05x01 - Natural Causes

[bunniefuu]

Shadow.

I'm

okay

to

Run over here.

Well, this will do. Hotel and spa.

Yeah, that's what you agreed to.
I did not come equipped for anything uh

spa related.
Oh, you don't need anything. You can use

the sauna. Oh, natural.

Hello. Thank you.

Right.

They've booked us into a double.
A double?

That is one room for two people.
That's the one. Yeah. She's trying to

contact the owner. Apparently, there's
been some incident in the dining room.

Where is he? Dining room. Excuse me.

Excuse me. Thanks.

Quite uh frenetic activity. So,

I took the liberty uh given the purpose
of our visit of compiling a

compatibility checklist.
Oh, I'm not sure that's how

relationships work.
Well, in this exchange alone, we've

ticked a number of boxes. I mean,
honesty, effective communication,

positive interaction, and um acceptance.
It's all downhill from here.

I hazard that remark is not entirely
serious.

Good Hazard.
Another box ticked. Shed sensor.

Ladies and gentlemen, if I can have your
attention,

that does not look good.

Some old chap in the dining room
keeled over

full face plant look like a heart attack.

Sorry, so rude. Simon and Paula Mulver.
Lovely to meet you.

You. What was lovely about that?

Shall we? Since they've messed up the
booking, shall we try to find somewhere

else?
No need. A room may have become

available.

Welcome to the Bridge Street Hotel and
Spa.

Good grief.
Thank you for choosing us. We will do

everything to ensure that you have an
unforgettable stay. While you're here,

why not try our heat and ice experience?
No, thank you. Inspired by the pharaohs

of ancient Egypt, this unique treatment
will draw out impurities, allowing you

to pass through the zone of danger
beyond which stand the gates of

happiness. Zelda,

none other. Wilfred, I'm afraid, is
asleep. I have exhausted him.

Oh, Art, please.
You realize you will have to relinquish

control to open the gates.
Sounds like errant self-help Nox.

Jasper, I've been happily married four
times. You would do well to pay heed. Of

course, it sounds like nonsense. It
describes a contradiction. Your

overdeveloped ego is pushing you to find
love while doing everything it can to

prevent you ever attaining it. That's
the impurity you have to overcome.

Open up. Look to the sky.
Listen to this. Korean snail facial.

Live snails are placed on the face to
exfoliate and lubricate the skin. You

going to try one of those, Jasper?
I may pause.

Why not try a sauna? Inhale the steam,
exhale your stress, release your

happiness hormones.
Goodness, who needs therapy when a room

full of steam can do all that?

The man who expired. Class,

his widow. Poor thing. Needed someone to
talk to.

A shoulder to cry. Message from my
mother.

Currently ensconced in what she insists
on referring to as the big apple.

Yeah, sorry. Well, Mrs. Beto,

she's gone to stay with her daughter.
Here we are. The point of the missive.

In two days, she returns to dear old
Blighty. Look, she only does it to annoy

because she knows it teases.
Anyway, it was her husband's fourth

stroke.
Marvelous. Nothing like a sudden death

to brighten the day.

Who was that?

Don't do that. You going to try that?

You Thank you.

You're very kind, shall we?

Thank you. You're welcome.

I'm sorry again. Um, we've had to close
part of the dining room. Would you mind

if another couple shared your table?
Um, no. No, of course not.

So long as it's not the most.

Didn't you say that? No, no, I did not.

Permission to board.
Oh, yes. Permission granted.

I'm uh Helena. And this is fair.

Yeah. Kid and Naomi.

I think we saw you last night, didn't we?

Yes. Um too late to do anything, I'm
afraid.

Yes. You arrived before the paramedics.

Yes. Um my my surgery's practically next
door. Oh, so that's why he called you.

Ah, my darling husband is implying that

there was an ulterior motive.
Oh, go on. You're dying to tell them.

Finley Crawford, the owner

and Naomi's ex-husband.
We've been apart for 5 years

and he's still in love with you. He's not.

He is.
So, um, how long have you two been

married?
Oh, no. Uh, no, we're we're not.

Oh, we are test driving a uh potential

relationship.

