Original subtitles

(bright folk music)

- I think every one of them is mad.

Hello.

- Hello.

- Do you make all these yourself, Miss Lawton?

- Yes, do you like it?

- She does, I can tell.

- Love that one.

It's really nice. - Why don't you get a set?

- Six of those, do you think?

(contemplative music)

- This is a very moving moment for me, George.

It's the first time in my life I've ever won anything.

Thank you.

- It'll be rotten inside, I guarantee.

- You are just jealous because I've got a coconut

and you haven't.

- Hello, George.

- Simone.

- Who is that?

- Simone Hollingsworth.

And that bloke's her husband, Alan.

- What's he got that we haven't got then George?

- Good question.

He's bought the mill.

Going to turn it into one of those craft centres.

You know, potters, painters, glassblowers.

- You don't sound overjoyed about that.

- Hello, George. - Joyce.

- Where's Cath? - In the tea tent.

- Oh.

- Haste ye to the marquee.

Pretty sweet maid,

doth though wish to partake of a beef burger?

- Um, actually--

- Per chance a veggie burger is more to thy taste?

And you, kind sir, a dog of the hot variety.

- Yonder at the barbecue, two sovereigns apiece.

- A bargain, indeed. - Gadzooks.

Hey, Dad.

That old lady over there,

the mutton dressed as lamb, do you know her?

- That's a terrible thing to say, even though it's true.

No, I don't.

- No, she's that actress, Elfrida somebody.

You know.

Come on, what's her name?

God. - Oh, bad luck.

Care to have another go?

- Hello there. - Hello.

- Skittles, 20 p a go?

- No, don't be silly, Bunny, dear.

The young lady's come to talk to me.

I saw you asking your father, isn't she that actress?

She was in, oh, what was the name of that film?

- He knows exactly who you are, and so do I.

Elfrida Molfrey.

- I am flattered.

- Look, I know why you left it 'til now.

You think that I won't make a fuss in front of a crowd.

Yeah.

Well, I don't care who sees me beat you to a pulp.

I suggest you two leave this 'til later.

- Who's the lad who fancies himself, Cath?

- He's called Grey Patterson.

- Where are the Andersons?

Nigel, Doreen, you left money in Morton Mill, didn't you?

- Trifling sum.

- Well, did you know that the company is on its last legs?

- What?

- I'm sorry.

I wanted to tell everyone privately.

- Felicity, where's your other half?

Reg, do you know anything about this?

- Sorry, Grey.

It's news to me.

- Oh, he's only the company's secretary.

Why should he know anything?

- Look, we've invested money, too, you know.

- It's not just inefficiency.

Unhelpful bank, the wrong project manager.

- Yeah, and bang goes my 20 grand.

Sarah.

Sarah.

This old fool has lost us all money.

Now, show of hands, eh?

Who wants me to kill him?

(ominous music)

- Is there a policeman in the house?

(indistinct yelling)

- Mr. Patterson.

- Who are you?

- I am a policeman.

We keep the peace, you know.

And if you have a complaint,

you should make it to the proper authority, me.

Do you have a complaint?

- No, I haven't.

What was all that about then, that shindig in the tea tent?

- Oh, something or nothing.

Tom, really.

- Hardly nothing, love.

At the very best, it was a damn cheek.

- And at the very worst? - Criminal.

- You know I'm chair of the planning committee

on the Valley Council.

This new craft-centric mill, it needed permission.

- So?

- Grey Patterson offered me money to push the plans through.

- How much?

- 3,000 pounds.

- That's a funny sum, isn't it?

Not exactly peanuts, but hardly worth taking a risk for.

- The money isn't really a problem.

He threatened her as well.

(suspenseful music)

(church bells clanging) (pensive music)

- Bunny.

- Reg.

- Fetch Elfrida.

Free pint up the pub for everyone who helped with the fete.

- Jolly good.

How much did we make, Reg?

Oh, getting on for 2,000 pounds I think.

- Not a bad day's work.

- Not coming to the pub, then?

- No I've had enough of the village for one day.

Will Grey be there?

- I expect so.

- You know why he had a go at me, don't you?

- Because he fancies me like mad.

- I can't imagine why you married me.

- Tell me the truth.

Have you really cheated all those people out of that money?

(pensive music)

- Oh, I'm sorry.

Mrs. Anderson, isn't it?

(chuckles)

- It's all right.

I keep an eye on Grey.

Bit of the laundry, shopping, clearing up.

You know what single young men are like.

- From personal experience.

- Good afternoon, inspector.

Doreen, thanks.

You really are a sweetheart.

- Pleasure.

See you tomorrow.

- She enjoys cooking or me.

I'd be churlish to refuse.

- What does she get out of it?

- I suppose I make her feel needed and young.

Now then, what can I do for you?

- I'd like a bit of your self-esteem, if you can spare any.

- Excuse me, what are you doing?

- Looking around.

- Yeah, well, I'd rather you didn't.

Why are you here, inspector?

- Alan Hollingsworth.

Yesterday you threatened to kill him.

- It's just words, heat of the moment stuff.

- That's when most murders occur.

Nonetheless, we can forget it all happened for a price.

- What?

- More, of course, than you offered Catherine Bullard

to push your plans through.

- I never did any such thing.

- She's a friend of mine, you're not.

I believe her.

Or perhaps it was one of those,

heat of the moment things again.

- Yeah, Well, now you come to mention it,

there was--

- Unlike the threat you made against her,

which to me sounded very prepared.

- "If people don't get what's due to them,

"other people get hurt.

"And you have such a lovely face, Catherine.

"I'm sure you'd like to keep it.

- Any man who says that to a woman

is either desperate or downright evil.

Which are you?

- Look, I knew things were going pear-shaped at the mill

because Alan had dithered, well, on purpose I reckon.

The bank had started to call in its loans, so--

- Your partner was working a scam, you think.

- Yeah, but not that it will look that way.

I mean, it was me who was persuading people to invest.

- Did you put anything into it?

- 2,0000.

- Right I'm going around have words with Alan Hollingsworth.

You will stay away from him and Catherine Bullard.

After all, you have such a lovely face.

I'm sure you'd like to keep it.

- I hate blokes like that, silver spoon in his gob,

Gregorio Felloni under his armpits.

- What?

- Deodorant, 80 quid a bottle.

- What do you think of that room?

- Poncy.

- No school photos, no pictures of his mum and dad,

no pictures of himself even.

That is a man trying to lose his past.

And if it's any help, he's no more of a tough than you are.

- I grew up on the-- - Hello.

- Grew up on the streets, did he?

- Yeah, well, where else did he learn

to separate people from their money?

- Cull women from their husbands.

- Yeah.

- An inspector calls, Bunny.

- Yes, dear, so I see.

- [Elfrida] Fresh pot, then.

You'll, you'll be going to see the Hollingsworths then.

- Yes, yes, we are.

- That, that's where they live.

(contemplative music)

- Mr. Hollingsworth?

Hello?

- Anyone?

- [Barnaby] Mrs. Hollingsworth?

Is he dead? - No, I don't think so.

