Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 5, Episode 5 - Murdoch at the Opera - full transcript

Can you not see?

What egregious of fence
have I committed now, Carlo?

I am standing right here,
but you refuse to look at me.

I did no such thing!

You are singing of your love for me,

but you are paying no attention.

Don't be ridiculous.

Fine, sing without me.

No. Clearly I'm at fault.

I will leave.

Rosa, no.



Both of you, please!

Stop!

Rosa!

Mannaggia!

Elvira, please take
over and let us continue.

Of course, Signore Arturo.

Are you all right? Bella!

Oh!

Elvira, what's wrong?

Elvira!

What?

Vi...

ola.

What? What did she say?



Elvira, bella! Oh, no!

Poison.

So it would seem, George.

Dr. Grace will complete her
analysis back at the morgue.

The victim was Elvira Cummings, sir.

She was in the chorus

and also served as
understudy to Rosa Hamilton,

who plays the lead role of Mimi.

According to the impresario, Signor Arturo,

the company is originally from New York,

touring here with their
production of La Bo-heem.

La Boheme, George.

Gather everything the
victim may have touched

and bring it back to the station, please.

Sir.

Did anyone see Miss Cummings eat or drink

prior to collapsing?

She was drinking red wine.

Prop red wine.

We all were, but she had no reaction.

Did she eat?

I don't think so.

Detective, Elvira did
drink from Rosa's glass,

just before she collapsed.

Is this true?

Yes, but Rosa also drank
from the same glass.

It could not be poisoned.

No, Carlo.

You poured the wine, but
I didn't drink from it.

Are you quite sure, Madame Hamilton?

Of course, I'm sure.

So only Miss Cummings
drank from your glass.

What are you saying, Detective?

Perhaps the poison wasn't
meant for Miss Cummings

but for you, Madame Hamilton.

But who would want to kill me?

Oi. There you go.

Mr. Peters.

You prepared the wine backstage, yes?

I'm responsible for
props for all the actors.

And all of the actors
drank from the same carafe?

Yes.

Who pours the wine into the glasses?

The actors themselves.

It's a scene at the bohemian cafe.

They are eating and drinking freely.

I see.

So you set the wine glasses on the tables

for the performance.

Did you examine them?

Well, yes.

I saw nothing untoward, Detective.

Come on, out the way!

Detective Murdoch, it's terrible.

Terrible!

I came as soon as I heard, Murdoch.

Glad you arrived so promptly.

Ah, Signor Arturo, this
is Inspector Brackenreid.

You're in good hands. This is my best man.

Inspector Brackenreid,
may I introduce to you

la diva, Madame Rosa Hamilton.

Inspector.

Such a pleasure, Madame Hamilton.

I've followed your career
since your stunning debut

at the Paris opera.

You were there?

I read the notices. I'm very familiar.

A fan. How enchanting.

And a man of some refinement.

I believe in keeping up appearances,

especially in the colonies.

I can assure you that the
Toronto Police Department

will get to the bottom of
these disturbing events.

We are all available for
your questions, Inspector.

I will be resting in my dressing room.

Of course.

Please, excuse us.

It appears our victim, Elvira...

Sir'?

What?

Oh, of course. What have you got, Murdoch?

It appears our victim, Elvira Cummings,

was poisoned while onstage

but may not have been the target.

A mistake?

Miss Cummings replaced Madame
Hamilton during the performance,

after the wine had been
poured into her glass.

Madame Hamilton may have
been the intended victim.

Who in their right mind

would want to kill the
magnificent Hamilton?

She's the finest soprano
in the world, Murdoch.

You'll have to excuse me, Inspector.

Elvira's death has been quite a shock.

You knew Miss Cummings well, madam?

She was my discovery, my prot?g?.

We did everything together.

She could sing?

I was grooming her, Inspector.

No voice springs fully formed.

She blossomed under my tutelage.

What an opportunity for the young woman,

learning at the hand of
a master like yourself.

Yes.

Though I admit I was
flattered by her devotion.

She adopted my mannerisms,

started wearing my perfume.

Elvira liked to take souvenirs
from my dressing room-

little things, small treats-

thinking I didn't notice.

She wanted so much to be me.

