Midsomer Murders (1997) s12e04 Episode Script
The Glitch
Watch your bike! If you're going to ride like maniacs, at least do it quietly! It says in the guide books the Valley of Midsomer Sanctae has an atmosphere of calm, spiritual repose! Fat chance! Last refreshment stop before we turn off the Ridgeway for Midsomer Sanctae.
Have we heard from the National Trust? It's all done.
Portaloos too! First things first, Daniel.
When you get to my age, Emily, it really does all revolve around where the next loo is.
Look down there, you young clowns! Midsomer Sanctae.
A thousand years of history you can see.
Maybe 2,000 more you can't see, but you can feel.
Last one down's exterminated! Come on.
We'll surprise them.
I know a little shortcut! This is it! Is this what you call cheating? No! It's a handicap, like golf! Morning, sir.
Morning, Jones.
You're early.
Or did you get in in the hope I wouldn't witness this unusual event? I have been on a bike before, sir.
Nice bit of kit, that.
Brand new, isn't it? Yeah, doing the Pilgrims' Ride.
I wouldn't bet too much of your salary, generous though it is, on beating Stephens.
Fit girl, that! It's not a race, sir! Yeah, I know.
I also know you, Jones.
Oh, bad tidings from Aspern Tallow.
Your Bucketman struck again.
Oh, bad tidings from Aspern Tallow.
Your Bucketman struck again.
No! See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Bucketman has turned law-abiding villagers into the three wise monkeys.
Oh, yeah.
It's been three months now? Yeah, and I'm no nearer catching him than I was the first time he threw a bucket over a sports car.
But there's nothing I don't know about paint and glue.
It'll come in handy, sarge.
Yeah, if I want a job as a paint salesman.
Don't worry, you're not going to be fired just yet.
You get the Bucketman by this weekend and your job will be safe.
Mind you, the latest victim, he's shouting very very loudly.
We're not taking it seriously.
We're on the villagers' side.
We're turning a blind eye to it all.
That's what the villagers are saying about us not stopping their plague of boy racers.
Yes, but he's been in touch with the Chief Superintendent.
Yes, but he's been in touch with the Chief Superintendent.
Take a look at that.
(WHOOPING) Wey-hey! How did you get here first? Experience.
It's cool here, Dad.
I've always thought so.
So what went on here? Well, for over 700 years pilgrims gathered at Causton to walk to this abbey, to pray to St Frideswide for blessings and help.
She was the daughter of an Anglo-Saxon king, but people prayed here long before that.
The Romans had a shrine here.
Before them the Celts.
And I want plenty of prayers to St Frideswide for good weather on the day.
Please! She didn't do very well for us last year, did she? It bucketed down.
Which reminds me, the Bucketman was out again last night.
Was he? We're heading back, Tom.
Dad was always on about this place when I was a kid.
I sort of see it.
It means a lot to him that you're here.
It's just a bike ride.
Ta.
Thank you.
DCI Barnaby? That's me.
Yes, Mr Finn'll see you now.
Thank you.
Is that a smile, Barnaby? Certainly not, sir.
It's the sunlight coming through the window.
I'm not amused.
But you wouldn't be here if you didn't know that.
I'm here because you complained to my Chief Superintendent.
And to assure you that we'll do whatever we can to catch whoever it was attacked you.
In three months this Bucketman has attacked four people, now five.
All employees of Soft Earth Systems and drivers of very fast cars.
Look, just leave it! Get it picked up later.
And what about this guy? Jones? If he worked for me I'd have cut him loose a long time ago.
You said you wanted more of the paint, Sergeant.
Knock yourself out! If you guys can't hack it, maybe we should do something ourselves.
I do hope that's not a threat, sir.
Where's the car, Mr Finn? I need to inspect the damage.
Auto repair shop in the village.
Guy called Snape.
Well, thank you very much, Mr Finn.
That will be all for now, thank you.
Yeah.
What? Well, how does it look? If he's not there George has got to be there, Jonathan! Sort it out! He's adamant! I can't twist his arm, Clinton! 'Well, then try breaking his damn neck!' On the table.
They've been up the manor already, talking to Mr Finn.
Livid, he is.
Whatever else you might say about him, he had a nice head of hair.
'In quo corriget?' 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?' Let's hope Mr Finn takes note.
At least one car's off the road.
I'm surprised you've given it house room, Daniel.
Couldn't resist it, I'm afraid.
It's a beautiful machine, in the hands of someone who can drive it.
Detective Sergeant Jones, here to investigate injury to my tandem! Mr Wayland-Smith.
Miss Harte.
Mr Snape.
I'm sure you all know why we're here.
It's not my tandem after all? Clinton Finn has been dealt with by another instrument of justice.
'Noli aemulari.
' 'Fret not thyself because of the ungodly.
' I don't.
Have to dash.
Back to school.
But I'm sure all my buckets are accounted for.
Another paint sample for your collection, Sergeant.
Devil's own job getting it off.
It's the glue.
Terribly sticky with paint.
Right Sorry, Jonathan.
I forgot.
Well, you'd better tell him I'll be late.
Was there some part of 'I won't be coming to your press conference tomorrow' that needed elaboration? What needs elaborating is your commitment to this university.
This place is here to give me the opportunity to say what I like, think what I like, discover what I can, or fail to do any of those things.
Of course it's true that without your work Soft Earth Systems wouldn't be offering this money.
We all recognise that and applaud it.
But this is about the university! It's about intellectual integrity.
I invented Kernel Logic ten years ago.
I've discovered it's flawed.
So you say.
And if I come to your press conference, I shall say that very loudly.
Is that what you want? Do you know.
Jonathan, you're almost persuading me I should come.
Yes, Bains? Dr Jeffers' new bicycle.
What? Excellent! Lead on! I might even give you a spin round the quad.
I don't think we handled that very well at all, Jonathan, do you? Hey hey hey! Where have you been, Tom? Out.
You've got time off for studying.
I don't see much evidence of it.
I rode to the abbey with the lads.
Ah.
Well, your father and Miss Muffet got back hours ago.
Couldn't you keep up? Oh! Oh, walk right in! Make yourself at home! Everyone else seems to.
You said you'd talk to him.
Our son is out of control.
And I don't think his relationship with his ex-primary school teacher is healthy, even if you think yours is.
You wanted me to talk to him.
Emily has made that possible for the first time in years.
Ah Haven't you been married enough, for God's sake? It starts in the cloisters at St Frideswide's, straight down to the river, then it's a steep climb up to the Ridgeway, but after that, open country all the way to Midsomer Sanctae.
That's miles and miles.
I don't have to do it all.
I'll start with Cully and then when I've had enough, I'll just stop.
There is one little flaw in this plan of yours, Mrs Barnaby.
You do not have a bike.
Mm I don't enjoy asking you about this, Dad, but since George Jeffers doesn't seem to communicate with anyone at St Frideswide's these days, I'm forced to try other means.
Bicycles, son.
What do you mean, 'bicycles'? All I ever talk to him about is bicycles.
Anything else he does is beyond me.
It's beyond most people.
And more to the point, it's not my business.
It's not your business he's putting the future of the college at risk? Cos that's what it amounts to.
It's not been easy persuading Soft Earth Systems to put up millions.
Is George happy to lose it? I need to know if he's going to take it that far.
He must talk to you about the college, Dad.
You knew him when he was an undergraduate and you were the head porter.
Surely you care, Dad? Bicycles, son.
I won't let him do it.
It's not just about money.
It's about MY future.
Jonathan, you are big enough and old enough.
It'll all come right.
You worry too much.
Ha-ha! Emily! Well, what do you think? About what? As a collector of vintage sports cars, you can appreciate a beautiful machine.
Brilliant engineering.
The ultimate space-frame bicycle.
Whatever turns you on, George.
Whatever turns you on.
But what about this? Not so pretty, huh? I'm not sure I ever found you very pretty.
There are those who do.
Yeah, we've had our disagreements lately.
The Glitch.
I didn't think you'd pull out of the press conference.
All right, announce a delay.
Let your people know we have a problem, tell them I'll redesign the logic system.
It's been ten years and tens of millions.
I can't ditch it because you think a theoretical glitch in theoretical circumstances might cause theoretical problems! Your glitch has never glitched! I'm surrounded by scientists who tell me it does not exist.
No, you're surrounded by idiots you've PAID to tell you it doesn't exist.
They're all corrupt, of course.
All that matters is, I'm right.
The air traffic control system you're loosing on the world is catastrophically flawed.
I can't undiscover the Glitch, Clinton.
You have blind faith a solution will be found before people die.
I don't.
So now I'm going public.
I will not let you do it, whatever it takes.
We've got a meeting, George.
You haven't forgotten, have you? Hey, come on! Respect the bike! Don't get a puncture.
Oh, good grief.
You can't ride this! It's got no chain.
Well, you'll have to get one.
You're good at that sort of thing.
You only pretend not to be so I never ask.
Joyce Right, any more business? Yes, Midsomer Children's Hospital T-shirts at a fiver each.
We've got to get 500, and assuming that everybody who takes part in the ride buys one, together with the sponsorship money and the spectators give on the day, we're hoping for close to That's wonderful.
Less if it rains.
Where's your optimism, Dan? The less optimistic I am, the less disappointed I get.
Well, I will be very disappointed if we don't get to the pub on time.
Are you going to come and join us? I may, I may.
See you later.
OK.
Melanie was here earlier.
Tom.
Revision? She thinks if I shout loud enough, he'll buckle down and work.
In my view, he'd do the opposite.
Oh, you mean he's his father's son? Oh, not much of a father.
Oh, you mean he's his father's son? Oh, not much of a father.
With your help I-I've been trying, but It's not just about Tom, is it? What do you mean? Erm, I just know how she looks at me.
Well, that's ridiculous.
We're friends! Even if there WAS more than that 'This is the weather the cuckoo likes And they sit outside at the Traveller's Rest And maids come forth in sprig muslin dressed And citizens dream of the south and west And so do I.
' Never a good day for it, but on a day like this, makes it even worse.
Who is she? Emily Harte.
Primary school teacher in Aspern Tallow.
Emily Harte When did it happen? Bullard thinks last night.
Not late.
Have you been into the village yet? No, I came straight here.
They're very angry.
The accident that was waiting to happen.
That's what they're saying.
George.
Oh, she's very young.
All right right for them to take her back, Tom? No, hang on.
Thecause of death? A lot of broken bones.
She was hit by a vehicle travelling at speed.
Well, she must have been very visible.
Car went right over her, no sign of breaking.
