The episode kicks off with photographer Dejan Stojakovic lensing mugshots of an ensemble cast: Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), the enigmatic Gospodyni Ivy Woods (Cathy Belton), the mischievous Clementine (Laura Rollins), the enigmatic Solomon (Brian Bovell), and the beleaguered Barnabus Potts (Simon Ludders). Eliza, fiery and determined, insists on an audience with William "The Duke" Wellington (Stuart Martin), swearing under oath that a grave injustice has transpired. She vows to the Duke an elucidation of the situation.
Eliza confesses her folly in entangling her friends in such a labyrinthine affair. The Duke, unrelenting, reminds her of the public disorder allegations looming over their heads. She assures him that Solomon's intoxicated demeanor was but a guise, and Clementine's misappropriation of a government minister's pocket contents was beyond her control. Ivy, with a tone of foreboding, cautions that Potts' humiliation runs so deep that he may never darken their doorstep again. Eliza, almost wishing for such an outcome, murmurs, "If only."
In a dimly lit underground boxing den, Moses collects his well-earned winnings when the police storm in, turning the atmosphere electric. In a bid to evade capture, he dashes out only to find himself eyeball-to-eyeball with The Duke, who either threatens him with arrest for illegal wagering or offers a deal in exchange for the whereabouts of Logan Cooper. Moses reveals that Mr. Myman and Mr. Hall witnessed Cooper's heist at the Winchester Bank. A Tuesday manhunt led them to Charing Cross, where Cooper's trail went stone cold. The Duke, suspicious, demands to know how Moses came into possession of such classified information.
The Duke berates Basal Sinclaire (Oliver Chris) for publicizing a confidential case in his newspaper, Police News. He lays the blame for Mr. Hall and Mr. Myman's sudden memory loss squarely at Sinclaire's doorstep. Hudson, cornered, spills the beans on his sources: five police officers. The Duke, stern and authoritative, insists they cease selling classified information to journalists. DS Phelps (Tim Chipping), sympathy etched on his face, reminds him that it's been their coping mechanism to augment their meager salaries. Detective Charlie Fitzroy (Evan McCabe), with a hint of mischief, seeks permission to attend "Iolanthe" with the Sunday Times' opera critic, Mr. Lawrence, promising an evening filled with operatic delights.
Ivy confides in Eliza, asserting that a gentleman of Potts's caliber should never have been incarcerated overnight. Eliza, on the other hand, expresses her need for skilled labor and additional capital to fuel her expansion plans, only to encounter rejection when seeking loans. The Duke gently reminds Eliza of their monthly dinner engagement scheduled for the last Wednesday, but she pleads for a postponement, citing an especially trying day. He then discloses to her that Sinclaire has published a story about his confidential case, which has already garnered the attention of 200,000 readers.
Determined, Eliza approaches Sinclaire about placing an advertisement in his newspaper. Intrigued, he counters with an offer to engage her as a writer for a "five-part serialized adventure" centered around her. Meanwhile, the mystery deepens with the abrupt disappearance of Alfonso, the Great Italian Illusionist, mid-performance at the Flanders Theatre.
Miss Ling, alias Alice Hewkin, relates to Eliza how Alfonso vanished into a magical box and never reemerged. She proceeds to demonstrate the mechanics behind the illusion, prompting Eliza to inquire if there was any chance Alfonso could have slipped out unnoticed. Miss Ling assures her that such a feat is impossible. Seeking further insights, Eliza converses with Milena, Emily Redpath portraying a character who reveals that Alfonso delighted in playing pranks on others. It transpires that Milena's father is Slaven the Sorcerer, portrayed by Damjan Kecojevic.
As Eliza inspects Alfonso's dressing room, Mr. Flanders, portrayed by Keir Charles, approaches. She concedes that there is no logical explanation for Alfonso's disappearance. He speculates that perhaps supernatural forces, the elusive Flanders Phantom, were at play. Elsewhere, Phelps informs Fitzroy that Detective Lenahan is delving into the Cooper case, prompting Fitzroy to order another round of drinks just as The Duke breaks the news of a body discovered in the river near Charing Bridge, adding an eerie undertone to an already tumultuous day.
Eliza confides in Sinclaire, revealing that Alfonso had orchestrated a daring publicity stunt. Sinclaire, in turn, delivers a solemn update: Alfonso has passed away. The Duke, unwavering, bars Eliza from entering the Flanders Theatre. She counters by revealing her employment by Sinclaire to probe Alfonso's mysterious disappearance. He cautions her that such revelations could land in Sinclaire's newspaper, to which she confidently responds that a solemn promise binds him to secrecy. When the Duke stands firm on denying her entry, Eliza vows to pursue her own inquiries regardless.
To Sinclaire, Eliza unveils a curious detail: Alfonso wields a black wand in the poster, yet a silver one appears in the sketch from the fateful night. Sinclaire concedes he had asked the artist to incorporate the silver wand, despite Alfonso not using it during his performance. Meanwhile, Eliza encounters Miss Ling and Mr. Flanders, their bond evident as she approaches. Initially, Mr. Flanders declines to engage, insisting that the police alone should handle Alfonso's murder inquiry. Eliza, undeterred, brandishes a threat—an intimate tale involving his wife and children—that compels him to reconsider.
Miss Ling chimes in, sharing that Alfonso had confidentially mentioned his intention to sell his precious wand in anticipation of his retirement. Eliza presses for information on the wand's new owner, to which Miss Ling replies it was none other than Baggot, the shopkeeper on Carnaby Street (Simon Lowe).
