Original subtitles

Evening, Gina.

Kristen.

Mike, so nice to see you. Alone?

Uh, yes.

I didn't think musicals were your thing.

They're not.

I had a spare ticket. I made her come.

"The History of Brokenwood, in Song." This is a must see.

Unless I poke my eyeballs out first.

Come on, it'll be great.

No Beth?

Ah, no.

You set a date yet? For the wedding.

Not yet.

But there will be a date though, right?

Uh, reverend?

Didn't I hear Roger?

Indeed. He's been on edge all week.

I'll be glad when it's over.

I know the feeling.

Uh, she doesn't like musicals.

Oh, you didn't shed a tear at Les Mis?

I never saw it.

It's hard to buy a ticket for something called miserable.

Oh, Mayor Bloom. Is this a tearjerker?

Well, to be fair, I haven't seen it.

It's been kept under tight wraps by the composer,

but I hope not, it's supposed to be a celebration.

Oh relax, you silly thing.

The costumes are excellent,

and in the end that's all anyone cares about.

And that there's songs for everyone to sing along to.

Spoken like a true mayor.

A toast of beautiful music.

And lovely costumes.

Cheers.

I'm so excited.

For tonight, the part

of the Statue of Liberty will be played by Terry Weaver.

Enjoy the show.

♪ I see a tree, a tree that is broken ♪

♪ It must be the tree of which I've heard spoken ♪

♪ The tree is made of wood

♪ The tree is made of wood

♪ This must be, can only be

♪ The place they call Brokenwood ♪

♪ I see a view, a quarter acre view ♪

♪ I see a house made of lumber and screw ♪

♪ It's a house made for me and made for you ♪

♪ With a door and four walls, and even a roof ♪

♪ It feels like home

♪ I love it like crazy

♪ Let's settle down

♪ Where no one is lazy

♪ Let's settle down

♪ And the dogs don't have rabies ♪

♪ Let's settle down

♪ And make us some babies

♪ 'Cause if you could you really should ♪

♪ Move to Brokenwood

♪ I'm Captain James Cook of HMS Endeavor ♪

♪ I give names to places, I'm really rather clever ♪

♪ North Island, South Island

♪ Cooks Straight and Cooks Beach ♪

♪ Cooks Coast, Cooks Street, Cooks Bay, Cooks Rich ♪

♪ But biggest of them all is really worth a look ♪

♪ From a thousand feet high, I call it Mad Cook ♪

♪ Of all the places, the most good has to be Brokenwood ♪

♪ Blackened and scorched, lightning left me torched ♪

♪ Struck by a storm in 1623

♪ All hail, I'm the lightning tree ♪

♪ I'm an icon, I still stand tall ♪

♪ I stand for all, for all the trees ♪

Hell yeah.

♪ Brokenwood, Brokenwood

♪ Oh so good

♪ They almost named it twice

♪ So long, Brokenwood

♪ Nashville, here I come

♪ With my guitar and a song

♪ About the small town that I'm from ♪

♪ I'm tired of small-town thinking ♪

♪ I'm headed to the city of song ♪

♪ So it's hello to you, Nashville ♪

♪ Brokenwood, so long

♪ A length of sash for a window to your soul ♪

♪ A length of sash to pull on your heart strings ♪

♪ Who will buy my husband's fine windows ♪

♪ Who will drink my abundance of milk ♪

♪ We live in a town of milk, fish, and honey ♪

♪ A town upon which hopes and dreams were all built ♪

♪ To be young and free and never grow old ♪

♪ To wander in fields that are all paved with gold ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ I'll swap you for blankets and muskets and barrels of rum ♪

♪ Milk and lumber

♪ Fish and roses

♪ Wine and honey, God and Moses ♪

♪ And if you could, you really should ♪

♪ And if you'd say you'd really say ♪

♪ Oh say, oh say you won't, you'll say ♪

♪ Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave ♪

♪ O'er the land of the free

♪ And the home of the

Back up! Kill the power! Cut the light!

I can't see anything.

Get the lights back on, get them on, please.

Come on, lights, we need some lights.

Get some lights, I can't see anything.

Lights up.

Help!

We know you've all suffered a terrible loss.

35 Years on the stage, Broadway to the West End,

and I have never seen anything like that.

Amateurs.

We are all amateurs.

Speak for yourself.

She means it was an amateur production.

Amateur is not an excuse for careless.

The lighting technician should be shot.

Has she been arrested?

Uh, we appreciate that emotions are running high.

Uh, I recall you were the first to Mr. Weaver's aid?

Uh, I was.

Well that's very brave of you. Uh?

- Vicky. - Vicky

I tried to pull it off, but it was so hot, I...

It's okay, honey.

Did you see anything unusual?

For God's sake, man, Terry had a light

wedged over his head, he was glowing.

If that's not unusual.

Unusual beforehand.

Ah, I don't think so.

Did anybody else?

To be honest, we were all running around

like chooks with our heads cut off.

Or trousers at least, some of us.

Sue, please. Now is hardly the time.

Opening night, you know, it's all pretty crazy.

But what happened to Terry,

it was just a freak accident, right?

We hope so.

Are you suggesting foul play?

We have to consider all the angles.

But um, why don't you take a moment

and then we'll get underway.

Oh my goodness.

Terrence, uh, Mike, well done on the show.

It was, well, the Statue of Liberty thing was unexpected.

According to the lighting technician, when she checked it,

the light had its safety cable attached to the lighting bar,

designed to prevent such accidents.

But, clearly it didn't.

Well, she swears she checked it.

Okay, well let's say she forgot to,

and the light, held here, somehow dislodged itself and fell.

What are the chances of it falling directly over his head?

I mean, a little to the left or to the right

and it would've just knocked him over.

But, this way [imitates crash].

What was holding it up there?

Power cord, maybe?

Huh.

This X, and I can see several others, what do they mean?

The technician said they're a guide

for the actors to know where to stand.

They glow in the dark.

A guide or a target? What are the chances?

And how?

I mean, it's not like someone could have waited up there

to drop it on him.

And why?

Well, I mean the songs were pretty bad.

I've uh, called the coroner. He's all yours, Gina.

Thank you, Mike.

You know I'm still processing the fact that Captain Cook

had no trousers.

Did all British explorers behave this way?

Ah, only the famous ones.

Well, that was uh, rather harrowing.

Not the celebration you were hoping for.

Not at all.

You haven't seen Gray have you?

No.

Ah. He left near the end of the show, he'll be devastated.

Yeah, no, I mean, I've always been a song and dance man.

Just never really had an outlet to express it.

But now, well, it's just my luck.

Can you remember where you were

just before Mr. Weaver was killed?

I was in the wings waiting to come back on as the tree.

Yeah, but it was pretty crazy back there.

Um, Todd had lost the tail.

The tail?

The tail to Crab Shack Jenny's whale.

Frodo.

Stand by, Jason, in six.

Frodo, where's the tail, man?

It's Sue's big reprise.

Dude, I don't know where it is.

Frodo! Find it, go. Go.

Geez, mate, it's gonna look like

she's wearing a giant sperm.

♪ Length of sash for a window to your soul ♪

♪ A length of sash to twirl your heartstrings ♪

It was detachable, so we could get it through the door.

So, did you find it? Uh, the tail?

Yeah, yeah, it was lying in the green room.

So, apart from some last minute prop issues,

did you notice anything unexpected or unusual?

