Inspector Morse (1987) s04e02 Episode Script

(Typewriter clicks) Hey! Hey! Come in here.
(Doorbell rings) (Doorbell rings insistently) You'll never believe this, sir.
We have to visit a brewery.
LEWlS: Trevor Radford.
Managing director of Radford & Sons.
One of the brewers found him at the bottom of a vat.
Just like poor old Clarence.
LEWlS: Sounds like a pretty good way to go.
(Police radios) (Machinery whirs) Chief Inspector? l'm Dr Halliday.
Your first case, Doctor? Yes.
They've thrown me in at the deep end.
Like the deceased.
So, he didn't drown? lt's too early to say.
There's a depressed fracture front left of skull with a circular point of impact.
Some heavy blunt instrument, perhaps.
- Time? - That's a difficult one.
They say the temperature is 55º.
lt would have speeded things up.
Approximately.
Well, the body's cold, so it must have been at least eight hours ago.
Probably nearer ten.
Assuming he was pushed in immediately after he was hit on the head.
Around ten yesterday evening? What would he have been doing here at that time of night? l think l can help you there.
Norman Weekes, marketing director.
Yes, Mr Weekes.
Trevor had been burning the midnight oil quite a lot lately.
Ever since Farmer's announced their offer.
Farmer's? Of Banbury? They're trying to take us over.
Trevor was preparing what he called a ''defence document''.
To be circuIated to the sharehoIders.
Well, that would explain why he was on the premises.
lt doesn't explain what he was doing in here.
No.
Where's his office? WEEKES: Some petty thief, probably.
Wandered into the yard, found the door open.
MORSE: Anything missing? WEEKES: Gail.
- Anything missing? - No.
I don't think so.
This is Gail, our secretary.
- She was the Iast person to see Trevor aIive.
- Except for the murderer.
Well, yes.
Naturally.
You say he was preparing a defence document.
- Where is it? - Tell me where everything is.
WEEKES: CouId be in the safe, but I don't have keys.
GAlL: .
.
and private things in the other drawer.
MORSE: 1 841 The brewery's been in the Radford famiIy aII that time? NearIy 1 50 years.
No wonder they don't want to seII.
What time did you leave, last night? Just after six.
l offered to stay on, but Mr Radford said he didn't need me.
LEWlS: Excuse me, sir.
Who's Mr John Wheatley? WEEKES: The company surveyor.
Why would Mr Radford be writing a letter to him, dated 1 0th June 1 986? l haven't the slightest idea.
MORSE: He seems to have made a copy.
l suppose that could be in the safe, too.
How many work here? 1 0 in the brewing area and about 50 in the other departments.
l want every employee interviewed, Lewis.
And get a search organised.
Tell the lads they're looking for a heavy blunt instrument.
Right, sir.
Take this back to the office.
Get them to make a transcript.
Now, what do we know about the late Mr Radford? Married? (Doorbell rings) (Vacuum off) Mrs Radford, please.
- She's not up yet! - Wake her, will you? lt's important.
You'd better come in.
Shut the door behind you.
Mrs Radford! MRS RADFORD: Yes.
I can hear you! CLEANER: There's a poIiceman to see you.
MRS RADFORD: You're a poIiceman? Yes.
lf it's about that parking ticket, - l paid it yesterday.
- lt's not about a parking ticket.
Someone's dead.
Yes.
Who is it? lsobel? Charles? l'm afraid it's your husband.
Oh, my God! (Clatter) l wonder if you'd make us both some coffee? Please.
Mrs Radford's just had a very nasty shock.
All right.
l'll take mine black.
No sugar.
A car accident.
No.
He was murdered.
Murdered? Last night.
At the brewery.
The brewery Look, Mrs Radford, there are a few questions l have to ask, butl can come back.
l l went to bed early, you see.
l .
.
took a sleeping pill.
Mrs Radford All the time l was asleep, he he was l never thought to look.
l just assumed he'd come and gone again.
l don't think you ought to be alone.
ls there anyone you'd like me to call? How was he? He was um .
.
hit on the head and pushed into a vat.
Stephen.
Could you call Stephen? My brother-in-law.
The number? lt's in the book by the phone, under Radford Futuretech.
Ask him to tell his parents.
l'll meet him there in an hour.
Would you like me to drive you? Who else knew Mr Radford was working late last night? Oh, everyone.
l mean, we all knew about Farmer's offer.
And about the guv'nor trying to fight it off.
You were all behind him? Of course.
We produce some of the finest real ale in the country.
So, everyone's against Farmer's bid, right? Well, everyone at the brewery.
But what about the family? Oh, well, families there's no accounting for them, is there? Take the brother, for one.
Mr Stephen.
He and Mr Trevor never did see eye to eye.
Always arguing about this and that.
WeII, onIy Iast week WeII, we aII heard them.
Mr Trevor saying as how he needed more time to pull the brewery round.
And Mr Stephen l don't think he thought Mr Trevor could organise a proverbial.
Even in his own brewery.
AIpha Sierra 1, are you receiving? Morse.
Go ahead, AIpha Sierra 3.
It's Lewis, sir.
Where are you? l'm driving Mrs Radford to her in-laws'.
There's something you shouId know.
According to one of the empIoyees, Radford had a big bust-up with his brother Iast week.
Not now, Lewis.
l told you, l'm with Mrs Radford.
Oh Right, sir.
l'll call you back.
What's he suggesting? Mrs Trevor, on behalf of the staff, may l say how sorry l am.
- Thank you, Jessop.
- They're waiting for you.
Er, there's a policeman outside.
Show him where to go, will you? LEWlS: Stephen wants to seII it.
That's what the bust-up was about.
MORSE: Any sign of the murder weapon? LEWlS: Not yet.
Tell them to keep looking.
l'll meet you at the pub later.
May l have your name, sir? - Morse.
- Rank? That's important, is it? l have to announce you, sir.
Chief lnspector.
Please come in.
This way, sir.
Chief lnspector Morse, madam.
Ah.
The good Samaritan.
Not entirely.
l was coming anyway.
You're in charge of the investigations? Yes.
Come over here.
I'm IsobeI Radford.
This is my husband.
And my son Stephen.
l didn't catch the name.
lSOBEL: Morse.
- Oh.
