Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 10, Episode 17 - Hot Wheels of Thunder - full transcript

Kreotoxismus?

Meat poisoning.

The two types of brain contusions?

Circumcised and diffused.

- Ptomaines?
- You're off the subject.

- Answer the question!
- They are the chemical salts

formed during putrefaction.

Last one. Hypospadias?

- Malformation of the penis.
- (delighted laughter) That's very good, Miss James.

This is really the most
tremendous exercise.

And it's so much easier
to go through the city.



And unlike bicycling,
one can go hands-free! Oh!

Hey! Watch where you're going!

Are you two all right?

Dr. Ogden.

- Nina Bloom.
- Of course. Nina.

This is my associate,
Miss Rebecca James.

- And this is my friend, Miss Lydia Hall.
- Charmed.

Those girls have some nerve.
They nearly knocked us over, too.

YOU SHOULD WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING!

- May we skate with you?
- Yes. Of course.

- It's great for the legs.
- And what's good for the legs is good for business.

- And what is it you do?
- We're dancers, performers.

Really. I should come
and see you sometime.

Well, I'm not sure it would
be your cup of tea, but um,



- if you have a gentleman friend...
- (woman): Help!

- Over here!
- I think we may be needed.

Excuse me, sir.

What happened to her?

Her neck has been broken.

It's been a terrible day.

- It's been an unfortunate one.
- Excuse me, ladies.

You there. Stop. Please.

Miss Bloom?

I didn't realize it was you.

Well, she does look
different with her clothes on.

- Are you well?
- Yes.

Uh, William,

Miss Bloom and her friend arrived
about the same time as we did.

- She could probably leave.
- Right, uh, thank you, ladies.

Miss James.

Her name was Lea Palmer.

Julia, is there anything that
requires our immediate attention?

It appears to be a tragic accident,

which is why I do wish you
would change hobbies, I...

Well, I'll give it up the
moment you give up your bicycle.

This gentleman says he saw something.

I'll let you know if the post
mortem reveals anything else.

Hello, sir?

- Your name, sir?
- Edwin Thornburg, man about town.

I understand you saw something?

I see a lot of things.
Especially after dark.

You can't imagine some of them.

Specific to the fate
of this woman, please.

Oh. I saw her skating,
down here, by herself.

That's all I see down here these days.

Foolishness.

- And then?
- Well,

I turned away, heard a scream

and she was gone, as
far as I could tell.

Did you not go look for her
to see if she was alright?

I thought she just skated away.

Ah.

Anything else?

I saw another skater down there.

- Male or female?
- Couldn't tell.

Didn't see them so much as
I heard someone skating away.

- So someone else was with her.
- Well,

I never saw them together.

Right. Thank you.

Sir.

- Find anything, George?
- I'll say. Have a look at this.

A roller skating competition.

Anything pertaining
to this case, George?

No, sir. However,

I'll wager Miss Cherry
would love to see this.

Yes, that's Mother.

What happened?

She appears to have fallen and
broken her neck. Roller skating.

- That's impossible.
- She was a very experienced skater.

She was known for her dance skating.

Few were better in the world.

She didn't fall.

Miss Palmer. A witness claims

he may have seen
someone with your mother.

Is it possible someone pushed her?

Well, that's it. She was killed.

Why does she keep going on about
Mother being a terrible skater?

Well, usually when someone
is approached by an assailant,

there are indications on the
body that they fought back.

In this case there were none.

Well, perhaps she was taken by surprise.

Do you know of anyone who may
have wished your mother harm?

No, she was a very quiet woman.

Well-liked.

No one she would have known would
have wanted to cause her any harm.

No one?

I don't know. You'll
have to ask my father.

- That is if you can find him.
- You're estranged.

No, I adore him. But he's a drunkard.

Oh my God, Sophie. I just heard.

What happened?

These people think that
Mother fell and broke her neck,

but that's not the
case. She was murdered.

Let us get out of this awful place.

So, that's the fianc?.

- She does not like him.
- Oh, you noticed.

A roller skating race?

Not just any race, the Buffalo
Queens are going to be there.

That hardly changes things, George.

But I have a previous engagement

and I was hoping you would accompany me.

- Oh?
- It's a lecture on entrepreneurship,

about how the books
written by Horatio Alger

need not be seen as a myth.

