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Torn is the 21st case of the fourth season of the series, the 90th overall and is one of the oldest and historical cases that the homicide team will try to resolve.
Description[]
Lilly and the squad take on their oldest case yet, when they're asked to look into the case of a young woman who was killed in her parents' home in 1919. They discover she'd become involved in the suffragettes' movement, campaigning for votes for women, which put her at odds with the rest of her family. Meanwhile, Lilly finds out that her mother's latest marriage has failed and she's resumed drinking.
Synopsis[]
Flashback to June 9, 1919:
Frances Stone, her parents Elizabeth and Ambrose Stone, and her fiancé, Lawrence Wakeley, are walking down a busy street. The two gentleman discussing about the brewing business and the threat of the "teetotalers". Meanwhile, Elizabeth makes conversation with her daughter about the new gramophone. When Frances remarks on her father's claim that fighting Prohibition is worth going to war for, he shuts her down for eavesdropping, dismissing her as a "filly", and his father continues to ask Lawrence about his supposed to be wife's "spirit" and ignore her protests that she is still in the vicinity. Elizabeth tries to defuse the argument and suggests they see Mary Pickford's new picture, but Ambrose declines, claiming he and Lawrence have had enough "female histronics". When they both gone on separate ways, Elizabeth briefly lectures Frances on her decorum. They see Alice B. Harris, leading a group of women carrying a placard and a banner saying Voting Rights for Women, Amend the constitution now. Alice offers some pamphlets to the passerby, but they ignored her, except Frances who accepts it, only then a group of men threw a tomato to Alice's wardrobe and shouts that all women must stay in the kitchen, not "rabble-rousing in the street". Alice retorts back at them that they're the rabble-rousers. Frances was impressed with her determination when Elizabeth grabs her daughter away and orders her not to speak with them. Frances told her mother that they're brave, but Elizabeth refuses to listen and contradicts that they're just a nuisance. She continues to walk away while Frances looks back at the women, determined to know more about them.
However, one evening of June 23, 1919, Frances is lying down in the ground floor of her house, dead. The police who investigates at the scene that believed that she fell off the staircase b6 accident. Later at the old police station, an officer writes in Frances' file that the cause of her death was murder. However, what caused this horrible scene and what really happened the night she was found dead remained unsolved, as no one was home at that time except the servants.
Back to present day
A college student named Emma Stone pay a visit to the homicide team's office looking for Det. Rush. Her professor, Janice Warner, addressed her that she may help her as she claimed that she was the only female homicide detective in the group. However, Rush dejected it and mentioned that they're two now as Miller approaches them. Emma didn't waste time as she wants Rush to solve the murder of her great-great-aunt Frances, having brought some heirlooms and a historical book featuring the Stone's family house from her recently deceased Grammy Stone. The detectives are overwhelmed about the Stone's wealth, but Emma reveals that it's all gone due to prohibition. She found a letter inside Frances' locket and gives it to Rush. It's addressed to a mysterious person named "Phil" and says no one must find out about their "secret passion". The 19-year-old student thought that the letter was somehow relatively intimate, and the detectives deducted that maybe it was the reason why Frances was assumed being killed since she was supposed to marry Lawrence, the man whose picture is in the locket with hers but broke off the engagement shortly before her death. The team has doubts about solving the case since no solid evidence and other connection was presented for murder to prove it, especially that all the probable suspects are also passed away now. However, Emma is determined to know what really happened to her great-great aunt since it haunted her grandma before she died a week prior and she wishes for a closure, for her late grandmother's sake. Then, Rush and the team finally accepted the job and tells her team that they'll be solving their oldest case yet and a record-breaker since the crime took place 88 years ago, and as the team asks "What are they waiting for?" Rush replies, "Let's break out the ice peaks" assuring Emma that they will try to track back the case.
Rush, Valens, and Lt. Stillman reopen Frances Stone's case, checking out some possible evidence and documents that were archived for a long time. Rush reads an old newspaper article about Lawrence and Frances' engagement. A woman in a maid uniform can also be seen in the image as Lilly hold on to the old photograph.
Flashback as the scene closed up to the still images on the newspaper - At a garden party, Lawrence gifts Frances the locket, which she likes. He then pulls out a ring, asking her to marry him. Frances is at a loss for words, and Lawrence encourages her to say yes. Frances plans to attend Vassar and is not sure if she wants to be a wife and mother, instead aspiring to write and be able to travel the world. Lawrence insists she should be happy, and points out that her father has already given his blessing. Frances realizes her opinion doesn't matter. Just then, the maid comes, saying both their parents are asking if they have any news to share. After a moment, Frances says yes and accepts Lawrence's proposal. A photographer takes a picture of her, Lawrence, and her parents for the newspaper.
