Original subtitles

[bright music]

♪ The bell tower towns

♪ All ring out her name

♪ Calling me on

♪ To fall into you

♪ Angels fall

♪ They fall from heaven

♪ Like dreamers fall

♪ They fall from heaven

♪ Taking over feels so new

♪ You're gifted to me

♪ I am gifted to you

♪ Taking over, head over heels ♪

♪ Lifted above

♪ We are lifted above

[bag rustling]

When the '80s happened, I was too young to understand it.

Now I'm relieved I missed it.

Well, I sure remember the '80s, riding my Kawasaki

through the Himalayas, my ghetto

blaster strapped to my back carrier,

listening to Iron Maiden.

Now, that was music.

That stuff tonight?

Yeah.

I've had root canals more enjoyable.

To think they're booked for two bloody nights.

Oh, God.

Spare me.

Still, all in all, another night

building the legend of the Croc and Panther

on the touring circuit.

Tonight, Stolen Arrow, but next month, who knows?

Maybe the Rolling Stones unplugged or the Grateful Dead.

Dream on, Ray.

Good night. - Night.

[bell rings]

The hell?

[body thuds]

Jesus Christ!

God. Oh my God.

Hey. Hey, hey.

Hey, hey.

Stay with me, honey.

I'll call an ambulance.

Oh.

I think it might be a bit late for that.

You might want to call a hearse.

[ominous music]

♪

[country music]

[engine revving]

♪ I can hardly wait

♪ For the winter to come round ♪

♪ Everything's making sense

Sorry to keep you up past your bedtimes.

Yes.

Well, I had actually just poured myself a glass of wine

and was about to dye my eyebrows,

but this looks a lot more interesting.

Mm.

Now, according to Ray, she fell off the roof.

Fell or jumped?

Not clear.

That's why uniform called us.

They felt something was up.

And then down?

That's a bit soon.

Maybe they were triggered by her outfit.

Was she some kind of clown?

If she was, that outfit isn't funny.

It's a bit more tragic.

Hello, Mike.

Are you ready for me?

One moment, Gina.

Of course.

Do we have a name?

Nothing yet.

At first glance, no ID.

It's just I can see some valuable bodily fluids

slipping away. - Yes.

Thanks, Gina.

Yes, I should start work or, yes, you can see the fluids?

No, I need a moment.

Okay.

Yes, no.

Hello.

I don't know who you are, but we'll

do our best to find out all that

and how you came to land here in Brokenwood.

And I like your ribbons.

Nice touch. - Ribbons?

Really?

Yeah.

I had to say something nice.

Ray and Trudy?

Stay with Gina.

Gina, the bodily fluids are all yours.

Mike would never be so callous.

[liquid splashing]

I mean, she bloody just fell out of the sky.

Another couple of inches, and I might not

be talking to you right now.

But you are.

So lucky us.

All I'm saying is if someone's

going to throw themselves off a building,

they need to be more considerate.

They could have killed someone.

There was a concert here tonight.

A gig, an '80s group.

So, like a tribute band?

No, an actual group from the '80s, Stolen Arrow.

♪ Taken over, head over heels ♪

♪ Lifted above, we are lifted above ♪

[applause]

Thank you.

That was, of course, "Gifted."

[cheer]

"Gifted!"

Thank you, Brokenwood.

A great audience.

A great crowd.

For a great band, on keyboards, Anton Ridgeley.

[applause]

Guitar, Nick Sloan.

[applause]

Bass, Elaine Young.

And on drums, why it's me old mate from the golden years,

it's Paul Black.

The new one, it's called "Animals."

Any idea how the deceased got onto the roof?

None.

Is there internal access to the roof?

No.

But there is a turret of some kind?

It's a bell tower.

Operational?

Well, if you give it a good tug,

you'll get a dong out of it.

But it's not like we've got a secret hoard of bell ringers

around the back.

Campanologists.

I never said they were gay.

No.

Campanologists is the official term for those who ring bells.

Wow, you learn something new every day.

The deceased, you ever seen her before?

Never.

She's not regular.

So no idea who she is?

Are you asking me to narc?

Or just remember.

Can you recall seeing her in the crowd?

Couldn't help but notice.

She was front and center.

This is a new one.

Oh, we love you, James.

It's called "Animals."

It's for you, Peggy.

♪ Two by two

♪ Take me to your ark

♪ Two by two

Now that I think about it, her name might be Peggy.

Peggy?

Next thing I know, Peggy's falling out of the sky.

Poor love.

Ray, I need to ask you something.

There's a ladder leaning against the wall out there.

It's yours, I take it?

No.

What makes you say that?

It has Ray's ladder written on it.

Well, yes, it's... it's mine, but I didn't put it there.

Have you had any maintenance done around the place lately?

Well, Todd Taylor does a bit of handiwork

occasionally on an as and when basis.

But look, that ladder is usually locked

in the shed around the back.

There is no shed around the back.

All right.

But it doesn't have to be locked

away to have been burgled.

That's the law.

That is true.

So if someone came onto my land and commandeered

my clearly-labeled ladder, then climbed on the roof

and behaved like a kamikaze mosh pit lunatic,

that's on them.

Let's get fingerprints onto this.

[footsteps crunching]

[ominous music]

[birds chirping]

Two of the usuals.

Thanks, Frodo.

With pleasure.

They're rock stars from a band called Stolen Arrow.

And she's the bass player.

Female bass players are so... you know.

- Good? - Hot.

They're playing another gig at the Croc tonight.

I'm so there.

I thought they were lame, you know?

Full of old dudes, but apparently a lot of them died.

So now they have new people, including a female...

Female bass player.

So hot.

You like your music.

Who cares about the music if they've got a...

Female bass player.

Got it.

Oh, you shouldn't have.

I could have made coffee.

Well, let's just say I had a word with health and safety.

What have they got to do with coffee?

Well, they feel I should drink more good quality coffee.

What's wrong with my coffee?

Well, no, I didn't say there was anything wrong.

Oh, Frodo's is the best in town.

You have to admit that.

Fair comment.

It's just as well I did.

I bumped into members of the band from last night.

It's not going to work.

Sorry to interrupt.

I'm DC Chalmers, Brokenwood CIB.

I understand you're members of Stolen Arrow?

Nick, guitar.

- And? - Elaine.

I play...

Let me guess.

Bass.

Were you there last night?

No, but maybe tonight.

Last night totally sucked.

Dude, the crowd was, like...

19.

How do you know so much?

Occupational hazard.

Last night, a woman was found dead outside the venue.

Wow.

I mean, I know James Hathaway's songs are bad but...

Well, the fact remains that someone is dead,

and we're trying to identify her.

All we know is that the lead singer?

That's James.

James called out to her as Peggy.

Peggy's dead?

You know her?

No.

But you know her name?

Yeah, because of James, you know?

The one with the old ribbons on her dress?

Yeah.

She was wearing ribbons.

I never seen her before last night.

Yeah.

Me too.

We should go.

Might see you tonight?

Oh, you sure will.

So, apart from hanging out with a female bass player,

you learnt nothing.

There are three other members, the drummer,

Paul Black, the keyboard player, Anton Ridgeley, and

a roadie called Xanthe Sumner.

I'll reach out to them, see if they know more.

Well, good, because the victim's purse is hardly

shedding any more light.

