
Bloodlines
Season 3 Episode 303 | 44m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
Alexa seeks to prove the innocence of a champion thoroughbred blamed for the death of his handler.
Alexa is determined to prove the innocence of a champion thoroughbred blamed for the death of his handler at a successful horse-breeding stud.
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Bloodlines
Season 3 Episode 303 | 44m 11sVideo has Closed Captions
Alexa is determined to prove the innocence of a champion thoroughbred blamed for the death of his handler at a successful horse-breeding stud.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ ♪ [Alexa whistles] ♪ French.
Gorgeous patina, isn't it?
$300.
For a breadboard?
Oh, yes.
Provence, 18th century.
The monks kneaded 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 know?
Enough to say this is as phony as your $2 pearls.
[Gasps] $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.
Oh, 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 2:00 pm 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.
[Scoffs] 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.
♪ 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.
Whew.
Oh.
[Elegant music plays] 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.
[Keys clicking] 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 ora.
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 brought 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?
Beth: Hello.
In here.
Zero tolerance for artificial insemination.
Some kind of arcane racing industry regulation.
Morning.
Oh, wow.
[Chuckles] You do scrub up well.
Hi, Beth.
Ohh.
Hey, Madison.
So how many Tinder dates did Lord Flyte have last season?
193.
Quite the player.
Mm-hmm.
Your new car.
Gotta look the part.
[Keys jangle] Fancy.
Told you she was great.
Au revoir.
♪ Just remember that your employer, Sheikh Ahmed, owns three stud farms, including Ballykirk in Ireland.
[Irish accent] '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.
[Irish accent] Fair play to you, 'Lexa.
Alexa Crowe.
Kahu Langford.
Nice to meet you.
How do you do?
Come.
Oh, wow.
Hop onboard, 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.
[Liquid pouring] 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.
[Birds chirp] Well, what about his temperament?
I heard there was an accident a while back.
Well, he's a thoroughbred.
He's hotheaded, athletic, passionate.
Are we still talking about the horse?
[Chuckles] 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?
Okay, Arlo.
Thank you.
Okay.
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.
[Horse whinnies in distance] Hello, handsome.
Anything to confess?
[Lord Flyte nickers] 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?
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.
[Footsteps recede] ♪ [Horn blares] [Chuckles] Bathroom?
[Chuckles] Wrong direction.
Jump in.
[Sighs] ♪ [Groans] 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.
Okay, 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.
♪ [Horse whinnies] Mae: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Easy.
It's all right.
Come on, boy.
Come on.
Pipe down.
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.
[Chuckles] 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.
You live 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, leatherbound 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 phony.
So who are ya?
G'day, 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.
[Sighs] We were all heartbroken about Todd.
It 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.
[Birds chirp] I'll send 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 wingman, you see.
Hardly seems fair.
Hey, um, 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.
Ugh!
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.
[Scoffs] 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?
[Chuckles] Yeah.
I already hacked it, because that is in my job description.
Good girl.
♪ [Sighs] Rebecca: Kahu, I checked again.
There's definitely one missing.
Kahu: 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 retire 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.
[Scoffs] 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.
He was a total prick, but hell of a horseman.
And Kahu's not?
No.
No, he's a poser.
[Chuckles] 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.
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 may have been having some performance issues.
Oh, that's not a problem I've ever experienced.
[Chuckles] 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.
Okay, 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.
[Gearshift clicks] 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, okay?
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 .... fridge.
Now, that's a lot of ..... 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, okay?
It's not like we're cheating anyone.
Did Kahu convince you of that?
Rebecca, he's playing you.
No, he's not, okay?
Actually, we're engaged.
Dang, he's good.
[Door rattles] ♪ ♪ [Sighs] 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.
[Muffled argument] I don't know what the conversation was about, but it was the week before Todd died.
[Grunts] ♪ [Gasps] Hi.
I was just looking for the bathroom.
♪ Eh!
Murray: 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.
Okay, 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.
[Door shuts] Harry: Kia ora.
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.
Okay, keep searching.
We've gotta find out who Todd was meeting on the day he died.
♪ Kia ora , Ma.
Coo-ee!
Ah, kia ora.
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.
[Sighs] Well, I think -- Oof.
[Sighs] Lord.
Well, I think they just wanted to get one more season out of him.
That's what she said.
[Sighs] 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.
[Phone camera clicks] Wow.
Oh.
[Chuckles] [Phone camera clicks] ♪ [Cat meows] [Groans] You're still here.
Doesn't that boyfriend you say exists ever miss you?
[Chuckles] 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-hmm.
♪ G'day.
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.
[Chuckles] See, you're an outsider.
You don't get it.
Ah.
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.
[Phone rings] Yeah?
Beth: 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-hmm.
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-hmm.
But he was a level two positive for celiac disease, which, you know, it's not life-threatening, but... Well, he sure does look like Pita.
[Keys clicking] 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.
G'day, 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.
[Chuckles] Look, can we stop faffing around or should I go?
Uh... We'll take that platter, thank you.
Okay.
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.
[Sighs] Oh, gosh.
Amazing what they can do these days.
And voila.
Superb.
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 bulletproof.
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.
[Chuckles] ♪ Murray: 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.
[Scoffs] What a sack of horse ..... 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 hooha.
[Stammers] 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 celiac 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-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?
[Sighs] Listen... if he'd been a proper Langford, I would've had Todd running this place.
Better than the other useless, sponging idiots.
[Sighs] 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.
Okay, 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.
♪ [Horse whinnies] Hello?
Anybody home?
[Sighs] 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 2:00 pm 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 2:00 pm.
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-hmm.
Um, a little over 5K.
I think it's time we synchronise our watches.
Yes.
♪ ♪ [Phone rings] Hello.
I'm sorry.
Where is this?
I didn't quite get the details.
Yeah, this horse, it's being mistreated.
[Whinnies] ♪ ♪ Right, so -- so this horse doesn't like the other horses?
Well, he likes Mary Legs, but not Ginger.
No.
No, she bites.
Hya.
♪ 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.
♪ ♪ ♪ Hya!
♪ Hya!
♪ Come on, boy.
♪ ♪ Come on.
♪ Come on, boy.
Hya!
Good boy.
♪ ♪ [Sighs] 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.
[Snorts] 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-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 2:00 pm 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.
[Thud] 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?
[Sighs] ♪ ♪ 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.
Mm.
[Buzzer sounds] ♪ [Inhales deeply] ♪ [Exhales deeply] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
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