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Hello?
Who's there?
Alexander?
What are you doing here?
I received an urgent note to come to this address.
As did I.
Condemned Asylum.
I can think of nicer places to meet.
Welcome to my office.
Miss Scarlet. Inspector Blake.
I do appreciate your punctuality.
Miss Scott?
Oh, yes, that's what you call me, isn't it?
I use so many names, it's hard to keep track.
Oh. I do apologize for the surroundings.
What they lack in comfort, they make up for in discretion.
You've summoned us here on government business?
Please.
As you know, my department deals with international espionage,
not murder investigations.
You will have read about the death of Sir Joseph Milner,
Under Secretary at the Foreign Office.
On the face of it, there are no suspicious circumstances,
but... Sir Joseph spent much of his time
moving between the foreign embassies.
So, I am duty bound to make sure there was no foul play.
Your assistance in this matter
will of course be rewarded
with a generous increase in manpower and resources
in your next budget review.
And for you, Miss Scarlet, shall we say, uh...
double your usual fee?
In return, I want a full written report on the circumstances
of Sir Joseph's death. For my eyes only, of course.
This investigation is strictly off the books.
Do whatever you need to do, just, um...
be discreet. Hmm.
Oh.
There is one more thing.
That unpleasant business of the young lady
caught spying around Scotland Yard
means there will be some changes coming down the line.
All officers will be made to sign a declaration of interest,
outlining any relationship with those they deal with
in the line of duty.
So...
given the two of you are now...
romantically involved...
this will be the last time you work together.
Hmm.
Drink?
Make it a double.
We knew we couldn't keep it quiet forever.
We'll be fine.
Yes, but my business may not.
Losing Scotland Yard as a client...
And there I was thinking you were worried about us.
I'm teasing you, Eliza.
Well, don't. You know I don't like it.
I know how hard you've worked to build your business.
I really am sorry.
I know you are.
To our last case.
Our last case.
Whatever the future brings, you will prevail.
And if you don't, you can always blame me.
Thank you, Inspector Blake, I appreciate it.
Well, if this is to be our last case, we'd better make it count.
How do we investigate the death
of a government minister discreetly?
We tread carefully and use people we can trust.
I trust Clarence with my life, as well as my ledgers.
And someone else comes to mind too.
Sir Joseph Milner was a senior minister at the Foreign Office.
Right-hand man to the Foreign Secretary.
Yes, I read about him. He died from a hunting accident?
The official story is he fell from his horse, cut his leg.
The wound got infected, he developed a fever,
dying a few days later.
Official story?
That's not what happened?
That's what we intend to find out.
Oh, you think perhaps he was murdered?
What makes you think that?
Well, we can't go into detail.
Not yet at least.
Sir Joseph mixed at the highest levels
of Parliament, Whitehall, any number of foreign embassies.
We cannot simply turn up and start asking questions.
Which is why we'll have a cover.
We'll say we're investigating a spate of street thefts
in Westminster and Mayfair.
My father did this once when his prime suspect
was from a powerful family.
And it worked?
With a little help from me.
The area of our bogus street thefts will include Park Lane,
where Sir Joseph lived,
as well as the government offices in Whitehall
and the embassies he frequented.
We need you to poke around in the areas that require...
well, less conventional methods.
Myself and Inspector Blake will deal with
the face-to-face interviews,
gaining access to the premises
to see what we can learn about Sir Joseph.
And to avoid suspicion, we'll have an increased
uniform presence on the streets,
just as we would in a genuine investigation.
So, this is to stay strictly between the four of us?
Five. I have a man on the inside.
The robberies took place in Mayfair and Westminster,
so, there'll be extra patrols on the street.
Anyone who looks suspicious or anyone
you think might have seen something,
pull them over and see what
they have to say.
I have a question, sir.
I haven't heard anything about these robberies.
Uh, me neither. Where are the incident reports?
There's a backlog in the clerical office.
No doubt the incident reports
are being processed as we speak.
And those two case files you wanted.
- Thanks, Ma'am. - Thank you.
Do you have a moment, Mrs. Potts?
Of course, Detective Willows.
I need some incident reports.
Oh, if you just give me the reference numbers,
I can find them for you right away.