Apart from $47 and an empty medicine container

of some kind, but the label's worn, no driver's license,

no credit cards, no ID of any kind.

Peggy, the woman who fell to Earth.

[phone ringing]

It's Gina.

She wants you.

Oh, please.

Seriously, Mike.

She's wanted you since the day you met.

No, she hasn't.

It's just... Gina?

Mike, I want you.

Now, please.

I'm on my way.

You're welcome to join me. - No.

Wouldn't dream of cramping your style.

Yeah.

And you know, things to do, tracing

the victim's identity and...

Tracking down next of kin, important stuff.

Good luck, Mike.

Good luck.

[contemplative music]

Gina?

Mike, I'm receiving mixed messages.

Okay.

I hate mixed messages.

I think that's true for everyone.

Where I come from, you never say what you truly mean,

or you may end up in jail.

And so, anyone know exactly what you

mean when you don't say it.

One must allude.

Do you know what it's like to allude, Mike?

I prefer to tell it like it is.

Although sometimes you keep yourself fully clothed.

You are a man.

That's not a criticism.

I like that about you.

That being?

Please, I'm alluding.

Gina, are we talking about...

The victim.

Who else?

The victim? Yes.

Good, of course.

Here she is.

Where else would she be?

So, what do you know?

Only mixed messages, but I think

she didn't die from the fall.

Yes, she has broken bones and a punctured lung

consistent with a fall, but survivable.

Based on?

She's alluding.

To what?

That she didn't jump, Mike.

She was pushed.

[ominous music]

[engine revving]

Can you make me a copy of that, please?

Gina is surmising foul play.

Based on?

A couple of things.

I understand she didn't scream.

Witnesses report that they didn't hear anything from her

before she hit the ground.

In Russia, many people fall out of windows.

It is government policy.

And it's not just from faulty aluminum joinery.

When they scream, you know they were helped

with their defenestration.

The silent ones made a free choice.

Then why do you think she was pushed?

This, contusions, she was held tightly,

strangled, perhaps, before being let go.

This is what I mean about mixed messages.

She didn't scream because maybe she was unconscious.

I have sent for toxicology.

And then there is this.

It's a bit irregular, so probably

not professionally done.

68131.

A prison marking?

Serial number, maybe?

Yeah, or an old phone number?

Look into it.

Must make sense to someone.

And that was it from Gina?

Ah, one more thing.

That is a serious historical wound.

A possible lobotomy scar.

Gina, I think that is unlikely.

Do you know if she's Russian?

We don't know anything about her identity.

Then please.

Gina informed me that, in some remote parts of Russia,

lobotomies are still performed as a cure

for nicotine addiction.

Wow.

Remind me to not take up smoking

when I'm touring Siberia.

Anything from you?

I'm still looking for any missing person alerts.

All right.

Where is this Mr. Hathaway staying?

They're all at the Brokenwood Motel.

[upbeat music]

[door knocking]

Who is it?

DSS Mike Shepherd, Brokenwood CIB.

[door clicks]

[door creaks]

Yes?

James Hathaway?

Yes.

I was wondering if I could have

a quick word about last night.

You're standing before a man with a broken heart.

So apologies if I come across a little flat.

Can I get you a coffee or something?

Thanks.

I'm all good.

Last night, after your concert at the Crocodile and Panther,

a woman was found dead.

Really?

That's no good.

Who was she?

Well, at this stage, we understand her name was Peggy.

Peggy?

Uh-huh.

Well, apparently you mentioned her in the concert.

Oh, as in that Peggy?

I was wondering if you knew her full name

or anything more about her.

No.

I mean, everyone knows Peggy.

She's been a fan of the group since we began,

but I haven't seen her in years, decades.

I mean, she was at the gig, but that's all I know.

I saw her in the crowd.

I gave her a shout.

We love you, James.

That's all.

Hey.

Mate, I heard...

I'm sorry.

I didn't know you were busy.

Oh, this won't take long.

I... I heard about Xanthe.

Who told you?

Mate, we're a band.

I'm so sorry.

I thought you might like something

to drown your sorrows?

Oh.

You know I'm trying to lay off this stuff.

Oh, sorry.

Detective Sherman, this...

Shepherd.

Shepherd, this is Paul Black, long time loyal drummer,

keeps time like a Swiss clock.

Detective?

What's up?

Well, you know old Peggy.

It seems she's dead.

Peggy?

No way.

What happened?

Good point.

What happened?

She was found outside the concert venue last night.

Heavy.

What?

Did she fall or something?

Why would you say that?

I seem to remember her swaying a bit, maybe a

bit trolleyed.

We're still looking into the exact cause.

You wouldn't happen to know her last name by any chance?

No, I don't recall her ever having one.

She's always just been Peggy.

Or where she came from?

No idea.

Sorry.

She used to follow us around back in the day,

had an obsession with the band, particularly James here.

Yeah, she was what you might call a groupie.

Anyway, I should get back to it.

Tell Anton all is forgiven.

Yeah.

The thing is, I would, but we don't know where he is.

Oh, that guy.

What... what about Xanthe?

What?

Don't you back a set.

She's with Elaine.

They're looking for Anton.

Hey, look, don't worry about it.

Okay?

I'll get it sorted.

Come on.

Hey.

It's going to be okay.

You can trust me.

I promise.

[hand patting]

I'll leave you to it.

You obviously have a lot going on.

Thanks for agreeing to meet up.

No worries.

You all right?

Quite tremendous.

- Does Frodo know you're here? - Oh, no.

Can we keep that quiet?

It's just I did some work for these fellas,

and they agreed to pay me in coffees.

But I feel like it's a ploy to keep me coming back.

And that feels disloyal to my bro, Frodo.

So I decided to drink them all at once.

And now I'm totally peaking.

Well, that's a very dedicated display of friendship, Todd.

Don't mention it.

You've done any work for Ray Neilson lately?

Yeah.

I was at the Croc yesterday as a matter of fact.

Why? - Did you use a ladder?

Ray's ladder, yeah.

I was doing the gutters in there.

It's much easier with a ladder.

Did you put it away?

Of course, around the back.

Why?

A woman fell off the roof of the Croc last night.

I was just wondering if it was opportunistic or deliberate.

Well, I totally put it away.

Tradesmen always tidies his tools.

You can even ask Dr. Plummer if you want.

Why, Dr. Plummer?

Well, he saw me taking the ladder down.

When was this?

Around 11:00 AM, when he dropped off the clown lady.

Oh.

[door thuds]

Cheerio.

Oh.

Hey there.

I think he might be into clowning,

you know, with all the operatic stuff and the Morris dancing.

I wouldn't put clowning past him.

Thanks, Todd.

[cups clattering]

Oh, no way.

[door thuds]

Oh, Detective?

Reverend.

Dr. Plummer about?

No.

Ah, I tried his phone. He's not answering.

I see.

Everything all right?

There's a chance he could help us with our inquiries

about an unexplained death.

Oh, dear.

A question of identity.

Yes, well, Roger's always had questions over that.

Sorry, uncalled for.

I was actually just about to meet him for a coffee

if you'd like to join us and get things sorted.

Sounds like a plan.

[door thuds]

[engine humming]

[ominous music]

[door knocking]

They're not there.

Detective Kristin Sims, Brokenwood CIB.