You'll have to speak up.
He's rather deaf.
And erwhat's he doing here? He's a policeman.
He's come to ask some questions.
You're Iooming, Inspector.
Do sit down.
l can't bear people looming at me.
Helen, come and sit next to me.
Chin up, dear.
We must all be very brave.
Well? Who stands to benefit from your son's death? Benefit? From his will, you mean? Not necessarily.
l was thinking of the brewery.
Who'II take over as managing director? Umwhat? What? The brewery, Mr Radford.
Who'II be the new manager? - That has yet to be decided by the board.
- No, dear.
It'II be Farmer's decision.
- lf the deal goes through.
- It wiII.
You're not being much help, Mother.
Mr Morse wants to know who'd have been next in line if Farmer's hadn't intervened.
l've no idea.
Norman Weekes, l suppose.
Or - Victor Preece.
- Who? Where were you last night, Mr Preece? At home, laying a new track for the Flying Scotsman.
- What? - You must have heard of the Flying Scotsman.
lt's a steam locomotive.
Or was, before they brought in these hideous new diesel things.
This track, how long did it take? Three or four hours.
l kept changing my mind, you see.
l didn't know whether to take the Northallerton to Newcastle section through West Hartlepool and Sunderland, or take the inland route through Bishop Auckland and Durham.
- So, you were at home the whole evening? - Yeah.
- Can anybody corroborate that? - Yes.
My mother.
? News theme on radio And the main IocaI stories at 1 1:00.
PoIice are baffIed by the death of Trevor Radford, managing director of Radford's brewery, whose body was found in one of the fermenting vats earIy this morning.
According to the Thames VaIIey CID, Mr Radford was working Iate Iast night and appears to have been attacked as he Ieft his office.
(Radio off) - (Hissing) - Oh, blast! Oh This offer for the brewery, l understand it caused some disagreement in the family.
lSOBEL: Who toId you that? MORSE: Is it true? Yes.
We did disagree about it.
We still do.
But l fail to see what bearing that has on my son's death.
l'm just trying to establish a motive, Mrs Radford.
My dear lnspector, l don't know what circles you move in, but in this family, we're not in the habit of murdering each other every time we disagree.
They know about your row with Trevor, Stephen.
- Someone at the brewery toId them.
- So, you think l may have killed my brother? Because we had a row? Would you mind telling me where you were last night? Around 1 0 o'clock.
- l was driving back from Bristol.
- Alone? Yes.
What were you doing in Bristol? Oh, really! This is intolerable! l don't mind, Mother.
l had a meeting with Tremolo Computers.
My company makes their printed circuit boards.
What time did your meeting end? About seven.
l stopped off to have something to eat.
- Where? - Some ltalian place.
l can't remember the name.
- Paid by credit card, did you? - No.
lt came to under £20, so l paid cash.
What time did you arrive home? lSOBEL: That's enough, Morse! We've been very patient.
But if all you're going to do is stand there and virtually accuse poor Stephen of Trevor's murder, then none of us has anything further to say.
The chief inspector's leaving, Jessop.
Show him out, will you? - l thought it might be you.
- Hello, George.
Why is that? Oh, you know? A murder inquiry, beer involved.
''They'll give it to Morse,'' l thought.
Really? Make beer, as well, do you? Good old Morse.
Always the puritan.
Purist, George.
Come on.
MORSE: Never one to make fine distinctions, were you? We've both been out in the real world a long time.
lt knocks the corners off.
Yes, well lt makes them easier to cut, l suppose.
Getting the grand tour, am l? SECRETARY: Hello, Farmer's Brewery lnternational.
How may l help you? All right.
He's not in the office at the moment.
lt's a long way from SPARTA, George.
Sorry? The little club we ran at Oxford.
Or you ran, l should say.
Yes, the Society for the Promotion of Traditional Real Ale.
l never worked out what the first A stood for.
Boys' games, Morse.
lt's a competitive world out there.
So l keep hearing.
lf you get Radford's, who'll run it? We haven't got it yet.
Someone from Radford's, or will you put your own man in? lt's a corporate decision.
So, Trevor Radford couldn't hack it, is that the story? What? Oh, Trevor Radford's no longer the issue.
That's one way of putting it.
Look, Radford's is a sick company.
Bad marketing, bad pricing structure, bad financial strategy.
They need somebody, as the Americans say, to kick ass.
Their freehold's worth quite a bit, too.
l'm not an asset stripper, Morse, so don't come The Guardian editorial with me.
We're talking commercial synergy here.
Either Radford gets an injection of outside capital, or the whole lot goes down the tube, and the famiIy with it.
l'm their white knight, Morse.
But who's the dragon, George? lSOBEL: One of us wiII have to keep an eye on the brewery.
l will.
Won't it be too much for you, dear? What about your own business? lt's only a week to the board meeting and it'll give me a chance to do some detective work.
- What was that? - Detective work, Dad.
l want to find out why Farmer's offer was so low.
There's no mystery there.
Every predator makes a low sighting shot.
Not this low.
lt bears no relation to our asset value.
l think Farmer's know something we don't.
l'd leave it till the meeting, if l were you.
Don't rock the boat.
What do you mean, ''Don't rock the boat''? l'm trying to keep it afloat, for God's sake, till Farmer's rescue us.
Oh, stop it! Trevor's dead, for God's sake.
All you can do is talk about the value of your bloody assets.
LEWlS: l've got a copy of the transcript, sir.
''Dear Mr Wheatley, l've just received your revaluation of our assets, which, frankIy, astonishes me.
I feeI I must put on record my opinion that your estimates are, without exception, far too high.
'' Oh, give it to me, Lewis.
''.
.
far too high.
l realise that land values have increased dramatically over the last few years, but even taking this into account, l cannot agree'' Don't slurp in my ear, Lewis.
''.
.
l cannot agree that a 200% increase over all is justified.
Perhaps we should meet to discuss the matter.
Yours sincerely, Trevor Radford.
'' Why would Radford have dated that letter three years ago? And why would he have burnt the top copy? Any ideas, Lewis? lt's got to be something to do with the takeover.
The motive, l mean.
- lt's got to be financial.
- Maybe.
But l think it's also to do with a family feud.
What, the brother? Stephen? Not just Stephen.
