The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s14e05 Episode Script

[JULIA.]
We tramp all day, stopping for lunch of course, and then we arrive at the Blackhurst Inn in time for dinner.
[MURDOCH.]
So truly roughing it.
[JULIA.]
Well, it won't be too grand.
And I just thought it might be a nice change for us.
We get to relax, enjoy nature [WOMAN.]
Coo-ee! - Over here! - Meet new people.
Couldn't we just tramp to the inn ourselves? Travelling with other people will be fun.
We can make new friends.
Well, finally! We've been waiting for an hour.
Father, please.
It hasn't been that long.
Clair, you're too sweet.
- You need to speak up for yourself.
- Priscilla Bantam.
Would you be so kind as to help me with my valise? We have to load our own cases onto this sorry excuse for a horse? - Yes, Father.
- [FERDINAND.]
Then what are we paying for? The day has barely started, Mr.
Ferdinand.
Let us start off on a good foot.
William.
This is Mr.
Johnson, our tour guide.
- Ah.
Pleasure to meet you.
- Mr.
Johnson? You can't be from around here.
My family has lived here for centuries.
David Johnson is not my true name.
- What is your true name? - [CLAIR.]
Father.
- Father.
- Mr.
Ferdinand, - I believe your daughter is looking for you.
- Oh.
[MURDOCH.]
Have you been a guide in these parts long? This is my first summer working at the inn.
But I know every inch of this land, of course.
Do you know all local melanerpes? That's the genus of several different species of woodpeckers.
I take it that you do.
Please correct me if I misidentify any birds, Professor Leamington.
I think we're about ready to get started.
Mrs.
Bantam.
Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Dr.
Julia Ogden.
Let us be on more familiar terms.
Call me Priscilla.
Do keep your eyes up for the sharp shinned hawk.
It would be so easy for amateur bird-watchers to miss them.
Who are you? I am a professor of zoology at the University of Toronto.
I specialize in ornithology.
- Oh, you don't say.
- Ooh-hoo-hoo.
Well, then, it appears we have an expert here.
I hope Station House 4 is muddling along without you.
I'm certain they are doing just fine.
It is wonderful to be here.
You know, I could look into other group expeditions.
- We could do this every other weekend! - Oh, stop.
I'm serious.
[HIGGINS.]
Of course, Ruthie quit her job - as soon as she realized she was with child.
- Of course.
Apparently the hospital directors were quite surprised.
Surprised she lasted this long? - Ruth is a very hard worker.
- Of course.
But taking care of a baby is the hardest work there is, so Ruth tells me.
She said we'll need at least three nursery maids.
Three maids? Higgins, won't that cost a fortune! - Well, my taxi business is still going strong.
- Is it? Wait a minute.
Didn't Rupert Newsome's wife give you both bags of money? Lucinda bought us a house but she only gives us - a small monthly allowance.
- [GASPS.]
- That woman.
- I know.
She's richer than Croesus, you'd think she could afford to give us what we deserve.
No, Higgins.
That woman! I'm just wild for gambling.
Care to bet a dollar that we'll see a beaver dam in the next half hour? A dollar for beavers? Well, let's make this interesting.
I'll bet you ten dollars I can flip heads ten times on this coin.
That's impossible.
You're on.
No, I don't know anyone in the Medical Science Building.
Only fellow zoologists.
I see.
Well, I am a surgeon.
Oh, I think just saw a long-billed curlew.
They remind me of the Latham's snipe.
Have you ever seen one? They are magnificent.
[JULIA.]
No, I don't believe I have.
You wouldn't have.
They breed primarily in India.
You know, I read several ornithology journals prior to this trip, and one mentioned that very bird.
Except it said it lives primarily in Australia and Japan.
- How did you do that? - It's all in the wrist.
- One more toss.
Double or nothing? - If you insist.
I think you offended Professor Leamington.
I'm sure he's used to scholarly banter.
- Miss Ferdinand.
- Please, call me Clair.
Oh, have you ever done any fishing, Clair? - Can't say that I have.
- Your wife is quite interesting.
- Have you been married long? - Oh, a few years, yes.
Happy ones? [CRABTREE.]
It's a community allotment.
Too many people to count have access to it.
I spoke to the woman who dug up the head.
She was last here three days ago.
Nobody saw anything.
