Midsomer Murders (1997) s02e01 Episode Script

CHILDREN SHOUTING GLEEFULLY CHILDREN SHOUTING (Indecipherable over shouting) BREAKING GLASS You won't catch anybody.
ALL: One, two, three, four! Na, na, na-na-nah! DOOR SLAMS Simon! Simon? Simon, please! Simon.
THEME MUSIC You'll have to decide soon.
I know.
How about a round-the-world cruise? We can't afford it! Can we? We'd probably get as far as Malta.
We'd have to row back! No.
No, it's not us.
How about Paris, or Istanbul? Are you still on about the anniversary? It's 25 years, Cully.
I know, I know.
These days, you're lucky to get 25 weeks.
I vote for the Orient Express to Venice.
Something romantic.
No.
I don't think I want to go away at all.
Do you know what I want to do? Please tell us.
I want to retake my marriage vows.
Do they need retaking? When we married, it was a registry office, and your father was in the middle of a case.
Ah, the Pimlico Poisoner.
You didn't say, 'I do.
' You said, 'I've got it!' That was the last I saw of you till the honeymoon.
This time, I want to be noticed.
I want flowers, and all our friends.
I want you to be my maid of honour.
What, and give you away? Don't you say it! Yes.
Would you? I'd love to, Mum.
I think it's a lovely idea.
Will you be around? I got a place on the summer workshop.
With Simon Fletcher.
(Who's he?) Dad! He's very well-known.
He's directed at The Royal Court and the RSC.
He's doing a course at Causton.
I got a place.
That's settled, then.
Is it? Let's book the church.
I'm going over to the church.
Oh, really? I have a police inspector coming.
Oh, don't tell me, Stephen.
You've been embezzling the steeple fund (!) Don't be ridiculous.
I was only joking, darling.
Stealing the small change would be too daring for you, wouldn't it? So, what does he want, then, this police inspector? He wants to retake his marriage vows.
Why here? I don't know.
Maybe he wants somewhere small and insignificant.
Well, he got the right man for the job.
Mr Barnaby, is it? Or should that be Chief Inspector? Oh, Tom, please.
This is my wife, Joyce.
It's a beautiful church.
additions, and dry rot 20th century.
I haven't had the pleasure of seeing you here.
We go to St Anthony's in Causton.
When we go.
How come you chose Badger's Drift? I saw the church when I was here on a case two years ago.
Oh, yes, of course - the Rainbirds.
I knew Dennis Rainbird.
He was the undertaker.
Shocking affair.
Why don't we go in and discuss the service of blessing? I was thinking of John 2 for the reading.
The marriage at Canaan? Yes.
Would you and your wife like to select the hymns? Will we have to wear hard hats? It's not as bad as that.
Although it is serious.
We're raising funds.
We have a committed committee! We're meeting tonight.
After you.
Thank you.
I wish it was easier to tell you, Richard.
You've got a primary brain tumour.
A malignant astrocytoma if you want the full professional name.
I'm not sure I do.
What are we going to do? We're not going to give in.
We'll start with surgery.
We'll follow it up with radiotherapy and maybe chemotherapy, too.
I am sorry.
I'm not married.
I don't have any children.
There aren't too many people to be sorry about.
It's funny.
I'm going to church tonight.
Steeple Fund.
It's good timing, really.
Get God on my side.
Looks like I'm going to need him.
Richard! I was hoping to run into you.
Not literally! (CHUCKLES) You haven't returned my calls.
I've got a lot on my mind.
Well, have you come to a decision yet? Tye House.
Ian - Look, I really need to know.
I'm going with Erikson's in Causton.
Erikson's? What have bloody Erikson's got that I haven't? I'm sorry, Ian.
It's a question of size.
They have branches in London.
I'm sorry! Ian? What's happened? I just met Richard on the way here.
Richard bloody Bayly.
He's giving Tye House to Erikson's.
Does it matter very much? The biggest development in the village in 20 years? I'm not over the moon about it.
Oh, Ian, I'm sorry.
You know he's not well? What? I heard it from Caroline at school.
Mrs Bundy, who cleans for Dr Henson, told her.
Something in his head.
A tumour, or something.
A tumour? That's what she said.
Good.
Agnes, what is it? It's exactly as I thought.
I've been to the town hall.
Just look at this! The new plans for this wretched golf course at Tye House.
They're taking down three oaks and a yew.
I'm sure they'll replant them.
That's not the point! It's just vandalism! And for what? For golf.
Claire, I'm not stupid! They're ruining our village! First the school, then the post office, and now this.
It makes me so angry! Why don't I talk to Richard about it tonight? You're not seeing him?! At the vicarage.
Why not come along? I don't want to, and I don't want to see him.
He's a complete hypocrite.
What do you mean? The church committee.
He's so rich he could pay for the tower himself.
And how did he get his money? That's how! We should be on our way, love.
Hello, Agnes.
I didn't hear you come in.
I've only just arrived.
I suppose you're also off to church? We do our bit for the tower.
Huh! Are you Are you in, tonight, then? Of course I'm in! Where else would I be? Right.
Come along, Reggie.
We can't be late.
BELL RINGS Let's move on to the principal issue of the evening, which is arrangements for next week's village fete.
We have, I think, 15 stalls now.
Ian on the coconuts.
Yeah.
And I'm doing my cakes.
Thank you, Brenda.
Cakes Um yes.
Yes.
Reginald? I'll do the same as last year.
£1 for three arrows.
Win £5 if you hit the bull's-eye.
I'll do palm-reading.
I know it's not Christian, but people enjoy it, and at 50p a time it soon mounts up.
I wonder if you could read my palm.