- Well, how can you tell?

You did the first aid course.

Prove it.

(phone chiming)

DCI Barnaby.

He doesn't need an ambulance, sir.

He needs a bucket of cold water.

Rat-assed.

- I'm sorry, it's a false alarm.

- Why are you here?

- People have lost money, I'm told, in the mill project.

Mr. Hollingsworth.

All right.

Why don't you drop into the police station

tomorrow morning and we'll talk it all through then?

(phone ringing)

Troy, no you stay where you are.

Just turn around.

- Hello?

He can't come to the phone at the moment.

I can take a message.

- Who was that?

- Didn't say.

Man's voice.

- [Operator] The number has been withheld.

- Didn't want to be traced.

- Mr. Hollingsworth,

right, where's your wife?

- Bell ringing practise.

(bells ringing)

- Hello, Mrs. Anderson.

You're having a busy day.

George, I'm looking for Simone Hollingsworth.

- She hasn't turned up.

- Have you heard from her? - No, Mr. Barnaby.

Simone isn't the one for the common courtesies.

- Ah, inspector.

Thank you for stepping in yesterday, in the tea tent.

- My pleasure.

Mrs.? - Buckley, Felicity Buckley.

- Well, thank you.

- Hold your horses.

The loss of our hard-earned cash,

you will be looking into the matter, won't you?

Please take this as an official request.

(bells ringing)

- So just because some bell-ringing ponce

loses a few quid, we go charging in, do we?

- They're all here, Troy.

Isaac Dawlish.

That's one of Bunny's lot.

1667.

Some Andersons over there

and a couple of Buckleys over by the yew tree.

The old guard.

Wonder what they make of the newcomers,

Alan, Simone, Patterson.

- Why don't we just do him for bribery

and have done with it?

- Oh, we will, Troy.

We will eventually.

But right now, something's making my copper's nose itch.

- That will be the Gregorio Felloni, sir.

It lingers.

Two blokes go into business together.

One threatens a friend of mine

after first screwing money out of his neighbours.

The other that runs the whole shebang onto the rocks,

then legs it to the shore with the loot.

Meantime, his wife has disappeared.

- That phone call, sir.

- Oh, you're at it, too, now, Troy.

- Hollingsworth, he said, not mister, not Alan,

no even hi, how are you?

Just Hollingsworth.

- And you are not Alan Hollingsworth

so he slams the phone down.

Who is he?

What does he want?

(engine rumbling)

- Hello, princess.

- Excuse me.

Excuse me.

I'm looking for Alan Hollingsworth.

- Alan.

Yes.

- Alan?

What do you want to see him about?

- Well, I rather I think that's my business.

Yes?

- It's that one.

- Thank you.

(playful music)

- A fat man calling at Rose Cottage.

- Not Barnaby again, surely.

- He's not fat, he's delicious.

- You do realise he's a policeman, don't you, dear?

- Of course I do.

Isn't it exciting?

- Dangerous is the word I would have used.

Silly woman.

- Your very good health, young man.

My own, I imagine, is beyond the power of any toast.

- What can I do for you, Mr. Vellacott?

Grey Patterson, your business partner--

- Ex, to be precise.

- I understand he's been telling people

that the money he invested in the mill project is his own.

That's a slip of the tongue.

It's mine.

- That's quite a slip from being his to yours.

- I wouldn't say that.

His, mine, yours, theirs.

They all denote the same thing, belonging.

In this case, to me, all 20 grand of it.

- Do you know where Simone is?

- Gone to her mother's I thought.

You'll just have to make do with me.

- Oh, I wouldn't call that making do.

I mean, you may not be the darts player she is,

but at least you've got a brain in your head.

- So that's what you're after, good conversation.

And I thought you just wanted--

- Ah, I know what you thought.

I'm not saying I wouldn't like that, too.

- Wouldn't like what?

- What you just said.

- But I didn't finish the sentence.

(giggling)

I think you're wrong, though.

Simone's as sharp as a razor.

That's what Alan can't bear.

- Can't bear?

The man dotes on her.

- You do know he knocks her about, don't you?

- That's just gossip, surely.

- I've seen the bruises.

Well-hidden, never on the face.

- Look, you don't think he could have done something,

well, out of the ordinary do you?

- Like what?

- Well, like hitting her too hard.

(contemplative music)

(dogs barking)

- [Alan] Who is it?

- [Brenda] It's only me, Alan.

- Oh, Brenda, I'm sorry.

I was miles away.

What can I do for you?

- I know, I know Simone's at her mother's,

so I made you this.

It's a shepherd's pie.

You just pop it in the oven to warm it through.

- Thank you.

That was kind of you.

Is there anything else?

- No.

(playful music)

- Come in, come in.

Oh, how thrilling it must be

to have a son follow you in your profession, inspector.

Oh, imagine so but, oh.

- Oh the daily bake, known far and wide as the Bunny Cakes.

- Oh, they look delicious.

Mind you, appearances can be deceptive.

Some proof might be needed.

- Oh, please do.

Help yourselves.

- What was it you wanted to talk us about, Ms. Molfrey?

- Oh, yes, it's about next door, Alan and Simone.

The Bunny boy was just turning in last night

when he heard chonk, chonk.

Being of a curious nature, out he goes.

- Why don't you tell it, Mr. Dawlish.

- Over to the hedge, and there was Alan digging a hole

using my spade, I might add, which he borrowed last week.

- Well, how big a hole?

- Ah, you agree with us, he's killed her.

- Was it big enough to hide a body?

- Folded in half, yes.

- Or chopped up.

- Odd thing followed.

Brenda Buckley came on the scene carrying a shepherd's pie.

Alan nearly jumped out of his skin

when he heard the gate go.

- A shepherd's pie as in meat and potatoes?

- Yes.

And she handed it to him, saying

thingy, Simone, is away with her mother so I made you this.

- What an odd thing to do.

- The point is Simone hasn't got a mother.

She died three years ago.

- May I?

- Oh, yes please do.

- How have they been getting on lately, Alan and Simone?

- Oh, inspector.

We don't listen at keyholes.

- Oh, come on, Miss Molfrey.

Of course you do.

- Oh.

Hell of a ding-dong the other night.

(contemplative music)

I don't care how you earn a living, Alan,

just as long as you do it.

- [Alan] So I work my guts out

and Grey Patterson gets all the attention, does he?

- Don't be so old fashioned.

- I take that as an admission. - Well, it's no worse than you

and Miss Droopy Drawers next door.

- [Alan] Brenda?

- Yes.

I've seen her out there every morning

staring at you like a bush baby.

And you love it, don't you?

Hello, Brenda, how are you today?

- It's just good manners.

- That's what I say about me and Grey.

- Other people don't.

- Now you care what the bloody neighbours think.

- [Elfrida] And with that, she slammed out of the house.

- And did she speak to you?

- Pretended we weren't there.

- Simone and Grey Patterson, is there anything in that?

- If I were 50 years younger,

she wouldn't have stood a chance.

- You know, 10 minutes in your company and I feel better.

That's the only way to describe it, better.

