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20x03 - The Big Smoke

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Murdoch Mysteries". Aired: January 2008 to present.*
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In the 1890s, William Murdoch uses radical forensic techniques for the time, including fingerprinting and trace evidence, to solve some of the city's most gruesome murders.

20x03 - The Big Smoke

Post by bunniefuu »

Defense!

Ooh, ooh.

Looking good, Jack!

Always look good, baby.

That’s my hubby, don’t you know.

That Jack Johnson is something else!

St. James can’t even get close.

He’s got that boy outclassed.

And you, Miss Hart,

have met the legend in the flesh.

Indeed. In Chicago at his club
at Café de Champions.

He’s a colourful man, to say the least.

Aha! Whoo! Hee-hee!

When should I take this chump out, baby?

It depends. How fast you want
to get me back to that hotel?

One!

I have never seen anyone
punch so hard in my life.

Hm.

That’s it!

Whoo! Whoo-ooh! Ah!

The winner, Jack Johnson!

Okay, hold still. Right here, Jack.

Thank you.

Uh, Jack, Louise Cherry, The Sentinel.

I’m doing a profile...
- You better be showing

my good side. Oh, wait. I only have good sides.

Ah.

How long will we be seeing you
and Lucille in Toronto?

People sure do seem friendly up here.

Maybe we’ll stay a while.

There he is, Jack Johnson.

Nice fight, Jack.

Tell me, where’d you find that guy?

The white bread line, huh?

Everywhere I go, there’s Sam Langford,

biting at my ankles.

Get a photo of the two of them.

When you gonna give me my shot, Jack?

Don’t be a fool.

Nobody’s going to pay to watch two Black men

fight for the title.

I’m burning up in this fur, baby.

We can’t have that. Let me open this up for ya.

What the hell?

- Get that!
- Aaron?

Lucille Johnson. Care to comment?

Miss Cherry, please, back off

and let the professionals do their job. Miss?

So, you knew the man who was found

in your luggage compartment?

That’s my boy Aaron Willard.

We’ve been close since we were small.

When did you last see him?

In the morning yesterday before we left Chicago.

He drove my car up and I took the train.

So you never actually saw him here in Toronto?

No. The car was parked in front of the hotel

when I got up around 11.

Right. Do you know if he had
conflicts with anyone here?

Everyone loved Aaron.

Detective.

Excuse me.

Take a look.

Very little blood pooled inside.
- Right.

And given the damage to the victim’s skull...

He would have bled a great deal.

It’s unlikely he died here.

Do you have an estimate on the time of death?

Uh, rigor was near its end,
so I estimate around 24 hours.

Right.

Sir.

The victim’s wife was seen at the arena

before the fight looking for her husband.

People said that she had words with Mr. Johnson.

Body in the car. Man being earbashed by his wife,

doesn’t look good.
- Right.

We need to find Mrs. Willard.

Check her hotel and please bring her in

to the station house.
- Yes, sir.

I hate to say this, but you must know...

Johnson is wanted in the United States.

- For what?
- The Mann Act.

Bringing a woman across state
lines for immoral purposes.

But having read the report,

it seems they’re stretching the law.

Nevertheless, sir, he is a man on the run.

And if we don’t bring him in now,

he’s likely to fly the crow.

Evans!

I know a posse when I see one.

Please come to the station house, Mr. Johnson.

- You’re not pinning this on me.
- Johnson, I’ve seen you fight.

You could take all three of us.
But what good would that do you?

We are terribly sorry
for your loss, Mrs. Willard.

When did you last see your husband?

We drove up from Chicago together.

He left the hotel last night
to meet Jack around nine.

He met Johnson?

He said he was going to,

but Jack said he never heard from him.

How does that make sense?

You must have been worried...
your man out all night.

I figured they must have found some saloon.

Boys will be boys.

But he didn’t show up for the fight.

He never misses a fight.

How did Mr. Willard seem when he was heading out?

Was he agitated at all?

Uh, all stirred up about something

with Lucy and Jack going to Paris.

Were you planning to travel
with the Johnsons to France?

None of us were going.

All those years going off

from place to place for fights, shows.

