Father Brown (2013) s12e05 Episode Script

1
Thank you, Father. Thanks.
Father Brown?
Cardinal Papillon.
St Mary's welcomes you. To
what do we owe this hon
Be seated.
Before I proceed,
you must understand
that this is an internal matter.
The police are not
to be involved.
If the following information
were to become public,
it would not only
embarrass His Holiness,
but undermine trust
in the Church itself.
Of course. You know of
the Cup of Calabria?
Unearthed in the 1600s.
Believed to be made
of the True Cross.
One of the Vatican's most
treasured possessions -
stolen three days ago.
Oh, dear. Indeed.
His Holiness promised the
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
that he would use the cup at Holy
Communion during her state visit.
Do you know who purloined it?
We do. Hercule Flambeau?
No, but it is apropos
that you mention his name.
You still have a relationship
with Monsieur Flambeau?
I consider myself his
spiritual adviser.
Then you will call on
the thief to assist you.
In what?
Recovering the Cup of
Calabria, of course.
You know, people just think
it's pulling on a rope,
but there's so much
more to it than that.
It requires physical
and mental discipline.
If you pull at the wrong
time, it causes pandemonium.
Expecting someone, Father?
No.
You were saying? Bell ringing.
I'm loving it.
Well, I'm looking forward to hearing
you ringing the changes, Mrs Devine.
DOORBELL RINGS I'll get that.
You summoned me.
That's not a very good disguise!
You're not in disguise, are you?
You're drunk.
Good detective work.
Who is it, Father?
Who was at the door?
Just the paper boy.
That's not our usual paper
Why don't you take the rest
of the day off, Mrs Devine?
You deserve it.
But I've only just started.
What about the quarterlies?
Well, they can
wait till tomorrow.
What's going on?
I've just given you
a day off with pay.
I believe the correct response
is, "Thank you, Father."
Thank you, Father.
Been in a fight?
The odd scrap with
a jealous husband.
What's going on, Hercule?
I was about to ask
you the same question.
Your personal ad
didn't give much away.
How have you been since
I didn't come all this way
for psychotherapy, Father.
So, please, tell
me, why am I here?
Father Vincent Lazarus.
Recently excommunicated.
He stole the Cup of
Calabria from the Vatican
Naughty boy.
And killed a guard when
he made his escape.
The Vatican have received a
tip-off that he fled to England
and seeks to sell the
cup on the black market.
And they've asked
me to retrieve it.
And how do you
intend to do that?
With your help, hopefully.
Is that coming
from you? Or them?
Both.
The Vatican would have happily
seen me executed in Spain
and now they want my help
You got off fairly
lightly, if memory serves.
And what about you?
Taking my confession one day,
inviting me to break the
seventh commandment the next?
I must admit to some misgivings.
After what you've been through,
the last thing I want is to steer
you from the path of redemption.
Redemption!
And this is a personal
request from His Holiness.
Tell the Pope that I politely
decline his gracious offer.
And give his ring a kiss
from me while you're at it.
No hard feelings.
If you don't mind my saying,
you don't seem yourself.
Regardless of whether or
not you decide to help me,
you should know that
my first priority,
whether you like it or not
will always be your soul.
And I believe yours is in pain.
You want to know how I've
been since my father died?
Since my visit to
your confessional?
Let's just say you were right
to have misgivings, Father.
You don't want me
on this mission.
I'm not an asset.
I'm a liability.
So much for the healing
power of confession.
Confession is only
the beginning.
It doesn't mean anything
if you don't make amends.
My father died making amends.
You're wrong about one thing.
I do want you on this mission.
To be quite honest, I don't
think I can do it without you.
You need someone who knows
how to use his fists?
I need somebody who can think
on their feet and act quickly.
The clock is ticking.
The Vatican wants the cup returned
within a week. Why the rush?
It's to be used at a mass for
the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
The True Cross does not belong
in the hands of a murderer.
You know that.
Very well, Father.
One last hurrah.
For you.
