Original subtitles

Good day. A month ago, I could barely handle

the attendance register.

Look. Correspondence: done.

Schedule: sorted.

It's like I'm possessed!

Unfortunate choice of words.

Can't wait for Mrs S to come back from her holiday

so I can show her my new filing system.

You've coped admirably without her.

Miss Palmer, why don't you take the rest of the day off.

Aw, thanks, Father!

I'm honoured. But surely it would be easier to attend Mass

at the Vatican?

Italian sermons are impossible to sit through,

or so I've heard.

Hercule, good to see you.

Although I think these clandestine entrances are no longer necessary.

How could I deny you the thrill, Father?

Besides, I had to check you still have your wits about you.

Ah. Not a social visit, then?

As you know, The Vigil of the Assumption is coming up.

Thousands will descend upon the Vatican

expecting to see a highly revered statue.

The Madonna of Sorrows?

You're here on Reclamations Department business?

Stolen. Last year.

The good news is, the man responsible confessed

and he knows the statue's whereabouts.

And the bad news?

Not long ago, that man tried to kill you

on this very spot.

Lazarus.

And he will only talk to you.

Forgive the precautions, Father.

I don't normally permit visitors to my most dangerous inmate.

Having met him, I understand.

Then you know he has an exceptional mind.

Indeed.

Last month, he offered counsel to the librarian.

An hour later, we had a full-scale riot.

12 new patients in the infirmary.

Do not underestimate him.

Stay arm's length from the bars at all times.

Give him no information, personal or otherwise.

And if he does anything unexpected,

pray.

Father Brown.

I knew you wouldn't keep an old friend waiting.

You and I are not friends.

Where is the Madonna of Sorrows?

You won't even ask how I am?

Nasty wound.

Courtesy of a fellow inmate?

You think they let me anywhere near the general population?

Your trial approaches.

Restitution of stolen artefacts will demonstrate remorse.

Forget the trial.

I'm more interested in my favourite adversary.

What have you done with the statue?

Sold it. Anonymous auction.

But you know where it ended up?

Naturally.

I'll give you a clue...

..for a price.

I have no money.

Something else, then.

I'll take whatever's in that pocket.

My travelling stole is of no use to you.

No more dangerous than his bedsheets.

Stand back, please.

The clue?

Luke 15:4.

"What man of you that hath an hundred sheep:

"and if he shall lose one of them,

"doth he not leave the 99 in the desert,

"and go after that which is lost, till he find it?"

What use is that to me?

You're a clever man.

Do your own homework.

Three crowded trains and a bus better suited to cattle.

You should have come in the car.

You drove off without me!

Miss Palmer, who is our guest?

Flambeau's boss.

Partner.

Monsignor Russo.

Welcome.

Sorry we had to impose.

That spineless Lazarus wouldn't say one word to me yesterday,

but he spoke to you today.

I think he saw it simply as a way to waste my time.

He gave you nothing to go on?

Almost nothing.

Luke 15:4.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep?

Presumably referring to the lost statue.

Why, does it look like a sheep?

The Madonna of Sorrows is an exquisite,

flawless 17th century sculpture of the Virgin Mary.

All right! You said it were a sheep!

The lost sheep isn't the statue.

It's the person who bought it.

I am sorry we couldn't stay longer.

Not at all. Eddie doesn't want his mum outstaying her welcome.

Besides, I'm eager to catch up on all the excitement I've missed.

Yeah. I'd rather hear there hasn't been any,

but knowing Father Brown...

Please, I won't get in the way!

Flambeau?! How brave of you to show your face while I was away.

Good to see you too, Chief Inspector.

It's just... Inspector now.

No time to catch up, I'm afraid.

Confidential Vatican business.

My immunity papers.

How's Eddie? Oh, very well.

Ready to see how fast she goes? Absolutely not!

I told Cardinal Papillon about your little stunt.

From now on, I will be driving.

Look, there's loads of room for me!

Why don't you show Mrs Sullivan what you've done with her paperwork?

W-What was that about my paperwork?

That was a first.

Overtaken by a pedestrian.

Not every journey is a race.

