02x01 - Death's Shadow

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Midsomer Murders". Aired: March 23, 1997 to present.*
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Based on the crime-novel series by author Caroline Graham, `Midsomer Murders' follows the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby to solve crimes that occur in the wealthy, isolated English county of Midsomer.
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02x01 - Death's Shadow

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[Bell clanging]

[Bell ringing]

[Children shouting indistinctly]

[Shouting indistinctly]

[Glass shattering]

[Glass shattering]

[Glass shattering]

[Boy speaks indistinctly]

BOYS: One, two, three.

[Boys speaking indistinctly]

Simon!

Simon!

Simon, please!

Simon.

[Grunts]

[Gasps]

[Breathing heavily]

[Sighs]

TOM: You know, you're gonna have to make your mind up soon.

JOYCE: I know.

TOM: Well, how about a 'round-the-world cruise?

We can't afford it.

Can we?

Well, we could probably go as far as Malta.

Of course, we'd have to row back.

-[ Laughs] No.

No, it's not us.

Well, how about Paris... -[ Door opens]

.Or Istanbul?

You're not still going on about the anniversary, are you?

It's 25 years, Cully.

I know. I know.

These days, you're lucky to get 25 weeks.

I vote for the Orient-Express to Venice.

Something romantic.

[Clicks tongue] No.

I don't think I want to go away at all.

Do you know what I want to do?

Oh, please tell us.

I want to retake my marriage vows.

Do they need retaking?

The first time we got married, it was a registry office, and your father was in the middle of a case.

Ah. The Pimlico poisoner.

You didn't say, "I do."

You said, "I've got it," and that was the last I saw of you until the honeymoon.

This time I want to be the center of attention.

I want flowers and all our friends.

And I want you to be my maid of honor.

What? And give you away?

Don't you say it.

Yes. Would you?

I'd love to, Mum.

I think it's a lovely idea.

Are you gonna be around?

Oh. I was gonna tell you.

I got a place on the summer workshop.

With Simon Fletcher.

Who's he? Dad.

He's very well-known.

He's directed at the Royal Court and with the RSC.

He's doing a two-week summer course at Causton, and I got a place.

Well, that's settled then.

LS it?

Let's book the church.

[Clippers clicking]

[Vehicle approaching]

I'm going over to the church.

Oh. Really?

I have a police inspector coming to see me.

Oh, don't tell me, Stephen.

You've been found with your hand in the steeple fund.

Don't be ridiculous.

[Chuckles] I was only joking, darling.

After all, stealing the small change would be much too daring for you, wouldn't it?

[Sighs]

So, what does he want, then? This police inspector.

He wants to retake his marriage vows.

Why here?

I don't know.

Maybe he wants somewhere small and insignificant.

Well, he got the right man for the job.

[Sighs]

Mr. Barnaby, is it?

Or should that be Chief Inspector?

Oh. Tom, please.

This is my wife, Joyce.

Its a beautiful church.

12th century with Victorian additions.

And dry rot entirely 20th century.

I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you here.

Oh, we go to St. Anthony's in Causton.

When we go.

So, how did you come to choose Badger's Drift?

Oh, I noticed the church when I was working here on a case.

Two years ago.

Oh, yes. Of course.

The Rainbirds.

I knew Dennis Rainbird quite well.

Yes. He was the undertaker.

Shocking affair.

Why don't we go into the church and stroll 'round while we discuss the service of blessing?

I was thinking of John 2 for the reading.

Oh. The marriage at Canaan.

Yes. Perhaps you and your wife would like to select the hymns.

TOM: We won't have to wear hard hats, will we?

JOYCE: Tom. -[ Laughing] No.

It's not quite as bad as that, although it is actually quite serious.

Still, we're raising funds.

We have a wonderfully committed...committee.

[Laughs ] We're meeting tonight as a matter of fact.

After you. Thank you.

BARBARA: I wish there was an easy way to tell you this, Richard.

You've got a primary brain tumor.

A malignant astrocytoma, if you want the full professional name.

I'm not sure I do.

What are we gonna do?

Well, we're not gonna give in.

It'll be surgery to start with.

We'll follow it up with radiotherapy and maybe chemotherapy, too.

[Sighs]

I am sorry.

I'm not married. I don't have any children.

There aren't too many people to be sorry about.

[Chuckles] You know, its funny.

I'm going to church tonight.

Steeple fund.

Its good timing, really.

Get God on my side.

It looks like I'm gonna need him.

[Horse whinnies]

[Vehicle approaching]

Richard.

I was hoping to run into you.

Not literally. [Chuckles]

You haven't been returning my calls.

Oh, I've got a lot on my mind.

Well, have you come to a decision yet?

Tye House?

I-| -- Ian... Look.

I really need to know.

I'm going with Erikson's in Causton.

Erikson's.

What have bloody Erikson's got that I haven't?

I'm sorry, Ian. It's a question of size.

They've got branches in London.

I'm sorry.

[Engine revs, tires screech]

[Coat thuds]

Ian?

What's happened?

[Sighs]

I just met Richard on the way here.

Richard bloody Bayly.

He's giving Tye House to Erikson's.

Well, does it matter very much?

The biggest development this village has seen in 20 years.

I can't say I'm over the moon about losing it.

Oh, Ian. I'm -- I'm sorry.

You know he's not well. What?

'Cause I heard it from Caroline at school, and she got it from Mrs. Bundy, who cleans for Dr. Henson.

It's something in his head.

A, um, tumor or something.

A tumor?

Well, that's what she said.

Good.

[Door closes]

Agnes, what is it?

It's exactly as I thought.

I've been down to the town hall, and just look at this.

The new plans for this wretched golf course at Tye House.

They're taking down three oaks and a yew.

Well, I'm sure they're going to replant them.

Well, that's not the point.

It's just vandalism.

And for what?

For golf.

Oh, Claire. I'm not stupid.

They're ruining our village.

First the school. Then the post office.

And now this.

It makes me so angry.

Why don't I talk to Richard about it tonight?

You're not seeing him?

At the Vicarage. Yes.

Why don't you come along?

I don't want to come along, and I certainly don't want to see him.

He's a complete hypocrite. What do you mean?

Well, the church committee.

He's so rich he could afford to pay for a new tower himself.

And how did he get his money?

That's how.

We should be on our way, love.

Hello, Agnes.

I didn't hear you come in.

I only just arrived. Oh.

I suppose you're also off to church.

Well, we've got to do our bit for the tower.

-[ Scoffs] Are you, uh...

You in tonight, then?

Of course I'm in.

Where else do you expect me to be?

Right. Come along, Reggie.

We can't be late.

Yeah. Come on.

[Bell rings, door closes]

[Ringing continues]

STEPHEN: Well, now, let's move on to the principal issue of the evening, which is, of course, the arrangements for next week's grand village fete.

We have, I think, some 15 stalls now.

Ian on the coconuts. IAN: Yep.

And I'm doing my cakes.

