Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 12, Episode 12 - Six of the Best - full transcript

Come here. Come here.
Ready? Go get the stick.

Good job.

Come on, Reva!

She ran to the nearest
house with a telephone.

Did she say what she had seen?

She thought it was a body.

It's just over there.

He looks about 11 years old.

Any idea how long the
body has been buried here?

It's difficult to say.

The dryness of the soil
and the lack of body fat



- may have slowed down decomposition.
- An approximation?

Given the minimal putrefaction,

- I'd say a week at most.
- And the cause of death?

I'll have to examine him at
the morgue to determine a cause.

Thank you.

The contents of his pockets.

Red clay dust,

the kind used for making bricks.

It's under his fingernails as well.

There's a brickworks near here.

- As soon as you can, please, Miss Hart.
- Of course.

63 pages already, William.

Most of them footnotes.

No doubt a bracing read.



Doctor Ogden! I've been
looking everywhere for you.

Miss Newsome, this area
is reserved for doctors.

Oh, you're like that, are you?

Not me,

but you have just started here. I
would hate to see you reprimanded.

- Shouldn't you be on your ward?
- There's nothing to do there.

- No patients?
- There was one,

but she died. Best thing for her.

Poor dear.

Ooh, what's this?

The Detective and I have been
commissioned to write a book.

Oh, how lovely!

A love story?

Not exactly. More of a book
about how crimes are solved.

Who cares how crimes are solved
as long as they're solved?

Yes, well, some people do.

No offense, but it sounds dreary.

And it's confirmed.

Well, I'll leave you to it, then.

Perhaps more tea.

The boys that work here come and go.

I don't pay much attention to them.

- Where do they come from?
- Orphanages.

Good workers for half the price.

Really. And where are they now?

They only work mornings.

They do their schooling in
the afternoon. Waste of time.

Yours or theirs?

Theirs. I don't imagine
they'll amount to much.

Is that so? You just use them

- to line your pockets?
- Ahem.

We'll need to speak with
some of your employees.

Sure, they'll be happy to have an excuse

to sit on their duffs. Listen up, men.

The Constabulary have
a few questions for you.

Tell 'em what they want to
know and then get back to work.

The body of a boy was
discovered not far from here

and we have reason to believe
that he worked at this site.

He was 11 or 12 years old, wearing
a black-and-white striped shirt,

- with rope suspenders.
- Blonde hair?

Yes.

Sounds a lot like Wesley Seaver.

- And your name, sir?
- This is Hiram Taylor.

Seen the boy you described working here.

Can you tell us anything else about him?

He was sent over from the
orphanage to learn the trade.

Would you happen to
know which orphanage?

Be the one on Broadview, I'd wager.

Thank you.

Wesley Seaver.

Can I help you?

Toronto Constabulary.

We understand a boy by
the name of Wesley Seaver

- was a ward of this orphanage.
- He was.

But he ran away about a week ago.

What would give him cause to run away?

He was that kind.

A body we believe to
be that of Wesley Seaver

was discovered not far from here.

That's terrible.

You don't seem surprised.

Well, Wesley was always
a bit rowdy and wild.

The home's director and the
other boys will tell you the same.

I'd like to speak with
the director, please.

I'll show you the way.

I'll talk to the boys.

- When was Wesley Seaver last seen alive?
- I don't know.

I last saw him in the kitchen,

scouring pots and pans as I prepared
evening tea for the Director.

- This was the night the boy went missing?
- Yes.

Normally the Director gets his
own tea, but he was feeling poorly.

- Excuse me.
- Yes?

- Toronto Constabulary.
- How can I help you?

Brother Duvalier?

William Murdoch. I was a student

at the Nova Scotia
Jesuit School for Boys.

William Murdoch?!

Yes.

(LAUGHING) Come in, come in!

Please, take a seat.

So,

you went on to be an officer of the law!

That surprises me greatly.

I rather imagined you becoming
a scholar or a scientist or such.

What brings you here today?

I'm here to make inquiries
about Wesley Seaver.

- His body was discovered earlier today.
- No!

Wesley Seaver...

What have you come to, lad?

He ran off six days ago.

- You knew he'd been missing?
- Indeed.

Why did no one search for him?

Young Master Seaver had left us
before. He had always come back.