You forget, you work for the Vatican now.

I was hired because I get results.

Sometimes you have to run a red light,

pick a lock, throw a punch.

I am a man of God.

I have never thrown a punch in my life!

Monsignor, it would be prudent if you stayed here as lookout.

When Lazarus is involved,

we should anticipate trouble.

Cutting it fine, gents.

The exhibition's almost over.

Bubbly?

I won't tell if you don't, Father.

I'll abstain. Thank you, Miss...?

Mary Jackman. Regrettably, Mary, I've never

practised abstinence myself.

That's very kind, sir, but this is all for charity.

I'm just helping Lady Veronica out.

In that case, tell her we'd love to make a donation.

Hope your pockets are as deep as those eyes...

Officer Francis?

Curious coincidence.

Must be divine providence, Father.

Indeed.

Not my usual cup of tea, I confess.

But I heard the Shepherd family's collection was unmissable.

Afternoon.

Lazarus' prison officer.

A spy?

Let's not jump to conclusions.

He's right, though.

It is an impressive house.

The Shepherd family were pillars of the pompous aristocracy.

Until the rebellious daughter inherited everything.

Veronica yearned for excitement.

All the good things money can't buy.

The Shepherds' wayward child -

the Lost Sheep? Hmm.

There was a time she and I were intimately acquainted.

Veronica.

That's for the waitress in Budapest!

It's good to see you, Hercule.

You haven't lost your delicate touch.

Nor you your charm.

Father Brown. A friend of Flambeau's.

So it's true! The master thief, working for the old enemy.

Nothing ever escaped you. Quite.

I hear the Vatican plans to exhibit a statue they no longer possess.

A statue you once promised to steal for me.

A detail we shall perhaps withhold from Monsignor Russo.

Your generosity is much appreciated.

Mary will take your details in the donor book outside.

Did you obtain all of this by unorthodox means?

Oh, heavens, what must you think of me?

As if I'd leave my most treasured pieces on display.

Ah.

Sturdy safe.

Built to deter men like me.

Despite your reputation, you were nothing but honourable to me -

in most departments.

Voila!

The Madonna of Sorrows.

Tragic effigy.

Many have attested to seeing her weep.

Some might say she's priceless.

I say everything has a price.

Is it not reward enough to spare thousands of pilgrims

from disappointment?

I think you know the answer to that.

Allow me. Er, since when was I your damsel in distress?

Fine. I represent the Vatican.

Let's talk financial compensation.

That's the other guests all gone.

I can serve tea in the sitting room if you like.

Thank you, Mary.

Better make it a strong pot.

Follow me, gents.

I know I'm a little disorganised,

but I knew where everything was!

Look, this new system is miles better.

It's all about dates in and dates out.

Yes, I'm sure I'll work it out.

It's actually easier if I explain it to you.

No, honestly, you've already done so much. Thank you, Brenda.

All right. Cup of tea, then?

Perfect! I'll tell you all about Eddie's experimental cooking.

The Veronica I knew never cared for money.

How about we pause all this while I take you for dinner?

Ah, the old signature move!

A candlelit dinner, a velvety bottle of Pinot Noir.

Elegant, complex, seductive.

Let me express my gratitude for you being so accommodating.

Ahem.

Given that time is of the essence,

perhaps we should concentrate on the statue?

Relax, Father. Even if I wasn't spoken for,

Flambeau blew his chances long ago.

How much do you have to offer me?

What's going on? Did you find the statue?

We did. Briefly.

We were only gone a few minutes!

Plenty of time for someone to slip in and out unseen.

Though breaking into a locked safe is another matter.

If you're behind this, Flambeau...!

Try pointing that finger at someone who wasn't with you the whole time.

Me?!

No! Mary's my dearest friend,

and she would never steal from me.

Perhaps you observed something, Miss Jackman?

Oh, I'm not very observant, Father.

Plus, I was in the kitchen making tea.

Guess it'll go to waste now.

Pity. I was looking forward to something hot.

I'll pop this in the sitting room,

in case you fancy it later.

Have you found something, Father?

A cigarette butt.

