04x04 - A Most Foiled as*ault

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Frankie Drake Mysteries". Aired: June 15, 2019 to March 2021.*
Watch/Buy Amazon

Follows Frankie Drake, a female private detective operating in Toronto in the 1920s.
Post Reply

04x04 - A Most Foiled as*ault

Post by bunniefuu »

So you're telling me
that women's fencing

hasn't been part
of the Worlds until now?

Even though fencing's
been part of it since...

Yup. With only men competing.
Which is why, if we win gold,

no one will be able to deny our talents.

Well, women shouldn't have to win gold

to stop men from throwing rocks at them

- for playing a sport.
- Getting att*cked

was a low point. But...?

Hiring Drake Private
Detectives is a highlight?

Practice, eat, practice,
sleep, practice, practice.

It's nice to have someone
to talk to for once.

Life of an athlete is that hard?

And then some. But it's worth it.

By the end of this gig,
I bet you'll get the itch.

Me? No. I doubt it.

But... think I know someone who might.

(GRUNTING)

Well, I have to say, this
actually looks really exciting!

So, how many of you will make the team?

Three. And an alternate.

Coach Homer starts cuts this afternoon.

That's my fiercest competition.
"La Jaguarella." She's studied

under a master swordsman
since she was six.

Schooling isn't everything.

Ah, her grandfather's
a fencing legend in Spain.

(GRUNTING)

I had right-of-way, Sabina!

Today is not the day
to be testing my patience!

Like any day is.

That's Valentina Levitt. Total hothead.

And that's Sabina, her younger sister.

- All grit, the both of them.
- How so?

Poor. Orphaned. An uncle
introduced them to the sport.

I mean, their fencing
and strategy and timing?

It's... pure magic.

All right. Enough!

I'll not stand by idle while
you sully a gentlemen's game.

We gave you the vote.
We bought you the nice house;

still not enough!
Now you want our sports!

- Put down the ladies' property.
- Make me.

(EXCLAMATIONS)

You should leave.

No woman tells Archie Avery
what he can or can't do.

Get off me! (WOMAN SHRIEKING)

(SCREAMING)

Ayudame, por favor! Venga!

Rapido!

- (GASPING)
- Check her pulse!

Trudy!

Coach Homer! Ruby?

She's okay.

My God! What... what's happened?

(THEME MUSIC)

(WOMAN SCATTING)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

Someone's wheels are turning.

A women's fencing team
is about to make history

and their coach is suddenly k*lled?

It seems a little suspicious.

Speaking of suspicious:

what happened to that Archie Avery?

He left before the cops even got here.

Well, that's one way to get
out of questioning.

He's gotta be involved somehow.

I didn't k*ll Coach! This isn't right!

- Help, somebody, please!
- Shaw, hurry up.

Detective McIntosh is already outside.

We shouldn't keep a lead
detective waiting.

Officer Rogers, she really
needs that head wound checked

- by a doctor.
- It's McIntosh's call to make.

Outta the way, ladies.

Mary, they put you on a
homicide case? That's big.

Sadly, no. Detective McIntosh

thought the words 'women'
and 'locker room'

meant ladies in compromised
states of undress, so... Hey,

news travels fast if you two
b*at us to the scene.

Actually, we're just here
on a security job.

One of the fencers is our client.

Do you think they're in danger?

It would appear they're
in a lot more danger now.

But why did that officer
take Ruby so quickly?

- He barely questioned her.
- Or combed the crime scene.

All I know is that McIntosh is
quite confident Ruby did it.

- Gals, I should really go!
- Confident based on what?

Something about a damning statement

made by a... a Jaguarella.

I'll see you.

As I told the detective,
I sought Coach Homer

for my parry work.

When I entered the locker room,
Ruby had already k*lled him.

Did you see Ruby actually s*ab him?

Who needs to see when they know?

Coach was cutting her
from the team today.

Isn't that what you detectives
call el motivo?

- They're cancelling the trials.
- What? Until when?

I don't know.

Manager's sending all the women home.

But we paid to use this space.
There's a trial deadline

we have to meet! Wait.

We won't even qualify for the
Worlds if we don't have a coach.

