The Calling – The episode opens with the postman (Predrag Grujicic) dropping the post on the doorstep in front of Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips). Later, Eliza and Scarlet are looking at applications when Patrick Nash (Felix Scott) arrives. Clarence (Paul Bazely) says the applications are for their detective position. Nash attributes his reputation to the major response. Scarlet suggests they heard of her being a female detective. They go through the applications but cannot agree on just one.

Scarlet finds Ivy (Cathy Belton) writing a letter. Ivy claims it is to a friend. Snatching the letter, Scarlet learns it is Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington (Stuart Martin). Ivy admits to writing him because she refuses to answer his last three letters. Scarlet denies being upset with him before rushing off to work without breakfast.

Scarlet recalls The Duke’s last words to her before he left for New York. She prepares to read one of his letters when Clarence barges in alerting her of a new client. Later, Scarlet and Duke visit Britannia Telephone Company to speak with Joseph Bracewell (Paul Clayton) about neutralizing bad publicity, regarding an explosion that killed an inventor, Alfred Baker, and the  Britannia’s co-founder, George Davidson. He says the explosion is believed to be caused by a gas leak and Davidson lighting his pipe. He adds that the police think Bracewell tampered with the gas supply. Scarlet tries the telephone for the first time. Bracewell stresses the need to locate the responsible party to save Britannia’s reputation. He admits to disagreeing with Davidson about expanding the company but denies killing him. Bracewell asks why he would want to kill Alfred when his telephone invention made Britannia a fortune. Outside, Nash and Scarlet have a disagreement about the way they view Bracewell differently.

DS Phelps (Tim Chipping) calls for his carriage when Scarlet and Nash approach. He boasts of his taking over for The Duke. She questions why his superiors have not sealed the deal. After assuring Phelps that he is deserving of the promotion, Nash tells him that Britannia hired them to investigate the gas explosion. Phelps says the fire experts have not processed the crime scene. Nash asks if they can proceed with their own investigation. When Phelps declines their request, Scarlet sarcastically says the possibility of a promotion has not graced him with more decency. He demands she respect him as the new skipper. She tells him that respect must be earned. Nash intervenes but Phelps doesn’t budge. Later, Nash asks if Scarlet is upset about The Duke leaving. She denies the allegation. He urges her to get along with Phelps, now that The Duke is gone, and stop sulking like his mother. Smirking, she agrees before they discuss their strategy.

Betty Baker (Alexandra Hannant) tells Scarlet and Nash that she and Alfred were only married for six months before the accident. Nash asks if she knew anyone with a grudge against Alfred. She says Daniel Archer resented the fact that Britannia decided to go with Alfred’s telephone design. She claims Alfred told her that Daniel tried to steal his plans. Nash asks where are Alfred’s plans now. Betty denies knowing what he did with them.

Daniel Archer (Matthew Steer) tells Nash and Scarlet about his new telephone plan. Nash suggests it must have been difficult when his apprentice surpassed him. Archer assures him that competition is a good thing. Nash tries to annoy Archer by tinkering with his telephone components. It works like a charm.   Later, Scarlet tells Nash that Britannia’s telephone has three downsides – cost, risk of short-circuit, and sound quality. He says there is no evidence of Davidson having financial issues, grudges, or family. He suggests they look at Archer because he does not have an alibi. Looking at the crime scene photos, Scarlet sees the scorch mark across from the bodies. She questions the detectives’ theory that Davidson’s pipe ignited the gas.

Phelps insults his men while trying to speed up their process when Scarlet and Nash approach. He complains about the fire experts being held up in a St. Albans factory fire. Nash convinces him to let them inspect the Britannia explosion crime scene by agreeing to give him all the credit. At the crime scene, Scarlet finds wires with no insulation. Utilizing a stick, she touches two wires together causing a spark. She points out that short circuits are a risk of the Britannia phone before realizing a phone call ignited the gas, not Davidson’s pipe. He says the caller is the murderer.

Nash identifies himself as Inspector Bates when addressing Britannia Foreman Mr. Underwood (Steve Furst). He requests the call long on September 21. Understand asks to see the warrant. When Nash tells him the truth, Underwood throws him out. Elsewhere, Reviewing Alfred’s Britannia contract, Scarlet learns he was to receive 10%, Bracewell 45%, and Davidson 45% of the profit from his new phone. A clause in the entitled Bracewell to 100% of the profit when Betty arrives. Later, Betty claims someone had been in her home while she was away. Scarlet sees the “Inventions That Changed The World” volume II is missing from Alfred’s books.

