Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 4, Episode 2 - Kommando - full transcript

Sir, this chap was walking his dog
when he discovered the body.

He's had quite a shock.

Understandably.

And the body wasn't disturbed
in any way?

No sir, it was found where it lies.
Or, where it is, I suppose.

- His head, sir, it's...
- Rotated,

a hundred and eighty degrees.

The sheer force required
to do something inhuman.

Yes, George,
that thought had crossed my mind.

Are you serious, Murdoch?
A soldier's head, back to front?

A rather disquieting sight, sir.



And the body tossed up into a tree?

So it would appear, yes.

Bloody hell. That's pure dead weight
to be throwing around like a rag doll.

Sir, the circumstances would suggest
the killer is highly determined.

Highly determined?
A deranged ape is what he is.

And what the hell was this soldier doing
running around out there to begin with?

I've contacted the Armoury, sir.

Perhaps the military's representative
will have an explanation.

He's due at the morgue shortly.

Just mind that you stand your ground.

I'm sorry, sir?

Well, in my experience,
the military takes care of its own.

They won't enjoy the constabulary
looking into their business.

I see.



I'll proceed with respect
and authority of law.

Authority first, Murdoch,
and respect will follow.

Death was instantaneous.

The victim's third,
fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae

were shattered,
transecting the spinal column.

Yes, I believe the term is
"death by spinal shock. "

Oh, been to the library again, have you?

Anyway, key items of interest are
multiple broken ribs,

shattered femur, ruptured spleen,
but there is no bruising.

Meaning that the victim was
severely beaten after he was dead.

Rage, suggesting a personal aspect.

Mmm. I remember a case in London -

a group of hooligans beat a lad for
a full half hour after he'd succumbed,

just for the fun of it.

Point taken.

You didn't mention these
bruises on the upper arm and torso.

They've yellowed.

Clearly the victim endured a beating
previous to last night.

Important information, Doctor.

Do you have any other observations or
shall I continue with my examination?

Colonel Heywood.

Of the Queen's Canadian Rifles.

What is this?
A bloody reception hall?

Detective William Murdoch.

And this is our pathologist Dr Francis.

Fine. May I?

Yes, of course.

He's one of our own.
Corporal Joseph Fryer.

My condolences.

You weren't specific over
the telephone, Detective.

Was it a fall then? An accident?

No, sir, he was murdered.

I want the body released to
the Armoury immediately, Detective.

- Oh.
- Dr Henderson, our medical officer

will perform our own post-mortem,
while you hunt down the killer.

I don't wish to offend you, Dr Francis.

Oh, I bet you don't.

Begging your pardon, Colonel,

but I'll be deciding
when the body is to be released.

Detective Murdoch!

It would be most helpful
if you could explain

Corporal Fryer's presence
in the woods last night.

I'm sure it would be helpful, if I knew.

I take that to mean your man
was absent without leave?

I'll have to refer you
to his commanding officer,

Major Gregory Cole
of the British 191 st Fusiliers.

He's here on loan to train
some of our men. Now, if that is all?

Yes, sir, that is all.

Made another friend there, have you?

Excuse me, I'm looking for Major Cole.

En garde!

Charge!

Group one, en garde!

Charge!

Group Two, en garde, charge!

Get stuck in there.

Group one, en garde, charge!

Group two, en garde, charge!

Section, stand down.

State your business, sir.

Detective William Murdoch,
Toronto Constabulary.

I'm here to investigate
the death of Corporal Joseph Fryer.

Yes, Detective, this way please.

Huh!

We were devastated when
Colonel Heywood broke the news.

Corporal Fryer was well liked.

And as promising a soldier
as I've had the pleasure to train.

Do you know of anyone
who may have wished him harm?

Nobody that I'm aware of, Detective.

Certainly not amongst my men.

This team is a close-knit group.
All for one, as it were.

I see.

Well, feel free to ask the men
any questions about the corporal.

They want nothing more than
his killer brought to justice.

As do I.

Very good. Thank you, Major.

Thank you, gentlemen.

It's our pleasure.
Thank you, sir.

Corporal Ned Young, sir.

Corporal Raymond Tennant, sir.

Detective William Murdoch.

Were both of you gentlemen
in the barracks last night?

Yes, sir. I have the bunk above Fryer's,
and Corporal Young, the one adjacent.

