Ludwig (2024) s01e02 Episode Script

1
Hello! It's the Elvis Presley
of puzzle setters! Where's James?
Dad's away. He's working a case!
Your brother spent day
in and day out
at some grisly
murder scene or other,
until three nights ago
when he didn't come home at all.
I can't access his office.
In fact, the only person
that can is James
..or somebody who looks
remarkably like him.
No!
I've met most of his colleagues.
I can brief you on all of them.
Certainly enough to get you through
a piddly little visit to the office.
I mean, I've no clue
who this chap is.
That's Chief Constable Ziegler.
James has a completely
different partner
from the one you told me about!
One that sat waiting for me
to go and look at a dead
solicitor with him.
We have seven subjects -
or suspects.
It is a logic puzzle.
Bit awkward, really.
I think I might have
just solved a murder.
You think you've what?
Looks like a cypher.
He was obviously using
this to take notes
about whatever he was investigating.
What does it mean?
Well, I haven't actually
been able to solve it.
I'll start tomorrow.
You're going back in there?
It's a puzzle.
Puzzles are meant to be solved!
HE PANTS
GHOSTLY WHISPERS
WHISPERING
INDISTINCT DISTORTED VOICES
OVERLAPPING VOICES
Oh, it's the photo from James's
phone! How did you get that?
I had Henry print it
out for me this morning.
Well, at least he's
still talking to you.
How are you getting on?
I'm not seeing a pattern,
which means it almost certainly
requires a source-key to crack it.
Some kind of book or
something he used to code it.
Which is why I've been
going through all his other stuff,
but so far nothing fits.
Do you know, I'm not
in his address book?
You still live in the
same house he grew up in,
I'm sure he remembers the address.
Hmm.
Why do you think he does this?
Covering notebooks in wallpaper?
I just presumed
that was a hangover
from your posh school.
Do you not do that?
No, I don't! Never even made
sense to me back then.
Wallpaper goes on walls.
The clue's in the name.
HE SIGHS
I'm going to have to go in soon.
Oh, it'll be fine, you were
OK yesterday, weren't you?
No! I nearly had a breakdown!
But aside from that, you were fine.
Least we have some
new leads to pursue now.
Like, why was James taking
covert surveillance photos
of his own Chief Constable.
You need to find out what case
he was working on when he vanished.
Must all be connected.
But how do I do that?
I can't just ask.
I'm supposed to BE James.
James would know full well what
case he was working.
Just ask subtly, then.
Slip it into casual conversation.
Check his computer!
John, you are the only
person that can do this.
Just focus
..and no more distractions.
That wasn't a distraction,
it was a murder!
What if there's another one today?
How often do people get
murdered round here?
John, you're NOT attending
another crime scene.
This time you say no,
tell them you're busy.
But what if they counter
that with "busy doing what?"
Paperwork.
Just use the phrase "mountain of".
You've seen the crime shows.
Gosh, it's practically their mantra.
I'll take this. Have a crack at it.
Well, there's hardly any chance
of you solving it, is there?
Excuse me?!
No, no, it just
It It needs a source key,
and if it's not here, it's
probably at the station, so
Do you know, James didn't trust me,
which is why we're in this mess
and I didn't drag you halfway down
the country for you to do the same.
Don't James me, John.
I'd never James you, Lucy.
Find out what case
he was working on.
Why don't you go
and put your lenses in?
Cos you know it takes
you 25 minutes.
Right, yes.
I mean, if you have to have these
SHE CLEARS HER THROA
"A mountain of paperwork"?
That's the one. It'll work a treat.
Right.
BRAKES SQUEAK, ENGINE REVS
BRAKES SQUEAL
REVVING AND SQUEAKING
BRAKES SQUEAK
Oh, hi, James! I
Quite right.
FOOTSTEPS
DCI Taylor.
Oh, hello
..ma'am.
So, how are things working out
with your new DI?
LIFT DINGS
Doors opening.
Oh, you know
Fine.
"Fine"?
Doors closing.
Given everything that happened,
I was expecting a slightly
more detailed response
to my question than, "Fine".
Right, yes, of course
It It's great.
Really, really great.
And you can drop the sarcasm.
I wasn't being
I didn't want to see DI Neville
transferred any more than you did.
But after all that Sinclair
business, there was no other option.
It was you or him.
You do know that?
