Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 10, Episode 10 - A Murdog Mystery - full transcript

(tense theme)

(quiet chiming music)

(tense theme returns)

(indistinct street chatter)

(knocking)

(creepy music)

(hair-raising music continues)

Sir?

- Are you alright?
- I'm sorry.

He made me do it.

Who?



The Devil.

(creepy music intensifies)

Mr. Foley?

How do you mean, the
Devil is inside you?

I mean it like it is and it sounds.

He came in through my chest one night.

And now he lives in
my head like an insect.

Telling me to do things...

Terrible things.

And why did you obey him?

He said if I did as he
asked he would leave me.

But he didn't.

And just what did the Devil say to you?

He told me that I would
be visited by two men.



That I was to invite them in

then cut their throats.

He told me they were demons

but I knew better.

I should have killed myself instead.

But I couldn't do it.

I'm a coward.

I'll have the constables
escort Mr. Foley to the asylum.

Yes, I think that would be best.

He's back.

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

Mr. Foley?

Is your name Julia?

Yes.

He knows you.

- Is he talking to you right now?
- Yes.

- What is he saying?
- Alight, alright! I will.

He wants to talk to you.

I can't hear him.

Hello, Julia.

How wonderful it is to see you again.

I'm afraid I don't recall meeting you.

Oh Julia, you wound me.

Surely you remember me.

I buried you alive.

(frantic banging) HELP!

(screaming)

William. Help.

James Gillies?

Have you missed me?

(creepy music)

Mr. Foley claims to be possessed
by the spirit of James Gillies?

Well, if he really believes
he's hearing his voice,

he must be mad.

That or he is passing
himself off as insane

in order to avoid the noose.

- Then why invoke Gillies?
- I don't know.

To undermine our
investigation. Unnerve us.

Well if that is his
intent, he will fail.

- Sir.
- Henry?

We've identified the victims
sir. We have Robert Wilcox,

a farmer from Richmond Hill, and
Gerrard Berkeley, a machinist.

He lived at Brunswick and Harbord.

Alright then. Find out how
the two men are connected

and if they are at all
connected to Mr. Foley.

Oh, and find out what, if any,

connection either may
have to James Gillies.

Sir.

I'm going to have another
chat with Mr. Foley.

I'll go to the asylum and
see if there's a file on him.

Are you alright?

Yes. Whether he's insane
or just manipulative,

he is in custody and of
no threat to either of us.

James Gillies remains as dead as ever.

Though I would be interested to
hear what Mr. Foley has to say.

Let's meet back at the hotel later

and I'll tell you all about it.

I will. I will. I said I will.

(stammering): He wants
to talk to you now.

I'd much prefer to speak
with you, Mr. Foley.

You see I don't believe
in demonic possession.

Nor do I think you're insane.

He doesn't want to talk to you now!

(screaming)

Stop it! Stop it! Please. Please!

Please talk to him. Please!
Before he drives me truly mad.

Oh God! Oh God!

All right. All right,
Mr. Foley. Have a seat.

You disappoint me, William.

A good Catholic such as yourself

denying demonic possession.

- What would your priest say?
- He would conclude,

as I have, that this is all a big show

you're putting on to escape the noose.

I'm not, I swear.

I'm doing as you ask!

I apologize for Mr. Foley's stupidity.

He doesn't appreciate
that it's rude to interrupt

- a conversation between friends.
- Friends?

Why of course.

I know I sometimes
played a little rough.

I kidnapped the woman you
loved and buried her alive.

But it was all in good fun.

I suppose in retrospect
it was impolite of me

to kill her husband and
set her up for the crime.

But William, the look on her face

when the verdict came in...

Guilty.

Dr. Ogden, the nature of this crime

is such that I have no recourse

but to sentence you to
be hanged by the neck

until you are dead.

Such intense emotion.

William.

Julia. I'll get you out.

I couldn't help but applaud.

- (slow clapping)
- And the look on your face

when you saw me...

You were at the courthouse.

That proves nothing, Mr. Foley.

Ah, that's right. You don't
believe in demonic possession.

OK then Detective, tell me,

was Mr. Foley also in the lecture hall?

What lecture hall?

Surely you remember. It
was where we first met.

Newton believed light
to be made of particles.

Professor Godfrey was lecturing

on the wave theory of light.

And you came through the door.

Well, a wave needs something
to push against, does it not?

- That's what makes it a wave.
- You'd come to talk

to Professor Godfrey about
Professor Bennett's murder.

Robert Perry and I were such scamps.

We'd thought we'd committed
the perfect murder.

