Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Mother of Pearl - full transcript

Come in!

Drinks, madam.

Thank you, Crosby.

Carnations.

What woman doesn't love
the aroma of a funeral?

Ginger ale. How cosmopolitan.

Do we have to go
to this thing tonight, Abe?

Sweetie, we must.
This dinner's our ticket

to expand into Canada.
Yeah, but does it

have to be Toronto?
The city's growing

like a wildfire.
Amory Steel needs to be here.



Besides, pumpkin, it's only for a few days.
Yeah, but it's hard

to imagine a more boring city
filled with more boring people.

Well, then...

it's up to us
to show them how to live.

- Now, now, tiger.
- What's the point

of having beautiful things
if you can't show them off?

Not that I don't
love to make an entrance,

but we shouldn't
keep your guests waiting.

Just one thing missing.

Pearls.

- They're gone!
- What?

Keep your knickers on!

Mary?
Flo! What are you doing here?

I have a life outside
of the morgue. Now, get in here



before you ruin everything.
What are you talking about? Just do it!

- What is going on?
- Mary!

Keep your voice down.
He'll be here any second.

We don't want you to spook him.
Who'll be here?

A suspect. Who else?

- We're pulling a little sting operation.
- In your own office?

We're gonna use the back door.
He'll never know it's

a detective agency.
And this place is très swanky.

What kind of a sting
operation is this?

Cheating husband.

I didn't think
you did matrimonial.

Well, things
are a little bit slow.

Why is Flo here?
She's not a detective.

She's the bait.

This philanderer likes a real
woman, if you know what I mean.

Now the real question
is why are you here?

- I need to speak with Frankie urgently.
- You could talk to me.

No, it's personal. It's not
about me, it's about Frankie.

- Is everything OK?
- I don't know. I just need to see her.

OK. Well, she's
in The Ward at Quon's.

Yeah, of course she is.

OK. Mary, it's time for you
to go. But if anything's wrong

- anything - you tell me.
- I will. Don't worry.

Good luck.

OK.

Well... hello there, handsome.

Hello. I'm looking
for Frankie Drake.

Thank you very much.

Frank... ie?

Fra... Good lord!

Hi, Mary.

What is going on?

Well, I'm quitting smoking.

For good, this time.

It's a Chinese treatment
called cupping.

It looks like you've been

attacked by an octopus.

But never mind.

Just... get dressed.
You have a problem.

Thank you, but I'm just
going to have regular tea

for once.

- You ever had green tea before?
- No...

but I'm sure I'll love it.

So what's the problem?

This has a lot of leaves in it.

I was referring to my problem.

Right.

A string of pearls
was stolen last night

from the Crown Ascot Hotel.
Really?

- They were priceless.
- Who's the mark?

Abe Amory of
Amory Steel, Pittsburgh.

And he needs a little
outside help.

Thanks for the tip, Mary. No. Frankie,
you're the last person he'd want to see.

The thief left something
in place of the pearls.

You stole evidence?

- I... borrowed.
- You could lose your job!

I know. My father is probably

turning in his grave right now,
but this is important.

Why would your father care?

Well, he was a policeman.

Really? You never told me that.

- I didn't?
- No.

He was just a patrolman,
but a very good one. He may

have even known your father. My father?
What does he have to do with this?

- Do you know what that is?
- It's a feather.

Frankie, that's a drake feather.

Apparently this was your
father's calling card.

Calling card? Wait, how
do you know all of this?

- Well, it's the talk of the station!
- What are you talking about?

The last time anyone
saw this feather

was over 20 years ago,
when a shipment of gold bars

was stolen on its way
to the Bank of Toronto.

My father was just
a smalltime conman.

Well apparently, at the time,

the cops were convinced
that your father was behind it.

But they could never
pin it on him.

Cops have long
memories, Frankie.

So now they're looking at you.
Me?! No, that's crazy!

Well, you know that,
and I know that,

but all anyone is saying...
What? What is everyone saying?

The feather doesn't
fall far from the Drake.

You should've seen
the look on his face

when I snapped a picture
of him and Flo

canoodling on the couch!

Are you listening?

Yeah! You... you had cannoli.

Frankie, you had nothing
to do with that robbery,

so what's the point in worrying?
The cops suspect me.

Me! Can you believe it?

Well, did you steal them?

Sorry, I had to ask.
Well, all we have to do

is figure out
what really happened

and everything will be fine.
Piece of cake.

