Murdoch Mysteries (2008–…): Season 9, Episode 8 - Episode #9.8 - full transcript

There was a time in
China when smoking opium

was a sign of wealth.

Wealth in that it was
illegal and only the affluent

could escape prosecution,
but also because...

wealth allowed for a certain leisure

that the smoking of opium desires.

And it was these prosperous patrons

who understood opium's value to artists,

philosophers, and allowing this golden age

- of Chi...
- Only a little.

Apologies, Emperor.



Enough history.

We are here to enjoy the present.

So, let us retire to the den

and let's imagine those noblemen

and women of China, resplendent
in their robes of silk,

let us partake in their same customs.

My highest quality chandu.
Six drops should suffice.

Yes, mm-hm! Good, now,

place the wok over the flame.

Use the needle to stir.
It will become gummy.

- Like this, Emperor?
- Yes, precisely. Now...

roll the opium gum into a pill.

Place the pill on the end of the needle...

and carefully thread it through the hole



at the bottom of the bowl. Uh-huh...

You are a natural, my boy.

Now, I need hardly tell
you what to do next.

Ling! Ah, there you are.

Are we prepared?

This is excellent, Emperor.

So strong.

My body feels it in every inch.

Sir. Byron Sutton, 23 years of age.

A student at the university.

Survived only by his father, I'm told.

- Any witnesses to the incident?
- All of them, sir.

I've only begun speaking
with them but, apparently,

they indulge in this fashion
once a week, this week

being no exception. None of them
reports seeing anything unusual.

And who owns this home?

Professor Aldous Lawrence, sir,

the man in the smoking jacket.
These are all his students

at the University. He
teaches Oriental Studies,

although this particular
group is not affiliated

with the school. This is The...

Earthen Dragon Society.

- And its purpose?
- To further appreciate

the mysteries of China, apparently.

In other words, to smoke opium.

Come my dear.

So the Earthen Dragon
Society has 4 students:

the unfortunate deceased Byron
Sutton, Mr. Gregory Cummings,

Susan Trent and this is
her brother, Matthew Trent.

May we leave, please?

My sister is unwell.

Mr. Trent, what can you tell
me about this evening's events?

Nothing, really. Nothing of importance.

Everyone smoked opium, Byron
thought it was just marvelous.

Did he say anything?

He mentioned something
about it being strong,

that he could feel it all over
his body or some such nonsense.

So, Mr. Trent your
experience was not the same?

I really should get her home.

I should like to speak with her first.

She's really quite distressed.
Couldn't it wait until tomorrow?

Sir, she is in a state. I
tried to speak with her earlier;

it was a fruitless conversation.

- Tomorrow, then.
- Yes, thank you.

If they can leave, I imagine so can I.

Gregory Cummings, sir.

Did you notice anything
unusual this evening,

- Mr. Cummings?
- No, not at all.

Other than Byron was given his
own vial of opium and taught

- to roll his own pill.
- This was unusual?

The pipes are always
prepared by Mrs. Lawrence.

And rolling is a sacred art form that
none of us are permitted to attempt.

The Emperor saw fit to
allow Byron, for some reason.

- The Emperor?
- What we call Professor Lawrence.

I see.

So, no one else smoked the
same opium that Mr. Sutton did.

No. The rest of the pipes
were prepared in the kitchen,

- as usual, by Mrs. Lawrence.
- Right.

Sir, where is your wife?

I put her to bed. Detective,

I'm happy to speak with you
further, perhaps it could wait

until tomorrow.

Uh, you are referred to as the Emperor... ?

Yes, I had the hubris to decorate my den

with a five-clawed
dragon. In Ancient China,

such a dragon was reserved for royalty.

Anyone else with one would be put to death.

Even my students wouldn't dare
to possess a five-clawed dragon.

I see. I'll need you to provide me

with the vial of opium
from which Mr. Sutton

prepared his pipe.

I couldn't tell you what killed him.

Constriction in his pupils
suggests he had opiates

in his blood, but beyond that,
I see no outward indicators.

Sir, the opium.

Apparently it all comes
from the same batch,

but it was from this exact container

that Mr. Sutton filled this exact pipe.

Thank you, George. Check
the pipe for fingermarks.

And I'll take the opium.

Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me.

So, what do you think
sir? Death by misadventure?