From all reports, it's
incredibly inspiring.

Yes, it sounds it.

And it would be of great
benefit to a man like yourself,

a man who needs to learn to pull
himself up by his bootstraps.

- Well, I suppose it would be informative.
- So you'll come then?

Yes, of course.

That's wonderful, George. Thank you.

Also, I just remembered.

The roller skating actually
takes place over two nights.

So does the lecture.

And we'll be attending both nights?

Of course!

Admirable display of
backbone there, bugalugs.

Sir?

Not even man and wife and she's
already wearing the trousers.

Did you see these?

Those are the ones that
nearly knocked us over.

Oh, yes, I believe they are.

Nothing but a bunch of
big shots from Buffalo

skating around like they own the place.

- Oh, well, they...
- You know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to show them.

I'm going to enter that race.

Rebecca, revenge is never a good idea.

I don't care,

I'm going to run them into the ground.

They are professional, Rebecca.

- Are you sure you're good enough?
- Oh, I am good enough.

(men talking and laughing)

Mr. Palmer.

- I'm Detective William...
- I know who you are.

I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

You know who I'm sorry for?

Sophie.

Going through her life without
her mother. What happened?

That's what I'm
endeavouring to find out.

Then why are you wasting
your time talking to me?

Is it possible someone who held a grudge

against you took it out on your wife?

My wife went roller skating
and she fell down. Nothing more.

Your daughter Sophie said

she was much too fine a skater
for that to have occurred.

She was no longer a
young woman, Detective.

She could have easily stumbled and fell.

It is a risky business, this skating.

You and your family recently
moved here from Buffalo?

Yes.

I understand you left
behind several creditors.

I'm endeavouring to repay them.

And you've picked up a few
here since you've arrived.

No one killed my wife
to get back at me, sir.

Were you home yesterday
evening when your wife set out?

- I was.
- Do you know where she was going?

No.

She said there was some
kind of skating exhibition

down by Cherry Street. Maybe
she was on her way there.

Rolling around with wheels on
your feet, bloody ridiculous.

A passing fad, I'm sure.

Nothing but a menace to
the roads, if you ask me.

- Worse than the automobile.
- Or the bicycle?

- Don't be smart, Murdoch.
- Couldn't help it.

Toronto's finest, no doubt.

- I beg your pardon?
- I hope you're accustomed to losing.

Oh, but of course you would
be. You are Canadian after all.

(giggling)

- Don't let her bother you, Rebecca.
- Oh, are you going to race too?

No, that would be silly.

You're far too frail to
compete against real women.

- Rebecca?
- Doctor?

You need to trounce these women.

I must say, Murdoch, maybe I was wrong.

It's actually quite impressive when
you sit down and watch it in person.

Detective.

Miss Palmer.

Inspector Brackenreid,

- Miss Palmer.
- Nice to meet you.

- This is my fianc?, Herschel.
- Gentlemen.

What are you doing here?

Signing up for the race, of course.

- You skate as well?
- Something she's always loved.

Hard to keep her away from it, even
in difficult times such as these.

I have something that might be
of interest to you, Detective.

I was going through my mother's things

and I found something truly awful.

A letter?

From when we were
still living in Buffalo.

Whoever wrote it said that they'd
kill her if she didn't leave town.

So you don't know who wrote it?

From the content, it seems to
be one of her former students.

- She was a teacher?
- She taught skate dancing, back in Buffalo.

- And who were her students?
- Some of them are right here.

The Buffalo Queens.

I must say Murdoch, I'm
starting to see the appeal.

Sir?

They're real competitors, these ladies.

They're not just
beautiful women on wheels.

One of them may be a killer.

What about the daughter?

Back on skates before her
mother's body is even cold.

She is of interest.

But one of these skaters may
have threatened our victim's life.

Whoever wrote this letter
is our prime suspect.

"We're in control. You'll
never be able to stop us."

What's that about?

That's what I intend to find out.

Ladies.

Mrs. Palmer was a hideous old shrew.

And yet you took skating
lessons from her for years.

We all did. She made us better,

no matter how cruel
and controlling she was.

- Did Mrs. Palmer ever compete?
- (laughing softly)

She was a skate dancer.

