[Phryne reads an invitation.]
A luncheon. Today. With Lydia Andrews. How lovely! …oh. And Aunt Prudence.
EMDr. Elizabeth "Mac" McMillan
Shame I have to perform an urgent bowel operation.
S1 E1Cocaine Blues
[Phryne has snuck into the crime scene, a bathroom. Jack knocks on the door.]
This lavatory’s fully occupied.
Police, open up.
[Phryne takes the time to reapply her lipstick before opening the door.]
You must be the inspector. Apologies for my urgent call of nature.
This is the scene of a crime.
Well, lucky for you, I’m wearing gloves. Miss Phryne Fisher.
I assume you weren’t close to the deceased.
Never had the pleasure, but by all accounts he was charming. [To Hugh.] Do you think it was poison?
Most likely—
[Talking over the top of Hugh.] We are yet to determine the cause of death. Miss Fisher, I appreciate your curiosity for crime. [He starts to walk her backwards towards the door.]
Well, every lady needs a hobby.
But please…
[Phryne ducks under Jack’s arm back into the bathroom.]
Given the lack of bloodstains, I assume it wasn’t a violent death, unless, of course, it was strangulation. But the foetal position of the victim, although not terribly well executed, indicated a degree of pain rather than the flailing limbs one might associate with a struggle. And then, of course, there’s the fact that death occurred after breakfast, according to Mrs Andrews, which suggests something ingested? All wild surmise, of course.
Of course. Now—
Do you have a card? In case I need to call the police. Because I’m a woman alone, newly arrived in a dangerous town.
I plan to make this town less dangerous, Miss Fisher. [He hands over a card.]
Good. I do like a man with a plan…Detective Inspector Jack Robinson. [She looks him up and down before smiling and walking out.]
I wish I could change the laws for you, Miss Fisher.
You can’t? Fine. I’ll just have to find a way around them. Good day, Inspector.
[Off to solve the case, Phryne bids her aunt goodnight.]
Good night, Aunt Prudence.
At this hour? It's not safe! Why do you think you can just run off on your own?
Because I’m carrying a gun. [She pulls out her pistol.]
Phryne!
Get away from that girl, both of you. Hands toward heaven!
[The man stares at her blankly.]
Up, you idiot.
BJBert Johnson
[Bursting into Jack’s office.] Miss Fisher needs you down at the Turkish baths on Little Lonsdale.
I hope she’s comfortable. She could be waiting a long time.
DWDorothy "Dot" Williams
Miss, about the job? I don't know what my priest will think of your…guns and knives and…dancing.
Considering your last employers were a drug baroness and a rapist? Surely he'd find me a modest improvement.
Now, raise a glass to my new business.
What kind of business?
To my oldest friend’s newest enterprise: the Honourable Miss Fisher, lady detective.
[Jack chokes on his champagne.]
S1 E2Murder on the Ballarat Train
[Phryne spots a young man on the platform.]
The scenery has vastly improved, Dot, and we haven’t even left the station.
I haven’t worked for a spinster before.
BBert
Spinster? Have you met Miss Fisher?
I understand she’s related to the king. Mrs Butler would have loved that.
BBert
She’s certainly a toff.
Well, it will be a pleasure to serve a respectable lady with a strict routine who appreciates the quiet life.
[Cec spits out his drink.]
Constable Collins, how lovely. Tell the inspector I’ll be right with him.
Uh, the inspector’s not here, Miss.
But he thought it important enough to send you?
Only to tell you, in his words, “to stay in your compartment, to please resist the temptation to interfere, and to not bandy about his name for your own convenience.”
Well, you can assure the inspector that none of this is very convenient.
So, if the compartment was locked, how did you get in?
I hit the lock with me shoe.
Your shoe seems to have the ballistic capabilities of a .38 revolver.
Fancy that.
Hmm. [He opens the compartment door and indicates for Phryne to enter.]
So you’re letting me in?
It’s either that or watch you hound me through the door.
They say the top speed’s 85 miles an hour, but I’m sure we can do better than that! [She drives off.]
Constable, is it possible Miss Fisher has just kidnapped the victim’s daughter and one of our suspects?
It is now, sir.
And you must be Mr Butler!
Pleased to meet you, Miss Fisher.
Oh, sorry, I forgot to telephone ahead about my extra guests. We’ve all been somewhat distracted by Eunice’s mother’s murder.
A murder, miss?
I do hope they chloroformed her first, but hanging’s never pleasant. [Jane walks past.] Keep your eye on this one. She’s a stowaway, a thief, and probably needs delousing. I expect the police will come looking for her, but you can just refer them to me. [She starts to walk inside, before turning back.] Oh, and while I remember, careful with the hand luggage. My pistol’s in there somewhere and it may still be loaded.
Of course, Miss. [He looks up at Bert and Cec who are on the balcony.] Appreciate the warning.
The inspector is expecting you at the station in the morning to explain why you abducted a juvenile.
Well, I’m sure I’ll have a very good answer by then.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.