- When did you last see him?
- In the afternoon.

I'd had to discipline him
for some errant behaviour...

all too common with Seaver.

Nonetheless, he...

was a very bright boy.

I had hopes for him.

Sometimes they disappoint you.

The day Wesley disappeared,

he'd stood up to one of the
teachers and got caned for it.

- Which teacher did the caning?
- Brother Duvalier.

He always does the canings.

- Does that happen frequently?
- Yes, all the time!

Especially to Wesley.

Duvalier had it in for him.

That little fellow appears
to be down in the dumps.

That's Felix.

Him and Wesley were best friends.

Thank you. I'll have a word with him.

Hello there, young man.

May I?

I read this when I was your age.

I liked it very much.
Are you enjoying it?

You like reading, do you?

- Yes.
- So do I.

What kinds of books do you favour?

Adventures.

I'm going to read
Huckleberry Finn next.

Ah, that's even better than this one.

That's what Wesley said.

A good friend is a rare thing.

This is where the boy was last seen.

He may have gone out that door.

Any thoughts as to why he'd run?

To avoid a beating.

So out he goes, and somewhere
out there encounters his murderer?

Master Smith.

If you're gonna hang about the kitchen,

you might just as well be
doing something productive.

Cook has some potatoes over
there that need peeling.

Do you think Wesley's killer

was lying in wait out there?

That's a possibility.

We'll find him.

(CHUCKLING)

You've lost none of
your confidence, I see.

Tell me, William,

- are you married?
- I am.

- You have a family?
- No. Not as yet.

That will come.

This wife...

I'd very much like to meet her.

- (DOOR OPENING)
- Oh! Hello.

So, how's it going?

Let's see.

"My name is Dr. Julia Ogden and I'm
a coroner for the city of Toronto."

If you two are such experts
in this nasty business,

wouldn't all of that
already be in the title?

Yes, I suppose.

I'm just having a hard
time getting started.

Well, it seems to me
the problem is obvious.

- It is?
- Mm-hmm.

You need a proper place to write.

When I wrote my book, I had
them build me a lovely study.

- You wrote a book?
- I did.

What about?

My Adventures As A Young Woman
Growing Up In Mimico

And Places Abroad.

- Was it published?
- I'm not sure.

Due to the nature of the material,

I had to submit it
under an assumed name.

- And?
- I forgot the name I assumed,

so I don't really know
what happened to it.

I could always write a
second book, I suppose,

but nothing truly happens
after one is married, anyway.

- I don't know if that is true...
- As for your writing,

let me handle everything.

I will furnish you the most
beautiful little hovel so you can

create your masterpiece. Hm?

I've found no broken
bones or any other injury

that would indicate a fall.

Then explain the bruising.

The victim's blood shows anemia,

which most likely exacerbated
the extent of the contusions.

So we don't know yet how it
relates to the boy's death.

It's quite vexing...

but I will get to the bottom of it,

I assure you.

When boys leave our protection
to go back to the streets,

they've bought a one-way ticket to jail

or a pauper's grave.

How did he come into your care?

His mother was killed by a
trolley car several years back.

And his father?

I don't believe the boy ever met him.

No child should have to
live under that circumstance.

My sentiments exactly. Which is
why I founded the Boys' Home...

to do my small part in
rectifying that situation.

Why did you leave Nova Scotia?

Well...

The school you attended

closed for lack of funding.

So you came here.

I knew that the need
in Toronto was immense

and that charitable funding
was more readily accessible.

So here I am, running a Boys' Home

according to the same principles
that governed your education.

- And those are?
- Treat the boys like intelligent human beings,

capable of doing good.

Instill in them regular,
methodical habits and cleanliness.

And transform them into honourable youth

who'll become good
men like your husband.

Of course, there are others
who need a sterner approach.

Are you aware of the
work of Mr. John Kelso?

I am. I share several of his ideas.

We both agree that labour is elevating.

Our boys are employed in the trades,

training for future work.

William was one of the exceptions.

We encouraged him to use
the talents God gave him.

And here he is,

a perfect testament to our success.

And do you agree with Mr. Kelso's
views regarding corporal punishment?

I do not.

I firmly believe it works towards
the betterment of our boys.

Really?

