The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s16e04 Episode Script
Promising Young Ladies
This show is making people thirsty.
At this rate, we're going
to run out of liquor.
I'm glad tonight is profitable.
Violet, you've had a
long face all night.
Do you not like the show?
I'm just not in the mood for a party.
Well, the rest of Toronto is.
And now, the moment you've
all been waiting for
The one, the only
Nina Bloom!
Are we having fun tonight, Toronto?
Party's over, you painted
ladies! Get out of this town!
It's a smoke bomb!
It's all right, it's all right.
It's all right, I've got it. Carry on!
Hit it, boys!
That's enough complaining.
When I was your age, I was
at work before daybreak.
All you two have to do is get
yourselves to school on time!
I spoke to the woman who found him.
She said there was no one else around.
Very good, George.
I can't believe somebody
just left him like that.
Dead?
Naked.
I mean, presumably they
were after his wallet,
but why take all of his clothes?
But George, he was tied to a
pole, stripped naked and killed.
I doubt very much this
was just about his wallet.
I would estimate some time in
the last three to seven hours.
He appears to have been stabbed.
Indeed. A puncture wound
of a small circumference,
close to the heart.
Any other wounds?
He has abrasions on his wrists
from where he was tied to the lamp.
I think he struggled for
some time before he died.
That's all I can tell you for now.
Very good, Mrs. Hart.
Miss Hamilton. We've
not seen you for a while.
- It's Mrs. Reddick, now. This is my husband.
- How do you do?
Inspector, I've just seen
advertisements for a burlesque show
- that's to be staged in Toronto.
- You don't say?
I want to know what you and your
men are going to do about it.
Honestly?
There's not much I can
do about it, Mrs. Reddick.
But the burlesque is
an absolute disgrace.
You may recall, I
visited this station house
before to complain about
these types of shows.
How could I forget?
Our cause has been joined by Mr. Glover.
I can see why Mr. Reddick
is here. What's your excuse?
Well, I've recently moved to Toronto
hoping it would be a
bastion of morality.
Oh, have you now?
Well, welcome to
Toronto, an excellent city
where burlesque dancing
is perfectly legal.
Higgins, what are you doing?
Giving Miss Bloom's show
some free advertising.
Your former ladylove is
causing quite the stir.
Is that right?
I've just had some
do-gooders rabbiting on at me.
They want me to shut down her show.
But, sir, I haven't seen it yet.
Yes, well these types
are best left ignored.
Have you seen Miss
Bloom's show yet, Crabtree?
No, I haven't, sir. I'm a married man.
And Miss Bloom is a former paramour.
Too much temptation?
Hardly seems appropriate.
Well, that doesn't stop the inspector.
Watch it, Higgins.
Excuse me.
Can you help?
I'm looking for my husband.
How long has your husband been missing?
Only a day. But
I am embarrassed to say,
he may be in your cells.
For public intoxication.
- Ah. What's his name?
- Richard Hadley.
Could you describe him to us?
He was wearing a brown
tweed suit with a red tie
and a blue-striped shirt.
Clean-shaven, brown hair. Spectacles.
Large mole on his left thigh?
Yes. Why?
That's Richard.
What happened to him?!
He was found this morning.
He had been stabbed.
Who would do that to him?
Was he robbed?
Yes, ma'am.
Of his clothes, even.
He was naked?
Mrs. Hadley, where was
your husband last night?
He always goes bowling
on Thursdays at the YMCA
with some men from work.
Detective? A word.
Please excuse me, Mrs. Hadley.
Uh, take all the time you need.
Mr. Hadley had a great deal
of alcohol in his stomach.
The YMCA doesn't serve liquor.
Cause of death was a single stab wound,
directly to the heart. He
would have died in minutes.
I found this in the pulmonary valve.
It's gold and has a point at the end.
Curious weapon.
I'd guess it's half of a hat pin.
Oh, very good.
One more thing
A stab directly to the
heart is somewhat unusual.
The heart is difficult to reach.
The killer would have had to
puncture the skin on the left,
between the third and fourth rib,
and then directed the
weapon towards the right.
So, the killer had to have
knowledge of human anatomy.
Or got very lucky.
Does Effie know that
Nina is back in town?
Higgins, I'm trying to tell
you about our honeymoon.
Yes, but does she?
I don't know. I certainly
haven't told her.
Perhaps she's seen a poster.
Well, now that we're
practically brothers,
I feel I have to say
I don't think you should see Nina.
Higgins, I wasn't planning
Look at this chap.
What did Miss Hadley say?
- A a tweed suit, striped shirt, red tie?
- Red tie.
- Excuse me, sir!
- Hm?
Sir, stop there!
Are those your clothes?
They're mine, fair and square!
Well, that's a strange thing
to say. Where did you get them?
I'm not telling!
I believe these clothes
belonged to a man
who was murdered last night.
Oh.
Look, I don't know anything
about any murdered man,
but I'm keeping the suit!
Turn out your pockets, please, sir.
There's nothing in the pockets!
Definitely no money.
Worst luck. Just this.
The Star Bright Club.
Drunk, tied naked to a post.
- What a way to go!
- Indeed.
And how did he end up like
that after a night of bowling?
Sir, I telephoned the YMCA.
The bowling alley has
been closed for a month,
undergoing renovations.
So, Hadley lied to his wife,
his wages were burning a hole in
his pocket and he wanted a drink.
Yes. Or it's possible
he never told his wife
he was going bowling at all.
Do you think she's lying to you?
It's possible.
Why would she do that?
I shall endeavour to find out.
Hm.
His name was Richard Hadley.
I'm sorry, there were a lot
of men in here last night.
Well, he was, uh,
clean-shaven, spectacles,
blue-striped shirt, red tie.
Yes.
I remember him now.
He slapped his wage packet on
the bar and spent every penny.
Something about this chap
you found quite funny?
It depends on what you find funny.
That man was enjoying himself,
spending a lot of money,
when a woman came in looking for him.
I assumed it was his wife.
What makes you say that?
Oh, I know an angry wife when I see one.
She asked for his wages.
When he said they were gone,
she gave him quite a smack.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
And did they leave together?
She marched out right after.
He stayed a while.
Oh.
George?
Nina!
You didn't come to my show last night.
Well, I I I wasn't sure
I didn't know you were in town.
Well, you must have seen the posters.
Well, never mind. You're here now.
You are looking fabulous, George.
You haven't aged a day.
You know, it was really
sweet of you to come see me.
As a matter of fact, I I happen
to be here on police business.
Oh. So, you didn't come see me at all?
Well, it it wasn't that I
didn't want to come to see you,
I was I'm not sure how to
behave, or or how to be,
in terms of you and me because I'm
You know, I'm recently married.
Hm.
And?
And I wasn't sure if it was appropriate
to come see somebody who's a former
you know, and also happens to be a
you know.
- Do you know? I don't know.
- George
We're friends.
Of course. Of course. Yes.
- Then you're coming to our next show.
- Yes.
- And you're bringing your wife.
- No!
I will not take no for an answer.
No Nina, I
Don't worry. She'll
have the best of care.
If you would?
So, how is life as a working mother?
Busy. But happy.
Good. Honestly, there's so
much going on around here,
I'm not sure how we'd cope without you.