Drunk-driving is all I can think.
All right, you can take her now.
Yep.
OK.
Uh-oh.
Stay here for a bit.
Have you spoken to Emily's mother? In the kitchen.
She's making some tea.
I erm I was watching the children I'm sorry, sir.
Don't apologise, Gail.
There's no need.
Now, come on, when did the mother last see Emily? Emily went out yesterday evening to a meeting at the Midsomer Cycling Club, at a Dr Jeffers' house.
What time did it finish? Well, I spoke to a Mr Canning.
He called in to see Emily's mother.
He was at the meeting.
He says 8:30.
He rode back from the village with a Mr Snape, who owns the garage.
Emily stayed and talked to Dr Jeffers.
OK.
Was she all right? Yeah, yes she was.
You've had a run-in with Dr Jeffers, haven't you? Yeah, a person who thinks I should have arrested everybody with a fast car at Soft Earth Systems.
Hit-and-run.
What kind of animal could leave? Dr Jeffers, we need definite times.
Emily Harte was here about the Pilgrims' Ride? Yes.
What time did the meeting end? Er, 8, 8:15.
It was dark when she left, that's why she was riding my bicycle.
There were no lights on hers.
You know the trouble we've had, the near-misses Yeah, we are aware of all that, sir.
The time you've wasted looking for a man with a bucket of paint, when you should have been doing something to stop these idiots! A woman is dead! A young woman with her whole life ahead of her, and the best you can say is, 'We are aware of that'? I'm really sorry about Emily.
Thought YOU'D be pleased.
That's a terrible thing to say! You hated her.
Oh, Tom! Because Dad liked her and I liked her too.
That was a problem, right? She could have been his daughter.
She was bidding to be your mother.
I should be so lucky! I shouldn't have said that.
Don't keep Clinton waiting, Mum.
You don't want to lose another one.
Forensics have got samples of the car's paint from the bicycle.
Dark green.
We may even get a make out of it.
Good The bike itself was barely touched, but there's obviously some slight damage to the bodywork of the car.
Dr Jeffers works at the university.
He's some kind of hotshot scientist.
Need to know more about him, not just fact that he likes cycling.
She leaves Dr Jeffers' house, she's on Dr Jeffer's bicycle, it's a dark night.
Would YOU have known it wasn't him? No.
No.
Why was the damage to the bike so little, George? Emily's injuries, well, they they were terrible, like the wheels had gone right over her.
She could have fallen off the bike and the car went over her.
But then you say the car reversed? To see what damage was done? No, no, George.
I don't believe the driver ever got out of the car.
I think he, or she, reversed, like you said, and then drove over Emily deliberately.
No accident.
We're looking at first-degree murder here.
George isn't interested in money.
You say that, but I never really believed it.
No, it's true.
He was so careless about patents, he moved on to Kernal Logic and he just couldn't be bothered to protect our interests.
I can't afford that luxury.
It has cost me a fortune to develop.
We'll make a packet when it goes online, but so will George.
Should have hung in there, Mel.
Well, he always was his own worst enemy.
I'm putting together an army of bigger and better scientists.
I'm gonna tell the world that he's entered the Twilight Zone.
I'm gonna destroy him before he destroys me.
Cully loved this so much.
We should keep it.
It's still in decent nick and you never know Never know what, love? You know.
Cully's not going to give you a reason to use that any time soon.
Is she? Mm Oooh! Right! Oh, yes.
What a genius! I've done a good job on this! Tom? What? No, no! Stop! Why? I'd love you to stay, but I've got enough problems with Tom.
Oh, no, he's a big boy now.
I know, but he's just taking it really badly.
Oh, no.
Look, I promise I'll sort something out, OK? Are you OK? It's better to do it on the sofa than in the car.
I don't know what the neighbours think.
Don't you dare speak to me like that! Where are you going? I don't know.
But at least I'm not going round for a heart-to-heart with Emily.
Tom! You're here late? You asked me to contact a dozen scientists.
Four are in California.
So I thought it was worth waiting for them to get out of bed before asking them to do YOU a favour.
Are they going to write for us? Mm, except Steve Wright from Stanford.
What's his problem? His problem is, he actually thinks George has got a point.
Ah, he's a second-division clown.
Do you wanna have a drink? No, not tonight.
I don't know what division I'M playing in, but I will not be played as a substitute.
Morning! Well done, sarge.
The training's obviously paying off.
Sorry, can you spell that for me, please? I've been talking to some of the students at the university.
Jeffers made his name in the '80s with an invention called Wafer Logic.
The circuit boards that drive computers are printed on wafer-thin slices of silicon.
The wafer is then cut into a hundred separate chips and the necessary connections are made between them.
Jeffers' Wafer Logic said, let's not cut the wafer, let's build connections between the chips inside the wafer.
Is there more? Ten years ago, he came up with Kernel Logic.
This time he said, let's not slice the silicon, let's build a million computers inside a whole block of the stuff.
A million computers? Yeah.
It takes that kind of power to model the air space of the entire planet.
If it works, it'll make a fortune for Soft Earth Systems AND a tidy sum for Jeffers.
And if it doesn't, the investors will losebillions.
Well, thank you for that, Jones.
Very good.
Very good indeed.
Ah, you had the chain too tight.
Much too tight.
Fine machine, though.
Don't make them like this any more.
I never know if that's a good or bad thing.
That's not going to work, is it? Know who did it yet? That's what we're here to find out, Mr Snape.
Identify the car and you can find the driver, right? You got something I can go on? It's one of them.
Look at their cars and you'll find the driver quick enough.
We deal with the press conference as best we can.
If Jeffers doesn't show, no big deal.
It's educational press.
Hardly investigative journalism.
The more I think about it, we're better off without him.
And if we're rubbishing his ideas anyway You know what's at stake here? If George goes public, my company loses billions and I lose my job, your university doesn't get a science building and YOU don't become Master when he retires.
So, I want reassurance.
When this gets ugly, and it will, I don't want this university defending George out of some misguided notion of academic freedom.
When I say he's crazy, he is.
I've um pranged my car, Mr Snape.
How did you do that, then? Will it affect the cost? Have you been trying to paint it? How quickly can you do this? That is, of course, if you want the job.
I could always take it up to Causton.
Have fun.
We know that Emily Harte was killed between 10:30 and 11:30, but if we take the time she left Jeffers' house If someone wanted to kill Jeffers, what are the chances of just coming across him cycling at night? Very slim.
Must have been unplanned.
Look, it was already dark.
At some point outside the gate or along the road, our killer sees the bike and sees someone he THINKS is Jeffers.
It's the right place, right clothes, right bike.
Maybe someone thought he was the Bucketman? Um, couldn't help but overhear Now, for an intelligent man, George was always stupid when it came to judging people.
He doesn't believe what you're saying.
I do.
And what am I saying, sir? Somebody tried to kill him.
I know exactly who.
'Deus auribus.
' 'We have heard with our ears.
' Clinton Finn! Clinton Finn? The man you say was responsible for damaging your tandem? I'm at the university too, with Jeffers.
Organist and choirmaster.
I'm one of the few Fellows who objects to selling ourselves to Soft Earth Systems.
'Eripe me de inimicis.
' 'Deliver me from mine enemies!' The university's enthralled of him with his swanky new science building, from IBM Master down, all terrified Jeffers is going to lose us the dosh.
And the break-in the day before.
A burglar's in the house and Jeffers says, 'He's not a very good one.
' There's no point in bothering the police'! Fool! Mr Finn's at the university at a press conference.
He'll be back this afternoon.
We've got to talk to anyone who might have seen Emily Harte on the night she died.
Did you see her? No, I didn't.
She wasn't someone I knew or had even spoken to.
Well, were you out and about that night? We've got to find someone help identify the car that killed her.
I was working here until ten.
So you drove home, then? No, I didn't.
I was working here late with Clinton.
We had a drink.
I stayed.
And yes, before you ask, 'stayed' does mean what it might infer.
Look, maybe it wasn't an accident, Mr Barnaby, but maybe George Jeffers wasn't the intended target after all.
And why do you say that? Well, I know she was everyone's idea of a little angel, but it would be a mistake to imagine there wasn't anyone who'd want to harm Emily Harte.
I thought you didn't know her? I didn't, but I do know Melanie Jeffers, who first lost a valuable husband, then felt she was losing her son, both to the same woman.
Not the nicest woman in the world.
Doesn't mean she's not observant.
Go and see the ex-Mrs Jeffers, Jones, see what you make of her.
I'll try and find out why our Dr Jeffers seems so relaxed about his burglary.
I can't see how an inept burglar is more significant now than yesterday.
Nothing was taken.
Someone broke in here, Dr Jeffers.
Why didn't you call the police? I don't believe anybody's trying to kill me.
Besides, I'm taking my own precautions.
There a webcam.
So now, if I'm not here, I can see what's happening via the internet.
Dr Jeffers, I still don't really know what happened to Emily, but I have to consider whether she really was the intended victim.
It was a hit-and-run.
And on that road it will have been a local car.
You've had some disagreement, haven't you, with Mr Clinton Finn of Soft Earth Systems.
About science, not murder.
Isn't there an adage in your line of work that there comes a time in the development of any project when the marketing manager has to shoot the designer? I do hope that's not literally true, but I'm guessing that your disagreement might cost millions if not billions of pounds? Oh, come on, Dr Jeffers, indulge me, in terms an ignorant layman might understand.
OK.
The binary system deals with any question by giving the answer 'yes' or 'no'.
Understood? So far, so good.
We call it a logic system.
But I can now prove that when any binary system receives two almost, but not quite, identical bits of information at almost but not quite the same time, it can theoretically fibrillate, or not make up its mind.
Instead of 'yes' or 'no', it says, 'I don't know.
' Logic flies out of the window, systems can behave in totally unpredictable ways.
They can crash? Not a word anyone wants to hear in relation to air traffic control.
I can't keep silent.
I believe a huge air traffic control system, based on my invention, Kernel Logic, is susceptible to the Glitch.
And that would mean what? If they take me seriously, it will cost them millions of dollars.
If they ignore me, people will die.
I'm surprised at you, Dan.
What do you mean? Looking after their cars, even after what's happened.
Are you going to call the police? What do YOU think? Well, I'm forever arguing with George.
It's what we do.
Not that it gets me far, but I have to provide a home and a future for Tom, who also happens to be George's son too, though a lot of the time you wouldn't notice it.
He doesn't acknowledge Tom? Well, when he remembers.