Um, that spade he borrowed, did he return it?

- Yes.

- Well, would you mind,

would you mind if my sergeant borrowed it?

- Not at all.

(playful music)

- Sir?

(knocking)

- Yes?

- [Barnaby] The other day,

I asked you to drop into the station.

(laughing)

- Are you all right, sir?

- Yes, I'm all right.

You tell him.

- To the station to talk about the mill project.

You didn't show up.

- I've been rather preoccupied trying to save the business.

- We asked you where Simone was.

Bell ringing, you said.

She wasn't.

- You'll have to take that up with her.

- I will. - Where will you find her?

She's at her mother's.

- Her mother's dead.

Who will I take that up with?

- If you really must know, she's left me, walked out.

- This is Sergeant Troy and this is a spade.

Between them, they're going to dig a hole in your garden,

with your permission.

- Which I don't give. - Thank you.

(contemplative music)

- They've gone round the back.

- Hello, Bunny.

- You won't find anything, you know.

- Australia, I believe, if he puts his back into it.

- Is this your doing, Dawlish, or frightful Efrida's?

Where is the old bag?

Enjoying it, are we?

- Morning.

- You're missing a trick here, Reg.

Why don't you invite the whole village?

Flog 'em tickets.

- Sir, I've found something.

(sobbing)

- A shepherd's pie.

- I confess I buried it alive.

Will that be all?

- No, not quite.

- You better use upstairs.

Bathroom's right above us.

♪ Shepherd's pie at midnight ♪

- That speaks to me, Mr. Hollingsworth, of true love.

- Even though I can't stand the stuff?

- So there's nothing between you and Brenda Buckley.

- Have you seen her?

(sombre music)

- So you admit that you buried the shepherd's pie.

Now, that's what you put down the hole.

What did you dig up?

- A dead body, is that what you think?

- Do, do, do, do, do, no.

I think it was money.

- Which I'm supposed to have stolen from my neighbours.

- Wherever you got it from,

you used it to pay a ransom demand.

- What?

- Your wife hasn't left you.

Someone is holding her.

My sergeant spoke to him on the phone the other day.

- She's left me.

- No, wait, wait, wait, wait.

We have highly trained negotiators for kidnappings,

the best in the world.

Think about it.

- Your sergeant's taking his time.

- He is a very fastidious man.

- [Alan] Oi.

- Everything all right, sir?

- [Alan] Get out of here, both of you.

- Well?

- The wardrobe's full of clothes, jewellery box empty.

- Classic.

(chuckling)

Plenty of clothes, no jewellery.

Classic that.

- Are you sure you're all right, sir?

(Barnaby humming)

- Time for some spade work, Troy.

- Another one of your little jokes, was it, sir?

- No, Troy, that was a metaphor.

Get in touch with the Fraud Squad

and see if they're interested in a fiddle

in Moreton Fenmoor.

And dig up, I'm sorry,

find out all you can about Patterson, Hollingsworth,

and Reg Buckley.

Hey, Georgie. - Tom.

- Hey, you were right about that coconut.

It was rotten.

- I thought I should let you know, Nigel Anderson,

our local wooden spoon, has called a meeting

lunch time today, his pub.

- Oh, what's the agenda?

- How can those who put money into the mill project

get it back.

- Yes, I can tell you the answer to that right now,

they won't.

- What do you mean, we won't?

- Oh, not you, too, George.

How are the mighty shafted.

Hold it, Monroe.

I think we should go to that meeting.

- There you go, George. - Thanks very much.

May I ask why you're here?

- Believe it or not, for a drink.

We'd like, uh, two pints of that.

Oh, good afternoon, Mrs. Anderson.

- Not on duty, then, Mr. Barnaby?

- No, but I could be at the drop of a clanger.

(laughing)

Only we had a meeting arranged.

Private.

- Oh, and you think we might cramp your style.

- It's all right.

They're on the house.

- Oh, no, they're not, Nigel.

- A lovely little wine, isn't it?

(patrons clamouring)

- All right, friends.

Take a pew, everybody.

I'm sure you agree we don't want to make this too formal,

although it is a very serious matter.

Bunny, would you mind?

- Oh, yes.

- Between us in this village, we've lost some 90,000 pounds

to the mill project.

It's no surprise that Alan isn't here to answer the charges,

nor is Reg Buckley, the so-called company secretary.

As some of you know, I have asked the police to investigate

and we await their response.

- Good. - Darling?

- Here's the latest.

I invited Alan here today.

He referred me to his solicitor.

He referred me to the official receiver.

- In other words, the man's gone bankrupt.

- You mean our hard-earned money

will be stashed away in some Caribbean--

- Fleshpot?

- Yes.

- In Simone's name, I shouldn't wonder.

- We could try asking Felicity where the money is.

Ask Reg by all means, but, uh, leave her out of it.

- You seem to have for gotten that I've lost money, too.

- Frankly, you conned this money out of me, Grey.

- Objection.

- Overruled.

- Oh, come on, Nigel.

Grow up. This is the kind of thing you expect

if you take risks like that.

- How dare you speak to me like that.

♪ In England's green and pleasant land ♪

(all clamouring)

- Just a minute.

Simmer down, please.

Now, let's put this to the vote.

Now, hands up, those of you who think

that Grey cheated them.

- I do.

- One, two, three, four.

Four.

- Carried, I think. - Hm?

Oh.

Bunny.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Now, I'm not saying we do anything illegal.

But why don't we stroll around to Alan's house en mass?

- I second that.

- Hold it right there.

Sit down.

- I won't be told what to do in my own hostelry.

- If you want your licence renewed, you will.

Sit down.

I believe that something very serious has happened

in Morton Fendle.

- Yes, and when are you going to do something?

- I'm not talking about the mill project

or you losing your money.

- What else, then?

- Have you lot been asleep for the last three days?

Simone Hollingsworth has disappeared.

- Come off it, Barnaby.

She's left him.

- Or he kicked her out for playing the field.

- Yeah.

- Boyfriends galore, you know.

- Then why hasn't she taken her clothes with her?

And at the same time, her jewels have gone.

And that's a classic combination.

No time to pack the suitcase

and the husband sells the jewellery to pay the ransom.

- You mean she's been kidnapped?

- I believe so, Miss Lawton.

I'm on dicey ground telling you,

but far better you know the truth

than you go round to try and lynch her husband.

- Well, who's done this dreadful thing?

- Someone with an axe to grind, Mrs. Buckley.

Someone who wants their money back as you all do.

(suspenseful music)

- Inspector, may I speak with you?

- Well of course, yes.

- It sounds odd, I know,

but I was wondering if you would have a word

with my husband.

- Yeah, jump in.

(door creaking)

- Well, he's obviously heard us coming

and rushed off to his den.

- What sort of a woman is Simone?

- Far too exotic for a village like this

and for a man like Alan.

- When did you last see her?

- Uh, it was the night of the fete.

She was under dressed, as usual,

and flirting with everyone in sight.

She left early with Grey.

- And apart from Grey, who are her friends?

