Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - 'Til Death Do Us Part - full transcript

A penny?

Be kind, sir.
Just a penny or two.

A penny or two, sir?

- Careful, Mother.
- Spare a penny, sir?

Thomas, no beggar
will be ruining Wendell's day.

Right.
You, out of here!

You've no right
to be ordering me.

You will get out of here,

or it's a beating
you will get.

Come along, Mother.

Thomas.
Mrs. Merrick.



Reverend Franks.
Have you seen my brother?

Preparing himself, I believe.

He has the last-minute jitters.

Just like him.

Thomas,
make sure that he's all right.

Yes, Mother.

Wait here, Mother.

It would be just like Wendell
to foul up his own wedding.

I'll make sure
that does not happen.

Lawrence, shouldn't the best man
be with the groom?

What now?

I've pinched my cheeks
till they're sore,

and I'm still so pale.

Oh, please.



You'll make yourself ill.

But I want to be pretty.

Wendell loves you, Eunice.

He doesn't care
about your looks.

We should all be so lucky.

That's not what I mean.

Eunice, every bride worries
about her wedding night.

It will be fine.

No.

I'll find out.

Reverend.
Where is Wendell?

I was wondering the same thing.

The last I saw of him
was in the meeting room

half an hour ago.

Well, that's where
I last saw him as well.

Right.

Wendell, what...

The victim's name
is Wendell Merrick.

It was his wedding day.

Tragic.
How's the family?

The bride and bridesmaid have
returned to their apartment.

The groom's brother
has taken their mother home.

I have the addresses.

And the bride's family?

She seems not to have one.

Have you secured statements
from the guests?

- In the process.
- Very good. The body?

Right through here, sir.

Detective.

Dr. Ogden.

Have you a cause of death?

I can't be sure
until the postmortem,

but it appears to be
blunt force trauma to the head.

Pocket watch has been torn out.

No wallet.

Cuff links are gone.

Window is open.

The killer likely gained entry
through there.

Murder weapon?

I can't be sure.

But whatever it was, it caused
very distinctive bruising.

Look,
it's a perfect right angle.

Not so sharp
as to incise the flesh

but enough to shatter
the temporal bone.

It's a perfect match.

It seems nothing is sacred
these days.

How long had you known
Mr. Merrick?

A number of years.

The Merricks are one of
the more prominent families

in the congregation.

And when did you last see him
alive?

Scarcely half an hour
before the body was discovered.

Did you notice anything
out of the ordinary?

Nothing that would pertain
to your...

Reverend, a man has been killed.

Everything is pertinent.

I overheard Wendell
and his best man arguing.

Do you recall the nature
of this argument?

I couldn't hear clearly.

Why not?

They were in the meeting room,
while I was in my office.

And where might I find
the best man.

That would be him over there.

Mr. Lawrence Braxton.

Yes, we argued.

Surely, you don't think
I would kill my...

You must realize
how this appears, Mr. Braxton.

I'm sorry.

This has been a brutal shock.

Wendell has been my closest
friend since childhood,

and, yes, my last words to him
were angry.

What was the argument about?

I wanted him to call off
the wedding.

- Why?
- Because he didn't love Eunice.

Because this whole marriage
was a contrivance.

For what purpose?

What else?

Money.

Lawrence Braxton.

Why on Earth
would you suspect Lawrence?

He and your brother
were overheard arguing

shortly before the murder.

And Mr. Braxton claims

that your brother was marrying
not for love,

but for the family business.

Is this true?

It was a stipulation
of my father's will

that Wendell be married

before he could claim
his inheritance.

Why was that?

I loved my brother, Detective,
but Wendell was a gadabout.

There was a genuine fear,
and a legitimate one, I think,

that any money
would be squandered

if it came to him unshackled.

And being married
would have kept him in check.

That's what our parents
had hoped, especially Mother.

How much was he to receive?

Half the family business.

I've already inherited my share.

I see, I see.

