Original subtitles

Ladies! Does your washing powder leave your whites dreary and grey?

Try new Flix Flakes in your wash!

Flix brightens my day, every day.

Oh! This is ludicrous, Ron!

Cut!

What's the problem, Katherine?

Katherine Vale is the epitome of glamour!

My fans don't want to see me like this!

That's the twist. You loved it yesterday.

It's not the way the public see you, Katherine,

but you're doing it brilliantly.

Lesson number one, Eva, dear, always be better than the material.

I wrote the material.

You've managed to find fault with every single one of my ideas.

Could that possibly be because they've all been terrible?

Right, we have three days left to deliver the finished advert so...

I know you don't love this concept

but I also know only you can make it sing.

I've told you, you cannot confine Katherine Vale to a set.

I need air, space, light.

I must breathe!

Of course. Leave it with me.

You let her walk all over you.

We have to keep her onboard somehow.

We need to get out of the studio.

Find new inspiration.

We could film in Hyde Park.

Better than that.

I know just the place, away from London, no distractions.

We can nail this...

Great. I'll call Frank. It is his company. He doesn't need to know.

But I do need to call a priest.

I can't thank you enough for letting us film here, Father.

It's a pleasure to welcome you back to the garden

you played in as a boy.

Mind your backs, please.

I knew your grandfather, Ron.

He was a lovely man.

Well, being sacristan was so important to him.

He'd be very happy that we're donating to St Mary's.

Well, the church roof fund is very grateful.

Now, Mr Sanderson, we're really keen to know the tricks

of the advertising trade.

Oh, yeah. Like how you make us want to buy stuff we don't need.

Let's go and have a look.

Almost ready, Ron.

My copywriter, Meg Wilson.

Beautiful place you've got.

Ah! This is more like it.

Oh, there she is!

Katherine Vale, Hollywood star, in the flesh.

Mrs S is her biggest fan.

Welcome to Kembleford, Mrs Vale.

Isabel Sullivan, parish secretary.

I adore your work.

Always a joy to meet my public.

My protegee, Miss Eva Richards.

A fine actress in the making.

I hope to one day to be as brilliant as Katherine.

It's good to dream, dear.

Now, Ron darling, what's my line?

I was thinking something like -

Flix washes so bright you'll feel like a star.

Yes. That's not quite right, is it?

How about -

Flix washes so bright you will feel like me - a star!

That's not what I wrote. I really like that, Katherine.

God, isn't she incredible?

She's definitely something...

Well, let's rehearse.

Rehearsing!

I know. Let her try it and then we'll find something better.

OK, if everyone is ready for a rehearsal.

And...

..action!

Flix washes so bright,

you'll feel just like me - a star!

Perfect!

It definitely had something but perhaps if...

No, no, that's it.

Now, darling, find me somewhere out of this sun.

You are welcome to use the presbytery.

Miss Palmer has prepared tea and cake.

Eva, bring my correspondence.

And you, Mrs Mulligan.

Sullivan. Come. I'll sign a picture for you.

Oh, would you? How marvellous!

What a fascinating process. Isn't it?

You don't happen to have a telephone I might use?

Of course. In my study.

I adored you in Love In The Dust.

You had such chemistry with Saul Hobson, I could barely sit still.

Dear Saul, superb actor.

Awful man.

One mustn't speak ill of the dead but, oh, truly.

Eva, letters?

This one's from Binkie Baxter.

The theatre impresario?

He's a dear friend. Could it be about the audition?

Take them back to my room at our digs, there's a good girl.

But... Now!

Ah, Eva, we could use you on set.

She's running an errand for me.

When you're back then.

Won't be long now, Katherine.

I am perfectly happy chatting with Mrs Tulliver.

Sorry, where's the telephone? Through there.

Who are you calling? No-one.

Just the office.

Fancy some cake, Mrs Vale?

Charming.

Don't walk away from me!

Who are you calling?

Katherine, I am simply making a telephone call.

This relentless neediness has got to stop. We cannot go on like this.

Brenda!

If we can make them feel something,

people are more likely to buy what we're selling. I see.

Fascinating.

Ron said you needed me. Yes.

Could you stand in for Katherine

so that we can check the shot?