Please, sit.

Oh, thank you.

Can you think of anyone

who would want to harm
you, Madame Hamilton?

No.

I am the star of La Boheme.

The rest of this provincial
cast would be nothing without me.

Nothing.

What about Signor Corsi?

Carlo is... adequate.

But it is my voice the
people flock to hear.

Not his.

Ask Arturo.

He begged me to join the company.

Rosa?

She's the queen of my nightmares.

She drives a man mad with
her demands and tantrums.

I see, Signor Arturo.

So you tolerate her.

She is the goose that lays the golden egg.

Hers is the voice that sells tickets

at box offices all over the world.

Has this company been together for long?

I formed a travelling
company out of New York

several years ago.

Rosa doesn't like to
leave her home in Europe,

but Corsi and I, we persuaded her.

The North American audience
was crying out to hear her.

And Miss Cummings?

Oh, that Elvira should die like that,

it's terrible.

She was a sweet thing.

Such a voice for one so young.

And her body, bellissima.

Signor Arturo, do you know of anyone

who may want to kill Rosa?

Talk to Carlo Corsi.

Corsi?

The tenor who plays... Rodolfo?

He was smitten with Elvira, Detective.

He might want his older lover, Rosa,

to take, uh-how
do you say it-

a rear seat.

That is ridiculous.

I had no feelings for Elvira.

But you quarreled with
Rosa at the rehearsal.

Of course. We're lovers.

All lovers fight, Detective.

Rosa is a very passionate
woman, both on and off the stage.

So you admit to having differences.

She is selfish and insufferable,

but I wouldn't kill her.

You police should be
talking to Miss Thiery.

Anne Marie Thiery?

Yes.

Mimi is nothing.

Musetta is the character with spirit.

Musetta does have a fine solo in act two.

To play Musetta requires skilled acting,

not mooning about like
that lovesick waif Mimi.

Mimi is the role that
opera audiences will love

100 years from now, Miss Thiery.

Every singer longs for
that kind of immortality.

I am familiar with La Boheme, mademoiselle.

It may be Puccini's newest work,

but I wager it will be his most memorable.

That may be, but it's not
me who wanted to play Mimi.

Who did?

The dead girl, Elvira,

God rest her soul.

She was the ambitious one.

Elvira?

She pretended to be innocent,

but underneath the act, she was conniving.

She bamboozled Madame Hamilton,

though no one would dare to say it.

What do you mean?

Rosa wouldn't hear a word
uttered against Elvira.

She thought the girl could do no wrong.

Thank you, Miss Thiery.

You've been most helpful.

Who wanted to kill Rosa?

We all did.

I will remind you, sir,
that I'm a policeman.

Your words could easily be misinterpreted.

It's true. We all wanted her dead.

But to kill such a young
beauty as Elvira by mistake,

that is a tragedy.

What else can you tell me, Mr. Domenicke?

I was the one who heard her last word.

- You did?
- Yes.

It was "viola."

Do you know what she meant?

No.

All the viola players are accounted for.

In fact, sirs, none of
the orchestra members

had an opportunity to slip poison

into Miss Cummings' glass.

At the time of the
murder, they were all in...

the pit.

An unfortunate term, in my opinion.

Thank you, George.

Miss Cummings' last word, viola,

in Italian it means "violet."

Could the victim be
referring to violet the color?

Or violet the flower?

There were violets on the bonnet

the victim was holding when she died.

Ah, yes, the bonnet.

The bonnet has great significance

in the plot of La Boheme.

Rodolfo buys it for Mimi
as a token of his love.

While the actors who play Rodolfo and Mimi,

Rosa Hamilton and Carlo
Corsi, are lovers in real life.

This acting company seems a dramatic lot.

There is as much emotion
offstage as there is on it.

They're actors, Crabtree,

an occupation that requires
the employ of one's passions.

They can't just bury the fury of emotion

once the curtain falls.

Apparently not.

Judging by the interviews,

all of our cast had motive
for killing Madame Hamilton,

including the victim herself.

Miss Cummings was ambitious.

And possibly in some
love triangle with Corsi.

Exactly.

All the more reason why having
Madame Hamilton out of her way

would be very convenient.

