The Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s17e14 Episode Script

(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
(BUZZING)
(MAN): You're so much more
than people realize, aren't you?
We'll show 'em.
(SOFT PIANO MUSIC)
(TENSE MUSIC)
I'll tell you: I've never seen
one quite so crispy before.
Henry, please. Let's show some respect.
Indeed. Crispy really isn't
the word, Constable Higgins.
I suppose you're right. There's
hardly any skin left on him.
(DISTANT CROW CAWING)
I'm told you were also in the
shed earlier today, Mister?
Beezbruch. Leonard Beezbruch.
And if I had been there an hour
earlier, it would've been me.
Any idea as to the
identity of the remains?
They must be those of Dr. Eeker.
I take it he was a
professor at the university?
He was the dean of science.
(DISTANT HORSE NEIGHING)
Did you and Dr. Eeker
cross paths this morning?
Only for a brief moment as I was leaving
to meet a friend for lunch.
By the time I returned,
the shed was ablaze.
Right. If you could
come this way, please.
Henry?
- Constable Higgins-Newsome!
- Hm?
If you could please finish
taking Mr. Beezbruch's statement?
Of course, sir. Just
starting to get good.
Right this way.
Anything of note with
the body, Miss Hart?
Oh, I'll have to do a
more thorough examination,
but there are no signs of trauma
to the body beyond the burns.
It's possible the victim's
death was just a tragic accident.
I'm not so sure about that.
Do you see this darker
mark through here?
Sort of serpentine pattern. What is it?
It may indicate the presence
of a chemical accelerant.
The fire was set intentionally?
It's possible.
And, if so
Who started it?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
How long had you been Dr.
Eeker's secretary, Miss Kent?
Three years.
Uh, although I was to transfer to
the dean of arts' office next week.
What was the reason for the change?
Uh, time to broaden my
horizons is all. Um
I draw, so arts seemed
like a good fit for me.
(SNIFFLES)
Do you know of anyone who
may have wished the dean dead?
He had his fair share of detractors,
though that's not uncommon for
someone in such a powerful position.
Anyone specific come to mind?
Well, he did recently face
a challenge to his deanship
from Demetre LaFlamme. It was
It was nasty business.
This LaFlamme is also a
professor here at the university?
Yes. He specializes in pyrology.
Py
Pyrology?
The scientific study of fire?
Exactly.
I think I would very much like
to speak with this Dr. LaFlamme.
Right down this hall. You make a right,
and then a left, and then a right.
Thank you.
Have you been able to confirm
Mr. Beezbruch's alibi, Henry?
Uh, alibi, sir?
Oh! Ha. Yes, actually.
The friend that Beezbruch
lunched with says
that they were together
from 12:00 'til 1:00.
You seem distracted,
Henry. More so than usual.
(SIGHS) It's this book,
sir. I can't put it down.
I don't recall you
being much of a reader.
I'm not, sir. Uh, but
Ruth's social calendar
is bursting at the seams as of late
and I've needed something
to fill the many,
many hours I've been
home alone with Jordan.
I see.
I didn't expect it to be
such a thrilling pastime, sir.
I'm even going to hear
the author read later,
which means I have only six
hours left to finish his book.
Be that as it may, you are on duty.
So, perhaps, for the next
five and a half hours,
we could focus on the task at hand?
I'll do my best, sir.
(KNOCKING) Dr. LaFlamme?
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
He can't have gone far, sir.
That tea's still piping hot.
What do we have here?
Henry, there are enough accelerants here
to burn down the entire university.
Who in the blazes are you?
(MURDOCH): Demetre LaFlamme, I presume?
Not much of a presumption,
what with my name on the door.
Detective William Murdoch,
Toronto Constabulary.
We have a few questions for you.
What sort of questions?
The sort of questions that would be
best answered at my place of work.
Your place of
Oh, you mean the police station?
Very good. Shall we?
As if summoned by some kind of master,
the roaches and bees rose
from their nests and hives,
by ground and by air.
They stalked relentlessly toward a small
and unassuming man,
destined to soon become
food for the worms!
- (CROWD GASPS)
- Oh!
