Hello, cruisers.
We are now sailing for the Bay of Biscay
and will be at sea for the next 24 hours.
Just a reminder that the Carousel Theatre and Lounge
is closed for a private event.
However, there's lots to keep you entertained on board.
I've not been this excited
since we hosted Paul Hollywood's sourdough masterclass.
Poker's the new rock 'n' roll. Who knows where it'll lead?
Hm. Televised tournaments.
Reality TV.
I could see you fronting your own show.
Beyond the realms.
You are a natural, Beverly.
Thank you, Kate. I am a people person.
Morning. Are we all set?
All good to go.
This needs to run like clockwork.
So, tell us about these high rollers?
Nicolai Volkov, AKA All In.
Number one poker player on the planet.
Impulsive, ruthless, the game's finest bluffer.
BL-Zeebub.
Self-styled bad boy of poker.
Mouth the size of the T49 tunnel and an ego to match.
Keith Lomax.
Bitcoin billionaire and the new kid on the block.
Wannabe number one. A man in a hurry.
Lee Dead Eye Stannard.
Former resident of Las Vegas, blind in one eye from birth,
the man with no tell.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nicolai Volkov.
Kate Woods, First Officer.
My pleasure.
Beverley Carnell, entertainments officer.
Wonderful.
This is Jack Grayling, resident vocalist.
And MC for the tournament. Ah!
My mother used to sing for the prisoners at our gulag
when I was a child. How wonderful.
Until she was executed for stealing a loaf of bread.
I'm really sorry to hear that. It was a long time ago.
The heart says yes, but the reflux says no.
Old man! Thought you'd be playing snap in a nursing home by now.
No. I'm still here.
Jack Grayling. Dead Eye Stannard.
Want me to order you something a little easier on the stomach?
No, thanks. I'll stick with my milk.
Milk. Don't mind if I do.
Still acting like every meal is your last.
Is that meant to offend me, cos actually it doesn't!
You've got mayo on your chin.
Oh, come on!
Do we wait for The Widow? No.
Get on with it. Hm-mm.
Right.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to our first Global Poker Stars Invitational Tournament.
This is a $1 million buy-in game.
Winner takes...
Am I late?
Wendy The Widow Weston.
Self-taught after her husband was shot dead
at a game of seven card stud.
Poker's original rock chick.
It's good to see a woman in the tournament.
Just doing my bit for the sisterhood.
Well, there's plenty of testosterone flying around.
Well, once I sit at that table, my balls are as big as anyone's.
Looking good, Wendy.
You're not looking so bad yourself.
Don't you think it's time you stopped dressing in black?
Are you ever going to let him rest in peace?
I miss him as much as you do.
Somehow I doubt that.
How about you coming later to my cabin?
We could, ah, catch up in private.
Let bygones be bygones.
For old times' sake.
That could be arranged.
It's complicated.
I'd like my man to inspect where the chips and cards are stored.
I'm sorry, that's out of the question.
Why?
Ever the demanding child.
A spineless father is a lifetime curse
for a sensitive young boy.
Enough.
Our Siberian friend really isn't worth it.
Your beloved daughter might disagree.
The wisdom of age.
Gentlemen, my lady,
the game is Texas Hold 'em.
Rebuys start at 500K.
The winner takes it all.
Good luck.
Best of luck, everybody.
How do we know who's winning the hand?
Hard to tell without seeing what they've got in the pocket.
10,000.
'Whose pocket?
'The cards they've got facedown on the table.'
Not for me.
Fold.
Raise 30K.
Fold.
Just you and me, Lomax.
Before we continue,
I'd like to thank you all for your generosity this evening.
We work in places, Mr Lomax.
I knew a sad little man, he looked a lot like you.
Thought he had it made just before I crushed him.
Re-raise.
60K.
100,000.
This is getting interesting.
All in.
Volkov has gone all in. He's put in at least 100,000!
Let's see what you've got.
Pot's got to be worth half a mil.
King high.
Same.
But my fifth card beats yours.
Well, well.
Hm.
What's in that pouch, you rat cheat?
Some sort of hidden camera?
Stop that! Time to walk off, Mr Volkov.
You're a worthless punk, just like your father.
Seems you are in good company. I see you all in hell.
Hey...
Here's a souvenir for the journey.