Well, perhaps she
accidentally ingested poison

that she had intended for Madame Hamilton.

There was a strong smell of bitter almond

when I cut open the victim's stomach,

and her skin was pinker than normal,

a sign of internal asphyxia.

I believe the poison was potassium cyanide.

- A quick-acting
substance. - Yes.

She very likely was killed onstage

by a fellow actor who slipped
the poison into the wine

after it was poured into Rosa's glass.

We've arrived at the same conclusion.

Will you be conducting more tests?

Yes, but it will take time.

You will the first to know my results.

Thank you, Doctor.

Constable Crabtree has conducted a search

for potassium cyanide at the theater.

Nothing's materialized.

Had to be one of the actors.

They've been working in
close quarters for months.

Who knows where all those
tensions and jealousies come in?

There's also Signor Arturo, sir.

- He was there.
- That's true.

And then there's that props fellow.

Mrs. Brackenreid.

Hello, Detective Murdoch.

Margaret. What are you doing here?

I came by to tell you

that I picked up the
tickets from the box office.

There's quite a commotion at the theater.

As there would be.

Are you sure the performance
will still take place?

Rosa Hamilton won't disappoint
her faithful followers.

Thomas has talked about
nothing but Rosa Hamilton this

and Rosa Hamilton that for weeks.

Oh, it promises to be quite a performance.

You must be very excited.

Not really.

I'd rather have a good
laugh at the music hall,

but Thomas insisted I give it a try.

It's a good excuse for
a new dress, as I see it.

I'll see you at home, Margaret.

Don't be too late.

The missus doesn't share
my love for culture.

I haven't told her the
whole thing's in Italian yet.

But will she follow the story?

It's not that hard.

Rodolfo's jealousy almost
destroys his love for Mimi.

Only when it's too late does
he tell her she's his true love.

Then Mimi dies of consumption.

That's it?

It's not about the story, Murdoch.

Opera's about the expression of emotion,

pure emotion expressed
through virtuosic singing.

I had no idea you had
an ear for opera, sir.

Life holds greater riches

than a job in the Toronto Constabulary.

There's a lot you don't
know about me, Murdoch.

- Clearly.
- Sirs.

We've received a message
from Signor Arturo.

You're needed at the theater immediately.

Officers, there is no time to lose.

We beautiful star, my diva...

These arrived at the stage door.

Violets. With this note.

"Your life is mine."

You've received other such notes?

They started arriving
after we played Chicago.

Why didn't you tell me?

They were all silly nonsense.

I simply ignored them.

None of them threatened me.

Do you have the other notes?

Some of them.

I thought of them as
charming billets-doux.

I suppose I was wrong.

Madame Hamilton, you must be ever vigilant

until this killer is apprehended.

I'll post a constable to watch-

- A constable? I don't think so, Murdoch.

May I offer my services
as your personal bodyguard?

Why, Inspector,

do your other duties allow
for such a commitment?

Your safety

is the Constabulary's paramount
concern, Madame Hamilton.

Then I accept your generous offer.

Perhaps you could escort me to my hotel?

Absolutely.

Thank you, everyone. Move aside.

Clear a path. Madam, this way.

Thank you. Thank you.

Madame Hamilton, will you
still be performing tomorrow?

Of course.

Thank you.

That's enough. Thank you.

Thank you, everyone.

There you go, madam.

Do you face crowds like this in every city?

Of course.

Must be overwhelming for you.

Overwhelming?

Their applause sustains me.

But to mobbed like that...

A star needs an adoring audience.

Do the other actors
receive the same attention?

A few tittering young ladies
sometimes wait at the door

for a glimpse of Carlo.

How well do you know Signor Corsi?

Carlo and I have been lovers

since we sang together
in Milan ten years ago.

Why?

Well, there are rumors
about him and Miss Cummings.

Carlo has a wandering eye.
It's part of his charm.

And Elvira had a flirtatious nature.

A folly of the girl's youth.

So there was something between them?

Of course not.

Elvira was like a younger sister to me.

I admire the way you handled that crowd.

A woman would feel safe around you, Thomas.

Can I call you Thomas?

Of course.

Anything, sir?

Have a look at this, George.

Tidy writing. Good spelling.

