A Scandal in Britannia

Mysteries abound! As a storm gathers, tensions rise in Loam Hall and nefarious plots unfurl.

### Overall

8
2
113

### Runtime

2:24:01

TRANSCRIPT

## Episode Guide

### Next

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night
A Time for Clues

**A Scandal in Britannia** is the second episode of season 8, Mice & Murder.

## Recap

> "*Gang, last we left off our animal investigators. They were at Loam Hall having just heard the announcement of an enormous tithe to the Vicar Ian Prescott's church from Squire Badger himself. That's right--William Thornwell Brockhollow the Squire of Loam Hall giving a huge amount of money following some ghastly business with the death of Connor McCabbage, a worker at his textile mill.*"
>
>
>

> "*We saw the return of the fee from Sylvester Cross world-renowned gentleman detective, handed over by his body person. The incredible Sergeant Lars Vandenchomp. We also had a recognition, a little bit of a meeting of some criminal enterprises between Buckster $ Boyd and Gangie Green, exchanging a list of names of the graves that had been robbed and the cadavers collected by the criminal Gangie.*"
>
>
>

> "*We ended on a look shared between Buckster's right-hand woman, the fabulous Daisy D'umpstaire, and Sylvester Cross across the ballroom here at the 60th birthday celebration of the Squire. However, I do not invite you yet to return to those halls of high society and the business to be tended to, between Buckster and Badger, between Vicar and the townsfolk of his parish, nor indeed between Sylvester and the halls where he could not crack his only uncracked case. No, instead, I invite you to a locomotive surging through the Alps.*"
>
>
>

> "*Many years before - I invite you 12 years prior to a as yet uninjured 43 year old Sylvester Cross. Debonair and dashing - this train surges across huge expanses where the snowy caps of the Alps plummet away deep, we see little farmhouses where Swiss yodeling big horned sheep tend their little farm cottages as the sun sets and night descends on this mountain top train. Frost and snow ripping away from the cow catcher at the front of the train.*"
>
>
>

## Synopsis

In late 1893, hot on the trail of the lost diadem of the Chase family, Detective Sylvester Cross has a chance encounter with Daisy D'umpstaire on a train while both attempt to snatch the priceless piece from the jackal gangster Roscoe McCoy. Hidden cleverly behind a large newspaper and waiting for McCoy to meet with his London fence, Sylvester spots Daisy taking a seat across from him. She makes conversation before McCoy stands to leave, and manages to swipe the diadem off of him. However Sylvester watches her do this, and as she stows it away in her purse, he manages to take it off of her without her noticing before returning to his car.

When Daisy does notice the diadem missing, she sniffs out the diadems location, and arrives at Sylvester's darkened car, not being able to intuit that he's inside. As she pops the lock on his car, she's greeted by the strike of a match, as Sylvester confronts her about taking the diadem. Daisy lies and says that she'd Virginia Chase, the rightful owner of the diadem, but is interrupted as Roscoe and his gang realize the diadem's missing. Sylvester hides Daisy in his suit case, but are eventually caught by McCoy when Daisy gives away her location. In a daring series of events, they managed to reclaim the diadem, and get rid of all of the goons after them.

Following this, Daisy introduced herself as an American Private Investigator working on the case of the Chase diadem, but for a common family close to the Chases. Together they discovered that all of it was a front for a caper being pulled by none other than Fletcher Cottonbottom, and the two began to travel all over together solving not only that case but many others. The two were caught up in a whirlwind romance, and fell deeply in love with one another.

On the day they were meant to be wed, Sylvester discovers the truth about Daisy while at her hotel room, which reveals all of the income that she'd been making from an unknown American businessman. He realizes that all of the information he had, given to grieving families, to Scotland Yard, to the Crown, she had in term been giving her powerful shadowy contacts. Looking closer, he could even find occasions where she planted things to protect the interests of people whose crimes might've otherwise come to light. Sylvester understands that for the first time in his life, he's been had, and that Daisy got the drop on him.

As Daisy rushes over to the hotel, and intercepts Sylvester, trying to convince him that she'd been duped, while he responds that that lie was the only one he can't believe. He stumbles over his words, saying that he had no heart to offer before he met her, and that he forgives her. Daisy is surprised, and is somewhat outraged that he would try and forgive her. She tells him that she isn't going to change for him, she'll still try to get ahead, and advises him to give her up. Sylvester intuits that not only is she advising him to give her, but that she's in a panic asking him to give up on her. Sylvester replies simply that he just can't. At a small chapel, Sylvester Cross stands alone at the altar with no waiting bride, and no one in attendance. As he returns home to 22B Hampstead Street, there's a deerstalker hat on the doorstop with a note signed, *- D*.

