Original subtitles

Is that him?

Hey! He's here!

This is the holy flame which shall consume our wickedness

and purge our people of evil for the year to come.

ALL MURMUR

Burn! Burn! Burn!

LOUDER: Burn!

Burn! Burn!

FASTER: Burn! Burn! Burn!

Burn! Burn! Burn!

Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn!

Burn! Burn!

And the name of the missing man is Jonathan Riddle.

Building contractor and undertaker.

He was last seen by his family last Friday, 7:30pm,

when he went back to his yard.

His wife reported him missing Sunday evening.

Local knowledge suggests it's more than a Mispers enquiry.

BELL TOLLS

RINGS BELL

Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

Your team's at the Sunday school, sir. With Sergeant Luff.

You found some clothes?

Found Monday afternoon, sir. Out by the Gardners' farm.

There's a barn there. Kids turned 'em up, playing.

Mrs Riddle identified 'em as what her husband was last seen wearing.

Personal effects?

Just a wallet. £30 in it still. Mm.

Looks to be blood on the collar, doesn't it?

Do you reckon he was...?

If he planned to go missing, I doubt he'd do it naked.

Get these off to Chepstow, Constable. Luff, sir.

Eva Luff.

Anyone spring to mind who might have had it in for him?

Not as you mean, sir.

Bit of bad blood between him and a local farmer, Ephraim Gardner.

About what? Gardner's daughter, Asenath.

Had a kiddie six months back. No father, see?

None as would give it a name, leastways.

Eph got it into his head Riddle was responsible. Why?

She used to work up Riddle's yard. I know it's a bag of nonsense,

but he ain't been right since he lost his missus.

Not that he'd do anything, mind. His bark's worse than his bite.

Anyone else? No. Not really, ma'am.

What's all this about a wheel? The wheel?

That's just folk getting daft ideas in their heads.

Detective Superintendent Wycliffe, Sergeant.

What sort of daft ideas? Scapegoat ceremony.

Every year, come midsummer eve, the village builds a damn great wheel

and puts an effigy in it.

He's the scapegoat, see?

Bit like a Guy Fawkes. Masked. Spirit of evil.

To bring the village good luck in the next 12 months,

they set fire to it

and roll it off the headland into the sea, sort of thing.

What's that got to do with Riddle?

One of the girls at the ceremony, drunk, like as not,

thought that as the wheel went bowling down towards the cliff,

the mask fell away, and it was Riddle inside.

SNIGGERS

Sorry, sir.

You had words with your husband that Friday evening, Mrs Riddle.

What was all that about?

Just... oh, nothing, I suppose.

It weren't nothing at all, Sarah.

You didn't want him to go back to work.

She didn't want him to go back to work.

That's what it was over. Never mind nothing.

John always went back the yard, Fridays after tea.

Huh! The way she let off at him!

You didn't think it odd, his not returning?

He went off in a mood.

Can you blame him? He worked bloody hard for you and Matthew,

and all you could do is go on at him.

Shut up, shut up, you old witch! I can't stand it!

It's my husband! My son!

I'll put you in a home! This is my home, girl.

Long before you came here! So don't talk to me about no home!

Oh...

I'm sorry. In front of the Superintendent, Mother, really.

What will he think of us?

Had he stayed away before? The odd night. He liked a drink.

Likes, I mean. He likes a drink.

That Saturday, were you worried when he didn't turn up?

I reckoned maybe he was teaching me a lesson - staying away.

It was the weekend. Yes.

I said to Matthew,

"Your father's having a game with me."

And we laughed.

No, I thought he might have gone to Frume.

He's got a friend out that way, from national service. Drinking partner.

Do you think...? He's dead.

Oh, Mother!

Why do you say that, Mrs Riddle?

I know my son.

He's never stopped away from home for any length of time.

He'd have been to work Monday, if he was able.

Do you think my husband's dead, Superintendent?

We're keeping an open mind, but finding his clothes...

obviously we can't rule out the possibility of foul play.

Murder, you mean!

Friday before last, he withdrew £1,250 from his account.

Er, Karen, turn that round a bit. That's it.

Was that cash? Yes.

That's a lot for a small branch to be carrying, isn't it?

Mr Riddle pays his men in cash each week.

