Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 7 - Ties That Bind - full transcript

Next class, we'll read your
stories about Toronto.

Good night, everyone.

- Good evening, Mr. Lee.
- You're working late,

Miss Jenny. I'll escort
you to the streetcar.

- Thank you, I'll be fine.
- I insist. The streets aren't

- safe at this time of night.
- Don't worry about me.

I'm a city girl.

This should cover another supply.

- That's good.
- All right.

Good morning, ladies.
Am I interrupting?

Mary, what brings you
here this morning?



I'm not here in an any
official capacity,

by which I mean my capacity working

for Drake Private Detectives,
although I suppose

that is actually unofficial.
I have a request.

A young woman by the name
of Jenny Smith, who lives

at my friend's boarding house,
she didn't

come home last night. She was working

at the Chinese Charitable
Society on Elizabeth Street.

- What was she doing there?
- She's a volunteer

- English teacher.
- Interesting.

Jenny... by all accounts,
is quite independent.

She's a free thinker,
really, and it would

appear her fearlessness may
have put her in harm's way.

Any reason to believe
that she's in danger?



Yes. A bystander saw her
going into a dark alley

and when this bystander
investigated, she'd disappeared.

- Are the police following up?
- Yes, but they don't have

the connections in
Chinatown that you do.

We'll look into it.

Thank you.

Here's Jenny's description.

Let's keep in touch.

20s, dark hair, modern cut,
pretty, well dressed.

Sounds like half the girls in Toronto.

- Not much to go on.
- Something's not right.

What do you mean?

I don't think Mary is
telling us everything.

Congratulations.

- That's one happy bridegroom.
- He should be.

1 woman for every 20
Chinese bachelors,

he's won the lottery.

Do you know much

about the Charitable Society
on Elizabeth Street?

It's one of a number of them.
They help Chinese men

with immigration problems,
lending money.

Because banks won't
lend to Chinese people.

Everyone says we keep to
ourselves, but what choice

- do we have?
- Do you know who runs it?

James Lee, a successful merchant.

- You think he'll speak with us?
- He deals with the City Fathers,

- not so much with women.
- That makes him different

- from every other man we talk to.
- Thanks Wendy.

See if you can turn up anything
where Jenny was last seen.

I'm gonna have a chat with Mr. Lee.

Yes, Miss Jenny teaches classes here.

She has for the past year.
Why do you ask?

Jenny didn't make it home last night.

Oh. That's not good.

I warned her to be careful.

Why would you do that?

Our streets are not well protected.

We rarely see a constable here.

What is it, Mr. Lee?

I fear Miss Jenny was not all

- that she seemed to be.
- Meaning?

I've seen her more than
once with a man...

an opium dealer.
There's only one reason

- she'd be meeting him.
- Do you have any idea

- who it is?
- I don't know his name.

He's young, Chinese, sharply dressed.

- Thank you.
- Be careful.

Not everyone in Chinatown
can be trusted.

Detective Bradley. Hello.

I didn't take you for a "cold
tea" drinker, Officer Shaw.

Are you saying this is a speakeasy?

I just come here for the chop suey.

Very adventurous. I'd stick
to the booze if I were you.

Well, actually, I'm looking
for a young woman.

She vanished last night
from Elizabeth Street.

That's interesting. I'm investigating

the report of a woman who
disappeared from the same area.

Might be the same person.
We should share notes.

You would share notes
with a morality officer?

- Why wouldn't I?
- All right, then.

Let's meet up. Tomorrow perhaps?

I'll be around.
Enjoy your chop suey...

I am just having lunch.

Your secret's safe with me. Good day.

Hi, Mary. The usual?

Oh, yes, please.

Wendy, does Detective
Bradley normally come here?

He drops in when I'm
serving the good stuff.

Oh.

Any news, ladies?

Well, I found this charm in the alley

- of the charitable Society.
- Looks like it's from a bracelet.

A ballet dancer.

Yes, this is Jenny's.

Well... how would you know that?

Well, I don't actually know.

But since it's from a woman's
bracelet and it was found

in the alleyway near where
Jenny disappeared...

and it does suggest there was
some sort of altercation.

One could logically
conclude that it's Jenny's.

But on the other hand, you could

also say I'm jumping to conclusions.

Any luck at the Charitable Society?

Well, seems Jenny was no saint.

Mr. Lee thinks she was buying opium.

Opium? That's illegal.

