
Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries
Death Alley
Season 2 Episode 5 | 45m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
A brawl at a bowling alley between rockers and mods leads to decapitation.
A brawl at a bowling alley between rockers and mods leads to decapitation. When the police arrest Violetta’s nephew for the murder, Peregrine sets out to prove his innocence.
Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries is presented by your local public television station.
Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries
Death Alley
Season 2 Episode 5 | 45m 16sVideo has Closed Captions
A brawl at a bowling alley between rockers and mods leads to decapitation. When the police arrest Violetta’s nephew for the murder, Peregrine sets out to prove his innocence.
How to Watch Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪ Yeah, baby ♪ ♪ I was walking down the street ♪ (pins clatter) ♪ When this boy started following me ♪ ♪ Though I ignored all the things he said ♪ ♪ He moved me in every way ♪ ♪ With his collar unbuttoned ♪ (pins clattering) ♪ By my side he was struttin ♪ ♪ Girls, he was really sayin' somethin ♪ ♪ Really sayin' somethin ♪ - I'm usually like... - No, no, no.
Don't tell me.
You're a size 13.
And you, Miss, five.
- Wow, you are good.
- Some men have learned to split the atom.
Others aim to fly to the moon.
My Don can guess a person's shoe size.
- And remember to take out the rubbish, my bride.
- I'm a lucky girl.
(upbeat music) - [Sparrow] Hey.
- Chief superintendent, we have your order somewhere.
Chrissy, where are those shirts?
- Check under your counter.
- Oh!
- Oh, what could this be?
(chuckles) A little something for you both.
- Oh.
- Wow.
- Wow, indeed.
- Didn't think you'd wanna be turned out like your boss, James, but Percy insisted.
- No, no, no, not at all.
It's, um, very... - Generous.
- You two will make a great team.
- Such fine needle work, Christine.
- I have you playing in lane one and two.
- Oh, very good.
- Well, we'd better go put these on.
- Yeah.
Hey, and I'm sorry about that.
He seems to think we're an item.
It's all a little bit of fun.
(upbeat music) (pins clunk) - Ahhh!
- Oh!
- [Both] Oh!
(pins clatter) (all cheering) - [Sparrow] She's a natural.
(all laugh) - So, who's up for ice cream?
- That would hit the spot.
- I'll get it.
- No, no, I insist.
This is 1964 after all.
(pins clatter) (group cheers and applauds) ♪ Girl, you really got me goin ♪ ♪ You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now ♪ ♪ Yeah, you really got me now ♪ ♪ You got me so I don't know what I'm doin' now ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, you really got me now ♪ ♪ You got me so I can't sleep at night ♪ ♪ You really got me ♪ ♪ You really got me ♪ ♪ You really got me ♪ ♪ Oh, alright!
♪ - [Man] Hey, Neeler!
(indistinct shouting) - Hey, Chief.
- Rockers and mods again.
- You want to have a go, tough guy?
- Come on.
- Get away from my girl.
- [James] I know that Mod with the curly hair.
Milo Nabone.
- We've booked him before.
Bloody Eyties are all the same.
- How d'ya feel about that?
- Jeanie, hold this.
- Hey!
Alright.
Alright.
That's enough of that.
You galoots need to get the hell out of my alley.
- Stay out of it, old man.
- Hey.
- Boys.
You heard the chief super.
- What did you just call me?
(tense music) Huh?
(Sparrow thuds to floor) (kids laughing) - [Steed] Okay, sir.
(he laughs) - Get your... You think that's funny, do you?
Huh?
Well, how about I wipe the smile off your ugly mugs?!
- Sir, I can take care of this.
- No, no, no.
It's alright.
Look after the ladies.
You and you, come with me.
I'll teach you some manners.
- [Milo] You can't do this.
I'm gonna report you.
(indistinct arguing) (blows landing) - Well, go on.
Get outta here!
(coin rattles) ♪ Well, you can look but you'd better not touch ♪ ♪ Poison ivy ♪ (all shouting) (cheers and applause) - You've been sneaking pies behind my back again, haven't you?
- Huh?
- Tomato sauce all over your shirt.