Most of the time, I don't think he cares whether he sees Tom or not.
You don't want to believe everything she says.
I don't like saying my mother's a liar Tom! .
.
but where Dad's involved, you want to be careful.
Just shut up! I'm sorry you heard that.
He does care whether he sees me, Mum.
He likes me.
And I like him.
And you do hate that, don't you, Mum? Just like you hate anyone he cares about.
Just like you hated Emily Harte.
Get out! Just get out of here! Go! Tom! I'm sorry.
He's right.
I did hate her.
I felt she was taking them both away from me.
Not just George, Tom too.
Huh.
What must they think of me now? Oh, God! I've said some stupid things, Mr Barnaby.
I wish I hadn't.
Most of all, I wish I hadn't said them to my son.
But whatever I felt about Emily Harte - Mrs Jeffers, we're not here to judge you, we're here to find out what happened.
I resented her, that's all.
She was younger, prettier.
And the only two people in the world I really care about adored her.
And that hurt me more than anything.
Jeffers has been married three times and Melanie was his third.
They were married nine years.
But people are saying that Melanie's in a relationship that he's not happy about.
And who is the unwelcome suitor? Clinton Finn.
So Emily Harte had at least one enemy.
That makes Melanie Jeffers a suspect.
Who did she intend to kill? Emily Harte or George Jeffers? It's coming along, but er, it's a celebration.
Do remember that.
Joy is what I want for the Pilgrims' Ride.
'Omnes gente plaudite!' 'O sing to the Lord with the voice of melody!' That's it.
See you later.
Well done, everybody Whadda you think? A triumph, of course, Norman.
I'm sorry, you're not in the mood.
Not much in the mood myself.
I still can't believe she's dead.
I think there are several things you can't believe and really should.
I've told Chief Inspector Barnaby.
The man's no fool.
He can see it.
It seems you won't see it at all.
If someone really was trying to kill me, don't you see, I'm responsible for Emily's death! How do I live with that? Not by pretending it didn't happen.
So, this wonderful building will not only bring the finest minds to our university from across the globe, it will also bring benefits outside our walls.
New industries.
New jobs.
Wherever there is excellence is where the technology of the So I think we could take questions now? Yeah, why not.
Yes, madam? Does anyone really give all that money for nothing, Mr Finn? Yes, er, someone does.
We do.
The money for this project is coming from Soft Earth's new air traffic control system, which is based on the Kernel Logic technology invented by Dr Jeffers? A good example of new technology emerging from theoretical science.
So why isn't Dr Jeffers here to tell us all about it today? Well, if you've read any of George's work, you'll know that he's left mainstream science.
Where his ideas are taking him, no-one really knows, but it's a long way from air traffic control systems.
But Yes, well, I think it's time for us all to have a closer look at this extraordinary building.
Yes, please.
Gather round.
Thank you very much.
Erm Doesn't look like a Bucketman job, does it? YOU'RE the expert, then! And you.
Paint but no glue, see? Yep.
Is that the colour of the car that killed Emily? Yeah.
Any ideas? I could give it some thought.
There's not many cars round here I don't know.
No, keep the card.
Let me know if you come up with anything.
How do you feel about this project? I'm excited by the intellectual stimulus a department of theoretical science can bring to this university.
We'll make this the Liverpool or Manchester United of scientific experimentation.
Of course, you can't do that without money.
Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby? Ursula Carroll, Causton Advertiser.
Ah, yes.
We've met before, haven't we? You're investigating the fatal hit-and-run in Aspern Tallow, I believe? I just wondered why you should turn up at this press conference? I need to talk to a lot of people and I find them where they are.
Is Mr Finn one of those people? Look, whoever was in or around Aspern Tallow on the night Emily Harte was killed is one of those people.
And there are a lot of people.
Waiting to talk to me, I guess! Yes, indeed I am, sir.
About speeding, the Bucketman or the Centre for Theoretical Science? No, it's about the death of Emily Harte, sir.
Not making any connection there.
Excuse me, but if you'd like to use my room, Clinton? It's this way.
Thank you.
George has his Glitch catastrophe theory.
Like any conspiracy theory, no objective truth is needed.
Any disagreement proves the conspiracy to keep it from the public.
Are you embarrassed at all about Jeffers not being at your press conference? Well, I wish he hadn't abandoned serious technology to boo and hiss, but who should be more embarrassed, him or me? I believe that Emily Harte was the unintended victim of an attempt on Dr Jeffers' life.
And he has enemies, as you will know, sir.
George is trying to wreck something we worked on together.
Am I hacked off? You bet.
Am I out there to kill him? No.
You tell me where you were on the night Emily Harte was killed, please.
I'll need discretion here.
There's a woman involved.
And she is? My product manager, Helen Markham.
Not Mrs Jeffers? Do you deal in the facts or just the fancy footwork? Look, I really didn't feel like I needed to waste my time reporting another Bucketman incident.
You've done nothing in the past and you're not going to do more in the middle of a murder investigation.
Someone threw a bucket of paint over your car, they ran off and you just shrugged and drove home? Well, it did cause me to crash into a gate post.
But yes, I cleaned the windscreen as best I could and I drove on.
You didn't tell Mr Snape that when you took the car in.
Because I went to get my car repaired.
I didn't want a gathering of village idiots to dance around it and cheer.
And you didn't think to report it? No, because I've done nothing wrong.
Listen, I'm sorry about Emily Harte's death, truly I am, but I had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
You've had arguments yourself with Dr Jeffers, haven't you? Yes.
Heated arguments.
If you're going to jump to the conclusion that everyone who's had an argument with George Jeffers is a murderer, you're in for a very long haul.
Answers, please, sir, not opinions.
I was here, working.
It was late by the time I finished.
I slept here.
Anyone confirm that? Well, I ate in the senior common room.
The college servants will tell you that I came back here at about nine.
I saw no-one else.
And no-one saw you? I'm afraid not.
We need money.
A great deal of money.
It's tedious, but we don't need to sell our souls or to kill for it.
I hope we're a little more sophisticated than that.
Well, somebody isn't, sir.
Perhaps you should look at George's personal life.
There's been a string of disgruntled wives and mistresses.
And I've always thought those are just the ones we know about.
'Cum invocarem! 'Hear me when I call!' Well, I'll bear that in mind, sir.
Thank you, Doctor.
Hey! I'm cooking risotto, your favourite.
I'm going out.
Tom, I can't undo what I've said.
I'm sorry.
Can we start again? You know I'm not such an awful person.
I've gotthings to do, Mum.
Mr Snape.
Your wife will do well on that.
They've all got fancy bikes now.
All paint and no pedals, most of 'em.
Oh, that's great.
Thank you.
I could have picked it up myself.
I had to be in Causton.
And I'm hoping you've something better to do.
Oh yes.
Yes, we have.
I'm drawing up a list of green cars for Sgt Jones.
Oh, that's much appreciated As long as he told you.
Some people have doubts as to which side he's on when it comes to the Soft Earth mob.
Well, I'd be happy to set them straight.
Now, Mr Snape, how much do I owe you? Don't matter.
Wasn't a big job.
You've got to take something.
All kinds of accusations come our way.
Here you are.
20 quid, that's yours.
OK.
And thank you.
Joycey! Ooh! A university cannot be fettered by the financial consequences of telling the truth.
Never.
Your argument with Clinton Finn is that there's a risk involved in the air traffic control system he's developing.
Mm-hm.
He thinks you're wrong, but no-one's trying to stop you saying what you think.
My dear, everyone's trying to stop me.
If I wasn't a Fellow at St Frideswide's and thus unsackable, do you really think they'd let me through the gates? Isn't that just a bit paranoid? He's always been paranoid.
Be careful printing anything George says, unless it's about bikes! I'm giving an interview here! It's your round, so we'll shut up if you pay up.
Put it on the slate, then! Now, let me show you what I've been doing.
I've got webcams inside and outside the house.
What's that light? Something's moving.
There's someone in there! This is better than the telly! You are being burgled.
You'd better call the police.
I'm looking at him and he doesn't even know it! No! No! No, I'm not having that! Come on, where are you? I've already seen you! No, no, no.
You can't report any of this.
The crime news needn't be a big deal.
I know you don't like too much plastered in the local rag.
But? Well, if I'm honest, I've got a sniff of something for a national.
Have you? Big business and science? So you're seeing this as a career opportunity, are you? Well, when the crime's all solved, you'll have loads of useful information for me.
All right, all right, Miss Carroll.
Maybe.
But as of now you are a witness.
And you do know what that means, don't you? Yes.
Yes.
So goodbye, Miss Carroll.
Dr Jeffers not here? He's at the college.
Have you got his camera stuff? Dark figure in a dark room wearing a ski mask.
Jeffers turns the hall light on, but the burglar's not identifiable.
Let's see Looks like the Bucketman, which doesn't make any sense.
But there was a Bucketman attack, wasn't there, the previous night? On Helen Markham.
Paint but no glue.
Might be a copycat.
That's all we need.
And the car was clear? Yeah.
Butwe do have a result on what we got from Jeffers' bike.
Oh, excellent.
And I've got a list of possible cars in the area from Dan Snape.
Any match? From the year of manufacture, could be a C-type Jaguar.
Clinton Finn's got one in his collection.
Any news on George yet? It was just a knock to the head.
I spoke to Jonathan Canning just now and George was in the senior common room for breakfast still arguing.
That's good.
That's good.
Oh, by the way, Helen, I hope it's all right that I spent yesterday evening with YOU till late.
I don't have a problem with that, Clinton.
But you do know everything comes with a price.
And that is? Maybe you should decide who you're screwing, me or Melanie Jeffers.
Because both of us really isn't on the menu any more.
In binary systems, the Glitch is a moment of indecision.
But how can indecision have anything to do with the creation of life? We know life exists, though as I look around this theatre, I wonder But life exists.
Evolution exists.
Yet classic Darwinism, infinitely slow alteration over millennia, had to start somewhere.
At a time when there was no life, did a binary action waver? Did life itself emerge from a moment of indecision? Maybe life was created by mistake, and again, as I look around this room I wonder! But let me get you up to date! Why have I got this bump on the head? It may surprise you to learn that it's probably because of the Glitch, that there are people in business and even at this university who are extremely uncomfortable with my theories, particularly when it comes to aircraft dropping out of the sky because of it.
There are those who claim that Jeffers has a Galileo complex! But it isn't the Inquisition who are trying to keep me quiet Telephone call for Miss Markham.
Miss Markham to the telephone, please.
Look, but don't touch.
The door was open.