You do that every single time. Don't.

You're embarrassed. You're embarrassed,
mate.

Are you okay? Not really.

You hurting her?
Yeah, it's got nothing to do with you,

mate. Yeah, here I am.

It's got nothing to do with you.
Yeah, you said that.

Sit down. Finish your drink.

So, what do you do for a living? Um,

finance. Oh,

and how the devil is the world of
finance?

We're also test driving casual
conversation.

Yeah, I've had better times. Surprise.

Blow out your candles. Make a wish.

They're trick candles.

Trick candles.
You thought she was a witch.

Dear God. Go on. Cut the cake.

I want to see you cutting the cake.
Here you go.

How much more of this must we endure?

What's your favorite kid?
Are you all right?

Kit. Kit. Can Can you get the spray from
his jacket pocket? K. Kids, stay with

me. There's spray in the jacket pocket.
Kids, stay with me. Stay with me. Yes.

Thank you. Kids, stay with me. Keep your
eyes open. Keep your eyes open. Kids,

get an ambulance. Hurry.
Kids, stay with me. Just kidding.

Tell your waiter to secure all the food
on the stick.

Open your eyes, kid.
It may be required as evidence.

Open your eyes. Open your eyes.

Mr. Crawford,
any news on Dr. Asherson's husband? He

didn't make it. An allergic reaction or
all our guests are asked about

allergies, as you know. Mistake?
You don't have a food allergen

certificate? You don't work here.

Bridge Street Hotel and Spa. It's 500
quid a night and they've had two sudden

deaths in the space of 24 hours.
Oh, you lose a star for that.

Yeah, well, the deaths aren't being
treated as suspicious. So,

so the hotel's still open and I have
volunteered you both to go

because
Professor Tempest is staying there

and I don't want him out of boredom or
curiosity or whatever it is that goes on

in there to interfere with procedure and
you know how to handle him. You do. So,

get in, get it signed off and get out.
Oh, I didn't realize you were up and

fully dressed.

I am seriously considering a mud bath.

I just heard that kid actually died last
night. So tragic.

I can practically hear the wheels
turning. Jasper, an old man died of a

stroke. Kit probably died of a heart
attack. Nitroglycerin spray in his

jacket pocket. He had a heart condition.
I don't think there's a mystery

except for us. We're the mystery.

I believe that after an unpromising
start, this

was a positive interaction

accompanied by sincerity and empathy.
His

wife tried CPR. She's a doctor.
And who was closest to them?

Professor Tempest and Dr. Goldberg.
How close?

Well, they were sharing the same table.
Okay. Thanks. That's That's all for now.

We're going to have to take a statement
from Professor Tempest. Just um stick to

the facts, right? Keep it simple.
I've got a gig tonight

in Wemouth with my dad's brass band.

Okay. Well, I'm going to the change.

Do you think that's why he's here? Do
you think they're having like a naughty

weekend? Don't say that,

professor.

Just need the facts. We're not treating
this as suspicious.

Please do not ask me to accept two
deaths on two consecutive nights in the

same location as coincidence.
Well, I mean, coincidences happen all

the time. Let us tar a while in the slowly

dwindling world of facts. Before she was
married to Kit Howard, Dr. Naomi.

Asherson was betrothed to the owner of
this very establishment, Finley

Crawford. Another fact, noticing Mr. Kit
Howard's discomfort when asked about his

metier. I took the opportunity of
perusing the company's house website.

His finance business went into
administration 3 months ago.

Okay. Thanks,

Winters.
I've got the prelims from the lab.

The first death, Clyde Besta.

Yeah, massive stroke, instant death as
expected. But Kit Howard's biomarkers

are indicating cyanide poisoning.
We're going to run some more tests, but

as a priority, would you let his wife
know?

Yes, mom. Thanks.

Better tell my dad.
Way know what he's missing.

Cyanite.

I assumed it was his heart.

He was convulsing. His eyes were
bloodshot.

Why didn't I see it?
He was fast acting. There was nothing

you could have done.
I'm a doctor for God's sake. If I got

salt water into him, he might still be alive.

Can you think of anyone who um who might
want to do him harm?