Do you know of anyone

who might have reason
to harm your brother?

No one.

Do you recall anything
out of the ordinary?

No.

Well, there was a vagrant
lurking outside the church

just before the wedding.

Your brother was robbed.

Bastard.

If one indignity
wasn't enough...

I'll need a complete
description of this vagrant

as well as the valuables that
were on your brother's person.

Of course.

She finally fell asleep,
poor thing.

Heroin, a wonder drug.

Put her right out.

So, you knew the deceased well?

Very well.

Since childhood.

And how long have you known
Miss McGinty?

Awhile now.

I introduced them to each other,
you know.

You introduced them?

Eunice had been working

as a lady's companion
in Niagara Falls.

She moved to Toronto and
started coming to our church.

I felt she and Wendell
would make a good match.

And I was right.

I have never known a woman
to love a man

as she loved Wendell.

So, it was a love match?

Of course.
What are you insinuating?

He's insinuating
I was after Wendell's money.

I'm sure the detective didn't...

He wouldn't be the first.

Lawrence as much as accused me
of being a gold digger.

Why would he say
such terrible things?

I loved Wendell.

Now the only man
who ever loved me is gone.

Wendell Merrick died
of an extradural hemorrhage

caused by bone fragments
penetrating the temporal lobe.

A lucky blow.

Or unlucky,
depending on your point of view.

No. Wrong side.

There were no defensive wounds?

Correct.

So, the blow was delivered
to the side of the head

but from behind.

Perhaps the killer sneaked up
on his victim.

Or the victim knew his killer

and was comfortable enough
to turn his back on him.

Anything else?

Traces of semen.

- He'd had sexual relations?
- Yes, sometime earlier.

Before arriving at the church,
I would think.

With a man.

A man?
You're quite sure?

Quite.

He was sodomized?

There was no tearing,

leading me to believe
it was a consensual encounter.

He was a sodomite?

William, I believe the term
now in use is "homosexual. "

Mandrakes, eh?
I can't say I'm surprised.

Does explain a few things.

Such as?

Why his parents were so anxious
to marry him off.

Nothing like
a sanctified marriage

to remove the whiff of pansy
from the air.

What kind of life would that be
for the prospective wife?

It's all a trade-off, Murdoch.

A plain Jane like that

doesn't just up and wed
a Merrick.

She knew
what she was getting into.

Perhaps.

Do you think his inclination
was a factor in the murder?

I wouldn't be surprised

if it was the lover
who wielded the weapon.

The lover?

Well, somebody
was shoving something

where it didn't
naturally belong.

And I'm assuming that that
somebody wasn't too happy

about the upcoming nuptials.

But what about the robbery,

or perhaps even something to do
with Mr. Merrick's inheritance?

That could be the case.

Listen, I've known a few
shirt-lifters over the years,

and they're a dodgy bunch.

They combine the vindictive
cunning of a woman scorned

with the male tendency
to get the job done.

It's the lover.
I'll lay you even money.

But who's the lover?

You said yourself

that the victim was arguing
with his best pal.

Maybe the two of them
were closer than they let on.

Now, Murdoch,
if you'll just excuse me,

pressing matters are at hand.

Constable Perkins, a word.

Shut the door.

We've been to every pawn store,
sir.

They'll be on the lookout

for the items stolen
from the victim.

Any luck with the vagrant?

Uh, the Reverend Franks...

You're even a disgrace
to the British Empire!

Come in.
Close the door, George.

Uh, Reverend Franks says

there's a fellow
by the name of Old Dan

who likes to beg
around the church,

but we don't know
where he lives.

I'm not surprised
if you haven't got your badge!

That's with his door closed.

You've just given me an idea,
George.

According to the Reverend,
he couldn't make out

what Mr. Merrick and his
best man were arguing about.

- What do I say?
- Anything.

Just make it loud, as though
you're having an argument.

An argument with who?
About what?

Just imagine
you're the inspector.

