All language subtitles for s02e04 - Houdini Whodunit.eng

Subtitling made
possible by Acorn Media

What the choffing hell?

Oh, sir, you must see this.
The man is quite remarkable.

Murdoch, are you watching
this? It's like some circus.

Oh, it's harmless, sir.

And the men seem
to be enjoying it.

Do we know who
the bloody hell he is?

Harry Houdini, sir.
The King of Escape.

Inspector Thomas Brackenreid.
The King of Station Four.

I knew you were a clever
man the moment I saw you.

Yes?

Well, yes.

What can we do for you?

Actually, it's what I
can do for you, sir.

The Toronto
Constabulary and guests

are cordially invited to
witness incredible feats

performed by the
Houdini Brothers.

Tonight at the
Shaftesbury Theatre.

Well, I suppose I
could find the time.

I'm sure you'll find
it most entertaining.

What next, gentlemen?

Handcuffs!

What?

Well, I'm not going to turn
down the offer of a free show.

- And neither are you.
- Oh, sir...

You need to get out more.
And so does Dr. Ogden.

All right.

And now, Leopold, you
must listen to Harry Houdini.

Think light thoughts.

And float.

I wonder if he's employing
the use of mirrors.

Oh, William, don't ruin it.

He's very good.

Wait.

What's this?

Miss Ruby, the
Temptress of Mystery.

Oh, my goodness.

Yes. That's quite an entrance.

It certainly is.

Miss Ruby, will you lend a hand?

And now, good people,

for the Houdini
Brothers' greatest escape.

My brother has 11 minutes
to escape from this vault,

or he will run out
of oxygen and die.

Starting...

now!

It's been nearly 11 minutes,
and still no sign of my brother.

He's not gonna make it.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Choffing hell.

Hail the greatest
escape artist of our time!

Help! Help!

The bank's been robbed.

And I think
somebody's been killed.

And it was you who done it!

Walk this way, sunshine,
because I want some answers!

We've got one dead man
and an empty bank vault.

Plus an eyewitness who
claims to have seen you

fleeing the scene of the crime.

That is unfortunate, isn't it?

Are you extracting the Michael?!

Excuse me?

Do you think you can make a fool
out of the Toronto Constabulary?

Dear sir, to whom do
you think you're speaking?

To the smug little smartass

who pulled off tonight's
bank robbery and killed a man.

You and probably
that brother of yours.

But, sirs, you yourselves
are witnesses to the fact

that we were on
stage the entire time.

Your brother was.

To distract, as I imagine.

But you. You were missing.

For 11 minutes, Mr. Houdini,
you were out of sight.

That was your idea
all along, wasn't it?

To personally invite
us to your little show

while you slip next door
and rob the bank vault.

I won't stand for
such allegations.

Mr. Houdini, you still
have to account for the fact

that you were identified
leaving the bank.

It wasn't me.

Where were you for
those 11 minutes?

I will not divulge my secrets.

Oh, yes, you will.

You haven't a lick of proof, or
you'd have already arrested me.

Am I right?

I'll say good
evening, gentlemen.

I'm watching you, Harold!

Harry.

It's Harry Houdini.

Soon everyone will know my name.

Not for the reasons you'd like.

Oh, he did it, all right.

Him and that brother of his.
Right under our very noses.

But you know what
galls me the most?

They invited us to the show

just so we could
provide them with an alibi.

Uh, sirs, the bank manager.

- Edgar Simms.
- Detective William Murdoch.

Inspector Thomas Brackenreid.

This is just impossible.

We installed a new
vault 18 months ago.

It has a state-of-the-art
mechanism.

Mechanism?

A time lock that
secures the vault

between the hours of
8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

The regular combination lock
is useless during that period.

But someone did
breach the vault.

They would have had
to dynamite their way in,

which is clearly not the case.

On the biggest
deposit day of the year.

How much was in there?

$152,000.

Blimey.

It'll be my head
for this, of course.

That's nothing compared
to the price poor Jonah paid.

Jonah?

Jonah Decker.