Back in 1905, Sylvester Cross, burdened with the return of these memories, downs his cocktail.

Daisy, trying to distract herself from seeing Sylvester, begins pursuing her newest con, which was to hopefully take advantaged of those in favor of spirits and magical forces for her own gain. Earlier when she'd asked about Catherine McCabbage, the widow, it had been for the purpose of pretending to speak with her husband in exchange for milking her for her money. At that moment, Lucretia Brockhollow and Lars Vandenchomp stride into the room, talking about a post-dinner séance. Mr. Gilfoyle introduces Daisy to Lucretia, who recognizes her as Mr. Boyd's "personal assistant", and she corrects her, stating that she's more his partner. Lars deduces that she has a fiery aura, and Daisy asks if they're trying to say she's an Aries. Lucreita asks if they have another cosmographer in their midst, and Daisy says that they indeed do. Lars is aware of Daisy, and especially her relationship to Sylvester, and though they want to stick close to Daisy, shoots Sylvester a look that says "Oh my God".

Sylvester has headed to the bar, where he's tended to by an otter bartender named Ollie Banks. He asks for something strong, and Ollie comments on his face looking longer than normal, and Sylvester confides in him that he hasn't been alright for some time, but doesn't want to bother him with his problems. As he's standing at the bar, Squire Brockhollow puts a strong paw on his back, and the two begin to make conversation. He warns Cross that he doesn't enjoy surprises, especially the stunt Sylvester pulled with returning his fee, and that he doesn't enjoy the disrespect his nose is being put through, to which Sylvester quips that perhaps he should move his nose. In a moment of intimidation, Squire Badger is sufficiently rattled, seeing that he has mistaken melancholy for weakness, but when Sylvester came back hard at him, he realizes that it's something he's not involved in. As Brockhollow backs off, Ollie hands Sylvester his drink, a bit embarrassed for having heard the conversation.

Across the room, Buckster $ Boyd and Vicar Ian Prescott both overhear the conversation. While Daisy was pursing Sylvester, she told Buckster bits and pieces, not knowing that he was aware of it the entire time. Buckster saddles up next to Sylvester at the bar, making a joke about "Irish friends", and Sylvester asked Ollie to "make an introduction". The two make quips to one another, and it's clear to Buckster that Sylvester is shaken, and that all of the juice in the tank was proverbially used to out-fox Squire Badger.

Buckster then leans in close to Sylvester, and surreptitiously says that as an oil baron, he's used to knowing where the bodies are buried, or in that particular case, are being dug up, and that most of the time, people like Sylvester are hired to point in the other direction, but perhaps a bit of bad publicity should point the other way. The two begin speaking in innuendo and metaphor, realizing that they can communicate whatever they want, and it will be completely incomprehensible to anyone but them.

Buckster communicates that he thinks Squire Badger is dirty, and is here to make bad publicity for him, and thinks that it might help Sylvester. Though Sylvester doesn't entirely like Buckster's ulterior motives, and his background as a Texas oil baron, however, he does believe that the enemy of his enemy is his friend. He agrees to help make bad publicity, as long as his hands stay clean, and Buckster assures him that he doesn't mind his hands getting dirty. The two clink their glasses, and finish up talking with pleasantries.

At the end of their conversation, Lawrence Longfoot says hello to both of them, and Buckster recognizes that they're very similar, having found a trash trade and gotten very rich doing so. He also can see that he's here for much the same reason Vicar Ian was invited, as if the Squire were trying to dig himself out of a hole. Longfoot and Buckster share a few warm words of mutual appreciation, before he asks to take a photo of them both. Sylvester agrees, saying that all press is good press, and Longfoot does qualify as all press. As he takes the photo, he tells Sylvester not to worry, and that they have something planned just for him.

In the kitchens, Gangie Green has sat down with some of the other staff with a bit of clotted cream and a warm drink. As some of the staff offer him stew and pleasantries, though he gives them little more than a shrug. Mr. Gilfoyle enters the room, alerting the room that dinner will be served in a half a hour, and that service will commence at precisely six o'clock on the dot. He turns to Gangie, asking him to stay in the servants quarters while in his manner of outdoor dress, to which Gangie agrees. While watching Mr. Gilfoyle leave, Gangie is intercepted by Mr. Ambrose Harding, who requests his presence on the landing of the second floor half past seven. Reluctantly, Gangie agrees.

