Dalgliesh (2021) s02e05 Episode Script

1
All murders are
the product of their age.
Of the particular social
and historical circumstances
in which they were committed.
Here in our "Murder Room," as
we try but fail not to call it,
you'll find the stories of
the most notorious murders
committed in the years
between the wars.
Now, our aim isn't to titillate.
Well, perhaps a little.
We're all human, aren't we?
No. We aim to give insights
into the minds and hearts,
into social conditions
and preoccupations
in those tense
and turbulent years.
Ryan.
Come on.
There's work to do.
We did?
We did indeed.
Well, that's terrific.
Well done.
- Thanks. Speak tomorrow?
- Sure. Thanks. Bye.
I hope you're listening, Pater.
Morning, girls.
There's no way I'm doing it,
so sort it out yourself.
- Victoria.
- She's totally incompetent.
If you wish to remain
a pupil in this school,
you treat my staff with respect.
It depends
what you mean by wish.
I don't know where
you get your attitude from.
Though, actually, I probably do.
Well, we all inherit things
from our families,
don't we, Miss Dupayne?
Get to your class.
The Blazing Car Murder
Alfred Rouse,
a commercial traveler
and compulsive womanizer
It's hard to imagine
the appeal
Committed bigamy, needed
to permanently disappear,
so decided
to fake his own death.
He drove to a lonely road,
picked up a tramp,
killed them,
threw petrol over them,
set the car ablaze,
and then made off.
Unfortunately for him,
two laborers happened
to walk down the road,
and instead of hiding
and letting them pass,
Rouse called out to them
about the blaze.
Well, that encounter led to his
arrest and subsequent execution.
Dr. Shard
to Brunel ward, please.
Now, Rouse had suffered
a head injury during the war.
His behavior at the scene and at
the trial was markedly stupid.
So one might say that he was
a casualty of World War I.
I promise
I'll tell Dr. Dupayne.
- Thank you.
- Take care, won't you?
Bye now.
Mrs. Shaw.
Her husband's been bad again
this morning.
She says she's at the end
of her tether.
Well, I just checked.
Not a single bed available
in a dementia unit.
So she's on her own.
Probably until he's dead.
Or she is.
I'll go and see them
this afternoon.
Tea and sympathy.
Big deal.
You know you've got
that meeting at the museum.
Yes.
I know.
The Brighton Trunk Murder
I dare say you've all heard
of this one.
This is the actual trunk
in which Tony Mancini,
a 26-year-old waiter,
stuffed the beaten body of his
prostitute mistress, Violet Kay.
We rarely open the trunk.
Afternoon, Miss Dupayne.
The lining is fragile.
But yes, there are stains,
though not as many
as one might imagine.
Ah, Dr. Dupayne.
- How are you?
- Are they in there?
Yes. Yes.
Waiting for you in the library.
What's this?
It's just my new sticker system.
Helps me keep track
of who's paid.
Blue for the gentlemen,
pink for the ladies.
Christ.
First thing
We've got the Paul Nash.
It's the one that Dad always
wanted but lost out on twice.
That's great. Well done.
Thank you.
I'm going to make it
the centerpiece
of our spring exhibition.
Right. The new lease.
There's copies
in case you want to read it
before we sign.
Can we stop this charade,
please?
Neville, we've been through this
- I don't know how many times.
- Please just sign it,
and then
we can have a debate later.
The museum works for all of us.
Isn't going to happen.
Not today or any day.
I want to open a clinic
to treat
A private clinic?
Isn't that against
your principles, Chairman Mao?
To run alongside my NHS work.
Shut up, Caroline.
This place is worse
than anachronistic.
- It's damaging.
- Oh, here we go.
Part of the moribund
obsession that this country has
with the bloody wars
instead of facing up
to the mess we're in now.
You don't see
what I see every day.
- Oh, we both work.
- In ivory towers.
The museum's more relevant
than ever.
