@merryapril said:

Does anyone know if the notebook is a factor in any future plots? I know the snooty don, Dr. Copley-Barnes, turns up as a much older version of himself in Season 4, Ep. 1 of Inspector Morse, but I don't think the notebook is part of that plot.

That notebook - AFAIK - hasn't been mentioned in other series (unless I've missed something). Perhaps it'll reappear in series 7.

OR, even though he seems to be an honest cop, could Strange have purloined the blackmailer's notebook for the benefit of any of his fellow Freemasons? Alluding to Freemasonry earlier in the episode, Endeavour warned Strange that he can't serve two masters. Hmmm.

That's possible.

Endeavour: "In any event, we'd be better placed to know, if certain of his possessions hadn't taken a walk."

Thursday: "What's that?"

Endeavour: "Meeker's notebook's gone missing. Somewhere between the scene and the exhibits desk."

Jakes: "Could be the Coroner's men swept it up with the rest of the detritus when they bagged the body."

Thursday: "Who was in charge there?"

Endeavour: "Strange. Although I am not saying..."

Thursday: "Well, I'll have a word with Mr. Bright in any case. Can't have uniform falling down on their duty. Right, then."

It is alluded that Strange might have something to do with the missing notebook.

He, as you know, was invited to join this ancient fraternity - Freemason.

Strange: "How do you feel about giving some? I've been invited to a meet and greet this evening. With a view to being initiated into a certain ancient fraternity. We haven't all got your brain, matey. Never will have. Some of us need a leg-up."

Endeavour: "A man can't serve two masters. Sooner or later, you'll have to choose. Just don't lose your way. It's easily done."

Did Strange have to make this choice sooner than later?

Todd: "That cigar butt could go missing, couldn't it? Evidence disappears all the time. Right? What I'm trying to say is, it's still not too late for you. It just depends."

Endeavour: "On what?"

Todd: "On whether you want powerful friends, or powerful enemies."

Endeavour: "A bunch of overgrown schoolboys playing with the dressing-up box?"

Todd: "You really don't have a clue, do you? You cross these people, they will bring you down. But not before they've destroyed everything you hold dear. Colleagues, friends, family. Every action has its consequence."

Todd couldn't persuade Endeavour to make the evidence disappear, but did Brother Strange do this?

Part of the initiation could be to prove his loyalty to his new master. So, it wouldn't surprise me if - in some way - he was involved in the disappearance of the notebook, which contained incriminating and embarrassing information about its members.

Strange might have only kept it, when it first went missing, not knowing what to do with it yet. But after talking with Endeavour and Todd (or another Brother), he finally decided to hand it over to the fraternity.

And so his successful carreer is guaranteed. As a member, with the aid of his 'Brothers', DC Strange will leapfrog over DC Morse and ultimately become CS and his superior.

Will Strange now lose his way?

Well, in "Inspector Morse (1987-2000)", he seems to be an all right police officer. But who knows what lurks in the dark shadows of this secret society of all powerful people.

Side notes:

• Todd's warning did come true. All through his life and career Morse encountered obstacles, that seemed more deliberate than coincidental.

An example is when they probably made his exam papers disappear, so that he failed his Sergeant's exam. This meant that Strange - if not already - would forge ahead of him up the career ladder.

Endeavour: "My exam paper never reached Division. Automatic failure."

Strange: "Oh. Bad luck, matey. Still, what was it you said? Uhmm ...if at first... eh?"

• It's interesting that the first episode of series 2 "Endeavour (2012-)" and the first episode of series 2 "Inspector Morse (1987-2000)", both refer to 'Wolvercote'.

Yeah, I agree the Freemason angle is the likely answer to the notebook disappearance. I hate to think Strange, who otherwise seems like a straight shooter, would've participated in the scheme, although in the case of the blackmailing private detective Pettifer (and the other crimes in the episode), it seems the police were able to prevail without whatever his notebook may have contained. There's been so much astounding continuity between the Morse-related series though that I wondered if the notebook made another appearance at a later time. I have a feeling you may be right wonder2wonder that the notebook may yet show up in the future.

In spite of all of this, Strange nevertheless stood with his fellow cops ("We're city men") in the Season 6 finale even though a fellow Freemason turned out to be involved in the corruption related to George Fancy's death. His dogged investigation in the matter acquitted him well.

wonder2wonder, I appreciate your insightful comments about Morse being inexplicably thwarted throughout his career, possibly in retaliation for daring to defy the Freemasons. I'm continually struck by how well done the connections and continuity with the other series are. I like that sort of attention to detail. There should probably be a thread dedicated to this sort of miscellany!