She only taught agility and footwork.

She thought racing was
grotesque. Unladylike.

She disapproved.

Yeah. She was stuck in
the nineteenth century.

She didn't like that we
dressed the way we wanted,

that we did what we wanted.

And all of the skaters felt this way?

Well, Laura was always fond of her.

Why was that?

Because she was the weakest skater,

so naturally she was the teacher's pet.

She was just so desperate
to make it on the tour.

And yet she is now on the tour.

That's only because Sophie left.

Sophie Palmer?

- She was once a Buffalo Queen?
- Of course.

And then when she left,
Laura took her spot.

Miss Howard, is it not true

that Sophie Palmer's
departure allowed you

to join the Queens?

Yes, but I would have
become a Queen eventually,

Sophie Palmer or not.

But you forced Sophie
Palmer to leave the team.

Sorry, what do you mean?

This letter

was written to Mrs. Palmer
warning her to leave Buffalo.

- And threatens her life.
- Well, who would do such a thing?

Miss Howard, as you are the
one with something to gain,

I am suggesting that you
would do such a thing.

Me? Write this?

Well, I never wrote so
many words in my life.

- Miss Dalton...
- Let me guess, you're already married.

- Pardon?
- I'm sorry, please excuse my rudeness.

Uh, this letter would indicate...

How is a woman expected
to marry when every man

that she encounters is spoken for?

Yes.

This threatening
letter was found amongst

Mrs. Palmer's personal effects,

and I believe it was
written by a Buffalo Queen.

Why are you talking to me?
I never met Mrs. Palmer.

- She taught all of you.
- Not me.

My mother could never
afford the lessons.

I had no ill will towards Mrs. Palmer.

Ah.

Thank you, Miss Dalton.

Happily married?

Look, I'd think I did
it too if I were you.

You probably heard about the time
I slapped Mrs. Palmer in the face

for looking at me funny.

No.

Oh. Well, one time I slapped
Mrs. Palmer in the face

for looking at me funny.

You certainly aren't helping
your case here, Miss Preston.

What do you want me to say?

That I wrote the letter?

Fine, I wrote the letter.

You threatened to kill Mrs. Palmer.

Sure.

But I wouldn't be saying all of
this if I'd killed her, right?

I don't know.

Why would you be bothered
to utter empty threats?

She said exactly the same thing to me.

- She said she was going to kill you?
- Surely did.

Sophie and I were always close,

so her mother decided
that I was to blame

for ruining her life and morals.

Told me to leave town or she'd kill me.

Did anyone witness her
uttering this threat?

- Well, she didn't utter it, she wrote it.
- A letter.

- Do you have it?
- Sure, I carry it around with me everywhere I go.

Please answer my questions
directly, Miss Preston,

and you can keep your
sarcasm to yourself.

Or what? I'll get a spanking?

What did you mean when you wrote,

"You'll never be able to stop us."

Mrs. Palmer always acted like
she was in control of everything,

every one of us, every
bit of our whole lives.

But she couldn't stop us from skating.

Not even her own daughter.

But she did,

by moving her family to Toronto.

For a while.

Until Sophie did what she had to do.

"Did what she had to do?"

Sophie might come across as innocent,

but she always gets what she wants.

If she wanted to skate,
she'd stop at nothing.

Could someone really
kill their own mother

simply to be able to go roller skating?

Roller racing. Something she's good at.

What if someone stopped
you from being a Detective?

I wouldn't kill them, sir.

A few weeks of idleness
sitting around with the missus

and you might change your tune.

Sirs.

I've been informed Miss Palmer
is back at the roller rink.

Thank you, George.

Do you need any help at the rink, sir?

Oh, I think the Inspector
and I can handle it, thanks.

Oh.

Alright, Crabtree, out
with it, what's wrong?

Oh, nothing.

I'm just about to miss a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that's all.

What? This roller racing?

Sir, it's not just roller racing.

It's the Buffalo Queens. The finest,

fastest, fittest group
of women on wheels

the world has ever seen.

Tickets are only twenty-five
cents for two nights.

- I've got mine.
- Yes, well, I'm otherwise spoken for.

I've told Miss Cherry that
I'll attend a lecture on

Horatio Alger and self
achievement in the new century.

Oh, that sounds interesting.

