(mysterious music)
(old-time music, crowd cheering)
(indistinct chatter)
(cheering)
- This show is making people thirsty.
At this rate, we're going to run out of liquor.
- I'm glad tonight is profitable.
- Violet, you've had a long face all night.
Do you not like the show?
I'm just not in the mood for a party.
- Well, the rest of toronto is.
(woman): And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...
The one, the only...
Nina bloom!
(cheering)
(big-band music)
- Are we having fun tonight, toronto?
(cheering)
(man): Party's over, you painted ladies! Get out of this town!
(coughing)
(woman): It's a smoke bomb!
- It's all right, it's all right.
(sighs)
It's all right, I've got it. Carry on!
(indistinct chatter)
(coughing)
(clears throat)
- Hit it, boys!
(cheering)
(big-band music)
(bell ringing)
- That's enough complaining.
When I was your age, I was at work before daybreak.
All you two have to do is get yourselves to school on time!
(screams)
(suspenseful music)
- I spoke to the woman who found him.
She said there was no one else around.
- Very good, george.
- I can't believe somebody just left him like that.
- Dead?
- Naked.
I mean, presumably they were after his wallet,
But why take all of his clothes?
- But george, he was tied to a pole, stripped naked and killed.
I doubt very much this was just about his wallet.
(suspenseful music)
- I would estimate some time in the last three to seven hours.
- He appears to have been stabbed.
- Indeed. A puncture wound of a small circumference,
Close to the heart.
- Any other wounds?
- He has abrasions on his wrists from where
He was tied to the lamp.
I think he struggled for some time before he died.
That's all I can tell you for now.
- Very good, mrs. Hart.
(indistinct chatter)
(distant bell ringing)
- Miss hamilton. We've not seen you for a while.
- It's mrs. Reddick, now. This is my husband.
- How do you do?
- Inspector, I've just seen
Advertisements for a burlesque
Show that's to be staged in toronto.
- You don't say?
- I want to know what you
And your men are going to do about it.
- Honestly?
There's not much I can do about it, mrs. Reddick.
- But the burlesque is an absolute disgrace.
You may recall, I visited this station house
Before to complain about these types of shows.
- How could I forget?
- Our cause has been joined by mr. Glover.
- I can see why mr. Reddick is here. What's your excuse?
- Well, I've recently moved to toronto hoping
It would be a bastion of morality.
- Oh, have you now? Well,
Welcome to toronto, an excellent city where
Burlesque dancing is perfectly legal.
(indistinct chatter)
(ringing)
- Higgins, what are you doing?
- Giving miss bloom's show some free advertising.
- Your former ladylove is causing quite the stir.
- Is that right?
- I've just had some do-gooders rabbiting on at me.
They want me to shut down her show.
- But, sir, I haven't seen it yet.
- Yes, well these types are best left ignored.
- Have you seen miss bloom's show yet, crabtree?
- No, I haven't, sir. I'm a married man.
- And miss bloom is a former paramour. Too much temptation?
- Hardly seems appropriate.
- Well, that doesn't stop the inspector.
- Watch it, higgins.
- Excuse me.
Can you help?
I'm looking for my husband.
- How long has your husband been missing?
- Only a day.
But I am embarrassed to say
He may be in your cells.
For public intoxication.
- Ah. What's his name?
- Richard hadley.
- Could you describe him to us?
- He was wearing a brown tweed suit with a red tie
And a blue-striped shirt.
Clean-shaven, brown hair. Spectacles.
(suspenseful music)
- Large mole on his left thigh?
- Yes. Why?
That's richard.
What happened to him?!
- He was found this morning.
He had been stabbed.
- Who would do that to him?
Was he robbed?
- Yes, ma'am.
Of his clothes, even.
- He was naked?
- Mrs. Hadley, where was your husband last night?
- He always goes bowling on thursdays at the ymca
With some men from work.
- Detective? A word.
- Please excuse me, mrs. Hadley.
Uh, take all the time you need.
(sighs)
(mysterious music)
- Mr. Hadley had a great deal of alcohol in his stomach.
- The ymca doesn't serve liquor.
