The Vanishing – The episode begins with a photographer (Dejan Stojakovic)

Capturing mugshots of Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), Gospodyni Ivy Woods (Cathy Belton), Clementine (Laura Rollins), Solomon (Brian Bovell), and Barnabus Potts (Simon Ludders). Eliza demands to speak with William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin) swearing a mistake has been made. She promises the Duke an explanation.

Eliza admits it was the wrong decision to get her friends involved in a complex case. The Duke reminds her of the public disorder charge. She assures him that Solomon was pretending to be intoxicated and Clementine pickpocketing a government minister wasn’t her doing. Ivy warns that Potts is so humiliated that he may never visit their home again. Eliza says, “If only.”

Moses collects his winnings from an underground boxing match when the police bust through the door. He flees only to find himself face-to-face with The Duke who threatens to arrest him for illegal gambling or tells him where Logan Cooper is hiding. Moses says Mr. Myman and Mr. Hall witnessed Cooper robbing Winchester Bank. A manhunt on Tuesday led to Charing Cross where Cooper’s trail went cold. The Duke demands to know where he got classified information.

The Duke scolds Basal Sinclaire (Oliver Chris) for advertising a classified case in his newspaper, Police News. He blames his article for Mr. Hall and Mr. Myman’s sudden amnesia. Hudson gives up his sources, five police officers. The Duke demands they stop selling classified information to journalists. DS Phelps (Tim Chipping) reminds him that it’s how they always supplemented their low wages. Detective Charlie Fitzroy (Evan McCabe) asks if it’s okay for him to attend “Iolanthe” with Sunday Times’ opera critic, Mr. Lawrence.

Ivy tells Eliza that an upstanding man like Potts shouldn’t have been jailed overnight. Eliza says her expansion will require skilled personnel and more funding. Her loan requests are denied.

The Duke reminds Eliza of their dinner date the last Wednesday of each month. She asks to reschedule because she’s had the most vexing day. He informs her of Sinclaire running a story on his classified case that already reached 200,000 people.

Eliza approaches Sinclaire about an advertisement in his newspaper. He offers to hire her to write a “five-part serialized adventure” featuring her. Alfonso the Great Italian Illusionist vanished during his performance at the Flanders Theatre.

Miss Ling (Alice Hewkin) tells Eliza that Alfonso went into the box to never reappear. She demonstrates how the trick works. Eliza asks if Alfonso could have slipped out of the box. Miss Ling says she’s sure he never. Eliza speaks with Milena (Emily Redpath) who says Alfonso loves playing tricks on people. Milena’s father is Slaven the Sorcerer (Damjan Kecojevic).

Eliza inspects Alfonso’s dressing room when Mr. Flanders (Keir Charles) approaches. She admits there is no rational explanation as to why Alfonso disappeared. He suggests it was a supernatural force, the Flanders Phantom.

Phelps informs Fitzroy of Detective Lenahan investigating the Cooper case. He orders him to buy them another drink when The Duke informs them of a body being found in the river near Charing Bridge.

Eliza tells Sinclaire that Alfonso pulled a publicity stunt. Sinclaire informs her of Alfonso’s death.

The Duke refuses to permit Eliza access to the Flanders Theatre. She informs him of Sinclaire hiring her to investigate Alfonso’s disappearance. He warns her that it will end up in Sinclaire’s newspaper. She assures him that he promised to not run it in his newspaper. When he denies her entrance, she tells him that she’ll conduct her own investigation.

Eliza tells Sinclaire that Alfonzo holds a black wand in the poster and a silver wand in the sketch from the night of his disappearance. Sinclaire admits to requesting the artist to add the silver wand even though Alfonzo didn’t use one that night.

Miss Ling and Mr. Flanders are very close when Eliza approaches. He refuses to answer her questions because only the police should handle Alfonzo’s murder investigation until she threatens him with a personal story about his wife and children. Miss Ling claims Alfonzo told her the day before his disappearance that he planned to sell his valuable wand for his upcoming retirement. Eliza asks who acquired the wand. She says the shop owner, Baggot (Simon Lowe) on Carnaby Street.

Faversham’s Shop – The Duke informs Mr. Baggot of Alfonso’s death when Eliza enters. He rushes her out of the shop until she promises it will not end up in the newspaper. Baggot tells them that there were four Alfonso the Great Italian Illusionist, Alfonso was the fifth. Each Alfonso receives an “exquisite” silver wand. Alfonzo had elevator shoes to make him the same height as his father so no one would know he replaced his father. The Duke asks if he was going to buy the wand. Baggot says Alfonzo was scheduled to meet him there at 7pm before his act.

Moses and Eliza enter the City Morgue when Potts leaves. Alfonzo suffered a hairline skull fracture but drowning is listed as the cause of death. He’s believed to have drowned between 6pm and midnight. Moses points out that Alfonzo’s vanishing act ended at 10pm. She says there is a two-hour window. He tells her that the autopsy report shows he had liver damage. They discover a small key hidden in the heel of his boot.

Flanders Theatre – Eliza and Moses find Alfonzo’s silver wand in a hidden safe. Moses questions why Alfonzo performed without his wand. She suggests the vanishing act was performed by someone else because Alfonzo was already dead.

Sinclaire suggests it would make for a more glamorous story if Eliza investigates Alfonzo’s death. He warns any involvement from The Duke could land her a supporting role.

Eliza admits to agreeing with Sinclaire about withholding her findings from The Duke for a day or two. Ivy warns that she could be charged with perverting the course of justice. Eliza assures her that The Duke has shown no interest in working with her on Alfonzo’s case. Ivy tells her to be careful when speaking to The Duke. Eliza says she plans to avoid him when he enters the room. They both refuse to share their findings.