Yes, yes, of course,
stands to reason.
Especially after all that
Sinclair businessas you say.
DI Carter came highly
..and I mean HIGHLY recommended.
I just hope we can get
back to normal now.
That would be nice
..ma'am.
HINGES SQUEAK
SOBBING
WEEPING CONTINUES
Morning, guv.
Oh, her.
Yeah, Missing Persons sent her up.
I'm not sure why yet.
Because she insisted,
despite there being nothing
to substantiate foul-play,
they sent her up anyway.
Feels like a fob-off to me.
You all right, guv?
Oh, yes, thank you.
I've got a mountain of paperwork.
Oh, I hear that!
It never stops!
HE SIGHS
START-UP CHIME
22nd of the second.
The day James vanished.
TRILLING
"Authorisation code"?
SOBBING NEARBY
Now, this is DI Ashley. She
is going to deal with you, OK?
WOMAN SOBS
Please find him.
Guv!
ERROR TONES
Oh, sir!
Argh!
HE SIGHS
Ah Morning, Guv.
So
It's a woman whose
husband didn't come home
from some work,
team-building retreat thingy,
despite apparently checking
out last night. Oh.
I took all the details
down, but if you ask me,
he'll probably rock up later today
with a bad hangover
and lipstick on his collar.
She looked very distressed.
Yeah, well, she got this
weird, cryptic phone call
from him last night,
which is the only reason Missing
Persons were able to pass it on.
Hmm.
Well
Well, I'll
..leave you to it.
Sorry, but
.."cryptic" how?
It's just a
team-building residential,
boss leaves early,
they keep going without him.
So, what is this exactly? A hunch?
He calls her up in the middle of the
night, tells her they're leaving,
doesn't say where, doesn't say why -
then rings off and never shows up.
Don't you want to
know what happened?
It's just not the normal lead
into an investigation, that's all.
And I don't know about you,
but I've left quite the mountain
of paperwork back there.
Tell me about it!
CARTER GROANS
HE SIGHS
I mean, I'm still dotting
the I's and crossing the T's
on that whole Sinclair
business, so?
The what?
What? The what business?
Hmm?
Oh.
Doesn't matter.
DOOR CLOSES
We're looking
for a Mr Peter Williams.
Mr Williams?
Yes, the entrepreneur.
He arranged a team-bonding exercise,
but he checked out last night.
The rest of his party
are still here.
He did book the place for a week.
I made it very clear
there were no refunds.
Quite right.
HE CHUCKLES
Do you happen to know
what time he left?
Seven
..ish.
He left me his business card,
I shoved it in here somewhere.
Hang on.
This used to be the kitchen.
SHE SCOFFS
This used to be a lot
of things, Detective,
now I live in the guest house
and the guests live in mine.
C'est la vie.
Wait, you own this place?
I'm Lady Bryce, yes.
Oh!
Sorry, I
I always thought these stately homes
were run by the National Trust now.
Not this one.
Yet.
May I ask what this is
all about, Detective?
Has he done something wrong?
No. No, no, no. Not at all.
He's completely vanished
after making an alarmingly
cryptic phone call to his wife,
leaving her with no idea
where he is or what's happened.
Well, there is that.
HE LAUGHS
Um, do you think we could
have a word with his colleagues?
I believe they're
in the dining room.
"Work" is a scary word.
"Team" isn't.
So, what is "teamwork"?
Answer, half as scary.
Sorry to interrupt. Police.
We need to talk to
you about Mr Williams.
Peter? Why? What's he done?
Nothing, as far as we're aware,
but he didn't get home last night
and his wife's concerned.
What, and that warrants two
plain-clothes detectives, does it?
What can I say? Slow morning.
So, when did you all see him last?
Oh, I'm not actually staying here.
Peter hired him, he's the
one running theworkshop.
Yeah, Ross Barclay, motivational
speaker, nice to meet you.
Excuse me, this isn't true.
What isn't true?
Only a team can win a championship?
Yes, it is.
No, it isn't.
What about Gary Kasparov?
HE SCOFFS
Who?
Sorry, but do you think
we should be worried here?
I mean, do you think
something's happened to him?
It's fine, honestly, we're really
just covering all bases.
When did you see him last?
He came down from his room
just as we were heading to dinner,
said he wasn't feeling very well
and that he was heading home.
And that would have
been around seven, would it?