We obviously know
it's a professional job.

The thief's gonna be
looking to fence those pearls.

Well, I'll ask around
with the usual suspects

and see if they've
heard anything. And you?

I'm gonna have a chat
with an old family friend.

Hello, Jack. It's been a while.

Frankie. I got your message.

What's wrong?

It's true.

The feather was
Ned's calling card.

You've gotta
understand, Frankie,

there are some things your dad
didn't want you to know.

I'm sure he would make
an exception in this case.

Tell me about the gold.

This was before you were born,

and Ned was a different
man back then.

He heard about a shipment
of gold bars coming in

from England, so we made a plan.

You robbed an armoured carriage.

Right in the middle
of a snowstorm.

God, you should have seen us,
all wrapped up, wearing these

crazy ski goggles Ned found.
We cleaned it out.

Left only the feather.

He always told me the feather
was just his good luck charm.

It was both. When your mom died,

Ned couldn't risk
doing a job this big again.

He had you to think about.

The cops never could nail us.
It drove them crazy.

Which is why the police
were always so hard on him.

Now it looks like
I'm their target.

Was the feather
public knowledge?

- No.
- So whoever knew

about the pearls must have known
my father well. Someone like

his righthand man.
If I had snatched

those pearls, I'd never
leave you to take the fall.

Well, someone else must've
known about the feather.

Just tell me the truth, Jack.

Your dad and I...

we had a little help,
back in the day.

Jack. Let's make this quick.

I'm supposed to be
at a constituency meeting.

Nice to see you too, Alderman.

- Who's the broad?
- Morris Flynn,

meet Frankie Drake.

Frankie?

I didn't mean...

I don't know what to say.
Yes, it is a day of surprises.

For instance, I just
learned that my father

was a master thief
and head of a criminal gang.

Yeah. Well, that's
all in the past now, Frankie.

Back in the day, Morris was the
best fence this side of the border.

Pretty good training ground
for a politician.

A career financed by your
share of the gold, no doubt.

We all used it
to set ourselves up.

I opened a printing business.

Ned saved his share
to take care of you.

So it was just
you two and my father?

That's not much of a gang.
Well, there was Vinnie,

God rest his soul. He died

last year, traveling the world.

- He bought shares in a steamer.
- But you didn't

call me here to reminisce.
I'm sure you heard about

the pearls that were stolen
from the Crown Ascot last night.

The thief left
a drake feather behind.

Which is going
to have the police

knocking down my door
any minute. Yours will be next.

Well, tell her, Jack!
We didn't do this.

If it wasn't you, then who?
Who else knew about the feather?

There must be someone else
from back then.

See, that's the thing, Frankie.

It's just us.
There's no one else.

You think they're
telling you the truth?

It turns out Jack has been
lying to me my whole life.

But you don't think he'd
do anything to hurt you?

- Nothing would surprise me.
- Well, I've checked

with Toronto's shadier jewelers.
No one's prepared

to handle anything
as hot as those pearls.

Maybe the thief is hanging onto them
until things quiet down. And either way,

we have to figure out
how the theft was pulled off.

OK. Well, I'll talk
to the Crown Ascot employees

and see if the Amory's
are traveling with any staff.

The help always know more
than they let on.

How do I look?

- Plainish.
- Perfect.

The claim is only $100000,
but the pearls

are worth much more.
But your company wouldn't...

Mr. Amory, we are well aware
of the value of your pearls,

and Eastford Insurance is just as
interested in getting them back as you are.

- Good.
- So to that extent,

to your knowledge, who else knew
the safe's combination?

Just myself and my wife.

I see.

Like I said
to the police, nothing

out of the ordinary happened.
Any maintenance happen

on the suite?
Nothing was scheduled.

How about any room service
or deliveries?

Just the usual
comings and goings.

Mostly flowers.
That woman loves flowers.

- That's it?
- That's it.

Five bucks doesn't
get you much these days.

I'll take that.

Finally! Mrs. Amory's
in a lather about these.

The Mrs. sure does have
a lot of nice things.

If the lady didn't
throw them on the floor,

they wouldn't need
to be endlessly cleaned.

I guess when you grew up
with people like us to help...

That woman wasn't
born to wealth...

In a barn, maybe.

- She married up?
- I believe the common parlance

- is golddigger.
- Ooh! Do tell!

The things that come out
of that woman's mouth...