I only learnt it from a book.
Which one's the life line? I'm afraid I may not make the fete this year.
You'll need someone else for the lucky dip.
My luck seems to have run out.
Richard I'm sure you've all heard.
Badger's Drift wouldn't exist without its rumour machine.
A malignant astrocytoma, if you want the full professional name.
I think it's going to keep me otherwise engaged.
You should have told me, Richard.
I wouldn't have bothered you with my own little problems.
Ian! Forget it! You were talking about palm-reading? Yes.
Palmistry, archery - thank you, Reginald.
Uh I'll be on tombola, as usual.
Cakes, coconuts, David on skittles, and young Charles here has agreed to set everything up.
I'm doing the bunting.
You could give me a hand, if you don't mind, with the coconuts.
I could do with a pair of young hands.
Sure.
Which leaves us with the perennial question of who's going to open it.
Well, what about Angela? Oh, I don't think so.
Why not? Because I don't actually like the fete.
It fills the village with the Causton estate people.
It's noisy and dirty.
And what does it actually achieve? A few pounds, if we're lucky.
More trouble than it's worth.
Well, we can take that for a no, then.
Has everyone got tea? Thank you.
Yes.
Then if you don't mind, I'm off to bed.
I have a headache.
Try not to wake me up, Stephen.
Do you have any thoughts, Reggie? What? Someone to open the fete.
I can't think of anyone.
We need a TV star, or something.
We don't know any TV stars.
That's what we need.
A celebrity of some sort.
Simon! Simon Fletcher? David.
David Whitely.
Remember me? Good night, Charles.
Good night, Ian.
Thank you.
Helping each other is what living in a village is all about.
We ought to get home.
Good night, Stephen.
Good night, Vicar.
Good night.
How's your sister? Agnes? Same as ever, Vicar, same as ever.
Thank you for asking.
Stephen, I know it's a bit late, but could I have a quick word? Of course it's not too late.
Come back in.
What about 'For Those In Peril On The Sea'? What? O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea That's really good, Dad.
Thank you very much.
So our marriage has been a peril? No, I just like the tune.
Tom, you're a policeman, not a sailor.
I'll leave you to it.
I've got to read this.
What's that? We'll be working on it with Simon Fletcher.
It's Jacobean, isn't it? Very bloody.
It's got more murder in it than in your working week.
That's not true.
The last murder - 'All Things Bright And Beautiful'.
That's got to be one of them.
Something cheerful.
Agnes Agnes? What is it? It's Agnes.
She's not here.
What?! Where do you think she is? She's probably slipped out to the pub.
Oh, Reggie Your sister has hardly been out from the day she moved in.
Let's make the most of it.
Cocoa and bed.
RINGS Dr Henson.
What? What are you talking about? O God, who is the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom; defend us, thy humble servants, in all assaults of our adversaries, that we, surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries.
Through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen BOY: 'Simon!' 'Simon!' 'Simon, please!' 'Please!' DOOR CLOSES GATE CREAKS DOG BARKING (GROANS) There's someone in the house.
What is it? Downstairs.
What time is it? Twenty to twelve.
There's someone downstairs.
A burglar? It must be.
Well, go and catch him.
Then you can forgive him.
(SIGHS) Morning, Mr Bayly.
(GASPS) (Screams) Ah, Troy! Morning, sir.
Morning to you.
Tell me something, Troy.
What's your favourite hymn? My what? What's your favourite hymn? As in church.
I don't know.
'Onward Marmite Soldiers'.
You mean 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.
That's how we sang it at school, sir.
Oh, very droll.
You going to church, then? Indeed I am.
I'm getting remarried.
I didn't know you were divorced.
Sir.
Thank you.
George! You know, Tom, I may have to give up this game.
You know you're too old when they start getting to you.
That bad, is it? Rather worse.
So, where is it, then? The body.
Most of it's in the hall.
The head is in the living room.
I suppose it could have been carried there.
As bad as that? After you.
He was found by a cleaning lady.
Don't even try talking to her.
She slipped and fell in the blood.
I think it'll be a few days before she's ready to see you.
Here you are.
Eugh! Good God! Very ferocious.
A single blow took the head clean off.
He didn't know much about it.
What's that he's got in his hand? It looks like a pear.
A pear tree's outside.
What about time of death? Around midnight.
Is there a weapon? There.
Only in Badger's Drift (!) That's a nasty-looking thing, isn't it? What is it, sir? Moroccan? That's Indian, I'd say.
Do you mind if we go outside, get a breath of fresh air? You're right, this is bad.
What have we got, besides a name? Richard Bayly.
And that he was well-off.
He'd have to be, to afford this place.
He was a property developer.
Mrs Bundy said.
Single.
Been here a while.
Sir! We found this on the back lawn.
Oh, yes (?) Well, I heard he'd been But not with this.
There's no blood.
What was it doing there? Perhaps they came with the axe and decided a sword was sharper.
Maybe they brought guns and a chainsaw for good measure (!) Excuse me.
Are you in charge here? I'm DCI Barnaby, yes.
Don't tell me he's committed suicide, for God's sake.
I'm sorry.
What? I'm his doctor.
I came to see him.
It's important.
Mr Bayly was your patient? Was? So, he is dead? We believe Mr Bayly may have been murdered.
Murdered?! Well, thank goodness for that! I mean Maybe we had better talk.
Yes, he was a developer.
Hotels and golf courses.
He was doing a development at Tye House, the old manor house outside the village.
Tye House! We know it.
It was going to be retirement homes, with golf course and health centre.
How ill was he, Dr Henson? How ill? Would he have survived the operation? I'm a doctor, not a fortune-teller.