Thank you, Brenda. Cakes.

Um...

Yes.

Yes.

Reginald?

Oh. I'm doing the same as last year.

£1 for three arrows, and win £5 if you hit the bulls-eye.

And I'm going to do palm reading again.

I mean, I know it's not entirely Christian, but people enjoy it, and at 50p a time, it soon mounts up.

I wonder if you could read my palm.

I only learned it from a library book.

Which one's the life line?

I'm afraid I may not make the fete this year.

You'll have to find somebody else for the lucky dip.

My luck seems to have run out.

Richard...

Well, I'm sure you've all heard.

[ Laughs 1 Badger's Drift wouldn't be the same without its rumor machine.

A malignant astrocytoma, if you want the full professional name.

I think it's going to keep me otherwise engaged.

You should have told me, Richard.

I'm sure I wouldn't have bothered you with my own little problems.

Ian.

RICHARD: Forget it.

You were talking about palm reading, hmm?

Yes. Palmistry.

Archery. Thank you very much, Reginald.

I'll be on tombola duty as usual.

Cakes. Coconuts.

David Whitely is organizing the skittles.

And young Charles here has agreed to help set everything up.

I'm doing the bunting.

Actually, you could give me a hand, if you don't mind.

What?

With the coconuts.

I could do with a pair of young hands.

Sure.

STEPHEN: Which just leaves us with the perennial question of, who's going to open it?

Well, what about Angela?

[Chuckling ] Oh. I don't think so.

Why not?

Because I don't actually like the fete.

It just fills the village up with people from the Causton estate.

It's noisy and dirty.

And what does it actually achieve?

A few pounds if we're lucky.

It's more trouble than it's worth.

Well, we can take that for a "no," then.

[Sighs]

Has everyone got tea?

Thank you. Yes.

Then if you don't mind, I'm off to bed.

I have a headache.

Try not to wake me up, Stephen.

[Clears throat]

Do you have any thoughts, Reggie?

What? Someone to open the fete.

I can't think of anyone.

You need a TV star or something.

We don't know any TV stars.

That's what we need.

A celebrity of some sort.

[Vehicle approaching]

Simon?

Simon Fletcher?

David. David Whitely.

Remember me?

Night, Charles.

Good night, Ian. Thanks for coming.

Well, we have to help each other, don't we?

That's what living in a village is all about.

We ought to get home, Ian. Good night, Stephen.

STEPHEN: Good night, Brenda. Good night, Vicar.

Good night, Claire. How's your sister, by the way?

Agnes. [Chuckles] Same as ever, Vicar.

Same as ever.

Thank you very much for asking.

[Speaks indistinctly]

Stephen, I know it's a bit late.

But do you think I could have a quick word?

Of course it's not too late, Richard.

Come back in.

What about "For Those in Peril on the Sea?"

What? You know.

Fl Oh, hear us when we cry to thee fl fl For those in peril on the sea fl That's really good, Dad.

Thank you very much. JOYCE: Yes.

But are you saying that our marriage has been some sort of peril?

No, no, no. I just like the tune.

Well, it's not appropriate, Tom.

You're a policeman, not a sailor.

I'm going to leave you to it. Are you going to bed?

No. I've got to read this. What's that?

"The Duchess of Malfi"?

We're going to be working on it with Simon Fletcher.

It's Jacobean, isn't it?

Very bloody. [Chuckles]

It's got more m*rder in it than one of your average working weeks.

Now, that's not true. The last m*rder I had --

"All Things Bright and Beautiful."

That's got to be one of them.

Something cheerful.

Agnes?

Agnes?

-[ Door opens] REGINALD: What is it'?

It's Agnes. She's not here.

What?

Well, where do you think she is?

Well, she probably slipped out to the pub.

-It would make a change. Oh, Reggie.

Well, your sister has hardly been out from the day she moved in.

Let's make the most of it.

Cocoa and bed.

[Telephone ringing]

Dr. Henson.

What?

What are you talking about?

STEPHEN: Oh, God, who is the author of peace and lover of concord... in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life... whose service is perfect freedom.

Defend us, thy humble servants, in assaults of our adversaries... that we surely, trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries.

Through the might of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

FELIX: Simon!

Simon!

Simon, please!

Please.

[ Door opens]

[Door closes]

[Vehicle approaching]

[Footsteps approaching]

[Gate creaks]

[Dog barking]

[Means]

There's someone in the house.

What is it?

Downstairs. What time is it?

[Sighs]

201012200.

There's someone downstairs.

A burglar?

It must be.

Well, go and catch him.

Then you can forgive him.

[Sighs]

[ Door opens]

[Sighs]

Morning, Mr. Bayly!

[Gasps]

[Screaming]

Here you go.

Ah, Troy.

Morning, sir. Morning to you.

Tell me something, Troy.

What's your favorite hymn?

TROY: My what?

What's your favorite hymn?

As in church.

Well, I don't know. [ Blows]

"Onward, Marmite Soldiers."

You mean "Onward, Christian Soldiers."

Well, that's how we used to sing it at school, sir.

Oh, very droll.

You going to church, then?

Indeed I am, Troy. I'm getting remarried.

I didn't know you were getting divorced.

-[ Chuckles] Sir.

Oh. Thank you.

George.

[Sighs]

You know, Tom, I may have to give up this game.

You know you're too old when they start getting to you.

That bad, is it?

Rather worse.

So, where is it, then? The body?

Most of it's in the hall.

The head bounced into the living room.

I suppose it could have been carried there.

As bad as that?

After you.

He was found by his cleaning lady.

Don't even try talking to her, Tom.

She slipped and fell in the blood.

I think it'll be a few days yet before she's ready to see you.

Here you are.

Om Good God!

I've never seen anything more ferocious.

A single blow. Took the head clean off.

At least he didn't know much about it.

What's that he's got in his hand?

It looks like a pear.

There's a pear tree out in the garden.

What about time of death?

Around midnight.

Is there a w*apon?

Over there.

Only in Badger's Drift.

That's a nasty-looking thing, isn't it?

TROY: What is it, sir?

Moroccan?

That's Indian, that, I'd say.

Do you mind if we go outside? Get a breath of fresh air.

You're right. This is...bad.

[Sighs]

So, what have we got beside a name?

Richard Bayly.

And that he was well off.

He'd have to be to afford a place like this, wouldn't he?

He was a property developer.

Mrs. Bundy managed to say that much.

Single. Been here awhile.

ANGEL: Sir. Yeah.

We found this 'round the back, sir.

Middle of the lawn. Oh, yes?

Well, I'd heard he'd been, um...

Yeah. But not with this.

Look, there's no blood.

What was it doing there, then?

Perhaps whoever it was came with the ax and then decided the sword was sharper.

And maybe they brought along a couple of g*ns and a chain saw, as well, for good measure.

Excuse me. Are you in charge here?

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, yes.

Don't tell me he's committed su1c1de, for God's sake.

I'm sorry? What? Well, I'm his doctor.