Then why is he the only one?

What does Dr. Ogden have to say?

She is still conducting the
post mortem. But, I expect

it will be a case of excessive intake.

It takes some real effort

to die smoking opium, Murdoch.

It's more the stopping
it that will kill ya.

I knew plenty of opium fiends
during my time in Afghanistan,

and this little China club seems
more like play-acting to me.

Must be Mr. Sutton's father.

My greatest fear has been realized.

I knew that Professor Lawrence
would lead to my boy's ruin.

The man is a charlatan,

a Svengali, using opium
to draw a veil of control

over the impressionable young.

You believe that Lawrence was
attempting to control your son somehow.

Yes. But the more I protested,

the stronger his hold over Byron became.

And with Byron's constitution
as frail as it was...

- Your son was ill?
- He suffered from bouts of pleurisy, and...

he was always a fragile boy.

He was supposed to become a doctor and...

follow in my footsteps.

Dr. Sutton, perhaps you wish
to continue another time?

I wish only to see that professor

- punished for his crimes.
- Crimes?

Not only was he turning Byron
against Occidental medicine,

but that foreign wife
of his was feeding Byron

all manner of poisonous concoctions.

You believe your son was poisoned.

Those Asiatic types show no
restraint in what they will turn

into miracle cures. Parts of animals

not even the basest
tribes of Africa would eat.

Herbs so toxic even touching
their leaves would kill you.

Your son's cause of death
is as yet undetermined.

Knowing that professor,

that's what killed him.

Mark my words.

Mr. Sutton died of respiratory arrest,

not a result of smoking opium. In fact,

there was very little
residue in his lung tissue,

suggesting he smoked infrequently.

Mr. Sutton's father

said he had pleurisy. Could
that have been a factor?

- Miss James?
- Pleurisy is an inflammation

of the muscle tissue surrounding the lungs.

- It's painful, but not fatal.
- Very good. I am surprised

he didn't smoke more, opium
may have eased his pain.

It apparently wasn't smoked
for pain relief, but rather

- as a philosophical exercise.
- Indeed?

It's an intriguing concept.

The opium Mr. Sutton
smoked was unadulterated,

but... we did find traces
of herbs in his stomach.

We have yet to analyse them
but I suspect the herbs may

have contributed to his respiratory arrest.

- You believe he was poisoned.
- It's my best guess.

My herbs killed Byron? No! Impossible!

We'll need to sample the concoction.

Of course. It's a simple assembly

to help his lungs.

Byron was in pain;

my husband worried for him.

Byron was all he cared about.

Perhaps you might divulge the ingredients?

Well, I may not know all
the English names correct,

but it includes ma huang;
you call it sea grape,

aconite, peppermint and ginseng.

Aconite. As in, wolfsbane?

That's a very dangerous
and very toxic plant.

Yes! The plant, yes, very dangerous.

Not my preparation of it. I am trained.

I make the powder myself with great care.

It is safe in small quantities.

That's really not necessary.

I am perfectly fine.

I am certain my herbs are not at fault.

She gave him wolfsbane?
That she herself prepared?

The woman is very brave.

Or very well trained in her craft.

Wolfsbane would fit...
given that Mr. Sutton

- died of respiratory arrest.
- As would a number of poisons.

What are the symptoms of wolfsbane?

Pins and needles, muscle
paralysis, and seizures.

By all accounts Mr. Sutton
did not experience seizures.

- Or any other kinds of distress.
- So not wolfsbane?

That would have been too
easy. There are a great number

of poisons to consider. We need
to narrow our field of search.

How would you propose we begin?

What if we could discern
the method of delivery?

It may at least help us determine

whether the poison was slow or fact acting.

Good. If the poison was cumulative,

we would have seen damage
to the organs and tissues,

- which we did not.
- May we assume that the poison

was administered within a day of his death?

- Mm-hm!
- Alright then. I believe

I've been able to ascertain
all of Mr. Sutton's movements

in the 24 hours prior to his death.

Starting the evening prior, he ate
at home with his father; roast beef.

I've been able to procure some remnants.

I apologize for the smell;
it's already been disposed of.

We are rather accustomed to
the aroma of decay, Constable.