Mrs. Amory was
shopping on Yonge Street

most of the day.
The afternoon I spent

in business meetings.
We were getting ready

for dinner when we discovered
the pearls were gone. The police

dusted for fingerprints
but they didn't find any.

- Except yours.
- Of course. And my wife's.

Were either of these flowers
delivered yesterday?

Carnations just before
noon and later, the roses.

So there was a delivery man
in your room?

Well, the same man came twice.
Rather average, I didn't pay him

any attention.
Anyone else? No. Well, not exactly.

There was
a windowwasher outside.

Did you notice
anything about him?

Not really, but I did notice the
name on his uniform. Unusual name.

Da Gama Window Cleaning.

Well...

turns out this town's
good for something.

Genuine from the Hudson's Bay.

Isn't that splendid?

We forget a donation

to the Salvation Army?
Nora, this is Ms. Cooper.

She's from our insurance company.
Good afternoon, Mrs. Amory.

Do you have wings, dear?

There's no overnight train
from Pittsburgh.

So you must've flown.
You are absolutely right.

Mrs. Amory. I am
from the New York office.

Darling, will you have Crosby
fetch me one of those

exquisite ginger ales?
I'm parched.

Coming right up, dear.

You're no
insurance investigator.

- I'm sorry?
- Eastford Insurance

would never let a woman
oversee a $100000 claim.

Nice try, honey. You can tell
whatever rag you're working for

there's no story here.
Now get lost.

Hello, Frankie.

Ernest Hemingway.

How can I help you?

Well, I thought I'd drop by
and see how you liked my piece

on the Milwinder case.
It was a vast improvement.

- I'll take that as a compliment.
- It was meant as one.

I'm sorry, it's been
a very trying day.

I'm sorry to hear that.

So what are you really
doing here? I know you don't

care about my opinion
of your article.

- Well, why would you say something like that?
- Because you write whatever

you want. You don't give a damn what
people think. Now that is a compliment.

So what's up?

I'm writing a major
investigative piece, and I think

you might be able to help me.
Well, I doubt that.

Ooh, it's a real humdinger.
There's a missing

gold shipment
and even stolen pearls.

Also, a private eye
with a dubious past.

- Sounds like a bestseller.
- Doesn't it?

Well, I don't know
what you're talking about.

I thought
that might be your answer.

Well...

it's something to think about.
Someone will write this story.

I thought it best
if it were a friend.

Good day.

I don't see any listing
for De Gama Window Cleaning.

I figured as much.

- Care to clarify?
- When I was a kid, my father

would read me tales
of explorers.

When he needed a fake name for
a job, I would get to choose.

Columbus, Magellan,

Cabot... De Gama.

Another of your
father's signatures.

Kind of points back to the gang.

I'm also beginning
to wonder about Mrs. Amory.

I mean, she made me on the spot. Well, her
valet told me that she's a gold digger.

He also told me that her father
is a Methodist pastor in Albany.

- That, I believe.
- I made a few calls.

Turns out there's only one
Methodist church in that city,

same pastor
for the last 50 years.

Let me guess.

He never had a daughter
named Nora.

You again! Better without

the drab jacket but not much.

We need to talk.

- I think not.
- A preacher's daughter?

Well, that's a good story.
Now, is Mr. Amory aware that he

married an impostor?
Sh, sh! Keep your voice down.

- Did you steal those pearls?
- Certainly not.

Who's asking? I'm a private detective.
My name is Frankie Drake.

Frankie as in Francis with an I?

How do you know that?

- Who are you?
- My name's...

was... Nora Drake.

I'm your mother.

- I'm as shocked as you are, but it's true.
- Well, then prove it!

Well, your name is Francis, spelled
the male way. Your father chose that.

So you knew my father. That
does not make you my mother.

Ned was on his way to register your birth
when he saw a map of Francis Drake's travels

in some bookstore window and he
got that name in his fool head

and forgot the name I wanted
for you, Cleopatra.

At least I managed to get him
to call you Frankie.

He always told me
that I had him to thank

for not having some...
dreadful name like Cleopatra.

Well, of course he did,
because Ned never had an ounce

of imagination.
And where is he, by the way,

because I want my pearls back!
Ned didn't do this.

Of course he did.
He left the feather behind.

He died 10 years ago.

What gives you the right to come
back here after all these years?

I certainly wasn't looking
for you, that's for sure.

Is that supposed to make
me feel better? I think you're

dead and all you have to say
is you weren't looking for me?