Present as the scene cuts out the film back to the newspaper - Lilly reads the maid's name is Philippa Abruzzi, a.k.a. Phil, which Frances' letter was addressed to. From there, it was clearly having a big secret that Frances and Phil were hiding. As the case now progresses again, Lilly gets a call at that moment from the police officer, and tells Stillman that she needs to leave for a while.
Later, Lilly goes to jail where her mother is being detained. As always, Ellen is drunk and told Lilly to go away, not wanting her to see the former in a situation like that. She reminds her it's not the first time, and Ellen revealed that her new husband left her 5 months ago. Lilly asks for a squad car to escort Ellen off back to her home and told her that she'll come by later to visit her again. As Ellen walks off with the officer, she smugged and replied "don't bother."
Back at the station, Jeffries and Miller talk to Audrey Abruzzi, Philippa's daughter and 95-years-old now, who's happy to be going out elsewhere, other than staying on a retirement home, telling them as well that they does doing her a favor. They ask her about her mother's employment and her relationship with the Stone family, especially Frances. Audrey revealed that they lived at their mansion for over 10 years, until the family decided to lay off all of their servants, including her mother due to prohibition. As for Frances, she mentioned that she and her mother were like sisters, and she also taught her mother to read, something uncommon for women at the time due to different classes of their lifestyle. The detectives ask if it's possible that they could've been lovers and having an intimate affair, but Audrey denied it, though wishing that they should've since she jokingly said that her mother had a terrible taste when it comes to choosing a right husband. When Miller mentioned about the note, Audrey revealed that her mother and Frances indeed have a secret, but it wasn't sexually related.
Flashback as the rolling film projects - Audrey plays in the kitchen with her mother and shortly later, Frances came in, and the then 7-year-old Audrey asks if she'll read her a book later, which Frances agreed but asks to speak to her mother first. Audrey asks if it's about her mother's black eye, which her daddy gave to her, Philippa cuts her off and quickly told her to go upstairs. Audrey left but hides and watches from the doorway as the two are discussing about Philippa's husband abusing her. She admitted to her that he did, because he caught her reading the suffragette pamphlet. Frances told Phil about her earlier encounter with them, and both marvel at the women's refusal to back down. The latter suggest that they should go to a meeting, but Phil is worried about her husband, catching to her up again, but Frances assured her if he comes to the meeting, the suffragettes will "string him up." Phil states that women should have the right to vote so they can pass laws to punish men for beating their wives, and Frances muses that Audrey could become a lawyer someday, putting those "jacka**es" away.
Present as the film roll projection cuts off - Jeffries and Miller later on realized that the two women's secret was actually political, and knowing that both of them were actually suffragettes. Miller noted that open up a whole new list of suspects, mainly those who didn't want the 19th amendment to be passed. Audrey also revealed that Frances' father, Ambrose, was possibly one of them, because for him and the other who opposed by the movement, women were the driving force behind prohibition being passed soon, which is what led to the Stone family being ruined.
Vera and Rush pays a visit to Emma's deceased grandma's home, looking for some possible clues that her grandma might left for them. Vera admires a gramophone with a Sophie Tucker vinyl record inside it, and started to play the song thru the old gramophone, which Emma addressed it as her great-great-grandmother; Elizabeth's, favorite singer and songs. Rush found Frances' diary, and reads it aloud started on the entry from June 14, 1919, showing that Frances wasn't thrilled about her engagement to Lawrence. The next entry is June 15, which Frances described in her note that she was like Alice, entering the wonderland, as she and Philippa attended their very first suffragette meeting. She also noted that upon entering that meeting, she felt like that all of her opinions and ideas are all appreciated and patronized to them now.