Thanks.
Well, Volkov's a bit of a sore loser, isn't he?
Well, he's not used to being beaten.
Especially by an amateur like Lomax.
It's all about saving face.
Well, I don't think any of them around that table will shed a tear.
He's been nothing but rude to them since the start.
All part of the game plan, love.
He likes to get inside your head. Well, he's just lost half a million,
so he might wanna give his game plan a rethink.
You know, I think you'd make a pretty good poker player yourself.
Really? Mm-hm.
Controlled, competitive...
cool under pressure.
Some people might even say uptight.
Uptight?
You and Piers are well-suited.
Is this about the engagement?
Just a casual observation.
Well, some of us have responsibilities, Jack.
We know when to leave the party.
Hm!
You think performing is easy?
Well, I know you never seem to stop. It must be exhausting for you.
We work on a cruise ship. It's supposed to be fun.
Piers and I have plenty of fun, thank you.
What?
I've noticed you've not been wearing your ring.
I don't need a ring to define me, Jack.
Mr Volkov, your morning coffee.
Mr Volko...
Single puncture wound. Probably penetrating the right lung.
So someone stabbed him in the back. Seems a fitting way to die.
Maybe not.
Check out his pupils.
They are like pin points.
Overdose?
These are track marks on his arm.
Let's check upstairs.
Bedside cabinet. You might wanna bag it up.
Oh, yeah.
Hi. OK, what have we got?
It seems Nicolai Volkov had a heroin habit.
He was shooting up smack when someone stabbed him.
OK, right, well, yeah, I suppose that could happen.
We've also got vomit on the bed sheets and a half-eaten burger.
Throwing up could have been a reaction to the drugs.
You might wanna bag up that chip, too...
Oh. ..in case forensics want to run prints on it.
So he came back here after the game, he ordered room service,
he took a hit, threw his burger back up...
and then someone stabbed him.
Just about sums it up, yeah.
Well, then he must have known the killer.
Why else would he answer the door?
The obvious reason?
A woman?
Not necessarily.
He was flirting with The Widow at the reception.
In fact, he gave her his room key.
We'll get him to the med centre.
Do you think that one of the other players could have done this?
Clearly all of them had some kind of grudge. Yeah.
Obviously, our hearts go out to Nicolai's family
after such a shocking incident.
We play on.
Without discussion? Hear, hear.
You think Volkov would have walked away if it was one of us?
Well, the Captain has agreed to continue with the tournament
until we dock and the police can come on board.
I came here to win.
Just saying, we've gotta show some respect.
Anybody have respect for that man?
Well, then. OK.
All those in favour of continuing with the second night of poker,
raise your hands.
Decision made.
This way, please.
Sir. Thank you.
Well, at least you tried.
And that's all you can do.
You mind if I ask you something?
Fire away.
Volkov said something to Lomax about his father, and you had to step in.
What was the deal there? The Russian ruined his old man in a poker game.
Lomax senior never was much of a player.
Ended up losing the family home to him.
The marriage ended and he died penniless.
He lost everything on a hand of cards?
Yep. The game gets to some people like that.
Volkov took Lomax's dad for everything in a poker game
when Lomax was still a kid. Left the family destitute.
I mean, that is one hell of a motive.
Hm.
Also, I found this article in the Skylarch,
poker player magazine, Zeebub was Volkov's protege as a teenager.
It's obvious they can't stand each other's guts now. Hm.
What about Dead Eye?
Oh, Volkov made a comment about his daughter at the reception.
Any reaction? Didn't bat an eyelid.
Other than that, I could happily listen to the fellow talk all day.
What about The Widow? Why do they call her that?
Because her husband was shot dead at a poker game.
Any connection to Volkov? No.
But an old Interpol contact
told me there were rumours it was a Russian hit.
Really? Hm-mm.
And we know that she had a room key. Hm-mm.
OK, I'll take The Widow.
Surprise, surprise. And the old guy.
And that leaves you with Lomax and Zeebub.
Er...
Unless that's a problem.
Jameson has warned me off. He thinks that you're a bad influence.
He's always been a good judge of character.
Hm.
We could always leave this one to the big boys.
No, we just need to be discreet, that's all.
Right. Remember,
any of these people could be the killer, or the next victim,
not to mention they wear poker faces for a living.