Perhaps the victim was buried at night.
What have you been doing, Higgins? Supervising, sir.
However, my shift is over now, so, - I'll be on my way.
- Hold your horses, hurricane.
Watts is on a case, Murdoch's away.
I want you two to take this.
- Us, sir? Are you sure? - Higgins.
Here, they've got the rest of the body.
Deep cuts on the ankle.
What does that indicate? Sir, what if the killer's plan was to dismember the rest of the body but they were interrupted.
Startled by someone? Very good, Crabtree.
- That means there could be a witness.
- Or not.
Eh? Perhaps the killer just gave up.
I've always thought it would be a tremendous amount of work to do a complete dismemberment.
Isn't it lunchtime all ready? - I'm starving.
- You're in luck, Mr.
Ferdinand.
- This is the clearing where we stop for lunch.
- Oh.
Not much of a clearing if you ask me.
- Watch it, you oaf! - Are you all right? Mr.
Ferdinand.
You're a cheat! - Give that back! - I will not! And I want my fifty dollars back! - No, no, no, that is my fifty dollars.
- What's all this about? He has a double-head coin! That's how he won our bets! I want my money back! Now, wait, lady.
I won, you lost.
Hey! Give me back my coin, that is my coin, that is my property.
I demand that you give that back to me right now.
Perhaps we should find our own lunch spot? I think Mr.
Johnson has the lunch hampers.
Oh, I think I can get one without anyone noticing.
- Oh, aren't you sly.
- Ooh.
What was that? [MURDOCH.]
I don't know.
It sounded like it came from over there.
But I don't see anything.
Sit right here, Father.
The best seat in the house.
Hm.
I saw those lunch hampers.
The sandwiches looked inedible.
Well, let me see if I can go find you some water, hm? Very well.
Look out! William! Are you all right? No! He's a lunatic.
He just attacked me.
I was protecting you.
You could have been killed.
I just might die from the injury you gave me! Let me have a look.
- Oh, it's just a little cut.
- Here.
I can clean it up and bandage it.
You know, I don't think I've received the attention of a female doctor before.
Certainly never one so beautiful.
Actually, it's not that bad.
You can bandage it up - when we get back to the inn.
- Yah! Let's have some lunch.
Miss Hart.
What surprise do you have in store for me today? A murder victim in parts.
Buried in a community garden.
- Is all the body accounted for? - [CRABTREE.]
I believe so.
- When can we expect a full report? - Tomorrow morning.
- Can't we start today? - I started early today which means I'll be finishing soon.
You wouldn't want shoddy work.
Of course not, Miss Hart.
As you were.
Thank you for understanding.
- Gentlemen.
- Miss Hart.
We shall look forward to your report tomorrow.
- I am off the clock, Constable.
- Good.
Because your date is here to take you out.
Hm.
Just in time.
I was thinking, tonight we could go to Le Coq d'Or.
I've heard of that place.
They're not going to let me in.
You're forgetting something very important.
I've got money.
Money opens every door.
Of course, it's a beginner's mistake to identify as herring gulls what were clearly swallow-tailed gulls.
But I won't blame you for that error.
- Are you certain? - Oh yes, quite certain.
That is it.
You, sir, are a fraud.
Now, I know for a fact that swallow-tailed gulls only live in South America and they don't migrate.
I know this because my daughter and I spent three months this spring birdwatching in Peru.
Are you suggesting that I've misidentified that bird? I find it curious that I, a layman, know more about that bird than you.
Mm.
The president of the University happens to be a good friend of mine.
When we get back to Toronto I'm going to tell him what a buffoon you are.
Buffoon? I read this inn has excellent dinners and feather beds.
I thought you said this trip wouldn't be too grand.
Well, it's no tin of beans and a cold mat on the ground, but it'll do.
Oh, hey, hey, hey, hey.
- Oh, dear.
- Don't touch her! - Father.
- Keep your hands to yourself, sir.
- Sir, I was only - I saw what I saw.
Well, Collins, wasn't it? The groundskeeper? I remember you from last year.
I believe this young man was merely assisting your daughter, Mr.
Ferdinand.
You might not know much, Mr.
Murdoch but you must know that you can't let a man like that take liberties.
Father, enough.
[MURDOCH.]
It's quite a place you have here, Mr.
Hager.
Well, I'm glad you think so.