Barbara Henson.

I've come 'round to see him. It's rather important.

Mr. Bayly was your patient?

"Was."

So, he is dead?

We believe Mr. Bayly may have been the victim of a m*rder.

A m*rder?

Well, thank goodness for that.

I mean...

Maybe we had better talk.

[Door opens, closes]

Yes. That's right. He was a developer.

Hotels and golf courses.

He was doing a major development at Tye House, as a matter of fact.

The old manor house, outside the village.

Tye House. Yeah. We know it.

It was going to be retirement homes, with a golf course and health center.

I don't know whether it'll go ahead now, though.

How ill was he, Dr. Henson?

How ill?

Would he have survived the operation?

I'm a doctor, not a fortune-teller, Mr. Barnaby.

Your professional opinion?

Yes, probably.

And it was only yesterday that you told him about, uh...

Yes.

Well, we knew there was something wrong, of course.

But it was only yesterday we got the tests.

I don't suppose you know his movements after that, do you?

No. I've no idea.

Except he did say he was going to church.

St. Michael's?

BARBARA: He was on the committee.

You know. The tower.

[Door closes]

What was she so nervous about, then?

God knows, Troy.

It's this bloody village.

Don't you remember last time?

Nobody will ever tell you the truth.

[Sighs]

STEPHEN: m*rder*d?

Richard?

But that's -- that's not...

[Breathing heavily]

I don't know what to say.

TOM: You saw him last night.

Yes. Yes. He was on the committee.

You must excuse me.

It's such a shock.

I was praying for him only last night.

So, you knew about his illness, then, sir?

Well, yes.

That sort of thing is hard to keep quiet about for very long in a village like this.

But it was only last night that he announced it in front of all of us.

It was very distressing.

How well did you know him? Not very well.

He wasn't a regular churchgoer, but the thing is, he was afraid.

Understandably so.

He needed someone to talk to, and he chose me.

Can you tell us what he said?

The gist of it?

Well, he told me he was making arrangements to change his will.

He wanted the church tower to benefit if he died.

He believed he was going to die.

Yes. But not so soon.

And not like this.

Can you tell me, how did it happen?

He was stabbed quite brutally with a sword.

A sword?

What kind of sword?

An Indian sword.

Oh, my Lord.

My dear Lord.

You'd better come into the house.

I noticed it this morning.

You know how it is when you know somethings wrong, but you can't work out what it is.

It was only this morning that I realized it was gone.

An Indian sword?

Yes. It was my father's.

A souvenir of Calcutta. -[ Door opens]

Stephen, did you...

Oh. I'm sorry.

Angela. This is Chief Inspector Barnaby.

TOM: How do you do?

Oh.

The one who's getting remarried.

Are you the best man?

No.

There's been a m*rder, Angela.

Richard Bayly.

What?

And it seems my father's sword may have been used as the w*apon.

Your husband was just telling us about last night, Mrs. Wentworth.

Oh, yes.

There was an intruder in the house.

Stephen woke me up.

In itself something of an event.

I don't suppose you'd know when this was?

Yes.

Stephen asked me what time it was, and I looked at the clock.

It was 11:40.

Who actually knew that the sword hung in this room?

Anybody who's ever been here.

[Chuckles] Which is everybody.

Stephen has never been very selective about the company he keeps.

It's open house, I'm afraid.

We had the committee meeting in this very room.

Hmm. Who's on the committee?

Well, Angela and myself.

Richard. Claire and Reg Williams.

They used to run the post office.

Then there was Ian Eastman.

And Brenda.

Yes.

Yeah. Ian knew Richard from school days.

Then there's Charles.

Well, he does odd jobs around the church.

Youth Opportunities.

Did you lock the doors when you came back from the church?

No. l never do.

[Chuckles ] There actually isn't anything worth stealing here.

So, any one of them could have come back at 11:40 and taken the sword.

I suppose so. Yes.

Where I can find these people?

Well, Ian's probably at his office.

Charles, I don't know.

Claire Williams -- ls in the cemetery.

I saw her just now.

Not dead.

Just visiting.

TOM: Mrs. Williams?

Yes?

Jennifer Bryce.

A sweet girl.

Used to work for me at the post office more than 30 years ago.

She died young.

Yes.

That was her son, Felix.

He died when he was just 10.

After that, she just faded away.

I'm so sorry.

How can I help you?

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.

This is Sergeant Troy.

Causton C.l.D.

Oh, yes?

I don't suppose you've heard.

CLAIRE: [ Sighs 1 I don't know why, but it just seems so...

SO Wrong.

I mean, to k*ll him when everybody knew how ill he was.

Would you say he had any enemies, Mrs. Williams?

No.

He was very well-liked.

There were those who opposed to what he was doing.

Who were they?

Well, lots of them.

There was a petition organized about Tye House, and that had almost 200 signatures.

There were quite strong feelings.

Do you know who organized this petition?

My sister, Agnes.

TOM: Your sister?

Agnes knew Richard all his life.

She taught him.

That was when the village had its own primary school.

TROY: Oh, she was a teacher.

CLAIRE: Headmistress. Yes.

She was very fond of Richard.

It's just that she didn't like to see the village being knocked about.

I mean, none of us do.

What was being planned at Tye House?

Retirement homes, golf courses, that sort of thing.

I really don't know that much about it.

You'd have to talk to Ian.

Ian Eastman?

Yes. He and Richard were at school together.

Well, I imagine that he's the one marketing it.

Everybody liked Richard.

We all did.

It's just that some people disagreed with what he was doing.

[ Door opens]

[Door closes]

Reggie?

Oh. Agnes. Have you heard?

AGNES: What?

About the m*rder.

Richard Bayly.

It seems someone att*cked him last night with a sword.

Really?

REGINALD: What is it, then? Have you heard?

Richard Bayly's been m*rder*d.

I was just telling Agnes.

Well, it's not all bad news, is it?

It means Tye House won't go ahead.

It's still a terrible thing to happen.

It was last night, you know.

I don't suppose you saw anything, did you, dear?

No.

Why do you say that?

Well, you were out walking.

No, I wasn't.

I went to bed before you, and I went straight to sleep.

That's better.

Tye House?

I've nothing to do with it.

Richard had decided it was too big for me.

He'd gone to Erikson's in Causton.

They've got offices in London.

Were you angry about that?

Not particularly.

Olive, can you bring me the quarterly sales file?

Certainly, Mr. Eastman.

If you ask me, it would never have happened anyway.

Why is that, sir?

Well, local pressure, for a start.

Agnes Sampson.

She was up in arms about a handful of trees.

Organizing a petition. All the rest of it.

Mind you, she was always making trouble.

It was bad enough when he developed the old school.

That was her school, yeah? Badger's Drift Primary.

Yes. -[ Door opens]

It's two luxury flats now.

Sold by me, incidentally.

The sales file.

There you are, you see.

The last three months.

I'm busy enough without Richard.

I'm doing very well for myself.

I didn't need Tye House.