Flix washes so bright,

you'll feel just like me - a faded has-been Hollywood star!

That's a bit harsh.

True though.

Don't let Katherine hear you.

Too late, I'm afraid.

Katherine, I didn't mean to be...

A terrible actress?

Step aside, you're out of your depth.

I prefer to do the line as agreed

without Eva's hilarious ad-lib.

Ron, I'm ready!

Yes, Katherine.

Right, going for a take.

Roll camera.

Has something happened?

I'm fine. Let's just shoot.

Rolling. And...

..action!

Flix washes so bright, you'll feel just like me -

a shining star!

What the hell have stars got to do with Flix?

Frank.

Cut.

You found us. Great...

You moved the shoot without telling me?

What is he doing here?

Frank Hicks.

Flix Managing Director.

Is this your gaff, is it? Very nice.

So, Ron,

what happened to Flix brightening your day?

Can we have a quiet word?

Never a dull moment in advertising.

I know my customers and all they care about is can our flakes

give them dazzling whites.

Yes, but in advertising it works when it's about aspiration.

Oh. Oh.

Sorry, just sticking me washing on.

Let's ask this nice lady.

You wash with Flix, right?

What's more important?

Feelings or whites?

Whites, definitely.

See? You're a good man, Ron.

I like you.

But let's do it my way, eh?

Fine, but let me deal with Katherine.

She can be tricky. Just a bit.

We...

I think it would work better if

instead of the cocktail, you are holding

the box of Flix.

That's not what we agreed.

And if you could say...

..Flix washes whites so bright,

I'm dazzled.

What happened to my "star" line?

It wasn't landing.

Well, perhaps instead you could...

I will not take acting tips from a talentless amateur, Miss Richards.

Oh, come on, she was only trying to help.

And you can shut up too! What do you know about anything?!

Lady, I worked on Madison Avenue.

Girl, I worked in Hollywood.

Now let me speak to my director, alone.

Blimey, it's only washing flakes.

Katherine takes all of her roles very seriously, Brenda.

Going for a take.

Rolling.

Action.

Flix washes whites so bright,

I'm dazzled.

Really give it some welly.

You're here to sell Flix, remember?

Cut.

Frank, don't...

Did you just direct me?!

And lift the box a bit higher.

That's it. Nice, big close-up.

No-one manhandles Katherine Vale!

Katherine, Frank was just...

That's it! I quit!

She's coming back, right?

That's lunch, everybody. Lunch?!

Go and get her!

You are welcome to try.

Nothing is ever enough to make Katherine happy.

Nothing. That's just so sad.

She's rich, she's famous, what's she got to be unhappy about?

Did you speak to her? I tried.

Needed to down a stiff drink after.

Blimey, she's a...

I know.

Are you all right, Mr Hicks?

Not cut out for this advertising lark, Father.

Katherine is missing. She's not at our digs.

What did you say to her?

Just to come back and finish.

She doesn't carry money, so she can't have gone far.

Might I suggest that we split up and search for her?

Good idea, Father.

Kid gloves when we find her, please, everyone.

Honestly, she's forever doing things like this.

Storming off, making everything about her.

I'm sure we'll find her.

Hang on.

What's that?

Drowned.

Obvious signs of a struggle.

Ah, Flix.

Mm? Violet swears by it.

Yes, thank you, Sergeant.

Corral the witnesses, would you? Righty-o, sir.

There's blood under her fingernails.

She must have fought back.

We'll get that tested.

Father, you need to steer clear of this case.

Katherine Vale's death will make headlines.

This investigation must be watertight.

Poor choice of words but...

Have you seen her ears?

They're green.

Perhaps.

But that could... Look, this is exactly what I'm talking about.

No investigating!

Can you all account for your whereabouts over lunch.

I last saw her on set.

I telephoned my wife.

Our baby's not been well.

And then I was with Father Brown.

I spoke to Frank after he saw her, then went back to my room.

Mr Hicks?

We had a quiet word in the scullery,

but she was alive when I left.

You weren't wearing that neckerchief this morning.

No...

Felt a bit cold.

Could you remove it, please, sir?

How did you acquire those scratches, Mr Hicks?

It's not what it looks like.