Your professional opinion? Yes.
Probably.
It was yesterday you told him? We knew there was something wrong, but yesterday we got the tests.
You don't know his movements after that, do you? No, I've no idea.
Except he did say he was going to church.
St Michael's? He was on the committee.
The tower.
What was she so nervous about? God knows, Troy.
It's this bloody village.
Don't you remember last time? Nobody will ever tell you the truth.
Murdered?! Richard? But that's That's not I don't know what to say.
You saw him last night.
Yes, yes.
He was on the committee.
You must excuse me.
It's such a shock.
I was praying for him only last night.
You knew about his illness, sir? Yes.
That sort of thing is hard to keep quiet in a village like this.
Last night he announced it, in front of all of us.
How well did you know him? Not very well.
He wasn't a regular churchgoer.
The thing is, he was afraid.
Understandably so.
He needed someone to talk to, and he chose me.
Can you tell us what he said? The gist of it.
He said he would change his will.
He wanted the church tower to benefit.
He believed he was going to die? Yes, but not so soon.
And not like this.
Can you tell me how it happened? He was stabbed, quite brutally, with a sword.
A sword?! What kind of sword? An Indian sword.
Oh, my Lord.
My dear Lord.
You'd better come into the house.
I noticed this morning.
You know how it is when you know something's up.
This morning I realised it was gone.
An Indian sword? Yes.
My father's.
A souvenir of Calcutta.
Stephen, did you - Oh, I'm sorry.
Angela, Chief Inspector Barnaby.
Oh, the one who's getting remarried? Are you the best man? No.
There's been a murder, Angela.
Richard Bayly.
What? My father's sword may have been used as the weapon.
Your husband was just telling us about last night, Mrs Wentworth.
Oh, yes.
There was an intruder in the house.
Stephen woke me up.
In itself something of an event.
Do you know when this was? Yes.
Stephen asked the time, and I looked at the clock.
It was 11:40.
Who actually knew that the sword hung in this room? Anybody who's been here.
Which is everybody.
Stephen is not selective about the company he keeps.
It's open house.
We had the committee meeting in here.
Who's on that committee? Angela and myself.
Richard.
Claire and Reg Williams, who used to run the post office.
Ian Eastman.
And Brenda.
Yes Ian knew Richard from school days.
Then Charles.
He does odd jobs round the church.
Youth Opportunities.
Did you lock up when you came back? No, I never do.
Nothing's worth stealing here.
So any one of them could have come back at 11:40 and taken the sword? I suppose so, yes.
Where are these people? Ian's at his office.
Charles, I don't know.
Claire Williams - Is in the cemetery.
I saw her just now.
Not dead.
Just visiting.
Mrs Williams? Yes? Jennifer Bryce.
Sweet girl.
She worked for me at the post office, over 30 years ago.
She died young.
Yes.
That was her son, Felix.
He died when he was just ten.
After that, she just faded away.
I'm so sorry.
How can I help you? I'm DCI Barnaby.
This is Sgt Troy.
Causton CID.
Oh, yes? I don't suppose you've heard.
I don't know why.
It just seems so so wrong! To kill him when everybody knew how ill he was.
Would you say he had any enemies? No! He was very well-liked.
Some were opposed to what he was doing.
Who were they? There were lots of them.
There was a petition about Tye House, and that had 200 signatures.
There were quite strong feelings.
Do you know who organised this petition? My sister.
Agnes.
Your sister? Agnes knew Richard all his life.
She taught him.
When the village had its own school.
She was a teacher? Headmistress, yes.
She was fond of him.
But she didn't like to see the village being knocked about.
None of us do.
What was being planned at Tye House? Retirement homes, golf courses.
I don't know much.
You'd have to talk to Ian.
Ian Eastman? He and Richard were at school together.
I imagine he's the one marketing it.
Everybody liked Richard.
We all did.
It's just that some people disagreed with what he was doing.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES Reggie! Oh - Agnes, have you heard? The murder.
Richard Bayly.
Someone attacked him with a sword.
Really? What is it, then? Richard Bayly's been murdered.
I was telling Agnes.
Well, it's not all bad news, is it? It means Tye House won't go ahead.
It's still a terrible thing to happen! It was last night.
I don't suppose you saw anything, did you, dear? No.
Why do you say that? Well, you were out walking.
No, I wasn't.
I went to bed before you and went to sleep.
That's better.
Tye House? I've nothing to do with it.
Richard had decided it was too big for me.
He'd gone to Erikson's in Causton.
They've got offices in London.
Were you angry about that? Not particularly.
Olive, can you bring me the quarterly sales file? Certainly, Mr Eastman.
If you ask me, it would never have happened.
Why's that, sir? Local pressure.
Agnes Sampson? She was on about a handful of trees.
Organising a petition.
She always made trouble, especially when he developed the old school.
That was her school, yeah? Badger's Drift Primary.
Yes, it's two luxury flats now.
Sold by me, incidentally.
The sales file.
There you are.
The last three months.
I'm busy enough.
I'm doing very well for myself.
I didn't need Tye House.
Who else was against it? What? There were other reasons why the development would fail? Yes.
The main one was David Whitely.
He owns a part of the Tye estate.
It's to do with access.
Richard couldn't move without it.
David knew he had him over a barrel.
He was asking a fortune.
Good luck to him, I say.
David Whitely.
I think I know that name.
I don't suppose you went out, last night, sir? Between ten and midnight? No.
I was at the committee meeting till about 9:00.
Then I went straight home, with Brenda.
My wife.
David Whitely.
The estate manager at Tye House.
Small world.
Big world, Troy.
Small county.
Olive, I'm just going to slip out.