(ominous music) - What did you do in that back room, hmm?
- Ah, it's all good.
All good.
Just reminded those louts who runs this town.
Hey.
We need to hold the line, Steed.
You're up, Sal.
- Just waiting for my lucky ball.
(tense music) (Sal screams) - Oh.
- Okay?
You're alright.
(tense dramatic music) (upbeat music) (car drones) - Yes, but to convert to Catholicism, one would have to believe in God, Sam.
- Well, I don't not believe.
- Oh, well, I'm convinced.
- Well, it's a little bit complex to be reduced to a binary.
Isn't it?
(curious music) Some intelligent being decided to invent over 700 species... - Oh, Violetta, is everything... - Milo's been arrested!
- That nephew of yours being caught speeding on that scooter again, has he?
- They're saying he killed a man.
They're going to charge him with murder.
(upbeat music) (engine revs) (car doors clicking open) (police officer speaks indistinctly) (soft funky music) (soft funky music continues) - Hmm.
- Nice shirt.
Oh, the embroidery's a lovely touch.
- Sparrow got them made up for us here.
- "Us"?
- [James] Sally and I. Um, wasn't my idea.
(clears throat) What are you doing here, Peregrine?
- I'm here on official business.
Milo is Violetta's nephew.
I've been employed to prove his innocence.
- Well, you're up against it there, I think.
- Any more suspects?
- Still taking statements.
- Oh, but you've arrested Milo.
- He's helping us with our inquiries.
- So... - Follow me.
(upbeat sleuthing music) - [Peregrine] Humph.
(upbeat sleuthing music continues) - This is where it happened.
Now, the rubber belt drives the ball return mechanism, and running at full operational speed, there's enough power to... - Lose one's head.
The question is, was he pushed or did he fall?
- [Both] Mm.
- Two entry and exit points.
- Yes?
- So, anyone could've made their way in or out.
Yet, you have Milo in the frame for murder.
- He's our number-one suspect.
He has opportunity and motive and was seen fleeing out that door around the time of the murder.
- Well, he's not the only one with opportunity, though, is he?
Anyone at the alley could be a suspect.
(James sighs) - How long till we can reopen?
- Not till we finish our investigation.
- How long will that be?
- [James] As long as it takes.
Mr. Grimwade, may I remind you a young man is dead.
- I am well aware of that.
And you've already got the kid who did it.
I'm just saying, rent on this place doesn't stop while you cross T's and dot I's.
- Okay.
Your establishment is now a crime scene.
You're not to touch or... Or clean... anything.
Keep your patrons out and your equipment powered down until I give you notice.
- Hello.
We didn't meet before.
I'm Peregrine Fisher.
- Peregrine's a private detective who sometimes assists me.
- Yes, I solve things, and he takes all of the credit.
- Bit like that around here, love.
- (chuckles) Christine.
Is there an approximate time of death?
- Between 12:15 and 12:25.
- And what were you both doing during that time?
- Watching a bunch of rockers and mods scaring away decent-paying customers.
- Mm.
They're nice boots.
- Those belong to that rocker girl, Jeanie.
- That's the one.
- Did anyone get her statement?
- Bit late for that.
She scarpered.
- Without her boots?
Hmm.
- [Woman] You got five minutes.
- [Violetta] Thank you, Officer.
- Milo, are you okay?
- Thanks for coming, Zia.
- Where's your mother?
Why isn't she here?
- Didn't accept my call.
- Of course.
- The two of us, pecora nera de la familia.
- Black sheep.
Oh, you're hurt.
- You should see the other guy.
- The other guy is dead.
Is that who you mean?
- Bella!
Who the hell are you?
- Milo!
This is Peregrine.
She's a private detective.
She can help you.
- Nice.
- I'm so sorry, Peregrine.
- It's okay.
Tell me what happened at the alley, Milo.
Okay.
Here's an easy one for you.
Who's the dead guy?
- Some rocker.
- And you're a mod.
So, what, this was some kind of... turf war?
That's what these things are usually about, aren't they?
Territory.
Or... a girl.
Mm.
Was there a girl involved, Milo?
- Jeanie, Rex's girl.