Oh, give me a break.
Dad That's what this
is really about.
- What?
- And all the imaginary wrongs
you think he did you.
Coffee?
Some of my homemade shortbread?
If you really think that,
you're even more facile
than I thought.
Neville, please. Nev!
Ready to do the rounds, then?
Yes.
So how did it go?
Dreadful.
Better be quick, Ryan.
You might get locked in.
See you tomorrow, ladies.
"Ladies."
Who does she think she is?
- Good night.
- Good night, Muriel.
She said it was bad,
the meeting.
I don't want you worrying
about that.
Night.
What would you do?
If you couldn't live here
anymore?
Well, I'd have to
find somewhere else.
People always need housekeepers.
Now, better go and have my tea.
My evening class is 7:00.
You get on home, Ryan.
See you tomorrow.
Oh, excuse me, Mrs. Clutton.
Did you see the sign?
Hello?
- Evening.
- Night.
Oh! Aah!
Aah.
Are you all right?
Seems like someone's having
a bonfire over there.
No.
No.
Help!
- Sir.
- Tell me.
We got here 20 minutes ago.
Fire Investigation
are still in there.
The car belonged
to Dr. Neville Dupayne.
Uniform have tried
contacting him.
So have the family.
Nothing.
It's likely he's our deceased.
His brother and sister
are in the museum.
Marcus and Caroline Dupayne.
They're next of kin.
The fire was discovered
by the housekeeper,
Mrs. Tallulah Clutton.
She lives in the cottage
down there.
She says she might have seen
someone fleeing the scene.
And a Miss Muriel Godby's here.
She's a secretary-cum-
receptionist.
It's a private museum, sir.
Dedicated to
the inter-war years.
Yes.
I came here once a long time ago
when I first joined the Met.
They had an exhibit about
notorious murder cases.
Now they've got
one of their own.
If it isn't suicide.
Take a couple of uniforms
and make a primary search
of the grounds, please.
Yes, sir.
Chief Inspector Dalgliesh?
Douglas Anderson.
No doubt about the seat
of the fire, sir.
Head and upper part of the body.
Windows will have cracked
Inrush of air, outrush of fire.
Cause of fire
Almost certainly petrol.
- All right?
- Fine.
Key's in the ignition.
Seatbelt fastened.
Driver's door is ajar,
as you can see.
Oh, and the light bulb
is missing.
Accident, suicide, or murder?
It's not an accident, sir,
and I don't think it's suicide.
In my experience,
suicides who use petrol
don't haul away the can
or the cap.
Nor do they fasten the seatbelt.
And then there's
the missing bulb.
Yes.
If a bulb fails,
you usually leave it in place
until you come to change it.
Is this how the doors were left?
Yes.
If the victim is planning
to drive the car out, he would
have left the door wide open.
And if he was planning suicide,
he would most likely have
closed them first.
And there's also some
sort of bag in the boot.
I'll keep you posted on that.
What time would you have
been approaching the museum?
Around 7:20.
I was near the end of the drive
when the car came.
I tried to get out of the way,
but it was just going so fast.
Did you notice
the make of the car?
No.
The headlights were too bright.
And you told me
that the driver stopped.
It's all a bit of a blur,
really.
He came running back to me,
and
I'm sorry, I couldn't really
take him in.
His voice I do remember that.
He was well spoken.
Nice sort of voice.
Sounded familiar somehow,
but I don't know why.
What did he say?
Oh, he asked me
if I was all right,
and then he said something
about the smoke.
Yes, he said
"It looks like someone
has lit a bonfire over there."
And then he drove off.
"It looks like someone's lit
a bonfire over there."
Were those his exact words,
Mrs. Clutton?
Nothing, sir.
- This is the Murder Room.
- Thank you.
Close the door, please.
The Blazing Car Murder 1930.
- No way.
- Alfred Rouse, the murderer,
called out to some men
who happened to be walking past.