- Hey, hey. This isn't easy for me, either.
- Where have you been?!

You know, here and there.
New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh...

- So why did you come back?
- Abe dragged me here on business!

No. No, you came back
thinking Ned was alive.

You stole those pearls
and tried to frame him.

Aw, sweetheart. Look around.

I have everything I want,
and until yesterday,

that included a priceless set
of pearls that my husband

bought for me!

It's a miracle.

My late mother just rose from the dead
and, surprise surprise, she's the devil.

- You don't know for sure that she's a thief.
- I know for sure she's a liar.

She ran out on my father, Trudy.

She left me, her own daughter.

- Did you ask her why?
- I was too stunned.

You must remember
something about her.

Only what my father told me.

I was too young.
There weren't any photos.

Maybe her smile.

She was always smiling.

No, I probably made that up.
She couldn't have

been very happy
if she ran out on us.

Come in.

I have that research
you asked for.

I have a friend at headquarters
who made a few calls.

A gentleman friend?

Perhaps.

Anyway...

my friend checked in

with the New York, Chicago
and Pittsburgh

police departments
for notable jewel thefts.

- And?
- And there were

three robberies where the names
of explorers were used.

On a Fifth Avenue heist,
the thief even posed

as a courier from Cartier.

Cartier! What that woman
won't steal.

At least she was telling the
truth about where she's been.

- Just not what she's been up to.
- I'm sorry, Frankie.

You know, I spent
my entire life wondering

what it would be like
if she was alive.

It just goes to show,

be careful what you wish for.

I don't know what's going on.

But I... I do sense
that something is going on.

I'll fill you in sometime, Mary.

- Now is just not it.
- All right.

Um, Frankie, there
is one more thing.

The police think that you
had help pulling this job.

Someone on the inside.

And they're looking at everyone,
even the Amorys.

OK. Bring the bag.
Bring the bags. Come on!

Hey.

Union Station.

- Mind if I tag along?
- Yeah, I do.

So, where are we headed? Back
to Pittsburgh? New York again?

Or are we going somewhere new?
I hear California's nice.

- Frankie...
- I don't care. I won't

stop you. Just hand
over the pearls.

We need a moment.

Don't go anywhere. Get out.

I already told you,
I'm not the thief.

- This escape plan would prove otherwise.
- The cops are sniffing around.

If they find out I am Nora Drake,
they're gonna try to hang this on me.

No, on us! They already think
I'm working with an inside man.

With your history of jewellery
thefts behind you, it's only

a matter of time before they
put two and two together.

Listen, I swear I went straight when
I met Abe. There's no better con

than marrying a rich man. It's
much easier and he does love me.

Well, as much as that warms my heart,
I don't think the cops will buy that.

How many times do I have
to say it? I didn't do this!

Well, then who did?!

- Fine! Unload the bags.
- Wait, what are you doing?

I'm helping you
get my pearls back.

- I don't need your help!
- That's too bad.

- Excuse me?!
- Think about it. If it's only

a matter of time before they
nail one or both of us, then we

need each other and no one knew
your father better than me.

Fine. We work together.

We find the thief. We get the
pearls and then you leave town.

- Fine! And we never have to see each other again. Deal?
- Deal!

Come in!

I haven't changed my mind.

I'm not here about that.

Well, actually, I am.

Sort of.

But first, I wanted
to say I'm sorry.

Clearly this is more sensitive
to you than I realized.

If I offended you...
I apologize.

Apology accepted.

This is for you.

It's a copy of this photo
the cops had.

It's the only photo
of Ned Drake I could find.

I don't know who the woman is
in the photo, but...

I think I recognize the child.

I thought you might
like to have it.

Thank you.

I'm still writing my story,
should you ever

want to give me an exclusive.

You're gonna have no eyebrows
left if you keep that up.

I'm just thinking.

This'll help.

So... how'd it go with your mom?

She says that she's innocent.

She wants to work together
to figure this out.

- How do you feel about that?
- Well, how am I supposed

to feel? My dead mother
turns out to be alive.

My father lied to me
my entire life. And I've been

running around, pointing fingers
and it's gotten me nowhere.

So what're you gonna do?

I don't know.

Maybe you should...

take her offer.

For her to help?

There's nothing she can do.

Well, maybe there is something.

What's up, Frankie?

Did you find the pearls?
Not exactly.

Well, this better be important. I
have a vote at City Hall in an hour.

Remember when you said
no one else was involved?