He normally withdraws £1,000. That Friday he took the extra £250.

Any idea what for? None at all.

We don't pry, Inspector. Well, we do.

In fact we make something of a virtue out of it.

I saw him last when I knocked off Friday, about five.

I said, "Bye, then, Mr Riddle." He said, "See you Monday, Melanie."

I said, no, I'd see him Saturday, at the scapegoating.

Oh, morning, sir. Building or...? No...

Oh, bereavement, is it?

This is Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

Oh. I'm sorry, sir.

I'm looking for Matthew Riddle. He's in the chapel of rest,

with Mrs Pengellin.

Thank you.

KNOCKING

Mr Riddle? Mm?

Could you close the door, please?

Relatives, see. Yes, yes, of course.

You shouldn't be in here, by rights.

I'm not a customer. Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

Police!

Oh, no. Better not shake, eh? Quite right. So!

Looking for Dad, is it? Yes.

I tell you I've been so worried over him,

I don't know how I've been working, that's a fact.

My heart's just not in it today.

'It's concerning the disappearance of Mr Jonathan Riddle.'

'No, he's respected. Like death.'

We all get an appointment with him sooner or later.

He's not what you'd call a popular man, was he?

Had a bust-up with him yourself, didn't you, Sid?

Jonny Riddle? That old basket?

Sid Passmore. General tinker. Cars and so forth.

Runs a burger place at Frontier City.

You was both chasing the same field, eh, Sid? You and Jonny?

Crafty old bugger gazumped me.

Buried the hatchet now, though?

Hell, yes. Life's too short for grudges.

Want to tell that to Ephraim.

LAUGHTER

Can you think of any reason why your father might want to disappear?

Money worries? Everything all right with the business?

Mr Riddle? Business is fine.

WOMAN SCREAMS

You all right, my love?

I gave it to him when he come back from Mr Chope's funeral.

He come out of his office and slung it in the bin.

What is it?

Mr Riddle got a package Friday, sir.

About 8pm Friday, someone saw Riddle head out of town to Westhead Point.

On foot? Yeah.

Heading for Ephraim Gardner's farm, according to your witness.

Yeah, that's right, sir. Gardner's?

That's where his clothes were found. Mm.

Bloke's a complete nutter. Fancies himself as a druid.

Isn't he a farmer? Yeah.

With a touch of the weekend warlocks.

He's the guy that organises this scapegoat thing.

Have a word. See if Riddle came by his place Friday night.

Sir, the wheel's been spotted.

Sergeant Luff? Sir?

How was the scapegoat attached to the wheel?

Tied, sir. Hands and feet.

With what? Sash. Done quite tight, I believe.

Who made it? Ephraim Gardner.

Mr Gardner?

Mr Gardner?

I'm Mr Gardner.

Who might you be?

Dad? Mind your business, Asenath!

What are you doing? He was in the house!

Police officer, miss. Says you. Off my land!

SHRIEKS, GUNSHOT

CHICKENS SQUAWKING

You sent a package to Riddle's yard. A sheep's heart and a tarot card.

The Tower Struck Down.

You prove it.

D'you think Riddle is the father of Asenath's baby?

The parentage of my grandson is no concern of the police.

All right?

Did Riddle come to your house that Friday evening, Mr Gardner?

No.

Are you sure about that?

All right. All right...

Let's talk about the wheel.

I understand that you built the wheel yourself

in one of your sheds - the shed where Riddle's clothes were found.

I've told Sergeant Luff, I don't know how they got there.

Hmm.

The wheel was in there till when?

Saturday afternoon. Eve of the festival.

Would it have been possible for someone to get into your shed,

remove the scapegoat,

and substitute a body in the scapegoat's clothes?

You don't want to listen to gossip.

People round here'd make up any old rubbish.

Could it have happened? It could have, but it didn't.

Now, the legend says it's bad luck if the scapegoat washes up. Right?

The sea cleanses us of our sin.

And so far it's never been washed back up, has it?

It's bound tightly.

Interesting bindings.

Sash, plaited with slow-burning fuse.

That's why your scapegoat never came back, Mr Gardner.

Not yet it hasn't, no.

But this year...

I had a dream.