Detective Murdoch?

Excuse me.

It would appear our victim

was killed by blunt-force
trauma to the head.

I'm fairly certain his
occipital bone is fractured.

So Mr. Decker was
making his rounds

and the burglar sapped
him on the back of the head.

I'd like to take the body to the
morgue now, if that's all right.

Of course. Thank you.

Do you mind?

I usually only partake
on the weekends,

but these are
extenuating circumstances.

I'd say he's got 152,000
extenuating circumstances.

I'm sorry our
evening was cut short.

As am I.

Jules!

Give your sister a lift?

Detective William Murdoch,

meet Miss Ruby Ogden, my sister.

Younger sister.

It's a pleasure.

I thought it fun
to surprise Jules

with my little stage appearance.

Really, Ruby, can we please
put this "Jules" business to rest?

I'm not a tomboy.

Anymore.

You never told me
you had a sister.

- And in the theater.
- Well...

Actually, I'm a reporter.

But I believe that in order to
get to the heart of any story,

one must become a
part of the experience.

I decided to write
about Harry Houdini.

So naturally you
joined the show.

We really must be going. I
have a postmortem to conduct.

Ah. Well, I suspect we shall see
each other again, Miss Ogden.

Ruby.

I'll make certain of it.

Good evening.

You're not happy to see me.

I thought you were still in
India writing about that raja.

That's old hat. I was
drawn to London.

Met the most
fascinating novelist...

Herbert George Wells.

He became the subject
of a series of articles,

and now the
world is at his feet.

And I imagine, as usual,

you became quite
close with your subject?

That would be
kissing and telling.

So now it's Houdini?

I thought he would
make an interesting story,

and after this
evening, even more so.

Well, how lucky for him.

It is, isn't it?

So good to see you, Jules.

We are gonna have such fun.

What's this?

Playing with your toys, Murdoch?

It's a model of the bank, sir.

Re-creating the scene
helps me visualize the crime.

Well, you can forget that,
because I've figured it out.

Oh?

Bank.

Theater.

Houdini escapes from
the vault in mere seconds,

exits through a side door,

enters the bank, whacks
Decker on the head.

Robs the vault,
re-enters the theater,

stashes the money,

and then reappears
as if by magic.

But, sir, the theater
was thoroughly searched.

No money was found.

Murdoch, the man's a magician.

He could have stashed the
loot in some secret compartment

in a magic trunk,
for all we know.

And what about the time lock?

Well, he escaped from
one vault, didn't he?

But, sir, that vault was
part of a stage show,

mere trickery and illusion.

So he knew how to
bugger the time lock.

Sir, for your
hypothesis to work,

every minute detail of this plan

would have had to
have gone perfectly.

And it did!

Look, I want one more
crack at that little smartass.

We'll have to keep an eye
on this Houdini character.

He's got a sharp tongue on him.

Oh?

Don't think his tongue
will be a problem, sir.

Why is that?

What the bloody
hell is he doing?

It's a lung-capacity exercise.

He's practicing
for his new escape.

He's been in there
for two minutes.

Two minutes?

Three minutes is
his personal best.

Oi, Houdini. Get your
soggy ass out of there.

Please, sir, he's
trying to concentrate.

He's mastering his body.

I'll master his body, all
right. Now, get him out.

Sir, you might want to see this.

Figured it out, have
we, me old mucker?

I believe so.

The walls of the
vault are solid.

The floor, however...

is not.

So, last night, your brother
escaped from his chains quickly,

slipped through that trapdoor,

and vanished
beneath the stage floor.

2:58, 2:59! Three
minutes, Harry!

He's out of the vault
in mere seconds.

- Then he's off to rob the bank.
- Don't be ridiculous.

My brother would
never do such a thing.

Get him out now.

I think that's been
long enough, Harry.

Harry?

Harry?

Oi, Houdini!

Something's wrong with the lad.

Harry?!

Houdini!

- Doctor.
- William.

Good grief! You
scared me to death.

Oh.

I apologize about my appearance.

- I'm short-staffed and...
- Quite all right.