So, who else was against it?

What?

You suggested there were other reasons why the development wouldn't happen.

Oh, yes. The main reason was David Whitely.

He owns a small piece of land as part of the Tye Estate.

It's to do with access.

Richard couldn't move without it, and David knew he had him over a barrel.

He was asking a fortune.

Good luck to him, I say.

David Whitely. I think I know that name.

I don't suppose you went out at all last night, sir.

Between 10:00 and midnight.

No. I was at the committee meeting till about 9:00.

Then I went straight home with Brenda.

My wife.

TROY: David Whitely.

TOM: The estate manager of Tye House.

TROY: Small world. Big world, Troy.

Small county.

Olive.

I'm just gonna slip out for a little while.

Yes, Mr. Eastman.

Shall I say where you are if anyone rings?

No. Just tell them I'll be back in 10 minutes.

Very well, Mr. Eastman.

[Door opens, bell rings]

[Door closes]

[Door closes, footsteps approach]

Ian? What are you doing home?

I wanted to talk to you.

What's that?

It's from the Halifax. It's our statement.

Why did you open it?

I always open the statements.

There's hardly anything left in it, Ian.

All these withdrawals.

£100. £100. £200.

Why did you open it?

It's addressed to both of us.

[Paper rustling]

It's business expenses.

You've never used our personal account for business before.

It's not important.

Have you heard about Richard?

What?

He's been k*lled.

What?

m*rder*d. And, listen.

I've already spoken to the police, but I daresay they'll be coming 'round here.

And I want you to be bloody careful what you say.

Well, well, well.

Detective Inspector Barnaby and Sergeant -- What was it?

Joy?

Troy.

Yes, I knew Richard Bayly.

And before you ask, no, I couldn't stand him.

And, no, I wasn't in Badger's Drift last night.

And, no, I didn't k*ll him. Okay?

Who told you he was dead, then?

Everybody.

If we could possibly have a minute of your time, Mr. Whitely.

Could we start by you telling us why you didn't like him?

I was estate manager here.

You remember? Oh, yes.

Well, everything was going very well.

Until one day, you two rolled along.

After your little investigation, Henry Trace sold up and left.

You did me out of a job.

Well, I'm sorry.

Oh, don't be.

You see, a few months before he left, Henry sold me the lodge and a few acres at a knock-down price.

Mainly because knocking it down was about all it was worth.

I've been living here in the caravan while I've been trying to make it habitable.

Richard Bayly was trying to buy you out.

Yeah.

And I suddenly found I could name my own price.

Except he wouldn't pay.

You got it in one, Inspector.

Richard always was a pompous bastard, even at school.

He said I was blackmailing him. Dug his heels in.

And now that he's gone?

Well, I'm rather hoping that whoever takes over the development is gonna be more willing to listen to reason.

Oh, dear. I've just given myself a rather good motive for k*lling him, haven't I?

Can you tell us where you were at about midnight last night?

In bed.

I was in the village earlier, drinking.

I left the pub about 9:00.

I don't suppose anybody saw you.

You need a name for your little black book?

There was someone, actually. Friend of Richard's.

Haven't seen him for about 30 years.

He'!-

Maybe it wasn't a coincidence.

What's his name?

Simon Fletcher.

F-L-E-T-C-H-E-R.

Yet, methinks the manner of your death should much afflict you.

This cord should terrify you.

Not a whit.

What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut with diamonds?

Or to be smothered with cassia?

Or to be shot to death with pearls?

I know death hath 10,000 several doors for men to take their exits.

Thank you, Cully.

That was very good.

The Jacobean death.

The throat cut with diamonds.

We're talking about death as spectacle, death as entertainment, but also as the gateway to something more terrible.

"Cover her face. Mine eyes dazzle," as Ferdinand will say as the death of the duchess triggers retribution and more m*rder.

Well, I guess that's heavy enough for one session.

I'll see you tomorrow at 9:30.

You did that very well.

Thank you.

Have you done much theater?

Oh. A couple of tours.

I did Ophelia, but it was modern dress, and they cut all the best bits.

[ Laughs] I'd like to have seen it.

Do you fancy a drink?

I'd like that.

[Chuckles]

MAN: Right!

Thank you.

Sir. Thanks.

I liked your Jew.

I'm sorry? -"The Jew of Malta."

Antony Sher. I saw it at the Barbican.

[Chuckles] Thank you.

So, why did you come down here, then?

You mean out of London?

Mm. I suppose it's a busman's holiday.

Not exactly.

I used to live here.

In Badger's Drift.

Do you know it? Yeah.

I was born there.

I left when I was 16, and I've never been back.

I always do a summer course, and when they told me it was down here, well...

...I didn't want to come.

But then I thought, "Sometimes you have to go back."

Sometimes it can help.

Anyway, I've got nothing else fixed for the rest of the summer until August.

So here I am.

Have you heard about the m*rder, then?

No. Well, it happened last night.

A property developer or something.

Richard Bayly.

[Glass shattering]

[Boys shouting indistinctly]

Come on, Felix!

BOY: Go, go, Felix!

Yeah! My dad's in charge of the case.

He's a policeman. A D.C.l.

BOY: Oh. You're so lucky.

-[ Glass shattering] BOY #2: Yeah!

BOY #3: Good shot. Nice one.

CULLY: Simon?

What?

Um, I'm sorry.

Your father's a what?

A chief inspector.

Are you all right?

No.

Look.

I'm sorry. I have to go.

I don't actually feel very well.

I'll see you.

It's not my fault, you know.

I didn't k*ll him!

Joyce. Mum.

I just don't believe it, Tom.

Oh, she's speaking to me. Hurrah!

It just isn't fair.

The day you proposed to me that woman got poisoned, and now when all I want is to retake my vows...

What am I meant to do?

Cully.

Mum has got a point.

I know it's not your fault.

But if I was married to a postman or a dentist --

Oh, you couldn't be married to a dentist.

Don't be silly.

Will you have to cancel the service?

No. It can still go ahead.

But what if it was the vicar who k*lled him?

You did say it was his sword.

Oh, I don't think Stephen Wentworth did it.

For a start, he didn't have a shadow of a motive.

In fact, quite the opposite.

JOYCE: Meaning?

Well, if Richard Bayly had lived for another few hours, he might have changed his will and left a fortune to the church.

Do you know who did k*ll him?

Do you want the truth?

I haven't the faintest idea.

Now, look, it can all go ahead as planned.

In fact, I'm going back myself to St Michael's later on this morning.

Oh, don't tell me. They're burying him.

No. He's being cremated.

But there is a memorial service. Do you want to come?

No. Thank you.

CULLY: I've got to go. I'm gonna be late.

You off to the playhouse? Yep.

We're doing the mad scenes from "The Duchess of Malfi."

That director friend of yours.

What's his name? CULLY: [ Sighs 1 Simon Fletcher.

I'll give you a lift.

How's it going, then, this "Duchess of Malfi"?

