Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 11, Episode 15 - Murdoch Schmurdoch - full transcript

Murdoch investigates a murder surrounding vaudeville entertainers Harry and Al Jolson. Detective Watts learns more about his own family history.

Go back! Go back to your filthy wharf!

That's it! Tell 'em what for, boys!

Go back to the wharf!
We don't want you here!

That's it! Tell 'em what for,
boys! Get out of here then!

Go back to wherever you come
from or we'll send you packing!

No more Jews!

No more Jews! No more Jews!

You throw that, you'll be
spending the night in jail.

Send them back! Send them back!

Stop! Get him!

- Get over here!
- That's it, fellas, yes!



Come on, fellas! Let them have it!

Why are you arresting my men?

It's our right to protest.

Take it up with my inspector, not me.

John, look!

- It's the Jolson Brothers!
- Who?

You don't know who the Jolson Broth...

They're the hottest act
in Vaudeville! Come on.

Shouldn't we keep an
eye on things out here?

I think we've done our job
already, wouldn't you say?

- Two tickets to the show?
- Yes, please.

Oh...

Uh, Constable Brackenreid?

♪ Won't you come home now, baby ♪



♪ Won't you come home ♪

No bank will accept that.

♪ I've moaned the whole day long ♪

There's more of it here than not.

Yeah.

Besides, it's all we have.

♪ I'll pay the rent ♪

♪ I know I've done you wrong ♪

♪ Remember that rainy evenin' ♪

♪ I drove you out ♪

♪ With nothing but
a fine toothcomb ♪

♪ I know I'm to blame ♪

- ♪ Well, ain't that a shame ♪
- I already told you,

I'm only going on if
Michaelson pays up front.

Why do you have to be such
a pain in the neck, Al?

He swore on his grave

he'd give us our money
right after the show.

♪ The sun was shining fine ♪

♪ The lady love of
poor Bill Bailey ♪

♪ Was hanging clothes on
the line in her backyard ♪

♪ And weeping hard ♪

Who's is that?

I've never heard of her before.

- Not much of a singer.
- I think she's wonderful.

♪ Bellerin' like a prune-fed calf ♪

♪ With a big gang hanging around ♪

♪ And to that crowd ♪

♪ She yelled out loud ♪

♪ Remember that rainy evenin' ♪

♪ I drove you out ♪

♪ With nothing but
a fine toothcomb ♪

♪ I know I'm to blame ♪

♪ But ain't that a shame ♪

♪ Bill Bailey, won't
you please come home ♪

- ♪ I know I'm to blame ♪
- Listen to this sorry excuse for a singer.

Hey, don't you dare walk away from me.

We're on as soon as she's
finished butchering this song.

- Then get us our money.
- ♪ Come home ♪

Just... Al!

- Hi!
- Lovely song. Lovely.

Oh, thank you, Harry!

You're on, Harry.

Good evening, folks. Thrilled
to be here in Toronto.

- To... To-ron... Toronto.
- That was the beautiful

and talented Charlotte Hanson.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the brothers who are
taking America by storm:

Harry and Al Jolson!

Al! Al, get back here! We're on!

Good evening, folks!

Thrilled to be here in Toronto!

A fine, fine town!

Out on the street, a bum says to me,

"Give me a dollar till payday, will ya?"

And I ask, "When's payday?"

And he says, "I don't know,
you're the one who's working!"

But my brother, Al,

him, I wish he'd learn a trade,

so I'd knew what kind
of work he's out of.

I thought you said these guys were good.

It's supposed to be a doubles act.

Come on, bring out Al?

- Yeah!
- OK. Ahem!

An old Jewish gentleman

got knocked over by a horse and buggy.

A constable rushed over,

put his jacket under the old gent's head

and asked, "Are you comfortable, sir?"

And the old man shrugged and said...

"I'm not rich, but I make
a living!" Hello, folks!

♪ Oh, I come from Alabama ♪

♪ With a banjo on my knee ♪

♪ I'm goin' to Louisiana ♪

♪ My true love for to see ♪

So, Al, I heard last week
you weren't feeling too good,

- you went to see the doctor.
- Yeah, Harry.

- I let him examine me.
- And what did the doctor have to say?

"Mr. Jolson, I'm afraid you
have only six months to live.

Now that'll be $10."