Across the hall, walking towards the Drawing Room, Vicar Ian intercepts Squire Badger, who is talking with Lady Tabitha and Lady Calliope Fawnbrooke, and Colonel James Hawkins. Squire Brockhollow thanks the Vicar for his attendance, and that his presence means the world. Vicar Ian admits that he was not expecting to fall into such fortune, but that the Lord has been good. The Squire apologizes for not communicating beforehand that a donation of that size would be donated, but that he didn't want to make it seem like it was selfish, and instead from a place of true altruism. However, the Vicar responds in a way that open appears to question the Squire's motives. The Squire responds by saying that of course he gave it altruistically, as one who has been blessed by the Lord should return the blessing in return to those less fortunate. He asserts that that's at least what the Vicar's been preaching, unless he's been too busy recently writing to the London newspapers to do so. Vicar Ian notes that his pews have been empty of the Squire's attendance of recent, so he would excuse any of Brockhollow's ignorance over his actions due to his absence. He also says that those the Lord blessed have been endowed with more responsibility, and put them under a scope. The Squire apologizes for his absence, and agrees about responsibility, especially among nobility and the landed gentry. However, he says that when he made the tithe to the church, he had a long conversation with the Cardinal to ensure it fell into the right hands. He then reveals that he and the Cardinal agreed that the Vicar's gifts would be wasted at Tufting Meadows, and perhaps he would be better suited to bring the word to those who truly needed it, and that the Cardinal had mentioned Siberia.

Twenty minutes before dinner, Buckster was approached by Mr. Gilfoyle, who informs him that Squire Brockhollow is in the leisure wing, and though he should approach and asks how urgent their business was, and Buckster responds that he wishes to get it done with as soon as possible. Mr. Gilfoyle leads them to a new wing, where they enter a leisure room with a grand piano and pool table. Squire Brockhollow and Colonel Hawkins stand making conversation, along with Mr. Harding, and as he enters, Buckster calls him "Squire Badger", before realizing that he's made a faux "paw" in terms of British manners. Mr. Gilfoyle leaves, and the Squire asks Mr. Harding to escort Hawkins back to the main area of the party, leaving the two to talk. As Buckster asks about the death at the textile mill, he notices that the balls on the pool table have been knocked askew, not like a game was being played, but as if a child were knocking them around. The Squire confides in Buckster about his name being dragged through the mud, and Buckster says he's there to let him off the hook, as he'd hate for his own reputation to do more damage. He then tells the Squire that they're going to have to renegotiate their relationship, and in a coy way, insinuates that he doesn't want him to get in anymore "trouble". The Squire is outraged, asking how dare Buckster try and blackmail him. Buckster rephrases it, saying that in the states, they'd call it a "creative business model". Brockhollow flips a table in a fit of rage, yelling about how Buckster is just a common javalina, and that his status is nothing. It culminates in Brockhollow shoving Buckster over before hurrying out of the room in a shame-filled panic.

As he composes himself, Buckster spots a pair of mouse feet underneath a curtain. After they show themselves, they promise one another not to say a word about what they've seen.

In the Ballroom, Lucretia, Lars, and Daisy agree that an after dinner séance makes more sense, though Lucretia offers to show the room to them. Inside, it's a hodgepodge of occult artifacts, though Lars is a true believer, and Daisy is playing it up for show. Lucretia begins spouting out vague descriptions of visions coming as Daisy claims a ghost is near, and though she's a bit shaken by what Lucretia has to say she know it's not real. Daisy then inquires about her scheme to swindle grieving families of recently deceased out of money by "using Lucretia's gift", however Lucretia doesn't seem keen on communing with spirits for money. As Lucretia leaves in the swirl of her shawl, Daisy notices that an old portrait in the room appears to be bolted to the wall.

Lars and Daisy talk as they make their way to the Dining Room, and Lars asks what sort of mess Daisy is looking to do there, as they know about her relationship with Sylvester. As they make their way down, Lars tries to tempt Daisy with the garbage from the waste bin near them over the food. Daisy asks their intentions, and they respond that they're just trying to clear Sylvester's name. Daisy asks what they're even doing talking to her when she practically ruined Sylvester's life, and Lars says they couldn't have said it better themself.

At dinner, Lars immediately begins relaying everything that just happened to Sylvester.

Just before dinner service begins, Gangie overhears Mr. Gilfoyle and Mr. Harding talking about someone who they don't trust, but the Squire seems to, and Gangie assumes it's him. As Gangie leaves, he begins stealing silverware, and is intercepted by Mrs. Molesly, who not only helps him, but checks up on him, and offers to make him a sweater. She reminisces on practically raising the Squire, and tells Gangie that if anyone gives him trouble to tell her. Gangie then pulls a small dandelion from his pocket for her.

As dinner begins, Sylvester finds himself across the table from Daisy. Constance raises a toast to the table's good health, and everyone present drinks. Vicar Ian prays to an absent God about his situation, along with being visibly uncomfortable by everything Lucretia spouts. Buckster fills Daisy in on what happened with the Squire, and shares with her the list of names from Gangie. After silence between them, Daisy and Sylvester begin going back and forth at one another, though both find that it's like having glass cannons, armed to the teeth, but easy to hurt one another.