- Ah.
And you made a play for her?
- She made a play for me.
- Oh.
Well, that explains the beef with Rex then.
- I didn't kill him.
- Who did?
- You won't believe me, baby (slap stings) - (speaks Italian) Tough guy.
You're in trouble.
She's trying to help you, Milo.
- There's no point.
I'm as good as swinging already.
- No!
- I'm a lost cause.
The police are fitting me up for it.
- That's not how this works, Milo.
- It's exactly how this works.
These cops hate us.
You know that.
Who do you think gave me this?
The copper who arrested me.
The same copper who killed Rex.
- Who was it?
- Chief Super Sparrow.
(dramatic beat) (Violetta sighs) - Tell me what happened.
(dramatic mysterious music) - It kicked off in the alley.
Sparrow went A over T. We all started laughing.
So he took Rex and me into the back room to have a talking to.
Except he blew his stack.
Got stuck into Rex, had him up against the wall.
I got the hell out of that room before he turned on me.
- So, what you're saying is, the last time you saw Rex alive was in that room with Chief Superintendent Sparrow.
- Oh, Milo.
(ominous music) (magazine clicks) (upbeat music) (bike revving) (compass clicking) (branch snaps) (ominous music) (birds chirping) (ominous music continues) (ominous music building) (ominous music continues) (gun cocks) - Drop the gun.
Throw it out in front of you.
Now, slowly take the knife that you've shoved down your left sock.
What do you want?
- What I've always wanted.
(curious music) (soft warm music) - You could have just called, Alexander.
- No fun in that.
- So, you baited Rex into fighting, yeah?
- Feeling you're gonna say I did.
- You tried to steal his girlfriend from under his nose.
You knew he'd come swinging.
- I'm not scared of a fight.
I don't look for them, but I don't run from them either.
- Oh, oh, oh.
- Well, you looked for this one.
Where's Jeanie?
- I don't know.
- You're not helping yourself by not cooperating, son.
- Maybe you're asking the wrong guy the wrong questions!
I left you alone in the back room with him.
- Take him back to the cells.
- I haven't finished interviewing yet.
- He's not giving us anything.
Come on.
(ominous music) - Milo... - Zia!
- Little fish.
- Now, why aren't I surprised to see you.
- You have no right to keep him locked up.
- I got all the right in the world, sweetheart.
I can hold him as long as I like.
Ta-ra.
- James, this is wrong.
Until he's charged, we can't apply for bail.
- Well, he won't be getting bail.
He's got prior convictions.
- For what?
- Assault.
- Did you know that he had convictions?
Oh, Violetta, you need to tell me these things.
- Between myself and Milo, we give our family no peace.
He's been in fights before, but nothing like this.
- Hey, someone's shown up.
- Who?
(upbeat music) (banging on door) - Give me back my boots!
(banging continues) Give me back my boots!
- Oi!
Jeanie!
Alley's closed, eh.
- Get out of my way.
- [James] No, no.
No.
We need to ask you some questions.
- I'm not talking to the police.
- I'm not with the police.
My name's Peregrine.
I'm a friend of Milo's.
I'm trying to get him out of this situation that he's found himself in.
And if you want to help him, you need to talk to us.
And then you can have these back.
(whimsical dramatic music) [James] How old are you, Jeanie?
- 105.
- You're looking pretty good for 105.
- Tell us about you and Milo Nabone.
I just saw that you were bowling with him before your boyfriend, Rex, was murdered.
Rex was your boyfriend, wasn't he?
You're wearing his jacket.
- What was a rocker girl doing bowling with a mod boy.
- [James] Oh, Thank you.
- Trying to knock over the pins.
It's not a crime, is it?
- Murder is.
- I didn't kill Rex.
(paperwork rustling) (Jeanie groans quietly) We done?
- And where were you between 12:15 and 12:25?
- Out the front of the alley, minding the bikes.
- Minding the bikes.
- Well, otherwise, the mod boys knock them over don't they?
- Can anyone back that up?
- What?
- Did anyone see you, Jeanie.
The police need to be able to check.
- Maybe some of the others.
