Dead Men’s Secrets – As the episode opens, Lady Belle Fox (Maia Mitchell) checks in on Charlie Salt (Jude Hyland) who was recently injured before visiting the morgue. She sniffs a cloth lying on top of Tinkler Duckett’s (Justin Smith) corpse. Hetty Baggett (Vivienne Awosoga) claims to have followed Belle’s instructions and cleaned the morgue with carbolic acid.

Jack “Dodger” Dawkins (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) helps Norbert Fagin (David Thewlis) to his seat. Fagin questions who stole the money designated for the soldiers’ wages. He rules out Darius Cracksworth (Tim Minchin), Peggy Gaines (Jessica De Gouw), and the guards. Dodger claims someone wearing red boots was concealed behind a curtain. Fagin says they are unstoppable together. Dodger tells him to get his own room.

Belle searches for Lancet journal in the library when an irate Governor Edmund Fox (Damien Garvey) and Captain Lucien Gaines (Damon Heriman) enter. Edmund demands he find out who stole the soldiers’ pay. Belle finds her Lancet journey with flowers scribbled on the pages in Lady Fanny Fox’s (Lucy-Rose Leonard) room. Fanny admits to doing it for her. Belle accuses her ruining it before angrily leaving.

While Lucien executes a search of his house, Frances “Red” Scrubbs (Miranda Tapsell) stuffs a bag in her laundry basket. Elsewhere, Fagin complains about his burnt crumpet. Dodger says he should be grateful when Hetty enters alerting of Charlie deteriorating condition. Fagin continues to complain about his burnt crumpet. Dodger stomps the crumpet before tossing it out the window. At the hospital, Dodger is assessing Charlie’s condition when Belle pulls him away to the morgue. She shows him Tinkler’s body with no rot. She suggests it is possible to utilize carbolic acid to treat infection. He reminds her of carbolic acid being utilized to treat sewage. He guides her hand holding a scalpel to cut open Tinkler’s chest.

Finding a strange item on the floor, Lucien picks it up for a closer assessment. Peggy says the damage his men are doing is hurtful. He assures her that pain can be therapeutic. Holding up the item, he demands to know who visited while he was away. She says Darius provided her protection. Relieved, he says Darius is a true friend. Peggy orders Red to gather up the sheets. Lucien asks her name. Red identifies herself as Frances Scrubbs. Peggy claims a guard reported that Dodger and Fagin were there treatment the men. Lucien orders Sergeant Bramwell (Michael Sheasby) to lock down the hospital while he questions Dodger.

Belle tells Dodger that germs are not visible but present. Dodger says carbolic acid can destroy invisible germs. She urges him to try the treatment on Charlie but he fears the carbolic acid will kill him. She asks if he cares about Charlie. He tells her to find a way to make the treatment safe. Outside the hospital, Fagin overhears Lucien tell one of his men that he wants to catch Dodger red-handed. He orders the ward searched thoroughly. Elsewhere, Belle works on a safe carbolic acid treatment. Fanny asks what she did with the coconut ice. Belle suggests it is under the pig before asking to utilize her arm. Back at the hospital, Fagin warns Dodger before racing off after Red. During the interview, Lucien asks Dodger if he was at his house when the soldiers’ pay was stolen. Dodger claims to having provided treatment to the guards. Lucien points out that Fagin is a convict. Dodger says like most servants but he is training Fagin to be a medical assistant.

Fagin catches up with Red but she flees. Back to the interrogation, Dodger explains his association with Fagin and being the only child. In the morgue, Fagin finds the soldiers’ pay in Red’s basket. Guards barge into the room to find Fagin, Tim Billiberllary (Luke Carroll), and Red crying over Tinkler’s corpse. Fagin says it is a pit that the plague has claimed so many lives. The guards back out of the room as Aputi Savea (Albert Latailakepa) enters. Red and Fagin watch Tim and Aputi take Tinkler’s corpse out to be buried. Back to the interrogation, Lucien grills Dodger about leaving Fagin unsupervised in his home when the Soldiers’ pay went missing. Dodger says Lucien left an incompetent guard in his absent to monitor the valuable shipment. Lucien informs him that Edmund has ordered the thief hung. Later, Lucien asks Fagin if Dodger has any siblings. Fagin names each of Dodger’s nine siblings. Lucien asks him to repeat the names.

