Murdoch Mysteries (2004) s19e03 Episode Script

1
- support me, or there's no point. Right?
- One sarsaparilla.
In a clean glass, as requested.
Yeah
Final question
(CLEARING THROAT)
Which ancient civilization's
gold filigreed adornments
were an inspiration for jewellers
in the reign of Queen Victoria?
(BELL RINGING) The Greeks!
I-I-I'm sorry! I mean the Romans.
The-the-the Greco-Romans.
I'm sorry, no.
- (BELL RINGING)
- Yes, Miss Cain?
The Etruscans.
I was going to say the Assyrians!
- Wrong.
- Uh, the Etruscans.
- Correct.
- (CROWD GROANING)
So glad you joined the team, Mavis.
And with that last bonus question,
we have the Pugnacious Police in third.
- (LIGHT APPLAUSE)
- The Learned Ladies in second.
And, once again, the Know-It-Alls
in first place. Congratulations.
See you all next week
for another esoteric evening
of Miscellany Matchup.
And don't forget to
fill out your entry tests
for Toronto's Smartest Man.
Sponsored by Mr. Colwyn of
Colwyn's Complete Cyclopedia.
That's right. The-the
No home is complete
without a set of Colwyn's.
(CROWD LAUGHING)
Higgins, you need to
keep your mouth shut
unless you're certain of the answer.
Sir, I'm pretty sure
that was the right answer.
- Mm.
- Where's Murdoch tonight, anyway?
We'd be a lot better
team with him involved.
I understood that the Detective
usually doesn't take an interest
in such frivolous events.
Congratulations, gentlemen.
Third place isn't so bad.
A respectable showing.
I'm surprised the ladies
managed to best you.
They aren't the most
challenging of competition.
(MEN CHUCKLING)
We've been neck and neck every week.
We take pity on you, you mean.
Oh, please.
You're so conceited, you pretend even
- your mistakes are on purpose.
- An ad hominem attack.
I'd expect no better from a woman.
An ad hominem attack
I know what it means.
Be sure to finish up
the contest entry tests.
My son Dean is coming
around to collect them.
Try your luck, gentlemen.
Toronto's Smartest Man might
be here in this very room.
Higgins, you're having a laugh.
(LAUGHING)
You call that a test?
(CHUCKLING)
Mm.
(CHOKING)
(GASPING)
(CHOKING)
(THEME MUSIC)
(GROANING)
Thanks for coming, Murdoch.
We've, uh, we've all had a few.
We thought it would be
a good idea if we had
- a steady hand at the wheel.
- The man's fallen ill, then?
Victor Fordham.
Uh, apparently a severe
allergic reaction.
Oh. Well, not poisoned then.
But you don't believe it
was an accident either?
Well, we did at first,
until Mr. Ryan informed us
that Fordham's shellfish
allergy's common knowledge.
And he was a terrible person.
Someone may have intentionally
contaminated his glass.
- Mr. Ryan.
- Detective.
I understand you knew of Mr.
Fordham's shellfish allergy?
Of course. Sure. He
never shut up about it,
especially since I got these
new clam juice dispensers in.
- Oh?
- With these,
I can fix all the latest clam beverages:
hot clam soda,
ginger clam juice,
hot clam cream.
It's a vile craze, but, uh, it sells.
Mm. Is it possible, then,
that some of this clam juice
accidentally made its way
into Mr. Fordham's glass?
Not a chance.
He ordered bottled sarsaparilla
that I poured into a clean glass.
I saw him after he
took a sip. He was fine.
The bar cleared out after
Mr. Fordham's medical episode.
But, sir, everyone who was here
will be at the Toronto's
Smartest Man competition tomorrow.
You should think about entering, sir.
It's being held at the book fair.
Pursuit of knowledge
shouldn't be a contest.
The prize is $1,000.
And a full set of encyclopedias.
Imagine, all of the world's
knowledge at your fingertips.
Encyclopedias?
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Welcome to Toronto's
Pedagogical Book Fair.
We at Colwyn's Complete Cyclopedia
are proud sponsors
of this week's events,
especially the search for
Toronto's smartest man.
- Dean, my boy, come up here.
- (CROWD CHATTERING)
Colwyn's Complete Cyclopedia.