"$10," I said. "I can't afford $10!"

"Alright," the doctor says,
"I'll give you twelve months."

- What happened?
- Is this part of the... ?

It's a great deal of blood
for such a small wound.

Indeed. It's possible the
abdominal aorta was lacerated.

That would explain the volume of blood.

And the amount of time
between the victim's stabbing

and his actual death?

The rate of blood loss
suggests a rapid death,

but I'd have to examine the
body to be more specific.

Of course.

Have we established
the victim's identity?

His name was Abraham Michaelson,
sir. He owned this building.

Right. No one is to leave here.

I'd like you to begin
questioning all of the performers.

Right away.

Where does this trail
of blood originate?

It starts in the alleyway, sir.

The blood trail begins
just over here, sir.

I looked everywhere, but I wasn't
able to locate a murder weapon.

Perhaps we'll have more luck
in the full light of day.

- This way! Come on!
- Why are you after us?

We're in the right here.
Unless you're one of them.

- One of whom?
- The Jews.

How would that matter
one way or the other?

- Move along!
- Stay with him! Come on!

Keep moving! I'll show you!

Release these men!

And you responsible for this rabble?

They've got a right to speak
their minds, haven't they?

By what law are you arresting these men?

Well, let's see.

Try disturbing the peace, damage
to property. Take your pick.

You put a stop to the
protest, now let them go.

They can go home

when I say so.

I'd advise you to back away.

Alright then. How much
is this gonna cost me?

Are you trying to bribe me?

Do yourself a favour.

Put your money away and
get out of my station house.

If you happen to remember
anything, please contact me.

- Thank you.
- What have you, John?

No one I've spoken to so far
has seen anything noteworthy.

Who is this young woman?

She's Miss Charlotte Hanson, sir.

- Uh, the singer.
- She seems quite distressed.

What was her relationship
to the deceased?

I don't know.

I was reluctant to disturb her.

I did ask you to speak with everyone.

Miss Hanson.

Detective Murdoch, Toronto Constabulary.

Thank you.

Did you know the deceased?

Yes.

He was a very good man.

When did you last see Mr. Michaelson?

Before the show.

- He and Saul...
- Saul... ?

Saul Levine, the director. He and Abe...

- Mr. Michaelson?
- Yes.

They were backstage speaking
with the Jolson brothers.

Or rather arguing.

What were they arguing about?

The Jolsons wanted their
pay before going on stage.

When I went into my dressing
room, they were still at it.

Well, there's Saul now.

Oh, he must be terribly upset.

Abe was my brother-in-law.

His wife, my sister, we're all
from the same town in Latvia.

- Has she been informed?
- She's not even in the country.

She was intending on coming
over but I guess now...

- I understand Mr. Michaelson owns this building.
- Yes.

He offered it to me for the fundraiser.

We were intending to open
a full-time theatre here.

I see. And when did you last see him?

I went to the box office
just before the show started.

He was counting up the money.

We did very nicely... almost $200!

And where is that money now?

It's gone. I...

Perhaps he had it on him?

There was nothing found
on Mr. Michaelson's person.

This is terrible.

How will I pay the performers?

You and Mr. Michaelson
were heard arguing

with the Jolsons earlier today,

- over money.
- We were only arguing with Al.

Such a hothead!

And Mr. Michaelson refused?

We both did. It's not done that way.

You don't pay until they play.

But Al Jolson thought different.

- Hmm...
- We're performers, Detective Murdoch, not killers.

Where were you both when the show began?

I was waiting in the wings to
go on after the lady singer.

She and Levine saw me
there. Then I was onstage.

And you were late to make your entrance.

I'd gone to my dressing
room for a smoke.

I guess I lost track of time.

Is it possible that you
were in the alleyway?

Nah, I was in my dressing
room, like I said.

You smoke cigarettes?

Sure do. New brand.
Smooth. Helps the voice.

But hard to get your hands on.

- These?
- Where did you find those?

In the alleyway.

Jeez... You're kidding?

- I wonder how they got there.
- You dropped them there.

Because you were in the alleyway
when the murder occurred.

Not in your dressing
room as you claimed.

- But you see, that... that's...
- You're lying to the wrong person, Mr. Jolson.

What's the big deal? So I
forgot I was out in the alley.

You were heard arguing with
Mr. Michaelson about money.

