Original subtitles

Oh, Dottie,

it's been far too long.

And Tom Thomas, it's yerself.

Urlukinmurbuetfulthener.

You old charmer!

The party's here noo.

Haud, be quiet. You'll give the game away.

And this is my husband, Angus.

Sergeant Livingstone,

-this is Vera's sister Jean. -Nice to meet you.

Mrs Clam... she'll be here any second.

Hurry. Hurry.

Mrs Clam: Dottie?

Dottie?

Action stations!

Bolt the lights and hit the door.

Is something afoot?

Mrs Clam is outside.

Hello?

Dottie?

I need to borrow a spare teapot.

I know you're in there. Answer the door.

No, no, no, no.

Mrs Clam: I have guests arriving!

What's the matter with the woman?

Has she gone deaf as well?

She's gone.

Right, then.

Sister Boniface: Where shall we put this?

How old is the birthday girl?

I've started a sweepstake.

Oh yes, she's very fond of steak.

Lost my accent a long time ago.

Been up the road over forty years now.

Oh, this is our son, Callum.

Oh, yes, and you'll be providing the entertainment, I hear?

Some of it, aye.

The rest of the band should be here soon.

-More's the pity. -Oh, musical differences?

Something like that.

But Cal wanted to do it for his auntie, so...

it's a cross we have to bear.

Shall I bring the equipment in, father?

It's no use to us in the van, is it?

I do so admire a man who knows how to use his instrument.

You could have warned me this place was so English.

Nice to see you both.

Will you be giving us a song tomorrow night then, doll?

Oh, no.

Here, let me take that, Maggie.

Is he no' letting you?

It's my choice.

Margaret.

Why the good Lord saw fit to take their mother and not him,

-I will never know. -Jeanie...

go and see your sister.

Mrs Clam: Yes, yes, I'm coming. I'm coming!

Jean.

Surprise!

Thank you.

It's been far too long since I've seen you on your birthday.

I'm not sure I'll have time for socialising.

I'm fully booked all week.

Ah well, that's another surprise.

It was my Callum that booked the rooms...

one for him, one for me and Angus

and then the other two are for... friends.

Angus came with you?

Yes, you won't have to lift a finger.

We've brought stovies and cranachan for tea.

-Angus made it specially. -I've already started dinner.

Well, we could put on a spread, like a buffet?

Shame to waste it.

Buffets are for christenings and funerals.

I'll fetch your room key.

You've no' had your tea.

She's your friend.

How can you not know how old she is?

Nerskaladyhrrolerris, immagenlman!

Woah. How much that set you back?

Worth every penny.

Did you ask your Da about playing some of your tunes?

No, Cal, don't...

I was thinking we should try some of Jimmy's new arrangements

tomorrow.

And I'd like Maggie to sing for my aunt.

Is that so?

Her voice is beautiful.

People should hear it.

I don't think so.

I have no interest in my son's pathetic attempts

to pervert perfectly good tunes in the name of modernity.

And that abomination has no place on this stage.

This is a traditional ceilidh band.

If you don't like it,

you can go back to ploughing fields

with your father.

When are you going toe stand up tae him?

-To whom does this belong? -Oh, I'll take that, Vera.

Don't want you having a wee nosey.

Mrs Clam: Please don't leave things lying about.

I almost fell over it.

Cheers, Auntie V. That was braw.

You're very welcome, Callum.

You know, the last time I was at a party with my sister,

it was a ceilidh.

His 18th birthday.

Vera was there with Cyril.

Oh, we had a grand time, didn't we?

I don't think I've ever seen Vera laugh so much.

Not long after that, the boys went off to war.

I'm just hoping that the music will remind her

of happier times.

Right, who fancies a swally?

A what? Sorry?

A cheeky wee pint down the local.

Provided I can get the first round.

Nice one, big man!

We shall bid you all goodnight.

But it's still early.

Oh, John, let the weans have some fun.

A goodnight to you.

Don't worry, Ma. We've got a plan.

I weren't expecting this tonight.

It's brilliant. I'm Peggy, by the way.

Maggie.

