Lie Detector

by DoctorH

A Murdoch Mysteries teleplay. Three men supposedly participate in a murder, but one of the men asserts innocence and claims to have an alibi. Murdoch cannot see anything wrong in the alibi but a wise old lady sees things differently. The story ends with a humourous historical mystery. A solution is included for the first mystery, but is there a solution to the second mystery?

1. ACT 1

"LIE DETECTOR"

ACT I

(FADE IN. ESTABLISHING SHOT OF TORONTO, NIGHT. CUT TO: STREET LEVEL VIEW. A few citizens are out at this late hour, but not many. FIRST CONSTABLE is out walking his beat, checking windows and looking for anything suspicious. FIRST CONSTABLE tips his hat to a citizen passing by. FIRST CONSTABLE walks on and encounters SECOND CONSTABLE. FIRST CONSTABLE and SECOND CONSTABLE greet each other, and SECOND CONSTABLE points to where he plans to go. FIRST CONSTABLE and SECOND CONSTABLE tip their hats to one another and go their separate ways. CUT TO: A NARROW ALLEY BETWEEN BUILDINGS. One end of the alley, though open, is partly blocked by crates and barrels. At that end, SYKES stands, holding some sort of truncheon. Because it is dark, most of SYKES cannot be seen. Another dark figure, DONNAN, approaches SYKES reluctantly. DONNAN turns this way and that, looking for an escape. SYKES blocks his way. Presently a third dark figure, WESTON, appears, armed with a club. WESTON herds DONNAN toward SYKES. DONNAN is in a near panic, but he does not scream.)

DONNAN
You don't need to do this! I'll pay you back! I said, I'll pay!

SYKES
You've lied to us before, Nicky. We don't believe you.

DONNAN
But I can get the money!

WESTON (coming closer)
We don't believe you, Nicky.

(DONNAN sees that SYKES and the barrels and the crates block one escape path, so he tries to make a break around WESTON. WESTON grabs DONNAN and throws him back. DONNAN falls to the ground, and raises his hands defensively.)

DONNAN (pleading)
I've got the money! I know where it is. But if you beat me up, I can't get it!

SYKES (thumping his truncheon against his hand)
Who said anything about beating you up?

(DONNAN's eyes go wide as he gets the meaning.)

DONNAN (pleading)
If you kill me, I can't get the money! But I HAVE got it!

WESTON
Enough to pay all three of us?

DONNAN
Yes!

WESTON
All right, Nicky. Where is it?

DONNAN
It's— in a safe place!

WESTON
Where?!

DONNAN
It's—

(DONNAN, terrified, stops talking.)

SYKES
You lying bastard. You ain't got the money.

(SYKES advances on DONNAN, truncheon raised. WESTON advances also.)

DONNAN (at the top of his lungs)
HELP! HELP!

(SKYES begins swinging his truncheon and the sounds of the truncheon striking a body [SFX] are heard. DONNAN'S cries turn to wails, then abruptly stop. SYKES stops swinging and backs off.)

SYKES (to WESTON)
You wanna have a go now?

WESTON
Yeah.

(WESTON swings his club and the sounds of the club striking a body [SFX] are heard. SYKES takes another swing, then looks up as though he hears something.)

SYKES
Hey!

(It is not clear to whom SYKES is calling, whether it's WESTON or someone else. WESTON and SYKES stop hitting DONNAN, who is lifeless on the ground. There are the sounds of running footsteps [SFX]. WESTON and SYKES look around, and then WESTON and SYKES start toward the opening between the barrels and the crates. Suddenly, FIRST CONSTABLE steps into their path.)

FIRST CONSTABLE
You two! Stop right there! Don't move!

(SYKES raises his truncheon, and FIRST CONSTABLE promptly pulls out his own truncheon and makes it ready.)

FIRST CONSTABLE
Drop your weapons! Drop them!

(WESTON and SYKES simultaneously get the idea to run away from FIRST CONSTABLE, but they find SECOND CONSTABLE in their path, with his truncheon out. SECOND CONSTABLE swings his truncheon and knocks the club from WESTON'S hand, apparently seriously injuring WESTON'S hand and arm in the process. WESTON screams in pain and instinctively grabs his own injured hand with his other hand and falls to his knees in agony. SYKES looks like he might put up a fight, but he is trapped. SECOND CONSTABLE approaches SYKES menacingly, truncheon raised.)

SECOND CONSTABLE (icily)
If you do not drop your weapon immediately, I will MAKE you drop it!

(SYKES looks at WESTON who is helpless, trying to attend to his injured hand. FIRST CONSTABLE and SECOND CONSTABLE advance. SYKES, very afraid and helpless, drops his weapon. As FIRST CONSTABLE and SECOND CONSTABLE move in to arrest SYKES and WESTON, the dead body of DONNAN is seen crumpled on the alley floor. FADE OUT.)