The It Girl – The episode opens with a photo lineup of Birdie, “Face of the 60s.” During her interview, Birdie’s manager, Max Savage (Steve Meo) interrupts to announce Birdie is going to return to her nest. Robin “Birdie” Carter (Maddy Ambus) complains about his making decisions about her career without consulting her first. He reminds her of it being his job. She complains that the clothes he picks out aren’t hers. He tells her that she makes the clothes desirable. She stresses how important it is for her to be able to express herself. He threatens to leave her if she doesn’t keep her mouth closed. She pleads with him to not make her go back.

Mrs. Clam (Belinda Lang) tells Dottie Thimble (Sarah Crowden) that they don’t need the embarrassment Birdie will bring to the community. Shirley Turner (Caroline O’Neill) says Birdie’s schedule is so full, it is understandable why she forgot about her mum. Miss Thimble voices her concern about Birdie’s clothes or lack of. Shirley admits to being proud of her daughter, regardless.  Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) tells Felix Livingston (Jerry Iwu) it is exciting to think Birdie is coming home. He denies knowing her. Peggy Button (Ami Metcalf) describes Birdie as the most famous and beautiful woman in England before claiming they are former classmates.

The residents of Great Slaughter gather to welcome Birdie home. Moses Valentino (Brendan Howley) tells Max that he saved Birdie before describing her story as “moribund to modern.”  Max explains the importance of the world knowing where she came from. The locals cheer as she emerges from the car. Tom Thomas (David Sterne) sarcastically says she is “naked.” Max asks the residents to keep Birdie’s arrival under wraps until Friday. Filmmaker, Verity Martin (Jemima Rooper) is hired to do a documentary on Birdie. Shirley invites Birdie to tea. When Max discovers she is Birdie’s mother, he accepts the tea invitation. Verity confronts Max about his encouraging criticism. He asks what a group of “outraged old biddies” will do for Birdie’s career. She suggests it would make the young find her more attractive.

As part of the documentary, Max explains how he discovered Birdie. When Verity questions his verbiage, he takes a break. When Moses sits down in front of the camera, Max demands he get him a cigar. Birdie congratulates Peggy on her uniform. Peggy admits it is difficult to imagine they were friends. Birdie assures her they’re still friends. Peggy tells her that she has no interest in being interviewed for her documentary. Birdie suggests it could open doors for her.

Interviews –  Mrs. Clam says Great Slaughter residents wear clothes that fully cover their bodies. Sister Boniface doesn’t have anything to say about Birdie. Peggy says Birdie is proof anyone can do anything. Verity asks where she has been. Peggy admits to visiting Weston-super-Mare each year. Tom demands they not look at them as if they’re a bunch of country folks before claiming to have visited London. Moses takes credit for Birdie’s appearance before Max runs him off. Dottie mimics a green-winged macaw. Verity compares their interviews to a “car crash.” Max assures her that it is perfect.

Shirley, Peggy, and Mrs. Clam wait for Birdie’s arrival. Shirley says when Robin left home two years ago, it was the last time she saw her. Mrs. Clam reminds her of how Robin missed her stepfather, Harold’s funeral. Shirley claims Robin refused to accept Harold because she loved her father, Andrew. It is 6pm and no Robin.

Slaughter Manor – Moses complains to Max about not getting recognition for his designs. Max reminds him of his extra pay. Irate, Moses stresses the importance of the people knowing he is an artist before leaving. After agreeing with Moses, Birdie tells Max that it will end if she doesn’t support it. She claims to not care about the money. Max assures her that the money is important to him. She comments on the large sum of money he is spending as of late.

Moses banging on Max’s door grabs Verity and Birdie’s attention. He points out that Max is always awake by now before utilizing a spoon to unjam a key from the lock. They discover his lifeless body lying on the floor. Sister Boniface believes Max died during an altercation. When the assailant shove him, his head made contact with a chest of drawers before falling face-down on the floor. Livingstone points out that the windows and doors were locked from inside his room. She suggests blood typing the blood on the wall and the people inside the house.