I'm afraid if you want
to learn how it all ends,
you'll have to pony up a
dollar for your own copy.
(CHUCKLES) Bzz!
(LAUGHING, APPLAUSE)
That was great. Isn't he something?
Oh.
- Isn't he something?
- Oh, he certainly is.
Do I know you?
Not formally, no. I'm Clara Kent.
- Oh.
- I'm, um
I was Dr. Eeker's secretary.
Oh, yes.
I have him to blame
for not yet finishing
the Rise of the Arthropods.
I must say, it was wonderful
to hear it read out loud.
So much, um
Less labour intensive.
I may even come again tomorrow
night! (HIGGINS CHUCKLES)
Personally, I wonder
if Mr. Winghed-Sheen
has lost his knack for it.
- And why's that, Miss?
- Cornelia Sweet.
This new story just seems so
Improbable.
Insects branded as weapons?
I wouldn't say that it's improbable.
Any creature can be
trained, can they not?
The only reason I can think
for you to have dragged me
in here is because you have
heard of my dislike of Dean Eeker.
I did,
but I thought I should hear
from you on the subject.
(SIGHS)
The man was a fossil, for starters.
By that I take it you
mean old-fashioned?
Is that why you challenged his deanship?
Ah, it wasn't only that.
Eeker's antiquated ways were
holding the university back.
- In what way?
- In every way!
Most relevant to myself,
he refused a young woman's admission
into the graduate program
on the basis of sex alone,
as far as I can tell.
How is that relevant to you?
I was hoping to supervise
her work. She was brilliant!
Had fascinating ideas
about extinguishing fires
with the use of flue gas.
I see.
I admit to wanting Eeker's job.
I even admit to strongly
disliking the man.
But I did not kill him.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
What have you, Miss Hart?
The results of my
preliminary blood work.
I thought you should see right away.
Results show lethal levels
of apitoxin in system.
Dr. Eeker didn't die in the fire?
No. Have a look at this.
(CURIOUS MUSIC)
Oh! Something seems to have
been left behind in there.
I believe it to be a stinger.
Dr. Eeker was killed by a bee sting?
Multiple bee stings.
And judging by the amount
of apitoxin in his blood,
he was stung hundreds of times.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Uh, would you watch where you're
- Oh!
- Dr. Ogden.
I-I'm sorry. I was engrossed.
Engrossed. In a book?
Yes. Why does everyone
think that's so strange?
Oh! I-I just never
took you for a reader.
You and the rest of the world.
I'll have you know I
read at a very early age.
- Oh! Really? How young?
- Eleven.
Oh! (LAUGHING)
Oh! That's not
- You have a lovely day.
- Oh. You, as well.
All right
Where was I?
Oh. Oh, Beezbruch. Hello!
Constable Higgins-Newsome.
All right.
(SIGHS)
(MISS SWEET): Oh, I know you!
Miss Sweet. What an unusual costume.
Are you a performer of some kind?
Oh, goodness, no! Um, I'm a vendor.
Today is my first time
selling at a market
and I thought that I
should dress the part.
Honey? Uh, you're a beekeeper?
Oh, I don't think I've
earned that title yet.
You see, some bees took up
residence in my barn this Spring
and I just couldn't bear
to have them exterminated.
Even after the evil they do
in Rise of the Arthropods?
Well, that's nothing but fiction.
- (MISS SWEET CHUCKLES)
- Based on fact,
according to what Mr.
Winghed-Sheen said last night.
Oh. Here, allow me.
- What a dear you are. Thank you.
- There you are.
I insist you must try some of my honey.
- As a thank you.
- Oh, but I don't have anything
Do you have a spoon?
Oh, silly goose. You have fingers!
Just throw it around
Mm!
Easy as pie, see? Try it.
Mm.
Ah! So, the professor's
death wasn't a murder at all?
I've spoken with Mr. Beezbruch,
and he confirmed that there
was, indeed, a kerosene lantern
in the shed. It was likely
the cause of the burn marks
that I took as evidence
of an accelerant.
Mm. What a way to go. Bees.
Indeed. Though I would argue
being burnt alive is equally bad.
Well, you're not wrong
there, me ol' mucker.