The scapegoat was...

reaching up to me from the depths.

Pulling me down.

I couldn't breathe.

You mark my words, Mr Wycliffe.

This year, he's coming back.

I'm very sorry, Mrs Riddle.

A-aah...

Sorry. I didn't expect...

It's just...my dad, see. That's all right.

Mr Riddle, there's a possibility

your father may not have taken his own life,

in which case - He was killed?

He could have been murdered.

Yeah.

I'm sorry, but I have to ask you where you were that Friday night.

I went to Penzance, to the pictures.

Alone? Mm.

What time did you get back home?

I was late. The car packed up on the way back.

I went by Sid Passmore's about 11:30.

He'd just come back from Frontier City.

That was a bit of luck, he come back with me and got her started.

Matthew come by about 11:30, I reckon, poor fella.

His motor was banjaxed halfway between here and Penzance.

You went back with him?

That's right. Took a bloody age to get it going.

Carb was mucked up with God knows what.

Finally got her shifted about two.

Did you see anyone on the way back? I could hardly keep my eyes open.

The Lord could've gone by on a skateboard singing hallelujah,

and I doubt if I'd have seen him.

Him being thrown against the rocks hasn't done us any favours.

He's got lacerations, contusions, fractures,

five or six deep traumatic injuries to the skull,

lungs and airways waterlogged.

How long had he been in the water? Six or seven days at least, I'd say.

Was he alive when he went in?

If it's sea water in his lungs, then yes, he was.

Was it? Well, I don't know yet. I won't know until the lab

have done a sodium chloride test. It'll take a couple of days.

Any burns? Wrists or ankles? No, no, no.

The way things stand at the moment,

he was either pushed off the cliff,

or walked into the sea of his own accord.

Is there anything else?

Stomach contents? Well, yeah, if you must.

A meal of ham and tomatoes, well on their way to being digested.

He's also consumed several sherries, a large amount of nuts and raisins

and I think, um, a Turkish delight.

I've told the office, sir.

Did Matthew sign the delivery note?

Yes, sir. We checked with the girl.

He ordered the goods and signed on delivery.

This one's dated the 14th. The suppliers invoiced Riddle

for one WC suite in green and one stainless steel worktop,

neither of which appears on the corresponding delivery note.

Yet Matthew signed it all correct.

He's been robbing his father blind,

over-ordering the gear and selling off the surplus.

I was paying him back,

something each week out of my wages.

How long had it been going on?

About 12 month.

How much did you make?

A few thousand.

What did you do with it? I spent it.

All of it?

I am partial to a game of cards.

I meant to tell you. I should have, I know.

But with what happened, I've got enough trouble without all that.

Hello.

I've been admiring the house.

Oh, yes?

Yeah. I was wondering how it came to be built here?

I'm sorry?

Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

I'm with the...

Oh, yes. Yes.

I was on my way to the Gardners', actually. Saw the house. Mrs...?

Miss Penrose. Mariah Penrose.

I'm teacher at our little school here.

Lovely view. Yes.

D'you live here alone, Miss Penrose?

No, with my father. He's home, but he wouldn't have come to the door.

Why's that? Arthritis.

That's why the house is where it is - why we're where we are.

The council acquired it for the man who looked after the sewage outfall.

He had to be here to open the sluice when the tide was right.

That was my father's job.

So who does the sluices now?

Oh, they built a new outfall the other side of town.

We stayed here.

Come in.

Thing is, Miss Penrose, we're conducting an enquiry.

Oh, yes. The undertaker. I know.

We think he might've passed this way on his way to the Gardners'.

If that's where he was going, he'd have come by here.

You didn't see him?

No.

Or your father? Dad's window faces the sea.

Oh, yes, of course.

Right.

I won't waste any more of your time.

How long are you here?

Oh, a while, I expect.

If you're by this way again, pop in for a drink.

I'll bear that in mind. Thank you.

Dad's out.

It's you I want to see. Oh, yeah?

Come in.

Thank you.

Why have you been covering up for Matthew Riddle?

Don't know what you're talking about.

When did you tell him you were pregnant?

About a year ago?

Around the time he started stealing from his father?

What? Matthew stealing?

How much did he give to you?

If you don't tell me, he will.