They're professional liars.
Must have been tough after you lost your husband.
These things make or break you.
Certainly made you.
Had no choice.
Two teenage kids and a mortgage to pay.
So you taught yourself to play poker?
Turns out I was better than my old man all along.
So how did it feel
when the guy accused of killing your husband walked free?
Hardest part was explaining it to my girls.
And when he disappeared off the face of the Earth?
Do you think I'm capable of murder?
Did you make any use of that room key Volkov gave to you last night?
I'd love to be able to give you a hot lead for your case,
but no, I did not.
And were you aware of Volkov's heroin problem?
I heard he'd cleaned up years ago.
Really? Hm.
Did you know he was married to Dead Eye Stannard's daughter, April?
No. Hm.
Sid and Nancy of the poker circuit.
Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, all the way.
Serious addicts.
Until he checked into rehab. At which point, he dumped her.
April ran home to Daddy still hooked on the junk.
That was the last I heard of her.
Feeling lucky? I'm always lucky, baby.
I didn't realise that Volkov bankrolled your early career.
What of it?
I don't know, it just must have been really exciting.
He was only interested in making money in me.
Why did it end?
It just did.
I had a bad run. He wanted to change the way I played.
I refused and I lost big in a tournament in Singapore.
So he dumped me.
He left me with no money, no flight,
and he even took my passport.
I couldn't pay the hotel bill,
and I ended up in Changi Prison for six months.
I got deported back to Mumbai
and I've had to start again from scratch.
It's taken me years.
That must have been really hard for you.
I was 18,
and he didn't care if I lived or died.
I didn't see you in the bar after the tournament last night.
I went back to my cabin.
Oh.
Alone, or...
I watched a movie.
What film did you watch?
A romcom.
Like I said...
I'm always lucky.
Hm-mm.
Concentrate. Concentrate.
Got it?
This one.
Ah!
How do you do that?
If I told you,
I'd have to kill you.
You never mentioned that you were once Volkov's father-in-law.
That is a period of my life that I try not to dwell upon.
How's your daughter these days?
You leave April...
..out of this.
You OK?
Age is a cruel companion.
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you.
She lives in a nursing facility.
In my home town.
She's safe, she's close by.
So what did you do with yourself after the game last night?
I use one of those breathing apparatus to fall asleep at night.
And your doctor Sharon provided me with some fresh oxygen,
and that put me out like a light.
Thanks.
Jack, you know it's just sleight of hand?
Everyone loves a bit of magic.
I read a profile on you in the FT. Really?
Hm. Tough childhood. Character building.
Sounds like Volkov had a lot to answer for.
Whatever circumstances our family found itself in
were down to one man only, and that's my father.
Still, I don't suppose you shed many a tear over Volkov's death.
Not a single one.
Did you get chance to unwind after the tournament last night?
Late supper with the Captain. I'm sure he'll confirm that for you.
Great. Well, good chat.
Where would you like to see yourself in five years' time, Ms Woods?
Er...
Well, skippering my own ship.
Did you know I own a superyacht?
It's moored in Portofino.
Impressive.
My captain's about to retire. Right.
Details of the vessel are in here.
Once the tournament's over, perhaps you'd consider the post.
Are you trying to buy me off?
I'm simply offering a job to someone with the potential
to achieve a lot more than her current position allows.
I'll triple what you currently earn.
Think about it.
Don't worry. You'll be fine.
You'll be fine, you'll be fine, you'll be fine. Yeah? OK.
See you later.
Hey.
What couldn't wait?
Oh, I just wanted to see how things went with Lomax.
Jack, you've called me down from the bridge for that?
In case you'd forgotten, there's a murderer on board.
Yeah, well, his alibi checked out.
The Widow's holds up, too.
She ordered room service around 11.30 and Jamil delivered it.
OK, what about Dead Eye?
The doc aid she brought him oxygen
around the same time The Widow was tucking into her seaweed wrap,
he was already in his PJs,
she helped him hook up his breathing gear
and didn't leave till after one.
Which leaves Mr Zeebub and his romcom.
Hm-mm. I spoke to housekeeping.
There's no history of him streaming a movie last night, obviously.
And no-one to back up his story.
No.
Jack, I just saw Zeebub leaving The Widow's cabin.
