What Would Murdoch Do?

by DoctorH

Murdoch is out of the country, and it is up to Inspector Brackenreid to try to solve a case involving murder of a loan shark, in addition to all of his other duties. The murder case has its twists; and Brackenreid (who is in every scene!) finds himself wondering what Murdoch would do. This is a teleplay, just like watching a TV episode, and a solution to the mystery is included.

5. ACT 5

ACT V

(FADE IN. ESTABLISHING SHOT OF DOWNTOWN TORONTO, later in the afternoon. CUT TO: EXT. OF THE PUB. CUT TO: INT. OF THE PUB, DINING ROOM. WHATLEY and NASH are sitting at a table, along with BRACKENREID. The door to the dining room is closed. BRACKENREID makes some notes as the men talk.)

BRACKENREID
(to NASH) So, Mr. Nash, this Mr. Peck could verify your whereabouts on Tuesday morning?

NASH
He should. He's sometimes a little scatterbrained, but he should back up what I said. (to himself) Gawd, I hope he does!

BRACKENREID
How about you, Mr. Whatley?

WHATLEY
I was at work on Tuesday morning. Mr. Warren Rowland should verify it. He's my boss. We work at the Upper Canada Metalworks.

(As BRACKENREID makes notes, the door to the dining room opens, and ALEC, INGRAM and HARDWICK enter. BRACKENREID rises and beckons INGRAM and HARDWICK to be seated. INGRAM sees BRACKENREID and stops in his tracks. HARDWICK proceeds to the table but does not sit.)

ALEC
Here are the rest of your guests, sir.

BRACKENREID
(to HARDWICK) You'd be Mr. Hardwick, wouldn't you? We haven't met. (flashing his badge) I'm Inspector Brackenreid of the Toronto Constabulary. Please be seated. (to INGRAM) You too, Mr. Ingram.

(HARDWICK sits. INGRAM slowly moves to a seat and sits.)

BRACKENREID
(to ALEC) Alec, these boys all look thirsty. Please bring each man a round of beer, would you? (to everyone) It's on me! Oh, make them small beers, would you? I don't want these boys feeling TOO relaxed.

ALEC
Yes, sir. Would you like a beer, Inspector? Or something else?

BRACKENREID
(smiling, jovially) Not now, thanks.

(ALEC exits, closing the dining room door as he goes. BRACKENREID sits.)

BRACKENREID
Well, boys! The reason I wanted to talk to you is because you all knew a man named "Doc" Mueller.

INGRAM
Are we under arrest?

BRACKENREID
(jovially) Do you think that, if I were arresting you, that I'd be buying you a beer? No, this is not an arrest; it's just a friendly chat.

(The dining room door opens, and ALEC enters with a tray holding four small glasses of beer. ALEC serves the beers; INGRAM, HARDWICK, WHATLEY, and NASH waste little time in starting to drink them. BRACKENREID smiles to them.)

BRACKENREID
(jovially) As you've no doubt heard, "Doc" was killed in this very room on Tuesday morning. Nasty business! And I've heard that all four of you had borrowed money from "Doc." Did you? I want to make it clear: you're not in any trouble for borrowing, and I'm not here to ask about what sorts of unpleasant things "Doc" may have forced you to do. So did you borrow money from "Doc?"

(No one answers, but in response to the prompting from BRACKENREID, INGRAM, HARDWICK, WHATLEY, and NASH all nod that they did.)

BRACKENREID
What I want to know is, did anyone else that you know, besides the four of you and Quinn Sutton, borrow from "Doc?"

NASH
I don't know. Just us.

HARDWICK
I knew we all did, but I can't think of anyone else.

INGRAM
Ed Tremaine did.

HARDWICK and WHATLEY
Oh, yeah, Ed did!

WHATLEY
But Ed's been dead for a while.

BRACKENREID
There's a rumour that "Doc" had Ed Tremaine killed.

(The men grumble.)

HARDWICK
Whether it's true or not, "Doc" wanted us to THINK it was true. He wanted to scare us.

WHATLEY
And it worked.

INGRAM
Is that all you wanted to talk to us about?

BRACKENREID
I wanted to ask you, Mr. Ingram, where you were on Tuesday morning.

INGRAM
Two days ago? I was home, by myself.