When things got tough,
Jack just cut us all loose.

I know it broke Aaron’s heart.

Evans,

could you take Mrs. Willard
to the bullpen, please?

Thank you.

Johnson never told us
he was planning to meet Willard.

And given the time of death,

either he was k*lled
before he met with Johnson...

Or Johnson’s the one who k*lled him.

We need to question him.

It’s late.

Why don’t we let him stew in the cells overnight?

Might soften him up a bit.

You suspect he was attacked?

Or tripped and hit his head
on the edge of this table.

Hm. Well...

No signs of a struggle or a forced entry.

You said you had some questions?

Mr. Hughes, we don’t need to do this here.

Better than in front of the Missus.

You weren’t home when this happened,

but did George have any visitors?

Well, he spent a lot of time with his cousin.

Paul’s what you call a physical culturist.

He was trying to make a man out of that boy.

They were close?

They were.

’Til last week when they got
into some kind of row.

I blame you. I mean, you could’ve talked to him.

I mean, he coulda held out a few more rounds.

I can’t sell a 15-minute fight.

He finished it when he finished it.

That’s how boxing works.

Gentlemen.

Emmett Spencer.

I handle Jack Johnson’s business affairs.

Joe Murray, manager.

How long will you be holding him?

Until I determine whether or not he was involved

in Aaron Willard’s m*rder.

Do either of you know if there was any animosity

between them?

Those two were like brothers.

Where were the two of you the night before last?

Hit the sack soon as we got in from Chicago.

And I had an early dinner

and then I did some work in my hotel room.

And the rest of the men in Mr. Johnson’s circle?

They got in yesterday, before the fight.

After Mr. Willard’s m*rder.

Whatever happened,
Jack had nothing to do with it.

We need to get him back

in the ring.

Mr. Johnson will remain in custody

until he is cleared as a suspect,

or charged with m*rder.

Good day, gentlemen.

Come on.

Mr. Willard was to drive your automobile

from Chicago to Toronto. Is that right?

- That’s right.
- Why not drive yourself?

I would’ve been picked up in a minute.

I took the train with my man
Rube’s baseball team.

All the coppers looking just saw
another n*gro ball player.

And upon his arrival in Toronto,

Mr. Willard was to deliver the automobile to you.

Yeah.

So you met with him that night.

I was supposed to, but I never heard from him.

Doesn’t look good, keeping that from us, does it?

I know what happens when a man like me

gets hauled in here.

People been threatening me
with time my whole life.

This is not about time.

This is about your neck in a noose.

Yeah?

People been threatening me
with that my whole life, too.

I understand you’re a wanted
man in the United States.

I brought a lady friend across a state line

and they didn’t like it because she was White.

Was that your current wife?

Or the one who took her own life last year?

You don’t speak about things
you know nothing about.

And what does any of this got to do with Aaron?

You are on the fugitive list
in the United States.

So?

Perhaps your friend Mr. Willard thought

that he would collect some
reward on his way to Toronto.

What? Aaron would never do that.

You really think I k*lled him?

Mr. Johnson, the last time Mr. Willard

was seen alive,

he was on his way to see you.

Let me outta here.

I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mr. Johnson.

I didn’t do this!

I knew you people would railroad me!

Constables! Take him to the cells!

These were in his pocket.

Two tickets. Montreal to Le Havre.

His wife didn’t seem to think
they were going on that trip.

Hm. And what of the body?

Uh...

He has superficial abrasions on his wrists.

Looks like someone tied him up.

He also had a massive fracture of his skull,

which I believe to be
the result of a single blow.

A single blow?

There’s more.

I also found traces of leather and horsehair

embedded in the wound.

That’s what boxing gloves are made from.

Sir, I find it difficult to believe

that a man could inflict this much damage

with a single fist.

Murdoch, I saw Jack Johnson
punch Stanley Ketchel so hard,

the poor bugger’s teeth broke off

and got stuck in the glove.

As much as I hate to say it,

well, I think we’ve got our man.

Well, you look dead on your feet.

That’s a thing to say, Louise.

I report the facts as I see them.

