My Life Is Murder (2019–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Bloodlines - full transcript
Alexa is determined to prove the innocence of a champion thoroughbred blamed for the death of his handler at a successful horse-breeding stud.
French.
Gorgeous Patina, isn't it.
- $300. Oh, yes.
- For a breadboard?
Provence.
18th century.
The monks needed baguette
on it each morning.
Yeah, that's a cool story,
but it's not true.
- What?
- Well, just look. These scuff marks are too regular,
and the cuts, they're new.
Oiled to look vintage.
And what would you do now?
Enough to say this is as phoney as your $2 pearls.
$250, then!
Bonjour.
How's your morning been?
Full of time wasters.
Well, then,
I'll get straight to it.
Starting by showing you
a picture of the killer.
Well, that makes things easier.
Stallion goes by the name
of Lord Flyte.
Sire to 43 group one winners ― more than
any other thoroughbred in the past decade.
And a killer.
- Well, who's the victim?
- His handler.
Todd Nicholson ― 25 years old,
professional horseman.
Employed by the Langford Stud.
He was found in the stall
with the horse standing over him.
Coroner's report states cause of
death is a lethal blow to the skull.
- Well, accidents do happen in these places.
- Well, they do.
Except the horse's halter was found hanging up outside
of the stall with traces of Todd's blood on it.
So unless Lord Flyte has opposable
thumbs, someone else was there.
We found a meeting scheduled in Todd's
phone for 2pm that day ― the time of death.
No name, no details.
So your only witness can't talk.
- What about the victim's family?
- No family.
Dad wasn't in the picture.
Mum died a couple of years ago.
Are you thinking,
'Why the long face?'
Oh.
Any more horse jokes and
I'm changing my mind about this case.
I knew you'd take it.
Well, I can't let an innocent horse
take the rap for a crime he didn't commit.
Ta-ta.
*MY LIFE IS MURDER*
Season 03 Episode 03
Episode Title: "Bloodlines"
Aired on: September 12, 2022.
If the horse killed Todd,
why didn't they have him put down?
- Because he's a priceless thoroughbred, not a rabid dog.
- Oh.
Oh, wow. Lord Flyte's service fees
are 150 grand.
Yeah, that sounds like a lot
until you do the math.
The last auction, a Lord Flyte
yearling went for three million bucks.
Oh.
If you want to find your
place in the winners circle of life,
then here is where it all begins.
That's Todd leading Lord Flyte.
Happy couple.
Looks like love to me.
- Ah, you think it's a crime of passion?
- Jealous mare
Lord Flyte's epic career saw him
undefeated in both hemispheres,
but it's as a sire, he has ascended to the ultimate
glory as New Zealand's greatest of all time.
That's Kahu Langford.
His dad, Pita, bought Lord Flyte dirt-cheap
as a total unknown at a yearling sale,
made his fortune off the stallion
and established the stud farm.
Kahu took over the reins
after his dad passed away.
Case file mentions a sister.
Uh-huh.
Kahu as the heir,
and Mae Langford is the spare.
She cut all ties with the family
three years ago, after her dad died.
So she's outside the loop.
Maybe that's why the police
didn't interview her.
I think we need to pay these
Langfords a visit, don't you?
- Morning, Alexa.
- Kia or a.
Are you on your way home yet?
I mean this in the nicest possible way,
but why am I talking to your backside?
I knew there was a reason
I bought these to Auckland.
And that reason is
the Langford Stud.
Ah, you've been talking to Beth?
Good.
Yes. We've come up
with an excellent cover story.
You work for a stud in Ireland.
So why don't I just get Lord Flyte
to fill a turkey baster and mail it?
Yeah, if you were mating
ordinary horses, then sure.
But thoroughbreds are special.
It's gotta be a live cover.
The real thing, huh?
- Hello.
- In here.
Zero tolerance for artificial insemination.
Some kind of arcane racing industry regulation.
Morning.
Oh, wow.
You do scrub up well.
Hi, Beth.
Ooh.
Hey, Madison.
So, how many Tinder dates
did Lord Flyte have last season?
- 193. - Quite the player.
- Mm-hm.
Your new car. Gotta look the part.
Fancy.
- Told you she was great.
- Au revoir.
Just remember that your employer,
Sheikh Ahmed, owns three stud farms,
including Ballykirk in Ireland.
'Tis a grand stud farm, to be sure.
- What's that you're doing?
- My Irish accent. - Yeah, it's awful.
Murray the farm manager bought it when he
phoned to double-check on your credentials.
- Bye now.
- Fair play to you, 'Lexa.
- Alexa Crowe.
- Kahu Langford.
- Nice to meet you.
- How do you do. - Come.
- Oh, wow.
- Hop on board, because those shoes are not for walking.
No, but I do love them.
- Hello.
- Alexa, this is Murray, my farm manager and CFO.
Not just the Uber driver
and barman, huh?
I'm whatever's needed. - Well, this is very much needed.
Thank you.
Arlo...
This as Alexa Crowe.
Did the big guy
give you any trouble?
Nah, nah. He was perfect.
Back in his box now.
- Hello.
- How do you do.
Have you come to check
out Lord Flyte?
Yes, I hear he's the finest stud
in the stables.
Oh, well. I wouldn't say that.
Well, what about his temperament? I
heard there was an accident a while back.
Well, he's a thoroughbred.
He's hot-headed,
athletic, passionate.
Are we still talking about the horse?
But everybody loved Toddy.
Even Lord Flyte. And that horse
could be mean as hell.
There's no way Lord Flyte
would've got a hoof on him.
- Toddy had the measure of him, eh?
- OK, Arlo. Thank you.
OK.
Alexa.
There's no issues with
Lord Flyte's temperament.
His offspring speaks to that.
His bloodline is faultless.
And that's why I'm here.
- Would you like to meet His Lordship?
- Yes, please.
Hello, handsome. Anything to confess?
He's got such a kind eye. It's hard
to believe he killed someone.
Human error.
- Yeah, we've got a great team looking after him now.
- Mm.
The accident gave us
the opportunity to clean house.
- I should introduce you to our in-house vet Rebecca.
- Super.
Come this way.
Ah, Rebecca.
Alexa Crowe from Ballykirk. She's come to look
at Lord Flyte to cover their Irish broodmare.
Oh, he's had some lovely progeny
in that hemisphere.
Two exceptional bloodlines.
We could sign the paperwork now.
Are you trying to speed-date me?
Well, there's not too many slots left in the
season, and His Lordship's diary is filling up.
Now, isn't he a little bit long in the
tooth to be putting it about so much load?
Lord Flyte's covered 200 mares
this season. He is top of his game.
Kahu, while I've got you,
- can you come and check out that new mare with me?
- Sure.
Would you like to see
the mare stables?
Actually, it's getting late at Ballykirk.
I need to touch base before they go to bed.
- Of course. Meet us over there.
- Thank you.
- Bathroom?
- Wrong direction. Jump in.
Oh.
Oh my God. What a relief.
- What's that?
- Your regular shoes. - Oh!
How'd it go?
Well, the horse didn't do it.
- How do you know?
- He told me.
OK, check this out.
This is the stall where Todd's body
was found with Lord Flyte,
but Lord Flyte actually lives in another stall
with his name on a plaque and everything.
So you're saying someone
moved the body?
Nope. Someone moved the horse.
That's why there was blood
on the bridle.
Whoever killed Todd put Lord Flyte
into the stall where he died
to make it look like
the horse had struck him.
So if it wasn't a hoof to the head,
we're looking for a murder weapon?
- That's right.
- Here we go.
- Ooh. - Peppermint tea.
- Thank you.
And latte.