No.

Are you sure about that?

Yeah.

Okay, thanks.

Oh, unless you count the Jewish guy

hanging out in the corridor.

- Jewish? - Mm.

How do you know he was Jewish?

Oh, well, see they wear particular clothes.

Um, a hat, you know, crazy curls. The the acidic ones.

Hasidic?

Yeah, I guess.

♪ You know I can see you, and not ♪

Hey, you can't use these toilets here.

Use the ones out front. There's a show on.

Apologies to you, good sir.

Here, let me help you. There.

Good guy. Just lost, I guess.

You sure he was after the toilets?

Why else would he be there?

Sorry, boss. This guy is insistent.

My god, I've just heard about Terry.

Is it true?

Yeah, it is.

Oh Frodo, you poor boy. Did you see it?

I take it you didn't witness the event?

No, I was outside. I was trying to find him.

I was trying to stop him doing God knows what.

Well, exactly. We know now, don't we?

Him?

Ralph.

Ralph?

Ralph St. John, detective.

He's back in Brokenwood?

Oh, surely you knew.

Yes, he's back and he's clearly left his mark.

So, who is this Ralph St. John?

Mr. St. John was convicted of the murder of a Ben Faulkner

whilst partaking in a local production of "Hamlet"

seven years ago.

Stop!

Everyone, please. Really, must you?

Your talking is very distracting.

Apologies, Ralph.

When I suggested you come, it wasn't to be disruptive.

That was not my intention.

I appreciate you being here, I really do.

But please, as a courtesy, be as quiet as you can.

He was granted parole just over two weeks ago

and has reportedly been seen in Brokenwood.

Oh, more than just seen.

Sue, I'm gonna need you to play the lightning tree

in scene seven.

I'm not playing a tree, Terrence, please.

I could do it.

Frodo, your townsfolk four. You gotta get the tree on.

I'm getting changed at that point, I believe.

I think I'm already singing when the tree is on.

Me too.

Okay, what if it was like a really big tree,

and I was in the tree?

I shall play the tree.

Remember Timothy, there are no small parts,

only small actors.

Oh, hi, Ralph.

I mean, Ralph, wow. Hi.

So, Terrence, what other theatrical jewels

are in need of fulfilling?

But Ralph, you can't sing.

Can't sing?

Out. Come along.

We warned you about coming here.

There's no way in hell that Terry will have you

in this show.

He wanted to be in the play.

My god, that is brazen.

Hence, according to Gray Jenkins, he came in disguise.

♪ Brokenwood, Brokenwood

♪ Oh so good, they almost named it twice ♪

♪ Brokenwood, so they could, they almost named it twice ♪

Dressed as his Shylock. Oh, ridiculous.

Shylock?

Mm, from the "Merchant of Venice."

Shakespeare, a distasteful work if you ask me.

And you followed him backstage?

Yes. God knows what he was up to.

And did you confront him?

I couldn't find him.

♪ So long, Brokenwood

He was nowhere to be seen.

♪ Guitar and a song about the small town that I'm from ♪

Hey, have you seen Ralph?

What? We're busy here, mate?

- Stick it on. - Oh, okay.

Hey, hey, have you seen Ralph?

No.

So you never actually saw Ralph backstage?

Oh, look, no.

So, how can you be sure it was him?

I, I kept looking for him everywhere and, and,

and then eventually I went outside.

Ralph?

Ralph?

And it was Ralph?

Who else could it be?

So we only have Gray's word on that?

Yes, Although Frodo did see someone earlier

matching the description.

Let me help you. There.

Locate Mr. St. John, see what he's got to say.

Well, according to this,

he resides at a halfway house in Telemore Close.

What else do we know about the victim?

Terrence L. Weaver, 45 years old.

Local, single, playwright and composer.

As far as I could make out,

he's written a whole bunch of stuff

that no one wanted to see,

but he seems well-respected by his peers.

So, in summary, talented guy killed by a falling light.

Talent is in the ear of the beholder, my friend.

That show was bad.

And if the light didn't kill him,

the reviews probably would've.

But that light didn't just fall, it was dropped.

This is a routine case of electrocution via the cranium.

Of course, it's not very often

I get to witness the moment of death.

It adds another level of satisfaction to my work.

And that's it?

There was one curious thing.

Electrical burns?

Not electrical, friction. A rope burn.

I found fibers in the skin.

Synthetic of some kind,

but not matching the sheets of his costume.

Could they be historical?

No sign of healing.

They were made within moments,

either before or after his death.

How wide would you say they are?

Three millimeters.

I will arrange for you some samples,

but I did think perhaps as he fell,

he got his arm caught in his shoelaces.

Shoelaces?

But only if he tied them with a very big bow.

And trust me, I tried many times and had no luck.

It's a bit like that game, Twister.

Would you like to try?

Thanks, Gina.

What'd you get up to last night?

Oh, I went to a restaurant.

Oh, yeah? Who with?

No one.

Wait, you went alone?

As a matter of fact, yes.

Since we did you become Nigel No Mates?

Since I went on a date and...

And, she was a no-show?

So she does have a name.

Go on, spill. Who is she?

Missy.

Missy Torhadorah, that water quality agent.

Yeah.

First date?

Well so, what's her problem?

She said something come up last minute.

Seems like bit of a flake.

Dodged a bullet, I reckon.

Hey, Mike, Ralph St. John isn't at his designated address.

Yeah, the caretaker says he goes out most days,

but unsure as to where.

No, stuff's all here though.

The type of light used is the same as this one,

used in this case as a special.

It gives the actor an ethereal look.

If it was dislodged, it would've swayed or shunted,

disrupting the light beam.

But it didn't, right?

It fell straight down.

Must be eight kilos at least.

And, it had to be suspended by something not obvious

to the naked eye of the lighting technician

when she did her final, cursory check.

And, affixed somewhere backstage.

Meaning only those backstage

could have triggered it.

A sort of Damocles.

What?

The emperor Damocles was a powerful man,

sat on his throne, and all the while

the gods had hung a sword just directly above his head,

suspended only by a single thread of silk.

And if he ever got above his station, the sword would fall.

Uh, in this case, not silk.

Uh, Gina has found traces of a synthetic fiber

and a three millimeter flesh wound on the victim.

All of this can give rope burns

matching the victim's wound.

But the fibers were of an earthy color.

So I narrowed it down to three. Sample A, D, and G.

Mm.

Whichever it is, it had to be easily released

and then tidied away in a matter of seconds.

I've got SSG looking for something

30 meters and no more than five millimeters wide.

Fishing line.

Nylon has no fiber.

Trout fishing line does, find braid.

Probably has a 20 kg breaking strain, at least.

It's near invisible to the naked eye.

Light drops, theater goes dark,

it gets reeled up.

Crab Shack Jenny had a fishing rod, right?

♪ Settle the town of Crab Shack Jenny's ♪

♪ The best fish in town

Then, there was that terrible song in the first act

about wooden joineries?

♪ You know I can see you, and lots of other things ♪

He had a coil of sash cords. ♪ In Brokenwood

And then when he came back on stage...

Turn the lights up.

Where's the lights? I can't see anything. Lights.

It was gone.

Sash cord.

Uh, that was Ralph's probation officer.

We should find him at the Snake and Tiger.

Drowning his murderous sorrows.

Not drinking.