- She and Sarah Lawton seem pretty close.

Sarah moved in here soon after Simone

and Simone was getting over Vince,

you know, her last boyfriend.

- And she was already married to Alan.

- Women do make stupid mistakes, inspector.

- That's nice.

- Oh, yes.

Wedding anniversary present from Reg.

25 years. (bright orchestral music)

- Very nice, and expensive.

- Oh, there have been other presents, too.

He says he got the money from savings.

- And you don't believe him.

There you are, Mr. Buckley.

Tell me, what happened at the mill?

- I'm not really sure.

Alan kept everything to himself, never shared.

To be honest, I wasn't really up to the job,

an accounts manager at Tesco's made redundant.

- You were find.

Discrepancies, they say.

- Become a sort of habit, has it,

skimming the perks off the top?

- Will you be pressing charges?

- This room overlooks the other two cottages.

I'd like to put a man in here ,if I may, for a few days,

see who comes, who goes.

Meantime, I'd like a list of everyone

who's invested in the mill, please.

(sombre music)

Why would a woman grass on a bundle of fun like Reg?

- She wants him out of the way.

- [Barnaby] He was just the sort of man

Hollingsworth needed, though, wasn't he, a petty thief.

- To point the finger at, you mean, if we came along?

- God, he puts it about, that lad, doesn't he?

- Trashy good looks, women go for them.

- Here's a funny thing.

Sarah went to the meeting

but she's not on the list of investors.

(contemplative music)

(phone beeping)

- Felicity, It's Alan.

(phone beeping)

- Alan Hollingsworth's on the phone.

He said he'll tell you

everything you want to know about Simone.

He's waiting for you.

- Hello?

(pensive music)

(engine rumbling)

(tyres squealing)

I don't believe this!

Come on.

Don't quite now how to put this, sir.

- [Barnaby] Very carefully, Troy,

because I think I know what you're gonna say.

- [Troy] I've lost him.

(hawkers shouting)

- [Man] Three per pound, that is.

(suspenseful music)

- [Woman] There you go mate.

- [Patron] Thanks very much.

- Alan, I know you're in trouble.

- [Alan] Brenda?

- Please let me help you.

- Oh! (crashing)

Sorry.

So sorry.

(solemn music)

(horn honking)

(horn honking)

(phone beeping)

(suspenseful music)

Hello, Daddy?

It's me.

Yes, I'm fine.

I've just been to Finchmere Market.

Listen, I want you to go upstairs

and tell that policeman something.

It's urgent.

(phone chiming)

Hello?

Hello?

Daddy?

(engine revving)

(yelping)

(crashing) (tyres squealing)

(crashing)

(crashing) (tyres squealing)

(crashing)

(crashing) (tyres squealing)

(crashing) (tyres squealing)

(screaming)

(crashing) (metal clanging)

(ominous music) (footsteps crunching)

(pensive music)

- It's Brenda Buckley, all right.

No, you don't want to look at that.

Um, right.

Well, you better run some checks on the brakes.

Looks as if she's been shunted.

- Her father said she had panic in her voice

when she phoned, then she was cut off.

- Yes, well, this valley is a dead spot.

She didn't just ask for any policeman, did she?

She asked for you.

You get the car looked at though.

(sobbing)

- Mrs. Buckley, we do need one of you to identify the body.

- I'll do that, inspector.

I, I don't know how he's going to cope without her.

- How about you?

- She was always more his daughter than mine.

Does that sound awful?

- Can't legislate for feelings, can you?

- She was very, very strange girl.

I never really knew her, you know.

- Troy, I'd like to take a look at her bedroom, if I may.

- [Reg] I can't believe it.

- No tears, your friend Felicity.

- What you mean, my friend?

- Well, I thought you liked her.

- Where was she when Brenda was killed, eh?

- Shopping, she says.

- Her old man was gardening.

No, women don't kill their own daughters, do they?

- You mean you wish they didn't.

- Yeah, she did grass on her husband.

Offloading 'em both?

- Well, I'll be damned.

Look at this.

- Fresh flowers every week.

She would never talk about him.

Somebody at work, we thought.

- And where was work?

- Causton, Midsomer Building Society.

- [Troy] Diary, sir.

Pretty full.

- Oh, that's good.

Right, we'll take these with us if we may, Mrs. Buckley.

And, thank you.

Now Troy, that'll do for today.

(typewriter clacking)

- Taken late evening, Alan's house.

- Who is he?

- No idea.

Have you seen the magistrate yet?

- Yes, I have.

(pensive music)

(doorbell ringing)

This is a warrant to search your house, Mr. Hollingsworth.

Excuse me.

- Now, just a second. - Come on upstairs.

- This man, who is he?

- I've no idea.

- He called on you.

You didn't open the door to him.

- Then I didn't hear him knock.

What are you doing?

- If I called and there was no reply,

next thing I'd do is phone.

- [Nigel On Machine] Alan, it's Nigel Anderson.

I really do think it's time we sorted this thing out.

- Tell me about you and Brenda.

- [Nigel On Machine] Get back to me.

- Nothing to tell. - Oh?

Then explain this, to Brenda with love, Alan.

Every week, fresh flowers.

- [Harry On Machine] Mr. Hollingsworth,

it's Harry Vellacott.

I can't--

- [Harry On Machine] Called on you earlier.

- I really can't make it out.

- [Harry On Machine] Or were you?

Anyway, it's about Gray's money, the 20,000.

I'm afraid to say my patience is running out.

- 20,000, what does he mean, Gray's money?

- Upstairs bedside table.

- So there she is in some godforsaken hole

with a face like a butcher's counter

and you're playing hide and seek with me.

- No police, they said. - Who said?

- A man's voice.

You heard him.

He phoned again,

told me to leave the money at Finchmere Market.

- So you gave me the slip and off you went.

Did Brenda see you hand the money over?

- Was that why you killed her? - No, no.

- [Troy] What else did they say?

- Simone will be returned.

- So where is she?

- You've got to get her back for me.

- Look at these photos.

Look at them!

The room she's in, do you recognise it?

- No. (sobbing)

- That chicken should be ready by now, Grey.

- Hello, Mr. Patterson.

You know, I do admire you.

If I had lost 20,000 pounds,

I'd be climbing the walls with me teeth.

Yet here you are throwing a party.

- Well, it's, uh, only money, inspector.

- Hello, Mrs. Anderson.

That's a lot of food for three people.

- And one of them is a vegetarian.

Right, Sarah?

Do help yourself, Mr. Barnaby.

- Oh, not for me, thank you.

- [Troy] Well, if it's going spare.

- I'd like you to look at some photos of Simone.

I must warn you they're not easy to cope with.

Ah, Mr. Anderson.

Nice to see you.

- My god, they've beaten her up.

- [Barnaby] Do you recognise the place they were taken in?

- No, no, I don't.

- In the background

there's a couple of deck chairs folded, leaning.

Maybe they jog the memory.

Miss Lawton?

- Sorry, no.

- Ah, Nigel.

Oh, clever of you to invite Mr. Barnaby

just in case we overstep the mark.