Gracias.
Mate of yours, Beth?
No, but she's kind of awesome.
Enjoy.
- Oh. Mae Langford.
- Actually Mae Davis.
She registered her website
using her mother's maiden name.
But that's definitely her.
So Mae didn't just opt out of the family
business. She's trying to destroy them.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy.
It's all right.
Come on, boy.
Come on. Home now.
And here they are!
Gutless wonders.
People say I lack social skills.
Two months ago, I contacted you to
uplift this horse, and you did nothing.
- So if you wanna arrest me, you go ahead.
- Oh, we're not the police.
No. Kind of not. But I am here
to ask you a couple of questions.
- What about?
- The Langford Stud.
Once you've seen the true nature of the
thoroughbred industry, you can't unsee it.
But how is it so cruel? I mean, those
stables are nicer than my apartment.
Yeah. It's a life of luxury,
when you're winning.
But for every winner, there are a
hundred losers who fail on the track
and get flung out the other side
like a piece of garbage.
- That's why you set up this place.
- To atone for my family's sins, yeah.
But of course, you're gonna take
their side because they're paying you.
I'm not getting any money
from the Langfords.
I'm assisting the police in investigating
what happened to Todd Nicholson.
Yeah. Poor Toddy, eh.
Still, I could've seen it coming.
He lived by the sword.
Meaning?
That stallion finally
fought back after years
of being forced to
perform unnatural acts.
Surely there's nothing more natural
than a stallion mating with a mare.
Not the way they do it,
with 200 covers a season.
And those mares are terrified,
leather-bound and whipped into submission.
50 Shades of Neigh, eh?
Well, Todd must have been very skilled to
handle a stallion under those conditions.
He was. My dad taught him
everything he knew.
Oh, he worked for your dad?
So he was there a long time.
His whole life.
He grew up in the cottage
at the back of our farm.
His mum was my dad's PA.
When she died, my dad sent him to boarding school
and gave him his first job when he got out.
Practically whanau.
We were all close.
Yeah.
I used to babysit him.
When was the last time
you saw Todd?
Not for ages.
As I said, I haven't been back
to that farm for years.
- And you didn't attend his wake?
- I wasn't allowed to.
After my last protest,
Murray got a restraining
order against me,
banning me from the farm.
Well, she's not just the black sheep
of the family. She is an entire flock.
I never got the feeling from Kahu that
he'd known Todd since he was a baby.
It's more like he was an employee
and not a very valued one at that.
Hey, um, do we care that your
Land Rover is suddenly this car?
Nah. It'll be all right.
Well, hello again, Murray.
So Sheikh Ahmed sent you, did he?
Except your website's
completely phoney. So who are ya?
Gidday, Kahu.
I just wanna know why you didn't tell
me that Todd Nicholson grew up here.
Don't answer that. She's leaving.
The police have got a few more
questions, and I'm here to ask them.
Todd Nicholson lived here
his entire life.
I thought you were a client. I
wasn't gonna bleed my heart out to you.
Yes. Todd's mother worked
for my father.
I don't know why you're
giving her the time of day, Kahu.
We don't know they're the police.
They could be anybody.
Oh no. I'm not police. I'm Navy.
In between posts.
And I love your farm.
We were all heartbroken about Todd. Was a
real tragedy. But I've got nothing to hide.
In that case, I'd like to take
another look around your stables.
Go ahead, Alexa.
But I won't be serving champagne
this time.
I'll seen blood this afternoon
and do the selenium levels.
Thanks.
Oh. Sorry. I was just ordering
some tests on Bobby here.
He doesn't look like a racehorse.
He's not. Bobby's a teaser.
Yeah, a teaser.
A teaser pony.
- Bobby's job is to get the mares all fired up to mate with the stallions.
- Ooh.
He's the wing man, you see.
Hardly seems fair.
Hey, where's the restroom?
- Just straight down there.
- Oh. Back soon.
Um,
does he at least get to wear a saucy outfit
when he's teasing?
Oh, Lord Flyte.
What have they been doing to you?
- Horse semen.
- What?
Ew.
Did you steal it?
Yeah.
There's a freezer full of it
at Langford Stud.
I bet you it'll all test positive
to Lord Flyte.
Yeah, I'm not touching that.
My job description
is data intelligence.
Well, you're no fun.
There's at least 40 of these
in the freezer.
That's $6 million worth.
- Wait. Horse semen fraud?
- Horse semen fraud.
And if Todd found out
and threatened to go to the police...
That'd be reason to kill him.
- Now, you remember that headset that Rebecca was wearing?
- Yeah.
I already hacked it because
that is in my job description.
Good girl.
Kahu, I checked
again. There's definitely one missing.
Maybe it's fallen
down the side of the freezer.
- Just try to stay calm.
- Stay calm?! I have a freezer full of illegal semen.
One more season, like we agreed,
then we put him out to pasture and
retired on a cash mattress in Bali.
The Maldives.
You said, 'The Maldives.'
Sure, babe. As long as there's a jet-ski
and you're with me.
You know, if that stallion had your
staying power, we wouldn't need to do this.
- They're totally trading semen.
- In so many ways.
- Wait. You think Todd was involved in the artificial insemination?
- That's what I'm gonna find out.
Kahu Langford
having an affair with Rebecca?
Oh, yeah. That's totally on form.
Their family are a bunch of users.
- Well, except for Mae.
- You're kidding.
She's the worst.
Well, what about the rescue farm?
Well, it's a money pit.
She has just been ploughing away
through the trust fund.
Wait. So, she's
protesting horse racing
and siphoning a living off the
estate at the same time?
Classic trust fund kid.
Old man Langford would be furious with
how Kahu and Mae have turned out.
Man, he was a total prick,
but hell of a horseman.
And Kahu's not?
No. No, he's a poser.
And it must drive Murray
up the wall, working with him.
- So why does he?
- He was Pita Langford's best mate since school.
Power behind the throne.
He's just always been there.
- Huh.
- Mm.
So did Todd get on with Kahu?
I mean, would Kahu let Todd in on it if
he was bending the rules with Lord Flyte?
Bending the rules.
How?
Let's just say he Mae have been
having some performance issues.
Oh.
That's not a problem
I've ever experienced.
Mazel tov.
Wait. Are you saying that Kahu and
Rebecca are up to something?
Something else, you mean?
Yeah, Maybe.
- But would have let Todd in on it?
- No.
No. No, no.
Todd was straight as an arrow, yeah.
I mean, if anyone was
doing something that they shouldn't be,
they wouldn't tell Toddy.
Now, great chat, but why don't we
continue this talk...
back at my place?
- So did you sleep over or not?
- Could you drive any slower?
You're avoiding the question.
- There is no speed limit. Oh my God.
- OK, but there could be a pedestrian that walks out.
I don't wanna get charged
for accidentally hitting one.
- Please park. Please just stop.
- Oh. - Thank you.
That's three hours of my life
I'll never get back.
I like to drive to the speed limit ―
something you might like to consider, OK.
Listen, I reckon we've got five
minutes before they throw us out.
That's five minutes for you to see
what you can find in Todd's cottage.
- You wanna synchronise watches?
- Easy, James Bond. Just meet me back here.
You're not supposed to be in here.
Oh, just relax, Rebecca. I've
already taken a look in your jizz fridge.
- Now, that's a lot of penis colada you got in there.
- You need to leave now.
Now, I'm here to do you a favour.
Because when word gets out that Langford
Stud has been using artificial insemination
to cover their mares, well, it's gonna
be you that gets struck off. Not Kahu.
It still Lord Flyte's sperm, OK.
It's not like we're cheating anyone.
Did Kahu convince you of that?