Yeah, I think so.
But did any of you
actually see him leave?
Well, we didn't exactly
wave him off or anything,
but his car's gone and he
weren't at breakfast, so
Right, then,
thank you all for your time.
Yeah, Gary Kasparov,
a chess player! Very clever!
Well, it takes two to
play a game of chess,
so, technically, still a team.
No, it isn't! Yes, it is.
No, it isn't. Yes, it is,
it's always been a team, OK?
Always been a team.
They're against each other.
No, no, no
Not on the same
No, it has always been a team.
It's always been a team.
Always been a team. No, it isn't!
Again, thank you all for your time.
Thank you. No, no, no.
They're working together Guv!
..to defeat one another.
It's always team, Detective, OK.
OK. So, guys,
as I was saying, "team".
I mean, he'd hardly be
the first suit and tie
to pull a Houdini, would he?
This thing has "midlife crisis"
written all over it.
But the phone call? And none
of them actually SAW him leave.
Well, he isn't here. Well, unless
he's hiding under the desk,
so III don't think we
BELL DINGS
DOORBELL RINGS
Can I help you?
Are you interested?
In what?
Oh! No, I'm sorry,
I'm looking for Matt Neville.
He lives here? He did.
Paid his rent off in full,
moved out a month ago.
But all his things are still here.
Yeah, they are. And if you
do find him, you can tell him
he's got three weeks before
it all goes to auction.
Well, do you have a
forwarding address for him?
Or a telephone number?
No, I haven't.
Look, I'll tell you
what I told the others.
I got the keys through the
post, a cheque for the rent
and that was it, he was gone.
"Others"? What others?
Who else is looking for him?
Sorry, who are you exactly?
I am a private detective.
No, you're not.
All right, I'm his sister.
Fine, fine,
we're having an affair!
Does it matter?
I just need to find him.
Look, whatever this is,
I can't help you, all right?
Hmm
These others,
what did they look like?
Policemen? Very tall policemen?
No videos.
Just time-lapse stills.
What time did you say
he checked out again? Seven-ish.
7.02,
7.04,
7.0 There he is.
And there he goes.
Happy? That seems to be it.
It's empty till 9.00,
and then the woman comes back
behind the desk again. Yep.
Then it flips to the next morning.
Why does it do that?
Happens every night. We've checked.
She probably unplugs everything
she owns before she goes to bed.
My mum does the same, actually.
It's annoying.
Make the one before that one
go back on the screen again.
You mean click back?
Yes, click back.
Now, click forward.
Now, click back.
Now, click forward.
Actually, do you know what,
why don't you sit here
and click back and forth,
while I go and put my
Masters in Computer Science
to slightly more practical use? OK.
OK, so, his company,
Cambridge Luxury Wellness,
basically, just sells exclusive
memberships to a luxury spa retreat.
Only it doesn't exist yet.
There's nothing but
artist's impressions on the website
and it looks like
it's the advanced member fees
that are supposed to
finance its construction.
None of which is
evidence of foul play.
Sorry, what would be?
Oh, gosh, I don't know, Simon.
How about a dead body?
That's usually a
good place to start. Yep.
This wasn't his first rodeo either.
This time last year,
he had a provisional music festival
that he was selling tickets to.
That collapsed under
the weight of its own ambition.
In fact, this is his fourth
business in six years.
They pop up,
they go under, he forms another.
Well, I suppose that's one way
to stay ahead of the creditors.
And another would be
to pull a midnight flit
and, pound to a penny,
it's not the first time
he's done one of those either.
So, what do you say, Guv?
Can we kick the can
back on this one or what?
CLICKING
Something is different.
Guv?
So, let me get this
straight in my head,
not only did you not
actively avoid attending
another crime scene,
you actually insisted on it?
Well, technically, it wasn't a
No, no, wait,
because this is the best bit.
You then returned to the station,
the whole department
tells you to drop it,
literally letting
you off the hook
And what do you say? You say, "No!"
Yes, because something
is very, very wrong here
and none of them
seem able to see it.
Look, I'll show you.
I had them print out the photos.
Last night. This morning.
See?
Something's changed.
What? I don't know.
John, you were supposed
to be looking into
James's last case today,
find out what this Ziegler chap,
what's he got to do with anything?
I've found out more than you today.
What do you mean?
I went to see DI Neville.