Sir, they're roller racing.

Women flying at high speeds,

danger, thrills!

I'm sure I've never seen
anything like it in my life

and may never have the chance again.

Listen, Crabtree.

I've met Miss Cherry.

In fact, Murdoch and I
have had a word about it.

Sir?

We all know you've had your
fair share of heartbreak.

Some of it not entirely
of your own making.

Women who've left you to follow
their dreams, careers, passions.

- Women who've left you for other women!
- Inspector!

But now you have the perfect
woman staring you in the face,

ready to take the next step.

I'm not exactly sure what
you're trying to say, sir.

If you let this one get away,
Crabtree, you're a damn fool!

Right, well,

I'll attend the lecture then, I suppose.

Of course you'll attend
the bloody lecture!

You'll watch paint dry all
night if she asks you to.

Keep her happy until you're married,

then you can do whatever you
like. Isn't that right, Murdoch?

Well, Julia and I take a
more egalitarian approach

to decision making, but...

Miss Cherry does seem
a fine choice, George.

Try not to fumble this one, bugalugs.

She has wonderful technique.

It's just roller skating, Doctor.

You can either do it or you can't.

- Isn't that... ?
- Sophie Palmer.

- Our victim's daughter.
- Not one for mourning.

She's incredibly fast.

I'm going to be faster.

Julia?

- Miss James!
- You two ladies playing truant?

Just watching the skating, Inspector.

(grunting)

Hey!

That girl's got some guts.

Indeed.

It's true, mother and I didn't
exactly see eye-to-eye. What of it?

She wouldn't let you race.

And so I killed her? That's mad.

You re-entered the
racing world the very day

you found out your mother was dead.

She didn't approve of me racing.

I don't need her approval anymore.

Where were you the night
your mother was killed?

You really think I'm the one who did it.

You kept your true feelings about
your mother concealed from us.

And what was I meant to do?

Speak ill of the dead?

Proclaim to the world that
she was awful and overbearing

and that I hated her?

And even if that's true,
she was still my mother.

Maybe you should focus on
finding out who wrote that letter.

We did.

Then what are you
doing speaking with me?

The Queens detested Mother.

- Now if you'll excuse me...
- Where were you that night?

I was at home.

With my father.

He'll tell you the same.

Do you believe her?

Well, her father did say that
they were home together last night.

Still. There's a hatred
in her, you can feel it.

- I say that we should...
- (piercing scream)

- Help me! I'm gonna die! Help!
- Miss Palmer?

- What's happened?
- I was attacked!

- By who?
- Who do you think? The Queens!

I told you they're out of their minds!

Why? WHY??

WHY?? WHY??

Was it a man or a woman?

Like I said, I couldn't see a thing.

They came in, they
turned out the lights,

everything was black...

the next thing I know,

I could feel someone near me,

and then I heard the most
awful, horrible sound.

Then the most awful, horrible pain.

- Then you believe it was one of the Queens.
- Who else?

They knew they couldn't beat me.

Now they don't have to worry. The
doctor says I'll never skate again.

(grunting)

- Would somebody help me?!!
- (both): McNabb.

Do you think the attacker and
the killer are one and the same?

Difficult to say with
any certainty, sir.

But even if they aren't,
perhaps finding one

will lead to the other.

How could you? She'll never skate again!

I didn't do a thing.

- Liar!
- Ha.

Listen, old man. If I did it,

I'd be boasting about it all over town.

Ah!!

(laughter)

The girl made short work of you there.

They're vicious.

You saw what they did to my Sophie.

How can you be sure it was them?

Who else would have done it?

That's what your daughter said

but I'm afraid circumstance
is not the same as evidence.

All she ever wanted was to skate.

And now that's been taken from her.

Forever.

Sir, shall we speak with the skaters?

Sir?

- Ladies, a word.
- Hold it, Murdoch.

Sir,

we need to establish where they all were

- at the time of Miss Palmer's attack.
- In a minute.

Watch.

Bloody good, aren't they?

Yes. Very fast.

More than just fast.

Be that as it may.

Stop!

(Brackenreid laughing)

(typewriter sound)

Constable. A bite to
eat before our lecture?

Louise, I...

(coughing)

- I was about to come talk to you.
- Are you alright, George?

