As the curtain rises on the fourth installment of "Miss Scarlet & The Duke," Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips), donning her characteristic poise, engages in a riveting conversation with Mr. Godfrey (Matija Zivkovic), a probing journalist, delving into the intricacies of Nash and Sons and her pivotal role within the agency. Their discourse is abruptly halted by Clarence (Paul Bazely), who bursts in, urgently seeking Eliza's signature to authorize the investigation into the Whitlock case.
Once Godfrey exits, stage left, Eliza voices her discontent regarding Clarence's methods, prompting him to remind her of his true mandate: to pose as a private detective, a role bestowed upon him by Patrick Nash (Felix Scott). The agency operates under the pretense that everyone has their price and exits promptly after collecting theirs. Clarence then unveils a bombshell—Nash's entire male staff has deserted ship. He harbors a sense of duty to uphold the financial stability of the business during Nash's Parisian sojourn, albeit acknowledging the impracticality of their current financial maneuvers.
Later, Clarence delivers a revised assessment of their financial woes, painting a grimmer picture than initially perceived—in fact, their situation is direr than imagined. Eliza, however, remains optimistic, convinced that her recent feature in "The Illustrated Police News" will breathe new life into the agency. Their debate on the current predicament rages on, with Eliza steadfastly insisting that better days are ahead.
Elsewhere, William 'The Duke' Wellington (Stuart Martin) addresses his team, highlighting their challenging assignment spanning the districts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex. In light of this, all leaves are rescinded, a decree that does little to elevate the morale of Detective Fitzroy (Evan McCabe), DS Phelps (Tim Chipping), and their disgruntled colleagues. As the team disperses, William issues a stern warning to Charlie Phelps to refrain from unsolicited opinions, before revealing a shooting incident at the Temple of Elysium in Mayfair.
Fitzroy is swiftly corrected; this is no theater but a brothel, cloaked in euphemisms as an elite gentleman's club by Madam Hera (Lu Corfield). She recounts the harrowing tale of a masked gunman who stormed the establishment, pistol-whipping the watchman into tying himself up before prowling from chamber to chamber, plundering her clients. The watchman, opting for flight over confrontation, freed himself and ran outside, crying for assistance. He is summoned to the station to record his statement.
The gunman, face obscured by a black scarf, wore a threadbare cloth cap and overcoat, standing at average height with fair hair and blue eyes. During his spree, one client, indulged in too much revelry, was awakened by the intruder's demands. A scuffle ensued, culminating in the tragic shooting of the gentleman caller.
The scene is set, tensions are high, and the stage is brimming with intrigue as the investigation into the Mayfair shooting unfolds.
A physician was promptly on the scene, conducting a thorough examination before escorting the injured individual to the hospital. Hera remained tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any information about the afflicted man. Meanwhile, Eliza engaged Ivy (portrayed by Cathy Belton) in conversation, lamenting the lack of clientele. Ivy, engrossed in her novel to the point of distraction, barely acknowledged her friend's plight. Ivy pondered whether Moses might offer assistance, but Eliza quickly dismissed the idea, noting his prolonged absence. She also hesitated to approach William, as their rapport had never fully recovered since the Arabella incident. Nevertheless, Ivy encouraged Eliza to seek him out, which she eventually did, paying him a visit at his office later that evening.
William admitted that the timing was far from ideal, as they were grappling with an unprecedented surge of cases. Catching her glancing at the reports scattered across his desk, he soon realized her intent. When she expressed her desire for cases, he briskly dismissed her. Elsewhere, Phelps and Fitzroy succeeded in locating the gunshot victim, a man unable to speak and withholding his identity. Fitzroy, however, recognized him from meetings he had attended with his father – the man was a government minister.
William then conferred with Mr. Potts (Simon Ludders) at the morgue, where the agitated coroner, Mr. Wormsley, loomed. Commissioner Fitzroy (Stephen Boxer) cut in to discuss a sensitive matter, revealing that the shooting victim was from the Home Office and not the only influential figure present. The stolen items, mostly engraved with personal messages and family crests, posed a significant risk if the information became public. The Commissioner entrusted William with leading the investigation, holding him personally accountable for a swift resolution.
Visiting Delaware (Al Weaver) at the hospital, William attempted to delve into the incident. Yet, Delaware was reticent, claiming the gunshot was a result of a hunting accident. Eliza obtained a copy of the Illustrated Police News, telling Clarence that today marked the dawn of their fortune's turnaround. He, however, noted the absence of any relevant article and regretted their decision to sever ties with the newspaper's advertising account. When quizzed about why he hadn't left with the others, Clarence insisted that quitting was not in his nature.
William implored Madam Hera to aid his investigation, but she was confident that her clientele would eventually catch the perpetrator. She had heard murmurs of dissatisfaction among judges and politicians towards Scotland Yard. Back at the station, William's patience wore thin with Fitzroy, urging him to inform his father of their dire situation.
He tendered an apology to Oliver, who insisted that William needed some downtime. Oliver persisted, arguing that they required additional manpower to sift through the voluminous files. Meanwhile, William paid a visit to Eliza, who was once again feigning occupied. He updated her on the case, and upon her agreement to take it on, assured her that the files would arrive that very afternoon. Eliza was visibly relieved to secure the assignment.
