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Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Death and Hysteria
Season 3 Episode 5 | 55m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
One of the patients in a controversial sanatorium for women is electrocuted in her room.
One of the patients in a controversial sanatorium for women is electrocuted in her room. Though it could have been a tragic accident, Phryne has other ideas. What kind of appliance was the woman plugging into the electrical outlet—and where is the appliance now?
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Death and Hysteria
Season 3 Episode 5 | 55m 43sVideo has Closed Captions
One of the patients in a controversial sanatorium for women is electrocuted in her room. Though it could have been a tragic accident, Phryne has other ideas. What kind of appliance was the woman plugging into the electrical outlet—and where is the appliance now?
How to Watch Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(light music) (birds chirping) - Reach up to the sky.
Release, release.
Step up, and step up.
Lovely.
Up and down and up.
Run!
Feel the wind!
Reach!
One, two, three and run.
(light music continues) - Mrs. Stanley.
So, your sleeping.
Have things improved?
- Uh, yes, Dr. Samuels, your medicine works wonders.
- I think the other therapies have helped.
So, perhaps it's time to talk directly about Arthur.
Your loss is still recent, but I haven't heard you mention him.
- I farewelled my son at his funeral.
- But his spirit still lingers.
Grief is not a simple thing.
- It is to me.
(light music continues) (birds chirping) (light music continues) - Wait, where are you going?
- [Betsy] Just stop following me.
(light music continues) - [Instructor] And lift and run.
(mysterious music) (door clatters) (mysterious music continues) (birds chirping) (light dramatic music) (light dramatic music continues) (sinister music) (electricity zapping) (Betsy shrieks) (body thuds) (sinister music continues) (electricity zapping) (Aunt P whimpers) - Betsy!
Help!
Someone, please!
It's Betsy!
Help!
(upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (door screeches) (haunting music) - Oh, Phryne.
- Aunt P. You are a generous woman, Aunt P, but what on earth possessed you to hand over your home to a women's sanatorium?
- It was a favor to Dr. Samuels.
He was such a help with, with Arthur.
He needed temporary consulting rooms.
And then Dr. Perkins joined, and the secretary, and I wasn't able to turn them away.
I, I didn't realize it would be like this.
- You should have called me.
- I called you now.
- You and Seth were supposed to be keeping her company.
- This place is full of women.
What do you call that?
- Failing to keep me informed.
- No, it's worse than that.
It's tragic.
(Samuels clears throat) Morning.
- So, those doctors are psychiatrists, Miss?
- That's right, Dot.
- And all those women are mad?
- No, they're far too wealthy for that.
They're just unwell.
- Um, sorry madam.
This is a crime scene.
- So I've heard.
(door clatters) (body thuds) - Miss Fisher, at last.
(curious music) (Dorothy sighs) Betsy Cohen, 34.
(curious music continues) - Extremely wealthy, recently divorced, and fatally electrocuted by a faulty appliance she was holding in her right hand.
(curious music continues) Probably lying on the bed, minus her underwear, and possibly in the company of a man who's lost the other end of his barbell shirt collar pin.
- Shall I leave now?
- No.
I have a question for you.
- Just the one?
- Where's the appliance?
- (whistles) Hey.
Hey.
Don't touch anything.
This hallway's a crime scene, Lady.
- I'm quite aware of that, Constable.
And the name is Miss Dorothy Williams.
- Well, Constable Neville Martin.
I'm assistant to Senior Detective Inspector Robinson, and this area, it's been thoroughly searched.
- You haven't done a very good job then.
- It's a piece of rubbish.
- Mrs. Stanley runs a very tidy household, so any untidiness is suspicious.
Constable Hugh Collins could tell you that.
- Well, not in a hurry.
He's gone fishing.
And you know, I heard a rumor, that he's not coming back.
- Well, you've heard wrong then, Constable Martin.
- Should I take note, Sir?
I, I've studied shorthand and I'm fast and accurate, the rate of a hundred words per minute.
- Very impressive.
- I found this on the floor, Miss.
- Rubber.
Looks like part of a glove.
Rubber insulates against electricity.
Perhaps whoever pulled the plug from the wall came prepared.