It... it's a...
It's a little more complicated than that.
A delicate matter that requires the utmost discretion.
Ladies, listen up.
There's been a spate of street thefts...
and Detective Willows is making this a top priority.
So, we need to stop what we are doing
and type up the incident reports right away.
-Yes, Ma'am. - Yes, Ma'am.
There's nothing down this road here.
You didn't see anything, Sir?
No. Nothing.
That's fine. Thank you.
I have heard of no robberies on this street.
It was mostly in the neighboring area.
But the Metropolitan Police like to be thorough.
In truth, it is no surprise that I have heard nothing.
My employer died last week,
and I have barely left this house.
There is so much to do.
I am very sorry to hear that, Sir.
It was a shock to the entire staff.
Sir Joseph was a good man.
This particular gang likes to target wealthy gentlemen
and follow them to their residence.
Such evil in this world.
I couldn't agree more, Mr. Lawrence.
Perhaps you could summarize Sir Joseph's daily routine,
in the event the thieves had been following him?
Sir Joseph would...
go to Whitehall to work, and...
then to various embassies around the city.
He would come back late with...
With?
He enjoyed the company of ladies.
That is all I shall say.
I visited at least a dozen of the embassies,
but could find nothing of interest about Sir Joseph.
He seemed affable enough.
What did they say?
Quiet. Well mannered.
Not given to voicing strong opinions.
- He was a politician. - Well, exactly.
His butler said much the same,
although there was one thing of interest.
Apparently, Sir Joseph liked female company.
Lovers or ladies of the night?
He wouldn't say. I tried to press him,
but he wouldn't give details.
Oh. He may wish to preserve his reputation.
No one wants a butler who gossips.
No, it was something else.
Something I can't put my finger on.
What?
Nothing.
What?
I'll miss this.
Us working together.
So, you were saying?
We need to see the coroner's report into Sir Joseph's death.
I can't request a file from the mortuary.
It would cause suspicion.
We need someone there we can trust.
I trust Barnabus Potts.
But he's adamant he won't return to work until Mr. Wormsley
has apologized.
God knows Ivy's tried.
There is no one else who might persuade him?
Perhaps Mr. Potts isn't the one who needs persuading.
Mr. Wormsley?
Yes?
So good to finally meet you.
Although I feel like I know you already.
I've been asking around about you
and learned a great deal...
where you go... what you do... who you meet.
It's all down here.
A complete list of everything you've been up to.
Perhaps Mrs. Wormsley might be interested in a copy too?
What do you want?
I want to talk to you about a friend of mine.
Oh, what a muddle indeed.
Mr. Potts.
It is grand to see you back.
Ah. It is good to be back, Detective Willows!
Mr. Wormsley's change of heart was most unexpected.
But to his credit, he apologized...
several times, in fact, most profusely.
He insisted I return to work immediately
and, uh, practically dragged me from the house.
And I know why.
You do?
The place is in total disarray
and in need of urgent attention.
But as I always say...
The world is going to hell in a handcart.
If you want something doing, ask a busy person. I just...
Well, it is lucky for me that you're here, Mr. Potts,
because there's a coroner's report I need to see.
Uh, the deceased in question...
well... let's just say it's a confidential matter,
and one that demands your utmost discretion.
I got your message. This him?
He's been delivering coal to Sir Joseph's house
twice a week for the past three years.
I thought he could give us some insight
into the minister's domestic staff.
This gentleman, for want of a better word,
has a criminal record for assault.
He broke a man's arm in an arm-wrestling match.
Well, he's a big man.
He didn't win. He lost.
That's why he broke his opponent's arm.
But he failed to declare his criminal record
when he took a job delivering coal
to a government minister.
So, I thought it could give us useful leverage
when we question him.
A man like that won't take too kindly to leverage.
Well... hmm.
Just to confirm, should this turn
into a physical confrontation,
that is very much your department, not mine.
Leave it with me.
Last match, gentlemen.
Last match. -Shut up,
it's about to start.
-Come on, come on. - Thank you.
- Ahh! - Argh!
I am no match for you, my friend.
Drink?
That would be most welcome.
Mrs. Potts.
I just wanted to thank you for your assistance
and for your discretion.