When did you become aware that Corporal
Fryer was no longer in the Armoury?

Right before roll call this morning,
at five.

All the other lads
were surprised to see him gone, too.

I thought maybe he went on
a midnight prowl.

Cynthia is her name.

I highly doubt Corporal Fryer
rendezvoused with his sweetheart

armed with his Lee-Enfield rifle.

I can see your point, sir.

We want whoever did this
hanging from a rope.

Yes, well, do either of you recall
this Cynthia's last name?

You're certain it's him?

Unfortunately, yes, Miss Fletcher.

If Joseph was out wandering late,
it wasn't to see me.

Whoever she is, I don't know her name.

I can assure you Corporal Fryer
was not pursuing amorous activity.

Cold comfort, I'm sure.

In any case, here I am, twenty five,
three months of courtship wasted.

And, in your time together, how would
you describe your relationship?

Oh, when we first met,
he was all things.

Charming, confident and very energetic.

Had that changed?

Well, lately I did notice
Joseph was having his moods.

And he wouldn't talk about it,
but something was bothering him.

Can you hazard a guess as to
what that may have been?

No.

Right.

Had he been quarrelling
with anyone as of late?

There was one night last week.

Joseph was on leave.
He came by for a... visit.

He'd been in a fight.

He was full of curses for
a man named Laughton, I believe.

And Joseph's lip was bleeding
on my floor. I sent him away promptly.

Naturally.

And did he mention where
he had been that evening?

He was in his cups. The Raven and Flag.

Will this take long, Detective? I have
thirsty patrons needing eye-openers.

Please have a seat, Mr Skinner.

I understand a Joseph Fryer
frequented your establishment.

Yes, he was a regular
till a few weeks ago.

Yet someone told me
that he had an altercation

with one of your patrons there
just a short while ago.

A man named Laughton.

Not at the Raven and Flag, he didn't.

And I've never heard of a man
named Laughton before.

Pardon me, Mr Skinner.

Thank you.

You're sure Mr Fryer didn't participate
in any fights at your establishment?

Specifically in the back room?

The back room?

Yes. My constables discovered
a boxing venue there,

as well as these.

Teeth? So what?

You shutting me down?

Tell me what I want to know
about Fryer and we'll see.

Yeah, he fought there.

He was a damn fine pugilist too.

For a while, he was winning
all the bloody time.

What about Mr Laughton?
Tell me what you know about him.

I honestly have never heard
of that man before.

I swear it.

And it has been a few weeks
since anybody's seen Fryer.

Most likely due to the fact that he
lost every fight in the past month.

Perhaps he was wagering against himself.

No, no, no, no.

He just couldn't fight.

It was almost like
he was dead punch drunk.

So a brawling soldier on a winning
streak suddenly goes soft and moody.

Someone named Laughton gave him
the bloody lip last week,

but you don't know
where that took place.

No one knows why Fryer went AWOL.

And not a single murder suspect's
stinking up my jail cells.

I miss anything, Murdoch?

Sir, the humiliation of losing
could be motive.

Fryer had been winning most of
his matches for quite some time.

Perhaps one of his opponents
was getting even.

Getting even!
You break a fella's nose, Murdoch.

You don't nearly tear a man's head
right off and hang him in a tree.

Yes. Somewhat of a stretch,
as you might say, sir.

If Joseph Fryer had been involved
in illegal prize fighting,

perhaps he was also active
in other unsavoury endeavours.

Sirs, pardon the interruption.

Yes, George.

We have another body off Lennox Street.

It's certainly connected to
the Joseph Fryer case.

Sir, this can't be
a coincidence.

This is Corporal Ned Young, George.
I interviewed him this morning.

Knife wound to the spine.

His jaw appears to be broken.
Post-mortem, I'd suspect.

What could it all mean, sir?

Is the question what do Corporals
Young and Fryer have in common?

They resided in the same barracks
and were part of the same squad.

A squad that, for some unknown reason,
has become someone's target of choice.

Fryer. And now Young.

They were like blood brothers.

I'm terribly sorry, Major Cole.

If I may, what was Corporal Young
doing away from the Armoury today?

He was upset over
Corporal Fryer's death.

I gave him leave for the afternoon
to contend with his grief.

Of course.

May I have a duplicate of
your squad's service records?

Of course, Detective, whatever you need.

Thank you.

Are you at all familiar
with a man named Laughton?

Laughton?