Yes, Mr Eastman.
Shall I say where you are, if anyone rings? No.
Tell them I'll be back in ten minutes.
Very well, Mr Eastman.
DOOR CLOSES Ian, what are you doing home? I wanted to talk to you.
What's that? It's from the Halifax.
Our statement.
Why did you open it? I always open the statements.
There's hardly anything left in it.
All these withdrawals, £100, £200! Why did you open it? It's addressed to both of us.
It's business expenses.
You've never used our personal account for business.
It's not important.
Have you heard about Richard? What? He's been killed.
What?! Murdered.
Listen, I've spoken to the police, but I dare say they'll be coming round here.
I want you to be bloody careful what you say.
Well, well, well.
DCI Barnaby and Sergeant - what was it - Joy? Troy.
Yes, I knew Richard Bayly, and no, I couldn't stand him.
I wasn't in the village last night.
I didn't kill him.
Who told you he was dead? Everybody.
If we could have a minute of your time? Could you tell us why you didn't like him? I was estate manager here, remember? Oh, yes.
Everything was going well until you two rolled along.
After your investigation, Henry Trace sold up and left.
You did me out of a job.
I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Before he left, Henry sold me the lodge at a knockdown price.
Mainly because knocking it down was about all it was worth.
I've been living in the caravan and trying to make it habitable.
Richard Bayly was trying to buy you out.
Yeah, and I found I could name my own price.
Except he wouldn't pay.
You got it in one, Inspector.
Richard always was a pompous bastard, even at school.
He said I was blackmailing him.
Now that he's gone? I'm hoping whoever takes over will be more willing to listen to reason.
Oh, dear (!) I have a motive to kill him.
Where were you at about midnight last night? In bed.
I had been in the village, drinking.
I left the pub about 9:00.
I don't suppose anybody saw you? A name for your little book? There was - a friend of Richard's I haven't seen for about 30 years.
Hey Maybe it wasn't a coincidence.
What's his name? Simon Fletcher.
F-L-E-T-C-H-E-R.
Yet, methinks, the manner of your death should much afflict you.
This cord should terrify you.
Not a wit.
What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut with diamonds? Or to be smothered with cassia? Or to be shot to death with pearls? I know death hath ten thousand several doors for men to take their exits.
Thank you, Cully.
That was very good.
The Jacobean death.
The throat cut with diamonds.
We're talking about death as spectacle, but also as the gateway to something more terrible.
'Cover her face, mine eyes dazzle,' as Ferdinand will say, as the death of the duchess triggers retribution and more murder.
Well, I guess that's heavy enough for one session.
I'll see you tomorrow at 9:30.
He's good, isn't he? You did that very well.
Thank you.
Have you done much theatre? A few tours.
I did Ophelia, but they cut all the best bits.
(CHUCKLES) I'd like to have seen it.
Do you fancy a drink? I-I'd like that.
Thank you.
Thanks.
I liked your Jew.
I'm sorry? Your 'Jew Of Malta'.
Antony Sher.
I saw it at the Barbican.
Thank you.
Why did you come down here? You mean, out of London? I suppose it's a busman's holiday.
Not exactly.
I used to live here.
In Badger's Drift.
Do you know it? Yeah.
I was born there.
I left when I was 16 and I've never been back.
I always do a summer course, and when they said it was here, I didn't want to come.
But then I thought, sometimes you have to go back.
Sometimes it can help.
I have nothing else fixed for the rest of the summer, till August, so here I am.
Have you heard about the murder? No.
It happened last night.
A property developer.
Richard Bayly.
BREAKING GLASS Great shot! Come on, Felix! My dad's in charge of the case.
He's a policeman.
A DCI.
That was so unlucky! Yes! Nice shot! Nice one! Simon? What? Um I'm sorry, your father's a what? A chief inspector.
Are you all right? No.
Look, I'm sorry, I have to go.
I don't feel very well.
I'll see you.
It's not my fault, you know.
I didn't kill him.
Joyce? Mum I just don't believe it, Tom.
Oh, she's speaking to me.
Hurrah! It just isn't fair! The day you proposed to me, a woman got poisoned.
And now, when all I want is to retake my vows - What am I meant to do? Cully Mum has got a point.
It's not your fault.
If I'd married a postman, or a dentist - You couldn't be married to a dentist! Will you have to cancel the service? No, we can still go ahead.
What if it was the vicar who killed him? It was his sword.
I don't think Stephen Wentworth did it.
He had no motive.
In fact, quite the opposite.
If Richard Bayly had lived longer, he might have left a fortune to the church.
Do you know who did kill him? Do you want the truth? I haven't the faintest idea.
No, look, it can all go ahead as planned.
I'm at St Michael's this morning.
They're burying him? No, but there's a memorial service.
Coming? No! Thank you.
I'm going to be late! You off to the Playhouse? Yep.
We're doing the mad scenes from 'The Duchess Of Malfi'.
What's your director friend's name? Simon Fletcher.
I'll give you a lift.
How's it going, then, this 'Duchess Of Malfi'? It's good.
Simon's into Jacobean theatre.
He makes it seem real.
What sort of person would you say he is, then? Why do you want to know? Just interested.
No, you're not.
All right.
Simon Fletcher was seen in Badger's Drift yesterday.
Just before Richard Bayly was killed.
So what? He used to live there.
How do you know? He said so.
He hasn't been back for ages.
Why not? I don't know! Do you mind if I meet him? Yes! I won't embarrass you.
He's a big director who could help me.
I may have to investigate him.
No! Morning, Cully.
Hi, Simon.
This is Simon Fletcher.
How do you do? I'm Tom Barnaby.