SHE GASPS
I understand. And where?
Right. What time?
I won't say anything to anyone.
You're sure?
Particularly Mrs Devine.
Given her relationship
with the Chief Inspector,
it would put her in a
very awkward position.
Well, you could tell
me what's going on.
Flambeau?
Out of my hands, I'm afraid.
Oh!
According to my contacts
DOOR SLAMS
a private auction was
hastily arranged two days ago
at The Cedarmont Hotel.
It's taking place
this afternoon.
Suspicious, given the timing.
But not necessarily proof.
One lot up for sale,
described as a
"religious antiquity".
Ah.
There you go, mate.
Thank you. Thank you.
Friend of yours?
She does seem vaguely familiar.
Just me, Father.
I forgot my purse.
Father?
Oh.
We can't take the cup
while it's in full view.
We'll have to wait until
after the bidding. Agreed.
Lazarus?
Difficult to say.
Can I see your
invitations please, gents?
I'm afraid I left mine at home.
And the Father's here at my
request to authenticate the object.
You both need to leave.
Is there some reason you
object to authentication?
The seller has assured me that
this is the genuine article.
Then you won't mind
a second opinion.
May I?
Yeah.
Thank you.
It's real.
Thank you, Father.
Possessing the cup seems
very important to you.
May I ask why?
Is it true what they say?
That it has the
power of healing?
The Church has made no
official pronouncement
Of course it's true.
Records going back
hundreds of years.
Physical and
spiritual salvation.
Its power is in no doubt.
Can you all take
your seats, please?
Bidding will begin in
five minutes. Thank you.
So what was it doing in there?
I don't know!
Maybe Flambeau gave
it to Father Brown
the last time he was here.
Then why was he acting so
suspiciously this morning?
You know something, don't you?
No. You'd normally be
on this like a fly on
on, on, on jam toast.
Brenda All right!
He was here. I knew it!
Why didn't you tell me?
Well, Father Brown
told me not to.
Why? Because of your relationship
with Sullivan, why else?
You remember what
happened last time?
Oh, my Lord.
You're right. This is a
disaster. Why did you tell me?
You just begged me
to, five seconds ago!
That's before I'd fully
taken stock of the situation.
If Edgar finds out that I
know and didn't tell him
You are not telling Sullivan.
He'll call off the wedding.
Mrs Devine! Please!
Firstly, they'll be long gone by
now, Sullivan will never find out.
And secondly, do you really
want to betray Father Brown?
Of course not.
Keep it to yourself, then!
The Son of God, crucified
on this very wood.
His blood soaked into its grain,
bestowing with it the
power of the Holy Spirit.
The power of healing to
whomsoever drinks from the cup.
Bidding begins at £50,000.
50,000. Do I hear 51?
51.52?
53? What are you doing!?
I've got to look the part.
54,000. Do I hear
a raise on 54,000?
55,000. Thank you. 56?
57,000? 60,000.
61 70,000!
Do I hear a raise on 70,000?
Going once, going twice
sold!
It's mine.
Mine.
He's dead.
It's God's will.
So it's this one and this one.
And, yeah, those two.
Mrs Devine.
You all right? You seem
a bit out of sorts.
Nothing. I'm just meeting
Edgar for a late lunch.
What? Did we?
I'm so sorry, I
completely forgot.
I'm buried in paperwork.
Can we do it tomorrow?
Of course.
Yes?
You're not upset?
Not at all.
It's just you seem
a little distracted.
Is everything all right?
Everything's fine.
I'll see you after work.
We can talk about wedding
plans over a candlelit dinner.
Sounds lovely.
Mrs Devine?
Flambeau's here.
What?! Where?!
Tu venia misericordissimae
pietatis absterge
Clearly, this makes me
the de facto winner.
And the prime suspect.
There's no sign of foul play.
The man was clearly unwell.
The shock must have
killed him. Precisely.
Either way, we will
need to call the police.
And the cup?
I'll call the client now.