Yes, of course you are. Mr.
Sutton then slept fitfully,

he had several coughing
fits through the night

which woke his father. In the
morning, he declined breakfast,

having only tea. I don't
have a sample, but I did find

- the teapot.
- That should do!

He then attended classes

and lunched with Professor
Lawrence in the faculty lounge.

He then continued on to
Professor Lawrence's home,

and dined with the other students...

and they continued to smoke opium...

from this pipe.

Thank you George, that
was rather comprehensive.

It truly is a work of art.

Doctor, if I may, besides
the roast beef he had

with his father, which was
well before he died, Mr. Sutton

only ate in large groups.
I would be very surprised

if you find food to be the culprit.

Yet, there are no injection
marks on the body. So if it was

- poison, it had to be ingested.
- Dr. Ogden,

what if the poison was
ingested through what he smoked?

But you yourself tested the opium, Rebecca.

- You found no impurities.
- Not in the opium, no.

But what about this?

It was the pipe, William.
More specifically,

- the bowl attached to the pipe.
- The opium is placed inside

the bowl, which is attached to
the pipe by an airtight seal.

The bowl is held over a flame
and when the smoker inhales,

- the opium is vapourized.
- I suspect the bowl was treated

with the poison which then
vapourized along with the opium.

How did you come to that conclusion?

Airtight container through
which we recreated the process

- of smoking the pipe.
- And the noble sacrifice of a rat.

Miss James has yet to harden

herself to the realities of lab work.

It's rather ingenious.

And it would also explain why Mr. Sutton

was the only one affected.
We have yet to isolate

the poison itself, but my official report

will state that Byron Sutton was
the unfortunate victim of homicide.

So, the question becomes:

Who wanted Mr. Sutton dead?

Murdered? What are you talking about?

We now know that the pipe
that Mr. Sutton smoked

had been poisoned.

His pipe? Now, it was brand new!

It had never been smoked before last night.

Byron bought the pipe, the bowl;

the entire layout was custom made in China.

It arrived a few days ago

and Byron brought it directly here.

Who had access to the pipe?

I did, of course. My wife.

Byron, naturally.

Susan was here with her brother Matthew.

Gregory is here almost every day.

I can't provide deniability for anyone.

Even myself. Is your wife home?

No. Why?

I understand she has
a knowledge of poisons.

As did the rest! Ling gave them a lecture

on poisons used in Chinese
medicine only two weeks ago.

- Was everyone in attendance?
- Yes.

In fact, I recall Gregory asking
a great number of questions.

- Gregory Cummings.
- He and Byron were both

interested in studying Chinese medicine.

Though Gregory was by
far the better student.

I suppose it was only natural

for him to be surprised when I awarded

the scholarship to Byron.

What scholarship?

Wherein a bright student
accompanies me to further

his studies in China.

If Mr. Cummings is the better student,

then, why award the
scholarship to Mr. Sutton?

Byron and my wife were friendly...

and she and Gregory were the opposite.

And it's important that we...

all get along for such a long journey.

I take it Mr. Cummings was
unhappy with your decision?

Very.

Mr. Cummings! A moment of your time.

Detective Murdoch. I'm on my way to class.

You seem to be coping with
the passing of a fellow student

- quite admirably.
- We weren't friends,

Detective, if that's what you're asking.

Yes, I understand you were
quite upset at losing out

on Professor Lawrence's scholarship.

Byron was always the golden student.

A bit of a dolt, really,

but somehow managed to dazzle everyone,

playing the noble invalid.
I admit to some jealousy.

- But nothing compared to Susan's.
- Susan Trent?

Yes, she and Byron were
sweethearts for quite some time.

She thought he was going to propose
when he ended their courtship.

She even went so far as to curse him dead.

When was this?

During one of Mrs. Lawrence's
lectures on poisons.

Rather ? propos, wouldn't you say?

Yes, Detective...

he broke my heart.

I've no doubt you heard
that from vile Gregory.

But I follow the tao, the way.
Violence is not in my nature

nor on my path to enlightenment.

You smoke opium, Miss Trent?

Hm, la f?e brune is a true delight.

A way of seeing the universe clearly.

Life is dull. Life on opium is dazzling.

So, you understand the
workings of an opium pipe

and would be able to poison one.

Is that how Byron died?

From his pipe?

How wonderful! I should
like to die from a breath

of the brown fairy.

I hear from Byron, now and again.