The work of an educated
person, I would say.

Oh.

Is that an ink stain, sir?

I don't think so, George.

It's darker than the writing.

When I add water to it...

it doesn't run.

It's some sort of permanent dye.

Indigo, perhaps.

And how does that help us, sir?

I have no idea. How did you fare?

Well, the flowers were ordered

from a florist on Queen
Street two days ago.

The method of payment
was cash in an envelope

pushed under the door.

Another in a series of mysteries.

Quite so, sir, including
the victim herself.

How do you mean?

Well, I tried to contact
Miss Cummings' relatives

to inform them of her untimely passing.

The address she gave in
Chicago doesn't exist.

That's strange.

Perhaps Signor Arturo
can help you with that.

Hmm, perhaps.

Elvira joined the company
in Chicago as Rosa's dresser

six months ago.

But apart from the
address I have given you,

I know little of the girl's background.

Madame Hamilton must have
taken quite a shine to the girl.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Rosa took Elvira under her
wing from the first instant.

She loved the girl's voice

and insisted I hire her as a chorus member.

And then also, she was an
understudy for the company?

Only for Rosa,

though she was hardly needed.

Rosa would never miss a performance.

On her deathbed, that
woman would still sing.

A true artist.

Elvira must have had a good voice, then.

Mm-hmm.

Rosa was teaching her to
develop her vocal control.

Oh, she had the voice;
There is no question.

If she had only lived,
the poor little songbird.

Ah, in the column.

Now, if you will excuse me, Constable,

I have a civic reception to prepare for.

Yes, of course, thank you, Signor Arturo.

I believe that Miss Cummings

inveigled her way into
Rosa Hamilton's life.

As I understand it, sir,

an intimate relationship can often form

between an artist and her dresser,

wherein the dresser can
become a trusted confidant.

George, what are you trying to tell me?

Well, sir, look at the
contents of the letters.

"I will care for you."

"I will protect you."

Letters that began to arrive

after the company performed in Chicago,

after Elvira joined.

So it's your belief that Miss Cummings

was writing the letters to Madame Hamilton.

Yes, sir.

And she could have been the one
to send the bouquet of violets.

They were ordered before she died.

But why would Miss Cummings
want to kill her mentor, hmm?

To take her place, sir.

Except she accidentally drank the poison

that she intended for Rosa.

Is that plausible?

Well, sir, there were six actors

gathered around a couple
of small cafe tables,

upon which are six
identical glasses of wine.

Now, it's quite conceivable
that Miss Cummings,

now in the role of Mimi,

now standing where Mimi would have,

erroneously drank from the diva's glass.

That's an interesting theory, George.

Thank you, sir.

You've played that
- that singing

at least five times now, Thomas.

I am tiring of it.

How can one tire

of such a passionate
expression of love, Margaret?

Perhaps one is more attuned

to a certain shrillness in her voice.

I'll get it.

Thank you.

They're for you, Thomas.

For me?

"To Thomas, with gratitude. Rosa."

- Margaret.
- She would send a man flowers.

She is a lady of rare breeding.

And now... I must get a move on.

Mmm.

I'm picking up Madame Hamilton
at the Queen's Hotel at 6:00.

Au revoir, ma cherie.

Puccini's Bohemian cafe

is a very different setting for an opera,

but what finer place for
our reception this evening?

I may admire your
detecting skills, Murdoch,

but your sense of style-

a little underdressed for
cocktails, don't you think?

Yes, I sang with Enrico Caruso.

Oh, he loves his little practical jokes.

In Paris, in the midst
of Che Gelida Manina...

The famous aria, "Your
tiny hand is frozen."

He presses into my hand a hot sausage.

Oh, the little devil.

He knew Puccini was in the audience.

Mr. Peters.

Do you recall where
Miss Cummings was seated

when she picked up the glass?

Oh, Mimi picks up the glass.

Oh, no, no, no, Detective.
That's quite wrong.

In the scene, Rodolfo picks up two glasses

and hands one of them to Mimi.

Ah, I see.

Rodolfo, played by Signor Corsi, yes?

Yes.

She's a wonderful singer.

She's in it. So good.

I don't believe we've met, Detective.