Hi.
Are you enjoying it down here? Yeah.
It's good to be out of London.
Yeah.
I'll see you this evening.
Nice to have met you.
Sure.
He doesn't look like a policeman.
Shall we go on in? Yeah.
I didn't think you were going to make it.
I went into Causton.
I saw Simon Fletcher.
And? Nothing.
We didn't speak.
Breathe through the heats of our desire Thy coolness and thy balm Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire O still small voice of calm O still small voice of calm Please be seated.
It's good to see such a large turnout to commemorate the life of Richard Bayly.
He was taken from us in a way that passes all understanding.
But I know, and believe, that his killer will be brought to justice.
Richard was not a well man, but on the night of his death, he told me he was not afraid of dying.
There is some comfort in that.
Even so, we shall all miss him as a good neighbour and a good friend.
Richard was generous with his material wealth and with his time.
Helping to organise the fete, for instance.
Of course, there were those who felt uncomfortable about his work, his many developments in and around the village.
But he loved Badger's Drift.
He loved the village.
That's why this week's fete will continue, dedicated to his name.
What were the things that mattered most to Richard? First and foremost, I would have said, his friends.
'His friends, old and new, who stayed close to him all his life.
' 'The gate he never oiled, so he knew when visitors were coming.
' 'His beautiful house.
His front door was always open to everyone.
' Oh, it's you.
Please come in.
(SCREAMS) 'The pear tree in his garden that he cherished, and the single pear he gave me every harvest festival.
' Richard lived his whole life here in Badger's Drift.
He was a boy here.
And he has died here.
He has paid the price, as we must all pay.
Let us think of him as we sing our final hymn.
Praise My Soul, The King Of Heaven BELL TOLLS Thank you so much for coming.
Very kind of you.
Nice to see you.
Well, that's that, then.
Why do I feel there's so much more to it? Good afternoon, Detective Inspector, Sgt Boy.
You're cheerful, Mr Whitely.
I heard from Crossbeam Holdings.
Richard's development company.
They agreed to my price for the lodge.
Oh, you'll be selling, then? You bet! I've had my fill of Badger's Drift.
To hell with it.
Agnes! Good afternoon, Mr Barnaby.
Barnaby? You're investigating this murder? You should speak to Agnes, my wife's sister.
She couldn't stand him.
Ever since he bought the old schoolhouse and then sold it.
I'm sure she wasn't alone, sir.
You ask her where she was when he was killed.
You ask her that.
His sister-in-law? Reg Williams.
He used to run the post office.
Charming (!) Mr Barnaby.
Dr Henson.
Could I have a word with you? Somewhere private.
Are you making tea? I thought that went quite well.
Well, it was the high point of the year.
Angela.
A memorial service half-full.
A pity you didn't get the funeral.
You like funerals.
Please! I'm fed up, Stephen.
Fed up, fed up, fed up! Is it always going to be like this? I'm happy as a parish priest.
But when I married you I thought you were going to be so much more.
Archdeacon at least, or bishop.
I did all you asked.
I joined every committee you put me up for.
Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council The bishop never looked at you.
I don't think he liked you.
Perhaps it's you he doesn't like.
May God forgive you, for what you've done to me all these years.
'I'm happy as a parish priest'! I could have been happy.
I could have been.
But you put a stop to that.
Richard Bayly wasn't dying.
What? The evening he was killed, Causton Hospital rang me.
PHONE RINGING Dr Henson.
What? What are you talking about? 'There'd been a mistake with the files.
' He didn't have a brain tumour, after all? Yes, he did, but non-malignant.
Smaller.
It was a complete cockup.
Did you phone him? The phone was off the hook.
'In the end, I decided to go round.
' 'What time was that?' 'About five to twelve.
' 'When I got there I realised I was making a fool of myself.
' 'I couldn't just go barging in at midnight.
' I decided to go home.
I was back first thing the following morning.
That's why you were so worried he'd committed suicide.
Well, it would have been my fault! While you were waiting outside his house, did you by any chance see anyone approach? As a matter of fact, I did.
'It was just as I was driving off.
' 'It was Ian Eastman.
The estate agent.
' 'I saw him by the green.
' He was heading towards the house.
I'm sure of it.
Is that what this is about? The Tye House development? Looks like it.
I still don't see the sense of it.
Killing Bayly hasn't stopped the development.
Just the opposite.
Dave Whitely's got the price he wants.
The thing can be built.
Maybe David Whitely killed him for just that reason.
A tiny flaw in that argument, Troy.
Dr Henson may have got it wrong, but nobody knew that.
As far as the village knew, Bayly was about to have a life-threatening operation.
So, why kill a man who's already dead? Good afternoon, Olive.
Miss Beauvoisin.
We're looking for Ian Eastman, please.
What are you doing here? You told us you didn't go out the night Richard Bayly was killed.
Yes.
A witness statement denies that.
You were seen, by the green, at five to twelve.
Well, I wasn't.
Your witness must be wrong.
Are you sure about that, sir? Of course I'm sure.
I didn't leave the house.
Where would I be going at midnight? We hope you'll tell us that, sir.
I have told you.
It wasn't me.
I wasn't going anywhere.
I reckon they're at it.
Eastman and Miss Beauvoisin.
At it? In a relationship.
It's possible.
I was thinking, sir, about what you were saying earlier.
Why kill a dying man? To stop him changing his will.
Ah The vicar said Bayly was changing his will to help the steeple fund.
Maybe that's why he was killed.
That, too, is possible.
I wonder if he had a solicitor.
DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES Ah! It is a pleasure to see you again, Chief Inspector.
Sergeant.