The office has me up to my ears

defending an endless stream of petty crimes.

I can scarcely breathe.

Well, then we must go out.

All work and no play is not healthy.

You’re one to talk. I’ve never seen you take

a day off in your life.

I’ll have you know that I have
a very healthy social life.

In fact, I’m going to the Toronto

Bowling Club tonight.

With who?

You.

Oh...

What the bloody hell are you
tinkering with, Murdoch?

Sir, this is my Strike-Force-Measuring Device.

These lights are calibrated to a sensor,

and they will fully illuminate

when, uh, the force reaches
that which was exerted

on Mr. Willard’s skull when he was k*lled.

Looks like it belongs in an amusement park.

I’ve checked with Mrs. Johnson.

She confirms that she was with her husband

the night in question.
- Maybe she’s protecting him.

She seems a little dizzy in love, that one.

Sir, I’ve been thinking.

Why would Mr. Johnson tell her

to put her fur in the luggage compartment

if he knew there was a body in there?

Mr. Johnson.

I need you to strike
this device as hard as you can.

I’m not putting on some show.

I’m afraid I must insist.

As you can see, his punch
is only half of the force...

Half?! Nah.

All right, all right.

Thank you, thank you, Mr. Johnson.

That’s quite enough.

As I suspected, the force required to produce

the damage that we saw on Mr. Willard

is far greater than any human
could exert with a punch.

So what do you think happened?

I believe the victim was not standing,

but prone on the ground

and the k*ller struck with an implement.

- Like a sledgehammer?
- Precisely.

What about the traces from the boxing glove?

I believe the k*ller
wrapped the weapon in material

to make it appear as though a powerful boxer

delivered the fatal blow.

A bloody frame-up job.

Wait a minute,

so this whole thing was to prove it wasn’t me?

Exactly. The science is quite clear.

Huh.

You’re free to go.

Thought you people wanted to string me up.

No. We’re only interested in the truth.

So, you’re going to find
the man who k*lled Aaron?

- Yes.
- We won’t rest until we do.

Roberts, there was a bunch
of muckrakers waiting outside

when I came in. Take Mr. Johnson out the back.

This way, sir.

Gotta tell ya...

surprised to see one of us in blue.

The Chief Constable brought me in.

I’m the only one... in Toronto.

He stuck his neck out for me.

I know people don’t like it.

Nah, you’re a trailblazer.

Who cares what those people think?

Act like they don’t even exist.

That might be easier
for the heavyweight champion,

I’d say.
- Might be.

You must be used to avoiding
the critics and the fans.

When I would go out with Aaron,

I’d give him my coat. He’d run off.

They’d chase off after him.

We’d meet up later once he’d lost them.

I’m going to miss that guy.

Did you say Mr. Willard used to double for you?

Did you tell this to the detective?

Why would I?

Don’t you see what this means?

Maybe the k*ller wasn’t after Mr. Willard.

He was after you.

Stay right here.

Hey, you!

You’re a dead man.

I’m going to teach you a lesson
that you never forget, buddy.

I’ve taken on more men
blindfolded back in Springfield.

Hey!

Now, why’d you have to go and do that?

Uh...

- You all right?
- Yeah, I’m fine.

The funeral home will be
picking up the body later...

- Miss Hart!
- ...so we have to make sure...

- I was wondering if you had...
- Ah, one minute.

Into the refrigeration unit, please.

Uh, he lived to 101.

Don’t see that often.

And your case, far too young.

Any thoughts on the cause of death?

Well, I am still quite busy with the victim

in Detective Murdoch’s case.

Initial thoughts would be helpful.

Well, I still have to examine

the brain tissue, uh,

but the blow to the temple was superficial,

not enough to have k*lled him.
- Hm.

But I did notice this.

Oh, bruises. Was he choked?

Perhaps. Some time ago, maybe a week.

There’s also bruising on his back and his legs.

Uh, thank you Miss Hart.

Can’t say I’m surprised.

Pugilists hardly keep respectable company.

He was attacked. We were attacked.

Be that as it may.

Jack Johnson is the first
coloured heavyweight champion

of the world. He’s an inspiration.