Oh, it's my pleasure, Detective Willows.
In all honestly, I quite enjoyed it.
Oh, while you're here, the applicants
for new Officer Manager, they need security clearance.
The powers that be are being extra cautious
after what happened with Miss Summers.
Oh, I am sorry. That was insensitive of me.
No.
I'm the one who should apologize.
I should have seen through her.
No. You weren't the only one taken in by her.
It wasn't your fault.
Well, let's hope the disciplinary board agree.
You're one of the best officers we have, Detective Willows.
I'm sure they'll see that.
Thank you, Mrs. Potts.
So, here's what we know.
Sir Joseph liked the women.
And his butler is slightly shifty.
Is that it?
I'm afraid so.
Although I could also add that you look beautiful today.
Today?
So, not yesterday?
Has anyone ever told you, you can be rather demanding?
Constantly.
Oh, please tell us you have something.
I spoke to the man who delivers the coal to Sir Joseph's house.
After a few drinks, he got loose lipped.
Told me there's a butler there, a Mr. Lawrence.
I spoke to him today.
Apparently, none of the other servants like him.
Rumor has it, Sir Joseph accused him of theft
and planned to dismiss him.
But then... the minister upped and croaked it.
And there's something else?
Even though he lives in the servants' quarters,
Mr. Lawrence rents a lodging room in Whitechapel.
Do you have the address?
Of course he does.
Mr. Lawrence?
Ladies first.
Thank you, Inspector Blake.
Mr. Lawrence?
- How is he? - The doctor isn't sure
what's wrong with him.
He has a fever, breathing problems
and muscle spasms in his neck and jaw.
Sounds like tetanus.
They're considering it.
They can't see any wounds on his body
that would trigger the infection.
Miss Scarlet? Sir?
I have the coroner's report on Sir Joseph.
It's believed that the cut he sustained falling from his horse
may have caused an infection.
The cause of death was given as cardiac arrest,
it's likely due to tetanus.
Sir Joseph and his butler both were suspected tetanus.
A bit odd, doesn't it, given that it's not infectious?
Odd and unlikely.
Mr. Potts said there was something else
that caused those symptoms.
Strychnine poisoning.
Mr. Wormsley was most keen to hear all about my ideas
for improving the mortuary.
I must say he's a changed man.
Oh, it's good indeed to be back.
But alas... I shall have to withdraw my application
to be Office Manager at Scotland Yard.
I am so sorry to disappoint you, my jewel,
I know how much you were relishing us working together.
Scotland Yard's loss
is the mortuary's gain, Barnabus.
Thank you, my beloved.
Thank you.
Right. I have an extremely long to-do list.
This great city of ours seems to increase its supply of the dead
each and every day. But as I always say...
If you want something doing, ask a busy person?
No. The world is going to hell in a handcart.
It's nice to have my happy Barnabus back again.
Now we just need to work on you.
I'm fine.
Then why does your face tell me otherwise?
You've been very quiet.
There are changes coming at Scotland Yard.
Inspector Blake will have to declare our relationship,
and we will no longer be able to work together.
Well, I suppose it couldn't stay secret forever.
Yes, but losing Scotland Yard as a client will be a loss indeed.
- When you were a little girl... - Please don't say it.
You don't know what I was going to say.
When I was a little girl, I had a similar problem.
I overcame that problem and learned a lesson
I can use as an adult.
I wasn't gonna say that.
Yes, you were.
How many formative experiences can one child have?
I wish you were still a child.
I'd put you over my knee for being so rude.
You know, a gentleman covers his mouth when he yawns?
A gentleman doesn't stay up all night doing background checks.
What did you find?
Nothing.
All Sir Joseph's household staff were clean.
I'm getting too old for this.
Are you taking a nap... in here?
Yes.
If you stop talking.
This is a place of work. Not a lodging house.
Ah-ha!
I think I've found something!
Just before he died,
a large transfer of money was made
from Sir Joseph's bank account
to a small German bank in the city.
We need to find out who this bank account belongs to.
Come along.
No time to rest.
Hurry up.
It was here Mr Lawrence collapsed.
So, I would wager it was poison.
Someone would use strychnine
as their poison of choice.
I imagine they'd put it in food or drink.
