Houdini and Doyle (2016): Season 1, Episode 9 - Necromanteion - full transcript

Synced and corrected by vivelalto

_

Emmett!

Emmett?

Mrs Reid?

Mrs Reid.

There's so much blood.

Your husband was already dead
when you found him?

It killed him.

- "It"?
- The poltergeist.

It's in the house.



So you're saying
an evil spirit...

pinned your husband
to the wall with swords?

Yes.

And you didn't hear anything?

I've been...

taking a tonic to help me sleep.

Why didn't the poltergeist
kill you, too?

I don't... I don't know.

I do.

Because there is
no poltergeist, Mrs Reid.

- You killed your husband.
- No.

You're under arrest
on the charge of murder.

Seasick already?

Six more days to go.



This is why I've never
been to America.

Buffalo's on the way
to Falcroft Manor.

We should stop there first.

Mr Walbridge hasn't responded
to any of my telegrams.

Once we arrive at his shop,
he'll have to explain

why Benjamin contacted him
about buying firearms.

You deserve answers
about your husband's murder.

And I'll get them...

but right now, Mrs Reid's case
should be our first priority.

Where have you been?

Cargo hold.

Your mother would be happy
you're bringing her home.

Are you sure you don't
want us to come to the funeral?

I'll be fine. Thanks.
And you guys have a new case.

In my absence, your job is

to discredit every theory
he comes up with.

I'll do my best.

The original owners
of the house,

the Turner family,
all died tragically there.

That's compelling evidence
that Falcroft Manor is haunted.

Thomas Edison wouldn't be
participating otherwise.

Might I suggest Edison
is a liar and a cheat?

Insult the greatest scientific mind
of our generation?

The title Tesla would have
if Edison wasn't a liar and a cheat.

He's friends with Tesla.

Edison didn't need Tesla
to develop a device

to communicate with the dead.

My shoe does the same thing.

There's just as much proof

that Edison's Necrophone does anything.

- He claims he's heard voices.
- In his head.

You have to admit, such a device
would be revolutionary.

To be able to talk to
loved ones you've lost.

It could also save
a woman from execution.

Thank you so much
for helping me.

_
- DOYLE: We haven't done anything yet.

It wasn't the first time
I experienced something strange.

Another time,
I woke up and the room was ice cold.

I wanted to get another blanket,
but I couldn't move.

I felt like something
was pinning me to the bed.

So, I tried to scream...

but I had no voice.

And then, all of a sudden,
it just stopped.

I read about something similar...

in a medical journal.

A state between wakefulness and sleep,

where people experience
a type of paralysis.

There was an evil presence
in that room. I could feel it.

Mrs Reid...

I understand you recently
lost your son, Maxwell.

Please accept our deepest
condolences.

Was there anything unusual
in the manner of his death?

No.

No, he died of influenza
just... a month old.

Constable McKellar said
that a few months ago,

your husband struck you
quite violently

in front of several witnesses.

If a man is willing to do that
to his wife in public,

one can only imagine what goes on
behind closed doors.

Emmett had a temper.

I should've known better
than to argue with him.

- He had no right to strike you.
- I was his wife.

He could do as he pleased.

Clara, I've met other women
in your position.

Victimised by their husbands.

Sometimes it seems like killing
is the only way out.

I did not kill Emmett.

I swear to you, it was a poltergeist.

Dr Doyle and Constable Stratton.

Roland Carson.
Thank you so much for coming.

When Mrs Reid's lawyer contacted me,
I knew I was in over my head. I mean,

I'm an amateur paranormal
investigator, yes,

but you've actually
investigated the paranormal.

- You've solved crimes.
- We're happy to be of assistance.

May I introduce Millie Pasternak?
She's an empath from Toronto.

- A medium?
- Not exactly.

I feel the emotions of other people,

including those who have passed.

- And this is...
- A man who needs no introduction.

It's an honour, Mr Edison.

You were the inspiration for a
character in one of my stories.

Mr Hatherley in The Adventure
Of The Engineer's Thumb.

I don't have much time for fiction.

As you can imagine,
Mr Edison is a very busy man.

I am Rustom Avari,
Mr Edison's assistant.

Pleased to meet you.

What can you tell us
about the Turner family?

The home's previous owners.

The police were not
very forthcoming with details.

Yes, well,

ten years ago,
Mr Turner went... on a rampage.

No, please!

Then he went upstairs
to where his two sons were sleeping.

The Turners' young daughter

tried to barricade the door
with a chair.

Then Mr Turner
took his own life.

He jumped off the cliff
at the edge of the property.