(clock chime; gunshot)

We even insinuated ourselves
into your investigation.

May we be allowed to
observe your investigation?

Observe? Quite dull, I should think.

Actually, it might prove an
interesting exercise in applied physics.

What do you think, sir?
Show these young toughs

how things are done
outside the schoolyard?

Something we never see. The
classroom's so theoretical.

I can't see the harm. Why not?

Ah, the folly of youthful arrogance.

We mocked you

and the cheerful chipmunk
that you worked with.

Robert thought you were a rube,

but as I watched you
work, I began to realize

that I was in the company
of a mind to match my own.

Such clarity.

Such purpose.

Like a bolt of lightning finds
the shortest route to ground,

you knew exactly
what to look for.

And I experienced the unsettling thrill

of realizing that you would defeat me.

There are only two ways
for you to avoid this

nine-foot drop, Mr. Perry.
One is to confess your crime

- and to name your accomplice.
- And the other?

- Robert, don't.
- You couldn't prove anything

of course, so you tricked Robert

into turning on me.

I knew you were brilliant, but I failed

to anticipate just how
devious you would be.

- It wasn't my idea.
- Shut up, you fool.

The timing device.
That was his invention.

- You bloody coward.
- You tried to kill me.

No, I didn't. Whatever
they said, it was a trick.

Unfortunately, he's right, Mr. Perry.

Poor Robert.

He just was not made of
the same stuff as you and I.

- Oh my God.
- It's a shame

that he had to lose
his head. I was angry.

I know, that's no excuse.

I behaved badly towards Robert.

I've told him as much.

How did you do that?

Why, Robert Perry is down here with me.

Isn't it wonderful?

Everything they taught
you in church is true.

There is a Hell.

It's everything they said it would be.

That's why I returned.

To take you back with me.

Oh Detective, we are going
to have so... much... fun!

I forgive you, William.

(mechanically): I forgive you,
William... give you, William.

I for... give... William.

Give you, William. William. William.

I for... I for... give...

Hello, Detective Murdoch. Remember me?

I know what you're thinking.
"Now I understand

how rats get caught in traps.
They're easy to fool."

Welcome to the Murdoch Trap, Detective.

We are going to have so much fun!

I went to the asylum.

There's no record of Mr. Foley.

William, are you alright?

He knows things, Julia.

He knows how I met Gillies,
what he did to Robert Perry...

He even used the phrase "We're
going to have so much fun."

Wasn't that on his filmed confession?

William, everything he
told you could have been

gleaned from newspapers
and court transcripts.

You admit that you kidnapped
Dr. Ogden and buried her alive?

Well, it wouldn't have been much
of a game if there were no stakes.

Here! Start digging!

William! Help!

Quickly! She's running out of air.

Julia. God, please.

William.

It's alright. You're with me now.

- I'm so sorry.
- But Detective Murdoch won that game,

did he not? Nicely
played, Detective Murdoch.

Looks like you win again.

I'm going to watch you hang in
person this time, Mr. Gillies.

I'm flattered.

Why do this? You could
have walked away a free man.

I don't like to be bested.
You beat me the first time.

I wanted a rematch.

Well, the game is good and over now.

- Driver.
- Unfortunately,

you didn't hang, Mr.
Gillies. You escaped.

But instead of securing your freedom,

you returned to kill Dr. Ogden's husband

and frame her for the
crime. Why, Mr. Gillies?

I was conducting an
experiment. Doesn't every man

tell his lover that
he would die for her?

But how many truly would?

Would you? I know you'd fight for her,

to the death if necessary.

But to actually trade your life?

That is my experiment, Detective.

_

_

Does any of this look
familiar, Mr. Foley?

No.

Everything that you've told me so far

can be found in these documents.

So if I'm to believe you are
possessed by James Gillies,

you'll have to tell me something
that only James Gillies knows.

(sighs)

I'm waiting.

He wants to speak to you again.

Very well.

Hello, Julia.

Do you remember our last conversation?

- (train chugging and whistling)
- Julia!

To what do I owe the pleasure?

I just wanted you to let you
know that I've made a request

to the Kingston coroner
to have your brain removed.

- My...
- Your brain, Mr. Gillies.

After you are executed, of course.

Well I'm flattered.

Something made you, Mr. Gillies.

I believe you may have
some physical abnormality

that caused you to become what you are.

- And what am I?
- A monster.

- A monster?
- You confessed to killing six people.

One of which was your late
husband. You still haven't

- thanked me for that.
- He was an innocent man...

Who was getting in the way of you
and the good detective's happiness.

Now there's nothing between
you and the man of your dreams.