Uh...

You bloody incompetent dog!

How you ever came to be
a policeman

is beyond even my own limited
intelligence to understand!

I'd have you rattling doorknobs
back in Parkdale

if I didn't think
they'd be outsmarting you.

This is the last time

you'll set foot
in a police station,

unless it's to be charged
for idiocy!

I'm from Sheffield!

I can't pronounce me "L"!

I can't pronounce
me bloody "L's", bloody hell!

George.
That'll do.

Thank you, sir.

That takes some work.

You lied to me, Reverend.

A minister is obligated
to respect the sanctity

of what passes between him
and his parishioners.

The words in question
were not uttered

between clergyman
and parishioner,

but between two members
of his flock.

The comments
were highly personal,

and they had nothing to do
with the murder.

I will decide that, Reverend.
Now, what was said?

Lawrence was upset.

He felt that by marrying,

Wendell was being untrue
to himself.

Because he wasn't marrying
for love.

No.

Because by marrying,

Wendell was in denial
of what he really was.

A sodomite.

But you knew of this already.

Wendell wrestled with
his predilection for years.

I tried to counsel him
as well as I could.

Who was his lover?
Was it Lawrence Braxton?

I cannot and I will not
say anything more.

Detective.

Some new information
has come to light.

Won't you come in?

I think this is a matter
best discussed in private.

Mr. Braxton, what was the nature

of your relationship
with Mr. Merrick?

We were friends.

Nothing more?

What are you implying?

Were you Mr. Merrick's lover?

Good God, man!

I've got a family.

You were aware
he was a homosexual?

Of course I knew.

I've known
since we were children

that there was something
different about Wendell.

And how did you feel about this?

Well, the very notion
is difficult to contemplate.

But Wendell was a good man.

You're not suggesting
that his persuasion

had something to do
with his murder?

Do you know who his lover was?

No.

Wendell kept that part
of his life separate from me.

Then was this the real reason
you were against the marriage?

It had all been so whirlwind.

I didn't feel that either one
of them really knew

what they were getting into.

Of course I suspected.

There were times
when things didn't feel right...

...the way they should
between a man and a woman.

This is terribly awkward,
Miss McGinty,

so I'll simply say it.

We believe
that Wendell had a lover.

We also believe
that this individual

may be involved in his death.

Have you any idea
who this might be?

Perhaps.

I know this is
terribly difficult,

but, please, if you have
any idea who he is...

I know the groom
isn't supposed to see the bride

before the wedding,

but I needed to know
everything was all right.

So when Daisy was powdering
herself, I went to find Wendell.

That's when I saw them.

Saw who, Miss McGinty?

Wendell and Reverend Franks.

They were kissing.

Forgive me, Father,
for I have sinned.

It's been six days
since my last confession.

Most unlike you, William.

I've been somewhat distracted.

You must always make time
for the Lord.

Father, I must question
a man of the cloth

on matters of a criminal nature.

No man is above the law.

His crimes may not only be
against the laws of man.

What has he done?

He's...

He may be a sodomite.

That is a very grave sin.

Should he prove not guilty
of the earthly crimes,

must his congregation
be made aware...

"If a man also lie with mankind,
as he lieth with a woman,

both of them have committed
an abomination. "

William, the Bible is clear
on this matter.

Let the Word of the Lord
guide you.

Say two rosaries
and reflect on this matter.

In the name of the Father
and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

- Amen.
- Amen.

Poor Eunice was overwrought.

She misinterpreted what she saw.

And what was that?

A clergyman offering solace
to a member of his flock.

Solace for what?

Wendell had decided

that he could not go through
with the wedding,

that it was unfair
to both Eunice and himself.

So he came to you for counsel.

He knew
that it would utterly destroy

both his fianc?e and his mother.

Yet he felt
it was something he had to do.

And this solace, as you call it,
did it take a physical form?

He was shaking.
I embraced him to calm him.

I daresay
you'd have done the same.