I think you mean the door wasn't locked.
Usual procedure is to wait until invited in.
Well, I did ask Miss Markham if - To let me know you were here.
Hope you've found what you're looking for.
Has it been repaired or body work resprayed recently? Original Le Mans-winning livery.
I need to take a paint sample.
A scratch'll cost you.
I will sue.
See what I'm up against! About last night, sir.
I'm very impressed by your webcam system, but not by your response.
You should have called the police.
Ah, if someone was trying to kill me, I gave them a good opportunity.
But I'm not dead.
No, thankfully.
Who do you think it was? Think it was the same person as last time? Tell me, who do you think it was? I had an idea.
I was wrong.
So there's nothing to tell.
I am very confident that it wasn't Tom bashed you over the head last night, but did you believe that the first intruder WAS your son Tom? You were right from the start.
I do have enemies.
What I can't accept is how far some of them will go.
Fine, let's talk about your enemies.
Start with the college.
What about Dr Canning? Jonathan? No, no.
Come in! George.
Thank God.
Sorry I'm interrupting, Mr Barnaby.
What were you doing walking in on a burglar like that? Well, apparently what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
And we've got the Pilgrims' Ride to sort out, with not much help from the college.
That's why I'm here, to see the bursar, but he hasn't been very helpful.
Talk to the Master and remind the Master that the domestic staff quite like the ride.
It's a day out for their families.
And give Jonathan a kick up the backside while you're here.
Unless, of course, you think it'll jeopardise his election.
Our Master is retiring, Barnaby.
Ned's son is in line to succeed.
It's time they all grew up.
We can all get on with our lives as long as everyone realises one way or another I am going to stop Clinton Finn from manufacturing a disaster on the back of my discoveries.
Like everything important, it's very simple.
Soon as you get this, ring me, George.
It's about the car that killed Emily.
It's the green.
I can't believe it, but I can't get it out of my head.
I have to talk to you before I go to the police.
The ramp probably killed him.
But I'd say he was unconscious before he was put under it.
Someone put him under? There's a blow to the head that's nothing to do with the ramp.
It's another murder.
I think it's connected to Emily Harte's.
Well, one thing's for sure.
No-one would mistake Snape for George Jeffers.
'You have one message.
' 'Soon as you get this, ring me, George.
It's about the car that killed Emily.
It's the green.
I can't believe it, but I can't get it out of my head.
I have to talk to you before I go to the police.
' I didn't check it till this morning.
What did he want us to know? He was talking to me about his list of cars.
You said he was still thinking.
Sounds like he'd had a new thought.
See if Bullard's still at the garage.
Ask him if there's any trace, any bit of paper, anything written on the wall, by the phone, anything.
Er, Dr Jeffers, our people have enhanced the material on your webcams.
If you put that on your computer, maybe we can pick up on something that could identify your intruder.
Actually, I know who it was.
I've been thinking.
And who did you think? Clinton Finn? He's written something in the palm of his hand, Tom.
Escort 63 And is that all? No.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, George.
There were no Escorts in 1963.
Mr Clinton Finn, two nights ago someone broke into Dr Jeffers' house.
When Dr Jeffers returned to his house, the intruder was still there and Dr Jeffers was injured.
I know all that.
I know you know all that, Mr Finn.
That's why you asked Helen Markham to give you a false alibi, isn't it? Well, seemed like a good idea at the time.
I believe, sir, that the intruder was you.
Now, given that we have two homicides which I believe are connected with your attempt on Dr Jeffers' life, consider very carefully what you're going to say.
The article you were so anxious Jeffers shouldn't publish.
The only way you could get hold of this was from his computer.
I needed to know exactly what he intended to say.
I had to try and bury him as a serious scientist.
Didn't you get the information the first time you broke in? We used to share information freely, but George has gone encryption mad.
I had to try and hack in again.
He wouldn't have got hurt if he hadn't come home.
But I didn't kill him.
If I'd tried to kill him, he'd be dead! You're under arrest.
It's perfect! I think I'm going to be able to do the whole ride, you know.
Don't you be too ambitious, Joyce.
Just cos you couldn't do it, Dad.
I'll hold my hand up.
No, I couldn't.
You are going to be there? I've got to be there.
Police work.
But yes, I shall be there.
Don't be so negative! Mum might just surprise you.
You were right to take it to an expert.
It's running better now than when it was new! Good luck.
I'll be thinking of you.
There's no excuse for you next year.
Maybe you two get a tandem! On your bike! Ladies and gentlemen.
Before we set out, I'd like to dedicate today's ride to two dear friends I'd like to dedicate today's ride to two dear friends who travelled the Pilgrims' Road with me many times, but who will travel it no more.
This is for Dan Snape and Emily Emily Harte.
The Pilgrims' Ride! Let's go! Are you going to wish us luck, Jonathan? You've put an innocent man in jail.
You may well have scuppered safe air travel across the world.
You may well turn this university into a third-rate institution! Jonathan, not now, not today.
I know Clinton's become desperate, but I am still struggling with the idea that he tried to kill me.
Surely it can come as no great surprise that somebody did? Jonathan, please.
Enough.
I thought you really cared about this place, Dad.
Not any more.
Dr Jeffers, I still don't want you to do this.
There is someone out there - Whoever it is is going to have to catch me first.
I want you to see how dangerous this is! I appreciate your concern, but this is just a bike ride.
Come on, Ned.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do I'm half crazy Keep him in sight, especially up on the Ridgeway.
And if you do lose him, shout.
I can't afford a carriage But you'll look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle made for two To the right, everybody.
Local sport and recreation, is it today, Miss Carroll? It is a local paper.
I imagine DS Jones and DC Stephens will stay pretty close to George Jeffers.
We are taking every precaution.
Does this mean Clinton Finn isn't a suspect now? He is helping us with our inquiries.
Oh, you'll see in today's paper I didn't make a fuss.
Low key.
Page four.
With obituaries for Emily Harte and Daniel Snape.
I dug that one out of the archive.
Daniel Snape was big into rallying in his younger days.
Who's that with him? He's presenting the Midsomer Rally Cup to Jonathan Canning.
He's only 19 there.
That's his father, isn't it? Edward Canning? Yes, he was his navigator.
I don't know how careful THEY were about driving around the lanes back then.
'He's written something in the palm of his hand, Tom!' Can I keep this? Yeah, sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Miss Carroll.
Ha1 You won't keep that up, Ned! What the hell's going on? This Escort, is this your car, sir? You walk into my college, demand a key to my room.
You have no right - Is this your car, sir? It was, 25 years ago.
Snape was remembering the numbers on the number plate.
Well, you've lost me there.
Where's the car now, sir? Well, I lost interest in rallying a long time ago.
Dad scrapped the car shortly after that photo was taken.
Our Master is retiring, Barnaby.
Ned's son is in line to succeed.
Water? Water? No, thank you.
Water? Yes, please.
Thank you.
Well done.
Keep going.
Thank you.
Water? How come he's so fit? It's called exercise, sarge.
Hey! Hey! Careful! Watch it! What the? That's the Escort! I tried to phone.
No signal.
Where's Jeffers? He's a few seconds in front of us.
He's not there now.
Where's Canning? He's our man.
This is THE Escort that Snape knew.
They they can't have just vanished.
He must have gone off the track somewhere.
You two, ride back.
See if there's any way off this track, all right? Go on! I've got it! Down here, sir! Catch him! Come off there! Come here! No, I'll be fine.
Go on, Tom.
Are you sure? Yeah.
That's why George Jeffers came in first, every Pilgrims' Ride.
Took a shortcut, didn't he? Now there's a lesson there.
Are you going now, sir? No.
No, I'm not.
You take Canning in.
I don't know if and when Joyce and Cully will finish, but I've got to see them do it.
Yes! I finished! I finished! Well done! Well done, both of you! What do you say to that, Dad? I never doubted her for a moment.
What's happened, Chief Inspector? My wife and my daughter have just completed the Pilgrims' Ride.
You arrested someone? Miss Carroll, you come and see me tomorrow morning.
No.
Er, listen, the Advertiser's going to need a picture.
So what about a shot of Cully and Joyce Barnaby? That'd make a pretty good front page, wouldn't it, eh? Cully, Joyce.
Causton Advertiser.
I didn't think anyone would remember the car.
Daniel did.
He remembered the colour.
I know that he believed me when I told him it had been broken up, but for how long? He could still have said something to you.
Why couldn't he leave it alone? Even Jonathan thought the car had gone to the breakers.
Those years, when he drove, I was his navigator.
We were still close then.
We're not close any more because he's in a different world and I don't belong in it.
But he does! But wasn't it YOUR college too? I was head porter, a college servant.
It's nothing.
I never dreamed that my son would be Master.
I couldn't let George take that away.
And he wouldn't stop.
I knew he wouldn't stop until he'd he'd ruined it all.
I had to do it for my son.
I didn't know it was Emily.
How could I? I thought it was him.
I watched him coming out the house.
I followed him.
I didn't know.
But you knew it was Daniel Snape.
Well, it was too late.
I had no choice.
Why didn't Snape just tell us? He didn't want to till he'd talked to Jeffers.
Wanted to be sure.
And he didn't entirely trust us.
No, that didn't help.
Anyway, it's over.
Even the Bucketman.
Afraid not.
That was to put us off the scent.
He's still out there.
Ah, Barnaby.
We have a confession to make.
Right glue Right paint.
I knew he'd guessed.
I thought it was him breaking into the house to find out for sure.
It wasn't.
But you took over from him anyway, didn't you, Tom? Like father, like son.
Thought the attack on Helen Markham's car wasn't quite the Bucketman's style.
So what are we going to do, Barnaby? Well, I don't know, but we have a problem, don't we? When two almost, but not quite, identical Bucketmen appear at almost, but not quite, the same time, fibrillation can and does occur in the police investigative system.
We have a glitch, Dr Jeffers.
We can't have that, can we? So why don't weput all this backin the bag .
.
andclose it? Thank you.
Ah, the Bucketmen! It doesn't suit you any more than it suited me, George.
No.
A taste of my own medicine.
So you're not pressing charges? I don't think so.
So how do we iron out this glitch in the air traffic control system? I'll give you a year.
It's ridiculous.
You still have no concept of how a scientist works! OK, two, tops.
Oh, hell.
Let me buy you a drink.
I'm not leaving it in the rain.
No, no.
Right, right.
We can't get the door shut.
You'll have to throw out some more of this junk.
Why don't we start with this? Don't be provocative, Tom.
A time will come when this has to go back on the bike.