"It looks like someone's lit
a bonfire over there."
Do you know if any petrol
is kept
- on the premises, Mrs. Godby?
- Yes.
In the shed, for the lawnmower.
Ryan Ryan Archer,
the gardening boy
He bought some more
only last week.
He asked me for the petty cash.
Do you have an address for him?
Yes.
At least, I I think
it's his address.
He does sometimes appear to be
somewhat itinerant.
This rucksack was
found in the boot of the car.
Gosh, Neville.
Nev had a rucksack like that.
He would come here almost every
Friday and pick up his car.
He liked to get out of London
at the weekend.
I must stress that
we don't yet have
a formal identification.
But I think you should
prepare yourselves.
When did you last see
your brother?
Yesterday afternoon,
he came here for a meeting.
3:00.
He's one of the Trustees.
He left at around 3:20.
- How did he seem?
- Stressed. But then
He's always stressed.
He's a junior psychiatrist.
They give him far too much work.
It's ridiculous.
Um
We discussed a few items
of business,
and then he had to hurry off
back to the hospital.
St. Oswald's.
I understand your brother
isn't married,
but does he have
a girlfriend or partner?
Not that we know of.
Can you tell me where
you were yesterday evening?
From about 6:00 onwards.
We need to put together
a picture of people's movements.
I was here
until just after 5:00.
Then I drove home.
I had dinner with my wife
and children, and then I
Caroline called me
at about a 7:45.
I came straight here.
I went back to school
after the meeting.
I run Swathling's Academy.
I was there until Tally
called me.
I sometimes stay here
on Friday nights.
But there's an event at
the school this weekend, so
If I'd come come back,
I might have been able
to save him.
You don't know that.
Again, we don't yet
have a formal ID.
We'll be largely reliant
on dental records.
Oh, God.
The postmortem will be
first thing tomorrow.
Who is it?
Met police.
Open the door, please.
I'm looking for a Ryan Archer.
Have I been given
the wrong address?
No, no.
Correct address.
I believe he's in. Ryan!
Are you his, um
Friend.
Arkwright. Major. Rupert.
What's he done?
We need him to help us
with our inquiries.
Oh, that old chestnut. Ryan!
Do you know what time
he arrived back here last night?
No idea.
You don't know
if he was here around 8:00?
I'm not his keeper.
Ryan Archer?
There's been an incident
at the Dupayne Museum.
We'd like you to come and help
us with our inquiries, please.
- What sort of incident?
- Is Tally okay?
If you could just get dressed.
I don't have to go, right.?
Don't be silly, boy.
Go with the man.
Get it over with.
I bought it last week
for the mower.
Well, I mean,
the can looks the same.
I put it in there.
- You didn't use it?
- No.
Tally said wait
'cause of the rain.
When were you last in the shed?
Yesterday, in the afternoon.
Was the shed locked
when you came to it?
Yeah.
I got the key from Tally's.
- And did you lock it after you?
- Yeah.
And replace the key on the peg?
'Cause it's not there now.
- And we found the shed unlocked.
- Sometimes I forget.
Empty your pockets, please.
I just forgot.
I haven't done anything.
Meet with the constable, please.
You ain't gonna pin this on me.
Should we be taking
his clothes from him, sir?
We don't have grounds.
He knew about the
petrol and he had access to it.
He lives with a Major Arkwright.
Old enough to be his granddad.
He said they're friends, but
So what? You think there might
be a sexual element?
Yeah, maybe.
It's obvious
he's been in trouble before.
He's likely to do a runner.
Take his prints
and a full statement,
but we don't have grounds
to hold him.
Put a DC on him until we know
what we're dealing with.
Got it.
The Blazing Car Murder, sir
If this is some weird
copycat killing,
then the body in the car
Might not be Neville Dupayne.
Yes.
Though we can't assume
Mrs. Clutton was accurate
in her account
or that she's telling the truth.