You did what?!
Don't act all incredulous, we need
answers, and we need them now.
And he could have given us them.
Anyway, if it makes you
feel any better he's gone.
Vanished. Just like James.
That doesn't make me
feel better at all!
Yes, well, I'm not exactly
cock-a-hoop about it!
Henry!
Have you really got nothing new
to report? Nothing at all?
I don't know. I mean
Maybe.
Did James ever mention the
name "Sinclair" to you?
"Sinclair."
No, I don't think so.
Oh.
Then, no, I haven't.
Sorry.
Lucy, don't!
A woman's husband is missing.
My husband is missing.
Sorry.
She even looked like you.
What? Stylish, attractive
and approachable?
SHE CHUCKLES
Scared.
Yes, well, she's not the only one.
Henry, I should have told you
everything, from the start.
I was wrong, I'm sorry.
Listen, we will find Dad,
I promise you.
Do you know, your Uncle John
is the most brilliant person
I've ever known?
There's nothing he can't do.
Actually, that's a lie, there's
quite a lot of things he can't do,
but he can do this.
WE will do this.
Did you even read
that letter he wrote?
100 times.
He was talking like he thought
someone was coming after him.
What if
..they found him first?
HE SNIFFLES
I mean, what if he's he's?
He's not dead.
How do you know?
Because he's my husband
..and my soulmate.
And I would know.
I would feel it.
I would feel it,
in the core of my bones.
I would know. OK?
He's not.
You promise?
I promise.
HE SOBS
Come here.
BIRDSONG
Oh! You're up early.
I couldn't sleep.
You know he has a wife? DI Neville?
Which means she's gone, too,
which means, unlike my husband,
he actually told her
what's going on.
That's certainly one possibility.
Well, I'm taking this notebook
today. No ifs. No buts.
Yes, but
I mean, sure, OK.
Oh, there it is!
I was looking for this last night.
What? The address book? Why?
HE MURMURS
James made a telephone call from
his computer the day he vanished.
I was hoping the number
might be in here somewhere.
John, you said
we had no new leads at all!
Do you think this is a
lead? I wasn't sure.
I didn't want to give
you false hope.
SHE LAUGHS
I love false hope!
Really? Why would anyone?
Have you rung it?
Well, no. Why not?
Someone might answer?
Give me the number.
The-the number?
Oh, goodness me! Give it here!
Goodness me!
Ow! Ow! Ow-ow-ow!
Shhh! It's hardly the first time
I've given you armlock.
KEYPAD TONES
Technically, this isn't
an armlock, but
HE SIGHS
Oh, it's ringing!
LINE CONNECTS
LINE TRILLS
It's a fax machine.
TRILLING CONTINUES
Who would James know that
still owns a fax machine?
REVVING
BRAKES SQUEAK
DCI Taylor.
Argh! Good morning. Oh, hello
..sir.
Team reviews this month, isn't it?
Oh, it's this month, is it?
Seems to get earlier
and earlier each year.
And when I say year,
I do, of course, mean
..quarter.
I'm hoping your new report will
be as favourable as the last one,
despite the recent
changes to your team.
Well, you know what they say.
An individual may win a game,
but only a team can
win a championship.
Yes, yes, that's very true.
Morning, Guv.
We found the car.
Hmm? Oh good, well done.
Which car?
Sir, are you aware that you've
parked outside the lines just now?
Oh, yes, well
Well, they're really just
a guide, aren't they?
No, sir. They're not.
Yeah, no. It was
Mr Williams's car we found,
abandoned at Hutley, east coast,
about a two-hour drive.
Notorious suicide hot spot.
We're heading there now.
Oh.
Am I supposed to come with you?
Not that I'm aware.
I think the superintendent
wants to see you, actually.
Does she?
Can I come with you?
Yeah!
No. No
Oh, there you are, DCI Taylor!
Do sit.
DI Carter's just been explaining
your impromptu investigation
over at Bryce Manor yesterday.
The fact that your
hunch was correct.
Those employees we met,
they had to buy into their jobs,
£500 each, all under the promise
of a steady wage and a supposed
percentage of profits down the line.
It was all a con, soft marks
selling high-priced membership
to something that was never
actually going to exist.
There's only so many times
you can do this sort of thing,
before you start flagging up
on every system going.
Our Mr Williams was declared
bankrupt the day he disappeared.
