Original subtitles

Somehow, all of this -

the war, the scallywags, the Free French, Kerling -

they're the reason why Anthony and Ned were murdered.

I get the chance to show shunned and forgotten souls

that they are loved, even when they don't love themselves.

Bob Monkhouse is one of my favourites.

But not yours?

My son is a cultural snob.

That's us.

Is that you riding the horse? Yeah, I used to ride all the time.

VANLOO: 'Anthony Bowness wasn't killed with a hunting knife.'

'He's covering for someone.' 'His grandson.'

ALEX: If I go to the police, they'll ask questions.

Your father died in the war.

But your mum is very much alive.

DANIEL: Registrar's ink.

AUDREY: 'Now all we have to do is find out who else uses it.'

'When I showed Neil, he said it was a waste of time.'

'And what do you think?'

'That there's something down there I've missed.'

DOOR CREAKS

HE GRUNTS

LOCK CLICKS

INDISTINCT CHATTER, SIRENS BLARING

Oh, no.

OFFICER: Sorry, ladies, nothing to see here.

Excuse me. Sorry. Thank you.

Stella?

I found her. Dead as a dodo.

But why are you here?

Because Stella was the one writing the letters.

I worked it out using your water trick,

and then I called Mrs Braines to confirm it.

She got Stella that Registrar's ink, too.

So I came over here to have a few words.

Too late. What, had she been murdered?

Not that I could see.

No gaping wounds, if that's what you mean.

I did find out something, though.

Stella was also the one

who complained about you to the Bishop.

I found a draft of her letter on the side.

She had quite the turn of phrase.

Didn't have you down as one of the rubberneck brigade.

Well, given that Stella was the one threatening me,

which my mother uncovered. When no-one else did.

Yes, you've already mentioned that.

I'd say that makes me more than a rubbernecker, wouldn't you?

We were wondering if Stella is the latest victim.

Doesn't look like it. Heart attack, apparently.

You should go home and leave the police to do their job.

Heart attack? Codswallop.

Stella was fit as a fiddle.

That's what the police said it was.

Because that's what they want us to believe.

So there's no panic.

Because, you know, the murderer could be anywhere.

Ladies? WOMEN: Hello.

Awful news about Stella. Oh, yes.

Really shocking. So unexpected.

Exactly.

And this ID was on the body? Mm.

So I went back to Ned Thwaite's file on Kerling.

Somewhere in here is the reason why Ned was killed.

What's this? Oh, that, I do know.

That was how the observers delivered their reports.

No, lost me. I found it in here.

It's the book Anthony was writing about Champton at war.

You see, in the early years of the war,

the Home Defence Scheme had two concerns.

One, the Germans would parachute in

small groups of soldiers to hit key targets

and pave the way for an invasion, and two...

the ever-present danger of German spies.

So a... a network of observers was created,

made up of civilians who could move around

without attracting attention.

From the village? That's right.

They were called the Special Duties Branch,

and they would make a note of anything unusual.

I mean, imagine -

all over the country, webs of observers,

and at the centre, secret radio stations

transmitting their findings to HQ.

Now, the observers would conceal their reports

in a tennis ball and then leave it

at one of several secret drop points in the area.

And when the threat of invasion receded,

the network kept going because...

the threat of spies never went away.

But they weren't much good, then, if they missed Kerling, were they?

But what if they didn't?

What if someone - an observer, say -

had rumbled Kerling,

but instead of just filing a report,

they decided to do something about it?

What about Neil?

What about him?

You are gonna tell him about the dead body?

Cos it's the sort of thing he finds interesting.

When I'm ready. Daniel!

Well, the thing is, he was right, Mother.

I need more than just what-ifs.

Now, he's made it perfectly clear

that if he's to take any of this seriously,

I need something or someone

that links whatever happened 40 years ago

to what's going on now.

DS VANLOO: Right, you can go.

What?

You heard.

Well, what happened?

Finally decided I was telling the truth?

Alex de Floures gave you an alibi.

Don't leave the area.

Are you OK? You told 'em?

Yes. What, everything?

Well... I had to.

They haven't charged you, have they? Cos they haven't got anything.

It's over.

You haven't got a clue, have ya?

Let's get a forensic team

to look at this shepherd's hut.

If those two were there, they'll have left traces, evidence.

Are you still seeing that fella at the lab?

On and off.

See if you can call in a favour.

I want a tox report on Stella Harper as soon as possible.

I thought it was natural causes.

Yeah, well, I'm not buying it.

Two murders and then a sudden heart attack?