Aren't you happy? Or do you feel guilty?

Why should I feel
guilty? You killed him.

Yes,

but you caused that.

He'd still be alive
if he hadn't met you.

You know when I'll
be happy, Mr. Gillies?

When I pronounce you dead.

Well you'll just have to wait

because that won't be
happening for some time.

- Ask me why I want to live so badly.
- Why?

Because I'm not done with you yet.

Aren't you curious as
to why I've come back?

Why have you?

I'm not done with you yet.

Julia...

Julia?

"I'm not done with you yet."

That's the last thing
he ever said to me.

Those exact words. I've never told
anyone about that conversation.

- Julia.
- There's no other way

that Mr. Foley could
have known about that.

Oh, my God. James Gillies is alive.

Julia, James Gillies is dead.

- We've proven that.
- Did we?

Is it possible someone
overheard that conversation?

No. Which means he
must have communicated

with Mr. Foley after the bridge.

Stop!

The water is too shallow.
You will be killed.

No!

Sir!

No!

Julia. That bridge is fifty feet high.

The water was shallow. There were rocks.

I barely survived the jump myself.

Yes, but you did. Which
means he could have as well.

Why did you jump?

He was getting away.

- Any sign of him?
- Sir, the river gets fast

and deep down there. If
he was still handcuffed,

- there's no way...
- You didn't see him?

- No, sir.
- George!

Sir, we'll keep looking. We'll
keep looking and we'll find him.

It's over, William. We
have to believe that.

We lied to ourselves.

When the Inspector told us
that they had found his body,

we leapt to believe it.

We were stupid. I was stupid.

The clothes on the corpse were a match,

as were the height and weight.

We had no reason to believe we hadn't

- found the body of James Gillies.
- Five feet nine inches.

Gillies is five foot ten inches.

Bodies have been known
to shrink over time.

We can't afford to be wishful
about this. We have to be exact.

It's is not an exact science, William.

The hair appears to be the same.

It exhibits the same
curl. Unfortunately,

of course, the left side
of the face is crushed.

There were rocks in the river. He
may have struck one in the fall.

Or Gillies found someone
with similar features,

killed him and placed him in the river.

We could rebuild the face on
the intact part of the skull.

- Would that be definitive?
- Not definitive, no,

but possibly convincing,
one way or the other.

- If this isn't Gillies...
- Then he is alive

and he will kill us.

Look. Remember when
Constable Crabtree shot him?

We never did take out the bullet.

(gunshot)

- The bullets match.
- I know.

- You do?
- We took some liberties with the nose.

And the lips are always
a bit of a guessing game.

He's dead, William. He's really dead.

We took liberties. We guessed.

You were right, William.

He found a man with similar
features and killed him.

So he removed the bullet
from his own shoulder

and placed it in the corpse.

Knowing that that would
be the piece of evidence

that would absolutely convince
us that it was his body.

But doesn't that suggest
that he intended to disappear

and never return? So why is he back?

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

But until this is resolved,

I want a constable at
your side at all times.

If James Gillies is
back, he has a reason.

- Where is he?
- He's in my head.

He's not in your head.
You're working with him.

- He's given you information. Now where is he?
- No, I already told you!

You've told me nothing but lies!

- Stop, please, you're hurting...
- (Smack!)

AHH! Ugh! Oof.

What's the voice in your
head saying now, Mr. Foley?

No, he's not saying anything.

He's just laughing.

- (sobbing)
- (frustrated sigh)

If I don't keep my temper,

I won't be able to get
to the bottom of this.

That's what demons do. They
bring out the worst in us.

That's just it, Julia. Foley
seems like just a broken man.

He did kill two men.
And he knows things that

- only Gillies could know.
- (knocking) Sir,

I've talked to the
wives of both victims.

What's their connection to Gillies?

Unknown sir. Neither knew
Jacob Foley, James Gillies,

- or even each other.
- How odd.

What were they doing
in that rooming house?

Well, both men had
received letters from Foley

enticing them there, sir.

Did you write this?

No.

Do the names Robert Wilcox

and Gerrard Berkeley
mean anything to you?

No sir.

I would like to speak
with Mr. Gillies again.

Hello William.

Are you here to beat up Mr. Foley again?

Tut tut.

And I thought I was the violent one.

Why kill Robert Wilcox

and Gerrard Berkeley?

Because of their names.

That's a clue, by the way.

What about their names?

I can't tell you that.

It won't be any fun if I
just give away the game.

What's the game?

The same as it's always been.

You and I having a ton of fun.

But at the end of the day,

someone wins and someone loses.

