Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–…): Season 2, Episode 12 - Unnatural Habits - full transcript

Thought we might go to Sorrento
for the honeymoon.

Good fishing there, is it?

Oh.
Hey!

Ha-hey, you got one!
Reel her in, reel her in.

Wha... There you go.
It's gonna break!

Uh...

What is it?

Turn your back.
Hugh...

That's...
Dottie, I said turn your back!

Nothing in the missing persons
record, sir.

Pardon us, gentlemen.
Dot asked me to drive her here.



Dot, I told you not to come.
She's Catholic, Hugh.

It's the scapular, sir.
I don't want her to see it, but...

I want to help.

Dot may know which school or parish
favours whatever motto's on it.

Alright.

'Whoever dies wearing this scapular
shall not suffer eternal fire.'

And the back?

'Behold the sign of salvation.'
Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

That's no help.
Anybody could have that one.

These look like rope burns.

She was bound
when Collins found her.

There's something else.

It was stitched into her smock.

The name's been washed off,
but... there's a religious emblem.



That's the Magdalene laundry mark,

from the Convent of the Sisters
of the Holy Miracle.

Are you sure?
Yes.

The fallen and friendless girls
do our laundry.

Mother Aloysius. Inspector Robinson.

The... Bishop has cleared my visit
with you, I take it.

He didn't say anything
about you bringing a companion.

The Honourable Miss Phryne Fisher.

Miss Fisher is a lady detective.

Yes. Well, unfortunately,

City South Police
have yet to appoint any policewomen.

Thankfully, I'm happy
to serve that function.

In that case,
I'm sure the Bishop will approve.

Policewoman?

Don't worry, Jack.
You'll never get me in that uniform.

Unless, of course, you cuff me.

Mother! Mother, we've confirmed.

Catherine is to be apprenticed
to a milliner.

Oh! What... now...

If your needlepoint is anywhere near
as good as I think it is,

you're going to be a great success.

Wait by the gate, Catherine.
The cab will arrive presently.

The police are here
about Bernadette's disappearance.

Perpetua, who oversees
all our programs with the girls.

And Sister Dominica.

Don't we do your laundry?
You do, indeed.

To absolute perfection.

Do you know Bernadette's full name?

I'm afraid we don't.

She came to us as an orphan
some years ago now,

and we named her for the saint.

You said she's gone missing.
Yes.

She was placed in employment
at the Federal Hotel some time ago,

but she returned to us
late last night in a state.

About what?

She was of the opinion
hotel kitchen hand was beneath her.

Hysterical. I couldn't calm her.
I put her to bed.

But by morning she was gone. Again.

Are any of you familiar with this?
We suspect it could be Bernadette's.

I'm afraid we fished her body
out of the river this morning.

And it appears her death
wasn't an accident.

Oh... dear God!

I'll take you
through the laundry.

This is where I put her
for the night.

Not in the dormitory?

It was past midnight. She would've
unsettled the other girls.

We call it the Penitence Room.

Back to work now. You'll take over
from Agnes on the mangle.

My favourite job.

And remember to beg
our Lord's forgiveness

for your wicked,
ungrateful attitude.

If I do that, do you think
he'll start paying us wages?

Ada, go.

My name is Mary.

You ain't fit to kiss the Holy
Mother's feet,

let alone share her name.

Do you mean to tell me
these girls aren't paid?

We're blessed to live
in the Lord's house, Miss Fisher.

No-one gets paid here.

The Magdalene Laundries are exempt
from usual labour laws.

Do you think you could make it
any less harrowing?

This place is straight out
of the pages of David Copperfield.

How did Bernadette get out of here?

Those were hanging from the window.
What's on the other side?

The riverbank, as it happens.
It's quite a drop.

Perhaps she slipped and fell.

I'll need to talk to the girls
one by one. Of course.

Though... we'd prefer your
policewoman wait outside.

I would prefer her presence.

The girls are grateful for
the shelter we provide, Inspector.

We don't want to stir up
dissatisfaction

with the talk of workers' rights
and regulations.

I'm sure you don't.

We're not a factory here.
We're a family.

If Miss Fisher keeps her opinions
to herself...