Careless of the thief to leave evidence.

Unless they wanted us to find it.

Monsignor, did you notice any of the exhibition guests smoking?

I did not. Besides, they had all departed before the crash -

except for the tall gentleman in a blue jacket

that I passed on the way inside.

Officer Francis.

Car key! No.

You are the one who had the statue in sight.

We'll inform the Vatican and await further instruction.

And notify the police.

No, please don't. I can't have my name linked to a stolen artefact.

And it would be damaging to the Vatican

if anyone found out it were missing.

Hmm.

We have a bigger problem.

Whoever stole it was acting under instruction,

so Lazarus has an accomplice.

Another day, another wild adventure for Father Brown -

inserting himself where he does not belong.

When I heard that you had visited that disgrace to the Church...

Please accept my apologies, Canon Fox.

I don't need your apologies, Father.

I need you to leave the reclamations to the professionals -

and to this crook they employed against my advice.

Stay away from Vincent Lazarus!

The Vatican must be in trouble if that's your next bishop.

Mm.

I won't be joining you for dinner.

Following up on a promising lead.

Let me guess.

Mary Jackman?

Any information could prove vital in catching the accomplice.

I would hate for you to compromise your new position

by doing anything that Monsignor Russo could object to.

And I suppose you're planning on staying away from Lazarus,

as Canon Fox commanded?

What do you know?

A perfect fit.

So - I'm dying to hear if you found that lost sheep.

That clue wasn't for me.

Because you knew that Flambeau was alive and working for the Vatican.

Healed by a magical cup, apparently.

You wanted us to locate the statue for you

so your accomplice could take it from under our noses.

Incidentally,

noticed a familiar face at the exhibition.

I don't like what you're implying.

Merely stating a fact, Officer Francis.

It's no surprise.

I've been fostering his cultural appetite.

This is just a game to you, isn't it?

An intellect such as yours deserves a challenge.

Now, are you ready to purchase your second clue?

I would rather you spoke plainly.

The price is steeper this time.

Your lovely hat.

Are you trying to defrock me?

You know the drill, Father.

My vestments are purely symbolic.

You'll never strip me of my faith.

We'll see.

Matthew 15:14.

Feel free to confer with your friends.

Tell me,

what happens if I lose this game?

Then in two days' time, I will walk out of this prison unchallenged...

..and I will kill you.

Please contact me at my lodgings

when my partner does decide to return.

Well, maybe I could help you?

Thanks for last night, Monsieur Flambeau.

You're sure I can't drop you at work?

I'd better take the bus.

Us nurses are rotten gossips.

This is not how the Vatican expects us to conduct ourselves.

The Vatican expects results.

What is it? Veronica's book of charity donors.

Mary was only too happy to share it with me.

Guess which prison officer left his address yesterday.

While you write your reports and wait for your instructions,

I'm going to get the statue back.

Actually, I spoke to Cardinal Papillon this morning.

And?

He said that trusting your instincts

was our best chance of recovering the Madonna of Sorrows.

No need to apologise.

I can still save the day.

Not reconsidering your vow of nonviolence, are you?

Somewhere safe, Miss Palmer.

From now on, we work together.

No more thefts.

No more inappropriate relations.

And it goes without saying, I'm driving.

Miss Palmer, has Flambeau returned yet?

He rushed off with Monsignor Russo.

I would've asked to join,

but clearly nobody wants me interfering!

Something on your mind?

Well, she's only gone and undone it all!

Ah.

Perhaps that's why my things keep migrating.

It took me forever to sort out this mess.

Does Mrs Sullivan know how much thought

went into your reorganisation?

Perhaps you should talk to her.

Brenda?

I found this strange book of addresses in the kitchen.

Flambeau said it would lead them to some officer's house.

Matthew 15:14.

"Let them alone: for they are blind, and leaders of the blind.

"If the blind lead the blind,

"they both will fall into the pit."

Flambeau is heading into a trap.

Somewhat off the beaten track.

Fitting hideout for an accomplice.

Good thing we have immunity.

From the law, not from God.

Just follow my lead.

That isn't too much to ask, is it?

