Frankie Drake Mysteries (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 9 - Ghosts - full transcript

What can I do for you, Elspeth?

I read about you in the
paper, Miss Drake.

The Conroyd Factory explosion,
the Crown Ascot jewelry theft...

I thought you might be the
right person to help me.

It's about my husband, Grant.

Well, why don't you tell
me what the problem is?

He's been pushing me away.

And when I ask him why,

he won't say.

I know it doesn't seem like much,

but I know my husband.
Something's wrong.



How long have you been married?

Two years. We met shortly after

- he came home from overseas.
- He served?

Yes. A captain in the
Engineering Corps.

Is it possible that he
could be suffering...

- From shell shock?
- That's right.

No, nothing like that.

He was one of the lucky ones.

Is there anything specific you
can tell me that's happened?

Well... there've been

these calls, about a dozen or so.

Grant takes them, and he

speaks in a hushed voice
so that I can't hear.

But I think someone might
be threatening him.



Well, in my experience,
when a man acts out of character

it's usually because he's
trying to hide something.

Miss Drake, it crossed my mind that...

maybe he's seeing someone.

But Grant's a good husband.

They always are, until they're not.

I'm not giving up on my
marriage, Miss Drake.

I'll need to start by
looking around your house.

You mean you'll take the job?

Why wouldn't I?

Grant Burton?

Yes?

My name is Frankie Drake.
I'm a private detective.

- I was hired by your wife.
- Why would she do something like that?

She's worried about you. She thinks
there's something wrong and you won't

- talk to her, so she hired me.
- Yeah, she's overreacting.

- There's nothing wrong.
- She says that you're getting

- threatening phone calls.
- There's nothing to them.

So you're not getting
calls from another woman?

No, of course not.

Your wife loves you very much.
Why are you pushing her away?

- You wouldn't understand.
- No?

It has to do with the war.

I served as well. Try me.

Look, please just... tell Elspeth

that there's nothing she
needs to worry about.

And I'll soon have
everything worked out

and things will go back to normal.

Well, I really hope for both
of your sakes that's true.

- Is she inside?
- Elspeth? Yes, she is.

Oh, I just can't imagine.

- How is she doing?
- She's in shock.

Her sister's on the way.

The initial police
investigation confirmed

it was a gas explosion. The gas line

- was deliberately severed.
- What are they thinking?

- Suicide.
- Distraught veteran

can't stand it anymore,
so he takes his own life.

- Exactly.
- But I just spoke with him.

He didn't seem like a man
about to commit suicide.

- How can I help?
- Have the police

- finished up at the crime scene?
- Yes.

I'm betting they missed something.

Why don't you go down there
and see what you can find?

Well, I can try, but the gas company

has the place completely sealed off.

Just... improvise.

Improvise.

Right.

Got it.

You don't think he killed himself?

No. But the police do.

Someone cut that gas line...
I doubt it was Grant.

Did your husband have any enemies?

No. No... not that I know of.

Did he ever talk to you about the war?

There was...

often a shadow around Grant.

I spoke to my sister about it, and...

she said lots of war veterans

are haunted by things
they went through.

They want to protect their
loved ones from what they saw.

Or did.

Was there any change
to his normal routine?

He made a few trips

to the Soldier's Hospital recently.

He'd never done that before.

- Was he ill?
- He seemed fine.

Unless that was something
else he was hiding from me.

What about the calls that
he received? Do you have

- any idea who they were from?
- I'm sorry.

I wish I could help you.

I feel like I knew nothing
about my husband.

You know that he loved you.

Yes...

I know that.

I should go.

My sister will be
waiting for me outside.

If you need anything,
please don't hesitate.

All I need is the truth.

Well... we will find it.

Thank you.

- So where do we start?
- We need to find out

- who made those calls.
- I think I have someone

who could help. She's an
exchange operator. Maybe they

- have a record of the calls.
- Good. I'm going to find out

why Captain Burton suddenly started

visiting the Soldier's Hospital.

Thank you very much.

Hello. Can I help you?

I'm looking for someone.

Maybe a visitor. Do you keep records?

- We do.
- Would you mind checking

- for me?
- I don't see why not.

His name is Grant Burton.

He was last here on Tuesday.

Well! Good afternoon, gentlemen.

Sir.

- I trust you're healing well.
- Special visitor?

That's General Clarence Chanston.

He's here to talk about
the new holiday in honour

of the declaration of peace.
They're calling it Armistice Day.

They should call it
Remembrance Day so everyone

remembers the price
paid during that war.

