The Black Witch Moth – The show begins with Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) speaking to the Cultural Society board. She expresses her desire to share her experience as a female private detective with their members. She assures the board that her experience can be an inspiration for women. A board member, Mrs. Parker (Helen Norton) questions the character of her clients as the only London female private detective. A perplexed Eliza asks for an explanation. The board member says rumors claim a populist hired her instead of a male private detective due to a lack of funds. She denies the rumors are true. She warns her that an endorsement could harm the Culture Society’s reputation. Eliza promises to not expose Mrs. Woodhouse’s husband’s gambling debt and the money he owes the town.

Hattie Parker (Jessie Cave) is waiting as she emerges from the room. She questions how the meeting went when the door is slammed shut.

William “The Duke” Wellington orders an intoxicated Detective Oliver Fitzroy (Even McCabe) out of bed. When he refuses, The Duke dunks his head in a pail of water. Once he is alert, The Duke warns him of what will happen if he arrives for duty inebriated.

Eliza complains to Hattie about the Cultural Society. She admits some of her clients paid less than the average rate but denies it had anything to do with her being female. Hattie suggests Eliza’s treatment of her aunt was the wrong move. She tells her it isn’t the first time. Hattie says accuses Eliza of embarrassing her aunt in front of two Cultural Society members whom she calls friends. Eliza sarcastically admits to being surprised her aunt finds the ladies likable. Hattie claims her aunt despises the women. Their attention is drawn to a man standing in front of her office.

Mr. Swab/Reginald Booth (Dan Starkey) denies his visit is related to Mrs. Parker. He informs her of his being a partner at the insurance firm, Swab & Durstin in Holborn. As he explains how the firm operates, she assures him that she is familiar with the insurance industry. He tells her one of their policyholders reported a stolen “Black Witch Moth” sketch by Charles Darwin. She tells him that he will be charged the full rate. He assures her that he would expect it.

The Duke investigates the stolen sketch. He questions why the thief would take the time to remove the sketch from the frame. Fitzroy ignores his question while documenting the findings. After scolding him for refusing to answer his question, The Duke suggests he probe the crime scene. Fitzroy insinuates the thief wasn’t pressured for time. Eliza explains the purpose of her visit is to conduct an investigation into the missing “Black Witch Moth”. He sarcastically asks her to explain what he is doing. She admits the insurer hired her to investigate the crime. Fitzroy asks if he and Eliza are when The Duke cuts him off.

Eliza inspects the crime scene when Hanna Garret (Emma Campbell-Jones) alerts her of the museum being closed. Eliza explains how she was hired to investigate the missing sketch. Hanna questions if the insurer believed she was behind the scheme. She assures her that they hired her because she is a good private detective. Hanna claims the thief knew the “Black Witch Moth” sketch was the museum’s only valuable piece as nothing else was missing. Eliza questions how the sketch came into her possession. She says after meeting Darwin at a lecture, it arrived in the mail.

Hannah admits the move infuriated her husband, Thomas who no longer values her work. Eliza questions why she utilizes her maiden name. Hanna says they are currently separated.

When Eliza meets Thomas Dashwood (Phill Langhorne), he is immediately put off by her being there. She informs him that her visit is pertaining to his wife. He goes on a rant about his wife trying to antagonize and humiliate him. After he makes his exit, Mrs. Dashwood (Elizabeth Counsell) assures her that Thomas’s behavior is normal. They briefly talk about her obsession of puzzles before Mrs. Dashwood is off for a nap.

Eliza arrives back at her office to discover a line of people there. She asks Hattie why the people are there. Hattie tells her about the people chanting, “They found it.”

Eliza points out a newspaper ad that reads, “Stolen sketch of the “Black Witch Moth” by Charles Darwin. An award of 1,000 pounds is offered for its safe return to Eliza.” She denies any connection to the ad. After pointing out the value being 500 pounds, The Duke suggests Garret may have been sentimentally attached to the sketch. She asks why the responsible party chose to utilize her address, inside of the museum. He assumes the insurer hired a female private detective to warm up to Garret. She assures him the reason is that she is good at her job. When he finds out Eliza scheduled an interview with newspaper correspondent Basil Sinclaire (Oliver Chris), he reminds her that she doesn’t work there.

Basil denies knowing who posted the ad. Eliza asks when the newspaper received the letter. He claims it arrived approximately 6pm yesterday. She asks if the newspaper posted the ad before the sketch was stolen. Basil sarcastically suggests Scotland Yard is once again reliant on Eliza to solve the crime. The Duke assures him that Eliza is not employed at Scotland Yard. Eliza tells him the insurer hired her. Basil assures her that his point has been proven. Fitzroy rushes into the room to alert The Duke of his findings, an art dealer’s address. As Basil and Eliza ask for more info, The Duke rushes him out of the room.

The Duke asks Fitzroy if he is trying to complicate his life. Fitzroy is confused by his comment. He suggests only showing his investigative findings to him. Eliza suggests a different approach to Fitzroy. He demands she not share her criticism with him before entering his office and shutting the door. She follows him into the office in hopes of gathering information about the art dealer. When he refuses to give her anything, she says it may be the best partner with Basil. She tells him about a rumor that claimed he arrived at work intoxicated.

Eliza returns to the Garret Museum of Natural Science to find Thomas and Hannah amid a verbal dispute. Thomas accuses her of robbing her failing museum. She assures him that it isn’t failing. He tells her that she doesn’t have the funds to cover the much-needed repairs. He threatens to expose her. Eliza follows Hannah as she leaves the museum.

A shop owner (Aleksandar Trmcic) assures The Duke that his art is real. The Duke reminds him of his history of fraud. He claims to have changed his life around. The Duke says he was last charged three weeks prior. With a bit of coaxing, the shop owner suggests he speak with The Count (Dragan Micanovic).