Now, I think...

that Mr Turner's spirit...

is what killed Mr Reid.

I...can feel their pain.

Those poor people.

Hopefully, we'll be able to make
contact through the Necrophone.

We are quite excited
to see this remarkable device.

I'm sure you are.

Ha ha ha!

Marvellous. How does it work?

It's quite complicated.

Ahem. Erm...electromagnetic waves.

When Marconi stumbled upon the radio,

he reported hearing
anomalous sounds and voices.

And you believe
those were spirits?

If we can find the right frequency,

I believe we can open
the door to the other side.

It was my understanding
you had already made contact.

I did. I did. However, I was
unable to replicate my results.

But I will. I'm determined...

to put a Necrophone in every home.

Do you really
think that's wise?

Giving spirits an open portal?

You're afraid they'll abuse it?

I'm afraid we will.

Yes, it would also have the effect
of putting you out of a job.

All great inventions have been met
with fear and trepidation.

Look at the steam engine.

People were afraid
of traveling at such speeds,

and now, we can't imagine
our lives without it.

The train was a logical
extension of man's capabilities.

Communicating with the dead
is entirely different.

What if opening the door
to the afterlife

was never part of God's plan?

If God wasn't in favour
of scientific advancement,

He never would have granted man
the knowledge to change the world.

Progress always comes
at a price, and it is always worth it.

Not unlike the truth.

With the invention of the light bulb,

I conquered the darkness.

With the Necrophone...

_

I shall conquer death.

Tonight, I believe
we will make history.

_

Eric?

- Eric, stop!
- Rabbi rattling on about God.

Ma wasn't even religious.

We kept kosher.
Went to temple every week.

Yeah, because
our father insisted on it.

This isn't about Ma. It's about you.

And all those other people
she hasn't seen in years.

And whose fault is that?

Ma wanted to go to Europe.

She would've followed you anywhere.

She wouldn't have wanted us
sobbing over her grave,

wallowing in self-pity.

I am trying to honour her memory.

Then throw a party.

Ma believed that life
was meant to be lived!

- Can I help you with that?
- No. I'm all right. Thank you.

Can I get you some coffee?

- No, I'm more of a tea drinker.
- Me too.

These are Mr Edison's favourite.

He's an interesting man.

I know he lacks
certain social graces,

but he's a genius.

Dedicated too. Works 18 hours a day.

The last scientist
I worked for took shortcuts,

exaggerated his findings.

Mr Edison would never do that.

He works on something
until he gets it right.

What about the Necrophone?

Do you believe the bridge
to the afterlife is made of...

bulbs and wires?

I don't know.

But...

what if it is?

What if that box allows us to talk to

anyone who has ever lived?

To Guru Nanak, to Jesus, to Moses,

anyone... ever.

That's not who
you really want to talk to.

Karishma.

My wife passed away four years ago.

Very suddenly.

We had so much ahead of us.

And so much unsaid.

I know.

I lost my husband. Benjamin.

It was also sudden.

I'm so sorry.

Perhaps we are here
for the same reason.

Perhaps we are.

I have recently met someone new.

But I need Karishma's blessing.

I know she will give it to me,
but I need to hear it from her.

Have you met anyone new?

No.

I don't think so.

My husband was murdered.

No.

And I don't know... how or why...

or anything.

So, you are here seeking
answers from Benjamin.

And when you get them,
you will move on.

That's the miracle
of Mr Edison's invention.

But if we know
our loved ones are there,

just on the other side,

watching us, talking to us,

waiting for us...

How will we ever be able to move on?

I found it!

- The right frequency?
- I'm almost certain.

Now we just have to see
if anyone makes contact.

Show yourself.

Please.

Millie.

Mr Turner... He's here.

Thank you.

Mr Turner's presence
was overwhelming.

So much rage.

"Unto the woman,' he said,' I will
greatly multiply thy sorrow."

Book of Genesis.

Maybe Mrs Turner was here as well.

She was killed in this very room.

You're suggesting her spirit

turned the pages of the Bible
to this passage?

Something paranormal did.

We all witnessed it.

Perhaps it was a breeze.
This window is open.

Not enough wind to knock
over and smash those figurines.

Let's see
what the Necrophone recorded.

Did you hear that?

Right before Millie screamed,
I think heard a voice.

Play it again.

There.

- I heard a noise, not a voice.
- I can amplify it.

Resurrect me.

Bring back... Holmes.

Houdini...

- In the flesh.
- What are you doing here?

I wanted to join your sleepover.

Nice call on the breeze, Adelaide.

Once again proving that beautiful
doesn't have to mean dumb.