-I love your outfit. -Thanks.

I can tell you where I got it from if you like?

Och, no, it wouldn't suit me.

That was great. Jimmy, how did you escape?

Where there's a will, there's a way, eh, Jim?

Hey. Come give us a song.

Och, no. If my father finds out...

Who's going toe tell him?

♪ Away up in Clachan ♪

♪ Wi' Dougal McClachan ♪

♪ I was as happy as happy could be ♪

♪ For his daughter Mary was my little fairy ♪

♪ But Mary was very contrary with me ♪

♪ Oh, dear, she's wonderful, beautiful ♪

♪ She's my queen, my joy and my pride ♪

♪ She's so neat ♪

I forbade you to come here.

Out... now!

You can't talk to them like that.

Jimmy, man, tell him where to go!

I've had enough of you. We'll be leaving in the morning.

You can break the news to your mother.

Move.

Soon you'll be in the ground,

and they can live as they choose.

Don't make it worse.

Mmm, this haggis smells amazing.

So this is a creature native to the Scottish highlands,

-is that right? -Ooh, ooh, ooh, yes, yes.

Wee fat hairy beasts that roam the wild heather.

Not easy to catch, I can tell you.

Really? I... I thought this came from a sheep.

Erm...

Happy Birthday!

Making our own breakfasts now, are we?

Thought I'd give you the day off.

So, my services are not required.

I see.

Actually, I...

I think this might be a little bit too heavy for me.

I'm sorry.

Could I trouble you for some porridge, Mrs Clam?

No trouble at all.

Porridge would be great.

I'll wrap these up for you,

and you can take them to work.

Thank you.

I guess she doesn't know that the ceilidh's been cancelled.

Maybe they were able to work things out with John

after all.

We can do it without yer Da. Maggie's a better caller anyway.

Nicer to look at and all.

It's a three-tier cake with all Vera's favourites...

liver and onion meatloaf on the bottom,

tripe pudding cake in the middle and gooseberry fool on the top.

Ahh!

There's been a murder.

Sister Boniface: How curious.

Have you found something?

Sister Boniface: A fragment of wood in the victim's hair.

Could be from the floor when he was dragged under the table.

Is there a theory percolating in that wimple?

Well...

...bruising here, around the jaw,

suggests a blow to the face,

but the fatal injury is over here...

stab wound to the abdomen.

Death would have been mercifully swift.

-That the victim's? -I believe so, yes.

Which I'll examine back at the lab.

Hm. And a time frame?

Miss Thimble confirmed she gave access to the victim

at around half eight this morning

to collect his equipment.

So he was killed in the last two hours.

Sister Boniface: Hmm, what do we have here then?

-Is it more blood? -Affirmative.

Sister Boniface: And given its location...

it's possible the blood belongs to the assailant.

Okay, so, a handful of people have connections to the victim.

Only three of them were here when the body was found.

Okay, I'll talk to them.

You head back to the guest house.

Talk to Jeanie and Angus.

See if our northern neighbours can shed any light

on what's happened here.

Yes, sir.

We'll need statements from you all

after Sister Boniface has taken her blood samples.

And fingerprints, please.

Can we still have the ceilidh tonight?

-What, you're not serious? -We just lost our father.

I... I know. We're stuck here 'til they figure this out.

What else are we going to do?

So did you see John this morning?

No, thank goodness.

The two of you didn't get on?

I hope you're not implying that my sister was involved?

She's been here with me since you left.

It's all right, Vera.

John wasn't so bad back in the day.

He loved the bones of his wife.

When she died, he just turned into

a cold and nasty man.

Well, I'll need to get a statement from your husband.

Is he here?

Lazy lump was in his bed 'til after breakfast.

Right. Where is he now?

Er, he... he's out running some errands.

Right, well I'll need to get a statement

when he gets back.

Mrs Clam...

may I search the rooms, please?

I'll fetch the keys.

There was clearly no love lost

between Callum and the deceased.

What do we have on Angus?

We're still waiting for his statement.

Anything on the murder weapon?

Well, initial findings suggest a single-edged blade.