No te creo.

Estoy rodeada de payasos. Todas!

- Vamos! Vamos!
- Jaguarella says


that Ruby was about to be
cut from the team.

So, she murders her coach
to make the team.

But without a coach
you can't even compete.

Makes no sense at all.

Hm... It's not slippery enough
to account for a fall.

Someone or something
must have knocked Ruby out.

Take a look at this. Talcum powder?

We are in a locker room.

You see that? Looks like a shoeprint.

Yeah. That print doesn't match the shoes

that the coach is wearing.

It's also different from the
women's fencing shoes.

Could be our intruder.

Did any of the fencers
mention the last time

- they saw Coach alive?
- Sabina said he let them in

right before we arrived,
then went to go change.

So, the m*rder*r's window of
opportunity is between then

and Jaguarella's scream.
That's pretty tight.

Yes. And then Archie Avery
just happened to arrive.

A dead coach and no female
fencing team. His lucky day.

The way work's been going,

I was beginning to forget what
the two of you two look like.

Oh, I'm the one with the
impeccable fashion sense and hair,

- and she's...
- Oh!

This should be good. (LAUGHING)

Oh, laughter... my old friend.

Right. You wanted to know
about the fencer.

You don't think Ruby's a k*ller, do you?

Oof, that one? Timid as a doe.

She needed stitches
to suture up her head wound.

The point of impact was up
and above the back of the head.

- Most likely, she was att*cked.
- Mm-hm.

Thought so. I'll track down
Archie. It's time

- he answered some questions.
- I'll do the same with Ruby.

You'll let us know if anything fishy
comes up in the coroner's report?

- You'll be "herring" from me.
(CHUCKLING)

(CACKLING) Come on! It's funny.

- Mind if we join you?
- Mm.

For lunch? Yes, of course.

We heard that, um,
you were tagging along

with Det. McIntosh this morning.

Homicide. Women's
fencing coach was m*rder*d.

They were on their way to Worlds.

Oh, look, broads can't kick
a ball or sh**t a hoop or, ah,

- play a... what? Fence?
- Fence a foil.

Oh! My point is:

society just wants to see you
gals as nothing more than, um...

- than a painted face.
- Glad I don't have daughters.

Oh. I am surprised to hear you

say that... a good surprised.

I honestly think an innocent woman
has been accused of a crime here.

McIntosh barely processed the scene

before handcuffing poor Ruby and...

Um...

Ah-ah... Sorry. What was I saying?

That a good man is dead, Mary.

And I never refuted that.

A suspect found right
at the scene with means

and opportunity. What's not open
and shut about this case?

Careful, Shaw. Wouldn't want you
to make a fool of yourself

spreading that baloney
around the station.

Easy, Harvey. Easy.

She's still learning,
ain't you, officer?

- I guess so.
- Always a pleasure, Shaw.

- Hey, Mary!
- Oh!

Oh!

- Let's go.
- Okay.

I gave up everything for the Worlds.

I quit my job. Sold my cat! My
mother doesn't even speak to me

- because of my unfemininity. I...
- Ruby,

if you didn't k*ll Coach Homer,
help us prove it.

What were you doing
in the men's locker room?

I was gonna beg not to be cut.

But I didn't even get the chance. I...

- Coach Homer was already dead?
- No, he was alive. He told me

to wait by the entrance
and then, next thing I knew,

everything went black. When I
woke up, I had handcuffs on.

Wait, that door is the only entry point,

so if you didn't see anyone
come in after you,

that means the intruder
was already waiting inside.

Ruby, these are
some pictures of the foil

that was used in Coach's m*rder.
If we could connect this w*apon

to its owner, we could clear your name.

That's not a foil; that's a sabre.

There are three types
of blades in fencing.

Women can only compete in foil.

So, that means the sabre
that stabbed Coach Homer

most likely belonged to a man.

A woman has no reason to own one.

He was our only champion in the sport,

devoted to our future.

Did he have any enemies?

I only ever heard him
speak ill of one person,

some man named Archie.

Archie? Who's he?

The man Frankie's
questioning as we speak.

- (LAUGHING)
- That was a good one, Arch.

Don't let a lady ruin your fun.