Yeah, sure.

Met your colleague earlier.

Paul, Paul Black.

The drummer?

This about Peggy?

Yeah.

We're wanting to talk to people who

might have interacted with her or knows more about her.

Elaine and Xanthe are out looking for Anton.

Nick's sleeping.

I'm here holding the fort in case Anton shows up.

And Anton is?

Keyboards.

He's gone missing?

Well, not necessarily.

Anton is a free spirit.

James fired him from the band, but that kind of

happens every week.

Then we all kiss and make up and get back on stage.

Well, we're aiming to have the venue released

in time for your gig tonight.

Makes no difference.

James just canceled the gig.

Because of Anton?

Well, mainly he didn't want another show like last night.

And after the book signing yesterday, it all

takes its toll, you know?

And so we find ourselves in the back of beyond,

drowning in a sea of indifference.

Don't go there, honey.

He sold four copies in total.

No one wanted them signed.

We would have sold five, but the last guy

wanted it in Braille.

Shoot me now.

Hey, be nice.

I'm sorry to interrupt.

Can you sign my poster?

You don't want to buy a book?

Oh, well, I'd love to but who has time to read these days,

what with TikTok and Insta?

So, just an autograph?

Lovely.

A free autograph Of course, where would you like it?

Your poster or your arm or maybe your face?

James.

Just pre-gig excitement.

He can sign it for you, of course.

Gosh!

My face?

Would be quite a statement.

[pen scratching]

I actually remember seeing you in 1985

at Colonel Greer's tavern.

Me and some girlfriends... well, not girlfriends, you

know, friends.

Although, being an all girls school,

there was some experimentation.

Anyway, me and my four friends each had a letter of your name

on our t-shirt.

So it spelt James.

You might remember.

Oh, no, I remember a lot.

The '80s were the golden years.

Music made money and an album was something you could hold,

leaving a sunset glow awash everything,

but not you or your friends.

James?

Just relax, hon.

Sorry. - I remember.

Do you?

Except it didn't say, James.

It spelt Esme.

Oh, well, yeah.

Yeah, well, we'd had a few wines.

Tina, she was the J. She was having a suck

up in the bushes outside.

We've got to go.

Are you going to be okay?

Then Xanthe and I had to leave early to get

ready for the soundcheck.

Xanthe is your roadie?

And soundie and James's girlfriend...

or was.

They split last night.

Does that happen every week, too?

No.

And Anton got fired.

Big night for you, despite the small crowd.

Sure. Yeah.

Whatever you say.

Why did they split?

Do you know?

Music takes up a lot of James.

If you can't be second fiddle, you get out of the orchestra.

Okay.

Well, could you have the others give me a call?

Thanks.

[engine revving]

Yeah.

Any missing persons with Margaret,

Maggie, Peggy, Patricia maybe?

Yeah, thanks.

[clears throat]

[board squeaking]

Ah. Okay.

You cracked it.

You think?

Maybe.

How?

Um.

Charm.

I think it's all about charm and excellent application

of my deductive skills.

[gentle music]

Tracking down Dr. Plummer was fruitful, to say the least.

Roger?

Look who came knocking at our door, looking for you.

Me?

Ah, Detective.

Hello.

Dr. Plummer, we have an investigation

underway about a woman that was found deceased last night.

Yes?

The only lead we have is that her name is Peggy.

Peggy? Oh, dear.

I see.

You're familiar with her?

Well, that rather depends.

What makes you think I know her?

Well, witness is confident he saw this woman leaving your car

yesterday around 11:00 AM.

Your car? Really?

Lucas.

Roger, if there's something you need to say,

I'd suggest sooner the better.

Lucas, please.

Would this help jog your memory.

Oh.

Oh, dear.

Yes, all right.

I gave her a lift yesterday.

She was hitchhiking.

So now you're picking up stray women

off the side of the road?

Lucas, I was being a good Samaritan.

She looked dreadfully lost.

I was heading back from Riverstone.

I still hold clinics there, you see.

[humming]

[engine humming]

Where are you headed?

Brokenwood.

Oh, jolly good.

So am I. Do hop in.

Do hop in?

You could have been mistaken for a predator.

Lucas, she was in a vulnerable state.

I have a sense for these things.

I'm Roger, Dr. Roger Plummer.

Oh, you're a doctor.

I've got some psoriasis on my elbow.

Oh, sorry, not that kind of doctor.

I'm a doctor of psychiatry.

I'm a psychiatrist. - I've been good.

I promise.

I been good.

You like to read?

Only this book.

It's the story of a James Hathaway.

Oh.

And who is he?

My boyfriend.

Oh, jolly good.

I'm Peggy.

Peggy Froome.

Froome?

You know, that rhymes with broom.

Does it?

Oh my gosh, so it does.

I haven't thought of that before.

And I like to make car noises when I drive, makes

the trip go faster somehow.

I like car noises.

Do you?

Wonderful.

[imitating engine]

Keep going, Dr. Plummer.

All right.

[imitating engine]

It was nice to share the drive.

That's all.

Got it.

Thanks.

You have landed a name?

Yeah.

Peggy Broom Vroom Froome.

What?

Chalmers used his charm on Dr. Plummer.

Dr. Plummer?

Don't ask.

[phone ringing]

Gina?

Mike.

Prelim toxicology makes for interesting reading.

What have you got?

Clear traces of quetiapine fumarate

with a blood alcohol of 250 milligrams per milliliter.

Meaning?

She was off her chops, Mike.

This was never going to end well.

Got it.

Thanks, Gina.

Our victim had antipsychotics on board, along with alcohol.

Well, okay.

That makes sense.

Here it is.

Margaret Alice Froome, she has some alerts,

shoplifting, anti-social behavior,

spent time in psychiatric care.

Time?

40 years is a lifetime.

She was released two months ago into community care.

Well, that could explain the serial number on her finger.

Well, not even the Deschler Clinic got into branding.

Put a call out on her medical records.

Might take a while.

In the meantime, at least we know

we're dealing with someone that was

of a vulnerable mental state.

Who went to a concert, climbed the ladder,

fell off a roof.

With some help.

Why climb onto the roof in the first place?

[mysterious music]

[smooth music]

♪ There's something strange about the way you talk ♪

♪ That I can't put my finger on ♪

♪ Don't tell me that you've hidden this away ♪

♪ For each and every one of your ♪

All I know is that she didn't drink.

Are you sure about that?

I am, because she sat in a seat by the window

most of the day drinking waters.

Same again.

Thanks.

The water pitcher's right there.

Knock yourself out.

The drinks that I pour are the ones

that cost at least 8 bucks.

A girl's got to eat, after all.

I don't drink.

I can see that.

But this isn't a charity, love.

I can't drink.

I'm on medication.

Isn't everyone?

I'm here for the band, Stolen Arrow.

Aren't they the best?

If you say so.

I do.

I haven't seen them for so long.

Speak of the devil.

They're back for soundcheck.

Who are they?

Stolen Arrow.

No.

Where's... Paul!

Paul?

Holy... Peggy?

Yes. It's me.

Wow.

It's been...

A while.

Yeah.

This is Xanthe, doing sound.

I know.

Okay.

Hi.

I'm going to go.

Where' Danny?

Danny?

He died in 1989.

Drugs. - Oh.

And Graham?