Well, an embrace is one thing,

but kissing's
an entirely different matter.

If I kissed him, it was
a brotherly kiss on the cheek.

Is that what passes
for brotherly comfort

in your church, Reverend?

Or is it something worse?

Are you a sodomite?

Were you
Wendell Merrick's lover?

How dare you accuse me
of such things?

In the eyes of the Lord,
that act is an abomination.

I would never betray my God.

So, now the minister could be
a hand-bag as well, eh?

You'll soon be seeing mandrakes
in your sleep, Murdoch.

They were seen kissing
just shortly before the murder.

- But is he the lover?
- I don't know.

- Well, then find out.
- But how, sir?

If they were involved,

their relationship would have
been a closely guarded secret.

To the public, yes.

But these people
have their own societies.

I think the thing for you to do
is to sidle up to a few Marys.

How? Beat the bushes
down at Cherry Beach?

No, no, no, no, no.

If you want to catch
a bender with class,

upper-crust mandrakes
like Wendell Merrick

have their own clubs.

- What clubs?
- It varies.

- What day is it?
- Monday.

Monday.
They used to meet on Mondays

in the guise
of literary appreciation.

Oi, Higgins!

What ever happened to that
Monday-afternoon pansy club?

Do they still meet in
the back room at the Dominion?

Not after that last raid, sir.

I believe they're at the
Taylor Creek Tennis Club now.

See, that's the problem
with catching these mollies.

You swat 'em here,
and they pop up there.

How does Higgins know this?

Well, between you and me,

he has a cousin
who's a bit of a left-footer.

But you won't pass for one
looking like that, though.

Pass for one?

Yes, not bad, not bad.

Uh, we may have gone a touch
overboard with the feathers.

There you go.
Right, then.

Pansy.
Who's got the pansy?

Of course, Higgins.

Did you get that
off your cousin?

Pansies.

Symbol of fairies
the world over.

Now, remember,
don't overplay your hand.

Be subtle.

Let your quarry
make the first move.

Your racket, sir.

Show us your swing.

I beg your pardon.

Your tennis swing.
Let's see it.

You'll be fine.

It's a sad time.

I choose to remember him
for who he was.

He was warm, gentle,
and generous in every way.

And not afraid.

Even in the face
of the most withering scorn,

of expressing his sincere
appreciation of Spanish wine.

So, gentlemen,

I'd like you to join me
in tossing a little Rioja

past the gums.

To Wendell Merrick.

- To Wendell.
- To Wendell.

Ah, thank you for coming.
Here, let's talk.

Well put.

Thank you.

Um, did you know Wendell?

A bit. Obviously,
not as well as you did.

Yes.

He was a good friend.

I was devastated
to learn what happened.

Jeffrey.

George.

George Crabtree.

You're new.

Yes.

How did you hear about us?

We try to keep a low profile.

- Through a friend in Montreal.
- I see.

Just who is this friend?

We in Montreal also like to keep
a low profile.

Understood.

But, I must say, the outfit
is hardly low-profile.

You look like Oscar Wilde.

If Oscar Wilde
were good-looking.

So, do you know this crowd well?

Yes.

We're all regulars.

So there's no need to be
concerned.

What happens inside
stays inside.

You've never done this before.

No.

Then, welcome... truly.

It takes a lot of courage
to come here like this.

You're trembling.

Yes, well,
perhaps I am a bit nervous.

It happens to us all.

Would you like to go
someplace private?

I have this cozy little place
in Corktown.

I don't play doubles.

Bastard.

Do you recognize this man?

Have you ever seen him
at the club with Mr. Merrick?

I could have you charged
with indecency, sir.

I don't know what you're talking
about, Detective.

You propositioned me.

No.

You propositioned me.

In fact, you came off
remarkably believable.

Just tell me if you've ever seen
this man at any of your events.

Why?
So you can conduct a witch hunt?

I think not.

So, that's the bender?