Ask for instruction. Everybody,
please, wait in the next room.
Lazarus?
Quite possibly.
Sir Who's Lazarus?
We had a problem.
You'll find him in
the New Testament.
John, Chapter 11.
"And he that was
dead came forth,
"bound hand and foot
with graveclothes".
And who are you?
I could be asking you
the same question.
But we're all strangers here.
No need for names.
My client has agreed
to sell you the cup,
but only at the
final bidding price.
£70,000? Correct.
Well, make up your mind.
I'll have to leave with the
cup before the police get here.
I accept.
I'll need to
telephone my solicitor
and ask him to go to the
bank to transfer the funds.
The seller's account details.
Right.
We haven't got much time.
I can assure you, Giles, I
haven't taken leave of my senses.
Neither am I under duress.
Now, do as I say.
Thank you.
It's done. Now, give it to me.
Zut alors!
Thief! Alas, someone
got there before me.
No-one came in or out. At
least not through the door.
And no-one went near it when we
were in the room, apart from you.
Is that why you covered it?
So you could make the switch?
What do you think
I am? A magician?
We need to search everyone.
Where's the other bidder?
There was no-one on the
end of that telephone.
One of those men is Lazarus.
Valet service?
I can't apologise too much!
Hercule!
I only saw him for a second.
Father Brown sent me away.
Wouldn't tell me nothing.
How strange.
Flambeau's usually only
too keen to involve you
in his criminal adventures.
Not this time.
Whatever it was,
it was top secret.
Or supposed to be.
And I take it you have absolutely
no idea where they've gone?
Did you not just
hear what I said?
If he shows up again, Brenda,
do telephone me at once.
He's been shot.
Lazarus.
Why?
Because
I let you into the auction.
Where is he?
Hemley Wood.
We need to telephone
for an ambulance.
He's dead!
This man would still be
alive if we hadn't
We didn't shoot him.
It's not far.
Ego te absolvo ab omnibus censuris,
et peccatis, in nominee Patris,
et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.
Indulgentiam, absolutionem,
et remissionem peccatorum
tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens
et misericors Dominus.
Amen.
This is hopeless.
There's nothing here.
I'm not ready to
give up hope yet.
Then you'd better start praying
for divine intervention.
I'm more concerned
about you at present.
Me? You almost got us killed.
There was never
any danger of that.
Then why did you drive
straight to that tractor?
What can I say? I'm a thrill
seeker. With a death wish?
I would never put
you in harm's way.
And if I hadn't been in the car?
I assure you, Father, I am not
some sort of suicidal maniac.
You said yourself you'd
become a liability.
What did you mean by that?
I have no doubt that you are
still grieving for your father.
I barely knew him. Which in
some ways makes it worse.
We don't have time for this.
Unless you admit to your pain,
you have no chance of healing.
I'm fine!
Cosy!
Ah!
Dame Lydia Adams.
I knew I recognised her.
She's a significant
donor to the Vatican.
DOORBELL RINGS
May we come in?
Whatever you have to
say, you can say it here.
We believe you have been the
target of a confidence trick.
You'd better come in.
Do you have the
invitation, Lady Lydia?
It was left at my door.
Have you any idea
why you were chosen?
Because I'm rich?
I suspect it's more than that.
They had to know that
you'd take the bait.
And you bid £70,000.
My husband and daughter.
They were killed in a
car crash last year.
I'm so sorry.
Since then
there hasn't been a single day
where I haven't wanted to
end it all.
Of course, I'd never do it.
Spend the rest of
eternity in hell
rather than be reunited
with my family.
But the thoughts
they come
especially at night,
when the pain
is most unbearable.
But it was my hope, my prayer,
that drinking from the cup
would finally heal my suffering.
Did you talk about your pain
to anyone from the Vatican?
I took confession.
Who was your confessor?
I'm not sure.
A Father Lazarus?
Yes. Yes, that was him.
He's not responsible
for all of this?
He was so kind.
We don't have time for this.
