask that question.
From now on, whatever accusation Violet Hart makes against me cannot be proven.
Now William, I have to go back to London.
There's business there that needs to be taken care of.
Thank you, Julia.
No William, thank you.
Morphine, codeine, cocaine you got your own little regular candy shop here.
So how about you get to procuring some of this stuff for me.
I'll take as much as you can muster.
Can you put me through to the dispensary? Hello Jacob, this is Violet Hart from the morgue.
I need to re-order some supplies, there was a flood in here last night and I'll telephone you back.
Are these seats free? I'm waiting for someone.
- Still? - You can't save them all night.
- Police business.
- But you're drinking! Would you like to see a badge? There you are.
- Sir? - Never mind.
So you are free to go after her.
So it would seem.
Cold feet? We have stolen evidence for our own aims.
Leaves me wondering if we're any better than she is.
Well, I'll leave you to mull that over, Murdoch.
I've got other things on my mind.
Such as? Watts told me he's a left footer.
You don't seem surprised.
Look, it troubled me when I forced Detective Scott out of the constabulary, I don't want to do that again.
Not so easy to be by the book.
Don't get smart with me, Murdoch.
It's just a statement, sir.
And something it seems we're both wrestling with.
Are you George Crabtree? - Yes I am.
- THE George Crabtree.
One and the same.
- Could you sign my book? - Yes, of course.
What's your name? Lizzie Drake.
To Lizzie Drake from the George Crabtree.
All right then.
Uh.
There you go, Lizzie, now Lizzie I need you to be off, I have to perform a ruse.
- George? - Ow! My foot! My ankle! - Are you all right? - I'm blinded by pain, who is it? - It's Higgins, who do you think - Oh, Higgins.
- What happened to your foot? - Thank g Higgins, Higgins, I was abducted.
- For days! - By a beautiful woman? What? I've been looking for you.
We heard you ran off with a beautiful woman.
I hadn't ran off, Higgins.
I was adducted properly at gunpoint.
Where is she now? She's gone.
She's left town.
No point looking for her.
George, it's just us men here.
Oh, Higgins, just help me get back to the station.
Honestly.
You really do think the worse of me sometimes.
Penny for your thoughts.
Excuse me? It seems you have a lot on your mind.
I do.
Care to unburden yourself? It's a long ride.
Well, if you want the truth, I'm going off to break a young man's heart.
Lucky you.
It's been a long time since I've broke someone's heart.
- I never meant it to go that far.
- We rarely do.
I have a man I'm dearly in love with.
A man who would do anything for me.
And I him.
It's a shame.
A shame? Sometimes doing the right thing can be so dreary.
If the higher ups find out I've done nothing about it then I'll lose my job.
Then you lose your job.
What about your sister? Oh.
We'll find a way to help her.
Maybe you can become a bricklayer or something.
A bricklayer, I'm not a bloody Italian.
Then a plumber.
They make more money than policemen do.
Thomas, I married you for the man that you are.
A man who will do the right thing.
Watts is a good man, he doesn't deserve this.
Then fix it.
Thank you, Margaret.
Hard to believe though, isn't it? Detective Watts? Oh, Thomas it was as clear as the nose on your face.
Honestly, sometimes you are so dense.
Oy, look who's back! The conquering hero returns.
- What happened to you then, bugalugs? - Sir, I was abducted by a fan.
Scarcely escaped with my life.
- Is that so? - George.
- Effie.
- It's good to see you're well.
Just a moment.
Just a moment.
- Julia? - I need to talk to you.
Is everything all right? It's fine.
Yeah.
It's fine.
Um We were uh, when you left There's no need.
I just wanted to tell you that you'll have to finish the lectures alone.
I'm needed at home.
Julia Please, Doctor Dixon, enjoy yourself.
Did you do what I asked? I did not.
Well, you best get to it.
No.
I've done all that I'm going to do for you.
I don't recall a time in our association where you gave the orders.
Well, that time has come.
- Free at last are you? - Get out of here.
Leave town.
Leave me alone.
Look at you, what, they give you in an office and you decide you can get all uppity.
You don't ever tell me what to do.
Miss Hart.
Inspector.
I have just killed John Lincoln.
I surrender myself to you.
What did she say of the circumstances? She confessed to having been involved with this Lincoln fellow some years ago.
Apparently not all their activities were on the straight and narrow.
Big surprise.
Regardless, she said that Lincoln tried to involve her in some shady dealings.
He attacked her, she fought back.
She's claiming self-defense? She's claiming nothing.
She simply told me what happened.
Did you conceal evidence in the murder case of Walter Kingman? - I did.
- Why? To protect myself.
Why didn't you tell us? I didn't trust what you would do to me.
Did you also falsify evidence in the case that nearly put John Brackenreid behind bars? I did.
But I had no knowledge that what I was doing would harm your son.
I'm truly sorry.
At the time I believed it was the only way for me to get ahead.
Why did you think that? When I petitioned Dr.
Ogden for the job of coroner I was rejected.
Why not simply wait for your time? The coroner in London, no training at all.
In Kingston, a retired police officer.
I had the experience and the education and I was still passed over and then a man who could give me what I wanted offered me a chance, I took it.
It was wrong.
You knew it was wrong the first time, and yet you did it again.
- Why? - I was scared of losing what I had.
I was scared I'd have to go back to being what I was.
- You had my prisoner released.
- I did.
You're aware of what he is? A good butcher.
You know you have another "butcher" working in this Station House.
You're new to your position as a Detective aren't you? - I am.
- Well, if you want to stay there, I'd advise that you leave this matter alone.
I could have you out on your ear by the end of the day.
You condone their behaviour.
It's their business, not ours.
Close the door on your way out.
And knock next time.
You wanted to see me? Let me ask you a question.
Who among us is without sin? None of us, I suppose.
- No.
- She gets another chance.
Sir? You and I don't know the circumstances of Miss Hart's life.
She broke the law.
We've all broken the law.
And I will say that if you choose to pursue this, I won't stop you.
I just think you shouldn't.
This is a long way from "by the book".
Well sometimes the bloody book needs be rewritten.
And that's the truth of it.
Then you were right to let her go.
I hope you brought some peace to her.
I just wanted her to know that her future is unwritten.
That's a beautiful sentiment, George.
Mind you, it'd be untruthful of me to tell you she didn't make advances on me.
- Of course she did.
- I resisted, of course What do you mean of course she did? What woman in her right mind wouldn't want to bed a successful writer? Is that what I am to you, Miss Newsome, just another notch on your belt? Don't be silly, George, I don't wear a belt.
What do you wear? I wear a corset.
A corset? And I thought you were such a modern woman.
I am plenty modern, George Crabtree.
Well, belts, corsets, I say we do away with the lot of them.
Shall we get the bill? Are you safe? As safe as I'll ever be.
Edwards has no proof on either Watts or Jack Walker.
Well that's good, I'd hate to give up our butcher.
Oh, my cane.
A gift for a man of honour.
My since uh, my deepest respect.
Good choice.
Oh, wow.
I hope they weren't too disappointed to lose you in London.
I think they'll manage.
William Yes? I need to tell you something.
I almost strayed with Doctor Dixon.
Almost? I contemplated it.
But you didn't? No.
- And you don't plan to in the future? - No.
Then I don't think I need to hear any more about it.
You're not upset? I've thought about other women as well, I'm not a saint, I don't expect you to be one.
But I do have one question.
I'll answer it.
The sheets are still cold.
What shall we do about it? I have a few ideas.
So do I.