- (FINGERS SNAPPING)
- Uh, founded by my-my grandfather,
uh, Tobias Colwyn in 18
in, uh, in-in, yeah, in-and
- 1870!
- Yes, 1870,
- and now on the second
- Third!
The third edition of
Colwyn's Complete Cyclopedia
is the preeminent compendium
to ignite the light of learning.
Buy volume one now, fr-from
aardvarks to azurites.
But a subscription plan
is the best value for the full set.
And now, the main event.
Only five perfect tests
were submitted. By
Yes, uh By, uh, François Boudreau.
(APPLAUSE)
Ved Srinivasan.
Uh, William Murdoch.
- So you did enter.
- Well done, Detective!
Uh, Victor Fordham and F. Newsome.
These five contestants
will vie for the crown
of Toronto's Smartest Man.
Are you lost, my dear?
No. Fiona Newsome. F. Newsome.
A woman? Oh no, uh,
th-this will never do.
- I beg your pardon?
- Well, it's, uh, it's in the name, ma'am.
Toronto's smartest man. Thank you.
Maybe we go-we could go
- to the next highest score?
- Yes, yes, yes. Uh, Dr. Glenn Price.
Oh!
And I believe that Mr. Fordham
went to the hospital last night.
Oh. In that case, the alternate
- for Mr. Fordham will be
- Stop right there!
I'll be damned if I'm kept
out of this competition.
Very well then.
Uh, ladies and gentlemen,
ah, please stay and browse the books
while we prepare the stage
for an exciting battle of wits.
- Um, um, Mr. Colwyn?
- Oh, Mr. Fordham,
Detective William Murdoch,
Toronto Constabulary.
Aha. Have you caught the
villain who did this to me?
Not yet. But I was wondering,
do you know who may have
wanted to do this to you?
I'd say most of my
competitors dislike me.
That's what happens
when you're the best.
Maybe that tall woman
on the ladies' team?
Miss Gruesome, or some such.
Quite competitive,
and she definitely doesn't like me.
- Anyone else?
- No.
Although, last night, Ved did
say he hoped I'd drop dead.
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
The sign is quite clear, my dear.
This is absurd! Women are the
intellectual equal to men in every way.
Mr. Colwyn,
Miss Newsome here plays
in a weekly miscellany game
against myself and Mr. Fordham.
Thank you, Professor Srinivasan.
And she habitually loses.
She isn't a serious contestant.
I got a perfect score on the
entry test, the same as you!
- There's no need for raised voices.
- (CHUCKLING)
If I may, Miss Newsome
lives in my neighbourhood.
She has recently been
left by her husband
and is no doubt emotional.
Uh, competition might not be advisable,
given her fragile state.
I am not emotional and, sir,
you are a chiropodist,
not a psychiatrist.
Nevertheless, I think
Dr. Price has a point,
don't you, my dear?
Just how do you get
along with Mr. Fordham?
I understand you told him
you wished he would drop dead.
He called me a fool
for saying Montevideo
is the capital of Paraguay.
It's Asunción. Montevideo is Uruguay.
I know that now.
Look, we bicker from time to time,
but I certainly didn't put
clam juice into his drink.
Detective.
The name's Boudreau.
Mr. Boudreau.
Were you at the Miscellany
Matchup the other night?
- No.
- Then how can I ?
Do you remember getting me
sent to jail ten years ago?
The name does ring a bell.
(CHUCKLES)
Well, your name does a little
bit more than that for me.
I spent ten years locked up,
reading every book that I could find,
familiarizing myself with the law,
the arts and the sciences,
waiting for the day that I could throw
your supposed genius back in your face.
Well, then, how lovely that you've
been afforded that opportunity.
I'm going to beat you, Detective,
no matter what it takes.
(SOFT MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
Teddy!
Have a look at this.
X-ray glasses.
Can see through skin and clothing.
Imagine how useful those would be.
- (CHUCKLING)
- For what?
Police work.
Henry, I don't think
that's a real product.
You know what you always say to me:
be more careful in the big city,
- everyone's a swindler.
- Ah, this is different.
This is in the newspaper!
Don't waste your money.
The company probably won't
even send the glasses.
It's too late. I already
ordered a pair last week.
(CHUCKLING)
The Colwyns should
just hand the prize over
to Murdoch and be done with it.
As brilliant as Detective Murdoch is,
you can't be certain he'll win.