Turns out you were wrong.

Nora.

I never thought I'd see
your traitorous face again.

Likewise, I'm sure.

Judging from your reactions,

I'm guessing you both
knew that she was alive.

Really, Jack?
Ned swore us to silence.

No matter what happened,
you were never to know.

Besides, she was dead to us.
You're charming as ever, Jack.

After the way you broke up
the gang, and Ned's heart...

- Please!
- Abandoning your own child?

Get off your high horse, Morris! We all
know how you financed your career.

Shut up, everyone! I don't
care about ancient history.

The only thing I care about
is finding the thief.

Yeah. You know perfectly well
you stole the pearls, just

like you knew perfectly well
who you were stealing them from.

Me.

She's Nora Amory now.

- Now I wish we'd done this job.
- Fine, Nora.

I'll bite. How did we do it?

Exactly the way
I would've done it.

A flower delivery
comes to the door.

Carnations - should've
been my first clue.

Who sends a woman carnations?
Anyway, that'd be you, Morris.

You put 'em by the window

and then you unlock it
when Abe's back is turned.

Then a window washer would've appeared
outside, and that'd be you, Jack.

Da Gama! I always told Ned that
name stuck in peoples' minds!

You know what you should've
gone with? Champlain.

And when Abe leaves, you come in through
the conveniently unlocked window.

No mystery where a safe is
in a suite and a lock like that

would've been a piece of cake
for a safecracker like you.

And then, the icing on the cake:
You replace the pearls

with a drake feather.
I wouldn't expect

you baboons to come up
with anything original.

So then what? If Jack left through the
front door, someone would've seen him.

No, he went out
through the window.

But the window was
locked from the inside.

Exactly.
The only way to get away

with a plan like that is
to pay attention to the details.

You see, Morris here went back
after Abe returned

and locked the window.

Just like old times, right boys?
And now, the only thing

that's left is for the best
fence in town to get to work.

So hand 'em over, Morris.
I had nothing to do with this.

I like it at City Hall. Not interested in
spending the rest of my life in prison.

You won't have a life to spend
unless you give me back

what's mine!
Frankie, don't believe her

for a second.
Well, this is getting us

nowhere fast.
Watch your back, Frankie.

There's no honour
amongst thieves.

You're right.
I don't think they did it.

- Why the change of heart?
- Come on. Those blockheads?

They could never pull off
a stunt like that without me.

- Without you?
- Why? What are you thinking,

Ned was the brains
of the operation?

Hate to burst your bubble,
sweetheart. That honour was

all mine. Even the feather,
that was my idea.

I mean, Ned may have
been a good father,

but, you know, he was a small
thinker. He pulled small cons.

50 bucks here,
50 bucks there. But...

Well, I never saw him con
anybody who didn't deserve it.

Yeah, well, that's
another way of saying

he lacked ambition.
Well, if he had been locked up

for pulling some big job, I
would've been left with nobody.

Why did he tell me
you were dead?

You know when everything
changed? When you were born.

For me, that gold job.

OK, that was just the beginning,
but then Ned didn't wanna

do that kind of thing anymore.
And then he made me choose:

All or nothing. And I chose...
Nothing.

Well, whoever the thief is,

they pulled the job
like the Drake Gang, right?

- Right.
- So I'm thinking they would

fence the pearls
like we would've done.

- And that would be?
- We'll need newspapers.

Nice place you've got here.

So this is a hookah.

- Where'd you get it?
- Egypt.

Egypt? What took you to Egypt?

Chance, if you must know.

Yes, I must.

I met an archaeologist
on the overnight train

to Marseilles. Howard Carter.

He was looking for
the tombs of the pharaohs

and he convinced me to go
to the Valley of the Kings

with him. How'd you like digging

in the sand? It was fascinating.

Mhm. But you left
Mr. Carter behind.

It wasn't like that.
Besides, the war intervened.

Yeah, didn't it just.

Well, smoking is a filthy habit.

Who are you, my mother? Wait...

How do you pay for all this?

- I work.
- Well, that's a novel approach.

And you have a servant.

Excuse me, Miss. Can you
fetch me a drink, please?

The strongest booze
you've got, I'll take.

Trudy, meet Nora Amory.

Your dead mother.

This explains

so many things.

Trudy is not a servant.

She works with me.
Isn't that the same thing?

- As a detective.
- My mistake.

Enchantée, Trudy.

So what's with all the papers.