No, Graham didn't make it either.

Oh my God. Who's there?

Nick.

Steve's boy.

Oh, he looks just like...

I know.

And James?

Where's James?

He's signing books.

Where?

Kiwi Cafe or something.

He'll be here later.

Oh, I need to see him and talk about some

very important matters. - Sure.

No. No, we need to talk.

There's something I need to tell him.

I guess you're coming to the gig, then?

Oh, are you crazy?

Would I miss it?

Catch you later, Peggy.

And you're sure you never saw her drink?

Well, I'm no narc, so if I did, I wouldn't say anything.

But she didn't.

And I was on the bar all night.

But Ray's keen to know when this lot will be done,

so we can open up.

Nearly done, Trudy.

Then I'll release the scene.

It's pretty tight out there.

Two would be company.

Three would be a crowd.

But I found this under the bell.

Looks like it belonged to the victim.

Oh!

Frodo know you're two timing?

Frodo is the reason I'm here.

Wait. Hey, Frodo?

Are you...

Sorry, I have nothing left to give.

Whoa.

You okay?

The gig tonight is canceled.

I was so looking forward to it.

Oh, the... the bass player thing.

I wonder if she'd play solo, if I asked her,

like, booked a room somewhere.

Well, you never know, but I would be very careful

how you pitched that idea.

So our bereft barista sent me here instead.

Oh, hey, I heard that you were quite the fan last night.

Oh, Stolen Arrow?

Well, I was a bit of a rock chick in my day.

But did you, um, you happen to see this woman?

Oh yeah.

She was at the gig.

Very enthusiastic dancer, a real rager.

Ah, but you didn't see her before the gig?

Oh, and I saw her here yesterday at the book signing.

[footsteps tapping]

James?

It's me.

Peggy.

Oh my God.

Peggy.

It's been a while.

I've been off the circuit since...

you know.

Autograph for an old friend?

You must have thousands of autographs.

I lost them.

Well, that was careless.

I have something to tell you.

I can't imagine what it would be

or that I would possibly want to know.

Bye, Peggy.

[ominous music]

Although that is the temperament that

comes with genius, isn't it?

I mean, they say that Beethoven could be a bit miffy,

and he couldn't even hear what people were saying about him.

Thanks, Mrs. Baker.

My condolences, then, to the Froome family.

It seems she had none.

Well, no one we can trace anyhow.

No one?

Extraordinary.

♪ Lonely girl

♪ She moves alone

♪ Through the world

♪ Angel on horseback

You like that?

Yes, the innocence of an angel coupled

with the inherent sexuality of horse riding.

It's called juxtaposition.

Tension, tension is where art happens.

Well, I'll remember that the next time I go horse riding.

You like music Detective Schumann?

Shepherd.

And yes, I like music.

Although country is more my thing.

Country?

It's a broad church.

Something of a cult, in the sense that country themes are

always so dark and brooding, always wallowing

in the misery of life.

The new romantic movement, on the other hand, that was... no,

it is.

It still is.

It's all about observation and deconstructed poetic filters

creating a sense of positive elevation.

Well, I've always been a fan of keeping it simple

with three chords and the truth.

Uh, Mr. Hathaway, I understand

that you had a book signing yesterday at the Kiwi Cafe.

For my autobiography, yes.

"Still Gifted, the Man, the Music, the Myth."

What'd you think?

I haven't yet.

Did you sign this copy?

I sign a lot of books.

What's special about this one?

Well, it belonged to Peggy Froome.

See?

To Peggy, kiss, kiss, James.

Yeah, I didn't sign that.

There, that was later, I think.

You told me this morning that you didn't see her until you

saw her in the crowd.

I saw her in passing.

I signed a book.

She came to the gig.

And died shortly after.

A tragic accident, from what little I know.

A witness said that Peggy wanted to tell you something.

Do you have any idea what that might have been?

Oh, let me guess, that she loved me and she wanted us

to get married and start a family,

the same fangirl nonsense. she's

been spouting since the last time I saw her, no doubt.

I wasn't in the mood to play that game.

Are you that rude to all of your fans?

You know what?

You're right.

I was rude.

I need to work on that.

Perhaps not having seen Peggy for 40 years suddenly

shined a light on the years, age.

And last night was hardly a great launch to the new tour.

But how she died and why she died,

I can't help you with that.

Is there anything else that you are

not telling us, Mr. Hathaway?

No.

[ominous music]

[pop music]

♪ The bell tower towns

♪ All ring out her name

♪ Calling me on

♪ To fall into you

♪ Angels fall

♪ They fall from heaven

Okay.

Well, I admit, in his youth, there

may well have been a certain...

Attraction?

Attractive quality.

You're attracted to James Hathaway?

Not now.

Well, that's ageist.

No, it's a fact.

I have no comment.

Well, Xanthe Sumner could obviously see past that.

Not anymore.

You still think James Hathaway is lying?

About something, yes.

But whether he killed Peggy Froome,

I mean, what's his motive, apart from the fact

that he didn't like her very much?

Well, the thing is, we've got a man the victim was obsessed

with her whole life singing, basically,

meet me in the bell tower in a venue with a bell tower.

And an ex psych patient mixing meds and alcohol?

I mean, that's an accident waiting to happen.

You're forgetting the fact that someone

put their hands around her throat

before she fell off that roof.

Well, should we consider they could have been self-inflicted

before she fell?

Yeah, some kind of self-harm, maybe.

Yeah, she was clearly very unwell.

We haven't seen her medical records yet.

She must have been well enough to be released.

[bell rings]

Senior?

Well?

Please, take a seat.

Thanks for coming in.

Well, it's not like we can run my bar with your lot

still crawling all over it.

Our team are almost done, Ray.

She fell off the roof.

What's the big deal?

We believe that she had help with the falling bit.

Pushed?

Do I need a lawyer?

Have you done anything wrong?

No.

Ray, this could be entrapment.

Let's go.

Trudy, Ray, please.

I'm after some background on the moments leading up to...

That woman nearly killing us.

I can't help you.

But you were the last to leave?

Of course.

As responsible liquor license holders,

we ensured the property had been vacated.

Any stragglers?

Did you notice anyone hanging about the premises?

Just us and the band.

They were the last to leave as we'd finished cleaning up.

That was always the plan.

[cart rumbling]

And this, the pride and joy of the Croc

and Panther, the ballroom.

It's very quaint.

The acoustics are really nice.

Indeed.

A lot of touring bands have described

it as quite aspirational.

We had 200 in the other night for a Creedence Clearwater

Revival tribute band.

Ooh, 200.

I'm sure we'll break that record for you tonight.

I look forward to that.

What time do you finish?

Kick off at 9:00, two hour set, just the hits.

Then we'll wait for the crowd to go.

Works better that way, saves me getting

RSI from all the autographs.

[chatter]

And they were the last to leave the gig?

Yep.

Catch us tomorrow night.

Can't wait.

Thanks for your help.

Yeah.

It's a cool place you got here.

Come on.

Can we get out of here?

19?

You certainly set a new record.

What about the victim?

Did you see her leave?

She left just before them.

That was... what a great night.

Are you all right there, love?

It's the emotions.

Seeing them again after all these years and James,

knowing it's all going to be all right.

Knowing it's all going to be all right?

That's what she said.

Next time we see her's 15 minutes later.