There are many different types
of intelligence, after all.
Ah, that's rubbish. You're
either bright, or you're dim.
And I know a sure thing when I see it.
Attention all!
The moment has arrived.
Together we will answer the question:
who is Toronto's smartest man?
Envelopes with the daily challenges
and their solutions
are locked in this safe.
Each day, I'll open a new one,
uh, contestants will earn points
Which will be tallied by the
lovely Miss Ontario Wheat.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
And at the end of the week,
we will have our champion.
Now in this briefcase
is the $1,000 cash prize for the winner.
(CROWD MURMURING)
And so
let Round One begin.
(APPLAUSE)
(CLEARING THROAT)
The sum of the first five prime numbers.
(BELL DINGS)
Twenty-eight.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Express the golden ratio
to three decimal points.
(BELL DINGS)
One point 6-1-8.
(APPLAUSE)
(BELL DINGS)
- Projectile motion.
- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Kirchhoff's diffraction formula.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
- (BELL DINGS)
- Seven hundred twenty-nine.
- (BELL DINGS)
- Russell's Paradox.
(BELLS DINGING)
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
And this is it, gentlemen, the-the
final question of the round,
uh, worth five bonus points.
If a train leaves Montreal at 9 a.m.
travelling at 60 miles per hour,
and another train leaves
Toronto at the same time
travelling at 50 miles per hour,
when will the two trains intersect
on the 333-mile journey?
(BELL DINGS)
12:16 p.m.
Uh, no. That's not right.
(BELL DINGS)
At 12:01 p.m. And 20 seconds.
- That is the correct answer, sir.
- It is not.
(CROWD MURMURING)
All trains travelling on
the Grand Trunk Railway
between Montreal and Toronto
hold for precisely fifteen
minutes at Kingston.
It's a hypothetical question, sir.
(LAUGHING)
- Take that, Murdoch.
- Civility, gentlemen.
Today's round goes to
Professor Srinivasan.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
And, please, join us
tomorrow for round two.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
A worthy set of opponents.
Better luck next time, Murdoch.
Luck has nothing to do with it.
That was a misleading question.
Oh, dear.
(CHOI CLEARS THROAT)
(ENGINE REVVING)
Some workers found him this morning.
That's Professor Srinivasan.
He's still wearing yesterday's clothes,
his boutonniere.
This is the back of the book fair.
He must have been on his way home.
Well, I guess this means
he won't be winning
Toronto's Smartest Man.
The building is undergoing
repairs to the cornice.
Some of the brickwork was crumbling.
So he was killed by falling masonry.
Yes, but workers had already
removed the loose bricks.
I think this masonry
was dropped deliberately.
- Is the roof accessible?
- All too easily.
Just up the main staircase.
Huh.
So, Professor Srinivasan
exits the building,
pleased with his win,
and was then struck
down by falling masonry
- thrown from the roof.
- So it would seem.
Do you think it's related
to the competition?
I suppose it's possible.
Professor Srinivasan is dead?
I'm afraid so.
Pop, maybe we should
call off the contest?
Nonsense.
It occurred directly behind
the venue, Mr. Colwyn.
And two nights ago, Mr. Fordham
had a near-deadly
brush with clam juice.
He's highly allergic.
I'm sorry to hear that,
but I-I-I don't see
how either of these incidents
are connected to the contest.
Nevertheless, I will be questioning
all of the contestants
before we proceed.
- Pop, I
- Gentlemen.
Either you let me compete,
or I intend to sue.
Well, it's Toronto's Smartest Man.
There's nothing you can do about that.
Aren't man and mankind
commonly used to refer to
the whole of the human race?
Why should this competition
be any different?
- You wouldn't win in court.
- Maybe so.
But it'd throw a wrench in
your contest all the same.
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Mr. Fordham,
where were you following
the competition last evening?
(SIGHS) I believe I
was the first to leave.
You probably saw me.
I went straight out the front door.
And where did you go?
Home. I still wasn't feeling well.
Probably why I didn't win round one.
Can anyone vouch for you
after you left the venue?
Did anyone see you?
When I went home alone? No.
I'm afraid not. I'm
a bachelor, Detective.
Although, when I left the venue,
I did see Mr. Boudreau speaking
with Professor Srinivasan.