I don't believe so.

I see. Major, I strongly suggest
you put the rest of your squad on alert

and possibly even confine them.

I've already issued that alert,
as per Major Cole's orders.

Please forgive my incomplete
knowledge of military standings,

but doesn't Colonel outrank Major?

Major Cole
is an honoured British advisor,

a veteran of the Transvaal Boer War
and the battle of Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt.

His experience is invaluable
to the training of our men.

And we are most grateful.

Mm-hmm.

Very well. Thank you, gentlemen.

That Colonel Heywood
seems quite the horse's a...

Thank you, George.

Once Major Cole
supplies the information,

please look into the civilian background
of every soldier in his squad.

Yes, sir. Will do.

Two dead
soldiers from the same squad.

Any theories, Murdoch?

Past indiscretions, perhaps?

Both Corporals Young and Fryer
had previous criminal backgrounds.

Receiving stolen goods, selling stolen
goods, as well as assault convictions.

In fact, of the seven men
in Major Cole's squad,

five of them had criminal backgrounds.

Back in '79, most every
man in my Afghan contingent

had been thieves or vagabonds
at some point.

The army's the last bastion for some.

And you, sir?

Well, I made it into the constabulary,
didn't I?

Yes, I'm well aware of the
thorough screening process.

Excuse me, sirs.

What have you, George?

An interesting turn, I would say.

I looked into Joseph Fryer's estate.

I found that he and Corporal Young
and the other members of the squad,

are engaged in a binding legal pact
payable upon their deaths.

You mean a tontine.

Yes, exactly, sir.

A tontine is a kind of
group insurance policy.

Everyone pays in. Last surviving member
inherits the whole kit and caboodle.

Well, then, perhaps one of
the soldiers in this tontine

is trying to cash in prematurely.

Corporal Tennant,

I understand your squad entered into
a tontine agreement three months ago.

Yes, sir. We hired a lawyer
to make it fair and legal.

And what inspired you to
enter into this agreement?

Inspired?

We don't need inspiration,
we're combat soldiers.

But your squad hadn't seen combat

prior to entering into the tontine,
and still hasn't.

To my knowledge, Canada
has yet to engage in any war.

War is brewing everywhere,
pretty well all the time, sir.

We stand ready to defend
the British Empire.

That means we could be into it tomorrow.

Are you feeling anxious, Corporal?

Yes, sir. A bit on edge is
understandable, given these murders.

Indeed.

I'll need to see a copy of
this tontine agreement.

That is, unless, of course,
you have any objections?

None that I can think of.

Matthew Larson.

He was full of curses for
a man named Laughton, I believe.

Good work today, men.
Now you're looking like soldiers.

Squad, dismissed!

Thank you, Tom.

Detective Murdoch, have you made
any progress with your investigation?

Why did you leave Corporal Matthew
Larson's name off of your squad list?

Well, it's quite simple, Detective.

You requested a list of
the men under my command.

Mr Larson was discharged long ago.

And why was he discharged?

I'm instructing the men
in anti-guerrilla warfare.

A Dutch concept known as "kommando. "

Light infantry,
with emphasis on reconnaissance,

camouflage and marksmanship.

The nature of war is changing,
Detective. Our soldiers must adapt.

Mr Larson wasn't up to the challenge.

I see. Where might I find him now?

His exact whereabouts, I'm not sure.
But I do know he was a local boy.

Mr Larson, please,
help me find your son.

It could be he had
nothing to do with this.

But if he did,

I need to find him and stop him
before any more harm can be done.

You know, Matthew was a good farm boy,

but not soldier material.

Not enough self control, discipline.

Do you have a photograph of him?

Yes, yes.
It's right in that drawer there.

That'd be him in the back there,
second from the right.

These are Baobab trees.

Yes. It was taken four or five months
ago on a training mission to Africa.

He said he was going to go out there,
prove he could handle himself.

Of course, he couldn't.

I suppose when you don't live up to
your own expectations, it take its toll.

When he come back, he was all...
He was all hot-tempered,

and haunted, I suppose you'd say.

Haunted? How do you mean?

The boy went out there,
he was full of pride.

Comes back, just hating himself.

You know, I should've held on
to the family farm.

It would have been something
for Matthew to settle down on.

But I didn't, so...

Well, now that old farmhouse
is just ruined.

It's sitting out there
at the edge of the city.