Trudy Neilson Judy Nielsen has given him a job there.

Yeah, Ralph works here doing community service.

Community service here? Please.

He's paying his debt to society.

After a lonely period of deep reflection,

I've come to understand that it's my calling

to educate the great unwashed

that language, and only language can heal and unite.

Yes. Yes, you're right.

This is from his probation officer.

Mr. St. John's continued efforts to pursue, share,

and educate society, and the messages of love, insight,

and compassion found within a Shakespearean text

will be credited as contributing

to the betterment of society, wow.

Read it all now.

Lunchtime entertainment. No harm in it.

Torturous Shakespeare recitations.

I may not give a rats about these arty-farty types,

but I do care about second chances.

While, you're a fine example of that, Trudy.

Thanks.

So I'm happy to extend that generosity.

See for yourself, he'll be here at two.

I thought you said lunchtime.

At my busiest.

I may be generous, but I'm not stupid.

2:00 PM there are bugger all people he can frighten off.

Champagne, detective?

Tempting.

Oh, go on.

No, no, but, no.

Well, don't mind me.

You and Terrence Weaver were close.

Oh, we go way back.

Such a bright young thing.

So when he gave him the call and I just happened to have

a gap in my schedule...

Oh.

How could I refuse?

All right everybody, let's get started.

Please take a seat.

While we wait for Miss Fontaine, please study your parts.

Vicky, Settler Janet.

But I thought Sue...

Sue's not here.

Mr. Taylor, you shall play Chief Pudacko, townsfolk one,

and Mr. Crippen the haberdasher.

Choice.

What's a haberdasher?

He sells menswear.

Ah, okay.

Timothy, you are Settler John the carpenter,

townsfolk three, and pirate Nathaniel.

Amazing. Uh, thanks.

Roger, townsfolk two, and Captain James Cook.

Marvelous [laughs], such an honor.

Frodo, we'll find something for you.

Right, let us begin with "A Tree Made of Wood."

Here's your notes.

♪ I see a tree, a tree that is broken ♪

♪ Must be the tree of which I had spoken ♪

♪ A tree is made of

Apologies, my lovelies. So sorry I'm late.

Here she is. Better late than never.

Your part, Sue.

Crab Shack Jenny.

I understand you've performed on Broadway.

Well off Broadway, yes.

And the West End.

Around the West End, yes.

You're a fan of musicals, Mr. Shepherd.

Ah, country music is more my thing.

You never said what you thought of the show.

Ah, well I haven't been to Broadway, so.

You don't need to go to Broadway

to know it was a dog's breakfast.

Uh, it did seem like it was trying to cover all bases

of the musical spectrum.

I'm sure Terry would've been pleased to hear that.

Why?

Terry had a vision.

"Brokenwood" is about the hopes and dreams

of any small town, and Crab Shack Jenny...

Sounds like a woman who has issues with crabs.

No, no, no.

Shipwrecked, nothing but a fishing rod.

She sets up shop on the beach to sell her fish-based meals.

Jenny's a survivor.

She's a, a businesswoman.

Sue, you're about to become a feminist icon.

He could talk anyone into anything.

Feminist icon?

Mm, that was Terry,

always over promised and underdelivered.

But his sheer enthusiasm could be seductive.

Uh, your uh, prop, the uh, fishing rod,

um, as I recall it had no line in it.

♪ Cast my line, reel in a car

♪ Take a loaf and a fish, maybe a crab or a dog ♪

A fishing line on stage is a hazard.

It gets tangled and the next minute you're [indistinct].

Yeah, but after the show, the reel had fishing line on it.

How very observant of you.

That's my job.

I guess I knew the show was over.

Putting things back together.

I was in a daze, to be honest.

Yeah, during the show where was the line kept?

In my dressing room.

Uh, we couldn't locate it at the theater.

It's my own, I thought it would be a nice personal touch.

I brought it home.

Would you mind if I took it away to be examined?

Why?

So we can eliminate it from our inquiries.

What has fishing line got to do with Terry's death?

Hopefully nothing.

It was my grandfather's.

It was a family heirloom.

I expect it back.

Uh, of course.

And when Terry was struck by the light,

can you remember where you were?

I was on stage.

Was it offstage? Side stage? I'm not sure.

It was all about Roger Plumber's lost trousers.

Such amateurs.

We were debriefing on what happened last night.

Still in shock.

Once again, my sympathies.

Still, it's, it's good to see you with your trousers on,

at least.

Don't remind me. So humiliating.

Don't know, Captain Cook caught with his pants down.

It's a metaphor for something, I'm sure.

Lucas please, a man died.

But not because you lost your pants, I keep telling you.

So it, it wasn't intentional then?

Oh, good heavens no.

I was changing from townsfolk two back into James Cook.

It was a very quick turnaround.

Was probably for blankets and muskets

and barrels of rum, whoo!

Whoo.

♪ How my husband has felt

I got side stage and then I realized

I'd completely forgotten my trousers, but...

Oh, my god.

Was a terrible case of first-night nerves.

So you were on the left hand side of the stage?

Stage left, yes. With uh, with Sue and Timothy.

And did you happen to see anyone lurking around

that perhaps shouldn't have been there?

Honestly, I couldn't tell you where anybody was.

It was all about the trousers.

Uh, Vicky, where were you?

I was stage right with Terry just before he went on.

♪ Wine and honey, God and Moses ♪

What the hell is that idiot doing?

Sorry, Roger.

No, he had every right.

Here.

- Oh, thank you. - Vicky.

Sorry, I've gotta get back.

I have to get back to work anyway.

Lucas.

Mind if I uh, take a seat?

Uh, should I get a lawyer?

Why?

Just you're a detective and when you ask me questions,

I can't have feeling that I've done something wrong.

Have you done something wrong?

I don't think so.

Well then you should be all good.

Well, firstly, I didn't know you were into musicals, Todd.

Offered to play Chief Pudacko in an historical epic.

Wow. Couldn't turn that down.

Right, yeah, the um, the bald headed eagle man.

Yeah, okay. That part isn't quite accurate.

But Terry said it didn't matter.

Chief Pudacker.

♪ Circling the skies, I'm a baldheaded eagle ♪

♪ Looking for a place to land

♪ I land for all my people

♪ I land for freedom, in God we trust ♪

♪ The home of the brave and that's a must ♪

♪ I'm circling the skies

♪ I'm a bald-headed eagle, ah

That is great. That's great.

I would just go more.

Sorry, Terry, look um,

I was talking to our cultural advisor

and she said that Chief Pudacker

didn't actually arrive on an eagle.

It was just a wuaka, a canoe, you know?

So, maybe we should uh,

It doesn't matter.

Well, it kinda does.

Sure, sure.

Uh, well, we've gotta think about

our international audiences, don't we?

What do international audiences know about New Zealand?

"Lord of the Rings" and kiwi fruit.

So, do you wanna dress up as an elf?

Oh, no.

Or a big, fury kiwi fruit.

- But. - But.

The back of a bald-headed eagle,

now that's a showstopper right there.

From the top.

I just didn't wanna play an elf, you know?

Mm.

At the beginning of the performance,

there was an announcement that Terry Weaver

would be playing the part of the Statue of Liberty.

Yep.

So, who was meant to play that part?

Why?

Well, because clearly it wasn't Terry.

And, as a detective, I can't help wondering

if whoever was meant to play that part

would've met the same fate.