Nora has a hunch
how the thief is going to try

to fence the pearls.
They're gonna try

to communicate using
a Lost and Found ad.

The thief will post found
and the fence will post

lost and name a place for the thief
to leave proof he's got the goods.

Pearls are from the ocean,
so we're looking

for something with reference
to the sea or water.

Hey, how about this.
"Found - Shorthair Pomeranian

"on Cherry Beach. Owner must

describe colour
and pay for this ad."

- Definitely not.
- Here. "Found -"

"clamshell handbag
at the Crown Ascot Hotel.

Unique item."
That's it. No imagination

though, they almost
give the whole thing away.

Wait, here.
This morning's paper. "Lost -"

"clamshell handbag.

"Bring to the ducks
across the Poppy and Pauper,

"200 Winchester." 200 Winchester.

That's the Necropolis.
Classic cemetery meet.

Well, now we just
have to find the ducks

across from the Poppy and
the Paupers, Ms. Detective.

War graves... that could
be what "poppy" means.

- Mhm.
- And there's the city graves

for the poor, the "paupers".
This is where the city graves

meet the war graves.
So what do you think

they mean by the ducks?

You've got to be kidding me!

You no good,

lying sack of...

Morris, don't.

Carved from soap
and covered in boot black.

He never could

stomach violence. Thank you.
Now at the risk

of sounding repetitive,
where are my pearls?

I don't know.

You know I can break it.
You've seen me do it.

All right. I... I don't know

where the pearls are, not yet.

I checked the classifieds

after you told us
how the scam went down.

I couldn't help myself!
And Jack?

Doesn't know a thing
about this. That's the truth.

All right Morris, where's
the drop? The ducks

across from the poppies
and the pauper? Which grave?

- I know which one.
- You do?

This is funny to you?

Come on.

Ned would've loved that he
was being used for a drop!

Yeah, well.

Nice to think he's
buried beside me.

Nicer to know I'm not in there.

They're just flowers.
I come by every once in a while.

You don't need to get
all sentimental about it.

You never told me how he died.

Some kids were in a brawl.

One of them...

Dad knew the kid's mother.

He intervened.

Took a few blows to the head
and died a few days later.

Just like Ned?

Always stickin' his nose in

where it didn't belong.

Let's find whatever proof
the thief left

and get out of here. Yeah. Yeah.

This looks like the thing.

Yeah. That's from my necklace.

I'll hang on to that.

Yeah, sure.

Aw, Neddy.

You know...

he may be the only man
I ever really loved.

- You left him.
- Yeah, but I

would've made a mess
of things eventually, so...

You know, I... I see

a lot of your father in you.

I think he'd be...

Well, he'd like...

He'd like how you turned out.

Well, I'm a work in progress.

Yeah.

You wanna know
something, Morris?

This would've been a whole lot
simpler if you just told us

the truth in the first place.

Though the truth was never
your strong point, was it?

I don't have anything
to do with this, Nora.

You're not weaseling out.
In fact, you're helping us

get to the bottom of this.
Now do it.

Ahem. Yeah, hello.

Classified desk, please.

Yeah. I have an item
for this evening's edition.

Urgent.
Lost - clamshell handbag.

Meet in the Crown Ascot lobby,

Yeah.

Who is he, Frankie?
That's what we're gonna

find out. Morris' classified ad
has the meeting

set for 3PM in the lobby
of the Crown Ascot hotel.

- Who's the buyer?
- Jack is.

I'll dust off my good suit.

You and Morris will
be sitting here, waiting for

the seller. Trudy, you're
gonna pose as Jack's nurse.

You'll block the front entrance
once the mark is in position.

Nora and I will be close by,

but we're gonna hang back until
Jack has the pearls in his hand.

Not bad, Frankie.

This whole setup, I mean.
Maybe you do take after me.

Is that supposed
to be a compliment?

Yeah. Don't get all
sentimental about it.

You know, it's, um...
it's true things changed

when you were born.
You don't have to-

- No, no. It's, um...

It's not that I didn't care.

It's just that I'm not maternal.

And your father, he only
wanted what was best

for you and... and leaving was
the best thing I could've done.

Well, that's honest.

I'm happy this happened.

Yeah? You're happy to have me
over your priceless pearls?

Well, let's not go that far.

No.

If the thief sees Abe,
he'll get spooked and run.

I'll handle this.

Sweetheart! My gosh...

What is this?
What are you doing here?

You know what,

I want a drink in...