And then I saw Mr.
Boudreau hurrying upstairs.
Upstairs? Are you sure?
Yes, yes. I thought it quite strange.
And just what were Mr. Boudreau
and the professor discussing?
I didn't hear, and I
wouldn't dare eavesdrop.
I talked to no one.
I saw no one.
I got home and read legal treatises.
On prisoners' rights.
Mr. Boudreau, you were the last person
seen talking to Professor Srinivasan.
And you were seen rushing
upstairs afterward.
Ah! I had to find the bathroom.
Prison food has given
me the "flaflette."
Digestion issues.
What were you and the
professor talking about?
I was merely offering my
sincere congratulations.
He played brilliantly.
Unlike some.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(CLEARS THROAT)
Ah, upon further consideration,
Miss Effie Newsome will
be permitted to compete.
- (APPLAUSE)
- Hm. Still so sure
Detective Murdoch will
win now that Miss Newsome
has entered the fray?
She's a worthy rival.
Oh, I doubt that very much.
Come now. We've both
seen her competitive side.
Sometimes a contest comes down
to just how much someone wants to win.
Just how much, eh?
How about the two of
us have a little wager?
- Say, two dollars?
- Make it five.
- Done.
- Hm.
Oh, Detective.
You might not want to
do so well this round.
Remember what happened
to Professor Srinivasan.
I remember, Inspector.
- And I'm here to get to the bottom of it.
- Hm.
Oi. Choi.
And now for round two!
(APPLAUSE)
It makes octopus blood blue.
- (BELL DINGS)
- Hemocyanin.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Queen of both England and France.
- (BELL DINGS)
- Eleanor of Aquitaine.
- (MAN): Yes!
- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Classical epics were written
in which poetic meter?
(BELL DINGS)
Dactylic hexameter.
Which Scottish-Canadian
inventor and engineer
- is known as the father of standard time?
- (BELL DINGS)
Sir Sandford Fleming.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
- (BELL DINGS)
- The calcaneus bone.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
(BELLS DINGING)
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
(CROWD MURMURING IN AWE)
(LOUD CHEERING)
And the final challenge for round two,
for five bonus points:
if ES equals 14,
and JZ equals 16,
what does LW equal?
- Excuse me, sirs?
- Quiet through the auditorium, please.
- Oh, but
- (BELL DINGS)
A solve!
LW equals eleven.
Care to explain for the audience?
Of course. Completing the pattern,
eleven is the number
of alphabetical spaces
between L and W.
- Well done!
- Hm.
The quick-witted Miss Newsome
is the winner of this
deceptively simple round.
(APPLAUSE)
Mr. Boudreau. I saw you cheating.
You were a safecracker who
worked with armed robbers.
You stole the solution
from the Colwyns' safe.
So you do remember me.
I was a safecracker, yes.
But I was only pretending to cheat.
- Why?
- As a distraction
to ensure that you didn't win.
And you fell for it.
Who's smarter now, Detective?
Roberts! Guess what's come in the mail.
- A letter from Constable Crabtree?
- Oh, uh, yes.
He says he's doing well in St. John's.
He's even made his first arrest. A, uh,
a moose poacher.
Uh, but, no, this. Look.
My X-ray spectacles.
Told you it was a real company.
Wow. I guess I was wrong.
Don't feel too bad, Teddy.
No one expects you to
go from country bumpkin
to city sophisticate overnight.
(CHUCKLING)
This doesn't make sense.
They're supposed to see
through skin and clothing,
but all I see is my hand.
Could I give them a try?
Of course.
Whoa!
My own bones. Unbelievable.
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Oh, uh, oh
Well?
I'm a gentleman, Henry.
Professor Srinivasan was
single and kept to himself,
apart from his weekly miscellany game.
No enemies to speak
of, so I decided to look
into the others as well.
Mr. Fordham works in investments,
Dr. Price runs a
Well, I can't read this. Do you ?
Fool.
Beg your pardon?
- Foo-foot!
- Ah!
Foot clinic, runs a foot clinic.
And Mr. Boudreau has had trouble
finding employment since
his release from prison.
Well, that could be a strong
motivator to win the prize.
Let's look next into Mr. Boudreau.
He wasn't at Miscellany Matchup.
No. But he is a known criminal,
and he was seen going
upstairs at the book fair.
