War on Terror

"War on Terror"
Season	5
Episode	4
Airdate	June 26, 2012
Writer	Peter Mitchell
Director	Laurie Lynd
Previous	"Evil Eye of Egypt"
Next	"Murdoch at the Opera"

"War on Terror" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the Murdoch Mysteries and the fifty-sixth episode of the series.

Summary

Constables Crabtree and Higgins are doing their usual patrol routes when they stop to use the police telephone. Then suddenly, an explosion goes off nearby at carpet shop, injuring Crabtree and knocking Higgins unconscious. As the fire department and constabulary arrive, the owner of the shop, Peter Milne asks what's going on. Brackenreid explains what just happened, especially with two of his constables being injured. Milne criticizes them for failing to prevent this, incensing Brackenreid, who advised him to be silent and orders him to get off the street. Murdoch then calls him, announcing that he had found an incendiary device in the shop.

Murdoch and Crabtree then begin interviewing Milne and his landlord Michael Decker separately. Milne admits that he's not a popular man. Decker suggests that the perpetrator might be Angus Trout, who used to own the nearby boarded-up shop. Trout had the misfortune of being in the same trade as Milne, who drove him out of business, forcing him to sell his inventory for pennies on the dollar. Trout became an alcoholic and regularly comes by to hector Milne.

Murdoch and Crabtree visit Trout to bring him in for questioning. Unfortunately, the man is drunk and makes several rude comments that infuriate Crabtree. As they bring him into Station House Four, a group of journalists mistake Trout for the culprit. Trout claims that the man they should blame is Milne, before he is brought inside and the reporters sent off. Murdoch tells Crabtree to put Trout in the interview room and to post a guard. Suddenly, he hears a familiar voice, Agent Terrence Meyers, who asks if Trout had confessed or named any co-conspirators. Knowing that Meyers must be here on important government business, Murdoch asks how his case is related. Meyers claims that the bombing was perpetrated by anarchists.

Taking the discussion to Brackenreid's office, Murdoch tells Meyers that he'll need a lot more convincing to believe that Toronto is under attack by terrorists. Meyers explains that the Canadian government is in talks with the Americans over a visit to Canada by President William McKinley. Murdoch asks how this relates to the bombing. Meyers explains that the Americans aren't convinced that Canadian standards over law and order don't exactly meet theirs. Brackenreid takes offense, stating that the Americans can't judge Canada whereas they were the ones who went to war with themselves. Meyers states that if they want this visit to happen, they must remain vigilant. Though Brackenreid insists they are vigilant, Meyers asks if they are keeping tabs on Emma Goldman, whom Murdoch explains is a known American anarchist and labor organizer. Meyers believes that Emma and her associates were the perpetrators, the bombing being a statement against capitalism. Murdoch asks if Emma or anyone had taken responsibility for the bombing. Meyers avoids the question, stating that their prime minister believes the anarchists to be a threat to their society.

Murdoch then questions a now sober Trout, who says that he loves his country. The detective believes him, given how devoted he is to the bottle. Trout defends that Milne destroyed his business and his marriage, so drinking his woes away is all he has left. However, he did spot Albert Wallace, a man formerly in Milne's employ, at the time of the bombing.

Brackenreid remarks that the anarchists sound like Marxists, to which Murdoch notes that their philosophies are similar. The inspector refutes his point, stating that Socrates did not go around bombing, and if he had his way he'd arrest them all. He then asks his friend if Meyers had a point. Murdoch admits that the bomb and its components are similar to the one used in the Haymarket attack in Chicago in May 4, 1886. Brackenreid notes that eight coppers died that day, and he considers them brother-in-arms despite their lineage. He warns Murdoch to stick close to Meyers, despite the fact that he's involved himself in their investigation, he doesn't want him to mess things up.

Murdoch later questions Wallace, asking how he felt about Milne. Wallace explains that Milne refused to pay his wages and fired him when he spoke out, though he wouldn't be the first. Murdoch then questions him about anarchism. Wallace laughs this off, claiming that society cannot function without some measure of control. He then claims responsibility for the bombing, claiming it to be the start of the Workers' Revolution, though Murdoch is skeptical and inquiries on how the bomb was built, where it was placed and the method of detonation. Wallace's resistance then begins to falter.

As Murdoch exits the Interview Room, he is accosted by Chief Constable Giles, who demands to know why he argued Wallace out of his guilt when he had confessed. Murdoch says that Wallace confessed falsely and shows Giles his record. Wallace had been arrested several times; he's an attention seeker, trying to become a martyr. Giles then says that as Wallace had impeded the investigation, he shall be charged with obstruction of justice. Murdoch remarks that the Chief Constable is twisting the law to indict an innocent man. Giles warns him to tread lightly when dealing with him. He then stated that Emma Goldman is hosting a rally in the afternoon and he wants her arrested at the slightest provocation. As Murdoch turns away, Giles reminds him that Higgins is still in the hospital and express hope that his colleagues will bring the people responsible to justice. Murdoch retorts that they must be sure that the people they arrest are actually guilty.

Meyers later interrupts Murdoch while he's having a cup of tea, explaining that Emma's rally is the opportunity they need. He and Murdoch change into ruffer looking clothes so they can infiltrate the Toronto anarchist faction. However, Murdoch tells Crabtree to investigate on an another avenue in case Meyers' suspicions are wrong.

Trivia

• Nobody actually dies in this episode.

Errors

• The telephone handset Constable Crabtree uses at the police box wasn't widely produced until the 1930s.
• When Constable Crabtree and Dr. Grace converse behind a vegetable barrow, the bunches of green onions topping the display are fastened with contemporary thin, blue rubber bands instead of twine.
• The phrase "War on Terror" was not coined until more than 100 years after the time of this show. In 1984, the Reagan Administration first used the phrase "war against terrorism." But the actual phrase "War on Terror" was first used by U.S. President George W Bush on 20 September 2001.

Cast 

Main Cast 

Yannick Bisson as William Murdoch
Hélène Joy as Julia Ogden
Thomas Craig as Thomas Brackenreid
Jonny Harris as George Crabtree
Georgina Reilly as Emily Grace

Gallery

Brackenreid With Giles

Murdoch Mysteries Season 5

"Murdoch of the Klondike" • "Back and to the Left" • "Evil Eye of Egypt" • "War on Terror" • "Murdoch at the Opera" • "Who Killed the Electric Carriage?" • "Stroll on the Wild Side (Part 1)" • "Stroll on the Wild Side (Part 2)" • "Invention Convention" • "Staircase to Heaven" • "Murdoch in Toyland" • "Murdoch Night in Canada" • "Twentieth Century Murdoch" Web-Series: The Murdoch Effect Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 6 • Season 7• Season 8 • Season 9 • Season 10