I think it's just a
common cold, but it's...

it's uncommon in that it's
so bad, it's... I have...

- I have a really bad cold.
- I see.

Well, you can't be
attending the lecture.

I don't think I can.

- I'm terribly disappointed.
- Head straight home.

And telephone me if it gets
any worse, I can pop right over.

You'll be at the lecture.

I'm not going without you, George.

If I went alone, some
aspiring businessman

might think I'm there
looking for a husband.

I'm sorry, Louise, I didn't
mean to ruin your night as well.

Miss Cherry, I couldn't
help but overhear.

If you're without plans
this evening, you're welcome

to join me at the roller races.

Oh, George.

It appears the whole city
is swept up in roller fever.

I'm afraid I should decline; I'm
not much good at sporting events.

I can never get past the 'why' of it.

Who cares who's the fastest?

I suppose it's nice for them, but
what does it matter to anyone else?

I don't know. I find it hard
to turn away from the pursuit

of human excellence in any
form, no matter how trivial.

Hm! I never thought of it that way.

Well, no, nor should you.

I mean, we can't all be fanatics.

I'll talk to you tomorrow, Louise.

Indeed.

And I just wanted to say
I'm very much looking forward

to our dinner on Sunday.

Oh, as am I, and the Detective.
We'll be glad to have you.

Goodbye, George. Rest up.

I like her.

She's strong, opinionated, kind...

She's certainly beautiful.

She's lovely, George.

I know.

Well, depending who you ask,

none of them could have done it.

And... any of them could have done it.

I don't understand, sir.
If they're all lying anyway,

why not at least get
their stories straight?

They all travel together,

but competed against one
another. Friends and rivals.

Now, some of them have
been trying to help

while some of them have been lying
to make the others look guilty.

Right. Perhaps then, sir,

the answer lies with
the victim's loved ones.

Ah, yes. Mrs. Palmer's husband
and daughter provided alibis

that are impossible to
prove one way or the other.

Just as suspicious as the Queens, then.

I suppose, sir, the skater with the most

immediate motive would be Sophie Palmer.

Yes. Her mother was controlling.

But I remain skeptical that
merely keeping her daughter

from skating could be motive for murder.

Good luck out there.

I don't need luck.

No, I suppose not.
You'll lose all the same.

(girls laughing)

I've found something, Murdoch.

- About the killer?
- About the Buffalo Queens.

- Which one?
- All of them.

They're a team, Murdoch.

They pretend to race
against one another,

but they're always working together.

Still, one of them has to win.

They take turns. I got
Jackson to pull newspapers

from all the cities
where they've been on tour

and put together the results.

They don't win every race,
that would be too obvious.

But when they do win,

it's already settled which one
of them will take the trophy.

This time it will be Mildred
Preston, mark my words.

So they're cheating.

They work together to
ensure that they win

the bulk of the prize money
and then divide it evenly.

It's not about the prize
money. Don't you see?

They decide ahead of time who wins.

- They're placing bets.
- Exactly.

And hitting blackjack every time.

- Thank you, my good man. Ah!
- Hiya, George.

George? Ha, ha, ha! This is so funny.

This happens to me all the
time. I have a twin brother

- named George and he very rarely mentions me...
- Oh, can it.

You're not very good at faking a cough.

I'm sorry, Louise. It's just that...

- I so badly didn't want to disappoint you that...
- George,

I don't care.

- You don't care?
- No.

You did what you had to
do to get what you wanted.

Next time, save yourself
the trouble and just tell me.

So, you're not upset that I lied?

How naive do you think
I am? Everyone lies.

So. Who do we have money on?

- Well, I just...
- Come on! It's starting.

We don't want to miss it.

(cheering)

(laughing excitedly)

(cheering)

The letter.

The one written by Mildred
Preston to Mrs. Palmer.

It said, "We're in control.
You'll never be able to stop us."

They were talking about gambling.

The victim knew what they were up to.

Yes. And they killed her to
keep her from exposing them.

William, Inspector.

Careful! (screaming)

Faster, Rebecca!

- Well done, Miss James, well done.
- Alright, Miss James, alright.

- (exclamations)
- (woman): That's not fair!

I hope she's alright.

- (cheering)
- (Brackenreid): You see?