I don't believe that corporal
punishment of children

can produce any positive
outcome whatsoever.

I disagree.

Corporal discipline is necessary

for order to be maintained in
an institution such as ours.

If that is the case, perhaps the
institution isn't being properly run.

Julia...

Yours is a sentimental attitude
rather than a practical one.

Not sentimental at all.

When you commit
violence against a child,

- you do irreparable harm.
- You haven't yet raised one.

If you had,

you'd understand that
discipline is necessary.

And I don't agree. William?

William?

Are you all right?

I couldn't fall asleep.

I didn't want to disturb you.

It disturbs me when you're
not here in bed with me.

Come back.

It's canine.

Belonged to a wolf.

An animal tooth and a rabbit's foot.

Wesley Seaver was a curious boy.

And a rebellious one.

Could this mean anything?

Not any more than the rest of this.

Excuse me, sir.

Another boy from the orphanage
has just been reported missing.

The missing boy is Paul Smith.

I spoke with him yesterday.

When Paul didn't appear for morning
mass, I sent someone to find him.

Paul's bed hadn't been slept in.

Any reason the boy would
leave on his own accord?

I don't know.

If you'll excuse me, I
should attend to the boys.

- They'll have questions.
- We'll be in shortly.

A wheelbarrow?

Certainly looks like it.

A way to convey a body
from one place to another.

Or hopefully just a wheelbarrow.

Watts.

Blood.

Detective.

Recently used.

We need to get some men down here.

See if we can find somewhere
the ground's been disturbed.

A moment.

Hello there.

Where did Paul go?

That's what we're going to find out.

Felix, is there anything you
can tell us that might help us?

No.

Please find him.

He was nice to me like Wesley.

- Nice in what way?
- He knew I liked to read,

so he gave me books.

Where did he get these books?

He maybe stole them.

He had all kinds of
things under his bed.

- Can you show me?
- There you are!

You're late for class.

I was talking to the Detective.

I'm showing him where Paul's bed is.

I'll take care of that. Off you go.

All right.

How would he have
gotten hold of all this?

He didn't have that much pocket money.

Might he have stolen them?

I suppose it's possible.

- I'd like to take this.
- Mm-hmm.

You're not busy. Please
tell me you're not busy.

- I'm not busy.
- Goodie. Come here.

Open it.

What? Go on, open it.

- Tada!
- Ruth, you did this?

Oh, not only me. A few workmen helped.

- And the medical supplies that were in here?
- Sit, sit, sit, sit.

This is the place where
you'll create your masterpiece

without a distraction in the world.

The Q is a little winky-wonk.

It's my favourite letter.

I used it a lot when I
was writing my manuscript.

- This is very thoughtful of you.
- Well,

when I saw how well your
husband was doing, I thought,

we can't have that, can we?

No. No, we can't.

Oh, no, you can't start yet.

- I can't?
- No.

You have to clear your mind
of every thought and worry

before you can enter
your fictional world.

- It's not exactly a work of fiction.
- Regardless. Get up.

This is an exercise I've
always found very useful.

You just stare at the wall

and clear your mind of all thoughts.

(LAUGHING)

Done.

You try.

- Are you still thinking?
- Yes.

Still?

Perhaps this isn't for you.

Sir. This arrived for
you in the morning post.

It's from Paul Smith, the missing boy.

Sent before he disappeared, sir?

- Yes.
- Detective, I have something.

So do I.

I just received this from
Paul Smith, the missing boy.

He states that Brother
Duvalier killed Wesley Seaver

- and is now after him.
- Curious.

That's not the word that I would use.

No, what's curious is I found this
toy among young Paul's possessions.

- It's expensive and quite rare.
- May I see that?

There's only one store
in Toronto that sells it.

I checked their sales records
and found out who bought it.

It was Hiram Taylor.

- The man from the brickworks.
- One and the same.

You think it's possible
he and Brother Duvalier

are involved in something
nefarious together?

Bring in Mr. Taylor.

- And Henry, get Brother Duvalier's fingermarks.
- Yes, sir.

If he objects, tell him we're
simply eliminating suspects.

Henry.

The train.

Good day, Miss Hart.

An accusation's been levelled
that this boy was beaten to death.

Would that be consistent
with your findings?