What are you doing here? Following me?

Frankie Drake, Private Detective.

I have a few questions
regarding an investigation.

Investigation?

The law states a man
has a right to free speech.

It's regarding the m*rder
of Coach Milton Homer.

- Who?
- The women's fencing coach?

Well, maybe you wouldn't be
so lost right now

if you hadn't been so busy
evading the police.

I didn't evade police.

I went into that gym
to prove a point. And I did!

- No thanks to you and your...
- Partner.

A hysteric scream sent you lot
racing to the locker room.

Far as I thought, a woman broke a nail.

So, why leave the gym
over a broken nail?

Because no sane man jumps
to the conclusion of m*rder

- over a scream.
- Lady, quit the radio plays.

This would never happen
at my club. Men only.

Well, I wouldn't know much about that,
but you know what I do call someone

who creates an ambush during the
time of a m*rder and then leaves?

An accomplice.

- Arch?
- Don't worry about her.

Can't help! Late for the morgue.

(CHIRPING)

Is that a bird on your arm?

I keep my bird in my pants
and my falcon on my arm.

I hope you haven't waited
too long to use that line.

Meet Abacus.

Is Abacus holding a human finger?

Is it still human
if it's no longer attached?

And I've lost patience.

- Good day.
- Oh, wait, please.

I'm Basil. I'm a falconer.

Abacus found this pinky during a flight.

I took it to the police
and they sent me here.

You're trying to find its owner?

Wouldn't you want your pinky
back? Please help.

No one who's passed by
has stopped, except for you.

You're also the prettiest, I might add.

- With hair like Persephone.
- You don't have

to bring the ancient gods into
this. I'll help. Call me Flo.

I can think of a few other
names I'd like to call you.

Are you as bad a falconer
as you are a flirt?

Ah.

Severed below the proximal phalanx.

Distal phalanx still intact.

Let's go to the operating wing,
birdyboy...

see if anyone whizzed in
without a pinky.

Why does a falconer have
a business card, anyway?

Oh, you'd be surprised how
many people employ my services.

I'm happy to see the athletes
are back to practicing.

Well, we know Jaguarella
has a way with words.

Yep.

Do you think the average person knows

- that a fencing blade is dull at its tip?
- No.

They would have used that blade
as a regular sword.

But the m*rder*r knew
to break it to make it sharp.

Right, which brings us back
to Archie's involvement.

He lied about knowing Coach
Homer and he has access to a sabre.

- (WOMAN ROARING)
- What...?

Get off me, woman!

I came in and heard a sound
and found him!

The m*rder*r's returned, Miss Drake.

You expect us to believe
that you weren't the one

who snuck into the locker room
yesterday and k*lled Coach Homer?

- You should be ashamed of yourself.
- Ashamed?

You ought to be ashamed.
Disrupting the natural order...

Why don't you stop with the
rant and tell us what you did?

I was doing society a favour.

- Putting on a skirt?
- Whatever gets the job done.

Rumour is the lady fencers were
going ahead with the trials;

the only option left
was to stop them for good.

- Think you can try and harm us?
- (BOTH): Hey!

Harm? You ain't worth
the jail time, sweetheart.

If I dressed up like one
of yous, kept my mask on,

- I'd pass the trials and make the team.
- Then what?

Then you'd know how inadequate
you all are, give up and go home.

- What's this on the sabre?
- What's it to you?

Coach Homer was k*lled with a sabre.

Except I was working yesterday morning.

Go talk to my boss.

I'm a fencer, a butcher,
but I ain't your k*ller.

Not quite the missing
appendage we were looking for.

I'll take your word for it.
(FLO LAUGHS.)

So, no man missing a finger

at the hospital, no man here.

I didn't think the morgue'd be
such a dead end.

- But when isn't it?
- Not a complete loss of time.

I get to see where you work.

All roses and formaldehyde here.

- Not only are you a doctor...
- Medical Resident.

- But a coroner!
- Coroner's Assistant.

- You have two jobs.
- Mm-hm.

- Such a rare species before me.
- First time I've had a man

refer to me the way
he talks to his pet bird.

No woman in my family ever had a job.