I hope you're not
here about Mr. Decker.

I haven't had a chance to
perform the postmortem yet,

for obvious reasons,
but I-I will shortly.

I appreciate that.

However, I am here
for a different reason.

Oh?

Yes.

The inspector is of the opinion

that Mr. Houdini perpetrated
the murder and the robbery.

Oh? You sound skeptical.

Yes. Well, Mr. Houdini
is very flamboyant.

As though he's performing
on the stage at all times.

He's a born showman.

That shouldn't
make him a suspect.

No, it shouldn't.

However, he refuses to divulge

where he was while the
robbery was being committed.

Allow me.

And further, as
you already know,

a witness claims to have seen
Mr. Houdini fleeing the bank.

Well, what do
you think, William?

The witness could be mistaken.

And Mr. Houdini could simply
have been passing the time

somewhere offstage as the
robbery was being committed.

So it may have just
been a coincidence?

It may. Or it may not have.

Therefore, I will
need to interview

everyone associated
with the show...

Including Miss Ruby.

And I thought it only fair
to tell you beforehand.

Yes. Well, thank you.

Yes. Very good.

Uh, William.

Ruby may well be brash
and somewhat dramatic,

but I assure you, she's
not capable of murder.

I'm sure it will be
a mere formality.

- Good day, Doctor.
- Good day.

How does this sound?
"King of the Fishes."

Or... Or "Master of Water."

Yes.

Yes. Someone write that down!

I'll be writing you down
for murder and robbery

if you can't account
for where you were

those 11 minutes you
disappeared, sunshine.

Forget the 11 minutes, sir.

I just went three minutes
and 22 seconds without air.

Can you imagine
the possibilities

for underwater escapes?

A man died in that bank!

And you're planning
your next trick!

I am sorry that man died
and that the bank was robbed,

but I had nothing
to do with either.

I'm an artiste...

not a confidence trickster.

Get your feet off!

I would never use my
skills to break the law.

I will, however, sometimes
use those skills to elicit laughter.

That man is an
arrogant little git.

Can't arrest him for that, sir.

Another flaw in
our justice system.

What are you doing?

I'm curious as to how the
bank robber entered the bank

without triggering the alarm.

No, no. Not robber. Houdini.

I have an idea.

Oh, this should be good.

Butter.

Butter, George?

I believe he slathered
himself in butter

and slithered into the
bank via the air vents.

Bloody hell, Crabtree.

He wasn't covered in butter

when he returned to
the theater, was he?

That's a good point,
Inspector. Hmm.

Actually, sir, there
might be something

to what Constable
Crabtree is saying.

- There might?
- There is?

Not about the butter,
George. The vents.

- Go on.
- Uh, yes.

Well, I think he may have
scaled the exterior wall

and then slipped in
through a small window

into this 16-inch vent.

He then came along
through this vent

and emerged right
next to the vault.

It's possible.

Well done, bugalugs. You
could be on to something.

- No, he isn't.
- Sweet mother!

Hello, Detective.

Miss Ruby?

A bit of help?

My coat?

Very kind.

Thank you.

The dress was so
bulky, I had to remove it...

For the experiment.

And what experiment
would that be, Miss, uh...

Ogden. Ruby Ogden.

Doctor Ogden's sister.

The naughty one, I presume?

I'll have you know that
of the two Ogden sisters,

I'm the only one who
has not been arrested.

Are you here to arrest me?

Doctor Ogden has
a criminal record?

George, please.
Miss Ogden, the vent.

Oh, yes. You see, I believe
Mr. Houdini to be innocent.

So I took it upon
myself to prove so.

Did you, now?

I came across the same theory

your clever Detective
Crabtree did.

Oh, ma'am, I'm not a detective.

I'm just... I'm
just a constable.

Not for long, I suspect.

Thank you, ma'am.

Of course, I had to test
this theory for myself.

- But you got stuck?
- Exactly.

Proving that Mr. Houdini
could not have done it.

On the contrary,

I believe you've proven
the exact opposite.

But my shoulders were wedged.