- Cause of death was a single stab wound,
Directly to the heart. He would have died in minutes.
I found this in the pulmonary valve.
It's gold and has a point at the end.
- Curious weapon.
- I'd guess it's half of a hat pin.
- Oh, very good.
- One more thing...
A stab directly to the heart is somewhat unusual.
The heart is difficult to reach.
The killer would have had to puncture the skin on the left,
Between the third and fourth rib,
And then directed the weapon towards the right.
- So, the killer had to have knowledge of human anatomy.
- Or got very lucky.
- Does effie know that nina is back in town?
- Higgins, I'm trying to tell you about our honeymoon.
- Yes, but does she?
- I don't know. I certainly haven't told her.
Perhaps she's seen a poster.
- Well, now that we're practically brothers,
I feel I have to say...
I don't think you should see nina.
- Higgins, I wasn't planning...
Look at this chap.
What did miss hadley say?
A... A tweed suit, striped shirt, red tie?
- Red tie.
- Excuse me, sir!
- Hm?
(suspenseful music)
(panting)
- Sir, stop there!
- Are those your clothes?
- They're mine, fair and square!
- Well, that's a strange thing to say.
Where did you get them?
- I'm not telling!
- I believe these clothes belonged to a man
Who was murdered last night.
- Oh.
Look,
I don't know anything about any murdered man,
But I'm keeping the suit!
- Turn out your pockets, please, sir.
(mumbles)
- There's nothing in the pockets!
Definitely no money.
Worst luck. (chuckles)
Just this.
(mysterious music) - the star bright club.
- Drunk, tied naked to a post.
What a way to go!
- Indeed.
- And how did he end up like that after a night of bowling?
- Sir, I telephoned the ymca.
The bowling alley has been closed for a month,
Undergoing renovations.
- So, hadley lied to his wife,
His wages were burning a hole in his pocket and he wanted a drink.
- Yes. Or it's possible he never told his wife
He was going bowling at all.
- Do you think she's lying to you?
- It's possible.
- Why would she do that?
- I shall endeavour to find out.
- Hm.
- His name was richard hadley.
- I'm sorry, there were a lot of men in here last night.
- Well, he was, uh, clean-shaven, spectacles,
Blue-striped shirt, red tie.
(laughing)
- Yes.
(chuckling)
I remember him now.
He slapped his wage packet on the bar and spent every penny.
- Something about this chap you found quite funny?
- It depends on what you find funny.
That man was enjoying himself, spending a lot of money,
When a woman came in looking for him. I assumed it was his wife.
- What makes you say that?
- Oh, I know an angry wife when I see one.
She asked for his wages.
When he said they were gone, she gave him quite a smack.
- Really? - Mm-hmm.
- And did they leave together?
- She marched out right after.
He stayed a while.
- Oh.
- George?
- Nina!
(playful music)
- You didn't come to my show last night.
- Well, I... I... I wasn't sure... I didn't know you were in town.
- Well, you must have seen the posters.
Well, never mind. You're here now.
You are looking fabulous, george.
You haven't aged a day. (scoffs)
You know, it was really sweet of you to come see me.
- As a matter of fact, I... I happen to be here on
Police business.
- Oh. So, you didn't come see me at all?
- Well, it... It wasn't that I didn't want to come to see you,
I was... I'm not sure how to behave, or... Or how to be,
In terms of you and me because I'm...
You know, I'm recently married.
- Hm.
And?
- And I wasn't sure if it was appropriate
To come see somebody who's a former...
You know, and also happens to be a...
You know.
Do you know? I don't know.
- George...
We're friends.
- Of course. Of course. Yes.
- Then you're coming to our next show.
- Yes.
- And you're bringing your wife.
- No!
- I will not take no for an answer.
- No... Nina, I...
- Don't worry. She'll have the best of care.
- If you would?
So, how is life as a working mother?
(sighs)
- Busy. But happy.
- Good. Honestly, there's so much going on around here,
I'm not sure how we'd cope without you.
(chuckles)
- I beg your pardon.
Can you help me, please?
- Yes. What can we do for you, mrs...?
- Parsons.
I wasn't feeling like myself this morning.