Sir.
I just want to say
about after the shooting
- Here in the back.
- You were in shock.
I'm okay.
I mean,
I don't want any concessions.
I just want to
keep going like before.
I know.
I can now confirm
that the person who died
in the fire on Friday
was Dr. Neville Dupayne.
Oh, no. I'm so sorry.
We're all so sorry.
Thank you.
And I can also confirm that this
is now a murder investigation.
We'll be taking any outstanding
witness statements.
I must ask that
you don't discuss
the events of Friday night,
either between yourselves or
with the press or anyone else.
For the time being,
the museum will remain closed.
Um, I have several small groups,
private tours, booked in.
Academics mainly.
Can they go ahead?
Yes, as long as you have details
of everyone who attends.
And keep them well away
from the crime scene.
I can see to that.
I have a live radio interview
I'm supposed to be doing
this afternoon.
It's a history thing.
Is that okay?
Yes. Just keep us informed
of any movements, please.
All of you.
Neville's keys.
He gave me them a couple
of years ago for emergencies.
Thank you.
I always thought
we'd have more time.
Maybe when we were older.
When we'd settled down.
I need to go to the school.
Open day for prospective pupils.
Bedside table.
Looks like he did have someone.
Marie Annette Strickland,
15th of February, 1920.
French? Marie Annette?
Half French, half home counties.
- And what's your role here?
- I conduct tours.
I help Marcus Dupayne
curate the exhibits.
It must be interesting work.
It is.
Have you ever visited us?
I would have if I'd known
about this place.
I studied history at university.
Which one?
Cambridge.
Clever boy.
Now you're slumming it
with the police.
They need good people to run
the force, don't you think?
Well, you should have a look
around while you're here.
The picture gallery
is excellent.
I will.
I bet this room
is the most popular, though.
Oh, by a country mile.
Everyone loves a good murder.
Sorry.
That was tasteless.
It's strange, isn't it?
All that carnage in the wars,
genocides,
and yet people fixate
on deaths of individuals
Lovers, philanderers.
Bodies in trunks.
No, people can't deal
with the big stuff.
You're right.
They can't.
So when did you
last see Neville Dupayne?
I heard him
leaving the library on Friday
at around 3:20.
What time did you
leave here that night?
5:30.
I went straight home.
I live alone, so I'm afraid
that's not a very effective
alibi.
And who was still here
when you left?
Tally, Muriel, and the boy,
Ryan Archer.
Have you spoken to him?
Yes. Why?
Just wondered.
Ryan.
Ryan, where are you going?
Have you told the police
you're leaving?
No, I have to go.
I-I'll see you sometime.
No, what's the matter?
It's best you don't know.
Is it something to do
with the murder?
- Because
- Mrs. Clutton.
Oh, shit.
Don't tell him, okay?
The, um The photofit
Is now okay?
Yes.
Dr. Cartwright to
reception, please.
Dr. Cartwright to reception.
We appreciate you coming in
on your day off.
It didn't feel right
sitting at home anyway.
Did you see him on Friday?
Yes. First thing
and at lunchtime.
How about after lunch?
He had a meeting at the museum.
And then he was going
to see Mrs. Shaw.
She's the wife
of one of his patients.
Do you know
if he definitely went there?
I don't know.
Do you want me to ring and ask?
If you could.
Actually, can you write
her details down, please?
Do you know if Dr. Dupayne was
in a relationship with anyone?
Um, I'm not sure.
No one ever rang him here?
Came here?
No.
Sit down, please, Mrs. Fox.
Am I right in thinking
you wrote this?
Um, my husband
You won't tell him?
Unless it becomes necessary.
I loved Neville.
He didn't love me.
We'd sleep together sometimes.
And then I come here
and think things would
have changed between us.
But it was always the same.
Like it hadn't happened.
It was, um, painful seeing him
every day,
wanting to matter to him
and knowing I never would.