Mr. Houdini's shoulders would
have become wedged as well.

I suspect Mr. Houdini is
able to dislocate his shoulders.

It's a technique
many contortionists

and escape artists
have employed for years.

Sir, do you suppose
that's how he made his way

- through the vent?
- Of course it is.

Come on, Crabtree.

Let's go and pick
Mr. Houdini up.

Miss Ogden.

Detective, your inspector
is quite mistaken.

Oh? Why is that?

Because I know in my
heart that Harry is innocent.

And I think you know it, too.

I'm afraid it's you
that's mistaken.

You see, I rely on
logic and not feelings

to determine whether
or not a person is guilty.

Then perhaps you're
merely capitulating

to your inspector's
desire for a quick arrest.

Miss Ogden, I could
have you arrested

for tampering
with a crime scene.

Well, then you'd better
cuff me, Detective.

I won't.

For your sister's sake.

But if I find that you are
withholding information

about this case,

I will have no compunction
about changing my mind.

Shall we?

We know how you
pulled the bank job.

That's more than I know, sir.

Please, tell me your theory.

On the night of your
great vault escape,

you were planning an
even greater one next door.

After you escaped the vault
on stage, you went to the bank,

then entered
through the vents...

where you proceeded then
to kill the night watchman...

and clear out the vault.

The only flaw in your plan

was that you were
spotted by someone.

Well done.

I certainly could
have done that.

Is that a confession?

You've got the wrong man.

Tell me where you were
during the vault escape.

That's your only alibi.

I don't reveal my
secrets to anyone.

And I don't have
to tell them to you,

because you have no concrete
proof of your allegations.

If you want concrete, I'll
give you bloody concrete.

Maybe this will loosen you up.

Letting him sweat it
for a bit, are you, sir?

- That's right.
- Sir, Houdini does have a point.

Murdoch, I'm not in the mood.

There's nothing tying him
to the robbery or the murder.

Then there's the
issue of the time lock.

He'll talk once he
tires of being secured

by real police-issue locks.

You were standing in the bank

wearing nothing but a
petticoat and bodice?

Detective Murdoch's face
went such a shade of red.

It was sort of sweet.

Really?

Is that tobacco I smell?

Jules, that's disgusting!

Oh, don't be such a mouse.

The smell of a body can
tell you a lot about a person...

What they ate, what they
drank, how much they smoked.

This man was obviously
a heavy smoker.

I see it all the time.

It's really quite repulsive.

Yes, it is.

And if you continue to
smoke the way you do,

you too will smell
like this one day.

I'll have you know I quit.

Of course you did.

Ah!

Now look what you've done.

Here. Let me.

Have you paid Mother a visit?

Jules, you know how I
feel about cemeteries.

I did visit Daddy, though.

He says he hasn't
seen you in months.

I've been busy.

He'd like us to join
him this weekend

at the rowing club for lunch.

I guess he will not take "no,
thank you" for an answer.

Might be good for you to get
out of this morgue for once.

- Don't you ever leave it?
- Of course I do.

I do have other
interests, you know.

Such as?

I read, cycle.

I-I play tennis, attend
the theater regularly.

I was speaking more
of male interests.

Oh.

Well, yes. I have those, too.

Your Detective Murdoch?

He's not my detective.

Our relationship is
purely professional.

Surely you've
entertained the idea

of probing his intriguing mind.

Really, Ruby.

Such a shame.

He's a fine specimen.

Jules, what is it?

His blood.

It's black.

Smith, at least
try and look busy!

You really must do something

about the locks on that
holding cell, Inspector.

Crabtree!

Now double-check the leg irons.

Yes, sir.

Here. Let me help you.

Thank you.

Crabtree!

W... Houdini!

The vessels of his
brains, lungs, and liver

are all filled with black blood.

Poisoned.

Precisely.

What kind of poison
turns blood black?

- Something organic?
- An alkaloid, perhaps.

Was it ingested?

Most unlikely.

The dosage required
to kill someone

- would need to be massive.
- Injected, then?