Ever. Let alone two.

Flo, your mind, your talent?
Extraordinary.

Thank you.

Lately all I've been hearing
is to take it easy.

Has the world gone completely batty?

- Hm.
- So, where to next? Cemetery?

Ha! I'm afraid our adventure ends here.

- I have work I can't ignore.
- No. No. Of course.

- Duty calls.
- Hm.

It just feels so wrong to toss it.

It was somebody's.



I've been thinking about the m*rder.

Don't worry about the case.

The deal was Frankie
goes out with Alessandro

so you could spend more time
here to practice.

A fencer may execute an att*ck
expecting a parry riposte,

preparing to counter-riposte.

- Was any of that in English?
- Thrust.

Block. Counter-att*ck.

Wanna try?

It's more fun with an opponent.
The goal of an as*ault

is to score points.
The target area is the torso,

- not including the arms.
- That's a very narrow target area.

See why fencing's compared
to chess? It's all strategy.

- First fundamental.
- Oh, I saw you do this enough

- at the trials.
- Next, to advance,

lead with your front leg,
back leg follows.

- Okay. Think I got it.
- Third,

when I approach... retreat.

Move your back foot first,
front foot follows.

That's it.

- OK, when do I get to score points?
- Someone's competitive.

To land a point -a touché-
a fencer moves into a lunge,

- foil ready.
- Hm.

I see you built up to your
lunge with a couple of small steps.

- Did I do something wrong?
- On the contrary.

Trudy Clarke, you just
established a signature move.

Hm!

Again.

It's like a frozen lollipop.

(LAUGHING) You're not a fan, are you?

I tell you, Frankie, this is
not better than gelato.

And, look, it's melt on my gloves.

- On your lips, as well.
- Hm.

- Okay. We tried.
- Yeah.

- So, can I ask you something?
- Si.

If women were to race in your
circuit, would you be for it?

I don't care about a racer's sex.

As long as they are a worthy
competitor, that's all that matters.

And what if they started
horning in on your records

and your prize money and your fame?

Maria Antonietta Avanzo; Eliska Junkova;

- Camille du Gast.
- Who are they?

Three females already compete
on the European circuit

and nobody want to
k*ll them for that, eh?

OK. So, you Italians b*at us in sport,

- equality and frozen treats.
- Frankie,

there is a simpler option
if you want to eliminate

- unwanted competition.
- What's that?

You cheat.

So, what was in Homer's autopsy report?

Ah, it's here somewhere.

- Here, I know.
- Flo...

Don't make me feel
embarrassed. Don't say anything.

I got a lot to do, ladies. Oh!

Here we are.

He was in near perfect health.

Minus the blade through his heart.

The most interesting detail in
here lies outside of the body;

traces of cocaine were
found on his clothes.

Why would he have cocaine
on his uniform?

Doctors write prescriptions to
combat maladies: fever, headache,

- indigestion.
- There's gotta be something else.

You know, the white substance
we found at the crime scene

could be cocaine, too.

Maybe someone on the team
was taking it because they were sick?

Or maybe someone on the team
is using it to cheat?

- Mm.
- One of the fencers

could be using cocaine
to gain a competitive edge.

Trudy, why don't you go
check out the trials?

- I just have a quick pit stop to make.
- Ooh! Pit stop?

Someone's hanging out
with their racer boyfriend.

- (LAUGHING)
- Ooh!

Should I be impressed?

Why don't we have a little chat?

Looks like your arm's
getting tired anyway.

It's called an off-hand.
And I keep it limp

to distract an opponent's gaze.
In the th century,

the off-hand held a lantern
to light the piste

while you fenced.

Not that you're here
for a history lesson.

You know, I thought you were a
narcissist when you called it your club,

but it is actually called
Avery's Men's Fencing Club.

Indeed it is.

And...

- I'm recruiting.
- Hm.

Maybe you could explain to me

how a sabre with your club's
initials ended up in the heart

of a man that you said you didn't know?

An alibi rules out Louis,

but we know that there was
someone from your club

- in the locker room that morning.
- Yes.

There was.

Your victim. Our old coach.

He left a gold-winning men's
team for women's amateur hour.