- Do you?
- He sent me a message.

"We will meet again
when the time is right."

Oh, bother!

Sir!

Mr. Trent. The detective
is occupied right now.

That, Constable, is my sister.

And this, Mr. Trent, is a police station.

- Now, you are welcome to wait.
- Mr. Trent.

Your sister has asked for a
moment to gather her strength.

More like her courage. She
knows I'm about to give her

what for. Staying out all hours,

quoting that ridiculous
Professor Lawrence as gospel.

But you are a disciple of
Professor Lawrence's, are you not?

I only joined that group
to keep an eye on Susan.

She's changed so much since she
started going with Byron Sutton.

He dragged her to The Emperor's club.

I was certain there was going to be
more than just Chinese philosophy.

- And I was right.
- You mean the opium.

We are from a respectable family.

It's one thing for the Chinese
to engage in such a vice;

- quite another for our people.
- What do you know

- about opium pipes?
- Nothing.

I've never smoked the infernal stuff.

You were there, in Professor
Lawrence's opium den.

I don't inhale. I would never lower myself

to that level of iniquity.
That damned Byron Sutton!

This is all his own fault.

- Matthew.
- Come now, Susan.

We should get you home.

That appears to be as
much as I can salvage.

Then we'll have to be very
selective with the poisons

we choose to test. All of these poisons

result in respiratory arrest. But we know

the culprit is not an inorganic poison

because that would have
resulted in evidence in the body.

The general test for
alkaloids was positive.

Opium is an alkaloid,

which could explain that
result. But given the lack

of other symptoms in
the body, we can assume

the poison is an alkaloid as well.

So we are looking for a plant?

At least to start, yes.

Mr. Sutton died between
the time he lit that pipe

and when he was discovered
one hour later, dead.

Then it is extremely fast-acting.

Hm... He also didn't seize,

so we can eliminate strychnine.

- Hemlock is still an option.
- Belladonna?

His pupils were constricted
rather than dilated.

But... don't opiates constrict pupils?

Yes. It is possible that
one could mask the other.

Let's leave it on the list.

Not cyanide, either.

All in a day's work, Miss James.

Pathology requires patience.

We are out of plants that
cause respiratory paralysis

and... our poisoned opium
residue is almost gone.

Perhaps our alkaloid positive

was a result of the opium after all.

We haven't considered
poisons from an animal source.

Don't they use animals in
Chinese medicine all the time?

They do. And I know
little of their toxicity.

Perhaps an afternoon excursion is in order.

Yes, I sell many animal parts,

but... not to kill!

I know it's not your
intention to kill anyone.

But you must know of a
substance that could be fatal.

Yes, many plants, puffer fish.

Puffer fish?

The flesh is only safe if removed properly.

What if it isn't removed properly?

Then you stop breathing...
almost right away.

Puffer fish. That could be our poison.

Gregory Cummings was angry at Byron Sutton

for winning the China trip over him.

- Angry enough to kill over?
- Sir, you haven't met

- Mr. Cummings.
- Susan Trent was heartbroken.

Her brother, Matthew
Trent, blamed the victim

- for ruining his sister.
- Also a motive.

What about the Chinese wife?

Ling Lawrence had a knowledge of poisons,

certainly had opportunity and she seemed...

unhappy her husband was showing
affection toward the deceased.

So everyone with the opportunity to poison

Sutton's pipe also had a motive.

With one notable exception.

Professor Lawrence.

Well, that eliminates one suspect.

George, were you able
to extract fingermarks

- from the pipe itself?
- Sir, several, in fact.

Right, then. We'll need to
obtain fingermarks from all

of the suspects. Perhaps
we can place the pipe

- in someone else's hands.
- Sir.

Inspector. Detective.

Dr. Sutton. How may we help you?

Am I to conclude...

the professor is not a
suspect in your investigation?

We are pursuing all avenues at the moment.

There is only one avenue:

Professor Lawrence
murdered my boy. I know it.

I'm afraid your certainty
isn't quite enough, Dr. Sutton.

This letter arrived for Byron today.

I thought you might want to see it.

It's written in Chinese.

Sir,

I have a translation.

"My dear Golden Dragon.