(bag rustles) - I'd like you to search the house thoroughly for our possible murder weapon.
- Murder, Sir?
- Only surmised at this point, Constable.
- You are looking for an electrical appliance, possibly hair crimping irons or perhaps a reading lamp given the rumpled bed.
Most likely bearing scorch marks.
- Should I begin to question our suspects, Sir?
- Miss Fisher will assist me with that, Constable.
- My shorthand is not quite as impressive, but I have other qualities.
- You heard Miss Fisher, Constable.
(light music) (birds chirping) (hand knocks) - Have you come to shut us down?
- No, no.
I'm with Miss Fisher.
Mrs. Stanley's niece.
- Oh.
Poor Mrs. Stanley.
Did you know that her son died in his sleep?
- Yes.
Arthur had a weak heart.
It was very sudden and very sad.
- Oh.
I heard he was an imbecile, depended on Prudence for everything.
Oh, it is horrible for Prudence to have another death in the house.
(sighs) But perhaps the rest of us will get the attention we deserve now.
(birds chirping) - It's such a, a tragic accident, and it happened under your aunt's roof with her bereavement still so painful, I...
I couldn't be more sorry.
- We don't believe it was an accident, Dr. Samuels.
(hand knocks) - Oh, excuse me.
Dr. Samuels, what should I say to the women?
- Harriet, my dear.
Have you met Mrs. Stanley's niece?
- Harriet Edwards.
How do you do?
- Phryne Fisher, and this is Inspector Robinson.
- I think a reflection session would be calming for the ladies, Harriet.
I won't be long.
Eric.
Please meet Eric Edwards, our solicitor.
- I'm sure Mrs Fisher needs no introduction.
- Oh, of course not.
It's an honor to meet you at last.
- Edwards, are you related to Harriet Edwards?
- Yes, I'm Harriet's older brother.
- And Inspector Robinson.
- This isn't a formal questioning, Mr. Edwards.
Your legal presence isn't required.
- Oh, no, no, no, no.
Eric and I had a scheduled meeting this morning.
But please, join us.
- So, where were you, Dr. Perkins, When Betsy Cohen was killed?
- I was upstairs in our office.
- And you were there all morning?
- I was, yes.
Working on some papers.
Miss Edwards can verify that.
She was in and out attending to various matters, but there, for the most part.
- Yes, we couldn't run the practice without Harriet.
- And where were you, Dr. Samuels?
- Right here.
I just finished an hypnosis session with your aunt.
- Hypnosis?
And what exactly was Betsy Cohen being treated for?
(Eric clears throat) - I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that.
- All patient's records are strictly confidential.
- I hope you understand Miss Fisher.
We often deal with very delicate feminine matters.
- Lust.
(light piano music) Betsy was consumed by lust.
It's the reason her husband left her, and the reason those two always argued.
- Someone should let those poor birds go free.
- Oh, they wouldn't survive out in the world, Jemima.
Just like us.
(light piano music continues) (birds chirping) Sorry, I think I need to go and be free now.
Dr. Samuels has encouraged me to do it in my room.
(Delores humming) (chirping continues) - How serious were these arguments with Betsy?
- I'm not sure Miss, but she seems very upset.
- My condolences, Jemima.
You were friends with Betsy, weren't you?
- Best friends.
She was kind to me, like a mother would be.
- Well, I've had my share of disagreements with my mother.
- [Jemima] Have you?
- It's inevitable, isn't it, when you care about someone.
- Yes, but I'm only tending to the happy memories in my mind from now on.
Dr. Samuels is helping me.
He's my salvation.
- But you still do have to recognize the unhappy ones, don't you?
- No.
No, not anymore.
If I do that, I start to breathe too quickly and feel faint and pull out all my hair.
It's an odd habit.
We all have them.
But it's so hard to stop, isn't it?
- Jemima?
You all right?
- We were only talking.
- I know, but you've all had a big shock, and Dr. Samuels would like everyone to go to their rooms and get changed for group reflection.
(mysterious music) - Aunt P, do you have any idea who might have wanted to harm Betsy Cohen?
- Here?
Under my roof?
Of course not.
- Well, your guests do seem a little unpredictable.
- There was the Ming vase incident.