Okay.

Thanks for your help.

Ray and Trudy remember the victim leaving,

followed soon after by Nick, Elaine, Xanthe, Paul and James.

But not Anton Ridgeley.

He wasn't mentioned.

Do we know if he's turned up yet?

No.

And if he hasn't, you'd have to wonder why

no one's reported him missing.

[country music]

♪ Man of few words

♪ Moving all alone

♪ He don't need no future

♪ He don't need no home

♪ He don't need no future, boy ♪

♪ She don't need no home

[door knocking]

Hi.

I'm Detective Kristin Sims.

I think you know my colleague, DC Chalmers.

Hello again.

Hi.

We stopped by the motel, but Paul said you'd moved out.

Do you mind if we come inside?

Xanthe, the police are here.

Xanthe needed some space from James since they broke up,

you know?

And you're keeping us hostage in this town.

Hostage?

I guess you wouldn't want to leave without Anton.

Have you heard from him yet?

His phone must be flat or off or something.

Is this disappearing act out of character?

No.

Yes.

Which is it?

He's been heaps better lately.

But he quit the band last night.

No, James fired him.

Same thing.

He was being an ass.

- James or Anton? - Anton.

James.

Anton, do you know what happens to people

in this band who take drugs?

They die. - Easy, man.

Do you have a death wish?

Oh, that's purely medicinal, boss.

It's for my nerves.

Why not put that energy into playing better?

♪ Maneuvers in the dark

♪ You by me

♪ Want to be your animal

♪ You by me

♪ Never your mineral

♪ You by me

♪ Won't be your vegetable

♪ Just want to be your animal

Oh, come on.

James, he's the shiz.

It was one mistake.

Ask Paul.

Best you've ever had.

Right, Paul?

Guys, listen to what James is saying.

Seriously?

You're going to side with him?

Do you lose time staring at his ass all night?

- Hey! - Hey, okay.

That's enough.

Anton, you're fired.

[laughter]

Oh, fine.

Fine, man.

You want to blame me for the fact

that the gig was a washout?

Good luck with the delusion.

Sorry.

So he does have a drug problem?

Yes.

No.

He does have a drug problem, Elaine.

Can I get his number?

[phone ringing]

Oh, my God, it's ringing.

It's actually ringing.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Hey, babe.

It's me.

Hey.

The phone was ringing.

You just answered it.

Oh.

Yeah.

Where are you?

I don't know, babe.

Everywhere.

Nowhere.

Are you in a house or a bar?

A field.

Yeah, I'm in a field.

Anton?

DC Chalmers, Brokenwood CIB.

Okay.

I'd like to talk to you about your whereabouts last night.

I was here, man.

This field, can you look around?

Can you tell me if there's any distinguishing features?

Flowers.

Okay.

Flowers is helpful.

Stones?

Yeah, lots of stones.

Like standing stones with the words and numbers.

Oh.

Stay where you are, Anton.

I'm finding it hard to move.

I'll stay here?

Mm-hmm.

[birds chirping]

Standing stones with writing with lots of flowers.

Couldn't formulate the word cemetery, Anton?

It was on the tip of my tongue.

You know, a less generous person might think

you were taking the piss.

Mm. Actually, I could really use one of those.

Yeah, well, you're not doing that here.

We've got a toilet you can use back at the station.

What'd you do to your hands?

I don't know.

Nothing?

Let's go.

All right.

[groan]

Here today.

Anton?

How you feeling?

Yeah. Yeah.

I'm coming right.

I made you a coffee.

Hopefully that spurs your memory

of what happened last night.

Do you guys mind not sitting so close?

I'm feeling a little crowded and...

yeah.

Wow.

That is... Okay.

What is that?

Coffee, Anton.

Drunk by billions of people all over the world?

Not like that it's not.

Any recall on what happened to your hands?

No.

Sorry.

Okay.

Anton, you disappeared last night.

We want to know your movements.

You left the venue before the rest of the band

and didn't head back to the motel with them.

Tell us what you got up to.

Oh, well, I quit the band, walked out.

We heard you got fired.

It's the same thing.

After that, I was answerable to nobody.

And I needed to calm my nerves.

Drugs?

Organics.

I... I like to forage.

After you left the venue, did you see this woman?

What's this about?

Did you see her?

[paper rustling]

Your fingerprints matches on a ladder

left leaning against the Crocodile and Panther.

Peggy Froome's prints were all over it too.

Oh, okay.

Okay, okay.

I helped her.

So what?

What does that mean exactly?

I helped her on her journey.

[ominous music]

Hey.

What are you looking at, pretty ribbon lady?

I need to get up there.

Up there?

Ah.

Till you're closer to the moon, yeah.

I'm down with that.

Let's go hunting ladders.

Yeah. Come.

We found one.

Like I said, I'm a forager.

The universe always provides.

Where's Anton?

Anton?

Anton, we're leaving.

Do you want to play hide and seek?

Mm-hmm.

Anton?

I like you more than Graham.

The old keyboard player?

He was always mean to me.

Teased me.

Graham's dead.

All right?

So no one's going to hurt you now.

You're nice.

Let's get closer to the moon.

[giggle]

You helped her onto the roof?

Sure.

Why not?

[ominous music]

I mean, where's the harm?

You know?

Don't you think it's a little strange?

What?

It's 11:30 at night.

You climbed onto a roof with a stranger.

Some would call that rock and roll, baby.

Most would call it strange, Anton.

She said she was meeting someone.

Who?

James.

James Hathaway?

That's... that's what she said.

James will be here soon

Actually, I think he just left.

No.

He's coming.

I have something very important to tell him.

And don't ask me what because I can't say.

I mean, she wasn't serious.

She was clearly a little obsessed.

And then what happened?

On the off chance that James did climb up,

I didn't want to see him.

So I just...

I just left her to it and went foraging.

Do you think I could get a cup of tea, please?

We'll be right back.

From what we know, James would never

have agreed to meet Peggy.

The same James Hathaway who had just

fired Anton from his band.

Well, he's admitted to being there,

up there with the victim.

The others had left.

So if not Anton, who else had opportunity?

But what motive?

Well, he was under the influence.

Maybe he had a strange reaction to the organic drugs,

flipped out.

See if you can keep him close.

[contemplative music]

Anton?

It's your lucky night.

Oh?

Okay.

You're a person of interest.

Hey.

Thanks, man.

You're actually... you're not the first person to say that.

So interesting, we'd like you to hang

around a little bit longer while we

check a few things out.

Oh, come on, man.

I just... I want to lay down.

Now, that can be arranged.

Okay.

Yeah, this way.

Are you sure this is kosher?

You want a place to rest.

I'm not going to lock the door.

It's a win-win situation, Anton.

Nettles!

I was out foraging, and I grabbed this bunch of nettles.

On our drive into Brokenwood, I was absolutely busting.

My bladder leads me to some pretty interesting places.

Oh, hurry up, Anton.

What's he doing?

Could someone please tell Anton to get back in the van?

Anton?

Get your ass back in the van.

The universe always provides.

[camera clicking]

[phone beeping]

Hey, we got places to be.

I knew I couldn't pick them in front of James.

So that night, after I said goodbye to ribbon lady,

I followed my GPS.

[contemplative music]

[fabric ripping]

[grunt]

[groan]

♪

My beautiful children!