Higgins, Guthrie, this way.

George.

Is that Larson?

Corporal Tennant.

Keep your eyes open, George.

Stop!

Right there! Right there!

No, George!

Fan out along the tree line!
I want him alive!

Yes sir! Right away sir!
Go! Go!

And then, like a jack-in-the-box
from hell, out pops Larson,

screaming bloody murder.

Face, sickly, covered in lesions like...

Like the sixth plague of Egypt.

I beg your pardon?

The sixth plague of Egypt. I've been
researching it for my murder mystery.

The plague of boils.

That's what Larson's face was like.
A terrible condition. Very contagious.

In fact...

The constable's somewhat dramatic
account is essentially accurate.

Larson seemed crazed
and very much in ill health.

lll health, but still fit enough to kill
Corporal Tennant to make his escape.

True, sir, but one puzzling thing.
He broke off the attack, sir.

He looked right at me,
and then suddenly seemed surprised.

I got the impression that he initially
thought I was someone else.

So he's crazed, but not crazy enough
to kill just anyone. Except soldiers.

Sir, may I suggest we post men
at his father's house,

in case Larson seeks refuge there?

George?

Sir, I'll see to it.

Thank you.

Higgins?

And what about the military?

A lot of good they've done
in all this mess.

Well, sir,
Major Cole has been cooperative,

but, as I'm finding out,not particularly
forthcoming with details.

For starters, what the hell was Corporal
Tennant doing at the Larsen farm?

Corporal Tennant
disobeyed a direct order.

The squad was confined
to the Armoury last night,

but it seems Corporal Tennant decided
to take matters into his own hands.

Perhaps the men in your squad aren't
"all for one," as you thought.

Now why would that be?

All I know is, I've lost another man.

And Larson is free to kill again.

Are you sure it's not time to allow
the military

to assume control of the investigation?

I'm quite sure.

And if it were your men
dropping like flies?

I will bring Larson to justice,
you can rest assured of that.

As you wish.

Larson was visibly ill
when I encountered him.

He seemed crazed.

There's something
you should see, Detective.

What are they suffering from?

Dr Henderson
hasn't determined that yet.

Perhaps it's some foreign disease,
something they contracted in Africa.

Pardon me, Detective?

Major, I've seen photographic proof

that Matthew Larson and other soldiers
under your command spent time in Africa.

Now, if you would prefer that I discuss
this with Colonel Heywood...

He knows full well my men
were in Africa.

But I ask that you not speak of this
to anyone outside of the Armoury.

Those details are restricted.

Your men were on training
manoeuvres in Africa.

Four months ago. In February.

For a three-week period
in the Transvaal region.

A political powder keg.

From what I understand,
another potential Boer War.

I hope not.

But, as I said, my escort were
there for training purposes.

And, with the exception of Mr Larson,
my team performed remarkably well.

Well, again I ask you, sir,
what are they suffering from?

African trypanosomiasis.

I'm sorry, could you repeat that?

African trypanosomiasis,

or, to the common man,
sleeping sickness.

There was an outbreak in the Congo
about two years ago.

Since then, thousands have died
throughout the Dark Continent.

The disease is spread by
the bite of the tsetse fly.

What are the chances of several soldiers
in the same squad getting this disease?

Very good, actually,
if they were all in Africa.

Is that everything?

No. Doctor, might you enlighten me

with the common symptoms
of this sleeping sickness?

Well, fever, headache, death.

Now that's a symptom y
ou don't want to ignore.

Thank you, Doctor.

Oh, pleasure.

Oh, just a second, Murdoch.

Let's have a look.

Phlebitis, torticollis...

Trypanosomiasis, here we are. African...

Symptoms are swollen lymph nodes,
joint pain, itchiness, confusion.

If left untreated, neurological damage,
dementia and death.

Let's not forget about death.

Yes, death.

Nothing about crazed aggression,
facial lesions...

No. Nothing about that.

Wait a minute. When did you say the men
returned from their African campaign?

Several months ago.

But the entire life cycle of
this disease is three weeks.

Then it's impossible the soldiers I saw
are afflicted with this disease.

Something else must be at play.

You know, it's just stunning
this detecting mind of yours.

Sir?

What the hell do you want?

Sir, we have a problem
at the Larson residence.

What the bloody hell
is this all about?

Inspector Brackenreid, Colonel Heywood.