I beg your pardon.
Can you help me, please?
Yes. What can we do for you, Mrs ?
Parsons.
I wasn't feeling like
myself this morning.
- My neighbour said I should come
- Oh!
Mrs. Parsons, you all right?
I think I'm going to faint.
Kate, fetch some water.
Let's get you through
to the examination room.
She slapped her husband right
there in The Star Bright Club?
According to Miss Bright.
Then she lied to us.
And where's this man who was
wearing the victim's clothing?
Ah, Higgins had him wait in your office.
Very good.
Ah, sir, one other thing.
Have you and the doctor
ever attended the burlesque?
No, no.
Although we did attend a performance
of the Jubilee Singers once
that turned remarkably racy.
Right. I it's just
that Nina Bloom is in town
and she wants to meet Effie and
she's invited us to the show and
there's so many elements I find
awkward and inappropriate about it, I
I haven't the foggiest
idea of what to do.
My advice would be to seek
counsel from someone else, George.
Shall we?
All this fuss over some clothes?
I found them! They're mine!
The man who owns those clothes
was killed last night, Mr. Trombey.
Well, I like the suit.
I wouldn't kill for it.
Mr. Trombey, I'd like to know
where you found these clothes.
I was sitting on a bench near
the Clarence Avenue Bridge,
and I saw a woman toss a pile
of clothes over onto the tracks.
So, I went down and and got them.
Fits pretty good!
Can you describe this woman?
Slight.
Blonde hair.
That fits Mrs. Hadley.
So, she lied to us.
She slapped her husband and
threw his clothes off a bridge.
- Bring her in, George.
- Sir.
Mrs. Hadley,
I understand you just lost your husband,
but you did lie to us.
I was embarrassed.
I thought he had drank so
much that he got locked up.
That's why I came here.
But I didn't want to say
where he was drinking.
- So, you knew where he went last night?
- Yes.
You went into the club and
you confronted your husband.
We're just scraping by.
I couldn't believe that he would
be out buying expensive drinks
when we needed that money.
What happened after the argument?
I went home.
And when I woke up, I
realized he hadn't come back.
And then work called saying he
hadn't arrived for his shift.
Was anyone with you?
Did anyone see you go home?
No, I I don't think so.
I have a witness who
saw a woman throw your
husband's clothes off a bridge
a woman bearing your description.
I don't know anything about that.
You have to believe me.
Oh, George.
- Not now, Higgins.
- Well,
you don't know what I was going to say.
If it's about Nina, I
don't want to hear it.
It's actually about the murder,
but if you don't want to hear it
Well, what is it, then?
I was just speaking to
Stephen at the water cooler.
This better be going somewhere.
He just took a trip to Buffalo
and he told me that while he was there,
he read a very interesting
article in the newspaper.
- And?
- Well,
a man was stripped naked
and tied to a lamppost.
Really? Was he murdered?
No. But the man refused
to say who did it to him.
It's strange, don't you think?
- Indeed. When was this?
- Two weeks ago.
Right then, Higgins,
see if you can find other instances
of this happening in other cities.
Well, how will I do that?
Well, telephone the newspapers.
It's not the type of story
they're likely to forget.
Well, aren't you going to help?
I'll help as soon as I'm back.
I've got to go talk to Effie.
Mr. Duncan.
To what do we owe the pleasure?
Gives me no pleasure to say
what I have to say to you, Tom.
Oh? Please, have a seat.
I've just had Mrs. Reddick
down at the Board of Control,
along with her husband,
though she did all the talking.
Yes, I've met her. Several times.
She's furious about
this burlesque revue.
She's always complained about
anything to do with liquor or dancing.
I told her today as
I've told her before,
it's all perfectly legal and I
won't be putting a stop to it.
You can and you will.
Mrs. Reddick said she will
not rest until these dancers
are made to stop. And she means it.
What does it matter? Let
her complain all she wants.
She holds great sway in
the temperance movement
and I can't afford to
get on their bad side.
Shut it down, Tom.
Mrs. Parsons, your blood
pressure's very low.
Is that bad?
Well, it's likely why
you almost fainted.
We'll have to ascertain the cause.
Your heartbeat is accelerated.
I I'm just not going
back to the hospital.
You were in the hospital recently?
Yes. Two weeks ago.
They were horrible to me.
What were you in the hospital for?
What they call a tubal ligation.
That's a major surgery.
Have you been resting since?
How can I? I have to
work, raise my children.
My husband didn't want
me getting it done,
but I told him I'd get the surgery
and he wouldn't even notice.
- Ah!
- Oh.
Mrs. Parsons, you're likely suffering
complications from the surgery.
It could be internal bleeding.
Nurse Sullivan!
This woman needs surgery immediately.
- Help me prepare the room.
- But we can't.
There's no time.
Now, Kate!
So, let me get this straight,
Nina Bloom has invited us to
watch her remove her clothes?
But not all of her clothes.
- Some of her clothes?
- Some of her most of her clothes.
And you think this is a good idea?
I think it's about the most
uncomfortable situation I could imagine.
But I didn't want to pretend the
whole thing didn't happen and
And?
And in an ideal world,
I would like to remain
a friend of hers and this is
the way she suggested we proceed.
Well, I hardly mind either way.
Really?
The question is what
would you like to do?
Avoid the situation entirely.
Right. Something that
appears not to be possible.
- Ah, George Crabtree.
- We meet again.
Ah! Here we are. Yes.
Ah, Nina
Lovely to see you. This is
Effie. Effie Crabtree, my wife.
Nice to meet you. I've
heard so much about you.
Hello, Mrs. Crabtree.
Nina, your former flame is married?
I would like to introduce
you both to the outspoken
Randy Potts, Edie Sweet
and Scarlett Blaze,
all part of Nina Bloom's
Burlesque Spectacular.
Well, lovely to meet you all.
What's it like
knowing your husband
courted the Nina Bloom?
It's fine.
You're not the least bit jealous?
Why should I be?
If George Crabtree is the
prize, then I am the winner.
I like her.
Well, then it's settled,
you're coming to the show.
Well, we we'd love to.
I'm so pleased.
Until then.
Ladies?
Yes, I told the constable
that I remembered that man.
Did you see him leave the club?
I saw his wife leave,
right after they fought.
But what about him, or
anyone else that was with him?
No. Sorry, Detective.
Thank you, Miss Bright.
You could ask the man that's been
here harassing me and my patrons.
He was here again last night.
- Who's this?
- I don't know his name,
but he moved into that
building across the street.
Oh.
Detective, you could also tell
him to leave me and my club alone.
- Detective Murdoch, Toronto Constabulary.
- Oh. Yes.
I spoke with your inspector.
Are you here to shut down that
establishment across the street?
Um
I I'd like to ask you if
you saw a man leave the club
last night between 1 and 2 AM?
Many men come and go from that place.
Absolute wastrels.
Chicago was bad enough,
I thought this was Toronto the Good.
Uh, this particular man wore spectacles,
had a red tie, brown tweed suit.
He was likely inebriated.
I did see a man like
that, as a matter of fact.
He came out of the club
and he went that way.
Ah, he was with a woman
tall, red hair.
They went into those lodgings there,
at the end of the street.