But he's somewhat reticent.

- Oh, really?
- I can handle this, Inspector.

Don't tell me you're going soft
on this lot, Murdoch.

I just think
that if I talk to him...

Talk?

So, Jeffrey.

Take a very good look
at this photograph.

Now tell me,
do you recognize this man?

So, Jeffrey...

Aah!

The good reverend is a pansy.

I see.

But he's definitely
not Wendell Merrick's lover.

Would you like to know who is?

Our friend and family man,
Lawrence Braxton.

Come in, Detective.

Mrs. Braxton, I'd like to speak
with your husband, please.

Is everything all right?

I just need to speak with him.
Thank you.

He's upstairs.

Lawrence!

Detective Murdoch
is here to see you.

Lawrence?

That's strange.
I know he's up there.

- May I?
- Of course.

Lawrence?

Oh, my God!

Our marriage wasn't perfect,

but Lawrence loved his child.

And me.

In his own way.

So, your marriage
was an arrangement.

An understanding.

Lawrence had safety.

And, in turn,
I had a child and a home.

He kept his affairs discreet.

I chose not to press.

Did you know of Lawrence's
involvement with Wendell?

I suspected.

Is it possible your husband
killed Wendell Merrick?

No, he loved Wendell.

I'm sure of that.
He would never harm him.

Preliminary findings, Doctor?

Petechial hemorrhaging.

There's one set
of ligature marks.

It would seem to be
self-inflicted death by hanging.

He had a beautiful home,
wife, child.

Not only does he throw
all of that away,

but condemns himself to eternal
damnation by committing suicide.

Perhaps he felt
that hell was no worse

than the torment
he was living in.

There's always hope.

He was living a sham.

Everything was a lie.

Secretly, he was in love with
someone he could never be with,

and, furthermore, that person
was about to marry someone else.

Yes, but to kill himself?

Really, William,

I'm surprised
at your closed-mindedness.

Even leaving the Bible aside...

Yes.
Could we?

- It goes against nature.
- Oh, rubbish!

Nature is full
of omnisexual behavior.

Have you never seen male dogs
at play?

But those are dogs.

We're all animals, William,

behaving as nature intended.

If God didn't want us
to express our desires,

then why would he give us
desires in the first place?

To test our resolve.

At whose expense?

Surely, this is not God's plan.

Of course the wife'll say that.

No woman wants to believe her
husband is capable of murder.

But his swinging body's
almost a signed confession.

I hardly think that's true.

He knew we were closing in,
so he took the easy way out.

Lawrence Braxton
loved Wendell Merrick.

You can never do it
the easy way, can you, Murdoch?

Sir, I believe
this investigation

has been sidetracked.

Sidetracked? How?

I think the victim's
homosexuality

has caused us not to pursue
other viable theories.

I see.

And these other theories?

Like I said before,
robbery gone wrong

or something to do
with the victim's inheritance.

Listen to me.
Braxton's our boy.

End of.

Sir?

We have found the vagrant.

Oh, and Thomas Merrick
is on his way to identify him.

They're mine.

This belonged
to my dear dead father.

This was given to me upon
my retirement from the navy.

These...

Ah, now, these are a story
to themselves.

They were given to me
by the Duke of Cornwall

as a reward for saving
the virtue of his daughter.

Then, after all these years

of carrying these valuable items
around with you,

you suddenly decide
to pawn them all?

I've fallen on hard times.

Do you know why you're here?

Uh, you think I nicked
these things, but I swear...

You're not here for theft.

You're here for murder.

Murder?

I may be a lot of things,
but I'm no murderer.

These items were taken

from a man who was found
murdered yesterday morning

in Shuter Street Church.

No, no, no.
It wasn't me.

You were spotted at the scene.

Oh, no, no, I mean,
it wasn't me, couldn't be me.

Then tell me truthfully
what happened.

- I found 'em.
- Where?

Outside the church.

I mean, some bloke, he chucked
them outside the window.