It's alright, Jack.
I'd rather leave than do that.

I do have other leads to follow.
And a new launderer to find.

And... voila.

These sheets were tied
with thief knots.

They'd never bear the weight
of a young girl.

Hm. I do know my knots, Miss Fisher.
I'm curious as to how you do.

There was this Portuguese sailor
I once knew.

Don't... Enough.

So somebody prepared the rope
to explain Bernadette's escape.

Who would need to do that?

Whoever let her out.
One of the girls?

They're hardly forthcoming.

Well, what do you expect? They live
in fear of the Penitence Room.

My father used to lock me in a
cupboard to try and break my spirit.

Clearly didn't leave you there
long enough. What about Perpetua?

Or one of the nuns.

I can't imagine them
doing Bernadette a favour.

Oh, you've... you've creased it now.
Oh, come here.

Jack. Miss Fisher.

You do indeed keep close company
these days.

I was just on my way out.

I received a disturbing telephone
call from a very irate bishop.

We need to tread very carefully
with the Catholic Church, Jack.

You know that.

A little too carefully, it seems.

If that laundry
was run outside of the convent,

it would be in breach
of child cruelty laws.

The Church answers to a higher law,
and we're obliged to respect that.

Which is why you're handing
the investigation

over to Detective Inspector
O'Shaughnessy.

O'Shaughnessy is an incompetent!

O'Shaughnessy may not be
up to your standards, Jack.

But he has the distinct advantage
of being Catholic.

It is now his case,
by order of the Chief Commissioner.

Well, then I... I...
I need to speak with him.

Chief Commissioner Hall
resigned this morning.

Well, who's his replacement?

You're looking at him.
Congratulations.

It's my first day on the job.
Don't make it any more difficult.

Does George Sanderson really believe
that a man

with an O in front of his name

will bring charges
against a pack of nuns?

Leave it alone, Miss Fisher.

We worked so hard to find
jobs for those convent girls.

The Gratitude girls were not the
ones we plucked out from the gutter.

Only the best behaved were chosen.

What, and the rest were doomed
to slavery

amongst the suds
of that hideous laundry?

Bad girls, good sheets
and not a penny in wages.

I would've turned to the convent
if I hadn't met you, Miss.

They have no choice.

All the more reason
not to exploit them.

As for your 'good' girls,
Aunt Prudence,

are you telling me that two of them
have gone missing?

Joan did not go missing,
she absconded.

During my Gratitude Patrons dinner.
She wasn't even part of the program.

But I gave her a chance, a plum
placement in my very own household.

Bernadette had a plum placement too,
at the Federal Hotel.

Oh, all of our board
are well connected.

The Worthingtons, the Comptons,
the Fletchers,

and we all do what we can.

Fletcher as in Sidney Fletcher?
Yes, their eldest.

He's godson of George Sanderson,
deputy police commissioner.

And fiance to Jack's ex-wife, Rosie.

You have a very roundabout way
of looking at things, dear.

Ah. Yes.

There's Joan.

Joan? She didn't seem
the runaway type.

She made a wonderful flummery.

Not even those bottle-top glasses

could save my Royal Albert tea set
from ruin.

'Morning, Sister. The Honourable
Miss Fisher's laundry, as per usual.

Today's Wednesday.
As per usual, it's Monday.

8 sets of satin sheets,
18 pairs of smalls, 12 camisoles?

House guests.
That woman!

Put it round the back.
Bless you, Sister.

Keep the noise down.
They're at morning prayers.

All clear.

Taking holy orders would've been the
easier option. You call that driving?

Happy to swap cars if you like.

How will you get out?

Meet you out the front in an hour.

Give me three good reasons why
I shouldn't scream the place down.

Give me three good reasons
why you should.

Why did Perpetua
call you Ada yesterday?

They change everybody's name
when you get here, to saints.

What was Saint Ada's claim to fame?
She was a dedicated virgin.

Hard act to follow.

This was the factory foreman's idea.
Not mine.

You know I'm not the police, Mary.

Did you see Bernadette
the night she came back?

I was reprieved on her account.

It was the first time in a month
I got to sleep in the dorm.

She was bawling like a baby

and begging Perpetua
not to let him get her.

