“Candle on the Water”
Airdate: December 10, 2008
Gallery: Promotional Images | Screencaps

Official Synopsis - added 11.18.08
NOTE: Episode name changed from “Lighthouse” to “Candle on the Water”.

Ned and Chuck deal with the traumatic return of someone from their past, while Emerson, assisted by Olive, investigates the odd death of lighthouse keeper Nora McQuoddy, whose murder could expose some of Papen County’s stranger secrets, on “Pushing Daisies,” WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network. Mary Kay Place guest stars as Annabelle Vandersloop.

Spoilers - added 09.09.08
During an epic rainstorm, Nora McQuoddy, Papen County Lighthouse keeper, is discovered dead - harpooned and left on the light so she would be noticed. As the Pie Holers watch news coverage of the murder, it is revealed that Nora’s husband, Merle, is the prime suspect.

Merle McQuoddy set off on a fishing voyage 10 years ago and was shipwrecked for 9 years, 11 months and 5 days. Recently rescued and returned to his wife, Merle the castaway is having trouble reacclimating to his old life, instead haunting the caves by the lighthouse. Olive delights in telling the local legend to her easily-spooked cohorts, until she is faced with a rain-slicker-clad mysterious figure herself!

Elliott McQuoddy, son of Merle and Nora, begs Emerson to take the case and prove that his father is innocent. When Emerson and Ned go to undead Nora, they’re greeted with a rather gruesome sight. Alas, Nora can only communicate via Morse code in her present state. Fortunately, Charles Charles taught Ned Morse code back in the day, so he can decipher what Nora taps out to help find her killer.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Chuck, Ned finds Charles Charles at the Pie Hole, later to his apartment to hide him. Also, Olive sings the adapted chorus to “Candle in the Wind”.