- During Bones' stay in England, the daughter of an American businessman is murdered. The businessman insists that the FBI help with the case, so Booth and Bones investigate. Meanwhile, Angela's husband shows up at the Jeffersonian.
- After doing a guest lecture at a British University, Dr. Brennan and Booth are asked to investigate the death of a young woman. Her father is a wealthy American businessman working in the U.K.. Their counterparts assist them in the investigation. Meanwhile Angela's husband arrives at the Jeffersonian, he is not interested in divorcing her.—Jesse Sanchez
- Dr. Brennan gives a guest lecture in England. The daughter of an influential American businessman is murdered. The businessman insists that the FBI take charge of the case, so Bones and Booth investigate alongside their UK counterparts. As the Jeffersonian processes the data, Angela's husband arrives, he does not want to divorce Angela. Shortly after Bones and Booth solve the murder, their return trip is delayed when the Forensic Anthropologist they were working with is found dead. The Inspector suspects foul play and requests their help with the investigation since she trusts them. Angela's husband finally agrees to a divorce.—Jesse Sanchez
- We open season four in at Oxford University in England, where Brennan (Emily Deschanel) is giving a speech to a roomful of academic types. Booth (David Boreanaz), in town to speak to Scotland Yard, is asleep in the audience.
Same old, same old, it would seem.
Booth awakes and steals the show by recounting how he took down last season's serial killer "shock and awe" style. Brennan is less than amused -- as is Dr. Ian Wexler (Andrew Buchan), whose class Booth so easily entertains.
Outside, Booth notes Brennan's speech "got better toward the end." Wexler approaches and starts flirting big time with Brennan. The forensic anthropologist is intrigued. She becomes even more intrigued when Wexler gets a phone call from Scotland Yard. A famous heiress has been murdered.
This looks like a case for Brennan and Booth and, we suppose, Wexler.
The trio arrives at the scene to find a SUV being dragged from the Thames. We meet Cate Pritchard (Indira Varma), Scotland Yard investigator and a big fan of Booth. The sexual tension is as thick as the British accents.
"They're like the English version of me and you," Booth quips.
Back to business: the car belongs to the daughter of American businessman Roger Frampton (Michael Brandon), who Wexler dislikes for attempting to "build skyscrapers over what might prove to be a Bronze Age treasure trove."
Brennan declares the badly decomposed body in the car to be a woman in her late teens or early 20s. The victim was hit in the head with a sharp object. Brennan suggests the body and certain vehicle parts be sent to the Jeffersonian in Washington D.C.
Back at the Jeffersonian, the team examines the body. Angela (Michaela Conlin) retreats to an office and is surprised to find a stud muffin in a tight black shirt waiting for her. The two share a deep kiss. "Grayson (Sean Blakemore)," Angela sighs. "That's the last bit of sugar you're ever going to get from me. I want my divorce." The stud isn't amused.
Meanwhile, Clark (Eugene Byrd) examines the skull. He theorizes the young woman was struck more than once. Angela enters and introduces her husband. Camille (Tamara Taylor) is shocked by the man's ... stature. Angela encourages her college not to stare.
"I don't really need Hodgins (T.J. Thyne) seeing everybody gawking at him like he's some kind of God," she explains.
"But he is some kind of God," Camille says while eyeing Grayson's enormous biceps. "The best kind."
Moments later, Angela introduces her husband to Hodgins, her almost husband. Grayson says he can't sign the divorce papers because he is "still in love" with his wife. "Of course you are," Hodgins says. Otherwise, the (comparatively) scrawny dude takes it well.
Back in England, the quartet interviews Frampton, who is just as abrasive as one might expect a powerful American businessman living in England to be. Frampton's girlfriend, Heather, says she and the victim would frequently talk about Lord Henry Albert Bonham. The son of a Duke, Harry was secretly dating Portia Frampton.
"A murder is a murder no matter how close he is to the throne," Mr. Frampton says. "Please, help me find out who did this to my daughter."
Camille calls from Washington with news: Portia Frampton was two months pregnant when she died. Pritchard theorizes Lord Harry "knocked up" the victim. Also: a scooter was transported in the back of the SUV -- awfully convenient for driving away after dumping a car and a body in the Thames.