Frank Hicks, I'm arresting you on suspicion of murder.

What are you doing?

You are not obliged to say anything, but anything you say

may be given in evidence. It wasn't me!

I swear. I didn't kill her!

I tried to apologise but she just wouldn't have it.

And then she scratched you?

She went to walk out, I grabbed her arm

and she dug her nails in.

My family company is on the line here.

She was the new face of Flix.

Why would I kill her?

Do you know of anyone else who might have wanted to harm Mrs Vale?

Apparently, she threw her weight around with everyone.

Even said she wanted me banned from the set.

And she said she was going to tell Ron to sack Meg.

Does Miss Wilson know about all this?

I warned her.

I don't know what she'd done to deserve that.

Will you help me, Father?

I will endeavour to find out who did this.

And will you help them to finish the advert?

I can't lose my business too.

I'll do what I can.

I just can't believe it.

Frank seemed like such a nice bloke. I know.

And what about the advert?

The concept could have worked, but now Katherine's gone.

We need a fresh start with one day left. Fresh start?

Fresh like...

..a summer meadow.

Fresh like a young woman

running through the flowers.

But Flix Flakes are even fresher.

It's all about the mood!

We need a meadow and a young woman.

What? We've already got one.

Me? But Katherine's barely cold.

She would have wanted you to do this. I'm not so sure about that.

The show must go on, Eva.

You're strolling through the fields

when you come across just-washed sheets,

and the freshness overwhelms you, and you say -

Flix washes so fresh, I can feel it.

Got it?

I'll give it my all.

Oh, nice frock.

Are you ready for this?

I think so.

It's all I've ever wanted.

Awful way for it to happen though.

I admire your devotion to your profession, Miss Wilson.

Clearly means a lot to you. Sure does.

For a woman like me, a job like this is hard to come by.

It would be a blow to lose your position.

Frank told you.

Katherine had no power to fire me.

Ron's my boss, not her.

But she clearly had significant sway over him.

Did you confront her?

All right, yes.

I found her in the scullery after her spat with Frank.

Why didn't you tell the police?

Because I know how it looks.

I asked her not to fire me.

Didn't work so, to be honest, I used a bit of a flattery.

Ah, yes.

I told her I'm her biggest fan, that it was my idea to hire her.

That way her ailing career got a boost and we got a star.

I really wanted it to work but you saw how she was.

Can you think of anyone who might have wanted Katherine dead?

Throw a rock, Father.

She gave anyone who met her a reason.

Eva, feeling fresh?

Yes. Wish me luck.

Good luck. Break a leg!

Well?

Well, she clearly has a motive, but enough to kill?

I don't know.

Katherine's death has worked out well for Miss Richards.

Father, she adored her.

She called her a faded has-been.

And Katherine snapped at Eva about the letter from Bonkie summat.

Binkie Baxter.

She told Eva to take it to her room in their digs.

Did she, indeed?

Oh, pink silk sheets!

How exotic.

Aren't they a bit slippy?

She lived such an incredible life.

From Poplar to Hollywood.

From rags to riches.

She had a few years away from the screen

when the talkies came along.

Lost count of how many times she'd been married.

Rumours of lots of affairs.

Never any children.

So sad the way that her career just faded away.

Indeed.

No letter from Binkie Baxter in here.

Fleurie de Vie!

Tres exclusive.

You cannot get this anywhere on this side of the Channel.

All right, let's have a whiff then.

Brenda! A little respect, please.

Besides, that's not how you do it.

Spray a little mist into the air

and glide through.

Oh! That is revolting.

Oh, Father.

Look.

Ah!

A jigsaw puzzle.

Something about an audition.

Katherine snapped at Eva when she asked about an audition.

She was far too famous to still be doing that, surely?

"As you suggested, too inexperienced for the part."

Inexperienced? Katherine?

"Role of Juliet."

She's far too old for that.

Well, if it wasn't Mrs Vale...

..who was auditioning?

Flix washes so fresh, I can feel it.

Cut.

It's not working.

I know. It's just, who am I? Where am I going?

And why am I in this field?

None of that matters.

It's all about the mood.

I can't play a mood, can I?

I understand.

Look, take a break while we have a think.

It's such a simple idea.