Not that anyone around
here is likely to forget.

Here he is. Grant Burton.

Does it say who he was visiting?

Yes. Private Davidson.

Follow me.

- He's just over there.
- Thank you.

Private Davidson?

Lewis?!

It is so wonderful to see you.

It's a pleasure to see you too.

In fact, you're...

quite the sight for sore eyes, miss.

Lewis, it's me, Frankie.

Well, Frankie it is, then.

You don't remember me?

Not at all.

Dancing? England? The war?

Believe me, I wish I
remembered dancing with you,

but I don't remember much
of anything from the war.

The docs say I'm lucky to
even remember my own name.

But... when I these old
devils get back under me,

I'd love to take you for a
spin on the dance floor.

Sorry I'm late.

This one guy

keeps calling. All he
wants to do is talk.

Tells me he's falling in love with me

because of the sound of my voice.

Doesn't that just take the cake?

- At least you're getting calls.
- Well...

So you joined the roller derby?

The bosses came up with this
to make us faster at work.

OK, so you skate up and down the
switchboard changing plugs?

- Can you believe it?
- No!

Hey, did you have any
luck with those calls

- made to the Burton home?
- I did...

but I'm not sure how it'll help you.

They were all placed from a
pay phone in Cabbagetown.

So anyone could have made those calls.

Pretty much, but I do have something

- you might be able to use.
- Oh?

A call was placed
from the Burton house

right before explosion.
And we know that

because the operator making the
connection heard the blast

- and noted the time.
- So any idea

- who the call was made to?
- Sorry, just the number.

Thanks. I owe you one.

Well, Norm and I could use
a sitter Friday night.

Any chance?

You two plan on having a late night.

Oh...

The last time I was
barefoot in the grass

was on a roadside in
England with a warm beer

in my hand, and you

were scolding me for
stealing that beer

from a delivery wagon
outside that pub.

What was it? The...
the Pig and Whistle,

or... Pig and Bull? Pig and something.

They sound like wonderful times.

We were really friends?

- Good friends.
- And this... dancing?

Oh! You were a dynamo,

whipping me around the dance floor

like the war was a million miles away.

Sounds like a real hoot, Frankie.

What are you thinking about?

The last time I saw you.

You came to pick me
up to go to a dance.

You said something had come up

and you were shipping
out the next day.

But something had come
up for me as well,

- and I had to cancel on you.
- So we never had that dance?

No.

I didn't see you again
after that. I thought...

I could sure go for one
of those warm beers

right about now. How about you?

Could I ever,

but they don't allow
liquor on the premises.

Well I'll have to sneak
in a flask next time.

You're a real swell gal.

You know that, Frankie Drake?

Listen, I have to ask
you about something.

You've been getting visits
from Captain Burton?

Yeah. He just started dropping in.

- How do you know each other?
- He said from the war, but...

Do you mind if I ask what
you two were talking about?

He wanted to discuss something
that happened in the war,

but you can imagine how that went.

So, instead, we just

talked about the weather, lacrosse.

Things like that.

That happened every time he came.

I have to go.

You know, talking with you...

...it feels like I'm
fishing and there's

something big down there...

just out of sight.

Come back. Please.

So you knew Private
Davidson during the war?

- I did.
- Well, was he cute?

It wasn't like that.
We were just friends.

- No complications.
- Oh.

That's the best kind of friend.

We met at a dance. He was
stationed near me in England.

I was Signal Corps,

he was with the 12th York Rangers.

Wait. But if Lewis didn't
remember anything from the war,

why did Burton keep visiting
him? Was he hoping that Lewis

- would remember something?
- They must be connected somehow.

Does this connection have
to do with Grant's death?

That's what we need
to find out. How did

- you make out?
- I'm not sure.

Those calls were all made from
a pay phone in Cabbagetown.

Not much help.

Oh, yes operator,

can you please connect
me to Queen East,

two-seven-three. Thank you.

But Grant did make a call
just before the explosion.

- He did? Who to?
- I'm about to find out.

Oh! Sorry.

I must have called the wrong number.

Well?

He called a pharmacy.

This is everything from
the Burton residence

that wasn't either
destroyed in the fire

or taken by my fellow officers.

- So you were able to get in!
- As you suggested,

I improvised and did some

- sweet talking with the gas man.
- Works every time.

Well, I may have promised more
than I intend to deliver.

You are full of surprises, Mary.

"See you soon."

I found that near the
telephone. No postmark

- means it was hand delivered.
- "Salisbury."