She was seen with a known
dealer, some young man.

Wendy, do you know anyone
like that in Chinatown?

I've heard of a house,
a party kind of place.

Run by a guy called Tommy.
Rumour has it

opium's on offer.

That's a good place to start.

You don't understand.
Tommy told me to come by.

He's gonna be very upset
when he finds out

that his latest gal was turned away.

Fine!

What's it gonna take?

- Hmm?
- That's a tad undignified...

- even for you.
- Nora?!

She's gonna be loads of fun.
I promise. Come on.

You are the last person I
was expecting to find here.

Uh, "swell move getting
me in here, Nora!"

- What are you doing here!?
- Can we at least get a drink

before you start grilling?
Come on, the bar is this way.

Well, hello there!
Nice to see you again.

He's a judge. You'd never know
it by the company he keeps.

So what is this place?

It's the latest hot spot.
Could almost be New York, huh?

- Almost.
- OK.

- So what are you doing here?
- No way, honey. You first.

Fine. I'm looking for
a guy named Tommy.

- Oh, aren't we all, sweetheart?
- You know him?

He's a bit of a mystery.
He makes himself scarce.

He pops in every now and again
to make sure we're all happy.

Hey, you know who that is?
That's Willy "the Lion" Smith.

He's playing the Sapphire Club.

See, Tommy invites jazz
types to come in here

'cause the old guys love the frisson!

OK, so your turn.

What's my mother doing in a
booze can, huh? Another scam?

Shh! Shh! My new friend brought me.

This one, he's a lawyer
and he's charming

He doesn't know about your past?

No, and I'm gonna keep it that way.

So what do you want with Tommy?

A girl went missing.

She was last seen
with an opium dealer.

Opium! That's exotic. You
think Tommy's her dealer?

- Do you?
- I don't know, I suppose.

You know, I have wondered
where he gets his money from.

- Now I am curious.
- Don't be. I have it handled.

Really? One word from me
and your chatty friend

at the front door's gonna
toss you out, so indulge me.

Fine. Maybe you can
be helpful for once.

Does Tommy know all of
these guests personally?

Yeah, it's by invite only.
It's like an unofficial

private club. No questions asked.

I think something's going on.

Well, maybe it's time for us
gals to go and powder our noses.

All right. You look around.
I'll cover for you.

- That's reassuring.
- Oh, just do it!

What?

Oopsie! Wrong door, darling.
The powder room is right here.

Tommy!

Oh, you must meet my
exquisite friend, Cleopatra.

- Say hello, darling.
- Hello.

- Tommy Chow.
- He's Tommy Chow.

- Delighted.
- I trust Mrs. Amory

- is making you welcome.
- Most welcome.

But you don't even have
a drink, so let's go.

Nice to see you, Tommy.

This is swell!

- Cleopatra?
- It suits you. It always has.

- You see anything interesting?
- Maybe.

Really?

Was it dangerous? Did you
have to smoke opium?

No, but there were two women

in the back room, passed out on cots.

They had that addled look to them.

- Was one of them Jenny?
- It's possible.

I didn't get a good look.
Tommy would've caught me

snooping if Nora
hadn't covered for me.

- Nora? Your mother was there?
- With her new beau.

And she was surprisingly helpful,

- which makes me very suspicious.
- That was quick work, ladies.

Thank you. I'll take it from here.

- Meaning?
- Women in dubious

moral circumstances, that
falls well within the purview

of a morality officer. I'll
take the address of that house

- if you will, Frankie.
- Mary, what's going on?

- What do you mean?
- A friend tells you

about a missing woman who you've
never met, but you recognize

her charm from the alleyway,
and now you're ready

to put yourself in a precarious
situation to try to rescue her.

No. There's more than
you're letting on.

Well, working a case, as you know,

you start to get a feel for the
person you're looking for.

Mary, just spill it!

I didn't want you to find out.

Find out what?

Jenny Smith is Jenny Shaw.

She's my sister.

Jenny's been a rebel for
as long as I can remember.

Radical ways, modern thinking...

And that didn't really fit in

- with your buttoned-down family.
- You have no idea.

Anarchist bombings, jazz, politics,

the length of women's skirts,
not to mention the war.

There wasn't a thing our father
said she actually agreed with.

It must've been hard for
you and your mother.

We'd just go into the kitchen
and wash the dishes.

Try to drown them out. Of
course, Jenny took that to mean

we were siding with Dad.