Who?

She said something about a man
outside the hotel, um...

And she was going on about a car.
A fancy black car.

And she was talking about Joan.
Joan?

We called her Four Eyes.
The nuns' pet.

She and Bernadette were best friends
until they sent Joan off to work

for some rich old battleaxe
who took a shine to her cooking.

Was Bernadette prone to hysterics?
I hardly knew her.

They kept the good girls
away from us bad eggs.

But she left a message.

I only saw it there this morning.

'112 De Vere.'

This has been scratched in.
With these.

Joan's.

Good morning, Collins.

Sir, the... the autopsy report
on Bernadette.

Um... Give it to O'Shaughnessy.
He's in charge of this case now.

But... but...
Immediately, Collins.

Shall I send Mr Fletcher
to O'Shaughnessy too, sir?

You telephoned him yesterday,
asked him to come in.

He and your wife... your ex-wife.
Ex-wife.

Y-yes, Collins.

(How many times
do I have to say that?)

So, why were you locked in there?

This time?

I put Epsom salts instead of sugar
in the sisters' tapioca pudding.

They were up all night
with the shits...

I assure you, I have personally
reassigned the case.

There will be no more aggravation.

Commissioner. Perpetua. Excellent
drying weather, wouldn't you say?

Aah! Ah!

You broke into the convent.
No, of course not.

I was smuggled.

I thought these dilettante society
types slept till noon.

Unlawful trespass, break and entry.
I want this woman brought to heel.

Would you like me
to roll over and fetch too?

You seem to have some sway over her.

Rosie, Sidney,
what are you doing here?

We were summoned.
Well, at least Sidney was.

We've come to see if we can help
with that poor convent girl.

And as a member
of the Gratitude board.

So my aunt tells me.

I... forgot to cancel
the appointment.

Father, I believe you've taken Jack
off this case. Why?

It's a diplomacy issue, my dear.
Jack understands.

It's nothing for you to worry about.

No, no, no.

But... if you don't keep Miss Fisher
under a tighter rein,

you may find yourself suspended
from all duties.

Goodbye, Miss Fisher.

Jack, I'm sorry.

Please tell me your break-in
was worth all this... fuss.

You tell me.

Mary found these
in the Penitence Room

the day after Bernadette
did her disappearing act.

Joan's. Aunt Prudence's runaway maid.

Only, according to Mary,

Joan was a good girl and
never did time in the Penitence Room.

How'd they get there?

Bernadette had them with her
when she returned to the convent,

and she used the glass
to scratch this into the wall.

112 De Vere.
An address?

Possibly. Of the man she referred to.

Why scratch it into a wall?
Why not tell the nuns?

Well, according to Mary, she tried.
But... perhaps they didn't listen.

Collins!

I really am very sorry, Jack,

that you're in so much hot water
because of me.

Don't be remorseful.
It only confuses me.

Collins, when I told you

to send on that autopsy
report immediately, I...

Hardly had time to get on to it,
sir. Thank you.

It is addressed to me after all.

Thank goodness. I'd hate to think
you were disobeying a directive.

So, was the victim already dead
or did she drown in the river, sir?

Jack?

Drowned, Collins.

Can't have been pleasant for Hugh
to fish her out of the water.

'In the water overnight,
injury found under the hair,

most likely caused
by a blunt instrument.'

But not the cause of death.
No.

There was sea water in the lungs,

notable for an exceptionally
high saline content.

Then the body can't have come
downstream from the convent.

It must have been washed upstream
from the bay!

Much further than that.

The lungs also contain traces
of red algae,

a type that is not found in either
the River Yarra or Port Phillip Bay.

Here's where Hugh and Dottie
found the girl.

The Warmies?
Why do they call it that?

Because the water's warm, on
account of the power station here.

Tide comes in, tide goes out.

Anything bobbing about in the bay
or the river can get caught up.

How do you explain the salt water
in Bernadette's lungs?

Some foreign ship in dock

was dumping ballast
near where she went into the drink?

Somehow, after leaving the convent,
she winds up in the docks,

where she's fed to the sharks
and washes upriver.

That make any sense to you?
Not yet.