Yesterday, bratface posted a link to an encyclopedic blog that's a handy reference for avid fans. I discovered that it states as fact (I can only presume the bold, gold pinky ring is considered proof) that the Freemasons were responsible for the missing notebook. To see the remark, scroll to nearly the end of the page:

https://morseandlewisandendeavour.com/2019/05/16/endeavour-s2e1-trove-review-locations-literary-references-music-etc-spoilers/

@merryapril said:

Yesterday, bratface posted a link to an encyclopedic blog that's a handy reference for avid fans. I discovered that it states as fact (I can only presume the bold, gold pinky ring is considered proof) that the Freemasons were responsible for the missing notebook. To see the remark, scroll to nearly the end of the page:

https://morseandlewisandendeavour.com/2019/05/16/endeavour-s2e1-trove-review-locations-literary-references-music-etc-spoilers/

When I saw the episode - about five years ago - the mention of a possible involvement of the Freemasons had me looking for any signs of them.

In "Inspector Morse: Masonic Mysteries (S4E4, 1990)" for example there were cryptic symbols etched on his jaguar and there was also a comical scene with a police constable (a member of the Freemason) who stopped him to do a breath test.

Morse: "No, no, Lewis. Butterworth has his orders. From Grand Master Bottomley, l dare say. They have to do as they're told, you know, or they get their throats sIit and their tongues cut out, and then they're buried at low-water mark at midnight. lsn't that right, Butterworth?"

Afterwards Morse gave him a masonic handshake (as a joke), and the constable thought that he was a 'Brother' of the lodge.

Butterworth: "You are a ..."

Morse: "lf you people seriously think your childish handshake is a secret, l wouldn't put any of you on security."

In "Trove" you also saw the handshake. And staying with the hands in mind, the end was nicely done.

A white-gloved right hand (the butler) placing the notebook on the table. Then a left hand, with a (masonic) ring on the pink, picking it up.

The masonic ring can be worn on the right hand (ring finger) or on the the pink of the non-dominant hand. As you can see in that last scene it's the left hand, so that means the Master is right-handed.

Excellent factoid about Mason ring etiquette wonder2wonder! And I love the Morse quotes -- they illustrate just why he was so beloved by fans of the show.

I've changed the title of this thread, as Freemasonry is obviously a theme not limited to the Trove episode.

Last night while continuing to re-watch the show from the beginning, I viewed Season 2, Ep. 2 Nocturne. Similar to the previous episode, the last scene is of [black leather] gloved hands fingering a bit of evidence, an antique pinkie ring featuring a very large cabochon ruby (the perpetrator of the crimes was the rightful heir to the ring). Anyway, the gloved hands flip the gemstone to reveal the Masonic symbol of a square and compass underneath.

SO, it seems a pattern is being established of removing evidence that incriminates or implicates Freemasonry. I didn't pay particular attention to this during the initial viewings, as the endings of each episode are when the extremely intricate plots are finally explained. But now I'm ON IT!!!

@merryapril said:

SO, it seems a pattern is being established of removing evidence that incriminates or implicates Freemasonry. I didn't pay particular attention to this during the initial viewings, as the endings of each episode are when the extremely intricate plots are finally explained. But now I'm ON IT!!!

In "Inspector Morse (1987-2000)" everyone in the police and the (intellectual and financial) upper class - except perhaps Lewis - seem to have some kind of connection with this 'secret' society. Of course, I'm exaggerating.

Seeing how easily evidence can be taken, it's quite possible that Val Todd's cigar butt has now also gone missing.

Freemasons are everywhere in Britain and protect their own. So, even if the evidence didn't disappear, the judges would still rule in favour of their "Brother".

I'll be sure to pay close attention to news about Val Todd's cigar butt in future episodes!!!

Allusion to Freemasonry [tangentially] continues in_ Sway_, Season 2, Ep. 3, as the symbols for Alpha and Omega on men's jewelry are part of the plot. While the jewelry in question is a pair of cufflinks, it's not uncommon for Masonic rings to include the symbols as well.

Also, Endeavour purposefully -- and IMO suspiciously -- asks Strange to keep an eye on a bit of evidence:

Endeavour: Do me a favour, if I get this booked into Evidence, would you keep an eye? Make sure none of it takes a walk. Couple of things been going missing lately.

Strange: Some light-fingered bugger? Let's hope that's all it is.

The next episode, Neverland (the finale of Season 2), which may be THE most disturbing of all so far as it involves child sexual abuse, murder, police corruption and the fate of Fred Thursday, certainly displays police and prominent men protecting each other. I'll have to keep an eye out...