Assets were frozen,
company was liquidated
and an investigation was opened.
Do you think his wife knew?
No, but she was going
to find out, pretty soon,
as were his current "employees"
and all of his previous marks.
The jig was up and he knew it.
His car was found parked near
a cliff this morning. Sergeant Finch
and Constable Evans are on
their way now to check it out.
Where they'll doubtless find
a note explaining it all.
Butnone of this makes any sense!
Excuse me, DCI Taylor?
Why would you make
an urgent phone call to your wife,
tell her to pack all the cases,
and then go and jump off a cliff?!
No, I don't think so.
We need to go back and
talk to the team again,
especially now we have a motive.
A motive for what?
Well Murder!
Thanks for that.
I sense you're not
wholly convinced.
Investigating a murder where
there's no evidence of a murder?
I'll be honest, Guv, not wholly, no.
But I'll back you all the way.
You will?
Of course.
Remember that case
I mentioned the other day?
MOBILE VIBRATES
Hey, I'm just on my way out.
I'll give you a call back.
Er, niece.
Um, sorry,
what were you saying about a case?
Wasn't important.
This can't be happening.
I had to beg, borrow and
plead to get my stake for this -
friends, family,
I don't have that kind of money!
You think we do?
You think anyone applying to
a job-ad Sellotaped to a lamppost
has a spare £500 knocking about?
Can we get it back?
I'm afraid we can't
answer that, at the moment.
Our priority is
locating Mr Williams.
Yeah, good luck with that.
He's probably fled the country
by now.
Excuse me?
Oh, here we go.
I suppose you're going to tell me
that this isn't true either.
Well, obviously, it's not.
Really? OK.
Can you think of a single situation
where people have worked
together and achieved less?
This one?
I truly believe that we
can find a teachable moment
within all of this,
all of us
Can you just shut up?
So, it was all a con?
Even this? Mr Barclay, have you
actually been paid for this gig?
Well!
HE LAUGHS
I don't work for free, Detective!
Well, unless you've
been paid in advance,
I'm afraid that's actually
what you've been doing.
PATS HIS BACK
Welcome to the club.
Right, forget this. I'm going home.
Um Sorry, but, er,
I don't think you can leave.
None of you can
..I don't think
Can they?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What do
you mean? Why can't we leave?
Because you're all suspects
..aren't they?
Just tell me what you want to know.
Well, you can start with
the last time you saw him.
Like I told you before, at dinner.
We were all sat around
waiting for the old girl
to come and serve up. Good old
Peter was the last one down.
Peter? What is it? What's wrong?
HE BELCHES
Sorry
CONCERNED MURMURS
I think it's best if I go.
HE GAGS
Said he felt sick
And that he was going
home and that was it.
Rest of us had dinner,
then just went to our rooms.
And none of you left the
dining room at any point?
Not even for a mid-meal
bathroom break? A what?
A mid-meal bathroom break.
I'm pretty sure that's a thing.
No. No. None of us
had a mid-mealbathroom break.
None of us left that room once,
and by the time we did, he was gone.
If he was feeling so unwell,
how come none of you
offered to drive him home?
I don't think anyone
wanted to miss dinner.
I wasn't here, OK, I was at home.
I don't even know what
I'm being questioned about.
I just really wanted to ask you
what your credentials are.
HE CHORTLES
Have you heard of the
university of life, Detective?
I have actually, yes. Right.
"No credentials".
Nah, I don't need to take this.
I mean, well, it's not like any
of us knew him or each other.
We only met a week ago, when we
turned up for thethe job.
Some bloody Portakabin
in the middle of a car park.
It was a job.
They don't come that
easy for some of us, you know?
You said the ad was
Sellotaped to a lamppost.
Where exactly was this?
Duke Street.
Where the probation office is?
Right outside it.
He knew who to target.
Shoplifting.
You're a thief?
I'm a woman on
Universal Credit who, some weeks,
can barely afford
to feed herself.
That's what I am, Detective.
"Thief".
Destruction of property and assault.
The property being my
ex-wife's lover's front door.
Assault being his chin.
Worth it.
Reckless driving.
I was drinking the night before.
I was still just over the limit
and a guy on a motorcycle
came out of nowhere.
There was no avoiding him.
Was he? Instantly.
There were no cameras.
It was my word against nobody.
I got two years.
Served eight months.