Dinner concluded, and Constance walks with Squire Badger into a private study. Mr. Harding then delivers to Buckster a legal document that the Squire had prepared. Buckster heads down the hall for some privacy while he reads, taking Daisy with him. Gangie waits for Harding, and watches Buckster and Daisy's interactions from the shadows.

The Vicar goes to speak with Lucretia, as it appears that God is ignoring him. Lucretia is more than happy to see the Vicar embracing mysticism, and begins grabbing all of the things she requires for rituals.

Sylvester and Lars step outside under the awning to get some rain, Sylvester smokes his pipe as Lucretia runs by saying, "if you see a ghost, you have to tell me." In that instant, a flash of lightning illuminates the area. Sylvester can clearly see standing on the dock, the familiar figure.

In the hall, Buckster and Daisy open the letter, where Buckster learns that Squire Brockhollow is selling his interest in BB Industries to Hazel Hogswallop, who is a small shareholder in the company. Buckster knowns Hazel as an ancient Texas heiress who isn't a concern most of the time, however, his addendum as one of his last acts as a 50% shareholder is her ability to sign over a proxy vote to Josiah Jackrabbit, one of Buckster's biggest competitors in the oil industry in Texas. He can tell that the ink is fresh, and can assume that it was written most likely after their interaction. Looking closer, Buckster can tell that this move is a desperate action, and that he wouldn't make any money on it. He thinks that Josiah would've only done this on a wish and prayer it would work, that that it must be someone else pushing Badger to do this.

Through one of the air vents, Gangie hears Constance Brockhollow shout, "Father, you're possessed! You're a man mad. This will never work! Speak of this to me never again!", before a door slams. At the top of the stairs, Mrs. Molesly intercepts Squire Brockhollow, asking him why he hadn't eaten anything at dinner, before he responds that he doesn't have time, before asking her to come with him.

Outside, there is the crash of lightning, and standing on the dock pale white, taking a hood off, Fletcher Cottonbottom looks up at Sylvester from the dock. In another flash, he's gone. From inside, there's a sudden crash before lightning strikes the tower at the top of the hill, there's a scream before something drops, and then silence.

Vicar Ian reacts first, leaving the séance room, and trying to gather everyone together to head towards the drawing room. Daisy then rushes towards the drawing room, while Gangie slinks past Buckster, down the hall into the next room. Buckster, immediately deeply frightened, tells Daisy he's right behind her, and then goes to hide. Lars asks Sylvester what they should do, and Sylvester can only repeat Cottonbottom's name before snapping to attention to get into the room.

The door to the study is flung open, and inside they can see Mrs. Molesly, her hands covered in blood, kneeling on the ground over Squire Badger's dead body. She sputters in terror, saying that she saw him digging in his own chest with the knife. Sylvester notices that objects in the room have been scattered everywhere.

Lucretia immediately dubs it a poltergeist, and all eyes turn to Sylvester, who promptly announces, "Lady Lucretia, I've seen a ghost."

## Locations

* Loam Hall
* The Séance Room
* The Ballroom
* The Kitchen
* The Dining Room
* The Leisure Room
* The Study
* The Drawing Room

## Characters

### The Sylvan Sleuths

* Gangie Green
* Vicar Ian Prescott
* Lars Vandenchomp
* Detective Sylvester Cross
* Buckster $ Boyd
* Daisy D'umpstaire

### New

* Ollie Banks
* John Sprout
* Tessa Teapot
* Alfred Honeyhatch
* Molly Milton and Millie Molton
* Maggie Banks
* Lady Tabitha Fawnbrook
* Colonel James Hawkins
* Edwina Thimble
* Carolyn Dickory
* Professor Simon Shellcrest
* Fletcher Cottonbottom (†) (seen)

### Returning

* William Thornwall Brockhollow
* Matilda Molesly
* Thomas Gilfoyle
* Lawrence Longfoot
* Lady Calliope Fawnbrook
* Constance Brockhollow
* Dr. Corbin Magpie (seen)
* Jeremy Brockhollow (seen)
* Osmond Sheffield (seen)

### Mentioned

* Virgina Chase (flashback)
* Boarwell Boyd (†)
* The Cardinal
* Gangie's List of Names
* Hazel Hogswollop
* Josiah Jackrabbit

## Trivia

* This episode's title is a reference to "A Scandal in Bohemia", the Sherlock Holmes story in which the detective encounters Irene Adler, the only woman who's ever outsmarted him. Although he only admires her platonically for her cleverness and wit in the original story, she is often represented in popular media as his love interest.