Katherine would know how to make it work.

Eva, Katherine snapped at you yesterday when you asked about

Binkie Baxter's letter.

Yes?

We found the letter in Mrs Vale's room.

Did you audition for the role of Juliet?

Katherine said she'd recommend me to him.

I thought I did well, maybe even in with a chance.

And yet the letter revealed that, unbeknownst to you,

Mrs Vale had urged Mr Baxter not to cast you.

How could she do that?

She was my mentor, she was supposed to support me,

not stab me in the back.

You must have been upset.

Of course. That's why I tore it up, I was furious.

Furious enough to hurt her?

No!

I idolised her. I could never do something like that.

Even if it meant you could step into her shoes?

I've wanted to be Katherine ever since I was six years old.

There's no way on Earth I could have killed her.

Let's go again and just try relaxing on the next take.

May I? Father.

Mrs Vale was your mentor

but her acting style is not yours.

Perhaps you could be a little less formal.

More yourself.

He's right. You should stop acting.

But I've only just started.

No, she means you've been performing it as Katherine would have.

Stiff.

Old-school.

This time, let all that go, and just be.

I'll try. Let's go again!

Thank you, Father.

Poor Eva. For her mentor to turn on her like that.

Sergeant.

Mr Hicks has the same blood group found under Katherine's fingernails.

Extremely rare type.

We're charging him with murder.

I see.

He wants to talk to you, Father. Says he's remembered something.

Oh, thanks for coming, Father.

This is a nightmare.

How can they hang me for something I didn't do?

I'm working on that.

There's something you want to tell me?

I've had a lot of time to think stuck in here

going over every moment from yesterday,

and something struck me.

You remember when Ron and Katherine had that quiet word?

I do.

I heard her say something like,

"Take back what you said and I'll do it your way,

"or else."

You think she had some kind of hold over Mr Sanderson?

It definitely seemed that way to me.

If she said jump, he jumped.

He wasn't the most experienced, bless him,

only set up his business last year.

Forgive me, but if your firm has so much riding on this advertisement,

why not use someone more seasoned?

He did this campaign I saw in one of my wife's magazines.

Exclusive French perfume.

Can't remember the name. Fleurie de Vie.

Yeah, that's the one. Hmm.

Goodness.

Flix washes so fresh, I can really feel it.

Cut.

Oh, I don't know.

What do you think?

I'm really trying not to act.

And it's great but the concept doesn't fit you any more.

No, no, you're right. It needs something else.

Oh, come on, it's not atomic physics.

All we're trying to do is sell Flix Flakes to housewives.

Father?

Housewives buy Flix Flakes.

Right, and...?

And what are housewives?

Mothers? Yes. And...?

And daughters.

Precisely!

If you can make people feel, you can make them buy.

And what makes people feel more

than the unbreakable love between a mother and her daughter.

It's genius!

Have you ever thought about going into advertising, Father?

What do you think, Meg?

Mothers and daughters, the sacred heart of the family.

I can see it.

It could work, I guess,

but we've got one afternoon,

we're low on film stock, and no cast.

I mean, I would love to play the daughter.

I know how to be that part.

You're hired. Again.

And Mrs S could play the mother.

I could!

As a mother and a daughter and an actress,

I do have all the relevant experience,

if you think I'm suitable.

Suitable? You're perfect!

What do you say, Meg?

It writes itself.

I can give it a try.

What's the setting?

Actually,

I think we had it right the first time.

Father, do you think we could...? Yes, of course.

Great.

New plan, all back to the presbytery.

If you can get everything set up, write the script.

You know what it needs.

Oh, sorry, Ron, just a few queries.

Who is this mother?

What's her background?

What does she want from life?

What accent shall I do her with?

Oh...

Meg will answer all your questions, Mrs Sullivan.

I just need to make a telephone call. Right.

Meg.

I love you, darling.

I'm sorry I've been away so long.

But home tomorrow.

Give Mary a kiss for me.

It must be hard to maintain a marriage

when your work is so all-consuming.

Edith's finding it very hard with the new baby.

I feel terrible being so distracted.

I noticed Mrs Vale placed demands on you.

She had a flacon of Fleurie de Vie perfume

among her most personal possessions.