Even though, as I recall, the last time we met one of my clients had the grave misfortune to be um Murdered.
Precisely.
And now Mr Bayly, too.
How can I help you? We heard that Mr Bayly was considering changing his will, to benefit his local church.
That may be the case.
He had failed to communicate that to me.
It had been some months since I had last spoken to him.
Can you tell us who benefits under the terms of the will? Mr Bayly was a wealthy man with no dependants.
The bulk of his money he left to Mrs Margaret Green.
She lives in Perth.
Scotland? Australia.
There are some smaller bequests to various charities.
He did in fact leave £500 to the church of St Michael.
That won't get them very far.
No.
You say he was planning to change his will? Perhaps he was going to give them more.
But I suppose we shall never know.
Well, that was a waste of time.
Oh, I don't know.
Why did Richard Bayly lie? How? The vicar said Bayly had already made arrangements to change his will.
He was clear about that.
He'd already begun.
Maybe he called another solicitor.
Or maybe you're right, Troy.
That would make a change.
Maybe this has all to do with Tye House.
It connects them.
Richard Bayly, Agnes Sampson, Ian Eastman 'And David Whitely.
' 'The one man who's benefited from Richard's death.
' FOX CRY ROAR OF PETROL IGNITING (COUGHS) (COUGHS AND CHOKES) Help! For Christ's sake, help! Help! Help me! Why? I don't understand.
God in heaven! Why? Aargh! We've got 40 people, so far.
What? For the service.
Peter and Anne are coming from New York.
Joyce - You said it can go ahead as planned.
Those were your very words.
Yeah, I know I did.
The hymns are 'All Things Bright And Beautiful', 'There Is A Green Hill', 'Onward Christian Soldiers'.
'Onward Christian Soldiers'.
Troy's favourite.
I've invited him, too.
Oh.
How are you planning to feed them all? I'm talking to caterers.
It's cheaper than the Orient Express.
I suppose you're right.
I'll see you later.
Oh, it's the Badger's Drift fete! Yes.
We mustn't disappoint Stephen.
It's looking good, Charles.
Thank you.
I see you've drafted in some help, Ian.
What? Oh, yeah.
Listen.
You two girls want to earn a quid? Lovely spread, Brenda.
Thank you.
Good luck, Claire.
Thank you.
It looks as though we'll have the weather for it.
Absolutely! Did you manage to find someone to open the fete? A celebrity? Not yet.
But I've had an idea.
I'll be back forthwith! Forthwith! Good morning.
Hello.
How are you? I'm fine.
Look, I wanted to apologise about the other day.
There's no need.
No, no.
I should have explained.
I've been under a lot of stress.
When you mentioned Richard Oh, did you know him? Yes.
We were very close.
Actually, he's part of the reason I'm here.
I'm sorry, if he was a friend.
Now your father's investigating his murder.
How's the case coming on? He hasn't really said.
I don't suppose he's mentioned the school? The school? Badger's Drift Primary.
Has he mentioned it? Simon! Simon Fletcher.
I recognise you, even after 30 years.
Hello, Stephen.
I remember you in the choir.
Lovely voice.
I heard you were in Causton.
I hope you'll forgive the opportunism.
I'm sorry? I need someone to open the village fete this afternoon.
I would, but, with a real celebrity in town, I had to find you.
Oh, I don't know.
You're not working this afternoon? No, it's our half-day, but I'd be so grateful.
I'm going to be there.
Are you? I'm meeting my dad.
If you want to see him Just say a few words and look at stalls.
For a good cause.
The church tower.
What time? Two o'clock, sharp.
All right, then.
Excellent! Excellent! I haven't laboured in vain.
All those hills! A real, live celebrity, eh? You'd better be there to hold my hand.
Sir! Hi, Troy.
What's happening? There's been another death.
Morning, sir.
A right one here, Tom.
What the hell's going on? A decapitation, now this.
It doesn't bear thinking about.
You sure that's David Whitely? Unrecognisable.
The dental records will tell.
Do you want to look at the body, what's left of it? Troy Thank you.
God, when's it going to end? It's horrible.
He burned alive in there.
It wouldn't have been quick.
No need to go into details.
We could have prevented this.
Eh? Remember when we saw Whitely? Outside the church.
Yes.
You're cheerful.
I heard from Crossbeam Holdings.
Richard's company.
They agreed to my price.
You'll be selling, then? You bet! I've had my fill of Badger's Drift.
To hell with them.
Whitely tells us it can go ahead.
The next thing that happens Exactly.
But who else was there? Who else overheard? Yes? Miss Agnes Sampson? Are you the police? I'm DCI Barnaby.
Sgt Troy.
Come in.
I've been expecting you.
Of course I've seen changes.
One can't stand in the way of progress.
But it's the greed I can't stand.
Old building being converted for weekenders, who'll pay double the market value, and that pushes prices up and forces the real villagers out.
Is that why you decided to teach Richard Bayly a lesson? Who told you that? Ian Eastman, the estate agent, said you were upset about some trees.
Three oaks and a yew.
Beautiful plants.
Ancient.
But down they have to come so weekenders can play their golf.
On the night he was killed, you went round to Richard Bayly's house.
Yes.
To cut down his pear tree.
An eye for an eye, a tree for a tree.
I knew how much it meant to him, his precious pear.
I thought about putting the boot on the other foot, see how he feels.
Why didn't you? What happened to stop you? What did you see? I didn't see anything.
'I knew there was an axe in the shed.
I'd seen it there before.
' 'A little before midnight I took the axe and went across the garden.
' 'I was halfway across when I heard the garden gate open and shut.
' GATE CREAKS 'It was midnight on the dot, and he had a visitor.