Rebecca, he's playing you.
No, he's not, OK.
Actually, we're engaged.
Dang, he's good.
It wasn't supposed to be forever.
Just one last season.
- And Todd knew about it?
- No, he was never involved.
- But he found out and was blackmailing you.
- What?! No.
You're running a multimillion dollar
scam here, and a guy shows up dead.
- It's hardly a big leap, is it?
- Todd did not know about the AI.
But there was something else...
with him and Murray.
I saw them at the stables.
I don't know what the conversation was
about, but it was the week before Todd died.
Hi. I was just looking
for the bathroom.
Eh!
I'm getting sick and bloody
tired of seeing you two off the property.
We've answered all your questions!
Actually, there was just one more.
What was that conversation
you had with Todd?
The one right
before he turned up dead.
You get in your car now
and get the hell out of it.
OK. Busy man. I get it.
I'll be in touch.
- Nothing yet?
- Mm.
It's been synced with his phone,
so we've seen most of it already.
So nothing on that note
in his calendar?
No. - Kia or a.
Oh, Harry.
Now, before you start, that man
practically manhandled Beth.
I could've taken him, though.
I just came by to see how
it was going.
Oh, Murray didn't make a complaint?
No.
Should he have?
I might've got caught
going through Todd's cottage.
- But Murray never came to you.
- No, he did not.
Well, that means that Murray is not
sort of bloke who goes to the cops to solve a problem.
OK, keep searching. We've gotta find out
who Todd was meeting on the day he died.
Kia or a, Mae.
- Cooee!
- Ah, kia or a.
- It's the non-police.
- Yeah, I've just got a couple more questions.
Oh, yeah. Well, I got a couple
horses that need some exercise.
No such thing as a free lunch.
I mean, I know my brother's a piece of work,
but illegal artificial insemination...
Yeah.
Well, I think―
Lord.
Well, I think they just wanted to get one
more season out of them. That's what she said.
The end of the road.
Is that the Langford Stud
over there?
It seemed so much further
when we drove.
Yeah. This land used to be
part of the main farm.
- When Dad died, Kahu and I got half each.
- Oh.
The properties back on to
each other.
I can take you down to the beach
if you wanna ride again some time.
The salt water's
so good for their legs.
Just worth coming up here
for the view.
Wow.
Oh.
You're still here.
Doesn't that boyfriend you say
exists ever miss you?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Alexa.
Maybe you and Madison should remember
that next time you're feeling down.
So check this out.
I've be making my way through Todd's laptop,
and I found some pics that weren't on his phone.
There are hundreds of photos
of the Langfords on here.
It's like― - Todd was
obsessed with the Langfords.
Mm-hm.
- Gidday.
- Alexa Crowe. You are trespassing.
Did you know that Tod Nicholson
was obsessed with your family?
I mean, seriously. His computer
was like the Langford family album.
Well, a lot of people
are obsessed with us.
You know, they see the glamour, the
money. Nobody actually sees the hard work.
Except Todd's saw the hard work,
didn't he? And plenty of it.
- See, you're an outsider. You don't get it.
- Oh.
End of the day,
he was an employee.
I don't know why he had our photo
or photos.
It's a little bit creepy.
- Yeah.
- Hey, where are you?
I found something on Todd's laptop
you'll wanna see.
- So Todd thought he was a Langford, and he took a DNA test.
- Mm-hm. A few weeks before he died.
So Pita Langford's DNA is in here.
He was all clear on the Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's, so we know he died in sound mind.
- Mm-hm.
- But he was a level two positive for coeliac disease,
- which, you know, it's not life-threatening, but...
- Well, he sure does look like Pita.
Wait.
Um...
It was negative on the DNA.
Todd wasn't a Langford after all.
What the bloody hell is so important
you couldn't tell me over the phone?
Are you hangry?
I'm hungry.
I thought I'd wait for you.
Oh, Murray ― this is Reuben.
Gidday, mate. What can I get you?
- I think we'll take that sourdough platter, please.
- No. I'm not hungry.
Oh, come on, Murray. I made the
bread myself. Be rude not to try it.
- She's pretty pushy when it comes to her sourdough, mate.
- Yeah.
- Look, can we stop faffing around or should I go?
- Uh...
- We'll take that platter, thank you.
- OK.
So...
Todd took a DNA test.
He thought Pita Langford
was his father.
Let me spell it out for you.
Kid grows up without a dad, becomes obsessed
with a bloke just because he's nice to him.
- And then that kid came to you?
- Todd wanted answers, so I said, 'Let's get them.'
How did you test Pita's DNA?
He'd been gone for a few years.
Pita's riding helmet still takes pride
of place in his study. Found a hair.
Oh.
Gosh. Amazing what they can
do these days.
And voila.
Super be.
Now, this, Murray,
is my very famous harvest sourdough.
- Try some.
- I said, 'No, thanks.'
Are you sure, mate? People come
from all over Auckland for her bread.
No, no. I get it.
You don't like bread.
And I don't like it
when people waste my time.
The DNA test was negative, and Todd's
little fantasy was just that ― fantasy.
Well, I guess he won't be
helping you with your enquiries.
Actually, he just did.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- You come back for another ride?
- No. Actually, it's about Todd.
Did you know that he took a DNA test?
He thought your father was his
father. He thought he was a Langford.
Oh, don't worry.
The test came back negative.
Wow.
Poor Todd.
I never knew he was going
through that.
Yeah, well, he does look
quite a lot like Pita.
- Are you saying all Maoris look the same?
- No, just Todd and Pita.
So, he never mentioned to you that
he thought he was your brother?
Well, it's been so long
since I saw him.
I mean, when we were young,
we hung out, but...
Maybe that's where it came from.
He grew up with us, you know.
It was just him and his mum.
It was kind of sad.
Well, I guess it's only natural
to wish you had a family.
Be careful what you wish for,
with a family like mine.
- What was your father like?
- Honestly...
hard to love.
And the health issues?
He dealt with those his whole life.
My dad was bullet-proof.
Constitution of an ox
right up until the end.
- No special diet or anything?
- Not unless you count a bottle of Beaujolais daily as special.
- Who let you in?
- Oh, don't 'Let's shoot the housekeeper'.
She's not to know
that I'm on your no-fly list.
Todd Nicholson
was Pita Langford's son.
But you used your DNA
to fail the test.
- What a sack of horse shit.
- Bear with.
25 years ago, Pita Langford jumped
the fence and sired an illegitimate colt.
And now here this kid is in your office asking
you to help him become part of the family.
I mean, poor Todd. He really
thought you would understand.
But he didn't know that even after Pita's
death, you'd still be guarding the legacy.
- This is just a whole lot of hoo-ha.
- What proof have you got?
The DNA test.
The one that Todd took
three weeks before he died.
Now, the two samples are not a match,
but you know that.
This is where it gets interesting.
If you drill down on this DNA, Pita
Langford had acute chronic coeliac disease.
Now, I'm guessing that the pasta they're
sharing in this photo is not gluten-free.
Murray...
I do wish you'd try my sourdough.
Prove me wrong.
Go on.
Not worth the debilitating pain,
the cramps.
I don't know why that boy wanted a
DNA test. You could tell just by looking at him.
He was the spitting image of Pita.
All he wanted was a family.
Why couldn't you let him have that?
Because it wasn't
what Pita wanted.
It's my job to protect the
future of the stud.
So you denied him his birthright?
Listen.
If he'd been a proper Langford, I
would've had Todd running this place.
Better than the other useless,
sponging idiots.
Langford Stud suffered a big loss
when Todd died.
Big loss.
'Not a proper Langford'?