It's good.

Simon's really into Jacobean theater.

He makes it seem very real.

What sort of person would you say he is, then?

Simon Fletcher?

Why do you want to know?

I'm just interested.

No, you're not.

All right.

Simon Fletcher was seen in Badger's Drift yesterday, just before Richard Bayly was k*lled.

So, what, Dad? He used to live there.

How do you know?

He told me.

But he hasn't been back there for years.

Why not? I don't know.

Look, do you mind if I come inside and meet him?

Yes. I won't embarrass you.

Dad, he's a big director.

He could be really helpful to me.

I may still have to investigate him.

No!

Morning, Cully.

Hi, Simon.

This is Simon Fletcher.

How do you do?

I'm Tom Barnaby.

Hi.

You enjoying it down here?

Yeah. It's good to get out of London.

Yeah.

Well, I'll see you this evening.

Nice to have met you, Mr. Fletcher.

Sure.

He doesn't look like a policeman.

[Chuckles]

Shall we go on in?

Yeah.

[Organ plays]

TROY: I didn't think you were gonna make it.

TOM: I went into Causton.

I saw Simon Fletcher. Thank you.

And? Nothing.

We didn't speak.

[Crowd sings indistinctly]

Please be seated.

It's good to see such a large turnout to commemorate the life of Richard Bayly.

He was taken from us in a way that passes all understanding.

But I know and believe that his k*ller will be brought to justice.

Richard was not a well man.

But on the night of his death, he told me he was not afraid of dying.

There is some comfort in that.

-[ Yawns] STEPHEN: Even so, we shall all miss him as a good neighbor and a good friend.

Richard was a generous man, both with his material wealth and with his time, helping to organize the fete, for instance.

Of course, there were those who felt uncomfortable about his work... his many developments in and around the village.

But he loved Badger's Drift.

He loved the village.

And that's why this week's fete will continue, dedicated to his name.

What were the things that mattered most to Richard?

First and foremost, I would have said his friends.

His friends, old and new, who stayed close to him throughout his life.

[Gate creaking]

The gate he never oiled because he liked to know when visitors were coming.

[ Knocking]

His beautiful house and the way his front door was always open to everyone.

It's you.

Please, come in.

[Gasps]

[Screams]

STEPHEN: The pear tree in his garden that he cherished and the single pear he gave me every harvest festival.

Richard lived his whole life here in Badger's Drift.

He was a boy here, and he has died here.

He has paid the price, as we must all pay.

Let us think of him as we sing our final hymn.

[Bell ringing]

[Bell ringing]

Thank you so much for coming.

You're very kind.

Nice to see you.

Well, that's that, then. Yes.

Why do I feel there's so much more to it, huh?

Afternoon, Detective Inspector. Sergeant Boy.

You're very cheerful, Mr. Whitely.

I am. I heard from Crossbeam Holdings this morning.

Richard's development company.

They've agreed to my price for the lodge.

Oh, you'll be selling, then.

DAVID: [Chuckles] You bet.

I've had my fill of Badger's Bloody Drift.

To hell With it.

Agnes!

Good afternoon, Mr. Barnaby.

Barnaby?

You're the policeman investigating this m*rder?

Yes, sir.

You should have a word with her.

Agnes Sampson, my wife's sister.

She couldn't stand the fellow.

Ever since he bought the old schoolhouse and then sold it.

I'm sure she wasn't alone, sir.

You ask her.

Ask her where she was the time he was k*lled.

You ask her that.

His sister-in-law.

That must be Reginald Williams.

He used to run the post office.

[Chuckles ] Charming.

Mr. Barnaby.

Dr. Henson.

Could I have a word with you?

Not here. Somewhere private.

Are you making tea?

I thought that went quite well.

Well, it was the high point of the year.

Angela.

A memorial service with a half-full church.

It's just a shame you didn't get the funeral.

You like funerals, don't you? Please.

I'm fed up, Stephen.

Fed up. Fed up. Fed up.

Is it always going to be like this?

I'm happy as a parish priest.

But when I married you, I thought you were going to be so much more.

An archdeacon at least.

Surely a bishop.

I did everything you asked.

I joined every committee you put me up for.

The Diocesan Synod. The Bishop's Council.

But the bishop never even looked at you.

I don't think he liked you.

Perhaps it's you he doesn't like.

May God forgive you, Angela, for what you've done to me.

All these years.

"I'm happy as a parish priest."

I could have been happy.

I could have been.

But you put a stop to that.

Richard Bayly wasn't dying.

What?

The evening he was k*lled, I received a phone call from Causton Hospital.

[Telephone ringing]

Dr. Henson.

What?

What are you talking about?

It turned out there had been a mistake with the files.

You can't be serious.

You mean he didn't have a brain tumor after all?

Yes. He did. But nonmalignant.

Smaller. It was a complete cock-up.

Did you phone him?

I tried to, but the phone was off the hook.

So in the end, I decided to go 'round.

TOM: What time was that?

BARBARA: About 5 to 12200.

It was only when I got there I realized I was making a bloody fool of myself.

I just couldn't go barging in there at midnight.

In the end, I decided to go home.

But I was back 'round there first thing the following morning.

That's why you were so worried he'd committed su1c1de.

It would have been my fault, for heaven's sake.

I was worried sick.

While you were waiting outside Richard Bayly's house, did you, by any chance, see anyone approach?

As a matter of fact, I did.

It was just as I was driving off.

It was Ian Eastman. You know. The estate agent.

I saw him by the green.

He was heading towards the house.

I'm sure of it.

TROY: Is that what you think this is all about?

The development at Tye House?

TOM: Looks like it.

But I still don't see the sense of it.

k*lling Richard Bayly hasn't stopped the development going ahead.

Just the opposite.

Dave Whitely has got the price he wants now, so the thing can be built.

Maybe David Whitely k*lled him for just that reason.

Tiny flaw in that argument, Troy.

Really?

Dr. Henson may have got it wrong, but David Whitely didn't know that.

Nobody did.

As far as the village was concerned, Richard Bayly was about to have a life-threatening operation.

So why k*ll a man who's already dead?

[Door opens, bell rings]

Good afternoon. Olive.

Miss Beauvoisin.

We're looking for Ian Eastman, please.

What are you doing here?

The last time we spoke to you, sir, you told us you didn't go out the night Richard Bayly was k*lled.

Yes.

Well, we have a witness statement that contradicts that.

You were seen by the green at 5 to 12:00.

Well, I wasn't.

Your witness must be wrong.

Are you sure about that, sir?

Of course I'm sure.

I didn't leave the house.

Where would I have been going in the middle of the night?

We were hoping that you'd tell us that, sir.

I have told you.

It wasn't me.

I wasn't going anywhere.

[ Bell rings]

If you ask me, the two of them are at it --

Eastman and Miss Beauvoisin.

At it? In a relationship.

It's possible.

I was thinking, sir. Oh. Oh, yes?

About what you were saying earlier.

Why k*ll a man who's already dying?