I've been trying to pick up the
pieces of my life ever since.
And now here I am, jobless - again.
Broke - again.
And being interrogated for being
the victim of a fraudster.
Anything else you want to ask?
Yes, do you think you could take
a quick look at this photo?
I think we're done here, Guv,
don't you?
They're all criminals.
Even the trainer.
Ross Barclay isn't a criminal, Guv.
Isn't he?
He's charging £30 an hour
to basically misquote Aesop.
Uh-huh. Well, as chequered
as their pasts may be,
the fact remains that
their statements all match,
tallying with that of Lady Bryce
and the recordings on the camera.
Guv, sometimes the simplest
explanation is simple for a reason.
Why would someone clean
one urn and not the other?
HE GROANS
I've absolutely no idea, Guv. Did
you hear anything of what I just?
MOBILE RINGS
HE GROANS
Carter.
We're at the vehicle, sir.
Tell me you found a note.
No note, sir. No nothing. Keys
in the ignition. Bag in the back.
It's a classic "abandoned
car on a cliff-top" scenario.
Oh, I think I can see a shoe!
Oh, hang on, Constable Evans
thinks he can see a shoe.
Oh, no
It just flew off.
SEA BIRDS CALL
That's a negative on the shoe, sir.
See you back at the station.
That was Sergeant Finch.
No note, I presume?
No note.
CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS
Gorgeous.
Great.
A little arm around the waist.
Cheesy grins.
Gorgeous.
OK, surely we have enough
to call it now, sir.
You'd have thought so, wouldn't you?
The cup of pens?
They've certainly moved, but no.
HE GASPS
Her clothes?
They've certainly changed, but no.
Spot-the-difference
should never be this hard!
They're basically
an entry-level puzzle!
This is VERY frustrating!
Um, sir, your wife is downstairs.
I shouldn't have thought so, no.
Is there any reason
why your wife WOULDN'
be downstairs, Guv?
I-I-I suppose not.
Um
Perhaps my WIFE is downstairs.
LIFT DINGS
What are you doing here?
Don't hiss at me,
it looks suspicious!
Just act like I brought you
a packed lunch or something.
I haven't actually brought
you a packed lunch.
Well, how's that
going to work, then?
Just smile at me
like a loving husband.
I've got something to show you.
Not that. Don't do that.
Don't smile like that.
Oh, ye of little faith.
Oh, you've cracked the code?
Oh, no. I was going to say
Yes, all right, all right!
You've made your thoughts
very clear on that.
As it happens, I've found
something else just as important.
Look, the first page
has been torn out!
Ah, yes. Good work.
No, that's not
what's important, John.
I did that thing
SHE GIGGLES EXCITEDLY
..that thing that
they do in the films!
Which film?
That pencil-rubby thing.
Lookatthis.
"Sinclair" and some
other bits and bobs
which didn't come out so well.
And look at the bottom?
"ZiegR".
Ziegler!
Chief Constable Ziegler.
There's some numbers after it.
Look, I think this is
some phone scribbles.
He was on a call to someone,
he's writing "Sinclair",
he's writing "Ziegler".
It's got to mean
something, hasn't it?
If those numbers underneath
do what I think they do,
this could just mean everything!
Really? I knew it!
I KNEW I was good at this!
Up top!
I'd better go.
Thanks for the packed lunch!
We've been through
all their bank statements
and we can't find anything
that differs from their story.
OK, and what did Holly's
team get? What did they find?
Nada. Holly verified
that they had all paid
There's nothing in that
car except a suitcase, OK.
Nothing. Absolutely
nothing. Zilch. Zip.
Oh, what's that, sir? Hmm?
Something to do with the case?
Oh, team reviews.
Which, as we all know,
are due this month,
so that makes sense,
that I'd be printing it.
Something to do with the bells?
I mean, why do they even have bells?
It used to be a kitchen.
Can I just?
But, no, that would mean
Which doesn't make sense.
Unless
Are those the bank statements?
Can I see them again, please?
No outgoing amount at all,
not a single penny.
OK, so what?
So, I thought Lady Bryce
said he paid in advance?
Maybe he paid cash? Paying in any
form isn't exactly his forte.
This only go back two months.
Yes, that was when he
registered the business.
Would you mind going
back a bit further?
A year ought to do it.