Some tiff about Betsy retiring early, then Jemima tried to push her down the stairs.
Narrowly avoiding my Ming vase.
It was all most unladylike - Unladylike?
Aunt P, your staircase is lethal.
- Your mind always jumps to murder.
Have you noticed?
It's a very bad habit.
- How long has Dr. Samuels been treating you?
- Two weeks.
I'm sure I told you.
He's helping me with my insomnia.
- I'm sure you haven't told me.
What insomnia?
- It's gone now.
He gave me some very effective tonic.
Some kind of herbal thing, I think.
- And what kind of treatment was he using on Arthur?
- I have no idea.
I was just relieved if he came back in a calmer state than he left.
Now, if you would excuse me, I, I have to... - Aunt P. - [Friend] It was singalongs.
- Excuse me?
- Top end of Collin Street, and all they did was play the bloody piano.
- Yeah, the tune always chewed Arthur up.
Remember his favorite?
♪ There's a long, long trail a-winding ♪ - Music therapy?
- Except ours was free.
And I bet that quack charged Mrs. Stanley like a wounded bull.
- Not like any kind of doctoring I've ever seen.
(birds chirping) - Small appliances include 10 decorative lamps, three types of crimping irons, two sewing machines, an electric iron, two electric jugs, an automated toaster, and an electrified bed warmer.
But none of them are scorched in any way, Sir.
- Thank you, Constable.
We'll be heading to the morgue.
Perhaps the victim's injuries will help narrow down our search.
- Oh, good thinking, Sir.
I'll bring the car around right away.
(birds chirping) - The new constable seems very keen to impress, Inspector.
- Any word from the old constable?
- Not since the postcard about the 20 pound Murray cod.
- Ah, he's improving.
Last word I had was a 10 pound golden perch.
Let Miss Fisher know I'll meet her at the morgue.
(mysterious music) - Charred flesh, very distinctive odor.
Well, the electric shock caused a spasm, but all of her fingers have been broken by force.
- By whoever removed that appliance.
- Have you met Dr. Samuels before?
- Our powers have crossed.
- [Fisher] That's hardly a glowing endorsement.
- Apparently he specializes in the treatment of female hysteria.
- Why would one of his patients think we'd come to close them down?
- Well, the director of the Medical Association has accused Samuels of some type of inappropriate behavior.
Do you have any idea what this appliance was?
- I have a fast developing theory.
Given what Dot reported on the victim's neurosis, Dr. Samuel's controversial reputation, and the victim's lack of underwear, I'd say an electrical massager.
- A what?
- A vibrating machine with a range of applications.
To various, sometimes delicate parts of the body.
- Oh.
Oh, that sort of electrical massager.
- Oh.
Do you know what we're looking for?
Have you seen one before?
- I, I was once ordered to raid a brothel in Chinatown that employed all manner of interesting devices.
- Now that's a tale I haven't heard.
- I confess I failed to understand the point of most of them.
- I have a friend who can enlighten you.
- It was during my cadetship.
The whole establishment made a, a lasting impression.
- Mr. Freud would be terribly interested in that.
- I'm quite interested myself.
- So, what exactly are we looking for, Sir?
- We'll discuss that later, Constable.
- It would certainly explain the conspiracy of silence.
- So, who is the current head of the medical association?
- Dr. Wilbur Littleton.
(train bell clangs) - Hayden Samuels was a former colleague of mine, but he was asked to leave our medical rooms when he was called before the board some three weeks ago to answer questions in relation to malpractice.
- [Fisher] On what grounds?
- Well, we received a complaint from a former patient to do with his tonics and the use of a certain device called The Percussor that he developed with a young colleague.
- We understand Dr. Samuel's specializes in women's ailments.
- Wealthy women's ailments, if you ask me.
Now, Dr. Samuels picks his targets.
Lost a few patients to his practice.
- [Inspector] What about Betsy Cohen?
- Some patients you can afford to lose.
- Betsy Cohen was found dead this morning.
- How is Dr. Samuels involved?
- Our investigation is confidential, Doctor, but you've been most helpful.
- No, no, no, wait, wait.
Please.
My daughter is a patient of Dr. Samuels.