And the counterargument. Hello, Tom.

Tesla sends his regards.
Says you still owe him 50 grand.

Don't tell me you spent it all
on this piece of junk?

Tesla is a sad man
prone to wild misconceptions.

And the Necrophone utilises the most

sophisticated technology
ever developed.

It's a glorified Ouija board.

Don't pretend
it has any basis in science.

This coming from a man who
performs card tricks for a living.

Not as impressive as the light bulb.

How did you do that?

So, I'm guessing the poltergeist
activity was your handiwork?

I had help from Mother Nature.
It's a blustery night.

I angled the chimney cap
to create a wind tunnel.

I saw Mr Turner in the mirror.

Power of suggestion. When you tell
someone they're in a haunted house,

they're gonna see spooks.

You went to all
this trouble for a prank?

No. To prove
that people can be fooled.

All that rage you felt? That wasn't
Mr Turner, that was Mr Draught.

Don't worry, I'm sure that
you were right every other time

that you blindly sensed
something in an empty room.

Perhaps it wasn't Mr Turner.

But there is someone
in this room filled with rage.

As well there should be.
They've all been duped.

There are
no such things as poltergeists.

I'm sure you'll find my...

"piece of junk" will prove differently.

We're surprised to see you.

Thought you might want to spend
some time with your family.

There's a reason
I moved to Europe.

You just laid to rest the most
important person in your life.

You need to allow yourself to grieve.

I've been grieving
ever since I found her.

It's time for me
to focus on living again.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news,

but I found this on the train.
I thought you should see it.

_
Walbridge's is going out of business?

That paper is from last week.
They're already closed.

So I took the liberty of tracking
down the real estate agent.

Got a forwarding address
for Walbridge.

Now you'll be able to send a
telegram, set up a meeting.

Wonderful. Thank you.

Hup!

Are you sure
you want separate rooms?

With a killer ghost on the loose,
you'll need protection.

So now
we believe in poltergeists.

For the next
eight hours, absolutely.

Spooks prey on lone victims!

Your persistence is quite astounding.

- Thank you.
- It wasn't a compliment.

Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?

Persistence can change the world.

And I'm guessing that, similarly,
in a billion years or so,

you may be able to erode
Miss Stratton's defenses.

Penny.

Penny.

Penny.

Penny.

Benjamin?

I'm here, my love.

Please, don't cry.

I know you didn't commit suicide.

Who murdered you?

You have to tell me.

Benjamin?

You are not meant to know.

I need to know.

However painful the truth,

knowing it is far better than not.

Benjamin?

Please... Benjamin?

Come back!

Hey. What took you so long?

You think you're pretty clever.

Scaring me so I'll sleep in your room?

Wow, that is clever.
Wish I'd thought of it.

Look, a man in a night shirt.

What's going on?

This is the room where
the Turners' daughter was murdered.

Mr Carson said she tried
to escape her father's attack

by blocking the door with a chair.

Perhaps her spirits are trying
to protect you from the same fate.

Or perhaps she simply dreamt it.

No, I was having
quite a different dream.

- Woke me up.
- Really? Was I in it?

Clearly someone has rigged this
to mess with you.

No wires.

The floor must be slanted.

Do you hear that?

The Necrophone.

- What are you doing?
- I set it to record a few hours ago.

I think it picked something up.

Falcroft Point.

- Falcroft Point.
- We all heard it.

The cliff.

Where Mr Turner took his own life.

Someone was here.

Mr Avari.

McKELLAR: Did Mr Avari ever show
any signs of depression?

You think
he committed suicide?

I knew the man for five years.

I refuse to believe
he took his own life.

Mr Avari had just met someone.

He was talking about the future.

Then it must have been
a tragic accident.

Or murder.

There was only one set of footprints
at the edge of the cliff. The victim's.

Poltergeists don't leave footprints.

Mr Avari
has bruises on his wrist.

It suggests he was in a struggle.

Or a fall.

Mr Avari fell on his back,

but there are scratches on his chest.

And there are no marks on the shirt.

Unexplained injuries,
classic sign of a poltergeist attack.

There have been cases reported
in Russia, Japan.

His injuries could have occurred
earlier in the night.

The coroner will
make that determination.

- Mr Turner did this.
- The dead guy?

He must have...
lured Avari to the cliff,

they struggled, he pushed him over.

It is eerily similar to
Turner's own death ten years ago.

Eerily or conveniently?

Mr Reid. Now Mr Avari.
Who's next?

It was my Necrophone
that led us to the body.

- The Necrophone?
- You haven't heard of it yet.

It's like the telephone,

except without any paying customers.