That's much more
likely. Far more efficient.

Then there would have
to be an injection site.

I was hoping to have
found it before you arrived.

Ah.

I can wait.

Have you had a chance
to visit with your sister?

Yes.

Mm.

I received some
arresting news from her.

Regarding?

Your conviction of character.

Puns... feeblest form of humor.

Is it true, then?

Your arrest?

One hot summer evening
when I was home from university,

my colleagues and I enjoyed
swimming off Hanlan's Point...

Sans clothing.

Most risqué.

I don't know which was worse...

Being arrested or having
your parents find out.

I found it.

I'm sorry?

I found it. The puncture
mark. Come see.

It goes straight
through the sclera

and into the anterior orbit.

Let me get this straight.

Mr. Decker was smashed on
the head as part of the robbery.

Yet the burglar injected
him with poison as well.

So that means the robber
came prepared to kill Mr. Decker.

But if he was
poisoned, then why...

Make it look as though he
died from a blow to the head?

I think it was to
create the illusion

of a robbery gone wrong.

Why such an elaborate plan?

Perhaps Mr. Decker was
also involved in the robbery.

An inside job.

So he willingly let himself

get bashed over
the back of the head,

making it appear as though
he'd caught the robber in the act.

So why is he dead?

Maybe his partner got greedy.

Decided to take the
whole kitty for himself.

That would explain why
the alarms weren't activated.

Houdini didn't scale any walls
or shimmy through any vents.

Decker opened the door
and let him walk straight in.

But, sir, this could
be the missing piece.

Thank you, Murdoch. I
was hoping for your approval.

You might also
entertain the possibility

that someone was capitalizing

on Houdini's known
abilities as an escape artist.

- How so?
- Maybe he was set up.

Merely a pawn in
someone else's plan.

Not likely, Murdoch.
Pawns don't escape.

Hotels, flophouses,
the train station.

Search everywhere.
And I mean everywhere.

This is a man who can fold
himself into a bloody teapot.

Well, don't just stand
there like dummies! Move it!

Sir.

I think we must also
fully explore the possibility

that Houdini was not
involved in this inside job.

Fine. Fine. Let's say he wasn't.

Then, who was in on it?

Someone who knew the
inner workings of the vault.

Someone who knew
that the vault would be full.

- Simms, the bank manager.
- That's where I would start.

Very well, Murdoch.

You take one scenario
and I'll take the other.

And we'll see how it turns out.

Ah. Mr. Simms.
May I have a word?

Of course, Detective.

In fact, the bank owners
are breathing down my neck,

so I do hope you have
some good news for me.

Well, we have determined

how the burglar
entered the building.

- You have?
- Yes.

He was allowed entry
by your night watchman.

Why would Decker do that?

Unless...

He was involved in the burglary.

But he was murdered, wasn't he?
I mean, how do you explain that?

- Killed by his partner.
- Partner.

Yes. Someone with intimate
knowledge of the bank.

Someone who knew that
the vault would be full of cash.

Are you insinuating that I
may have been involved?

You also had knowledge of
the mechanics of the locks.

Not the time lock.

I-I couldn't have
breached it. It's impervious.

We shall see, Mr. Simms.

Yes. I suppose we shall.

Back to the station, Tom.

- What are you up to?
- Oh.

Hello, Inspector.

I'm just testing a batch
of poppers I made.

It's common in every
magician's arsenal.

You make them yourself?

It's rudimentary
science, really.

You take a little bit of this
and a little bit of that and...

- Planning on going somewhere?
- Oh.

With the show losing
money like it has been

and Harry in jail, well,
the end is near, isn't it?

Houdini's not in jail.

- What?
- He's escaped.

I thought you might
know where he is.

Well, I have no
clue where he is.

But don't take it personally.

You're not the
first to lose him.

I plan to be the last.

By the way, I'm
not Harry's brother.

I'm just the fifth in a long
line of Houdini brothers.

- Fifth?
- Yes.

He thinks it looks
better on the posters.

So who are you, then?

Oh, I'm Leopold
Romanov, illusionist.