My neighbour said I should come...
- Oh! Mrs. Parsons, you all right?
- I think I'm going to faint.
- Kate, fetch some water.
Let's get you through to the examination room.
(soft music)
(sniffing)
- She slapped her husband right there in the star bright club?
- According to miss bright.
- Then she lied to us.
And where's this man who was wearing the victim's clothing?
- Ah, higgins had him wait in your office.
- Very good.
- Ah, sir, one other thing.
Have you and the doctor ever attended the burlesque?
- No, no.
Although we did attend a performance
Of the jubilee singers once
That turned remarkably racy.
- Right. I... It's just that nina bloom is in town
And she wants to meet effie and she's invited us to the show
And...
There's so many elements I find awkward and inappropriate
About it, I...I haven't the foggiest idea of what to do.
- My advice would be to seek counsel from someone else, george.
Shall we?
- All this fuss over some clothes?
I found them! They're mine!
- The man who owns those clothes was killed last night,
Mr. Trombey.
- Well, I like the suit.
I wouldn't kill for it.
- Mr. Trombey, I'd like to know where you found these clothes.
- I was sitting on a bench near the clarence avenue bridge,
And I saw a woman toss a pile of clothes over
Onto the tracks.
So, I went down and... And got them.
Fits pretty good!
- Can you describe this woman?
- Slight.
Blonde hair.
(soft music)
- That fits mrs. Hadley.
- So, she lied to us.
She slapped her husband and threw his clothes off a bridge.
Bring her in, george.
- Sir.
- Mrs. Hadley,
I understand you just lost your husband,
But you did lie to us.
- I was embarrassed.
I thought he had drank so much that he got locked up.
That's why I came here.
But I didn't want to say where he was drinking.
- So, you knew where he went last night?
- Yes.
- You went into the club and you confronted your husband.
- We're just scraping by.
I couldn't believe that he would be out buying expensive drinks
When we needed that money.
- What happened after the argument?
- I went home.
And when I woke up, I realized he hadn't come back.
And then work called saying he hadn't arrived for his shift.
- Was anyone with you?
Did anyone see you go home?
- No, I... I don't think so.
(suspenseful music)
- I have a witness who saw a woman throw your husband's
Clothes off a bridge...
A woman bearing your description.
- I don't know anything about that.
You have to believe me.
(indistinct chatter)
- Oh, george.
- Not now, higgins.
- Well, you don't know what I was going to say.
- If it's about nina, I don't want to hear it.
- It's actually about the murder, but if you don't want to hear it...
- Well, what is it, then?
- I was just speaking to stephen at the water cooler.
- This better be going somewhere.
- He just took a trip to buffalo
And he told me that while he was there,
He read a very interesting article in the newspaper.
- And?
Well, a man was stripped naked
And tied to a lamppost.
- Really? Was he murdered?
- No. But the man refused to say who did it to him.
It's strange, don't you think?
- Indeed. When was this?
- Two weeks ago.
- Right then, higgins,
See if you can find other
Instances of this happening in other cities.
- Well, how will I do that?
- Well, telephone the newspapers.
It's not the type of story they're likely to forget.
- Well, aren't you going to help?
- I'll help as soon as I'm back.
I've got to go talk to effie.
(mysterious music)
- Mr. Duncan.
To what do we owe the pleasure?
- Gives me no pleasure to say what I have to say to you, tom.
- Oh? Please, have a seat.
- I've just had mrs. Reddick down at the board of control,
Along with her husband, though she did all the talking.
- Yes, I've met her. Several times.
- She's furious about this burlesque revue.
- She's always complained about anything to do with liquor or dancing.
I told her today as I've told her before, it's all perfectly
Legal and I won't be putting a stop to it.
- You can and you will.
Mrs. Reddick said she will not rest until these dancers
Are made to stop. And she means it.
- What does it matter? Let her complain all she wants.
- She holds great sway in the temperance movement
And I can't afford to get on their bad side.
Shut it down, tom.
(mysterious music)
(sighs)
- Mrs. Parsons, your blood pressure's very low.
- Is that bad?
- Well, it's likely why you almost fainted.