Are you quite sure?
The man I'm referring to
was found this morning,
having gone entirely
the opposite direction.
Oh, I'm sure.
I see two torn stitches
causing internal bleeding.
Blood pressure's still very low.
I'm repairing the stitches now.
This is irresponsible, Julia.
We're not equipped for surgery.
We had no choice.
We should have taken
her to the hospital.
There was no time.
And if we fail?
We won't.
Detective Murdoch! How are you?
Miss Bloom. Hello.
My burlesque troupe is in Toronto.
You should come see a show.
Ah, yes. Uh
Uh, Miss Bloom, I'm conducting
a murder investigation and, uh
How do I put this delicately?
No need to be delicate
around us, Detective.
Did you or any of your
friends bring a man
back here last night?
- Not a real man.
- Randy.
No, not any kind of man.
We left the club together
a little after 1 AM.
I spoke with a witness
who says he saw the victim
with a red-haired woman.
Surely I'm not the only woman
with red hair in Toronto.
I'm sorry we can't be
more help, Detective.
We have to get ready
for our show tonight.
- Of course. Thank you.
- Okay.
San Francisco, Chicago,
Buffalo have all had reports
of men being stripped
and tied to lampposts.
- Detroit, as well.
- Detroit.
And, of course, Toronto.
Do you think it's the same person?
Well, it's hard to say.
None of the men will admit
who tied them to the lamppost.
If it is the same person,
why did they kill in Toronto?
If it was the same person,
perhaps this time
they just went too far.
- He could become a sequential killer.
- Or she.
Remember, it was a gold hat pin
that was used as the murder weapon.
Were the men all embarrassed
that a woman overcame them
and tied them up?
That could be the case.
Although I've known some
particularly strong women in my time.
You certainly have.
Higgins
Wait a minute.
Give me that.
Uh, read out the-the
dates of the incidents.
Yeah, Buffalo, April 18th.
Columbus, April 25th.
Chicago, May 6th.
- And Toronto, May
- Higgins.
We need to find the detective.
Miss Bloom, what can you tell
me about the night of the murder?
Because, at the moment,
all of the evidence
points towards you and your friends.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I can tie your burlesque
troupe to a string of incidents
where men were stripped
naked and tied up.
We didn't have anything
to do with a murder.
I swear on my life.
But did you know this man?
After our shows,
if there's a fellow who's
a little too friendly,
one of us pretends to be drunk.
And then what?
She takes him home,
the other women follow.
If he just takes her to her door
and leaves, he's a gentleman.
And if he doesn't just leave?
We take him out to the street
corner, force him to undress
and leave him tied to a lamppost.
Mr. Hadley was one of these men.
And Miss Blaze left the club with him?
And Randy Potts threw his
clothes over the bridge.
Mr. Hadley could have
overpowered any one of you.
I have a prop gun for our
cops and robbers routine.
I I used it just
to scare him a little.
It doesn't work. You can see for
yourself, it's back at my room.
Miss Bloom, Mr. Hadley wasn't shot.
He was stabbed through
the heart with a hat pin.
I I don't know anything about that.
We never hurt anyone.
We just
We just want to embarrass them
and make them think twice
before ever being
aggressive with a lady.
George. Can we talk?
Constable.
Is there anything you forgot
to tell the detective this time?
No, I I just wanted to apologize.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you
how we were involved sooner.
Well, you really should have, Nina.
I'm sure you know that this makes you
and your friends look guilty.
I swear to you, we didn't hurt him.
He was trying to hurt one of us.
Look, George, you don't
know what it's like
to always be on your guard,
to know that any evening, some man
I appreciate that, Nina, but what
you and your friends were doing
you were playing a very dangerous game.
I know.
But, George, please stand up for us.
You know me.
You know I could never
be involved in a murder.
Right now I have to make
sure that you're in the cells.
I'm sorry.
I believe her, sir. She
had nothing to do with this.
Sounds like she was involved.
She admitted as much.
Well, they tied the man to a
lamppost to humiliate him, that's all.
That makes them all suspects.
Yes, but anything could have
happened after they left him there.
Sirs, you both know Nina Bloom well.
Do you honestly think she's
capable of killing a man?
Things could have changed since
we last saw Miss Bloom, Crabtree.
The life of a travelling burlesque
dancer could make a woman
Into a murderer?
Into someone who might go to
extremes to protect herself.
Mrs. Parsons, did you sleep well?
I don't know, I think so.
We had to operate to stop
the internal bleeding.
You you saved me, Doctor.
Yes, but we're not equipped
to perform surgeries here.
You should have gone
back to the hospital.
At the hospital they
just poked and prodded me
like I was a slab of meat on the table.
They didn't listen to anything I said.
I'm never going back there.
You could have died.
But I didn't, thanks to you.
Cheers.
Miss Bloom and her dancers are in jail?
Until we get to the
bottom of what happened,
their show's cancelled.
Those protestors got their wish.
Maybe now they'll leave me alone.
You ought to count yourself lucky.
They went to the Board of Control.
They want me to shut this place down.
Shut me down?
I should be the one bringing
charges against them!
What for?
They threw a smoke bomb on my stage.
Why didn't you come to the
station house and file a report?
What's the point?
And I didn't see who did it.
Are you going to shut me down?
I'd rather not.
But if the board wants you out
of business, they'll find a way.
You wouldn't still have
that smoke bomb, would you?
Yes, I think so.
Why?
All right, George. Miss Bloom said
the gun was in a box near the door.
Sir, it's rusted through.
Completely seized.
Very good, George.
We'll bring that with us.
Sir, I can't imagine we'll
find much else of use in here.
I feel like we should be out
looking for the real killer.
I know you want to
believe Miss Bloom, George,
but let's keep looking.
What exactly are we looking for?
We'll know when we find it.
Oh, no.
Sir?
What is it, George?
The other half of the hat pin.
The missing piece of the murder weapon.
Oh, it's you lot.
I trust Mr. Duncan from the
Board of Control has seen you.
Indeed he has.
Then you'll shut down that
immoral nightclub immediately?
Their show has been cancelled.
But don't gloat, it's nothing you did.
It's due to circumstances
beyond your control.
All the same, it's a small
step in the right direction.
What did I say when I saw you last?
That the, uh, burlesque show was
legal, which I find hard to believe.
I said I would look into the matter.
But when I did,
I found this.
This was thrown onto stage
at The Star Bright Club.
Now, I'm willing to
bet one of you did it.
- We would never!
- Well, then you won't mind
giving me your fingermarks to compare.
Or, I'll dispose of this
if you lot get out of my
station house for good. Clear?
You've just made an enemy
of Mr. Duncan, Inspector.
Ronald!
Scarlett Blaze. Is that your real name?
It's been my name so
long, I forget any other.
anything to do with this.
And this is the truth, Miss Potts.
Constables,
are these women dancers
with that licentious revue?
In the flesh.
Are you both being
arrested for immorality?
Oh! Um, we're all in here
accused of murder, but
they've got nothing on
any of us that'll stick.
Miss Potts.
Please.
Will you speak to all
the women again, sir?
They all covered for each
other and I fear they would
do the same again and
we'd be no further ahead
in discovering who killed Mr. Hadley.