I've run this place for 20 years.
And some folks, like Mr.
Ferdinand and his daughter, come back every summer.
[JULIA.]
Do they? I got the distinct impression that the trip thus far hasn't been up to Mr.
Ferdinand's standards.
Oh, that's just his way.
Did I hear my name? Oh, we were just saying that you've been our guest for over a couple of years now.
I don't know why I keep coming.
I hope this year the bed doesn't sag.
You have the best in the house.
I'll see everyone in the morning.
I'm heading upstairs, as well.
Goodnight, everyone.
What does everyone say to a game of hearts, hm? - I'm in.
- Oh, actually, I'm feeling quite tired.
- Shall we? - You've read my mind.
Good night.
Well, it looks like it's just you and I, Mr.
Hagar.
I'm game if you are.
Ahh.
Alone at last.
What do you say tomorrow morning we take a canoe out and do some discovering on our own? Perhaps we could find that swallow-tailed gull that's mysteriously made its way to Canada.
And prove that Professor right? Not on your life.
[DISTANT VOICE.]
Help! Help! Someone! - Mr.
Collins.
- What's the matter? Are you hurt? It's Mr.
Ferdinand! He's he's He's dead.
[MURDOCH.]
What were you doing in Mr.
Ferdinand's room? [COLLINS.]
I wasn't.
I was turning down the lamps in the hall.
I thought I heard something coming from this room, a scuffle, a voice.
So you knocked on the door? No, sir.
Mr.
Ferdinand made his feelings toward me quite clear.
I didn't think he'd want me asking after him.
I see.
What then? I heard glass breaking.
That's when I tried the door.
It was open and I entered, and [MURDOCH.]
Did you see anyone else? I may have seen someone climbing out the window.
But I couldn't be sure, it was too dark.
Right.
Thank you.
Is there a Constabulary near here to the inn? They're about a half day's riding away.
They don't have an automobile, as far as I know.
See if you can find someone to can contact them.
And no one is to leave here.
Yes, Detective.
- William.
- Yes? He was stabbed in the abdomen with a thin, sharp blade.
Deep enough to puncture the inferior vena cava.
He would have died very quickly.
So, just before Mr.
Collins entered the room? Or just shortly after.
Ordinarily, I'd begin by asking who would wish the victim dead.
But in Mr.
Ferdinand's case, it may be easier to ask who didn't wish him harm.
I had to slip the maitre d'hotel five dollars, but I hear the broiled quail is worth it.
I'll have that, then.
Ah, yes.
We'll start with the coquille of crab, - followed by the - Pardon me, we are out of that.
Oh.
Well, then we'll start with the oysters en brochette We're out of that, too.
All of the oysters.
Really, sir, we're out of everything.
- Everything? - Unfortunately.
Impossible.
Go to the kitchen and tell us what you do have.
There must be something.
You heard the lady.
I can't believe this.
This is an outrage.
Higgins! I thought I told you to clean this up.
I can't just put it away.
It's not finished.
That's how jigsaw puzzles work.
Yes, I know that.
So, why don't you finish What the bloody hell is that doing there? Put it away! Sir, the way that a jigsaw puzzle works is that I know how a jigsaw puzzle works, Higgins.
Margaret saw one at our neighbour's house a while back, so of course she had to have one.
What was the picture on the front? I don't bloody know! It's a pastime for ladies.
Oh, no sir.
It's for everyone.
It's not for Constables in a Station House.
- Now, get rid of it.
- Sir, right away.
I've been to the morgue, I have Miss Hart's report.
- Good, I'll take a look.
- By her estimation, the victim was killed late afternoon two days ago and was buried between midnight and three o'clock in the morning - before the gardener dug her up.
- Excellent work, Crabtree.
Higgins, what have you been up to? Did you find out the identity of the victim? No, sir.
I've been through her possessions - but there was nothing to identify her.
- A reticule.
Anything in this? Just a receipt.
A delivery slip.
With an address on it.
Probably hers.
And you didn't think this was of any relevance? C'mon, Higgins.
Helmet, Higgins.
Tonight, you and me.
Perhaps.
- Promise me - I have to go.
- Well, he won't know.
- Someone's here.
Miss Ferdinand.
We're terribly sorry about your father.
I wanted to tell you both something.
When I came down this morning I passed Mrs.