You could have followed
him out into the alleyway,

murdered him and taken
the cash he was holding.

No!

Alright, you're right
I was out there, but

- I didn't kill that cheap bastard.
- Then why lie?

Because...

the truth is embarrassing.

More embarrassing than jail time?

I sometimes get sick
with nerves before a show.

- Physically sick.
- So?

A performer with stage fright?

If it ever got out, I'd be the
laughing stock of Vaudeville.

I find it very difficult

- to believe that someone with your experience...
- I can prove it!

There was a kid out there,
a Jewish boy, about yea high.

He had my picture and
asked me to sign it.

So I did.

Find the kid, he'll tell you.

His brother confirms that he's often

indisposed due to stage fright.

So Mr. Jolson could very
well have been in the alley

for less than nefarious reasons.

So someone else.

Perhaps the boy saw more than
just Mr. Jolson in the alleyway.

If he actually exists.

Why not release Mr.
Jolson into my custody?

I'll take him to the Ward to
see whether we can find this boy.

Mr. Jolson.

I'm sorry about your
performance last night.

I certainly hope you and your
brother will be back in Toronto soon.

The Jolson Brothers no longer exist.

What are you talking about?

Harry took off on me,

quit the act.

Never got along anyway.

Maybe you'll be better off on your own.

I don't know, Vaudeville
is a tough business,

and now there's the
nickelodeons to compete with.

You could try that.

Moving pictures?

They don't even have
any talking in them.

Anyway, I'm gonna need a new schtick.

A schtick? What's that?

A schtick is a show-business
gimmick you get known by.

Like ventriloquism or sword swallowing?

Those are acts. A schtick
is just a bit of flim-flam,

something you get known for, like,

say, smoking a cigar or
dressing like a tramp.

Alright. Shall we?

Are you heading to the theatre?

Perhaps I should join you?

Sorry, kid. We're going to the Ward.

Why the sudden interest in theatre?

I... I... I've always
been interested in theatre.

- And the people there.
- Hmm.

With me.

In the Jewish religion,

a holy man prays over
the body until burial.

It's a little distracting.

Have you been able to
conduct your post-mortem?

Yes.

As I suspected,

the abdominal aorta was lacerated.

He wouldn't have lasted
longer than five minutes.

There's also an unusual
narrow bruise above the wound.

Suggesting the murder weapon
had a perpendicular handle?

Indeed. There's also something else.

I found this debris in the wound.

Mortar particles.

There is some masonry
work underway in the alley

where the murder occurred.

Perhaps the weapon was a masonry tool?

- It's my thoughts exactly.
- Dr. Ogden?

Oh, Miss Clark! To what
do we owe the pleasure?

I have something to show you.

One of the previously infertile rabbits

has now successfully

given birth to...

to this healthy specimen.

- Oh, how wonderful!
- Yes. Although unfortunately, it is male.

- May I?
- Yes, of course.

Oh...

William...

look.

- That is extraordinary, Miss Clark.
- Yes.

We are most grateful to you.

You needn't be. The priority here

is the work which is being
done by your wife and myself.

Of course. Of course.

But as a prospective father,

- I can't help but tell you that I am...
- If a baby is born,

you will have been merely its donor.

Good day.

Don't worry, William,

I think you're much more than that.

Religions tend to produce
many beautiful objects.

Yeah, if you go in
for that sort of thing.

I read that those leather boxes

contain tiny scrolls
inscribed with Torah verses.

I haven't worn one of
them since my bar mitzvah.

Why the hairpieces?

They're called scheitels.
Some Orthodox Jewish women

- shave their heads.
- Why?

To show fidelity to their husbands.

I'm not sure I follow.
Is that to make them

less attractive to other men?

I guess so. But those
wigs ain't much better.

Looking for that kid here

is like trying to find
a needle in a haystack.

I once found a needle in a haystack.

I can't believe my eyes! It's Al Jolson!

What's that you have there?

That's it. That's the
picture I signed for the kid!

- How did you come by this?
- I bought it

outside the show from
a boy named Yitzhak.

Only this big, but already
a little gesheftsman. Haha!

An antreprneye'r, yeah.

Do you know where we might find him?

Always everywhere, that little yungatsh.

Who knows? Maybe he even pays

the schoolhouse a visit now and then.