Neville didn't trust.
He really had a problem with it.
Something to do with his father,
probably,
and his horrible siblings.
Are you saying he didn't get on
with Marcus and Caroline?
He didn't.
They bullied him
about the museum.
That's why
he wanted it to close.
To close?
That's what
the meeting was about.
They must have told you.
They all had to sign a new lease
or that was the end of it.
Yes, that's primarily what
the Trustees' meeting was about.
Did Neville agree to sign
the new lease?
No, but he would have
done eventually.
We always talked him round.
According to our source,
he was determined
the museum would close.
He wanted to release the capital
which would have been raised
by the sale of the collection.
Your source clearly
didn't know him like we do.
Excuse me.
Did the staff know
the museum would close
if he didn't sign?
If they did, they didn't
hear it from me.
Is that all?
I think you know
it would have been helpful
if you'd spoken to us
about this.
My brother has just died.
I haven't been thinking about
outlandish theories as to why.
Is Marcus a famous historian?
I've seen his books
on the shelves,
but I've never read one.
Does he trade off
the museum's reputation?
I'm quite sure he does.
Hello, stranger.
I know I shouldn't be here,
but you never answer your phone.
I'll see you upstairs.
I'm in the middle of
a murder investigation, Blanche.
This won't wait.
The Garnett Prize
You've been nominated.
Now I'm going to push my luck.
America? The tour.
We need a decision
by the end of the week.
Then you'll have one.
Good.
Mission accomplished.
Blanche.
Let's not do this again.
Noted.
Congratulations, by the way.
You can do a little dance later.
And the eyes?
You've really got nothing.
Are you all right?
I know this will
sound strange, but
It's possible
that he was wearing a mask.
A mask?
I suppose I might
just be imagining it.
What sort of a mask?
A robber's mask, by any chance?
No.
No, it was more like the kind of
mask someone might wear
to a fancy dress party
or a carnival, like in Venice.
Well, it does explain
why I can't remember
any of his features,
and yet I can hear
his voice so clearly.
But you haven't been
able to place his voice yet?
No.
You've been very helpful,
Mrs. Clutton.
The Trustees' meeting
at the museum on Friday
Did you know what it was about?
Did the other members
of staff know?
Did Ryan Archer know?
We all knew.
What are you doing?
We now have a possible motive.
If Neville Dupayne
doesn't sign the lease,
all these people
lose their jobs.
And Marcus loses
his father's legacy.
The Dupayne name loses
some of its shine.
Caroline, it's harder to say,
but she and Marcus are close
and probably operate as a team.
Tally Clutton loses her home.
She and Ryan could have been
working together.
I don't believe this business
about the car
and the mystery man.
I don't buy Tally
being involved.
This was a brutal,
premeditated murder.
Which is why she gets Ryan
to do it.
Ryan has form.
Two charges for shoplifting.
Since he turned 18?
No, juvenile.
It's a big leap.
Whoever killed Neville must have
been looking straight at him
when they threw the petrol
over him and set him alight.
And actually, I've been
thinking about that, sir.
It's hard to really project
petrol out of one of those cans.
It would have taken
several goes, wouldn't it,
to get enough petrol
onto him to
Probably, yes.
So maybe the killer
transferred the petrol
into a different container
A bucket
We didn't
find anything at the scene.
Sorry, we've just got a shout
out about Major Arkwright.
You did background
on him yesterday, sir.
- Yes.
- He's been attacked.
Neighbors said it was
Ryan Archer.
He's disappeared.
Surprise, surprise.
Go after Tally, please.
Ryan's going to reach
out to anyone, it's her.
A lot of fuss about nothing.
Damn nosy neighbors.
But Ryan did attack you?
He pushed me.
I fell and I banged my head.
It was entirely my fault.
I cornered him.
I should never have done that.
Ryan was abused.
He was frequently battered
by his mother's boyfriend.
Of course he would lash out.