- Jemima Littleton?
- Yes.
Yes, we've been estranged since Jemima met Betsy Cohen here, by chance.
And Betsy persuaded her to consult with Samuels.
Oh, she's obsessed with Betsy.
- In what way?
- Well, she suffers from a severe neurosis.
She lost her mother at a very young age, and she tends to latch onto other people as compensation.
- Freud calls that transference, doesn't he?
- It makes her vulnerable to influence.
- And volatile?
- Are you suggesting that Jemima had something to do with Betsy Cohen's death?
- We have to canvas all possibilities, Doctor.
- Oh, I'd worry about stopping Hayden Samuels' madness before you have another victim on your hands.
(mysterious music) (birds chirping) (curious music) (curious music continues) (door clicks) - Oh, it's only you.
- I think you might be missing these.
- Thank you.
The doctor probably hasn't even noticed I'm gone.
Ah, I thought it would be so different without Betsy, but Dr. Samuels seems to only have eyes for Harriet now.
Oh, the heart is a fickle thing.
(door thuds) (curious music continues) (door clicks) (door creaks) (paper rustling) (playful chiming) (Miss Fisher hums) (drawer rattles) (curious music continues) (suspenseful music) - Better hurry, Miss.
Eurhythmics dancing will be over in a couple of minutes.
(door thuds) (curious music) - A lemon button fern, Dot.
We're looking for a lemon button fern.
(curious music continues) Ah ha.
(curious music continues) (curious music continues) Perkins Percussor.
I think all our murder weapons should be labeled.
- What is it Miss?
- Well, remember that time Ronaldo, the rodeo rider, came to supper and you came to my rescue?
- I thought he was doing something awful to you.
- But it was just awfully nice.
Well, this does the same job, but without the need for a rodeo rider.
- Ew.
- Extremely useful.
Unless, of course, it electrocutes you.
- As the creator of this device, Dr. Perkins, we thought you could take a look and tell us why it would be faulty.
- If I were to flick this switch.
- No!
- I think we have our answer.
- Someone has deliberately tampered with the wires here.
And who'd do that to my machine?
- We thought you might, Dr. Perkins.
You are the one who hid it in the fernery.
- I found it that way.
I rushed into Betsy's bedroom, I could see that it had shorted.
I had no idea why.
I presumed it was some kind of mechanical oversight on my part.
- And you thought it would be all right to break a dead woman's fingers and remove a key piece of evidence from a crime scene?
- To avoid a possible manslaughter charge.
- Or worse.
Jack, have you had a look at this?
Betsy Cohen pledged a 20,000 pound donation as a bequest from her estate.
- You don't understand.
I wasn't hiding the Percussor to protect myself.
- Who were you protecting then?
How would Betsy Cohen have got hold of the Percussor?
- I don't know.
It was locked away in my medicine cabinet.
- Presume your secretary has keys to that.
- Yes, of course.
And Dr. Perkins and myself.
No one else.
- Did you recommend this treatment to Betsy?
- No, but, but yes, initially.
We'd stopped using it.
We developed it about a year ago, but it was of limited use.
Symptomatic relief at best.
- Dr. Perkins said that you stopped using it to avoid controversy.
- Same controversy that had you up in front of the Medical Association board and saw you evicted from your rooms.
- Why did you tell my aunt your lease had expired?
- Because it's the truth, though it was orchestrated by Wilbur Littleton and his cohorts.
He'd do anything to discredit me.
- Why were they so worried about you?
Does it have anything to do with these women?
- Those files are confidential.
- Some of them are so confidential they're empty.
- Ms. Broadford's file was requested by her family for legal reasons.
- You have no right.
You have no grounds to hold my client here.
I demand as the Inspector Robinson immediately!
- Mr. Edwards.
Dr. Samuels is just here to answer some questions.
- On suspicion of murder, I've just been told.
- Who mentioned the word murder?
- Sir, I may have used the word murder in passing.
- Seems there's been some misunderstanding, Mr. Edwards.
- Miss Fisher, I hope so.
I would hate to have to sue for wrongful arrest.
- I'm sure it doesn't have to come to that.
Last thing my reputation needs is another court case.