Fitzroy suggests he work on Alfonzo’s case while Bow Street works on Cooper’s case. The Duke asks what Bow Street has to do with it. Fitzroy claims to have seen Phelps with Detective Lenahan. The Duke assures him that Bow Street doesn’t have a detective named Lenahan. He threatens to terminate Phelps if he speaks to the press again.

Milena shows Eliza Sinclaire’s newspaper in which she was supposed to say Alfonzo drank a lot and had gambling debt. Eliza confronts Sinclaire about publishing information about the case and twisting her words. He tells her that his readers are drawn to scandals. She demands he prints an apology or it will be the end of their agreement. He reminds her of the name, Henry Scarlet, on her front door. She tells him that their deal is over. He brags about bringing down an archbishop, politicians, judges, and a female detective will be a breeze.

Eliza apologizes to The Duke for listening to Sinclaire. He asks what information she’s been withholding from him. She tells him that Slaven was envious of Alfonzo and Ling and Flanders are probably having an affair. She suggests someone who didn’t have Alfonso’s wand was on stage that night. He shows her an identical wand that was found during an examination of Alfonzo’s body. He detaches the wand to expose a rolled-up photo of Alfonzo’s father. She removes the top of the wand from the hidden safe to find a rolled-up photo that was taken at Faversham’s Shop.

The Duke asks Baggot if Alfonzo utilized a different box to disappear. Baggot denies how any of the tricks work until Eliza informs him that perfecting the course of justice carries a sentence of seven years. He says Alfonzo’s assistant created a replica box that he designed with a fake bottom. Special latches opened and locked the hidden compartment in the bottom instead of the side like the traditional vanishing box. Alfonzo ordered a wand for his assistant with a photo of the two boxes side-by-side.

Milena credits everything she knows about magic to Alfonzo. She says Alfonso was feeling depressed because magic was his life. When he didn’t show up an hour early for his performance, she knew he would never return. The Duke asks if she thinks Alfonzo committed suicide. She claims he spoke of it when he was drinking. Eliza tells her that she impersonated Alfonzo. She says Alfonzo deserved a great send-off. She hid inside the replica box until it was taken backstage and broke it down to create her father a chest.

The Duke informs Eliza that the coroner believes Alfonzo was hit in the head after he was dead. He doesn’t think anyone would benefit from Milena being charged with perfecting the course of justice.

Phelps beats Fitzroy up for telling Duke that he was meeting with the press. When The Duke finds out, he pays Moses to teach Fitzroy to box.

Eliza tells Potts that it’s good to see him again. He reminds her of the last time they saw each other in a cell. She assures him that she already apologized. He says once is not enough in this case. Sinclaire writes an article complimenting The Duke.

Eliza invites The Duke for dinner on her as the episode comes to an end.

 

Miss Scarlet & The Duke Review

Eliza approaches Sinclaire about posting an ad in his newspaper to bring in more clients. He offers to pay her to write an adventure story about the disappearance of Alfonso the Great Italian Illusionist. After accepting the offer, she visits Flanders Theatre to investigate. Her new case becomes a police investigation when Alfonzo’s body’s pulled out of the river.

The Duke cracks down on the police selling information to journalists after Sinclaire publishes an article about a bank robbery. Phelps is none too thrilled because he and the other police utilized the money to supplement their low wages.

Eliza breaks her deal with Sinclaire when he posts information about Alfonso’s case in his newspaper. He also changes what she told him about Alfonso drinking heavily. She comes clean to The Duke about withholding evidence from him.

Alfonzo was nearing his 50th anniversary as the Great Italian Illusionist, a status handed down from his father. He hired Mr. Baggot, owner of the Faversham’s Shop, to design a replica vanishing box. Instead of the traditionally hidden side compartment, the replica box would have a hidden box compartment that locks. Milena creates the box and in turn, Alfonzo plans to give her a replica of his valuable silver magic wand. A photo of the two boxes is rolled up inside the wand.

Milena tells The Duke and Eliza that Alfonzo was depressed and drinking more than usual before his death. He taught her everything he knew about magic. When he failed to show up for his final vanishing act, she takes his place.

The coroner believes Alfonzo’s head injury occurred after he was in the water. Milena isn’t found guilty of any crime.

Not thinking, Fitzroy tells The Duke that Phelps met with Detective Lenahan to discuss the Cooper case. Knowing there is no Detective Lenahan at Bow Street, The Duke threatens to fire Phelps if he sells information to another journalist. Phelps beats Fitzroy. The Duke pays Moses to teach Fitzroy hos to box.

Finally, a fabulous detective show. The writing is superb as well as the acting. The cinematography could use some improvement but it’s still heads above most of the recently released series.

The episode deserves a 7.5. Get more Miss Scarlet & The Duke recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our advertising packages.

Miss Scarlet & The Duke Season 3 Cast

• Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips)
• Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe)
• Solomon (Brian Bovell)
• Patrick Nash (Felix Scott)
• Arthur St. John Hudson (Sam Hoare)
• Arabella Acaster (Sophie Robertson)
• Moses (Ansu Kabia)
• William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin)
• Enoch Lyndhurst (Paul Putner)
• Morris (Milan Novakovic)
• James Bamford (James Barriscale)
• Ivy (Cathy Belton)
• DS Phelps (Tim Chipping)
• Potts (Simon Ludders)
• Clementine (Laura Rollins)

Where Was Miss Scarlet & The Duke Season 3 Filmed

The filming location was Belgrade, Serbia for seasons 2 and 3.