So, sir, I take it you approve
of me releasing Dr. LaFlamme.
Of course. Nice to wrap a
case up quickly for a change.
Sirs? Higgins just called.
Another person's been stung to death.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Julia, what are you?
- I was shopping.
- Statements.
Did you see what happened?
I did. It was almost biblical.
Biblical? In what way?
Like the locusts in Egypt!
Oh! Miss Kent. This is a surprise.
It was like a living
nightmare, more like.
First Dr. Eeker and now Miss Plezbynski.
You're familiar with
this victim as well?
Yeah, yeah. We worked
together at Knowing Nature.
You work at a magazine alongside
your duties at the university?
As a volunteer, yes. Uh,
Miss Plezbynski, she was the editor
and I drew the illustrations, and
we came here to gather more
subscribers, and then she was just,
- she was swarmed out of nowhere.
- I see.
I saw it myself, sir.
She tried desperately to swat
them away but didn't work.
They were only after her, sir.
Wha Julia?
(JULIA SIGHS) Yes, it's true.
I saw it, as well.
We'll take it from here, Miss Kent.
They were only after her?
That's not possible, Julia.
Well, then Henry and
I saw the impossible.
William, I must go.
I'm off to the morgue.
Miss Hart has ordered some
supplies for me. Good luck.
Hm.
Oh!
Mr. Higgins, isn't it just awful?
Uh sir, this is Miss Cornelia Sweet.
We met last night at the
author talk I mentioned.
Did you know Miss
Plezbynski well, Miss Sweet?
No, no. We never met.
But she must have been
stung dozens of times.
That's a lot of bees
for a colony to lose.
Do you have any idea what would
cause bees to attack like this?
Goodness, no.
I've always found that
if you don't bother bees,
they don't bother you.
Despite the way Mr. Winghed-Sheen
characterizes them in his new book.
Mr. Winghed-Sheen?
The author I've been
telling you about, sir.
Come to think of it, sir,
if anyone can help with
this case, it'll be him.
"Dr. Arthropodium had
raised an army of insects
and now he was ready
to destroy his enemies."
I'm sorry. I'm afraid there
may be a misunderstanding.
And why is that?
Well, your book. It's a fantasy.
(SCOFFS)
Uh but all my work is
based on scientific fact.
It's a point of pride.
I see. Well, then, tell me:
What causes bees to attack en masse?
(SCOFFS) Well, there are
several such occasions
in my newest book when a scientist
- Dr. Arthropodium?
- That's right!
Dr. Arthropodium, he
Well, he raises them.
How exactly does he do that?
Perhaps a better way to describe
my work is inspired by fact.
But I maintain I can be of
assistance in your investigation.
Well, then, perhaps you
can do so by pointing me
to the set of facts that inspired
the swarm of bees in the book.
Of course, yes! Uh
Uh, let me think.
Y-You know, p-p-perhaps I, uh, misspoke.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Busy day, it seems.
Yes, uh, thank you, Mr. Winghed-Sheen.
This has been, ah, illuminating.
My office, now. And bring him with you.
-
- Explain yourself.
I merely granted an interview.
Yes. And now people believe
we're in the midst of
some sort of bee invasion.
Mr. Winghed-Sheen, why would
you grant an interview like this?
Well, I saw it as my duty.
If the effects of my book
are coming to fruition,
it's-it's only right
I-I warn the public.
But, as we've discussed, your
book is a work of fiction.
Or
Could it perhaps be prophetic?
How 'bout this for a prophecy?
You give one more interview
and you'll find yourself behind bars!
Now get out of my station house.
I need a drink.
So, what's the plan?
- Plan, sir?
- (DOOR CLOSES)
To deal with the bees.
This is hardly a police matter.
These deaths can't be considered murder.
(BRACKENREID EXHALES) The only
way that people will calm down
is if we can give them an explanation.
And you, my ol' mucker,
are the man for the job.
Couldn't you have brought
another constable along, sir?
I don't like bees, especially
after reading that book.
There's no reason to
be concerned, Henry,
and, besides, everyone
else had their hands full.
My hands were full, too, sir.