No. We know he was having financial

difficulties.
His business was in the hands of the

receivers, but all the creditors were
going to get paid.

You used to be married to Finley
Crawford.

Really? Is this where you're going?
Whose idea was the separation?

I don't know. It was mutual.
Wasn't that a bit odd that you dining

there? No.
Finley had invited us. I I I'd helped

with a situation. Stroke victim.

Yes. There was nothing I could do.

Our forensics officers need to take a
look in your kitchen. Remove food

stuffs, drinks, glassware, crockery,
that sort of thing.

Um, Kit Howard was poisoned.
Seriously poisoned? Do we have your

permission? Of course.

We uh we kept the food from the table
where um I I told the waiter it could be

evidence. Right. And he um he sealed it.

Airlocked Tupperware.
Could I just ask, wasn't it awkward

Naomi and her new husband dining here?
Of course it was awkward.

Naomi left me at my lowest point.
I thought I was losing the business. I

spent 15 years building this place up
and then in the middle of that, she

announces she's found someone else. Do
you have children?

No. Thank goodness. She got Charlie.
That was bad enough.

Charlie, our dog got hit by a car.

Sorry.

I told the waiter everything on that
table, label it to be kept, put it on

the top shelf. You saw him do that?

I told someone to do something, I
expected to be done.

Okay, but did you actually
The boss came in and more covers. No

need for me to stick around.
Probably someone on the breakfast shift

chucked it out. Where are your bins?

Emptied this morning.

Dear Winters, yes, you have an added
briskness to your pace. Now, why might

that be? I wonder.
Kard's death was the result of cyanide

poisoning.
I should like you to furnish me with

your evidence. Also, the postmortem
reports on both deaths. First was a

stroke. Triggered by what?

Professor, you're um
you're here with Dr. Goldberg.

Correct. There's a couple.

I don't know what that means exactly,
but um what I do know,

don't prioritize work over time with
somebody who's important to you.

Uh come lunch.

H I've received the autopsy report on
Kit Howard and Clive Bersto's deaths.

Oh,

okay. And

uh well, I mean I Yes. Well, I I I'll I

will delete them. And um yes, cast the
incident from my mind while we enjoy our

break. Even though you think there's a

possibility that someone was m*rder*d
right in front of you.

Yes, Jasper. H

we're test driving this thing.
Whatever it is.

And I knew there'd be some rough
terrain.

So, read the reports, but promise me one
thing.

All right.
Cyanide is found in various fruits and

vegetables. Yes.

So, if the police believe that it was an
accidental death, you'll accept that and

we can get on with our break. Of course.

I'm trusting you.

Hi.

Hi. All that just for you?

Um, I was supposed to be in Waymouth

tonight. Yeah,

I play in a band. Oh,

a brass band.

You're in a brass band. You buy meat and
tins, play darts with your dad. Have you

slipped through a portal from the 1970s?
Oh, don't knock it. Now, how many people

do you know with a black and white TV?
Oh, not many.

Well, hey, if you can tear yourself away
from your prehistoric telly,

I'd like to buy you a drink. Say thanks
for last night.

But what about your boyfriend? No,
he's history.

Um, it's really nice of you, but um

I'm going to have to say no. Sorry.

No, it's it's okay. Um,

please.

Gym.
You're trying to flog me a membership.

Um, I own the gym.
Um, that's my business card and that's

my number. If you change your mind.

Okay, handbrake turn on the cyanide
case. The full autopsy for Kit Howard

came in overnight and slivers of semi
digestive cassava were found in his

stomach. Cassava, as you know, contains
a naturally occurring form of cyanide.

Soaked and cooked properly, it's
harmless. However, incorrectly prepared,

it can be deadly.
Yes. And there's no prizes for guessing

that the traces found in Kit Howard were
uncooked.

So, we're thinking accidental death.
Yeah. Or a mistake in the kitchen,

possible negligence, food safety.
I've called them in. I need you both to

go back to the hotel, speak to the owner
again and the staff, especially the

kitchen staff. I've worked in kitchens.
Have you?

Yeah. Full of surprises. Me. And I can
guarantee you there will be somebody

there with a bit of gossip, a grudge,
just something that will open this up.