(soft music) (soft music continues) - Are you pregnant, Jeanie?
I'm sorry to be so blunt... - If you're not a cop, who the bloody hell are you?
- Someone who doesn't like to see another girl all alone and in trouble?
- I can sort myself out.
- Does your mum know?
What did she say?
- She's already knitting booties.
She kicked me out of home, didn't she?
- (sighing) Oh.
I'm so sorry.
- Better off out of there anyway.
Her new boyfriend's a cut snake.
- Where have you been staying?
- Was with Rex.
But... - Why don't you come and stay with me?
I can offer you clean sheets and a hot shower.
(bright gentle music) - Bloody posh.
- I grew up in a caravan park, believe it or not.
Lucked into an inheritance.
- Lucky you.
- [Peregrine] Let me get some fresh linen and towels.
I'm sure you'll want to freshen up.
(bottle clinks quietly) - Are your folks dead?
- My mum died last year, and my dad's a bit of a mystery man.
We never actually met.
- Did a runner?
Blokes are bastards.
- And women are very stubborn.
My mum never even told me I had family here in Melbourne.
She was too proud.
How far along are you, Jeanie?
- I've missed one rag.
- Have you been to the doctor?
Is Rex the father?
- You ask a lot of nosy questions, don't you?
You said you had a bed for me.
- Yes.
Bed or the couch.
- Take the bed.
- Guess I'll be on the couch, then.
(upbeat whimsical music) (upbeat whimsical music continues) (upbeat whimsical music continues) (softer pensive music) (paper tears) (whimsical pensive music) (paper tears and scrunches) (whimsical pensive music continues) - [Sparrow] Boo.
(chuckles) This work of art deserves a place in the Vic Gallery, son.
It's better than half the modern rubbish they got on show these days.
- How's Mrs. Sparrow, sir?
- Oh, she'll be fine, yeah.
Nothing a Bex and a good lie down won't fix.
See, you've got me down as a suspect.
- No, sir, a witness, but you were one of the last people to see the victim alive, sir.
- Yeah, well, we've got the kid who did it in the cells.
Tie this up.
- I don't have enough evidence for that.
- Then find some.
(paper scrunches) Too-roo.
(ominous music) (ominous music continues) (mysterious music) - Violetta, my love, it's gonna be all right.
- He did not murder that boy.
- Then the evidence will show that.
We need to trust in science.
- I trust science, Samuel.
It's the police I don't trust.
(doorbell rings) - James.
Um... How can I help you?
- Well, it's Violetta's help that I need.
Sorry to involve you.
I can't see it any other way.
It's a delicate matter.
I just...
I need to know if the blood on this shirt is Rex's.
It's Sparrow's shirt.
And the results could help Milo's case.
And I need it done on the quiet.
(soft dramatic music) Thank you.
James.
- So, what will you do if it turns out to be Rex's blood?
- (sighing) I don't honestly know.
- James... - Hmm?
- Jeanie's pregnant.
- She told you that?
- She confirmed my suspicions.
But she trusts me, and I'd like to keep it that way.
How did her alibi check out?
- Mm, well, her fellow gang members back her story up.
But she's still in the frame.
Oh, I love this song.
♪ Well, you can look but you'd better not touch ♪ ♪ Poison ivy ♪ ♪ Poison ivy ♪ - It's funny.
- What?
- It was on in the alley right about the time that Rex was murdered.
- [Jeanie] No, turn it off!
- Turn off the damn song.
- Jeanie, what's wrong?
- It was Rex's favorite.
(music turns off) He was, like, obsessed.
(James clears his throat) What's he doing here?
- I was going to ask you a similar question, Jeanie.
- [Jeanie] Is he your boyfriend?
- [Peregrine] Ex.
And Detective Steed was just leaving.
(upbeat whimsical music) (crickets chirping) (knocking on door) Jeanie, I just wanted to check if you're okay.
I suspect that that's not the fix that you think it is.
- It's worth a shot, but... - No, it's probably only gonna make you feel sicker than you already do.
- I can't have this kid.
- Jeanie, you have a lot to figure out, but taking matters into your own hands is not the answer, and it's very risky.