I've still got cramps in them from
all the statements I've been taking.
Do you really think that
the bees are rising up
as Mr. Winghed-Sheen suggests?
Finally, an expert opinion, sir.
I told you before, Clara,
there's nothing to worry about.
Thank you, Miss Kent.
Between Eeker breaking her heart,
her friend's death, and
that author riling people up,
poor Clara doesn't know what to believe.
Oh. She and Dr. Eeker were courting?
Not publicly. And he'd
ended things recently,
which is why she's changing jobs, but
I suspect you're not here to
talk about departmental drama.
Indeed not. We're hoping
you can shed some light
on these recent attacks.
I have a meeting to get to, gentlemen.
But whatever I can do to help.
Yes. Do you have any
idea what could be causing
these bees to behave so aggressively?
Aggression isn't my area of expertise.
But, based on what Clara told
me about Miss Plezbynski's death,
I do believe it could be
alarm substance response.
Oh.
What's that and how do we stop it?
Bees secrete various chemical factors
as a means of communicating.
They can tell each other everything
from the location of the queen
to the best place to find nectar.
Including where to swarm?
Not exactly. Alarm substance
response can alert bees to danger.
And, yes, if there are enough nearby,
it could cause a swarm to form.
Is there any way to detect
this chemical substance?
It's invisible to the naked eye.
But it does have a sort of
sweet banana smell to it.
Excuse me, gentlemen.
I-I really have to go.
Yes, uh thank you, Mr. Beezbruch.
This has been most helpful.
We need to return to that market.
If we are able to locate a beehive,
then that would help explain
why Mrs. Plezbynski was attacked.
Well, sir, if that's the case,
I have one final question
for Mr. Beezbruch.
Anything?
I-I don't think that
will be necessary, Henry.
Oh, I think you'll think differently
if we find a hive around here.
Something which is seeming less
and less likely every minute.
We've seen no sign
of a beehive anywhere.
Well, sir, I don't know what
to tell you. This is the place.
(SNIFFS) Whoa!
- Whoa!
- What is it?
It smelled sweet, sir! It's
the alarm substance response!
The bees are coming!
Henry, it's been hours since the attack.
I really don't think that the
substance would still be potent.
It smells sweet.
And it is sticky.
Do you really think
this is the substance
that Mr. Beezbruch was talking about?
What else would it be, sir?
Any idea?
The dispersion suggests
some sort of spray.
And the sweetness reminds me
(SIGHS) I did detect a similar scent
while preparing Miss Plezbynski's body.
At the time, I presumed
it was her perfume,
but perhaps I was wrong.
It has the same sweet smell.
And there appears to be
a spot of discolouration
right here on the fabric.
Is there any way of determining
exactly what that is?
Presuming it was the same
substance as on the magazine,
the physical qualities suggest
it's some sort of starch.
A few drops of iodine
would confirm as much.
Ah. Indeed.
(CURIOUS MUSIC)
Oh. Just as we expected.
It's some sort of fruit or vegetable.
I can run some more tests
to discover which one.
- That won't be necessary.
- Why not?
- Because I believe it to be banana.
- Bananas?!
It is the alarm response substance.
No. The alarm response
substance isn't banana, Henry.
But it is possible someone has
made a synthesized version of it.
Some villain is using
bees as murder weapons?
It's exactly like Mr.
Winghed-Sheen said.
But that's that's not possible.
I didn't believe it was
possible, either, Miss Hart,
- until now.
- And what changed your mind?
The fact that we've discovered
banana scent on our victim's clothing.
Uh, Mr. Beezbruch told
me that when a bee stings,
it releases a chemical that
is somewhat akin to banana.
- Fascinating.
- Horrifying!
In either case, the scent is
a sort of call to the cavalry
that forces all of the other
bees nearby to become aggressive.
How could someone make a
synthetic version of that?
I don't know.
But I suppose it's possible,
given the right compounds.
That's true. One would
simply need to boil bananas
and their peels, and over time,
the essence would be
transferred into the water.
Then load that water into an atomizer
and the killer would then
be able to direct the bees
at whatever target he chooses.
Million little murderers.
But who on earth would
go to all that trouble?