Hmm. Question is...
who would want to poison the butler and his employer?
I almost told Sophia about us last night.
Almost?
I'd like to do it together.
Hmm.
I hope she takes it well.
She's certainly very fond of you.
She thinks you're funny.
Funny? As in odd?
Funny as in amusing.
Although you are a little odd.
Thank you.
Alexander?
That's an awful lot of watches for one man.
Especially for someone on a butler's wage.
What's this?
Calling cards.
Countess Polcheck.
Russian Embassy.
There has been a recent spate of robberies in the area,
Ambassador Polchek.
I have heard nothing of these robberies of which you speak.
The thieves have been targeting ladies mostly,
which is why Miss Scarlet is helping Scotland Yard
with our inquiries.
During our investigations, we were able to recover
some of the stolen items.
One of which is this silver card holder
belonging to Countess Polcheck.
Is she a relative of yours?
She is my wife.
But I have no knowledge of her being robbed.
Well, perhaps we could speak to her?
She is not here.
Do you know when she'll be back?
My wife and I...
we have parted ways.
She has returned to Russia.
That is all I wish to say on the matter.
It's not our intention to cause you
embarrassment or distress, Sir.
But could you give us a sense of your wife's movements
in the last few weeks?
I suppose if I don't tell you,
some gossiping servant will.
She had been seeing a lover.
Sir Joseph Milner.
I can only assume that the calling cards
were stolen from his residence.
You are aware that Sir Joseph passed away last week?
I am.
And for full disclosure,
I did visit him a few days before he died.
I was going to warn him to stay away from my wife.
But... when I arrived,
he was outside his house
in the middle of some kind of... argument.
What kind of argument?
He was on the street with two men.
They seemed frustrated with him.
One started shouting.
I couldn't understand what they were saying.
It was not in English.
What language was it?
It was... I believe, German.
Name and address of the account holder
that Sir Joseph made payments to.
How did you get that?
Through charm and charisma.
Alright, fine, I bribed the teller.
And the account belongs to a Mr. Klaus Lang.
And he's been visiting the bank every week
to withdraw one hundred pounds on each visit.
Always on the same day. Always at the same time.
And always with an associate.
So, um, you pay a visit to this address,
I shall head back to the office to carry on
digging into Sir Joseph's finances.
What?
Nothin'.
You... you're impressed, aren't you?
I can tell.
Perhaps.
Yes!
Sir Joseph did not pay well.
I've no regrets about stealing from him.
One of the items you stole was a silver case
containing the calling cards of the Russian Ambassador's wife.
She left her bag at the house one evening.
You are aware they were having an affair?
Of course. She wasn't the first.
Believe me.
What of these two German men Sir Joseph was arguing with
the day before he died?
I was not there. It was my day off.
Talk us through the hours before you became ill.
Everything you did.
I...finished work about nine o'clock,
then... went back to my lodging room.
I needed some money that I'd kept there.
I rested a while, smoked a pipe.
Then, the next thing I remember I was gasping for breath
and everything went black.
Where did you get the tobacco from?
It's from a pouch I stole from Sir Joseph.
Mr. Potts... Barnabus.
I'm here because I have a theory,
and I'm in need of your advice. - Well...
And yes, I am aware that I have not given
twenty-four hours notice of my arrival.
- Aah... - And yes, I am aware
that there is a strict protocol but...
Oh, protocol be damned!
You are always welcome here, Eliza!
Come in!
Uh, strychnine would usually be found in the stomach
and intestines of a cadaver,
assuming it had been ingested,
which is the most common form of poisoning.
Hmm. What if you inhaled it?
Say through tobacco?
Ah, yes, that would work.
And rather rapidly too. Ahh...
Of course, the expert in such matters is Mr. Wormsley.
And he seems rather on edge recently.
Perhaps the joy of my return has overwhelmed him.
Well, I'd rather we kept this conversation to ourselves.
My questions are related to a rather highly confidential case,
one which myself and Inspector Blake
would like your opinion. And yours alone.
Inspector Blake asked for me? Personally?
He did.
Hmm.
Well, then I'm at your disposal.
We shall start with the basics of toxicology...
dosage, absorption, exposure.