Why do you work
for such a young lad?

Harry Houdini is the
greatest talent I've ever seen,

but he's not much
of a businessman.

So you run the show?

Yes. I schedule performances
and make travel arrangements.

I focus on the details while
he dreams up his next escape.

So with the show losing money,

a full bank vault could
look quite tempting.

I don't think Harry
would do this.

I see.

Don't leave town any
time soon, Mr. Romanov.

And if you do happen
to see Mr. Houdini,

tell him to do the smart
thing and turn himself in.

Got it?

George, I need you to
find out anything you can

about Mr. Decker...

Where he was before
his job at the bank,

if he was ever in
any sort of trouble,

criminal record...
That sort of thing.

Right away.

Oh, and the same
for Edgar Simms.

Sir.

What in the world
is that, Detective?

It's a Sargent &
Greenleaf time lock,

identical to the one
in the Bank of Toronto.

20 years ago, it saw the
downfall of Jesse James.

Now it's proving
to be mine as well.

Perhaps you need a break.

I'm quite preoccupied
at the moment.

You're still angry with me.

No.

No, I always welcome

a healthy critique of
my policing technique.

I've come to make it up to you.

That's not necessary.

I think it is.

I've never been treated
to dinner by a lady before.

So that would
make me your first.

How charming.

Ah. Well...

You were speaking
before about the novel

that Herbert Wells wrote...
"The Time Machine."

He's a notorious
amorist, you know.

Oh?

Fortunately, I'm a
notorious woman.

Yes. Well, it
sounds fascinating.

And I'd very
much like to read it.

Do you have a copy?

Oh, I didn't read it myself.

Bertie read it to
me in his garden

over a bottle of Vipava Pikolit.

I assume the two of
you were very close.

It's natural to become involved

with those whom
you work closest.

Don't you think?

I suppose.

Are you involved?

No.

But there is someone
I find intriguing.

Perhaps you ought to
tell her of your feelings.

I can't think of why any woman
would not reciprocate them.

All right.

Don't tell Jules, all right?

I told her I'd cut down.

Good evening, Constable.

Good evening, Dr. Ogden.
You're working late this evening.

As usual, I'm afraid.

Detective Murdoch
as well, I presume?

Actually, he's gone out.

Oh. I was hoping he could
help me with something.

You don't know
where he is, do you?

Um, he's gone out.

Yes. Yes, we've
established that.

Uh...

Constable, is there
something you're not telling me?

It is such a joy to meet
another curious soul.

Good evening.

Jules! What are you doing here?

I-I'm sorry. I'm... I'm
obviously interrupting.

Nonsense, nonsense.

Please join us.

Are you staying long?

Well, that depends
on Detective Murdoch

and whether he can help me

with a mystery I'm
attempting to unravel.

Oh? What sort of mystery?

Poisons.

Then perhaps it was
deadly nightshade

that killed Mr. Decker.

Belladonna. I did consider it.

And it would have accounted
for the stomach inflammation,

but there were no signs
that the tissue was stained.

The thorn apple.

The brain was filled
with black blood.

There was no
signs of congestion.

Hmm.

Who would have access to
such deadly and exotic poisons?

I would think someone with
a background in chemistry.

Well, then Harry
couldn't have done it.

He has no experience
with chemistry.

I'll have to determine that.

And really, just how well
do you know him, Ruby?

Well, enough to know
he couldn't have done it.

Mr. Houdini did have motive.

Not to mention opportunity.

You're forgetting how
important a man's character is.

Harry would never rob a
bank, let alone kill a man.

In our line of work, Ruby,

you learn that character
can be deceptive.

Your line of work is hardly the
same as Detective Murdoch's.

I would argue that
journalism and detecting

share a much greater affinity.

Really, Ruby.

Detective Murdoch
and I solve mysteries.

You spend your time
riding elephants with sultans

and lolling about with artists.

This is your problem.

You can't help but
neatly categorize

everyone and everything.

Your vision is so narrow.

William and I share a
broader sense of the world.