Hm. You know,
the only contestant who was present
on the site of both
attacks was Miss Newsome.
- Yes, but
- She is quite competitive.
And she did dislike both victims.
- Hated them, even!
- And she's smart enough
- to have coordinated the attacks.
- Mm.
Ah. Definitely.
Well, thank you for that.
Just to be clear, I
didn't attack anybody,
but I do believe somebody
may be trying to poison me.
I found these on my doorstep
after yesterday's competition.
"For a very pretty lady
from her secret admirer."
Yes. I-I inspected the chocolates
and found pinprick marks on
the bottom of each of them.
I think they're injection points.
Do you always inspect
presents so carefully?
I was suspicious. I
haven't received a romantic
gift in quite some time.
(MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
Smell that?
Scent of pears?
A bit exotic for a basic box of bonbons.
Mm.
I believe these were
injected with chloral hydrate.
Let's have a look at that card.
A typed message, no handwriting.
A flower in the design.
It is a poppy?
I know where these came from.
Look, I am not in the
habit of selling poison.
Of course not.
Do you recall who
purchased the chocolates?
Likely yesterday afternoon.
We do excellent business, sir.
I-I must have sold at least
a dozen chocolate boxes
after lunch yesterday.
Uh, do you remember
typing this message on the card?
Yes.
A man purchased this box.
What did he look like?
A man.
Normal.
Not particularly attractive.
Or unattractive.
Height
Average.
Voice
Audible.
And he's standing right behind you.
Dr. Price!
- Yes?
- Dr. Price,
you are under arrest for the
attempted murder of Effie Newsome.
I left the chocolates and the note,
but I never poisoned them.
This is some sort of terrible mistake.
Why did you send them to Miss Newsome?
I sent harmless
chocolates to Miss Newsome.
I was merely expressing my-my burgeoning
romantic feelings for
that tall, mouthy brainiac.
It's not very expressive
to leave an anonymous card.
Well, I had some qualms
about signing my name.
She seems to dislike me.
I had hoped, after
some gallant gestures,
to eventually step
forward as her suitor.
I think that you're the one
who dislikes Miss Newsome.
You're worried she'll beat
you in this competition,
and that's why you poisoned the
chocolates with chloral hydrate.
(SCOFFS) Nonsense!
I'm not afraid of a little competition.
Tell me, was she pleased
to receive the chocolates,
before the poison and such?
As a doctor, you also
had access to a syringe.
Those can be acquired at any apothecary.
As can the chloral hydrate.
You needn't even be a medical man.
I left them on her doorstep
before she arrived home
from the competition. They
were wrapped in purple paper.
Someone else must have seen them and
- and done something to them.
- Purple paper?
Yes. With a-a pink bow.
You know, the kind of
frippery women like.
All right. Give it up already.
You're having me on about
the glasses. You must be.
I'm not having you on.
You're very mistrustful.
No, I know when I'm being fooled!
- I'm not fooling you.
- What's all the fuss?
Constable Roberts refuses to stop
this childish prank he's been playing.
What prank? Explain.
Uh, well, Constable Higgins
bought some X-ray glasses
he found in the newspaper.
And they don't work, but he's
been pretending that they do!
- Let me see.
- (SIGHS)
(SIGHS)
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Astounding!
Is that a healed fracture
on your forearm, Roberts?
It is. I broke it falling out
of a tree when I was seven.
(CHOI EXHALES DEEPLY)
The chocolates were from Dr. Price?
I knew he hated me.
Oh, on the contrary, I
believe he's quite fond of you.
Oh, good Lord.
Tell me, what did the wrapping
on this box of chocolates look like?
There was no wrapping paper.
- No purple paper?
- None.
Oh, that supports Dr. Price's story
that someone must have tampered
with this box of chocolates
after the delivery.
So he'll be back in the competition?
I suppose so.
Well, I look forward to trouncing him.
I hope you're happy. You've
kept my patients waiting.
I have people who depend
on me for their well-being.
I trust their feet will
make a full recovery.
Good day, Detectives.
I take it he isn't our culprit.
- It doesn't look that way.
- Hm.
And he wasn't at the Miscellany Matchup.
Shouldn't we shut down the competition?
I believe we should continue.
It may lead us to a culprit.
I agree. And, of course,
you still want the opportunity to win.