The father, the mother, the sister-in-law.
l had the distinct impression every one of them was being economical with the truth.
As if they were cIosing ranks.
Death aIways makes peopIe cIose ranks.
Death and money.
And Trevor's death has certainly cleared the way for the sale of the brewery.
But who'll benefit from a takeover? The Radford family, certainly.
Farmer's.
And the new managing director.
There are two candidates.
Er Norman Weekes and Victor Preece.
l interviewed both of them.
- And? - Their alibis check out.
All right.
Let's go and talk to this surveyor.
Are you OK? Do you want me to come in? Better not.
Helen What makes you think he typed this last night? Because he made a copy.
The carbon was in the wastepaper basket.
But this isn't the original.
No.
- What happened to it? - He burnt it.
How very odd.
l really can't help you, Chief lnspector.
l've no idea why he should have decided that my valuation was excessive.
He didn't disagree with it at the time? On the contrary.
He seemed completely satisfied.
And since then, you've had no cause to revise your figures? l wasn't asked to revise them.
Could Radford's change of mind have anything to do with Farmer's offer for the brewery? That wouldn't make sense.
Whether or not the bid was successful, he'd want the valuation to be as high as possible.
ls that a copy of the valuation, sir? Of course.
Could we see it? What's the matter with you, Lewis? Don't you have enough paperwork? lt might have a bearing, sir.
Radford might have been killed to stop him sending that letter.
- Why?! - l've no idea.
But he burnt it, so he obviously never intended to send it.
We don't know it was him that burnt it.
- Were there any other prints on it? - None that we could find.
- Not much of a theory, then, is it? - Well, do you have one? Not yet.
But there's something interesting about this case.
What? Everyone we've talked to so far is hiding something, including that surveyor.
MRS PREECE: Trevor Radford must have toId the famiIy.
They must know that he wanted you to take over as manager.
Maybe.
Anyway, it's all academic now.
Not necessarily.
You can always tell them that you were Radford's choice.
lt doesn't work like that, Mother.
The family will make their own appointment.
The police won't bother you any more, will they? You're the one who's lost out.
Yes.
l'm going to have to What's the expression? ''Consider my position.
'' Don't be silly, Victor.
You mustn't resign.
l'm a qualified chemist.
l'll have no trouble finding another job.
But you must stay here in Oxford.
l couldn't face another move.
- There you go.
- Thank you, dear.
Can you phone Bullens for me today? - All right.
- Ask them if my guard's van's come in yet.
OK.
Oh, by the way, don't bother about dinner tonight.
MAlD: Mrs Radford's gone shopping with the children.
She'll be back soon.
LEWlS: lt's all right if we wait, isn't it? - l'm sure it's OK.
(Car approaches) (Car doors slam) (Children giggle) lt'd suit your kids, this, Lewis.
(Girl giggles) Don't.
Please, don't.
Don't.
Thank you.
Oh, and take that newspaper and put it on this.
Thanks.
And keep an eye on the children.
They're in the pool.
MORSE: Mrs Radford? - Yes? l'm Chief lnspector Morse.
This is Sergeant Lewis.
l wondered when you would get round to me.
- Oh? - Last and definitely least.
How can I heIp you, Chief Inspector? Your husband told us he had a business meeting in Bristol the day before yesterday.
- Really? - You didn't know? l'm not interested in his meetings.
They can be in Timbuktu for all l care.
What time did he arrive home, Mrs Radford? Ooh He's a suspect, is he? WeII, I expect someone toId you that Trevor and Stephen didn't get on.
LEWlS: Is it true? Yes.
Poor old Trevor made rather a mess of things at the brewery and Stephen gave him heII.
He's the one with the head for business, you see.
Trevor was too proud to take his advice.
And they disagreed about whether or not to accept Farmer's offer? l think they both would have liked to have kept the brewery going if it hadn't been Iosing money.
Stephen was just trying to salvage something from the wreck, that's all.
MORSE: So, when did he get home from Bristol? - I've no idea.
- You weren't here? - l was asleep.
- What time did you go to bed? - l don't know.
Let me see I was watching teIevision and the Horse Of The Year Show came on, so l went to bed.
Must have been about half past eleven.
You didn't ask him why he was so late? We don't have that sort of marriage, Mr Morse.
Charles? The police may wish to ask us some more questions.
Be careful what you say to them, won't you? Why? We have some dirty linen.
We don't want it washed in public.
Oh? What dirty linen? - To do with the family.
- l don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, you do.
Do l? - lt must have slipped my mind.
- Good.
(Knock at door) Excuse me, madam.
Mr Linacre is here.
lsobel, my dear.
- l don't know what to say.
- Nothing, George.
But it's kind of you to come.
What's he here for? l've come to offer my condolences, Charles.
- l'm so sorry.
- Oh.
- l suppose you think it's just a formality now.
- What? Our acceptance.
l suppose you think it's a foregone conclusion He hasn't come to talk business, dear.
Don't be so uncivil.
l still can't believe it.
Who on earth would want to kill him? Yes.
He was such a harmless boy.
A little out of his depth, perhaps.
That's what l find so hard to bear.
The fact that he wasn't a success.
He never really achieved anything.
lt'snot easy, the brewery business.
You know as well as l do, if Stephen had been running the brewery, it would still have been viable.
And you'd have had to pay a lot more for it.
(Police radio) Sarge.
Any prints? Life's never that easy, Lewis.
l've just been onto Tremolo Computers in Bristol.
And? They did have a meeting with Stephen Radford on the day of the murder, but it finished at six, not seven.
All right.
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
Let's say he went for a meal before driving home.
Let's be generous, let's say the meal took an hour and a half.
The drive back couldn't have taken more than an hour and a half.
So he could have been in Oxford well before 9:30.
But he didn't get home till after 1 1 :30.
Which puts him right in the frame.
And his wife didn't seem too keen to get him out of it.
Bitter.
- She seemed very bitter.
- You think so? That was a curious phrase she used - ''Last and definitely least.
'' But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first.
Very good, Lewis.
Where did you pick that up? - Sunday school, sir.
- And what's its relevance? lt means that one of these days, l'm going to be a chief inspector.
And you're going to be a sergeant, sir.
lt's Nelson.
ln view of the recent tragedy, l think we should meet.