I'm posting these men with orders
to place Matthew Larson

under military arrest on sight.

Are you now, Colonel? Funny, that.

Because wherever Mr Larson is captured,

he's to be taken into the custody
of the Toronto Constabulary.

Under the terms of confederation,

the Canadian military has a right
to assume control of...

You're
not listening to me, sunshine.

The second you step out of the Armoury,
you lose all jurisdictional control.

And I'll read you the Federal Militia
Act, if I bloody well have to.

I don't want anyone lurking around
here waiting to shoot my son!

That's not going to happen, Mr Larson.

Gentlemen, may I suggest a compromise?

Constable Higgins will remain here,
as well as one of your soldiers.

Equal representation for both sides.

Best accept it, Colonel.

I'd rather not arrest you
for obstructing a police investigation.

You're to report in each hour.

And you, Higgins, every half hour.

Excuse me, Inspector.

Wesley. Right, fun's over. What's next?

Sir, I'm going to return
to the infirmary.

Either Dr Henderson has
misdiagnosed what's ailing these men

or there is a concerted effort
to keep us from the truth.

Very good, Murdoch.

I think it's time you considered
wearing spectacles, Detective.

Forgive me, Doctor. I'm merely checking
in on the condition of your patients.

They're under quarantine.
You'll have to leave.

They have an infectious disease!

Then perhaps you should consider
wearing a mask, Dr Henderson.

Sorry to disturb you, soldier. I wonder
if I could ask you a few questions.

Yeah.

Why has Matthew Larson
turned against your unit?

Can you tell me why he was discharged?

Larson discharged himself.

He wasn't up for it. He couldn't cope.

Does it have to do with
the training in Africa?

Yeah.

What happened in Africa?

Detective Murdoch,

you will leave the premises immediately.

Of your own accord, or by force.

Thank you for your time, Corporal.
I hope you have a speedy recovery.

I've completed a post-mortem
analysis of all three soldiers.

Curiously, each of them
suffered kidney damage,

but I've been unable to find a cause.

It's not like anything I've seen before.

And we know they weren't suffering
from sleeping sickness.

And the same can be said for
the soldiers in the army's infirmary.

Well, but they could be ill with some
unknown infectious disease.

You could have raised
that point earlier, Doctor.

Yes, I suppose I could have.

Now, you might want to take note of
Corporal Young here.

I had assumed his injuries
were from the beating

but if I just

peel this

back here,

you can see a portion of his liver has
been compressed through the upper ribs.

Now that is consistent with
a fall from some height.

Fall?

Yes. I'm all but certain
that's what I just said.

This is where Corporal Young's body
was found.

The impact was on the front,
right side of his body,

meaning he fell forward from...

Sir, looks like Corporal Young had
something of a sniper's nest made up.

I wonder what he was hoping to shoot.

George,

I believe Corporal Larson was not
the hunter, but the hunted.

I don't know about that, sir,
we have three dead soldiers.

Yes, but perhaps he knew
they were tracking him

and got to them first.

You think there were trying
to kill one of their own.

Why would they do that?
And why would Young set up here?

And how'd he know that Larson would
be anywhere near this area of town?

I don't know, George.

Obviously forced entry, sir.

Larson, perhaps?

Shh.

Dr Henderson, good afternoon.

I'd say it's time you answered
a few questions.

Dr Henderson,
what's the purpose of this laboratory?

I use it to store supplies
and run medical tests.

There's no room for a proper
laboratory at the Armoury.

Proper, Doctor? This place
seems to be in shambles.

Uh, yes. I was just straightening up so
I could resume my attempt to find a cure

for whatever disease
is afflicting our soldiers.

But you've already diagnosed
it as sleeping sickness.

That was a preliminary diagnosis.
I wanted to be sure.

Doctor, we both know that
none of what you're telling me is true.

Believe what you like, Detective.

Matthew Larson broke in here yesterday
and caused all of this mess, didn't he?

Now, what was he looking for?

I heard you told the major,
Larson is very ill.

Larson knows where
my laboratory is located,

so I assume he was looking
for a cure for his illness,

whatever that may be.

If I may say, sir, it seemed
that you were in quite the hurry

to pack up the place just now.

Am I free to go?

You, sir, are free to come down to the
station house for further questioning.

He seems to be creating some
sort of medicinal compound.

It's just, there's something so familiar
about these materials.