I swear.

Ah, Mr. Merrick.
Thank you for coming down.

- You recognize this man?
- I know you.

This is the vagrant
I saw outside of the church.

You're the fella who chucked
these things outside the window.

You would take the word
of a derelict boozer over mine?

Why would he identify you?

He just wants to point
the finger at somebody, anybody.

Mr. Merrick, were you jealous
of your brother?

- What?
- Hardly seems fair.

A gadabout like your brother

inheriting
half the family business

just for marrying a girl.

Are you implying
that I killed my brother?

Then you took his valuables
to make it look like a robbery.

- I was nowhere near that room.
- Odd.

You claimed to have been
searching for your brother

shortly before the ceremony,
Mr. Merrick.

Are you familiar
with fingermarks?

Excuse me?

They're the prints that
your oily fingers leave behind

when you touch something.

Quite handy for investigations.

You see, no two are alike.

Do you think if I checked
this watch and cuff links,

I might find your fingermarks?

All right.
I was in the room.

What happened?

I wanted to make sure
that Wendell was all right.

But I swear to God,
I did not kill him.

He was lying there,

and I just knew it had something
to do with his deviance.

So, you knew?

Of course I knew.

The whole family knew.

Is that why your mother
bribed him to get married?

That's a crude way
of putting it, but, yes.

Continue.

It was clear
that he'd been murdered.

I knew
if the police investigated,

the truth would come out.

So you took his valuables,
threw them out the window

so that it would look
like robbery.

I'd seen the beggar earlier.
I thought...

What?

That we'd just assume
it was him?

So, you re-entered the room

and pretended to discover
your brother's body.

I had to do it.

It could have ruined our family.

That would have been a tragedy.

Yes, Detective.

It would have.

So, you're still here?

Yes, but I'm not having
any success.

According to the papers,
the case is closed.

"Lover murders groom
on wedding day. "

That's the inspector's opinion.

Not yours, I take it?

I keep wondering

why Lawrence Braxton
would kill the man he loves.

That's a very good question.

Doctor, I must tell you,

the circumstances
around this case

have been very difficult for me.

They go against my upbringing,
my education, my beliefs.

Really?

I brought you the final results

of Lawrence Braxton's
postmortem.

Anything out of the ordinary?

Nothing you were not aware of.

Doctor.

If he were the killer,

why would Lawrence Braxton wait
until the day of the wedding

to kill Mr. Merrick?

Perhaps it was
a true crime of passion.

He didn't plan to kill Wendell.

He just... He was upset.

But that is where I have
the problem.

They would have both been
in marriages of convenience.

Nothing in their relationship
would have changed.

Then why was he killed?

It's usually always about love
or money.

You seem to be eliminating love.

And it wasn't robbery.
I've also eliminated that.

It only leaves inheritance.

Who would have stood to gain?
His brother?

Eventually,
but only after the mother died.

And the bride would only
have received her share

if the marriage
had been completed.

Yes.

If the marriage
had been completed.

You're welcome.

Have you come to make it
a matching set?

I'm sorry?

No.

- I've come to ask for your help.
- My help?

The last time
I told you anything,

Lawrence ended up dead.

Neither of us can undo
what's happened.

But we still have a chance
to at least make it right.

I've already told you
everything I know about Wendell.

It's Lawrence
that I want to know about.

What about him?

Did he ever discuss
Wendell's wedding with you?

Lawrence once told me
he was worried.

What about?

Well, he thought that Wendell

was getting
into the marriage too quickly.

Why?
What was bothering him?

He felt that Wendell didn't know
enough about his bride.

- Miss McGinty?
- Yes.

Lawrence felt
that she was a cipher.

- Did you ever meet her?
- Once.

She seemed like
a dowdy little thing.

And how did Wendell feel
about her?

He just wanted to get the whole
ordeal over and done with.

So, he was predisposed
to marrying her?

Not her specifically.