What’s so inspiring about a man

who knocks people out for a living?

You haven’t seen him knock someone out, have you?

I just think a proper role model

should be respectable, humble,

intelligent, and str...
- Strong?

And strong in character.

Why on earth did you attack Mr. Johnson?

Lady gave us five dollars.

That was reason enough.

And what about Aaron Willard?

Did you m*rder him thinking he was Mr. Johnson?

No, no, mister. Huh.

I-I didn’t...

We didn’t, we didn’t k*ll anybody.

This lady, Mrs. F.,

we just met her this morning.

So this Mrs. F. Hired the three of you

to attack Jack Johnson because...?

Jack Johnson?

I got KO’d by Jack Johnson.

Change of plans, we’re off to the Starbright.

So, no bowling?

The Johnsons are there

and I need to get some quotes for my profile.

I thought you said
we were supposed to take a break

from work?
- Well, I’m mixing business

and pleasure, like they say you should.

- They don’t say that.
- Well, I say it.

Well, I’m not just going to sit and wait

while you grill the Johnsons
on their private lives.

Did I mention that drinks are on The Sentinel?

Mixing business and pleasure has its benefits.

Well, why didn’t you say that first?

I understand you were helping
George with his strength.

He was doing so well.

But you had a falling out.

That was nothing. An argument about training.

We found bruises on his neck.
Was that from your argument?

George tried to do a press,

but it was too heavy. It came down on him.

He had several other injuries.

I would never hurt my cousin.

That’s why he came here to start,

to get out of that house.

He had trouble at home?

His father...

had a firm hand.

I see.

What exactly was the nature of your argument?

He told me he’d started taking health tonics

for strength from the chemist.

You didn’t approve.

Your body is a temple.

Who knows what’s in those blasted things?

So fun!

Mm. Chicago Fizz.

We served this at the Café de Champions,

but this one’s got something different.

Maple instead of sugar syrup.

Maybe I’ll call it a Toronto Fizz.

I visited your club and I was very inspired.

It’s quite the place.

We had the finest on stage,
every day of the week.

Speaking of, I wondered if you’d be interested

in doing a show while you’re here.

I know you’re quite the raconteur and conductor.

I could offer... 200?

Miss Hart, you got yourself
a nice little joint here.

Thank you.

It’s the place to be, I hear, in Toronto.

But I have to decline.

But I’ll tell you what,

let me get a round of drinks for the bar.

That’s a lot of small bills.

I like to pass around some joy wherever I go.

A round on Mr. Johnson!

- Now’s my chance.
- No. Louise.

I’d like to ask you a couple questions.

They’re busy. Uh, sorry to bother you.

No. It’s all right. Why don’t you two join us?

I’m Lucille Johnson. Jack Johnson is my husband.

We’re actually trying to make
a bit of a night of it for...

poor Nadia.

It’s what Aaron would have wanted.

Yes. What he would have wanted.

Uh, maybe a toast?

To Aaron.

To Aaron.

I found her where the man
said she’d be. This is Mrs. F.

Mrs. F. Cameron-Falconet.

What is this about?

Did you hire three men to attack Jack Johnson?

I did. I had no choice.

When did you hire these men?

Yesterday morning.

After Willard was k*lled.

What’s your connection to Mr. Johnson?

My daughter has been kidnapped by that vile man.

- Kidnapped?
- My baby girl Lucille

is not with him willingly.

You’re talking about his wife?

Hm. She didn’t look very kidnapped to me.

My Lucille is a good

Christian girl.

She would never be associated with a n*gro.

He’s hypnotized her, you know.

You know, it’s so good to have Toronto friends.

I’d heard so many things, like you’re all

so stuck-up and cold.
But it’s not cold here at all.

And I’m talking about the weather,

not the people, of course, well...

some of the people.

Well, I think I have enough
for my profile. Effie, shall we?

Oh, no! No, you can’t go!

I mean, when’s the next time
you’re going to have a chance

to paint the town red with Jack Johnson

and all of his best pals?

I think I’ll stay.

- Really?
- Why not? I’m having fun.