Moses claims Max was his everything. Detective Sam Gillespie (Max Brown) tells them that they will all be interviewed. Sister Boniface requests a blood sample from each of them. Verity suggests Max’s murder will be a wonderful twist for the documentary. When she asks if it would be okay for her to start filming, Gillespie reminds her of it being a real murder investigation. He demands they stay put while the police carry out a search of the house. Livingston says one of them is the murderer. Moses informs them of Shirley’s visit last night.

In a flashback, Shirley asks Moses if she could speak with Robin. Moses agrees but Max claims she has no interest in seeing her before trying to pay her off. He tells her that she is an “embarrassment.” He slams the door in her face. Back to the present, Gillespie tells her that she is a former housekeeper of Slaughter Manor. After claiming Robin saw her from a window on the upper floor, she says it was her choice to not see her. Sister Boniface asks for a blood sample. Shirley agrees before telling them about her visit to Dottie’s house for a game of gin rummy.

Livingstone tells Gillespie that Dottie verified Shirley’s claim. Holding up a roll of film, Peggy says its condition appears as if someone tried to destroy it. Sister Boniface spares some of the films. In a scene, it appears as if Birdie and Max are in a verbal altercation.

Verity asks Birdie if she can convince her mum to do an interview. Birdie tells her there will be no documentary. Moses suggests he take over for Max and be her manager. She reminds him that he is a designer. He claims Max taught him everything he needs to know before agreeing to support her designs.

During an interview, Birdie expresses her grief for Max’s death. She says Max would want his “passion talent,” Birdie to continue. Verity asks when Max realize she was a designer. Gillespie pulls Verity out of the interview. Birdie informs Peggy of their decision to move forward without Max. Moses says, “May he rest in peace.” She asks Peggy to be her assistant.

Livingstone asks Verity about her agenda which Max discovered before his death. She says to tell the world the truth. In a flashback, she watches a video of Birdie and Max disputing over something not being her idea. Bursting into the room, Max jerks the film out of the reel. She tells him that Birdie’s fame is “meaningless” because she is a fraud. He assures her that Birdie is no different than other young girls in her position. She warns her documentary will destroy her credibility. He accuses her of being jealous. He orders her to leave before he gets up in the morning. Back to the present, she denies killing Max. Livingstone asks what is next for Birdie. She suggests Moses has profited greatly and will step in for Max.

Sister Boniface informs Gillespie that the blood on the wall is a match with Robin’s. In a flashback, Robin is looking through a stack of invoices when Max asks what she is doing. She accuses him of stealing from her. He informs her of his being the sole owner of Birdie. Grabbing her around the waist, he agrees to terminate her contract if she stops being so cold. Releasing his grip, she calls him a “parasite.” He slaps her so hard, it busts her lip, splattering blood on the wall. Back to the present, she tells Gillespie that Moses brought Max a cigar while she was in the room. He grabs his coat before rushing out of the station. Birdie and Peggy discuss leaving Great Slaughter when Shirley enters the police station. Birdie agrees to meet with her at 4pm.

Sister Boniface, Gillespie, and Livingstone search for Max’s cigar. Pulling a cigar stub from the fireplace ash, she suggests it is tainted with poison. Moses tells them that he utilized the cigar to convince Max to let him take part in the documentary. He claims Max agreed. Gillespie reminds him of Max previously rejecting his request. Moses informs them of his taking over as Birdie’s manager. Gillespie accuses him of putting poison in the cigar before giving it to Max. Moses denies the allegations.

Verity tells Shirley that she can do an interview before Birdie comes down to speak with her. During the interview, Shirley describes Birdie as her “greatest achievement.” Verity asks why they became estranged when Birdie rushes in to give her a hug. She says it is in their past. When Verity stops filming, Birdie orders Shirley to leave. After Shirley leaves, Moses suggests an actress to play her mum. Verity assures them it isn’t necessary. They plan to do a press conference with her signing a new contract. She informs them of her decision to wear a dress she designed. He says it is okay for a novice but believes she should wear something more “cutting-edge.”