- Things can't get much worse.
How am I going to do this on my own?
- I used to think that I was on my own, too.
But there are women all over the place who care.
Who can support you, whatever you decide.
Hmm?
I care for a start.
(gentle music) (bottle cap screws tight) Jeanie, why were you all over Milo at the alley?
- I needed to talk to him.
- About what?
- That I was preggers.
Milo's the dad.
(Peregrine sighs) (gentle music) (bird chirps) (curious music) (curious music continues) (camera shutter clicks) (camera shutter clicks) (camera shutter clicks) - [Peregrine] It was sewn on the inside of Rex's jacket.
No.
- [Samuel] Yeah.
- [Peregrine] This one.
- Toxicodendron radicans.
- My Latin's a little rusty.
- Ah, poison ivy.
- Really?
How interesting.
- Symbol of their gang?
- [Peregrine] No.
Rex was a Collingwood rocker.
Their symbol is a magpie atop a fist.
- Is it the brand of the jacket?
- The jacket's a Stag.
- Their symbol's the stag horn.
- [Peregrine] Oh, that's right.
- Oh, I do love a good leather jacket.
- We hadn't noticed.
- Why would Rex have gone to the trouble of sewing this in?
- Well, it obviously meant something to him.
- But why not wear it on the outside, wear it proudly?
Why hide it on the inside?
- Yes, I see your point, unless you were the one who sewed it in, no one would know it was there.
But you would know every time you put it on.
- Well... borrow this.
It has a rather neat little chapter on herbs and their historical symbolism in literature and the arts.
- Oh, thank you.
- Was it situated on the left or the right.
- Oh, um... the left.
- Mm.
So when you zipped up the jacket, it would be positioned right over your heart.
(curious music) - Oh.
- Peregrine.
- Violetta.
Milo said something at the police station.
Um, la pecora... - Nera.
- La pecora nera.
What does that mean?
- The black sheep.
That's what Milo and I are.
- (chuckles) Oh.
Well, I find that hard to believe.
- (sighs) A good daughter doesn't leave her mother.
- But your sister moved, here, too, didn't she?
- But she is married.
She has given my mother three grandchildren.
I have given her nothing but a broken engagement and years of grief.
- Well, I think she'd be incredibly proud of you, if she could see everything that you've achieved and how happy Samuel makes you.
- Please give this to James.
It's the results of the blood work.
- What's the verdict?
(upbeat music) (bowling balls clunk) The blood on Sparrow's shirt belongs to Rex.
- Right.
- So...?
- Well, it doesn't mean that he killed him.
- Well, it goes some way to corroborating Milo's version of events.
- Maybe he gave him a bit of a clip.
- Oh, and that's okay, is it?
- No.
What can I do about it?
Whether he murdered him or not, if I ask the question, that is the end of my career.
- It could easily have been an accident.
It's not too much to think that in all the excitement in the back room, Rex fell backwards onto the belt drive... - [James] No, that's not what killed him.
- I thought... - Coroner's report came through.
Rex was already dead before he was decapitated.
- So... - X-rays of his skull indicate that he was bludgeoned by a heavy, round object.
There's no prizes for guessing what.
- Right.
So find the blood splattered bowling ball... - We find our killer.
- How very Cinderella.
- Hmm.
- Wouldn't they have wiped it clean?
- Maybe, and then maybe they missed a spot?
Maybe there's fingerprints.
It would be a start.
I'm going to check the back room.
(Peregrine sighs) (whimsical sleuth music) (whimsical sleuth music continues) - Oh.
Any joy?
- What are you doing?
- Somebody with skill embroidered poison ivy inside Rex's jacket.
- Mm-hmm.
- I've been looking into the symbolism of it, and it turns out, poison ivy, apparently, flourishes in the harshest of environments.
(jukebox arm whirs) ("Poison Ivy" starts playing) You said this song happened to be playing when Rex was killed.
- [James] This is about the label in a jacket.
- Coincidence?
There's no such thing, right?
It has to mean something.
(electricity crackles) (music distorts) - So I'm open for business, am I?
- Steed, I just had a call from Don Grimwade.