Doesn't really pass the smell test, does it?

The bunker has to be the key.

Because the killer knew it was there.

But they knew about the radio room, too.

HE SIGHS I'm missing something.

Anthony Bowness was thorough, I'll give him that.

He went all over, interviewing all kinds of people.

Here's one with a retired school mistress

who was a radio operator. She died last year.

Here's a bloke who hid stuff in his chicken hut.

And an old doctor over in Badsaddles, also dead.

Now, he's awfully chatty

for someone who was sworn to secrecy.

He says, "There were lots of us dotted about, all sorts.

"There was even one boy over Champton way

"who went around delivering his messages on his horse

"because no-one would think twice

"about some brat on a horse, would they?"

Oh, Lord.

It's Bernard.

So, you could convert the stables to the tea room,

and the gift shop could go there.

Pa? What sort of gifts?

What is it?

Jams, pickles, anything in a jar.

I need to tell you something,

and it's better you hear it from me.

Well, can't it wait? You can see that I'm busy. Pickles?

Not really. Nathan was released this morning.

So? And who's going to be paying for all this?

They let him go because I gave him an alibi.

I... I wasn't sure at first what the best thing to do was...

...but I talked to Daniel, and...

You talked to Daniel?

So, last night, I went to the police station.

I'm pretty sure I've done the right thing.

Forgive me, Alexander, for not entirely understanding.

You're telling me you lied to the police?

No. It's the truth.

I was with him most of the night.

We were together.

BERNARD EXHALES

ALEX SIGHS Alone.

KNOCKING, DOOR OPENS

Canon Clement is here to see you.

Right.

Pa, do you want to talk about it?

No, I don't think that'll be necessary.

SOFTLY: Hey.

Come here.

Oh...

Daniel.

What can I do for you?

During the war,

were you an observer for the Special Duties Branch?

I remembered the photo of you and Anthony as kids,

and you were riding a horse.

Well, so did lots of people round here.

Yes, but in the picture, you've got a tennis ball.

You hate tennis.

Oh, aren't you the clever one?

Mm.

BERNARD SIGHS I was recruited, 1943.

We were given a bunch of things to memorise.

Vehicles, German insignia, stuff like that.

My job was to keep my ears and eyes open

and, you know, report anything unusual.

And you didn't think to mention any of this

to Anthony or anyone?

No, well, I was bound by the Official Secrets Act.

And for what it's worth, Daniel, I still am.

Did you know Philip Kerling? No, not really.

I mean, I knew him by sight, I'd see him most days,

either up at the house or...

over in the stables where the officers were.

Anywhere else?

Oh, for God's sake, Daniel, come on.

It was over 40 years ago. No, no, I don't remember.

This is a copy of the statement that you made to police

after Kerling disappeared in 1944.

Where did you get this? It was in Ned Thwaite's research.

In it, you say that you saw Kerling the night of the plane crash,

that he was near the aircraft several hours before it took off.

BERNARD SNIFFS Well, if you say so.

Was that unusual? What, that he was there?

I don't know, maybe.

BERNARD SIGHS DEEPLY

Kerling was top brass, planning,

so, yes, he was normally tied to his desk.

Would you have included it in your daily report?

I expect so, yes. I put in anything that was slightly unusual,

let the others decide if it was important or not.

I think we're done now here, Daniel, don't you?

What do you think happened to Kerling?

You know, Daniel,

perhaps you should concentrate on things that concern you,

keep your nose out of other people's business,

including my family.

What are you talking about? Alexander told me.

He told me what he'd done, and he told me...

he told me what he is and that he talked to you about it.

Stay away.

DS VANLOO: You probably know I let Nathan go this morning.

I heard. Which means...

I have no further leads.

Which means I'm as close today

to solving this case as I was the night we met...

when you, rather bizarrely, complimented me

on the pencil that I was using.

The Pentel. P205.

DANIEL CHUCKLES Right, the Pentel, yeah.

Actually, I was quite impressed.

I'll never underestimate the ice-breaking power of stationery.

DS VANLOO CHUCKLES

So, I'm sorry.

I was wrong.

I think the bunker and the whole World War II thing

is worth exploring.

That's great because...

So I've arranged for a forensic team

to come first thing tomorrow. I wanna go over every inch.

Right.

It's a long shot.

But right now, it's the best I've got.

DOOR CLOSES

Where will you go?

I've got a cousin down in Taunton.

Maybe I can get a job at his scrap yard.

You're being ridiculous. Am I?

ALEX SCOFFS

Well, what about the police? Yeah, gotta catch me first.