- It's best that I represent you in this investigation from here on Dr. Samuels.
Now, if this questioning is over... (tense music) - That's why Victoria Broadford's file is missing, Jack.
Her death must be the subject of some court case.
- Possibly the complaint to the medical board as well.
- If there was an inquest, Mac could find out something.
- The Victoria Broadford case.
The family believed that Mrs. Broadford was deliberately poisoned by a homeopathic preparation.
- Did the coroner commit Dr. Samuels to trial?
- No.
Failed to find grounds.
- So far, all Victoria Broadford has in common with Betsy Cohen is they both use the Percussor.
- Uh, excuse me, Sir.
I've just discovered something which might be relevant to our investigation.
Dr. Samuels brought assault charges against a member of the Broadford family a month ago.
- Go on.
- Well, the charges were dropped, but the Broadford family accused Dr. Samuels of hoodwinking Victoria Broadford into changing her will.
- How on earth did you find this out?
- Oh, it's my thorough nature, Miss Fisher.
I requested a record check of the name Broadford through all city stations.
- Dot, I think we need to take a closer look at Harriet Edwards' accounts.
There may be other women who've done the same thing.
Why don't you and Constable Martin cross-reference your notes first.
- Good work, Constable.
We'll see you back at the station.
- No, thank you, Miss Williams.
I'll give you copies of my notes, but I won't be requiring yours.
You see, the inspector might think that Miss Fisher is invaluable to his investigation, but I've never needed a woman to do my job.
So why should I start now?
- It's men like that that make the rest of them look reasonable.
(birds chirping) - They're lovely birds, Miss Edwards.
- They're a special gift.
They're devoted to each other.
- That's a very romantic gesture.
- Well, it's all accounted for.
Ingoings, outgoings, every donation, including bequests, and every expense down to the last postage stamp.
- I noticed there are no regular consultation fees in here.
- Dr. Samuels is a utopian.
He prefers to run the practice solely on donations.
The women who can afford to give more, support the women who have less.
- Except, luckily, most of Dr. Samuels' patients are extremely wealthy.
- Well, he's been in private practice in Collins Street.
Of course, only a certain caliber of patient will visit him.
- Who encourages the patients to donate such large amounts?
- No one.
They do it to show their appreciation.
- Where is all this money held?
- At the bank, of course, in a safety deposit box.
And it is safe.
I have the only key.
Is there anything else you'd like to know?
- I see Victoria Broadford bequeathed her entire estate.
- She was very grateful to Dr. Samuels.
- Prudence Stanley, 1,000 pounds.
- Yes.
Why don't you ask your aunt if she was talked into it?
- Wish I had never opened my doors.
- Well, what about this hypnosis treatment you've been having?
- What hypnosis?
Doctor Samuels said it was a state of deep relaxation.
- Well, whatever he calls it, are you sure that you can remember everything that you agreed to in that state?
You might have left him more than a thousand pounds!
- My personal finances are my own business, and I certainly don't need your interrogation at a time like this.
- I'm sorry, Aunt P. All of this on top of losing Arthur, it's all too much.
- This has got nothing to do with Arthur.
Oh, I just wish people would forget all about him.
- [Jemima] No, please!
- [Wilbur] You are coming with me!
- Father, please!
You don't understand.
(dramatic music) No!
- Jemima, I'm sorry.
It's all been arranged.
It's for your own good.
- Come down, Wilbur.
Let's discuss this.
(fist thuds) - Surgical interventions make you act like a fool, and I'll be damned if I let you take her!
- No, no, Littleton!
This is no way to solve anything!
- Jemima get in the car!
- You can't make me!
- Dr. Littleton, you have five seconds to remove yourself from the property or I'll be forced to charge you with assault.
- Huh, go ahead, charge me.
I'll willingly face it for the sake of my daughter.
- Dolores.
If I can have your full attention, Gentlemen.
- No, Dolores, not now.
- Dolores, this isn't the time!
- Dr. Littleton, unless you unhand Jemima this second, I believe Dolores will strip herself naked as the day she was born.
And what's more?
I will join her.
- Good God!
- And so will I.
- You're all stark raving mad!
This isn't the end of the story, Samuels.
I'll be back.