Well, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

That doesn’t sound like much fun at all.

No, it really doesn’t.

Hey, baby, can I get you anything from the bar?

Oh! Uh... I’m all right,

but why don’t you stay?

Get to know my new best friend, Effie.

I’ll grab something from the bar and come back.

Emmett Spencer. Effie Newsome.

I hope you’re joining the g*ng
for our last hurrah

before we’re all forced
to find new opportunities.

Stop it! You know Jack can’t stay here.

The Mounties would scoop him,

send him right back to Chicago, right?

Mmm, actually, there’s no formal

extradition treaty between the two countries.

The framework only applies
if there are major crimes

on the books in both countries,

so the Mann Act would not apply.

How do you know all that?

I’m a lawyer.

Wowee.

Do you hear that? What a trip!

Uh-huh. Excuse me.

Please, ladies, let me take your jackets.

Oh, no, no. Leave it. Jack’s coming back.

No, that’s all right.

There’s some, uh, prospects at the bar

you could give your attention to.

Perhaps he can get those young
ladies away from your husband.

Oh, that?

That’s just the price of entry with Jack.

Doesn’t bother me none.

Don’t sell yourself short.

You can extradite yourself from any husband

if he’s treating you badly.

Why would I want to do that?

I mean, aren’t we all having so much fun?

What’s that?

It’s chloroform.

It’s all the rage in London right now.

One puff gets you in the best of moods,

no matter the day you’ve had.

Effie! Have you been home?

I saw you leave the Starbright at eleven.

I did,

but then Lucille suggested Ryan’s,

and-and, uh, two other places.

Miss Hart. Did we have a meeting?

Uh, I’m here to see Detective Murdoch.

Detective, Miss Hart to see you!

Regarding the death of George Hughes,

it seems he was taking quite a few health tonics

for strength.

Could they be dangerous?

- Generally they’re harmless.
- Hm.

I used to sell some with vital amines.

Others, not so much,

as they could contain arsenic, mercury, lead.

Hm.

Detective. I’m here with news

about Mr. Willard’s cause of death.

Surely it was the blow to the head?

No. He died of an overdose of trichloromethane.

Chloroform?

Chlor... Chloroform?

Oh, no.

Mrs. Johnson,

we have some questions.

Chloroform k*lled Mr. Willard.

Was it yours? Or did he have his own?

No, that wasn’t Aaron’s thing.
He and Jack stuck to booze.

But you use it?

We just pass it around
when we’re out on the town.

We’re not breaking any laws, are we?

Technically, no.

But chloroform is to be prescribed.

It’s meant to be used as an anesthetic.

It just gets me so chatty, talking nonstop.

I mean, can you imagine me talking like that?

Drives Jack crazy, but he loves me.

Did anyone else have access to this bottle

over the past few days?

No. No. Absolutely not.

It’s been with me the entire time.

I did have another bottle, though. I...

I must have misplaced it somehow,

so Jack went out and got me
this one the night we arrived.

The night before the boxing match?

Mm-hmm.

But you told me Mr. Johnson
was with you the entire evening.

I mean, sure, Jack went out for a little bit,

maybe an hour or so. But he came right back.

That’s not bad.

That’s not bad, is it?

I’ve confirmed the men who attacked Mr. Johnson

were in Hamilton the night of the m*rder.

Right. And Mrs. F. Cameron-Falconet’s

train arrived the next morning,

so she could only be responsible
for planning the attack.

There you are.

Where’s Lucille?!

Your wife is with Miss Newsome.

They should be here any minute.

She told us that you did, in fact,

leave your hotel that night.

- That was just for a minute.
- You kept that from us.

I didn’t want to stir the pot.

What happened to Mrs. Johnson’s

first bottle of chloroform?

I don’t know. It went missing.

What does this have to do with my money?

Your money?

Twenty grand.

I just telephoned. Isn’t that why you’re here?

Are you saying that someone
stole $20,000 from you?

That’s right. It was locked
in a chest in my room.

When did this happen?

The last time we opened it
was ’fore we left Chicago.

Stop! I am not going with you!

You do not know what’s best for you, child!