Well, if you don't mind,
sir, perhaps I'll call Effie.
- Maybe she can help them.
- Ah, yes, George.
If they won't confess anything further,
then I'm afraid I can't help them.
They'll all go to trial.
Where did this photograph come from?
I suppose Higgins may have found
it looking into the ladies' tour.
George,
have a look at that.
The hat pin?
The murder weapon.
It's identical.
And it's worn by one Edie Sweet.
I swear to you, I lost
that hat pin in Chicago.
I was frantic, it's the most
expensive thing anyone ever gave me!
If you lost it, how
did half of it end up
in Mr. Hadley's chest and the
other half hidden in your room?
I'm telling you, I don't know!
You stabbed Mr. Hadley with such force
the hat pin broke in half.
You then pulled the Jewelled
half out of his chest,
- hid it in your room, likely to pawn later.
- No!
I did keep it, but I didn't stab him.
I went back,
after we had all left him.
You and your friends
left Mr. Hadley there
and he was alive?
You then came back
alone and found him dead?
Why did you go back to him?
I don't want to say.
Miss Sweet, you are likely
going to hang for murder.
Your co-operation right now may
be the only thing that saves you.
I wanted an apology.
For him trying to force
himself on your friend?
No.
Not that.
You knew him?
Years ago.
We used to
be together.
He beat me.
He stole from me.
He was horrible.
That's why you all targeted him.
It always feels good to give
those men what's coming to them.
But with him
I wanted more.
I wanted to see his humiliation
just a little bit longer.
Miss Sweet, this all sounds like
very strong motive for murder.
But I didn't kill him!
He was dead.
I saw the hat pin, I
panicked and I took it.
Mrs. Crabtree. Thank you for coming.
Of course.
I'm sorry our second meeting
is under much less
enjoyable circumstances.
Do you think you can get me out of here?
Well, there's an awful lot
of evidence against you.
I just don't understand what happened.
When we left him, he was alive and then,
when I went back, he was dead. I
Your former lover,
- killed with your hat pin.
- Yes.
How do you suppose it got there?
- I don't know.
- Was it one of your friends?
No! Why would they?
Miss Sweet, it's very
difficult to understand
how anyone but you could be responsible.
Do you think I did it?
I think that a jury
will believe you did it.
Oh, Henry.
Good detective work today.
That photograph was very useful.
Uh, what photograph, sir?
The one you left on my desk
of the burlesque dancers.
I'm sorry, sir. I don't know
what you're talking about.
Oh
Right, Henry, gather
all of the information
you have on the men who
were tied to lampposts,
give it all to George
and have him meet me
in my office straight away.
Sir, I have those articles.
Ah, yes.
Were you able to find anything
pertaining to the Chicago incident?
I did, sir.
And that was the burlesque
troupe's last stop before coming
to Toronto, just last week.
Right, then, listen to this.
"A man was found this
morning tied to a lamppost
on the corner of Fairview
and Carfax Avenue.
He identified himself
as Dr. Sullivan Reid
of Netheredge Drive.
Dr. Reid refused to say how he
found himself in the predicament,
or who put him there.
He also refused to comment
on the fact that he was
absent a stitch of clothing."
Miss Sweet maintains that she
lost the hat pin in Chicago
and then it turned up here
in Toronto as a murder weapon.
But, sir, she had a prior
relationship with Hadley.
- She hated him.
- That could be a terrible coincidence.
So, how does this Dr. Reid from Chicago
figure into the murder?
He could have taken the
hat pin, kept it with him,
travelled to Toronto following the
tour dates of the burlesque troupe,
it wouldn't have been difficult,
and waited for them
to find their next man.
There's no picture of him.
How will we know who he is?
Chicago.
I believe we've met him, George.
Several times.
Chicago was bad enough.
I thought this was Toronto the Good.
Mr. Glover knew that we had
all the women in custody.
We're all in here accused of murder, but
they've got nothing on
any of us that'll stick.
Sir, he could have
been the that photograph
one who put of Miss Sweet on your desk.
He's the one who pointed me in the
direction of the women's lodgings.
And as he's a doctor,
he would know how to stab
a man through the heart.
Release the women, George.
The show must go on.
Good people of Toronto!
Turn away from this den of iniquity!
Shameful degenerates
have no place in our town!
Mrs. Reddick, Mrs.
Reddick, what are you doing?
- We are trying to make the citizens
- Dear, please.
We are doing work that you and
your men should be doing, Detective.
We were told the show tonight
was cancelled, but evidently not.
So, you're teaching
these people a lesson?
Precisely.
Is that what you were doing, Dr. Reid?
Yes, of course. We must
Sir, he's running!
Dr. Reid, you're under arrest.
On your feet!
They did it to me, all right.
All I was trying to do was help one
of those ladies back to her hotel.
Are you sure that's all you were doing?
They tied me up, they took my clothes,
and they left me there all night.
I was the laughingstock of Chicago!
I lost my practice, my wife, everything.
So, you took Miss Sweet's
hat pin that night in Chicago
and kept it with you?
I knew I could use it
to get revenge on at
least one of those harlots.
And what better way
to do it than stab it
through the heart of another poor
schmuck who they were gonna destroy?
You killed an innocent
man to get your revenge.
Innocent?
He was at a burlesque,
pawing women and drinking his life away.
Pathetic.
Just like me.
She went to sleep so quickly.
Evidently, so did you.
Ellie is a firm believer
in "baby airing."
Exposing her to as much
fresh air as possible.
I think it tires her out.
- How was your day?
- Oh! Fine.
A young lady was being framed for murder
and we managed to uncover her innocence.
Wonderful.
And, uh, how is your patient faring?
- Did she fully recover after the emergency surgery?
- Yeah.
- Just.
- Oh! Good.
But you're not happy?
It's the clinic.
It's too small.
We can't serve the needs
of the women of Toronto.
You want to expand?
More than that.
Toronto needs a women's hospital.
And the women's clinic will be the
foundation on which it is built.
Effie,
are you sure about this?
I mean, we're leaving in the
morning to go on our honeymoon.
Well,
we'll have to have
hangovers on the train.
Mr. Duncan.
- Fancy meeting you here.
- Tom. Uh, yes. I, uh,
thought I should see the show for myself
- to know what I'm fighting against.
- Indeed.
I reckon you should be thanking
me for letting the show go on.
Now, Tom. Let's not argue.
How about you never ask me to
close down a burlesque again
and I'll never tell
anyone you were here?
Enjoy your evening.
- George!
- You came!
- Oh, how marvellous.
- Nina, you look wonderful.
You're a doll.
Uh, George, can we talk for a minute?
I'll go find us a table.
It's all right, Nina. I understand.
Of course, you'd be sweet about it.
It's just like you, but
But I just want you to know
how sorry I am for lying to you.
You were protecting your friend.
Had to. Four of us
all we have is each other.
Are you all right, Nina? I mean, really.
I have to admit, seeing
you so happy, it's
hard not to think of the path not taken.
But this is the life I chose and
I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Well, I'm glad. And I'm
glad I got to see you
before you're off on
your next wild adventure.
And you on yours.
Goodbye, George.
I've ordered us some champagne.
To our honeymoon.
And to the rest of our lives together.