Depends where you want to "lead" me.

Lesson one,

lock picking.

May God forgive me.

Find anything? No, the top floor's empty.

We should go. Not yet.

Nobody's been here for years.

Look harder.

Touche.

Let's see where they lead!

Not so fast!

Security alarm.

You have a lot to learn.

From you?! Yes.

The professional hired to lead this department,

or so I was led to believe.

Thievery is no profession.

Then we must be unemployed.

That's different. We're recovering items that are rightfully ours.

By what means?

Same brand.

This is it.

You're really enjoying this, aren't you?!

I'd enjoy it more without the running commentary.

No.

You may have convinced Father Brown of your reformed character,

but I cannot support this.

Then go home, Russo.

I work better alone.

Stop!

Not another move.

And if I refuse to comply?

Then you will likely meet an unpleasant fate.

I just saved your neck!

The least you could do is tell me about this "Vatican business."

Classified information.

Perhaps if you were still Chief Inspector.

Hercule Flambeau, you're under arrest...

I suggest you review our immunity papers

before causing a diplomatic incident.

We should've stopped for a cup of tea, Sergeant.

I've been telling old Farmer Ned to clean his cellar up for years.

This property doesn't belong to Officer Francis?

Who?

I take it this is what you were after?

Once again, Flambeau acted with reckless abandon...

I almost died. You were ready to abandon me -

partner.

It's like you don't want to find the statue.

I beg your pardon?!

Well, if you're not helping me, who are you helping?

Enough!

Mercifully, the Lord has spared you both.

Although I do wonder, Monsignor,

why you're so reluctant to give Hercule a chance.

I was a Curator of the Vatican Museum.

My reliquary collection was unparalleled.

An opinion shared by your friend, Father.

Ah.

This is awkward.

Hercule has changed.

I once trusted another man just like Flambeau.

I considered him a friend.

Until he used me to gain access to the Vatican vaults.

Lazarus.

He cost me my career.

And now, when he has information to share,

he won't even talk to me!

I won't make the same mistake again.

Oh, well. C'est la vie.

Do not walk away from this, Hercule.

I was promised independence.

My own department.

Go to bed.

Sleep on it.

I'm sorry, Father.

I'm out.

Will you at least stay until the Madonna of Sorrows is found?

Why should I?

Because the day after tomorrow,

Lazarus plans to vacate his prison cell and take my life.

Father, you might've mentioned that your life's in danger!

You were lucky to escape Lazarus the first time,

thanks to Flambeau's heroics.

I'll show you my scar, if you like. Gosh!

Let's not forget that Lazarus is incarcerated.

For now.

You're not leaving us out of this any more.

Agreed.

So, someone took the statue and led Flambeau into a trap.

Presumably Lazarus' accomplice.

I found this in the cellar.

Same brand as the one beneath the safe.

He's taunting us.

I saw Mary light one of those after you dropped her off.

And she gave you that address, right?

Only after I cleverly planted the idea in her head.

Unless she was the clever one.

Brenda, have you been re-organising again?!

Sorry, please continue.

What possible connection could Mary have with a man like Lazarus?

Why don't we ask her?

She'll be at work, nursing.

She didn't say which hospital.

I don't think she works in a hospital.

Miss Palmer?

Well, her uniform, it's more like the ones

the nurses wore at Borstal.

Or prison.

It's Mary.

Et nomine patri, et filio, et Spiritui Sancto, amen.

No sign of a struggle.

Foam round the lips suggests poison.

Cruel fate.

Mmm. Perhaps a preventable one.

All this Vatican business is no longer private.

Seven witnesses saw her collapse.

Four staff, three inmates.

Vincent Lazarus?

Not on the list, Father.

Poison can be slow-acting.

Hard to know when and how she ingested it.

Mm. Not your job, luckily.

Seems she was playing with fire.

The warden suspected her of exchanging secret notes

with a patient.

A sackable offence.

Curious you blame the victim and not her murderer,

Officer Francis. Father!

Please continue.

I confronted her.

She swore whatever was going on was over.

Then, half an hour later...

The patient she was communicating with.

Need I ask his name?