Don't you? To discuss the future.
l rang a mate of mine on the Oxford Mail, and he confirmed what l'd heard at the brewery.
lt's been running at a loss for several years.
So, why does he think Farmer's want to take it over? For the land.
lt's a prime site.
Yes He reckons they'll close the place down, sell off the land to a development company.
- They've done it before.
- l know.
- Good morning.
- Chief lnspector Morse, Thames Valley Police.
Mr Radford.
LEWlS: One thing that puzzles him, though.
Why the offer's so low.
He says it's nothing like what it should be worth.
- What is it now? - Just a few more questions, sir.
All right.
But make it quick.
l'm up to my eyes today.
You're not interested in helping us find your brother's killer? Not if you're trying to pin it on me.
MORSE: When did you get back the day before yesterday? STEPHEN: Here we go again.
We're going again because we didn't get an answer the first time.
l'm sorry, l really don't remember.
You must have some idea.
Nine, ten, eleven? Let's see.
l left Bristol just after eight, so it must have been about half past nine.
And you drove straight home? - No.
- No.
According to your wife, you hadn't returned when she went to bed at 1 1:30.
And your meeting finished at six, which leaves five or six hours unaccounted for.
l'd arranged to meet someone.
- ln Oxford? - Yes.
Who? - I'm afraid I can't teII you.
- A woman? You must draw your own conclusions.
Oh, l came to my own conclusions some time ago, Mr Radford.
l thought it was Trevor.
When l heard the doorbell He was always losing his keys.
l thought about phoning, but then l thought, well, that's the easy way, so Here l am.
Do you want to come in? How are you bearing up? All right.
l don't think it's sunk in yet.
Family rallying round? Yes.
Everyone's been very kind.
Good.
lf Stephen and l can do anything to help, you will let us know, won't you? Thank you, Thelma.
We wouldn't want you to be alone.
Unless, of course, you prefer it.
One of us could stay with you, if you like.
No.
No, that won't be necessary.
Are you sure you don't want me to send Stephen round? He could sleep on the sofa.
Just tiII you're over the worst.
l wouldn't dream of imposing on him.
He's got enough on his plate as it is.
He wouldn't mind.
He can sleep anywhere.
It makes no difference to him.
Shall l lend him to you for a while? Dangerous.
l might want to keep him.
l don't think so.
He is very unreliable, you know.
A lot of unexplained absences.
- Really? - Mm.
That's why the police came to see me.
They wanted to know where he was the night that Trevor died.
Yes.
Well, er lt was the police who brought me the news.
The chief inspector in charge of the case.
- He drove me over to IsobeI's.
- Really? He seemed to pick on Stephen.
That made lsobel very angry.
l can imagine.
Still, it's not absolutely impossible, is it? What do you mean? Well, Trevor was in his way, wasn't he? At the brewery, I mean.
lt's the old Esau and Jacob thing.
One brother depriving the other of his birthright.
May we therefore beg your induIgence over the settIement of your account, and trust that meanwhile, deliveries of barley will continue as usual.
Yours faithfully, et cetera.
What do you think? lt sounds all right.
lt should buy us some time.
Yes.
Let's hope.
When you've typed it, make sure it gets the evening post, OK? You're wasting your time, you know.
Hitching your wagon to the wrong star.
What do you mean? l mean, when Farmer's take over, l shall still be here.
Victor won't.
And how do you know that? Never mind.
Just take my word for it.
LEWlS: PathoIogist's report, sir.
Give me the gist.
WeII, the bIow to the head didn't kiII him.
He drowned.
He must have been attacked as he Ieft the office.
ProbabIy on the staircase Ieading down to the main door.
His assaiIant couId have been hiding behind one of those big copper things.
Tuns, Lewis.
They're called tuns.
lt's where the brewers make the mash.
All right, then.
Tuns.
It must have been pretty dark in there.
So, he Ieaps out What makes you so sure it was he? lt couldn't have been a woman.
She'd have to drag him all the way back up the staircase.
Radford didn't weigh aII that much.
A strong woman, a fit woman, could have dragged him into the mashing room and lifted him into the vat.
Tun, sir.
Didn't you say that's what it was called? - Daddy! - What? How are you? How are you? What have you been doing? - I went to see HeIen this afternoon.
- How is she? Ohprostrate with grief.
ls there anything we can do? Well, l did offer to lend you to her.
- Lend me to her? - Mmm.
I thought she might Iike the company.
A manIy shouIder to cry on.
I toId her I couId do without you for a few days.
Very generous of you.
Well, she shouldn't be alone at a time like this.
l wouldn't be any use to her.
l only get on her nerves.
Did you get a visit from the police today? Yes.
You? Yes.
You seem to be a suspect.
They wanted to know why you were home so late the night before last.
What did you tell them? l told them l had no idea.
l'm afraid l'll probably be late again tonight.
l have to go to the brewery.
See if l can plug a few holes in a sinking ship.
Plug away, darling.
(Playful laughter) That tart at the brewery, is it? Don't start all that again.
Common little secretary.
l wish you'd find a girl of your ownclass.
Someone you couId bring home.
Why can't l bring Gail home? Because she'd only get ideas, that's why.
What ideas? This isn't exactly a palace, Mum.
lf she was a gold-digger, she'd probably run a mile.
l think you're being very selfish.
My blood sugar was all wrong this morning.
What if l had one of my funny turns? l'll ask Mrs Grenville to look in.
What about my guard's van? - l'm sorry, l forgot it.
- Oh, for Christ's sake! l'll need it for the weekend.
- No, l promise.
l'll ring Bullens tomorrow - No.
Don't bloody bother.
l'll do it myself.
Good luck, Stephen.
A bit of a horror story, l'm afraid.
Let's hope l can give it a happy ending.
Happy for the Radfords, or us minions? For us all.
Are you sure you wouldn't like me to stay? l know as much about the financial situation as anybody.
No, thanks, Norman.
lf l have any questions, l'll call you.
LEWlS: There shouId be another coIumn too, sir.
Headed: Farmer's.
Oh, come on, Lewis.
You think they hired a hit man to knock off the opposition? You've been watching too many American movies.
l admit it's a long shot, sir.
But there's a lot of money at stake.
They didn't have to kill Radford.
All they had to do was improve their bid.