If we knew where the ship was from...
The Red Sea.

It says here, it has
an exceptionally high salinity,

and the reason it looks red
is because of some special algae.

Can we find out who's in port?
Cec's niece's husband will know.

Excuse me, Miss Fisher.

There's a young lady here
demanding to see you.

Your lock pick. Thank you.
It worked a treat.

You're a bad influence, Miss Fisher.
And, no, you can't keep her.

Her is Mary. And I certainly won't
send her back to that laundry.

She is clearly unfit for heavy duties

All I want is a job, any job.

But who's going to take in a girl
in my condition?

No. Absolutely not.

But you love a challenge, Aunt
Prudence. Your very own Pygmalion.

Passionfruit flummery,
I should've known.

Mary made it herself.

They do say charity begins at home.
Honestly, Phryne!

I sit on 13 boards,

I spend most of my life
raising money for worthy causes.

Don't you think I do enough?

What is it, Bert?

We struck a snag
at the harbourmaster's office.

Cec's niece's husband
doesn't do family favours anymore.

Getting that ship's name
is going to cost.

Where is he?

He's a chatty one, old Ted.
Once you loosen his tongue.

Oh! Well, I think £10
has loosened it too much.

Next time I'm planting petunias,
I'll ask your advice.

Thank you, thank you.

Sorry, sir. De Vere Crescent
is Shannon's Nursery.

Damn!

Maybe it's a name.
Then what are the numbers?

Post office box, motor registration?
De Vere sounds foreign.

She's a merchant ship
called the Pandarus,

on a run between Antwerp
and Melbourne via the Red Sea.

Captain's Belgian.
One William De Vere.

112!

A fancy black car.

Looks like our captain.

Ted says she docked three weeks ago,

but she's due to sail out
in another week.

What's she carrying?
According to the manifest, sugar.

Could be a cover
for something dodgy.

Then we better find a way
to get on board and find out.

Mate!

Yeah, what about the bilge?

But keep that hatch closed!

Captain De Vere.
What now?

..down again.
Well, fix it.

There's been enough delays.
I want us back on schedule.

We think it's broken.
Can't you do anything right?

So, how did a good convent girl
like Bernadette

come to be in the cabin
of this Captain De Vere?

And why did he try to abduct her
from the Federal Hotel?

If it was him.

There's no car -
big, black or otherwise -

registered in the name of De Vere.

Well, he's Belgian.
Must belong to an accomplice.

What kind of car was it?
A Cadillac.

Under normal circumstances,
I'd take this to George.

Well, Commissioner Sanderson.

But you're already perilously close
to being out of a job.

You don't think it's wise
to antagonise him any further?

You're much more use to me
if you remain a policeman, Jack.

A policeman who can't bring anyone
into the station for questioning.

No offence, but my parlour
is much more comfortable.

Why would a Gratitude girl be in
the cabin of a Belgian sea captain?

We can only speculate at the moment.
You think she was a stowaway?

That's one possible
explanation, yes.

Oh. Off to see the world.

But that doesn't explain why
Bernadette carved the Captain's name

into the Penitence Room wall.

Or why her hands were bound.

Perhaps she was...
discovered in the hold.

Did Bernadette say anything
to the nuns about a ship?

Well, she knew the name
of the captain.

So their paths must have crossed.
Any more than that?

We don't know.

Whatever happened to Bernadette,
we... we need to consider...

..Joan may have gone the same way.

You think they ran away together?

Perhaps I was
a little too snappy with Joan.

But she needed to learn.

Do you know if any other girls
went missing

from their Gratitude placements?

Jack, don't you think you should

pass all this information
on to Father?

Do you think that's wise? Considering
he took Jack off the case?

He didn't have a choice, the Bishop
was breathing down his neck.

And your constant meddling
hasn't helped.

Darling, Jack's right.

As the new chief commissioner,

George's hands are even more
tightly bound than Jack's.

I'll get you a list
of the Gratitude employers.

My address book's out in the car.
Good. I'll get them on to Collins.

You've really made things worse
for Jack, you know?

Unusually devoted, isn't she?
For an ex-wife.

Pandarus was due to sail
next week.