- It sounds English.
- It is.

- What's that?
- I found that near where

the explosion took place.

Well, this looks like a variation

of a pencil detonator. It's very rare.

- Well, how does it work?
- So it holds

two separate chemicals,
separated by a copper barrier.

Eventually... the chemicals

eat away at the barrier,
mix together and combust.

A small flame shoots
through this tiny hole,

setting off anything around it.

Like a leaking gas main.

You know, I heard a high-pitched whine

right before the explosion.

Picric acid makes

the same sound right
before it combusts.

You know, like a firecracker
before it goes off.

So after talking with you,
Grant goes back into the house

where gas is leaking
from a sabotaged line.

- The detonator's already there.
- And kaboom...

the whole thing blows.

Well, the killer had knowledge
of how to assemble this.

- Points to a certain type.
- It must be

- some sort of military person.
- Oh!

That reminds me. I
have something else.

- These are for you.
- Thank you.

They're a reminder to
remember on Armistice Day.

They were handing these out outside
of the Soldier's Hospital.

- What do we do with them?
- Oh, you just pin it on your

blouse or lapel on the left
side, over your heart. You give

a small donation for them.
The money goes to help veterans.

Good idea. Thanks.

- So, what now?
- We find out

why Burton called a pharmacy
right after I spoke with him.

The door is open.

Frankie!

He's gone.

Better call the police.

Frankie! Are you OK?

- What is that?
- A pencil detonator!

A bomb?!

This isn't gonna end well.

Damn it. He's gone.

Maybe, but I'll be seeing
him in my nightmares.

This rag is soaked in turpentine.

He would have asphyxiated on the fumes.

Gas.

Like the main gas line
at Grant Burton's.

Looks like our pharmacist's name

is Douglas Hargrove.

Or, was Douglas Hargrove.

This is the same postcard
that Grant received.

So what's the connection between
a textile manufacturer,

a pharmacist and the
town of Salisbury?

And a killer wearing a gas mask?

I got a good look at it.

It was creepy,
but maybe I can track it down.

Look at this.

The killer left behind
some boot prints.

This is clay.

How do you know?

Well, sometimes my father
would work as a labourer

at the Brickworks in the Don Valley.

He would come in tracking clay
at the house. It would drive

- my mother crazy.
- OK. You check

the army surplus stores,
see if you can find that mask.

- Where are you going?
- I'm gonna have a walk

along the Don Valley.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I'm looking

- for a gas mask.
- Really?

- One can never be too prepared.
- Well, I like a woman who's prepared.

What kind of mask are you looking for?

- British? German? Canadian?
- Oh. I never realized

- there are so many.
- Here. Why don't you

try one of these on and...
see how you like it, huh?

Actually, it was more like a sack.

Ah. See, that's how they
were at the beginning.

Hang on a second here.

Um... OK.

- Here we are.
- Oh.

Oh, yeah. That's it. That's the one.

Yeah, it's an early version
of an anti-gas helmet.

It's linen with pads fitted inside

- around the eye-pieces.
- Any idea where I'd find one?

What would you want one for?
They're basically useless.

Can't a gal get a jump on Hallowe'en?

- Am I invited to the party?
- Maybe...

If you find me a mask.

They're... well, they're very rare.

The funny thing is I just...

I sold the only one
I ever came across.

Oh. Well, maybe you could
help me get in touch

with the owner. I'd like to
try and buy it from him.

I'm gonna need some time
to find the information.

It's gonna be in one of these boxes.

Oh.

That's a lot of boxes.

Always be prepared.

My loitering conspicuously
in the hallway

could be avoided if Frankie
would just give me a key.

I'll pass that on to her.
In the meantime, did you

- come up with anything else?
- Not much.

To start, neither of your gas
victims has a criminal record.

So no brothers in crime?

They didn't go to the
same school. They didn't

even live in the same neighbourhood.

Grant Burton, he went
into the textile business

while Doug Hargrove studied
chemistry at university.

He qualified as a pharmacist
just before the war.

- Did he serve?
- As a captain

- in the Engineering Corps.
- Burton was a captain

in the Engineering Corps.

So not brothers in crime,

but brothers in arms.

- Alice, we need more bandages!
- Right away.

Lewis!

Stop him!

By the time I got back to his lair,

- it had been cleared out.
- Sounds like a good place

to hide: impossible to
find unless you stumbled

- right onto it.
- I think it was less

of a hiding place and more of a
base camp. You know, the valley

- runs through most of the city.
- So he follows it

and climbs out wherever
he needs to be.