(TENSE MUSIC)
It's a truly remarkable
book, Mr. Winghed-Sheen.
It's almost as if you've
predicted the future.
Oh. Some might even say
I'm a modern Nostradamus.
I wouldn't, of course,
but I don't mind if you do!
Oh, thank you, dear. I'll treasure it.
I've brought you something, also.
- Oh.
- I'm hoping it'll be enough
for you to sign
All
Of
- These.
- Why,
this is my entire catalogue!
I'd better get to it, hm? Your name?
Ah, Miss Cornelia Sweet.
Ah! Lovely.
Didn't expect to see you here again.
Oh! Well, I am a longtime fan.
And that doesn't change
simply because I take
issue with his last book.
You won't be taking issue
with it for very long.
Well, why do you say that?
Well, there you are, dear.
This book signing is over.
But I've kept my word and
not given a single interview.
What cause do you have to
interrupt my time with my admirers?
Suspicion of murder.
Look, this is an outrage!
I wonder what your admirers
have to say about this?
I-I-I've never seen it in my life.
Sounds like more of your
fiction, Mr. Winghed-Sheen.
Henry.
My jacket!
Uh, you said it yourself.
My books are fiction.
I had no idea banana could
spur bees into attacking.
Your publisher tells me that sales
of Rise of the Arthropods
have tripled since Dr. Eeker was killed.
Well, that's wonderful.
You directly benefitted from
his death, Mr. Winghed-Sheen.
But it do-doesn't mean I killed him.
You also had personal motive
for wanting him dead,
similarly with dawn Plezbynski.
But I don't know either of those people!
What motive could I possibly have?
Miss Plezbynski published
a review of your book,
written by Dr. Eeker, in the
most recent issue of her magazine.
Well, I'm sure it's not as bad
as the headline makes it sound.
"There is not a hint of scientific
fact in this ridiculous tale
by an author whose work rivals
the worst of this format."
(CHOKING)
That stings, I'll admit it.
Dr. Eeker may have been
right about the lack of facts,
but you did use science to exact revenge
on those who criticized your work.
(ENGINE RUMBLING)
-
- (EERIE MUSIC)
Mr. Winghed-Sheen?
(WINGHED-SHEEN SIGHS) Oh
Anthony Winghed-Sheen is no more. I'm
I'm just a prisoner number now.
Sir, it's not as bad as all that.
Is it not?
There remains some hope?
Well, I wouldn't go that far.
- (SOFT BUZZING)
- Why!?
(GRUNTS)
There's something buzzing around.
It's driving me mad.
- Oh! Get out! Now!
- (LOUD BUZZING)
(WINGHED-SHEEN SHOUTS)
(WINGHED-SHEEN SCREAMING) Help!
No, no, no, no!
(WINGHED-SHEEN): Ah!
Help me! No! Come back!
- (LOUD BUZZING)
- (SCREAMING)
Mr. Winghed-Sheen is under attack, sir!
What do you mean under attack, Henry?
The bees, sir! They've breached
the station house walls!
Oh! We need to get him out of the cells.
Sound like a job for Henry.
(BRACKENREID): Well,
jump to it, Higgins!
- What? Why me?
- Why you?
Isn't it bloody obvious?
- (MURDOCH): Yes!
- Sir!
- Well, go on!
- All right, sir.
And you go with him.
- What?
- Go!
Make way! Clear some space!
(WINDHED-SHEEN GROANING)
You know what this means, Murdoch.
Mr. Winghed-Sheen isn't our killer,
but someone wanted us
to believe that he was.
Were there fingermarks on the
bottle that you found in his things?
No. I assumed he'd worn gloves
when spraying his victims.
What I hadn't considered was
that the item was planted.
- Hindsight and all that.
- Hm.
Hm.
-
- Things are getting worse, not better.
And how are we going to get
the bees out of the cells?
I've been trying to figure
that out myself, sir, and
I think I'm having an idea.
You?
The world's gone topsy bloody turvy!
Well, go on, then. Let's hear it.
Well, sir, it says here
that the queen bee emits
a kind of a homing
beacon to their colony.
Another of the chemical
factors bees use to communicate.