- I should know better than to underestimate the power of the feminine.
- Jemima came to see me because her father had consulted with a gynecologist of great repute who had recommended surgery.
- But she's only a young woman.
- Young or old, heaven knows why anyone thinks surgically removing a healthy womb would improve a woman's mental state.
- Are any of the other women facing the same choice?
- All diagnosed with female hysteria.
- Betsy too?
- Yeah.
In her case, it amounted to surgical castration.
- Surely Aunt Prudence wasn't facing a hysterectomy.
- Miss Fisher, unless your aunt acknowledges the source of her pain through hypnosis or any other therapy you find acceptable, she will never find peace.
(light music) (light music continues) - Make sure you lock your door tonight, Mrs. Stanley.
Few dubious types on the loose.
- This is a home, not a fortress, Albert.
People will just have to learn to behave.
- Can't be helping your peace of mind.
Still wandering the halls in your night dress like the lady in white.
- I'll thank you not to mention that to anyone.
Most especially not to my niece.
- You were looking for scallop pies.
Arthur's favorite.
- I was talking nonsense.
It was a bad dream, that's all.
And I don't want you discussing my son.
(light music continues) - You know, losing mates in the war was bad enough, but pretending they never existed, that's plain wrong.
(light music continues) (leaves rustling) (birds chirping) - We all wearing comfortable shoes for our nature walk, ladies?
- Even though Dr. Samuels rescues these women from surgery, he still ends up a very rich man once they're dead.
- True, but he may not be the one benefiting from all this.
- You suspect Harriet Edwards?
- Donations, bequests, deposit boxes stuffed with cash.
And whoever can wheedle a thousand pound donation out my aunt has a tongue of solid silver.
- Harriet.
- Oh, um.
- Speak of the devil.
- I won't be walking this morning, Dr. Perkins.
I'm not feeling at all well.
- I wonder what's ailing Harriet?
- Come on, ladies.
(curious music) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (bell chimes) (curious music continues) (paper rustling) (door thuds) (keys jingling) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) (curious music continues) - [Fisher] Thank you, Mr. Butler.
That's perfect.
- No trouble at all, Miss.
Something I picked up in the Signals Corps.
- P, A, T, E, N. There's another letter.
Patent.
That's it.
That's what angered Harriet so much.
Dr. Perkins must have been chasing a patent for his Percussor.
(engine rumbling) - [Inspector] Your keys, Miss Edwards.
(keys jingling) - Red backs.
This key was hidden under Dr. Perkins' desk.
He took a wax mold and made a copy for himself.
- Some money has gone missing from the safety deposit box.
I was trying to keep the rest safe.
I knew Dr. Perkins wanted to popularize his device, but Dr. Samuels disagreed.
- So Dr. Perkins was pursuing it alone.
- And for that, he would need funds.
- Dr. Samuels was never convinced of the Percussor's therapeutic value, but we're sitting on a gold mine.
- With such different views to Dr. Samuels, why didn't you just leave the practice?
- Well, how can I hang my shingle out anywhere?
As a physician, I'm tied with the same brush.
I had to do something.
- Given your commercial interest in the Percussor, it makes perfect sense for you to remove it from the scene of the crime.
- After you'd sabotaged it.
- But why would I do that?
Why would I wanna hurt Betsy Cohen?
- Because payments don't come cheap.
- And you had a way of accessing the small fortune that Betsy planned to leave the practice.
- By rights, some of that money belonged to me, but I knew nothing about Betsy Cohen's bequest.
I swear.
(birds chirping) - The game's up, Samuels.
So you can pack your things, ladies.
This so-called health establishment no longer operates under the auspices of the Medical Association.
- What do you mean, Dr. Littleton?
- Your lawyer can fill in the finer points.
I have just come from the extraordinary meeting of the board.
You've been struck off.
- I congratulate you on your doggedness, Wilbur.
- Did you really think that I would abandon my daughter to your depraved ideologies?
I'll send a car around for you this afternoon.
- This is terrible.
- It'll be all right, Harriet.
- They cannot do this to you, Hayden.
You haven't had a chance to defend yourself.
- My God, what a dreadful mess.