As Eliza steps into the shop, the Duke promptly informs Mr. Baggot of Alfonso's untimely demise, ushering her out hastily until she vows not to spill the beans to the press. Baggot enlightens them, revealing that there were four illustrious Alfonso the Great Italian Illusionists before him, making Alfonso the fifth in line. Each heir received an exquisite silver wand as a token of their heritage. Alfonzo, in a bid to continue his father's legacy seamlessly, donned elevator shoes to match his father's height, ensuring no one suspected the father-son switcheroo. The Duke inquiries if Alfonzo intended to purchase the wand, to which Baggot responds that he was supposed to meet him at 7 PM sharp, just before his performance.
As Potts exits, Moses and Eliza make their way into the City Morgue. Alfonzo, who suffered a hairline skull fracture, is officially listed as having drowned, with the presumed time of death falling somewhere between 6 PM and midnight. Moses notes that Alfonzo's vanishing act concluded at 10 PM, leaving a two-hour window of uncertainty. The autopsy report further reveals liver damage, adding another layer to the mystery. Hidden in the heel of his boot, they discover a tiny key, seemingly insignificant yet potentially holding the key to unlocking secrets.
In a concealed safe, Eliza and Moses unearth Alfonzo's silver wand, prompting Moses to ponder why he would perform without it. She posits that perhaps the vanishing act was executed by another, as Alfonzo might have already met his fate. Sinclaire suggests that Eliza's investigation into Alfonzo's demise could spice up the story, cautioning her that any collaboration with the Duke might reduce her role to a mere supporting act.
Eliza concedes to Sinclaire's idea of withholding her findings from the Duke for a brief period. Ivy, however, warns her of potential charges for obstructing justice. Eliza reassures her that the Duke has shown no inclination towards collaborating on the case. Ivy urges caution when conversing with him, while Eliza vows to steer clear whenever he enters the room. Both women stand firm in their decision to keep their discoveries to themselves for now.
Fitzroy proposes that he should delve into Alfonzo's case, while Bow Street handles the matter involving Cooper. The Duke inquiries about Bow Street's involvement in the scenario. Fitzroy asserts that he caught Phelps in the company of a detective named Lenahan. The Duke reassures him that Bow Street does not employ a detective bearing that name and warns Phelps of termination if he engages with the press once more.
Milena presents Eliza with Sinclaire's newspaper article, which misquoted Eliza by stating that Alfonzo was a heavy drinker and burdened with gambling debts. Eliza confronts Sinclaire about publishing false information about the case and distorting her words. Sinclaire justifies his actions by stating that his readers are fascinated by scandals. Eliza demands a public apology or threatens to terminate their agreement. Sinclaire retaliates by reminding her of the name, Henry Scarlet, engraved on her door—a subtle threat. She responds decisively, terminating their arrangement. He boasts about bringing down powerful figures such as an archbishop, politicians, and judges, hinting that bringing down a female detective would be a mere formality.
Eliza apologizes to The Duke for taking Sinclaire's advice. He inquiries about the information she has been withholding from him. She reveals that Slaven harbored envy towards Alfonzo, and suspects that Ling and Flanders might be involved in a romantic liaison. She suggests that someone who didn't possess Alfonzo's wand might have been on stage that fateful night. The Duke then shows her an identical wand discovered during Alfonzo's autopsy, revealing a hidden compartment that contains a rolled-up photograph of Alfonzo's father. Eliza opens the wand's top, revealing a safe, and discovers another rolled-up photograph taken at Faversham's Shop.
The Duke queries Baggot about whether Alfonzo employed a different box for his famous disappearing trick. Baggot remains tight-lipped about the mechanics of the illusion until Eliza reminds him that obstructing the course of justice is punishable by seven years in prison. Baggot then reveals that Alfonzo's assistant crafted a replica box with a false bottom, designed with special latches that opened and locked a hidden compartment beneath it, unlike the traditional side-opening vanishing box. Alfonzo had ordered a wand for his assistant, containing a photograph showing both boxes side-by-side for reference.
Milena attributes her entire understanding of magic solely to Alfonzo, claiming that he was the source of her wisdom in this enigmatic art. She recounts how Alfonzo, whose life revolved around magic, fell into a profound depression. When he failed to arrive an hour early for his scheduled performance, Milena sensed that he had vanished forever. The Duke inquires whether she believes Alfonzo took his own life, to which she responds by revealing that Alfonzo had spoken of suicide during his intoxicated moments.
Eliza then confesses to Milena that she had impersonated Alfonzo, asserting that he deserved a grand farewell. She reveals how she hid inside a replica box, which was later taken backstage, where she dismantled it to craft a chest for her father. The Duke informs Eliza that the coroner's examination suggests Alfonzo was struck on the head posthumously, adding that charging Milena would serve no one's purpose in seeking justice.
Elsewhere, Phelps assaults Fitzroy for informing the Duke about his meeting with the press. Upon discovering this, the Duke hires Moses to train Fitzroy in boxing. Eliza, encountering Potts again, expresses delight at seeing him, but Potts reminds her of their last encounter behind bars. Although Eliza insists she has already apologized, Potts insists that one apology is insufficient in this instance. Meanwhile, Sinclaire pens an article praising the Duke.
As the episode draws to a close, Eliza extends an invitation to the Duke for dinner at her place, setting the stage for a potentially significant interaction between them.