Well, could you hear what they were talking about?
No, not really, but...
Here, look.
Jamil, me and you stay on BL.
Kate, you keep on digging on Lomax, yeah?
Yeah. Absolutely. Leave it with me.
Let me see.
BL was wearing that last night!
Yes, definitely.
Does that look like blood to you?
Could be.
Hope you haven't been hustling our guests with that find-the-lady scam.
Who, me?
Quick question. Fire away.
Wendy Weston and BL-Zeebub.
What about them? Do they have any kind of connection?
You mean outside of poker?
Any other history? No, not that I know of,
but I will say this...
The Widow certainly knows how to hook a fish and reel it in.
You sure you're not coming down with something?
All good.
Excuse me.
I have to visit the little boys' room.
Mr Zeebub was seen leaving your cabin this morning.
Well, you know what they say - what happens at sea stays at sea.
So you two are...
Oh! I just take my kicks where I can get them these days.
Whilst you're here...
..do you recognise this picture?
Course.
It's a photograph of my husband the night he was murdered.
But do you recognise anyone else in the photograph?
Like who?
Nicolai Volkov?
He was there the night that your husband was shot. Yeah.
Yeah, I've been reading up on the case.
He was supposed to be a key witness for the prosecution, right?
Till he took the money and ran.
So you think he was paid off?
Why else would he leave the country
the night before he was due to give evidence?
And you never got justice.
I don't even know what that word means any more.
So, we found queried bloodstains on Zeebub's shell suit.
Sharon's running some tests, and if it's All-In's blood,
we can nail him.
Great.
Yeah. What's that?
Oh, it's, er, nothing.
Well, it doesn't look like nothing.
It is a job offer.
What, to work on a superyacht?
To skipper it. Yeah.
Does that thing belong to Lomax?
Maybe.
One minute you're grilling him,
the next thing he's trying to install you on his wonder boat?
So, you think that this is a bribe?
Well, do I think a billionaire murder suspect
might dangle an amazing career opportunity
to put you off the scent?
As if (!)
You haven't for one minute considered that
I just might be the ideal candidate for the job?
I guess everyone has their price.
You know what, Jack, if you don't trust me,
I'll just have to solve this case without you.
Oh, Jack. Glad you're here.
Did you have a look at that tracksuit top?
Ketchup. Not blood.
Oh. But I've got bigger news.
Yeah? Volkov's results.
Go on.
As well as morphine, there was ricin in his system.
Any idea how it got there?
Hard to say for sure, but...
..this inflammation's consistent with
handling something contaminated.
That would be enough to see him off?
If his hand touched his mouth and he ingested it, yeah.
One of the deadliest poisons on earth.
It doesn't take much to kill someone.
So someone tried to poison him? Certainly looks that way.
How's it going?
Lomax is still winning every other hand.
Are you playing or what?
Yeah. I'm just...
Let's go and check out Lomax's cabin.
Movie night, is it?
- What's the hold-up, Lomax? - Yeah, let's play poker!
This tournament is terminated.
What?
Excuse me.
What's going on, Jack? Give that back!
I'm afraid Mr Lomax is a cheat.
He switched the ship's cards with his own identical sets,
each fitted with a computer chip.
That sends images of everyone's hand back to his cabin
then over to him via...
..a listening device inside of his cap.
So he knew every card that was dealt in every game?
Exactly.
Did Volkov find out? Is that why he was murdered?
No, he was killed for other reasons.
Isn't that right, Mr Zeebub?
I'm afraid you've been played like a Stradivarius.
Miss Weston openly admits you've been sleeping together.
So?
Yeah, she was flirty with your former mentor...
For old times' sake.
'..in order to get hold of a key card for his room. Why?'
That could be arranged.
Because she talked you into doing her dirty work
of avenging his betrayal at her husband's murder trial,
and for the months spent languishing in Changi jail.
You've got no proof of that.
Unfortunately, your notorious appetite proved to be your downfall.
'You couldn't resist a bite of that room service burger, could you?'
And what's left of it has been bagged up as evidence.
So when we dock, the police will run DNA and dental tests.
I'm sure you'll be on the global database...
given your criminal record.
She had nothing to do with it.
How chivalrous. I'm serious.
It really is love, then.
I wouldn't say it's reciprocated.