Make the family an offer they couldn't refuse.
VlCTOR: StiII trying it on, is he? GAlL: His sort never stops.
l think you're right about him and Farmer's.
He gave the game away this afternoon.
Oh? He told me l was wasting my time with you, because, after Farmer's took over, he'd still be there, but you wouldn't.
l knew it .
l knew that bastard was feathering his own nest.
So, what will you do? Start looking for another job.
ln Oxford? Yes.
Mum's settled here now.
She doesn't want to move again.
lt was enough of an upheaval three years ago.
lt was her idea though.
- She wanted to come south.
- Why? Her great-grandad used to live around here.
The only one in our family that had a bit of money, so she thought the streets of Oxford must be paved with gold.
l'd like to meet your mum.
l'd really like to see your trains, Victor.
(Phone rings) Hello.
STEPHEN: Dad? I'm afraid it's worse than we thought.
l think you ought to come over.
No, no.
No.
No.
You handle it.
Do whatever you have to do.
What l ought to do is go to the police.
Yes, l know.
You mean you knew what Trevor was up to? Yes, Stephen.
And l'm sorry you had to find out.
(Clock chimes) Stephen! Stephen! Stephen! MORSE: The same modus operandi? DR HALLlDAY: ldentical.
A different weapon, though.
Something long and flat.
Like an iron bar, or something.
lsn't there something you ought to have told me, Mrs Radford? We were going to spend the night together.
When he didn't turn up, l came looking for him.
l can't believe it.
l just can't believe it .
.
that it could happen again.
l tried to break it off with him.
l really tried.
What about your sister-in-law? She knew.
Not that she ever said anything.
Just dropped heavy hints.
Her way of getting back at me.
Did you call her? No.
l thought l suppose you think l'm a bitch.
l did try.
l really did.
? La Traviata: Sempre Libera You seem to be taking it remarkably calmly, Mrs Radford.
Am l? Did you love your husband? (Music off) You think l married him for all this? That's what his bloody family thinks.
l was his secretary and then l did his PR.
We spent a lot of time together.
He must have been quite a catch.
This may be difficult to believe, lnspector, but so was l.
No.
No, l don't find that difficult to believe.
lt was a very physical thing, you see.
We couldn't keep our hands off each other.
l got pregnant.
And l insisted on him doing the honourable thing.
So, there l was.
A beautiful baby, married, until death us Oh, God, l'm sorry.
- l didn't mean - No.
No, not at all.
You see, marriage brings you down to earth with such a bump.
l expect you know all about that.
Or have you managed to keep your illusions? l've never put it to the test.
A bachelor? Really? Extraordinary.
? Da da-da de dum da dee ? A bachelor gay am l How does that song go? ''Though l suffer from Cupid's dart'' Right.
You look the faithful type.
A one-woman-at-a-time man.
Do l? You do.
Quite a catch.
And Stephen wasn't? What? A one-woman-at-a A one-woman man.
Well l soon learnt l didn't have exclusive rights.
There were lots of women before Miss Horse Of The Year Show.
So, you knew about Helen? Of course l knew about Helen.
l knew about all of them.
And how did you feel? How do you think l felt? Ours was a physical relationship.
Take that away and I knew it wouId happen one day .
.
when I was fat and middIe-aged.
But l'm still in pretty good nick, wouldn't you say? Of course I feIt disappointed.
Why didn't you divorce him? Don't think l haven't thought that.
But what the hell? l'd lose more than l'd gain.
l mean, l've got the Radford name - the bank manager loves that - a beautiful house.
Two wonderful children.
l'll settle for that.
? La Traviata: Sempre Libera Where were you last night, between 8:30 and 1 0:00? Singing.
Singing? The local operatic society.
Oh, you're doing La Traviata? That's right.
You're playing Violetta? No.
No.
l'm just a member of the chorus.
Tea, Mum.
CYNTHlA: Oh Thank you, dear.
Did you have a good time last night? Yes, thanks.
Are you sIeeping with her? What? The girl.
Has she got a flat? A room of her own.
She lives with her parents.
Did she ask you back last night? Drink your tea while it's hot, Mum.
LEWlS: We know Trevor was cooking the books.
Maybe Stephen was in on it.
Maybeour murderer found out.
You don't kill someone because they're cooking the books.
All you have to do is expose him.
But it can't be a coincidence it's all blown up now, just after Farmer's offer.
l think we should have a talk to Farmer's.
l'll do that.
l want you to go back to Radford's.
Re-interview all the employees.
- Check their alibis.
- Right, sir.
l'm going to have a couple of hour's sleep and then go and see the parents.
They'll be shattered.
lt must be terrible to lose both sons in the same week.
(Music on) - l'm sure they'll survive.
You don't like that family, do you? lt looks like l'm not the only one.
When you're at the brewery, find out if they've sacked anyone lately.
- Morning, Shirley.
- Morning.
- l suppose you've heard the news? - News? There's been another murder at Radford's brewery.
- What? - l heard it on the car radio.
lt's the brother.
The one who started the electronics firm.
Good God Makes you wonder who'll be next, doesn't it? (Door closes) (lntercom buzzes) - ShirIey.
- Yes, Mr Nelson.
CanceI my appointments for this afternoon, wiII you? l have to go out.
Chief lnspector Morse, madam.
- Can't this wait? - l'm afraid not, Mrs Radford.
lt's possible you may be in danger.
Danger? - You mean l'm next on the list? - Or your husband.
Anyone connected with the brewery.
Please keep your voice down, lnspector.
lf there's some sort of threat, l don't want him to know.
He's had enough shocks for one week.
- May l sit down? - Do.
Has the family any enemies that you know of? - What on earth is going on? - lt's nothing important, dear.
l'll deal with it.
Oh Enemies? Someone whose toes you've trodden on.
Someone with a grudge.
l expect a lot of people have grudges against us.
We're well-off.
We have an extremely successful business.
lf it was so successful, why did Trevor have to borrow a million pounds from the bank? l've talked to the bank manager.
lt was three years ago.
Just after the revaluation of your assets.
Charles - What? - Did you know about this? What? That Trevor took out a million-pound loan three years ago.
Yes.
And he didn't pay it back? No, he did not.
Well, that settles it.
We shall have to sell.