I'm Mademoiselle Thiery.

Ah, yes, of course. You
play the part of Musetta.

You must be an opera lover.

I confess to being somewhat of a neophyte.

However, the performance
promises to be very exciting.

If Rosa survives the night.

You have reason to believe that she won't,

Mademoiselle Thiery?

Well, there is a murderer among us,

is there not, Detective?

Why else would you be here?

I am quite nervous.

Madam, I won't take my eyes off you.

Would you be a dear
and refill my champagne?

- Of course.
- Thank you.

Rosa Hamilton is getting old.

Be careful what you say, Domenicke.

It's true. Everyone knows it.

It's time for a younger woman to take over.

Hmm. And you are suggesting...

Anne Marie has the voice.
You've said so many times.

What am I to say to Rosa?

That may not be a problem for much longer.

Ah, be careful, my young friend.

Your love for Anne Marie
will get you into trouble.

There you are, Thomas.
Is that my champagne?

- Yes.
- Thank you.

Madam!

Oh, my dear!

Is everyone all right?

I believe you've just saved my life.

This was no accident, sir.

Bloody hell.

Another attempt on Madame Hamilton's life.

Let's get out of here, Murdoch.

Oh, there you are, Thomas.

Uh, the boys are in bed,
but I waited dinner for you.

Tripe and onions.

I'm sorry, Margaret, but
dinner will have to keep.

I've just received a message.

I have to go back to the theater.

Madame Hamilton needs me right away.

Couldn't you send Constable Crabtree?

La diva sent for me for a reason, Margaret.

Must be a matter of great urgency.

La diva?

Hello?

Hello? Madame Hamilton?

Hello?

There you are, Thomas.

Madame Hamilton.

Are you all right? What's this all about?

Please, call me Rosa.

This is my humble attempt to
thank you for saving my life.

I hope you like pheasant.

Well, certainly beats tripe and onions.

Please, sit down, Thomas.

So tell me about Carlo, Rosa.

Is he good to you?

He's a man of many passions,

but he's fickle with his attentions.

He's like a bumblebee who
must stop at every flower.

Flowers like Elvira Cummings?

He's not like you, Thomas.

You're a dependable man
who protects his woman.

But when you sing together...

When we sing,

we are not Carlo and
Rosa but Rodolfo and Mimi.

Ah, Mimi.

The tragic role that every
soprano longs to sing-

including, I presume,
Miss Anne Marie Thiery.

Of course.

And she would do anything to get the part,

even allow herself to be
seduced by that old goat Arturo.

Arturo? Really?

We've all allowed Arturo some...

liberties.

I was younger then. It seemed a trifle.

And what does Domenicke think

about his true love, Anne
Marie, trifling with Arturo?

Domenicke would do anything
to get Anne Marie the part.

Even murder?

He would do anything to
help that fraud he loves.

Are you all right?

This is a terrible business.

Behind the scenes, it
is a battle every day.

Sometimes I think they would
all be happy if I were dead.

Oh, that's not true.

They'd miss their pay
packet, but that's all.

Even Arturo.

And it's only a matter of time
before Carlo will leave me.

You're wrong.

No one holds a candle to you.

There will only ever be one Rosa Hamilton.

What did you mean, Anne Marie is a fraud?

Anne Marie isn't even her real name.

It's Viola Evans.

I use a stage name. That's hardly a crime.

Who in the company knew your real name?

Elvira found out.

She made it her business
to know people's secrets.

Mm.

You would like Madame Hamilton's
position in the company,

wouldn't you?

Become prima donna? Of course.

The adoring fans would be waiting

at the stage door for you and not her.

Rosa gets far too much attention.

Mm. That must be infuriating.

After all, you work as hard
and sing as well as she does.

It's completely unfair.

Unfair enough to kill her, Miss Evans?

What do you mean?

Your name, Viola,

was the last word uttered
by Elvira Cummings.

Did you intend to kill Madame Hamilton?

I did not.

And even if I did poison her,

Arturo would never let me play Mimi.

What do you mean?

He would have given the
role to Elvira Cummings.

She had him wrapped
around her little finger.

There's Corsi, Rosa, and Elvira,

and then there's Corsi, Rosa, and Arturo.