At this rate, we're going
to run out of liquor.
I'm glad tonight is profitable.
Violet, you've had a
long face all night.
Do you not like the show?
I'm just not in the mood for a party.
Well, the rest of Toronto is.
And now, the moment you've
all been waiting for
The one, the only
Nina Bloom!
Are we having fun tonight, Toronto?
Party's over, you painted
ladies! Get out of this town!
It's a smoke bomb!
It's all right, it's all right.
It's all right, I've got it. Carry on!
Hit it, boys!
That's enough complaining.
When I was your age, I was
at work before daybreak.
All you two have to do is get
yourselves to school on time!
I spoke to the woman who found him.
She said there was no one else around.
Very good, George.
I can't believe somebody
just left him like that.
Dead?
Naked.
I mean, presumably they
were after his wallet,
but why take all of his clothes?
But George, he was tied to a
pole, stripped naked and killed.
I doubt very much this
was just about his wallet.
I would estimate some time in
the last three to seven hours.
He appears to have been stabbed.
Indeed. A puncture wound
of a small circumference,
close to the heart.
Any other wounds?
He has abrasions on his wrists
from where he was tied to the lamp.
I think he struggled for
some time before he died.
That's all I can tell you for now.
Very good, Mrs. Hart.
Miss Hamilton. We've
not seen you for a while.
- It's Mrs. Reddick, now. This is my husband.
- How do you do?
Inspector, I've just seen
advertisements for a burlesque show
- that's to be staged in Toronto.
- You don't say?
I want to know what you and your
men are going to do about it.
Honestly?
There's not much I can
do about it, Mrs. Reddick.
But the burlesque is
an absolute disgrace.
You may recall, I
visited this station house
before to complain about
these types of shows.
How could I forget?
Our cause has been joined by Mr. Glover.
I can see why Mr. Reddick
is here. What's your excuse?
Well, I've recently moved to Toronto
hoping it would be a
bastion of morality.
Oh, have you now?
Well, welcome to
Toronto, an excellent city
where burlesque dancing
is perfectly legal.
Higgins, what are you doing?
Giving Miss Bloom's show
some free advertising.
Your former ladylove is
causing quite the stir.
Is that right?
I've just had some
do-gooders rabbiting on at me.
They want me to shut down her show.
But, sir, I haven't seen it yet.
Yes, well these types
are best left ignored.
Have you seen Miss
Bloom's show yet, Crabtree?
No, I haven't, sir. I'm a married man.
And Miss Bloom is a former paramour.
Too much temptation?
Hardly seems appropriate.
Well, that doesn't stop the inspector.
Watch it, Higgins.
Excuse me.
Can you help?
I'm looking for my husband.
How long has your husband been missing?
Only a day. But
I am embarrassed to say,
he may be in your cells.
For public intoxication.
- Ah. What's his name?
- Richard Hadley.
Could you describe him to us?
He was wearing a brown
tweed suit with a red tie
and a blue-striped shirt.
Clean-shaven, brown hair. Spectacles.
Large mole on his left thigh?
Yes. Why?
That's Richard.
What happened to him?!
He was found this morning.
He had been stabbed.
Who would do that to him?
Was he robbed?
Yes, ma'am.
Of his clothes, even.
He was naked?
Mrs. Hadley, where was
your husband last night?
He always goes bowling
on Thursdays at the YMCA
with some men from work.
Detective? A word.
Please excuse me, Mrs. Hadley.
Uh, take all the time you need.
Mr. Hadley had a great deal
of alcohol in his stomach.
The YMCA doesn't serve liquor.
Cause of death was a single stab wound,
directly to the heart. He
would have died in minutes.
I found this in the pulmonary valve.
It's gold and has a point at the end.
Curious weapon.
I'd guess it's half of a hat pin.
Oh, very good.
One more thing
A stab directly to the
heart is somewhat unusual.
The heart is difficult to reach.
The killer would have had to
puncture the skin on the left,
between the third and fourth rib,
and then directed the
weapon towards the right.
So, the killer had to have
knowledge of human anatomy.
Or got very lucky.
Does Effie know that
Nina is back in town?
Higgins, I'm trying to tell
you about our honeymoon.
Yes, but does she?
I don't know. I certainly
haven't told her.
Perhaps she's seen a poster.
Well, now that we're
practically brothers,
I feel I have to say
I don't think you should see Nina.
Higgins, I wasn't planning
Look at this chap.
What did Miss Hadley say?
- A a tweed suit, striped shirt, red tie?
- Red tie.
- Excuse me, sir!
- Hm?
Sir, stop there!
Are those your clothes?
They're mine, fair and square!
Well, that's a strange thing
to say. Where did you get them?
I'm not telling!
I believe these clothes
belonged to a man
who was murdered last night.
Oh.
Look, I don't know anything
about any murdered man,
but I'm keeping the suit!
Turn out your pockets, please, sir.
There's nothing in the pockets!
Definitely no money.
Worst luck. Just this.
The Star Bright Club.
Drunk, tied naked to a post.
- What a way to go!
- Indeed.
And how did he end up like
that after a night of bowling?
Sir, I telephoned the YMCA.
The bowling alley has
been closed for a month,
undergoing renovations.
So, Hadley lied to his wife,
his wages were burning a hole in
his pocket and he wanted a drink.
Yes. Or it's possible
he never told his wife
he was going bowling at all.
Do you think she's lying to you?
It's possible.
Why would she do that?
I shall endeavour to find out.
Hm.
His name was Richard Hadley.
I'm sorry, there were a lot
of men in here last night.
Well, he was, uh,
clean-shaven, spectacles,
blue-striped shirt, red tie.
Yes.
I remember him now.
He slapped his wage packet on
the bar and spent every penny.
Something about this chap
you found quite funny?
It depends on what you find funny.
That man was enjoying himself,
spending a lot of money,
when a woman came in looking for him.
I assumed it was his wife.
What makes you say that?
Oh, I know an angry wife when I see one.
She asked for his wages.
When he said they were gone,
she gave him quite a smack.
- Really?
- Mm-hmm.
And did they leave together?
She marched out right after.
He stayed a while.
Oh.
George?
Nina!
You didn't come to my show last night.
Well, I I I wasn't sure
I didn't know you were in town.
Well, you must have seen the posters.
Well, never mind. You're here now.
You are looking fabulous, George.
You haven't aged a day.
You know, it was really
sweet of you to come see me.
As a matter of fact, I I happen
to be here on police business.
Oh. So, you didn't come see me at all?
Well, it it wasn't that I
didn't want to come to see you,
I was I'm not sure how to
behave, or or how to be,
in terms of you and me because I'm
You know, I'm recently married.
Hm.
And?
And I wasn't sure if it was appropriate
to come see somebody who's a former
you know, and also happens to be a
you know.
- Do you know? I don't know.
- George
We're friends.
Of course. Of course. Yes.
- Then you're coming to our next show.
- Yes.
- And you're bringing your wife.
- No!
I will not take no for an answer.
No Nina, I
Don't worry. She'll
have the best of care.
If you would?
So, how is life as a working mother?
Busy. But happy.
Good. Honestly, there's so
much going on around here,
I'm not sure how we'd cope without you.