I understand it's very hard to come by.

What are you implying, Father?

Does Mrs Sanderson know about your indiscretion?

No.

It would break her heart.

Edith is my first and only love.

I stayed faithful all through the war,

even during my service. And then...

You met Mrs Vale.

I'm such a cliche, Father.

Edith's been so preoccupied with the baby,

I was ripe for the picking.

Katherine had such magnetism, charisma,

I couldn't say no to her.

And I didn't want to.

But then, yesterday,

Katherine demanded I leave Edith, to be with her.

I refused, told her it was over.

And she swore she'd tell Edith everything

if I didn't take it back.

Did you kill her? No, I'm not a murderer.

But, it is true, with her gone,

my only real problem is how to finish the advert.

And how to deal with your guilt.

I can't tell Edith.

She'd leave me.

Mr Sanderson...

..the truth may wound, but it can also heal.

I think she'd be more glamorous.

Meg said plain.

But not dowdy.

Maureen has style.

Who's Maureen?

It's the name I've given her.

She's from the Bristol area.

What? Via Barnsley?

Mrs Sullivan, you look the part.

Thank you, Father.

You spoke to Ron. Did he...?

Guilty of moral weakness, yes.

But of murder?

I don't think so.

So, who's next?

That's just it.

I don't know.

Look at you.

The perfect mother.

And you have a fan already.

Edgar! What are you doing here?

I tipped him off.

Well, I had to be here to see this.

We need you on set, Isabel.

Can I have a minute?

Oh! Yeah.

Perfect mother, eh?

You're already the perfect wife.

Are we ready for this?

My face on every television in the land?

Being recognised in the street.

And what's Eddie going to say?

This will change our lives.

Yes.

It will certainly change our washing flakes.

Edgar, I'm being serious.

You'll be wonderful, as you always are,

and then life will go back to normal.

Now...

..break a leg.

Eva, you're struggling with your whites.

Then your mother comes to the rescue with Flix Flakes.

Now, Isabel...

Maureen. I'm in character.

Maureen, your daughter really needs your help... Jeanie.

That's her name. Fine.

Jeanie has struggled without you,

but now she truly needs you to be her perfect mother. Yes.

I can be that.

Great. Let's try a run-through.

Meg, if you can drop the box in on cue.

Rehearsing.

And...

I got your note, sir! Have I missed the action?

Not yet, Sergeant. Fancy us knowing a television star, eh!

Quiet on set, please. Sorry, sorry.

Action!

Grey again.

Why can't I get my whites as white as yours, mother?

That's because you need

my secret ingredient.

Ooooh.

Maybe try it in your own accent, Mrs Sullivan?

Maureen, I mean.

If you insist.

That's because you need my secret ingredient, darling - Flix.

Flix?

Just one scoop in my machine gives me perfect whites every wash.

It's wonderful writing, Miss Wilson.

I don't know how I'll ever be able to manage without you, mother.

I'll always be with you.

Mothers...

Because... We'll always have Flix!

..and their daughters.

Meg!

I'm so sorry, I don't feel so good. All right.

Brenda, can I get you to step in!

That was perfect, you two. We're going to go for a take.

Miss Wilson!

That's because you need my secret ingredient, darling - Fl...

Ooh!

No, that's a bit too quick, Brenda.

Oh sorry, Mrs S... Cut!

The fishing rod isn't working.

You need my secret ingredient, darling - Flix.

Ouch!

Are you all right?

Cut!

That's because you need my secret ingredient, darling - Flux.

Flix.

God! Crumbs! I'm so sorry.

Flix, of course, it says so on the box.

You killed Mrs Vale.

Move, Father. I will run you down.

But you're not a cold-blooded killer.

You did what you did because your heart was broken.

Katherine Vale was your mother.

How did you figure it out?

Your reluctance to write a script about mothers and daughters.

Then your emotional response to the scene.

And Mrs Vale's earrings dyed her skin green,

likewise your watch, from holding her under soapy water.

You hired her to get close to her.

I spent my life trying to trace my birth mother.

Then,

last year, my father found me.

He was dying, cancer.

He wanted me to know the truth.

Saul Hobson.

Her co-star in Love In The Dust.