Anyway, luckily for you,
it may be difficult to prove that the stabbing actually killed him
because when you came to stab him,
he was already unconscious, seemingly from an OD.
Mr Stannard. Mr Grayling.
Look, do you mind me asking how long you've got left?
Weeks, month or two maybe, at most.
Cancer of the lung.
I'm sorry to hear that. Thanks.
Nikolai Volkov broke your daughter April's heart and spirit.
He most certainly did.
I contacted the clinic to talk to April.
Well, you had no right to do that.
When they divorced, she made a suicide attempt,
which has left her in a permanent coma.
Resident of a care facility in Las Vegas since 2014.
She hasn't spoken to anyone in years.
This tournament gave you a last chance of payback.
'And what a way to do it! You know,
'give the former addict an overdose with your own morphine supply.'
Excellent detective work, Jack.
Although I very seriously doubt that I will be around for the trial.
Dead Eye didn't know that Volkov had already been poisoned
earlier that day, with ricin.
And that got me thinking, why would any of you three
feel the need to poison him,
you know, given the stabbing and the fake OD.
And I remembered that you threw a gambling chip at Volkov,
just before he stormed out, with your creepy surgical gloves on.
Maybe that was contaminated with ricin.
This is ridiculous.
OK.
Here's the chip.
Take off your gloves and take the chip out of the bag.
Take them off.
If you're innocent, you've got nothing to be scared of.
I refuse to take part in this charade.
Do you know what, I think I actually believe you.
So I'm gonna take the chip out of the bag,
and hopefully you don't end up on a double murder charge.
No.
Close the damn bag.
So, how are you going to prove that any of us actually murdered him?
Luckily, that's not my job. Let's see what a jury think.
Stupid question, but are we locking them all up?
Not The Widow. Unless this mug sees sense.
Go easy on Mr Stannard.
You're a true gentleman, Jack.
She made me do it.
Shut up! It was all her idea.
She's like a snake charmer.
The...
I mean, this is literally one big boys' club, isn't it, this boat?
Have you only just noticed?
Right. Ooh!
More mojitos.
No. No, I'm fine.
Well, I'm having one.
Don't you think you've had enough?
I'm having fun, Piers.
Because Jack Grayling thinks that I'm an uptight prig.
Since when do you care what Jack Grayling thinks?
I was offered a job today.
Skippering my own big superyacht.
Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?
Because I was keeping my cards close to my chest.
Which is something that you would know all about.
Wouldn't you?
Piers de Vreese.
Let's get you back to the cabin. I don't need your help...
Ooh! Ooh!
I'm fine. I'm fine. There is nothing to see here.
Someone's had a big night.
Well, it is not every day you catch four killers on one case, is it?
Whoo!
Ow!
Was that chip... was it fake?
Or was it real?
Mm-hm?
Let's get you to bed. OK.
Yeah? Mm-hm.
This way. Come on.
Jack? Hm?
Can you believe that Piers has applied for the staff cat - sorry -
staff captain job and didn't even tell me?
Well, now you mention it, yeah. Just-Just shush!
And as for Jameson, that stuffed shirt,
I don't think he's got any intention,
he hasn't, of giving me that job.
Right, just shush! Yeah?
Shush!
He thinks that I'm a silly girly girl.
Doesn't he? His loss.
Well, no, it's not. It's mine.
I don't normally drink, because it makes me go a little bit crazy!
Key.
Please.
All right! Yeah?
What you need is some water.
Are you not sick of the sight of it? Of what?
Bloody water.
You had me going when Lomax offered you that job.
Thought you might actually jump ship.
Got to admit it, though, the idea of you not being around any more
scared the living daylights out of me.
Night-night.
- Are you ready for him? - Yes!
I'm delighted to welcome onstage your resident house singer,
Jack Grayling.
Hey!
The ship has now arrived at the beautiful island of Sicily.
Jamil, how do you fancy a little adventure?
I do love an adventure.
Ah. This is where it all began, kids.
I'm standing down from the business with immediate effect.
Does he have many enemies? Just his own kids.
I actually hate him. He's still our dad.
Kate, come on, please, don't be like this.
The DiMarco family are linked to organised crime.
It's always the girl. Get lost, you little punk.
Il bacio della morte.
What's that mean? The kiss of death.