Bantam on the stairs and she was counting some money.
Do you think she stole it from your father? I don't want to say.
It's probably nothing but she was very angry with my father.
Thank you for telling us.
- You don't think that she - We'll speak with Mrs.
Bantam.
Could you tell me a little bit more about what happened? Mr.
Hagar won't allow me to see my father's room.
It's probably for the best.
Are you all right? I just can't believe that my father is dead.
Carry on, Whitnow.
Ah, any luck with the address? Well, sir, we found the victim's name.
Miss Emily Bishop.
We spoke to her neighbour, sir.
Miss Bishop never had any visitors.
Apparently she just kept to herself.
Maybe she fell in with the bad lot.
Or maybe she was the bad lot.
Look what we found when we searched her room.
This account book is from the office where she worked.
Why would she have taken those? What are you implying? [MURDOCH.]
Did you somehow obtain the money you had lost through wagers to Mr.
Ferdinand? Be direct, man.
Are you asking if I killed Mr.
Ferdinand and took back my money? You were seen this morning counting some money.
What of it? I have rather a lot.
All right, tell us what happened last night.
You went upstairs, you were in your room alone, all night? Do you want to picture me in my boudoir, Detective? Please answer the question.
Yes, I was in my room.
I didn't leave it all night.
And I would hardly kill someone for cheating me out of the paltry sum of $50.
Thank you, Mrs.
Bantam.
You didn't really answer the question.
Were you alone? We are ladies, aren't we? Let's be discreet.
[JULIA.]
Now, there's definitely more to the story than Mrs.
Bantam is telling us.
But I don't know if the truth will have anything to do with Mr.
Ferdinand's death.
Well, what could her motive be? She didn't seem that upset about the money she'd lost.
Yes, but all kinds of people can have moments of murderous impulse.
I have a feeling Mr.
Ferdinand's murder was not committed on impulse.
There it is.
As I suspected: saw marks.
Wish I'd seen that earlier.
Could they have cut the branch and then remained in the tree? Perhaps they waited for Mr.
Ferdinand to be underneath Surely they would have been seen.
The other possibility is that is was cut three-quarters of the way through and then they let gravity do the rest.
Hello there, Miss Miss Irwin.
We're here to inquire about Miss Bishop.
She is the accountant.
[CRABTREE.]
I'm afraid to say she's dead.
She's been murdered.
Huh.
You don't say.
Leave it to Emily to get murdered.
What a go-getter.
We found files and account books from this office in her home.
Emily never stopped working, even nights and weekends.
Can you believe that? Who brings work home with them? That is strange.
Miss Irwin, we couldn't have a word with the owner, could we? Uh, yeah, I'll get him.
That's terrible.
Why would this happen? Miss Bishop was such a hard worker.
Now what am I going to do? Do you of know of anyone who may have wished Miss Bishop ill? No, all she did was work here.
It was her whole life.
We did find files from your office in her home.
I told her not to do that! Those are confidential documents.
I am the main supplier of medical equipment for all the hospitals in Toronto.
There are many other men vying for my contracts.
- Anybody in particular come to mind? - Derek Winslow.
My main competitor.
He's been trying to take me down for years.
Is it possible Miss Bishop was planning to sell information to Mr.
Winslow? And then he killed her for it? It doesn't seem likely for either of them.
But, stranger things have happened at sea.
[JULIA.]
I read in Maclean's magazine that there are now wilderness camps for girls.
[MURDOCH.]
Oh, do you wish there had been those when you were a girl? [JULIA.]
Even if there were, I don't think I would have been allowed.
Little Julia Ogden, covered in mud and mosquito bites.
- You would have hated it.
- Perhaps you're right.
But I do love it when we go camping.
[MURDOCH.]
Well, staying at a beautiful inn is hardly wilderness survival.
This is the wilderness, William, is it not? Well, the bed certainly looked comfortable.
It's a shame we hardly slept in it.
Poor Mr.
Ferdinand.
First, the tree branch almost kills him We now know there was a first attempt on his life.
That narrows down our list of suspects.
That would mean that it couldn't have been anyone from our travel party.
No, someone already at the inn who travelled to the lunch area and then back.
Mr.
Hagar? I don't think he could have climbed the tree.
That only leaves George Collins.
Yes, we'll have to interview him when we get back.
