A local industrialist, Richard Welch, is found tied up to the top of a telephone pole with a noise-activated bomb strapped to his chest. The mayor of Toronto orders all industries in the area shut down and the police do their best to keep the noise pollution to a minimum, but eventually, finding himself under pressure, the mayor eventually relents and work resumes leading to the bomb going off. Sometime later, a new victim is found with a similar bomb: The mayor himself. Intending to sacrifice himself for the sake of Toronto, he leaves Murdoch 3 hours to find the culprit and deactivate the device. Meanwhile, Julia is increasingly frustrated as Murdoch has yet to ask to ask her the big question.
Tropes:
- Didn't Think This Through: Walter believed that the life of known, important figure hanging in the balance would be enough to grind progress to a halt. He's genuinely shocked when Murdoch explains it's impossible to stop a city for days, let alone forever.
- Driven to Suicide: Walter Pike found death a better alternative to all the sounds of the industries.
- Easily Forgiven: Averted with Emily and Crabtree. Emily tries to apologize to the Constable for breaking off their relationship to begin one with Leslie Garland. However Crabtree coldly rebuffs her, telling her that she wouldn't be apologizing to him if it wasn't revealed that Leslie was sending messages to Dr. Ogden pretending to be James Gilles in order to break up her relationship with Murdoch. Emily has nothing to really say in response.
- Heroic Sacrifice: The mayor intended to go through with one, sacrificing himself so that the industrialization progress can go on. Thankfully, with the help of Murdoch and Walter Pike, he was saved mere minutes before exploding.