It's nothing Cully said, but I have a feeling that it won't be long.
Ah, well, dream things true.
Come on.
Come on, we'll drink to that.
Have we heard from the National Trust? It's all done.
Portaloos too! First things first, Daniel.
When you get to my age, Emily, it really does all revolve around where the next loo is.
Look down there, you young clowns! Midsomer Sanctae.
A thousand years of history you can see.
Maybe 2,000 more you can't see, but you can feel.
Last one down's exterminated! Come on.
We'll surprise them.
I know a little shortcut! This is it! Is this what you call cheating? No! It's a handicap, like golf! Morning, sir.
Morning, Jones.
You're early.
Or did you get in in the hope I wouldn't witness this unusual event? I have been on a bike before, sir.
Nice bit of kit, that.
Brand new, isn't it? Yeah, doing the Pilgrims' Ride.
I wouldn't bet too much of your salary, generous though it is, on beating Stephens.
Fit girl, that! It's not a race, sir! Yeah, I know.
I also know you, Jones.
Oh, bad tidings from Aspern Tallow.
Your Bucketman struck again.
Oh, bad tidings from Aspern Tallow.
Your Bucketman struck again.
No! See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
Bucketman has turned law-abiding villagers into the three wise monkeys.
Oh, yeah.
It's been three months now? Yeah, and I'm no nearer catching him than I was the first time he threw a bucket over a sports car.
But there's nothing I don't know about paint and glue.
It'll come in handy, sarge.
Yeah, if I want a job as a paint salesman.
Don't worry, you're not going to be fired just yet.
You get the Bucketman by this weekend and your job will be safe.
Mind you, the latest victim, he's shouting very very loudly.
We're not taking it seriously.
We're on the villagers' side.
We're turning a blind eye to it all.
That's what the villagers are saying about us not stopping their plague of boy racers.
Yes, but he's been in touch with the Chief Superintendent.
Yes, but he's been in touch with the Chief Superintendent.
Take a look at that.
(WHOOPING) Wey-hey! How did you get here first? Experience.
It's cool here, Dad.
I've always thought so.
So what went on here? Well, for over 700 years pilgrims gathered at Causton to walk to this abbey, to pray to St Frideswide for blessings and help.
She was the daughter of an Anglo-Saxon king, but people prayed here long before that.
The Romans had a shrine here.
Before them the Celts.
And I want plenty of prayers to St Frideswide for good weather on the day.
Please! She didn't do very well for us last year, did she? It bucketed down.
Which reminds me, the Bucketman was out again last night.
Was he? We're heading back, Tom.
Dad was always on about this place when I was a kid.
I sort of see it.
It means a lot to him that you're here.
It's just a bike ride.
Ta.
Thank you.
DCI Barnaby? That's me.
Yes, Mr Finn'll see you now.
Thank you.
Is that a smile, Barnaby? Certainly not, sir.
It's the sunlight coming through the window.
I'm not amused.
But you wouldn't be here if you didn't know that.
I'm here because you complained to my Chief Superintendent.
And to assure you that we'll do whatever we can to catch whoever it was attacked you.
In three months this Bucketman has attacked four people, now five.
All employees of Soft Earth Systems and drivers of very fast cars.
Look, just leave it! Get it picked up later.
And what about this guy? Jones? If he worked for me I'd have cut him loose a long time ago.
You said you wanted more of the paint, Sergeant.
Knock yourself out! If you guys can't hack it, maybe we should do something ourselves.
I do hope that's not a threat, sir.
Where's the car, Mr Finn? I need to inspect the damage.
Auto repair shop in the village.
Guy called Snape.
Well, thank you very much, Mr Finn.
That will be all for now, thank you.
Yeah.
What? Well, how does it look? If he's not there George has got to be there, Jonathan! Sort it out! He's adamant! I can't twist his arm, Clinton! 'Well, then try breaking his damn neck!' On the table.
They've been up the manor already, talking to Mr Finn.
Livid, he is.
Whatever else you might say about him, he had a nice head of hair.
'In quo corriget?' 'Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?' Let's hope Mr Finn takes note.
At least one car's off the road.
I'm surprised you've given it house room, Daniel.
Couldn't resist it, I'm afraid.
It's a beautiful machine, in the hands of someone who can drive it.
Detective Sergeant Jones, here to investigate injury to my tandem! Mr Wayland-Smith.
Miss Harte.
Mr Snape.
I'm sure you all know why we're here.
It's not my tandem after all? Clinton Finn has been dealt with by another instrument of justice.
'Noli aemulari.
' 'Fret not thyself because of the ungodly.
' I don't.
Have to dash.
Back to school.
But I'm sure all my buckets are accounted for.
Another paint sample for your collection, Sergeant.
Devil's own job getting it off.
It's the glue.
Terribly sticky with paint.
Right Sorry, Jonathan.
I forgot.
Well, you'd better tell him I'll be late.
Was there some part of 'I won't be coming to your press conference tomorrow' that needed elaboration? What needs elaborating is your commitment to this university.
This place is here to give me the opportunity to say what I like, think what I like, discover what I can, or fail to do any of those things.
Of course it's true that without your work Soft Earth Systems wouldn't be offering this money.
We all recognise that and applaud it.
But this is about the university! It's about intellectual integrity.
I invented Kernel Logic ten years ago.
I've discovered it's flawed.
So you say.
And if I come to your press conference, I shall say that very loudly.
Is that what you want? Do you know.
Jonathan, you're almost persuading me I should come.
Yes, Bains? Dr Jeffers' new bicycle.
What? Excellent! Lead on! I might even give you a spin round the quad.
I don't think we handled that very well at all, Jonathan, do you? Hey hey hey! Where have you been, Tom? Out.
You've got time off for studying.
I don't see much evidence of it.
I rode to the abbey with the lads.
Ah.
Well, your father and Miss Muffet got back hours ago.
Couldn't you keep up? Oh! Oh, walk right in! Make yourself at home! Everyone else seems to.
You said you'd talk to him.
Our son is out of control.
And I don't think his relationship with his ex-primary school teacher is healthy, even if you think yours is.
You wanted me to talk to him.
Emily has made that possible for the first time in years.
Ah Haven't you been married enough, for God's sake? It starts in the cloisters at St Frideswide's, straight down to the river, then it's a steep climb up to the Ridgeway, but after that, open country all the way to Midsomer Sanctae.
That's miles and miles.
I don't have to do it all.
I'll start with Cully and then when I've had enough, I'll just stop.
There is one little flaw in this plan of yours, Mrs Barnaby.
You do not have a bike.
Mm I don't enjoy asking you about this, Dad, but since George Jeffers doesn't seem to communicate with anyone at St Frideswide's these days, I'm forced to try other means.
Bicycles, son.
What do you mean, 'bicycles'? All I ever talk to him about is bicycles.
Anything else he does is beyond me.
It's beyond most people.
And more to the point, it's not my business.
It's not your business he's putting the future of the college at risk? Cos that's what it amounts to.
It's not been easy persuading Soft Earth Systems to put up millions.
Is George happy to lose it? I need to know if he's going to take it that far.
He must talk to you about the college, Dad.
You knew him when he was an undergraduate and you were the head porter.
Surely you care, Dad? Bicycles, son.
I won't let him do it.
It's not just about money.
It's about MY future.
Jonathan, you are big enough and old enough.
It'll all come right.
You worry too much.
Ha-ha! Emily! Well, what do you think? About what? As a collector of vintage sports cars, you can appreciate a beautiful machine.
Brilliant engineering.
The ultimate space-frame bicycle.
Whatever turns you on, George.
Whatever turns you on.
But what about this? Not so pretty, huh? I'm not sure I ever found you very pretty.
There are those who do.
Yeah, we've had our disagreements lately.
The Glitch.
I didn't think you'd pull out of the press conference.
All right, announce a delay.
Let your people know we have a problem, tell them I'll redesign the logic system.
It's been ten years and tens of millions.
I can't ditch it because you think a theoretical glitch in theoretical circumstances might cause theoretical problems! Your glitch has never glitched! I'm surrounded by scientists who tell me it does not exist.
No, you're surrounded by idiots you've PAID to tell you it doesn't exist.
They're all corrupt, of course.
All that matters is, I'm right.
The air traffic control system you're loosing on the world is catastrophically flawed.
I can't undiscover the Glitch, Clinton.
You have blind faith a solution will be found before people die.
I don't.
So now I'm going public.
I will not let you do it, whatever it takes.
We've got a meeting, George.
You haven't forgotten, have you? Hey, come on! Respect the bike! Don't get a puncture.
Oh, good grief.
You can't ride this! It's got no chain.
Well, you'll have to get one.
You're good at that sort of thing.
You only pretend not to be so I never ask.
Joyce Right, any more business? Yes, Midsomer Children's Hospital T-shirts at a fiver each.
We've got to get 500, and assuming that everybody who takes part in the ride buys one, together with the sponsorship money and the spectators give on the day, we're hoping for close to That's wonderful.
Less if it rains.
Where's your optimism, Dan? The less optimistic I am, the less disappointed I get.
Well, I will be very disappointed if we don't get to the pub on time.
Are you going to come and join us? I may, I may.
See you later.
OK.
Melanie was here earlier.
Tom.
Revision? She thinks if I shout loud enough, he'll buckle down and work.
In my view, he'd do the opposite.
Oh, you mean he's his father's son? Oh, not much of a father.
Oh, you mean he's his father's son? Oh, not much of a father.
With your help I-I've been trying, but It's not just about Tom, is it? What do you mean? Erm, I just know how she looks at me.
Well, that's ridiculous.
We're friends! Even if there WAS more than that 'This is the weather the cuckoo likes And they sit outside at the Traveller's Rest And maids come forth in sprig muslin dressed And citizens dream of the south and west And so do I.
' Never a good day for it, but on a day like this, makes it even worse.
Who is she? Emily Harte.
Primary school teacher in Aspern Tallow.
Emily Harte When did it happen? Bullard thinks last night.
Not late.
Have you been into the village yet? No, I came straight here.
They're very angry.
The accident that was waiting to happen.
That's what they're saying.
George.
Oh, she's very young.
All right right for them to take her back, Tom? No, hang on.
Thecause of death? A lot of broken bones.
She was hit by a vehicle travelling at speed.
Well, she must have been very visible.
Car went right over her, no sign of breaking.
Drunk-driving is all I can think.
All right, you can take her now.
Yep.
OK.
Uh-oh.
Stay here for a bit.
Have you spoken to Emily's mother? In the kitchen.