Rich people are so messed up.
I'm having a of deja vu here
actually.
This photo on Todd's computer looks just like
one that I took on my phone the other day.
Well, how did you get
the same one?
There.
OK. See, I took this on Mae's farm.
And so did Todd.
But according to Mae,
she hasn't seen for years.
So this one was taken...
Oh, wow.
She saw him two days
before he died.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Arlo was just―
No need to explain, madam.
It's right here on the schedule.
And besides, it's kind of a Langford family tradition,
right, to get up-close-and-personal with the staff.
Like, your dad did get his PA
well and truly pregnant, right?
- Come on. You knew that Todd was your half-brother.
- Todd was not my half-brother.
And you lied about not having seen
him for years.
I mean, he was here at the farm
right before he died.
Who do you think you are, coming in here
and making vulgar claims about my late father?
What is this? Is this some kind of
an attempt at extortion?
Mm.
You know what
Todd also had noted in his phone?
An appointment for 2pm
on the day he died.
Where were you?
Riding on the beach.
I took one of the horses out
for some exercise.
Any witnesses can verify this?
- Is this an official police interview?
- No, don't be silly.
- It's just me asking politely.
- I rode all the way to the lifeguard tower.
The junior squad was training, so
yeah, there were quite a few witnesses.
Is she in trouble?
You're kind of a walking cliche,
you know that, don't you?
Well, my work sometimes comes
with some added bonuses.
Is that what Mae is?
What would I have been?
Very satisfied.
1.45 ― Junior squad
finishes training.
The coroner puts
Todd's time of death at 2pm.
So it's impossible.
By the time Mae had ridden home from
the beach and then driven to the stud farm,
that would've taken
at least an hour.
And besides, I've already checked all of the
security footage for that day. Nobody came in.
Zoom out on that image.
So, there's Mae's farm,
and there's the Langford stables.
And there's the surf tower.
Draw me a line as the crow flies.
But there's no road.
It's just rough terrain.
What's the distance?
- From the tower to the stud farm stables?
- Mm-hm.
Um, a little over 5 K.
I think it's time
we synchronise our watches.
Yes.
Hello.
I'm sorry. Where is this?
I didn't quite get the details.
Yeah, this horse,
it's being mistreated.
Right. So, this horse
doesn't like the other horses?
Well, he likes Mary Legs,
but not Ginger.
No. No, she bites.
So, the horse galloped
to go fetch the doctor,
but the stupid stable boy gave it
cold water and it nearly died.
Are you telling me the plot
to Black Beauty?
I'm sorry. I've gotta go.
One of your horses is missing,
right?
You'll find her
at the Langford Stud.
Yah!
Yah!
Come on, boy.
Come on.
Come on, boy.
Yah!
Good boy.
Yes.
What the hell? What now?!
Oh, relax, Muzza. I can clear
this whole thing up for ya.
Hey. What are you doing
with my horse?
You tell me.
It was in one of my loose boxes.
It's not yours,
you puffed-up poser.
You get this feral animal
off my property and the horse.
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, chill out, kids.
It was me.
I just had to take her
for a test drive.
Oh, you're in cahoots with her.
You told her to steal my horse.
I don't want your horse.
And you need to leave.
Murray, get her out.
Oh, relax, Kahu. I'm not here to give
you grief about your turkey baster caper.
Considering breeding is your game,
it's kind of funny that you never noticed the
similarities between Todd and your father.
I mean, Todd did.
Couldn't stop thinking about it,
so he decided to find out.
Murray, look, please,
can you help me out with this test?
And then you did what you always
do, didn't you, Muzza?
He closed ranks
to protect his old mate.
He told Todd that he could use a hair
from the old man's helmet as a DNA sample.
Except he didn't. He faked the test
to ensure it wouldn't be a match.
Todd is our brother?
- That's insane.
- Half-brother.
I didn't think Pita
would've wanted it.
I thought I'd put an end
to the matter.
Yeah, but Todd couldn't let it go, could
he? I mean, there had to be some mistake.
So he came to you, Mae.
You took him riding, like we did
that day to the same beautiful view.
And when he said he thought
he was your brother,
all you could think was another heir
to cannibalise your wealth.
You acted thrilled.
And when he suggested the two of you take a DNA test
to prove you were siblings, you could hardly say no.
A quick cheek swab this time.
You'd both take a sample
and then meet at the stables
and give yours to Todd
so he could send them off together.
You took the DNA test?
What'd it say?
No, she didn't take the DNA test.
When she met Todd at the stables
that day, she had another plan in mind.
You already know that I couldn't have been
there because I was riding on the beach.
Oh, I know at 1.45, yes.
Because you knew there'd be witnesses
who could place you there.
And it's impossible to drive from your farm
to the stud to make a 2pm meeting, right?
But as the crow flies, on horseback,
you could ride it.
I know because I just did it myself.
12 minutes, 25 seconds.
I mean, not bad.
Bet you did it faster.
And there's another advantage
to coming in on horseback.
You can evade all the security
cameras. Nobody would see you arrive.
You slipped in
without anyone knowing.
You took him by surprise,
struck him hard.
And then you took Lord Flyte out of
his usual box. You put him in with Todd.
It wouldn't have been easy to get a
terrified stallion to go near a dead body,
but I've seen you handle difficult
horses, Mae. You've got skills.
You got blood traces on the horse's hooves.
Then you locked him in the box with Todd.
Wait, wait, wait. Hang on.
This is crazy.
Lord, Flyte killed Todd.
It was an accident.
Did Lord Flyte also hang up
his own halter afterwards?
The blood on the halter.
How did it get there?
The only way is if the killer had hung it up
after the murder without noticing the blood.
And what? Am I supposed to have
grown hooves?
What did I kill him with?
Yeah, I was really confused about
that too, until I saw Arlo in your office.
On your whiteboard, you've got the farrier
booked for the same time every week.
That was the same day
Todd was killed.
Fling the murder weapon into the
forge while Arlo's getting dressed.
By the time you're done, all that's
left is a pool of melted metal.
The only thing I couldn't figure out
was why.
I mean, you're a rebel, right? You're
an activist. Money means nothing to you.
This greedy cow's had her hand out
since Dad died.
You got half the farm,
and you wanted more.
That's why we fell out.
Oh, and you would've been fine
with Todd being a Langford?
He had some grand ideas. He wanted
to bring new blood into the stud,
just when you wanted to retire Lord Flyte
and cash up. Neither of us wanted that.
Oh my God.
If Lord Flyte had retired, I would've got more
land. I could've expanded the rescue operation.
I was thinking of the horses!
Thinking of the money,
more like it.
What? You're not gonna
stand up for your sister?
Yes.
Told you I'd clear your name.
Yeah. I mean, I used to fight
with my brothers all the time.
Same. But I've never seen anything
like those two.
I actually phoned my sister this
morning and apologised for biting her.
- You bit your sister?
- Yeah, when I was 6 years old.
But I don't wanna end up
like the Langfords.
Sibling relationships
are a special thing.
So what about you, Alexa?
Any brothers or sisters?
Oh no. Oh no. Alexa definitely
gives off big only-child energy.
I'm just gonna say it again ―
this rustic sourdough is amazing.
Mmm.
- A death at a retirement village?
- Drowned in her bath.
She was also riddled with LSD.
So you're spending your retirement
taking Class A?
I definitely did not say that.
Tennis courts, outdoor pool,
indoor pool.
Whoo! Man, I am those close to moving in myself.
We're hugging, right?
Come on. Bring it an.
I'm no bloody gold-digger.
I'm not.
A detective can't change
its spots.
- Can you?
- I'm more of a stripes guy.