Do you have to tell my dad?

Tell him what? Well, he's...

Hang on a minute, Miss Gardner. What sort of people do you think we are?

Everything you tell me is held in the strictest confidence.

Information only of a personal nature is no concern of mine.

Well, if Dad knew about Matthew, he'd want me to marry him.

Would that be such a bad thing?

I wouldn't marry Matthew if he were the last man on earth.

Not that he'd have me. Afraid his dad might not approve.

Did his dad ever come here?

Never. If he had done...

Father couldn't stand him.

And Matthew?

Happened when Dad went to Brittany. Nine-day excursion.

I was left here alone.

He came then? Yeah. Three times.

I'd been out with him once or twice. You know, Penzance, the pictures.

Well, with Dad away, that's when it happened.

You used to work in Riddle's yard, didn't you?

Mm.

Did Matthew ever talk to you about his father?

Well, like what?

How he got on with his wife. Hmm. He had a woman.

Matthew told you that? No. I worked that out for myself.

Maybe I should've been a detective.

Why do you think he had a woman? I went back the office one Friday.

Old Riddle made a big thing about doing the books on Friday evening,

only, he weren't there.

That's hardly a...

And the johnnies.

I found his johnnies.

Yes, here they are.

How did she find them?

He got caught in the rain at the funeral.

She took the jacket to hang over the radiator, and they fell out.

As Asenath said, he don't need them for his wife, do he?

You think he had a mistress?

Let's hope so.

An affair? No!

No, that's impossible.

Did you and Mr Riddle use contraceptives at all?

I... I don't believe this.

Mrs Riddle? No.

Why was that?

We didn't need to.

We were finished with all that.

You see, we found some condoms in your husband's funeral suit.

Have you any idea...?

No!

What are you trying to do to me?

It appears more than likely, Mrs Riddle,

that your husband was murdered.

We have to explore every... Filth!

Filth!

I won't hear such filth.

Jonathan wouldn't. He didn't have to look elsewhere.

He had me! I'd have done!

He didn't have to, with that... Mrs Riddle.

..dirty, filthy...

Oh, I knew.

Fridays. Primpin'. Preenin'. Cuttin' the hairs in his nose.

Oh, I could smell her on him!

Sick! Sick!

Love! You call that love?

Like b... GASPS

Mrs Riddle!

Mum.

What did you do to her?

It's a heart attack. I knew she'd not cope.

She's on tablets as it is.

I was taking care of things!

I was being strong. It was all taken care of.

What was, Matthew?

With Dad. We'd have been all right.

It's the shock, see.

Was that what you meant? Yeah. Of course.

What else?

Your mother was at home when you got back Friday night?

Yeah. Watching TV.

She'd not been out? No. She was with my nan. She'll tell you.

Your grandmother was tired. She'd gone to bed about 8:30.

What are you saying? I'm not saying, I'm asking.

Could she have gone out? I didn't check her shoes

to see if they were wet!

I just come in, had a cup of tea as usual, and a chat.

You first told me everyone was in bed when you came in.

Now you say your mother was watching TV.

What was she watching, at 2:30am?

Mr Wycliffe, this isn't a very good time for us.

I want you to come to the incident room to answer some questions.

If you refuse, you'll be formally cautioned and arrested.

For what? On suspicion of being an accessory to murder.

I want a solicitor.

Sir? What is it?

'It's Gardner.'

Sir?

He left a note in the kitchen. Says he killed Jonathan Riddle.

"Riddle come here Friday as I asked him to."

"I let him sit down, then hit him on the back of the head with a brick."

"I took him down the Penrose place, to the basin, and put him in it."

"The sea did the rest."

"I am sorry for it and for what I have put Asenath through."

"I hope she can forgive me. Ephraim."

Where was the girl?

Gone to the village. Left the kid with Ephraim.

Come back and found him like he was. Poor cow.

I don't believe a word of it.

Excuse me, sir. Franks is through.

He'd like to see you, if that's all right.

Not suicide?

I sincerely doubt it.

The cut's in the right direction, but it's a single slice.

In a case like this,

you expect some tentative slashes before the real McCoy,

not straight through the trachea first time.

The slope's all wrong.

From the rear? Like as not.