Eliza follows The Count out of a local bar only to have him disappear. When he reappears, the man is holding a gun to her forehead. He demands to know why she followed him from the bar. She denies following him. He threatens to shoot her if she doesn’t tell the truth. She assures him that he will do no such thing because he has a cop behind him. The Duke cocks his gun, forcing The Count to put his gun away.

The Duke and Eliza question The Count about the “Black Witch Moth” sketch. He denies knowing anything before warning them his family is the oldest Hungarian dynasty. Eliza threatens to have The Duke burn his leg like a piece of firewood. The Count claims Hannah was trying to make a purchase. When he refuses to give them any more info, The Duke repeats Eliza’s threat. The Count informs them of a rumor about Thomas having a no-question purchasing policy. He suggests starting their search there first.

The Duke suggests Eliza stay put while he locates the sketch. Fitzroy alerts him of a visitor named Mr. Loman (Franco Lasic). Mr. Loman identifies himself as the insurer of the Black Witch Moth. Eliza informs him that Stuart & Durstin hired her. He assures her that the man she met is not his employer.

Eliza visits the address on the business card she received from Mr. Swab. The property has been condemned by the city.

Hattie questions why Mr. Swab gave her the card. Eliza suggests she not show up without notice. Engrossed in the business card, Hattie admits calligraphy is her passion. Eliza asks for her assistance in finding the individual responsible for having the card made. Excited, Hattie promises they will visit every stationery shop in London.

The Duke and Fitzroy serve a search warrant at Thomas’ house. While Thomas argues with The Duke, Fitzroy collapses on the floor.

Superintendent Monro asks The Duke how Fitzroy is doing as a detective. The Duke says he is doing well, ignoring his condition.

Eliza and Hattie speak with a man at a stationery shop. The man informs them that Reginald Booth purchased the cards last week.

Eliza visits Booth’s office while he is away. A photo of a Booth and a lady.

Booth informs The Duke of Thomas’ mother’s passing away. He says Thomas is requesting all police inquiries to be halted. The assures him that Thomas’s wealth could support an exorbitant legal challenge. The Duke demands he remove his top hat. When he reluctantly removes his hate, he reminds him of Eliza.

Eliza is standing in the dark when Thomas gets into a carriage. She quietly enters his home, where she finds Mrs. Dashwood lying in bed. She discovers what looks like a secret door.

The Duke questions Booth about his alias, Mr. Swab. Booth questions if he is under arrest. After assuring him he can leave, The Duke threatens to report him for fraud. Booth claims to have worked for the Dashwood family for years. The Duke asks why Thomas asked him to see out Eliza. He says Thomas isn’t the one who issued the order.

Eliza enters a room filled with photos, including the “Temple of Karnak.” She reports her findings to The Duke. Mrs. Dashwood was an explorer who was married off to a wealthy English man who recommended she give up her career. After the death of her husband, she returns to exploration. Her son, Thomas later took up the profession. The Duke says Mrs. Dashwood enticed Sinclaire to get involved. Eliza tells him about Mrs. Dashwood’s passion for riddles and puzzles.

Eliza and The Duke speak with Hannah about Mrs. Dashwood. Eliza suggests the “Dark Witch Moth sketch” is inside Charles Darwin’s bust. After dropping the bust on the floor, she searches through the pieces until she discovers the sketch. The Duke says Mrs. Dashwood assumed her scheme would draw attention to the Garret Museum of Natural Science. Eliza assumes she wanted a woman to succeed in the man’s art world. The Duke assures her that Mrs. Dashwood’s intentions were only to increase the museum’s popularity.

Eliza admits Mrs. Dashwood hired her because she is a female private detective. He suggests taking advantage of what she has to better herself. The Duke tries to escape Basil but fails to get away quickly enough.

The Duke visits Fitzroy in the hospital. He says the doctor diagnosed his heart as dangerously erratic. He warns him that he may not survive if it happens again. Fitzroy claims his father detests him. The Duke assumes his father thought him being a detective was his only hope. Fitzroy describes him as the most “decent man” that he has ever worked under. He promises to make him proud. The Duke asks if he has a suggestion. He says put him on administrative duty. He orders him to get a haircut before returning to work.

Mrs. Parker scolds Eliza for humiliating her in from of the Cultural Society ladies. Eliza apologizes but claims her accusations are genuine. Mrs. Parker admits she thought about ruining her private investigation firm until she conducted her own probe. She admits to discovering the rumors are in fact genuine. Eliza asks if she changed her mind. Mrs. Parker hires Eliza to create a dossier on a list of potential husbands for Hattie. Eliza reminds her of what she said about her clients being “impoverished.” She agrees to pay the regular fee. Eliza questions why she does seek the service of a male provide detective. She assures her it is nothing more than them being acquainted as the episode comes to an end.

 

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Review

A great episode, with Miss Scarlet showing London society why she deserves to be a female private detective. The Duke is the same as always, harsh and cold.

Every member of the cast performed like a star. So, refreshing to finally watch a show in which the director, the crew, and the cast put their best foot forward. Way too many shows are made for the wrong purpose these days, not this one.

I will complain about the night scenes being too dark, which is a shame, since most of them are shot in low-light conditions. Just a slight touchup would improve visibility significantly.

I love that the writer(s) gave each character drive and charisma. Again, difficult to find in the modern film industry.

I found the “Black Witch Moth” scheme excellent. An elusive plan, entwined with twist plots, all to enhance the popularity of Hannah’s Museum.

The episode deserves a 7.5. Get more Miss Scarlet and the Duke recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking on the link to learn more.