- How did you make out?
- I think I got a lead.

- Just waiting on an address.
- Good.

Our killer's planned
this very carefully.

Whatever is motivating him,

it must be something terrible.

OK. So we have two dead soldiers.

- Both in the Engineering Corps.
- Both received postcards

- from Salisbury.
- And a killer

with military experience.

Somehow it's all connected.

And Lewis Davidson is
at the heart of it.

I know someone who might
be able to help us.

So what happened this time?

You couldn't shoot someone again?

For once, it's not about me.

Hmm.

It's about a soldier I
knew back in England.

- What about him?
- He doesn't remember me.

That's hard to believe.

He doesn't remember
anything from the war.

I've seen that before.

Soldiers experience extreme trauma,

repress the memories
to protect themselves.

I need him to remember something.

It's really important.

How about instead of...

asking him to remember the whole war,

you try focusing on
something more specific.

The damn war. It just
never goes away, does it?

It went away for me.

Did it?

You said that there was
something lurking deep below,

wanting to come to the surface.

I have a feeling I don't
want it to come up.

We all have things we
don't want to remember...

but maybe confronting them

is the only way to
really deal with it.

I feel like I know you.

- And I haven't felt that before.
- That's positive.

What about the man with
the cosmetic mask?

Do you remember him?

Maybe, but...

Try to remember.

I think he's very dangerous.
He killed Grant Burton

and someone else.
Now, I need to stop him.

So if you can remember anything,
even the smallest thing...

Please... oh, God!

Come on!

Porton.

"Porton"?

- Porton.
- Is that his name?

I don't know. It... it just...
it just popped up.

- I wish I could remember more.
- It's OK.

I remembered something.

You did. And it might be
something very important.

Did you find the address?

You know, no one

ever believes me when I
tell them I have a system,

but I always find
what I'm looking for.

So who is he? Tell me about him.

Why? I thought you just wanted
to buy a gas mask from him?

Well, it's a rare gas mask. I want to
make sure I have the right approach.

Must be some party you have planned.

Oh, yes. Trust me,

it is. Now, the man?

Right. We didn't have

the mask in stock when
he inquired about it.

No one did. So he offered to pay
me to help him find it for him.

- He was determined to have it.
- Cost him a pretty penny for it, too.

- Can you describe him?
- I never laid eyes on him.

Every time we talked,
it was over the telephone.

He paid for it with a bank draft

and he had some kid come and
get the mask on his behalf.

So, do you have the address?

You won't forget to invite
me to the Hallowe'en party?

Oh, you're on the top of the list.

Mm-hmm...

Does the word Porton

mean anything to you?
Maybe someone's name?

- No, I'm sorry.
- Well, did Grant

ever mention a Captain Hargrove?

I believe they served together
in the Engineering Corps.

- No.
- What about Salisbury?

Grant was stationed
somewhere near there.

- Near Salisbury?
- Yes.

Porton isn't a person. It's a place.

Do you have any idea
what he did there?

It was one of those
things he never really

wanted to talk about.

Here's the other file you
requested, Corporal Drake.

As I mentioned, they are restricted...

Well, I'm sure General Wallace
wouldn't mind speaking with you

directly about my clearance.

- Dismissed, Private.
- Yes, sir.

Ma'am. Ahem.

"Royal Engineer's Research Station...

anti-gas."

"12th York Rangers..."

Drake Private Detectives.

Frankie, I found our killer's
house. His name's McElroy.

- What's the address?
- 640 Sackville.

That street runs along the
edge of the Don Valley.

I know. His hide's been a stone throw
away. We didn't even realize it.

I'm 20 minutes away.
Meet me on the north corner.

Actually...

no one was home, so I let myself in.

You need to get out of there now.

He's here. I can't.

Hello? Trudy!

Trudy!

Trudy!

- Are you OK?
- McElroy's been gone

at least 10 minutes.
I don't understand, he could've

- killed me, but he didn't. Why?
- Whatever the reason is,

- I'm just grateful.
- Why are you in uniform?

A last-minute trip to the
Department of Defence.

You gotta look at this.

Oh, my God.

The 12th York Rangers.

This was Lewis's regiment.
There he is.

- Look at the second name.
- McElroy. That means...

- That Lewis and McElroy
served together.

I just saw a file.

The 12th served at Porton Down.

- "Porton Down"?
- Some kind of...

engineering research station.

Doug Hargrove and Grant
Burton were both stationed.

That has to be the connection.
Something had to have happened.