Pointing the finger at my staff, my
business. Or would you rather he'd been

m*rder*d? Honestly,

of course not.
Is cassava something that you regularly

use?
The chef used to crush it to make flour

for tortillas, but that was months ago.
Is it possible some of the plant was

kept by accident, mistaken for some
other vegetable, added to kit salad?

This is going to finish me.

Thought no more meals were being served.
Staff need to eat.

They trust you.

When was the last time you used cassava?

You um know that's what k*lled Kit
Howard.

Boss said.
What could it have gotten to his plate

by accident?
You're accusing me of gross negligence.

You better have something to back it up.
Julian,

you told us two nights ago you left
early. Now I've just spoken to staff and

they said you were the last one to leave.

Well, that post you alone with the
evidence.

Listen, Julian, mate, I think you better
come with us. Do not come near me.

Put the knife down. Whatever's in your
pocket, mate, leave it.

You're not taking me in.

You're under arrest in connection with
the unlawful k*lling of Kit Howard. You

do not have to say anything, but it may
harm your defense if you fail to mention

when questioned something which you
later rely on in court.

I suffer from claustrophobia
in the event of an attack. What does

that say? Call this number.

Call this number. Not spray me in the
eyes with CS gas.

He was holding a knife.
He was chopping vegetables.

Okay.
Under pressure. Who knows? Maybe I would

have done the same. But in your report,
I want to know what you've learned from

this. All right.

Thanks, Mom.

I'm afraid uh our kitchen is going to be
closed today. If you'd prefer to leave

the hotel, we're offering a full refund.
Well, when will it reopen?

To be honest, I I don't know. Our chef's
been taken in for questioning

in connection with Kit Howard's death.
Police think it was probably accidental,

but um they're not ruling out
negligence, so the hotel can stay open

for now. But sorry.

Thank you. Accidental

death, possible negligence.

Two days of barmy sunshine is forecast
for the Devon coast.

Why have the police not informed me of
this?

Because it's not a homicide,
Jasper. We can just collect our refund

and go.

Did you pay one of your staff to do it?
This is where the answers are.

There's no puzzle. Come on.

Have you seen the police report? How do
I

I need to speak with DCwami.

All right.
I'm going for a swim followed by a sauna

and a massage. And I might even have a
pedicure and a glass of champagne

or three.
No, you only know what you want. Were

you Were you so jealous

and leave?

Accidental?
How can cyanide be accidental?

Dr. Rasherson,
what are the police doing about it?

I see. Thank you.

The police believe there was uncooked
cassava in your husband's salad.

Cassava, hence the silite.

Well, I'm going to sue.
Get this place shut down. He's so

careless. You did get our booking wrong.

When he offered me a free dinner, all my
instincts were telling me to say no.

He's careless. His staff are careless.
And then someone sorry

someone dies.

Professor.

Diagwami, I have been looking at Mr.
Clive Bestow's autopsy report on page

eight mentioned almost impossing.
A fragment of vegetative matter

insufficient to cause blockage was
removed from the esophagus.

I do read these things, you know.
I did not wish to imply otherwise.

Yeah. When we found out Kit Howard's
cause of death, I asked for some more

details.
And the vegetative matter in Clive Bto's

throat was also cassava.

Odd choice of holiday reading. Professor
Clive Bto's autopsy.

Goodbye. Come in.

Mom. Yes.

Is Julian Morton fit to be interviewed?
He's still in hospital. Why? What have

you got? So Morton's last job was at the.

Crossland's Mana Hotel in Mayfair.
Mhm.

Two years ago they had an outbreak of
food poisoning.

And was he charged?
No. But what I'm thinking is that Finley

Crawford would have known about the
Crossland's incident.

Possibly. Okay,

let's just say I'm Finley Crawford and
in a fit of jealousy, I want to k*ll Kit

Howard. How am I going to do that? Oh, I
know. I will invite Kit and Naomi to the

hotel for dinner. I'll poison him and
then because of Julian's history, he's

going to get blamed for it and I'll be
in the clear.

I'll contact the hospital. Thank you, Mom.

