The He in the She

Half of a skeleton washes ashore, Bones and Booth argue about religion, and a new intern helps with the case. Read the BeeSight BeeCap to find out what else happened on the sixth episode of the fourth season of Bones and join in the discussion.

Watch The Full Episode Here

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BeeCap

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Two guys are sitting on the beach, stoned, fishing, and discussing global warming. One of the guys looks in the water and pulls out a skeleton. Booth and Bones are sitting in a silent session with Sweets when they get the call.

Booth and Bones arrive at the beach and are met by Camille and Vincent Nigel-Murray (played by Ryan Cartwright), a graduate student of Bones' who has a penchant for uttering tangents that are often suggestive in nature. Bones tells Vincent he should be back at the lab, but Camille insists he stay.

Camille guesses the victim died about 2 to 3 weeks ago. The bottom half of the skeleton is missing, so the team can't decipher gender, but there is part of a bathing suit and breast implants that indicate the victim was female. Vincent notices that there is trauma to the hand of the skeleton.

The team heads back to the lab and examine the remains further. Vincent notices that the eye sockets have been ground down which would suggest plastic surgery. Camille traces the serial number from the implant to a doctor in Baltimore. He tells her that a woman named Patricia Ludmuller came in to see him to repair a leak. Hodgins comes back with an analysis of the water from the bones and finds that the victim died in the same body of water where she was found.

Booth and Bones head to Patricia's house and find it vacant. They wonder why someone would spend so much money on cosmetic surgery only to move to a place where no one will see them. They look around the house and see books on different religions. While arguing about religion, they discover that Patricia was a pastor. They listen to a message on her answering machine from a man named JP who said he was sorry, missed her, and needed to see her.

The rest of the body is found and Vincent and Camille examine it. Vincent points out that the shape of the pelvis indicates the victim was male, but Camille points out a vagina which would indicate the victim was a female. They realize that the victim was a transsexual.

Booth and Bones talk to Sweets about transsexuality. Sweets suggests that if a guy who was intimate with Patricia found out about her past as a male, it could give him a motive for murder.

Booth and Bones attend a memorial service for Patricia on the beach put on by the church members. Booth and Bones question two members, Wade (played by John Livingston) and Chuck (played by Blake Shields), who tell them that they figured out that the body pulled from the water was their pastor since she went missing after going for a swim a few weeks ago. Wade points out JP (played by Bruce Thomas). Booth brings JP in for questioning.

With Angela behind the glass giving pointers, Booth questions JP about his relationship with Patricia. He said he had a drinking problem that landed him in jail and cost him his wife, but Patricia was helping him get his life back. He said he knew about Patricia's past as a male, but was okay with it. Angela and Booth believe he's telling the truth.

The crew further examines the remains and discover that Patricia had taken hormones, was healthy, and had received vaccines for diseases that someone who is about to travel to the Far East would need. Vincent suggests that she went to Asia to have her gender reassignment surgery.

Vincent asks Hodgins what happened to the guy he's replacing. Hodgins tells him that he's in jail for cannibalistic murder. Angela interrupts with her artistic rendering of the victim. She first shows Patricia as a woman, then a man, then a man with a beard. The final drawing looks like a famous evangelical preacher.

The team watches old video of Patrick Stephenson, the former male version of Patricia. They see that he had a wife and a son. Booth and Bones talk to Mrs. Cecilia Stephenson (Played by Nancy Youngblut). She says she was told that Patrick went missing and was presumed killed in Thailand while on a mission. They show her pictures of Patricia and canceled checks Patricia sent to Patrick's old church. Cecilia figures he was paying back the church for the money he took before he left. Cecilia tells them that their son Ryan took over the Church, but left to California after having a crisis of faith. She also tells them about Arthur Ford, a man who beat Patrick after Arthur's son donated his $5 million trust fund to the church.

Booth finds out that Arthur Ford died from pancreatic cancer three years ago, so he can't be the killer. Booth and Bones talk about the wife's negative reaction to Patrick turning into Patricia.

The gang then watches video of Patrick's son Ryan (played by David Gallagher) delivering a fiery sermon condemning homosexuality. Then they see a video of him quitting the church because he wants to do God's work, not bilk people out of their money like his mom and dad did.

Booth and Bones ask Sweets for his thoughts on the son. Sweets says he thinks they should look for him in jails, rehab centers, or halfway houses because he's probably seeking a means to heal people. Booth says the mother said he went to California and the two make a $20 bet on who's right.

They find Ryan in a shelter, making Sweets the winner of the bet. Booth questions Ryan who has adopted a new, edgier lifestyle. Ryan sees pictures of Patricia and says he wished he could have known his dad as Patricia. Ryan says he now preaches that it's not about what people look like on the outside, but what's in their inside that matters. Ryan asks for his father's Bible. Booth says it's still evidence, but when they find out who the killer is, he'll make sure he gets it.

Vincent determines that the body was hit on the head and in the back while still alive. Hodgins sees fiberglass resin that indicates a boat, specifically a wooden hulled boat, hit the body. They think it could have just been an accident, but Bones comes in and says it was murder. She points out that the boat hit the head from behind and the back from the side, meaning it had turned around to finish the job. They figure the hand injury came when Patricia tried to grab onto the boat and the killer smashed her fingers to get her to release her grip.

After the means of the murder was solved, Vincent tells Camille he's going to leave the team so he can develop into his own person, not be modeled after them. She says goodbye and that they'll look for another intern to replace him.

Bones and Booth go to the marina and find a wooden hulled boat, which belongs to JP. JP says he didn't kill Patricia and that they never slept together. Hodgins finds a fire extinguisher in the boat that he believes was used to smash Patricia's hand. Booth notices the seat is adjustable and asks Bones how tall JP is. Realizing JP is too tall to sit in the boat, Booth then asks how tall JP's wife is. JP's wife Rita (played by Sylva Kelegian) starts to yell at JP for spending so much time with Patricia. Booth and Bones arrest Rita for the murder.

Ryan takes over as the new pastor of his father's church. Booth and Bones attend his first sermon, but Bones is still unconvinced that God is real.

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BeeThoughts

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I like watching Booth and Bones talk about religion. Bones is obviously a scientist and needs tangible evidence to be convinced. The ending with Ryan taking over the ministry of his father was very sweet. That's too bad the intern won't be coming back. He seemed quirky enough to be interesting. I guess I'll look forward to seeing a new member of the team next time.

- Kristine R.

Buzzing Questions What did you think about the episode? Do you think anything will convince Bones to consider embracing religion? What do you think the next intern will be like? Tell us what you think below or start a discussion on the Bones Forum

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