There was no single blow
sufficient enough to cause death.

However, the boy did
suffer subcutaneous hematoma

which indicates the
blood loss was vascular

and not from injury to a major organ.

And if this vascular loss
were significant enough...

The heart stops pumping blood.

The organs shut down.
It's called blood shock.

What was Wesley Seaver beaten with?

That I can't say.

The bruising has obscured
any individual marks.

There may be a way.

Can I help you, Detective?

No, I'm looking for Hiram Taylor.

He's done for the day.

- Do you know where he lives?
- I don't.

What can you tell me about him?

Good worker, keeps to himself.

Well, except for with those boys.

He's rather friendly with some of them,

- one in particular.
- Which boy is that?

A young lad named, uh... Paul Smith.

Thank you.

What colour would the surface wounds be

if they weren't obscured
by the subsequent bruising?

The broken capillaries
would be a reddish color.

Perhaps there is a way
to reveal the pattern

of the original abrasions.

So what exactly are we seeing?

The red filter inhibits all
other colours of the spectrum.

Anything that's red is highlighted

while other colours fade away.

So the broken capillaries are red,

therefore both areas are evident.

Yes, revealing how many times
and how severely the boy was hit.

There appear to be more
than twenty strokes.

- (KNOCK)
- Sir...

the fingermarks on the shovel
match those of Brother Duvalier.

- I haven't been able to find Hiram Taylor.
- It doesn't matter.

Brother Duvalier is
responsible for this.

- You're sure?
- Sure enough.

Can I help you, Detective Murdoch?

Stop right there!

Out. What are you doing?

John Duvalier, I'm
placing you under arrest

for the murder of Wesley Seaver.

I did nothing wrong.

Nothing more than I've
done my entire life.

You may not have intended
for Wesley Seaver to die,

but the beating you
administered did cause his death.

After his discipline, he
was alive and well enough

to leave my office with
a smirk on his face.

A photograph doesn't lie.

You hit the boy over
and over and over...

- I hit him six times. No more.
- Where's Paul Smith?

- Is he still alive?
- How would I know? He ran away.

He wrote me a letter stating
that you killed Wesley Seaver.

- What did you do to him?
- Nothing.

So the boy is a liar?

I suppose he is. I
certainly didn't harm him.

What's your association to Hiram Taylor?

I don't know who you're talking about.

We found a shovel with
your fingermarks on it.

Did you use that to bury Wesley Seaver?

I haven't picked up a shovel
in years. I injured my back.

But you're still strong enough
to beat boys half to death.

- I've seen it myself. Felt it myself.
- I don't beat boys.

I exert a rational and
controlled discipline.

You haven't changed a bit.

You misbehave, you get six
strokes. Never more, never less.

That's not true. Look. Look!

- Over twenty strokes!
- Not by my hand.

You murdered him.

I disciplined Wesley.
I did not kill him.

You'll hang for this.

You can't prove

what didn't happen.

I heard you suspect Brother
Duvalier of the murder.

I know him to be a violent man, Julia.

And you've confronted him?

I've interviewed him. He denies it.

He knows that the
evidence isn't irrefutable.

Yet I believe him to be a child killer.

Anger won't put Duvalier
behind bars, William.

We have to dig deeper.
What do you have so far?

Just my conviction that he did it.

Every crime has an author, William.

You need to find the signature.

How long have you worked
here at the Orphanage?

Since it opened.

Have you ever seen
Duvalier use a shovel?

Not a once.

He's always complained
about some pain in his back.

What's this sawdust from?

I don't know.

You don't know.

This was used recently.

Not by me.

Then by whom?

Excuse me.

"Every crime has an author."

That is very good.

Thank you.

It's certainly catchier than
anything your husband's written.

- I'd rather you not tell him that.
- Oh, no, no, no,

it will be quite apparent.

Well, I suppose I
should go on my rounds.

Healing the sick and all that.

- I probably should as well.
- Oh!

Did I tell you? I
remembered my nom de plume.

Oh, you did not.

- Eliza Ladywood.
- Oh! Oh!

Oh, that was a little clumsy.

- You're Eliza Ladywood?
- Mm-hmm.

Author of Adventures
of A Young Woman Abroad?

Uh, I suppose. Did she
spend time with a cowboy?