' KNOCKING AT DOOR 'I heard them.
' Oh, it's you.
Please come in.
'I don't know who it was, but that brought me to my senses.
' I got rid of the axe, and went home.
It was a stupid idea, anyway.
I don't know what possessed me.
What can you say about this person you heard? Was it a man or a woman? I didn't see them.
I can't believe it was the person who killed him.
He greeted them like an old friend.
STEAM WHISTLE It gives me pleasure to welcome you all to Badger's Drift Summer Fete.
It's a good cause, so spend lots of money, and have a great time.
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush How did you know about the pear tree? Guesswork.
Axe on the lawn, the old lady protesting about the trees.
Was she telling the truth? I don't think she killed Bayly.
She didn't kill either of them.
Batty she may be, but not psychotic.
I wonder who else was protesting.
I'm wondering if this has anything at all to do with Tye House.
Maybe we've been barking up completely the wrong tree.
It's 2:15.
I said I'd meet Joyce at the fete.
You coming? Yeah.
I thought I'd win myself a coconut.
CHEERING Just one, please.
Another one, please, darling.
A sort of mixture of things.
Hello.
Are you well? Oh, you little horror! Excuse me, I'll just sponge this off.
Win £5! Three arrows for £1.
Win £5! Three arrows for £1.
Win £5.
Three arrows for £1.
Oh I can see good fortune.
I hope you've done the Lottery this week.
Oh! Come on! Yes! Well done, lady.
Bravo.
There.
You can keep it on your desk.
Trying to damage my career, are you? No.
I will if you're not at St Michael's at 11:00am tomorrow.
What? I spoke to Stephen.
We'll run through the service.
Have you seen Cully? Do you fancy a drink? I could get us some tea.
Mm.
Milk, no sugar, please.
I'll be right back.
It's got to be! This time.
Come on! Yah! Are these things nailed on? You missed the grand opening.
Oh, yeah? It was Cully's director.
They came here together.
Simon Fletcher.
Reggie.
Have you seen Stephen? No.
What is it? I'm missing one of my bows.
I've just noticed it.
Are you sure? Someone's gone and nicked it.
Oh, no! (SCREAMS) Get an ambulance.
Simon! Simon! Dad Ambulance.
Badger's Drift green.
It was fired from behind the palm-reading tent.
In full view.
It must have been someone with nerves of steel.
Or he didn't care if he was caught.
Are you all right, Cully? Is he dead? He most certainly is.
Why, Dad? Why would anyone want to? I was hoping you'd tell me that.
How well did you know him? I didn't really know him at all.
This is all my fault.
I stopped you speaking to him when you wanted to.
It would have made no difference.
He asked about you this morning.
About me? He asked about the case, and whether you'd mentioned the school.
The school? Badger's Drift Primary.
He didn't say why.
What did I say? Forget Tye House.
It has nothing to do with it.
Why is the school important? I do not know.
That's all we hear, time after time after time.
Agnes knew Richard all his life.
She taught him at primary school.
Richard was pompous at school.
Ian knew Richard from school days.
Richard Bayly, Ian Eastman, and Dave Whitely all went to the same school.
Did Simon Fletcher come from here? Yeah.
He'd have gone to the school.
So, all three deaths: Bayly, Whitely - That's what connects them.
The school.
Oil-fired central heating.
It has views over Raven's Wood.
Miss Beauvoisin.
Miss Beauvoisin! I'll be with you in a moment.
No, you won't.
You'll be with me now.
Where is Ian Eastman? I can't say.
Don't play games with me! There have been three murders in Badger's Drift.
Unless I find him soon, there could be a fourth.
This must be where he was going the night Bayly was killed.
VOICES Shh-shh! RHYTHMIC CREAKING MAN SIGHING IAN: I am not a homosexual.
In fact, it disgusts me, this need I have.
I was paying him.
It was a business arrangement.
How old is he, sir? Nineteen! I'm not interested at all in your private life.
I want you to tell me about Badger's Drift school.
What? I want to know about Bayly, Whitely, Fletcher, and yourself.
I don't understand.
Whitely has been killed, and so has Fletcher.
What?! Oh, God! Get him a glass of water.
Richard, Simon, David and me, we called ourselves The Sign Of Four, you know, like in Sherlock Holmes.
We were a secret society, had our own passwords, that sort of thing.
It was just a game.
But it all went wrong.
Another younger boy wanted to join us.
He was a friend of David's, so we agreed.
We said he had to go through an initiation ceremony.
You know, to prove he was worthy.
BELL TOLLING 'We were just 11 years old, and he was ten.
' 'You have to remember, we were just children.
' BREAKING GLASS 'First, we made him smash a few windows in Mrs Trace's greenhouse.
' 'Not that there were many left to smash.
' 'Then there were games' 'Different games, I can't remember.
' 'They were all leading up to the main initiation.
' 'The test of endurance.
' It was Simon's idea.
He always had a sense of the dramatic.
'Trial by gallows', that's what he called it.
But we never meant to hurt him.
We never meant He had to stand for five minutes, a rope round his neck.
On his own.
'If he took the rope off, he couldn't join us.
' 'We didn't go far.
' 'David had some cigarettes.
We smoked them, about a minute away.
' 'And we never thought the rope would hold.
' We never told anyone.
They all thought They thought he'd killed himself.
They thought it was suicide.
And you lived with it, all this time ? What else could we do? We were children.
We were terrified.
And years later, it was too late.
What good would it have done, telling anyone? No-one knew who his father was.
Nine months later his mother died.
What was he called, the boy? His name was Felix Bryce.
Your father's late.
Mum, it's only just gone 11.
He'll be here.
