As the episode begins, Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) waits over two hours for William Wellington (Stuart Martin) to arrive at her business. When he finally arrives, she accuses him of being drunk. Then, William gets down to business and tells Eliza that Scotland Yard wants her to work for them. They want her to infiltrate a women’s suffrage group. They haven’t committed a crime yet but there is talk that they’re becoming increasingly radical. After the intro, Eliza speaks to Ivy (Cathy Belton) about her new job and admits that she is a bit conflicted. Eliza believes Scotland Yard won’t touch the group if they’re not committing any crimes but Ivy believes police lock up innocent people frequently.

After that, Eliza goes to the meeting and introduces herself to Flora Mountford (Geraldine McAlinden) who serves as the Treasurer of the Committee. Before long, Margaret Fairfax (Caitlin Drabble) begins speaking to the other women. She tries to convince them that it is time to act. PC Honeychurch (Matthew Malone) enters and tries to force the women to move their carriages outside. It leads to an argument until Honeychurch spots Eliza and they speak in private outside. PC Honeychurch can’t believe that Eliza is working as a private detective. Honeychurch makes a few snide comments until Eliza slaps him and Margaret and the others watch. William is surprised when Eliza arrives in cuffs.

She tries to tell William what happened but he isn’t willing to listen to her. They discuss self control and the need for it in this line of work. When Eliza leaves, she runs into Margaret who learns that Eliza isn’t being charged. Eliza doesn’t want to talk or return to the group for Margaret tries to convince her otherwise. Margaret says she wanted to go to university a few years ago but her father forbade it. She found a way to go anyway. Eliza says she isn’t who she thinks she is. Margaret understands that and says it only matters that they’re on the same side. Eliza returns to the meeting but Margaret isn’t there. Honeychurch and William enter the room and tell everyone who Eliza is. They’re looking for Margaret Fairfax because a man has been found dead in front of her door.

Eliza and William head to the coroner’s office where Eliza learns that witness saw Margaret shoot the man and run off. However, they haven’t been able to identify the man just yet. They argue a bit until Mr. Potts (Simon Ludders) enters and complains about Eliza being there. William gets angry and forced both of them to leave. Before Eliza goes, William tells her that he believes the dead man is Margaret’s lover and it was an act of passion. Herr Hildegard (Richard Evans) catches Eliza outside and wants to speak with her but Eliza doesn’t have time. She rushes inside. Then, Eliza hears Henry (Kevin Doyle) speaks to her and telling her that she needs William as an ally. Henry gives her advice. Eliza goes to Moses (Ansu Kabia) and catches him stealing from another man.

She threatens to turn him in if he doesn’t help her. Next, Eliza goes back to William and tells him how she found out Margaret has been selling her possessions to pawn brokers. Fairfax is not her real name. She was born Margaret Davidson-Merritt. While her parents are gone, her brother Terrence (Steven Gunn) hangs out at a local gentleman’s club. Eliza explains she did this to show William how much she wants his respect. William sets out to speak with Terrence and Eliza won’t get to come since women aren’t allowed inside and it could turn into a circus. William meets with Terrence and convinces him to cooperate and learns that Margaret wasted a lot of money on the club. William learns about the things Margaret has done while Eliza finds herself cornered by Margaret.

Margaret knows that Eliza has been spying on them. Eliza tries to convince her that William is on his way but Margaret is too smart to fall for that. Margaret says the man outside of her home tries to beat her into submission and he has bruises to prove it. She also says she is going to turn herself in but she has something to do first. She thinks she can use her arrest to further their cause. She wants to make a difference before she is arrested and hanged for murder. Moments later, William tells Eliza about his conversation with Terrence and he believes something might be off about Scarlet but she won’t tell him anything about the encounter. William wants Eliza to help interview the women but she wants off of the case.

William convinces her to help by saying she won’t get paid otherwise. Then, Ivy interrupts and tells William a messenger is there to see him. However, it turns out to be Moses and Ivy is worried that he is visiting. William has a word with Moses and tells him not to return but it doesn’t seem Moses is going to listen to him. Flora is interviewed with help from Eliza. During the interview, Honeychurch won’t stop chuckling and Eliza doesn’t get much helpful information from Flora. After the interviews end, Eliza tells William that nobody knew where Margaret might be but there was a disagreement between Margaret and Flora. Eliza and William end up arguing about Margaret and her intentions. William tells Eliza about Margaret being expelled from Chancery College.

Margaret wanted to give money to a women’s group at the same college. They visit the school and speak with Professor Fleming (Gerard Byrne) who reveals that Margaret was booted from the school for having an affair with Dr. Gill who served as head of the chemistry faculty. They look at a picture of Gill and realize he is their dead man. They check his place immediately and find materials used to make a bomb. Then, Eliza has to come clean with William. She admits she knows where the bomb was likely placed and that she met with Margaret much earlier. William gets upset and breaks a glass. He doesn’t understand why Eliza trusted a liar over him. She admits she is gullible before William tells her he doesn’t want to see her when he returns.

Margaret gets a job so she can get close and plant the bomb. Before she can plant the bomb, William and the other officers storm in and bust her. Margaret is taken to the station where she is interviewed by William and Eliza. She admits Gill never attacked her but he wanted to back out of their plan so she had to kill him. She also takes the time to ridicule Eliza and say she’ll never be an equal with William. William tries to convince Eliza that Margaret doesn’t know what she is talking about. William tells Superintendent Stirling (Nick Dunning) about the case a bit later. Stirling says he is impressed with William since he felt he wasn’t pushing hard enough previously. Then, William learns that the new Irish Division is looking for a Chief Inspector.

William is told to keep up the good work and they might speak again. He is asked if there is anyone in particular who should be commended for their efforts. Meanwhile, Eliza watches Ivy clean at home. She tells Ivy to dry her hands and come upstairs because she has something to show her. She takes her upstairs and tries to teach her to write.

 

Miss Scarlet And The Duke Review

I wasn’t really sold on Miss Scarlet and The Duke but this episode was pretty good. I am still not sure why Kate Phillips’s voice sounds so high-pitched all the time though. I don’t recall her voice being so squeaky in other shows. I guess they were trying to do something different here and it does fit the overall feel of the show. The show has a little something for everyone since it is part mystery, part romance I think, and part comedy. Overall, the episode was much better than the past two. I’d give the episode a 7.5 out of 10. Previous recaps of Miss Scarlet and the Duke can be found on Reel Mockery.