And so the monumental task of tracking down a greatly aggrieved individual commenced (the next morning). The logical beginning point would be to ask the ushers if they noticed any particularly agitated people in the last few days. But the constables had already done so during the initial interviews and neither of the two young men had recalled anyone who fit that description. (One is to understand that the movies were shown in conjunction with the acts, as a sort of intermission). Clearly whoever did this (and assuming Julia was correct) had kept their displeasure to themselves and instead lashed out with fire.

However, there was at least one piece of information that could yet be gleaned by the ushers, that of the names of the movies being shown and possibly even their content. If Murdoch was to try and get into the mind of the killer, it would be helpful to know the same things that they did.

They both told him, or rather, George, the same thing; that only one movie had been played during the last week. It was called A Trip to the Moon. Murdoch had never heard of such a thing.

"I'm not surprised, sir," said George, "it's only been out for the past two weeks and only in the States. As I understand it, Thomas Edison himself was involved in it's production."

Murdoch raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, now that is very interesting, George, very interesting indeed."

"Would you like me to try and procure a copy of it, sir?"

"Yes, George, that would be most appreciated." George turned to leave but he stopped him. "Oh and George, please don't go spending an inordinate amount of money on it if at all possible."

George gave him a face as if to say, 'please, sir, like I ever have to worry about that!'

"Of course, sir, I'll do my best."

It was a full day later before they had it in their possession (George had had to retrieve a copy from across the border). The acting detective set it up in Murdoch's office. Julia and the inspector were also present. But all the hub bub surrounding this case had caused a number of constables to be there as well. Brackenreid told them to scram, the curtains and doors were closed and the screening process began.

The movie immediately began very strangely, with a group of men in white wigs and pointed hats, as if they were wizards of some sort. They were in a classroom or an observatory or something as evidenced by the large telescope and chalkboard (which apparently depicted the Earth and the moon). Everyone seemed exceedingly happy about something. One of the men went over to the black board and started drawing something above the planet but Murdoch couldn't make out what exactly, the quality was too poor. But based on the title of the movie, he could certainly hazard a guess.

The scene changed briefly and there was a work crew busy constructing something, Murdoch gathered a space ship. It looked like an oversized bullet.

Again the scene changed and some of the men (in more normal attire) were now on a rooftop somewhere and appeared to be getting ready to get into the ship. There were many women there to send them off and help them prepare for their flight. It was at this point that Murdoch couldn't help but notice how strange everyone's attire was. It certainly did not look very American but possibly that was only because this was a science fiction story? But then the large group of women came out to salute the travellers and Murdoch noticed a curious thing, it was subtle but it was there. The flag that one of the women was holding seemed to be rather blurred, so that one couldn't make out the nationality.

In any case, the crew was shot out of a big cannon and sent hurling through space, something that Murdoch found very reminiscent. If he wasn't very much mistaken, the general storyline to this movie was the same as his favourite novel as a child, Jules Vernes From the Earth to the Moon.

Ah so that explains their attire. They are from France.

Of course, this version became very silly the longer it continued, complete with moon men holding spears who would disappear in a puff of smoke whenever the adventurers attacked them with their umbrellas.

By the end of it, Murdoch was quite glad it was finished. To him it had felt like ages but in reality it had only been about ten minutes. Brackenreid was of the same opinion as him but Julia and especially George seemed to be quite taken with it.

Excitedly he said, "I think Mr. Prenfrew was on to something with this movie business! I have half a mind to start my own business up here, before someone else does!" Sweeping his arms widely, "There would be theatres across the country so everyone could enjoy them! Each theatre would have a different type of flicker playing in it!"

"Isn't that rather impractical, George?" said Murdoch.

"You're right, sir! There could be more than one movie played in the same theatre! So whatever a person's interests, they'd be sure to find something that suited their tastes!"

"I think that's a wonderful idea!" said Julia, ecstatically.

"Thank you, Julia!" (in his excitement forgetting not to call her that at work).

Even Brackenreid seemed to be getting swept up in their mood. "And what would you call these theatres of yours, Crabtree?"

"Hmm, I don't know, sir...maybe Crabtree's Classics or Crabtree's Cinematics or-"

What he thought was, Crabtree's Cineplex? Cine for movie and plex meany many?

What he said was, "That's quite enough, George."

What was important was to determine why someone would have burned down Le Theatre Mystique after watching this. What could have been so bad about this movie that they felt compelled to do that? Or was Julia completely wrong?

The answer came from an outside source, one of the press, one Ruby Crabtree. As Murdoch was preparing to have his lunch with his wife in the park, George and Ruby interrupted them (Holly was with them, sound asleep in a stroller).

"Do you mind if we join you, Jules?"

She shared a look with Murdoch. "Of course not, Ruby. We'd be delighted."

"Splendid!" exclaimed his sister-in-law.

They got to talking about the case and Ruby said incredulously, "Did you say it was called A Trip to the Moon?"

"Why, yes, Ruby, I did," said Murdoch. "Does that mean something to you?"

"I should think so," she replied. "I am writing a story about just such a thing!"

The other three shared a look and George said, "What do you mean, dear? What story?"

"I received an anonymous tip a few days ago about the possibility of a large scandal surrounding that flicker."

"Scandal?" enquired Julia. "How so Ruby?"

"Well after doing a considerable amount of digging, I discovered that that movie was not produced by the Americans."

Again they shared a look but this time Murdoch clued in.

"The Parisians," he said quietly.

"Just so, detective," said Ruby. "Apparently Edison had sent his team over to Paris in order to steal the film from the French filmmaker Georges Méliès."

Murdoch was shocked to hear such a thing about his long time idol. Could it really be true?

Julia got indignant. "So they stole this man's work and then shamelessly toted it as their own for their own financial gain?"

"Precisely, Jules."

Muttering, "It's no wonder that someone wanted to burn down the theatre."

"Who was your informant Ruby?" asked Murdoch.

"As I said before, William, they were anonymous."

"Yes, but how did they inform you of this? What was the mode?"

"Over the telephone."

It was too many days later to be able to trace the call but...

"Would you be able to recognize their voice if you heard it again?"

"I believe so, they had a heavy French accent."

"Makes sense," said George, "that it was a French man."

"It was a woman's voice, George."

"But there's something I still don't understand," said Julia. "Why would they burn down the theatre and inform you of this deception? That seems like rather seperate schools of thought."

"I don't know, Jules."

"Well, Ruby, when were you informed of this?" asked Murdoch.

"On Friday night."

"When, specificially."

"At around seven, just before I left for the evening."

Murdoch was silent for a time.

"What are you thinking, William?" said his wife.