She's making some tea.
I erm I was watching the children I'm sorry, sir.
Don't apologise, Gail.
There's no need.
Now, come on, when did the mother last see Emily? Emily went out yesterday evening to a meeting at the Midsomer Cycling Club, at a Dr Jeffers' house.
What time did it finish? Well, I spoke to a Mr Canning.
He called in to see Emily's mother.
He was at the meeting.
He says 8:30.
He rode back from the village with a Mr Snape, who owns the garage.
Emily stayed and talked to Dr Jeffers.
OK.
Was she all right? Yeah, yes she was.
You've had a run-in with Dr Jeffers, haven't you? Yeah, a person who thinks I should have arrested everybody with a fast car at Soft Earth Systems.
Hit-and-run.
What kind of animal could leave? Dr Jeffers, we need definite times.
Emily Harte was here about the Pilgrims' Ride? Yes.
What time did the meeting end? Er, 8, 8:15.
It was dark when she left, that's why she was riding my bicycle.
There were no lights on hers.
You know the trouble we've had, the near-misses Yeah, we are aware of all that, sir.
The time you've wasted looking for a man with a bucket of paint, when you should have been doing something to stop these idiots! A woman is dead! A young woman with her whole life ahead of her, and the best you can say is, 'We are aware of that'? I'm really sorry about Emily.
Thought YOU'D be pleased.
That's a terrible thing to say! You hated her.
Oh, Tom! Because Dad liked her and I liked her too.
That was a problem, right? She could have been his daughter.
She was bidding to be your mother.
I should be so lucky! I shouldn't have said that.
Don't keep Clinton waiting, Mum.
You don't want to lose another one.
Forensics have got samples of the car's paint from the bicycle.
Dark green.
We may even get a make out of it.
Good The bike itself was barely touched, but there's obviously some slight damage to the bodywork of the car.
Dr Jeffers works at the university.
He's some kind of hotshot scientist.
Need to know more about him, not just fact that he likes cycling.
She leaves Dr Jeffers' house, she's on Dr Jeffer's bicycle, it's a dark night.
Would YOU have known it wasn't him? No.
No.
Why was the damage to the bike so little, George? Emily's injuries, well, they they were terrible, like the wheels had gone right over her.
She could have fallen off the bike and the car went over her.
But then you say the car reversed? To see what damage was done? No, no, George.
I don't believe the driver ever got out of the car.
I think he, or she, reversed, like you said, and then drove over Emily deliberately.
No accident.
We're looking at first-degree murder here.
George isn't interested in money.
You say that, but I never really believed it.
No, it's true.
He was so careless about patents, he moved on to Kernal Logic and he just couldn't be bothered to protect our interests.
I can't afford that luxury.
It has cost me a fortune to develop.
We'll make a packet when it goes online, but so will George.
Should have hung in there, Mel.
Well, he always was his own worst enemy.
I'm putting together an army of bigger and better scientists.
I'm gonna tell the world that he's entered the Twilight Zone.
I'm gonna destroy him before he destroys me.
Cully loved this so much.
We should keep it.
It's still in decent nick and you never know Never know what, love? You know.
Cully's not going to give you a reason to use that any time soon.
Is she? Mm Oooh! Right! Oh, yes.
What a genius! I've done a good job on this! Tom? What? No, no! Stop! Why? I'd love you to stay, but I've got enough problems with Tom.
Oh, no, he's a big boy now.
I know, but he's just taking it really badly.
Oh, no.
Look, I promise I'll sort something out, OK? Are you OK? It's better to do it on the sofa than in the car.
I don't know what the neighbours think.
Don't you dare speak to me like that! Where are you going? I don't know.
But at least I'm not going round for a heart-to-heart with Emily.
Tom! You're here late? You asked me to contact a dozen scientists.
Four are in California.
So I thought it was worth waiting for them to get out of bed before asking them to do YOU a favour.
Are they going to write for us? Mm, except Steve Wright from Stanford.
What's his problem? His problem is, he actually thinks George has got a point.
Ah, he's a second-division clown.
Do you wanna have a drink? No, not tonight.
I don't know what division I'M playing in, but I will not be played as a substitute.
Morning! Well done, sarge.
The training's obviously paying off.
Sorry, can you spell that for me, please? I've been talking to some of the students at the university.
Jeffers made his name in the '80s with an invention called Wafer Logic.
The circuit boards that drive computers are printed on wafer-thin slices of silicon.
The wafer is then cut into a hundred separate chips and the necessary connections are made between them.
Jeffers' Wafer Logic said, let's not cut the wafer, let's build connections between the chips inside the wafer.
Is there more? Ten years ago, he came up with Kernel Logic.
This time he said, let's not slice the silicon, let's build a million computers inside a whole block of the stuff.
A million computers? Yeah.
It takes that kind of power to model the air space of the entire planet.
If it works, it'll make a fortune for Soft Earth Systems AND a tidy sum for Jeffers.
And if it doesn't, the investors will losebillions.
Well, thank you for that, Jones.
Very good.
Very good indeed.
Ah, you had the chain too tight.
Much too tight.
Fine machine, though.
Don't make them like this any more.
I never know if that's a good or bad thing.
That's not going to work, is it? Know who did it yet? That's what we're here to find out, Mr Snape.
Identify the car and you can find the driver, right? You got something I can go on? It's one of them.
Look at their cars and you'll find the driver quick enough.
We deal with the press conference as best we can.
If Jeffers doesn't show, no big deal.
It's educational press.
Hardly investigative journalism.
The more I think about it, we're better off without him.
And if we're rubbishing his ideas anyway You know what's at stake here? If George goes public, my company loses billions and I lose my job, your university doesn't get a science building and YOU don't become Master when he retires.
So, I want reassurance.
When this gets ugly, and it will, I don't want this university defending George out of some misguided notion of academic freedom.
When I say he's crazy, he is.
I've um pranged my car, Mr Snape.
How did you do that, then? Will it affect the cost? Have you been trying to paint it? How quickly can you do this? That is, of course, if you want the job.
I could always take it up to Causton.
Have fun.
We know that Emily Harte was killed between 10:30 and 11:30, but if we take the time she left Jeffers' house If someone wanted to kill Jeffers, what are the chances of just coming across him cycling at night? Very slim.
Must have been unplanned.
Look, it was already dark.
At some point outside the gate or along the road, our killer sees the bike and sees someone he THINKS is Jeffers.
It's the right place, right clothes, right bike.
Maybe someone thought he was the Bucketman? Um, couldn't help but overhear Now, for an intelligent man, George was always stupid when it came to judging people.
He doesn't believe what you're saying.
I do.
And what am I saying, sir? Somebody tried to kill him.
I know exactly who.
'Deus auribus.
' 'We have heard with our ears.
' Clinton Finn! Clinton Finn? The man you say was responsible for damaging your tandem? I'm at the university too, with Jeffers.
Organist and choirmaster.
I'm one of the few Fellows who objects to selling ourselves to Soft Earth Systems.
'Eripe me de inimicis.
' 'Deliver me from mine enemies!' The university's enthralled of him with his swanky new science building, from IBM Master down, all terrified Jeffers is going to lose us the dosh.
And the break-in the day before.
A burglar's in the house and Jeffers says, 'He's not a very good one.
' There's no point in bothering the police'! Fool! Mr Finn's at the university at a press conference.
He'll be back this afternoon.
We've got to talk to anyone who might have seen Emily Harte on the night she died.
Did you see her? No, I didn't.
She wasn't someone I knew or had even spoken to.
Well, were you out and about that night? We've got to find someone help identify the car that killed her.
I was working here until ten.
So you drove home, then? No, I didn't.
I was working here late with Clinton.
We had a drink.
I stayed.
And yes, before you ask, 'stayed' does mean what it might infer.
Look, maybe it wasn't an accident, Mr Barnaby, but maybe George Jeffers wasn't the intended target after all.
And why do you say that? Well, I know she was everyone's idea of a little angel, but it would be a mistake to imagine there wasn't anyone who'd want to harm Emily Harte.
I thought you didn't know her? I didn't, but I do know Melanie Jeffers, who first lost a valuable husband, then felt she was losing her son, both to the same woman.
Not the nicest woman in the world.
Doesn't mean she's not observant.
Go and see the ex-Mrs Jeffers, Jones, see what you make of her.
I'll try and find out why our Dr Jeffers seems so relaxed about his burglary.
I can't see how an inept burglar is more significant now than yesterday.
Nothing was taken.
Someone broke in here, Dr Jeffers.
Why didn't you call the police? I don't believe anybody's trying to kill me.
Besides, I'm taking my own precautions.
There a webcam.
So now, if I'm not here, I can see what's happening via the internet.
Dr Jeffers, I still don't really know what happened to Emily, but I have to consider whether she really was the intended victim.
It was a hit-and-run.
And on that road it will have been a local car.
You've had some disagreement, haven't you, with Mr Clinton Finn of Soft Earth Systems.
About science, not murder.
Isn't there an adage in your line of work that there comes a time in the development of any project when the marketing manager has to shoot the designer? I do hope that's not literally true, but I'm guessing that your disagreement might cost millions if not billions of pounds? Oh, come on, Dr Jeffers, indulge me, in terms an ignorant layman might understand.
OK.
The binary system deals with any question by giving the answer 'yes' or 'no'.
Understood? So far, so good.
We call it a logic system.
But I can now prove that when any binary system receives two almost, but not quite, identical bits of information at almost but not quite the same time, it can theoretically fibrillate, or not make up its mind.
Instead of 'yes' or 'no', it says, 'I don't know.
' Logic flies out of the window, systems can behave in totally unpredictable ways.
They can crash? Not a word anyone wants to hear in relation to air traffic control.
I can't keep silent.
I believe a huge air traffic control system, based on my invention, Kernel Logic, is susceptible to the Glitch.
And that would mean what? If they take me seriously, it will cost them millions of dollars.
If they ignore me, people will die.
I'm surprised at you, Dan.
What do you mean? Looking after their cars, even after what's happened.
Are you going to call the police? What do YOU think? Well, I'm forever arguing with George.
It's what we do.
Not that it gets me far, but I have to provide a home and a future for Tom, who also happens to be George's son too, though a lot of the time you wouldn't notice it.
He doesn't acknowledge Tom? Well, when he remembers.
Most of the time, I don't think he cares whether he sees Tom or not.
You don't want to believe everything she says.
I don't like saying my mother's a liar Tom! .
.
but where Dad's involved, you want to be careful.
Just shut up! I'm sorry you heard that.