WEEKES: Sergeant, I reaIise you've got ajob to do, but we're fighting for survival.
A day's loss of production will be very damaging.
We'll be as quick as we can, sir.
We'll start with you, shall we? - Now, where were you last night? - At home.
- AII evening? - Yes.
Your wife will confirm that, will she? No.
l'm afraid she can't.
lt was her bridge night.
He'd have Ieft her, if it wasn't for the chiIdren.
They're my only grandchildren, you know, lnspector.
And now .
.
with both my sons gone Thelma tells me that she knew all about her husband's affairs and she didn't care.
Is that what she said? I think you'II find she cares very much about anything that threatens her security.
And you don't blame Helen? ''Accidents will happen.
Even in the best-regulated families.
'' Mr Micawber.
Oh! l thought it was WC Fields.
Anyway, l'm very fond of Helen.
This doesn't have to become public knowledge, does it? Depends on whether it has a bearing on the case.
Of course it hasn't.
(Lashing sound) Mrs Preece? Yes.
What do you want? Police.
ls it about the murder at the brewery? Murders.
- PIuraI.
- What?! There's been another one.
Last night.
Mr Radford's brother.
We're re-checking people who work there.
May l come in? lf you're checking on Victor, he was at dinner with a girlfriend.
- l know.
What time did he arrive back? - Not late.
What about three nights ago, - when Trevor Radford was kiIIed? - l told you.
He was here all evening.
Perhaps we can talk about exactIy what time he got back.
lSOBEL: I'd no idea things were so bad.
Why didn't you teII me? CHARLES: I didn't want to worry you.
l'm a shareholder, Charles.
l have a right to know.
He specifically asked me not to tell you.
- Why did he need the money? - Expansion.
- Expansion? - He said he wanted to buy more tied houses.
- He said it would ensure our survival.
- That should have been a board decision.
He didn't think he could get it through the board, so he took out a personal loan.
For a million pounds? He didn't have the security.
No.
No.
l guaranteed it.
You mean you mortgaged the house? Yes.
You fool! You bloody old fool! He assured me that he'd pay it back within five years.
You'd never have known.
We must bring forward the board meeting to this afternoon.
Oh, for heaven's sake, lsobel! At least let's wait until we've buried them.
No.
This business has gone on long enough.
We must make a decision before the weekend.
How well do you know the Radford family, George? Charles and my father are quite close friends.
Then why are you trying to buy the brewery on the cheap? Come on, Morse.
We've made a perfectly fair offer.
Based on your own valuation.
Of course.
Which doesn't bear any relation to the Radford valuation.
Wellwe shall have to see, won't we? Our surveyor's usually pretty good.
- l think you'll find they'll accept.
- Especially now.
Look, it's a terrible tragedy.
Of course it is.
But it makes no difference.
We put in our offer nearly three weeks ago.
- And business is business.
- l'm afraid so.
One's first duty is to one's shareholders.
ls that why you approached Norman Weekes? Offered to make him managing director, if your bid was successful? - Who told you that? - ls it true? We know Trevor Radford wanted to reject your offer.
Yes.
Charles told me.
Why was the offer so low? l'm sorry, Morse.
l don't quite see where this is leading.
Would you like to confirm where you were last night, George? l was at the theatre.
The local operatic society.
Of which l am patron.
I was with my wife and severaI friends.
Hey! - You're Gail? - Yes.
l'm Cynthia Preece, Victor's mother.
- Vic's in the lab.
- No, no.
l came to see you.
- Oh? - Are you sleeping with him? That's none of your business! l'm sorry.
- l have to know.
- Why? You invited him home last night, didn't you? After your dinner.
- Why don't you ask Vic? - l did.
He wouldn't tell me.
Well, l'm not going to tell you either! You stupid little tart! Why can't you leave him alone? Yes, wellyou all know why you're here, so l'll throw the meeting open to discussion.
There's no time for discussion, Charles.
We're in no position to refuse Farmer's offer.
lt's the only one we're likely to get.
But it's a quarter of what the company's worth, lsobel.
- We can't let it go at this price.
- We've no choice, dear.
Of course we have a choice.
lf Farmer's won't increase their offer, we should reject it.
- That's what Trevor would have done.
- l'd leave Trevor out of it, in view of his record.
At least he accepted his responsibilities.
Pity he didn't refuse them.
Please.
lt's too late for recriminations.
l know how Stephen would have voted anyway, so l'm pledging his shares for acceptance.
- Are you sure he left them to you? - Oh, yes.
l spoke to the solicitor.
Well, it's an ill wind, l suppose.
l checked too.
lt seems l'm the sole beneficiary of Trevor's will.
So, the least l can do is follow his wishes.
l vote for rejection.
Norman? l'm on this board as a representative of the workforce.
So, l must vote for a future which guarantees continuity of employment.
And that future, in my opinion, lies with Farmer's.
So, I'm for acceptance.
Charles and l also vote to accept.
Together with Thelma's shares Just a moment, please.
Just a moment.
Just a moment.
l blame myself for the trouble we're in.
l retired too early and l recommended Trevor to take my place.
They were bad decisions, both of them, for which l apologise to the board.
But l do not believe them to be irredeemable.
What are you talking about, Charles? l've searched my conscience these last terrible days and er .
.
l can't agree to this sale.
Not after a century and a half of continuous family control.
My ancestors would turn in their graves and l could never sleep peacefully in mine.
What's the point of holding on to the brewery now? We've no need of it.
We have grandchildren.
- And in 20 years'time - In 20 years, there'II be nothing to Ieave! Except massive debts! Um Norman Can I ask you something? Do you beIieve the company can be turned round? Well not without a complete reorganisation of the sales and distribution departments.
- Could you do it? - Me? Yes.
If we gave you a free hand.
CouId you save the brewery? Yes, Mr Radford.
l believe l could.
Then l propose we appoint Norman as the new managing director .
.
and reject Farmer's offer.
No! This is our last chance to liquidise our assets.
lf we don't accept this offer, we'll have nothing! Not even a decent pension! I've Iost two sons.
And l'm damned if l'm going to spend an impoverished old age.
Just because your bloody ancestors might turn in their graves.
lt's the living you should care about, Charles.
Especially me.
l suggest we take a vote.
Who's for acceptance? 420,000 shares.