- You know, if I were a cynical man,

I'd say this wasn't a lunch party at all,

it's a gathering of the mill investors.

- What makes you say that?

- Its' the only thing you six have in common.

I hope there's no plotting or planning afoot.

Licence renewal.

I wonder if Harry Vellacott could help us with these.

- Who?

- Harry Vellacott.

- No, I don't think I know him.

- Really?

He knows you so try again.

(scoffing)

- Got a pen?

- There's no way they could be working this together,

is there?

- What, a joint kidnap to get their money?

I would have said no, were it not for Nigel.

Who, I'm sure you've seen, I can't bear the sight of!

- This address Patterson's given us,

Peter Lane, Compton Dando.

It's a mobile home site.

- Yeah, not just yet.

Where's Sarah Lawton's cottage from here?

(contemplative music)

- Shouldn't we have a warrant for this?

- Yes, you should.

You first.

I'll hold your coat.

- What are we looking for, sir?

- I'm not sure, Troy.

But she is a friend of Simone's.

- Only friend, according to Mrs. Buckley.

- There's nothing there.

It's a box room.

If she is her only friend,

why is she not more worried

about Simone's disappearance then?

Now, that answers about a dozen questions.

If only I knew what they were.

- A couple of old dykes, eh?

- You don't really have a soft pedal

when it comes to the English language, do you, Troy?

- A spade's a spade, sir.

- Shush.

It's Sarah.

- I thought you were going to see

this Harry Vellacott, inspector.

- He's next on the list.

- You thought you'd do a little snooping first.

What would your superiors say to that?

- Not a lot.

When the chips are down, we, close ranks.

Why didn't you invest in the mill project?

- No spare money.

Potters are like that, I'm afraid.

- Oh, but you are also, uh, a photographer.

- Oh, I see.

- And if Simone means that much to you,

why are you so cool about her disappearance?

- You think I could show my true feelings

in a village like this?

When you showed me those photos--

- But they, they prove one thing, Miss Lawton.

Simone is still alive.

How long have you two been, involved?

- Five years, long before she knew Alan.

- Where did you meet?

- In London, Greenwich.

I lived above her and Vince, her boyfriend.

- And you moved to Morton Fendle to be near her.

- Yes.

- How does Grey Patterson come into all of this, as a cover?

- If you mean are we truly, madly, deeply, the answer is no.

He's just a friend.

- Does Alan know about you and Simone?

- We've been careful.

He's a jealous, volatile man.

- How jealous?

- Please don't, inspector.

I couldn't bear it.

- Does it change anything, Simone and Sarah being an item?

- Apart from your perception of women, you mean?

Yes.

They might have killed her.

- Or had her killed, hence the payments to a hit man.

- Maybe that hole in the back garden was for her.

Brenda turns up on the scene, forces a change of plan.

No, I don't like that.

- Why not?

- Turn left here, will you.

Those photos, they say kidnapped to me, loud and clear.

Tell you what does frighten me, though.

- What's that?

- Your driving's improved.

I saw you look in the mirror.

(bright music)

- Mr. Vellacott, Mr. Harry Vellacott?

- Don't tell me.

Don't tell me.

Good old country coppers come to chew the fat.

- Why did you visit Alan Hollingsworth on Monday night?

- Because he made off with 20,000 pounds of mine

and I was emotionally attached to it.

- A man called Grey Patterson says it's his.

- Well, let that suffice.

What are you staring at?

- Do I detect the family resemblance, Grey and you?

Father and son, are you?

- He is my son and he hates my guts

so I've loaned him the 20,000 pounds hoping to buy him back.

- Where did you get money like that?

- Pension.

- What line of business were you in?

- Have a guess.

I'm overweight, I drink too much, I smoke too much,

I eat too much, I'm divorced,

and the kids don't want to know me.

- A jaundiced view of human nature.

Yes, you're right.

I was a copper.

- I'd like to see inside.

- You've got a photograph of Simone Hollingsworth,

haven't you, together with a ransom demand

and you want to know if it was taken here or not, don't you?

Of course you do.

Go on, help yourself.

- [TV] Over to our reporter at Causton Police Station,

who's with the officer who's heading the case.

- The car we're looking for a black Saab 900,

no registration as yet,

seen in the Wheatley Road at 2:30 yesterday afternoon

travelling at high speed.

- [Interviewer] Was your witness able to give you

a description of the people in the car?

- A woman driver, we think,

with a white male passenger in his mid 30s with black hair.

- [Interviewer] And this is the car

that forced Brenda Buckley off the road.

- [Barnaby On TV] Almost certainly.

So if you have any information at all

about the whereabouts of a slightly damaged black Saab,

could you please get in touch

with your local police station.

- [Interviewer] If you recognise this car, please contact--

- If you weren't the governor's daughter.

(knocking)

- Oh, Cully, dear.

What a lovely surprise.

Oh, let's not go into the house.

Stuffy old house. - All right then.

I just came around, really,

to invite you to the first night at the barn house,

the 27th.

- Oh, oh, we'd love that.

Wouldn't we, Bunny?

- Wouldn't what, dear?

- We'd love to go.

- Go where?

- To a first night with Cully.

- Oh, first night, yeah, brava.

- Dad says he'll drive you and Bunny over there.

Well, perhaps we could go for a meal before the show.

- Oh, I must break out the Bunny boy's tuxedo.

Strange as it may seem, he does have one.

Fresh air.

We're devils for it.

(knocking)

- What do you want?

- You must be freezing.

- No, only on the surface.

- Elfrida, it's all right.

Your secret's safe with me.

- What secret is that?

I have so many.

- Let's go inside, shall we?

- Yes.

(gentle snoring)

- [Troy] I saw Cully last night, sir.

- [Barnaby] Oh, yes, where?

Round at Elfrida's.

I thought she had a boyfriend.

- Oh, yes, she has.

And you've met him.

Nicholas, the actor.

We like him.

- Only I thought I might go and see her in this play.

What was it called again?

- Oh, come on, Troy.

Work, work.

Midsomer Building Society, what did they say?

- Brenda was a mouse, quiet, efficient, kept to herself.

- And the flower shop?

- The owner said a girl came in, dead ringer for Brenda,

every Friday, bought flowers for her boss, name of Alan.

- What, she was sending flowers to herself?

Oh.

(knocking)

- I don't think he's in, Mr. Barnaby.

And you do have a most charming daughter.

- Oh, thank you, Miss Molfrey.

- Oh, and son, of course.

- Where is Alan, Miss Molfrey?

- No idea.

The boy Bunny tried rousing him earlier, no dice.

What did you want him for, Mr. Dawlish?

- They nominated me

to try and get their money back for them.

They ganged up on me at the barbecue.

- Sir, he's in there, rat-assed again,

spark out on the sofa.

- You wouldn't happen to have a key,

would you, Miss Molfrey?

- Afraid not.

- I say, a sergeant and so young.

You must feel awfully proud of him.

- I'm going to nip over to the shed.

- I know you're under pressure, Mr. Hollingsworth,

but this is not going to help you, is it?