Please, Nathan, don't do this.

You can't go. I can't stay here, can I?

Well, what will I do?

You're stronger than you think.

I think I know how to link Kerling's body to the murders.

From the start, this has all been about

the murderer keeping the bunker and Kerling a secret.

And right now, they don't know that I've found either,

which gives me an advantage. In what way?

They think they're safe.

And as long as they think that...

I can flush them out. How?

By giving them a good reason to move the body.

But it has to be tonight.

Why?

Well, I was gonna tell Neil everything,

and then he said he was gonna turn the bunker

into a crime scene, but when he does that,

the murderer will know that it's been found,

and we'll lose whatever advantage we've got.

So you're going to lure the killer out into the open?

And it all starts with an announcement at evensong.

Anthony Bowness, Ned Thwaite,

and now Stella Harper,

friends who've been taken from us so tragically.

This has been a difficult time for us all,

and I'm sure it's taken its toll.

So I look forward

to the Champton At War celebration tomorrow

and being reminded of the importance of...

friendship and community...

and the strength that comes from that.

Also, some good news,

our refurbishment plans have been agreed,

which include the new toilet.

And work will begin tomorrow,

with the temporary removal of the font

to accommodate the plumbing.

It'll only be for a few days,

and I'm hoping it won't have too big of an impact.

Bishop.

Didn't know you were coming.

That's because I didn't tell you.

I've thought a lot about what you said yesterday.

And I must say, I was impressed.

Very erudite and passionate.

And we could always use passion...

provided it's channelled the right way, obviously.

Obviously.

So, I've decided...

...not to pursue this matter any further.

Thank you.

You clearly wish to make a difference.

Well, I try.

Indeed, you do.

To that end, here are...

a dozen or so committees that I think you should be on...

...doing good work across the whole diocese.

I see.

This is a wonderful opportunity.

It's also a greater responsibility.

It will necessitate longer hours, of course,

less time for other... pursuits.

But if you want to make a difference...

Well, when you put it like that...

...what choice do I have?

BISHOP CHUCKLES

None.

ON RADIO: 'For A Friend' by The Communards

Alexander. May I come in?

ON RADIO: # I bet he feels The way I do... ♪

You don't have to worry, you know.

Nathan and me are finished.

So... you're OK.

There's no danger of me embarrassing you.

Ah, no more than I do already.

♪ Come rushing back to me As I watch the sun... ♪

Actually, I was wondering

if you still had that painting you did of Anthony.

Er... yeah.

It's here somewhere. Right.

BERNARD CLEARS THROAT

Yes, I... I thought I might hang it in my study.

BERNARD CLEARS THROAT

Right.

Well, er...

it'll need to be varnished.

Yes, right. Erm...

And that... that's something you can do?

Of course.

Splendid.

Pa. I...

♪ A battle I have found

♪ And all the dreams we had

♪ I will carry on

♪ As I watch the sun go down

♪ Watching the world fade away

♪ All the memories of you

♪ Come rushing back to me... ♪

Right, then.

♪ As I watch the sun go down

♪ Watching the world fade away

♪ All I want to do... ♪

DOOR CLOSES ♪ Is kiss you once goodbye. ♪

Have you seen my Rennies? Indigestion?

Stress. I blame you.

To be honest, I never did like him much.

I'm sorry?

You've gotta watch ones like Creggan.

"One may smile and smile and be a villain."

Macbeth knew what he was talking about.

Hamlet. Whatever.

I knew it was foreign royalty. Ah!

Mm. Ah, I should go soon.

Do you really think they'll come?

I'm counting on it.

Be careful, won't you?

BIRDS CAW

LOCK CLICKS

SCRAPING

DANIEL: I had a feeling it would be you.

Why don't we start at the beginning?

SWING MUSIC PLAYS

INDISTINCT CHATTER, LAUGHTER

♪ Don't sit under the apple tree

♪ With anyone else but me

♪ Anyone else but me No, no, no... ♪

All alone, mademoiselle?

I'm with my sister.

Dora, the singer. ♪ Till you come marching home. ♪

She sings beautifully.

I'll tell her.

I'm Herve. Erm, Herve Gauchet.

Kath Sharman.

'Herve was the most handsome man I'd ever met.'

He was from the Free French army.

He'd escaped France after Dunkirk and joined the SOE.

After that,

he'd been in and out of France several times,

helping the Resistance.

Brave man.

'I was a member of the Special Duties Signals Unit.

'Dora was, too.

'And the only other person who knew was Herve.'

I told him...

the night he showed me the mural.