And for rejection? 580,000.
So we carry on.
(Door slams) - lsobel! lsobel? lsobel! lsobel! ? La Traviata: Recitative Morning, sir.
Morning, Lewis.
Don't they have telephones in your neighbourhood? l did ring, sir.
Several times.
Can't hear the damn thing out here anyway.
There's been another murder.
l hope it's that landlord from the Cock And Bullfinch.
Teach him to keep his beer properly.
- The brewery? - No, sir.
Not our problem, then.
l'm afraid it is, sir.
- That's official, is it? - Yeah.
The Chief Super thinks there could be a connection with the brewery murders, so he's giving us first crack at it.
That's very generous of him.
Put that wheel on, will you, Lewis? l'm just going to wash my hands.
DR HALLlDAY: BIows to the body, as weII as the front and the back of the head, - which shattered the skuII.
- Any forensic connection with the brewery murders? No.
This is different.
- Because it's messy? - Right.
lt took several blows to kill him.
Looks like he tried to phone for help.
l've never seen anything like this attack.
- lt was frenzied.
LEWlS: Desperate, then.
Our killer.
You have a theory, Lewis? Well, the brewery murders were premeditated, weren't they? Single blows.
The victims taken by surprise each time.
Whereas, this - WeII, Iook.
- l can see, Lewis.
WeII, then.
Desperate.
No.
No.
l think we're looking for two different killers.
All right.
Take him away.
Hang on a minute.
l'm sure l've seen this bloke somewhere before.
Where? No idea.
But his face is definitely familiar.
Come and Iook, sir.
I'II take your word for it, Lewis.
He was out most of the afternoon.
And then he came back and had a late appointment.
- Who with? - Some woman.
She didn't give her name.
Said he'd know who it was.
When was this appointment arranged? She phoned yesterday afternoon, just before l left.
What exactly did she say? She said she wanted to see Mr Nelson.
No, no, no, no, no.
What exactIy did she say? Exactly.
Well Let me think She said something like ''Would you ask Mr Nelson to remain at the office? l shall be arriving just after six.
'' May l see that, please? Just a few canceIIed appointments yesterday afternoon Two appointments the day before that.
And one the day before.
Do you have a client named Knox? Knox? Never heard of him.
- Or her.
- Or her.
Thank you.
Lewisgo over to the County Records Office.
See if you can find out what Nelson was interested in.
Thank you.
You've been very helpful.
RADlO: And the main news headIines at 10:00.
AIfred NeIson, a 45-year-oId soIicitor, was found battered to death in his St AIdgates office this morning.
According to Chief Inspector Morse of the Thames VaIIey CID, the attack took pIace yesterday evening.
He's appeaIing for anyone who was in the vicinity of St AIdgates between 6:00 and 7:00pm to come forward if they saw anything suspicious.
? La Traviata: Orchestral lntroduction to Sempre Libera (Doorbell rings) Sir! Lewis Where have you been all day? You know exactly where l've been, sir.
The County Records Office.
What took so long? Long? You should have seen the papers.
They've got half the Amazon rainforest in there.
Papers at the County Records Office? That's amazing.
And none of them were catalogued.
lf l hadn't got lucky, l'd have been there all week.
Have a beer, Lewis.
So, you did get Iucky? Ebenezer Knox.
Born 1 81 3.
ln Woodstock.
Educated at Winchester and Balliol.
Became the youngestjustice of the peace in the county.
ln 1 841 , he and another man bought a piece of land.
You'll never guess what the other man's name was.
Radford? Right, sir.
Three murders in a week, Lewis.
The Chief Super was right.
There could be a connection.
But the pathologist thought there was no connection with Nelson's murder.
You're not listening, Lewis.
Even if we're looking for two killers, they could still be connected.
WeII, you're right, sir.
Knox's partner's name was Timothy Radford.
Radford and Knox started the brewery.
ls there any evidence Radford bought Knox out? No.
No Have you caught the bastard? Not yet.
Have you talked to my wife? No.
lt's you l came to see.
Tell me about Ebenezer Knox.
What? Ebenezer Knox.
Where on earth did you dig him up? County Records Office.
He was your great-grandfather's original partner and l think he's the key to all this.
But he died more than 1 00 years ago.
Yes.
Yes.
But not in Oxford.
He seems to have been a very prominent citizen, but there's no record of him after 1 850, when he sold his house in Woodstock.
And there's no evidence he ever sold his half-share in the brewery.
No.
Not sold.
But he certainly agreed to relinquish it.
You know all about this, don't you? Family archives? Yes.
Just as my father left them.
And my great-grandfather, as well, probably.
l'm sorry about the dust.
l haven't been down here for years.
Here you are.
''To whom it may concern .
.
l, the undersigned, hereby do solemnly and humbly swear to leave the city of Oxford forthwith and never return, and that, in exchange, Timothy Radford of Marston Lodge, Oxford, will provide me with the sum of £1 00 each and every year for so Iong as I shaII Iive.
Signed Ebenezer Knox.
" lt doesn't explain why.
Um No.
But um Er This does.
Look at the names of the parents.
- Who was she? - She was a woman of the streets.
There's a newspaper cutting here.
''Oxford woman found guiIty of vagrancy and prostitution.
Third offence.
JaiIed for one year.
" So, Knox left Oxford to avoid a scandal.
The date fits.
The birth was registered in 1 850.
Where did he go? Somewhere in the Northeast, l believe.
lt doesn't specify.
According to this document, Knox agreed never to return to Oxford.
But he didn't agree to give up his half-share in the brewery.
Northeast, you say? 1 850ish.
LEWlS: Ebenezer Knox.
It seems he cut quite a dash when he first came to SunderIand.
FIashy spender with a posh southern accent.
He started a new brewery with a bIoke caIIed Beddowes.
MORSE: Come into the office.
Neither of them could have been much good at business, because it pretty quickly went down the tubes.
Beddowes' son bought them out in the end.
Where did all this come from? An old mate of mine, sir.
ln the history department at Newcastle University.
There's a professor there,just written a book.
Drink And Sobriety ln The Victorian Northeast.
Knew all about Knox.
l've already got this from Linacre's computer.
Ah, but that's not all, sir.
Not quite.
ln 1 852, Knox married a local girl.