(somber music) I am terribly sorry, ladies, but I can no longer go on treating you.
(somber music continues) - No!
(ominous music) (Harriet screams) They were mine!
They were mine.
My darling birds.
- Someone's wrung their necks.
- Calm down, Harriet.
A moment of reflection for your poor birds, the wonders of nature.
- I'm sorry.
I can't be calm, I have to tell you.
I can't keep it in, I'll go mad.
I have to tell you.
I have to tell you!
- Listen right, you are distressed.
(Harriet screens) (hands clapping) Look into my eyes.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Good.
Everything will be all right.
Now, now I'll just mix you a little something to settle you down.
- Come quickly.
It's Jemima!
(dramatic music) - Jemima!
Please don't move!
Stay right where you are.
I'm coming up!
- Leave me alone!
You abandoned me!
- [Samuels] I'm sorry!
- Stay away or I swear I'll jump.
- No!
No, please!
Stay right where you are!
- Just stay whatever you can to keep her calm.
- Jemima, I'll find a way to go on treating you.
I promise.
- Jemima.
(suspenseful music) (patients gasping) - Get away from me!
- People are always disappearing out of your life, aren't they, Jemima?
your mother, Betsy.
- Betsy left me just like Mama did.
I wasn't enough for her.
- That's not true.
Somebody hurt Betsy.
She was taken away from you, she didn't leave you on purpose.
- I thought she wanted to die.
- No.
- I know something.
Something terrible.
I promised Betsy to keep quiet, but now it's all over and it's all my fault.
- That's not true.
You're a young woman with a mind of your own.
Your father is responsible for closing this clinic, not you.
Not you.
Come back inside.
Come on.
(dramatic music) (Jemima gasps) (somber music) You're safe.
- Harriet's the one who gave Betsy the Percussor.
But Betsy made her do it because she knew things about her.
- What sort of things?
- I can't, I can't remember.
(somber music continues) - Keep breathing.
Good.
- But Harriet seems so genuinely devoted to Dr. Samuels.
- Betsy must have given her compelling reasons to act so disloyally.
Where is Harriet?
- Resting upstairs.
(dramatic music) (Dorothy gasps) I'll go get Dr. Samuels.
- Wait, Dot.
This kerchief was wrapped around Dr. Samuels' portrait.
(haunting music) - How is she?
- I'm so sorry.
- Oh my God.
- Oh my.
My poor Harriet.
What did you do to her?
What did you give her?
- Please, Mr. Edwards, calm down.
(Edwards gasps) - [Mac] It's poison, all right.
Nux-vomica.
- Same poison involved in the Victoria Broadford inquest.
- Better known as Strychnine.
It's a common ingredient in homeopathic preparations, but it's diluted over and over again to totally harmless levels.
- Restorative tonic special blend.
- Concentration in that bottle, perfectly safe.
- Well, that was the coroner's finding in the Victoria Broadford case.
- But someone added a lethal concentration of nux-vomica to that medicine glass.
- Harriet knew who Betsy's murderer was.
Why else would she keep the other half of this collar stud?
She was poisoned to keep her quiet.
- Our options seem to be narrowing.
- The key to it all could be in Jemima Littleton's head.
- Sounds like an impenetrable place.
- She has trouble recalling trauma, that's all, like most of us, including my Aunt Prudence.
I wonder if hypnosis would help.
(curious music) - Allowing a prime suspect to help us with a witness is a first, even for you.
(Fisher hushes) (hands clapping) - Now, Jemima, I want you to think back to what Betsy told you about Harriet.
- She said she was shocked by Harriet.
- By what exactly?
- By what she was doing in the bathroom.
- Do you know what she was doing, Jemima?
- She was with a man.
- Who was the man, Jemima?
Who was Harriet with?
- Betsy wouldn't say.
She said I was too innocent to understand.
But I'm not so innocent, and I do bad things, things I couldn't tell Betsy about.
- [Samuels] But you can tell me.
- Oh, it was wrong.
I know it was wrong.
I watched them.
(ominous music) I looked through the keyhole and I watched them.
And I couldn't look away.
I couldn't.
It was so depraved.
- Let it drift away, Jemima.
(hushes) Breathe in, breathe out.