So what did you do?

Two years ago,
there was an unholy eruption

and Jenny left home.

Apart from our father's funeral,
I haven't seen her since.

- Why look for her now?
- Our mother's moving house

and she simply wanted Jenny
to know her new address.

I knew Jenny was working
at the Charitable Society,

something that Dad would
never approve of, naturally.

Seems like you never
really lost track of her.

I wanted to keep an eye
out for her. And given

what you've found out, it
sounds like I had good reason.

Why didn't you tell us
Jenny was your sister?

These things should be
kept in the family.

No one wants to hear about other
peoples' petty squabbles.

We all have skeletons.
Look no further than Nora.

Do you really think it was
Jenny in that back room

at Tommy's place?

- Let's find out.
- How?

- How do we get in?
- I believe we have inside help.

True. And Nora did say that
I would be lot of fun.

Funny. I never thought
of myself as a showgirl.

You really know how
to shake the shake.

You're not bad yourself.

Hey there, big boy!

You have to teach me that sometime.

We're too late.

This is not at all how I
imagined an opium den.

What's this?

Oh! This is Jenny's.
I recognize the handwriting.

Show's over. Time to go.

My lawyer friend wasn't so
impressed with our shimmying.

More of a stuffed
shirt than I thought.

So... not your type then.

Well, you know, he could be...
with a little loosening up.

But there is...

definitely something shady
going on around here.

- What makes you say that?
- Because after you left,

I pressed him for details
about how he knew Tommy

and he clammed right up,
just like annoying lawyers do.

- That's not good.
- Yeah, I know when a man's

hiding something. Believe me.

I could...

I could use my powers of persuasion.

Find out what Tommy's got going.

Then you'd have to help
out your daughter.

Not that my daughter would ask me.

Well, of course she wouldn't.

Detective Bradley...

This charm, it was found in the alley

near where Jenny, the young woman,

disappeared. I can

enter it into evidence if
you think it's important.

You know what? Let me do that.
I'm on my way to the station.

You know, I'm convinced we're
both looking for the same woman.

To be truthful, Detective,

I believe she was involved
in something nefarious.

Mr. Lee at the Charitable Society,

he... hinted at something,

although he was a bit vague.
You just can't get through

to these people. They
won't talk to us.

Well...

I guess we need Chinese policemen.

You're a real dreamer, Miss Shaw.

I'm just trying to
think a bit broader.

Thanks for this. I owe you.

Hello!

Any progress?

These are Jenny's notes
from her English class...

except for this.

I can't seem to make it out.

- It's some kind of a code.
- Not much of a code.

- You can read this?
- Twefen-tiffee.

- It's the "F language."
- The what?

It's a secret way of talking
Jenny and I invented

when we were children.
Believe it or not,

- we were quite close.
- So, how does it work?

Oh, you just put an F
sound into each syllable.

Thafat's thefa wayfay ifit's woforks.

That's the way it works.

Ifat's nofat hafard Frafankiefie.

It's not that hard, Frankie.

Bizarre. Can you translate?

It's interesting. I've never
seen it written out like this.

It's really more of a spoken language.

- Morning, Flo.
- What've you got there?

Not sure. Mysterious
liquids of some sort.

The provenance of which
no doubt you want me

- to magically divine.
- Yep.

Get yourself a cup of tea.
This is going to take a while.

- Oh, take your time.
- Wait.

Drake Private Detectives
is saying take your time?

First for everything.

Don't confuse the water
with the ethanol.

- "Ofoctofoberfer firfirst."
- Translation, Mary?

Sorry. October 1st.

And Jenny has circled
this one as well.

It seems like there's a... a series

- of dates here.
- There's a bit more.

"Queefeens Whafarf." Queens Wharf.

"Safallyfy Rofose." Sally Rose.

How does "Safallyfy

Rofose" turn into Sally Rose?

You're asking me to explain
the logic of the F language?

My mistake.

It seems Jenny was meeting a
Sally Rose at Queens Wharf.

Look at all these dates
that are circled.

There seems to be a pattern here.

July 5th to August 3rd, 29 days.

August 3rd to September 1st, 29 days.

September 1st to October 1st...

...29 days. They're all
29 days, give or take.

Maybe she was trying to get pregnant!

Actually, I think it's
the lunar calendar.

I think she was tracking
the phases of the moon.

She was trying to meet
Sally Rose on a full moon?