I'd like to stay close to the suspects.
Hm. Either way, it will
be all hands on deck
for the competition tomorrow.
We've got to keep everyone safe.
Well, I was thinking, with
everything that's happened,
perhaps we should call
off the competition.
Don't be ridiculous.
We've decided to allow the
competition to continue,
albeit with police supervision.
I'll keep you posted.
Much appreciated, Detective.
Two at the front, two at the back.
And now, with all five Round
Three bonus points at stake,
our competitors must assemble a
mystery item at their workstations.
No instructions provided.
On my signal, the contestants
will remove their drop cloths.
And go!
(CROWD MURMURING)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
Oh, Detective Murdoch looks
like he's off to a quick start.
He does indeed.
Care to raise the stakes of our wager?
- Say, double or nothing?
- Right. You're on.
Although, Miss Newsome
does seem a tad perplexed,
- wouldn't you say, Inspector?
- (CHOI SIGHS)
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
- (BELL DINGS)
- Ah!
Mr. Fordham believes he's done.
Mr. Fordham has successfully
completed his battery circuit.
And Mr. Fordham is the
winner of this round.
Uh, that's impossible!
There is no way that anyone
knows circuits better
than William Murdoch.
- (CROWD MURMURING)
- That man must be cheating.
Please! Some civility, gentlemen.
Nobody knows batteries
like Detective Murdoch.
I sincerely doubt Fordham
subscribes to Circuits Quarterly.
- Hm.
- I've seen it on the Detective's desk.
Empty your pockets.
I suspect Mr. Fordham
has a cheat sheet or a diagram
of some sort secreted away.
You're a sore loser. But fine.
Don't do it, Fordham.
The police can't be trusted.
Know your rights. Don't
make it easy on them.
I have nothing to hide.
Here we are.
Mm-hmm.
Uh What is this?
Well, I've never seen this before.
A bottle of chloral hydrate solution,
the same substance that was used
in the attempt on Miss Newsome's life.
(CROWD GASPING, MURMURING)
Mr. Fordham, you are under arrest.
(SCOFFING)
I don't know anything
about any chocolate.
How did this poison
get into your pocket?
I take off my jacket when I'm quizzing.
It was hanging off the back of my chair.
You're saying it was planted.
Where were you after yesterday's round?
I don't even know where
Miss Newsome lives.
I could hardly have dropped
off poisoned chocolates.
After the first day of competition,
you say you went home.
You could have snuck back in,
climbed the stairs,
and waited on the roof
for Professor Srinivasan.
I could have. But I didn't.
And why would I give myself clam
juice at the miscellany game?
I nearly died!
As a cover for the attacks to follow.
I think you would do just about anything
to win the title of
Toronto's Smartest Man.
I think you're getting the
two of us confused, Detective.
I want to know how
you have been cheating!
I didn't.
May I have a word with
you in private, Detective?
(DOOR OPENS)
Did you notice he avoided telling us
- where he was last night?
- (CHOI SIGHS)
What is it, sir?
Are you quite sure that
personal pride isn't playing
a part in this investigation?
- What do you mean?
- Is it vanity that's making you
so certain Fordham cheated?
Inspector, respectfully,
I believe I'm seeing things clearly.
Fordham is cheating,
and that malfeasance is somehow mixed in
with these violent attacks.
Something is going on here
and it isn't simply the fact
that I'm not the one winning.
- Detective.
- Mr. Colwyn.
- What can we do for you?
- Well, I thought I'd better
drop by and mention
something about Mr. Fordham.
He was with me when this
business with the, uh,
poison happened.
When was this?
Yesterday evening, wasn't it?
Right after the competition.
Mr. Fordham was helping
me review mathematical
calculations for the cyclopedia.
He's one of our experts, you know,
so he couldn't have used the poison.
Why did he not tell us this?
Well, I imagine your onstage accusation
of him cheating with me may
have made him a touch reticent.
It's time to release
Mr. Fordham, Detective.
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
(BLOWS)
- Still nothing?
- (SIGHS)
There must be something
wrong with my eyes.
Maybe I should call the doctor.
What if he tells me that
I'm slowly going blind?
Henry, hang up.
- I was joking.
- I shouldn't call?
I've been pretending.
- The glasses don't work.
- I knew it!