I'm waiting for confirmation of the dimensions

so we have a better idea of what we're looking for.

Oh, has anything come from the whisky glass

I found in the victim's bedroom?

Oh, yes. Yes.

The, erm... the granular residue

that I found at the bottom of the glass

was a form of barbiturates.

I spoke to his doctor in Scotland.

He had no prescriptions on file.

So he could have been drugged?

Well, I only found two sets of fingerprints on the glass.

One was the victim's.

And the other?

He liked a dram before bed.

I always fetched it for him.

Did you drug your father with the intention of killing him?

No!...No.

I just wanted him to sleep, so that we could go to the pub

and have some fun for once.

He was a domineering man and...

can't have been easy to live with.

Since losing my mother, it was like...

...he needed to control us.

To protect us, I suppose.

What happened to her?

She tripped and fell down the stairs

when I was wee.

That must have been quite a shock.

It... it changed everything.

And I struggled with my nerves.

I... I still do. That's why I've got the pills.

He was a difficult man...

but he loved us... in his own way.

I don't believe there was malicious intent

-on Maggie's part. -No, agreed.

She didn't give him enough to do him any harm.

-Ah! The birthday girl! -Oh, there you are.

I need to talk to you.

It's about my brother-in-law.

Mrs Clam saw Angus leave

before John was stabbed,

and yet Jeanie had no idea.

I can go door to door, and see if anyone's seen him.

Ah, you're a natural, really!

-Love the kilt, sir. -Very kindly provided by Angus

for the party tonight.

These things must be done properly.

Oh, don't worry. I brought some for you and all.

I'm not wearing a skirt.

It's a kilt, Gillespie.

And yes, you are. You too, Sergeant.

That's an order.

Angus, I need to talk about your movements

around the time of John Adams' death.

John?...What, he's dead?

Ah, yes. It's a terrible business.

Deary, dear.

So, er, what is it you're looking for?

Sister Boniface: Anything that could be pertinent to the case.

-Ah. -Just so we can eliminate you

-from our enquiries. -Right.

Aye, I wouldn't worry about that.

That's, er... No, that's just, er...

-Aye, erm... -It's an awful lot of whiskey.

Aye, er, I've got a pal in the distillery,

and he give it me cheap, you know?

You wouldn't be trying to sell it

without a licence, would you?

Er...

Did John know about this?

Is that why you followed him to the church hall?

-To silence him? -I didn't even know he was deid!

We have a witness that saw you leave the guest house

-early this morning. -Aye. All right.

Callum told me what happened in the pub last night.

John, you cannae just cancel the ceilidh.

This means so much to Jeanie.

I suppose I could be persuaded...

-...if you double the fee. -Ah come on!

It's already costing a fortune,

and you know the farm's struggling.

Lucky you found ways to make a bit of extra cash then.

Huh?

I wonder what Jeanie would think of your side line.

Or the local constabulary, come to that.

I'm sure they'd be very interested.

Pretty strong motives for murder.

Murder?

Come... No, I mean, look...

...Vera blames me for taking Jeanie up to Scotland

so the ceilidh was all about building bridges.

Killing someone is not exactly

going toe put me in her good books, is it?

-Is this your son's guitar? -Aye.

-Sister? -Well...

...based on the microscopic structures of the wood...

the straight, fine-grain pattern...

...well, this is a match for the fragment of wood

that I found in the victim's hair.

Right.

Then we need to talk to Callum.

Someone's only after trying to frame my Angus.

Well, I'm sure if he's innocent,

he'll have nothing to worry about.

What do you mean "if" he's innocent?!

Oh sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to snap.

Especially after you sticking up for me earlier.

-It was like the good old days. -Hm.

Angus is a good man.

Why would anyone make up lies about him?

Oh, it was you.

Well, er, I did see him leave the house.

Oh, I should have guessed. You have never liked him!

Oh, what nonsense.

That's why you've never come to visit.

That's why you haven't seen your nephew for fifteen years.

I'm your sister, for goodness sake.

Ha! The sister who left me down here alone,

looking after Mother!