You're Al Jolson!

- Alright.
- Ha!

Al Jolson.

Can I help you with
something, Constable?

- My name's John.
- All right.

My name's Charlotte.

I'm assisting Mr.
Jolson with his new act.

- Are you really?
- I am.

Then you ought to know he's not here.

Yes, um...

I just had a few more
questions regarding the case.

Yes?

I think you're quite talented.

That was your question?

Oh-oh, oh no. Hmm...

I... wanted to ask

if you would step out for tea with me.

I'm flattered, Constable,

and I admit I am partial
to men in uniform,

but you must realize,

that having just lost Abe,
I remain deep in mourning.

Who's Abe?

Mr. Michaelson. We were... involved.

But he was old.

Well, young men can be sweet, but

older men have a special appeal.

I'm sorry to have troubled you.

If Mr. Jolson is telling the truth,

he entered the theatre through that door

followed shortly after by Mr. Michaelson

who left this trail of blood.

Now, the murder likely occurred...

here.

Michaelson must have entered
the alley from the street,

or Jolson would have seen him.

Or he exited the building
through the box office

and entered the alley that way. But why?

And where's the bloody murder weapon?

Toronto Constabulary.

You must be here because of that murder.

I saw the blood.

Yes. May we have a look at your tools?

This one is brand new.

It is.

I left mine yesterday.

When I came back this
morning, it was gone.

I just got back from buying a new one.

Where were you last evening
between the hours of 6:45 and 7:15?

I was at the pub across the street.

- Ask anyone.
- We will.

- I think we'll have to hold on to this.
- But I just bought it!

Life's tough.

We'll compare this against the wound,

but the murder weapon
is likely one of these.

Our killer must have seen
the original lying there,

picked it up and then done the deed.

Suggesting the murder
was not premeditated.

Hey!

What are you doing on my property?!

I think you'll find that this
alleyway belongs to the City.

Well, this building belongs to me.

A murder occurred here last night.

Tragic.

And the tool that was
in use on your building

is more than likely the murder weapon.

Where were you last night between
the hours of 6:45 and 7:15?

I was on my way to your station house.

That's no more than
10-minutes walk from here.

You didn't arrive 'til after 7:45.

I first went to my
office to procure the cash

which you so rudely rejected.

Now if you'll excuse me,
you can talk to my lawyer

if you have any further questions.

Good day, gentlemen.

Let's get a move on here, please!

Two days at this?! Two days, really?!

The boy is certainly proving elusive.

I believe my mother used
to sing that song to me.

Oh yeah?

- That's an old Yiddish lullaby.
- What?

If your mother sang that,
your family must be Jewish.

That's highly unlikely.
Watts is not a Jewish name.

Names are changed all the time

when folks get off the
boat from the old country.

And if your mother was Jewish,

so are you.

- Welcome in, my friend.
- Oh!

Now I know where you get your
tremendous sense of humour.

Are you being facetious?

Probably, whatever that means.

Sirs, I just spoke to Miss Hanson.

The singer.

Yes. She told me she was in a
relationship with the victim.

Thought he was married.

He was. But his wife is still in Latvia.

Why did she not tell us this before?

I don't know, I didn't ask.

Right.

I'm off to the theatre.

- Thank you.
- Sir.

Oi!

What were you doing back at the theatre?

- Asking more questions.
- On your own?

Yes.

Did Murdoch ask you to do that?

Well, not exactly...

Not exactly?

I... I went back to
ask Miss Hanson to tea.

Lady of the theatre? Excellent choice!

Older woman, is she?

- She's not old!
- She's older than you, though.

And experience is a great attribute.

Especially in a woman.

Mum's the word, eh?

Why did you not mention your
relationship to Mr. Michaelson?

Well, no one asked me.

And he always insisted
we keep it secret.

He was very protective of my honour.

Did you know he was married?

His wife stayed behind in Latvia.

And he was going to divorce her,

and we were going to move to New York.

He thought I could be a star down there.

When were you planning on leaving?

As soon as I got offstage that night.

He said we could use the gate
money to make our getaway,

and he'd sell the building later.

Why the sudden rush?

He wouldn't say.

Just that he had no choice,
and it was now or never.

Sounds like the director had
reason to kill Michaelson.

- Mr. Levine?
- He stood to lose the most.