No, I just― I just found her
in here. I was asking her to leave.
Gorgeous Patina, isn't it.
- $300. Oh, yes.
- For a breadboard?
Provence.
18th century.
The monks needed baguette
on it each morning.
Yeah, that's a cool story,
but it's not true.
- What?
- Well, just look. These scuff marks are too regular,
and the cuts, they're new.
Oiled to look vintage.
And what would you do now?
Enough to say this is as phoney as your $2 pearls.
$250, then!
Bonjour.
How's your morning been?
Full of time wasters.
Well, then,
I'll get straight to it.
Starting by showing you
a picture of the killer.
Well, that makes things easier.
Stallion goes by the name
of Lord Flyte.
Sire to 43 group one winners ― more than
any other thoroughbred in the past decade.
And a killer.
- Well, who's the victim?
- His handler.
Todd Nicholson ― 25 years old,
professional horseman.
Employed by the Langford Stud.
He was found in the stall
with the horse standing over him.
Coroner's report states cause of
death is a lethal blow to the skull.
- Well, accidents do happen in these places.
- Well, they do.
Except the horse's halter was found hanging up outside
of the stall with traces of Todd's blood on it.
So unless Lord Flyte has opposable
thumbs, someone else was there.
We found a meeting scheduled in Todd's
phone for 2pm that day ― the time of death.
No name, no details.
So your only witness can't talk.
- What about the victim's family?
- No family.
Dad wasn't in the picture.
Mum died a couple of years ago.
Are you thinking,
'Why the long face?'
Oh.
Any more horse jokes and
I'm changing my mind about this case.
I knew you'd take it.
Well, I can't let an innocent horse
take the rap for a crime he didn't commit.
Ta-ta.
*MY LIFE IS MURDER*
Season 03 Episode 03
Episode Title: "Bloodlines"
Aired on: September 12, 2022.
If the horse killed Todd,
why didn't they have him put down?
- Because he's a priceless thoroughbred, not a rabid dog.
- Oh.
Oh, wow. Lord Flyte's service fees
are 150 grand.
Yeah, that sounds like a lot
until you do the math.
The last auction, a Lord Flyte
yearling went for three million bucks.
Oh.
If you want to find your
place in the winners circle of life,
then here is where it all begins.
That's Todd leading Lord Flyte.
Happy couple.
Looks like love to me.
- Ah, you think it's a crime of passion?
- Jealous mare
Lord Flyte's epic career saw him
undefeated in both hemispheres,
but it's as a sire, he has ascended to the ultimate
glory as New Zealand's greatest of all time.
That's Kahu Langford.
His dad, Pita, bought Lord Flyte dirt-cheap
as a total unknown at a yearling sale,
made his fortune off the stallion
and established the stud farm.
Kahu took over the reins
after his dad passed away.
Case file mentions a sister.
Uh-huh.
Kahu as the heir,
and Mae Langford is the spare.
She cut all ties with the family
three years ago, after her dad died.
So she's outside the loop.
Maybe that's why the police
didn't interview her.
I think we need to pay these
Langfords a visit, don't you?
- Morning, Alexa.
- Kia or a.
Are you on your way home yet?
I mean this in the nicest possible way,
but why am I talking to your backside?
I knew there was a reason
I bought these to Auckland.
And that reason is
the Langford Stud.
Ah, you've been talking to Beth?
Good.
Yes. We've come up
with an excellent cover story.
You work for a stud in Ireland.
So why don't I just get Lord Flyte
to fill a turkey baster and mail it?
Yeah, if you were mating
ordinary horses, then sure.
But thoroughbreds are special.
It's gotta be a live cover.
The real thing, huh?
- Hello.
- In here.
Zero tolerance for artificial insemination.
Some kind of arcane racing industry regulation.
Morning.
Oh, wow.
You do scrub up well.
Hi, Beth.
Ooh.
Hey, Madison.
So, how many Tinder dates
did Lord Flyte have last season?
- 193. - Quite the player.
- Mm-hm.
Your new car. Gotta look the part.
Fancy.
- Told you she was great.
- Au revoir.
Just remember that your employer,
Sheikh Ahmed, owns three stud farms,
including Ballykirk in Ireland.
'Tis a grand stud farm, to be sure.
- What's that you're doing?
- My Irish accent. - Yeah, it's awful.
Murray the farm manager bought it when he
phoned to double-check on your credentials.
- Bye now.
- Fair play to you, 'Lexa.
- Alexa Crowe.
- Kahu Langford.
- Nice to meet you.
- How do you do. - Come.
- Oh, wow.
- Hop on board, because those shoes are not for walking.
No, but I do love them.
- Hello.
- Alexa, this is Murray, my farm manager and CFO.
Not just the Uber driver
and barman, huh?
I'm whatever's needed. - Well, this is very much needed.
Thank you.
Arlo...
This as Alexa Crowe.
Did the big guy
give you any trouble?
Nah, nah. He was perfect.
Back in his box now.
- Hello.
- How do you do.
Have you come to check
out Lord Flyte?
Yes, I hear he's the finest stud
in the stables.
Oh, well. I wouldn't say that.
Well, what about his temperament? I
heard there was an accident a while back.
Well, he's a thoroughbred.
He's hot-headed,
athletic, passionate.
Are we still talking about the horse?
But everybody loved Toddy.
Even Lord Flyte. And that horse
could be mean as hell.
There's no way Lord Flyte
would've got a hoof on him.
- Toddy had the measure of him, eh?
- OK, Arlo. Thank you.
OK.
Alexa.
There's no issues with
Lord Flyte's temperament.
His offspring speaks to that.
His bloodline is faultless.
And that's why I'm here.
- Would you like to meet His Lordship?
- Yes, please.
Hello, handsome. Anything to confess?
He's got such a kind eye. It's hard
to believe he killed someone.
Human error.
- Yeah, we've got a great team looking after him now.
- Mm.
The accident gave us
the opportunity to clean house.
- I should introduce you to our in-house vet Rebecca.
- Super.
Come this way.
Ah, Rebecca.
Alexa Crowe from Ballykirk. She's come to look
at Lord Flyte to cover their Irish broodmare.
Oh, he's had some lovely progeny
in that hemisphere.
Two exceptional bloodlines.
We could sign the paperwork now.
Are you trying to speed-date me?
Well, there's not too many slots left in the
season, and His Lordship's diary is filling up.
Now, isn't he a little bit long in the
tooth to be putting it about so much load?
Lord Flyte's covered 200 mares
this season. He is top of his game.
Kahu, while I've got you,
- can you come and check out that new mare with me?
- Sure.
Would you like to see
the mare stables?
Actually, it's getting late at Ballykirk.
I need to touch base before they go to bed.
- Of course. Meet us over there.
- Thank you.
- Bathroom?
- Wrong direction. Jump in.
Oh.
Oh my God. What a relief.
- What's that?
- Your regular shoes. - Oh!
How'd it go?
Well, the horse didn't do it.
- How do you know?
- He told me.
OK, check this out.
This is the stall where Todd's body
was found with Lord Flyte,
but Lord Flyte actually lives in another stall
with his name on a plaque and everything.
So you're saying someone
moved the body?
Nope. Someone moved the horse.
That's why there was blood
on the bridle.
Whoever killed Todd put Lord Flyte
into the stall where he died
to make it look like
the horse had struck him.
So if it wasn't a hoof to the head,
we're looking for a murder weapon?
- That's right.
- Here we go.
- Ooh. - Peppermint tea.
- Thank you.
And latte.
Gracias.
Mate of yours, Beth?
No, but she's kind of awesome.
Enjoy.
- Oh. Mae Langford.