The question is, what are
you in danger of losing?

Or should I say, who?

Temper, temper, William. Be a good boy

and I'll give you a hint.

It's one I've given you before.

You really are wasting time, Detective.

- How much time do I have?
- 37 minutes, by my calculations. Less,

if she loses faith
you'll find her in time.

You mean if she panics.

You've rigged some sort of device
to be triggered by her heart rate.

Oh, I like that. I almost
wish I'd done it, but... no.

You know what's funny? Well,

I guess you won't find it that amusing,

but you will appreciate the
irony when you discover it.

Discover what?

That it was you who killed her.

You were so hell-bent on
finding me, you sealed her fate.

Of course I knew you'd do
that. You're so predictable.

It's really not fair.

Tell you what, Detective. Here's a hint:

You already have all the
clues you need to find her.

The question is: are you smart
enough to figure it out in time?

So you're saying I have
all the clues already?

Until we meet again, Detective.

- He's gone.
- What?

The voice... it's gone!

(mechanical whirring begins
quietly, then increases)

AAGH!

No! Make it stop! Make it stop!

Mr. Foley! Mr. Foley! Stop!

Mr. Foley! Put down the gun!

- (gunshot)
- NO!

Mr. Foley was our only
link to James Gillies.

There's nothing you
could have done, William.

He said I have all the clues I need.

Perhaps it's true.

I have only questions.

If Mr. Foley was in
league with James Gillies,

then why kill himself?

And if Gillies engineered
his suicide, then how?

- Detective, Doctor.
- What is it, Miss James?

We're not the first ones in here.

Foley said the devil entered
him through his chest.

Open him up, Miss James.

His spleen has been removed.

And...

There's something clipped onto his rib.

Good lord!

There's wire attached.

It runs underneath the skin.

Follow it.

This was embedded in his skull

right behind the left cochlea.

The wires were threaded subcutaneously

between the muscles and skin.

It's a magnet and coil.
Similar to a telephone speaker,

only it has no diaphragm.
It must have vibrated

directly against his skull.

It's a small wonder it drove him mad.

What is it connected to?

Some sort of wireless
transmission device.

I'm going to need to speak
with Reginald Fessenden.

- Who's that?
- He's an inventor.

He specializes in wireless
voice transmission.

I believe he's currently working
at the Toronto Power House.

This was in a man's body?

Yes. It looks like a scaled-down version

of your electrolytic detector.

That's exactly what it
is. And I should know.

- I designed it.
- You did?

About six months ago, I was asked
to design a version of my detector

small enough to be worn
on a person, not inside.

I was paid a commission and
given full patent rights.

Is this the man that commissioned you?

We never met in person, but I think not.

I was commissioned by a woman.

- What was her name?
- Gillian James.

George. You interviewed a woman earlier,

blonde hair, heavily rouged.
Lives near Veronica Bowden's home.

- Miss James.
- Yes. What's her address?

It's right here, sir.
Miss Gillian James.

Gillian James... James Gillies!

Do you have an address?

Not for Miss James,

but I have an address for where
I sent the design specifications.

Let's see.

740 Robert Street. Leonard Wright.

Who's that?

The man who built this.

Henry.

- Sir?
- Go to 740 Robert Street.

Bring in a man named Leonard Wright.

Be careful, bring a constable with you.

This man has worked with James Gillies.

Sir.

What's this device capable of?

It can receive a signal
from a nearby source.

How nearby?

A city block. Maybe two.

- Can it send signals out?
- Oh heavens no.

It's strictly one way.

William, if this device is only one way,

then how was Gillies able
to hear what we were saying?

William, what are you doing?

I'm looking for a microphone.

There has to be a microphone.

(mysterious music)

Where does it go to?

He was right next door the whole time.

"Detective Murdoch. I'm
sorry to have missed you.

I look forward to seeing you very soon.

Remember, you have all the
clues you need. James Gillies."

There was only one
clue: the victims' names.

- Robert Wilcox.
- And Gerrard Berkeley.

I've tried ciphers,
anagrams, everything!

Oh, sir, I've spoken with Mr. Wright.

He's a jeweller who specializes
in microscopic construction.

He admits to building the device, sir.

In fact he was asked to
build two such devices.

- Did you bring him in?
- He's in the interview room, sir.

- Alright.
- Sir, this is probably nothing,

but 740 Robert Street
is at the intersection

of Robert and Willcocks.

Robert Wilcox.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence.

No, no, Henry, it isn't a coincidence.

This is the clue that
Gillies alluded to.