Ahem.

The wound on your hand was self-inflicted,

gaining you access to Nurse Jackman, to whom you passed letters.

Letters of instruction.

Was there a question in there?

Why did you take Mary's life?

Had she simply served her purpose,

or did she turn on you?

I was fond of Mary.

A susceptible mind is a useful one,

but I had no hand in her passing.

Please don't mistake it for part of our game.

I should not have accepted your invitation.

I will not visit again.

Nor could you.

My cell will be empty tomorrow.

But I'll give you one last chance to stop me.

No more clues.

The last one saved your friend's life.

Can you afford to risk it?

I'm running out of clothing.

Indeed.

Your Bible will have to suffice.

The Bible tells us that material possessions

draw us away from spiritual treasures.

One condition.

If I win your game,

you will tell me what happened to you.

What made you despise the Church so deeply.

Deal.

"But I fear, lest as the serpent seduced Eve by his subtlety,

"so your minds should be corrupted

"and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ."

St Paul's warning to the Corinthians.

Visitation's over.

The chapel's ready for your weekly prayer time, Vincent.

Until tomorrow, Father.

Aw.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have meddled.

It's not that I like the mess.

It's just if something isn't there right in front of me,

I risk neglecting it.

Well, that's what I was trying to help you with.

Filing things by when they actually need doing.

You know, urgent stuff closest, so you don't miss anything.

Gosh.

That's actually rather brilliant.

You having me on?!

But what I can't fathom

is why you keep on moving Father Brown's liturgical things?

Eh? I don't.

Well, yesterday, his hat was off the peg

and his vestments were folded all wrong.

Well, don't look at me.

You're the one who left his Bible on t'windowsill this morning.

I thought that was you.

Then who keeps interfering with Father Brown's things?

You know the rules.

15 minutes.

What's going on?!

Rest assured, our extensive manhunt will continue overnight.

Just say it, Inspector.

He got away.

The wardens seem to believe that Lazarus climbed through that hole

and vanished into thin air.

A miracle...

We were right!

Someone was sneaking into the presbytery at night!

Hiding jordanite in the Father's Bible,

concealing a blasting cap

in the lining of his hat...

..and threading a fuse through his stole.

You smuggled a bomb into prison.

That's not fair! He was tricked.

Officer Francis warned me not to underestimate Lazarus,

which is exactly what I have done.

Long night, Sergeant?

No sign. Mm.

Last month, Lazarus incited a riot at Wynnchurch.

Another escape attempt?

Or he was observing what happened during a lockdown.

Finding blind spots in prison security.

Like the chapel.

Any smart man would sneak out at night.

An explosion only draws attention.

Unless that was the whole point.

"So your minds should be corrupted,

"and fall from the simplicity that is in Christ."

Father, you need some sleep.

What if the explosion was to corrupt our minds?

Distracting us from the simplicity of the only logical conclusion.

Lazarus never left the chapel.

The question is,

my dear friend,

did he pull the same trick twice?

Argh!

We need to speak to Officer Francis urgently!

Excuse me. Coming through.

Out of my way.

I'm all for breaking and entering, Father,

but knocking would have been easier.

Less discreet.

Who knows where Lazarus is?

Which is why I don't make enemies of criminal masterminds.

Even criminal masterminds can't perform miracles.

Lazarus' accomplice couldn't open the safe without the key.

Which I had already purloined.

But they didn't need to.

Simple sleight of hand.

Huh!

Just as Lazarus never left the prison.

Hercule?

Veronica.

We saw an empty safe and never thought to question which one.

The picture switch took seconds.

The clever thing was convincing us that the statue was stolen

while we were out of the room.

The cigarette butt wasn't to taunt us.

It was a fuse.

Slowly burning through the picture cord

till it fell to the floor,

alerting us to the imaginary theft.

Flambeau has gone AWOL yet again?!

This is going in my report.

And Father Brown's gone with him!

They left a note:

"Off to Lady V's. The statue never left."

Mrs Sullivan, fetch your car keys.

Miss Palmer, telephone the police.

This was his plan all along.

Whatever you've figured out, Father Brown'll be one step ahead.

