Murdoch Mysteries

A little token of my affection for my favourite Mr. Wednesday.

That's my cue!

Enjoy the routine and don't run off after.

(cheering, hooting and whistling)

(exaggerated gasping and sighing)

The infamous Star Room.

Not one of our city's finer forms of entertainment.

A good burlesque can be just as entertaining

as a good vaudeville. If a little suggestive.

Well, this place attracts all sorts.

Good evening, Doctor. Inspector.

I'm sorry for dragging you to such a place at this time

of night. Not at all. I've always

wondered what it looked like inside.

Not an entirely unlikely venue in which to find a murder.

More unexpected that anyone bothered to tell us about it.

Henry. Who telephoned the police?

Well, sir...

I did.

George? Crabtree!

What the bloody hell are you doing in a place like this?

Sir... : Higgins.

All right. What did you see?

A couple of pretty girls. A couple of not so pretty ones.

It's alright Crabtree.

I've been found in worse places than this.

What can you tell us about the incident, George?

Sirs, I can't tell you much of anything.

Where were you seated? Here at this table.

How could you not see anything?

You were sitting almost on top of the crime!

Well, Sir, I don't know; it gets loud in here.

Well, this may help explain a few things.

He used a kitchen towel to muffle the gun.

So, he walks in, wraps the gun in a kitchen towel,

shoots the victim, and walks out.

And the victim's dead a few minutes before anyone's even noticed.

Giving the killer ample time to escape.

Anything, Julia?

Yes. A single gunshot wound to the right temple.

I'll conduct a full post-mortem but I can't imagine the cause

of death will change. Is it your day off, George?

Doctor, yes.

I'm sorry that the show was so rudely interrupted.

They say it's quite a spectacle. Actually, doctor,

it really is-Well... Well.

: Yes.

: I believe my work here is done. Gentlemen.

Thank you, Julia.

George... exactly what was happening here an hour ago?

Sir, I believe that's when Miss Nina Bloom was on stage.

Which would explain why no one noticed this. She's...

She's rather the reason why men come here.

You say that as though you've been here more than once.

Let's get started, shall we?

What would you like me to do? Go home, Crabtree.

This is still your day off.

Full of surprises, that one.

Hm.

Ah, you there...

You found the body, did you? Yes, I did.

I heard this was a rough place, but I didn't expect this.

And what were you doing prior to finding the body?

I was around the tables, picking up glasses.

And you didn't see anything? Nothing.

Right. Thank you. This place is full

of lowlifes. Could have been any of them.

And you're certain that you didn't see anyone take a towel

off the bar? I'm here alone.

You see how crowded it is. It hardly matters to me

what happens to the towels. Can you identify the victim?

Called himself Gerry.

A regular? Last couple of months.

Always sat at the same table. Never caused any trouble.

Had a bit of an eye for Lydia. Who?

Miss Lydia Hall. The redhead.

We didn't see anything. We were both busy on the stage.

You didn't hear anything resembling a gunshot?

We already told you: no.

I understand

you were familiar with the victim, Miss Hall?

No. Not really.

If you withhold the truth from me,

I will be forced to add you to my list of suspects.

Now, the truth, please.

His name was Gerry. He had a room on Sumach Street.

The corner of Sumach and King.

Thank you.

There it is!

Julia. I am concerned about George

frequenting a place like that on his own.

Perhaps he doesn't wish

to spend his free time alone in his room.

Well, the vaudeville, yes.

The arcade, even. But the Star Room?

It just doesn't seem like the sort of place he would visit.

George has had a difficult year, William.

First Edna, then Emily leaving.

Perhaps he's simply lonely. Hm...

At any rate, 22 caliber.

I'm afraid there's likely not much else the body can tell us.

Right. Thank you, Julia.

I think what George needs

is a friend. Someone he can talk to.

Oh, would you... Not me, William...

You!

Right. Right.

Ah, here we are, Sir.

Awfully callous of the landlord to throw out the victim's

belongings so soon.

In any case, this must be the crate he was talking about.

George, I thought that you and I

might spend an evening together,

um, outside of work.

Sir, I would enjoy that very much.

Well, I thought you might be amenable

to an evening at Vaudeville.

Sir, to tell you the truth I've gone off vaudeville

a bit. It's too competitive.

All right then, if not vaudeville,

perhaps, uh... a concert,

or... a lecture!

Yes. The Royal Society

of Geologists is hosting an evening of talks

about tectonics, that's the division of...

Perhaps you could choose an activity, George.

Sir, I don't suppose you'd be up for a night at the burlesque?

I know what you're thinking, sir; some of the themes

are adult in nature, but it's actually a very clever show,

sir. People often say one thing

when they sort of mean something else. Very cheeky.

Yes, I'm familiar with what burlesque entails, George.

I just... didn't figure that to be

your sort of... comedy.

Well, sir, to tell you the truth, it's one

of the dancers there. Miss Nina Bloom. She's...

It sounds silly, sir, but she is mesmerizing.

That's her job, George.

Yes, I realize that, sir, but...

it's hard to explain. Have you a relationship

with this... Oh, heavens no, sir.

I doubt she knows me from Adam. I see.

You really need to see her perform to understand, I think.

Yes, well perhaps we'll find an activity

that we could both enjoy, huh?

Ah, here we are.

A birth certificate. From Buffalo.

The victim's full name was Gerald Sloan.

Well, here you are, George. Find out everything you can

about Mr. Sloan from his neighbours, his employer,

and I think you'll find the dancer,

Miss Lydia Hall, has some insights.

Sir.

All right, George.

It's good, talking, like this.

It's quite good.

Hello, Mr. Wednesday!

You do know the show doesn't start until later.

Or are you hoping for a sneak peek?

Eh, no. That is... I don't believe

I caught your name. George Crabtree.

Nina Bloom.

At your service, Constable.

I'm actually here on... official business, Miss Bloom.

And here I thought you'd come to help me with my routine.

Give me a few pointers from a real copper.

Perhaps I'm holding my gun incorrectly.

You are, in fact,

but I hardly think anybody minds.

Oh no. This is my craft. I strive for realism.

In fact, I'm having some trouble

taming my billy club.

Maybe you can show me your technique?

I am here to investigate a murder.

Lucky me!

You don't act like most people do when the police show up.

Especially... In a place like this?

: Well, I'm not most people.

And if you haven't noticed, I've taken a bit of a shine to you.

I imagine you're like that with most of your customers.

Heavens, no. Only the ones I find interesting.

And I think you find me interesting too.

I do.

Take me to dinner tonight.

Miss Bloom, I'm here to speak...

I'm... I'm actually here to speak to Lydia Hall

about Gerald Sloan.

Ah, all business, I see.

Well, she's not here yet.

You're at Station Number... Four?

Yes.

Then that's where I'll telephone you.

Ahem!

When Miss Hall arrives. Mm-hm!

Then too!

: Sir, the lads have yet

to come up with the murder weapon, unfortunately. They've

turned the Star Room upside down but have come up with nothing.

I'm not surprised, George. What did you

find out about the victim? Nothing again, sir.