Mr. Hollingsworth.

Oh, for god, Troy.

- Come on, you boozy sod.

Make an effort.

(suspenseful music)

He's dead, sir.

- [George] Tom.

- George.

Now for once in your life, tell me something I want to hear.

- Don't shoot the messenger.

Alan was murdered.

- Oh, for god's sake.

Contents of his stomach, whisky galore and haloperidol.

It's a sleeping pill, or ratter a capsule,

which is significant.

- Is it, why?

- The capsules are made of gelatin.

I didn't find any in the stomach.

- And there was none found in the house, was there?

- No.

- I reckon someone opened each and every one of them,

took out the powder--

- And mixed it with the whisky to hide the taste.

- Anything on the whisky bottle?

- A fingerprint we can't account for,

but surely doing the whole village.

- There's no sign of a forced entry.

Back door of the cottage was left open.

He must have let him in himself, someone he knew.

But I have a name for my spy in the camp.

(playful music)

(dog barking)

Mr. Anderson?

Can we have a word, please?

Did you visit Alan Hollingsworth last night?

- Pray enlighten me as to why I should want to.

- Yes or no?

- None of your business.

- But you were seen.

- By your policeman in Reg's den?

I think not.

- So you knew all about him, you did?

- The whole village knew within half an hour of his arrival.

What on earth did you expect?

- I expected roughly what I got,

people like you sneaking around the back.

But you were seen.

Elfrida Molfrey is a better watchdog

than any officer I've got.

- Is it a crime to visit neighbours?

- That depends, Mrs. Anderson, what you do when you get.

- Go on, then. - Mr. Anderson,

Miss Molfrey saw you leave Alan's house

at 10 past midnight.

- We had a drink, a chat.

- What did you drink?

- Scotch.

- And at what point did you kill him?

- What?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

Didn't I say?

Alan is dead, poisoned.

Haloperidol in the whiskey.

And your fingerprints will be all over the glass,

maybe even the bottle.

- He was alive when I left him, I swear it.

- Convince me.

- I did call on him last night, yes, with a proposition.

No, no, no.

The money we put into the mill project,

Doreen and I, 2,000 pounds.

- I'm listening.

What say you return 1,500

and I keep the other investors off your back?

- [Barnaby] He agreed to that?

- [Anderson] Yes.

He must have thought I really held sway over the neighbours.

He went into the bathroom.

In the cistern, there was a tin with money in it.

- [Barnaby] How much?

- [Anderson] Wads of it.

- Sounds like he'd had another demand.

Did he mention anything?

No.

By the time I left him, he was spark out in a chair,

but alive.

- Danny, upstairs spare room, behind the cistern.

Tin box.

Right.

Well, hang onto it.

They're already found it, empty.

Then he's paid up.

Either that or you took the money after you killed him.

- No, no, no.

I only wanted 1,500.

My job was on the line.

The money was borrowed, you see.

- Borrowed?

- From the brewery.

- Oh, Nigel, you nicked it from the till.

Oh good god.

From pompous ass to petty thief just like that, eh?

And who made him brave enough

to steal in the first place, Mrs. Anderson?

- Well, she had nothing to do with it.

- Oh, come on.

That's rubbish.

Anyone could see you two are joined at the hip.

Did you come home Alan's and tell her about the money?

- Well, yes.

- And did you persuade him to go back for it?

Perhaps you went back yourself.

- If I had done, inspector,

wouldn't Miss Molfrey have seen me?

- The car, sir, the black Saab 900, we found it.

- [Barnaby] Where?

- A garage in Compton Dando having a wing fixed.

The panel beater saw you on telly.

- [Barnaby] Owner?

- A Vince Perry, 7 The Green, Burwood Mantle.

- Good work.

Vince, that was the name of Simone's boyfriend.

- And don't take any sudden holidays, you two.

There are more questions.

(contemplative music)

- That's it.

- [Announcer] Samantha Elder, come on down!

(knocking)

- [Announcer] Lance Kent, come on down.

- Mr. Perry?

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.

(pounding) (grunting)

And the man at the backdoor

blocking your escape is Sergeant Troy.

You tried to run away, Mr. Perry.

That's almost as good as a confession.

So where have you been hiding her then, Vince,

if not at home?

- No idea what you're talkin' about.

- Then I'll make it crystal clear for you, shall I?

Messy breakup, you and Simone,

so being greedy and resentful, you abducted her.

You kept her in this place, you slapped her around a bit

for old times sake,

and then demanded money from her husband.

- Who's been murdered.

And we're looking for someone to blame.

- [Barnaby] 10 days ago, Finchmere Market.

- Never been there.

- 10 days ago, Finchmere Market,

you picked up the money Alan dropped.

The only trouble was Brenda Buckley saw you do it.

- Who the hell's Brenda Bucksey?

- Oh, don't you come the old soldier with me.

"Is it Bucksey or is it Buckley?

"Don't get the name because I've never heard it before."

- Well, I haven't.

- She's the woman you killed.

- No.

- You were driving the car at the time.

- No. - All right.

Then you were a passenger sitting right beside

whoever ran her off the road.

- I was never in that car, never been near Finchmere Market.

- Oh, no, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Course, you had your car nicked.

- At last, you're hearing me.

- And then as if by magic,

it turned up again three days later.

I expect they call off the nationwide search for it.

- Whatever.

- You did all that to cover yourself.

You were in the car that killed Brenda Buckley.

- No.

- Sling him in a cell.

(phone chiming)

- He's not gonna budge, is he?

- Listen, Troy, look.

I'd like to have a word with Sarah Lawton by myself,

just me and her.

Is that all right?

- OK then.

- It's no offence, it's just you being so thoroughly male

gets her back up. - I see.

So what should I do meantime?

- I would like you to buy my wife a birthday present.

Don't worry, I know exactly what I want.

There you go.

(knocking)

- Oh, inspector.

Come in.

I've been meaning to ask you, how did you get in last time?

Through your window out there.

It's actually warped away from the frame

and there's a gap so you can get a knife or twig in there

and then lift the latch.

I'll send a crime prevention officer around

to have a look at it for you.

- As long as it isn't Sergeant Troy.

- Oh, he's all right really.

He's just a bit, old-fashioned.

Whereas I think I know what Simone meant to you.

- And it doesn't bother you?

- It's not a crime to love someone, is it?

- Then why are you here?

- It's not easy to say this, but, Alan's death

means that whoever abducted Simone,

they've lost their source of income overnight.

Now they may decide to do one of two things.

- Don't.

They'll either let her go or kill her.

Do you have a suspect?

- Well, any one of those investors could be responsible.

- Good job I had no money at this time.

Like milk, inspector?

- Yes, please.

Where is it, in the fridge?

I'll get it.

We are holding a man, as a matter of fact.

I think you know him, Vince Perry.

- Simone's ex-boyfriend?

- He denies involvement, of course.

But it's only a matter of time.

- Now that Jimmy Cavendish has gone to Malaya,

I think we should close up the house

and head for the Mediterranean.

- That's a splendid idea, darling.

You can start on the new novel.