SOCO's found something interesting about three feet behind him.

Peter! Could I have that sample?

Thank you.

Take a sniff.

I know that. What is it? You've got kids, haven't you?

Is it milk? More precisely,

a posset. Some of the child's feed regurgitated.

So you're saying, oh, dear God,

you're saying Asenath's baby was set down over there?

Which means what?

His murderer threatens the baby?

Ephraim writes the note,

and the murderer comes all the way round,

lays the baby down and cuts the man's throat?

Well, I leave the hypotheses to you, Charles.

It's not an entirely discreditable scenario.

Oh, by the way - friend Riddle.

Sodium chloride test turned out positive. Definitely sea water.

Thanks.

For the time being, we let it go out as suicide.

God knows what our man's capable of otherwise.

If he thinks we've fallen for it, maybe he'll relax.

I don't want any more deaths.

Are we taking any of this note on board?

We're not dealing with a great criminal intellect, Lucy.

The whole thing's a bit of a scramble.

Bits of it are probably on the level, though, sir.

Wrap the lie up in a truth.

Where did the killer set the body afloat?

What's happened? There's been cars and ambulances here all night.

Yeah. You've more inconvenience to come, I'm afraid.

There'll be some officers along presently

to have another look around.

You look terrible, Mr Wycliffe.

Come in. I'll make you some breakfast.

Not very hungry?

Er, no. Sorry.

Appetite's gone.

Never mind.

Look, can I make a phone call?

Yes, sir.

Yes, I quite understand that, sir, but that...

No, sir. That's not the point I'm trying to make.

No. No, in my view,

it's a matter of judgement, sir.

Yes. And that judgement can only be made, really, by the man on the...

No, sir. Of course not.

I'll keep you informed, sir.

On a daily basis, yes. Of course.

I'm sorry, sir, I'll have to ring you back.

KNOCKS

He was here, wasn't he?

That Friday night. Riddle came here.

I... Don't lie to me. He was here.

Who told you?

Riddle did. Matthew?

The father.

How could he?

The dead don't contact us through Ouija boards alone. He was here.

He had a sherry or two, some nuts, raisins,

Turkish delight...

What else?

Company.

Intelligent conversation.

He was quite an educated man, you know.

Well read.

It wasn't the sex.

That's the one people always assume, don't they?

He wasn't fussed about the sex.

He just wanted someone to talk to.

To hold.

To be held.

Did he come here every Friday night?

Almost, for the past two years,

and Wednesdays, if he could.

What time did he arrive and leave the Friday before last?

He arrived just after 8:30 and left around 11.

What time did you go to bed?

Right after he left. Around 11:15.

Do you sleep soundly?

I sleep like a log. What is all this?

The tide's coming in.

Yes, it does. Twice a day.

Matthew Riddle ever come here? Never.

I'd like to speak to your father now.

I watched you fishing him out and I thought,

"If that's where you've ended up, I can guess where you went in."

You mean the basin at the foot of the cliff?

Mr Penrose... I know who you are.

Can you remember what the tide was like that Friday evening?

Er, it was quiet.

Misty rain.

High tide was about 11:15.

It was four, four-and-a-half foot in the basin at the top of the flood.

If the body was placed in the water at that time,

would it have been washed away by the tide?

Unless it got snagged, certainly.

And if it was placed there later? Say two o'clock?

There'd be no water round the basin after one.

Not enough to float a cork.

One last question, Mr Penrose.

Could a body be placed in the basin early Saturday morning,

and remain there till the next high tide without being seen?

Not a chance, sir.

We've had the prelims on Riddle's clothing, sir. And?

Grass and mud deposit on the back of the jacket, shirt and trousers.

Which seems to suggest...

He was dragged some way along the ground.

DOOR OPENS

Would you wait outside, please, Mr Riddle?

I'm visiting my mother.

Then you'll appreciate she doesn't need over-exciting.

You don't have to speak to them, Mum.

No. I do.

I'll just be outside if you need me.

Something you want to tell me?

Yes, I know.

You should have told me before. Better late than never.

Matthew had nothing to do with it.

That's not strictly true, is it?

I...

Look, before you go any further,

I must advise you that you're under caution.

You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so,

but what you say may be given in evidence. Do you understand that?