But it turns out she's sailing
tonight.

Sudden change in itinerary.

Well, that's suspicious.
She could've sailed already.

Nah. She won't want to go
through the heads until slack water.

Tonight around midnight.

I'll inform the Commissioner.
He'll have to act now.

You can wait for Sanderson to act,
but I'm not holding my breath.

No, wait, wait.

Whether he's trading
in kidnap or murder,

that captain's
a nasty piece of work.

I don't want anyone
to go near the docks.

Please, Miss Fisher.
Do what you're told just this once.

I'll... let you know what I find.

The Inspector's right. It's far
more dangerous than I imagined.

But I am well armed
and an excellent shot.

We can't do anything, Miss?
A thermos of tea would be lovely.

What do you reckon, Cec?
Fists of steel?

Could be risky.

If weaponry is your only problem,
gentlemen, I may be able to assist.

And this is the Mauser Broomhandle
semi-automatic.

Not quite as impressive as the MP18,
but so much more competent.

These should do the job.

Thanks, Mr B.
Happy to help.

You said that was handed in.

Found at the docks,
near the Pandarus.

Well, that is certainly enough
for a raid warrant.

Good. We've only got a few hours
before she sails.

If you organise the paperwork
and the manpower,

Collins and I can head to the docks.

I'm afraid not, Jack.
Look, I appreciate your help.

But this is not your investigation

and you've already
overstepped the mark.

O'Shaughnessy's an imbecile!

If that ship sails, you'll be
letting a murderer get away.

I'm aware of O'Shaughnessy's
limitations, Jack.

That's why I'll be
leading this raid myself.

But I'm ordering you
to stop interfering.

If you disobey...
I won't hesitate to dismiss you.

The doctor says it's too late
to go to the lying-in home.

He'll get here as soon as he can.

No! I don't need a doctor!
It's not my time!

Hold on to me.

Oh, dear.

I'll boil up some water
and get the scissors sterilised.

And bring some towels, Mr Butler.
Loads of towels.

No, no, no! Don't bring anything!
It's not my time!

Nonsense, girl.

Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

I've been bad and wicked

and God is going to let the nuns
take my baby away!

God will do nothing of the kind
or he'll be answerable to me!

Now pull yourself together, girl,
you've got work to do.

It's not called 'labour'
for nothing.

No sign of the black car.

- No-one on deck either.
- Looks like the coast is clear.

Keep your head down
and the doors locked, Dot.

You know what they say
about rats and sinking ships.

Maybe De Vere's been warned.

If he had been, the Pandarus
would be halfway up to sea by now.

Well, if there are holding anybody
on board, it'll be hard to find 'em.

Smugglers are a crafty lot.

How do you think we get your
French champagne into the country?

Or that Russian caviar
you're so partial to.

Here I was thinking you picked it up
from Victoria Markets, Bert.

Who's there?

Joan!

Miss Fisher, is that you?
I can't see.

Joan, it's alright.

Please, we have to leave.
Please, he'll come back.

Sh!
Please!

You're safe now. You're safe now.

Joan.

Here.

This tea should keep you warm.

Here.

What the hell's happened
to Miss Fisher?

I hope she finds the others
before it's too late.

What others?

I was locked up with the others
before they brought us water.

That's when I escaped.

Come on, we're going back.

Get out of car! Come here!

Come here! Oi! Get out!

Oh, you poor lambs.

I'm afraid I'll have to tie you up.

But I'm sure you'd prefer
your own cabin anyway.

Come down.

Now!

Collins.

Any news on the raid?
No, sir.

But I managed to track down

some more details
on that black motor car.

It's registered to a company, sir.
An SWF Exports.

SWF. Sounds familiar. Who owns it?

What are you doing here, Jack?

I told you
everything was under control.

Doesn't look like it.
Where's your manpower?

I will handle this
any way I see fit.

You two set one foot on that ship,
your jobs are finished.

You can go, Collins.
No, thank you, sir.

You can reprimand me.

You can dismiss me if you like.
But I am searching that ship.

Where is she?

I told you not to set foot
on this ship, Jack.

George, what the hell
are you covering up?

I warned you, Jack!