Yes.

- Yes, she did.
- Then I guess that's my book.

I wonder why they changed the title.

Although, I'm not really Eliza Ladywood.

- There is no Eliza Ladywood.
- Yes, but...

You've heard of her?

It's a book of some notoriety.

Oh!

I mean... I mean to say that I've seen

some of the younger doctors reading it.

Is that so? Do you think I
should tell them that I wrote it?

I should think that would
not be the wisest of ideas.

And I can see why you changed your name.

The assignation with
the Russian composer,

did that actually happen?

Oh, it certainly did.

(SIGHING)

That must have been quite something.

So you have read the book?

Yes, I've... I've glanced at it.

Well, more than glanced.

I looked at it numerous times
during my first marriage.

- Oh.
- Ruth, I have to say...

Eliza Ladywood has a voracious appetite!

- Well, I may have exaggerated a smidge.
- Oh, I see.

- But just a smidge.
- Oh.

Well, it certainly makes
my venture seem rather tame.

Oh! No, I'm sorry.

My book simply recounts
events in my life.

Yes, that's the thing, so does mine.

It seems the original handle
was removed from this shovel

and replaced with the
handle of this broom.

So it's the broom handle that
has Duvalier's prints on it?

It would appear someone is attempting

to frame Brother
Duvalier for this murder.

Well, there, I believe I can help you.

I've found out Hiram
Taylor was serving time

at the Uxbridge County Jail
on an assault conviction,

but escaped four months ago.

He's the one who sent
us to the boys home,

pointing the finger
directly at Brother Duvalier.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

We didn't catch it sooner
because he gave us a false name.

His real name is Hiram Smith.

- (HORSE WHINNYING)
- There he is. Hiram Smith!

Stop!

Oh!

- What have you done with the boy?
- Nothing! I haven't done anything!

Mr. Smith, you're under arrest
for the murder of Wesley Seaver.

Where is Paul?!

- I didn't take him!
- Leave him alone!

Please just... just leave him alone.

Paul?

You got this all wrong.

Did you not give us a false name?

- Yes, but I...
- Because you'd been in prison

in Uxbridge and instead of
serving out your sentence,

you escaped from jail.

Yes, I did that.

You then secured employment

where you would have close
contact with orphan boys.

- It's not like that.
- No?

You killed Wesley Seaver
and kidnapped his friend.

That's the part you've got wrong,
sir. I never killed that boy.

We found you with Paul
Smith in your custody.

I was in jail when his mother died.

When I found out, I came to get him.

Paul Smith is my son!

Yes, he's my father.

He knew they wouldn't let him take me

because he was meant to be in jail.

So I ran away to be with him.

So why send me the letter?

I wanted to try and help
the others in that place.

Brother Duvalier killed Wesley Seaver.

We all knew.

What made you so sure?

It's all right. Just tell the truth.

After the last beating,

Wesley was out for revenge.

What kind of revenge?

I don't know.

But he tried something, and
Duvalier killed him for it.

Why didn't you tell us?

I tried to, you didn't understand.

So I tried to talk to him.

That's why you came to the kitchen?

Yes, but Brother Duvalier was there.

And you were afraid to
speak in front of him?

I saw you and Brother
Duvalier were friends, and

I thought talking to
you wouldn't do any good.

So you took matters into your own hands.

You devised a plan to
lead us to Duvalier.

I wanted to go live
with my father anyway, so

I decided to make it look
like Duvalier killed me.

So you started with the letter.

Yes. Then the wheelbarrow tread.

What about the blood?

It... it was mine.

And the shovel?

I put the Brother's
broom handle onto it.

And hid the re-jigged shovel
out there for us to find.

Ingenious! You almost had us fooled.

We know that Wesley
Seaver died of blood shock

following a severe beating.

Imagine Paul Smith is telling the truth.

Wesley tried to exact some sort
of revenge on Brother Duvalier...

Then he was caught
and disciplined again.

Perhaps Wesley received two
beatings on the day that he died.

(MURDOCH SIGHING)

If we could only figure out how young

Mr. Seaver planned to exact his revenge,

perhaps we'd be one step closer.

With me, Detective.

Felix, tell us what happened
the day Wesley disappeared.

It was the same kind
of day as any other.