He does care whether he sees me, Mum.
He likes me.
And I like him.
And you do hate that, don't you, Mum? Just like you hate anyone he cares about.
Just like you hated Emily Harte.
Get out! Just get out of here! Go! Tom! I'm sorry.
He's right.
I did hate her.
I felt she was taking them both away from me.
Not just George, Tom too.
Huh.
What must they think of me now? Oh, God! I've said some stupid things, Mr Barnaby.
I wish I hadn't.
Most of all, I wish I hadn't said them to my son.
But whatever I felt about Emily Harte - Mrs Jeffers, we're not here to judge you, we're here to find out what happened.
I resented her, that's all.
She was younger, prettier.
And the only two people in the world I really care about adored her.
And that hurt me more than anything.
Jeffers has been married three times and Melanie was his third.
They were married nine years.
But people are saying that Melanie's in a relationship that he's not happy about.
And who is the unwelcome suitor? Clinton Finn.
So Emily Harte had at least one enemy.
That makes Melanie Jeffers a suspect.
Who did she intend to kill? Emily Harte or George Jeffers? It's coming along, but er, it's a celebration.
Do remember that.
Joy is what I want for the Pilgrims' Ride.
'Omnes gente plaudite!' 'O sing to the Lord with the voice of melody!' That's it.
See you later.
Well done, everybody Whadda you think? A triumph, of course, Norman.
I'm sorry, you're not in the mood.
Not much in the mood myself.
I still can't believe she's dead.
I think there are several things you can't believe and really should.
I've told Chief Inspector Barnaby.
The man's no fool.
He can see it.
It seems you won't see it at all.
If someone really was trying to kill me, don't you see, I'm responsible for Emily's death! How do I live with that? Not by pretending it didn't happen.
So, this wonderful building will not only bring the finest minds to our university from across the globe, it will also bring benefits outside our walls.
New industries.
New jobs.
Wherever there is excellence is where the technology of the So I think we could take questions now? Yeah, why not.
Yes, madam? Does anyone really give all that money for nothing, Mr Finn? Yes, er, someone does.
We do.
The money for this project is coming from Soft Earth's new air traffic control system, which is based on the Kernel Logic technology invented by Dr Jeffers? A good example of new technology emerging from theoretical science.
So why isn't Dr Jeffers here to tell us all about it today? Well, if you've read any of George's work, you'll know that he's left mainstream science.
Where his ideas are taking him, no-one really knows, but it's a long way from air traffic control systems.
But Yes, well, I think it's time for us all to have a closer look at this extraordinary building.
Yes, please.
Gather round.
Thank you very much.
Erm Doesn't look like a Bucketman job, does it? YOU'RE the expert, then! And you.
Paint but no glue, see? Yep.
Is that the colour of the car that killed Emily? Yeah.
Any ideas? I could give it some thought.
There's not many cars round here I don't know.
No, keep the card.
Let me know if you come up with anything.
How do you feel about this project? I'm excited by the intellectual stimulus a department of theoretical science can bring to this university.
We'll make this the Liverpool or Manchester United of scientific experimentation.
Of course, you can't do that without money.
Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby? Ursula Carroll, Causton Advertiser.
Ah, yes.
We've met before, haven't we? You're investigating the fatal hit-and-run in Aspern Tallow, I believe? I just wondered why you should turn up at this press conference? I need to talk to a lot of people and I find them where they are.
Is Mr Finn one of those people? Look, whoever was in or around Aspern Tallow on the night Emily Harte was killed is one of those people.
And there are a lot of people.
Waiting to talk to me, I guess! Yes, indeed I am, sir.
About speeding, the Bucketman or the Centre for Theoretical Science? No, it's about the death of Emily Harte, sir.
Not making any connection there.
Excuse me, but if you'd like to use my room, Clinton? It's this way.
Thank you.
George has his Glitch catastrophe theory.
Like any conspiracy theory, no objective truth is needed.
Any disagreement proves the conspiracy to keep it from the public.
Are you embarrassed at all about Jeffers not being at your press conference? Well, I wish he hadn't abandoned serious technology to boo and hiss, but who should be more embarrassed, him or me? I believe that Emily Harte was the unintended victim of an attempt on Dr Jeffers' life.
And he has enemies, as you will know, sir.
George is trying to wreck something we worked on together.
Am I hacked off? You bet.
Am I out there to kill him? No.
You tell me where you were on the night Emily Harte was killed, please.
I'll need discretion here.
There's a woman involved.
And she is? My product manager, Helen Markham.
Not Mrs Jeffers? Do you deal in the facts or just the fancy footwork? Look, I really didn't feel like I needed to waste my time reporting another Bucketman incident.
You've done nothing in the past and you're not going to do more in the middle of a murder investigation.
Someone threw a bucket of paint over your car, they ran off and you just shrugged and drove home? Well, it did cause me to crash into a gate post.
But yes, I cleaned the windscreen as best I could and I drove on.
You didn't tell Mr Snape that when you took the car in.
Because I went to get my car repaired.
I didn't want a gathering of village idiots to dance around it and cheer.
And you didn't think to report it? No, because I've done nothing wrong.
Listen, I'm sorry about Emily Harte's death, truly I am, but I had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
You've had arguments yourself with Dr Jeffers, haven't you? Yes.
Heated arguments.
If you're going to jump to the conclusion that everyone who's had an argument with George Jeffers is a murderer, you're in for a very long haul.
Answers, please, sir, not opinions.
I was here, working.
It was late by the time I finished.
I slept here.
Anyone confirm that? Well, I ate in the senior common room.
The college servants will tell you that I came back here at about nine.
I saw no-one else.
And no-one saw you? I'm afraid not.
We need money.
A great deal of money.
It's tedious, but we don't need to sell our souls or to kill for it.
I hope we're a little more sophisticated than that.
Well, somebody isn't, sir.
Perhaps you should look at George's personal life.
There's been a string of disgruntled wives and mistresses.
And I've always thought those are just the ones we know about.
'Cum invocarem! 'Hear me when I call!' Well, I'll bear that in mind, sir.
Thank you, Doctor.
Hey! I'm cooking risotto, your favourite.
I'm going out.
Tom, I can't undo what I've said.
I'm sorry.
Can we start again? You know I'm not such an awful person.
I've gotthings to do, Mum.
Mr Snape.
Your wife will do well on that.
They've all got fancy bikes now.
All paint and no pedals, most of 'em.
Oh, that's great.
Thank you.
I could have picked it up myself.
I had to be in Causton.
And I'm hoping you've something better to do.
Oh yes.
Yes, we have.
I'm drawing up a list of green cars for Sgt Jones.
Oh, that's much appreciated As long as he told you.
Some people have doubts as to which side he's on when it comes to the Soft Earth mob.
Well, I'd be happy to set them straight.
Now, Mr Snape, how much do I owe you? Don't matter.
Wasn't a big job.
You've got to take something.
All kinds of accusations come our way.
Here you are.
20 quid, that's yours.
OK.
And thank you.
Joycey! Ooh! A university cannot be fettered by the financial consequences of telling the truth.
Never.
Your argument with Clinton Finn is that there's a risk involved in the air traffic control system he's developing.
Mm-hm.
He thinks you're wrong, but no-one's trying to stop you saying what you think.
My dear, everyone's trying to stop me.
If I wasn't a Fellow at St Frideswide's and thus unsackable, do you really think they'd let me through the gates? Isn't that just a bit paranoid? He's always been paranoid.
Be careful printing anything George says, unless it's about bikes! I'm giving an interview here! It's your round, so we'll shut up if you pay up.
Put it on the slate, then! Now, let me show you what I've been doing.
I've got webcams inside and outside the house.
What's that light? Something's moving.
There's someone in there! This is better than the telly! You are being burgled.
You'd better call the police.
I'm looking at him and he doesn't even know it! No! No! No, I'm not having that! Come on, where are you? I've already seen you! No, no, no.
You can't report any of this.
The crime news needn't be a big deal.
I know you don't like too much plastered in the local rag.
But? Well, if I'm honest, I've got a sniff of something for a national.
Have you? Big business and science? So you're seeing this as a career opportunity, are you? Well, when the crime's all solved, you'll have loads of useful information for me.
All right, all right, Miss Carroll.
Maybe.
But as of now you are a witness.
And you do know what that means, don't you? Yes.
Yes.
So goodbye, Miss Carroll.
Dr Jeffers not here? He's at the college.
Have you got his camera stuff? Dark figure in a dark room wearing a ski mask.
Jeffers turns the hall light on, but the burglar's not identifiable.
Let's see Looks like the Bucketman, which doesn't make any sense.
But there was a Bucketman attack, wasn't there, the previous night? On Helen Markham.
Paint but no glue.
Might be a copycat.
That's all we need.
And the car was clear? Yeah.
Butwe do have a result on what we got from Jeffers' bike.
Oh, excellent.
And I've got a list of possible cars in the area from Dan Snape.
Any match? From the year of manufacture, could be a C-type Jaguar.
Clinton Finn's got one in his collection.
Any news on George yet? It was just a knock to the head.
I spoke to Jonathan Canning just now and George was in the senior common room for breakfast still arguing.
That's good.
That's good.
Oh, by the way, Helen, I hope it's all right that I spent yesterday evening with YOU till late.
I don't have a problem with that, Clinton.
But you do know everything comes with a price.
And that is? Maybe you should decide who you're screwing, me or Melanie Jeffers.
Because both of us really isn't on the menu any more.
In binary systems, the Glitch is a moment of indecision.
But how can indecision have anything to do with the creation of life? We know life exists, though as I look around this theatre, I wonder But life exists.
Evolution exists.
Yet classic Darwinism, infinitely slow alteration over millennia, had to start somewhere.
At a time when there was no life, did a binary action waver? Did life itself emerge from a moment of indecision? Maybe life was created by mistake, and again, as I look around this room I wonder! But let me get you up to date! Why have I got this bump on the head? It may surprise you to learn that it's probably because of the Glitch, that there are people in business and even at this university who are extremely uncomfortable with my theories, particularly when it comes to aircraft dropping out of the sky because of it.
There are those who claim that Jeffers has a Galileo complex! But it isn't the Inquisition who are trying to keep me quiet Telephone call for Miss Markham.
Miss Markham to the telephone, please.
Look, but don't touch.
The door was open.
I think you mean the door wasn't locked.
Usual procedure is to wait until invited in.
Well, I did ask Miss Markham if - To let me know you were here.
Hope you've found what you're looking for.