The love affairs within the company

are many, many faceted, Crabtree.

You mean Elvira and Arturo?

Yes, and Rosa. Rosa and Arturo?

Back when she was young and foolish.

Oh, then there's Domenicke,
Anne Marie, and Arturo.

Arturo again?

Yes, Crabtree. He's a bit of a lad.

Detective.

Another letter has arrived.

Now he asks Rosa to meet him.

- When?
- One hour from now.

In the park near the theater.

Sir, the handwriting,
it's not quite the same.

There's no time for that, Murdoch.

Let's get a move on.

Carlo?

Well, I wasn't expecting him.

Uh, sir, let us wait.

You? You wrote the letters?

What letters?

Then what are you doing here?

I followed you.

I need to talk to you.

Why are you doing this to me?

You are breaking me in two, Rosa.

What do you mean?

Why do you shower your affections

on that oaf of a policeman?

He's actually quite charming.

Why do you torture me this way?

What is the difficulty?

I can be with whatever man I want.

- You can't.
- And why not?

You have every young woman you fancy.

Even my Elvira.

She tempted me,

and I am a weak, weak man.

She meant nothing to me.

What? Why didn't you tell me?

I knew it would break your heart.

Excuse me.

And who are you?

I cannot compete with a
world famous opera star,

but I am...

Bloody hell.

That appears to be your wife, sir.

I know that's my bloody wife, Murdoch.

And I've come here to ask
you to leave him alone.

Yes, Rosa, leave the policeman
to his wife like she asks.

Come back to me, Carlo, your true love.

Thomas?

What's going on, Margaret?

I should ask you the same question.

What do you see in her, Thomas?

Oh, for God's sakes,
don't be so ridiculous.

I'm in the middle of important police work.

Is that what you call it?

Oh, don't be so dramatic.

Now go on home. I'll be along shortly.

And who says the door will be open?

Your wife has spirit.

So she does.

It must be nice to have
someone who treasures you.

But, Rosa, I treasure you.

Do you?

The man with red hair cannot...

Not quite what we were expecting, sir.

God help me, Murdoch.

I'm in the middle of a bloody opera plot.

And even after all this time,

I still don't know what the woman wants.

I do what I can, Murdoch.

God only knows I try.

But perhaps I have been
neglecting the old girl lately.

A situation you could remedy, sir.

Take her to the music hall?

That's an excellent idea.

Oh...

Gentlemen?

I have results for you.

Oh, thank goodness, Doctor.

What have you?

I ascertain Miss Cummings

had a high sugar content
in her bloodstream,

so I ran a series of tests and
made an interesting discovery.

Sugar interacts with potassium
cyanide, slowing it down.

Delaying the toxin's effects.

Correct, Detective.

Given Miss Cummings' body weight,

it is likely she ingested the poison

at least an hour before she reacted.

- That much earlier?
- Yes.

It is also quite possible

that the killer disguised the
poison in something sugary.

Are you quite sure?

I completed the test three times.

It's correct.

She ingested the poison at
least an hour before she died.

Sir, the cafe scene is in the second act.

How long is the first act?

Half an hour, I would say.

Then Elvira Cummings ingested the poison

before the dress rehearsal began.

So she didn't die accidentally

by taking a drink from Rosa's glass.

No, sir. Thank you, Doctor.

We now know that Elvira
Cummings was the intended target,

not Rosa Hamilton.

One of them poisoned
Elvira Cummings, Murdoch.

They certainly all have motives, sir.

Elvira Cummings was
threatening to tell Rosa

about Corsi's indiscretions.

Miss Cummings was in the way
of Anne Marie Thiery's ambition.

Rizzini had every opportunity.

Signor Arturo would
have been very displeased

if his latest conquest was
also involved with Corsi.

And our elusive letter
writer may have killed Elvira

in a misguided attempt to protect Rosa.

But how did any of them find
a way of poisoning the girl?

What are you doing?

Mr. Peters,

you're the author of the letters.

Madame Hamilton's been
receiving, aren't you?

What letters?

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

Perhaps we should have this
discussion at the station house.

No.

I can't leave the performance.

The diva is relying on me.

You take very special care
of Madame Hamilton, don't you?