- Actually Mae Davis.
She registered her website
using her mother's maiden name.
But that's definitely her.
So Mae didn't just opt out of the family
business. She's trying to destroy them.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy.
It's all right.
Come on, boy.
Come on. Home now.
And here they are!
Gutless wonders.
People say I lack social skills.
Two months ago, I contacted you to
uplift this horse, and you did nothing.
- So if you wanna arrest me, you go ahead.
- Oh, we're not the police.
No. Kind of not. But I am here
to ask you a couple of questions.
- What about?
- The Langford Stud.
Once you've seen the true nature of the
thoroughbred industry, you can't unsee it.
But how is it so cruel? I mean, those
stables are nicer than my apartment.
Yeah. It's a life of luxury,
when you're winning.
But for every winner, there are a
hundred losers who fail on the track
and get flung out the other side
like a piece of garbage.
- That's why you set up this place.
- To atone for my family's sins, yeah.
But of course, you're gonna take
their side because they're paying you.
I'm not getting any money
from the Langfords.
I'm assisting the police in investigating
what happened to Todd Nicholson.
Yeah. Poor Toddy, eh.
Still, I could've seen it coming.
He lived by the sword.
Meaning?
That stallion finally
fought back after years
of being forced to
perform unnatural acts.
Surely there's nothing more natural
than a stallion mating with a mare.
Not the way they do it,
with 200 covers a season.
And those mares are terrified,
leather-bound and whipped into submission.
50 Shades of Neigh, eh?
Well, Todd must have been very skilled to
handle a stallion under those conditions.
He was. My dad taught him
everything he knew.
Oh, he worked for your dad?
So he was there a long time.
His whole life.
He grew up in the cottage
at the back of our farm.
His mum was my dad's PA.
When she died, my dad sent him to boarding school
and gave him his first job when he got out.
Practically whanau.
We were all close.
Yeah.
I used to babysit him.
When was the last time
you saw Todd?
Not for ages.
As I said, I haven't been back
to that farm for years.
- And you didn't attend his wake?
- I wasn't allowed to.
After my last protest,
Murray got a restraining
order against me,
banning me from the farm.
Well, she's not just the black sheep
of the family. She is an entire flock.
I never got the feeling from Kahu that
he'd known Todd since he was a baby.
It's more like he was an employee
and not a very valued one at that.
Hey, um, do we care that your
Land Rover is suddenly this car?
Nah. It'll be all right.
Well, hello again, Murray.
So Sheikh Ahmed sent you, did he?
Except your website's
completely phoney. So who are ya?
Gidday, Kahu.
I just wanna know why you didn't tell
me that Todd Nicholson grew up here.
Don't answer that. She's leaving.
The police have got a few more
questions, and I'm here to ask them.
Todd Nicholson lived here
his entire life.
I thought you were a client. I
wasn't gonna bleed my heart out to you.
Yes. Todd's mother worked
for my father.
I don't know why you're
giving her the time of day, Kahu.
We don't know they're the police.
They could be anybody.
Oh no. I'm not police. I'm Navy.
In between posts.
And I love your farm.
We were all heartbroken about Todd. Was a
real tragedy. But I've got nothing to hide.
In that case, I'd like to take
another look around your stables.
Go ahead, Alexa.
But I won't be serving champagne
this time.
I'll seen blood this afternoon
and do the selenium levels.
Thanks.
Oh. Sorry. I was just ordering
some tests on Bobby here.
He doesn't look like a racehorse.
He's not. Bobby's a teaser.
Yeah, a teaser.
A teaser pony.
- Bobby's job is to get the mares all fired up to mate with the stallions.
- Ooh.
He's the wing man, you see.
Hardly seems fair.
Hey, where's the restroom?
- Just straight down there.
- Oh. Back soon.
Um,
does he at least get to wear a saucy outfit
when he's teasing?
Oh, Lord Flyte.
What have they been doing to you?
- Horse semen.
- What?
Ew.
Did you steal it?
Yeah.
There's a freezer full of it
at Langford Stud.
I bet you it'll all test positive
to Lord Flyte.
Yeah, I'm not touching that.
My job description
is data intelligence.
Well, you're no fun.
There's at least 40 of these
in the freezer.
That's $6 million worth.
- Wait. Horse semen fraud?
- Horse semen fraud.
And if Todd found out
and threatened to go to the police...
That'd be reason to kill him.
- Now, you remember that headset that Rebecca was wearing?
- Yeah.
I already hacked it because
that is in my job description.
Good girl.
Kahu, I checked
again. There's definitely one missing.
Maybe it's fallen
down the side of the freezer.
- Just try to stay calm.
- Stay calm?! I have a freezer full of illegal semen.
One more season, like we agreed,
then we put him out to pasture and
retired on a cash mattress in Bali.
The Maldives.
You said, 'The Maldives.'
Sure, babe. As long as there's a jet-ski
and you're with me.
You know, if that stallion had your
staying power, we wouldn't need to do this.
- They're totally trading semen.
- In so many ways.
- Wait. You think Todd was involved in the artificial insemination?
- That's what I'm gonna find out.
Kahu Langford
having an affair with Rebecca?
Oh, yeah. That's totally on form.
Their family are a bunch of users.
- Well, except for Mae.
- You're kidding.
She's the worst.
Well, what about the rescue farm?
Well, it's a money pit.
She has just been ploughing away
through the trust fund.
Wait. So, she's
protesting horse racing
and siphoning a living off the
estate at the same time?
Classic trust fund kid.
Old man Langford would be furious with
how Kahu and Mae have turned out.
Man, he was a total prick,
but hell of a horseman.
And Kahu's not?
No. No, he's a poser.
And it must drive Murray
up the wall, working with him.
- So why does he?
- He was Pita Langford's best mate since school.
Power behind the throne.
He's just always been there.
- Huh.
- Mm.
So did Todd get on with Kahu?
I mean, would Kahu let Todd in on it if
he was bending the rules with Lord Flyte?
Bending the rules.
How?
Let's just say he Mae have been
having some performance issues.
Oh.
That's not a problem
I've ever experienced.
Mazel tov.
Wait. Are you saying that Kahu and
Rebecca are up to something?
Something else, you mean?
Yeah, Maybe.
- But would have let Todd in on it?
- No.
No. No, no.
Todd was straight as an arrow, yeah.
I mean, if anyone was
doing something that they shouldn't be,
they wouldn't tell Toddy.
Now, great chat, but why don't we
continue this talk...
back at my place?
- So did you sleep over or not?
- Could you drive any slower?
You're avoiding the question.
- There is no speed limit. Oh my God.
- OK, but there could be a pedestrian that walks out.
I don't wanna get charged
for accidentally hitting one.
- Please park. Please just stop.
- Oh. - Thank you.
That's three hours of my life
I'll never get back.
I like to drive to the speed limit ―
something you might like to consider, OK.
Listen, I reckon we've got five
minutes before they throw us out.
That's five minutes for you to see
what you can find in Todd's cottage.
- You wanna synchronise watches?
- Easy, James Bond. Just meet me back here.
You're not supposed to be in here.
Oh, just relax, Rebecca. I've
already taken a look in your jizz fridge.
- Now, that's a lot of penis colada you got in there.
- You need to leave now.
Now, I'm here to do you a favour.
Because when word gets out that Langford
Stud has been using artificial insemination
to cover their mares, well, it's gonna
be you that gets struck off. Not Kahu.
It still Lord Flyte's sperm, OK.
It's not like we're cheating anyone.
Did Kahu convince you of that?
Rebecca, he's playing you.
No, he's not, OK.
Actually, we're engaged.
Dang, he's good.
It wasn't supposed to be forever.
