Murdoch Mysteries

What's this about?

Before I tell you anything, Murdoch,

you must agree to absolute secrecy.

- No one can know that you're involved. - I understand.

His name is Gaetan Vidal, a diplomat from France.

I was acting as his host but I had to leave briefly.

When I returned...

You'll see for yourself.

Wait.

What is it?

I left a cigar band in the door jamb...

and it was replaced in the wrong spot.

Someone's gone inside.

Woah!

Terrence Meyers!

Régine Rivière?

That was for Prague!

What are you doing here?

I am Monsieur Vidal's attachée.

I assume you are the host?

How could you have let this happen?

What happened?

Who is this man? Why is he here?

Detective William Murdoch.

_

_

Oui.

We can trust him?

Yes.

Then he must be informed.

Yes.

I must be informed.

Murdoch, if we don't find out who killed this man,

the result will be the greatest war this world has ever known.

Vidal was here to sign a treaty.

Canada was chosen as neutral ground.

The treaty is to be between Britain, Russia and France.

But France is already allies with Russia. And with Britain.

But Britain and Russia remain enemies.

This treaty will mend that bridge and form a triple entente.

An alliance strong enough

to withstand an attack from any nation on the planet.

And you believe this attack to be forthcoming?

It's the mad Kaiser, Wilhelm. He lusts for Weltmachtstellung.

Weltmachtstellung?

- World power. - Without the triple entente,

the entire world is vulnerable. This treaty cannot fail.

And now, one of the signatories is dead.

I will telephone Paris and arrange for a replacement.

I believe our foreign secretary is currently in Washington.

We must insure that he and the rest of the diplomats remain safe.

Well, it appears he's been stabbed several times.

Likely bled to death.

He knew his attacker was about to strike.

You can tell that by his pipe?

Ceci n'est pas une pipe.

Single shot pistol.

I gave it to Vidal for protection.

And he was just about to shoot?

But the killer acted first.

- I'll contact Miss Hart and request the post-mortem. - Who?

Miss Hart. She works under Dr Ogden at the morgue.

Unacceptable. No one else can know of this.

I agree this Hart woman cannot be involved,

but Dr Ogden is Murdoch's wife. She can be trusted.

They were drinking wine.

The killer earned his mark's trust, then struck.

- Classic spy craft. - A spy?

- But for whom? - Who else?

Clearly the Germans would want this treaty to fail.

- What will I wear? - Monty won't give a toss.

He's an old army man. You could have told me in advance.

I only found out myself this morning.

- I didn't think you'd want to come. - Of course I'd want to come!

Well, you didn't want to come when Teddy was in town.

Or when Whitey was in from New Zealand.

Well, yes, but

Monty is another matter altogether.

- Excuse me, darling. - I am simply glad

an old friend of yours is coming to town.

Terrence Meyers!

What brings you here?

Well, I'm afraid that information is classified, Inspector.

Ah, but not to Murdoch.

Detective Murdoch has become involved, as

has Dr Ogden. I'm afraid the list ends there.

- It's a matter of... - Let me bloody-well guess.

National security?

No. International security.

Ah, Mrs Hall!

How are you liking your accommodations?

- Do you think you'll be staying in the house? - I do hope so.

I thought you worked on Saturdays, George.

Yes, well, I do ordinarily, but I saved up some of my off days

and decided to spend some.

Oh. A whole week-end off

and you're spending it at home?

Yes, well you have to think of it as a stay-at-home vacation,

- or as I like to call it, a "homecation". - Mm.

And old Miss Pratt has you fixing the stoop?

Yes, she didn't quite grasp the idea.

Eric, what's the matter?

- My motorcar's gone. - Oh, your favourite toy.

Where did you last see it?

I was playing with it in the park at the sandbox.

Well, we'll go back and look as soon as I finish hanging this washing.

I don't mind taking him for a look around.

I could use the stroll. What do you say, Eric?

It may be for the best, Constable.

You see, I think it was stolen.

We were both new to the world of espionage.

Me, a rugged youth of the Great Lakes.

And she, a coy nymph from the mountains of Alsace.

Of course, ours was a love that couldn't last,

for love dies in dishonesty.

We couldn't go on with such suspicion in our minds,

but while it burned, Murdoch,

the intensity was such that...

I believe I've found something.

Oh. Fingermarks?

Indeed. A full set from a right hand,

but not just any right hand.

The killer had six fingers.

We have a problem.

The Russians have arrived.

- They were scheduled to arrive tomorrow. - Well, they're here.

Apparently, they informed Vidal by telephone last night.

Then they know Vidal was here. It's over.

Not necessarily.

Tell them Vidal is indisposed.

That we'll stall them until your men from Washington can arrive.

It won't work.

The Russian diplomat, Evgeny Dorokhov, is a coward.

Appointed only because he is the tsarina's nephew.

If he senses something is amiss, he will flee.

And if he informs the tsarina...

Then the chances for an accord are over.

There's only one way out.

Allow the Russians to walk away

and we convince King Eddy to make peace with his nephew, the Kaiser.

The rest of the world may fall to Deutschland,

but at least Britain will be safe.

_

The German will confront France first and take Paris in forty days.

France will just have to fight.

I have an idea.

Someone will pose as Vidal.

Nobody knows he's dead.

We pretend he's still alive,

just until his replacement arrives.

Oh.

Fine idea, but I don't speak French.

Not you.

Vidal's build, his hair, even his face...

Doesn't it resemble someone?

Someone who we know is fluent...

en français.

No.

- No... - Murdoch,

the fate of the world lies in your hands.

I can see a bit of resemblance.

I don't have a...

And I'm much more...

We don't look anything alike.

Murdoch, none of these people have ever seen Vidal before.

All you have to do is play the part.

I can't impersonate a political figure.

Why not? You've impersonated an anarchist.

And a workman. And a homosexual.

You're taking his side?

It seems important.

Well, I suppose someone needs to protect the Russian diplomat

in case the killer strikes again.

Bien !

I will need to brief you before we meet with the Russians.

On what?

Monsieur Vidal has a reputation

in the world of international diplomacy.

For example,

it is well known I am more than his attachée.

How much more?

I am also his lover.

- Did you know that? - No.

No, I did not.

Did you see anybody playing over there?

Right, then. Well, in that case,

if we don't have any witnesses,

I suggest the first thing we do is look for a clue.

- A clue? - Evidence.

A clue as to who might have been here.

For example,

this footprint.

Now, this sand gets washed around all the time,

so we can assume that this footprint is fresh.

And by the shape of it,

I would say it belongs to a girl.

You mean a girl stole my motorcar?

This footprint either belongs to the most notorious toy thief

this city has ever known, or possibly

to a young girl who knows something about your toy car.