Flashback as the film roll projects - Philippa and Frances' did entered the suffragette headquarters called them as "Woman Suffrage Association", and from there, they both saw all of the members, including the leader of the group, Alice B. Harris, whom she met the other day. As they entered, Alice suddenly points and asked her if she had any ideas on how the undecided people will influenced them and rule for their favor. Since she and her friend arrived late, she doesn't have any ideas to gave to them until she repeats the same question. From there, Frances responded that they should pick at their houses, not till they know who are they. Upon hearing this, Alice admires her determination with that response, and asked why did she came over at their meeting. The latter responded that upon meeting her up for the first time, she did admire her courage, facing off the men despite their rough-housing them earlier. Alice asked her once more if she was ready for the consequences that she will experience, once she joined them, and Frances reluctantly answered that she'll think she's ready for it. Their conversation was cut short upon Elizabeth's intrusion and fetching off Frances and Philippa outside of their headquarters, and even threatened the maid that she may be looking for another job if Frances' didn't complied with her. Having worrying about her friends well-being, she don't have a choice but to follow her outside, and as they left, Alice smugged Elizabeth, who addressed them as "ladies", and talks back at her that they're not, instead they were suffragettes. As they left, Elizabeth warns Frances that her rebellion must be ended and dragged Frances away, while Philippa follows them.
Present as the film roll projection was cut - Rush finished reading the diary, and from there, Emma realized that she doesn't, nor her grandma have any idea that there is an ongoing civil war between her great-great family, deducting that Ambrose didn't know about this at first yet, instead it was between Frances and her own mother, as Elizabeth doesn't easily back down based on Frances description to her mother on the diary. The detectives later on left the area, bringing up some other evidence they collected at Grammy Stone's old home.
At the station, Lt. Stillman observing the knitted "Domestic Angels" portrait (meaning perfect woman), as the case progresses they read a note about the "Philadelphia Section of Woman Suffrage Association" first meeting held at Alice's house, as Valens reading the note, Stillman noticed a handwritten sub-note on the back part, it was from Elizabeth. She must taking some pointers on how she will deal with her own daughter, as Scotty reads out the talking points..
Flashback as the film roll projects - Elizabeth was knitting and listening to her favorite Sophie Tucker songs, Frances entered the room and she confronted her mother about what happened earlier during the suffragette meeting. She also asked how did she knew that she will be going there, and Elizabeth responded noddingly, pointing out the pamphlet that she found on her room, with a sub-note written on the back part. She learned that her fiancé told Elizabeth about having second thoughts on her marriage, which Frances getting annoyed with that situation. Frances also asked her mother why does the men had the right to vote, while they're not? Her mother replied that politics is a dirty business and all women must kept their hands clean out of that situation. When Frances told her mother that Philippa was being abused by her own husband again, her mother doesn't bother about it and instead shrugged off it. She continues to torment her mother as well by asking why she doesn't even bother about men controlling all the women as they pleased, but her mother defended it as if the woman had the right to vote and the law amended, the television will be enacted and their family will be ruined for that. Frances doesn't bother on that and instead she does want to accomplished something on her own accord, but her mother kept on guilt tripping her and pleaded to become a spy for them and secretly betrayed the suffragette association just to save their family's impending fall.
Present as film roll cuts again - On that note, the detectives addressed that Elizabeth made a guilt trip on her own daughter and possibly, Frances agreed to her plea, to betray the suffragette group; making Alice and the entire suffragette members a probable suspects to her murder as they noted that those woman weren't fooling around. Meanwhile the next morning, Rush paid a visit to her mom's apartment, only to find out that she must be drunk again the entire evening. She started to rummage her fridge as she found more vodka bottles inside it, and Rush dumps them to the trash, replacing them with something to eat, telling her that she must stop drinking and start eating something and her A.A. meetings again. Her mother tried reasoning with her, but Rush is out of rage as she keeps dusting off her trash stuffs into a paper bag and keeps scolding her mother, reminding her as well that she always cleans her mess up since she was a kid. The two continued arguing until Ellen assured her daughter that she will changed and promised to try to stop drinking and trying to change her life again, then hugs her, though Lilly seemed disgust about this, as it seemed that she is no longer believing her that she will entirely turn her life around again.
Later on, Rush and Jeffries meet up with Woman's Study Professor, Janice Warner, a 48-year-old professor, admiring Rush for her dedication and hard work, still addressing her as the best female homicide detective while Vera seems getting annoyed with that recognition. The team asked Warner about one of her student (which is Emma Stone) requesting for the deep investigation of her ancestor's case and Warner gladly welcomed them and asked if she can help with anything that might solve Frances Stone's murder case. Vera asked her about her suffragette expertise related to Alice B. Harris, revealing that she indeed wrote a thesis about her. The detectives revealed that Alice might be responsible for Frances death as they revealed that the latter became a spy on their group and might learned upon this which cause her death, but Professor Warner denies such allegations, and told them that Frances wasn't really betrayed them as she had the honor of interviewing her before she passed away. She shown the pre-recorded statement of Alice to the detectives and tried to dig down more information about it, as Rush and Vera listened to her recorded statement, Alice stated that there is one woman who she'd thought she was the face of their movement, all heart and all kind..