- Yes, Daddy, what's it going to be about?

- It's about how life

dashes our hopes and dreams to the ground.

- [Man] What are you going to call it?

- "Hollow Moonlight," I thought.

- [Woman] Yes.

Yes.

I like that.

(audience applauding)

- Cully, dear, you were wonderful.

- It was a real eye-opener.

- Oh, far and away the best thing in it.

I mean, that poor creature playing Hermione.

Well, it was a worthy effort.

- She's dying to make you, Elfrida.

- Ah, worthy.

And at the same time, enchanting.

Oh.

Oh, you dear, dear people.

Oh, you shouldn't have.

Oh, Bunny, do pour.

There's a good boy.

- Just a second.

- Oh, inspector.

You do the honours then.

Oh, there's a card.

Bunny, dear, read it to me.

- "Will you still need me, will you still feed me

"when you're 84?

"Happy birthday, Joyce, love Tom."

- Oh, a faux pax.

Oh, good grief.

- Oh, dear, now she's upset.

- You thought I'd forgotten, didn't you?

- My god, Dad, Gregorio Felloni.

You've won the lottery?

- We can't afford that, Tom.

- They do a range for men, but that is classic.

(Elfrida sobbing)

- Gracious, Elfrida, whatever's wrong?

Whatever's the matter?

- What must you think of me?

Oh.

Oh, do you know it's moments like this

that I do miss dear Simone.

She was so good at makeup,

which I do use the odd dab of now and again.

It was her training, you see.

- What training was that?

- She worked for one of the big cosmetic firms.

Oh, she could make me look 20 years younger

in 10 minutes flat.

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- Hello, Troy, it's me.

The old copper's nose is on the twitch.

- [Troy] Where are you?

- Hm, I'm at the office.

Meet me at Buckley's place, will you?

I want to cross her off the list.

- All right.

(sighing)

(contemplative music)

- Inspector, you do realise what time it is.

- Yes, I do, thank you, Mrs. Buckley.

Is Reg in?

- No.

He's spending a few days with his brother.

He's still finding things difficult.

- When Brenda died, Reg was gardening.

Elfrida confirms that.

So she was here, Reg was here, Bunny was here.

Where were you?

- You were shopping.

Stuff you bought,

you'd have made a note of it in your chequebook?

- I don't use checks.

- Credit card slips?

- Actually, I don't think I bought anything on that day.

- Did you see anyone when you were shopping,

did you speak to anyone?

- You know, I am finding this rather offensive, Inspector.

- I'm not accusing you of killing Brenda.

I just need to be sure that you didn't.

(sighing)

- She, she couldn't have done.

She was with me, Inspector.

- Hm.

Well, then, I only have one more question.

How on earth do you manage it?

(engine rumbling)

- Is Cully in, sir?

- Yes, she is.

In fact, when I said I'd cook you breakfast,

I meant me as in her.

(engine roaring)

(tyres squealing)

(engine roaring)

(pensive music)

Simone.

- Cup of tea with plenty of sugar in.

- They told you what happened then,

the people who were holding you?

- To be honest, I think it's one of the reasons

they let me go.

- You don't think they killed him.

- Who knows.

- I'm sorry, Simone.

This is not going to be an easy time for you, is it?

Is there anyone I can contact for you?

- No.

Alan was all I had.

- Look, I know all about you and Sarah Lawton.

I'm sure she'd like to help, wouldn't she?

- OK, look, we'll drop you off at the police station

before we get her and,

well, then I'd like to hear all about it

if you feel up to it.

- Thank you, Mr. Barnaby.

You've been very kind.

- Good news, the best.

Simone has turned up alive and well,

just a few bruises that's all.

- When can I see her?

- Right now, she's down at the station.

Hop in the car.

- Give me five minutes.

Right.

(engine starting)

- OK.

(suspenseful music)

(hopeful music)

- I began to give up hope.

I thought I'd never see you.

Forgive me, Inspector.

- Oh, believe me, I'm as delighted as you are, Miss Lawton.

- How are you?

- In one piece.

You OK? - Mm.

- I've got some questions for you, Simone.

- Right.

I'll wait outside.

- No, I'd like you to stay, if you would.

You might need some support.

Would you like a cup of tea?

(pensive music)

- There were two of them, a man and a woman.

Early 30s, I'd say.

He was tallish, curly dark hair.

- Did you get a name?

- I think she called him Steve or Steph.

He was furious when she said it.

I thought he was going to kill her.

He took it out on me instead.

- Is that when he beat you up?

- The first time, yes.

(contemplative music)

- And the stairs.

(crashing)

(revelatory music)

Yes.

- I was waiting for the Causton bus

when a black Saab drove up.

To be honest, I thought was my ex-boyfriend.

Then two people going out, stocking masks.

One of them punched me in the face

and bundled me in the back.

- We think it was Vince's car.

- Wouldn't that be too much of a coincidence?

- No, we believe they deliberately chose his car

to point the finger at him, and it worked of course.

- What do you mean?

- We're holding him here for questioning.

Why did they beat you twice?

Did you provoke them?

- It was for the photographs, to scare Alan.

- Something else that worked, too.

We estimate they made about 300,000 pounds.

And split three ways, that's, uh, quite a payout.

- You think there were three of them?

- I know there are three of them.

- So he paid the money and then they killed him.

Poor Brenda, too.

- Lucky they didn't kill you.

That's what puzzles me.

Why are you still alive?

Ah, Sergeant Troy, come in.

Everything all right?

- Fine, sir.

Mrs. Hollingsworth, nice to see you safe and well.

- Thank you.

- I was just about to ask Simone

where she was held captive.

- I'm not really sure.

They put a hood over me in the car.

I had to go up steps, concrete steps.

A block of flats, I thought.

- And the room you were held in?

- Small, dark.

It could have been any room, I'm afraid.

- No, I don't think so.

I think it was a very particular room

and I think I know where it was.

- Really? - Yes.

- Why didn't you come and get me?

- Because I wasn't sure

until Sergeant Troy walked in just now.

You were held

in the attic of Miss Lawton's cottage.

I'm surprised you didn't recognise it.

- Well, I'm sure I would have done.

- I thought you might be there

when I saw chicken leg in Sarah's fridge.

Hello, Mrs. Anderson.

That's a lot of food for three people.

- One of them's a vegetarian.

Right, Sarah?

- So the, uh, chicken leg was probably your supper, Simone.

Are you absolutely certain about this room?

- Mrs. Hollingsworth, I've just been there.

- You've broken into my house yet again?

That is outrageous, Inspector.

- And you've got some staying power.

I'll give you that, the pair of you.

But your story ran out of steam five minutes ago.

The three people I'm looking for

are Simone, her ex-boyfriend, and you.

You for the murder of Alan Hollingsworth.

- What?

- Oh, that's good.

Surprise and indignation

all rolled into that one word, what?

Trouble is I've been in this game so long

I can hear something else as well, guilt.

(pensive music)

You slipped a bottle of sleeping pills of their casings,

haloperidol.