(fingers snapping) I am sorry, I can't push her any further today.
I know you need more.
- On the contrary, Dr. Samuels, I think we have a much better idea of who we're looking for.
Just need to be absolutely sure.
(engine rumbling) - Excuse me.
Mr. Edwards?
- Yes.
- Found this in the driveway, it doesn't belong to the doctors.
Look familiar?
- Oh yes, I was looking for that.
Thank you.
(light dramatic music) (engine rumbling) You think I killed Betsy?
- Harriet told you that Betsy was blackmailing her and she'd arranged for Betsy to have access to the Percussor the morning she died.
So you arrived early for your appointment, unseen by anyone, as you've done on many other mornings.
- [Inspector] And sabotaged the Percussor after Harriet left it for Betsy.
- You can't prove that.
- We found half of your collar pin in Betsy Cohen's bedroom the morning she died.
Harriet found the rest of it.
Though she became more suspicious of you, she drew closer to Dr. Samuels.
So you decided to retaliate by taking away something that your sister found precious.
(suspenseful music) Your gift to her.
(suspenseful music continues) But when Harriet threatened to tell Dr. Samuels everything, you decided to do something more permanent about it.
You knew all about nux-formica and how lethal it was because it had been a key part of the Victoria Broadford case.
(suspenseful music) - Why would I kill my own sister?
- To hide the truth.
Harriet was ready to tell Dr. Samuels everything.
Jemima Littleton had witnessed what you were doing.
- And you would take the word of a woman clinically diagnosed as crazed and hysterical?
- Jemima saw you with your sister three mornings ago in the bathroom at my aunt's house.
Harriet was leaving you, wasn't she?
- It was all Dr. Samuels' fault.
As soon as she started working for him, she began to question everything.
She convinced herself that what we were doing was wrong.
- [Inspector] It was wrong.
- Not to me!
Not to us!
I loved Harriet.
Harriet loved me.
- And killing her?
- See, you wouldn't understand.
If, if she didn't wanna be with me, I didn't have a choice.
(birds chirping) - Miss Williams, I was wondering if you could help me with something.
- Go ahead, Dot.
- Why would you need the help of a woman, Constable?
- Because a woman's locked herself in the police car with no clothes on.
- Dolores.
- Switzerland is such a long way away.
- But very forward thinking.
And thanks to the generosity of some of my patients, I can always start again.
- And Jemima?
- Will be assisting me.
I cannot fail her, like I failed Harriet.
- It was not your fault.
- She was crying out for help, and I misread the signs.
- You weren't the only one guilty of that.
But before you go Dr. Samuels, please join us.
We have a surprise for Aunt Prudence in the parlor.
(gentle music) - Scallop pie?
Nothing wrong with celebrating the people you miss.
- Perhaps just one.
On that dreadful, dreadful day when Arthur was laid to rest, it was all I could pray for, that there would be scallop pies in heaven.
- Allow me to show you to your seat, Madam.
- Come along, Doctor.
We need your dulcet tones.
(bright music) - We'd just like to say that this song is for Arthur Stanley.
Gone, but never forgotten.
♪ Nights are growing very lonely ♪ ♪ Days are very long ♪ ♪ I'm a-growing weary only ♪ ♪ Listening for your song ♪ ♪ There's a long, long trail a-winding ♪ ♪ Into the land of my dreams ♪ ♪ Where the nightingales are singing ♪ ♪ And the white moon beams ♪ ♪ There's a long, long night of waiting ♪ ♪ Until my dreams all come true ♪ ♪ Till the day when I'll be going down ♪ ♪ That long, long trail with you ♪ - Thank you.
(birds chirping) - [Fisher] Poor Aunt Prudence.
It has indeed been a long and winding trail.
- Pity it took two murders to prove it's not healthy to bottle things up.
- Which reminds me, you never did tell all about the Chinese brothel.
- I have trouble recalling trauma.
- Jack Robinson, you promised me.
Do I have to put you on the couch and psychoanalyze you?
- Sounds inviting.
Perhaps another time in a more intimate setting.
- I'll hold you to that.
(upbeat jazz music) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (upbeat jazz music continues) (light dramatic music) (dramatic whooshing)