Storage Cupboard Slaughter Manor – Sister Boniface’s test detects bleach. Birdie confronts Moses about the new contract which is a duplicate of the one she signed for Max. He threatens to quit if she refuses to sign it. When she relents, Verity asks if she is positive. Birdie says there is no alternative. Sister Boniface discovers a bottle of bleach with a puncture hole. Grabbing for a syringe, Peggy cuts her finger. Seeing her blood splatter on the floor, Sister Boniface finds blood on the floor. After discovering the adjacent room is Max’s room, they rush over to Shirley’s. She admits to letting herself in with the key hidden under a pot. In a flashback, she hides in the storage cupboard where she hears Max and Birdie in a verbal dispute. Reaching for a syringe, she pricks her finger. Her blood splatters on the floor. She punctures the bleach container and fills the syringe. Back to the present, Shirley tells them that she didn’t believe Robin’s allegations that Howard harmed her. She claims he confessed on his deathbed.

Back to the flashback, Shirley injects the bleach into Max’s cigar. After inhaling the poisoned cigar, he tosses it into the fireplace before collapsing on the floor. During the fall, he hits his head. Back to the present, Sister Boniface assures her that the poisoned cigar didn’t kill him, it was a combination of the head injury and bleach. She suggests the judge will give her manslaughter. Peggy arrests her for Max’s murder.

During a press conference, Moses informs the attendees of his stepping replacing Max as Birdie’s manager. He says her iconic look will be his designs. As she prepares to sign the new contract, Peggy rushes in to tell her about Shirley. Handing the pen to Moses, she leaves to speak with Shirley. She admits to feeling unloved when she believed Harold, not her. Shirley assures her that she always loved her. Birdie says she forgives her before kissing her cheek. Shirley suggests moving forward on her own terms. Birdie promises to visit her in prison before returning to the press conference. Tearing up the contract, she tells Moses that she will be her own manager. She asks Verity to develop a real documentary from scratch. Verity accepts the offer. Peggy declines the offer to be her assistant.

Birdie admits to not designing her own clothes. BBC journalist, Leonard Foxby (Marc Silk) questions how her fans will react to her confession. After suggesting they will feel “betrayed, she tells him that she will show them the real her, Robin Carter. She compliments Peggy and recognizes her mum.

 

Sister Boniface Mysteries Review

Popular celebrity, Birdie is lying to her fans about designing her own wardrobe. Her manager, Max is paying Moses handsomely for his designs. She isn’t keen on the idea but he insists continue to charade. Max hires filmmaker, Verity to do a documentary on Birdie. Unbeknownst to him, she is putting together a documentary exposing her as a fraud.

The residents of Great Slaughter do not give her a decent welcome home. Only her mum, Shirley is eager to see her but she doesn’t share the same enthusiasm. Birdie is thrilled to see her former classmate, Peggy. Before she left home, she made allegations against her stepfather, Harold. Shirley refuses to believe her until Harold confessed on his deathbed.

Birdie discovers Max has been stealing her money. They get into a verbal dispute which ends with him forcibly slapping her. Blood spewing from her mouth splatters on the wall. Moses finds him dead in his room. Sister Boniface investigates his murder to discover someone tainted his cigar. With Peggy’s help, they find the culprit, Shirley. A former housekeeper at Slaughter Manor, Shirley knew where the spare key is hidden. She sneaks into the house in time to hear Max and Birdie’s dispute and him physically assaulting her. With no intention of killing Max, she injects bleach into his cigar. He inhales once before collapsing, hitting his head before falling on the floor.

Moses immediately steps in to be Birdie’s new manager. After a heart-to-heart talk with Shirley, she decides to take her real story public. She becomes her own manager and eliminates her alias to become the real Robin.

The episode deserves a 5.8. Get more Sister Boniface Mysteries recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Our advertising packages are available in several tiers to ensure cost efficiency.