Exactly. So if we could get our hands
on the queen of the colony,
could we use her to lure
the bees into captivity?
I think that actually makes sense.
It does, sir.
But I don't think it's likely to work.
Why not?
Well, sir, we didn't
find a large beehive
outside of the station
house, nor did we find one
at the marketplace where
Miss Plezbynski was attacked.
So that tells me that
the killer is the one
releasing large numbers of bees.
So they have the queen, then.
Yes. But perhaps there is a way
to rid the bees out of our cells
and to discover who the true killer is.
How?
Sir, we know of three people
who have access to large beehives.
Mr. Beezbruch, Miss
Sweet, and Miss Kent,
and they all have connection
to at least one of the victims.
Kent's connected to all three.
Yes, but I'm not sure
Miss Kent could help us
with our bee problem,
given that she doesn't work
directly with them.
So that leaves Mr.
Beezbruch and Miss Sweet.
Have you been able to
reach Mr. Beezbruch?
I have not, sir.
Then bring in Miss Sweet.
(MISS SWEET): I think
that's most of them,
- but I'll do one more pass.
- (BUZZING)
A professional would have
exterminated these bees
and-and that would have
been just devastating.
Isn't that something of an
overstatement, Miss Sweet?
Oh, no, not at all!
Bees are crucial to our environment.
Did you know they're
responsible for pollinating
many of our fruits and vegetables?
I confess I did not.
Yes. Well, I've been reading up and
It's convinced me how important
it is we protect bee life,
which explains my use of this.
A smoker? How so?
Well, apparently smoking has been
used to calm bees for centuries.
- Is that right?
- Yes.
And calm bees are happy bees,
which will make them easier to capture.
Miss Sweet, where were you
this morning at about 9 am?
Oh, at home, tending to my hives.
So you had nothing to do with
the attack on Mr. Winghed-Sheen?
Oh, I wouldn't even know how to begin
to make something like that happen.
(BUZZING)
Well, that takes care
of our bee problem.
What about the other?
Is Miss Sweet our killer?
Sir, I don't know what to think.
She claims to be an amateur,
but her actions in the cells
demonstrated some expertise.
Tucker, see if you can find a connection
between Miss Sweet
and our other victims.
Oh, and while you're at it,
please do the same for Mr.
Beezbruch and Miss Kent.
Me? Wha no!
I haven't had a spare moment all week!
(PHONE RINGING)
Sounds like you're not
about to get one now either.
Well, go on, answer it!
Station House Four.
Oh, sirs!
Anthony Winghed-Sheen is awake.
Oh, you had fled by that
point, Constable Higgins,
but I imagine it was quite a sight,
what with those buzzing fiends
assaulting me from every
angle like a hurricane!
It was horrifying.
Truly life changing. I
Yet, it's given me an idea.
- For a new book?
- Indeed.
Imagine a man
(MURDOCH): I knew it!
Ah, sir, could you
know it in five minutes?
His socks were sprayed
with liquidized banana.
He was targeted.
- That's strange.
- That sounds like the work
of a rival author to me.
I don't believe that to be the case.
I'll need you to account
for your movements yesterday.
Ah, well, I was in the market
in the morning selling my books.
Then I had a long
lunch with my publisher,
and I gave my second
reading in the evening. Why?
At some point, you crossed
paths with our killer.
Uh, Miss Sweet and Miss Kent
were also at the reading,
if I'm not mistaken.
Sir, Beezbruch was
at the market as well.
Beezbruch! Ah!
(GROANING IN PAIN)
Yes, I recognize that name.
Is he some sort of scientist?
He's a graduate student.
Yes! Oh, the fellow
assaulted me at my stall.
Quite pompous, if you ask me! Hm.
Well, what did he have to say?
Oh, he had the audacity to call my book
anti-insect propaganda.
Told me I was soon to get my
comeuppance and stormed off.
Sir, that's a threat
if ever I've heard one.
I agree.
And what of Miss Kent and Miss Sweet?
Anything of note there?
Miss Sweet. I believe she
gave me a jar of honey.
Yes, she's quite keen
for people to taste it.
- Hm?
- Hm?