And would you mind seeing
if all the telemarketers,
everyone, can join us
back at Bryce Manor?
Why?
Because I already know EXACTLY
what's going to be
on that statement.
And where to find Mr Williams.
Oh, here you are again,
but of course you are!
I can't remember a time
when you weren't here! See?
It wasn't anything in the room that
changed, it was the room itself.
Look, the wallpaper has shifted,
only marginally,
less than a centimetre,
but it's shifted, see the pattern?
Honestly, no.
Well, trust me, it's shifted.
Excuse me, you can't
SHE MUTTERS
This is a
LOUD THUMPS
Yes, this is a partition wall.
This section of the wallpaper
has been stripped and reapplied,
except you didn't quite line
it up again properly afterwards.
I have no idea
what you're talking about.
This whole section of the wall
will have to be cut out.
And what if I say, "No"?
You'd be, rather pointlessly,
delaying the inevitable, I suppose.
WHIRRING
WALL SPLINTERS
A door.
A pantry.
Blocked off, very cheaply,
but surprisingly effectively,
back whenever this
became the reception.
And behind which is either
coincidental evidence
of a completely unconnected crime
we know absolutely nothing about,
or the dead body of Peter Williams.
DOOR CLUNKS
WIND WHISTLES
Oh, my God!
Hmm!
It stinks!
ALL GROAN
Looks like it's option B.
MURMURING
Look, what exactly
are we all doing here?
We're investigating
a murder, Mr Barclay.
We've found the body.
He's dead? Oh, my God!
Really? Oh, my God! What?
Peter, like?! Oh, God!
ALL MURMUR
Ah, lads!
LIGHT GAGGING
Is he all right? Oh
No, no, no, no, no! Poor Peter
That is awful.
That is really. Aww
You were a silent partner,
one who'd bought in for
a lot more than £500.
Ten grand, transferred from your
account to his eight months ago.
Bryce Manor was supposed
to be the location
of this fantasy spa of his,
wasn't it?
At least that's what he told you.
He came here with his
wife about a year ago.
Talked to me a lot about the place.
Then he came back,
a few months later,
with a "zero-risk
investment opportunity".
His words.
That £10,000 was
the last of my savings.
Though a spa and wellness retreat
with exclusive high-paying
membership
would certainly have turned
those fortunes around for you.
If it had been real, of course.
I'm not a stupid woman, Detective,
but desperation and
naivety go hand-in-hand.
I wanted my home back.
So, I believed him.
Camilla Bryce, I'm arresting
you on suspicion of murder.
You do not have to say anything.
Anything you do say might
be held against you.
Oh, I doubt SHE killed him.
Sorry?
Well, I mean she could hardly have
done all that by herself, could she?
It took two officers just to remove
the panel from the wall just now.
Right, OK, but you just said
I mean, you should
probably arrest her anyway.
If that's OK?
But it's very unlikely
she was the killer.
Right. Who is, then?
Not sure.
Does anyone want to confess?
Fair enough.
Probably doesn't matter,
you were all involved.
I'm sure I can make a
fairly educated guess
at a sequence of events based on
simple deduction and reasoning.
I mean, I did it before, so
OK, here we go.
One of you found out about the
collapse of this so-called company
you'd all been
cajoled into contributing to.
Presumably confronted him.
Look at this!
He's had five failed businesses!
He panics, of course.
I imagine it came as just as much
a surprise to him
as it did to you
..but by this point,
you'd all learned about it.
INDISTINCT SHOUTING
We do know he checked out,
we saw that,
but clearly he didn't get very far.
SHOUTING
Did you attack him
deliberately or
..was it some kind of accident?
DISTORTED SHOUTING
Er, it was a bit of both.
WET CRUNCH
You found them with the body?
I was supposed to be serving dinner.
They weren't there.
It was It was an accident.
He He! He stole from us!
He stole from you?
You were all victims.
Or at least saw yourselves as such.
He should have been going
to prison, shouldn't he?
Why should any of you?
Quite.
We should get him inside.
After that, it was a case of
turning off that camera in there,
which, apparently, just involves
unplugging the reception computer -
something it seems you do every
night anyway so was very unlikely
to raise suspicion,
and then, getting to work.
Removing the section of the wall,
moving the body,
and replacing the wall panel
and paper.
Fortunately for us, not quite as
accurately as you should have done.