He found out that Michaelson
was about to make off

with the money and put a stop to it.

Not to mention the victim
had been dishonouring

- Mr. Levine's sister.
- Mm-hmm.

Sirs, was the missing money
from the theatre recovered?

No. Why?

I've just heard Mr. Levine
is re-staging the show,

and he's paying every
performer what he owes them.

Mr. Levine.

We understand you'll
be remounting your show.

Oh, uh, that's right.

But I thought the money
that was to be used

for that purpose had gone missing.

- That's true, but...
- Sir.

We paid admittance with this very bill.

This is the money from the box office.

That money came from your
brother-in-law's dead body.

That's not true.

I noticed a suitcase in his office.

I looked inside and found the cash
that was intended for the show.

In a suitcase.

Did you not find that odd?

I was just happy to find the money.

Perhaps you were unsurprised

because you knew of
Mr. Michaelson's plans.

His plans to abandon you,

your dream of a Yiddish
theatre, and worst of all,

- your sister.
- I wanted that Abe

should honour his marriage to my
sister but I didn't want him dead!

I beg of you... my wife
needs me at the house.

Why do you say that?

We're holding the Shiva there.

He was my brother-in-law,
and he was my friend.

I didn't kill him.

Speak to Charlotte Hanson.

She saw me go straight into the audience

to watch the show after
I introduced the Jolsons.

I never would have had
time to do anything to Abe.

It's true.

Just after he introduced the Jolsons,

I saw Mr. Levine take the
seat he'd reserved for himself.

All right. Thank you, Miss Hanson.

Not at all.

And you, Constable?

Did you have any questions for me?

Only, um...

Well, how about compliments?

John! Let's go.

Sorry.

What was that about?

What? Nothing. Nothing with anything.

Are you all right?
You seem a little odd.

Yes. I mean, no.

I mean I'm not odd, I'm
just the way I usually am.

Mr. Barney? What brings you here?

I intend to contact Michaelson's widow.

They have addresses in Latvia?

Someone here must know, hmm?

What do you need her address for?

Michaelson's dead.

I'm assuming the
building goes to his wife.

I plan on making her an offer.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I'll find that weasel Levine.

Levine!

It appears that my parents
were in fact the Wattenbergs.

They wouldn't be the first
to change their names.

My name used to be Asa Yoelson.

Perhaps they were simply non-believers?

You don't need belief to
be a Jew. Just attitude.

But surely the religion
is defined by its dogma.

Nah. All you need to be a Jew

is to know how to cry and
laugh at the same time.

Oof! I have a lot to learn then.

What about all the
rules and the rituals?

There's a lot of 'em. More
than I can keep track of.

And if you neglect to follow them...

You're still a Jew.

You're just a bad Jew.

Say, I have an idea. I'm on
my way to Michaelson's Shiva...

What's a Shiva?

A gathering at the mourners' home
to support the one's grieving.

- Also to perform the Kaddish.
- What's the Kaddish?

A prayer recited for the dead.

Anyway, Levine is desperate for
there to be enough Jewish males

- to form a Minyan. The...
- Oh, what's a...

The ten men needed to say
the prayer twice a day.

Why ten? Why not, say, nine? Or five?

Oy, the questions with
this one. How should I know?

Come with me, Detective Wattenberg.

They can always use another Jew.

Sir?

Saul Levine walked past

Charlotte Hanson backstage
at approximately 7:10 p.m.

and made his way

to his seat in the audience.

Therefore, he could not have
made it out into the alley

- in time to commit the murder.
- Mhm.

Sir, while I was at the theatre,

who should show up, but Horace Barney.

For what purpose?

He intends to buy the building
from Michaelson's widow.

Presumably to put an end
to the Yiddish Theatre.

Well, sir, I thought so too,

but I went to the City
Licensing Department

and I had a look at Mr.
Barney's business dealings and...


- He's building an office tower.

A skyscraper, sir. Fourteen stories.

This one would cover nearly that
entire block of Queen Street.

Yes, but Mr. Barney's plans

are barely drawings on
paper until he's able

to procure all the properties necessary.

Including the theatre building, sir.

Indeed.

Excellent initiative, Henry.

Thank you, sir.

My father never shed a
tear when my mother died,

but he still tore his shirt.

Why would he do that?