We'll have to ascertain the cause.
Your heartbeat is accelerated.
- I... I'm just not going back to the hospital.
- You were in the hospital recently?
- Yes. Two weeks ago.
They were horrible to me.
- What were you in the hospital for?
- What they call a tubal ligation.
- That's a major surgery.
Have you been resting since?
- How can I? I have to work, raise my children.
My husband didn't want me getting it done,
But I told him I'd get the surgery and he wouldn't even notice.
(sighs)
Ah!
(groaning) - oh.
Mrs. Parsons, you're likely suffering complications from the surgery.
It could be internal bleeding.
Nurse sullivan!
This woman needs surgery immediately.
Help me prepare the room.
- But we can't.
- There's no time.
Now, kate!
(suspenseful music)
(sighs)
- So, let me get this straight,
Nina bloom has invited us to watch her remove her clothes?
- But not all of her clothes.
- Some of her clothes?
- Some of her... Most of her clothes.
- And you think this is a good idea?
- I think it's about the most uncomfortable situation
I could imagine.
But I didn't want to pretend the whole thing didn't happen and...
- And?
- And in an ideal world, I would like to remain a friend
Of hers and this is the way she suggested we proceed.
- Well, I hardly mind either way.
- Really?
- The question is what would you like to do?
(laughter)
Avoid the situation entirely.
- Right. Something that appears not to be possible.
- Ah, george crabtree. - We meet again.
- Ah! Here we are.
- Yes.
Ah, nina....
Lovely to see you. This is effie. Effie crabtree, my wife.
(laughing)
- Nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you.
- Hello, mrs. Crabtree.
- Nina, your former flame is married?
- I would like to introduce you both to the outspoken
Randy potts, edie sweet and scarlett blaze,
All part of nina bloom's burlesque spectacular.
- Well, lovely to meet you all.
- What's it like...
Knowing your husband courted the nina bloom?
- It's fine.
- You're not the least bit jealous?
- Why should I be?
If george crabtree is the prize, then I am the winner.
(laughing)
- I like her.
- Well, then it's settled, you're coming to the show.
- Well, we... We'd love to.
- I'm so pleased.
Until then.
Ladies?
(eerie music)
- Yes, I told the constable
That I remembered that man.
- Did you see him leave the club?
- I saw his wife leave, right after they fought.
- But what about him, or anyone else that was with him?
- No. Sorry, detective.
- Thank you, miss bright.
- You could ask the man that's been here harassing me and my patrons.
He was here again last night.
- Who's this?
- I don't know his name,
But he moved into that building across the street.
- Oh.
- Detective, you could also
Tell him to leave me and my club alone.
(mysterious music)
- Detective murdoch, toronto constabulary.
- Oh. Yes.
I spoke with your inspector.
Are you here to shut down that establishment across the street?
- Um...
I... I'd like to ask you if you saw a man leave the club
Last night between 1 and 2 am?
- Many men come and go from that place.
Absolute wastrels.
Chicago was bad enough,
I thought this was toronto the good.
(sighs)
- Uh, this particular man
Wore spectacles, had a red tie, brown tweed suit.
He was likely inebriated.
- I did see a man like that, as a matter of fact.
He came out of the club and he went that way.
Ah, he was with a woman...
Tall, red hair.
They went into those lodgings there,
At the end of the street.
(mysterious music)
- Are you quite sure?
The man I'm referring to was found this morning,
Having gone entirely the opposite direction.
- Oh, I'm sure.
(suspenseful music)
- I see two torn stitches causing internal bleeding.
- Blood pressure's still very low.
- I'm repairing the stitches now.
- This is irresponsible, julia.
We're not equipped for surgery.
- We had no choice.
- We should have taken her to the hospital.
- There was no time.
- And if we fail?
- We won't.
- Detective murdoch! How are you?
- Miss bloom. Hello.
- My burlesque troupe is in toronto.
You should come see a show.
- Ah, yes. Uh... (clears throat)
Uh, miss bloom, I'm conducting a murder
Investigation and, uh...
How do I put this delicately?
- No need to be delicate around us, detective.
(chuckling)
- Did you or any of your...