Would it be fair to say that you have a suspicious mind?

More professionally curious.

Okay. Well this can't come from me.

Well, it's hardly a secret because I,

I could have asked anyone else in the cast, right?

True.

Okay.

She was our cultural advisor and a really great singer.

And this cultural advisor couldn't play the part because?

She had a bit of a falling out with Terry.

Walk out on me and you'll never work in this town again.

And does this person have a name?

She does.

The Statue of Liberty is the whole point of the show.

You want it? Hmm.

Why don't you do it yourself?

Go to hell, Missy!

Missy?

You know her?

When was this?

Oh no, I can't say anymore.

Todd.

It was the day before yesterday.

There's one other person missing in action.

Missy Torhordor.

The water quality girl.

What?

She had the role of cultural advisor on the production,

but had a massive falling out with Terrence Weaver

the day before he died.

So it would be useful to have her whereabouts

at the time of death.

Come on.

Clearly, she wasn't at a certain restaurant.

Am I missing something here?

Well, she was meant to hook up with Chalmers,

but never showed.

It was the first date. There's no history.

Let me give her a call. May be a simple explanation.

Missy here, leave a message.

It's Daniel.

I was wondering if you could give me a call asap. Thanks.

She could be working up the river, no reception.

Maybe you should uh, pay her a visit.

I don't know where she lives.

Maybe Sims should follow this one up.

Oh, seriously.

Let's keep it simple.

Heraco Flautina, where it all began.

Quite, although Frodo's interpretive dance of that tree

is something I cannot now unsee.

You weren't impressed.

I was surprised.

The show was to mark our bicentenary,

and Terrence Weaver put together a very convincing pitch.

Think of "Hamilton."

Nice city. My niece lives there.

The musical.

Oh, right. Yes, of course.

Yes, uh, very popular, I believe.

"Hamilton," "Brokenwood," modern historical epics.

Yes. Am I right in thinking it might be a bit hip hoppy?

Contemporary, yet classical.

This show has the potential to travel the world.

I have a letter of interest here from the agent

in New York.

Mmm. Kudos to you.

David P. Schumann.

That's a very New York name, isn't it?

One of the best. And, the budget.

Right.

Now as long as there's a few catchy tunes

about the history of Brokenwood, that's all we're after.

Gosh, that's quite a big number.

Well, price is the council we put on quality.

It's more about what we can afford.

This show is about New Zealand.

It's about two peoples, Tunga Definowah and Pachea.

It's also about darkness and light.

It's about war and peace.

Ultimately, it's a love story between Settler John

and Settler Janet.

Brokenwood is a love story.

And with your help, I can bring that love to the world.

Think of the tourism.

Brokenwood, on Broadway.

Well, when you put it like that.

Could I ask how much?

$100,000 of rate payers money.

That sounds like a lot of money

for an amateur theater production.

The idea of Brokenwood on Broadway, though.

That ship has well and truly sailed,

along with those dreadful songs,

none of which were the slightest bit catchy.

I understand you appointed a Missy Tourjador

as a cultural advisor.

Yes, I admit to killing two birds with one stone there.

She was already cast, so she could sing and advise.

I'm hardly qualified to be a cultural advisor.

My friend Walter Elliot recommended you.

Oh, Uncle Walter's a scallywag.

And Todd Taylor said you were very ofay,

with the whole cultural whatnot of the area.

Yeah, yeah.

I know my Fhukapapa, but most Maori around here do.

Well that's what we need.

Bit of Fhukapapa, Kerikeer, that sort of thing.

Two flat whites.

- Thank you. - Thank you.

You're Missy, right?

Yes.

I'm Vicky Manus.

I'm cast in the musical with you.

I can hardly wait. I'll see you tomorrow.

Mm-hmm.

♪ Brokenwood, Brokenwood

♪ So very good

So excited.

You want a box ticked?

It's to support Mr. Weaver and his artistic vision,

while ensuring that the bicultural elements

of Brokenwoods history are correctly represented.

And is he okay about this?

Absolutely.

Was he?

Well, he seemed to be.

But it was my understanding that Missy Torhordor

walked out.

Sadly, she and Terry didn't see eye to eye.

Apparently it was all very last minute.

Look, there uh, may be nothing to this,

but she did send me an email that night.

Now in the cold light of day,

the last part seems most pertinent.

Mike.

Hey. Any luck with Missy Torhordor?

Uh, there's no one home, no car.

The mail hasn't been cleared.

She sent an email to Neil Bloom

the night before the show went up.

Quote, "You don't stop this travesty,

there will be tragic consequences."

What, do you think she knew something was afoot?

Maybe, or something more than that.

You wanna find ole Missy here, leave a message.

What's the matter, you dissentious rogues?

Scratching the poor itch of your opinion?

Make yourselves scarce.

Thank you. From Coreolanus.

Well, I'm sure we all know this one.

Cowards die many times before their deaths.

The valiant have a taste of death, but once...

My regulars are drinking twice as much as usual.

- Seems to be most strange... - To numb the pain.

Strange fear.

It's great for business

Being the death, necessary end. Thank you.

Mr. St. John.

St. John, yes.

DC Chalmers, CIB.

A Shakespeare fan, are you?

Do you know a Terrence Weaver?

I uh, yes, I know of him.

He died last evening at the Brokenwood Playhouse Theater.

So I heard, tragic accident.

Mm.

I would like a chat about your movements last night.

Well, I was at my residence.

A witness claims to have seen you outside

at the same theater.

As you are no doubt aware,

I am a man living under a strict and tedious curfew.

So, your witness is clearly mistaken.

Well, best to get you down to the station

to clear things up.

Is this really necessary?

Won't take long. Just a few questions over a cup of tea.

All right. May I use the bathroom first?

Yeah.

Kristin.

Missy Torhordor was making threats to the mayoral office

the night before Weaver died.

Have you heard from her?

No.

Well, this might be more serious than initially thought.

Understood.

You know, for older men some things take a little longer.

It's something for you to look forward to, detective.

♪ When the sun goes down

♪ When the moon comes up

♪ When the sun goes down and I need your love ♪

♪ But I ain't got you no more - Mr. St. John?

♪ No, I ain't got you no more

♪ When the sun goes down on the day I die ♪

♪ My motionless body will start to cry ♪

♪ Because I ain't got you

♪ Ain't got you no more

Hello?

♪ When the sun goes down and I'm under the dirt ♪

♪ My unbeating heart - Dammit. Dammit.

♪ Will still hurt because I ain't got you ♪

That way? ♪ I ain't got you no more

Gray. Hi.

Have you arrested him yet?

Ralph St. John, we're in the process of speaking with him.

For God's sake, how much more do you need to know?

He was there.

I see, you don't believe me.

Well, no, we're just following the process, that's all.

Unbelievable.

And, what can you tell me about Missy Torhordor?

Oh my god, she's so lovely, and such a great singer.

She's got the whole Whitney thing going on.

♪ O'er the land of the free

♪ And the home of the brave

That girl has got some pipes.

She's got showstopper written all over her.

Yeah, just one tiny question.

What does the American national anthem

have to do with Brokenwood?

Do I feel some more cultural advising coming on?

Well.

Everything and nothing,

don't worry your pretty little face.

Yeah, I'm gonna need a little bit more than that.

There were French settlers here.

Yeah, so?