He painted it for you, didn't he?

You're the woman dancing with her back to us.

How did you know?

The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque.

It's in the mural. And...

I remembered reading a newspaper report

about the crash that...

Herve came from Beaumettes.

It's a little village a few miles away from the abbey.

He painted the countryside that he loved,

and it's where he's buried.

We promised each other...

♪ You'll never know Just how much... ♪

'..after the war...'

♪ I miss you... ♪

'..we'd live there. A new life.'

♪ You'll never know... ♪

'I thought we were blessed.'

♪ Just how much. ♪

What's the old joke?

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.

A couple of months later,

we got word from France

that the Germans had rounded up whole networks

of SOE and resistance members.

They'd all been shot.

They'd been betrayed.

First, we didn't know who the traitor was. But then...

Herve heard from someone in France

who said there was a traitor high up in the SOE

here at Champton,

and the whole operation was compromised.

Herve decided to fly to France... to meet him.

'By then, I'd found out I was pregnant.

'I tried to tell Herve before,

'but he'd been so busy, there hadn't been a chance.

'I promised myself I'd surprise him...

'when he got back.' PLANE ENGINE OVERHEAD

God bring you home to me.

EXPLOSION, SHE GASPS

'In that one moment...

'my future was taken from me.'

But you carry on.

There was a war to be won.

Which is how you found out

about Kerling being seen near the plane.

Bernard de Floures was one of your runners,

did you know that?

SHE CHUCKLES No... I didn't.

He saw Kerling that night, and he put it in his report.

He didn't realise the significance, but...

...you did, didn't you?

'I knew that Kerling had somehow

'sabotaged the plane to protect himself.

'He was a traitor and a murderer,

'and I was going to prove it.'

'I waited until I knew he'd be working late

'and broke into the house where he'd been billeted.'

'Only, he came back.'

Ah, you worked it out.

That you're a traitor.

Depends whose side you're on, doesn't it?

PHONE RINGS

'The phone rang, distracting him.

'I threw the desk lamp at him.'

No!

No...

I got hold of the lamp...

...and I hit him over the head.

PANTING

'I killed him.'

I didn't know what to do.

And then you thought about this place.

It was about to be decommissioned.

The scallywags had already been stood down,

the observer networks were being wound up.

This place would soon be abandoned,

and no-one would ever know.

And the theory that Kerling had fled?

It wasn't hard.

I added his name to the flight log

of a mission that flew out the night he died.

But surely, they investigated his disappearance?

I wanted them to.

Well, because then the truth would come out.

'If I'd found his radio, I knew they would.'

Which they did.

And everyone believed the story of Kerling the spy

because it was true.

All it took was a nudge to get them to believe he'd fled.

Years went by...

the memories of war faded.

Eventually, it felt like those few days in 1944

were just a dream.

Until Anthony Bowness arrived.

Mm.

He started digging around,

asking questions about the scallywags.

'He was convinced there was a bunker in or near the church.

'I knew he was getting close...

'and that if he found this place...

'he'd find the body.'

And I'd be sent to prison.

'They'd trained us all those years ago, one-to-one combat.'

Argh!

But it didn't end there, did it?

Ned Thwaite was doing a piece on Kerling.

The one that got away. SHE CHUCKLES

If only.

Did he ask you about this? It was in his file.

It's the flight log that says that Kerling flew to France

when he was actually here, dead.

His name was typed on a different machine, see?

The L's wonky.

Don't miss a thing, do you?

Well... SHE SIGHS

...neither did Ned.

'It was bad enough

'he'd managed to find the actual flight log.

'But then he noticed that it had been doctored.

'He was a good journalist.'

I was afraid it would only be a matter of time.

So, later...

I phoned, told him I'd found something interesting.

I arranged to meet him.

HE GASPS

HE GRUNTS

You're very calm, considering...

I don't think you'll kill me.

Why not?

Because I've left detailed notes

which will send any investigation directly to you.

You know I have to turn you in, don't you?

Dora saved my life.

After Herve, I just...

couldn't see the point... of anything.

When she was first diagnosed with cancer,

I knew it was my turn,

my chance to balance the books.

I knew if Anthony was successful,

the end of Dora's life would be ruined

by my arrest and trial.

Just when she needed me the most, I'd be behind bars.

I couldn't let that happen, could I?

I'll do everything you want, I'll make a full confession.

But first... let me see Dora.

Kath... I can't do that.

Please, it's all I ask.