Or the opposite,
when there wasn't any moon.

- Why?
- I'm beginning to think

that Sally Rose isn't
the name of a person,

but the name of a boat.

A boat?

- Interesting.
- You find everything

- in the morgue interesting.
- There's interesting

and then there's interesting.
Bacterium clostridium tetani.

- Sounds ominous.
- Actually, it's not.

You treat this little fella
with a formaldehyde solution

and voila, you have a
vaccine for tetanus.

- Real cutting edge stuff.
- A vaccine.

Now that is interesting.

Why would Jenny be recording a boat

arriving on moonless nights

unless she was doing
something illegal?

Given what we know,
likely bringing in opium.

My sister the opium smuggler.

Dad's rolling in his grave.

Flo never ceases to amaze.

You found out what's in the vials?

Let me guess.
Some astonishingly powerful

liquid opium for my sister to inject

into unsuspecting worshippers
of the poppy god.

Actually, they're a tetanus vaccine.

- That doesn't make sense.
- Why would

an opium dealer need tetanus vaccines?

I'd say it's time to meet Tommy Chow.

- Looks like the party's over.
- Someone was definitely

looking for something.

I think it was Mr. Chow.

Who would want Tommy dead?

It wasn't Jenny. She might be a rebel

and an opium smuggler and an annoying
sister but she's not a murderer.

Maybe it was a member of his club.

Or an opium addict?

Wait... someone's here.

Stop!

Stop right there! I said,

"Stop right there!"

It's OK. It's OK.

- We're not gonna hurt you.
- The poor thing,

- she's terrified.
- I'm not gonna hurt you.

She said Jenny. She knows Jenny.

We need everyone involved in
this, Mary. Even the police.

I'll phone Detective Bradley.

We need a translator.
Maybe Wendy can help us out.

Police department, please.

Yes, I'd like to speak with
Detective Bradley, please.

He's where?

Oh. Yes, that's all right.

I'll find him. Thank you.

- Detective Bradley?
- Officer Shaw, what are you doing here?

I'm looking for you.
It's far worse than I thought.

Jenny, the woman who
is missing. She's in

danger. There's already
a man who's dead...

Whoa, whoa!
What are you talking about?

There are boats coming
into Toronto Harbour.

They're carrying illegal cargo.
I believe it's opium, but...

Get your hands

off me! I am an officer of the law!

So you've decided

to wake up.

Jenny!

Jenny! Are you all right?

No! I've been grabbed off the
street, chloroformed, tied up

and thrown into a filthy cellar
so, no, I'm not all right.

What have they done
with Detective Bradley?

- Who?
- He's the detective I'm

working with. How did you
get into this mess?!

I could ask you the same thing!

Don't get all high and mighty with me!

I know about the boat schedule.
I know about your smuggling!

- What?
- That woman you're hiding

at Tommy's place, is she involved too?

How did you find her?

Oh, Jenny!

It's worse than opium, isn't it?

I can't believe it.
You're smuggling women?!

Shh! No! I...

What on earth are you talking
about? I am not smuggling women!

I'm trying to save them.

What?

What do you mean? Then who is she?

Her name is Ling.

- Why were you at Tommy's place?
- Trying to find you.

Well, where's Tommy?

He's dead.

Oh, no.

- They got him.
- Who got him?

Jenny, what is going on?

Interesting fella, your Tommy Chow.

I didn't think the
autopsy was finished.

I do know some people who are living.

He came by every once in
a while. I slipped him

some medical supplies
whenever I could.

Supplies for what?

He was a doctor. Ran some sort
of clinic out of his house.

That would explain why
he had tetanus vaccines.

- So that's where it came from.
- An opium dealer

running an immunization program?
It doesn't make a whole

- lot of sense.
- Maybe not. But if you ask me,

Tommy Chow was a decent guy.

May God rest his soul.

Oh, Frankie! There you are!
Oh, I've been

- looking for you all over town!
- What is so urgent?

Tommy Chow's dead. Murdered.

- I know.
- Oh.

Well, and here I thought
I was being helpful.

Anyway...

I managed to wheedle the truth
out of my lawyer friend.

He was involved in something illegal.

Oh, it is not what you think, honey.

We know Tommy was a doctor.
He ran a clinic.

Oh, aren't you just a
fountain of knowledge, huh?

I suppose you also know how
he financed the operation.

Well, my best guess
would be selling opium

to your well-heeled
lawyer and his friends.