So it was Homer's sabre. He kept it.

It doesn't explain why you lied to me.

Better no one know our past
association with Milton.

What you don't seem
to realise is that...

the men of this club

are motivated by something
much grander than retribution.

- Enlighten me.
- Legacy, Drake.

Legacy. After this summer,
we'll be heroes.

They'll study us in schools.

I hope they do. Right after learning

about the women winning gold.

- Touch!
- Yeah.

Off-target point.

You are a traitor to your own
sister! Ugh! You're both blind

- as mole rats!
- Val, would you calm down for once!

Is a tantrum her signature move?

- What's all this?
- Ah,

it's Coach Homer's belongings.

"Ida versus Ruby. Bout one.

Valentina versus Sabina. Bout three."

A bout is a friendly game.
Coach was filming us pre-trial

and then we'd watch the films together.

- To fix mistakes.
- Yeah.

Avant-garde.

Wait, was his camera running
the morning that he was k*lled?

Oh, yeah. Of course. It's right...

Um, that's odd. It's gone.

That means the police
must have seized it.

I have a contact at the station.
We need to look

what's on that film.
I'm going to borrow this.



I thought everyone
from the station hung out

at that Hungarian joint?

Don't journalists know it's
rude to just sidle up to someone?

Why is it so easy to rile you up?

Mind if I join? I'm starving.

To be honest,
I'm not having very much luck

- with lunch company these days.
- Hm.

Let's change that, shall we?

(LAUGHING)

Oh, if I had told that joke to the gals,

they'd wash my mouth out with soap.

I bet they'd just laugh.
You overthink matters

far too much, Mary.

You know what? Uh,

joke's not even that funny.
Don't bother telling them.

I've, uh, been told

listening's one of
my greatest qualities.

Along with what?

Your anarchist tendencies
and stubborn nature?

- (LAUGHING)
- Talk to me.

Off the record, hm?

Why should I trust you?

Because I'm trustworthy.

Ended up at the Old Mill.

Naturally, we split the bill.

First date and he goes Dutch?
Honey, move on.

Going Dutch is a modern
women's prerogative.

Sure is, but whose idea was it?
Were you reaching for your purse,

or did he push the billfold
across the table?

Uh-huh. Lose him.

Dating during a residency
is a distraction anyway.

We gotta go for it when we can, Flo.

You know I'd always cover for you.

I'm working around the clock with two

jobs and I don't get a break on my rent

- by living at home like you.
- A break?

I moved back home to care for my
sick father while I work here.

Plus, coat check at the
Broadview five nights a week.

OK. I'm pulling my foot
out of my mouth. Sorry.

- We're both very busy.
- Yes.

Only difference is, I still
make time to have a life.

You should, too,

or it'll be over before you know it.

Any luck finding that missing reel?

I left word with Mary.
Coach Homer didn't let up

until they perfected their
mistakes. He spent three reels

on Ida's footwork;
two on Sabina's lunges.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello? Ida?

Yes, of course. We'll be right there.

The fencers were unexpectedly
called back to the gym.

That doesn't sound good.

Left arm all the way back
behind your back

for stabilization. Perfect chin...

- And here we worried you had bad news.
- Quite the opposite.

We have a new coach. Team's been saved.

- That's great! Who is she?
- Esmeralda Moreno.

A champion years ago.

Hasn't been active in fencing for years.

All right, when you thrust...

- Why not?
- Scandal plagued her career.

But, beggars can't be choosers.

Let's go see if she wants
to have a chat.

Coach Moreno? Sorry to interrupt.

- I thought I'd met all the ladies?
- We're Ida's security.

We are also investigating
the m*rder of Coach...

You two should go.

No offense,

but we finally have a fresh
start. Can't risk you

scaring off our new coach
with your investigation.

Your last coach was m*rder*d. She
deserves to know if she's in any danger.

She's a pro. She can handle it.

We're on a job. We're staying.

Then it's either the team,

or your nosy detective friends.

- Who are you to give such an order?
- I have to agree with her.

Whatever their business,
these ladies are a distraction.

We have work to do.

Ah!

Ida, your safety
is going to be compromised.

I know, it's just...
not worth more than my dreams.

