As the curtains rise on another installment of "Miss Scarlet and the Duke," Eliza Scarlet (portrayed by Kate Phillips) engages in lighthearted conversation with Ivy (Cathy Belton), who is meticulously preparing for her day's endeavors. Ivy Woods remarks that Alexander Blake (played by Tom Durant-Pritchard) embodies the epitome of gentlemanly conduct. The arrival of Mr. Potts (Simon Ludders) interrupts their chatter, and upon learning of Ivy's impending departure, Potts finds solace in Eliza's companionship over breakfast. Noticing Ivy's unusual jubilance, Eliza suggests they tweak their routine, volunteering to assist with the dishwashing so Ivy might enjoy a leisurely evening.
Potts, immersing himself in discussion, unveils the chilling tale of the Thames Reaper. Eliza, well-versed in the grim statistics, notes the four souls claimed within a fleeting three months, followed by an inexplicable lull. Potts' revelation stirs the pot further: the Reaper has penned a letter to The Morning Herald, announcing his intent to resume his grim work. With a flippant remark about the dishes, Eliza scoops up the newspaper and retreats.
Her next stop is Sydney Barnes' (Peter Polycarpou) office, where the latter is busily imparting instructions to Mr. Bailey (Ryan Hawley). Eliza, eager to contribute to unmasking the Thames Reaper, pitches her idea to Barnes. She underscores the mystery's persistence—nearly a year since the inaugural tragedy, and the Reaper's identity remains shrouded in darkness. Sydney, intrigued but cautious, hints at hiring her should she bring fresh perspectives to the table.
Eliza turns her focus to Bailey, whose scoop on the Thames Reaper propelled him into the limelight. She subtly probes for any hidden gems in his knowledge vault. Over drinks at a local pub, Bailey confesses the Reaper saga served as a lifeline for The Morning Herald, teetering on the brink of collapse amidst dwindling sales. It all began with the discovery of a corpse by London Bridge in November of the previous year, unreported by any other publication. The subsequent day, a letter arrived, enigmatically stating, "Edward sleeps by London Bridge."
Bailey's police contact verified the deceased's identity as Edward Turnbull, the letter predated his article's publication by a day. Captivated, Bailey penned an expanded piece, highlighting the cryptic missive. Barnes, sensing a goldmine, demanded exhaustive follow-ups, turning the Reaper's reign into front-page sensationality within days. Subsequent victims and accompanying letters—each predicting the locale and name in lowercase, uniformly formatted—fell like dominos. The moniker "Thames Reaper," coined by someone within the office despite Bailey's disapproval, stuck. Barnes insisted on its usage, and the fourth victim adhered to the ominous pattern.
Yesterday, the Reaper's sinister scrawl reemerged, heralding his return.
Bob, alias Milos Pantic, hands Ivy a stack of paperwork, entrusting her with the responsibility of filing it meticulously. Ivy makes her way to Inspector Blake's office, delivering the documents while engaging in a discourse that also touches upon Eliza. Blake inquiries about the newly appointed desk sergeant, Bernard, whose handwriting is barely decipherable. Agreeing to lend a helping hand, Ivy volunteers to type up his log, earning praise from Blake who commends her as an asset to the department.
Over at the Fat Goose Pub, Bailey examines the letters, noting the diverse postmarks hinting at a case that stretches across numerous districts. Puzzled by the killer's sudden reappearance, Bailey's thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of a telegram signaling another letter. Meanwhile, at the London Docks, Detective Inspector Blake surveys a grim discovery, joined by Eliza and Bailey who arrive to view the body and confer with Blake. Presented with the letter inscribed, "Caleb sleeps by Limehouse Docks," Blake promptly arranges for Eliza's safe return to her carriage before requesting a statement from Bailey.
Eliza visits Mr. Potts, seeking vital insights into a pending case. Initially resistant, Potts eventually relents and invites her in after some negotiation. Revealing her focus on the Thames Reaper, Eliza requests information on prior victims. Later, she shares with Bailey the detailed coroner's reports, suggesting the perpetrator possesses remarkable strength. The third victim, a Russian named Aleksander Sochnev, remains shrouded in mystery, lacking substantial details. Seeking clarity, Eliza turns to Ivy, who hesitates but ultimately agrees to assist, albeit reluctantly. Understanding her bounds, Eliza decides to approach Blake with a proposition.
She elucidates that gathering evidence scattered across various jurisdictions would consume Blake days. Hence, she offers a comprehensive summary, suggesting a formal request through Scotland Yard to compile the evidence. Surprised she didn't involve Ivy, Eliza asserts she wouldn't put her friend in such a predicament. Instead, she pitches her own involvement, arguing it's a personal pursuit she must fulfill. Blake concurs, stipulating that Eliza must inform Bailey of her exclusivity between the newspaper and police work. Bailey, whose family roots lie in medicine, ponders his future in journalism.