Answer -- to stop him changing his will.

Ah!

The vicar's already told us Richard Bayly had decided to change his will to benefit the steeple fund.

Maybe that's why he was k*lled.

That, too, is possible.

I wonder if he had a solicitor.

[ Door opens]


Ah.

It is a pleasure to see you again, Chief Inspector, Sergeant, even though, if I recall, the last time we met was when one of my clients had the grave misfortune to be, um...

m*rder*d.

Precisely.

And now Mr. Bayly, too. [Chuckles]

How can I help you?

We've been led to believe that Mr. Bayly was considering changing his will to benefit his local church.

Oh. That may be the case.

He had, however, failed to communicate that to me.

It had been some months, indeed, since I had last spoken to him.

Can you tell us who actually benefits under the terms of the will?

Well, Mr. Bayly was a wealthy man with no dependents.

The bulk of his money he left to a Mrs. Margaret Green.

She lives in Perth.

Scotland?

Australia.

There are some smaller bequests.

Various charities.

He did, in fact, leave £500 to the church of St. Michael.

That won't get them very far.

No.

You say he was planning to change his will?

Perhaps he was going to give them more.

[Chuckles]

But I suppose we shall never know.

Well, that was a waste of time.

Oh, I don't know.

Why did Richard Bayly lie? How?

According to Stephen Wentworth, Richard Bayly had already begun to make arrangements to change his will.

He was quite clear about it.

He wasn't just thinking about it.

He'd already begun.

Well, maybe he called another solicitor.

Maybe. Maybe you're right, Troy.

Well, that would make a change.

Maybe this has all to do with Tye House.

That's what seems to connect them.

Richard Bayly, Agnes Sampson, Ian Eastman.

TROY: And David Whiteley.

TOM: And David Whitely.

The one man who's benefited from Richard's death.

[Flames crackling]

[Coughing]

Help!

Help!

For Christ's sake! Help!

Help!

Help me!

Why?

I don't understand.

God in heaven!

Why?!

[Screams]

JOYCE: We've got 40 people so far.

What? Coming to the service.

Peter and Anne are flying in from New York.

Joyce.

You said it can all go ahead as planned.

Those were your very words.

Yeah. I know I did.

I've got a list of the hymns here.

"All Things Bright and Beautiful."

"There ls a Green Hill."

And "Onward, Christian Soldiers."

"Onward, Christian Soldiers."

That's Troy's favorite.

I've invited him, too.

No, you haven't, have you? Yes, I have.

Oh. How are you planning to feed them all afterwards?

All this congregation. I'm talking to caterers.

It's cheaper than the Orient-Express would have been.

I suppose you're right.

I'll see you later. Oh.

It's the Badger's Drift fete.

Yes. Well, we mustn't disappoint Stephen.

That's looking really good, Charles.

Thank you.

I see you've drafted in some help, Ian.

What?

Oh. Yeah.

[ Both laugh]

Listen.

You two girls want to earn a quid?

Yeah.

Lovely spread, Brenda.

Thank you.

Well done, Claire. Thank you.

All set, Reggie?

[ Laughing] Oh, yes, Vicar.

Looks as if we're going to have the weather for it.

Absolutely.

Did you manage to find someone to open the fete?

A celebrity?

No. Not yet.

But I may have had an idea.

I'll be back forthwith.

Forthwith?

Good morning.

Hello. How are you?

I'm fine.

Look, I wanted to apologize about the other day.

There's no need.

No, no. I should have explained.

The thing is, I've been under quite a lot of stress recently, and when you mentioned Richard --

Oh. Did you know him?

Yes. We were very close.

Actually, he's part of the reason I'm here.

Oh. I'm sorry.

If he was a friend...

And now your father's investigating his m*rder.

How's the case coming along?

He hasn't really said.

I don't suppose he's mentioned the school?

The school?

Badger's Drift Primary School.

Has he mentioned it?

Simon!

Simon Fletcher.

I recognize you even though it's, what, 30 years.

[Chuckles] Hello, Stephen.

[Chuckles] I still remember you in the choir.

Lovely voice.

When I heard you were in Causton, well, I hope you'll forgive the opportunism.

I'm sorry?

Well, I need to find someone to open the village fete this afternoon.

I was gearing up to do it myself, but with a real, live celebrity in town, I had to come and find you.

Oh, I don't know.

Well, you're networking this afternoon?

No. It's a half day, but...

I'd be so grateful.

I'm going to be there.

Are you?

I'm meeting my dad.

If you want to speak to him, then...

All you have to do is simply say a few words and look at a few stalls.

It's for a very good cause -- saving the church tower.

What time?

2:00, sharp.

All right, then.

Excellent. Excellent.

I shan't have labored in vain.

All those hills. [Chuckles]

[ Bell tolls]

A real, live celebrity, eh?

[Chuckles ] You'd better be there to hold my hand.

[Chuckles]

TROY: Sir.

Hi, Troy. What's happening?

There's been another death.

[Camera shutter clicks]

You've got a right one here, Tom.

What the hell is going on?

First a decapitation. Now this.

Doesn't bear thinking about.

Are you sure that's David Whitely?

He's unrecognizable, but I'll pull the dental records, and that'll tell.

Do you want to look at the body?

What's left of it?

Troy.

Thank you.

Here, sir.

God!

When's it going to end?

It's horrible.

I mean, he would have burned alive in there.

And it wouldn't have been quick.

Yes. Thank you, Troy.

No need to go into details.

[Sighs]

You realize we could have prevented this.

Eh?

Remember the last time we saw Whitely?

It was outside the church.

Yes.

You're very cheerful, Mr. Whitely.

I am. I heard from Crossbeam Holdings this morning.

Richard's development company.

They've agreed to my price for the lodge.

Oh, you'll be selling, then.

DAVID: You bet.

I've had my fill of Badger's Bloody Drift.

To hell with them.

TROY: David Whitely tells us the development can go ahead.

Then the next thing that happens...

Exactly.

But who else was there?

Who else overheard?

Yes?

TOM: Miss Sampson? Agnes Sampson?

Are you the police?

Good afternoon. I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.

Sergeant Troy.

Come in.

I've been expecting you.

Of course I've seen changes.

One can't stand in the way of progress.

Of course not.

But it's the greed I can't stand.

Old building being bashed down and converted for weekenders who'll pay double the market value, and that just pushes the prices up and forces the real villagers out.

Is that why you decided to teach Richard Bayly a lesson?

Who told you that?

Ian Eastman, the estate agent, said that you were upset about some trees.

Three oaks and a yew.

Beautiful plants.

Ancient.

But down they have to come so that the weekenders can play their wretched golf.

On the night he was k*lled, you went 'round to Richard Bayly's house.

Yes.

To cut down his pear tree.

An eye for an eye.

A tree for a tree.

I knew how much it meant to him, his precious pear, and I thought, "How about putting the boot on the other foot for a change, see how he feels?"

Why didn't you?