Goodbye, ladies.

Let's practice that.

Beautiful. Excellent.

And now I want to talk about...

(LIVELY MUSIC)

Thanks for bringing us
the missing film, Mary.

- You're a hero.
- I just really need

to get this back in evidence

before Officer Ritchie
starts his next shift.

He catalogs the shirts
down to the last button.

Hopefully we find what we need
to catch a m*rder*r

and get our jobs back.

The camera angle... it doesn't
cover the entranceway

- to the locker room.
- Wait.

Jaguarella's shoes. They're
different from everyone else's.

Maybe the tread pattern
will match what we found

- in the locker room?
- She was first

on the crime scene. And she pointed the
finger at poor Ruby. Maybe she did it?

Well, it's going to be hard to
question her since we're barred

- from the gym.
- I know who we can talk to.

That cheat, Jaguarella, had you fired!

We didn't mean to upset you,
Ruby. We just thought you might

be able to give us some insight

- into Jaguarella's character.
- Oh, yes! I can.

I... It's not you.

A guard handed me this.

The Workers Gazette wrote a piece on me.

A 'police source' is quoted
saying my arrest was false.


- So why haven't I been released!?
- Uh,

could I see that newspaper, please?

- Why did you call Jaguarella a cheat?
- Because she is.

Tried to offer me some
of her "courage powder."

Cocaine? Wa... Was that allowed?

Most athletes don't get caught.

What did Coach Homer
think about drug use?

Big no-no. She knew, too; only
became more creative hiding it.

The shoes, the cocaine...

Jaguarella was in that locker room.

The evidence points to a struggle.
The question is how far did she take it?

I've seen athletes
eat bull testes to win.

- m*rder's not so far-fetched.
- Trustworthy! That's a laugh.

You OK, Mary?

I'm fine. But he won't be.

OK, Chakowitz, you've called men before.

This is no different.

Ahem!

Just calling a falconer

about a finger. (CHUCKLING)

Ugh. Why am I schvitzing?

That's what happens when you
wear the good dress to work,

around all the dead people,

instead of wearing just
your regular old thing.

Ahem!

Hello! Basil. It's Flo.

What voice?

No, this is my normal voice.

No, no! Don't flatter yourself. Look,

can you meet me at four? I think
there's one more place we can look.

I'll bring the pinky! (LAUGHING)

Where's she going?

Would you look at that?

- Got a sec?
- What are you two doing here?

Not paying off an accomplice
to help in a m*rder plot.

It's nothing like that.

See?

He supplies you cocaine?

So, he will help the female athletes

- if there's a payday involved.
- I didn't m*rder Coach.

You framed Ruby.

I didn't want the police poking around.

It's enough Coach Homer
discovered my secret.

Is that what you were talking
about in the locker room?

Yes! Asked me if it was safe.

Safe?

So, Coach Homer changed
his opinion on drug use?

I don't know for certain.

He dropped the vial; it broke.

Then I rushed out to see what
the commotion was in the gym.

When I got back,

I was too late.

Why are your fencing shoes
different from the other women?

The other ones pinch too tight.

In four years, I'll be
too old to compete.

This competition is my last chance.

I didn't have you fired
to get away with m*rder!

I had you fired because
if you scare off Coach Moreno,

you k*ll my quest for gold.

We don't think you're the m*rder*r.

We're sure you're going
to do great in the Worlds.

Of course I will. I am the best.

- Unlike that loca.
- Who?

Valentina. She's peligrosa, dangerous.

- Oof.
- How's that for an off-target touch?

She has no control over her temper.

Yeah, I believe you on that
one. I've seen it for myself.

First, she hits me.
Then breaks my new foil.

Blades must break all the time.

Old? Maybe.

A new one? Impossible.

Ruby was out.

Val was next.

No way we could win gold
with her temper.

Everyone knew it. Even Coach.

Oh, hey. I'll catch you guys later.

Mary! Ain't this a nice surprise.

You promised we were off-the-record!

- Well, I didn't name you as my source.
- You didn't have to.

Detectives Hunter and Lyle
know you're a journalist.

They've seen us speaking. You
put your hand over your heart.