Is that it?
Yes. I-I she seemed, well, sweet.
I-I doubt she had any cause to hurt me.
Right. We'll start with Mr. Beezbruch.
(EXCLAIMING LOUDLY)
Hang my things before you go.
I hate it when my suits get creased.
- So do I.
- Mm.
And, uh, Henry, we'll need
to be sure to hang up
Sir.
- Where did you get this?
- Oh!
Yes, tha-that was, uh, the young lady
at the reading gave it to me.
What did she look like?
Unremarkable. Glasses, I think?
(BOTH): Miss Kent!
Oh, Miss Kent. Stop right there.
Detective. I didn't imagine
I'd be seeing you so soon.
I'd like you to explain this.
I drew that for Mr. Winghed-Sheen.
It was intended as a
threat against his life?
I intended no such thing. No.
That's an homage to his newest book.
Then how is it you were expecting us?
Because of this.
Ah, Constable Tucker
telephoned a short while ago
asking about Dr. Eeker's
relationship with Beezbruch.
And I wasn't aware of any issues,
but I called him back as soon as
I found this entry in his journal.
"The idea that bees dance to communicate
is absurd and childish.
I cannot allow Beezbruch
to mar this institution
with this research."
And Mr. Beezbruch decided
to change the focus
of his research last month.
And Dr. Eeker didn't like the idea.
If he knew about this,
then he had motive.
Thank you.
Have a look at this, sir.
It's from Miss Plezbynski's magazine.
Well, that connects Beezbruch
to all of the victims.
"We regret"
Appears to be a letter of rejection.
And that would give Mr. Beezbruch
motive for all of the attacks.
(KNOCKING) Mr. Beezbruch?
- Mr. Beezbruch?
- Uh, sir! That's a bee!
There's a bee right there!
(BUZZING)
No, Henry.
Take a closer look.
Look at the length of its torso.
I think you'll find
that this is a queen bee.
We need to capture it.
Give me a-a glass jar,
or something. Quickly!
Here, sir.
(EERIE MUSIC)
(BUZZING)
Argh! Oh
I suppose that's why he
didn't return my calls.
(SIGHS)
- (BUZZING)
- Oh, no! No!
After that bee!
Don't let it get away!
(TENSE MUSIC)
- See it?
- No, sir.
Miss Sweet!
Don't!
Don't get on that
(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Stop!
I said stop!
("FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE"
BY RIMSKY-KORSAKOV PLAYS)
(SPUTTERING)
(GRUNTS)
Just one more mission, my dears.
(BUZZING)
Ah! Get off! Ah!
Ah! Get off!
Whoa, ah!
(GRUNTING, SHOUTING)
Whoa, ah!
(SHOUTING) Ow! Ah!
(PANTING)
You made quite a splash, sir.
Well, I didn't catch her.
- Oh.
- Ow!
What was that for?
There was a bee, sir.
Clinging to your, uh
Ah.
Well, in that case, thank you.
I only wish we could've
captured Miss Sweet, too, sir.
She has an army at her disposal.
We'll never capture her
unless we defeat them.
Well, how in the world are
we going to do that, sir,
when they think that she's their queen?
By reminding them
That she isn't.
- Is that the queen, sir?
- Yes.
Alcohol should preserve
the queen bee's chemical
communication system.
Why on earth would you
preserve the bloody thing?
So that we can use her
to draw Miss Sweet's bees away from her.
How can you be sure it'll work?
Well, bees are intelligent creatures.
- They follow the queen.
- Exactly.
And preserving queen bees
was the subject of the article
that was rejected by Miss
Plezbynski's magazine.
Sir, I think I know why Miss
Sweet targeted Beezbruch.
- Why is that?
- Well, this file she had
when she escaped, sir, it's
from Beezbruch's office.
It's a whole pile of research
into dancing honeybees.
Dancing, sir. Could the
creatures get any more sinister?
- What's your point, Higgins?
- Sir, the point is,
the research wasn't
Beezbruch's. It was hers.
So you mean to say that Miss Sweet
- did all of the actual research herself?
- Yes, sir. Look.
And Beezbruch took credit for it.
That's why she went after him.