Did you just call him William?

Um, pardon me.

I don't mean to interrupt.

Oh, please do, George.

I have some news, sir.

Well, then I'll have
to excuse myself.

Of course.

I'll make this as
discrete as possible.

I suspect that the two of
you are intimately involved,

so if you should happen
to see Mr. Houdini again,

would you please let him know

I'd very much like
to speak with him?

Good evening.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

What was that about?

None of your business.

The two Miss Ogdens
seem quite the handful.

Yes. Your timing could not
have been better. Thank you.

What do you have for me, George?

I found something interesting
about Mr. Decker's past.

Oh?

Well, his former employer
was the United States Army.

Engineering Corps, to be exact.

He has the skills
to be an engineer,

yet he ends up in Canada
working as a night watchman?

And he's hired at the bank

at the same time the
vault is being installed.

He was hired by Mr. Simms.

Interesting
coincidence, I thought.

Perhaps we should have
another word with our Mr. Simms.

Mr. Simms is working late, and
he doesn't like to be disturbed.

He'll be in an even worse
mood once I'm finished with him.

That's odd.

Dead.

Sir, how can this be an inside
job if both inside men are dead?

Because there's something
else at work here, George,

that we hadn't thought of.

A third man.

So now this robbery is
a three-man operation?

So it would seem.

And you're suggesting that
Simms hired Decker 18 months ago

to sabotage the vault
while it was being installed?

Exactly.

But the vault works.

Does it?

I think we just
haven't figured out

how the locks have
been tampered with.

All right.

So Decker continues
working as a night watchman,

and the two of them bide their
time, waiting for a big payday.

The plan was for Simms to
break in dressed as Houdini,

bash Decker over the head,
and make off with the money.

Blame would fall on Houdini.

But Simms
double-crossed his partner.

And in turn, someone
else double-crosses Simms.

The question is, who's
this third character

and what role do
they play in all of this?

I'm hoping the exotic
poison holds the key.

Hmm.

I've already tested
over 20 different poisons.

And none of them
turn the blood black?

No. But I'm not
about to give up yet.

Would you care to assist?

Certainly.

I want to apologize
about last night... at dinner.

That's no for hemlock.

Apology isn't necessary.

No for phenol.

Ruby and I often find ourselves

on opposite ends
of a good debate.

Or a bad one.

That's no for strychnine.

And who usually wins?

You've met Ruby. I think
you know the answer.

I think I may have
won one battle, though.

I think I might have
convinced her to stop smoking.

Oh?

With the help of Mr. Decker.

What do you mean?

Well, she was here
when I opened him up.

That smell would
convince anyone to quit.

His body smelled of tobacco?

Yes.

Actually, both he and
Mr. Simms reeked.

Wait.

Do you mind?

Normally, I only
partake on the weekends.

Simms told me that he
smoked only on occasion,

yet his body also
smelled heavily of tobacco.

- Nicotine.
- Nicotine.

That would account
for the black blood.

We now have our poison.

A most obscure choice.

Indeed.

Don't turn on the light.

I'd rather not have a run-in

with that ill-spirited
inspector of yours.

He doesn't seem to like me.

I can't imagine why.

It is a puzzle.

I take it you
contacted Miss Ruby.

Well, she's hard to avoid.

How may I help you?

Mr. Houdini, I
need your opinion.

- Opinion?
- Yes.

You exceed in illusion
and showmanship.

Thank you.

And I've come to the conclusion

that what I am dealing
with here is an act of trickery,

because all logical
explanation seems to elude me.

I see.

And if I do help you figure it
out, will that not implicate me

and encourage you
to arrest me... again?

Only if you're guilty.

Then we have a deal.

Clearly, the robbery was
an illusion of some sort.

Agreed.

But I've examined
the locks on the vault,

and they weren't tampered with.

Then, Detective,
something else is amiss.

But what?

If the vault is secure... There
are no false walls, no tunnels.

Illusions are
steeped in deception,

something that
makes the audience

believe one thing to be
true while it clearly isn't.

Such as?