You know, the diluted acids, synthesized
alkaloids and this dried ephedra plant.

Ephedra! Ephedra...

Ephedra, ephredrine?

I read an article about
a Japanese chemist in Tokyo...

Nagayoshi Nagai?

Yes.

Well, in 1893, he used the ephedra plant
to produce ephedrine.

He synthesized that into
what he dubbed "methamphetamines,"

a potent stimulant, heightening
alertness, energy and aggression,

noted side effects
are memory loss, seizures

and kidney damage.

And would you say that if
taken in high enough doses

this methamphetamine could
cause deranged behaviour?

And skin lesions?

Deranged behaviour, certainly.

Although, you know, I've heard that

laboratory animals given long-term
doses of stimulants

do begin to pick and tear at their skin.

And were these skin tears
to become infected,

they would have the appearance
of sores and lesions.

I believe we're on to Dr Henderson's
dirty little deeds.

Yes. Each soldier
under Major Cole's command

was injected with methamphetamine.

I prescribed a conservative daily dosage
which proved quite successful.

Alertness and stamina
increased dramatically.

Until you discovered the side effects,
is that correct?

I'll confess the drug
creates strong dependency.

Which would explain why Matthew Larson
broke into your laboratory.

He was desperate
for more methamphetamine.

There wasn't much there,
but he did find some.

Detective, believe me,
once I established

Mr Larson was reacting
negatively to his treatment,

the military acted responsibly
and terminated the project.

Who gave that order?

Major Cole.

So, the soldiers aren't
suffering from some infectious disease.

They're going through withdrawal.

Psychomotor stimulant
withdrawal, to be precise.

Yes, let's be precise.

Just when did you begin to
administer methamphetamine?

Was it before or after Africa?

I'm not at liberty to discuss that.

It doesn't make sense to me.

Why give soldiers drugs
and risk impairing their judgment?

My time in Afghanistan

taught me that fighting spirit
was near the bottom of a bottle.

Alcohol could ease the anxiety of
charging into a hail of bullets.

But it would be far better to heighten
senses, not dampen them.

Methamphetamine could be very
beneficial on the battlefield.

Depending on the battle, a touch
of memory loss might not hurt either.

Yes, well, use of the drug
could play a major role

in the future of warfare,
for better or for worse.

Nevertheless, I want this Major Cole
brought in to explain himself.

Of course, sir.

And what about our fugitive Mr Larson?

Running around somewhere,
mad on methamphetamine.

Anyone who comes near him
could be his next victim.

I don't think so, sir.

Larson could have killed me,
but he stopped himself.

And though I believe
the use of methamphetamine

resulted in the highly aggressive
murders

I don't think that's the whole story.

How so?

George, go to the archives and research
any articles written on South Africa,

British and Canadian newspapers,
written in the last five months or so.

Yes, sir.

What are you thinking, Murdoch?

Well, sir, the men in Cole's squad
pursued Larson with murderous intent.

I believe, as a result of something
that happened in Africa.

Something that caused his comrades
to turn against him.

And before I meet with Major Cole again,
I want to know what that was.

"British family
slaughtered in Carletonville. "

"In the dead of night,
four militia set the houses aflame

"and shot down anyone
who tried to escape the inferno.

"No one was spared,
including women and children. "

Well, sir, listen to this.

"A Boer militia camp was wiped out
with 'military precision. '

"British High Command denies
any of their combat troops

"were within 200 miles of the incident. "

Five days after the British families
were slaughtered in Carletonville.

Unofficial retaliation, perhaps?

Major Cole's squad.

It's possible, George.
They were training in the area.

And these killings are also
exceptionally brutal.

What is it now, Detective?

Major Cole, why did you not discharge
Corporal Larson sooner than you did?

Clearly he wasn't coping with
his dosage of methamphetamine.

Oh, yes. I know about the drug.

Corporal Larson became a liability.

And perhaps I'll have to accept
the theoretical responsibility for that.

However, all military trials with
methamphetamine have been cancelled.

Major, am I to assume
that your experiments

with these drugs are news
to Colonel Heywood?

No, Detective.

The Canadian military is in full support
of our British joint operations.

Hmm. So, you're aware that Corporal
Larson's dependency on methamphetamine

is directly related to the training
missions in South Africa?

Detective Murdoch, you are reaching!

And this is why your men
were on methamphetamine.