Friends bring a man back here last night?
- Not a real man.
- Randy.
No, not any kind of man.
We left the club together a little after 1 am.
(mysterious music)
- I spoke with a witness who says he saw the victim
With a red-haired woman.
- Surely I'm not the only woman with red hair in toronto.
- I'm sorry we can't be more help, detective.
We have to get ready for our show tonight.
- Of course. - Okay.
- Thank you.
- San francisco, chicago, buffalo have all had reports
Of men being stripped and tied to lampposts.
- Detroit, as well.
- Detroit.
And, of course, toronto.
Do you think it's the same person?
- Well, it's hard to say.
None of the men will admit
Who tied them to the lamppost.
- If it is the same person, why did they kill in toronto?
- If it was the same person,
Perhaps this time they just went too far.
- He could become a sequential killer.
- Or she.
Remember, it was a gold hat pin that was used
As the murder weapon.
- Were the men all embarrassed
That a woman overcame them and tied them up?
- That could be the case.
Although I've known some
Particularly strong women in my time.
- You certainly have.
-Higgins...
Wait a minute.
Give me that.
- Uh, read out the-the dates of the incidents.
- Yeah, buffalo, April 18th.
Columbus, April 25th.
Chicago, may 6th.
And toronto, may--
- Higgins.
We need to find the detective.
- Miss bloom, what can you tell me
About the night of the murder?
Because, at the moment, all of the evidence points
Towards you and your friends.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
- I can tie your burlesque troupe to a string of incidents
Where men were stripped naked and tied up.
- We didn't have anything to do with a murder.
I swear on my life.
- But did you know this man?
(sighs)
- After our shows, if there's a fellow
Who's a little too friendly,
One of us pretends to be drunk.
- And then what?
- She takes him home, the other women follow.
If he just takes her to her door and leaves, he's a gentleman.
- And if he doesn't just leave?
(eerie music)
- We take him out to the street corner, force him to undress
And leave him tied to a lamppost.
- Mr. Hadley was one of these men.
And miss blaze left the club with him?
- And randy potts threw his clothes over the bridge.
- Mr. Hadley could have overpowered any one of you.
- I have a prop gun for our cops and robbers routine.
I... I used it just to scare him a little. It doesn't work.
You can see for yourself, it's back at my room.
- Miss bloom, mr. Hadley wasn't shot.
He was stabbed through the heart with a hat pin.
- I... I don't know anything about that.
We never hurt anyone.
We just...
We just want to embarrass them and make them think twice
Before ever being aggressive with a lady.
George. Can we talk?
- Constable.
Is there anything you forgot to tell the detective this time?
(phone ringing)
- No, I... I just wanted to apologize.
I'm sorry I didn't tell you how we were involved sooner.
- Well, you really should have, nina.
I'm sure you know that this makes you
And your friends look guilty.
- I swear to you, we didn't hurt him.
He was trying to hurt one of us.
Look, george, you don't know what it's like
To always be on your guard,
To know that any evening, some man--
- I appreciate that, nina, but what you and your friends
Were doing... You were playing a very dangerous game.
- I know.
But, george, please stand up for us.
You know me.
You know I could never be involved in a murder.
(mysterious music)
- Right now I have to make sure that you're in the cells.
I'm sorry.
I believe her, sir. She had nothing to do with this.
- Sounds like she was involved.
She admitted as much.
- Well, they tied the man to a lamppost to humiliate him, that's all.
- That makes them all suspects.
- Yes, but anything could have happened after they left him there.
Sirs, you both know nina bloom well.
Do you honestly think she's capable of killing a man?
- Things could have changed since we last saw miss bloom, crabtree.
The life of a travelling burlesque dancer could make a woman--
- Into a murderer?
- Into someone who might go to extremes to protect herself.
(mysterious music)
(sighs)
- Mrs. Parsons, did you sleep well?
- I don't know, I think so.
- We had to operate to stop the internal bleeding.
- You... You saved me, doctor.
- Yes, but we're not equipped to perform surgeries here.
You should have gone back to the hospital.
- At the hospital they just poked and prodded me like I was
A slab of meat on the table.