Fagin tells Dodger about finding the soldiers’ money. Dodger suggests they return it to clear themselves of the crime. Fagin admits to hiding the money inside Tinkler’s body. Later, they visit the graveyard but Fagin refuses to dig up the graves. Dodger warns that Lucien is close to nabbing them. Fagin admits to not being the perfect father. Dodger reminds Fagin that he abandoned him in jail when he was 13. Fagin explains how he lost the best thing in his life when Agnes died at six years old.

Belle tests her carbolic acid solution on her leg. She rushes to rinse it off but not before he burns her skin. Fanny asks why she feels it necessary to act weight. Belle grabs a perfume bottle before returning to the house.

Darius assures Peggy that Lucien would never suspect him as her lover. Peggy tells Darius that she has an itch. While kissing her, he spots Lucien outside. He pulls her down to pretend they are praying for the return of the stolen money. Once alone, Darius tells Lucien that Dodger has a gambling debt. Later, Darius announces that the undisputed champion, Aputi, will be accepting open challenges for an impending fight. He says anyone who knows out the champion will receive five pounds. Bayani “Flashbang” Rivera (Aljin Abella) accepts the challenge. Spotting Dodger in the crowd, Darius orders his man to get him. Dodger hurriedly walks away when he encounters Belle who complains of pain. He lifts her dress to see the burn on her leg. He gently rubs an ointment on the burn. She claims to have a carbolic acid recipe that will not burn. He says they will test it on Charlie soon because he trusts her.

Noticing something strange about her perfume, Fanny races down the stairs to confront Belle. After a thorough assessment, Belle asks if he burns. Fanny says no. Belle rushes away with the perfume.

Darius announces Aputi’s new challenger, Dodger. Flashbang argues that he is to fight next and Aputi agrees. Aputi misses every punch. Flashback knocks him out cold. Later, Dodger stresses the need to save Aputi’s life or never find out where Tinkler’s body is buried. He seeks Belle’s help and her carbolic acid concoction. In surgery, Belle sprays the solution on Aputi’s scalp. Dodger removes a piece of his skull. Minutes later, Aputi sets up and immediately recognizes Flashbang as the man who knocked him out. He complains of a mild headache. Belle tells him that a piece of his skull was removed. Believing God sent Dodger, Aputi says whatever Dodger needs, he will help. Dodger asks where is Tinkler’s grave. Aputi gives them the location.

Fagin, Dodger, and Flashbang rush out to the gravesite. They dig up the grave to find a mortcage (mortsafe) buried in the hole. Fagin suggests someone did it to protect Tinkler’s body from thieves. In the hospital ward, Charlie asks Belle for some food. She is thrilled with the success of her carbolic acid concoction. Back at the graveyard, Fagin shows Dodger a photo of Agnes. Dodger says it is a dog. Flashbang blows up Tinkler’s grave. Armed with a pistol, Red orders them to get naked and hand over the money. Flashbang flees as the episode ends.

 

The Artful Dodger Review

Belle discovers that carbolic acid eradicates germs to stop infection but Dodger is not easily convinced. He agrees to utilize it to treat Charlie but only if she finds a solution to eliminating the burn.

Fagin sets out to find the individual who stole the sailors’ pay. It doesn’t take long to catch the thief red-handed. Red is found with the money in her possession. To keep the guards from finding the money, they hide it inside Tinkler’s body before it is buried.

Lucien grills Dodger hoping to get him to slipup. Dodger tells him that he is the only child. When asked, Fagin says he has nine siblings.

Lucien finds what appears to be a man’s button in his home. He asks Peggy who visited her while he was away. She tells him that Darius was there to protect her. Lucien is relieved because he believes Darius can be trusted.

Flashbang challenges Aputi to a fight. Aputi, who is the undefeated champion, gives it his all but the short-statured Flashbang knocks him out. Aputi suffers a brain injury, causing pressure to build up in his head. Belle treats Aputi’s head with her carbolic acid concoction before Dodger removes a piece of his skull to relieve the pressure. Aputi wakes up almost immediately with only a mild headache. Believing God sent Dodger to save his life, he gives him the location of Tinkler’s gravesite. Flashbang, Fagin, and Dodger dig up the grave to find the body protected by a mortsafe. Flashbang blocks it up just in time for Red to demand they return the money.

Belle treats Charlie with her carbolic acid concoction. He wakes up hungry.

The episode deserves a 5. Get more The Artful Dodger recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating. Our onsite advertising can be combined with other advertising methods to build brand awareness, click the link to reach our staff. Join our newly established forum to discuss new movie releases and the latest celebrity happenings.