Once they fix the race,
they ensure they get the win.

It's always about the money, Murdoch.

Rebecca!

Are you alright?

Julia...

- You did that on purpose!
- Excuse me!

- All of you should be ashamed of yourselves.
- Julia! Let's go.

- William, did you see what they did to her?
- I did.

I'm aware that your
races involve betting.

You ARE a clever man.

Who cares? Anyone can see that.

Please, put that down.

I suspect that you all bet on
the eventual winner of the races,

in this case Mildred,

and then all work together
to ensure that result.

- Is that against the law, Detective?
- No,

but it does provide you
with sufficient motivation

to have injured Sophie
Palmer prior to the race.

We were all in the arena at the
time that Sophie was attacked.

Even our bookie will tell you that.

Well, I hope so, for your sake.

My constable is speaking with him now.

- Bye!
- Miss James.

- I want to throttle each one of them.
- Composure, young lady.

I want satisfaction.

My ankle is well
enough to skate tonight.

But not well enough to win.

If you want to win, we need
to play them at their own game.

"We?"

Well, I am an Olympic
gold medal-winning coach.

I might just be able
to help, Miss James.

Very well.

What do we need to do?

We need to assemble a team

that are willing to mix it
up even more than the Queens.

- I can play dirty.
- Good, good.

But we need a team.

Do you know anyone else who can skate?

- I just might.
- Sir, I spoke to the bookie.

He says that the Queens were
indeed with him at the time

Sophie Palmer was attacked.
That's if he can be trusted;

he is a bookie after all.

Although I hope he can be...

I've placed some
hard-earned money with him.

A bookmaker's living necessitates
his trustworthiness, George.

- I'm sure he'll be fine. Thank you.
- Oh, one other thing I found, sir.

He said that Herschel
Humphries, the fianc?,

placed the largest
single bet of the day.

- Oh?
- More interestingly,

he bet on the field

to beat Sophie Palmer.

He bet against his own fianc?e,

who recently became unable to skate?

Almost as if he knew what
was going to happen to her.

Lace 'em up, Doctor.

- (knock at door)
- Come in.

Oh. Ah.

Ah!

Duty calls, Miss Bloom.

Where would I find your friend?

Gentlemen.

I'm afraid you'll have to
finish your painting later.

Young lady, you're coming with me.

I apologize for your disappointment.

No, no, no, no. We
are going to pursue...

I've invented a diamond formation

that I used at the Olympics,

called the diamond formation. A diamond.

Your two wide players
block from the wings,

while your back player zooms through.

That makes no sense. This
is a football formation.

- We are on roller skates.
- It's the same principle

- with a ball or without a ball.
- We won't be able to do it until the third cycle.

- The third cycle?
- The third way around.

- There's no point in starting this...
- Miss James, Miss James...

Ahem!

It looks like you could use my help.

Unfortunately, I have
to work this evening.

I was looking forward to
a quiet night in with you.

Oh that's fine, William.

I may be meeting with some lady
friends this evening anyhow.

Well,

I hope you have a wonderful time then.

We will.

Mr. Humphries.

What is it?

It's come to my attention that you've

- placed a significant bet on the race.
- What of it?

And that you effectively bet against
your own fianc?e, Sophie Palmer.

Congratulations, Detective.

- You admit to this?
- I do.

Well then, that provides
you with enough motivation

to have injured Miss
Palmer prior to the race.

Do you as readily admit to that?

She deserved it.

Well, then you are under
arrest, Mr. Humphries.

- Would you care to explain yourself?
- She's not my fianc?e anymore.

She's broken off the engagement?

Apparently her mother
was the only reason

we were together in the first place.

Sophie and her father both hate me.

Do they?

The moment her mother was dead,

Sophie dropped me like a sack of coal.

If I didn't know any better, I
would think that Sophie herself

killed her mother just to
get out of the engagement.

"If you didn't know any better?"

I was with Sophie the night
her mother was murdered.

It couldn't have been her.

You were with Sophie that night?

Mr. Palmer.

You and your daughter both
told me that you were together

the night of your wife's death,

but I've since learned
otherwise from Mr. Humphries.

In fact, he told me he and
Sophie were together that night.

Your daughter covered for you.

It wasn't supposed to happen this way.