So, you're telling me that the stroke
victim had also eaten cassava?

Exactly. Thanks.

Well, doesn't that just mean there was a
mistake in the kitchen?

Someone, you know, put something in the
wrong container and tragically it caused

two deaths.
What? You are of course aware that a

disproportionate number of poisoners are
women and of those a significant

fraction work in the medical profession.
Jasper, don't you think that the shock

of seeing somebody die at our table
might be skewing your judgment?

Where's that compatibility checklist?
So, we ticked honesty. We've ticked

effective communication.
Very well. The notion that I may have

been unable to prevent a homicide in
plain sight. Um,

yes, I concede that um that could um
could be exerting some

vague influence.

Come on. Two days on the Devon coast.

This will wait.
Will it though? What if DCwami

charges the wrong person?
Well, she won't because it's an

accidental death. Jasper, you promised.

It is not an accidental death.

Okay.
Yeah, I'll see you assuming you want to

back in Cambridge. What?

Helena,

room 12. Checking out. Oh. Um, was
everything okay?

Yes, it was fine.

Sorry, can't find my key.

Dear God, the trick candles.

I wonder if you could tell me what room
Simon and Paula Malderson are in. Oh,

they checked out. Oh, all right.

He's forgotten his lucky hat.
Left it on the bed post.

Last time it was me. Do you remember?
Came back for my glasses.

They were on her head
the whole time on my head.

Excuse me. I um I know this might sound
a bit odd, but I need a favor.

A favor? You're right. It does sound
rather odd.

You know, to respect the tranquility of
the spa, my husband and I,

as Christians,
we turn the other cheek. But it has to

be said, your partner
probably the rudest man we've ever met.

How on earth do you put up with him?
That's what I'm trying to find out.

Elena, look.

I I'm doing my best, but I do need you
to meet me halfway.

Helena, I too am doing my best.

I've got something to show you.

The Maldison sent me a video which might
prove that you're right. I don't know.

Have a look at this.

Surprise. Any moment now.

Pause.
What am I supposed to be seeing?

Zoom in

there.
You think she's putting raw cassava onto

her onto her husband's plate? Well,
she'll just say she was stealing food.

We've all done that, haven't we? No,

I have. Maybe it's a woman thing.

More poisoners evade prosecution than
any other category of k*ller. What we

need to ask ourselves is what did Naomi
Asherson gain from her husband's death?

Could be financial.
Judging from the micro expressions I

observed while sharing a table with Dr.
Rasherson, financial concerns are

extremely important to her. The failure
of Kit Howard's business was a clear

source of pain.
He fell for bankruptcy about 3 months

ago.
Also, Finy Crawford told us that Naomi

left him when the hotel was failing.
Took Charlie.

Charlie was their dog. He hit by a car,
died.

Hang on. Naomi Asherson is a very
successful woman with a career most

would envy. Why would it matter so much
to her if her husband's business went

under?
Let us suppose for a moment that she is

the living embodiment of relative
deprivation syndrome. In the presence of

other successful people, her own
prosperity evaporates.

She therefore chooses husbands on the
basis of their achievements. Their

successes are her successes. Their
failures

create deep painful psychic wounds.

Is that plausible?
As a theory, maybe. But there is one

flaw. The old guy who died. Clive Ba.

Clive. He also swallowed Cassava. Are we
saying that Naomi Asherson made her way

into the kitchen without anybody seeing
her and added it to the salad mix?

No. That would leave too much to chance.
As of now, I can only offer conjecture.

But what I will say, if you interview
her, Dr. Asherson will at some point

refer to the death of Clive Bura.

If the professor is right, even with the
film and everything, how do we prove the

doctor did it? Oh,
we need to link her to the Cassova,

right?
Then how she got it? Has she she ordered

it online? Has she gone to a market?

She grown it.

Let's try around the back. Yeah.

Could be a cassava patch.

Sorry, I didn't hear you.

Dr. Asherson, we need you to come with
us.

We'd like you to answer some questions
about what?

In connection with your husband's death.
And if I refuse,

you'll be arrested. Unbelievable.