Perhaps there's a previous history between the two men.
Wait, William! Is that Mr.
Collins? Is he alive? I'm afraid not.
[JULIA.]
He died from a heavy blow to the head.
There are shards in the wound but I can't tell what they are.
No attempt to hide the body.
Perhaps the killer was interrupted.
If someone did come along, they would have seen the body.
Mr.
Collins' horse is packed.
He was leaving.
So, he killed Mr.
Ferdinand, and then intended to flee? But then, who killed him? Well, now.
Julia.
It's heavy and large enough.
And it would account for the shards in the wound.
A salt lick.
I believe we've found our murder weapon.
William.
R.
L.
Professor Leamington.
Do you think he killed him? What reason would he have to kill a groundskeeper? [BRACKENREID.]
You and the missus would be better off having a baby girl.
Why's that, sir? Well, I brought up two boys.
I imagine it's easier.
Sugar and spice, and all that kind of thing.
Ruth says that whether the baby is a boy or a girl, she wants the middle name to be Roger after her brother.
As long as the name is all the child gets from Roger Newsome.
That's my sky bit.
- Give it here.
- Sir, I'm doing the edge pieces.
Give it there, that's for my pile! Crabtree? Sir, I've just been to the office of Winslow Medical Supplies - and spoke to Mr.
Winslow.
- The competitor that Mr.
Graham mentioned.
He says he's never heard of Miss Bishop, and I'm inclined to believe him.
He is keen to unseat Mr.
Graham, but seems to me to be on the level.
So you don't think Mr.
Winslow tried to buy any official documents off Miss Bishop? I don't think so, sir.
Not to mention he has an alibi for the night in question.
What about Mr.
Graham? Her boss? He seemed to like her.
Maybe that's the problem.
He tried it on her and she rejected him.
Well, I had thought of that already sir, and I've been by the house, questioned each of the family members, they all gave him an alibi.
Good work, Crabtree.
At least one of you is on the case.
Sir, our leads are all dead.
The case is a dud.
You can't just give it up, Higgins.
Start with what you know.
Other than her name and address, we don't know anything.
She has no family, no friends that we could find.
The two suspects we did find both have alibis.
[CRABTREE.]
I am bedeviled, sir.
She didn't just dismember herself and fall into the garden.
I mean, somebody did it.
And they did a terrible job, as well.
Higgins, you're right.
They did a terrible job.
With me.
With me.
Ah, peace at last.
- Why are we back here? - Just trust me.
- There are other restaurants.
- Not like this one.
You're back.
How interesting.
I hope you haven't run out of food again.
I'm afraid so.
This restaurant was very poorly run.
That will change, starting now.
- I'm sorry, sir? - As of twelve o'clock this afternoon, I am the new owner of this restaurant.
And we will no longer require your services.
And anyone who has a problem is invited to leave.
Did you really just buy this restaurant? Indeed I did.
- You wanted to see me? - Yes, Professor.
Is this about those awful murders? I've already said, I don't know anything about that.
We found something of yours in the stable.
Next to George Collins' body.
I've never seen that before in my life.
It's monogrammed with your initials.
So it is.
But what does that prove? Mr.
Ferdinand questioned your credentials, did he not? I heard him say that he was going to tell the president - of the university that you were - A buffoon? The nerve of that man, thinking he knew more about birds than I did.
Did you have George Collins kill Mr.
Ferdinand? And then, when he took fright and wanted to flee, - did you kill him too? - Enough.
I haven't killed anyone.
Then why was your handkerchief in the stable? I can't say.
Well, then Professor, you leave me no choice - but to arrest you for the murder of - Wait.
No.
All right, I was in the stable.
But I never saw Mr.
Collins.
Why were you in there? I couldn't possibly divulge that information.
Need I remind you that two men are dead, Professor? I was with Priscilla.
Mrs.
Bantam.
We went there to get some privacy.
Detective! Apologies for being so direct, Mrs.
Bantam.
[PRISCILLA.]
I should think so.
[JULIA.]
Were you alone with the Professor today? [PRISCILLA.]
Yes.
In the stables.
I've always adored horses.
Did you see George Collins while you were in the stables? The professor and I, if you must know, were in the hayloft when that young man came in and began saddling his horse.
We climbed down the ladder outside.
Quite fun.
And were you also with the Professor last night, in your room, when Mr.
