Elsbeth Season 3 Episode 10 Recap: A Deadly Twist in the Ballet World

No Nutcracker in Midtown Ballet World this Holiday Season

This week Elsbeth enters the Ballet World. The story begins with a change to the company’s Nutcracker Ballet performed by the Midtown Ballet Company. It is getting replaced by a new production this holiday season, “Drosselmeyer’s Revenge”, proposed by Donovan Chase, the ballet producer. It’s a modern pop-goth ballet about a young girl’s terror at reaching puberty. The set consists of ‘the contraption’ that has a mouth that opens and closes with the motion of the dancers as they dance through to the land of acid.  Motion sensors will activate the mouth. No children and no nuts are to appear in this new production. Donovan says he’s allergic to nuts. Also, expect lots of blood, no sugar plum fairies and no magical Christmas tree. Everyone on the board, except Harris Parson, believes it will be very exciting. They think it can draw a more young adult audience since Donovan Chase is popular with them. Olivia and Harris say the Nutcracker Ballet production ticket sales bring enough funds to support the ballet company for the whole year. They also state the holiday season should be for the Nutcracker Ballet. Dono Chase has proven he can reinvigorate a failing production company, and the Midtown Director wants him to do that for their company and takes a vote on which ballet to produce. The board members vote overwhelmingly for Donovan Chase’s “Drosselmeyer’s Revenge Ballet.

Therapy and A Murderous Mouth Set Bites

Harris Parson’s daughter, Noelle, won’t be able to play Clara. She’s distraught. Noelle, Harris and Rich go to their therapy session, and she vents. She believes she will be too old next year. Rich tells Harris, his partner, to figure out how to make her happy. 

At the theatre, Donovan and Keith, the set manager, work on ‘the contraception’. Donovan complains that the mouth is not opening and closing fast enough. He needs it to snap. The stage manager says it would be unsafe and needs to be manually controlled to move at a faster speed. Donovan tells him safety is the enemy of art.  He tells him to use the computer to find out how to make it faster and that they need more blood. The stage manager warns him that blood makes the floor slippery.  Donovan wants results not safety precautions. Harris and Olivia watch in the background and comment that the new production will be a disaster.  

Harris goes to talk to Keith and observes Keith logging into the computer. He tells him to stop texting him because Rich is getting upset. They have a conversation about Harris’ Mom and Noelle when Donovan comes over to ask about the delay.  Donovan tells Harris to leave and speaks to Keith about the safety measures. He wants him to turn them off, but Keith refuses. He suggests an alternative method to speed up the mouth movement.  Donovan approves that and walks off. Harris overhears all of this and watches what Keith does and notes the contraption demo on the  calendar.

Harris sets up his alibi by going to his physical therapist to get something to alleviate his pain. The therapist leaves him alone while the medication takes effect. He slips out of the window and returns to the  backstage area undetected inside a prop, the Mother Ginger skirt. He’s able to change the computer safety settings for the contraception, and sneaks away. Donovan is near the contraption demonstrating to the technical director and the set personnel how it’s supposed to work.  He’s moving in and out of the mouth when the teeth close on him. Real blood splashes everywhere, some spattering a shocked Keith. Harris gets back to the treatment room before his physical therapist returns.

Murder Investigation in the Ballet World 

NYPD Detective Donnelly, Officer Hackett and Elsbeth arrive and start the investigation into Donovan Chase’s tragic supposedly accidental death. Elsbeth is under the skirts of the prop Harris was in earlier. She squeamishly sees blood spattered all over. Officer Hackett tells her most of it is fake blood. (Happy to see Detective Donnelly. Officer Hackett’s back for a return appearance, so soon. Elsbeth’s hat and gloves are eyecatching.)  Elsbeth can’t remember seeing blood in any Nutcracker production she’s attended.  Hackett tells her about Donovan’s previous production “Orphan Girl”. They both give it rave reviews. Hackett says Donovan Chase loves technology and violence. Elsbeth reviews the calendar. These two are getting along perfectly together. They go over to ‘the contraption’ where Detective Donnelly is interviewing Keith. Donnelly asks him if the device was glitchy, and he says it wasn’t, and worked fine an hour ago. Elsbeth asks Keith how it operates, and introduces herself to him. Keith sadly explains how ‘the contraption’ operates. Elsbeth gets dangerously close to it and continues the questioning Donnelly started. Keith points out the sensors, and goes to show Elsbeth the back of the device. He notices something’s wrong with the sensors and rushes to the computer. The safety’s off, and Keith tells them only someone with the security code could have turned it off. 

In the meantime, Harris gets home and calls for his daughter happily stating he has good news.

NYPD Precinct Toy Drive and is Alec a Fake

Captain Wagner makes an announcement to everyone about this holiday season’s NYPD Toy Drive.  Mayoral candidate, Alec Bloom, is also present. Wagner tells them the toy drive will be a little different this year.  Alec tells them he’s partnering with his opponents and each selected a police precinct to represent. The one with the most toys wins. He’s representing their precinct, Precinct 11. Elsbeth goes to congratulate Marissa on what she thought was her idea, but she says it wasn’t.  She doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and walks off. Elsbeth and Alec love the idea. 

Teddy’s Back. He’s over talking to Captain Wagner about his article on the Subway Pete guy who fed Alec when he was homeless.The guy he found has dementia, and he may have profiled the wrong person. Teddy found it odd that Alec acted like he and Pete were old friends. Teddy says he was unable to find the real Subway Pete, after making over a hundred calls. He thinks Alec may have fabricated the story. He’s unable to find out much about Alec’s background, and asks Captain Wagner for help. Teddy wants to protect his Mom if something’s off about Alec’s identity. 