What happened to stop you?

What did you see?

I didn't see anything.

I knew there was an ax in the shed.

I'd seen it there before.

I suppose it was a little before midnight.

I took the ax and went back across the garden.

I'd only got about halfway across when I heard the garden gate open and shut.

[Footsteps approaching, gate creaking]

It was actually midnight on the dot, and he had a visitor.

[ Knocking]

I heard them.

RICHARD: Oh. It's you.

Please, come in.

AGNES: I don't know who it was, but the interruption brought me to my senses.

I got rid of the ax and went home.

It was a stupid idea, anyway.

I don't know what possessed me.

And you're sure there's nothing more you can tell us about this person you heard?

Was it a man or a woman?

I didn't see them.

But I still can't believe it was the person who k*lled him.

He greeted them like an old friend.

[Whistle blowing]

[Microphone feedback]

SIMON: It gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to Badger's Drift's summer fete.

You know it's in a good cause, so I hope you'll spend lots of money and have a great time.

[Applause]

[Piano plays]

How did you know? About the pear tree?

Guesswork, really.

Ax on the lawn.

The old lady protesting about the trees.

Do you think she was telling the truth?

Oh, I don't think she k*lled Richard Bayly.

I don't think she k*lled either of them.

Batty she may be, but not psychotic.

Maybe we should find out who else was protesting.

Yeah. You know, I'm wondering if this is anything at all to do with Tye House.

Maybe we've been barking up completely the wrong tree.

Oh. It's 2215.

I said I'd meet Joyce at the fete.

You coming? Yeah.

I thought I'd win meself a coconut.

[Chuckles]

[Applause]

Just one, please.

[Smooches]

Ooh!

Aw!

Another one, please, darling.

[indistinct conversations]

Hello.

You well?

Om om Little horror. Oh.

Excuse me. I'll just sponge this off.

Oh, dear.

REGINALD: Win £5! [Laughs]

Three arrows for a pound.

Win £5.

Three arrows for a pound.

Ah!

WOMAN: Oh! Win £5!

Three arrows for a pound.

Getting close.

Oh.

I can see good fortune.

I hope you've done the lottery this week.

Aw!

[Giggles]

Yes!

Well done, ma'am.

Thank you. [Chuckles]

Bravo. There you are.

You can keep it on your desk.

You wouldn't be trying to damage my career, would you?

No.

But I'll more than damage it if you're not at St. Michael's at 11:00 tomorrow morning.

What? Just spoke to Stephen.

We're going to run through the service.

Oh, fine.

Have you seen Cully?

Do you fancy a drink, then? I could get us some tea.

Hmm.

Milk. No sugar, please.

I'll be right back. All right.

TROY: That's got to be!

[Sighs]

This time. Come on.

Oh!

These things nailed on?

You missed the grand opening.

Oh, yeah?

It was Cully's director.

They came here together.

Simon Fletcher.

[Breathing heavily]

Reggie?

Uh, have you seen Stephen?

No. What is it?

I'm missing one of my bows.

I only just noticed it. Only just now.

Are you sure?

Someone's only gone and nicked it.

Oh, no.

[Screams]

Get an ambulance. Simon!

Simon.

Dad?

TROY: We need an ambulance -- Badger's Drift fete.

It looks like it was fired from behind the palm-reading tent.

In full view of everyone, too.

It must have been someone with nerves of steel.

Or someone who didn't care if he was caught or not.

You all right, Cully?

Is he dead?

He most certainly is.

Why, Dad?

Why would anyone want to?

I was rather hoping you'd tell me that.

How well did you know him?

I didn't really know him at all.

This is all my fault, isn't it?

I stopped you speaking to him when you wanted to.

It wouldn't have made any difference.

He was asking about you this morning.

About me?

He wanted to know how the case was coming along.

He asked if you'd mentioned the school.

The school? What?

Badger's Drift Primary School.

He didn't say why.

What did I tell you, Troy?

Forget Tye House.

It's got nothing to do with it.

But why's the school so important?

I do not know. But that's all we keep hearing.

Time after time after time.

Agnes knew Richard all his life.

She taught him.

That was when the village still had its own primary school.

Richard always was a pompous bastard, even at school.

Ian knew Richard from school days.

Richard Bayly, Ian Eastman, and Dave Whitely all went to the same school together.

And didn't Simon Fletcher come from the village?

Yeah, he did. And he was asking after the school.

He must have gone there, too.

So, all three deaths -- Bayly, Whitely...

That's what connects them -- the school.

OLIVE: Oil-fired central heating.

-It has views... Miss Beauvoisin.

Miss Beauvoisin.

I'll be with you in a moment.

No, you won't, Miss Beauvoisin. You'll be with me now.

I'm looking for Ian Eastman. Where is he?

I can't say.

Now, don't play games with me.

There have been three murders in Badger's Drift.

Unless I find him soon, there could be a fourth.

TROY: This must be where he was going the night Bayly was k*lled.

Shh, Shh, Shh.

[Man speaking indistinctly]

[Man sighs]

IAN: I am not a h*m*.

In fact, it disgusts me, this need I have.

I was paying him, you understand.

It was a business arrangement. There's nothing wrong with that.

And how old is he, sir?

19.

I'm not interested at all in your private life, Mr. Eastman.

I'm here because I want you to tell me about Badger's Drift Primary School.

What?

TOM: I want to know about Richard Bayly, David Whitely, Simon Fletcher, and yourself.

I don't understand.

David Whitely has been k*lled.

And so has Simon Fletcher.

When?

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

[Breathing heavily]

Get him a glass of water.

[Sighs]

Richard, Simon, David, and me.

We called ourselves "the Sign of Four."

You know, like in Sherlock Holmes.

We were a secret society.

Had our own passwords. That sort of thing.

It was just a game.

But it all went wrong.

Another younger boy wanted to join us.

He was a friend of David's, so we agreed.

But we said he had to pass through an initiation ceremony.

You know -- to prove he was worthy.

[Bell clanging]

[Children shouting indistinctly]

We were just 11 years old, and he was 10.

You have to remember that. We were just children.

[Glass shattering]

Well, first of all, we made him smash a few windows in Mrs. Trace's greenhouse.

Not that there were many left to smash.

Then there were games.

Different games. I can't remember.

BOY: Come on, Felix. BOY #2: Come on, Felix.

But they were all leading up to the main initiation.

The test of endurance.

It was Simon's idea.

He always did have a sense of the dramatic.

Trial by gallows.

That's what he called it.

But we never meant to hurt him.

We never meant...

He had to stand there for five minutes with the rope around his neck.

On his own.

If he took the rope off, if he touched it, he couldn't join us.

BOY: Come on!

IAN: We didn't go far.

David had some cigarettes, and we smoked them about a minute away.

And we never thought the rope would hold.

We never told anyone.

They all thought...

They thought he'd k*lled himself.

They thought it was su1c1de.

And you've lived with it?

All this time?

What else could we do?

We were children.

We were terrified.