Oh, it's obligatory for the immediate
family members, the mourners.

He didn't change that shirt
the entire week of the Shiva.

This is a reminder
of the divine presence

above us who watches our every act.

Most people take that to mean God.

Unfortunately for me, it was my father.

Detective.

I'm surprised to see you here.

Detective Watts recently
discovered his Jewishness.

- You converted?
- Uhhh, no, I recognized a song.

Is that a joke, Detective?

Mazel tov you'll make
a very fine Jew one day.

Allow me to introduce my wife, Rivka.

We're hosting the Shiva because
Abe has no immediate family here.

- Oh, it's very generous of you.
- Honestly,

- I'd much rather be at the theatre.
- Mhm.

Ah, I better gather the men for mynian.

Do Orthodox Jewish women not speak?

Normally, you can't shut them up.

But I think maybe she
just got off the boat.

And speaks no English?

Probably a little, but not
comfortable with it yet.

If she's the hostess,
she's doing a lousy job.

This Shiva house is a mess.

There aren't even enough
plates for the food.

Come on, Wattenberg, this is our cue.

How can I join in a prayer
when I don't know it?

Just move your lips
and hum, you'll do fine.

Is there something
particularly interesting

- about that bicycle, Constable?
- No, no. Uh...

Detective Watts, may I ask your advice?

Certainly.

It's about a woman.

Let me guess, you invited a lady

to accompany you on an
outing, and she declined.

Yes, how did... how did you know?

I would counsel you to
persevere. Ask again.

As Lord Nelson wrote, "The
boldest measures are the safest."

Although, I suppose a woman
is quite unlike a Danish fleet.

But I should persevere?

Yes. Tread softly, Young Brackenreid.

Let her know that if her inclination
changes, your offer still stands.

I'm going back to the theater.

- This lady is in the theatrical profession?
- She is.

You continue to surprise me, Constable.

All right.

In the past several months, Mr.
Barney's company has bought this one,

this one and I believe this one.

He would need several more
properties to make his project viable.

I've spoken to several of
the neighbours and they say

that he has been
pressuring them to sell.

Although he's not offering enough
to make it worth their while.

Presumably that included Mr. Michaelson.

And he has been stoking anti-Semitic
protests to pressure him.

But Michaelson still wouldn't sell.

And he ended up dead.

Even a low-ball offer
would seem like a fortune

- to his widow back in Latvia.
- Exactly.

Hmm...

It's really him.

No!

- That's him! That's the kid!
- Hey! Hey!

- Gotcha, you little runt!
- What's that in your hand?

Ah, looky here...

A pile of Al Jolson photos.

- Did you steal these from me?
- And they're all autographed.

Not by me.

Yitzhak, it seems, is a young thief.

And an excellent forger.

So that's why you ran,
you little yungatsh.

I just wanted some money

to buy my mom a chicken for the Sabbath.

One chicken? What are you
doing, kid? Giving 'em away?

And after Mr. Jolson
signed the photograph?

He said he better get onstage

before his brother
drove the audience away.

So he went back inside?

What happened after that?

I went to the street to watch the
protests, but everyone was gone.

Then I heard yelling
coming from the alley

and saw someone running.

Can you describe this person?

It was dark and his back was to me, but

the street lamp lit
up the top of his head

because he was bald.

Excuse me, sirs.

I've brought in Mr. Barney.

How dare you drag me down here!

We just have a few
questions, Mr. Barney.

Well, then get it over with...
my dinner's already cold.

Right this way.

This better be brief.

You killed Mr. Michaelson so
that you could pressure his widow

into selling you the property.

You've got it backwards, Detective.

Michaelson and I, we weren't enemies.

You certainly weren't friends.

We were in business together.

You organized an anti-Semitic protest

outside of his theatre.

That was his idea.

He wanted you to
protest his own theatre?

When I approached him
about buying his building,

he suggested instead we become partners.

Together we'd buy every
property on the block.

And put up a skyscraper.

Exactly.

So,

why the protests then?

That was the genius of Abe's plan.

He knew the Jews moving
into the neighbourhood

would drive down property values,

but we wanted to be sure.

So you incited violence.

Nothing serious.

Just enough to put the other
landowners into a panic.

Maybe you got greedy,

you wanted to own the
entire enterprise yourself.