All that was left, then,
was a simple four-hour round trip
to a notorious suicide hot spot,
which, depressingly,
one of you knew about.
And it was as if
he'd never even been here.
Despite,
as my initial hunch suggested,
having never actually left.
Er, sir, what about Mr Barclay?
I don't actually know
what he's doing here.
You just said to bring
everyone back, Guv.
I didn't mean him,
he's got nothing to do with it,
I doubt he's got any idea
what's even happening right now.
No, yes.
Yes, I do!
I mean
..sounds like they
..worked as a team.
You must be very proud.
HE WEEPS
Justarrest them.
I've got to be honest, Guv,
you had me worried for a bit there.
You know, standing,
watching our police officers
ripping the walls
from a listed building
did feel a tadcareer-ending.
I've never been so relieved
to see a corpse in my life.
Why have we stopped?
Whose house is this?
DOORBELL RINGS
Mrs Williams,
do you mind if we come inside?
SHE SOBS QUIETLY
HE SIGHS
That never gets any easier.
You still remember your first one?
As if it was today.
Oh, there you are, how did it?
Oh, dear. Are you OK?
James didn't just vanish.
He left bread-crumbs,
coded messages,
a puzzle.
His disappearance was prepared
in advance by him.
My brother isn't dead.
Yes, I know that.
You hope it. I KNOW it.
No, John, YOU hope it, I know it.
But thank you.
Now, the Sinclair case
is, um, "Roger Sinclair" -
single man, disturbed a burglar
who then killed him in a
panic of self-preservation.
And that's it.
That's the whole thing.
They got the guy, case closed,
James didn't even seem
to be involved in it.
So, why is that name being
scribbled in notebooks,
whispered by superintendents
and hidden behind passwords?
It says here, he was a blogger.
Have you googled him?
Now I think we both know the answer
to that question, don't we?
We need to trace this fax number.
What fax number?
Oh, goodness me,
you've got ears like a bat.
Apparently, Dad sent a fax
the day heyou know
I mean, goodness knows who to,
I don't know anybody who
still has a fax machine.
What, apart from us you mean?
CAN OPENS
Dad's got one, it's
bundled up in his office.
What? He's still got that?
Can you fax yourself?
There is not much
about Sinclair online.
Well, if he did have a blog,
he's taken it down.
There's only one mention
of his death, local newspaper
Er, well, nothing here
that's not in the report. Wait.
Make that picture come
back up the screen again.
You mean "scroll down"?
Yes, scroll down.
OK, well, that one was
certainly easier to match
than a wallpaper pattern.
It's the same house. Yes, it is.
I've got it working. Ooh!
What have you got? Let me see.
Oh, it's just another copy of
the Sinclair crime scene report.
No, something's changed.
Oh, don't start all this again!
But But it has.
Look, it's dated a day earlier,
James is down as lead detective,
there's no mention
of a break-in or burglary
and he describes the murder
as appearing "professional".
It's official, Superintendent Shaw
signed it off. See?
Then, 24 hours later,
a completely different report,
a completely different detective.
Suddenly, there WAS a break-in!
There WAS a burglary!
There's even an arrest!
And look who signed off this one.
Chief Constable Ziegler.
Do we know anything about this guy?
Not yet
..but there's one thing
I know for certain.
He's definitely not
DI Carter's niece.
How was your day?
Somebody murdered
a tour guide in a church.
I meant how was your day in terms
of OUR investigation? Yes, sorry.
I've actually been looking over the
original crime scene report again.
What you were supposed to be do
today is get closer to DI Carter.
What we need is
personal information.
Do you follow football at all?
What's his connection to Zeigler?
Oh! Yeah, I've got
one of those, as well.
Ah, there it is. See.
We've identified all the suspects.
These people here,
there are seven of them,
which creates a fairly
traditional spatial puzzle.
Sinclair was a conspiracy theorist
and a pretty batty one at that.
Of course, you can
imagine how Henry's taken this.
They killed Sinclair,
they framed Bowen
and when Dad wouldn't drop it
they started coming after him!
I have been looking
into their supposed burglar,
this guy they arrested, Rhys Bowen.
She might arrange for
me to visit her son.
What?! In prison?!
I'm led to believe that you've been
performing miracles
recently, DCI Taylor.
I'm certainly keen to witness it.
The puzzle is impossible!
Ode To Joy from Ninth
Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven