Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - The Pilot - full transcript

♪

Look at that beauty.

If I had to do it
all over again,

I would make flying a plane
a much bigger priority.

Yeah, you would have made
dying a much bigger priority.

Where's your sense
of adventure, Trudy?

Not up there. I'd do my
adventuring by boat. Paris,

maybe.

It sure is warm today.

- I'll get us some cold lemonades, then.
- It'll need a kick.

You brought your flask.



I'm going to find someplace
quiet to watch the planes.

- But you'll miss the baby contest.
- Precisely.

Now now, what's this I hear
about you not liking babies?

It has nothing to do
with not liking babies

and everything to do with
really liking planes.

Might I join you then? I don't
mind a spot of bird watching.

Suit yourself.

- Nice bike.
- Thanks.

- You ride?
- I prefer being up there

- than down here.
- You fly.

Did. Once upon a time.

Royal Flying Corps.

Hm! So you're one of those

dangerous flyboy types.



- Thanks.
- Ladies,

learn how to raise
Better Babies!

The future of the nation
begins with a healthy family.

Make sure you do your part!

Dog fights were
nothing like that.

They make it look so simple.

It's always different when
you're getting fired at.

You speaking from
personal experience?

A girl can have her secrets.

So which one do you like?

I like them all.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Mr. Phillip Anderson!

Ah, the man of the hour.

- Phillip Anderson.
- The aviator?

Visionary, philanthropist,
all-round golden boy.

- Sounds like you know him.
- Hm. Our paths have crossed.

If you'd asked me when I was
with the Royal Flying Corps

if we'd be on the
cusp of a new age

in a few short years,
I would have said no.

But just look at the excitement
that this new technology

is generating. My aerodrome is
just the beginning. Take my word

for it, man is about to take off

and soar above the clouds.

He is quite the crowd-pleaser.

That's very forward.

A girl can admire the pilot
as well as the planes.

Well, admire all you like,

he only has eyes for his wife.

The perfect man.

With the perfect wife.

Perhaps I can take you on
a thrill ride sometime.

- Now who's being forward?
- Think about it.

I'll mull it over.

And now, Mr. Anderson
will announce the winner

of the Better Babies
of Leaside contest.

Well, it was so difficult

to choose a winner
from all these lovely,

healthy babies.
Not a blemish on one.

But I had to,
so ladies and gentlemen,

the winner

of this year's Better
Babies of Leaside contest.

The baby! The baby's gone!

Charlie!

Hello there.

- You're okay. Here.
- Charlie!

- I can't believe you pulled that off.
- Oh, me neither.

I thought I was going to
take you for a thrill ride.

Good lord, that was some feat.

- Who are you?
- Frankie Drake.

Private detective.

Miss Drake.

I don't believe we've been
properly introduced. Greg Mills.

- Mr. Anderson's mechanic.
- Nice to meet you.

- Trudy Clarke.
- Mechanic, you say?

I don't suppose you could...?

Your bike? Yes, I will fix
her up for you on the house.

I'm sure he will be
in very good hands.

- Oh, Mrs. Drake...
- It's Miss.

I stand corrected.

Anyway, I would like to
commend you to your employer.

Commendation accepted.

Drake Private Detectives.

Mr. Anderson, I don't want
to alarm you or your wife,

but we suspect the kidnapper
is going to strike again.

And that's why I've
spoken personally

with the Chief of Police.
A constable will be

on 24-hour duty here at the
house. Every available man

will soon be searching
for the culprit.

Well, you have two available
women right here.

And Frankie is the only person

to get a firsthand
look at the kidnapper.

Phillip, perhaps it
would be a good idea

- to hire Miss Drake.
- I appreciate the offer, Meara;

kidnapping is serious business
best left to the police.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

I think he meant to say
best left to the men.

Mrs. Anderson,
if you need anything,

even the smallest
thing, please call.

Thank you.

You should've seen it, girls.
Frankie jumps off

the motorcycle, clocks the
kidnapper in the chops,

hops into a moving plane,
stops it

- and saves the baby.
- That is so amazing.

The most exciting thing I did
today was visit a dance hall

to encourage good moral affect.

I got to take scrapings from
under the nails of a John Doe.

The kicker of the story is
they didn't even hire us.

What? That doesn't
make any sense.

- Wait a minute. Yes, it does.
- Kidnapping case.

That would've really been
something. I mean, obviously,

not a good thing for the
baby being kidnapped.

Do you think they'll try again?

Maybe. But we did
warn the Andersons.

I wish I had been there
to see all the action.

On the plus side, you missed
the Better Babies contest.

I hate those things. Weighing
kids like they're turnips.

Do people really need to
think their child is better

- than someone else's?
- It's more than that.

It's about making supposedly
better people by only passing on

desirable traits.

They call that selective
breeding in livestock.

My friend Lisa was
born with a clubfoot,

but she is the smartest and
most courageous person I know.

What would've become of her
if they'd practiced this?

- What did Frankie think of it all?
- She thought it was horrible.

Where is Frankie, anyway?

Yeah, it's not like her
to miss a good meal.

- I think Moses might be back in town.
- Ooh...

So you think you can just come into
town and throw me off my game?

I don't think anything can
throw you off your game.

It's usually brains over brawn when it
comes to getting the better of a man.

I'm done for, then.

Mm-hmm. You're very good
at avoiding answers.

I pride myself on it.

Nice. Very nice. You're
improving. I have to admit...

My teacher claims he's the best.

I know it's late... I
can come back tomorrow.

It's fine.

Please, come in.
We were just sparring.

This is Moses Page,

my boxing instructor.
Moses, this is

Mrs. Meara Anderson.

Ma'am.

Pleasure to meet you.

See you later, Frankie.

I suspected you were
out of the ordinary.

How can I help?

I will do anything
to protect my son.

I want to hire you to
find the kidnapper.

My husband doesn't
know I'm here.

A lot of husbands don't know
that their wives hire me.

Charlie is

my...

my everything.

Will you take the case?

You were alone in a city park
at ten o'clock at night?

What if a man were to think you
were there with illicit intentions?

But I was.

You're lucky I'm only letting
you off with a warning.

- You're letting me go?
- Go on.

Go!

Oh! Hey, gals!

Hi!

Did you have a look
at the file for us?

Yes.

They've found no trace
of the kidnapper.

And the artist's sketch they
worked up from your description

- didn't ring any bells.
- The getaway plane?

- Doesn't seem to be registered.
- What about the pram...

The pram is a new,
high-end item at Eaton's.

Only two sold, one to the
Andersons last week and another

to a man just yesterday,
no name given.

- He knew which one to buy.
- Sounds like he had

- inside information.
- Exactly. Exactly.

Sylvia Frost?

May we have a word?

How long have you been
working for the Andersons?

Almost a year.
Since Charlie was born.

The Andersons just
bought this pram, right?

Who else would know about that?

Anyone who saw it,
I guess. I did, obviously.

Strange that the kidnapper knew
to buy the exact same pram.

You can't think

I had something to do with this.

I wouldn't harm a hair
on Charlie's head.

I love this boy
like he's my own.

Shh...

- Shh...
- It's time for his nap.

Excuse me.

Overly defensive?

Perhaps.

Lady detectives.

How novel.

So, what brought the
Better Babies Competition

- to the airfield yesterday?
- Mr. Anderson

invited us himself. He's a great
supporter of the program.

And who knew about the
schedule of events

- for the day?
- My nurses.

Myself, of course. Lots of
people. Why do you ask?

The kidnapper's movements suggest
that he knew the schedule.

Are you saying this
was orchestrated

- around our attendance?
- It's a possibility.

How horrible.
All we're interested in

is teaching mothers to
raise their children.

Nutrition, hygiene...

- Basic public health.
- Precisely.

Oh, some of the babies we see,

they're riddled with illness,

you have no idea.

And we encourage families
with a history of illness

to stop reproducing.

It's not their fault.

We have to look out for
the future. The contests

are an excellent means
of getting the word out.

It would be funny if it
weren't so frightening.

Why don't you look into
the nanny's background?

I'm gonna see what I can find out
about the kidnapper's plane.

Hello again.

Your bike is fixed.

- Thank you.
- Where'd you learn how to ride?

France.

I was a dispatch
rider in the war.

Signal corps.

I didn't know they
took too many women.

Not willingly.

Well, thank God that's
over. The war, I mean.

Yeah.

Listen, I'm trying
to figure out who

attempted to kidnap
your boss's son.

- Oh, has he hired you, Anderson?
- Something like that.

I'm looking for a flyboy-
turned-kidnapper.

Well, lots of flyboys
come in from out of town

- for the air shows.
- What about the getaway plane?

On the tarmac.

- Think I can give it a once over?
- Mm-hmm.

This old girl is light,

easy to maintain...

very popular with the
barnstorming set.

Sets.

Someone from that "set"
is likely the kidnapper.

Yeah, could be.
They're all mostly

ex-servicemen lunatics
who survived the war.

They didn't call it the
"flying circus" for nothing.

- Is it registered?
- No.

But the police have
been all over it.

Doesn't mean there's
nothing left to find.

What are you looking for?

Pilots usually carry
a good luck charm.

- A talisman of some sort.
- Yeah.

Oh...

This looks like just the thing.

Royal Flying Corps. 15 squadron.

- Mean anything to you?
- Well,

a lot of ex-airmen
end up barnstorming.

An airman with a thing for angels.
It's a bit obvious, but it's a start.

So, you think you're
gonna find him?

My card.

In case he comes back...

or you need to find me.

Don't forget you owe
me that thrill ride.

An angel.

- What's the significance?
- Well, nothing, I suspect.

It's what's on the back
that interests me.

Royal Flying Corps.

15 squadron.

Oh! Oh, this is an important
clue! We just have to track down

- who was in the 15 squadron!
- "Was" being the operative word.

That was 3 years ago and there
were an awful lot of men.

Right. So what's the next step?

What bothers me is the
timing of the kidnapping.

I think the Better Babies competition
was used as a distraction.

So the kidnappers must have
known that it was there.

Yeah. The question is,

were they organisers being
duped or were they in on it?

You know, maybe I could
be of some help.

- What do you have in mind?
- Well, they already know you and Trudy,

so I was thinking maybe I
could infiltrate them.

Somehow.

I don't think we need a
full-on military operation,

but I might have an idea of
how we could get you in.

Appreciate this, Bill.

You keep singing for me

with that choir voice on Sundays and
I'll dig up any piece of paper you want.

Find out anything
about the nanny?

I snuck a peek at the records:
births, deaths, marriages,

- just like you asked.
- And?

Your nanny is either
a phantom or a fake.

- What makes you say that?
- Sylvia Frost died

- thirty years ago.
- Thanks, Bill.

Funny, I thought they
posted a constable here.

Mrs. Anderson!

We're too late.
They got Charlie.

I heard a noise

so I came in

to check on Charlie and then...
somebody came behind me

and put a cloth over my face.

- But you didn't see who it was?
- No.

The cops are on their way.

Oh, Charlie's nanny...
is she all right?

We suspect that she may
be in on the kidnapping.

That's impossible. She would
never leave Charlie's side.

We know she's using
a false name.

That can't be.

Meara?

My child...

- Our child...
- Stolen from his own bed.

How does this happen?
Where were you?

The police were
supposedly guarding us.

Maybe if you had
cancelled your meeting

- and been here with us for once.
- Mr. Anderson...

- Why are you here?
- I hired them.

Why would you do that?

We don't need you.

Please, just get out of here.

- We're not just going to quit, are we?
- Not a chance.

Anderson didn't hire us, so
he can't exactly fire us.

Exactly. So, the nanny's
the inside person,

supplying info to the flyboy.

Which would explain why
she's using a false name.

- We need to find out who she really is.
- I found this in her room.

- Williams Photography.
- I'm gonna drop by the studio.

Maybe they have some
information about her.

Okay.

In the meantime, I'm gonna
track down that barnstormer.

I'm sorry, this club
is for aviators only.

Yes.

- I am an aviator.
- No. You are a woman.

Can't I be both?

Even Amelia Earhart wears
the occasional dress.

I am not interested in a
philosophical discussion.

Women. Even Amelia Earhart.

Must. Be. Escorted.

Sweetheart, whatever
took you so long?

I'm sorry, sir, this woman
is being difficult.

- I will have her removed at once.
- Absolutely not.

- Shall we then, my dear?
- Thank you, Mr...?

George Crabtree,
at your service.

Well, thank you for
playing along.

I'm sure you would've made your own
way in, Miss Drake, eventually.

I just saved you some time.

Do you recall taking this?

Who wants to know?

I found it in the lining of a
second-hand suitcase I bought.

I'd like to return
it to the owner.

Not many would go
to that trouble.

Oh yes. I took this a
couple of years ago.

Lovely spot near Bolton.

Magnificent light.

Let me see...

There they are.

Margie and Tom Hunt.

You're a peach.

- Mary Shaw? Is there a Mary Shaw?
- Ooh, that's me.

Shall we begin with a
short examination?

Oh no, that won't be necessary.

Well, I want to be sure that
you and your baby are healthy.

Uh, Mrs. Brown-Sherbon...
that's quite a long name,

by the way! I came because of some
things I heard you say at the air show.

- You were there?
- I was, and I've been thinking

quite a lot about all
those wonderful,

- healthy babies.
- Isn't it something?

Now, how can I help you?

Ah, yes. Well, I'm
a little worried.

You see, it's my
husband... well,

my husband's side of
the family. They have

- some traits.
- I see.

- What sort of traits?
- Well, there are a few of his folk

who have the colour-blindness

and there are some...

who are just...
well, they're slow.

- Oh, dear.
- And I'm a little worried

that my baby might have
something wrong with it too.

Well, you've done the right thing
by coming here. Of course,

you must bring this
child to term.

Some advocate

more extreme measures,

but I... I don't go that far.

Hopefully, this child will be

- beautiful and healthy in every way.
- I hope so too.

But you do understand

the importance of these problems

- never being passed on?
- What would you suggest?

Voluntary sterilization.

Oh, of course. What
other choice is there?

Yes.

Have we met before,
Mr. Crabtree?

Your picture was in the paper after
you saved the Anderson baby.

You're very observant.

Well, you know, I used
to be a policeman.

From copper to aviator?

I made a couple of investments
here and there over the years.

They've done all right.

- I think you're still on the case.
- I am.

- There's been a new development.
- What sort of development?

The kidnapper has struck again.

This time they got the baby.

That's horrible.
Is there anything I can do?

I'm trying to find the
owner of the plane.

- It's unregistered, I assume?
- Correct.

What about...

There's often some little...
good luck token

that could be found
somewhere hidden...

I already found it.

Yes, of course you have.
Why am I not surprised?

I was hoping somebody
here might own it

- or perhaps know who does.
- Not in this club.

None of this lot have the time
of day for those old junkers.

But I think I know a
place you should try...

I'm looking for a barnstormer.

Any idea who this belongs to?

Yeah, looks like Johnny
Angel's. Over there.

- Try talking to her.
- Thank you.

Looking for a flyboy.

Aren't we all?

Bartender says you might
be able to help me out.

Dean's wrong.

He goes by the name
of Johnny Angel.

Hands off, sister. He's mine.

- I don't want your beau.
- Any gal would want Johnny Angel.

He's going to be big one
day. And he proposed to me.

- So what's your worry?
- I said no.

And why's that?

He said he was pulling some big job
and I don't want to marry a criminal.

That was two days ago.

I haven't seen him since.

You haven't gone
looking for him?

I'm not the type to go begging.

He knows where to find me.

I'm going to level with you.
Johnny's in the soup.

He tried to kidnap
that rich guy's son.

- Where'd you get this?
- His plane.

I gave it to him.

To keep him safe.

If the police are looking for
him, he's not gonna be safe.

I can help.

I'm a private detective.

But you have to tell
me where he is.

Millennium Hotel.

Room 317.

- So he just fell into the hallway?
- Just plopped right down.

- I couldn't believe it.
- How's that even possible?

He must have crawled
to the door trying

to get help and then
died up against it.

I'd like to say I feel sorry
for him, but he did try

- to kidnap a child.
- So who killed him?

That's what we need to find out.

- Mary, what did you get?
- Well, Mrs. Brown-Sherbon

only wants healthy babies.

That's good.

What's not so good is her
attitude towards the unborn.

- She suggested I be sterilized.
- That's horrible.

But my point is, I don't think
she would harm a living baby.

I really don't think
she had any part

in this kidnapping.

So the contest must
have been a diversion.

Johnny Angel was
working with someone

who knew the schedule of the
Andersons and of the air show.

Likely the nanny.

Drake Detectives.

Flo, we're on our way.
Mary, can you...

Look up the background
of the nanny? Oh!

Name's Margie Hunt.

Margie Hunt.

I've only got a sec, ladies.

- Don't tempt me, Flo.
- Well,

I never smoke alone.

Latest body into the morgue.
Johnny Angel?

Yeah, the cops are breathing
down our necks about him.

So, give us the scoop.

He was a real doozy.

Two bullets, .38s,

ripped apart his sternum,
burst his heart wide open.

- When?
- Before he hit the ground, most likely.

- The damage to his thorax...
- Flo,

- she meant the time of death.
- That's all? How dull.

Rigor had already passed, so...?

Your Mr. Angel expired

at least twenty-four hours
before you found him.

Twenty-four hours?

That means he was dead before
Charlie was kidnapped.

- Thanks, Flo.
- Bye, toots. Bye, toots.

Coming!

Coming!

- I thought you'd never get here!
- What's going on?

Did the Andersons receive
a ransom demand?

No, and I find that
highly suspicious.

But I do have the
rundown on your nanny

and it is quite the tale.

- Go on.
- The nanny,

Margie Greene, she marries
a fellow named Tom Hunt

two years ago.
They settle down in Bolton,

they buy a house, they start a
nice little family. One baby.

A baby?

Then, tragedy strikes.
There's a terrible house fire

and the baby perishes. After that,
everything starts to fall apart.

The husband starts drinking,
and before long, Margie...

well, Margie just disappears.

She becomes Nanny Frost to escape
her past. How old was the baby?

- Ten, eleven months.
- The same age as Charlie.

You're thinking she misses her baby
so much, she needs someone else's?

Did the police have
any other leads?

They're busy worrying
about who has to

tell the Andersons they
only have one lead.

Which is?

A woman matching the
nanny's description

- was spotted near Caledon.
- Caledon...

That's a couple of hundred square
miles of forest and farmlands.

- We'll never be able to find her.
- Well, the police are

already searching,
and I will let you

know the second
they find anything.

- Thanks, Mary.
- Anytime.

It was my pleasure, really.

Okay, so, Johnny Angel
is the kidnapper

from the airfield, but
he was found dead

before Charlie was
taken from the house.

Suggesting the nanny
did it on her own.

Well, who killed him?
Mrs. Anderson says the nanny

- never left Charlie's side.
- There had to have been a third party.

Why kill Johnny?

Maybe it was payback for
ruining the airport job.

Some guardian angel.
Didn't bring him much luck.

There is one other option.

- What's that?
- Greg Mills,

the Andersons' mechanic.
He's the only one who saw me

get that card from the plane.

He must have thought the
card would lead to Johnny.

We need to find him.

Looks like he's still here.

That's his car.

Jacob!

What's your brother doing here?

Hey. I figured you
guys would be hungry.

I'm starving.

So, you guys just... sit here?

Until something happens.

- When is something going to happen?
- Why do you want to know?

I just thought...

You just thought being
a private detective

meant all guns and gangsters?

Sorry to disappoint you.

Jacob.

Stop.

I hope for your sake there's
nothing in that box

- that you don't want me to see.
- You've got this wrong.

Where's the baby?

Do not hesitate to shoot him!

I'm sure she meant to
say, "If he moves."

Stop!

Mrs. Anderson?

What the hell's going on?

- Where's the baby?
- Somewhere safe.

Safe from who?

My husband.

Why would your husband want
to kidnap his own child?

You wouldn't believe me if I
told you. Please just let me go.

No one is going anywhere until
you tell me what's going on.

Just leave her alone.

- She's trying to protect her son.
- From his own father? Why?

Charlie's deaf.

Charlie was born that way,

but we only found
out two months ago.