Did it tell you what
happened to the deceased?

Well, no.

Then that's all I need to know
about your Necrophone.

Adelaide's talking to the others.

Until we work out who
or what killed Mr Avari,

I think we should avoid being alone.

Good idea.

If Edison can contact
Mr Avari's spirit,

perhaps he can offer testimony
that a poltergeist murdered him.

The Necrophone doesn't work.

Yeah, I heard a voice. That doesn't
mean it came from the other side.

You're suggesting someone
tampered with the device?

Same person
that killed Avari. A human being.

If someone pushed him, there
would be two sets of shoe prints.

The mud on Avari's shoes

had a reddish hue. This soil doesn't.

Where did it come from?

Hey!

- What is it?
- The woman in the coroner's wagon.

- I think she may be following me.
- You've seen her before?

Yeah. At my mother's funeral.

And now she's here in Canada,
working with the coroner?

I swear it was her.

It may take a while
to get over your mother's passing.

Thanks for the homily. I'm fine.

You're running. You couldn't wait
to get out of New York.

- Jumped into this case.
- You needed me.

Do you think, if you don't grieve,

your mother's death won't be real?

Hey. I know she's dead.

Knowing it and accepting it
are two separate things.

You came here for the Necrophone,

didn't you? You want to try
and contact your mother.

- That's ridiculous.
- I saw your face

when you first saw the machine,
you were fascinated.

You have me confused with you.

- I admit I have a vested interest.
- No, you don't.

- Touie's not dead.
- I have to prepare for the inevitable.

The Necrophone will keep Touie
in our family forever.

My children will never know the pain
of losing their mother.

And as long as she's alive,
there's hope.

Stop planning for her death.

You claim you love your wife so much?

Then fight for her.

So you think I've tampered
with my own invention? Is that it?

No one knows the machine
better than you.

Whatever else you may
think of me, Mr Houdini,

I am first and foremost a scientist.

The last thing I would ever do...
is falsify data.

And what's the second last thing
you'd do? Murder?

Mr Avari was a good man
and a hard worker.

Why on earth would I kill him?

Because he knew
the Necrophone was a fraud.

And you couldn't let that get out.

Let's face it,

if you could market a device
to communicate to the dead,

it would be bigger than the lightbulb.

- No better motive than that.
- You think I did this for money?

I'm trying
to give people a chance

to reconnect with those
who have passed.

To find some closure.
To say, "I love you."

To a machine.

I was 24... when my mother died.

She believed in me
when no one else would.

But she died
before she saw my success.

I want her to know...

I want her to know
that her faith in me...

was not misplaced.

Ehrie.

Is this your idea of a joke?

How did you know about my mother?

You heard her?
What did she say?

What did she say?

You're drinking.

Care to join me?

No, thank you.

Are you all right?

Edison told me you heard
your mother's voice.

I heard... the power of suggestion

screaming in my head.

That won't help.

What? Go on a bash
after your husband died?

I did a lot of things.

Like changing your name?

Becoming a cop?

I did that to find answers.

You hear back from Walbridge yet?

You never did send him
a telegram, did you?

You've stopped looking for answers...
because you're afraid.

What if Benjamin was an assassin
involved with the anarchists?

But, whatever the truth,
you'll deal with it.

You're one
of the strongest people I know.

So are you.

But it's all right
not to be sometimes.

She wanted to go to Coney Island.

Eat salt water taffy.

- Harry.
- I'm sorry. I didn't...

Oh... good. You're both here.

I have something to show you.

I was looking for the source
of the red mud on Mr Avari's shoes.

I recalled, from our tour
of the house,

that the cellar had a dirt floor.

Smells damp.

Pipe's rusted through.
It's leaking.

Red-coloured mud. You think Avari
was down here before he was killed?

Maybe he heard something,
came to investigate.

Listen. About what happened...
I'm sorry.

You're hurting. I understand.

Thank you. It won't happen again.

Good.

Over here.

- More rust?
- No pipes.

It's a drop of blood.
Half a drop, anyway.

There's something behind here.

More than just one drop.

Avari was murdered here.

In all likelihood,

he was never on the cliff.

The killer planted
his footprints there.

Then staged the body
to blame it on a spirit.

You were right.

Avari was killed by a human being.

Who rigged the Necrophone
to lead us right to the body.

Oh... Hello.

What is that?

An electromagnet.

Very clever.

That's how the chair in Addie's
bedroom moved on its own.

Legs had metal fittings.
Someone held this under the floor.

Avari probably discovered this.

That's why he was killed.

Look at this.

Maxwell.

