Frankie Drake Mysteries

The board of the Royal Ontario Museum?

What, you got a problem with that?

That is really something.

Well, what's wrong with being civic-minded?

It's hardly your strong suit.

Well, if you must know

I've decided it's high time I went legit.

Hm? Well, God knows this place could use some livening up.

I mean, look at them. Deadly dull!

Yet well-heeled and ripe for the picking.

Why must you always think so poorly of your mother?

Who, by the way, didn't ask you here

to get a lecture. - So, why am I here?

I didn't set out to find treasures

of lost civilizations.

That happened quite by chance.

On an overnight train to Marseilles

I met the renowned archaeologist Howard Carter.

What a charmer.

He persuaded me to go with him

to the Valley of the Kings

where he was looking for the lost tombs

of the pharaohs.

Digging in the sand has been my passion

ever since... - I thought you two should meet.

You know, the whole Egypt thing and all.

Marian and I have crossed paths before.

You don't say. Where?

Here and there. - Care to elaborate?

No. - Mono, what's the big secret?

Shhh.

Working with Hiram Bingham Ill

in the lost city of Machu Picchu

I excavated

in the field of a dirt-poor farmer

who... like his forefathers before him

feeds his family with the work of his honest hands.

In the very same dirt

I unearthed...

this.

CROWD MURMURS

And now, thanks to Ms Amory

this marvelous example

of 15th century mean earthenware

will be the centrepiece

of the ROM's new antiquities collection.

Very nice!

SHE CHUCKLES

Oh, please, yes.

That's something, huh? - Isn't it just?

How much does she want for it?

Ten thousand, give or take.

It's gonna make a fabulous splash.

I bet it will. And as Marian's champion

I'm sure you'll just bask in the glow.

And wouldn't that be swell?

That's my brother.

My condolences, Mr Parkes.

His full name and address?

Uh, Jack Arthur Parkes.

Ten-25 Rusholme Road.

Your particulars, should we need to reach you?

Ronald Parkes.

Two-1 O Prospect Street.

I'll make arrangements for burial.

No funeral?

He wasn't a religious man.

Not all of us are.

Your brother's belongings.

Again, my sympathies, Mr Parkes.

Thank you.

Well, yes, I would say I've lived an adventurous life.

Excuse me. Excuse us.

These provincial types love to ogle anyone exotic.

But here is someone I think you know.

Hello, Marian.

Ah... Frankie Drake.

Long time. - You've been busy since Cairo.

Small world, huh? How 'bout that?

I didn't know you were living in Toronto.

And you thought you'd seen the last of me.

I'm sorry to disappoint. - Well, you girls sure

seem pleased to be reacquainted, but--

Excuse rne. I mustn't keep the patrons waiting.

No, of course not. You go right ahead.

What the heck was that all about?

She was nowhere near Howard Carter's dig in Egypt.

What are you talking about?

The overnight train to Marseilles?

That was me. - What?

"He persuaded me to go to the Valley of the Kings...

he was looking for the lost tombs of the pharaohs..."

I told you that story!

Yeah, well, the details do sound vaguely familiar now that you mention it.

No kidding. - Oh, Frankie!

Come on, let it go. Honestly!

What interesting person hasn't exaggerated a thing or two about their past?

Well, not me.

Well... - I'm sure you don”: want to hear

that Marian is a fraud! - Oh, stop it!

Stop trying to spoil this for me, Frankie.

So, chop suey or something more adventurous? - Ooh, what did you have in mind?

Well, there's this restaurant serving this chicken thing

and ifs called coq au v/n.

Coq au veen? Coq... It's French.

Oh, no.

Well, alright, then. We can just go to Quon's.

What's that?

This wasn't here this morning.

It must've fallen off Jack Parkes' hand when they brought him in.

"To My Beloved Husband. Love Ingrid."

Oh, Flo, ifs his wedding ring.

I gotta return it. - Well, absolutely!

His wife will want a keepsake of her lost love.

Funny. The brother didn't mention a wife.

Ten-25 Rusholme Road.

Fancy a tram ride?

Yes!

Ten-25 Rusholme Road. - It's quite the fancy place.

Ahem! - Oh, excuse us.

Flo, I think this is-- - A nunnery.

I guess Ronald Parkes made a mistake.

Easy to do under the circumstances.

No problem. I got his address. - Right.

Hey.

This must be it. 210 Prospect Street.

It's another wrong address. That's odd.

I don't think so.

One wrong address is a mistake. Two is a lie.

So, a nunnery and an empty lot.

Someone is messing with the integrity of my morgue.

Well, if the addresses are fake, the names could be too.

I don't understand it. I checked out the coroner's reports.

John Parkes, or whoever he is

he died of a heart attack. It was textbook. No fuss.

But tell them about the inscription, Flo.

Whoever the dead man was, he has a wife named Ingrid.

And she needs to know what happened to him.

We're here for you, Flo. What do you need from us?

I can ask Bill to take a sneak peek in the city records.

See what he can find on the elusive Parkes family.

What about the dead man's photograph and fingerprints?

None on record.

But there's one way we can get them.

You sure dress nice for grave digging.

Oh, well, what did you expect, a miner's helmet?

Yes!

Jeepers. Sorry to be so gruff.

No, no, no.

No, these tears aren't for you.

OK.

Cemetery's closing for today.

I see that.

You know...

He died...

in my arms a year ago, this day...

And so we... we walked all the way here.

It was four or five miles.

And". I brought him these flowers...

...because it was such a special day. you see.

I would really appreciate it.

Thank you. This is my friend.

Thank you. You're very kind, sir.

Nice work. - Thank you.

It's Jack Arthur Parkes. "Parkes" with an E.

OK.

And there should be some records on his brother, Ronald, as well.

I'll check as soon as the secretaries leave.

Why do you wanna know, anyway?

The less you know, the better.

What, do you think the Head of Records is gonna tie rne to a chair down at City Hall

and blind me with some bright light?

You're reading too many spy novels.

No, I just don't want you losing your new job is all.

No one's gonna notice if I check a name for you.

What would I do without you? - You'd be lost.

Honestly, a little sneaking around

livens up the file room a little bit.

Besides. I wouldn't mind a little cloak-and-dagger lifestyle

you lead, Miss Trudy Clarke.

DISTANT SHOUTS - OBJECTS CLATTER

You wanna cheat at Mahjong

you find another joint to play in.

Wendy, you need help? - Nope. I'm good.

WENDY SHOUTS IN CHINESE

Honestly, sometimes...

I just hope for a simpler life.

Nah. I don't buy it.

You ladies live for the excitement.

No. I hear you, Wendy.

There's some nights the only thing I really want

is some nice music playing and a strong arm wrapped around me.

Think your girl is dropping you a big hint, Bill.

Well, I should get back to work

or I'll lose my job.

City Records will fall apart without me.

I'll be seeing you soon.

I'll get you a drink.

Good, you're alone. - What's going on?

You tell me. - What is that supposed to mean?