He has poisoned your mind!

Lucille is an adult who’s
entitled to her own decisions.

What’s all this, then?

She tried to rip me away from Jack

by pressing those ridiculous kidnapping charges

on him last year, which is what
started this whole mess.

Chief Constable,

you seem like a man who will do what’s right.

- I am.
- My daughter is not

of her right mind. Frankly speaking,

I would rather her be admitted
into a mental institution

than be with a n*gro like Johnson.

Don’t you agree, sir?

I think a crime has been committed here.

Your crime of hiring men to attack her husband.

- What?
- You’re very lucky

that Mr. Johnson has persuaded us

not to press charges against you.

And I’d advise you to get out of the country

before I reconsider.

You and your views, Madam,

are not welcome here in Canada.

Mr. Johnson.

Constable Roberts was kind enough

to point me here. Hope I’m not
keeping you from your business.

Well, I have a minute while
I wait for this to distill.

I’ll tell you, I was real surprised

when he told me you’re the owner

of the hottest club in Toronto
and the city coroner. That’s...

some kind of ambition. I like that.

Thank you.

What brings you here, Mr. Johnson?

I was thinking. Since I’ll be in the city

a little while longer, maybe I’d take you up

on your offer to perform at your club.

How’s tonight? You said 200, right?

Ah. Might be hard to gather
a crowd on such short notice.

Maybe we can do it for 150?

Hundred and fifty?

Sure. Fine.

Detective. I have your results.

What did you find, Miss Hart?

Mr. Hughes’ stomach contents included substances

found in many health tonics.

But I also found formaldehyde exposure

in his kidneys and liver.

Could that have contributed to his death?

I think it likely.

Have you seen formaldehyde in a tonic before?

Never. Even in minuscule amounts,

it is very deadly.

I believe the motive for this m*rder

could be tied to the theft
of $20,000 from Jack Johnson.

You’d think that if anyone had that kind of cash,

they’d be out and about spreading it around.

Perhaps they’re being careful
not to be conspicuous.

Doesn’t sound like that lot.

Go. Go, go!

What’s all this, then?

Sirs, watch this.

You should try, sir. We have a bet going on

who has the hardest punch in the station house.

Let’s have a go then.

- Oof.
- Oh!

Well, that’s the hardest one yet!

Very good. Roberts, have you been able to find

a match on the fingermarks
that were on Mr. Murray’s chest

that’s been broken into?

Yes, sir. Let me get it.

Right then, lads. Quick lesson.

You don’t just punch through your arm.

The punch starts in your legs,

transfers to your hips,

and then springs through the whole body.

Boom!
- Ooh!

Sir, you know this machine would be great at, uh,

fairs, or-or pubs.

It’s a scientific device, Henry.

Ah, two matches.

Mr. Murray and the victim, Aaron Willard.

Willard? Do you think he nicked the 20 grand?

Well, if he did, sir, then perhaps his wife

decided to keep his newfound windfall.

We have reason to believe that your husband stole

a large sum of money from Mr. Johnson.

Aaron was honest. Never.

His fingermarks were on the case

and then he ended up dead.

Can you explain that?

No.

Thinking back over the past few days,

did Aaron have extra money?

Did he purchase any expensive gifts for you?

Maybe he was planning on taking you to Paris.

He had tickets.

No, those weren’t ours!

They’re for Lucille and Jack.

Then why were they on his person?

I don’t know.

He was always picking up things for Jack.

Jewellery, cars, you name it.

If he was going to steal from him,

he could have done it a hundred times. Why now?

Because, young lady, the gravy train was over.

I’m telling you,

Aaron worshiped Jack.

He loved him.

He would never take his money, never!

She may be lying.

Or perhaps someone else was after the money.

And Willard got in the way.

It’s a possibility.

Right then, Murdoch. I’ll say goodnight.

I’m off to the Starbright to see Johnson’s show.

I’ll keep an eye out, see if
anyone is flashing cash around.

Twenty-three days they kept me and Joe in jail

for boxing in Texas.

No problem carrying a g*n,

but these fists? Were deadly weapons!

Bang-bang-bang-bang!