The Reids' baby.

He died of influenza,
just a month old.

Why would the Reids bury
their son in a secret room

in the basement?

See the contusions
on the back of the skull?

This baby was murdered.

Mrs Reid said
he died of influenza.

She also said a poltergeist killed her
husband. Maybe she killed both of them.

We know she wasn't responsible
for Mr Avari's death.

Someone's helping her.

Someone who's willing to kill
to propagate her haunted-house theory.

That's a good friend.

I'll bet she's having
an affair with this guy.

And this is his baby.

Why else would he put
fresh flowers on this grave?

Emmett found a love letter.

I had never seen him so angry.

He hit me over and over again.

And then he turned
his rage on the baby.

Why didn't you go to the police?

He said he'd kill me, too.

You killed your husband
because of what he did to your son?

No! No, I told you,
a poltergeist killed Emmett.

Mrs Reid,

we know the haunting was faked.

Faked?

What are you talking about?

We found evidence,

in the same room
your son was buried.

No. No, it's not possible.

Mrs Reid, your lover is
orchestrating the haunting.

Was he the one
who killed your husband?

You can't protect him any more.
Give him up.

Then maybe the dearly
departed Mr Reid will.

You killed me.

- Is that Mr Avari?
- I'm not sure.

- It does sound male.
- You killed me.

- There.
- I'll try to amplify it.

You... killed me.

- That's not Avari.
- Then it must be Mr Reid.

You killed me, Carson.

- You killed me, Carson.
- You're making it say that.

- You're trying to set me up.
- I did no such thing.

Clara's mine.

Clara's mine.

- It's not possible
- Clara's mine.

Were you involved with Mrs Reid?

Is that why you killed him?

Look out!

Confess. Confess. Confess.

It's the only way
to make it stop!

Confess. Confess!

Wait. All right! All right,
all right, all right! I...

I killed Reid!

You murdered him
so you could be with his wife.

I didn't plan it! He...

found out I was in love with Clara.

- He came at me with a knife.
- Then he tried to pin it on a ghost.

There were already rumours that this
place was haunted. Clara believed it.

She called me to investigate some
strange things that were happening.

I thought that if I could convince
people that this place was haunted,

then she would be set free
and we would be together.

Once I contact the police,
you'll formally be charged

with the murders of Emmett Reid
and Rustom Avari.

Knife was a bit much,
don't you think?

Yeah? Maybe you're right.

Wait, it worked, so scratch that.

Ehrie.

Ehrie.

They're all coming through!
All the lost souls!

Argh!

Millie!

I've opened the gates of hell.

No!

What happened downstairs,
that was...

something.

I'm sorry you didn't get
to contact your mother.

Yeah, well, it's a nice fantasy,

being able to talk to the dead.

The Necrophone worked.
All those voices.

- Manufactured by Edison.
- Edison destroyed his own machine?

He knew it didn't work, so
he came up with an elaborate show to

cover up his failure.

You don't mean that.

Don't quit on your wife.

There's nothing
more medicine can do for her.

Hey, you can't say that.

Not until you've tried the doctors in
New York, who are the best in the world.

You gotta go.

I can't.

Waking up every morning,
desperately hoping.

Going to bed every evening, broken.

I have to face reality.

You can't give up on hope.

You're not capable of it.
That's reality.

You know, she's alive.

And maybe that's a nightmare.

But that's your reality too.

And your reality?

_

Benjamin?

Yes, my love, it's me.

You're alive.

Look, I know this is an awful shock.

- I saw you hanging.
- That was a rope trick.

- The coroner's report said...
- I have a friend there.

I deserve far worse than that.

- Why would you do this?
- It's very complicated.

Why?

My cousin in the Home Office,
he came to me, desperate.

They were investigating
an anarchist group and...

as a foreign securities broker...

I could travel anywhere.

You were an undercover agent?

Until they found me out.

That's when I had to disappear.

- Without telling me?
- You needed deniability.

- You could have taken me with you.
- Into hiding?

- What kind of life would it be?
- What kind of life did you leave me with?

These are dangerous people.

They sent you that threatening note.

They ransacked your flat.

I know all about that.

They took all of your things.

Everything?

Except your copy of Tom Sawyer.

I lent it to Houdini.

You've become good friends.

As if you have the right to comment.

Do you know how hard I tried
not to fall in love with you?

So... what now?

Once I'm done, I'll come home.

But you have to stop pursuing this.

You have to trust me.

They killed Nigel Pennington.

And they won't hesitate
to kill you too.

Please, Penny...

I love you.

I have to go. It's not safe for us.

Amen.