Inciting them to savagely kill
Boer militia without question.

Yes, it's true your men were on
a training mission in South Africa.

But you took advantage
of the opportunity

to launch an attack on Boer militia
at Krugersdorp.

Such is war.

But we're not at war in South Africa.

Don't be naive!

You don't need an official declaration
of war to be engaged in one!

The Dutch provoked all of this.

So you admit that the massacre
at Krugersdorp

was retaliation for the events
at Carletonville.

What would you have us do, hmm?

Stand idle while British innocents are
murdered and have no response?

I'm done here, Detective Murdoch.

Matters of the nation and the crown
are beyond you.

Sir, I think we have a situation.

Higgins telephoned from the Larson
residence... I think it was Higgins.

Clarify yourself, George.

Well, sir, he only spoke a few words
but he said something about "he's here,"

and then the line went dead.
I called back several times...

Come.

Constable Higgins?

George!

Higgins! What happened?

Aah, I was hit from behind.

I heard Larson upstairs.

Detective? Detective!

Matthew came home!
He charged through the front door there

and struck these two poor men,
then he just ran off!

These men were hit from behind,
taken by surprise, I suspect by you.

And I think I know why.

Matthew was here this afternoon
when we were all here, wasn't he?

Please, Detective,
just leave him be, I beg you...

Step aside, Mr Larson.

Please, just leave him be!

The fire, they were burning.

Screaming.

Calm, gentlemen, we have him.

A guard failed to report in
and now I see why.

Stand aside, Detective.

We're taking Larson into custody!

I won't allow that, Colonel.

Especially now that I know
the full extent of Major Cole's tactics.

There were children!

Burning!

Stand aside, Murdoch!

Not only are you guilty
of the killings in Krugersdorp,

but you ordered your squad

to kill innocent British men,
women and children in Carletonville.

I said, "Move!"

Major!

You sacrificed innocent women
and children to bring on war.

To give the British licence
to attack the Boers!

Surely, you must be mistaken.

Corporal Larson,
what happened in Africa?

We killed our own!

Is this true, Major?

What did you tell the men?

Did they know they were
murdering British civilians?

Did you tell them?

Yes, I told them.

But only after my orders
were carried out.

Which is why your men obeyed
your orders to hunt down Mr Larson.

You and your squad couldn't risk
Larson exposing the truth

about your mission in Africa.

Those were once my men,

good soldiers.

You've turned them into murderers.

Colonel Heywood, please.

You colonials, you don't understand
what it takes to preserve an empire!

And the privileged lives you all lead,

they don't come without cost.

Or sacrifice.

Damn your blood.

Colonel, no! No.

Major Cole will face justice

in a military court, in front of
his peers, with you as a witness.

Sir, according to the doctors
at Toronto General Hospital,

Major Cole will survive.

A telegram.

From the British Secretary of State
for War

claiming that Major Cole
and his squad had gone rogue.

And that the Brits deny any involvement
in these unfortunate affairs.

Surely they don't expect us
to believe...

It's all bollocks!

That bastard Cole will merely slink off
with a dishonourable discharge

and probably a pension to go with it!

You know what happened to me
the first time I saw combat, Murdoch?

I fired over the heads of the enemy.

I couldn't bring myself
to shoot another man.

Mind you, the first shots that whistled
past my ears

I tightened up my aim considerably.

Forcing men to kill,
that's the military's biggest battle.

No doubt, Major Cole was aware of that.

He knew that his untested men would
hesitate at killing in cold blood.

Methamphetamine helped them
overcome that.

At the cost of losing their faculties.

When it became obvious that Corporal
Larson couldn't cope with what he'd done

Major Cole panicked and increased
his dose of methamphetamine,

but it turned him into a madman.
A dangerous liability.

What's the prognosis for Larson?

He's been placed in permanent care.

But I'm told the brain damage
is too far along.

Thankfully, the programme that
made him this way is no longer.

Don't kid yourself, Murdoch.

A second Boer War is on the horizon.

It's too profitable to avoid.

And the Canadian military
will do anything

to prove their mettle
alongside the Brits.

Another Cole will be along
to restart the program.

Perhaps so, sir.

And what will become of
Corporal Larson's father?

The old man took revenge
for what they did to his son.

If I was a judge, I'd be thanking him.

But, come the trial, he just might be
in need of a helpful witness.

Yes, sir. He might be at that.