But I tell you,

we turned that cell into a gym,

and that’s where Joe
taught me how to take a punch,

but more, he taught me how
to move out of the way of one.

When I learned how to defend,

that’s when I learned how to be the champ!

Oh, yeah?

Well, ain’t no bobbing and weaving

from these here, Jack.

Sam,

we already had that dance.

Yeah. Back when we was kids,

years before you even had the title.

Yeah...

Y’all see that?

He’s scared that I’m going
to take it from him, huh?

Sam. That’s enough.

Oh, come on, now.

Sam! We’ll see you around.

Now, let’s knock you all out...

with some tunes. Hit it, boys!

Whoo!

Don’t that sound sweet? Come on!

He’s got some charisma, this lad.

Must be a big hero for you lot.

My mother doesn’t like that his dirty laundry

always ends up in the papers.

Wherever he goes a big smoke follows him around.

That’s what they say, right?

Well, take it from me.

If you’re relying on
sports stars to be your heroes,

it’s best not to dig too deep.

Ha, ha! Whoo! Come on! Watch this!

How are you feeling?

You had quite the night after I left.

I was feeling horrible this morning.

But gosh was it fun.

So you’ve decided to live
your life like a 20-year-old?

Why not? She’s carefree.
She’s living in the moment.

Her life is so exciting.

It was a thrill to be a part
of it, even for a moment.

Effie, you have the most
exciting life of anyone I know.

Please! My life is nothing but case files.

You’ve won m*rder trials,

you’ve had love affairs,

been married and divorced twice,

travelled the world.

When you’re old and grey,

your grand nieces and nephews

won’t even believe the stories you have to tell.

You’re right, Louise.

I fear all my stories may be behind me.

All right. Here you go.

Thanks for coming out!

Uh! Ooh!

Jack!

Are you okay? We need some help! Help!

I’ve got to stop the bleeding.

Why-why are you not bleeding?

- Jack!
- Roberts, was he shot?

Yes. He took a b*llet to the chest.

Are you all right?

You see that?

Try as you might,

you can’t knock out Jack Johnson!

The b*llet was somehow stopped by...

What?

American currency.

I’m willing to bet there’s $20,000 in this coat.

Well, who put it there?

Johnson clearly had no idea.

...22-calibre b*llet.

Johnson was very lucky.

Sirs.

Witnesses of the sh**ting said they saw flashes

from a nearby alleyway,

but by the time we were able
to search, the g*nman had gone.

I think whoever shot Johnson wanted the money.

But their plans were thwarted
by the arrival of Roberts.

Find something else?

I’m not sure if it is relevant,

but there was this cigar nub
found in the alleyway.

It seems recently discarded.

I’ve seen that brand before.

What am I looking at?

Velvet from a caribou antler.

I found it in Mr. Hughes’ stomach.

He was eating caribou antler?

Have you heard that some people think

that eating the heart
of a lion will make them brave?

Or that rhino horn will help
them develop thick skin?

Transference.

Perhaps Mr. Hughes was so desperate

to gain strength, he was
consuming parts of animals.

It’s not uncommon
in the world of patent medicine.

Is caribou antler poisonous?

No. But if it is kept as a trophy...

It would be cured in formaldehyde.

You thought you’d get your shot

by sh**ting the champ, did you?

You don’t know

what you’re talking about.
I’d never stoop that low.

We know you were in that alleyway, Mr. Langford.

That was before I came in.

I stood there trying to visualize

what I was going to say to him.

What’s that mean?

I like to visualize my fights,

in the ring and out of it.

What happened after you were
escorted out of the club?

I went right to my hotel.

Admit it, Langford. You tried to k*ll him.

And you k*lled Aaron Willard

when you mistook him for Johnson.

No! No!

All right, then.

Where were you at the time
that Mr. Willard was k*lled?

I did see Willard.

I was filling up my car with gasoline

around ten that night.

I was idling near the hotel

hoping to run into Johnson.

Willard was around back pumping his tires.

That’s close to the time of his death.

That could be where the m*rder actually happened.

Your son died of formaldehyde poisoning.

Someone poisoned my son?