Wrong and wrong!

My well-heeled lawyer and his
friends were Tommy's patrons.

Yeah! You know, they'd drink
in the front with their guest

of choice, no questions asked,
and ease their

social conscience with a handout
to the clinic in the back.

Well, that's not what we thought.

Oh, boy. It just goes to
show you can't judge a book

- by its cover, huh?
- You almost seem disappointed.

Charity makes me uncomfortable.

What about those

- two women in the back room?
- Recovering addicts

Tommy was treating.

So if Tommy wasn't smuggling
opium, what got him killed?

- You know what I think?
- Ready, Frankie.

Gotta run.

Um, "thank you Nora."

She says that Tommy and
Jenny were her saviours.

- Saved from who?
- Smugglers.

- What?
- She was brought over from

China with five other women.
She was tricked by men

that she didn't know.
They came at night by boat.

She was being smuggled
into the country?

Yes, but she escaped.

And she was hiding by the docks

when Jenny found her and
brought her to Tommy's.

She's been lying low ever since.

She says to say

- that Jenny is a good woman.
- Why was Jenny at the docks

- if she wasn't smuggling?
- Maybe she was

- investigating them.
- And they figured she was on to them.

Selling innocents off as
brides to lonely bachelors.

It's criminal how people
make money off human misery.

How did you find out about
this smuggling ring?

Well, there was talk around
the Charitable Society

about women coming by
boat so... I started

poking around at the docks.
That's how I found Ling.

- That's dangerous, Jenny.
- Well, someone had to do it.

Why didn't you call the police?!

The cops ignore what's really
going on in this city. I don't

know how you have the gall
to wear that uniform.

- I am proud of my uniform.
- So you can

- strut around keeping the peace?
- Yes,

actually, and I am pretty good at it.

I had a lot of practice
refereeing between you and Dad.

Ugh! Here we go.
Mary's "the good daughter,"

Jenny's "the difficult one."

You know, you were always
daddy's girl and that's why

- you wanted to be a cop.
- No! I like being a cop.

It doesn't mean I have to
agree with what they do

or don't do. And you should tell
them what you've found out.

If you think they'll
believe me, you're crazy.

Detective Bradley will happily...

- And so naive.
- Jenny, Dad is in his grave.

There's nothing left to rebel against.

God, you can be hurtful.

- Well I had a good teacher.
- Thank you.

You're welcome. Now untie me.

No!

Stay like that 'til you apologize.

Ling thought that she was coming here
to be reunited with her husband.

- Her husband is in Toronto?
- Yes. He came here

three years ago for work,
but she hasn't heard from him

after that. These men offered her

a trip to Toronto to
"find her husband."

- And she agreed?
- She thought he was sending for her.

But instead she became a prisoner.

Wendy, can you ask Ling
what her husband's name is?

Wie Zhang.

Wie Zhang.

She says that

life is like a dream
that you cannot control.

Does she know where
the other women are?

She wants a pen and paper.

She says that she saw
this painted on a truck

by the docks, and the other
women were put in it.

So what is this?
Is it some kind of symbol?

Wendy, does that mean anything to you?

Businesses often use familiar
symbols to attract customers.

- Hello, Bill.
- Hi, Trudy.

- Thanks for meeting me.
- I don't mind.

I know it's not much to go on.

I'll check around.
Let me see what I can find.

- I appreciate that.
- Trudy, um...

while we're here,

do you have time for some lunch?

Maybe.

Look here.

What is the ad for?

It's an import-export
company owned by James Lee.

The same James Lee who runs
the Charitable Society?

- The snake!
- Unorthodox way

of taking care of his community.

- Trudy, we have a lead.
- Gotta run.

- What about lunch?
- Next time.

I promise.

Why were you following
me in the first place?

Mom's moving house. She wanted
you to know her new address.

You could've left a message
at the Charitable Society.

- Maybe I wanted to see you.
- Why?

Because I like arguing with you.

Those are very nice shoes.

I bought them last week.
Special order.

You always had a good eye for shoes.

You know...

it wasn't easy growing up
with the perfect sister.

Me? You were the one who
got all the attention.

I was fighting for a
place in the family.

That's interesting because
you had one, and then

you walked out of it and left
me to pick up all the pieces.

Well...

You're good at looking after people.

I think you spooked the gang.

I don't think those brides
have been sold yet.