Come on, I just don't
wanna go in by myself.

What's going on, Frankie?

Just having tea
with an old friend.

Really? You know,
I've been watching you

for some time and it seems
like something else is going on.

I think you're letting your
imagination get the best of you.

You should stick to fact,
not fiction, Hemingway.

The woman who was
just sitting next to you...

- An old family friend.
- I couldn't help but notice

she seemed very familiar
with Abe Amory.

If I'm not mistaken,
that's his wife.

But I think I recognize her
from somewhere else.

A photo, perhaps?

OK. What do you want?

The inside scoop.

- And if I say no?
- Then you won't have

any editorial input on
the story. What gets written...

Well, it could say
all kinds of things.

I get to vet the story
before it goes to press?

Sometimes I have very mixed
feelings about you, Hemingway.

Now get out of here.

- What are you doing?
- He isn't coming.

- Did we do something wrong?
- But the ad was crystal clear.

- Maybe he got cold feet.
- Maybe he saw Abe.

Maybe not.

- You again!
- Mr. Amory.

You can cut the act.
I know you're not an insurance

investigator. Now get out of
here before I call the police.

Go ahead. Call the police. You can let
them know I'm a private detective.

A private detective?
Who hired you?

Well, that isn't important.
What is important is

I just watched you try
to sell your own pearls.

That's ridiculous. In fact,
I just found the pearls.

They'd simply been misplaced.

It was all just
a terrible misunderstanding.

Now, if you would just kindly
leave my wife and myself

- in peace.
- Mr. Amory, no.

The police would've searched
this room top to bottom.

This is insurance fraud
and now you're trying

to wiggle your way out of it.
I beg your pardon!

It's quite brilliant, in fact,
trying to cash in twice.

My only question is,
why would a man

richer than Rockefeller
need that much money?

I said leave.

Gambling?

Perhaps blackmail?

My wife.

Nora?

She has very expensive tastes,

and my company's been in trouble
for a while now.

You're telling me

that Nora has bled you dry?

- She'd leave me if she knew.
- She'd leave you anyway.

That's what she does.

She's a grifter. A thief.

How the hell would you
know all this?

Because she's my mother.

Her real name is Nora Drake.

My name is Frankie Drake.

Drake.

When we first got together,
Nora and I,

we'd lie in bed at night
and tell each other stories.

Hers were always about these...
master thieves

she'd heard about in Toronto...

the Drake Gang.

How they pulled off
perfect crimes.

That's how you knew
about the feather.

I took bits and pieces of her
stories and cobbled together

a plan I thought would
be their style.

I never realized she was
telling me about herself.

Where are the pearls right now?

- They're gone!
- Where is she?

- In the bath tub.
- Nora?

What's the matter?

Is something wrong? She's gone.

No! Wait! Wait!

Stop!

Frankie...

Don't ask why. It's the only
motherly instinct I've ever had

and it's making
me uncomfortable.

Stop by.

Please, can I get you something?
A cup of tea?

I've got some fine ginger ale.

No, thank you.
I just came to say goodbye.

So where's Abe?

We...

You know, we had
a mutual parting of the ways.

Which is a shame, really,
because he was

a wonderful companion.
Until he went broke.

Hey, that was entirely his fault. All he had
to do was say no every once in a while.

Well, I hope he makes
good use of those pearls.

You gave him the pearls.

Of course I did!
They were his, after all.

Yeah. Well, no wonder he
took being dumped so well.

So what are you gonna do now?
Squander another man's fortune?

Yeah, and it's
slim pickings in this city.

Wait. You're staying?

Well, just...

you know, for a while.
We had a deal.

Listen. You don't have
to believe me, Frankie,

but I'm ready
to start a new life.

Yeah, well, don't think we're
pals just because we got out

of one scrape together.
Yeah, I wouldn't dare.

You still offering
that ginger ale?

It's a bit on the drab side.

How 'bout that.

How 'bout that.

This article is eyeopening.

I mean, I knew a bit about your
family, but... I never imagined!

Remember, that was
the edited version.

Mary, just like I told
Hemingway, no one can know

who the Drake Gang is.
Or that Nora is still alive.

And especially not that she's
my mother. Promise me.

Mum's the word.

It might not be so bad,
having your mother around.

Some families are good.
Mine... not so good.

You know what's sad?

I never got to see
the infamous pearls.

Hang on. I still have one.

Of course.

Closed Captioning by SETTE inc