BRACKENREID
Can anyone confirm that?

INGRAM
No.

BRACKENREID
(to HARDWICK) How about you? Where were you on Tuesday morning?

HARDWICK
I was home, by myself. Just like Normy. I got no witnesses. But I was at home, that's the truth.

(BRACKENREID nods, and looks at the beers on the table. Most glasses are nearly empty.)

BRACKENREID
Well, boys, that's all the questions I have for you. Thanks very much.

(INGRAM promptly gets up from the table and walks out of the dining room. HARDWICK, WHATLEY, and NASH each drain the dregs of their beers, put their glasses on the table, and rise. BRACKENREID rises as they do. As HARDWICK, WHATLEY, and NASH exit the dining room, ALEC enters, carrying a towel and an empty tray. ALEC promptly sets the tray down and reaches for one of the empty glasses.)

BRACKENREID
(sharply) Don't touch that!

(ALEC is startled; he freezes.)

BRACKENREID
Don't touch anything on the table.

(ALEC is unsure what to do. BRACKENREID pulls the grease pencil from his pocket.)

BRACKENREID
Alec, there are two things I need you to do. First, just outside the pub, standing at the corner, is a constable named Higgins. He'll be holding a small wooden case. I'd like to have you fetch him in here. And second, I need you to give me a bill for four servings of beer. And add onto the bill, would you, the cost of these four glasses, which I will be taking with me.

(ALEC is a bit puzzled, but nods, and exits. BRACKENREID goes to each empty glass in turn, and using the grease pencil he got from the morgue, marks a numeral on the interior of the glass, and then makes a note in his notebook.)

BRACKENREID
One, Ingram. Two, Nash. Three, Whatley. Four, Hardwick.

(CUT TO: ESTABLISHING SHOT OF STATION HOUSE NUMBER FOUR, late afternoon. CUT TO: INT. STATION HOUSE NUMBER FOUR, CONSTABLES' AREA. Several constables, including CRABTREE, JACKSON, RILEY, and others, are in a very good mood. CRABTREE is wearing civilian clothing. CRABTREE is getting a few pats on the back. BRACKENREID enters and wonders what is going on. JACKSON is the first to notice BRACKENREID.)

JACKSON
Sir! Good news, sir!

(The others are now aware of BRACKENREID's presence and simmer down.)

BRACKENREID
Good news, you say?

JACKSON
Yes, sir! Heffner and Adams captured the suspects in the riot cases about an hour ago, and George just captured his arson suspect!

(BRACKENREID is delighted.)

BRACKENREID
(to CRABTREE) You said you had plan to bring him out of hiding? Well, it must have worked! What did you do? Have you told these boys yet?

CRABTREE
Not yet.

BRACKENREID
Then tell us!

CONSTABLES
Yeah, tell us! Tell us the great plan!

CRABTREE
It was simple, really. Our suspect was Steven Allen Grant. I suspected that Grant was hiding in his mother's house, though I had no proof. And as I was collecting information about Grant, I happened to notice that today is his birthday. So I threw him a little party.

BRACKENREID
A party?

CRABTREE
Yes. I ordered a cake from a local baker and I went to Grant's mother's house with the cake and a wrapped gift, and I stood by the doorstep and sang a birthday song. I wasn't in uniform, of course. Grant was overcome with curiosity, and when Grant peeked out the window to see which of his friends had remembered his birthday, I showed him my badge.

(CONSTABLES laugh.)

BRACKENREID
So it was a surprise party, then! One hell of a surprise!

(CONSTABLES laugh.)

CRABTREE
He tried to flee but I arrested him.

BRACKENREID
An unconventional plan. But very clever. Well done, Crabtree.

CRABTREE
Thank you, sir. My reports about the fire investigation are on your desk, sir. I have one more report to write up, but it will not take long; and then I will have the opportunity assist you with your stabbing investigation, if you wish.

BRACKENREID
I may need your help, Crabtree. But I need to talk to Higgins first.

(HIGGINS approaches.)

BRACKENREID
(in a low voice) Speak of the devil. (in a normal voice) What have you got for me, Higgins?

HIGGINS
(smiling) A match, sir! I found matches to both the complete finger mark and the partial mark!

(BRACKENREID tries to contain his relief.)