Brennan and Booth arrive at the Bonham estate where they are welcomed like ants to an aristocratic picnic. Booth is particularly boorish, earning the ire of the Duke and his proper wife. Harry explains he had no idea Portia was pregnant. Furthermore, he was dumped over the phone by the girl on the morning of her death.
"There you go," Booth says. "Motive for murder no matter what country we're in."
Angela has taken a closer look at a topless tabloid photo of Portia. The salacious pic has been doctored to look as if taken with a 500 mm lens when it was really taken from inside a house at around 80 mm away. But who would have taken the shot and sold it to the press? Pritchard puts her money on a "disgruntled servant."
Back in the states, Hodgins confronts Grayson, demanding the divorce papers be signed. It doesn't go well. When Hodgins discovers Angela kissed Grayson, the little guy takes a swing ... and winds up being flipped into the back of a garbage truck. Angela, who witnessed the one-sided fight, is furious with both men.
Booth and Brennan revisit the Framptons with a bit of news: they know Heather was in the house when Portia's lewd photo was snapped. The girlfriend quickly crumbles, explaining Portia had managed to delay her wedding to Roger no less than five times.
"I merely wanted Roger to regard Portia as a sexually mature adult with her own agenda instead of an innocent child," Heather explains.
Roger is furious. He storms out of the room.
Flirting over lunch, Booth and Brennan get a call from Angela. A letter discovered in the SUV was signed by Portia's mother, who was up until this very moment thought to be dead. Booth then warns Brennan about Wexler's advances toward her.
"Wexler is not special -- you are," he says. Do we detect a hint of jealousy? Try more than a hint. Camille interrupts with news via cell phone: Portia suffered from VHL disease.
Brennan, Booth and Pritchard visit Roger. He denies Portia's mother is still alive but Frampton's assistant William confirms the fact. William explains he delivered the letter to Portia. Booth then asks about Rogers health. VHL, it turns out, is hereditary. If Roger doesn't have VHL, then it is doubtful Portia is his blood.
"Are you aware that Portia is not your biological daughter?" Booth asks.
Camille calls England. The SUV had roses in the tire treads. Brennan makes the immediate connection. The substance came from the private drive at the Bonham estate. Portia WAS at the house before her death.
A new theory arises: the Duke is actually Portia's father. Why? Because both the Duke and his mother show symptoms of VHL disease. This makes the relationship between the victim and the Duke's son extra freaky.
Inside the Bonham estate, Booth brokers the subject of Portia's real father. Brennan threatens to read the letter written by dear old mom -- a bluff as all that is clear is the signature. The Duke takes the bait, however, and immediately asks his son to leave the room lest he learns of "certain truths."
With Harry gone, the Duke admits Portia came to the house and confronted him. He told the girl it is "entirely possible" she is his daughter. The team is about to take Bonham to Scotland Yard when the butler enters. "That will not be necessary," Jameson says. "The Duke had absolutely nothing to do with it."
Over dinner, Booth can't believe the butler did it. Wexler doesn't disagree. He says Jameson may have confessed just to protect his employer and master. Afterwards, the good professor makes one more play at Brennan. She turns him down so as not to affect her relationship with Booth. Interesting.
More romantic developments: Grayson agrees to sign the divorce papers and leave Washington. The Angela-Hodgins nuptials are back on. "Cherish her," Grayson tells Hodgins. Camille offers the beefcake a ride to the airport. Uh oh. Indeed: Grayson's flight is cancelled ... and he ends up rolling around in a hotel bed with Camille. This may not go over well back at the office.
Back in England, meanwhile, Booth and Brennan are arguing like an old married couple when they get a disturbing call: Wexler is dead. The two arrive on the scene to find Pritchard distraught. Wexler's flat has been burned in an apparent gas explosion. Brennan notices a cigarette butt -- even though Wexler didn't smoke. Also: there is evidence of trauma BEFORE the fire. "This was not an accident," Brennan says.