Just one last season.
- And Todd knew about it?
- No, he was never involved.
- But he found out and was blackmailing you.
- What?! No.
You're running a multimillion dollar
scam here, and a guy shows up dead.
- It's hardly a big leap, is it?
- Todd did not know about the AI.
But there was something else...
with him and Murray.
I saw them at the stables.
I don't know what the conversation was
about, but it was the week before Todd died.
Hi. I was just looking
for the bathroom.
Eh!
I'm getting sick and bloody
tired of seeing you two off the property.
We've answered all your questions!
Actually, there was just one more.
What was that conversation
you had with Todd?
The one right
before he turned up dead.
You get in your car now
and get the hell out of it.
OK. Busy man. I get it.
I'll be in touch.
- Nothing yet?
- Mm.
It's been synced with his phone,
so we've seen most of it already.
So nothing on that note
in his calendar?
No. - Kia or a.
Oh, Harry.
Now, before you start, that man
practically manhandled Beth.
I could've taken him, though.
I just came by to see how
it was going.
Oh, Murray didn't make a complaint?
No.
Should he have?
I might've got caught
going through Todd's cottage.
- But Murray never came to you.
- No, he did not.
Well, that means that Murray is not
sort of bloke who goes to the cops to solve a problem.
OK, keep searching. We've gotta find out
who Todd was meeting on the day he died.
Kia or a, Mae.
- Cooee!
- Ah, kia or a.
- It's the non-police.
- Yeah, I've just got a couple more questions.
Oh, yeah. Well, I got a couple
horses that need some exercise.
No such thing as a free lunch.
I mean, I know my brother's a piece of work,
but illegal artificial insemination...
Yeah.
Well, I think―
Lord.
Well, I think they just wanted to get one
more season out of them. That's what she said.
The end of the road.
Is that the Langford Stud
over there?
It seemed so much further
when we drove.
Yeah. This land used to be
part of the main farm.
- When Dad died, Kahu and I got half each.
- Oh.
The properties back on to
each other.
I can take you down to the beach
if you wanna ride again some time.
The salt water's
so good for their legs.
Just worth coming up here
for the view.
Wow.
Oh.
You're still here.
Doesn't that boyfriend you say
exists ever miss you?
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, Alexa.
Maybe you and Madison should remember
that next time you're feeling down.
So check this out.
I've be making my way through Todd's laptop,
and I found some pics that weren't on his phone.
There are hundreds of photos
of the Langfords on here.
It's like― - Todd was
obsessed with the Langfords.
Mm-hm.
- Gidday.
- Alexa Crowe. You are trespassing.
Did you know that Tod Nicholson
was obsessed with your family?
I mean, seriously. His computer
was like the Langford family album.
Well, a lot of people
are obsessed with us.
You know, they see the glamour, the
money. Nobody actually sees the hard work.
Except Todd's saw the hard work,
didn't he? And plenty of it.
- See, you're an outsider. You don't get it.
- Oh.
End of the day,
he was an employee.
I don't know why he had our photo
or photos.
It's a little bit creepy.
- Yeah.
- Hey, where are you?
I found something on Todd's laptop
you'll wanna see.
- So Todd thought he was a Langford, and he took a DNA test.
- Mm-hm. A few weeks before he died.
So Pita Langford's DNA is in here.
He was all clear on the Alzheimer's and
Parkinson's, so we know he died in sound mind.
- Mm-hm.
- But he was a level two positive for coeliac disease,
- which, you know, it's not life-threatening, but...
- Well, he sure does look like Pita.
Wait.
Um...
It was negative on the DNA.
Todd wasn't a Langford after all.
What the bloody hell is so important
you couldn't tell me over the phone?
Are you hangry?
I'm hungry.
I thought I'd wait for you.
Oh, Murray ― this is Reuben.
Gidday, mate. What can I get you?
- I think we'll take that sourdough platter, please.
- No. I'm not hungry.
Oh, come on, Murray. I made the
bread myself. Be rude not to try it.
- She's pretty pushy when it comes to her sourdough, mate.
- Yeah.
- Look, can we stop faffing around or should I go?
- Uh...
- We'll take that platter, thank you.
- OK.
So...
Todd took a DNA test.
He thought Pita Langford
was his father.
Let me spell it out for you.
Kid grows up without a dad, becomes obsessed
with a bloke just because he's nice to him.
- And then that kid came to you?
- Todd wanted answers, so I said, 'Let's get them.'
How did you test Pita's DNA?
He'd been gone for a few years.
Pita's riding helmet still takes pride
of place in his study. Found a hair.
Oh.
Gosh. Amazing what they can
do these days.
And voila.
Super be.
Now, this, Murray,
is my very famous harvest sourdough.
- Try some.
- I said, 'No, thanks.'
Are you sure, mate? People come
from all over Auckland for her bread.
No, no. I get it.
You don't like bread.
And I don't like it
when people waste my time.
The DNA test was negative, and Todd's
little fantasy was just that ― fantasy.
Well, I guess he won't be
helping you with your enquiries.
Actually, he just did.
- Hey.
- Hi.
- You come back for another ride?
- No. Actually, it's about Todd.
Did you know that he took a DNA test?
He thought your father was his
father. He thought he was a Langford.
Oh, don't worry.
The test came back negative.
Wow.
Poor Todd.
I never knew he was going
through that.
Yeah, well, he does look
quite a lot like Pita.
- Are you saying all Maoris look the same?
- No, just Todd and Pita.
So, he never mentioned to you that
he thought he was your brother?
Well, it's been so long
since I saw him.
I mean, when we were young,
we hung out, but...
Maybe that's where it came from.
He grew up with us, you know.
It was just him and his mum.
It was kind of sad.
Well, I guess it's only natural
to wish you had a family.
Be careful what you wish for,
with a family like mine.
- What was your father like?
- Honestly...
hard to love.
And the health issues?
He dealt with those his whole life.
My dad was bullet-proof.
Constitution of an ox
right up until the end.
- No special diet or anything?
- Not unless you count a bottle of Beaujolais daily as special.
- Who let you in?
- Oh, don't 'Let's shoot the housekeeper'.
She's not to know
that I'm on your no-fly list.
Todd Nicholson
was Pita Langford's son.
But you used your DNA
to fail the test.
- What a sack of horse shit.
- Bear with.
25 years ago, Pita Langford jumped
the fence and sired an illegitimate colt.
And now here this kid is in your office asking
you to help him become part of the family.
I mean, poor Todd. He really
thought you would understand.
But he didn't know that even after Pita's
death, you'd still be guarding the legacy.
- This is just a whole lot of hoo-ha.
- What proof have you got?
The DNA test.
The one that Todd took
three weeks before he died.
Now, the two samples are not a match,
but you know that.
This is where it gets interesting.
If you drill down on this DNA, Pita
Langford had acute chronic coeliac disease.
Now, I'm guessing that the pasta they're
sharing in this photo is not gluten-free.
Murray...
I do wish you'd try my sourdough.
Prove me wrong.
Go on.
Not worth the debilitating pain,
the cramps.
I don't know why that boy wanted a
DNA test. You could tell just by looking at him.
He was the spitting image of Pita.
All he wanted was a family.
Why couldn't you let him have that?
Because it wasn't
what Pita wanted.
It's my job to protect the
future of the stud.
So you denied him his birthright?
Listen.
If he'd been a proper Langford, I
would've had Todd running this place.
Better than the other useless,
sponging idiots.
Langford Stud suffered a big loss
when Todd died.
Big loss.
'Not a proper Langford'?
Rich people are so messed up.
I'm having a of deja vu here
actually.