Hundreds of miles away.

And never a thought for my poor Cyril.

I grieved for that man.

I wanted to grieve with you.

But it was as if you resented me for being happy.

You resented Angus for coming home.

Have you any idea

how much effort he's put into this party tonight?

What party? A surprise for your birthday.

We shouldn't have bothered.

Do you know, Vera, I think you've been alone for so long

you've forgotten what it means to love.

Oh. Much better.

Vera might be a crabbit old boot,

but she is not spoiling my fun.

Folk have gone to a lot of trouble for this.

They deserve a party.

-Oi, hold up. Callum, ain't it? -Aye.

Any idea how old your Auntie is?

Only I'm running a sweepstake, see?

-Nae idea. Sorry. -Oh you must know.

-How old's your mum then? -Erm...

Callum, can we have a word please?

We saw how angry you were last night in the pub.

Did you decide to pick up where you left off?

We had words, aye.

But I didn't kill him.

You can leave that thing in its case.

I made myself clear yesterday.

You don't get to control things anymore.

Who do you think you are?

Someone that is sick of the way

that you treat my best friend and my girl...

You stay away from my daughter.

We love each other, and one day we'll be married.

You think a farmer's son can provide a life

for my daughter?

A fool who wastes his money on things like this?

That's an investment in our future.

That's how I'll provide for my wife!

Oh, really?

We'll see about that.

Do you expect us to believe

that after he destroyed your brand-new guitar,

you didn't retaliate?

Wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

I want to spend my life with Maggie.

That'll be easier now that John's out of the way.

You think she'd be my wife if I killed her Da?

Maggie loved him... in spite of everything.

I couldn't risk losing her.

Sister Boniface: So I can confirm

that the blood on the victim's collar

is not his own.

I'm checking the blood groups of our suspects,

to see if there's a match.

You know, Callum seemingly

has the most to gain from John's murder.

You think he was fighting to be with the woman he loves?

Oh, that's so romantic.

In the joining of hands,

your lives are now bound together.

May this knot remain tied for as long as love shall last.

We've been discovered. You must go.

Oh, a knife in your sock. Jolly handy.

Of course!

-Sgian-dubh. -Bless you.

-It's missing. -What is?

Our victim was a stickler for tradition, but...

his outfit here does not include a sgian-dubh...

a small single-edged knife, worn in the sock.

We didn't find anything like that

when we searched the room.

Hypothesis...

John Adams was stabbed

using his own ceremonial dagger.

Sir... Sir!

Do you still have that bag of kilts

that Angus gave you?

-It's just down there. -Ah.

Well, I'm...

I'm glad you've all come around to the idea.

Not quite.

-It must be in here somewhere. -Yeah.

-Oh, I've got one. -I've got two more.

What on earth is this all about?

This bottle contains luminol.

Now the blade will have been wiped clean,

but if any of these have even the most microscopic traces

of blood on them,

then it should

produce a chemiluminescent light

-that glows in the dark. -Oh, I'll get the lights.

Thank you.

Sister Boniface: Oh, crumbs.

Well, none of these is the murder weapon.

Right. Well, myself and Peggy

will search the church hall again

and the surrounding areas.

Sister Boniface: It's a veritable needle in a haystack.

Sir, do you know if Angus had any other these daggers on him?

-Well, I imagine he had his own. -Hmm.

-Erm... is that, erm...? -Oh.

Right, yes.

Rather handsome piece, don't you think?

I had first dibs.

Oh.

Bingo.

Fishbums.

The hilt's been thoroughly wiped.

Any useable fingerprints has just been eradicated.

So the killer cleaned the dagger

and then put it in the bag with the others?

The best place to hide a leaf's in a forest.

Well, it's unlikely that Angus is our killer,

given that he handed it over to our Chief Constable.

I guess we're back to square one.

Perhaps not.

Well she's down, but she's not out.

Observe... the ornate markings on the hilt.

The intricate pattern's been carved into the material.

Wiping the weapon removed the fingerprints

from the surface, but...

oh, yes. Look at this.

There's something in the crevices.

Let's have a look.