- Why else would they kidnap you?
- Maybe we can

still rescue them?

Well, I'm not much good
tied up like this.

What do you want?

You know more about Jenny
Shaw's disappearance

- than you told me.
- You can leave now.

Recognize this?
It's on the side of your truck.

What does that matter?

Well, four nights ago, your
truck was seen at the docks.

- Where I conduct legitimate business.
- In the dead of night?

You're running an operation
smuggling in women.

That is ridiculous. I run a
respectable business and devote

a great deal of my time to
the welfare of my community.

We have a witness who
can identify you.

No, you don't.

OK, Miss Policewoman.

What now?

Well...

uh...

there has to be something

around here we can use.

What do you think's in this?

Ow!

Hmm!

Fireworks!

All right. We could set these off

and the noise might attract
someone's attention.

We just need some way
of lighting them.

Hmm...

You smoke?!

Of course. What kind of
rebel doesn't smoke?

You have the wrong person.

Now leave,

or I'll call the police.

It's nothing.

Well, I think I'll
check it out anyway.

Frankie!

Oh, am I ever glad to see you!

Mary? What? What are you doing here?

Didn't you notice I was missing?

I... I'm sorry, I just...

I was expecting to find some
missing brides down here.

Who the hell are you?

Oh. Frankie Drake, meet Jenny Shaw.

- Delighted.
- Where are we?

We are in the cellar of
the Charitable Society.

- Guests of Mr. Lee.
- Mr. Lee's the smuggler?

- Are you sure?
- We believe that he's lined up

prospective husbands
from your students.

That bastard.

So if the brides aren't
down here, where are they?

How could you be so callous,
picking the pockets

of the men who trusted you?
You make me sick!

Jenny...

Where are the women?

You don't know what you're
getting into. You're just girls.

True... but girls with guns.

Shoot me if you want.
You can't stop what's happening.

What are you talking about?

- Answer me!
- Looks like

Mr. Lee here isn't going to cooperate.

You know what I don't understand?

How did they know to
snatch you, Mary? Who knew

- what you were doing?
- I didn't tell anyone...

except for Detective Bradley.

- But it couldn't have been him.
- And why is that?

Well, we were working together,

and he was attacked at the
same time that I was.

Although that could explain
why he was nowhere

to be seen after. He faked

the attack to throw
suspicion off himself!

I trusted him.

The way I trusted that
two-faced Mr. Lee?

- This is very disappointing.
- What do you think

is gonna happen when we
talk to Detective Bradley?

Do you think he's gonna
cave and confess?

If I were him, I'd use my
authority as an officer

of the law to make sure
Mr. Lee takes the fall.

Smuggling, kidnapping...

Murder... not good.

Maybe he'll take you
down to Cherry Beach

and you'll end up at the
bottom of Lake Ontario.

Who's gonna question the
word of a detective?

- I didn't kill Tommy Chow.
- But you did kidnap two women.

He made me do that.

It was all working out
so well, wasn't it?

Shipping the women over

for a fee. You probably

fronting the bachelors the
money for the head tax.

With a hefty surcharge, no doubt.

It was good business... but
the detective got greedy.

- He upped the price?
- Worse.

- He's going to hold auctions.
- He's selling brides

- to the highest bidder?
- Yes.

He doesn't care where they go or why.

- Where are the women right now?
- I don't know.

Bradley has them.

Well, you're gonna contact
Detective Bradley, and you're

gonna set up a meeting for tomorrow.

- Coffee?
- Never touch the stuff.

You can pour me a glass

of that gin you concoct
and get to the point.

Why am I here?

Well, I might need your
help with something.

Well, well, well!

Now she needs my help.

Couldn't handle everything by
yourself? Quelle surprise!

- You know what? Forget I asked.
- Wait, wait!

- Can I at least finish my drink?
- Fine, but hurry up.

Oh, come on. For heaven sakes,
let me savour the moment.

Frankie Drake is asking
for her mother's help!

You don't need to make
a meal out of it.

Fine. What do you want?

Forget it. It requires a woman
with a special set of skills.

Really?

What's this about, Lee?

I think you'll be
pleased. It's big money.

American money. Much more
than any Toronto bachelors

can afford.

Sounds promising. Who is this buyer?

Mrs. DuBois is from Chicago
where I understand she runs

a house of... assignation.

You mean a bordello.

I will thank you

to keep your street
language to yourself.