The French gifted the Statue of Liberty to New York.

I know. So?

So, it would've only been a matter of time

before they gifted us one.

Well, that's crazy.

No. It's aspirational.

Are you suggesting that she had an attitude

towards Terrence Weaver?

I, I guess she was just trying to do her job.

But, a few of us had a drink one night after rehearsals

and she had a really good vet.

Well, face it guys,

the show is complete and utter rubbish.

The songs are catchy.

Cous, you of all people know that Chief Pudacker

did not arrive here on the back of a baldheaded eagle.

Chief Pudacker.

Terry says we have to think of the international audience.

What about the local audience?

You know the ones actually paying for it.

Missy, please. It's too late to change things now.

The show opens in two days.

And you know how popular Hamilton is?

Terry reckons that this could be the next Hamilton.

More like the next Ash Burton.

- Oh, that's a bit... - Come on.

= You've drunk the Kool-aid. All of you.

And the next day she walked out.

Do you think that she knew Terry would take over the role

of the Statue of Liberty?

Well, in a way. It was kind of her idea.

Well, do you want it? Hm. Why don't you do it yourself?

Okay.

Thanks, Vicky.

Oh um, does Timothy still work in excavation?

Mm-hmm. He's out on Sadler's line today.

Oh, if you're going there, can you take him something?

His favorite.

Special delivery.

Steak and cheese. King of pies.

So it's true love then, you and Vicky?

We are like Romeo and Juliet, you know.

Oh, your parents disapprove?

What? No, it's just love in its purest form.

Ah, okay.

It's just, it didn't work out so well

for them though, did it?

Right.

True.

Well, like Danny and Sandy, then. From "Grease?"

Or Tony and Maria from "West Side Story,"

or Curly and Lori from "Oklahoma."

You really like musicals.

I love singing. Vicky loves singing.

We sing all the time.

♪ I see a tree, a tree that is broken. ♪

♪ It must be the tree of which I've had spoken. ♪

♪ The tree is made of wood

♪ The tree is made of wood

♪ It must be, can only be, the place they call Brokenwood ♪

That is very romantic.

I think so.

And, and look at this,

a couple of weeks back I mentioned it was getting colder,

and she whipped this up for me.

Wow. A, a singer and a knitter.

You've got it made.

I have, haven't I?

So, we've had reports that Ralph St. John

was seen lurking around the backstage area.

Did you see him?

No. Didn't see him.

You didn't see someone who you might mistake

for an orthodox Jewish man?

What about Missy Torhordor?

Missy, she wouldn't show her face, walking out like that.

So unprofessional.

But she was angry about the politics of the show. Right?

Sure, but, there's a time and a place for that, you know.

Vicky and I have been involved in Brokenwood operatic

all our lives, and in all departments.

You go on stage no matter what. The show must go on.

Ah, thanks, Timothy. Enjoy.

Check this out.

A script called "Castlewood"

and a script called "Brokenwood."

Where's Castlewood?

South Dakota.

All the songs are identical,

except for the names and locations.

The native North American chief sings,

"I'm flying in on my bald-headed eagle,

looking for a place to land, a land for all my people."

So Brokenwood was some kind of placeholder.

Male or female, do you think?

Uh, hard to say. Unisex.

Weaver wore an earring though, didn't he?

Hmm.

Huh, here's that letter from the theatrical agent

in New York.

Dear Mr. Weaver, your show concept is compelling.

The songs are more than memorable.

They have the potential to be classics.

Please submit reviews and box office reports

as proof of concept, and we look forward to

bringing the show to New York.

And Weaver made a list of American towns ending in wood.

It's like he was planning on creating

some sort of musical franchise.

So he was never planning on taking

their Brokenwood vision to the world after all?

And, I imagine some people would feel very used

if they'd found out about it.

A certain cultural advisor, for one.

Senior.

Mr. Jenkins.

Truth.

And this is?

Last night when Ralph was running away,

something fell from his face.

I went back there this morning and I found it,

a curly lock of Shylock's hair.

It's proof, you see. His DNA'll be all over it.

Uh, as will yours.

Oh. Is that the thanks I get?

Uh, we'll look into it.

But if this does belong to Ralph...

It does. I've seen his Shylock. Huh, dreadful.

But he wore curls just like that.

If it does, it places him at the theater.

But why would he wanna kill Terrence Weaver?

Professional jealousy. Terry had talent, Ralph has none.

Terry had an audience, Ralph has none,

except for a few gin-soaked barflies at the Snake and Tiger

at 2:00 PM on a wet Wednesday.

I'm not sure that that's enough.

Well, look what he did to poor, young Ben.

Is there a doctor in the house?

You and I both know what he is capable of.

The tensions were high the other day at the Snake and Tiger.

Terry was having lunch.

I wanna talk about names.

One's name is so important.

A horse. A horse. My kingdom for a horse.

Sue Fontaine, what a name that is.

What, do I fear myself?

There is none else by. Get your gloves, Richard.

That is I am I. Is there a murderer here? No.

Do you mind?

I'm trying to have lunch here and this, this noise is...

How dare you.

We're at mid-performance.

You've broken the fourth wall between me and my audience.

What audience?

You're still as diluted as you ever were.

Now please, have the courtesy to shut up

and leave us in peace.

Sorry about that.

Who was Terry having lunch with?

I don't know.

Then, how do you know all about this?

Oh, Terry told me.

He had to come back to the theater for a tech run.

But, he didn't say who was at lunch?

Who cares? The point is that Ralph was enraged.

When Ralph showed up at rehearsals

asking to play the tree, you said, "I've already told you,"

which implies that you had already seen him.

When was that?

I take it this conversation is confidential.

Of course.

I can't have Neil finding out about this.

A couple of weeks back, it was the anniversary

of Young Ben Faulkner's death,

and I took flowers to his grave.

Alas, poor yoddick. I knew him, Horacio.

A fellow of infinite jest.

Ralph?

Gray Jenkins, long time no see.

What the hell are you doing here?

Paying my respects.

Well, sharing some of the beauty of the bard.

Are you insane? You, you killed him.

It was a regrettable mistake.

A mistake?

Oh, 60-year-old men wearing skinny jeans is a mistake.

I wasn't well. Stress, you see?

But, I'm back in the game.

I hear you and Terry Weaver are working on a show?

You keep the hell away! You hear me?

You are not welcome anywhere near any of us, ever!

He hasn't changed, detective.

So much for rehabilitation, he's a sociopath.

You and I both know it.

Leaving so soon, Ralph? We've only just met.

What was your relationship with Mr. Weaver?

Our paths barely crossed.

Uh, would you say you were rivals?

No. He's more a musical man, I'm classical Shakespeare.

Uh, we understand that you were intent on getting a role

in Mr. Weaver's show.

If they were short, I would've been happy to help out.

Even though you were banned from theaters?

I'm sure a dispensation could have been arranged.

The show must go on, as they say.

Why would they be short?

It was merely an offer.

That was firmly rebuked.

Not a chance in hell, according to a witness.

Gray Jenkins, I presume.

Prone to exaggeration is all I'll say to that.

But they are short now, aren't they? A man down.

That seems to have happened coincidentally,

when a witness saw you running from the theater.

I think that is highly unlikely.

Does this look familiar to you?

Is it yours? Our witness thinks it is.

It must have fallen from my makeup bag.

I have an extensive collection of appendages.