I do.

I made Mimi's bonnet especially for her.

With violets, her favorite flowers.

She must appreciate all of
your thoughtful gestures.

Oh, she...

She doesn't notice me.

So you got her attention
by writing the letters.

Letters?

The letters, Mr. Peters,
you wrote on this paper

at this very desk.

Mr. Peters, if you keep this
up, I will have no choice

but to take you to the station
and charge you with murder.

Now, did you write the letters or not?

Yes.

And you sent the bouquet?

Yes.

I wanted her to know I was here.

I wanted her to see how much I admired her,

but I would never harm her.

You're responsible for
the lanterns as well.

Yes, why?

The scenery that fell and
almost killed Rosa Hamilton,

the rope that secured it was
burnt through by a lantern.

That had nothing to do with me.

You were angry that Rosa
ignored your affections,

so you waited for an opportunity
to exact your revenge.

You set the lantern.

No, I didn't.

I have no idea how the lantern got there.

You have to believe me.

I'd checked the oil in the
wicks just the night before.

You examined the lanterns the night before?

Why?

Madame Hamilton asked me to.

She watched me as I
made sure they were full.

I reassured her they'd be working perfectly

for the third act at the Paris gates.

Intermission.

Excuse me, Detective.

I must reset the stage for the next act.

Thank you, Mr. Peters.

Gifts from your many admirers, Rosa.

And if I may say, richly deserved.

Thank you, Thomas.

Now, let me prepare myself.

The final act is very demanding.

Of course.

Oh...

This one's come a long
way. All the way from Italy.

Oh, how wonderful.

I was hoping it would
arrive before opening night.

My favorite sweets.

They're handmade in Milano
by the Renaldo brothers,

my favorite Confectioners.

And all for me.

Well...

Perhaps one for you.

Do you like it?

Viola.

Thomas, what's wrong?

Elvira liked to take souvenirs
from my dressing room,

small things, thinking I didn't notice.

Vi...

ola.

Inspector...

I have to search your
dressing room, Madame Hamilton.

For'?

For cyanide.

You poisoned the sweets,

knowing that Elvira would eat them.

Please, don't deny it.

She was taking everything from me.

It started with little
things, like the sweets.

Even as I encouraged
her, she kept on taking.

I didn't know how to stop her.

She was just a slip of a
young girl compared to you.

I'm no fool, Thomas.

I can't sing forever.

In a few years, she would
have been the next diva.

That I could accept.

But Carlo...

when she took Carlo...

But in the park, Carlo said he loved you.

By then, it was too late.

You have to come with me, madam.

Five minutes to curtain, madam.

Inspector...

I beg you,

let me finish my final performance.

Then do with me what you wish.

- Madam...
- Please.

One last time.

I'll be in the wings.

Thank you.

You're a man of honor.

Ah, Inspector...

I know, Murdoch.

We'll arrest her at the
end of the performance.

She's truly magnificent.

We'll not hear anything
like her for a long time.

IE1'.

I' Mimi I'

Rosa.

Rosa?

No!

No, Rosa! Mi cara bella!

Sir, something's wrong.

Yes, Murdoch.

Madame Hamilton is dead.

Rosa!

It's all my fault.

My poor darling.

This was in Madame
Hamilton's dressing room.

Cyanide, sir.

An operatic ending
worthy of Puccini himself.

Uh, sir.

I can take care of things here.

Thank you, Murdoch.

Margaret.

I saw you kiss her, Thomas,
right here in this very theater.

What?

Rosa, Madame Hamilton was
trying to make Corsi jealous.

Corsi? That good-looking singer, Corsi?

Yes, he was her lover.

And she thought that kissing
you would make him jealous?

I'm sorry, Margaret.

I got carried away.

Why, Thomas...

You look lovely.

That new dress becomes you.

Does it, now?

It's a beautiful night.

It is that.

Do you fancy strolling home,

just me and my best girl?

So when did you become
the romantic, Thomas?

I'm a man of many surprises, Margaret.

Pub's open.

Surprise, surprise.

It was just...

I could bloody well use a drink.

We're strolling home, Thomas.

Had you forgotten already?

Of course I haven't, woman. I was just-

Thomas.