My establishment is regarded

as the finest in Illinois,

and that's saying something.

Apologies, Mrs. DuBois.

I understand you are
interested in my girls.

Well... from the description

your associate has given me,

they are exactly the
exotic creatures that I

- am looking for.
- The price?

I'm prepared to pay
what you're asking.

You look familiar.

Have we met before?

Not unless you have, um...

paid my house a visit.

- You ever been to Chicago?
- No.

Perhaps you should drop by sometime

for some... personal attention.

I might just take you up on that.

- But first, a little business.
- Well, that's what

- we're here for.
- These girls are first class,

- worth every penny.
- Mm-hmm. Well, where are they?

Call me old fashioned but I

like to see the
merchandise before I buy.

That's not the arrangement.
First the cash, then the girls.

Well, then, this has been

a waste of a perfectly
good train ticket.

Kindly call a taxi

- to take me to the station.
- Fine.

Victoria Botanical Gardens
this afternoon, two o'clock.

- You can see the girls then.
- Hmm. Well...

I am partial to flowers.

Your mother really

is quite something.
She could be on the stage.

She already is. Her entire
life is one big performance.

She seems so glamorous.

She's entertaining

in small doses.

Heads up. There he is.

Mrs. DuBois.

You're alone?

That's disappointing.
What's the problem now?

I've been thinking about
the sum negotiated.

- What about it?
- I've encountered

further expenses.
I need to raise the price.

Damn it, you Canadians are
appalling businessmen!

Where I come from, a deal is a deal.

What are you doing, Nora?
Just give him whatever he wants.

She's not gonna let
herself be fleeced.

But she doesn't actually
have to give him any cash.

It's not a real transaction!

Old habits die hard.

You know, I suspected

something like this might happen

and I have a taxi waiting this time.

So what is it gonna be, Mr. Bradley?

Do I see your girls or not?

Oh, my! Well, aren't

they lovely? Every bit
as fine as you promised.

There's more where they came from.

Yeah, I'm sure there are.

- What the hell's going on?
- Detective Bradley,

- you're under arrest.
- Stop right there!

What are you talking about?

We have everything
we need to hang you.

Literally, if you don't cooperate.

I didn't think you had
it in you, Officer Shaw.

I'll take that as a
compliment, Detective.

Let's go.

Good job, sis.

OK, OK. Frankie, let's get
the girls out of here

before the cops arrive.
After all they've been through,

I am not gonna let them be
deported. OK, let's go.

- Let's go.
- Right this way.

There you go. There you go.

And how are you gonna pull that off?

Well... I know a judge
who just might help...

that is, if he wants to keep
his private life private.

You played a very convincing madam.

- Oh, yeah?
- Embarrassingly so.

Well next time give me a
more challenging role.

And who says there's
gonna be a next time?

Well, never say never, darling.

I never thanked you.

If you hadn't come looking
for me, I could still be

in that cellar. Or worse.

- It's what good cops do.
- Oh!

Don't start.

Come home with me and
visit Mom, Jenny.

She misses you.

I miss you too.

- Just a visit?
- Just a visit.

- I'm not moving back home.
- No, you absolutely are not.

I'm never sharing a
room with you again.

You-fou were-fer hor-for-ifi-
leefee ufun-ti-fi-Dee-fee.

- Oh-foh ref-Al-Li-fee?
- OK, OK.

One more time. I know I can get this.

Doe-font Te-fell the-fem
wha-fut wefeeve pla-fanned.

Doe-font wo-fur-ee-fee, I-fi woefont.

Never mind.

So Ling is going back to China?
She doesn't wanna stay

without her husband.

- Bill.
- I was hoping you'd be here.

- Did you...
- I did.

Ling.

- Wie Zhang!
- Ling!

Congratulations!

- How did you do it?
- I took a day off.

Went door-to-door through
Chinatown 'til I found him.

Well, that's dedication.

What else could I do?

I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

- Lunch Saturday?
- You bet.

- What's that?
- Perfect timing.

Come on. We've liberated Mr. Lee's

stash of fireworks!

You know, I've always wanted a sister.

- Really?
- Yeah! You know,

- someone to share stuff with.
- OK, but then you'd have

to make up some weird language.

- Would I have to?
- Well... there is another way.

So, Bill...

So, what?

Just saying, he's a
steady kind of guy.

And what's wrong with
giving the steady guys

- a chance for once?
- Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

Look at that one!

Oh!