Take a closer look. There's
a feather inside to create
this sort of blurry effect.
So I got a defective pair. (SCOFFS)
The glasses themselves
are a hoax, Henry.
Sorry for playing along.
It's fine. (CHUCKLING)
I was playing along, too.
(TENSE MUSIC)
Have you been up all night, Detective?
Yes.
I found it extremely suspicious
that Calvin Colwyn showed up here
with an alibi for Mr. Fordham.
- The two of them must be colluding.
- Hm.
To cheat in the contest, or are
you talking about the attacks?
It can't be a coincidence
that all of this cheating
and violent attacks
have been running through this
entire competition from the beginning.
I'm convinced that they are connected.
I just don't know how yet.
Right. And what's all this?
Oh. I've been trying
to figure out exactly
how Mr. Fordham has been cheating.
Watts, do you recall when we coached
Constable Crabtree
through that chess game
remotely so that he could win?
For a case.
He had an earpiece through
which he received instructions.
Yes. That got me thinking.
What if Mr. Colwyn has
some high-level technology
- hidden within his briefcase?
- Like what?
I thought you'd never ask.
I've noticed that Mr.
Fordham's workstation
is nearest to where Mr.
Colwyn always sits,
always places his briefcase,
and never takes his hand off of it.
Yes?
What if he's been sending
Morse code messages
through a device hidden inside
the briefcase to Mr. Fordham,
via an electrical conduit
hidden beneath the stage floor?
That's an extremely complex plan.
Relying on precise placement
of all the elements involved
and a lightning-fast
understanding of Morse code.
Yes, but we cannot forget
the level of intellect
that we are dealing with here.
We cannot underestimate their cunning.
We must see through their stratagems!
These X-ray spectacles are garbage.
- I've got to get my money back.
- Well, that's it! That's it!
That's it!
(TENSE MUSIC)
This is a portable version
of my X-ray machine.
- It's disguised as a camera.
- (CROWD APPLAUDS)
I need you to take an
image of Colwyn's briefcase.
- The backplate is already in place.
- Of course.
Detective,
I wonder if it's possible
there's a less elaborate
cheating scheme at play here.
I-I-I'm sure it's not
technically impossible.
(PLAYFUL MUSIC)
Ladies and gentlemen, but
a single question remains,
after which we will officially
announce Toronto's Smartest Man.
Ahem!
Or person.
(DEAN CLEARS THROAT)
The final challenge will
be a codebreaking puzzle
worth five bonus points.
Miss Ontario Wheat will reveal the
statement to be, uh, worked out.
Hm.
- (BELL DINGS)
- So soon, Mr. Murdoch?
(MURDOCH CLEARS THROAT)
It reads,
"The only true wisdom is in
knowing you know nothing."
Socrates.
It is a simple Caesar shift
cipher of seven places.
It's fairly common in my line of work.
- That is, uh, that is correct.
- (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
That means we have a winner.
And with the most
points on the board,
Detective Murdoch is
Toronto's Smartest Man.
Oh, wait a moment. I-I-I
wasn't here for the first round.
I'm at a disadvantage
in the points count.
Our decision is final.
Uh, tomorrow will be
the grand prize ceremony,
and Cyclopedia founder and my
esteemed father, Tobias Colwyn,
will be arriving by train from Windsor
to present the prize himself.
Detective, Detective, I feel as though
we should do some kind of face-off
to determine who really won this thing.
All right. But right now, I
need to get to the station house.
Well, we can continue
this conversation there.
All right.
So, why are you doing all this?
You won, supposedly. What
are you expecting to find?
Evidence of cheating,
specifically some type of
Morse code pulsation device.
This X-ray should clarify.
- You X-rayed the briefcase?
- I did.
Detective Murdoch disguised
the device as a camera.
What's inside?
It's empty.
What about the prize money
Colwyn showed everyone?
The bills were banded with metal clips.
The money's not in there, either.
Maybe there is no
one-thousand-dollar prize.
What if Calvin Colwyn is
trying to avoid a payout.
By attacking the contest
frontrunners? That's mad.
But if it's true, Detective
Murdoch could be next.
I believe we need to pay
Calvin Colwyn a visit.
Oh! Detective. You startled me.
Mr. Colwyn, why are you
taking down your displays?