Some kind of viscous substance, possibly oil-based.

I'll need to identify what it is to determine if it's useful.

In the meantime...

As you know,

I've been comparing the blood groups

of each of our Scottish friends

to the sample found on the victim's shirt...

...and it appears we have a match.

You've admitted to seeing him this morning,

but there's no mention of an altercation,

so how can you explain the blood?

Callum told me about his guitar.

So you went back to have it out with him?

He'd gone too far this time.

You can't go around destroying people's property!

If you've quite finished your little display of machismo...

This... this behaviour, it's... it's shameful.

Oh, you're ashamed of me?

-Don't you walk away. -Get your hands off me.

You're a joke... a talentless waste of space.

Your mother would be mortified

by the weak, pathetic man you've become.

She's lucky she never lived to endure it.

Is that all you've got?

What did I do to make you hate me so much?!

Why is it so hard for you to love your own son?!

Because you're not my son!

You're a product of your mother's sinful desires.

I raised you to cover her shame,

but love another man's child?

No.

For years, I put up with his... bullying.

At least now I know why.

I'm sorry. That must have been...

Can I get back to rehearsals?

All right, but stay local.

We may need to talk to you again.

I distilled the mystery substance from the dagger

and isolated its composite parts...

phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

and heterocyclic compounds,

suggesting some kind of coal tar distillate.

There you go. oh, you look lovely.

Oh, my... You look...

-Absurd. -Ridiculous.

-Wonderful. -Mrs Clam's going to love it.

I hope she turns up.

Oh, you don't really think she'd be stubborn enough

-to miss it, do you? -You have met Mrs Clam?

Meanwhile, we're dressed like a dog's dinner

for no good reason.

We really should get going.

Ladies, your chariot awaits.

Among other things,

coal tar distillate is used in creosote,

a substance familiar to both mechanics and farmers.

So Angus and Callum would be well acquainted?

I'd like to swab their hands for traces.

What, here?

Well there's no time like the present.

All right, ladies and gents,

we're going toe kick things off nice and easy

-with The Gay Gordons. -I know some gay Gordons.

We know most of you

won't have a clue what you're doing,

so my sister Maggie here will talk you through it.

-Nice dress. -Oh, thanks.

-Peggy gave it to me. -You look amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd take your partners

for the first dance...

and one, two, three, four and...

Look at this.

I have never seen such a handsome pair.

Right, big yin, I'll show you how this is done.

You're next.

And swing your partners, swing your partners around...

Don't look so scared, Sarge.

How hard can it be?

Again from the top.

Back, two, three, turn. Forwards, two, three, turn.

And swing your partners, swing your partners,

swing your partners around.

And one, two, three, four...

Here we go again from the top.

I haven't finished collecting samples.

And I'm trying to prevent another murder.

Sister Boniface: What on earth?

Sister Boniface!

Have you tried the punch? It's marvellous.

I can't take her back like this.

Reverend Mother will have her cleaning the lavatoriums

for a year.

Take her inside for coffee and water.

Lots of it.

Our guest of honour has arrived.

Oh... Oh, dear.

I think maybe I shouldn't have come.

I'm worried I may have pushed her too far.

Sisters are like... magnets.

Often we repel each other with such force, but...

...when we're both facing the right way,

the bond can withstand almost anything.

All it takes is for one of you to change direction.

Hm?

Surprise!

Happy birthday, Vera.

I'll go and get us some punch.

Oh no, Hector. Spare me.

I don't like surprises...

...but I can see that a lot of effort

has gone into all this

so it would be remiss of me not to express my gratitude.

Who put up that bunting?

The rules are very clear on the use of drawing pins.

Anyway,

I want to extend my particular thanks

to my sister Jean and her family.

Thank you for coming.

It's a long road

and I'm glad you made the journey.

All of you.

Let's give it up for the birthday girl.

I owe you both an apology.

I was envious of your happiness.

When Cyril was killed,

I was... overwhelmed by my grief...

...and I forgot how much you both cared for him.

You lost him too... I'm sorry.

♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy Birthday, dear Vera ♪

♪ Happy Birthday to you ♪

Sister Boniface: Just need a couple more,

and then I'll head to the lab.

Can't you stay and have a bit of fun first?

There's nothing more fun than forensics, Peggy.

If creosote's used by farmers,

why do you need samples from the others?

Oh, because, coal tar has several other applications...

ointment to treat skin conditions, for instance.

Oh, no.

I thought Maggie covered up because her dad didn't approve,

but... when she tried my dress on earlier...

Oh, heavens.

It's psoriasis.

It started after my mother died.

Do you use a topical treatment?

Coal tar ointment. Every morning.

-Today? -Yes... Why?

Sister Boniface: When I examined your father's sgian-dubh,

I found traces of coal tar in the crevices of the hilt.

I suspect if I swab your hands,

I'll find traces of the very same substance.

Did you stab your father, Maggie?

-What happened? -I...

You heard his argument with Jimmy.

I just wanted to understand why...

Why everything changed after your mother died?

Why didn't you tell us? We had a right to know.

-Especially Jimmy. -It doesn't concern you.

The day she died, I remember

she was braiding my hair before school,

and we were singing.

And you and Jimmy were playing your instruments

at the kitchen table.

That was the last time we were all together.

You never spoke to Jimmy after that day.

And I never understood until now.

You understand nothing.

I caught her with her bags packed.

Yours too.

She said she was leaving me... for Jimmy's father.

-I couldn't allow that. -But how could you stop her?

And... and...

Un... unless you...

Did you push her?

It wasn't an accident.

You took her from us, didn't you?

Did you kill her?! Answer me!

I had no choice.

-I have to tell the police. -No. Margaret...

she was going to take you away from me.

-You're a murderer. You... -Stop, Margaret!

Ohh.

She deserved better. We both did.

I know what's coming.

I know that I'll be punished.

But... in the strangest way,

I've... I've never felt so free.

You ready? She's going toe sing for Vera.

Is everything all right?

Look, I'm not going to ruin Mrs Clam's night...

...but after this is over, you will be arrested

on suspicion of the murder of John Adams.

What?

♪ Fare thee weel ♪

♪ Thou first and fairest ♪

♪ Fare thee weel ♪

♪ Thou best and dearest ♪

♪ Thine be ilka joy and treasure ♪

♪ Peace, enjoyment, love and pleasure ♪

-Ye dancin'? -Are ye askin'?

-Oh I'm askin'. -I'm dancin'.

♪ Loved so kindly ♪

♪ Had we never loved so blindly ♪

♪ Never met or never parted ♪

♪ We'd have ne'er ha' been broken-hearted ♪

♪ Ae fond kiss ♪

♪ And then we sever ♪

♪ Ae fareweel, alas, forever ♪

♪ Deep in heart-wrung tears ♪

♪ I'll pledged thee ♪

♪ Warring sighs and groans ♪

♪ I'll wage thee ♪

Thanks for letting us see her, Inspector.

Of course.

How's Maggie holding up?

Admirably.

We're hoping the judge will show some clemency.

True love stories never end. Remember that.

I'll wait as long as it takes.

And you'll be coming to see us in a few weeks.

-No excuses. -Oh, I'm coming.

I've already booked my ticket.

I just have to arrange some cover at the post office,

and of course, I can't leave my lodgers

to fend for themselves.

-Where is Felix? -I'm here.

Oh... I think I was maybe a wee bit rough with him

on the dance floor last night.

Aye, you'll always remember your first ceilidh, eh?

Bit delicate there, Sister Peter?

I only had one glass of punch.

-You can't just ask her. -Mrs Clam...

can you confirm, once and for all,

how old you was yesterday?

There's been a bit of a sweepstake, you see.

Gambling is the vice of the weak-minded.

Oh! You were all wrong.

Oh, but Tom was the closest.

Congrats.

-Vera... -Thank you for coming.

It was so good to see you enjoying yourself.

Vera, I had a braw time on the dance floor with you last night.

Cyril would be proud.

I'm pleased to say that I was wrong.

You're not alone.

Thanks, Tom.