The truth is he would
have married virtually anyone

to get that hideous mother
off his back.

Thank you very much, Jeffrey.
You've been most helpful.

Driver, pull over.

Yes, sir.

Jeffrey...

if I were you,

I wouldn't play any more tennis
on Monday evenings.

In fact,
I think your entire group

should take up another sport.

I don't know what more
I can add, Detective.

Eunice and I met at the church.
There was nothing odd about it.

Would you mind telling me
exactly how you two met?

It was a strawberry social.

Thomas introduced us.

Thomas.
I see.

And how had he met Miss McGinty?

I don't know.

Did you know at this point

that Wendell was looking
for a bride?

Yes.
Wendell told me very early on.

Then Thomas came to me
to ask for help as well.

- Had he?
- Yes.

As I got to know her,

I realized that Eunice
was perfect for Wendell.

A godsend.

Yes, clearly.

You told me earlier
that she was from Niagara Falls.

Do you recall the name
of her employer?

A Mrs. Schreyer.

- Mrs. Schreyer.
- Schreyer.

What do you mean we've been
looking at this case all wrong?

We've been working
under the assumption

that whoever killed
Wendell Merrick

stood to profit from his death.

But just how else is there
to look at it?

Well, sir, consider this.

What if it's the timing
of the murder that's off?

Off?

You mean he was to be killed
after the wedding?

Yes.

Who would have stood to gain
then?

I suppose we'd be taking a very
close look at his new bride.

Precisely.

Now, no one seems to know

anything about her past
to speak of.

As well, sir,
there's the timing.

She enters the victim's life
at virtually the perfect moment.

All right, I'll grant you

that could all be construed
as a bit dodgy,

but the facts remain
that Merrick's dead

and his bride didn't get
the inheritance.

What if something went wrong
with the plan?

Such as?

Wendell Merrick
caught wind of it.

Forcing the killer's hand.

That's a lot of "ifs," Murdoch.

Yes, well, what if I find out
more about this Eunice McGinty?

Perhaps that will lead us
to the truth.

Get yourself a train ticket
to Niagara Falls

and see what her former employer
has to say.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and, Murdoch,
make that coach class.

Oh, my.

Eunice was such a dear girl,
Detective.

And how long did she work
for you, Mrs. Schreyer?

Almost three years.

What was she like?

She was quiet, unassuming.

You know, I don't think
she ever got over the fact

that her parents died.

- She was an only child?
- Yes.

So incredibly lonely.

I always think
that's why she did it.

Did what?

Why she jumped.

Into the gorge,
just below the Falls.

- She's dead?
- Yes.

Six months.
Didn't you know?

Mrs. Schreyer,
do you recognize this woman?

Oh, why, yes.

- Eunice McGinty.
- Heavens, no.

That is Bridget Kline.

Bridget Kline?

Bridget and Eunice
worked together at the house.

In fact, Bridget was with Eunice
when she jumped.

Was she?

Do you know
where Bridget is now?

She moved away, to Toronto,
after the whole terrible affair.

- Do you know why?
- Bad memories.

I suppose she wanted to be
closer to her fellow.

And who was that?

Oh, I can't remember his name.

I can't be sure, but I think
he owned some kind of company.

His name didn't happen to be
Thomas Merrick, did it?

Yes, that's it.

- It's quite lovely.
- Thank you.

Miss McGinty?

My, you've undergone
quite a transformation.

Can't a girl fix herself up?

Are you planning a trip?

Yes, I needed to get away
from this horrible situation.

- I'm sure you understand.
- Yes, yes, of course.

I've just returned
from Niagara Falls myself.

Oh?

Yes, it seems the police there

are opening an investigation
into a suicide.

Whatever are you talking about,
Detective?

Yours, Miss McGinty.

Or should I say "Miss Kline"?

Well, this is somewhat awkward.

You're a con artist,
aren't you, Miss Kline?

There are warrants for your
arrest in Windsor, London,

and Cambridge.