You said it was
genuine, the cup.
I believe it is, yes.
Then maybe I'm just not
worthy of its gifts.
How would you know that unless
you'd already drunk from it?
I found it on my doorstep when
I got back from the auction.
I don't understand.
Why did he give it back?
It was always his intention
that you should have it.
He only stole it
because we showed up.
Are you saying this was
an honourable gesture?
No.
He wanted you to get caught
so that you would be disgraced
and the Vatican embarrassed,
and they'd never be able to accept
a donation from you ever again.
DISTANT POLICE BELLS
You have to leave.
I am at St Mary's and
my door is always open.
Father
Father Lazarus, I presume?
I'd be grateful if you'd kindly
leave the cup behind before you go.
You called the police.
Mission accomplished, Father.
Give my regards to the Vatican.
Don't move!
Flambeau! I'm warning you!
Flambeau!
Flambeau!
Flambeau!
This man is a murderer.
The body on Hemley Road?
Anonymous tip-off
said that Dame Lydia
was in possession of an artefact
stolen from the Vatican.
An artefact?
Argh!
"He that had been
dead came forth,
"bound feet and hands
with winding bands."
Not "graveclothes."
TELEPHONE RINGS
Papillon. Your Eminence,
this is Father
Do you have it?
Yes. Thank the saints.
Father Lazarus is in custody
in Kembleford police station.
I will be there within the
hour. Just one more thing.
Earlier today, Father Lazarus
quoted from the King James Bible,
not our Douay-Rheims.
Are you surprised that
he disregards our ways?
I suppose not. But I just
can't help thinking
Father, this is no time for
your frivolous mystery-making.
Guard the cup until I arrive.
Father, where have you been?
I think we have more
important things to discuss.
Ooh, did she tell you
what she did, then?
I'm so sorry, Father.
You've done nothing wrong.
Miss Palmer, would you
take a seat, please?
This is the Cup of Calabria.
Made from the True Cross.
The what? The cross
that was used to
Crucify our Lord and Saviour.
Some people believe it has
miraculous powers and I can see why.
His sacrifice, His
forgiveness, His love
bled into the wood.
It will be returning to the
Vatican, where it belongs.
But before that
I'd like you both to
join me in St Mary's.
BELL RINGS
Ah.
Your Eminence.
What brings you
back to Kembleford?
You have in custody a
man who belongs to us.
I would like to speak with him.
You have a visitor.
What are you doing? Hey, hey,
steady on. I do not know this man.
Stand by us, Lord our God,
and with the unfailing
support of the Holy Cross
uphold us whom thou makest
rejoice to do it honour.
Through Jesus Christ,
our Lord, your Son.
You had no pulse.
I checked it myself.
Come now, Father, you of all people
should believe in resurrection.
Father Lazarus.
The name would appear
appropriate, would it not?
Mrs Devine, Miss Palmer,
perhaps you would wait
in the Presbytery
No. Stay.
What's going on?
Father?
The knife of Andronicus.
This very blade cut to
pieces the flesh of a martyr
almost 2,000 years ago.
I've sharpened it since.
Be seated.
What kind of a priest are you?
Don't antagonise him, Brenda.
You've been pulling
the strings all along.
You executed your accomplice.
Actually, I had my
underling shoot him.
You stole the cup while
we were out of the room,
whilst you were
pretending to be dead.
Bravo, Father.
I must say, it's quite
a thrill to bear witness
to that probing mind at work.
The great Father Brown.
A name that's whispered at the
Vatican in somewhat dubious tones.
But I've always been an admirer.
Why is that?
You're a rebel, like me.
Only you've chosen to waste your
intellect on solving puzzles.
I've chosen to use mine to
execute a moral crusade.
Thievery? Murder?
A moral crusade?
The Church is
rotten to its core.
It needs gutting
from the inside out.
I've devoted my life
to doing just that.
You entered the priesthood
solely with the purpose
of plundering the Church?
I entered it to
destroy the Church.