Ow.

And after that, was all blurry.

I ruined my favorite shirt.

I'm going to need to access this.

[country music]

Another book signing?

What else to do while we wait for Anton to start to pack up?

Just one final clarification?

Thanks.

Yesterday, you said that you signed Peggy's book later.

Where was that?

Here, after the soundcheck, I think.

Then you saw her three times?

What if I did?

More reason for her to get upset, perhaps or upset you.

I was hardly upset.

Annoyed?

Sure.

She could be very annoying.

Hi again.

Oh, how about that autograph now?

Peggy, the last time I saw you,

you were wearing that exact same outfit.

And that must have been...

It was 40 years ago.

Hmm?

Still my favorite.

So where have you been all this time?

Locked away somewhere?

Yes.

Yeah, I had some psychiatric problems for a while,

but I'm good now.

The medication helps.

Right.

Okay.

Oh, and I'm not in it.

In what?

Your book.

I'm not in your book.

Why would you be in it?

Well, I was... well, I still am your biggest fan.

So I thought...

This book is about the big stuff,

the music, the art, the triumphs, the gold records,

the struggles.

I've struggled.

I've something to tell you.

Peggy, let me be very clear, like "Crystal Rain."

Oh, my God, I love that song.

Your B-side to "Gifted."

It could have been another single.

Thank you.

Yes, but no, I mean, I need to be clear.

There is nothing you could tell me

that I would want to know because there's

nothing going on between us.

There was never anything real between us.

Real, the difference between something one

can hold on to and something one imagines.

Except once.

That one time in Timaru.

That's just your imagination.

[ominous music]

And that was it.

What happened in Timaru?

Well, that must have been the last time I'd seen her.

I can't remember.

It seems she could, though.

Well, Peggy would come to all our gigs,

wherever we played, Invercargill to Dargaville.

She'd be in the crowd.

But clearly memorable for her.

Let's just say, I saw her in the hotel lobby at breakfast.

I was eating an apple.

Why would she remember that?

Well, Peggy's a fan, a very intense fan.

She'd remember that.

An apple?

An apple or it might have been a banana.

It's a metaphor for memory.

How is a banana a metaphor for memory?

Well, let's say you and I were

in a hotel lobby 40 years ago.

Well, 40 years ago, I wasn't born, so.

Noted.

And let's say I ate an apple.

Oh, I remember, it was a beautiful, delicious,

red apple.

Only you, you remember it as a green apple.

In the end, it doesn't matter. I ate an apple.

Your point being?

People remember what they want to remember.

You say green apple, I say, red apple.

Oh, that's good.

Red apple, green...

[hums]

Oh, that's... Paul, got a good one.

♪ Red apple, green

♪ Green apple, red

♪ It's not what you think

♪ It's what you said

[country music]

♪

♪ Can I have a little peace in my darkness now? ♪

♪ Have I paid enough juice to starve for a while? ♪

♪ You may think I've been wasting my time ♪

♪ That I've just been searching for a little ♪

♪ For a little sign

Timaru?

Something big happened in Timaru.

It was the death of the original guitarist,

Steve Sloan.

A van left the road.

Peggy Froome, for some reason, was in the van

and was badly injured.

Steve left behind a young wife and a six-month-old son, Nick.

Steve's wife blamed Peggy and tried to lay charges.

But Peggy disappeared into the welfare of the Edgecliff

Medical Institution.

The band reforms with Nick in place of his father.

And Peggy turns up.

A revenge story, you think?

Well, they're packing out of the Croc and Panther.

Worth asking some questions before they scatter?

Hmm.

Officers?

It's just a vape, honestly.

You leaving town?

I wish.

One more night in hell before our gig in Riverstone.

Well, stay safe.

[footsteps crunching]

[country music]

James?

Please.

I'm working here.

You're treating me like I have the plague.

Can we just talk about this?

Xanthe, come on.

Shame, such a lovely couple.

Especially with her being...

With her being?

With a child.

[door creaking]

[gasp]

[vomiting]

You all right in there, love?

Please, go away.

[toilet flushing]

Do you need a glass of water?

Good news is, first trimester is always the worst.

I have an instinct for these things.

I'm sure there's still hope.

Maybe they'll choose to get married in Brokenwood.

I'll slip them a business card.

Nice guitar.

Thanks.

I understand it belonged to your father.

Yep.

Sorry to hear about his passing.

It was a long time ago.

It must feel good, filling his shoes.

Well, it has its challenges.

You said earlier you didn't know Peggy Froome.

I never met her before that day.

But your dad did.

I wouldn't know.

I was only...

Six months old at the time.

Yeah.

It was an accident just outside Timaru.

Van went off the road.

Jesus!

Peggy Froome was in the van.

And your dad didn't make it.

I didn't know that.

How your dad died?

No, I knew about the accident.

Not about her.

Your mother did.

She tried taking Peggy to court.

It got messy.

Your mother blamed Peggy for your father's death.

Peggy ended up in psychiatric care.

Your mother never mentioned that?

Then 40 years go by and you meet Peggy

Froome for the first time.

And later that night, she falls to her death.

Coincidence?

You're the one telling the story.

[ominous music]

We should pick this up back at the station.

[door thudding]

Did you have any interactions with Peggy Froome

during that day?

No.

But you were aware who she was?

Yeah.

Yeah.

My mama got riled up about it over the years, made her sick,

to be honest.

So when I saw Peggy in the bar as we went in to set up,

yeah, I know who she was right away, like something

out of mythology.

And I felt sick.

Like all my mom's sickness just converged in me, and I...

all that rage.

But I don't want to go there.

I'm here for the music.

That's all, to make my dad proud.

When you left with the band, did you see anyone

acting out of the ordinary?

No.

We all just left.

Except Anton.

Yeah.

Of course, Anton.

And James.

James?

Yeah.

He wanted to walk.

This night sucks.

Yep, heavily.

Absolutely.

What?

Don't you back a set.

You know what?

I'm going to walk, clear my head.

You sure, mate?

I saw a cemetery as we drove in.

Going to sing to some ghosts.

[door sliding]

[engine humming]

Thanks for coming in.

Well, I got the feeling I didn't have the choice.

It's come to our attention that you didn't

leave the venue on the night in question

with the rest of the band.

I did leave with them.

We have a witness that says otherwise.

Well, I left with them.

I chose not to travel in the van.

And you simply walked back to the motel?

I was in a reflective mood.

I found myself in the cemetery.

I started a new song, working title "Cemetery Song."

It's about ghosts from the past, the past

being brought into the future.

Prompted by the reappearance of Peggy Froome?

It was more about standing on stage

and looking out at 19 people.

Slightly humbling.

So at 11:30 PM, on a very cold night,

you sat in the cemetery writing a song.

I stood.

♪ Death rocks

♪ Stones in the gloom

♪ Roll over in your grave

♪ Make me some room

Oh, that's good.

That's good.

I'll need to verify this somehow.

Well, I took selfies.

Mm.

Mhm.

Pretty good, don't you think?

And then I made my way back to my motel

and got summarily dumped.

We'll need to make copies of these.

I have nothing to hide, Detective.

Maybe James Hathaway wasn't happy about the pregnancy.

They fought about it?

She's walked out?

So it's not connected to Peggy's death?

It's just a coincidence?