Nash is waiting for the night shift manager at Britannia to arrive when Scarlet approaches. She tells him that it is possible Alfred hit his telephone plans in the book that was missing. Underwood emerges from the business and gets into a carriage. She questions how he can afford a carriage on his manager’s salary. Elmer Goodheart (Earl Kadic) shows them the call log for September 21. Nash sees the call that ignited the gas at the workshop was made from Bracewell’s office.

Nash insists on looking at Archer, not Bracewell who is a paying client. Scarlet says Bracewell will benefit from Davidson and Alfred’s deaths and he admitted to being in his office when the workshop exploded. He demands she focus on Archer to avoid losing their fee. Later, Scarlet becomes upset when Ivy tries to convince her to speak with The Duke.

Scarlet confronts Bracewell with their evidence. He claims to have been at the United Telephone Company in Ealing discussing a buyout when the workshop exploded. He asks how will it be possible for him to make a profit from a phone that no longer exists. She says Alfred made a copy of his plans. He demands she deliver Alfred’s plans to him at once or Nash’s services will no longer be needed. When she arrives back at the office, Nash shows her a telegram from Bracewell firing them. She tells him that Bracewell’s alibi has been confirmed. Before leaving to try to convince Bracewell to change his mind, Nash demands she learn how to act like a businesswoman before he returns to Paris. Clarence informs her of Archer withdrawing large sums of money from his account.

Scarlet watches Archer doing a private deal with Underwood. Archer returns to his office to find Scarlet holding Alfred’s stolen book with his telephone plans. She accuses him of wanting to pass Alfred’s phone as his own. He argues that Alfred was his apprentice so why should he get all the credit. She threatens to report him to the police if he doesn’t turn over what Underwood gave. He tosses it on the desk. Looking at the documents, she sees they are Alfred and Anderson’s phone conversations. Later, Scarlet tells Nash that he is correct about Archer. They pay Underwood a visit. He denies any knowledge of the phone call that caused the explosion. Looking at the September 21 logbook, she sees his handwriting. He shows her a blackmail letter threatening to expose him if he didn’t document the call came from Bracewell’s office. He claims the call was made from a Farringdon public telephone.

Nash learns who made the phone call. Scarlet compares the handwriting from the blackmail letter to the call log to learn it was written by B.L. Underwood says Elizabeth Landing left about six months to get married to her fiancé who was employed with Britannia. She questions why Elizabeth signed off with B.L. Nash says because she is Betty.

Betty admits to wanting Bracewell and Davidson dead, not Alfred. She set up the workshop to cause an explosion when a call came in. Weeping, she says Alfred deserved more than 10%. Later, Nash forces Scarlet to give Phelps the evidence so he will get credit for solving the crime.

Nash leaves Scarlet to interview the applicants for the detective position. He has a phone installed in their office. She accuses him of wanting to keep a check on her. He denies the allegation. She says it is still impossible to make international calls. Later, Scarlet and Ivy make up. She admits to being upset about The Duke leaving. In a flashback, young Eliza (Laura Marcus) meets young William (Matt Olsen) for the first time. She writes him a letter as the episode ends.

 

Miss Scarlet & The Duke Review

Nash and Scarlet butt heads on the running of the firm. Upset over The Duke’s absence, she becomes difficult to work with. Ivy urges her to answer The Duke’s letters but she refuses.

The episode focuses on the expansion of the telephone. Alfred invented an economical phone that could be installed in homes. The Britannia Telephone Company, founded by Davidson and Bracewell, acquired his new phone, giving him only 10% of the profit. A gas explosion kills Alfred and Davidson, leaving Bracewell the sole profiteer. The police point the finger at him. He hires Nash and Scarlet to find the real killer.

The investigation reveals Alfred’s wife, Betty planned the explosion to kill Davidson and Bracewell. Alfred wasn’t scheduled to attend the meeting but Bracewell invited him to join them later. She felt Alfred deserved more than 10% of the profit because it was his invention.

The episode deserves a 7. Get more Miss Scarlet & The Duke recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising can help startups build online awareness, click here to reach our staff. Join our newly established forum to discuss new movie and TV series releases.