We open with a wide, magnificent shot of a ferry docking at a bustling port, with dockworkers rushing to secure the lines to the port. The bottom of the screen shows, in cursive font, "March 5, 1904" and "Belfast, Ireland" in quick succession. The sounds of waves crashing, winds blowing, and seagulls cawing fill the air, contrasting with the light and calming music in the background.
The boarding ramp is slowly lowered and the passengers from all walks of life begin to exit the ship. High society aristocrats, middle-class workers, boisterous little boys and girls, and, the most striking of all, a burly, tall young man dressed in a dark green cardigan carrying multiple suitcases. Minor scars are speckled on his face. Some finely-dressed young women point and stare at him as he walks by, blushing and giggling behind their ornate folding fans. He grins jovially as he strides down the ramp with confidence, each step pounding on it like thunder. As he reaches the bottom, he does a playful little jump to the cobbled pavement below.
He begins to walk toward the city before suddenly stopping to turn back around. His grin becomes more cheeky and his eyes brighten as he stretches his arms out wide in a welcoming gesture.
"Welcome to the Emerald Isle herself, Doctor!" Donovan MacCool boomingly exclaims as we cut back to the top of the boarding ramp, where a pair of buckled shoes walk onto screen. The camera then pans up to reveal Dr. John "Jack" Seward, dressed in a newly-pressed dapper suit and red scarf and sporting a thick handlebar mustache. He smiles back at Donovan as he, suitcase in hand, walks down the ramp himself, remarking back that it's a lot less green than Donovan implies it to be.
Donovan chuckles back as he and the doctor begin to walk into Belfast proper, remarking that Jack wouldn't be saying that if he were to see the majestic cliffs and pastures that Ireland had to offer. Jack relents on the matter as he takes in the many sights, smells, and sounds of Belfast before asking Donovan when they'll reach their destination. Donovan simply remarks that they'll get there soon enough.
As they walk, they pass by various businesses, houses, and roadside stalls with vendors advertising their goods and paper boys selling newspapers. Jack briefly pauses to buy a paper from one of them, handing the boy some extra shillings as a tip as he begins to read the front of it. As they continue walking, Donovan takes in a big breath and exhales contentedly, commenting cheerfully that it's been a while since he's been here. Jack goodnaturedly deadpans that he left Ireland only three months ago, which Donovan waves off playfully and replies that he can be sentimental at times.
They continue walking before Donovan suddenly tugs Jack's arm and remarks that they've arrived at their destination. Jack, a little startled by the sudden gesture, fumbles a bit before looking up at where Donovan is pointing. The camera pans up at the same time to a storefront sign that shows a family fishing boat battling tossing waves, the captain bravely standing at the front of the ship. Written on the sign, in big, golden letters, is "The Drunken Sailor Pub and Inn". Jack slightly wrinkles his nose seeing the sign and exhales deeply, discontentedly muttering about it having to be a tavern. Donovan chuckles lightly, playfully warning Jack not to voice his concerns aloud in these parts as the two walk into the pub together. Jack grumbles under his breath about "liquid sin", but he doesn't make any more of a fuss as the two approach the scruffy and rugged bartender, who is currently cleaning a glass.
Upon noticing the duo, his face lights up and he greets Donovan with an enthusiastic bear hug, and Donovan reciprocates it just as enthusiastically. Donovan asks the bartender Paulie how he's been, to which Paulie gleefully responds that he and the missus have welcomed a new little girl into the family. Donovan excitedly clasps Paulie's shoulder and congratulates him on the wonderful news. He then turns around and quickly introduces Jack to Paulie, who shakes Paulie's hand and also congratulates him on his newborn daughter. Paulie politely thanks Jack before asking if he can get them anything special.
The two quickly look around the pub before Jack fishes a silver doubloon out of his breast pocket and gently slides it over to Paulie. On the face of the coin is a grasping golden hand. The bartender's face turns more serious as he gingerly takes the coin in his hand and inspects it. John whisperingly states that they have a meeting with a leprechaun named Graudy Pernell, after which Paulie takes out a ledger book from under the bar and starts carefully leafing through it. He quickly finds the name "Graudy Pernell" and tells the two that he's boarding in Room 17 over on the second floor. "Knock precisely four times on the door, and he'll let you in," Paulie finishes. Jack thanks him before quickly making his way toward the nearby stairs, but Donovan lingers around to buy a bottle of beer from Paulie, who chucklingly hands it to him.
Donovan quickly opens the bottle and takes a chug as he rushes up the stairs to Jack, who is waiting patiently for him at the door of Room 17. Jack sighs and shakes his head when he sees the bottle of beer, but he doesn't point it out as he knocks on the door four times. We hear the noise of a soft thump on the floor, followed by rushed walking before the door swiftly opens to reveal a disheveled Graudy Pernell, who hurriedly ushers them inside his room.
He tells them to sit down as he quickly climbs onto a chair himself. He thanks the two for coming as they sit down and offers them a bowl of candies, which Jack politely rejects but Donovan accepts one. He quickly eats them and goes to complement their taste, but he finds that his face has suddenly started flashing with all the colors of the rainbow. He begins to panic, panicking even more so when he discovers his voice has drastically dropped to that of a bass singer. Jack rushes over to make sure he's okay before being rudely interrupted when Graudy starts snickering at Donovan. He then giggles out loud before explaining to a glowering Donovan, the effects of the candied having faded away, and an unimpressed Jack that he offered them Talky Toffees and Rainbow Rocks, staple prank candies of his clan, the Bellbitts, and treats he is rather fond of himself. He chuckles before trailing off, stating solemnly that Colim was also fond of them.
Jack and Donovan adopt more sympathetic looks as Graudy coughs deliberately into his fist before rubbing his hands and shakily smiling at them, commenting that that's why they're here: to help him figure out who killed his brother Colim.
Jack, upon receiving permission from Graudy, questions him about his brother and asks if he can think of any possible motives for Colim's murder. Graudy answers that his brother was a very daring and impulsive man with a fierce temper to complement it. He then pauses hesitantly, adding that Colim did have a violent streak, as well as a nasty habit of getting into brawls. "Getting struck by a man does tend to birth a grudge," Graudy sardonically remarks, "and my brother punched so many people so many times he was practically a boxer."
Donovan sagely nods and tells Jack that it is indeed a valid motive, to which Jack shakes his head in response, though his lips subtly perk up a little. Graudy chuckles a little in understanding before continuing on, saying that Colim had also been a rather handsome bachelor, even for a Pernell, so perhaps there were some bastards jealous of that fact. Jack meticulously jots down Graudy's words before flipping his notebook closed and turning to Graudy. He politely states that they'll need more to solve the case, and Graudy replies that they'll get that "more" soon enough. Jumping off of his seat, he tells the duo that his carriage is parked at the back of the inn: with it, they'll get to Auldport in no time. Jack and Donovan get up out of their seats as well, with Jack saying they'll take him up on that offer. The three then leave the room, with Donovan taking a quick swig as he opens the door for Jack and Graudy.