Of me, perhaps.

But I know Lazarus.

Father Brown has figured out only what he wanted him to.

"As the serpent seduced Eve by his subtlety."

You are Eve,

seduced by Lazarus into concealing explosives in my apparel

so I unwittingly freed him...

..and chased his shadow into an ambush.

Congratulations, Father.

I knew you'd get there eventually.

And for the record, I wasn't seduced.

Vincent and I are in love. Oh, spare us!

Oh.

How did you meet?

Two years ago my father died

and left his unblemished legacy for me to sully.

All those shady deals and running around with the likes of Flambeau

became like a millstone.

And so I sought atonement in the Vatican.

And Father Lazarus heard your confession.

Vincent showed me that the Church was in fact a parasite,

feeding off my insecurity.

He used you, Veronica.

He set me free. No.

No, you set yourself free.

Veronica, you know me.

You trust me.

I'm sorry, but Lazarus doesn't love you.

He has no heart.

You're a good man, Hercule.

It really pains me to see you so brainwashed.

May I sit down?

Tell me about your best friend, Mary.

I loved Mary.

And she loved you.

Enough to pass what she thought were innocent love letters

between you and a prisoner, Lazarus.

When did she find out you were helping him escape?

Hercule's questions at dinner made her suspicious.

She went through my bedroom and found Vincent's letters.

I wish I'd burned them all.

So you poisoned her.

I had no choice!

Don't let him into your head, darling.

Resist.

Right, step on it, Miss S!

Ooh! That wasn't the turning, was it?

No, straight ahead.

You have a choice, Lady Veronica.

You can choose redemption.

Redemption is a lie constructed by men in frocks

telling you you're a sinner.

We're all sinners.

Clergy and laity alike.

See? They fool even themselves.

If you choose his path, you may find distraction.

But you will never find peace.

I just want the pain to stop!

You took a life.

That pain is remorse.

They gave you that pain, Veronica.

But it proves your soul can be saved.

They gave you the disease so they could sell you the cure.

Give me the gun. Release your shackles.

Repent.

I love you.

Forever.

Good help is so hard to find.

Who's next?

I'll kill you!

He's armed. You're not.

So soon? Looks like we'll have to wrap this up.

The only way out of here is with a hostage.

He's right.

Take me.

Clever thinking.

You know, we could've made a formidable trio.

But regrettably, three is a crowd.

Hello, old friend!

Don't tempt me.

You enjoyed that, didn't you?

No comment.

All this carnage, two lives taken, over an old statue?

The statue is part of it.

But the whole picture is no more palatable.

We had a deal, did we not?

If I prevailed,

you said you would tell me what happened.

What filled your heart with such bitterness?

And I'm a man of my word, Father.

But this game has only just begun.

I look forward to the next round.

Deliberately disobeying my orders?!

Aiding a prison break?!

Not my finest hour.

Tomorrow, I visit His Holiness in Rome

ahead of my upcoming consecration.

How am I to explain this fiasco?

Tell him the Madonna of Sorrows has been found,

thanks to Father Brown.

Oh, what...? I...

I imagine he'll be impressed, don't you?

All's well that ends well?

No!

No.

I shall speak to you when I return, Father.

I look forward to it, Canon Fox.

For Mary Jackman...

..whose only crime was being a loyal friend.

While Veronica will be remembered only as a monster's accomplice,

not the remarkable woman I once knew.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

The Lord is with thee.

Au revoir, mesdames.

You should visit more often. Brenda!

Edgar would have a heart attack! What next?

I'm thinking on it. I'll keep you posted.

Well, I'm glad you haven't made up your mind.

If I wasn't openminded, Father,

this friendship never would've worked.

Flambeau, I owe you an apology.

Had I only given you a chance...

The feeling's mutual... partner.

Actually, I've received word from the Vatican.

I am being restored to my position as museum curator.

You have earned your independence.

Our flight doesn't depart for a few hours.

We can take the scenic route. Ah!

I thank you, Father Brown, for your immeasurable contribution.

See you at the airport, Monsignor!

Subtitles corrected by DB