Ferdinand was murdered? Aren't you an inquisitive one? Yes, we were together.
Thank you, Mrs.
Bantam.
Detective? I think your wife suffers from indiscretion.
I assure you I do not have the same problem.
Why did the killer do such a lousy job, Higgins? I mean, consider where we are.
- Toronto? - Yes, exactly.
The garden where Miss Bishop was buried is right there.
But just a block this way, there's a construction site where they're pouring foundations.
The killer could have dumped the body in the concrete pit.
That would've been smart.
And just a street over this way, there's a manufacturing plant for acid.
They could have dumped the body in acid, never to be seen of again.
And just another street beyond that, there's a glue factory.
Do you see what I'm saying? Why the garden? Well, of all the places you just mentioned, it would have still be fairly hard to dispose of a body.
The garden is right there.
So why the shallow grave? Have you ever tried to dig a grave? It's not as easy as you think.
I've done my share of digging, Henry.
So you're suggesting the killer had both a powerful animosity towards Miss Bishop and was also incredibly lazy.
I'm suggesting the killer possessed both those inclinations and lived very close by.
That's Miss Irwin! Her co-worker! Could she have hated the hardworking Miss Bishop that much? I've just searched David Johnson's room.
The tour guide.
He also cares for the stables.
Where George Collins was killed.
- What did you find? - A letter.
"David.
I saw you leave Mr.
Ferdinand's room.
I know you killed him.
Give me $50 and I won't tell.
" - Signed George.
- George Collins was blackmailing him.
Mr.
Johnson! A word.
Julia, you stay here.
William! He's fleeing.
I'm going after him.
David Johnson! Rein in your horse! Just let me go.
I'm a Police Detective.
You're coming with me.
Why did you run? Does it matter? I know that look.
- You've already made up your minds.
- Why do you say that? I've been in jail before.
For something I didn't do.
I know how it works.
What can you tell us about this letter.
I've never seen it before.
[JULIA.]
It was addressed to you from George Collins.
What reason would I have to kill Mr.
Ferdinand? This is my first summer working here, I only met him yesterday.
He was a horrible man, but the world's full of 'em.
I do question motive.
This letter would suggest that you killed Mr.
Ferdinand, you were then seen leaving his room by Mr.
Collins, who then attempted to blackmail you.
I never got this letter.
And why would he try and blackmail me for money? He knew I didn't have any.
Miss Irwin, given that your apartment still has several traces of the crime, this interview, I suppose, is little more than a formality.
I didn't do it! You can't prove it.
Someone else killed her.
[CRABTREE.]
Somebody else killed her in your apartment? Miss Irwin, it was you.
It had to be.
I am not saying another word.
George, let me take this.
Miss Irwin, I think I know what kind of person Miss Bishop was.
- Oh, really? - Mm.
Always the first to arrive, the last to leave, taking files home Made you look bad.
She would always chide me for not keeping my desk clean.
I hated her! She even came to your apartment to boss you around.
Can you believe that? Did you get into a fight? She just went on and on about how I should work as hard as her, and how I was so lazy.
- I got up from my chair and - You hit her? You were pushed to the edge, weren't you, Miss Irwin? Your nerves were shot.
And every day you would go to the office and have to watch little Miss Perfect working so hard.
When a person goes to their job, they don't want to see that.
- Exactly.
- No, you want to come in a few minutes late, leave a few minutes early, and when you're off the clock, you do not want to think about work.
She wouldn't stop.
I just pushed her.
She hit her head on the mantle and there was blood everywhere.
She died right there on my floor.
[HIGGINS.]
And then And then I had to get rid of her, - and that was hard work.
- Hard work.
All right, I think I've heard enough.
Higgins, why don't we take Miss Irwin down to the holding cells.
That is, if it's not too much trouble.
No, not at all.
I still have at least an hour on my shift.
Come on, Miss Irwin.
No point making a fuss.
I think Mr.
Johnson is telling the truth when he says that he's never seen that letter before.
I agree.
Which got me thinking that perhaps he didn't write it.
You think someone else wrote it to try and frame Mr.
Johnson? I had a search in Mr.
Collins' room for a sample of his handwriting.
And you found something "My darling, we will be together forever.
Soon.
" It's the same handwriting as the letter to Mr.
Johnson.