So, are you saying this is revenge? Yes.
For a murder which happened 30 years ago.
Richard Bayly, David Whitely, Simon Fletcher.
Ian Eastman would have been next if he hadn't With a man who could be his son.
They were damaged goods, all four of them.
OK, so it was revenge.
But who? Come with me.
Jennifer Bryce worked in the post office.
I told you.
What sort of a girl was she? She was a very pretty one.
No sense in her head, though.
Yes, she got pregnant when she was just 17.
It was quite a scandal.
In a place like Badger's Drift Reginald and I helped her, but she never told us who the father was.
Was she a religious woman? God-fearing? Ooh, quite the opposite.
She was a modern girl.
Independent.
She gave birth to a boy? Felix.
A lovely child.
Took after his mother in looks.
Agnes taught him.
He was very bright, taking his eleven plus early.
I didn't push him.
Some people blamed me for what happened.
Oh, I don't think that's true, dear.
He killed himself in the wood.
It was a terrible thing.
And poor Jennifer, from the day they found him hanging from that tree, she never recovered.
She just slipped away.
I'm late for the church.
Are you going? Yes.
We'll both visit the vicarage, for a word with Mrs Wentworth.
I'm interested to know what sort of alarm clock she's got.
I'm afraid we'll have to start, Mrs Barnaby.
I have a confirmation class at midday.
Yes.
All right.
The service starts with you and your husband entering the aisle.
The first question is, are we going to have some Mendelssohn? I don't know.
Tom! I'm afraid the service is off.
Oh, no! I'm sorry.
I don't understand.
You don't have to pretend any more.
I know.
What? Troy.
Stephen Wentworth, we arrest you for the murders of Richard Bayly, David Whitely and Simon Fletcher.
(Recites caution) Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
It was him! Yes.
Why, Dad? Why Simon? For something that happened They killed my son.
And nobody knew.
Nobody knew anything about it, until Richard Bayly was wrongly diagnosed with a brain tumour, and felt a need to do what any dying man would do.
Confess.
Stephen, I know it's a bit late, but do you think I could have a word? Of course it's not too late.
Come back in.
with Jennifer Bryce.
She gave birth to a child, a boy.
She called him Felix, which means happiness.
And Stephen, after you.
But neither of you ever told anyone about it.
I couldn't.
Jennifer understood.
The parish would never have accepted it.
Angela had such plans for me.
I was going to be a bishop.
When he was ten years old, Felix died.
You thought it was suicide.
Yes.
Imagine what that was like to live with all these years.
To believe that my son had - It killed Jennifer Bryce.
It broke her heart.
Broke it.
And I had to bury her.
And nobody knew.
And then, out of the blue, Richard Bayly told you what had happened.
He didn't know who he was talking to - the father of the boy he killed.
The man whose life he'd ruined.
He just wanted to get it off his chest.
You know, you almost gave it away at that memorial service.
He was a boy here.
And he has died here.
He has paid the price, as we must all pay.
'Paid the price.
' I thought that was an odd phrase.
But, of course, that was exactly what he'd done.
In your eyes, anyway.
You lied to us.
He never changed his will.
So what? I'd have killed him anyway.
I didn't want his money.
Making me think he would change his will, that threw me.
Even when his solicitor said no changes were planned, that you'd obviously lied, I still believed you.
Yes.
I was surprised.
Deception came easily to me.
.
.
our enemies, that we, trusting in thy defence, may not feel the power of our adversaries.
Through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
'That same night you decided to take your revenge.
' 'No planning, no calculation.
' 'He had to die by your hand before his operation.
' 'You carry the sword, across the village.
' 'You don't care if you're seen.
' 'You arrive at Richard Bayly's house at midnight exactly.
' GATE CREAKS Oh, it's you.
Please, come in.
(SCREAMS) Afterwards you realised you'd need some sort of alibi.
You'd used your own sword.
The first weapon you could find.
Then you decided to involve your wife.
'Angela had taken a pill, so you knew she'd be sound asleep.
' 'You put the alarm clock back 'And then you woke her up.
' DOG BARKING There's someone in the house.
What is it? Downstairs.
What time is it? Your wife said you asked her the time.
I wondered about that.
If the clock was visible, why ask her what the time was? Twenty to twelve.
Unless it was important that she should remember it.
You're absolutely right.
And once you'd got rid of Richard Bayly, no stopping you, was there? All the rest had to be punished, didn't they? Oh, yes! I don't understand! God in heaven! Why? Aargh! 'The methods you used should have told me something.
' 'The flames' 'The sword' 'The arrow.
' 'It was all somehow so biblical, so Old Testament.
' The shooting at the fete, I said at the time, was an act of bravado.
You see yourself as the hammer of God? You didn't care if you were caught? No, I didn't care if I was caught.
But it had nothing to do with God.
Those men took away the only good things in my life.
I killed them because I wanted to.
I'm glad I did.
Those men were children when your son was killed.
It was an accident.
Troy.
Sir.
I've spent 40 years in this church.
Can you just give me one minute more, in prayer? Yes, of course.
That's what you're like in action.
I don't believe it, Tom.
I'm sorry.
Sir! Get after him, Troy! Oof! Angela! Stephen? What are you doing up there? Sir! Don't do it! Of course I'm going to do it.
I should have done it years ago.
No! (SCREAMS) Stay there! Stay where you are! Got everything? Passports, tickets, traveller's cheques? And me? Come on, Mum.
It's going to be great.
Rolls Royce.
The Orient Express to Venice.
It's so romantic.
With our luck, the driver will probably be killed.
Murder on the Orient Express? Been done! Send us a postcard.
Mum, Dad.