I beg your pardon.
Can you help me, please?
Yes. What can we do for you, Mrs ?
Parsons.
I wasn't feeling like
myself this morning.
- My neighbour said I should come
- Oh!
Mrs. Parsons, you all right?
I think I'm going to faint.
Kate, fetch some water.
Let's get you through
to the examination room.
She slapped her husband right
there in The Star Bright Club?
According to Miss Bright.
Then she lied to us.
And where's this man who was
wearing the victim's clothing?
Ah, Higgins had him wait in your office.
Very good.
Ah, sir, one other thing.
Have you and the doctor
ever attended the burlesque?
No, no.
Although we did attend a performance
of the Jubilee Singers once
that turned remarkably racy.
Right. I it's just
that Nina Bloom is in town
and she wants to meet Effie and
she's invited us to the show and
there's so many elements I find
awkward and inappropriate about it, I
I haven't the foggiest
idea of what to do.
My advice would be to seek
counsel from someone else, George.
Shall we?
All this fuss over some clothes?
I found them! They're mine!
The man who owns those clothes
was killed last night, Mr. Trombey.
Well, I like the suit.
I wouldn't kill for it.
Mr. Trombey, I'd like to know
where you found these clothes.
I was sitting on a bench near
the Clarence Avenue Bridge,
and I saw a woman toss a pile
of clothes over onto the tracks.
So, I went down and and got them.
Fits pretty good!
Can you describe this woman?
Slight.
Blonde hair.
That fits Mrs. Hadley.
So, she lied to us.
She slapped her husband and
threw his clothes off a bridge.
- Bring her in, George.
- Sir.
Mrs. Hadley,
I understand you just lost your husband,
but you did lie to us.
I was embarrassed.
I thought he had drank so
much that he got locked up.
That's why I came here.
But I didn't want to say
where he was drinking.
- So, you knew where he went last night?
- Yes.
You went into the club and
you confronted your husband.
We're just scraping by.
I couldn't believe that he would
be out buying expensive drinks
when we needed that money.
What happened after the argument?
I went home.
And when I woke up, I
realized he hadn't come back.
And then work called saying he
hadn't arrived for his shift.
Was anyone with you?
Did anyone see you go home?
No, I I don't think so.
I have a witness who
saw a woman throw your
husband's clothes off a bridge
a woman bearing your description.
I don't know anything about that.
You have to believe me.
Oh, George.
- Not now, Higgins.
- Well,
you don't know what I was going to say.
If it's about Nina, I
don't want to hear it.
It's actually about the murder,
but if you don't want to hear it
Well, what is it, then?
I was just speaking to
Stephen at the water cooler.
This better be going somewhere.
He just took a trip to Buffalo
and he told me that while he was there,
he read a very interesting
article in the newspaper.
- And?
- Well,
a man was stripped naked
and tied to a lamppost.
Really? Was he murdered?
No. But the man refused
to say who did it to him.
It's strange, don't you think?
- Indeed. When was this?
- Two weeks ago.
Right then, Higgins,
see if you can find other instances
of this happening in other cities.
Well, how will I do that?
Well, telephone the newspapers.
It's not the type of story
they're likely to forget.
Well, aren't you going to help?
I'll help as soon as I'm back.
I've got to go talk to Effie.
Mr. Duncan.
To what do we owe the pleasure?
Gives me no pleasure to say
what I have to say to you, Tom.
Oh? Please, have a seat.
I've just had Mrs. Reddick
down at the Board of Control,
along with her husband,
though she did all the talking.
Yes, I've met her. Several times.
She's furious about
this burlesque revue.
She's always complained about
anything to do with liquor or dancing.
I told her today as
I've told her before,
it's all perfectly legal and I
won't be putting a stop to it.
You can and you will.
Mrs. Reddick said she will
not rest until these dancers
are made to stop. And she means it.
What does it matter? Let
her complain all she wants.
She holds great sway in
the temperance movement
and I can't afford to
get on their bad side.
Shut it down, Tom.
Mrs. Parsons, your blood
pressure's very low.
Is that bad?
Well, it's likely why
you almost fainted.
We'll have to ascertain the cause.
Your heartbeat is accelerated.
I I'm just not going
back to the hospital.
You were in the hospital recently?
Yes. Two weeks ago.
They were horrible to me.
What were you in the hospital for?
What they call a tubal ligation.
That's a major surgery.
Have you been resting since?
How can I? I have to
work, raise my children.
My husband didn't want
me getting it done,
but I told him I'd get the surgery
and he wouldn't even notice.
- Ah!
- Oh.
Mrs. Parsons, you're likely suffering
complications from the surgery.
It could be internal bleeding.
Nurse Sullivan!
This woman needs surgery immediately.
- Help me prepare the room.
- But we can't.
There's no time.
Now, Kate!
So, let me get this straight,
Nina Bloom has invited us to
watch her remove her clothes?
But not all of her clothes.
- Some of her clothes?
- Some of her most of her clothes.
And you think this is a good idea?
I think it's about the most
uncomfortable situation I could imagine.
But I didn't want to pretend the
whole thing didn't happen and
And?
And in an ideal world,
I would like to remain
a friend of hers and this is
the way she suggested we proceed.
Well, I hardly mind either way.
Really?
The question is what
would you like to do?
Avoid the situation entirely.
Right. Something that
appears not to be possible.
- Ah, George Crabtree.
- We meet again.
Ah! Here we are. Yes.
Ah, Nina
Lovely to see you. This is
Effie. Effie Crabtree, my wife.
Nice to meet you. I've
heard so much about you.
Hello, Mrs. Crabtree.
Nina, your former flame is married?
I would like to introduce
you both to the outspoken
Randy Potts, Edie Sweet
and Scarlett Blaze,
all part of Nina Bloom's
Burlesque Spectacular.
Well, lovely to meet you all.
What's it like
knowing your husband
courted the Nina Bloom?
It's fine.
You're not the least bit jealous?
Why should I be?
If George Crabtree is the
prize, then I am the winner.
I like her.
Well, then it's settled,
you're coming to the show.
Well, we we'd love to.
I'm so pleased.
Until then.
Ladies?
Yes, I told the constable
that I remembered that man.
Did you see him leave the club?
I saw his wife leave,
right after they fought.
But what about him, or
anyone else that was with him?
No. Sorry, Detective.
Thank you, Miss Bright.
You could ask the man that's been
here harassing me and my patrons.
He was here again last night.
- Who's this?
- I don't know his name,
but he moved into that
building across the street.
Oh.
Detective, you could also tell
him to leave me and my club alone.
- Detective Murdoch, Toronto Constabulary.
- Oh. Yes.
I spoke with your inspector.
Are you here to shut down that
establishment across the street?
Um
I I'd like to ask you if
you saw a man leave the club
last night between 1 and 2 AM?
Many men come and go from that place.
Absolute wastrels.
Chicago was bad enough,
I thought this was Toronto the Good.
Uh, this particular man wore spectacles,
had a red tie, brown tweed suit.
He was likely inebriated.
I did see a man like
that, as a matter of fact.
He came out of the club
and he went that way.
Ah, he was with a woman
tall, red hair.
They went into those lodgings there,
at the end of the street.
Are you quite sure?