Once I've sued the hotel for negligence,
I'll sue you for wrongful arrest. And

that patch,
that's my dog. Why don't you dig him up?

Have a good route around.

So 3 months ago, Kit Howard filed for
bankruptcy and 2 days before that there

was a substantial increase in his life
insurance.

Well, he was under a lot of stress and
as you know, he had a heart condition.

Are you saying this was my motive? Is it

seriously?

I'm a doctor.
My salary is adequate. I have savings.

The mortgage is paid. And tiny detail, I
happen to love my husband.

Okay. Um, for the record, we are now
showing Dr. Ashes footage from the

evening of Kit Howard's death.

You are clearly putting something onto
your husband's plate.

Kit would have loved this.
I am stealing a slice of radish.

Kit hated radishes.
My husband was unlawfully k*lled.

Someone in that kitchen made a terrible
mistake. You, your consultant, um,

Professor Tempest,
he said that staff negligence allowed

raw cassava to get into the side salad.
And I don't think it was just Kit who

was affected. Meaning what?

Well, the previous night, an elderly man
died from a stroke. Clive Burstone. Was

it triggered by Cassava? Do you know?
Have you tried to find out?

How did you know that she was going to
mention Clive Bestow?

Because that is Dr. Asherson's alibi. If
Clive Besto swallowed Cassava, that

would seem to take her out of the
equation. Focus attention on the

kitchen.
No one outside this room knew that Clive.

Besto had a sliver of cassava in his
esophagus.

No one apart from Dr. Asherson.
And she knew because she put it there.

She put it there.
What is the first thing a doctor does

when presented with someone who is a
non responsive?

Checks the airways. Exactly.

I've never seen a suspect as confident
as Dr. Asherson.

In the mind of the poisoner, they're
merely setting a trap. It is the victim

who springs it. This uh logic mitigates
guilt.

What you're describing that is some
plan.

Dr. Asherson undoubtedly gained a number
of scenarios wherein the life of her

husband could be expuned. But this
opportunity proved too exquisite to

resist. Use a natural death as a cover for

m*rder. k*ll one husband while suing her
former spouse for his demise.

Perfect.

Well, speak to the search team. See what
they can uncover.

Sir,

I think someone has made an absurd
mistake.

Someone just informed me that my mother
was taken ill in her flight from New

York, rushed to St. Hugo's.
She has never had a day's illness in her

life.
She has just circumnavigated the globe.

So, how is she?
Fast asleep. Um, they've ruled out

anemia and dehydration. Oh, good.

Hospitals.

It is de Winters.

Tempest.
I'm with Dr. Rasherson with the search

team. There's no traces of cassava so
far. We've had to cool it off.

DS Winters.
A lawyer's got an injunction. Hang on.

Oh, gross.
Search team accidentally unearthed a

dead dog.

Professor, if it was unearthed prior to the

injunction, it is admissible evidence
and should be examined. Why? Why would

it be evidence?
Dr. Asherson is not a serial k*ller. How

did she know that the poison would work?
She tested the method on her dog.

Her dog got hit by a car. Finley
Crawford told us.

And where did Finley Crawford obtain
that information?

Dr. Asherson, how do you explain the
fact that you were in contact with two

people over the same 24-hour period?
Clive Bestow and your husband Kit when

they both had cassava in their systems.

Do I really have to go over this again?
Have you even charged anyone at the

hotel?
Are you suggesting someone working at

the hotel fed cassava to your dog?

An autopsy found traces of cassava in
your dog's stomach.

That's two men and a dog and no one else
had contact with all three.

You're the common denominator.

Naomi Asherson, you were charged with
the m*rder of Kit Howard. You do not

have to say anything, but it may harm
your defense if you fail to mention when

questioned something which you later
rely on in court.

Hi. You probably don't remember me.
Brass Band Man. I didn't think you were

going to call. Um,
I thought I might take you up on your

offer to buy me a drink.
Yeah, I'd like that.

Okay. Um, what about Tuesday?

Sounds good. Nice. I'll send you a taste.

Yeah. See you then. Hey.

Hey.

Foreign

speech. Foreign speech. Foreign speech.

I'm

well. Okay.