Constable, handcuff him! Constable,
handcuff him to this post!

And leave him there.

Miss Fisher!

Phryne? Miss Fisher!

Miss Fisher!

Where are you?

Miss Fisher?
Jack!

Jack!

Miss Fisher!
Jack!

Jack, the girls are locked
in the front hold

and Fletcher's behind it all!

We've got to get the girls
before Fletcher does.

Hey!
Ah!

Dottie!

Fletcher!

Stop! Stop!

Shall we fish him out, sir?
I suppose we'll have to.

Make sure you take your time.

Dot, Bert, Cec, well done.

Fists of steel, Miss.
Fists of steel.

You wouldn't let me take my vows,

so I was serving the church
however I could.

By sending those girls away?
£10 a piece De Vere paid me.

And every penny of it went into
the good works fund, Mother.

I swear it. £10 a piece.

And Fletcher made sure

all the chosen girls were white,
fair-haired and virtuous.

What's known in the trade
as White Gold.

You used innocent girls
to further your own cause.

Innocent?

They were born out of wedlock, most
of them, the offspring of whores.

Their souls were already lost.

It's your soul that's lost,
Perpetua.

I lost them
at the back of that car.

And Bernadette found them

when De Vere tried to abduct her
the same way.

Your spectacles
were Bernadette's warning...

..to flee.

She left them for me?

Along with the clue we needed
to find you all.

Why did they kill her?

She'd already escaped once,
and she knew too much.

The captain was carrying out
Fletcher's orders.

I hope he burns in hell!

Fletcher's bargaining power.

All souvenirs from the best clients,
the best brothels in town.

There is nothing of mine
in that box.

I tried to close down the brothels.
He couldn't blackmail me.

But he could bribe you.

By promising to bring down
Commissioner Hall with all this,

so you could take his place.

You'll have to prove it first.

True. And luckily,
we have a witness.

The night of my aunt's
Gratitude dinner,

her scullery maid, Joan,
overheard you and Fletcher

having a heated discussion
on the verandah.

We know you did him favours,
protected Fletcher,

turned a blind eye to his... cargo.

Joan wasn't meant to be
on that ship, was she?

She was abducted
because she'd heard too much.

Who's going to believe the word
of a guttersnipe?

Against that
of the chief commissioner of police.

My aunt, Prudence Stanley,
happens to be very fond of Joan.

So she will come
with the highest references,

and have the best legal
representation that money can buy.

I looked up to you, George.

I respected you.

I didn't know what Fletcher
was up to, Rosie. I swear.

How could you not know?

Those poor girls!

Please, please try to understand.
How could you?

How could you? I can't look at you.

Oh, God!

- (I'm sorry.)
- Oh, don't...

Oh, Jack...

Oh, no. Oh, God...

Are they always this red?
Always.

But the doctor says this one
is as strong as an ox.

Aren't you, my little man?

Wonderful.

Now all we need to do is find
a placement for Mary.

She already has a placement with me.

Once she's completely recovered,
of course.

Doing what?
She can assist Cook.

I've no doubt that her soup
will come up to scratch

once she's had a bit of practice.

And her flummery?
Quite good, actually.

It's alright, Mrs Stanley.
I can take over.

- Good. Thank you, Dot.
- Bye-bye.

How am I going to be able to come
home to you and our own kids...

..when my head's so full
of these terrible things people do?

That girl wasn't much younger
than you, Dottie.

If you hadn't had met Miss Fisher,
that could've been you.

But I did meet Miss Fisher,
and it wasn't me.

And there are good things
in the world too.

Look.

I thought you were with Rosie.
I was.

Is it too late?
Never.

I've never seen her
like that before.

She was in shock.
She... just needed some company.

She needed you, Jack Robinson.

The man who always does
the right thing.

The noble thing.

Not always, Miss Fisher.
Was that the baby?

Oh. It's very late, Inspector.
Yes. Yes, it is.

But I'm glad we cleared up
that detail, Miss Fisher.

So am I, Jack. So am I.

It's alright, little man.
I'm coming.

Until our next
murder investigation, then.

I look forward to it.

The investigation,
not... not the murder.

Of course.

Jack.

Miss Fisher.