Why did you need to corner him?
Because he was taking money.
My money.
He was extremely agitated.
Frightened, even.
Do you have an address
for his mother?
No, I don't.
I don't know where he's gone.
Back on the streets,
most likely.
A tragedy waiting to happen.
Is that where you
first picked him up?
Is Ryan a homosexual?
Were you telling me
the truth yesterday
when you said you didn't know
what time he got in?
I'm not in the habit
of lying, Constable.
And I'd thank you
not to jump to
A man was brutally murdered.
So, frankly, your sensibilities
aren't high
on my list of priorities.
And it's Sergeant.
If you bully people,
they're apt to shut down.
I wasn't bullying him, was I?
A touch more grace, Sergeant.
Get the search underway, please.
Yes, sir.
Control to Sierra 3. Come in.
Sierra 3 to Control.
Is this your son?
Yes. He's in Australia.
You must miss him.
Is that why you're
so fond of Ryan?
Probably.
Ryan's not a bad boy.
How much do you know about him?
Well, I I put
a job advertisement
in the post office.
He came with a good reference.
A major in the Army.
Do you have children?
No.
- Adam.
- Roger.
- Still here then?
- Apparently.
Thanks for coming.
I found out this morning
about your investigation
rather late in the day.
The fact is, your museum
is a place of interest for us.
Old Felix Dupayne
You ever meet him?
No.
He co-ran Special Operations
during the war.
Amongst other things.
And afterwards spent
some time in the GDR.
An exceptional network
of sources.
And the connection
didn't end with his death.
Which one?
Suspect?
Yes.
Strong?
As strong as anyone else
at this stage.
When you discover whodunnit,
I need you to come to me first.
Understood?
I mean it, Adam.
Don't upset the apple cart.
And, at risk of offending you
with a mixed metaphor,
bigger fish.
Ca va?
Ca va.
Answer it, please.
Don't mention that I'm here.
Hello?
You've got to tell them
it wasn't me, Tally.
- Ryan.
- I need money.
- Try to calm down.
- I need to get out
Look, we should have
mentioned the issue
with the lease.
I accept that.
It was difficult
for Nev growing up.
There's quite an age gap
between us and him,
and he clashed with Father.
Different politics.
But he was
still one of the family.
He wouldn't have let us down.
Oh, you came.
Listen, I'm leaving tonight.
I have to go.
It's not safe for me anymore.
Have you ever seen this man?
Well, it's hard to say
why the mask.
Mrs. Clutton believes
she encountered
this man fleeing the scene.
She now thinks he may
have been wearing a mask.
Okay, well, sometimes people
do park here
illegally after dark.
Head off onto the heath
for God knows
what sorts of activities.
Is it possible Neville
confronted this man,
argued with him?
It's the sort of thing he'd do.
Another possibility is
that your brother
wasn't the intended
target of the attack,
that the intended target
was someone
with a more complex range
of associates.
Anything I need to know?
Nothing out of the ordinary
at all.
I'm barely active.
It's a lot more hum-drum than
Le Carré would have you believe.
Calm down. I don't know
what you're so frightened of.
I'm going.
I have to go tonight.
Look, there's nothing
to be afraid of.
- Listen to me.
- No!
Police. Don't move.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
All you have to do
is tell them the truth.
Stand still, Ryan.
It's okay.
Get off me.
What have you done?
Hands behind your back.
She's gonna get me. Shit! Shit!
- Who's going to get you?
- She's gonna kill me.
She's gonna bloody kill me.
Get off me! Shit!
And this is the case
you will have all heard about,
because this man
recently confessed to the crime,
having been found innocent
at his trial.
A bit of fresh air?
Yes.
Mancini was defended
by a certain Norman Birkett
That's Lord Birkett
to you and me
Oh, no, we don't open the trunk.
The lining's extremely fragile.
We do, occasionally.
Let's make an exception today.
Just calm down.