- I have a journalist's duty...
- A journalist's duty?

This is no public service.
This is you grinding the axe

you have against the police.
That's selfish.

I'm selfish? You're here
because you're worried

- about your job.
- No.

An innocent woman's life
is at stake here.

Insulting police work

is only going to jeopardize
Ruby's due process.

You know, I really hoped that
you'd be better than this.

Mary!

Thank you for meeting with us.

I have a soft spot for underdogs.

- That's what you think we are?
- That's what we both are.

This is a photo

of the broken sabre that was
used to m*rder your coach.

And this is a photo

of Jaguarella's foil you broke today.

So?

The breaks are identical.

Three inches of the blade... gone.

Impossible feat. Unless it was
done by the same person.

Val?

You are all out of
your pretty little skulls!

My sister and I

rule the piste. We got here
without any handouts or dr*gs.

I don't have to k*ll someone
for a spot on the team I earned!

Unless your Coach was about to
cut you because of a violent temper.

Only a fool cuts his best
player for something like that.

Wasn't me.

You both saw me fence my sister
that morning, unlike Ruby,

who wasn't in the gym.

I swear, she is different
outside of the competition.

But she's right. This wasn't us.

Gals, I'm sorry this film reel
wasn't more help.

- Hello?
- Hello.

Hello, Mary.

Uh... You are?

Gals, this is Steven Reid. He
writes for The Workers Gazette.

The Steven? How can we help you?

Mary's told me about your
case. I brought everything

that's ever been written about
the Toronto fencing circuit.

- I wanted to help.
- Articles on both men and women?

Our jobs are similar
in how an offbeat lead

can help cr*ck a tricky case.

That is very helpful.

- Thank you, Steven.
- Yes. Thank you, Steven.

I'll, uh, pitch in with the last pile?

I think that's fine.
You've done enough.

Except your tone tells me

I still have a ways to go
before I make it up to you?

Listen to this:
"Team leader warns of tough...

Yeah, no, we've been through
that one. Same guy as before,

- all right?
- Oh.

- Gals, who was the coach in ?
- Oh! Oh! I got that.

Yeah. It was...

Still McDonough.

Thank you.

- Anybody want a popsicle?
- Oh! Thank you.

- You're welcome. Miss Trudy?
- Thank you.

- Mary?
- Thank you, Steven.

You're welcome.

I found it! Frankie, look.

"Esmeralda Moreno disgraces
her sport and her country..."

"Coach Moreno's fall from grace..."

This must be the scandalous past
that Ida was alluding to.

Seems she was partial

to a narcotic cocktail
named The Duchess.

- Poor Coach.
- Crooked Coach.

- She was blacklisted for life!
- She was cheating to win!

The Duchess took the life

of a fencer in

and Moreno became the scapegoat
for the entire scandal.

Men were using it
twice as much as women,

yet she's the one who takes the fall?

- Patriarchal oppression.
- Exactly!

I like him.

So, do you think Moreno
k*lled Coach Homer

in order to regain her sport status?

Well, anyone who leads the
first women's team to Worlds

would be a national hero.

Our smoking g*n.

Moreno became a coach
when she could no longer play.

But she started coaching
Sabina since she was five,

- up until a few years ago.
- Looks like we found our guilty

fencers in all of this.

Which means that Ruby
is innocent! I knew it!

Oh!

Mmm.

Thanks for your help!

- Hm, hm, hm.
- (LAUGHING)

You can relax, Mary. He's gone now.

Oh, my gosh! I don't know
what came over me.

I would say a very helpful
and handsome journalist.

- Oh...
- It's OK.

Well, according to this article, Sabina

was a prodigy and Moreno
was desperate to coach her

and was given permission...
on one condition.

- Which was?
- She'd have to coach Valentina, too.

Sabina insisted.

So, Sabina made them
a package deal from the start,

even at the expense of her own success.

It's Sabina. She's the mastermind.

But weren't both girls fencing
at the time of the m*rder?

Oh, Mary,

we're gonna need to hold on to
that reel a little bit longer.

Sigmund, we ain't blowing off.
We need to check these caskets.

I've got no time to cater to
the public's every whimsy.