The following day, Eliza informs Blake of her severance from the newspaper. In return, he reveals the identity of the latest victim. At the morgue, Mr. Potts confirms the deceased as Caleb Hunt, a junior clerk at Aldgate Mortuary. Caleb's cause of death—a broken neck, not drowning—is noted. Potts directs them to Caleb's residence, where Eliza discovers a stash of newspaper clippings about the killings, hinting at his obsession. Blake, unconvinced of the randomness of Caleb's murder, orders a thorough search of the premises, adhering to procedure.
Eliza pondered whether Caleb had embarked on a solo investigative mission, while Blake's insinuation hovered in the air—that Caleb might indeed be the killer. Her curiosity led her to discover a concealed key, which she surmised belonged to a safe deposit box. Alongside the key, Eliza uncovered a note addressed to the Bank of Switzerland, nestled on Threadneedle Street, hinting at Box 17. Armed with a search warrant, they ventured to the bank, only to be met with resistance from the authorities. The custodian, steadfast in his silence, declined to divulge the names of the clients, emphasizing the bank's discretion.
Upon opening the box, it revealed an eerie emptiness, prompting Eliza to inquire about a description of the box's renter. However, Herr Klinsman (played by Petar Zekavica) remained reticent, his lips sealed tight until Blake's stern threats coaxed him into revealing that the box had two registered clients. Blake vowed to obtain a warrant that would extend across Swiss borders, ensuring they could uncover the account holders' identities. Stepping outside, Blake briefed Eliza on his plan to involve the Foreign Office. Meanwhile, Eliza resolved to reexamine the case files, searching for any overlooked details.
Later, Bailey made an unexpected visit to Eliza, extending an offer that he knew she would likely decline. He proposed a fee for any information she might garner while collaborating with Scotland Yard, an offer she promptly refused. Bailey then courteously inquired about her availability for dinner the following evening, giving her time to consider. As Potts arrived, concerned about Ivy's absence, Eliza attempted her hand at cooking, only to produce less-than-desirable results. Amid laughter, Potts offered to teach her the art of culinary prowess. Their kitchen banter veered towards Ivy and Caleb, with Potts revealing that Caleb had made a grievous error, albeit one he later rectified. Intrigued, Eliza pried further, and Potts shared that Caleb had misspelled a Russian victim's name. Unfortunately, by the time Potts corrected it, the notorious Reaper had already dispatched a letter to the newspaper, bearing the same spelling mistakes.
Blake suspected that Caleb had inadvertently leaked the names to the letter-writer. The officers' search bore fruit when they uncovered a blackmail letter tucked within the wall, authored by Caleb and threatening to expose Sydney Barnes. Blake confronted Barnes, who vehemently denied any wrongdoing. Just as doubts began to creep in, Blake received incriminating evidence tying Barnes to the safe deposit box. Barnes demanded to speak with his lawyer, while Blake privately briefed Eliza on the unfolding drama. He welcomed her potential involvement in future interrogations, contingent upon her submitting a comprehensive report promptly.
Eliza confessed to having a tentative dinner engagement that evening, causing Ivy to speculate about a secret rendezvous with Inspector Blake. Eliza clarified that it was with someone she hadn't yet met, leaving room for uncertainty about her attendance. Potts' timely arrival interrupted their conversation, informing Ivy of a cancellation in Reverend Harvey's schedule for next month.
Harvey pondered whether they might desire to reserve it for their wedding celebration. Ivy, preoccupied with her responsibilities, informed them she was swamped and would be working late into the night. Meanwhile, Eliza encountered Bailey, who revealed he had already secured a table for them. Their conversation briefly veered towards Barnes before Eliza's attention was drawn to a key Bailey possessed.
Ivy, meanwhile, delivered files to Blake, who inquired why she was still present. He gently reminded her that such long hours were unsustainable. Ivy conceded she might have undertaken more than she could manage. Blake suggested they reconsider her role.
Bailey confided in Eliza that both he and the newspaper would become the butt of jokes once the news broke. Eliza referenced the safe deposit box, acknowledging she had the other key—one she had subtly extracted from his coat. She accused him of fabricating the Thames Reaper saga and murdering Caleb when blackmailed. Bailey dismissed her allegations as absurd.
Suddenly, Blake arrived with officers to apprehend Bailey. Shortly thereafter, Blake assured Eliza that extracting a full confession from Bailey wouldn't be difficult. He graciously allowed her to observe the interrogation. Ivy, catching up with Mr. Potts, shared some thrilling news: Inspector Blake had requested her exclusive dedication to his work, akin to that of an assistant. Ivy admitted she had missed Mr. Potts and promised her establishments would henceforth embrace a more civilized ambiance.