A few minutes to say goodbye.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

MUSIC: 'The Victory Roll' by Pat Kirkwood

♪ Break of day, they're up and away

♪ Into the grey clouds, flying

♪ Flying forth, away to the north

♪ Sound of their engines... ♪

MAN: All right, Kath? MAN 2: Morning.

MAN 3: Got the weather, didn't we?

MUSIC DISTORTS

'I'm Herve. Enchantee.'

♪ Look up quick, the victory roll. ♪

DANIEL: Come on, Kath.

Daniel?

'DS Vanloo? Audrey Clement.'

Listen, there's something you ought to know.

HARRY: Kath! Hi.

Oh!

Almost like the real thing.

Hello.

Aw.

Can I?

Of course. Come on.

Aw.

Look at you.

Ooh! Aw.

Kath?

Bye-bye, little one.

Come on, then.

Jesus.

Corinne... SOFTLY: Just a minute.

Now! OK. Thank you, thank you.

He knows everything.

That was the lab!

You were right, Stella Harper was poisoned.

They found traces of oleander.

It's a shrub. Easily grown, apparently.

Don't tell me, it was in the cake.

No, the tea.

So, you knew, then?

Only last night.

I told her what had happened,

that I was going to move Kerling's body.

I see.

Otherwise, she's completely innocent.

There is one thing I'm confused about.

Well, you told me that you hit Kerling over the head

with the desk lamp.

Mm.

He... He was going to shoot me.

Only, you also said that you threw it at him

when you started the fight.

How did you manage to get hold of it again

to kill him with it?

It was you, wasn't it?

Kath told me she was going to Kerling's that night.

I was worried, so I followed her.

Oh! KATH SQUEALS

PANTING

DORA GRUNTS

DANIEL: 'Two murders.'

And all to protect Dora, not you.

Three. What?

Three murders.

Stella, too?

It wasn't her fault.

'Edgy threatened her.'

The night Ned was killed,

well, she rang us...

and Dora went round to make sure she was all right.

She was planning to go to the police first thing

and tell them about it, only...

I'd already told the police

that we were both home that night.

Stella didn't realise it, but...

if she went to the police...

she'd ruin my alibi.

I did it for you.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Drink your tea... before it gets cold.

SIRENS BLARING

We'll try the church first.

If they're not there, then the Sharmans'.

It was always us against the world, wasn't it?

Yes, it was.

It's better this way.

What have you done?

SIRENS BLARING

One of you two stay at the gates!

OFFICER: Yes, sir!

KATH: Don't worry.

I made yours separately.

There's nothing you can do.

I'm glad you're here.

You're wasting your time.

It'll be over before anyone can get here.

ON PHONE: 'Hello, Emergency. Which service do you require?'

I can't feel my legs.

It won't take long now.

Pray for us, Daniel, will you?

Pray for our sins...

and our forgiveness.

I see.

Then stay with us, will you?

Can you at least do that?

The bunker's empty. Come on.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Down there!

♪ You'll never know... ♪

Listen.

♪ Just how much I miss you

♪ You'll never know... ♪

Mm.

♪ Just how much I care... ♪

Into your hands, O Merciful Saviour,

we commend your servants, Kath...

and Dora.

Enfold them in the arms of your mercy.

♪ You ought to know

♪ For haven't I told you so

♪ A million or more times?

♪ You went away

♪ And my heart. ♪

Peas in a pod.

Peas in a pod.

KNOCKING ON DOOR

Police! Open up!

They're in there.

Go on.

Daniel...

...why didn't you tell me it was Kath?

Would you have believed me if I had?

SHE SIGHS

I heard what happened.

You know...

Kath asked me to pray for her at the end.

But for a while, I...

After Anthony was killed, I...

...stood up in front of everyone

and talked about mercy for the killer.

Even told Neil I didn't believe in retribution.

HE SCOFFS

I even lectured the Bishop about God's love

and how it was for everyone, without judgment or blame.

But when it came to it...

I didn't want to be merciful.

I just wanted to punish her...

the only way that I could.

But you didn't, did you?

No.

But there was a moment...

judgment and blame

was all... I wanted for her.

What does that say about me?

Come on.

You know, sometimes, I wonder

if it'd be better if the past stayed in the past.

I'm not sure that's possible or even desirable.

Sometimes, facing up to the past is a good thing.

Even if it means pain and mess?

Yeah, even then.

Mm, don't tell me, it's how we grow?

Something like that.

Growing old is compulsory, growing up is optional.

What? You're not the only one

who can find an apposite quote when they need it.

No, I... I like it.

Oscar Wilde?

Bob Monkhouse.

THEY LAUGH