Well, Xanthe possibly feeling the heightened

emotions of all that?

Hormonal, you mean.

Spoken like a man.

And sees Peggy as a threat.

Well, that doesn't make any sense.

I mean, why would she be jealous of Peggy?

James Hathaway clearly couldn't stand her,

nor had any time for her.

What if James and Peggy had some secret thing going on?

You mean while she was in psychiatric care?

Oh, come on.

I mean, I don't particularly like the guy,

but he's not a wacko.

What about when they were younger?

You know, back then, she might have been...

Yeah?

Go on, say it.

Hotter?

Different.

Yeah.

By all accounts, she was different...

on a different plane entirely.

Okay.

So how do we find out if Xanthe Sumner is actually pregnant?

Well, Mike's with James.

We could ask him.

What if she hasn't told him yet?

It could get awkward.

So we ask her.

And when I say, we, I mean you.

Obviously, that's something better coming from a woman.

Mm.

[gear thudding]

So how well did you know Peggy Froome?

I didn't.

None of us did, apart from James and Paul.

Apparently she was the groupie from years ago?

James never mentioned her?

Never.

Well, it seems she held a candle for him for a long time.

Did you ever feel threatened by that?

Doubt it.

She was clearly troubled.

So why did you break up with James?

What business is that of yours?

It's background.

A lot happened the other night.

Your keyboardist was fired.

You broke up with James Hathaway,

and a woman was killed.

Yeah, well, it's always a lot.

You know, I work as a roadie.

I work the sound desk, and most of the time,

I feel like camp mother.

Musicians are like children, you know.

I'll take your word for it.

And it's all for free.

James says the money's going to start rolling in.

Please.

Do you know how many were in the crowd the other night?

- 19. - Counting me?

Yeah.

James has his head in the clouds, no business sense.

He's just dreaming up new songs that, quite frankly,

aren't very good.

They're not very interesting.

He is actually not that interesting.

And not to sound shallow, but I'm only 39 and he's nearly 60.

There are bigger age gaps that I've heard of.

Yeah, well, it's too big for me.

And there he was, singing songs in a graveyard at midnight.

I realized I was over it.

So I dumped him.

So it had nothing to do with you being pregnant?

What?

Who says I'm pregnant?

You're not pregnant?

No.

Why would you ask that?

Sorry.

I mean, do you want me to pee on a stick?

No, no. Sorry.

Somebody... somebody misinterpreted.

[footsteps tapping]

How'd it go?

About as badly as I could have

hoped for, if I had, in fact, hoped for it to go badly.

She's not pregnant, and Mrs. Baker is officially a menace.

So where does that leave us?

I don't know, with a victim who no one thought

much of or knew much about.

And... and our request for Peggy Froome's psych report

has been declined.

We've been referred to her psychiatrist,

Dr. Roger Plummer.

Did you know about this?

I did not.

[contemplative music]

[gentle music]

♪ I've met some new people here ♪

♪ They're lovely

Won't be long.

♪ But It's crystal clear

Detective Shepherd?

Now he gets my name right.

A peace offering.

I cannot accept that.

Seriously?

A glass of wine between men, you're off duty.

Surely?

Well, that can be hard to define.

How did you find me?

Brokenwood is a small town, detective.

Ask and you shall receive.

Impressive.

Surely you're a man who appreciates quality.

I can't accept that.

I can, however, offer you something of mine.

♪ And guess that it comes

Ah, pull up a pew.

[liquid splashing]

I see you've come with backup.

Oh, Paul drives. I don't,

Does he...

This can be just between us.

[birds chirping]

Well?

What?

The reason you're here, Mr. Hathaway?

I'm sure it's not to delve through my country

music collection.

I like country music, I respect it.

I'm thinking of doing a country album.

It worked for Beyonce.

Please don't.

I feel we got off on the wrong foot.

I was worried you might have felt I

was glib about Peggy's death.

I'm not.

It was upsetting.

She's certainly been a part of your life

in one way or another for quite some time.

Although I don't see her mentioned in here.

There were many groupies, Mr. Shepherd.

I'd be lying if I said I remembered them all.

So none rather than miss some out?

The thing is there was this one time.

It was 1985.

In Timaru?

Yes.

We were riding high.

Peggy had been following us around for months,

and she'd become a joke.

And I thought I could make that joke

funnier by sleeping with her.

[laughter]

Afterwards, she was ridiculous, like an overexcited puppy.

I thought, Christ, what have I unleashed?

I had to get her out of there.

Steve, get her out of here, man.

- Dude, what have you done? - Anywhere.

Just take her.

Come on.

James?

"Gifted" to you.

Come on, let's go.

James!

Peggy, come on, you nutbar.

So Steve drove her away for me.

The van veered off the road to avoid some wild animal.

Jesus!

[car crashing]

Peggy was injured, but I never...

we never saw her again until the other night,

40 years later, like a ghost from the past.

Did you blame Peggy for Steve's death?

I blame myself.

Anyway, now you know the truth, the...

the hidden chapter, if you like.

Yes, I slept with Peggy Froome, but it meant nothing.

Except for the death of Steve Sloan.

I carry that with me every day.

And now Peggy is dead, too.

It's 40 years later.

How could you possibly try and link those two things?

I carry guilt, but I'm not guilty.

[mysterious music]

Your wine's pretty good, by the way.

♪ And I guess that's the curse ♪

♪ Of a love that don't weather ♪

♪ No matter where I roam

♪ Because the sweetest days

♪ Tend to taste a little bitter ♪

♪ If your feet aren't on my ground ♪

♪ And I'll always want to call you first ♪

♪ And I guess that's the curse ♪

[door thuds]

I knew she was vulnerable.

In the car ride, I had offered to help her

if she wanted to reach out.

She showed up on Saturday afternoon.

Peggy?

I need help.

Come on.

She was seeking treatment and medication.

She had run out.

It's not something I ever do, but I have an emergency supply,

you see.

I would get sanctioned, disqualified, even.

But being a Saturday...

how about we take a trip to the hospital?

I can't.

I can't miss Stolen Arrow.

Tomorrow, I'll go tomorrow.

I promise.

To do that, I got her to sign on as a patient.

I then took it upon myself to seek her records,

expecting her to return the next day.

But of course... they only arrived this morning.

While the medication settled her,

she talked, and it was quite a story.

There had been an accident.

Yes.

In Timaru, we know about that.

Well, she'd suffered a serious head injury,

compounding what is believed to have been a pre-existing

bipolar condition.

She started hallucinating.

According to her records, she began claiming

quite outrageous things.

The hospital transferred her to Edgecliff.

What sort of things?

That James Hathaway was the Messiah,

that she was the recipient of an immaculate conception.

Well, that would have been easily disprovable.

Ah, but there was a baby, you see.

[scream]

Let me hold my baby.

Let me... let me hold my baby.

Let me hold my baby!

But they didn't.

This was before things changed.

They took baby F, as she was called.

And she was hastily given away in a closed adoption, which

can only have exacerbated Peggy's

sense of loss and her psychological challenges.

So it's a factual statement that Peggy Froome had a child?

Yes.

And the father?

Simply listed as unknown.

Wait.

What was the date of birth given?

13 January...

1986.

68, 13, 1.

A birthday.

Around the wrong way.

Story of her life, really.