Why would I kill my own business partner

when everything was going our way?

Perhaps you simply didn't
want a Jewish partner.

This is the modern age, Detective...

business trumps
religion, pure and simple.

I didn't need you to bring me home.

A boy your age should be in bed by now,

not out roaming the streets. This is it?

Toronto Constabulary.

- I found your little businessman.
- What did you do now, Yitzhak?

Get inside! Come.

I'm sorry

- for whatever wrong he did.
- It was nothing serious.

You are Jewish?

Uh... apparently I am.

You will join us for the
Shabbos meal tomorrow?

Very kind, but I'm sure
I would be intruding.

Thank you, though.

Michaelson stood to make a fortune

if this deal with Barney succeeded.

Why would he decide to
run off with the money

- if he stood to make a lot more?
- Something compelled him.

A heat-of
the-moment decision.

And some bald geezer got in the way.

Yes. And Mr. Barney had
no motive, as it turns out.

Jewish women sometime shave their heads.

- What for?
- It's a tradition of some kind.

- So the boy could have seen a woman?
- It's possible.

Mr. Levine had an alibi,

but we've yet to question his wife.

Perhaps she shared his motive.

They're hosting the Shiva
for Michaelson at their home.

How do you know so much about all this?

Ah, yes, I'd forgotten to mention

I inadvertently
discovered that I'm Jewish.

Detective?

Does it seem at all unusual that
Mrs. Levine would be so bereft?

Yeah, given that she's
not a close family member.

She's an in-law of an in-law, isn't she?

Mrs. Levine, a word?

We'd like to ask you some questions

about your brother-in-law,
Abraham Michaelson.

This is a Shiva House.
Have you no respect?

As a sister-in-law, would Mrs.
Levine be considered a mourner,

- one who wears a tear in her clothing?
- Nope.

You said she was doing
a lousy job as a hostess.

Mrs. Levine, could you
please remove your shawl?

Leave her be. My wife has
nothing to do with any of this!

- I don't believe she is your wife at all.
- What are you... ?

Oh, you're not an in-law. You're...

- Remove your shawl.
- This is not the place.

I demand that you leave
my house immediately!

- We're not leaving, Mr. Levine.
- This woman is a mourner.

Beneath her shawl, I believe
we will find that she's wearing

a torn garment indicating
that she's the victim's wife.

- Get out!
- No.

Mrs. Michaelson,

I'm placing you under arrest for
the murder of Abraham Michaelson.

When I discovered Abe's
affair with Charlotte,

I sent Rivka the money
to come to Canada.

On the day of the show, she came
to the theatre and confronted Abe.

He sent her away.

But you didn't leave.

- No! Stop it!
- No, I'm not!

- You talk to me!
- No!

- No? No get! No divorce!
- You will, you have to!

I don't want you!

Please, Abraham.

- Enough!
- No!

Ugh!

Mrs. Michaelson, please explain to me;

why would you choose to hold a Shiva

for the husband who betrayed you?

Why would you mourn him?

I did a terrible thing,

but...

I still praise God.

♪ I know I'm to blame ♪

♪ Well, ain't that a shame ♪

♪ Bill Bailey, won't
you please come home ♪

♪ I know I'm to blame ♪

♪ Well, ain't that a shame ♪

♪ Bill Bailey, won't
you please come home ♪

Constable!

How nice to see you!

- Have I done something wrong?
- No.

I just wanted to apologize
if I was too forward.

You were anything but.

Was there something else?

I... I just wanted to ask...

when you've had enough time to
get over your recent heartbreak...

And when do you think that will be?

I... I don't know.

You can take as much time as you need.

I was thinking maybe next week?

Or the week after.

I... I don't know.

Sorry, it was a silly idea.

I'm afraid I won't be
available next week, Constable.

I'm off to New York.

But if circumstances
had been different...

And who knows?

Maybe one day, they will be.

So you'll do all right
without your brother?

I'll do fine.

He was holding me back anyway.

Someone like me needs the spotlight.

No shortage of humility, I see.

Humility is for those who
want to end up in second place.

So Mr. Wattenberg,

you're going to continue your search for

who you are and where you come from?

- Yes. I think I will.
- Good for you.

Are you sure you don't want
to stick around tonight?

I'm premiering my new schtick.

Nope. I think I'll pass.

Right.