Clarence grumbled about having to sift through papers when his expertise lay in accounting. Undeterred, Eliza pondered over ways to procure assistance without incurring costs, and turned to Ivy, who was overjoyed at the prospect of contributing to an investigation. A heated exchange ensued between Eliza and Clarence, culminating in Clarence storming out in frustration. Ivy counseled Eliza to soften her stance, reminding her of the small team they had. Eliza relented and agreed to reconcile with Clarence, whom she subsequently apologized to. He, in turn, revealed that Nash employed a network of paid informants, including girls from various London brothels. Clarence disclosed the location of the hidden safe, where Eliza could uncover details about these informants.
Eliza sought out Athena, an employee at The Temple of Elysium. Athena revealed that the earlier description of the gunman was a fabrication; he was actually tall with brown hair and eyes. They had been instructed to mislead the police. Furthermore, Madam Hera was an alias, and Athena hinted that crossing her could be perilous, citing the fate of Dimitrie, the dismissed watchman who had learned this truth.
Eliza then visited Solomon’s Emporium but discovered that he had returned to Jamaica for a family visit. She turned to Gabriel for assistance in locating Dimitrie, and after some persuasion, managed to convince him to aid her. As Eliza stepped outdoors, Basil Sinclaire confronted her, grumbling about her choice to engage Godfrey instead of him. Eliza accused him of printing falsehoods before, and Basil warned that he would pen an article exposing the investigation agency's impending collapse, blaming the lady detective for it.
Eliza approached William with something on her mind. She confessed to hiring actors to pose as investigators. Both vented their work frustrations, leading William to abruptly leave. Fitzroy encountered Eliza as she was about to depart and she expressed her desire to share information about the robbery with him. She imparted her knowledge and inquired about William, who Oliver expressed concern for. Eliza offered her help in exchange for Oliver sharing his findings, to which he reluctantly agreed, suggesting they could leave the file for her to peruse discreetly.
Eliza rushes to the hospital to visit Delaware after uncovering his true identity. Unfortunately, her boss catches her in the act, mistaking her for a novice nurse. Upon discovering her true profession as a private detective, the boss promptly has her removed from the premises. Meanwhile, Oliver approaches William with fresh insights into the Elysium case. Upon learning of Hera's deceit, William decides to confront her personally.
Elsewhere, Eliza learns that Ivy has departed to prepare dinner for Barnabus, only to receive an unwelcome court summons for unpaid rent. Clarence informs her that the watchman is currently occupying her office, prompting Dimitrie to reveal his harrowing tale of two decades spent enduring beatings and gunfire as a watchman. He confesses that Hera instructed him to mislead the police, adding that he neither witnessed the gunman's exit nor is there a rear entrance. Dimitrie hints at the existence of a clandestine passage upstairs, suggesting that the gunman might have escaped through a connecting door linking the brothel to an adjacent building that once housed an exclusive gentlemen's club.
Intrigued, Eliza ventures into the building and encounters the three sons of Titan. She locates the mysterious door and, upon inspecting the brothel, discovers a bullet hole. Concurrently, Hera informs William that all stolen items have been returned, ostensibly left in a box outside that morning. She insists that by returning the items, the case can be closed. However, William insists on taking both the evidence and Hera back to the station, to which Hera refuses.
Returning to the old gentlemen's club, Eliza uncovers what appears to be a bullet fragment embedded in the floor. She rushes to William, confident in her knowledge of the gunman's identity. Presenting him with the bullet fragment and the minister's pants, Eliza reveals that a piece of fabric attached to the bullet matches the hole in Delaware's pants. They confront Delaware, who denies staging the robbery but admits to facing financial woes. He confesses that he needed the money to advance his political career, intending to plant the gunman's clothes and stolen goods in the adjacent room. Panicking upon hearing the watchman's screams, Delaware accidentally discharged his handgun when he stumbled and fell. Desperate, he confided in Hera, who promised to dispose of the evidence.
Commissioner Fitzroy decrees that Minister Delaware must resign quietly. He insists that Hera should be spared because she possesses incriminating knowledge. However, William argues that the expansion project is causing severe strain and someone could get hurt. He proposes using this case as leverage to negotiate with the Home Office.
Commissioner issues a strict directive to William, commanding him to maintain an unwavering silence regarding the case at hand. However, in defiance of this order, William later confides in Eliza about the matter. She promptly expresses her contrition for having deceived him earlier. During her attempt to lead Nash's men, Eliza encountered resistance, being perceived merely as a pushy female. William, however, perceives her as steadfast in her purpose, holding unwavering faith in her ability to navigate through any obstacle, just as she has done countless times before. She gently reminds him of their monthly tradition of dining together on the final Wednesday of each month.
Upon William's departure, Ivy reveals to Eliza an intriguing discovery from the files, but it pertains not to the gunman but to an entirely different individual. Determined to address the matter, Eliza confronts Clarence, acknowledging the reason behind his continued presence. His background reveals him as an accountant for three notorious criminal syndicates, who also served time for tax evasion. Clarence admits that Nash hired him when he was deserted by others. Accepting his past, Eliza grants him permission to stay, acknowledging their shared imperfections. Clarence responds by noting their mutual reliance, quipping that they're "stuck with each other." With unwavering conviction, Eliza asserts their potential to turn the agency into a thriving success. Additionally, Clarence shares an intriguing revelation from Athena's recent visit for her fee.
Meanwhile, Eliza engages Basil, who eagerly attempts to showcase his newly penned story. However, Eliza informs him that the article will never see the light of day, as she is aware of his association with Athena. Strategically, William has logged it as evidence, allowing Eliza to leverage it against him if needed. With decisive action, Eliza destroys the article before departing the scene.