My husband changed after that.

He wanted less and less
to do with his son.

It was so difficult to choose
between all these lovely,

healthy babies.
Not a blemish on one.

He couldn't let a defect

be passed on to the
future generations.

I never thought that he would
do something like this.

So he planned the
kidnapping at the

aerodrome to try to
get rid of Charlie?

How did you figure it out?

Actually it was you
that figured it out.

That lucky charm in the
kidnapper's plane.

But that just led
me to Johnny Angel.

The badge on the back,
15 Squadron...

Anderson was 15 squadron's commanding
officer. He would've known

the kidnapper. He said
nothing to the police.

So then it was you who
kidnapped Charlie.

No, I told Mrs. Anderson

of my concerns. We realised we
had to get Charlie out fast,

and the three of us
came up with this plan.

Where is he now?

Charlie is with his nanny at the
family cottage near Caledon.

Caledon.

Problem?

The police told Anderson they
saw the nanny close to there.

He knows where Charlie is.

Oh c'mon, girl, you can
go faster than forty.

- Look out!
- Looks like she's hurt.

Mr. Anderson...

He... he took...

He took Charlie.

- Where would Anderson go?
- The aerodrome.

- Stay and help.
- I'm coming with you. I know him.

That's his plane.

He's about to leave.

You take the back.
I'll go in the front.

Mr. Anderson?
I know what you did.

And I know why.

I'm here for Charlie,
so hand him over.

Get out.

The police are on their
way here to arrest you.

For what?

- Taking an airplane ride with my son?
- For murder.

What murder?

You killed Johnny Angel
so he couldn't tie you

to the kidnapping.
The police will find your gun.

They're gonna link
it back to you.

Even if they did, there's
not a jury in the world

that would convict me of
shooting my child's kidnapper.

Just hand over the baby,
and then you can fly off

to wherever the hell
you want to go.

Listen to her.

You want Charlie,

put the gun down
and kick it away.

Now,

hand him over, Phillip.

For god's sake, Greg,
you know me.

I'm not a monster. This
is for the greater good.

A man of your intellect should
know that only the strong

should survive.

I see a man who isn't living up to
his responsibilities as a father.

- Don't tell me what I am!
- Look at him.

He's your son.

You're supposed to protect him.

No!

Are you alright?

Fine.

Thanks for not asking.

It was simple, I just had to
take the shot, and I froze.

- Two green teas, please.
- With sugar, please.

So it's happening again.

Why does this keep coming up, Peter?

For the same reason it happened the
first time and every time since.

You're deeply troubled by something
that happened during the war.

So we're just gonna
eat chop suey

and you're actually gonna
talk about it this time.

People come to me
with their problems.

They put their faith in me.

They think I can fix anything.

Well, why wouldn't they?

It's what you do.

Maybe they shouldn't.

Why do you say that?

I don't think that
I can be trusted.

Because of what happened
during the war?

They asked a lot
of you, Frankie.

They did. And I let them down.

Who did you let down?

Until you face this,

it will continue to haunt you.

Someone innocent

died because of me,

because of a mistake
that I made.

I can't.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's a start.

- Hello, little man.
- Oh, this is actually the sign.

Oh, hello. Well, the
girls better watch out,

you're gonna go breaking
too many hearts.

So, Meara, what are
you gonna do now?

I'm gonna take over
the aerodrome.

And Greg's going to
manage the place.

- Can I hold him?
- Of course.

- That sounds like a great idea.
- Hey, buddy!

Oh, you're so sweet!

I owe you an apology.

I should've trusted you even
though you're a redhead.

Can I make it up to you?

Dinner or something.
I can cook. Vaguely.

So you can fix bikes and cook
dinner. That's very impressive.

What do you say?

I'd rather go on that thrill
ride you've been promising.

That would be my pleasure.

Not going to happen, no way.

A bet is a bet.

But I don't remember
agreeing to any bet.

We made a bet

and we are going to
follow through with it.

If I get this,
you're coming with me.

Come on!

- Yes!
- No!

Trudy Clarke is going
to fly in a plane.

No, Trudy Clarke is going
to die in a plane.

You're going to love it.

We are going to love it.

That's the spirit.