- What's at the corner of Gerrard and Berkeley?
- Veronica Bowden's house.

She's the girl that Gillies kidnapped.

Veronica,

who took you from your bed last night?

Was it a man, or a woman?

- A man.
- A man.

Did you know him?

No.

What did the man look like?

I never saw him. I was sleeping.

Veronica, did this man
hurt you in any way?

No, he was nice. He said we
were playing hide and seek.

Hmm?

Did he say who you were hiding from?

You. But you found me.

Yes, yes I did.

Veronica, did the man ever
make a voice like this?

Help me, Detective Murdoch.

I've lost my head. Can
you help me find it?

- No.
- No.

Well,

- thank you.
- But he said you were a bad person.

And that you aren't very clever.

Do you remember me?

Yes. You're the detective who
found me when I was kidnapped.

That's right Miss Bowden.
I'm Detective Murdoch.

Do you remember the
man who kidnapped you?

His name was James Gillies.

That's right.

Has he contacted you or your mother?

- I thought he was dead.
- So did I.

- Are you here about the doll?
- What doll?

It arrived yesterday.

Please stop. No, don't!
William, please help me.

That's Julia. George, he has Julia!

It doesn't work. It just
makes a crackling sound.

See, I told you.

Hello, City Morgue.

- It's working now.
- Julia.

- William?
- Meet me back at the hotel.

Right now? Are you finished
at the Bowden House?

Meet me back at the hotel and
I'll tell you all about it.

Hello, City Morgue.

That's a funny message to put in a doll.

Hey!

The message wasn't
for you. It was for me.

Julia!

Hello, Detective. How
nice of you to drop in.

- Where is she?
- Who?

Julia? She's at the morgue.

You're so gullible. When I
suggested you may lose someone,

you assumed I meant your wife.

- Who then?
- You remember this little fella?

Roland!

I've been watching you, Detective.

These last few years I've basked
in the glow of your happiness.

You got married. You're
building her a house.

It seems as though you are constructing
a tiny, perfect little life.

Be such a shame to see
that all come undone.

What do you want with me, Gillies?

Well, I need your...

help with something I'm
having a little trouble with.

- Help with what?
- I want you to kill me.

Kill you?

Why?

Look at me.

What happened to you?

I jumped off a bridge, remember?

I smashed my face on one rock.

Crushed my spine on another.

Do you know what happens to
a spine when it's crushed?

It severs the spinal cord.

If you're lucky. If you're unlucky,

it merely drives bone shards
into your vertebral nerves.

You're in pain.

Pain?!

It is agony at the center of
every thought, every dream.

You see, I've tried opiates,

but, see, they just dull the mind.

And a mind like mine? Well,

that's like painting
over the Sistine Chapel.

Why not kill yourself?

Because I want my life to be taken

by the object of my
admiration and ardour.

Ardour?

Don't you remember our
moment on the bridge?

Hi.

I'm not going to shoot you, Mr. Gillies.

But if it's any consolation,

- I will watch you hang.
- Oh I won't hang.

No, the shock of the force
ripping apart my vertebrae

while I'm still conscious?
It... terrifies me.

The lecture you gave left
quite an indelible impression.

Heroin is wonderful, but
too much can be deadly,

as I'm sure you know.

His eyes will roll back

and he'll just stop breathing.

Painless.

I know what you're thinking.

Can you get to me before I get to him?

At what point does the risk of his death

trump your desire to see justice done?

(gun clicks)

Oh, my goodness.

- You took the bullets out.
- All but one.

I needed to know, and now I do.

See, I wanted to die, I did,

but when you pulled the
trigger all I could think was

'not yet.'

There's still so much I want to do.

Now drop that gun

or say goodbye to this little chap.

If you hurt him...

William, I want to thank you.

You have given me the gift of life.

A new sense of purpose.
For that I thank you.

We are going to have so... much...

(gunshot)

The act of hanging a man
requires a rigorous application

of Newtonian principles.

Can anyone tell me
the variables required

to determine the amount of force

needed to break a neck?

Anyone? Mr. Gillies?

Force is simply the product
of mass times acceleration.

Exactly. Or in this case,

rapid deceleration as
the rope snaps taut.

I think this is all
in utterly poor taste.

A rubber bullet?

As I said,

I intended to see you hang.

Good bye, Mr. Gillies.

♪ After the ball is over ♪

♪ After the break of morn' ♪

♪ After the dancers' leaving ♪

♪ After the stars are gone ♪

♪ Many a heart is aching ♪

♪ If you could read them all ♪

♪ Many the hopes that have vanished ♪

♪ After the ball ♪