What the blazes is going on?
Why haven't you charged the Nabone kid?
- The fact that he and Rex were in a brawl is not enough for me to charge Milo with his murder.
Our case would just fall over in court, sir.
- So, get his confession.
What... Do I have to do your job for you?
- Sir, but... - Do you have anything for me at all?
- We know that brawl was over the rocker chick.
(he garbles sarcastically) Surprise, surprise.
- Turns out, she's pregnant.
- [Sparrow] Pregnant?
Really?
Who's the papa?
- No way.
Jeanie would have said.
- Well, never try to understand the mind of a woman, son.
- I'm gonna be a dad.
- (chuckles) Well, that all depends on you.
Now, we have a ton of eyewitnesses, myself and Detective Steed included, who will testify that they saw you trying to rip Rex's throat out.
- I didn't kill him.
(Steed slams desk) (ominous music) - Maybe you didn't.
I don't know.
But I do know how this will look to a jury.
And if you plead not guilty and drag everyone through a trial, you will go down for 20 years.
That's if you don't hang, but if you confess now, plead guilty to the lesser crime of manslaughter, 10 years or less.
Still plenty of time to kick the footy around with a kid.
- Manslaughter?
- It was an accident, wasn't it?
You and Rex were fighting over a woman around some bloody dangerous machinery, I imagine that he probably... got his shirt color caught in the pin return mechanism.
You tell me.
(tense music) Hmm?
Alright.
Get it down, word for word, type it up, get him to sign it.
(door clicks open) (door closes softly) (file slaps on desk) (ominous music) - 10 years?
Or they hang me.
(dramatic music swells) (birds chirping) - I love our secret.
- (sighs) Time to go.
- Something to rush to?
Always the one to call time.
- Alex, we... we can't keep doing this.
- Why can't you?
- Because you want something from me that I just cannot give.
You should find a good woman.
- I'm looking.
(she chuckles) - No, I mean it, Alex.
When this mission is done, so are we.
(melancholy music) - So, this doesn't mean anything to you?
- Why should it?
- You have no idea how it got there?
Why would Rex have poison ivy sewed into his jacket?
Jeanie, how do you know for certain that Rex isn't the father?
- Because Rex and me never did it.
- Oh.
Milo said that you made a play for him.
- Yeah, I wanted to make Rex jealous.
- And did it work?
- Only 'cause it made him look bad.
- So, why did you stay with him?
- I don't know, I guess I loved him.
He looked out for me.
- But he didn't love you back.
- No.
He was seeing someone else, too.
- Who?
- I never caught him out.
(mysterious music) - Can I borrow this?
(typewriter clacking) (door creaks open) (door closes to) (tense music) (zipper rasps) (James sighs) (pensive music) (zipper rasps) (tense curious music) (typewriter clacking) - Knock, knock.
Who embroidered your ever-so-cute bowling shirt?
- I believe, Christine, - Look at the stitching.
Same flourish, same green thread.
- Where are you going with this?
- Jeanie said that Rex was seeing somebody else, but she didn't know who.
- You think Christine Grimwade?
- I think Don found out and killed Rex.
- It's too late.
Milo's admitted his guilt, and I have his typed confession.
- Did Sparrow dictate that?
- If he admits guilt, he'll be treated more leniently.
- Oh, that's how Sparrow sold it to you, is it?
He's just targeting Milo because he thinks all foreigners are criminals.
The confession is not signed yet?
- Not yet.
- So, let's go and talk to Christine about her affair.
- Green thread.
You don't have anything more than that for me to go on, something a little bit more smoking gun?
It's my neck on the line, Peregrine.
- No, it's Milo's!
Christine.
We found this.
- That is your stitching, isn't it?
It's a simple question, Mrs. Grimwade.
(tense music) - Don... - What's any of this got to do with the price of bloody fish?
- Were you having an affair with Rex?
- Chrissy, you don't have to answer that.
- [James] That's right under your nose.
How'd that make you feel, Mr. Grimwade?
- How did it make you feel, Don?
- It's over, my love.
There's no use.
They're on to me.
(dramatic music) Do you want to do this here or down at the station?