(sombre music)
They didn't listen to anything I said.
I'm never going back there.
- You could have died.
- But I didn't, thanks to you.
- Cheers.
- Miss bloom and her dancers are in jail?
- Until we get to the bottom of what happened,
Their show's cancelled.
- Those protestors got their wish.
Maybe now they'll leave me alone.
- You ought to count yourself lucky.
They went to the board of control.
They want me to shut this place down.
- Shut me down?
I should be the one bringing charges against them!
- What for?
- They threw a smoke bomb on my stage.
- Why didn't you come to the station house
And file a report?
- What's the point?
And I didn't see who did it.
Are you going to shut me down?
- I'd rather not.
But if the board wants you out of business, they'll find a way.
(mysterious music)
You wouldn't still have that smoke bomb, would you?
- Yes, I think so.
Why?
- All right, george.
Miss bloom said the gun was
In a box near the door.
- Sir, it's rusted through.
Completely seized.
- Very good, george.
We'll bring that with us.
- Sir, I can't imagine we'll find much else of use in here.
I feel like we should be out looking for the real killer.
- I know you want to believe miss bloom, george,
But let's keep looking.
- What exactly are we looking for?
- We'll know when we find it.
- Oh, no. Sir?
- What is it, george?
The other half of the hat pin.
- The missing piece of the murder weapon.
- Oh, it's you lot.
- I trust mr. Duncan from the board of control has seen you.
- Indeed he has.
- Then you'll shut down that immoral nightclub immediately?
- Their show has been cancelled.
But don't gloat, it's nothing you did.
It's due to circumstances beyond your control.
- All the same, it's a small step in the right direction.
- What did I say when I saw you last?
- That the, uh, burlesque show
Was legal, which I find hard to believe.
- I said I would look into the matter.
But when I did, I found this.
(mysterious music)
This was thrown onto stage at the star bright club.
Now, I'm willing to bet one of you did it.
- We would never!
- Well, then you won't mind
Giving me your fingermarks to compare.
Or, I'll dispose of this
If you lot get out of my station house for good. Clear?
- You've just made an enemy of mr. Duncan, inspector.
Ronald!
- Scarlett blaze. Is that your real name?
- It's been my name so long, I forget any other.
- ...Anything to do with this.
- And this is the truth, miss potts.
- Constables,
Are these women dancers with that licentious revue?
- In the flesh.
- Are you both being arrested for immorality?
- Oh!
Um, we're all in here accused of murder,
But they've got nothing on any of us that'll stick.
(playful music)
- Miss potts.
Please.
Will you speak to all the women again, sir?
- They all covered for each other and I fear they would
Do the same again and we'd be no further ahead
In discovering who killed mr. Hadley.
- Well, if you don't mind, sir, perhaps I'll call effie.
Maybe she can help them.
- Ah, yes, george.
If they won't confess anything further,
Then I'm afraid I can't help them.
They'll all go to trial.
(mysterious music)
Where did this photograph come from?
- I suppose higgins may have found it
Looking into the ladies' tour.
- George,
Have a look at that.
- The hat pin?
The murder weapon.
- It's identical.
And it's worn by one edie sweet.
- I swear to you, I lost that hat pin in chicago.
I was frantic, it's the most expensive thing
Anyone ever gave me!
- If you lost it, how did half of it end up
In mr. Hadley's chest and the other half hidden in your room?
- I'm telling you, I don't know!
- You stabbed mr. Hadley with such force
The hat pin broke in half.
You then pulled the jewelled half out of his chest,
Hid it in your room, likely to pawn later.
- No!
I did keep it, but I didn't stab him.
I went back,
After we had all left him.
- You and your friends left mr. Hadley there
And he was alive?
You then came back alone and found him dead?
Why did you go back to him?
- I don't want to say.
- Miss sweet, you are likely going to hang for murder.
Your co-operation right now may be the only thing that saves you.
- I wanted an apology.
- For him trying to force himself on your friend?
- No.
Not that.
- You knew him?
- Years ago.
We used to...
Be together.
He beat me.
He stole from me.
He was horrible.
- That's why you all targeted him.
- It always feels good to give those men what's coming to them.