Pull out anyone with a German background,
particularly those with convictions for violent crime.
Mrs. Potts, you take the As. - Thanks.
Willows... the Bs.
And we'll keep going until we run out of alphabet.
This is going to be thirsty work.
How about I organize a nice cup of tea for us all?
Oh, sounds like a very sensible plan, Mrs. Potts.
Thank you. - Right.
I understand the disciplinary board wrote to you.
Yes, Sir. Hearing's in a couple of days.
How are you feeling about it all?
I haven't slept in a week.
Haven't eaten much either.
My sister says...
I'm like a bear with a sore head.
Apart from that, I'm doing fine, Sir.
Um, I'll be there to speak for you.
But in the meantime, try not to dwell on it.
My sister also said that.
She sounds like a wise woman, Detective Willows.
I wanted to give you an update on the case.
Was Sir Joseph murdered?
I believe so, yes.
You have evidence?
We're working on it.
Inspector Blake and I will have a full report for you soon.
Are you in love with him?
Pardon?
It's a simple question.
And one that bears no relevance to the investigation.
I'll take that as a yes. So, may I give you some advice?
As two women working in the underbelly of this great city,
I am sure we face similar challenges.
One of which being loneliness.
And of course, each man carries his own, uh...
merits when it comes to passing the short amount of time
we have on this earth.
But to love someone...
fully...
completely...
well...
that would be a mistake.
For a woman, financial independence is everything.
Do not make the mistake of trusting in a man.
Any man.
They will always put their own needs above ours.
Without exception.
That's a rather bleak view...
and one that I don't share.
Yes, you do.
Yup, yup.
Uh, I assume one of you is Klaus Lang?
Uh, an account holder at the Bank of Deutschland.
I win.
Gentlemen.
Hmm.
Your address was given to the Bank of Deutschland
as a contact for an account Sir Joseph Milner
was paying into.
Why do you have a photograph of Sir Joseph's superior,
Lord Powell, the Foreign Secretary?
I believe my associate here speaks a little German.
Do I have that right?
You do, Inspector Blake.
So, would you be so kind as to
tell these gentlemen the following?
If they do not talk,
they will be charged with Sir Joseph Milner's murder.
The penalty for which is death by hanging.
I don't need to translate, Inspector.
They understand perfectly.
What do you want to know?
Why did Sir Joseph hire you?
They were hired to kill his superior,
Lord Powell, the Foreign Secretary.
If they are to be believed, they were given
very little information.
Not even a reason why.
They were waiting for Sir Joseph to make contact,
but they didn't know he was dead.
The most incompetent assassins I've ever come across.
It doesn't make sense that Sir Joseph would hire
such fools for such a high-risk operation.
No, it does not.
None of this makes sense.
How did you get on at the mortuary?
According to Mr. Potts,
if someone wished to lace tobacco with strychnine,
they would first need to dissolve the strychnine
in alcohol, then soak the tobacco in the solution.
But these days, it's harder than ever to get your hands on it.
Particularly the concentrated amounts
that you need to kill someone.
But you could extract it from rat poison,
you just need very large quantities.
And no pharmacy would be allowed to sell such amounts.
Well, exactly, you need to get it from
a specialized pharmaceutical company.
Which is what Mr. Potts does to keep the rats
under control at the mortuary.
We need to pay a visit to that company,
find out who else they supply.
Already done.
Five businesses that receive bulk deliveries
of rat poison.
Uh, you and Moses work through the list.
Willows, you're with me. Let's see if a few hours
in the cells have made our German friends
even more cooperative.
Thanks.
The foreman said this business closed down years ago.
All deliveries are forwarded onto another premises.
I wrote down the address.
Alright. Spit it out.
- What? - Something is on your mind.
Someone just...
just gave me some unwanted advice.
Never listen to advice.
Not even mine.
So, where did the Foreman say to go?
Find Inspector Blake. Tell him to meet me at this address.
Urgently.
You recognize the place?
I do.
Rat poison.
Good evening, Miss Scarlet.
It was you who killed Sir Joseph.
Inspector Blake is on his way.
We won't cover this up, if that's you're thinking.
Hmm, cover it up?
I want quite the opposite.
I want a full written report
handed into the Superintendent
at Scotland Yard.