It was me.

I don't know how it happened, but I...

..I can't remember.

You went to Mariah Penrose's place?

Mm.

What time?

I slipped out the house about 9:30.

I left my car parked round the corner.

What happened, Sarah?

I don't know.

I'd had enough, I suppose.

I just wanted to see the look on his face.

I waited for him till he come out,

just after 11.

He kissed her on the porch...

..putting his tongue in her mouth.

Something...

"went" in me.

She went back inside, and he...

..he came over toward the road.

It was the car I recognised.

Where were you?

Round the side of the house.

I-I found I had a rock in my hand.

I ran up behind him and hit him over the back of the head.

He fell down, and...

I don't remember.

And then what did you do?

I went home and had a bath.

Why did you send Matthew up there?

If you're going to tell, you might as well tell it all.

Matthew, Matthew was just...

He was just being kind.

He's a good boy.

What time was this?

Um, about one. He got back from Penzance.

He... He said he'd tidied up.

What did you offer Sid Passmore?

I promised he could come in on the business.

His stall ain't doing so well.

That was very generous of you.

What could I do? It was my mum.

Why did you go to him in the first place?

Couldn't you manage the body alone?

Why'd I go to him - I never.

He was there when I arrived. He saw what happened.

He got the body off the road down to the basin.

But the tide was going out.

No way Dad was gonna float off, so we dragged him back again.

He was dead? Yeah.

Mum had...

You saw him.

It wasn't only the cliffs done that to his head.

So on Saturday, with everyone at the scapegoating,

you and Passmore decided to have another go?

Yeah. I never knew what he'd done with the clothes,

putting them on Ephraim's land - none of that.

What did you do with your father?

I'd brung a body bag from work.

I put him in that, and...

and we stuck him in the boot of the car.

I drove back to the yard

and I hid him there in one of the caskets till the following evening.

I never touched him, Mr Wycliffe.

I...just tried to cover up what my mum had done.

SPAGHETTI WESTERN MUSIC

BELL TOLLS

APPLAUSE

'Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!'

'More thrilling action to come here in Frontier City.'

'The notorious Finn gang will soon be riding into town.'

HONKY-TONK PIANO

Something to eat, is it?

Would you get your coat and come with us, Mr Passmore?

I never done nothing.

I was just helping Matthew.

You murdered Ephraim Gardner...

AND Jonathan Riddle. No!

You know what sodium chloride is, Mr Passmore?

Eh?

Salt. Common salt.

The difference between fresh water and sea water.

And it was sea water we found in Jonathan Riddle's lungs.

He was still breathing when you put him in the basin.

Dying perhaps,

but you drowned him. No!

You knew there was no love lost between Riddle and Gardner.

That's why you hid the clothes on his land.

I never - I was helping Matthew out.

You'd been watching Riddle,

looking for some way to pay him back for gazumping you.

You're barmy.

By attacking Riddle,

Sarah gave you more than you could ever have wanted.

So you played the concerned friend for all it was worth.

When you thought we might crack Matthew or his mother,

you murdered Gardner,

and then tried to make it look like suicide.

He was your scapegoat.

All right... All right.

I've just got to turn the gas off.

Gun!

SCREAMING

Get the kids off the streets, will you!

Get off! Look, mate. What's your problem?

I'm a police officer. There's an armed man -

It's just a show, mate.

Ahh! GLASS SMASHES

You've done enough, Sid.

Gone mad?

Don't be silly.

Don't shoot, Sid.

You think you're so smart.

Let's see how bloody smart you are

with no bloody head on your shoulders.

Armed police!

Put that weapon down! Pull that trigger and I'll shoot.

Go on! Drop it! Down! Drop it now!

Drop it no! Go on, drop it! Ahh!

Cheers, mate.

Sid Passmore...

..I'm arresting you for the murder of Ephraim Gardner

and Jonathan Riddle.

You don't have to say anything unless you wish to do so,

but what you do say will be given in evidence.

You're off, then, sir?

Yes. Thanks for all your help.

And would you also convey my gratitude to your father?

I hear there's talk of a commendation.

Yes. Thank you, sir.

He's on the mend? Hopes to be back by Christmas.

Oh, that's good. That's very good.

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