Okay.

Anton Ridgeley's story checks out.

He seems to have little interest in any

internal politics in the band.

Except for Elaine.

Well, even then, if given, the choice between her

and shrooms.

James Hathaway never mentioned

seeing him in the cemetery.

Yeah.

The place where Anton foraged is a good 20 minutes'

walk from Brokenwood Cemetery.

Their paths would never have crossed.

Okay.

So do we need to get Nick Sloan back in here?

He knew who Peggy was.

Maybe he meets this figure from the mists of his family history

and just snapped?

Well, he has a clear motive, but where's the opportunity?

From leaving the Croc and Panther, he's in the van,

then at the motel.

Did he double back?

Timeline doesn't work.

There's only 15 minutes from the band

leaving and Ray and Trudy witnessing Peggy fall.

What about this Paul Black?

Interesting.

There's been a few comments made

that would suggest he was secretly in love with James,

that his devotion to James and the band over all these years

is based in an unrequited love.

Come on.

Hey.

It's going to be okay.

He saw Peggy as a threat, maybe.

He would have known about all the goings on in Timaru.

But he drove the remaining band members back to the motel.

So that leaves Xanthe, who didn't even know Peggy.

And as Nick said, she was splitting up with James.

Paul, stop the van.

Xanthe followed him.

I guess she thought the cemetery was

a good place to dump his ass.

And let's face it.

She's better off without him.

I mean... I don't mean to judge, but James Hathaway

is old enough to be her father, so.

So?

Oh no.

[ominous music]

[steady music]

♪ I rest my head on your shoulder ♪

♪ We both don't say a thing

♪ I've never heard such silence ♪

♪ We can hear us think

♪ I can't look into your eyes

♪ Our lips are so damn close

♪ But I start to pull away

♪ I start to say that I should go ♪

[door thuds]

[clears throat]

Xanthe, can you just remind me where you

broke things off with James.

At the cemetery after the gig.

Yes.

You asked the van to stop just down

the road from the Crocodile and Panther.

I need to talk to James.

Good luck with that.

The thing is, that's not how James remembers that.

He's mistaken.

He's old.

Well, that's not how Paul remembers it, either.

The argument woke me up.

And I thought, I'd better go check on James,

just to make sure it wasn't going to get physical.

You know?

Maybe it's a generational thing.

What is this?

It's the truth, James.

I can't be around you anymore.

So if you weren't at the cemetery,

that means you had time to return to the Croc and Panther

to meet up with Peggy Froome.

[footsteps crunching]

Who... and I'm sure this would have come as a surprise to you,

had already made her way up to the bell tower.

She was waiting faithfully on your instruction, no doubt,

to give you and James some special news.

When did you find out she was your mother?

After the soundcheck.

[paper rustling]

Oh, jeez.

Hello, Xanthe.

Um, hi.

James isn't here.

Okay?

I know.

Okay, then, see you at the gig.

I wanted to talk to you.

About James?

Look, everything you need to know about him is in that book.

It's not.

You reached out to find your birth parents recently.

How do you know about that?

I got your message.

I was so happy.

What message?

The closed adoption people, I had to give my permission.

No, they took you away from me.

It wasn't my decision.

I wanted to tell you that.

Are you saying...

When I heard you were working for James, I was so happy.

I mean, I was happy anyway.

But then you're working for James, my favorite band.

James Hathaway.

Are you saying...

I'm your birth mother.

You're my mother?

And when I tell James, we can all

be together again, just like we should

have been all those years ago.

James singing... I could do front of house.

Father, mother, daughter.

13th of January, 1986.

Your birthday backwards.

No.

It's my secret.

No, they took you away from me.

But I made sure they wouldn't make me forget.

You're lying!

Why would I lie about something like this?

No.

I've only ever had one child.

And that child is you.

Why do you say that James is...

I've only ever slept with one man.

And that man was your father.

[dramatic music]

[door thudding]

[vomiting]

You all right in there, love?

[dramatic music]

[door knocking]

[toilet flushing]

♪ Bell tower towns

♪ All ring out her name

♪ Calling me on

♪ To. fall into you

♪ Angels fall

♪ They fall from heaven

Sorry about that.

Oh, it's a lot to take in.

Have you told anyone else who my father is?

No.

No, I want to be the first to tell him.

It's only right.

Then we should tell him together.

Yes.

Now, at the motel?

No.

He'll be resting for the gig.

Afterwards, I'll organize a special place.

A special place for special news.

Not a word to anyone, Mom.

[laughter]

You're...

[slow music]

Getting her up there was easy enough.

♪ Man on a hill

♪ Searchlight beams

♪ Finding you out

♪ Through the wind and the rain ♪

19 people?

How did that happen, Xanthe?

Word was, it's a walk-up town.

I guess it's not.

[door knocking]

Is now a good time?

Oh, Jesus Christ!

Not now.

Wait for us outside.

But he knows we need to talk?

Yeah.

And he wants it to be special.

He said we should meet in the bell tower.

Oh my God.

Just like the song.

Just like the song.

Wait outside.

[somber music]

Then a few minutes later, we were getting ready to leave.

What?

Don't you back a set?

You know what?

I'm going to walk, clear my head.

[door sliding]

Paul?

Stop the van.

I need to talk to James.

Good luck with that.

Hit hard, sister.

[engine humming]

[ominous music]

Oh.

You're quite giddy up here.

Must be the emotions.

Sure is a long way down.

Where's James?

He's not coming.

But we have to tell him.

I've decided he doesn't need to know.

But you can't decide that.

Nobody can ever know.

[groaning]

[bell rings]

[somber music]

[body thuds]

Jesus Christ!

She let me fall in love with...

But she couldn't have known.

No?

Really?

She could have pulled herself together.

How about that?

She could have gotten herself well.

She could have gotten herself out of that loony bin

a whole lot sooner.

And none of this, and I mean none of this,

would have happened.

You just don't ever come back from this.

I will never come back from this.

[contemplative music]

Detective, this has gone on long enough.

Why are you keeping me here?

Please, sit down.

I've already admitted I slept with the victim once,

40 years ago.

You want to pin her murder on me?

Seriously?

We know that you didn't murder her.

Oh, thank God.

So I can go?

Please.

We also know that Xanthe Sumner was responsible

for Peggy Froome's death.

Xanthe?

No, no, that's not possible.

She has confessed.

Is this some kind of wind up?

I truly wish it was.

But how is that possible?

Xanthe doesn't know her.

This will come out in court.

So it's better that you hear it now.

Hear what?

What do I need to hear?

I think it's going to be about now.

[ominous music]

♪ Fall into you

♪ Angels fall

♪ They fall from heaven

♪ Like dreamers fall

♪ They fall from heaven

[chatter]

[bass strumming]

Three of the usuals.

Thanks, Frodo.

And I'll have whatever you're having

to make you smile like that.

The band broke up.

She's busking for money to get home.

My dream came true.

I guess I should toss her a coin

to help her get out of hell.

Well, hey.

No hurry on that.

I want this to last.

[steady music]

♪ Angels cry

♪ They cry from heaven

♪ Like lovers cry

♪ Lost to the sea

♪ Taking over feels so new

♪ You're gifted to me

♪ I am gifted to you

♪ Taking over, head over heels ♪

♪ Lifted above

♪ We are lifted above