But with him...
I wanted more.
I wanted to see his humiliation just a little bit longer.
- Miss sweet, this all sounds like very strong motive for murder.
- But I didn't kill him!
He was dead.
I saw the hat pin, I panicked and I took it.
(door opening)
- Mrs. Crabtree. Thank you for coming.
- Of course.
I'm sorry our second meeting
Is under much less enjoyable circumstances.
Do you think you can get me out of here?
- Well, there's an awful lot of evidence against you.
- I just don't understand what happened.
When we left him, he was alive and then,
When I went back, he was dead. I...
- Your former lover, killed with your hat pin.
- Yes.
- How do you suppose it got there?
- I don't know. - Was it one of your friends?
- No! Why would they?
- Miss sweet, it's very difficult to understand how
Anyone but you could be responsible.
- Do you think I did it?
- I think that a jury will believe you did it.
(phone ringing)
(indistinct chatter)
- Oh, henry.
Good detective work today.
That photograph was very useful.
- Uh, what photograph, sir?
- The one you left on my desk of the burlesque dancers.
- I'm sorry, sir.
I don't know what you're talking about.
(mysterious music)
- Oh...
Right, henry, gather all of the information
You have on the men who were tied to lampposts,
Give it all to george and have him meet me
In my office straight away.
- Sir, I have those articles.
- Ah, yes.
Were you able to find anything
Pertaining to the chicago incident?
- I did, sir.
And that was the burlesque troupe's last stop before coming
To toronto, just last week.
Right, then, listen to this.
"a man was found this morning tied to a lamppost on the corner
Of fairview and carfax avenue.
He identified himself as dr. Sullivan reid
Of netheredge drive.
Dr. Reid refused to say how he found himself
In the predicament,
Or who put him there.
He also refused to comment on the fact that he was absent
A stitch of clothing."
- Miss sweet maintains that she lost the hat pin
In chicago and then it turned up here in toronto
As a murder weapon.
- But, sir, she had a prior relationship with hadley.
She hated him.
- That could be a terrible coincidence.
- So, how does this dr. Reid
From chicago figure into the murder?
- He could have taken the hat pin, kept it with him,
Travelled to toronto following the tour dates
Of the burlesque troupe,
It wouldn't have been difficult,
And waited for them to find their next man.
- There's no picture of him. How will we know who he is?
(soft music)
- Chicago.
I believe we've met him, george.
Several times.
- Chicago was bad enough.
I thought this was toronto the good.
- Mr. Glover knew that we had all the women in custody.
- We're all in here accused of murder,
But they've got nothing on any of us that'll stick.
- Sir, he could have been the one who put that photograph
Of miss sweet on your desk.
- He's the one who pointed me in the direction of the women's lodgings.
And as he's a doctor, he would know how to stab a man through the heart.
Release the women, george.
The show must go on.
- Good people of toronto!
Turn away from this den of iniquity!
Shameful degenerates have no place in our town!
- Mrs. Reddick, mrs. Reddick, what are you doing?
- We are trying to make the citizens--
- Dear, please.
We are doing work that you and your men should be doing, detective.
We were told the show tonight was cancelled, but evidently not.
- So, you're teaching these people a lesson?
- Precisely.
- Is that what you were doing, dr. Reid?
- Yes, of course. We must...
(suspenseful music)
(indistinct chatter)
- Sir, he's running!
(grunting)
(panting)
- Dr. Reid, you're under arrest.
- On your feet!
- They did it to me, all right.
All I was trying to do was help one of those ladies back to her hotel.
- Are you sure that's all you were doing?
- They tied me up, they took my clothes,
And they left me there all night.
I was the laughingstock of chicago!
I lost my practice, my wife, everything.
(sombre music)
- So, you took miss sweet's hat pin that night in chicago
And kept it with you?
- I knew I could use it to get revenge on at least one of those harlots.
And what better way to do it than stab it
Through the heart of another poor schmuck who they were gonna destroy?
- You killed an innocent man to get your revenge.
- Innocent?
He was at a burlesque,
Pawing women and drinking his life away.
Pathetic.
Just like me.
(mysterious music)