Or it fell from your head as you were running

from Brokenwood Theater at 9:48 PM on Saturday night.

Unlikely.

I'm not allowed to frequent the theater,

due to a trifling restraint

that is stated on my probation conditions.

Fortunately, it's only temporary.

Did you attend the opening of "Brokenwood, the Musical?"

Wasn't invited.

Yes or no?

It's a rather obvious trope, don't you think, Mr. St. John

to portray Shylock as a Hasidic Jew?

Shakespeare's observations on the human condition

remain beyond compare.

"Is it to hold as 'twere the mirror up to nature?"

Well, perhaps you'd like to do exactly that

in one of our cells, to help pass the time.

What?

We'll be holding you overnight

while we sort these matters.

Let's say Ralph St. John made his way backstage unseen.

He releases a light, killing Terry Weaver. He runs off.

He still had to have an opportunity to rig it.

The lighting technician last adjusted the light

the evening prior.

Which means the offender only had some time

on the day of the show to put their plan into place.

♪ Summer's gone, winter's coming on ♪

♪ I can feel a cold front blowing ♪

♪ And I don't see the fall left there ♪

♪ Nothing is black or white

♪ And there is gray in the light ♪

♪ And everybody's got their poison ♪

Is my lawyer here?

He has a court appearance.

Message came through that he'll be here soon.

I wasn't at the theater, you know.

I, Ralph St. John was not at the theater.

You have something you wanna say?

I'll wait for my lawyer.

Let's pepper through some more lemon roses.

More lemon crepe, yes.

And let's bring those candleabras a little more central.

SSG has found a 30 mil length under an old armchair

in the green room.

A window sash cord?

Mm. I sent it off for tests.

Sorry about that. Lemon is very much the color de jure.

Oh, good to know. Mike, you should take note.

Oh, you're getting married?

Uh, well.

Oh, first time.

No, no, no, wait. I know your type, you're a two-timer.

Sorry?

Second time round.

Ah, try fifth. [coughs] Sorry.

Something understated, but meaningful.

Yeah, we don't wanna make a fuss.

Oh, spoken like a man.

But, what about the bride to be?

Oh, I can grab my look book if you like?

Uh, we are actually here about the musical?

Of course. Sorry. Should we take a seat?

As the stage manager,

you were in charge of locking up after rehearsals?

Yes, first to arrive in the morning,

last to leave at night.

Huh.

The day of opening, you did a run-through in the morning?

Yes, and we had a lunch break at 2:00 PM,

and everyone went out to get food for an hour.

And the place was locked up?

No.

So, someone could have gained access to the theater

from 2:00 to 3:00 PM?

Well, no, because I waited outside.

Nice to get a bit of sun.

Watching Frodo practice his dance steps. He's very good.

So, no one could have slipped past you?

No chance.

What about Missy Torhordor?

Did you happen to see her at all?

God, no.

She wouldn't dare show her face, walking out like that.

Unforgivable.

Okay, uh, thanks for your time.

And even if they did, they would've been heard by Vicky.

Vicky Marus?

Or at least woken her up.

She wasn't feeling well,

so she stayed in her dressing room for a nap.

Timothy was so worried.

So I sent him to get her some chicken soup,

which always works wonders.

It's the celery, you know?

And sure enough, she was good to go for the show that night.

Well, she had to keep a spew bucket close by, just in case,

but she was an absolute trooper.

It was the day before we opened

that she started feeling crook.

I reckon it was nerves too, she gets 'em real bad.

She blamed the food.

You might wanna be careful with those pies.

Oh no, not from her cafe.

She'd had lunch with Terry at the Snake and Tiger.

Gave the seafood a swerve.

Why did she have lunch with Terry?

Oh, it's kind of stupid, really. You should talk to her.

Timothy's right, it was pretty stupid.

He wanted me to change my name.

What about, Victoria De Havilland?

What is wrong with Vicky?

You gotta think about your name in lights.

Victoria Minelli. Victoria Dubois.

When this show blows up, and it will,

this will be your chance.

Why do you think that?

I have an agent in America,

he has the score, the lyrics, the book.

He says there's a lot of interests.

- Really? - Really.

For a show about Brokenwood?

Well, it's a universal story.

It's a love story. And you, you are the star.

They've written to me, Vicky. I have it in writing.

Brokenwood's going to Broadway.

Broadway?

Broadway.

Oh, Victoria Dubois.

Now you're talking.

It's all I ever wanted.

To sing on stage, professionally, it was my dream.

But, now.

And then what happened?

You know what happened. He died.

I mean, after lunch.

I went back to rehearsals and then went home.

Then felt sick.

Do you think it was something you ate?

I don't know. Maybe.

I gotta get you right for the show.

The calamari, I think.

And that lasted through to the following day,

which was opening night?

Yes.

You felt so sick that you stayed in your dressing room

through the lunch break.

Yeah, I tried to sleep it off.

And Timothy went out and got you some chicken soup?

Yes.

So you were alone between 2:00 and 3:00 PM?

No.

No.

Sue was there, meditating in the dressing room.

She never went for lunch with everyone.

Be good. Be better. Be great.

Because?

No one liked her. Can I say that?

I mean, I know Sue Fontaine is kind of famous

and everything, but...

But?

She has a real temper.

Crab Shack Jenny. Who the hell is Crab Shack Jenny?

Sue, we're starting with a tree made of wood.

Well?

You and me, we will need to talk.

Do you know what it was about?

The part wasn't the biggest.

And she was angry about that?

Oh, that would be an understatement.

Sorry, I have to get back to it.

Mike, according to Vicky Manus,

Sue Fontaine was in the backstage area too.

Moving on, I see.

The "Rolling Cats" going in Darwin,

so it's time to don the paws and claws once again.

Uh, quick chat?

I have a cab called.

I'll call you another.

Eh.

I understand you meditate.

Yes. Why?

Oh, it was mentioned in passing, that's all.

Oh. Have done for years.

I zone out for 40 minutes

and feel like I've had an eight hour sleep.

It was also suggested that you were quite upset

about playing Crab Shack Jenny.

Vicky Manus has a big mouth.

So it did happen?

When Terry approached me,

he clearly indicated that I was to play the lead.

Settler Janet?

Yes.

So, what changed?

That's what I wanted to know.

Sue, you're about to become a feminist icon.

I mean, Crab Shack Jenny, she has, has balls.

Balls, balls.

You want me to play a woman with balls,

dressed only in a tattered sea-soaked blanket?

Screw you, Terry.

So, honey.

Come on.

One scene. I have one scene, one song.

It's the song. Only Sue Fontaine can sing it.

Plus,

I want you to sing

"Going to Nashville" too, that's two songs.

Plus some chorus work. You've always loved chorus work.

Starring Sue Fontaine, Terry. The poster says, "Starring."

Okay, look, when the music came to me,

I realized that Settler Janet needed to be more...

Now go on, say it. More?

Younger. She's about to start a family.

You bastard.

You've done it again, haven't you?

"Terry, you've done it again, haven't you?"

What did you mean by that?

Perhaps Young Settler Janet would be better

to answer that.

Is uh, Timothy home?

Not yet. He usually gets back around six. Why?

Uh, good. I uh, I need to ask you a delicate question.

Okay.

Terrence Weaver, was he anything more to you

than the director and producer of the show?

What do you mean?

Were you and he in some kind of relationship?