You don't think I believe
any of this nonsense, do you?
Then why come back for the cup?
I'm not here to take it.
You foiled my plan, Father!
Did you think that
was going to go
unpunished?
Brenda, no!
Run!
Now, where were we?
Any news on Flambeau,
sir? Nothing.
Did you get any information
from Father Brown?
He said it was a
private Vatican matter.
Oh, speaking of the Vatican,
a Cardinal Papillon came in.
Wanted to see our prisoner.
But he just looked at
his face and then left.
BELLS RING
What in God's name is
Do those bells
sound right to you?
Now you mention it, sir, they
do seem to be going a bit mad.
Sargeant.
You will gain nothing
by doing this.
The humiliation of His Holiness
before the Duchess of Luxembourg
will be ample reward.
Care to say a prayer?
Sorry to be a wet blanket.
Step back.
Drop the knife.
Drop it!
I think you'd better
do as he says.
Chief Inspector,
Flambeau is innocent.
This man is a murderer.
Not now, Father.
Drop it, Flambeau!
Hercule.
Chief Inspector, you are
arresting the wrong man.
Tell His Holiness that this
one's on his conscience.
I'll radio for an ambulance.
Water.
Please don't die before I
can arrest you, Flambeau.
I think I might have to deny you
that pleasure, Chief Inspector.
Good job, Isabel.
Father
if you're going to
give me the last rites,
you'd better get on with it.
What do you think you are doing?
We owe him this much.
Grasping at straws, Father?
Be quiet and drink.
You were right about me.
I came back to tell you that.
But now the end's
here, if I'm honest
I'd rather have a
few more hurrahs.
Ego, facultate mihi ab
Apostolica Sede tributa
indulgentiam plenariam et
remissionem omnium peccatorum
Visitor.
I understand you're being
transferred to Wynchurch prison.
Here to say goodbye?
I'm here to ask a question.
It's a trick I learned from a
yogi in India many years ago.
He taught me how to slow my
pulse to a few beats per minute.
I'm sure Christ would approve.
After all
what was he if not the
consummate showman?
That's not what
I wanted to know.
What you did
the years you spent
in the seminary
the years working your
way into the Vatican,
to make that kind
of sacrifice
you must hate the
Church very much.
Why?
That's a story for another time.
It's doubtful we'll
see each other again.
I wouldn't be so sure of that.
I'm sorry about
Flambeau, by the way.
It was meant to be you.
I'm aware of that.
In retrospect, I'm
glad I didn't kill you.
It's so hard to find
a worthy adversary.
I have no interest in
being your adversary.
You have no choice.
The game
has already begun.
All right, you've got
ten minutes, Father.
Thank you, Sargeant.
Come to help me escape?
No.
How are you feeling?
I shouldn't be here.
That wound was fatal.
Apparently not.
You don't honestly
believe it was the cup?
You will never know.
But it looked like
a miracle to me.
You didn't answer my question.
I feel
grateful.
Ah.
Hang on a minute, you
can't just walk in here.
Extradition papers. Uncuff him.
You'd better speak to
the Chief Inspector.
Then fetch him. Fetch!
Are you taking me into custody?
Temporarily. Then you
will be free to go.
However, the Vatican has a
proposition for you.
Our days of doing
business are over.
Perhaps you should listen first.
It transpires that
Father Lazarus
stole a great many things from the
Church over a great many years.
In light of this, the
Vatican has founded
the Reclamations Department -
tasked with retrieving these items,
as well as many others which
rightfully belong to us.
But
we lack the
necessary expertise.
Are you offering me a job?
Unofficially, you understand.
You will be paid handsomely
for every item you reclaim.
Though, of course, the true reward
will be in doing God's work.
I've stolen from
you my whole life.
Why should you trust me
any more than Lazarus?
You have been personally vouched
for as a man of good character.
And I have seen it for myself.
Sounds like a lifetime
of "hurrahs" to me.
And all in a good cause.
When do I start?
Down here, sir!
Where is he?