I fear for your safety. The Earth Dragon

asks your Water Goat questions.
I cannot answer truthfully

or our love will be
exposed. Soon we will meet

by the poppy field and spend
all our days in sweet embrace

among the fragrant
blossoms." And the rest, sir,

- is of a rather intimate nature.
- That will suffice, George,

thank you. Well then,

we can assume that the
Golden Dragon is Byron Sutton,

given the letter was addressed to him.

Sir, Mr. Sutton IS a Golden Dragon.

That's his Chinese astrological sign.

How did you come to that conclusion?

The translator told me, sir.
I then took all the other

astrological signs and checked
them against the birth years

- of our suspects.
- Are you are able to identify

- others mentioned in the letter.
- I was, sir.

The Earth Dragon is Professor Lawrence.

And the letter writer, the... Water Goat?

We have two water goats,
sir. One is Susan Trent...

- And the other?
- Ling Lawrence.

Yes.

- This is my letter.
- You were having

an illicit affair with Byron Sutton.

Byron and I were in love...

for many months.

I persuaded my husband to
give Byron the scholarship.

So you could escape with him to China.

It was all planned.

We would leave Aldous in Shanghai

and buy some land up the Yangtze.

But your husband found out.

It must be so.

My husband killed Byron.

He is dead because of me.

My wife carrying on with
my favourite student.

I feel like such a fool.

You had no inkling that there
was something between them?

Only friendship.

She never wrote such intimacies to me.

- George?
- Sir,

I can't find anything
connecting him to the crime,

but I've yet to check this locked cabinet.

Professor, do you have
the key to this cabinet?

Of course.

But you're only going to
find my personal papers.

And what might this be?

Puffer fish?

What is that doing in there?

At the moment it's proving your guilt.

Professor Lawrence,

you are under arrest for
the murder of Byron Sutton.

- Nary a smudge, sir.
- That's unfortunate.

Sir, why would Professor
Lawrence wipe his fingermarks

off a bottle of poison only to put it

in his own personal cabinet?

- A rather troubling detail.
- Why not just put it back

in his wife's medicine cabinet?

I'd very much like to test the contents.

By all means.

This bottle doesn't contain tetrodon.

- But it's labelled puffer fish.
- Which it is.

A benign powder made from the flesh.

Then, the tetrodon must have
come from somewhere else.

Or our conclusions are incorrect.

I'm afraid Miss James and I were wrong.

The poison that killed Byron Sutton was not

- from the puffer fish.
- Was not? You're quite certain?

Without a doubt. But
we have yet to discover

- the true culprit.
- Right then, George,

- release Professor Lawrence.
- Sir, I will.

Sir, doesn't it seem rather
convenient that we found

exactly what we were looking
for in Lawrence's cabinet.

I agree, George. Someone is

trying to lay blame on Professor Lawrence.

But who could have known? Who
could have known we were looking

specifically for puffer fish of all things?

Right.

All of the suspects
were standing right here

being finger marked. Any
one of them could have

- planted that bottle.
- Who would have wanted

Byron Sutton killed and
Professor Lawrence blamed?

I'm sure I have no idea what
you're talking about, Detective.

With Byron Sutton dead
and Professor Lawrence

implicated in his murder,
you would be able to shake

your sister loose of their influence.

Influence is only effective
if it is desired, Detective.

If anything, since Byron's death her love
of all things Chinese has only deepened.

She spends all her time in Chinatown,

now that the Professor's society
has gone on indefinite hiatus.

A failed plan does not
negate the plan itself.

I wouldn't know puffer fish
powder from talcum powder.

How would I even know which
bottle is the one to choose?

- It's written on the label.
- Yes,

in Chinese, Detective.
Which I do not speak,

which that cretin Gregory
has never failed to point out.

- Gregory Cummings?
- Oh yes! Student of the year!

Although his dreams of
that China scholarship

are now as dead as Byron.

You can read and write Chinese, I presume.

Of course. I am also fluent
in Mandarin and Cantonese,

and some of the lesser known dialects.

Mark my words, China is the future.

So you admit to knowing
the contents of this bottle.

Of course. Puffer Fish.

Did you have occasion

to visit the Professor after
giving us your fingermarks?

- Yes.
- To place this bottle

in his private cabinet thus blaming him

- for the murder of Byron Sutton?
- Of course not!

I would never, I swear!

But Susan might. She was
with the Emperor yesterday.