They had a daughter who married a man named Preece.
Ah lnteresting, eh? And then, l suddenly remembered where I'd seen that soIicitor feIIa, NeIson, before.
MORSE: What a pair they must have been.
LEWlS: Who? Knox and Radford.
One of them a hypocrite, the other a bIackmaiIer.
BIackmaiIer? Knox was ajustice of the peace.
A piIIar of the community.
So, when a convicted prostitute gave birth to his chiId, she took the birth certificate to Radford.
Radford probabIy paid her off, then bIackmaiIed Knox into Ieaving Oxford.
Made him sign a letter promising never to return.
(Police radios) Did Radford ever give him back his share? No.
He gave him £1 00 a year.
A pittance.
So, technically, half the brewery still belongs to Knox's heirs.
Not just technically, Lewis.
Legally.
LEWlS: Can we come in, Mrs Preece? Where's Victor, Mrs Preece? Upstairs.
- Could you ask him to come down, please? - Why? l think you know why, Mrs Preece.
He couldn't have done those murders.
He was out with a girlfriend.
We've talked to her.
On both nights, he left her around 9:00.
And came straight home.
l don't believe you, Mrs Preece.
l think you've been covering up for him.
lt was his gran's fault.
She should never have told him.
About your claim on the brewery? That he'd been swindled out of his inheritance.
That's a dangerous thing to tell a little boy.
Especially a little boy who .
.
keeps his feelings .
.
bottled up all the time.
But it was you who persuaded him to come here.
To apply for the job at Radford's? But he had the qualifications and we needed the money.
To pay a solicitor.
Nelson.
But he told you your claim couldn't be substantiated.
Just my luck to hire a crook.
Which is your son's room? l'll show you.
He took every singIe penny we had.
And then, when these murders started, he He tried to blackmail you.
l told him we couldn't pay him any more.
Even this house is rented.
But he wouldn't listen.
Victor put your jacket on, dear.
I'm afraid you have to go to the poIice station.
MORSE: Your mother's going too, Victor.
We know he was with his girlfriend at the time of Nelson's murder.
You killed him, didn't you, Mrs Preece? To protect your son.
(Train's whistle blows) When l come out, l'll get you, too.
l shouldn't worry about it, sir.
By the time he comes out, you'll be long gone.
You're wasted as a copper, Lewis.
You should have joined the Diplomatic Service.
LEWlS: Something is worrying you, though.
MORSE: Yes LEWlS: What? MORSE: Loose ends.
MORSE: And a piece that doesn't fit.
What does it matter, Chief lnspector? The boys are dead.
Trevor's dead.
You knew he'd committed a fraud? Fraud? What are you talking about? When did you find out, Mr Radford? When he asked me to guarantee a bank loan.
Trevor persuaded the surveyor to overestimate the brewery's assets, thus increasing the value of the shares.
So he could borrow against them.
No.
lt wasn't for personal gain.
lt was to save the brewery.
lt was still a fraud.
And when Farmer's made their bid, he realised he was in danger of being found out, so he wrote a backdated letter to the surveyor expressing his disagreement with the high vaIuation.
l knew that once George Linacre took a look at the books, the fraud would be exposed, and .
.
we couldn't have that.
Oh, no.
We couldn't have that, could we? The family reputation must be preserved at all costs.
The Magnificent Radfords.
For 1 0 years, you've looked down your nose and smiled at me, and all the time Just look at you.
I expect this is embarrassing you, Inspector.
But l'm pleased it's all out in the open now, because l'm sorry, but l'm going to have to say this.
You never wanted me, did you? Just the grandchildren.
My kids.
So now you're going to get your own way.
But l'm taking them with me.
And if you want to see them .
.
you are going to have to whistle.
Well, lnspector Must the evil that men do live after them? Or can it remain our secret? There's nothing l can prove, Mrs Radford.
l can't even prove the surveyor deliberately made a false valuation, so .
.
your son Trevor can rest in peace.
LEWlS: So, there are more important things than money.
What? Family honour.
That's what the Radfords care about.
lt's what he cares about.
l'm not sure about her.
You reckon she'll stay with him when the money runs out? I mean, they'II have to seII that house, won't they? Pay off (Car horn) MOTORlST: What the hell do you think you're doing? Say that again.
Say that again - what you just said.
l was just wondering whether she'd stay with him when the money That's it, Lewis.
You're a genius.
You've cracked it.
l thought we'd already cracked it.
We cracked half of it, but we got the other half wrong.
So, l'm a genius, am l? Yes.
Because you talk like Mrs Preece.
You don't talk like Mrs Radford.
l'm not with you, sir.
lsobel Radford wouldn't say ''stay'', she'd say ''remain''.
So? (Remembers) Can it remain our secret? ''Can it remain our secret?'' she said.
The woman that phoned Nelson's secretary told her to ask him to ''remain'' - at the office.
- A bit tenuous, isn't it? ''l shall be arriving just after six'' Most people would have said, ''l'll be there just after six.
'' Wouldn't they? Mrs Preece certainly would.
Yeah.
But Nelson was blackmailing Mrs Preece.
She admitted it herself.
OnIy since the first murder, and onIy for pocket money.
He was aIready pIaying for bigger stakes.
CHARLES: Why didn't you go to the police .
.
about the blackmail? We'd have lost half the brewery.
That odious little man, Nelson .
.
had threatened to give it to the Preeces.
l wasn't going to have those bloody people get their hands on our brewery.
No Oh, my darIing.
Whatwhat a terrible terrible burden you've had to bear.
Why didn't you share it with me? Because l didn't want you involved, Charles.
Oh lf the deal had gone through .
.
l'd have paid Nelson off from my share, and that would have been that.
MORSE: Oh, no, it wouIdn't.
He'd have come back for more.
BIackmaiIers aIways do.
Well that's one problem you won't have to face now.
ls that you, Morse? l was just coming to see you.
How kind of you to offer me a lift.
Ohno, my darling.
Don'tdon't We're arranging to have someone take you home, Mrs Preece.
You may still be charged with obstructing the course of justice.
Are you all right? l'll be alone again now.
Won't l? Yes, l suppose you will.
(Car engine starts) Fancy a pint, sir? Do you know, Lewis .
.
l'm not absolutely sure l do.