Well, it certainly wouldn't be
the first time that's happened.
So, Miss Sweet wasn't the amateur
- she made herself out to be.
- So it would seem.
So, how do we get her
without unleashing the
little demons on us?
I believe Henry can help.
(SIGHS)
(BIRDS CALLING)
(DOOR CREAKS)
(BUZZING)
(MISS SWEET): You
shouldn't have come here.
You knew I would.
(SINISTER MUSIC)
You are very smart, Miss Sweet.
In fact, brilliant.
I read your research paper on bees
using dancing to communicate.
It's a shame that Mr.
Beezbruch stole that from you.
There's more where that came from.
I know more about bees
than any man alive.
Indeed. I can see why
you turned your back
on Anthony Winghed-Sheen,
given he knows very little.
What is it that they say?
Don't meet your heroes.
It tends to end badly.
What I don't understand
is what your other victims
did to deserve their fates.
Ah! They refused to take me seriously!
Eeker? He wouldn't even
entertain my admission to study.
Said I didn't have the
constitution for the sciences.
The only thing that I don't
have that Beezbruch did
was a certain piece of anatomy.
And Miss Plezbynski?
Well, without a piece of
paper from the university
deeming me an expert,
she wouldn't publish me.
But I hope that in their
last miserable moments
They realized that this amateur
was the architect of their deaths.
(SCOFFS)
Well, thank you for your
confession, Miss Sweet.
Now, will you come down
to the station house
and face your fate willingly?
Surrender, you mean?
Oh! (LAUGHS)
No. I think not. (LAUGHING)
Please, Miss Sweet,
it would be much easier
- for all of us if you
- Mm! And another man
trying to tell me what to do.
It's funny.
I'd wager that you
haven't even realized
I've had the upper hand all along.
(LOUD BUZZING)
(MISS SWEET CHUCKLES)
Good luck getting out of
here alive, Detective Murdoch!
(MISS SWEET LAUGHS)
(LOUD BUZZING)
How-how are you doing this?
What repellent are you using?
Nothing at all.
I-I'm simply soothing them
With the sweet smell of lavender.
A smoker?
No. No, no, don't, don't!
What have you done?
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
Why aren't they listening
to me? What have you done?!
(GASPING)
They're simply responding
to their true queen.
And you, Miss Sweet,
are under arrest.
(BUZZING)
Excellent work, Henry.
That was the most harrowing
15 minutes of my life, sir.
But the bees were never even near you.
Yes, but they could have been, sir.
At any moment, they could have been.
(SIGHS)
What will become of them now?
They'll be donated to the university.
After the past few days, I suspect
there'll be lining up to study bees now.
(BRACKENREID): Well done, gentlemen.
Does that say what I think it does, sir?
Mr. Winghed-Sheen is out of the hospital
and is already working
on his next novel!
This one will be a sensational
but fact-based account
of a celebrated novelist
targeted by a mad admirer.
- (CHUCKLES)
- Good! At least there'll be some veracity
- to the work this time.
- How could there not be, sir?
Oh! And sir!
Apparently, there's a policeman
featured in the new book, as well.
I'll bet you anything that
he's based that character on me!
I'm sorry, Higgins.
But from what I've read,
I don't think it's you that
he based the character on.
Me? Oh, you must be joking.
After all I did for him?
Ah, this will not stand.
Where do you think you're going?
To have a word with Winghed-Sheen.
If he's going to write about all this,
- I expect to be included.
- Henry has a point.
Capturing Miss Sweet was
a team effort, after all.
Perhaps Mr. Winghed-Sheen could
insert you into the story as a
- as a sidekick of sorts, Higgins.
- Sidekick
Although,
I do like the idea of
a sidekick of my own.
Murdoch as your assistant?
(LAUGHING) You're
bloody kidding, Higgins!
What's wrong with that? I
think we make a dynamic pair.
Yes, we could be called
the Dynamic Twosome.
Ah. Sir, doesn't really
roll off the tongue.
But Winghed-Sheen can fix that.
I've got to find him
before he leaves town.
The Higgins-Newsome Twosome.
Hm. Not so good.
Hm.
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)