I met him in the hospice the day he died.

The last thing he said was that

Katherine was my mother.

So the time she spent away from the screen when the talkies came in,

she was trying to hide the scandal of having an affair

with a black man...

..to save her career.

But it was over by then anyway.

And she moved back to England,

so I came too, managed to get a job with Ron.

As soon as the Flix commission came in, I knew it was my chance.

She was desperate to make a comeback. I...

I was just happy to be around her.

But she... She treated me like dirt.

Perhaps you painfully reminded her of her long-lost child.

Little knowing that it was in fact...you.

Yesterday, when Frank told me that she wanted me fired,

I knew I had to tell her who I was.

You can't fire me.

I can do anything I damn well please, I'm the star.

But I'm your daughter!

I do not have a... Saul told me.

Margaret?

I prefer Meg.

I understand why you didn't want me in your life then.

But I'm here now.

And I thought that maybe we could...

Please? Mother?

Don't call me that!

Just let me be in your life.

I don't want you in my life!

I want my career back!

No-one is to know of this, do you understand? No-one!

How can you do this?

Easily. You should never have been born.

No!

That's not true. I should have got rid of you.

And now she's gone and...

..I have nothing left.

You must confess

and repent your sin, for the sake of your immortal soul.

Tell the police everything.

They'll hang me.

If you don't,

then Frank Hicks faces the gallows.

They will be lenient.

This was not a premeditated act of evil.

In that moment, you were a lost, wounded child.

But if you run, Miss Wilson,

this pain will never end.

I don't know how I'll ever manage without you, mother.

I'll always be with you because...

We'll always have Flix.

Cut.

Check that.

If that's clear, it's a wrap.

You were incredible.

So moving and so real.

I don't know what happened, I just suddenly felt so sad.

I knew you could do it. For the first time, I feel like I know

what kind of an actress I'm meant to be.

I thought you were rather marvellous too, Isabel.

She was. You were, truly.

Proper brought a tear to my eye, Mrs Sullivan, I can tell ya.

Wasn't that just the hay fever, Sergeant? Oh, Edgar.

Such a shame Meg and Father Brown missed it.

Oh, look!

Meg, it worked. We got it.

That's great, Ron. I'm really happy for you.

For us. Wait till you see it.

I might have to imagine it.

Inspector Sullivan,

Katherine Vale...

..she was my mother.

And I need to speak to you.

Her own mother.

Poor Katherine. Poor Meg.

Come on, I'll make you a nice cup of tea.

I wish Meg had told me who she was.

I could have helped.

Perhaps her shame at her abandonment was too much to bear.

I told Edith everything.

She's incredibly hurt...

..but she still wants me to come home and talk.

Thank you, Father.

Have faith, Mr Sanderson.

To err is human...

..to forgive divine.

Good to see you again, Frank.

Ah, I had to come and thank you for saving my bacon, didn't I?

Finished advert airs tonight.

Eva's a proper star in the making.

Wait till you see her.

What you got there, Sarge?

I promised Mrs Goodfellow that you'd sign a box for her.

She's such a fan.

This is it, Edgar, the day our lives change.

Will you do me the honours as well, Mrs Sullivan?

I would be delighted, Sergeant.

Violet and I will be watching.

That reminds me, Mrs Sullivan.

To thank you for stepping in, a token of my appreciation

and by way of an apology.

That's so kind.

I don't understand.

What do you have to apologise for, Frank?

The finished advert might not be quite what you're expecting.

There now follows a short commercial break.

Here we go.

Grey again?

Why can't I get my whites as white as yours, mother?

Flix?

Just one scoop of Flix in your machine

gives you perfect whites.

It's every mother's secret.

I don't know how I'll ever be able to manage without you, mother.

But we'll always have Flix.

Well...

..it certainly makes you feel something.

Mm. Yeah, sad!

Was you a ghost all along, then?

No, they've changed the concept.

Oh!

Oh, well, you're not too disappointed, are you?

No.

No.

I'm perfectly happy here as parish secretary.

What did you think, Father?

I think...

..fame's loss is Kembleford's gain.

Hear, hear!

Well, I might not be a television star, but...

..we'll always have Flix!

Subtitles corrected by DB