- You're adm... You're admitting guilt?
- I am.
I killed Rex.
- [James] A witness said in her statement that you served her ice cream, Don.
- [Don] Christine was on a toilet break.
I took over her counter.
- Hang on.
Rex was killed in the back room near the ball return mechanism.
You said that the power had been off to the alley, is that right?
(ominous music) (switch clicks) (lanes power up) (she gasps) (dramatic music) - I believe this is the ball that killed Rex.
Care to try it on for size?
- What's the point?
- Do as she says.
(tense music) - Huh.
It doesn't fit.
Christine, you and Don have different duties, don't you?
- That's right.
Don does the shoes and services the alley and... - And you serve the lollies and the ice cream, his and hers.
Then why is the sewing kit on Don's counter?
We had this all the wrong way round.
We all assumed that Christine did the embroidery because men don't sew, do they?
We typecast you unfairly, Don.
You sew beautifully.
Jeanie said that she and Rex never had sex, that he was seeing somebody else.
It was you, wasn't it, Don?
Yours was the illicit love.
- This is where you get to talk.
- I never meant to hurt you.
- Oh, who are you kidding?
- [Don] I told Rex he had to stop coming around.
But he wouldn't listen.
(dramatic music) - "Poison Ivy" was their signal, wasn't it?
- That bloody song.
That bloody song.
(coin rattles) After your boss finished with Rex, I knew Don would head out the back to see if he was okay.
("Poison Ivy" plays) That song.
That was their signal.
♪ And everybody knows ♪ - Man the till.
Man the bloody till.
♪ Well, you can look but you'd better not touch ♪ - Who was next?
Christine, no!
- You fool.
It's over.
♪ Poison ivy ♪ - [Christine] The lies, the creeping around, you coming out of that room, happier with him than you ever looked with me.
(ominous music) (ball thuds) (Rex slumps to floor) (blood splatters) - [Don] This is something that I made you do.
- Why start caring now, Don?
Why did you even marry me?
- I loved you.
- If you loved me, you would have never made me walk down that aisle.
(melancholy music) (whimsical music) - No hard feelings, son.
(chuckling) - [Violetta] Milo... - Aunty, I can't thank you enough.
- No, it's Peregrine you need to thank, and you should probably go talk to the mother of your child, also.
- You know about that?
- Oh, stupido.
- We're going to be a family.
I'm going to marry her.
- (sighs) I'm so proud of you.
You'll make a beautiful father.
- Grazie, Zia.
Grazie.
- Prego, babe.
Okay.
Let's get you fed.
(gentle music) - Marriage?
- Well, he hasn't coughed up a ring or nothing, but he says he wants to make an honest woman out of me.
- You know, Jeanie, if you don't love him, you don't have to get married.
You're always welcome at the Adventuresses' Club.
- Milo's alright.
He just needs to slick back his hair and run a decent bike, but I'll sort him out.
(horn honks) That's him.
I'll see yous later.
- Good luck.
It's all gonna be okay, even if it's not perfect.
- And if it really isn't, you contact me at the club.
- Check you.
- (sighs) Should I make us a martini?
- Oh, yes, please.
Birdie.
- Hmm?
- What was that chalk mark?
- What chalk mark?
- The chalk mark on the club.
A code, a secret signal.
I'm sorry.
I don't know what you mean.
Shaken or stirred?
(upbeat music) Murdered?
Who?
- [Man] President of Sandridge Pigeon Club.
- "Fowl play" at the pigeon club?
- Pigeon aren't fowl.
This is Dr. Thelma Beasley, Australia's preeminent ornithologist.
- One of.
- What was your relationship to the deceased?
- Virgil was president of the Pigeon Club, and he also happened to be my brother.
- Wouldn't have picked you two as pigeon fanciers.
- I'm here to join the club.
- And I've been hired to investigate by Thelma Beasley, - [James] Looks like he was choked to death with bird seed.
- Pigeon racing is not for the faint hearted.
- It's interesting that Peregrines are the natural enemy of the pigeon.
- What are you implying?
(ominous music) Birdie?
- Go home, Peregrine.
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Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries is presented by your local public television station.