Flashback film roll projects - The suffragette gathered around and cutting out some letters for the placards for their seemed to be protest rally. Alice asks where is Philippa, Frances replied but didn't continue as she worried about something. She excused herself and went to the kitchen to drink some water and from there, Alice revealed that she knew about her father's involvement to denying suffrage rights for women. When Frances asked her why she does allowed her still on their group, she simply answered that she fully trusted her, and she reminds her of herself not so long ago. As they are continuing their conversation, the police entered the house without any permission, ordering all the members of the suffragette to be arrested. Frances assured that she didn't call the authorities about that, but Alice dejected her, as she knew it was really coming. She confronted the arresting officer and telling them that someone reported them for an illegal activity, operating a pordelo. The police threatened the group that they will be all charged with prostitution if they kept resisting arrest. As Alice and the other suffragette was caught, Alice turns back at Frances, and reminded her about the consequences, and Frances was ready for it as all of them are arrested.
Present as the film roll projection cuts - Professor Warner told the detectives that if the woman of today knew about the past history of those women had to go through, they wouldn't take the vote for granted. Vera reminded that no reported of arrest was made for Frances upon her death, but Warner finds it out odd as it was clearly documented; as it was dated June 23rd, 1919, the day that Frances found dead at their own home. Back at the station, Jeffries and Valens are eating some desert, but keep on investigating about incarceration of the entire suffragette group way back June 23rd, 1919, at 5:37 PM, and was dropped their charges three days later. At 6:23 PM, it was recorded that one of the jailers escorted Smith and Jones to the cell prison, where Frances was detained.
Flashback - Lawrence paid a visit to the jail cell where Frances was held up, he assured that she will be freed and all of the "silliness" will be over soon enough, which makes Frances grown agitated on this. She later dropped off and told him that she will no longer married to him, removed their engagement ring and surrendered it back to him as she told him more that she wants more for her life. Upon hearing this, Lawrence left her and told France's father that he tried reasoning with her and he left sadly. Ambrose tried to confront France's to give up to her so-called cause, but Frances stood still, not giving up to her desire to finally reached their goals. However because of this, her father fully stripped her off, disowning her, and telling her that she was dead to him and to her mother. He revealed that Philippa told them about everything she knows, even her involvement with the suffragettes. When her father almost left, she stopped him.
Present - The detectives learned that Ambrose bailed out his daughter that night before she was found death, and the detectives theorized that Frances confronted Philippa that night and possibly she was somehow deemed responsible for her death. Shortly after, Mrs. Abruzzi called back at the station and detectives told her that her mother might possibly killed Frances that evening. Audrey again, dropping the accusations and keep telling them that her mother was a good woman, and not even laying a bad finger on her own friend. However, upon hearing about her mom tipping off the police back then, she blamed herself, though she was only 7 at that time, as she revealed that her mom was defenseless.
Flashback - Upon being freed up in detention cell, Frances confronted Phil about what she had done and even retorting her out that she betrayed them for money. But Phil reasoned out that it wasn't about the money on why did she forced to betray the suffragette, instead, it was because her husband threatened her that he will take away everything out to Philippa, even their own daughter, and might possibly not to see her again. Upon hearing her reason, Frances became sympathetic to her, but kept on holding for her hopes up that their goal will soon be reached out. When she left, Phil asks on where she would be going, she replied to her that she will be going back to the prison again, trying to free Alice and the other members of the group. Phil worried about this, but Frances is now willing to go back inside the jail cell again, rather than staying inside their home and force to let men take over their freedom again. She tried to go with her, but Frances decided to let her friend stays as young Audrey needs her. Upon their separation, a song from Sophie Tucker will be heard at the background.
Present - Mrs. Abruzzi revealed that her mother did what she had to do, for her own sake and safety, while she addressed Frances that she had to do what be might good for all of the women back then. At this point, the team deducted and cracked out the mystery that someone stopped her down before she had the chance, the only person at that home, listening to Sophie Tucker song. As the case almost concluded, Valens and Rush meet up again with Emma as they revealed to her that at the night of Frances' death, no one was home, except the servants as the police report says, but there is a song in the background that night, as if someone was listening to it, like always... Elizabeth Stone. Emma added that when the time that her great-great-aunt died, Elizabeth became a recluse, shutting herself inside the room. Upon Valens inspection, he found a vinyl record, seems different from the usual song contained to it, as it was marked as "Marker Street: Recording Studio" pinpointing that Elizabeth might recorded her statements there. The record was dated August 18, 1920. Upon hearing that date, Emma revealed that it was the day that the 19th amendment was officially ratified and finally giving all the woman in the U.S. the suffrage that they've been fighting for. The detectives loaded the said vinyl record and play it on a gramophone, finally hearing Elizabeth's statement, alongside with her great-great-niece, giving away the final piece of the puzzle. The record itself was address and dedicated to none other than... Frances.