I saw her myself.

Miss Trent. Why did you visit

Professor Lawrence's home yesterday?

The brown fairy won't visit me anymore.

Sir, she's been going
on about the brown fairy

- since I picked her up.
- She brings me messages.

Did you place this bottle in
Professor Lawrence's cabinet?

The Emperor won't let me see her.

Miss Trent,

did you murder Byron Sutton

and frame Professor
Lawrence for his murder?

Byron and I have a secret.

- What's that?
- The blossoms will bloom

and we will meet in their sweet
fragrance. He will wait for me.

My God. Sir, she could barely walk.

I essentially had to carry her here.

And I couldn't get a coherent
word out of her the whole time.

I wonder if we should
call a doctor, sir?

I dare say we should.

Detective, you are a Water Pig.

- Did you know that?
- No George, I did not.

No, sir, a Water Pig has a
keen sense of observation,

is calm, a good negotiator.

Those all sound quite
accurate. It also says

you have a tendency to indulge

in excess of vices in the way of alcohol,

rich foods, and expensive luxuries.

I suppose it's not an exact science.

Oh, Dr. Ogden, what year were you born?

A rather probing question
to ask a lady, Constable.

Oh, I meant no harm,
Doctor, I'm just reading into

this Chinese astrology.

But I suppose there are some
other more work-related issues

that demand my attention.

Well, Miss Trent isn't suffering

from any psychological malady,
except perhaps a mild delusion.

- Anything else?
- She is intoxicated; roaringly.

It's the opiates, most likely.

Miss Trent seems to think that Mr. Sutton

would be waiting for her
amongst the blossoms...

Sounds like a romantic fantasy.

Yes, except there was
a similar such reference

to fragrant blossoms in the letter

that the professor's
wife wrote to Mr. Sutton.

It could be the sort of amorous allusion

Mr. Sutton was fond of
making to his lady friends?

Julia, Miss Trent claims

she has heard from Mr.
Sutton since his passing.

Could she be hallucinating?

In my acquaintance with smoking opium,

hallucinations are not
part of the experience.

And you say the senses are not dulled?

Rather enhanced. Instead
of a dormant brain,

I feel broadened perspectives,

deeper thoughts, a heightened sense

- that all things are possible.
- Pipe dreams, you mean.

Hence the term. Epiphanies are common.

It's a release of mental inhibition.

Then, the sensation

allows the smoker to experience

reality differently?

Yes... and no. Uh,

the opium, when smoked, it's
an almost ethereal experience.

I could no more describe it
to you than I could describe

- a rainbow to a blind man.
- I see.

Perhaps I can help you in a different way.

I can offer you the opportunity

to experience opium for yourself,

safely and purely.

- Oh, I don't...
- Please, I urge you

to do whatever you must
to find Byron's killer.

It may open your mind

to a path you had previously not seen.

A scientific experiment.

Well?

I don't know...

I do feel relaxed...

calm... content.

My nose is itchy.

Mine too!

Ah...

I feel the most delicious
tingling in my body,

like all of my senses are on fire.

I understand now

how opium awakens an appetite...

I'm not hungry in the slightest.

... of a more carnal nature...

Julia. We are not alone.

I see no one. No one but you.

- Ah!
- Oh!

William...

look at this dragon.

It's as though it could
breathe fire at any moment.

You're seeing the red of the dragon's mouth

and interpreting it as fire.

William,

I'm aware that I am looking at a tapestry

and not an actual dragon.

You might find this experience

more beneficial if you ceased to analyze it

and just embrace it.

Did you know, Julia, that in Ancient China,

only Emperors were allowed

to depict five clawed dragons?

Anyone found in possession

of such things was put to death.

Then I suppose Byron Sutton

was willing to invoke the wrath...

... of the ancients.

- How so?
- His pipe

has an engraving of a
dragon with five claws on it.

Remarkably, it's just like this one.

Even my students wouldn't dare
to possess a five-clawed dragon.

Julia...

Byron Sutton didn't custom order
that opium pipe for himself.

He bought it for Professor Lawrence.

His Emperor.

So, Byron Sutton wasn't
meant to die that night.

Professor Lawrence was.

We believe the pipe that killed Mr. Sutton

was meant to be a gift for you.

For me?

Oh my God.