Say I make an
entire train disappear.

Well, obviously, I
didn't really, did I?

Either it remains there
and you cannot see it...

Or it was never
there in the first place.

It's not the vault.

It's the bank.

Did you have to drag us all
the way down here, Murdoch?

Sir, if you will, I
have a demonstration.

Well, get on with it, then.

I'll barely have time
for a quick scotch

before the missus
expects me home.

Oh, still on a short
leash, are you, sir?

Shut it, Crabtree.

Sir, I believe that this robbery
was the product of an illusion.

Many patrons of this
bank would disagree.

Let me show you.

Now, it's nearly 8:00.

The vault's time-lock mechanism
should be sliding into place...

now.

George, please see
that the vault is secure.

It's solid, sir.

Yes, it is.

But the wall...

The wall is not.

Bloody hell.

When the vault was installed,

Mr. Decker used his
abilities as an engineer

to tamper with the
building's structure.

Specifically, this beam that
the vault's bolts slide into.

Now, by moving this
beam over, as such...

the vault door
simply swings open.

Gentlemen.

The great Houdini
and Detective Murdoch.

What the bloody
hell is he doing here?

Stop that!

Sir, I enlisted Mr. Houdini's
help as a sort of consultant.

He made me see
that it wasn't the vault

or the lock that were faulty.

So now we know how
the robbery was executed,

and we know what roles
Simms and Decker played.

But, sir, what
about the third man?

I believe Mr. Houdini
can answer that question.

I knew it.

Detective, you
gave me your word.

Mr. Houdini, I know
that you are innocent.

But please tell me, how is
it Mr. Simms knew exactly

what you were wearing
that night on stage?

I-I don't know.

And how is it that you,
a known escape artist,

just happened to be
performing in a theater

right next to this bank

on no less than the
night it held more money

than ever before?

It had to be someone
who knew your schedule.

What about the poison?

Are we not looking
for a chemist?

No, not a chemist.

But he does have a
background in science.

There's only one person
it can be, isn't there?

Unfortunately, yes.

Driver, to the train station.

Yes, sir.

I don't think so.

What's in the bag, Mr. Romanov?

$152,000, by any chance?

Or perhaps a few extra
vials of liquid nicotine?

I don't know what either
one of you are talking about.

That was your plan
all along, wasn't it?

Vanish with the
money, leaving a trail

of dead accomplices behind.

Unfortunately, for
you, Mr. Romanov,

when it comes to vanishing,
you're no Harry Houdini.

Come on, sunshine.

Having some trouble
there, Mr. Houdini?

Not for long. I assure you, sir.

Have you heard back
from Philadelphia yet?

Yes. I spoke with
the police there.

Apparently, Leopold
Romanov had quite the history

of flimflammery.

Indeed?

He also spent time in jail

with one Mr. Decker
and one Mr. Simms.

Where they no doubt
hatched this plot.

You'd think now that
Houdini's been cleared,

these two would
get on a bit better.

Mm.

Inspector, these
leg irons of yours...

What have you done to them?

A little trick that I
like to call "glue."

That's cheating, Inspector.

I prefer to call it the
art of illusion, Harold.

Well, I'm off now.

Well, at least we got to
have a little dinner together.

A dinner, as I recall, to
which you were not invited.

You really didn't have to
come that night, did you?

Yes. Yes, I did.

You were jealous.

Ruby!

I love you, but you always
push me just hard enough

to give you what you want.

You should know,
when it comes to William,

I will not be pushed around.

Detective.

Miss Ruby.

This is goodbye.

You're off, then?

I think my story about
the great Houdini

would be incomplete if
I abandoned him now.

Mm. And his career much
poorer for it, I'd imagine.

Do try to get Jules out of
the morgue once in a while.

Of course.

Doctor.

Ah.

- Am I disrupting?
- No.

Is there something you need?

Well, I was hoping to
go over a case with you.

Oh, I see.

About a young swimmer's
blatant disregard for clothing.

Might you discuss it
with me over dinner?

Why, yes, I'd...
I'd be delighted.

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