I never knew I was so famous.

Please stop joking.

This is hardly a trivial matter.

No, I suppose it isn't.

This was all an elaborate plan

to steal Wendell Merrick's
shares of the company,

wasn't it?

Thomas resented that Wendell

was about to receive
half of the family business

simply for marrying a girl,
didn't he?

The company was a mess when Tom
took it over from his father.

He built it up single-handedly.

I'm curious.

And how did you two meet?

At the Falls.

Thomas had an eye
for the ladies.

Ah, a rich gentleman
for an ambitious lady.

We both had healthy appetites.

But Thomas only had
half of a company.

Why not the whole thing?

Did he think of that?

Or did you put the idea
in his head?

Tom was more the doer
than the thinker.

So, when poor old Eunice fell...
if she fell...

That's conjecture.

...you decided to take
her place.

It was perfect.

A new identity
for the wanted Bridget Kline.

- If you say so.
- Even better.

You were impersonating a lonely
woman desperate to marry,

who was about to meet
an equally desperate man.

A man who was about to become
very rich.

A match made in heaven.

And that's why
you befriended Daisy.

Because you knew she would
introduce you to Wendell.

Then the plan was to marry,
and after a few months, what?

Maybe poor Wendell would suffer
a terrible fall and die,

just like Eunice had.

That would be highly ironic.

And then the grieving widow
and her inheritance

would find comfort in the arms
of her brother-in-law.

You should write books,
Detective.

What went wrong?

I will piece this together.

Count on it.

Tom went to check on Wendell.

He found him crying.

Wendell had decided not to go
through with the wedding.

It just wasn't fair to him,
it wasn't fair to him.

Tom was such a hothead.

- I can't go through with this.
- Wendell!

I can't do this.
It's not fair.

You listen to me!

He could have
walked away right then.

Do you have any idea
what I've been through?

You tell them or I will.

But, no, Tom
couldn't even get that right.

Selfish!

He didn't even remember
hitting Wendell.

Where is Thomas now?

In the other room.

What have you done to him?

Heroin.

It really is a wonder drug.

I've just returned
from the hospital.

And?

Thomas Merrick will live.

And this Eunice?

- Bridget.
- Whatever her name is.

She poisoned Merrick
and then decided to bugger off.

What is it?

Thomas Merrick didn't care that
his brother was a homosexual,

and Wendell Merrick

wanted nothing to do
with the family business.

And your point is?

That this whole affair
was tragically avoidable.

If Mrs. Merrick
had simply let her sons be,

none of this
would have happened.

Look, the old dear
was just doing

what she thought was right.

Would you care for...
Oh, never mind.

And furthermore,

I believe the pressures
of our investigation...

Look, just hold it right there.

I know what you're going to say,
and it's complete rubbish.

We were just doing our job.

If Lawrence Braxton was
too delicate for this world,

that's not our problem.

I'm not saying
we were entirely responsible,

just that it was the culmination
of these events.

Listen, Murdoch,
you may be right.

Maybe someday
things will change.

But until then,
we just carry on as best we can.

Sir, regardless of how
we rationalize these events,

Lawrence Braxton did leave
behind a wife and child.

Good night, Murdoch.

Good night, Inspector.

Is there something
you'd like to tell me, William?

Father,
I find myself questioning

the basic tenets of my faith.

We all face challenges.

Even Jesus did.

Two men are dead.

By all standards, good men.

Yet they're condemned
to eternal damnation.

How can this be God's will?

It is not for us to question
the will of the Lord.

But that's just it, Father.

I don't think
I can follow blindly anymore.

Your faith must not waver.

I imagine a world
that is more compassionate

and enlightened.

Someday, it may be.

Perhaps not in our lifetimes.

In the meanwhile, trust
in the guidance of the Lord.

Say two rosaries
and reflect on these matters.

Thank you.
I will.

William.

The man of the cloth
you came to me about,

what did you decide to do?

I said nothing.