This photo on Todd's computer looks just like
one that I took on my phone the other day.
Well, how did you get
the same one?
There.
OK. See, I took this on Mae's farm.
And so did Todd.
But according to Mae,
she hasn't seen for years.
So this one was taken...
Oh, wow.
She saw him two days
before he died.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Arlo was just―
No need to explain, madam.
It's right here on the schedule.
And besides, it's kind of a Langford family tradition,
right, to get up-close-and-personal with the staff.
Like, your dad did get his PA
well and truly pregnant, right?
- Come on. You knew that Todd was your half-brother.
- Todd was not my half-brother.
And you lied about not having seen
him for years.
I mean, he was here at the farm
right before he died.
Who do you think you are, coming in here
and making vulgar claims about my late father?
What is this? Is this some kind of
an attempt at extortion?
Mm.
You know what
Todd also had noted in his phone?
An appointment for 2pm
on the day he died.
Where were you?
Riding on the beach.
I took one of the horses out
for some exercise.
Any witnesses can verify this?
- Is this an official police interview?
- No, don't be silly.
- It's just me asking politely.
- I rode all the way to the lifeguard tower.
The junior squad was training, so
yeah, there were quite a few witnesses.
Is she in trouble?
You're kind of a walking cliche,
you know that, don't you?
Well, my work sometimes comes
with some added bonuses.
Is that what Mae is?
What would I have been?
Very satisfied.
1.45 ― Junior squad
finishes training.
The coroner puts
Todd's time of death at 2pm.
So it's impossible.
By the time Mae had ridden home from
the beach and then driven to the stud farm,
that would've taken
at least an hour.
And besides, I've already checked all of the
security footage for that day. Nobody came in.
Zoom out on that image.
So, there's Mae's farm,
and there's the Langford stables.
And there's the surf tower.
Draw me a line as the crow flies.
But there's no road.
It's just rough terrain.
What's the distance?
- From the tower to the stud farm stables?
- Mm-hm.
Um, a little over 5 K.
I think it's time
we synchronise our watches.
Yes.
Hello.
I'm sorry. Where is this?
I didn't quite get the details.
Yeah, this horse,
it's being mistreated.
Right. So, this horse
doesn't like the other horses?
Well, he likes Mary Legs,
but not Ginger.
No. No, she bites.
So, the horse galloped
to go fetch the doctor,
but the stupid stable boy gave it
cold water and it nearly died.
Are you telling me the plot
to Black Beauty?
I'm sorry. I've gotta go.
One of your horses is missing,
right?
You'll find her
at the Langford Stud.
Yah!
Yah!
Come on, boy.
Come on.
Come on, boy.
Yah!
Good boy.
Yes.
What the hell? What now?!
Oh, relax, Muzza. I can clear
this whole thing up for ya.
Hey. What are you doing
with my horse?
You tell me.
It was in one of my loose boxes.
It's not yours,
you puffed-up poser.
You get this feral animal
off my property and the horse.
Hey, hey, hey.
Hey, chill out, kids.
It was me.
I just had to take her
for a test drive.
Oh, you're in cahoots with her.
You told her to steal my horse.
I don't want your horse.
And you need to leave.
Murray, get her out.
Oh, relax, Kahu. I'm not here to give
you grief about your turkey baster caper.
Considering breeding is your game,
it's kind of funny that you never noticed the
similarities between Todd and your father.
I mean, Todd did.
Couldn't stop thinking about it,
so he decided to find out.
Murray, look, please,
can you help me out with this test?
And then you did what you always
do, didn't you, Muzza?
He closed ranks
to protect his old mate.
He told Todd that he could use a hair
from the old man's helmet as a DNA sample.
Except he didn't. He faked the test
to ensure it wouldn't be a match.
Todd is our brother?
- That's insane.
- Half-brother.
I didn't think Pita
would've wanted it.
I thought I'd put an end
to the matter.
Yeah, but Todd couldn't let it go, could
he? I mean, there had to be some mistake.
So he came to you, Mae.
You took him riding, like we did
that day to the same beautiful view.
And when he said he thought
he was your brother,
all you could think was another heir
to cannibalise your wealth.
You acted thrilled.
And when he suggested the two of you take a DNA test
to prove you were siblings, you could hardly say no.
A quick cheek swab this time.
You'd both take a sample
and then meet at the stables
and give yours to Todd
so he could send them off together.
You took the DNA test?
What'd it say?
No, she didn't take the DNA test.
When she met Todd at the stables
that day, she had another plan in mind.
You already know that I couldn't have been
there because I was riding on the beach.
Oh, I know at 1.45, yes.
Because you knew there'd be witnesses
who could place you there.
And it's impossible to drive from your farm
to the stud to make a 2pm meeting, right?
But as the crow flies, on horseback,
you could ride it.
I know because I just did it myself.
12 minutes, 25 seconds.
I mean, not bad.
Bet you did it faster.
And there's another advantage
to coming in on horseback.
You can evade all the security
cameras. Nobody would see you arrive.
You slipped in
without anyone knowing.
You took him by surprise,
struck him hard.
And then you took Lord Flyte out of
his usual box. You put him in with Todd.
It wouldn't have been easy to get a
terrified stallion to go near a dead body,
but I've seen you handle difficult
horses, Mae. You've got skills.
You got blood traces on the horse's hooves.
Then you locked him in the box with Todd.
Wait, wait, wait. Hang on.
This is crazy.
Lord, Flyte killed Todd.
It was an accident.
Did Lord Flyte also hang up
his own halter afterwards?
The blood on the halter.
How did it get there?
The only way is if the killer had hung it up
after the murder without noticing the blood.
And what? Am I supposed to have
grown hooves?
What did I kill him with?
Yeah, I was really confused about
that too, until I saw Arlo in your office.
On your whiteboard, you've got the farrier
booked for the same time every week.
That was the same day
Todd was killed.
Fling the murder weapon into the
forge while Arlo's getting dressed.
By the time you're done, all that's
left is a pool of melted metal.
The only thing I couldn't figure out
was why.
I mean, you're a rebel, right? You're
an activist. Money means nothing to you.
This greedy cow's had her hand out
since Dad died.
You got half the farm,
and you wanted more.
That's why we fell out.
Oh, and you would've been fine
with Todd being a Langford?
He had some grand ideas. He wanted
to bring new blood into the stud,
just when you wanted to retire Lord Flyte
and cash up. Neither of us wanted that.
Oh my God.
If Lord Flyte had retired, I would've got more
land. I could've expanded the rescue operation.
I was thinking of the horses!
Thinking of the money,
more like it.
What? You're not gonna
stand up for your sister?
Yes.
Told you I'd clear your name.
Yeah. I mean, I used to fight
with my brothers all the time.
Same. But I've never seen anything
like those two.
I actually phoned my sister this
morning and apologised for biting her.
- You bit your sister?
- Yeah, when I was 6 years old.
But I don't wanna end up
like the Langfords.
Sibling relationships
are a special thing.
So what about you, Alexa?
Any brothers or sisters?
Oh no. Oh no. Alexa definitely
gives off big only-child energy.
I'm just gonna say it again ―
this rustic sourdough is amazing.
Mmm.
- A death at a retirement village?
- Drowned in her bath.
She was also riddled with LSD.
So you're spending your retirement
taking Class A?
I definitely did not say that.
Tennis courts, outdoor pool,
indoor pool.
Whoo! Man, I am those close to moving in myself.
We're hugging, right?
Come on. Bring it an.
I'm no bloody gold-digger.
I'm not.
A detective can't change
its spots.
- Can you?
- I'm more of a stripes guy.
No, I just― I just found her
in here. I was asking her to leave.