The man I'm referring to
was found this morning,
having gone entirely
the opposite direction.
Oh, I'm sure.
I see two torn stitches
causing internal bleeding.
Blood pressure's still very low.
I'm repairing the stitches now.
This is irresponsible, Julia.
We're not equipped for surgery.
We had no choice.
We should have taken
her to the hospital.
There was no time.
And if we fail?
We won't.
Detective Murdoch! How are you?
Miss Bloom. Hello.
My burlesque troupe is in Toronto.
You should come see a show.
Ah, yes. Uh
Uh, Miss Bloom, I'm conducting
a murder investigation and, uh
How do I put this delicately?
No need to be delicate
around us, Detective.
Did you or any of your
friends bring a man
back here last night?
- Not a real man.
- Randy.
No, not any kind of man.
We left the club together
a little after 1 AM.
I spoke with a witness
who says he saw the victim
with a red-haired woman.
Surely I'm not the only woman
with red hair in Toronto.
I'm sorry we can't be
more help, Detective.
We have to get ready
for our show tonight.
- Of course. Thank you.
- Okay.
San Francisco, Chicago,
Buffalo have all had reports
of men being stripped
and tied to lampposts.
- Detroit, as well.
- Detroit.
And, of course, Toronto.
Do you think it's the same person?
Well, it's hard to say.
None of the men will admit
who tied them to the lamppost.
If it is the same person,
why did they kill in Toronto?
If it was the same person,
perhaps this time
they just went too far.
- He could become a sequential killer.
- Or she.
Remember, it was a gold hat pin
that was used as the murder weapon.
Were the men all embarrassed
that a woman overcame them
and tied them up?
That could be the case.
Although I've known some
particularly strong women in my time.
You certainly have.
Higgins
Wait a minute.
Give me that.
Uh, read out the-the
dates of the incidents.
Yeah, Buffalo, April 18th.
Columbus, April 25th.
Chicago, May 6th.
- And Toronto, May
- Higgins.
We need to find the detective.
Miss Bloom, what can you tell
me about the night of the murder?
Because, at the moment,
all of the evidence
points towards you and your friends.
I don't know what you're talking about.
I can tie your burlesque
troupe to a string of incidents
where men were stripped
naked and tied up.
We didn't have anything
to do with a murder.
I swear on my life.
But did you know this man?
After our shows,
if there's a fellow who's
a little too friendly,
one of us pretends to be drunk.
And then what?
She takes him home,
the other women follow.
If he just takes her to her door
and leaves, he's a gentleman.
And if he doesn't just leave?
We take him out to the street
corner, force him to undress
and leave him tied to a lamppost.
Mr. Hadley was one of these men.
And Miss Blaze left the club with him?
And Randy Potts threw his
clothes over the bridge.
Mr. Hadley could have
overpowered any one of you.
I have a prop gun for our
cops and robbers routine.
I I used it just
to scare him a little.
It doesn't work. You can see for
yourself, it's back at my room.
Miss Bloom, Mr. Hadley wasn't shot.
He was stabbed through
the heart with a hat pin.
I I don't know anything about that.
We never hurt anyone.
We just
We just want to embarrass them
and make them think twice
before ever being
aggressive with a lady.
George. Can we talk?
Constable.
Is there anything you forgot
to tell the detective this time?
No, I I just wanted to apologize.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you
how we were involved sooner.
Well, you really should have, Nina.
I'm sure you know that this makes you
and your friends look guilty.
I swear to you, we didn't hurt him.
He was trying to hurt one of us.
Look, George, you don't
know what it's like
to always be on your guard,
to know that any evening, some man
I appreciate that, Nina, but what
you and your friends were doing
you were playing a very dangerous game.
I know.
But, George, please stand up for us.
You know me.
You know I could never
be involved in a murder.
Right now I have to make
sure that you're in the cells.
I'm sorry.
I believe her, sir. She
had nothing to do with this.
Sounds like she was involved.
She admitted as much.
Well, they tied the man to a
lamppost to humiliate him, that's all.
That makes them all suspects.
Yes, but anything could have
happened after they left him there.
Sirs, you both know Nina Bloom well.
Do you honestly think she's
capable of killing a man?
Things could have changed since
we last saw Miss Bloom, Crabtree.
The life of a travelling burlesque
dancer could make a woman
Into a murderer?
Into someone who might go to
extremes to protect herself.
Mrs. Parsons, did you sleep well?
I don't know, I think so.
We had to operate to stop
the internal bleeding.
You you saved me, Doctor.
Yes, but we're not equipped
to perform surgeries here.
You should have gone
back to the hospital.
At the hospital they
just poked and prodded me
like I was a slab of meat on the table.
They didn't listen to anything I said.
I'm never going back there.
You could have died.
But I didn't, thanks to you.
Cheers.
Miss Bloom and her dancers are in jail?
Until we get to the
bottom of what happened,
their show's cancelled.
Those protestors got their wish.
Maybe now they'll leave me alone.
You ought to count yourself lucky.
They went to the Board of Control.
They want me to shut this place down.
Shut me down?
I should be the one bringing
charges against them!
What for?
They threw a smoke bomb on my stage.
Why didn't you come to the
station house and file a report?
What's the point?
And I didn't see who did it.
Are you going to shut me down?
I'd rather not.
But if the board wants you out
of business, they'll find a way.
You wouldn't still have
that smoke bomb, would you?
Yes, I think so.
Why?
All right, George. Miss Bloom said
the gun was in a box near the door.
Sir, it's rusted through.
Completely seized.
Very good, George.
We'll bring that with us.
Sir, I can't imagine we'll
find much else of use in here.
I feel like we should be out
looking for the real killer.
I know you want to
believe Miss Bloom, George,
but let's keep looking.
What exactly are we looking for?
We'll know when we find it.
Oh, no.
Sir?
What is it, George?
The other half of the hat pin.
The missing piece of the murder weapon.
Oh, it's you lot.
I trust Mr. Duncan from the
Board of Control has seen you.
Indeed he has.
Then you'll shut down that
immoral nightclub immediately?
Their show has been cancelled.
But don't gloat, it's nothing you did.
It's due to circumstances
beyond your control.
All the same, it's a small
step in the right direction.
What did I say when I saw you last?
That the, uh, burlesque show was
legal, which I find hard to believe.
I said I would look into the matter.
But when I did,
I found this.
This was thrown onto stage
at The Star Bright Club.
Now, I'm willing to
bet one of you did it.
- We would never!
- Well, then you won't mind
giving me your fingermarks to compare.
Or, I'll dispose of this
if you lot get out of my
station house for good. Clear?
You've just made an enemy
of Mr. Duncan, Inspector.
Ronald!
Scarlett Blaze. Is that your real name?
It's been my name so
long, I forget any other.
anything to do with this.
And this is the truth, Miss Potts.
Constables,
are these women dancers
with that licentious revue?
In the flesh.
Are you both being
arrested for immorality?
Oh! Um, we're all in here
accused of murder, but
they've got nothing on
any of us that'll stick.
Miss Potts.
Please.
Will you speak to all
the women again, sir?
They all covered for each
other and I fear they would
do the same again and
we'd be no further ahead
in discovering who killed Mr. Hadley.