Cut to Washington. Camille tells Dr. Lance Sweets (John Francis Daley) she slept with Angela's ex. "I decided to see what all the fuss was about," she says. Not only that, but Grayson is still in town. Lance recommends Camille "clear the air" with Angela.
Brennan, in the meantime, finds an interesting object fused to Wexler's femur: a poker chip from the Highgate Gentlemen's Club. An attendant at the HGC explains Wexler paid off a sizable gambling debt the night of his death and was taken outside by a man with a cross tattoo on the inside of his wrist.
Back at the lab, Clark discovers the trauma to Wexler's skull was the result of a head butt. Camille also confesses to Angela, who takes the news surprisingly well.
"I got what I wanted from him, so now I guess you did too," she says.
Cut to London. New evidence found on Wexler's body has directed Booth and Brennan to a rowing club. They meet Wexler's racing blokes -- one of whom has a cross tattooed on the inside of his wrist. The man says a few interesting things: 1. he dragged Wexler from the gentlemen's club so he would be ready to race in the morning; and 2. Wexler was sleeping with Pritchard.
In Washington, the air around the lab has turned positively icy. Angela isn't so forgiving of Camille's indiscretions after all. But that doesn't mean they stop working. Clark calls Brennan with reports of a stab wound on Wexler's body.
Brennan then confronts Pritchard about sleeping with her partner. She asks if Pritchard is holding anything else back. Pritchard presents a writ signed by Wexler allowing Frampton to build on the dig site. It was signed shortly before the good doctor's death. Did Frampton force the amorous prof to sign the paper?
Frampton, not surprisingly, denies any such shenanigans. "He spent two years rooting around in the dirt and all he got was dirty," Frampton tells Brennan and Booth.
Lance calls Camille, Hodgins and Angela into his office. "You're all friends," Lance says. "I'm sure now that you see the situation for what it is, you'll know how to move through it. Am I right?" Angela and Camille apologize to each other. Hodgins, after some prodding, apologizes to Camille as well.
Pritchard arrives at the dig site with information for Brennan and Booth. Wexler was being paid off by a company owned by Frampton. Wexler used the money to pay off his considerable debts. "Frampton bribed Ian to vacate the dig," Brennan deduces.
Pritchard has more news: an extremist group dedicated to preserving ancient artifacts had threatened Frampton in the past. One of its members just happens to be a student of Wexler's. The boy, however, denies all involvement. His friend, Wexler's assistant Vera, also deems the charges ridiculous.
Later, Brennan discovers the murder weapon used to kill Wexler: a 2,000 year old bone left lodged in the body. The age of the bone would put it firmly in the Bronze Age. Pritchard suggests the murder weapon was used symbolically.
"The killer didn't act symbolically," Booth insists. "He acted out of rage."
Angela and Hodgins meet for lunch. They argue. Why was Angela mad at Camille if she was over Grayson? Why did Hodgins care Grayson was still in town? Angela suggests he doesn't trust her. Hodgins suggests he doesn't trust him. Before you can say "plot twist," the wedding is off and the relationship is over.
Booth, Brennan and Pritchard arrive at the site. A certain segment of the dig is covered. Vera explains Pritchard told her the area had been adequately searched. Brennan takes a tarp off the area and discovers bone chips dating to the Bronze Age.
Brennan then notes whoever killed Wexler would have almost certainly scraped his or her hand.
Vera immediately pulls her hand behind her back.
Understanding dawns on Pritchard. "You two are very, very good," she says. "We're the best," Booth says while cuffing Vera, now identified as Wexler's murderer.
The gist: Wexler accepted the bribe money when there was no reason to be bribed. When the team actually found something, he wanted to return the money. But doing so would have ruined the man's career.
"And mine too," Vera says. "Don't you see? He never thought of that!"
Back in Washington, Grayson asks Angela one more time if she wants him back. Angela says no. Her heart, it seems, belongs to no man at the moment. Clark volunteers to drive the stud to the airport ... and turns in his keys and lab coat in the process. "I just want to work at a regular lab," he says.
In London, Pritchard says goodbye to Booth and Brennan.
"If you're in the colonies ..." Booth says.
"That would be lovely," Pritchard says.
"Come on, we should go before someone else gets killed," Brennan says.
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