No. Oh my god.

How could you? No.

Sorry, I had to ask.

Why did you have to ask that?

Just trying to make sense of a few things.

Well, I'm engaged.

Me and Timothy, I wouldn't do anything to hurt him.

Oh, of course.

Uh, well, that's all. Thanks for your time.

Oh, did you ever visit Terrance at his home?

No. Why would I?

Huh. Thanks again.

Vicky Manus is adamant she was not in a relationship

with Terrence Weaver.

And even if she was, why kill him?

He was offering her the world.

Although, why New York was interested in his show

still bugs me.

She could be lying.

True.

And if Timothy Ward found out about it,

is that a motivation to get rid of Terrence Weaver?

What did Timothy say about the sash cord?

Uh, another casualty in the debacle

that was Dr. Plumber losing his pants.

You should talk to her.

Timothy, your song about windows...

A beautiful song, right?

Uh-huh. Yeah.

No, it certainly was interesting

from a carpentry perspective.

So you were singing about window sash cord,

which was draped over your shoulder,

but then at the end when the lights came up,

it wasn't there.

I know, I was supposed to have it.

♪ Next to the window

♪ The wonderful window

Help me. I'm on in 30 seconds.

Oh, Roger.

♪ To be young and free and never grow old. ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ Where flax and kumara grows in the sun ♪

♪ I'm squatting for blankets and muskets and barrels of rum ♪

Oh, bit late now.

♪ And lumber, fish and roses

Least I tried.

Uh, Gina has narrowed the type of chord down to these.

A three millimeter brown twine, diamond braid,

and a cotton polyester macrame cord.

Macrame, is that still a thing?

What about wool? Vicky Manus is a knitter.

She has access to yards of wool.

Uh, Gina discounted wool.

The sample taken from the victim's skin

was a synthetic blend.

And, wool isn't strong enough to hold this light.

So we're still looking for 30 meters of one of those.

And, whichever it was,

how did the offender get it off the stage?

How did they get rid of it?

Dennis Buchanan is on his way.

Hmm.

Well this is an unusual case.

What have you come up with, Dennis?

An unusual case, of mistaken identity.

Mr. St. John was mistaken for someone else?

Quiet. It's as simple as that.

Let's cut to the chase.

Does your client admit that he was at the theater

on the night in question?

No, I was not.

He was not.

But Mr. Shylock was.

A Mr. Shylock impersonated by your client.

I don't impersonate, I inhabit.

Indeed. He transforms.

So, who is he right now?

Right. You are?

Ralph.

Ralph St. John.

St. John.

So, your client admits that he...

This human person before us, was there.

As I said. A Mr. St. John, not a Mr. Shylock. Yes.

This is ridi [sighs].

Could we have a word?

Of course.

Sit tight, old chap. Try not to speak.

If Shylock was there, Ralph St. John was there.

That's not how my client sees it.

Because he's as mad as a hatter.

We don't joke about mental health, Detective Sims,

now, do we?

No, we don't, because delusions of grandeur

is a serious and dangerous affliction.

As evidenced by Ralph St. John's prior conviction.

I played Othello once.

Oh, the reviews were quite something.

I had to, you know.

Of course those days are...

Thankfully over, Mr. St. John.

Agreed?

Hmm.

If he was there, he was able to drop the light

on Mr. Weaver's head, and therefore kill him.

Well, just because he could doesn't mean he did.

That doesn't mean he didn't either.

Then why?

My client and Mr. Weaver barely know each other.

They're got no ax to grind.

And this, this mythical rope or piece of string

or a thread of fine silk, whatever.

Where is it?

We've yet to locate it.

You see, it's mythical.

Dennis, we know he was there. You've said as much.

And, we have a witness, plus his manky hairpiece.

The real question is how long he goes back inside for,

unless he decides to cooperate.

Run that by your client.

All right, all right, I was there.

Did you cause the death of Terrence Weaver?

No, I certainly did not.

Then what were you doing there?

Taking what was rightfully mine.

Terrence Weaver's life?

No.

I made my way backstage. It wasn't hard.

I know that theater like the back of my hand, and I just...

♪ Banner yet wave

Stood there.

Why?

I wanted to hear the audience.

The applause.

The energy.

♪ And the home

There's nothing else like it.

♪ Of the

But then I heard a crash, screams. I ran.

Outside?

Yes. Was at that point that my curl came detached.

But I kept running.

I did no harm, I assure you. I held no malice.

That's quite an elaborate effort to go to

to bask in someone else's glory.

I belong at the theater, you see.

Without the theater, I'm nothing.

Even if we accept his, "I was just hanging out

behind the curtain, getting my jollies" explanation,

there is another mitigating factor.

The only window of opportunity our offender had

to tamper with the light was between 2:00 and 3:00 PM.

Which is when Ralph St. John was performing

at the Snake and Tiger.

So, no matter what...

He's not our man.

Mm-hmm.

Which brings us back to our women.

Sue Fontaine and Vicky Manus.

Or, Missy Torhordor.

Yes?

Hi. Is Missy Torhordor home?

Can I say who's asking?

Detective Kristen Sims, Brokenwood CIB.

Missy, a policeman is here.

I got this.

Hi.

Hi. I was just wondering if you got my card.

I did. I was gonna call you back and got distracted.

What's up?

I just have a few questions regarding your whereabouts

the night before last.

Do you mind if I...

No.

No, you don't mind, or?

It's probably best I come down to the station.

Great. Well, I can give you a lift.

I'll meet you there.

I'd really rather give you a lift.

Mom, hold the fort. Won't be long.

You live with your mum?

Nope.

You said in an email to Mayor Bloom

that if he didn't stop the show,

there would be tragic consequences.

What did you mean by that?

That people would come to the show

and think our ancestor Pudacko arrived here

on the back of a bald eagle.

Or that the Statue of Liberty miraculously made its way

into our local history.

That people are being sold alternative facts,

when it's hard enough to get them to know the real ones.

That would be tragic.

But you wrote that, and then Terrence Weaver was killed.

Coincidence?

Sadly, yes.

So you walked out of the show the night before opening,

leaving Mr. Weaver no choice but to take over your role.

The role that took his life.

I wasn't to know that.

But, you wanted the play stopped.

I did, but more than that,

I wanted it to reflect some element of the truth.

And you felt passionately about that.

I wasn't gonna get up there and look like a fool.

So you walked out.

I did.

I've never done anything like that before

and I felt really stink about it.

But, not so stink that you didn't call up my colleague

and ask him out on a date.

Just got home, saw Daniel's card on the fridge,

and thought I'd give him a call, see where he's at.

I thought he could cheer me up.

So you set up a date?

I did.

And then you didn't show.

That is true.

Where were you?

Something came up. Something personal.

Does this something involve being at

the Brokenwood Playhouse Theater around 9:48 PM.

Doubt it.

Are you sure about that?

Yes, and where I was,

I'm not sure that's any of your business.

Not turning up somewhere,

that's not a very good alibi, is it?

You stood him up.

Why do you care about that?

He's a colleague.

Oh, so it's personal.

So you're not gonna tell me where you were?

Nope.

But if I could talk to DC Chalmers,

I might feel differently.

Well, he's not here right now.

I'll head back home then.

Thank you for the ride. The show will go on.

Stay outta trouble, Mr. St. John.

I was never in any.

Your probation officer may not see it that way.