Well, whatever it was,
it can't have been good.

Oh, and there's Burton's obituary.

- And there's Hargrove.
- And look at these two.

Gerald Bukowski and John Peters.

Looks like Bukowski died in
Fredericton, and Peters in Hull.

And both were in the
Engineering Corps.

So McElroy was targeting
people at Porton Down.

And clearly there's someone
else on that list. But who?

Wait... I think I saw him
at the Soldier's Hospital.

His name is General Clarence Chanston.

I think this is all about remembrance.

We have to get to him
before McElroy does,

- but how do we find him?
- I've got an idea.

But in case I'm wrong, get the police

and try to find Chanston.

What's this all about?

What do you want?

I want to talk about
the 12th, General.

Who are you?

This is what you look like
when you've been gassed.

Would you like to put in on?

- See how well it works?
- Go to hell, soldier.

We'll go together.

Private McElroy!

- Get out of here.
- I'm not going anywhere!

- I have no fight with you!
- This is about what happened

at Porton Down, isn't it?

I'm gonna holster my weapon.

And you and I,

we can have a nice, calm chat.

OK?

Why don't you start

by telling me what really
happened to the 12th?

Yes. Why don't we tell her, General?

That's classified.

Not anymore, it isn't.

You gassed your own men?

We had no choice.

The Germans were throwing
everything at us.

Phosphene, chlorine, mustard gas.

It was a field test. We needed
to know our masks worked.

16 men died to find that out!

And those who didn't wish they had.

It wasn't for nothing! We went
on to build a better mask

- that saved thousands.
- And what about the 12th?

You just covered up
what happened to them?

Their deaths weren't
something we were proud of.

To hell with your pride.

No! Stop! Stop!

People need to know what
happened to the 12th.

If you kill him,
all anyone is gonna remember

is how a soldier murdered
a bunch of officers.

People need to know the truth.

And they will. Won't they?

Then my mission is complete.

And my promise is kept.

So what's going to happen
to Private McElroy?

I assure you, he'll get
the help he needs.

So he's going to receive
psychiatric care?

Yes. I've arranged for
him to see my man,

the very best this
country has to offer.

Is that why I'm here,

Miss Drake, so you can
make sure I keep my word?

Something like that.

That one day at Porton Down

changed so many lives.

Do you know why Grant
Burton was even there?

He was a textile expert.

He made the fabric that
went around the lenses

of the gas mask.

Doug Hargrove worked on the filter.

What is your point?

Grant and Doug weren't evil.

They thought the mask
would work. We all did.

The 12th were

honourable men, volunteers.

When they started to fall,

Lewis ran.

He was trying to warn us that
the masks weren't working.

That's why he survived.

He missed the worst of the gas cloud.

I ordered everyone to stand down.

I couldn't allow any more men to die.

So why the cover-up?

Well, I realize now

what a terrible mistake that was.

And perhaps if I had realized it then,

Grant and Doug might still be alive.

General Chanston,
this is Elspeth Burton,

Grant's wife.

Mrs. Burton.

All I wanted was the truth.

And now, I have it.

Grant was a good man,

a fine soldier.

I'm sorry for your loss.

That one word,

Porton, was like poking a hole

in a dam. His whole memory
just came flooding back.

I'm glad it worked out
for you, Frankie.

He can move on now.

There's a difference
between Lewis and I.

He didn't do anything wrong.

He thought he did.

Being alive,

when all the others were dead.

I'm not afraid of being alive.

I know.

Frankie, you'd be crazy
to think this is easy.

I can't tell you much,
but I can tell you...

...the world won't end
if you let it out.

How do you know?

You have a direct line to God?

You know, maybe I'm
not the right person.

What do you mean?

I mean maybe you need
to speak to somebody

who understands what you went through.

Thanks.

Warm gin is better than no gin.

But is it better than warm beer?

You've been flirting with the
nurses, you cheeky bugger.

You know, the doctors are optimistic.

They're saying that with time,
I might even get my legs back.

- You will.
- And we can have that dance.

Not that I deserve it,

after standing you up
the way that I did.

So, what happened that night?

Why'd you have to cancel?
Did you get a better offer?

No, I can promise you it wasn't that.

To the fallen.

Wherever they may be.

To the fallen.

You know, you and I are alike.

We survived where others didn't.

Does this have something
to do with me?

And that night.

You want to talk about it?

No.

Yes.

All right.

I came to your door.

And I knocked.

And you only opened it
an inch, and you said...

I can't go dancing with you.