And years later, it was too late.

What good would it have done telling anyone?

No one knew who his father was.

Nine months later, his mother died.

What was he called?

The boy?

His name was Felix Bryce.

[Footsteps approaching]

If your father's late...

Mum, it's only just gone 11:00. He'll be here.

[ Door opens]

So, what are you saying, then?

That this is revenge? Yes.

For a m*rder which happened 30 years ago.

Richard Bayly. David Whitely.

Simon Fletcher.

And Ian Eastman would have been next if he hadn't have, um...

With a man young enough to be his son.

They were damaged goods, all four of them.

Okay.

So, it was revenge. But who?

Come with me.

Jennifer Bryce worked in the post office -- I told you.

What sort of a girl was she, Mrs. Williams?

Well, she was a very pretty one.

No sense in her head, though.

CLAIRE: I'm afraid that's true.

She got herself pregnant when she was just 17.

It was quite a scandal.

Yes. Well, in a place like Badger's Drift.

Reginald and I looked after her, of course.

But she never told us who the father was.

Was she a religious woman? God-fearing?

Oh. Quite the opposite.

She was a modern girl.

Independent.

She gave birth to a boy.

Felix.

A lovely child.

He took after his mother in looks.

Agnes taught him.

AGNES: He was very bright.

He was taking his eleven plus a year early, and I didn't push him.

Some people blamed me, you know, for what happened.

Oh, I don't think that's true, dear.

He k*lled himself, Chief Inspector.

In the wood. It was a terrible thing.

And poor Jennifer.

From the day they found him hanging from that tree, she just -- Well, she never recovered.

She just slipped away.

I'm late for the church.

Are you going? Yes. We both are.

On the way, we'll drop into the Vicarage.

I want a word with Angela Wentworth.

The vicar's wife? Yes.

I'm interested to know what sort of alarm clock she's got.

I'm afraid we are going to have to start, Mrs. Barnaby.

I have a confirmation class at midday.

Yes. All right.

Now, the service of blessing.

It will start, of course, with you and your husband coming down the aisle.

So, the first question is, are we going to have some Mendelssohn?

[Chuckles]

Well, I don't know.

Tom.

Dad.

I'm afraid the service is off.

JOYCE: Oh, no.

I'm sorry.

I don't understand.

TOM: You don't have to pretend anymore.

I know.

What?

Troy.

Stephen Wentworth, we're arresting you for the murders of Richard Bayly, David Whitely, and Simon Fletcher.

You don't have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in court.

Anything you do say may be given in evidence.

It was him.

TOM: Yes.

Why, Dad? Why Simon?

For something that happened 30 years ago, Cully.

They k*lled my son.

And nobody knew.

Nobody knew anything about it until Richard Bayly was wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumor and felt a need to do what any dying man would do -- confess.

Stephen, I know it's a bit late.

But do you think I could have a quick word?

Of course it's not too late, Richard.

Come back in.

TOM: 40 years ago, you had an affair with Jennifer Bryce, and she gave birth to a child, a little boy.

And she called him Felix, which means "happiness."

And Stephen, after you.

But neither of you ever told anyone about it.

I couldn't.

Jennifer understood that.

The parish would never have accepted it.

And Angela had such plans for me.

I was going to be a bishop.

But when he was 10 years old, Felix died.

You thought it was su1c1de.

Yes. Can you imagine what it was like to live with that all these years?

To believe that my son --

It k*lled Jennifer Bryce.

It broke her heart.

Broke it.

And I had to bury her, and nobody knew.

And then, out of the blue, Richard Bayly told you what had really happened all those years ago.

Of course, he didn't know who he was talking to -- the father of the boy he k*lled... the man whose life he'd ruined.

He just wanted to get it off his chest.

You know, you almost gave it away at that memorial service.

He was a boy here, and he has died here.

He has paid the price, as we must all pay.

Paid the price.

I thought that was an odd choice of words.

But, of course, that was exactly what he'd done.

In your eyes, anyway.

TROY: And you were lying to us, weren't you?

He never changed his will.

It wouldn't have mattered if he had.

I would have k*lled him anyway.

I didn't want his money.

But making me think he was going to change his will, that threw me.

Even when his solicitor told me his client wasn't planning any changes at all, that you'd obviously lied, I still believed you.

Yes. I was very surprised.

Deception came very easily to me.

...in assaults of our enemies... that we, trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of our adversaries.

Through the might of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

TOM: And that same night, you decide to take your revenge.

No planning. No calculation.

He had to die by your hand before his operation.

You're carrying the sword across the village.

You don't care if you're seen.

And you arrive at Richard Bayly's house at midnight exactly.

[Gate creaking]

[ Knocking]

Oh. It's you.

Please, come in.

[Screams]

[ Body thuds 1

It was only afterwards that you realized you'd have to give yourself some sort of alibi.

You'd used your own sword, the first w*apon you could find.

And that is when you decided to involve your wife.

Angela had taken a pill, so you knew she'd be sound asleep.

You put the alarm clock back 35 minutes.

And then you woke her up.

[Dog barking]

[Means]

There's someone in the house.

What is it?

Downstairs. What time is it?

Your wife has told us that you asked her what time it was, and I wondered about that.

If the clock was visible, why ask her what the time was?

201012200.

TOM: Unless it was important that she should remember it.

Of course. You're absolutely right.

And once you'd got rid of Richard Bayly, there was no stopping you, was there?

All the rest had to be punished, didn't they?

Oh, yes.

DAVID: Why?

I don't understand.

God in heaven!

Why?!

[Screams]

TOM: The methods you used should have told me something.

The flames.

The sword.

The arrow.

It was all somehow so biblical, so Old Testament.

The sh**ting at the fete.

I said at the time it was an act of bravado.

You see yourself as the hammer of God?

Didn't care if you were caught?

No. I didn't care if I was caught.

But it had nothing to do with God.

Those men took away the only good things in my life.

I k*lled them because I wanted to.

I'm glad I did.

Those men were children when your son was k*lled.

It was an accident.

Troy.

Sir.

I've spent 40 years in this church.

Can you just give me one minute more?

In prayer?

Yes, of course.

So, that's what you're like in action?

I don't believe it, Tom.

TOM: I'm sorry.

Sir!

Get after him, Troy!

Angela! Angela!

ANGELA: Stephen!

What are you doing up there?

TROY: Sir!

Don't do it!

Of course I'm going to do it.

I should have done it years ago.

No!

[Screams]

Stay there. Stay where you are.

[ Door opens]

Are you sure you've got everything?

Passports. Tickets. Traveler's checks.

TOM: And me. JOYCE: Yes.

Come on, Mum.

It's gonna be great.

Rolls-Royce.

The Orient Express to Venice.

It's so romantic.

With our luck, the driver will probably be k*lled.

m*rder on the Orient-Express? Been done.

Send us a postcard.

Bye-bye, love. Mm!

Mum. Dad.

[Engine turns over]

[Cans rattling]
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