Seeking applause is not a crime.

At least I wasn't soliciting young women back to my lair.

What do you mean by that?

Terry Weaver was not a man of class or distinction,

for that matter.

For me, the theater's always been about a higher purpose.

For him, it was about the trappings.

What sort of trappings?

The venal kind. The ship.

Terry, you may not appreciate my Richard III,

but I have been practicing my vaudeville.

You'll never be in my show. Your talents are not required.

More for you then.

They are not required because you have none.

No talent. Not like Vicky here.

She has talent, real talent.

She was just asking for a bigger part. Can you believe that?

No.

Excuse me.

You don't ask, you don't get.

More power to you, sister.

Let's head back to mine. I'll show you that letter.

Okay.

And she agreed to that?

Couldn't get her knickers off fast enough, I'd say.

Ah, my audience awaits.

This afternoon, King Lear.

I shall be playing all the parts.

It is the first act only.

Uh, get outta the car, Ralph.

Are you gonna come in, or?

You wanted to know where I was.

I had to go to the hospital.

You're unwell. Sorry to hear that.

Not me.

And I wanted to talk to you about it over a drink,

a no surprises policy.

Let you know face to face that...

You have a tomighty.

Aye.

And I'm all ready to go on this date,

and then he starts projectile vomiting

and running a wicked fever, so.

Why didn't you just say?

Like I said, I wanted to put it on the table in person,

not just call you up from the hospital saying,

"Oh, sorry, I'm covered in spew."

You might have run for the hills awol.

Or not.

Are you a policeman?

Aye. A detective

This is DC Chalmers, Manaia.

I went to hospital.

Yeah, so I heard. You feeling better?

You like Spider Man?

Yeah, he's pretty cool.

Cool, I'm Batman, eh?

If you say so.

I do.

Well, that's settled then.

A powerful man sits upon the throne.

The sword of Damocles.

Sims.

The theater agent from New York, David P. Schumann,

doesn't exist.

Well, he did exist, but he died in 1953.

The letter was a fake.

So he was well and truly pulling the wool

over Neil Bloom's eyes, and needed to impress someone.

Wait, what did you say?

Well, he was trying to impress someone.

Well, Vicky Manus, no doubt.

No, about the wool.

Mike, I think I know where the cord is.

The cord and jersey.

Huh. I'd like to talk to everyone down at the theater.

Make sure Timothy Ward is there.

Can we get this show on the road?

I have a plane to catch.

Hmm, uh, the offender knew exactly where Terrence Weaver

would be standing, it was guaranteed.

He was an actor, knew how to find his light.

Tragically for Terrence, this phrase would become

all too apt with regard to his demise.

The chord had to be thin enough

so as not to attract the attention

of the lighting technician

as she gave the rig a final once over.

It was macrame cord that ran back along the bars

and attached to a point backstage.

But, as the cord was hastily retrieved,

it left abrasions on Terry's wrist.

Well, where's the cord now? I didn't see any cord.

Does anybody?

No, because it disappeared. Almost like magic.

What's going on?

Ah, Timothy, thanks for coming.

Why don't you stand over here by your fiance.

Uh, Vicky, when you were lunching with Terrence Weaver,

you were wearing a pair of distinctive earrings.

Recognize this?

Oh, that's yours, hun.

The ones I gave you for our first anniversary. What?

This was found in Terrence Weaver's apartment.

But you told me that you'd never been there.

How did they get there, Vicky?

We know how you did it.

I want to know why.

You never said you went to his place.

He wanted to show me a letter.

Oh, my god. They do want the show.

When people come to a Broadway show,

they expect big, epic, sexy.

But it's not Broadway, it's Brokenwood.

What does the letter say? It will be.

And, the billboard will say, "By Terry L. Weaver,

and starring Victoria Dubois."

And you'll be there, with me.

You and me, taking on the world stage.

Oh no, don't do that.

Vicky, come on.

No, I'm engaged.

What? To a digger driver? Sure.

What does that mean?

You can be so much more.

No.

What you mean to say is yes, Terry.

No.

Yes, I want to go to Broadway.

Don't do this.

Or what?

I'll tell.

Hey.

Don't do this.

Didn't we just have lunch together?

Who's gonna believe you weren't on a mission

to get what you want?

You wouldn't do that.

Tell your digger driver all about us.

No.

If I did, he'd have good reason to believe it.

Let me go. Don't. I don't want this.

So, when my American agent calls

and asks me about the actress playing Settler Janet,

what am I gonna tell him?

Will I sing your praises, or will I have to say,

"Oh, little Vicky Manus, she's nothing. Just a waitress."

So?

What's it gonna be?

You disgust me.

One word and I'm on the phone to Timothy.

Don't think I won't.

How is that fair?

Why should he go to Broadway when he was

such a despicable person?

Go to hell, Missy!

Maybe you should play the part.

I will, and it'll be a goddamn show stopper.

Move!

He made me feel so sick.

♪ I see a tree

♪ Broken, beauty broken

♪ A tree made of wood

♪ Made of wood

♪ This must be, this can only be broken wood ♪

♪ I see a view, a quarter acre view ♪

♪ On this quarter acre view

♪ A house made for us, feels like home ♪

♪ I love you like crazy

♪ Let's settle down, love you like crazy ♪

♪ Let's settle down

♪ Let's settle down

♪ Let's settle down

Little Vicky Manus, waitress.

What the hell is that idiot doing?

You're almost on.

♪ Brokenwood

♪ And the home of the

But then you raced back on stage, first on the scene.

Don't. Kill the power. Got to get it off.

Not to get to Terry, but to get to the light.

I can't see.

I can't.

- What's going on? - Got to get this light.

- Terry? - Put some lights on here.

Terry?

Terry?

Some lights.

So that you could retrieve the cord.

To quietly dispose of it.

♪ Brokenwood

♪ Brokenwood

I never meant.

It was supposed to be an accident.

Just a silly, little accident.

And no one would question.

But now, it's all broken.

♪ Broken

♪ Everything is broken

♪ Everything is broken

♪ And he called me nothing

♪ He called you what

♪ Said I was nothing

♪ How could he say that

Did I mention?

♪ How much I love you

Vicky Manus, you've been charged with the murder

of Terrence Weaver.

You do not have to say anything, but anything you do say

will be used as evidence.

Well, that is one wedding that won't be going ahead,

but uh, yours will be, right?

Yep.

But?

There's a small complication.

Well, you don't have cold feet, do you?

Well, you did say yes though?

Uh.

You said no.

No, I, I didn't say no, but I couldn't say yes because...

Because?

It's complicated by the fact that...

You're still married.

Oh my god, you're still married?

No, it's just one of those loose ends

that never really got tidied up.

Because?

Uh, my ex-wife.

In name only.

Yeah, and in spirit.

Mm, never got round to signing the paperwork.

Well, how long has she had it for?

About eight years.

She will sign it though?

Well, of course.

But, she uh, lives in a valley eight hours south.

She doesn't have a phone and she lives completely off grid

and uh, she is traditionally unreliable.

And um, what does Beth think of this

rather surprising news?

Uh, she flew to Oz to visit her mother,

and give me time to sort things.

Uh, you are a dark horse. You know that?

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May.

Summer's lease hath all too short a date.

Sometime too hot, the eye of heaven shines,

and often is his gold complexion dim.

And every fair from fair sometime declines.