Public whimsy? You and I are peers.

I'm under a lot of pressure.
You have no idea.

Oh, no, no, no. I'm not greasing your
palm. I learned my lesson last time.

A bribe? Florence, please.

You and I are peers.

Hard to believe you still
live with your mother.

Doesn't a man deserve his dignity

before he's surrendered to the
earth? Please, oblige our request.

Oh, save it for the softies.

What's one severed finger?

- (CHOKING)
- Oh, heavens!

- The man's choking.
- Oh!

He nearly swallowed the finger!

- Flo, you saved the man's life!
- Sigmund, now you owe me.

Crowbars.

Crowbars. Let's open these up.

(COUGHING)

What if he's already been... singed?

That's putting it mildly.

One last nail's a pain.

Finally. Help me out.

- (GASPING)
- Oh, my goodness.

Nine digits,

missing a pinky. Flo,

- he's a match.
- Care to do the honours?

Oh.

I want to thank you for all your help.

- What do you have in mind?
- My place is nearby.

The bird stays outside.

Bye, Sigmund.

- (COUGHING)
- Thank you.

Arret!

If the retreating fencer

changes the distance by slowing,

advancing, or stopping,
she is the attacker.

- It's all in the retreat.
- That's funny.

We could say the same thing.

- What are you doing here?
- Why don't we just show you?

Trudy and I spliced together some of
Coach Homer's old practice footage.

Really? Can't get enough of me, can you?

In every filmed lunge,
Sabina is slightly airborne

before she hits the ground.

A signature move, one might say.

Another signature move
is a fencer's off hand.

Here you can see Sabina's hand
is in a tight fist shape.

The true mark of a professional athlete

is their ability
for precision and repetition.

Which Sabina executes

in every reel. Except this one.

The morning Coach Homer was k*lled.

Here you can see
her lunge isn't airborne,

but she moves forward.
And her hand isn't in a fist,

but it's limp.

Impossible. Stance and reflex
don't change overnight.

Sabina, it wasn't you

behind that mask.

There's only one person who
could imitate you well enough

to fool Valentina
and that is your old coach.

And you wanted Sabina to win
gold, so you agreed to help.

You're only here because
you helped her m*rder? Why?

I had to.

For a new legacy.

Sabina, you k*lled Coach Homer.

You knew that he was going to cut Val

because of her temper and
there's no way that you would go

to the Worlds without her.

You waited in the locker room for
Jaguarella to leave and once she did,

you knocked out Ruby
and you k*lled Coach.

You got back out here
before the cops arrived.

I'm so sorry! But it was supposed

to be both of us on that podium.

It still can be.

Frankie, watch out!

(EXCLAMATIONS)

Are you okay?

It's all in the reflexes.

Here.

It goes here!

- Golly. What's gotten into you?
- A falconer.

Thank you. Oh, thank you!

Ms. Scialfa! Care to comment
on the recent arrests

of Sabina Levitt and Esmeralda
Moreno? On the record?

Only that I am indebted
to Drake Private Detectives

and Miss Mary Shaw
for assisting in my release.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I have fencing trials to return to.

Miss Shaw, care to comment?

Case or non-case related.

Perhaps just, uh...

journalist-kiss related?

Well, that depends.
Are we on or off the record?

- Ready?
- Mm-hm.

- En garde ! Prêt. Allez !
- What? What? Does that mean go?

- Yes! Ha, ha, ha!
- Flo, you're so unsportsmanlike.

- I was asking for clarification.
- Ain't no rest for the wicked.

Good thing Ida isn't here
to see you decimate her sport.

Hey!

- Oh!
- (LAUGHING)

- Is there any news?
- She will be fencing for gold.

But Women's Individuals Foil.

It's not the national team they
hoped for but still, progress.

Speaking of progress: Mary,
where do you stand with Steven?

- Oh!
- Yes, Mary! Will you be

seeing him again?

Well, I don't kn... Oh!

- Gals, I am in the middle of a game here!
- Game over.

(LAUGHING)

So, are you gonna kiss
the lefty again or what?

Well, what makes you think
I haven't already?

- (GASPING)
- Oh!

Mary!
Post Reply