The Ballet Questioning Begins

In Captain Wagner’s office, Elsbeth is curious about his conversation with Teddy. She tells Wagner they better not be discussing getting her a gift. Wagner assures her they weren’t. He changes the subject and asks Detective Donnelly about their new case. Donnelly gives him the background on the victim and the suspect. Elsbeth shows him the model of the contraption.  Captain Wagner is appalled at the production. Elsbeth is also saddened about the ballet production theme.  Donnelly points out a fact they can investigate, the unhappy parents of little ballerinas that should have been in the Midtown Nutcracker Ballet production.  

Donnelly and Elsbeth begin their questioning with Olivia, the dance instructor.  Elsbeth uses her own questioning method to gather more clues. She offhandedly asks Olivia if she teaches adults ballet. She gets more information. Donnelly shows her investigative skills by digging deeper and asks Olivia why the board would hire Donovan to revamp the holiday show, then suddenly return to the old production after his death. Olivia tells them Donovan’s Nutcracker was egregious.  Donnelly’s questioning leads them to another person of interest, Harris Parson.  Harris gives them his opinion on Donovan’s bizarre Nutcracker version. Elsbeth notices something odd about his remarks about the production and the way he directs his daughter.  Her attention is captured as he volunteers information about all his accomplishments. She makes him a bit uncomfortable as she continues her intense Elsbethian questioning.  Elsbeth and Donnelly discuss the possible suspects as they leave the ballet school. Donnelly suggests they run Harris’ alibi, while she questions Keith. He’s a weepy person, but really hard to read.

Elsbeth and Officer Hackett get to Harris’ physical therapist’s office. They are excited about the artistic feel there at the Broadway Physical Therapist Office. They think it’s so glamorous. Elsbeth sees someone she met from a previous case, Rob the choreographer. He asks if she’s there for another case. Elsbeth tells him they have had some trouble being seen. Rob says it’s worth the wait because it’s the only place that charges on a sliding scale. Elsbeth tells him she understands because the arts are under attack.

 Officer Hackett notices the patient's head shots on the wall, and Elsbeth sees Harris’ picture on the wall.  Rob knows him, but hasn’t seen him there in a while. Rob gives them a clue about Harris’ reason for no longer dancing. That kicks Elsbeth’s investigative curiosity into high gear. She and Donnelly later discuss their findings. Donnelly uncovers more clues after questioning Keith.These clues point to a new suspect. They go to Rich and Harris’ home. Elsbeth comes bearing a get-well-soon gift for Harris, sugarplums. Rich reveals he knows nothing about Harris’ injury. It’s a confirmation of one of the newly discovered clues.  Elsbeth’s questioning style is unnoticed by Rich, and she also adds some sympathy at Noelle not being able to play Clara in the ballet. That is suddenly changed when Noelle bursts in with Harris with good news. Harris’ is shocked to see Elsbeth and Donnelly there. Side Note: Donnelly has a subtle sense of humor. 

Donnelly and Elsbeth question Harris more at his home, and Elsbeth pays close attention to his mannerisms and expressions as he answers.  Elsbeth’s observation makes Harris very uncomfortable and he quickly rushes them out. Donnelly continued the questions as they stood outside the door.  Rich asks Harris about the police. Harris asks Rich not to tell the police about Keith’s texts, but of course Rich does. He takes the texts to Donnelly and Elsbeth. Ballet Investigation Continues and Concludes with Theatre Flare

Detective Donnelly informs Captain Wagner of why her suspect Keith is guilty. Wagner sees doubt on Elsbeth’s face, and she tells him why. He gives her time to prove her point. She and Officer Hackett do field work to prove logistics and timing. While out there, they see the “Orphan Walk”. It’s a group of actors from “Orphan Girl” production doing their famed walking the streets as they are filmed. Does the timing of the matinees and the “orphan walk” confirm the suspect’s alibi? Is Elsbeth wrong?

Elsbeth’s in a pink tutu and leotards as she participates in ballet class with Olivia as the instructor. She stops Harris and Noelle as they leave practice. Elsbeth notices Noelle’s costume and asks her when she got it. Another clue is found. Elsbeth dances off.

At the precinct, Officer Hackett is watching the “Orphan Walk” video at her desk. She and Elsbeth notice something weird about one of the actors. He keeps looking up at something. They question him and he tells them he is a ‘swing’, a member of the ensemble that can perform many roles. He recorded the walk performance, and put his phone in the window of the balcony. He had the exact time and length of video.

Captain Wagner contacts Teddy about Alec Bloom. He’s found something out about his background.

Alec announced Precinct 11 and he won the toy drive at the precinct party. Officer Hackett gives Elsbeth a gift they both can enjoy, “Orphan Girl” tickets. Elsbeth pays for one of the tickets and they agree to go together. Elsbeth goes to congratulate Alec. They make plans for a date in January.  

Captain Wagner interrupts them and asks to speak privately with Elsbeth.  He tells her not to get too close to Alec Bloom. He found some false information out about Alec’s background. He told her to talk with Teddy. Elsbeth is now wary of Alec. 

The ballet finale of the whodunit is made more impressive with Elsbeth’s surprise Mother Ginger Entrance that startled Harris. He’s annoyed. She and Detective Donnelly walk through what happened the day Donovan was murdered.

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