Has it been repaired or body work resprayed recently? Original Le Mans-winning livery.
I need to take a paint sample.
A scratch'll cost you.
I will sue.
See what I'm up against! About last night, sir.
I'm very impressed by your webcam system, but not by your response.
You should have called the police.
Ah, if someone was trying to kill me, I gave them a good opportunity.
But I'm not dead.
No, thankfully.
Who do you think it was? Think it was the same person as last time? Tell me, who do you think it was? I had an idea.
I was wrong.
So there's nothing to tell.
I am very confident that it wasn't Tom bashed you over the head last night, but did you believe that the first intruder WAS your son Tom? You were right from the start.
I do have enemies.
What I can't accept is how far some of them will go.
Fine, let's talk about your enemies.
Start with the college.
What about Dr Canning? Jonathan? No, no.
Come in! George.
Thank God.
Sorry I'm interrupting, Mr Barnaby.
What were you doing walking in on a burglar like that? Well, apparently what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
And we've got the Pilgrims' Ride to sort out, with not much help from the college.
That's why I'm here, to see the bursar, but he hasn't been very helpful.
Talk to the Master and remind the Master that the domestic staff quite like the ride.
It's a day out for their families.
And give Jonathan a kick up the backside while you're here.
Unless, of course, you think it'll jeopardise his election.
Our Master is retiring, Barnaby.
Ned's son is in line to succeed.
It's time they all grew up.
We can all get on with our lives as long as everyone realises one way or another I am going to stop Clinton Finn from manufacturing a disaster on the back of my discoveries.
Like everything important, it's very simple.
Soon as you get this, ring me, George.
It's about the car that killed Emily.
It's the green.
I can't believe it, but I can't get it out of my head.
I have to talk to you before I go to the police.
The ramp probably killed him.
But I'd say he was unconscious before he was put under it.
Someone put him under? There's a blow to the head that's nothing to do with the ramp.
It's another murder.
I think it's connected to Emily Harte's.
Well, one thing's for sure.
No-one would mistake Snape for George Jeffers.
'You have one message.
' 'Soon as you get this, ring me, George.
It's about the car that killed Emily.
It's the green.
I can't believe it, but I can't get it out of my head.
I have to talk to you before I go to the police.
' I didn't check it till this morning.
What did he want us to know? He was talking to me about his list of cars.
You said he was still thinking.
Sounds like he'd had a new thought.
See if Bullard's still at the garage.
Ask him if there's any trace, any bit of paper, anything written on the wall, by the phone, anything.
Er, Dr Jeffers, our people have enhanced the material on your webcams.
If you put that on your computer, maybe we can pick up on something that could identify your intruder.
Actually, I know who it was.
I've been thinking.
And who did you think? Clinton Finn? He's written something in the palm of his hand, Tom.
Escort 63 And is that all? No.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, George.
There were no Escorts in 1963.
Mr Clinton Finn, two nights ago someone broke into Dr Jeffers' house.
When Dr Jeffers returned to his house, the intruder was still there and Dr Jeffers was injured.
I know all that.
I know you know all that, Mr Finn.
That's why you asked Helen Markham to give you a false alibi, isn't it? Well, seemed like a good idea at the time.
I believe, sir, that the intruder was you.
Now, given that we have two homicides which I believe are connected with your attempt on Dr Jeffers' life, consider very carefully what you're going to say.
The article you were so anxious Jeffers shouldn't publish.
The only way you could get hold of this was from his computer.
I needed to know exactly what he intended to say.
I had to try and bury him as a serious scientist.
Didn't you get the information the first time you broke in? We used to share information freely, but George has gone encryption mad.
I had to try and hack in again.
He wouldn't have got hurt if he hadn't come home.
But I didn't kill him.
If I'd tried to kill him, he'd be dead! You're under arrest.
It's perfect! I think I'm going to be able to do the whole ride, you know.
Don't you be too ambitious, Joyce.
Just cos you couldn't do it, Dad.
I'll hold my hand up.
No, I couldn't.
You are going to be there? I've got to be there.
Police work.
But yes, I shall be there.
Don't be so negative! Mum might just surprise you.
You were right to take it to an expert.
It's running better now than when it was new! Good luck.
I'll be thinking of you.
There's no excuse for you next year.
Maybe you two get a tandem! On your bike! Ladies and gentlemen.
Before we set out, I'd like to dedicate today's ride to two dear friends I'd like to dedicate today's ride to two dear friends who travelled the Pilgrims' Road with me many times, but who will travel it no more.
This is for Dan Snape and Emily Emily Harte.
The Pilgrims' Ride! Let's go! Are you going to wish us luck, Jonathan? You've put an innocent man in jail.
You may well have scuppered safe air travel across the world.
You may well turn this university into a third-rate institution! Jonathan, not now, not today.
I know Clinton's become desperate, but I am still struggling with the idea that he tried to kill me.
Surely it can come as no great surprise that somebody did? Jonathan, please.
Enough.
I thought you really cared about this place, Dad.
Not any more.
Dr Jeffers, I still don't want you to do this.
There is someone out there - Whoever it is is going to have to catch me first.
I want you to see how dangerous this is! I appreciate your concern, but this is just a bike ride.
Come on, Ned.
Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do I'm half crazy Keep him in sight, especially up on the Ridgeway.
And if you do lose him, shout.
I can't afford a carriage But you'll look sweet upon the seat Of a bicycle made for two To the right, everybody.
Local sport and recreation, is it today, Miss Carroll? It is a local paper.
I imagine DS Jones and DC Stephens will stay pretty close to George Jeffers.
We are taking every precaution.
Does this mean Clinton Finn isn't a suspect now? He is helping us with our inquiries.
Oh, you'll see in today's paper I didn't make a fuss.
Low key.
Page four.
With obituaries for Emily Harte and Daniel Snape.
I dug that one out of the archive.
Daniel Snape was big into rallying in his younger days.
Who's that with him? He's presenting the Midsomer Rally Cup to Jonathan Canning.
He's only 19 there.
That's his father, isn't it? Edward Canning? Yes, he was his navigator.
I don't know how careful THEY were about driving around the lanes back then.
'He's written something in the palm of his hand, Tom!' Can I keep this? Yeah, sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Miss Carroll.
Ha1 You won't keep that up, Ned! What the hell's going on? This Escort, is this your car, sir? You walk into my college, demand a key to my room.
You have no right - Is this your car, sir? It was, 25 years ago.
Snape was remembering the numbers on the number plate.
Well, you've lost me there.
Where's the car now, sir? Well, I lost interest in rallying a long time ago.
Dad scrapped the car shortly after that photo was taken.
Our Master is retiring, Barnaby.
Ned's son is in line to succeed.
Water? Water? No, thank you.
Water? Yes, please.
Thank you.
Well done.
Keep going.
Thank you.
Water? How come he's so fit? It's called exercise, sarge.
Hey! Hey! Careful! Watch it! What the? That's the Escort! I tried to phone.
No signal.
Where's Jeffers? He's a few seconds in front of us.
He's not there now.
Where's Canning? He's our man.
This is THE Escort that Snape knew.
They they can't have just vanished.
He must have gone off the track somewhere.
You two, ride back.
See if there's any way off this track, all right? Go on! I've got it! Down here, sir! Catch him! Come off there! Come here! No, I'll be fine.
Go on, Tom.
Are you sure? Yeah.
That's why George Jeffers came in first, every Pilgrims' Ride.
Took a shortcut, didn't he? Now there's a lesson there.
Are you going now, sir? No.
No, I'm not.
You take Canning in.
I don't know if and when Joyce and Cully will finish, but I've got to see them do it.
Yes! I finished! I finished! Well done! Well done, both of you! What do you say to that, Dad? I never doubted her for a moment.
What's happened, Chief Inspector? My wife and my daughter have just completed the Pilgrims' Ride.
You arrested someone? Miss Carroll, you come and see me tomorrow morning.
No.
Er, listen, the Advertiser's going to need a picture.
So what about a shot of Cully and Joyce Barnaby? That'd make a pretty good front page, wouldn't it, eh? Cully, Joyce.
Causton Advertiser.
I didn't think anyone would remember the car.
Daniel did.
He remembered the colour.
I know that he believed me when I told him it had been broken up, but for how long? He could still have said something to you.
Why couldn't he leave it alone? Even Jonathan thought the car had gone to the breakers.
Those years, when he drove, I was his navigator.
We were still close then.
We're not close any more because he's in a different world and I don't belong in it.
But he does! But wasn't it YOUR college too? I was head porter, a college servant.
It's nothing.
I never dreamed that my son would be Master.
I couldn't let George take that away.
And he wouldn't stop.
I knew he wouldn't stop until he'd he'd ruined it all.
I had to do it for my son.
I didn't know it was Emily.
How could I? I thought it was him.
I watched him coming out the house.
I followed him.
I didn't know.
But you knew it was Daniel Snape.
Well, it was too late.
I had no choice.
Why didn't Snape just tell us? He didn't want to till he'd talked to Jeffers.
Wanted to be sure.
And he didn't entirely trust us.
No, that didn't help.
Anyway, it's over.
Even the Bucketman.
Afraid not.
That was to put us off the scent.
He's still out there.
Ah, Barnaby.
We have a confession to make.
Right glue Right paint.
I knew he'd guessed.
I thought it was him breaking into the house to find out for sure.
It wasn't.
But you took over from him anyway, didn't you, Tom? Like father, like son.
Thought the attack on Helen Markham's car wasn't quite the Bucketman's style.
So what are we going to do, Barnaby? Well, I don't know, but we have a problem, don't we? When two almost, but not quite, identical Bucketmen appear at almost, but not quite, the same time, fibrillation can and does occur in the police investigative system.
We have a glitch, Dr Jeffers.
We can't have that, can we? So why don't weput all this backin the bag .
.
andclose it? Thank you.
Ah, the Bucketmen! It doesn't suit you any more than it suited me, George.
No.
A taste of my own medicine.
So you're not pressing charges? I don't think so.
So how do we iron out this glitch in the air traffic control system? I'll give you a year.
It's ridiculous.
You still have no concept of how a scientist works! OK, two, tops.
Oh, hell.
Let me buy you a drink.
I'm not leaving it in the rain.
No, no.
Right, right.
We can't get the door shut.
You'll have to throw out some more of this junk.
Why don't we start with this? Don't be provocative, Tom.
A time will come when this has to go back on the bike.
It's nothing Cully said, but I have a feeling that it won't be long.
Ah, well, dream things true.
Come on.
Come on, we'll drink to that.