BRACKENREID
A match to who, Higgins?

HIGGINS
I don't know, sir.

(BRACKENREID's smile evaporates.)

HIGGINS
I mean, sir, that I don't know whose beer glass has the matching finger marks; but the glass was marked with the number one. That was the only glass with a match.

(BRACKENREID is no longer dismayed.)

BRACKENREID
I know who the matching finger marks belong to. Higgins, you and Jackson are going to arrest Norman Ingram for the murder of Hans "Doc" Mueller! And do it quietly.

(CUT TO: ESTABLISHING SHOT OF STATION HOUSE NUMBER FOUR, evening. CUT TO: INT. STATION HOUSE NUMBER FOUR, BRACKENREID'S OFFICE. BRACKENREID is looking over reports. He finishes the last report and tosses it on his desk. BRACKENREID is tired but happy; he stretches. OGDEN knocks on BRACKENREID's door.)

BRACKENREID
(rising, delighted) Doctor Ogden! Please come in! Won't you be seated?

(OGDEN sits.)

OGDEN
I got a telegram from William that he will be returning this evening, and that he plans to come to the office to drop off a few things before going home. (mischievously) I wanted to surprise him here!

BRACKENREID
Well, I'm glad you're here, Doctor, because I wanted to thank you for helping me keep on track with my murder investigation.

OGDEN
It was nothing.

BRACKENREID
It most certainly was much more than nothing!

OGDEN
I heard that all of those cases you were handling or managing, you made arrests today?

BRACKENREID
Yes, in all of the cases! The boys really came through! Solid police work, all around.

OGDEN
Did you have enough cell space for everyone?

BRACKENREID
I decided to have the man who killed "Doc" Mueller incarcerated in a cell outside of Toronto; so that the racketeers who protected Mueller will have a harder time finding him, and taking revenge on him. It's possible the Crown may want him to be a witness against the racketeers.

(MARGARET suddenly appears at the office door, and BRACKENREID smiles and beckons her in. BRACKENREID and OGDEN rise. MARGARET is clearly happy, and after smiling at OGDEN, she promptly hugs BRACKENREID.)

MARGARET
Oh, Thomas, I was so glad to hear your voice when you telephoned! How happy you were that this trying time was over. I knew you could do it!

(BRACKENREID and MARGARET kiss. OGDEN watches and smiles.)

MARGARET
(to BRACKENREID) I've made you a late dinner! (teasingly) Your "favourite!"

BRACKENREID
I can hardly wait! (to OGDEN) If you'll excuse us, Doctor?

OGDEN
Certainly.

(CUT TO: CONSTABLES' AREA. BRACKENREID, MARGARET and OGDEN exit Brackenreid's office. OGDEN saunters towards Murdoch's office. BRACKENREID and MARGARET, arm-in-arm, head toward the door to the street. BRACKENREID and the DESK SERGEANT briefly acknowledge one another. As BRACKENREID and MARGARET reach the door, MURDOCH abruptly enters, harried and carrying a box. They all pause to greet one another.)

BRACKENREID
Murdoch! Welcome back!

MURDOCH
(mildly startled) Inspector! (awkwardly tipping his hat) Mrs. Brackenreid. Good evening.

MARGARET
Good evening to you!

MURDOCH
I just wanted to drop off a few things here before going home and seeing Julia. (to BRACKENREID) If you don't mind, sir, I'll tell you all about the Boston conference tomorrow. I'd like to get home as soon as possible.

(BRACKENREID and MARGARET sneak glances at one another and smile.)

BRACKENREID
Of course. Tomorrow would be fine.

MURDOCH
Did I miss anything while I was gone?

BRACKENREID
Nothing we couldn't handle. We'll talk about it tomorrow. Good night, Murdoch!

MURDOCH
Good night, sir; good night, Mrs. Brackenreid.

MARGARET
Good night.

(MURDOCH hastily enters the Station House. BRACKENREID and MARGARET step out of the Station House and pause. MARGARET begins to laugh.)

MARGARET
What do you think Detective Murdoch is going to do when he finds his wife waiting for him in his office?

BRACKENREID
What would Murdoch do? He'd probably do this!

(BRACKENREID hugs and kisses MARGARET. FADE OUT.)

THE END