Well, if you don't mind,
sir, perhaps I'll call Effie.
- Maybe she can help them.
- Ah, yes, George.
If they won't confess anything further,
then I'm afraid I can't help them.
They'll all go to trial.
Where did this photograph come from?
I suppose Higgins may have found
it looking into the ladies' tour.
George,
have a look at that.
The hat pin?
The murder weapon.
It's identical.
And it's worn by one Edie Sweet.
I swear to you, I lost
that hat pin in Chicago.
I was frantic, it's the most
expensive thing anyone ever gave me!
If you lost it, how
did half of it end up
in Mr. Hadley's chest and the
other half hidden in your room?
I'm telling you, I don't know!
You stabbed Mr. Hadley with such force
the hat pin broke in half.
You then pulled the Jewelled
half out of his chest,
- hid it in your room, likely to pawn later.
- No!
I did keep it, but I didn't stab him.
I went back,
after we had all left him.
You and your friends
left Mr. Hadley there
and he was alive?
You then came back
alone and found him dead?
Why did you go back to him?
I don't want to say.
Miss Sweet, you are likely
going to hang for murder.
Your co-operation right now may
be the only thing that saves you.
I wanted an apology.
For him trying to force
himself on your friend?
No.
Not that.
You knew him?
Years ago.
We used to
be together.
He beat me.
He stole from me.
He was horrible.
That's why you all targeted him.
It always feels good to give
those men what's coming to them.
But with him
I wanted more.
I wanted to see his humiliation
just a little bit longer.
Miss Sweet, this all sounds like
very strong motive for murder.
But I didn't kill him!
He was dead.
I saw the hat pin, I
panicked and I took it.
Mrs. Crabtree. Thank you for coming.
Of course.
I'm sorry our second meeting
is under much less
enjoyable circumstances.
Do you think you can get me out of here?
Well, there's an awful lot
of evidence against you.
I just don't understand what happened.
When we left him, he was alive and then,
when I went back, he was dead. I
Your former lover,
- killed with your hat pin.
- Yes.
How do you suppose it got there?
- I don't know.
- Was it one of your friends?
No! Why would they?
Miss Sweet, it's very
difficult to understand
how anyone but you could be responsible.
Do you think I did it?
I think that a jury
will believe you did it.
Oh, Henry.
Good detective work today.
That photograph was very useful.
Uh, what photograph, sir?
The one you left on my desk
of the burlesque dancers.
I'm sorry, sir. I don't know
what you're talking about.
Oh
Right, Henry, gather
all of the information
you have on the men who
were tied to lampposts,
give it all to George
and have him meet me
in my office straight away.
Sir, I have those articles.
Ah, yes.
Were you able to find anything
pertaining to the Chicago incident?
I did, sir.
And that was the burlesque
troupe's last stop before coming
to Toronto, just last week.
Right, then, listen to this.
"A man was found this
morning tied to a lamppost
on the corner of Fairview
and Carfax Avenue.
He identified himself
as Dr. Sullivan Reid
of Netheredge Drive.
Dr. Reid refused to say how he
found himself in the predicament,
or who put him there.
He also refused to comment
on the fact that he was
absent a stitch of clothing."
Miss Sweet maintains that she
lost the hat pin in Chicago
and then it turned up here
in Toronto as a murder weapon.
But, sir, she had a prior
relationship with Hadley.
- She hated him.
- That could be a terrible coincidence.
So, how does this Dr. Reid from Chicago
figure into the murder?
He could have taken the
hat pin, kept it with him,
travelled to Toronto following the
tour dates of the burlesque troupe,
it wouldn't have been difficult,
and waited for them
to find their next man.
There's no picture of him.
How will we know who he is?
Chicago.
I believe we've met him, George.
Several times.
Chicago was bad enough.
I thought this was Toronto the Good.
Mr. Glover knew that we had
all the women in custody.
We're all in here accused of murder, but
they've got nothing on
any of us that'll stick.
Sir, he could have
been the that photograph
one who put of Miss Sweet on your desk.
He's the one who pointed me in the
direction of the women's lodgings.
And as he's a doctor,
he would know how to stab
a man through the heart.
Release the women, George.
The show must go on.
Good people of Toronto!
Turn away from this den of iniquity!
Shameful degenerates
have no place in our town!
Mrs. Reddick, Mrs.
Reddick, what are you doing?
- We are trying to make the citizens
- Dear, please.
We are doing work that you and
your men should be doing, Detective.
We were told the show tonight
was cancelled, but evidently not.
So, you're teaching
these people a lesson?
Precisely.
Is that what you were doing, Dr. Reid?
Yes, of course. We must
Sir, he's running!
Dr. Reid, you're under arrest.
On your feet!
They did it to me, all right.
All I was trying to do was help one
of those ladies back to her hotel.
Are you sure that's all you were doing?
They tied me up, they took my clothes,
and they left me there all night.
I was the laughingstock of Chicago!
I lost my practice, my wife, everything.
So, you took Miss Sweet's
hat pin that night in Chicago
and kept it with you?
I knew I could use it
to get revenge on at
least one of those harlots.
And what better way
to do it than stab it
through the heart of another poor
schmuck who they were gonna destroy?
You killed an innocent
man to get your revenge.
Innocent?
He was at a burlesque,
pawing women and drinking his life away.
Pathetic.
Just like me.
She went to sleep so quickly.
Evidently, so did you.
Ellie is a firm believer
in "baby airing."
Exposing her to as much
fresh air as possible.
I think it tires her out.
- How was your day?
- Oh! Fine.
A young lady was being framed for murder
and we managed to uncover her innocence.
Wonderful.
And, uh, how is your patient faring?
- Did she fully recover after the emergency surgery?
- Yeah.
- Just.
- Oh! Good.
But you're not happy?
It's the clinic.
It's too small.
We can't serve the needs
of the women of Toronto.
You want to expand?
More than that.
Toronto needs a women's hospital.
And the women's clinic will be the
foundation on which it is built.
Effie,
are you sure about this?
I mean, we're leaving in the
morning to go on our honeymoon.
Well,
we'll have to have
hangovers on the train.
Mr. Duncan.
- Fancy meeting you here.
- Tom. Uh, yes. I, uh,
thought I should see the show for myself
- to know what I'm fighting against.
- Indeed.
I reckon you should be thanking
me for letting the show go on.
Now, Tom. Let's not argue.
How about you never ask me to
close down a burlesque again
and I'll never tell
anyone you were here?
Enjoy your evening.
- George!
- You came!
- Oh, how marvellous.
- Nina, you look wonderful.
You're a doll.
Uh, George, can we talk for a minute?
I'll go find us a table.
It's all right, Nina. I understand.
Of course, you'd be sweet about it.
It's just like you, but
But I just want you to know
how sorry I am for lying to you.
You were protecting your friend.
Had to. Four of us
all we have is each other.
Are you all right, Nina? I mean, really.
I have to admit, seeing
you so happy, it's
hard not to think of the path not taken.
But this is the life I chose and
I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Well, I'm glad. And I'm
glad I got to see you
before you're off on
your next wild adventure.
And you on yours.
Goodbye, George.
I've ordered us some champagne.
To our honeymoon.
And to the rest of our lives together.