How so?

Lea and I were out
skating the boardwalk.

As usual, she began planning
out her daughter's life.

I had to stand up for
Sophie, and myself.

- What happened?
- We began arguing.

I wanted her to let Sophie
pursue her passion again.

The roller racing?

But most of all, I wanted her
to stop being so domineering

with the both of us. She was
forcing Sophie to marry Herschel.

She didn't want to.

So you pushed your wife off the
boardwalk to free your daughter.

We began to struggle, I...

pushed her, but I didn't
think she would fall and die.

Did Sophie have a hand in it as well?

No. Absolutely not. I told
her the next day what happened,

after you'd already spoken with her.

She insisted on providing my alibi.

I was prepared to turn myself in.

(voice breaking): I still am, so long as

Herschel gets his due
for crippling Sophie.

He will.

Mr. Palmer, you are under arrest
for the murder of Lea Palmer.

May I watch one last race, Detective?

Julia?

Right, ladies, remember:

Don't let them get under your skin,
but don't hesitate to get under theirs.

And remember to get out
early and block the Queens

- before they can block you.
- And ladies,

if you get a chance to knock
one of them off the track,

that will really throw
the cat amongst the pigeons

- and bullocks their plan up.
- Cat amongst... ?

- I'll relish it, Inspector.
- Are you sure this is going to work?

If everyone does their job, it will.

(both): Good luck, ladies.

One more thing, ladies.

One, two, three!

(cheers and applause)

On your mark! Get set!

Go!

Watch out!

(cheering)

(exclamations)

Let go of me!

Go, Julia!

(grunting)

Yes, Rebecca!

(cheering)

Yes! Ha!

Julia, you did it!

Well, I was left with little
choice but to appeal directly

- to the city for the necessary funding.
- You did so in person?

Face to face is the
only way of convincing

these dastardly bureaucrats
to give you anything.

Oh Julia, you do make me laugh.

They're not ALL bureaucrats, Julia.

Philip Nemeth for instance
is quite considerate,

- and certainly not dastardly.
- Oh shush, William.

- You're ruining my story.
- Thank you, sir.

Uh-uh. No sirs here, George.

It's William when you
and Louise are our guests.

Please do continue your story, Julia.

Did you manage to secure your funding?

I certainly did. And to
this day, my morgue boasts

of the finest collections of
post-mortem texts in all of Canada.

Yes.

I should love to see your
morgue one day, Julia.

Although I lent the previous
coroner one of my finer texts

and I never saw it again.

I do love that you've
chosen to live in a hotel.

How romantic.

Well, we did consider building...

Oh? What prevented you?

(both): Well...

We found several
corpses on the property.

(laughing) Three of them.

- Sir?
- Ah, George,

that is a tea-bag.

A tea-bag?

A recent invention of a
New York City merchant.

He originally intended

for the tea to be removed
and brewed traditionally,

but I have discovered that it is

far more efficient to steep the tea

inside the perforated bag.

A tea-bag. Now I've seen everything.

You're so knowledgeable, Detective.

Oh, I assure you I'm not.

I understand you also know
a great deal about batteries?

The detective is a veritable
expert on the matter.

Well, then I shall love to hear
what he has to say. (giggling)

Battery stories.

Mostly positive, actually.

(laughing)

Look at those stars.

What a wonderful night.

Wonderful indeed.

Certainly more illuminating
than those awful bores.

Bores?

The Murdochs.

The Murdochs?

They spent all night prattling
on about medical textbooks,

tea-sacks, and batteries.

And to live in a hotel?

What a sad little existence.

I thought you quite enjoyed yourself?

Good heavens, no.

Promise me that however
old we grow together,

we will never become like them.

I promise.

But he is your boss.

We did our duty.

I look forward to introducing you
to more appropriate friends, George.

I suppose we can now find out
who truly is the better skater.

Are you sure your ankle is
healed sufficiently, Rebecca?

Think you can win without my help?

I do believe that this
trophy shall remain mine.

Only one way to find out.

- Ready?
- Set.

Go!

Next Monday, Murdoch is on the run.

- Murdoch didn't kill anyone.
- It is what the evidence says.

Caught in a conspiracy.

I don't think anyone in the
Constabulary can help me.

With a target on his back.