But it's addressed to the inn and the intended recipient was Mr.
Collins.
"Greetings from Peru".
You, sir, are a fraud.
Now, I know for a fact that swallow-tailed gulls only live in South America and they don't migrate.
I know this because my daughter and I spent three months this spring birdwatching in Peru.
Don't touch her! - Father! - Sir, I was only helping the lady.
Collins, wasn't it? Keep your hands to yourself.
Clair Ferdinand and George Collins were in love.
Her father would never have let them be together.
So George Collins killed Mr.
Ferdinand.
[MURDOCH.]
Mr.
Collins stabbed Mr.
Ferdinand, and then, to make sure he wasn't a suspect, he made himself a witness.
Help! Help! Someone! We need to find Clair.
Ah, Professor, have you seen Miss Ferdinand? Oh, yes, I heard her say she was going for a walk.
Right, Julia, you stay here.
I'll find her.
Clair? Miss Ferdinand! Fancy a young woman like that enjoying such a violent sport.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't let her go out alone, but I thought it would be good for her.
Fresh air, thrill of the hunt.
Are you talking about Clair Ferdinand? Yes.
She went out with my hunting rifle.
Clair? Clair? Miss Ferdinand.
I just need to speak with you.
Did you know what George Collins was planning? Clair? [JULIA.]
Miss Ferdinand.
We found you.
If you don't mind.
I'm hunting.
Put down the gun, Clair.
Detective Murdoch and I just want to talk to you.
I didn't do anything.
That's enough, Clair! It's over.
My father is dead.
What do you want from me? Your lover is dead, too.
And it was your doing.
You're coming with us.
[JULIA.]
We found the blackmail letter you wrote.
Your plan to frame David Johnson for George Collins' murder didn't work.
Tell us what happened.
My father hated George.
We could have never been together.
So George Collins murdered him? I didn't want him to.
When he told me what he'd done, I was shocked.
I could never be with him after that.
He went wild.
I had no other choice everything happened so fast.
And that's when you hit him with the salt lick? I just wanted to get away.
I didn't mean to kill him.
I didn't mean for any of this to happen.
That's a very sad story.
Unfortunately, I'm not one for romantic fiction.
You planned with George Collins to murder your father.
You showed him precisely where to sit so that he would be hit by the tree branch.
Ah! Ah! You stayed up late playing cards with Mr.
Hagar, so that you would have an alibi.
You even tried to implicate Mrs.
Bantam but it didn't work.
George Collins was worried the two of you would be found out.
And he wanted to run.
[JULIA.]
But you knew it would make you both look guilty.
You panicked and you killed him.
I will never forgive myself for what I've done to George.
But I'm happy that my father is dead.
You wanted your lover and your inheritance.
Shame you won't be able to spend it behind bars.
I've just been to the cells to check on Miss Irwin.
Yes, well, I've been hard at work as well.
You haven't filled out the incarceration forms, have you? Not quite.
And you haven't cleared away this infernal jigsaw puzzle - I told you I can't until - I know, I know, until it's finished.
You know what? I'm going to finish it, then it can go back in the box.
Well, if you insist.
What's the point of this, anyway? At least with a word puzzle, you're using your brain.
Here you're just reassembling a picture.
Why does everything have to have a point? Jigsaws are just fun.
Right.
Until you can't finish it and get bored.
Precisely.
Too much work.
You know, Higgins, I see an affinity that you share with Miss Irwin.
- Oh? - Yes, you're both lazy as lords.
But I would never kill you, George.
[CRABTREE.]
Oh, well, that's a relief.
That would double my workload.
Well, you'll never finish it like that.
Come to lunch with me.
- Somewhere new.
- No.
I'm busy.
You go, though.
Your restaurant needs you.
I've tired of it.
Once I fired that man it wasn't so fun anymore.
You really do, don't you? Do what? Work with dead bodies.
Does it disgust you? It's gruesome.
I'm glad we didn't have to escort Miss Ferdinand back ourselves.
Those two local constables seemed glad to have to go to Toronto.
And Mr.
Hagar didn't mind lending us all this camping equipment? Not at all.
Well, William.
You've got what you wanted.
A private camping trip.
I'm sorry our little holiday didn't go as planned.
It can be fun to meet new people.
But I think we'll have more fun on our own.
[BOTH LAUGH.]