Flashback - Elizabeth tried to stop Frances to go out of their home again, but she was too persistent that even defying her own mother's request anymore. She confronts her again, trying to pursue her mother to come with her and see what they had fighting for. But Elizabeth was futile and revealed that she also wanted more as well for her life, but she can't simply shown it as she locked herself on her beliefs that the rights that Frances and the other suffragette that they were fighting for, might be too painful if this wasn't amended. Upon Frances protest, Elizabeth became agitated and kept on trying to stop Frances on her tracks, and unexpectedly, the incident happened as she accidentally pushed Frances over the second floor railing, and letting her hand go and fell to the ground floor, causing her death, while Elizabeth was shocked and frightened for what she has done, quickly running down the stairs.
Present - the case concluded upon hearing Elizabeth's recordings, Valens take off the vinyl out of the gramophone and gave it back to Emma. Rush imagined the image of Frances, Ambrose, Lawrence, and even Elizabeth, celebrating on their supposed wedding proposal. At the station, Miller and Vera gave the the suffragette forms that Phil had reading back years earlier. Audrey accepted it graciously in memory of her mother while watching the footage of Nancy Pelosi at the precinct and "saw" her mother's ghostly image smiling back at her. In the university, Professor Warner lecturing her students about the history of 19th amended constitution rights to suffrage for women, Emma "saw" Alice in the corner smiling back at her. Jeffries and Lt. Stillman securing Frances Stone's case box in the shelf as her case was officially closed. Ellen goes back from drinking vodka again, as she take one hidden bottle inside the oven stove. At the bustling busy streets, Det. Rush walks by as later she "saw" Frances spirit, roaming on the busy streets too and she stares back at Lilly and smiles, then the two later on go on their opposite ways, and the scene stops.
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Kathryn Morris as Lilly Rush
- Danny Pino as Scotty Valens
- John Finn as John Stillman
- Jeremy Ratchford as Nick Vera
- Thom Barry as Will Jeffries
- Tracie Thoms as Kat Miller
Guest Cast[]
- Erin Cahill as Frances Stone
- Ellen Albertini Dow as Audrey Abruzzi (2007)
- Zach Grenier as Ambrose Stone (1919)
- Tyler Kain as Emma Stone
- Carolyn McCormick as Elizabeth Stone (1919)
- Judson Pearce Morgan as Lawrence Wakeley (1919)
- Angela Sarafyan as Philippa "Phil" Abruzzi (1919)
- Rebecca Wisocky as Alice B. Harris (1919)
- McNally Sagal as Janice Warner
And[]
Co-Starring[]
- Alex Demir as Man #1 (1919)
- Rob Elk as Policeman #1 (1919)
- Rachel Nicole Hamilton as Audrey Abruzzi (1919)
Gallery[]
Notes[]
- At 88 years old, this is easily the oldest case featured on the series. It's 11 years older than the second-oldest case (and previous record holder) in "Beautiful Little Fool", a 77-year-old case from 1929 solved in 2006. In both cases, everyone involved had since died except for an elderly woman, who was a little girl at the time, who unwittingly gives a clue to the killer's identity. Also, in both cases, the now-deceased killer had left a voice recording confessing their actions. Both episodes also feature a subplot involving Lilly's mother.
- This is also the most quiet solved cases among all of the episode as all music featured was a simple music from the 20th century at the time of production.
- Despite the case was in the year 1919, most of the songs used during the production run was released in 1920's.
- Several characters talk about the ratification of the 19th Amendment leading to Prohibition. In fact, Prohibition had already been enacted in January of 1919. The 19th Amendment was passed in the US Congress on the 4th June 1919, with Pennsylvania enacting the 19th Amendment into law on the 24th June 1919.
- G. Hopper's case box is visible when Jeffries puts Frances' case box away.
- Her files was stashed in a newly modern archive box, since the case was officially resolved in 2007. But instead of marking it on the day it was solved, they still reference the case as year 1919, since that time they are only using folders.
- The captions misspelled Frances' name as "Francis".
- Second episode that the criminal was not arrested where they were deceased prior to the case reopening.
Music[]