Paul Smith told us that Wesley planned

to get revenge against Brother Duvalier;

is he telling the truth?

Yes.

Did Wesley tell you
what he planned to do?

No.

Are you absolutely certain, Felix?

Well...

the only thing was

that night I was doing kitchen duty,

but Wesley came in and told
me he wanted to take over.

And he wouldn't tell me why.

I thought it was strange, but
he said I should just leave.

So I did.

That's very helpful, Felix. Thank you.

You're a 12-year-old boy,

you're plotting your revenge,

you're in the kitchen;

what do you do?

We know that Brother Duvalier came
in most nights to fix his own tea.

I lie in wait for him.

Perhaps something more subtle.

You're planning revenge,

it has to appear as
though it were an accident.

You've already been
beaten once, why risk it?

You said Brother Duvalier liked his tea?

- Yes.
- All right.

This is odd.

What's that?

- (CLANKING)
- Oh, wait.

Perhaps not so odd.

Young Wesley had this in his pocket.

(CLANKING)

He tampered with the handle.

Brother Duvalier picks up
the kettle once it's hot...

The handle comes apart...

And Brother Duvalier is
scalded with hot water.

You said the boy was hit repeatedly?

- Yes.
- What if that happened here?

I'm Brother Duvalier,

I've just been scalded
by a disobedient child...

One he can't control.

I grab the first thing I see,

and I start whaling away. Ahem!

♪

I should have noticed this earlier.

Here, have a look.

Two distinct similar marks.

He was beaten with this.

Shall we go speak to Brother Duvalier?

Or would you prefer to do that alone?

Neither.

Wesley was out for
revenge for the beating

he'd received earlier that
day from Brother Duvalier.

Only Brother Duvalier
wasn't feeling well.

You made him his tea that night.

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

You picked up the rigged
kettle and were scalded.

Care to lift your shirt?

I'm sure the burns remain.

- Did you intend to kill him?
- Of course I didn't.

It was only discipline.

You were burned, angry;

how many times did you hit him?

Six.

Six is correct.

You weren't correct in this moment.

You were in a rage.

Yes.

Did he attempt to run away?

He wasn't moving.

What exactly did you do next?

I went to get salve for my burn.

It hurt badly.

And when I came back...

He was dead.

(SNIFFLING)

I didn't mean to do it.

And then you continued to
make Brother Duvalier his tea.

He has to have his tea.

Will Mister Hornby hang?

No. I will be petitioning for leniency.

I don't believe him to be fully
responsible for his actions.

What are you suggesting?

Mister Hornby was your
ward all of his life.

You raised him with
violence, he acted in kind.

I raised him well.

You're deluding yourself
if you believe that.

Say what you will, William,

but I've done far more good
in this world than harm.

You will no longer be responsible
for the welfare of children.

You have no power to close my Home.

It's not my intention to close it.

- Only that you resign.
- I won't do that.

Wesley Seaver died from the
cumulative impact of two beatings,

so strictly speaking,

you could also be held
culpable for his death.

(EXHALING)

You would charge me?

Unless you resign, I
will see you behind bars.

Tell me, William,

do you really believe

that any person who follows in my place

will run things differently?

I would hope so.

Then ask yourself...

would you have become the man you are

if it weren't for me?

(FOOTSTEPS WALKING AWAY)

I enjoyed this book tremendously.
I think you will too.

And...

this is also by Jules Verne,

but it's not yet been
translated into English.

Do you know any French?

- A little bit.
- Well, see how you get on with it.

The illustrations are exceptional!

And I'll bring you more books
when you're done with these.

Why are you being so nice to me?

Well...

- I was an orphan too.
- And...

- and now you're a police detective?
- I am.

As you could be one day.

Or anything you want to be.

- (SOFT MUSIC)
- No.

You certainly can.

Where we start out in this world
needn't define where we end up.

♪

(DOOR CLOSING)

Are you all right, William?

At one time, that man

was important to me.

You did the right thing.

His methods were wrong.

I've seen that firsthand.

And you've stopped him.

Julia,

are you reading this?

I am.

Why?

For inspiration.

Not for our book certainly...

Well, not for this one,

but perhaps the next...

(JULIA LAUGHING)

- _
- Julia...