I thought Byron was just
showing me his new pipe.

He was trying to give it to me.

Did you not see the
five-clawed dragon depicted?

I didn't even look at
it. I was on my way out,

I barely let him speak...

I insisted that Byron christen

his new pipe at our next session.

Byron put it away in the cupboard and...

Who would have done this, Detective?

I didn't know Byron bought
the pipe for my husband.

- He didn't tell me.
- Mrs. Lawrence,

you must realize that all of the
evidence points directly to you.

Did you not consider my
husband is lying about the pipe?

He is the one who was
hiding the puffer fish

in his personal cabinet.

The poison that killed Byron Sutton

- was not from the puffer fish.
- Of course it was!

- Why else would he be hiding it?
- He wasn't hiding it.

It was put there. By you.

You saw it written on my chalkboard.

You hoped your husband
would pay for the crime

and you would be free.

I hoped he would pay, yes,

but because I thought him guilty.

You must believe me,

if I had poisoned that pipe,

I would never have let Byron smoke it.

Perhaps we should revisit
our earlier assumptions.

We believed the poison was an alkaloid

because that was our
only positive test result.

I suppose we could try some
of the plants we didn't test.

I know it seems like a waste of
time, but it may be worth our while.

I can't believe you smoked opium.

Ah! Well, all in the name of science.

I've taken laudanum
once, when I broke my leg.

It eased the pain but I didn't care
for how dull it made my mind feel.

That's what's extraordinary.
Opium when smoked

is more of a stimulant than a depressant.

- How did it feel?
- Well,

first, I felt a tingling in my extremities

and then, it spread to my whole body...

Did you say a tingling?
Like pins and needles?

- Yes, just like that.
- What if what you said

originally was true?

That the opium counteracted
the effects of the poison.

- Not counteracted; masked.
- Here it is:

"Pins and needles, muscle paralysis

and, sometimes, seizures!"

What if when Mr. Sutton
felt the pins and needles,

- he attributed it to the opium?
- Making him unaware

of the warning signs.

It was the very first poison we considered.

Aconite!

Byron Sutton's killer was simple wolfsbane.

- Do you sell wolfsbane?
- Wolfsbane?

- Aconite.
- Ah, Fu Zi!

Much of it, yes. Very good for pain.

Have you ever sold it
in its raw plant form?

Yes, some. To Mrs. Lawrence.

Anyone else?

Yes. White man.

Nervous. He knew the Chinese name,

Fu Zi. Otherwise I would
not sell it. Very dangerous.

- Do you recall his name?
- He was here before.

He paid for a translation.
I will check my ledger.

Thank you.

Is Byron here?

Byron Sutton is dead, Miss Trent.

No.

He sent me a message.

The brown fairy read it to me.

We will meet in the poppy fields.

The blossoms so fragrant.

The earth dragon might
want to keep us apart,

but I am his water goat

and he is my golden dragon...

... soon we will meet by the poppy field

and spend all our days in sweet embrace

among the fragrant blossoms.

This letter arrived for Byron today.

I thought you might want to see it.

A package arrived to
your home... from China.

Your son must have told
you that it contained a gift

- for Professor Lawrence.
- He spent his money

our family's money on an
opium pipe for that man.

You poisoned the bowl of the opium pipe.

You couldn't have known that
Professor Lawrence would refuse

the gift and that your son Byron
would be the first to smoke it.

So you brought us the letter detailing
your son's affair with Mrs. Lawrence.

You knew it would point
us to the Professor.

Professor Lawrence killed my son.

With his dragons and opium

and that Chinese siren of a wife.

I'm afraid that isn't true, Dr. Sutton.

My Byron was under a spell.

I had to break that spell. I had no choice!

He was going to leave me.

You killed your own son,

you foolish man.

That Professor is to blame.

He is the one you should put behind bars.

Do you hear me, man?

It was Lawrence. He was
supposed to smoke that damn pipe.

Dr. Sutton, you are under arrest

for the murder of Byron Sutton.

It was Lawrence!

It was his fault,

it's not mine.

Not mine.

Despite the darker side of opium,

I enjoyed our little experiment.

Yes. Not one that I would care to repeat.

No? Not even the sensation it invoked?

I prefer not to alter my reality.

- And why is that?
- Because...

nothing could make my reality
any better than it already is.