I believe it was accidental.

He was consuming caribou antler velvet.

What in the devil?

I just mounted this a couple weeks ago.

As you can see, a piece of it is missing.

What kind of fool...?

He didn’t realize the formaldehyde

used to preserve it would be fatal.

I don’t understand. Why was he doing this?

To gain strength.

I believe he felt great pressure
to become more manly.

What are you saying?

I’m just here to inform you

of the results of the investigation.

I’ve tried to straighten that boy out for years.

That’s what a father’s supposed to do.

Good day, Mr. Hughes.

I’m very sorry for your family’s loss.

Sir.

Blood here.

I believe there’s a fragment of a tooth here.

This is where Mr. Willard was k*lled.

Mind yourself, Murdoch.

Aye, aye.

It seems to be a letter
from Mr. Willard to Mr. Johnson.

It says that he was worried
that the cash’d be confiscated

if Jack was pulled in by the police,

so he hid it in the coat.

Perhaps he didn’t trust Mr. Murray

with the money, either.

Mr. Willard was here when he was incapacitated.

His assailant k*lled him
with an overdose of chloroform.


Whether Mr. Willard gave up
the location of the money or not


before he died,

everything the k*ller needed was in the letter.

The m*rder*r then wrapped
the weapon in a boxing glove


to make it seem like Jack
Johnson m*rder*d his friend.


I bet the bugger’s been after
this coat the whole time.

But it never leaves Jack’s back.

Sir.

I know who k*lled Mr. Willard.

Miss Berger. I’m surprised to see you here.

Come to see the champ knock someone out?

I’m here as a morality officer.

Mr. Johnson’s reputation may attract

less than savoury individuals.

Of course. Have a seat.

Hey, Joe. Where you been?

Just getting business done, like usual, Jack.

Noticed you weren’t at the show last night.

I’ve seen you put on that show
a hundred times now.

I could tell those stories myself.

That so?

You heard someone took a shot at me.

Yeah. But you’re okay, right?

Only by the grace of God.

Uh, it was actually the stacks of dollar bills

sewn into your coat that saved you, Mr. Johnson.

My money was in the coat?
How’d it all get in there?

Willard hid it for you to keep it safe.

But someone k*lled him for it.

Who might that be?

It was you.

Mr. Spencer.

What?

No.

You used your camera tripod.

You put a boxing glove on the end of it,

and you k*lled Mr. Willard.

And this piece broke off.

That’s why you were carrying around the camera.

I thought it was odd at the fight,

but now it all falls into place.

You’re under arrest.

No!

There’s nowhere to run.

I didn’t mean to k*ll him.

He just wouldn’t tell me where the money was!

You gave him too much chloroform

and it stopped his heart.

That idiot.

He was loyal even though Jack was gonna leave us.

Give yourself up.

I’m sorry, but I have to.

Ooh!

He put his hips into that one.

I’m going to miss you terribly, Effie.

You’ll have forgotten about me

by the time you’re halfway across the Atlantic.

Not so. Come with us, won’t you?

You have another story waiting for you, Lucille.

Just remember to stick up for yourself with Jack.

He may have all the money and all the fame,

but you are worth something.

Don’t forget it.

- Hey, honey.
- Hi.

Effie. Constable.

Those men you work for
turned out to be all right,

but you’re the one who had my back.

Just doing my job, sir.

Don’t call me sir.

It’s Jack. Or Champ.

- Teddy.
- Teddy, you’re a good one.

And remember, those people
that want to bring you down

don’t exist.

Keep on being that trailblazer.

- Hm.
- Goodbye.

In you get, baby.

Thank you, darling.

Right. You’re free to go, Mr. Langford.

You should know the information you provided

helped us to apprehend Mr. Spencer.

So, Johnson’s off to Paris already?

Yes. He and his wife left this morning

for Montreal where they’ll board the steamship.

Are you sure you want

to get in a ring with Johnson?

I’m not sure there’s a man
on Earth that could beat him.

I just want my shot!

Crikey.

Now that’s the hardest punch I’ve ever seen.

That’s 9.09 percent more than Mr. Johnson.