You waited 'til Miss Molfrey was safely asleep

and then you let yourself into Alan's house.

- How did I manage to get in?

Did I break down a door or use a kitchen window

like the police do?

- The key to the back door, Simone's key,

I found it amongst your underwear.

Strange place to keep it.

- Strange place to look for it.

- [Barnaby] He was spark out in the living room, drunk.

You brought him round and right under his nose,

you mix a cocktail, haloperidol and whiskey,

one to hide the taste of the other.

- Alan, here's a drink.

- He was only half conscious.

He had no idea that you were killing him.

All he could see when you offered him the glass

was another whiskey.

There's a rogue print, just one,

on the whiskey bottle we found beside Alan's body.

Are you saying that print won't match up

to those on the teacup you've just been using?

It's upstairs with the fingerprints officer.

Well?

Simone, what do you want to say to her?

- Nothing. - Oh, come on.

This is the woman that's killed your husband for you.

How about thank you at least?

- I'm not quite sure what game you're playing, Inspector.

- You wanted her to kill him.

You wound her up to do it.

That in itself is a crime.

- All I know is the world's rid of a complete bastard.

- You believed her because she had the bruises to prove it,

didn't you?

Let me tell you something.

Alan Hollingsworth never, never laid a finger on his wife.

- That isn't true.

- The bruises that Alan is supposed to have given her,

they're as fake as the one she's wearing now.

- Oh, do you now that it's moments like this

that I do miss dear Simone.

She was so good at makeup.

- My sergeant doesn't understand.

Neither did I,

'til I learned that you'd worked with a cosmetic firm.

Hadn't you, Simone?

Go on.

Show her what I'm talking about.

Wipe off your bruises.

Wipe them off or I'll do it for you!

Go on.

The bruises she said Alan gave her are just like that.

You fell for it.

She's good at details.

You even had some yob dump her off of my house

to give weight to the kidnap story.

Were you driving that van, Sarah?

- I don't drive.

- You had better start helping me

unless you fancy 12 years in jail.

- Help you how?

- I know she was driving the car

that forced Brenda Buckley off the road.

I know it, but I can't prove it.

I know that she set Alan up.

I know it, but I can't prove it.

I know she pressured you to kill him.

That is incitement and you could get clean away with it

if you testify against her.

- Never.

- Nothing in the world you wouldn't do for her, is that it?

- Precisely.

- Sarah, if you go to prison, as you will,

you will meet women who will terrify the life out of you.

Think about it.

- I've done all the thinking I need to.

(melancholy music)

- Let's see if Vince has any more sense.

- Good luck.

- How did you divide up the money then, Vince?

Hundred thousand to you, same to Sarah?

- I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.

- I still have a witness that saw you in the car.

- So you say.

Only not very clearly,

if that photo of it was anything to go by.

- So it was you then.

- I told you the other day, my car was stolen.

- Vince, she killed someone.

Wasn't you, you were in the passenger seat.

Sarah doesn't drive, so it was Simone.

- So you say.

I still don't the faintest idea

what you were talking about then.

- Shut up, Troy.

- I didn't say anything.

- You were going to say, never mind, sir,

we gave it a good crack.

That woman is going to walkout of here

with 300,000 pounds and a murder on her CV.

Why?

Because Sarah bloody Lawton fell on her sword

in the name of love and Vince kept his trap shut

in the name of money.

- Well, there must be something we can use, surely.

- Oh, oh, yes, oh, yes.

She wasted police time.

Shall we do her for that instead of Brenda's murder?

(phone ringing)

What?

I'm gonna clean up that cesspit known as Morton Fendle.

I'll have that Grey Patterson for starters,

for bribing Cathy Bullard.

- She seems fine about it now.

- Well, OK then.

Reg Buckley for skimming the mill fund

to buy 3,000 pounds worth of Hi-Fi?

- 3,000? - 3,000,

do you know what ours cost?

- 432 pounds. - 432 pounds from Comet.

Now, can he hear that I can't?

- So you don't think Reg has been punished enough

losing his daughter?

Depends on your view of daughters, I suppose.

- Well, at least let me have the Andersons.

If self-importance is not a crime, it should be.

Plus, they had their fingers in the till.

- It seems the only honest people in Morton Fendle

are Bunny and Elfrida.

- Apart from their draw, that is.

- Yeah, what?

- The marijuana.

He grows it in the greenhouse.

What they don't smoke themselves,

he puts in the Bunny cakes.

(suspenseful music)

I thought you knew and were turning a blind down eye.

- Please help yourself. - Thank you.

- What was it you wanted to talk to us about, Miss Molfrey?

- I thought I should let you know--

(laughing)

- Are you all right, sir?

- You know, 10 minutes in your company and I feel better.

That's the only way to describe it, better.

The Bunny cakes.

(doorbell ringing)

- Oh, how nice.

Oh, you do know they've already gone, don't you?

Simone and Vince?

- Yes, yes.

One of the Greek islands for a month, I'm told,

to get away from it all.

- Oh, you must be so disappointed

that you couldn't nail her.

- Well, one case closes, another opens.

- What is it now?

Oh, come in, do, do come in.

Coffee, Bunny.

There's a good boy.

- Coming.

- Now, tell us all, what are you investigating?

- It's a drugs case, the dreaded cannabis sativa.

They're farming it around here, you know?

- They never are.

- Oh, yes.

Mm.

That's very nice, thank you.

Yes, they grow it in greenhouses

in between the tomato plants.

It can look like one, you see.

May I?

- Well, yeah.

- No, I mustn't, it'll spoil my dinner.

But we are on top of it.

- What is that?

- That is weed killer, Mr. Dawlish.

One cap full to one gallon of water

and the old cannabis sativa keel over like nine pins.

Now, I'm supposed to check every greenhouse in the area.

So, shall we?

- Green fly. - Green fly?

- I sprayed it all for green fly.

- Oh, dear, well, some other time then.

Very soon.

- Inspector?

You really are a most charming and gracious man.

And if I were 40 years younger,

I'd take a real flyer at you.

- If you were 40 years younger,

Miss Molfrey, I'd charge you with supplying cannabis.

(contemplative music)

(knocking)

- These are for you.

- Thanks, you can go now.

How are you coping?

- Will you come straight to the point, Sergeant?

- Fair enough.

You've been sidelined by Simone.

Ever wonder why she doesn't visit?

- She's moved away, to Cumbria.

She writes.

- Did she tell you she and Vince were married?

See the other girl in the photograph?

She's their constant companion.

Look, why don't I just get straight to the point

like you asked me to.

They shacked up together.

Now, If I'd been betrayed like that

by somebody I was doing time for, I wouldn't keep quiet.

I know you won't want to take my word for it,

that's understandable.

Why not check it out?

Then get back to us when you're ready.

- All the relevant documentation was with the CPS in July.

Given the extreme age of the defendant.

(phone ringing)

Troy?

- Hello?

Just a sec.

Sir.

- What?

- Sarah Lawton.

- Who?

- Sarah Lawton, do you remember?

She wants to talk to you.

(playful music)

- Hello?

(contemplative music)