Oh. Well, my-my father fell ill
and couldn't make the train,
so we've decided to forego the
prize presentation, but no worry.
You'll still receive your
prize in installment payments.
What about all the money
that was in the briefcase?
Oh, that was just showmanship.
It's all paid out to suppliers.
But y-your collected
cyclopedia is available today.
- Do you offer delivery?
- (COLWYN LAUGHS)
Mr. Colwyn, I'm not surprised
that you called off the ceremony.
I don't think you want to
pay out that prize money.
Perhaps you can't afford to.
Nonsense.
The book fair and the contest
have been terrific publicity.
Even with one of the
contestants losing their life?
Well, I had nothing to do with that.
And it's a shame, but sales are up.
I wish I could drag this
competition out forever.
Only a fool would think differently.
(SOFT MYSTERIOUS MUSIC)
Mr. Colwyn.
Pop, maybe we should
call off the contest?
Nonsense.
Perhaps we should call
off the competition.
Don't be ridiculous.
Are you the fool your
father's referring to?
I don't, uh What-what do you mean?
You've been only too eager
to shut down this competition,
suggesting that your
father do so at every turn.
I was just concerned about
the competitors, about
about their safety.
I think you're lying.
We need to have a discussion about this
- down at the station house.
- Leave my son alone.
He might be a little fool, but
- he's done nothing wrong.
- You be quiet.
I'm not a fool, you are!
There's no money, Pop! There's no money,
there's no thousand dollars.
If we had to pay that prize, we
would have gone under, for sure.
- I didn't have a choice.
- Son.
What have you done?
No one could win that prize.
I was just trying to make sure of it.
When I saw how quickly Mr. Fordham
was filling out his entry exam
and I heard him complaining
about that clam juice,
well, it was easy enough for
me to splash some in his drink.
- But he came back.
- Oh, Dean.
Th-this is madness.
And I thought surely
Professor Srinivasan's death,
that would be enough to
stop the event, but no!
No, some eager detective was
all too determined to let it continue.
And after you dropped a brick
on Professor Srinivasan's head,
you tried to poison Miss Newsome?
What were you planning
to do to the Detective?
I wasn't going to kill him.
We were skipping out
without paying. That's all.
You didn't have to do any of this.
Well, you always tell
me to pay attention.
To pull my weight!
That's what I was doing!
I was pulling my weight.
I was trying to save your company.
We were going under, Pop!
- You're just too blind to see that!
- I wasn't!
I knew we were in trouble.
If you knew you couldn't
afford to pay the prize money,
why put it up in the first place?
Because I'd already arranged a winner.
A man content with glory
even if he cheated to get it.
Fordham.
I gave him the answers,
and a smaller payout for
helping me fix the contest. I
With the extra publicity, I knew
the Cyclopedia would bounce back.
Why couldn't you stay out of this?
I was just trying to help.
But Fordham didn't win.
So not only did your son fail,
you did, as well.
I wouldn't have, if you
hadn't entered the contest.
You're under arrest for fraud.
And your son for murder.
(TENSE MUSIC)
- (BACKGROUND CHATTER)
- Thank you.
So, in the end, sir, I got my money back
- for the X-ray glasses.
- Good for you.
Used it to buy mind-reading goggles.
Higgins, you're as daft
as a bloody brush, lad.
I knew you'd say
something like that, sir.
Maybe I don't need them after all, huh?
So, Albert,
why didn't Mr. Fordham win it all
if he had the answers in advance?
Well, he told Murdoch that he threw
at least one round to avoid suspicion.
He also said that the injury to
his wrist didn't help him, either.
- Oh! Speak of the devil.
- Oh!
- Murdoch. You're here.
- What have you got there?
I've created a device
to aid with gameplay.
I call it the Answer Alert.
- (DINGING)
- Brilliant!
(LAUGHING) But, uh,
Miscellany Matchup isn't tonight.
I know.
Miss Newsome
I believe women are
the intellectual equals
to most men.
Not all.
Is that a challenge?
- Do we still have a bet, Albert?
- We do, indeed.
(PLAYFUL SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)
Are we ready to begin?
Not too late to back out, Detective.
That's very kind of you.
Our first question:
In the George Crabtree
novel, A Man Alone,
who did Mr. Crabtree consider
to be his biggest influence?
(DINGING)
(THEME MUSIC)