I...I don't understand.
There are many in our government
that believe that Germany will soon be a threat
to the national interest.
Sir Joseph was one of them.
But his superior, the Foreign Secretary,
did not agree.
Which is why Sir Joseph hired two low level assassins
to kill him.
Their only qualification is that they were German.
When it was discovered they were German,
it would have forced England into war with Germany.
War makes money for those in high places...
regardless of the cost of human life.
My conscience would not allow such a thing.
So, you hired Inspector Blake and I
to get the evidence in black and white?
My hope...
is that your report will be read by the few decent men
left in the upper echelons of government.
I want them to know what Sir Joseph had planned
and why I killed him.
You acted alone?
If my superiors knew what I had done,
it would have been covered up.
You'll hang for this.
Which is why I shall leave London tonight.
I've amassed quite a fortune.
It's about time I enjoyed spending it.
Oh ...
you have made your decision about Inspector Blake?
I won't be giving him up.
Not for anything.
In that case, your fee will not
be twice the normal rate as agreed.
It will be a great deal more. - Why?
Because you're going to need it.
And because I like you, Miss Scarlet.
You're good at your job.
Use the money however you see fit,
but please...
be ambitious.
Moses told me you were here. What happened?
You're gonna need a drink first.
I don't agree with what Miss Scott did,
but she did it for her country.
I told the Superintendent that I, like Miss Scott,
have no taste for war.
Young men dying painful deaths for little purpose.
Did he listen?
He did.
Turns out he had a son who died in Crimea.
He assured me my report had gone
all the way up to the Prime Minister.
Who of course wishes to keep it out of the public eye.
How can he ensure that?
A hefty promotion for the Super.
And when will you tell him about us?
I won't.
Because there's no need.
What?
With his promotion, he'll be leaving Scotland Yard
and there'll be a new Superintendent.
Well, who will that be?
Me.
Well...
You're going to be the next Superintendent?
Is that what you want?
A nice office job...
more money, civilized hours,
no more getting shot at.
I'd say that's quite appealing.
And you...
can carry on working for Scotland Yard,
as I will no longer be the Inspector hiring you.
I...I don't know what to say.
How about...
"Alexander, you are the best thing
that's ever happened to me,
certainly the most handsome,
and I'm very lucky to have met you"?
A little long winded but...
broadly correct.
So, does that mean that... that Willows
will no longer be dismissed?
It was the first thing I insisted upon.
As well as another small matter.
That the new Clerical Manager should be of my choosing.
I think you'll approve of my choice.
Morning.
Good morning, Mrs. Potts.
Good morning, Detective Willows.
To my clever wife...
on her new promotion!
- To Ivy! - Ivy!
- To Ivy!
Congratulations.
Thank you, Barnabus.
And thank you, Inspector Blake,
for having such faith in me.
This calls for more wine.
Uh, easy does it, my beloved. That'll be your third.
And I intend on having a fourth.
Oooh.
I'll go and get some more bottles from the kitchen.
Will you assist me, Inspector Blake?
Of course, Miss Scarlet.
It is delicious.
Thank you.
Cheers!
I told Sophia that we'd go somewhere nice for lunch.
One day this week. The three of us.
You want to tell her about us?
It's time.
I already know.
What do you already know?
That Eliza is your special lady friend, and that you love her.
Oh.
Well... yes.
Yes, that's precisely what I wanted to tell you.
But can we still go to luncheon?
Of course we can.
But... not tomorrow.
I have a very busy day.
I'm going to hire some new detectives.
Maybe you should hire Sophia.
She certainly has a very impressive powers of deduction.
You're silly, Papa.
I know.
Ready for the big day?
Hmm.
Oh, uh, remember to make clear that the positions
entail working long hours.
What if only two candidates turn up?
Sometimes even on a Sunday.
What if only one turns up?
And that we do not offer overtime.
What if no one turns up?
Eliza, all will be well.
Go on.
Welcome, everyone.
Please, please, do come in.
- Morning. - Hello.
Just up the stairs.
- Good morning. - Hello.
Thank you for coming. - Thank you.
- Hello. - Hello.
Please, just follow the way up the stairs.
Morning.
Thank you for coming.