Father Brown (2013) s12e07 Episode Script

1
Here we are.
Oh, Hercules!
Well, at least we got here.
Yes.
I think Hercules might
be getting on a bit.
Oh! Like everybody here.
Don't be rude!
Oh, can you see Eunice?
Excuse me, can I
help you, ladies?
Oh, Father! I'm the warden here.
Mr Thorp, I believe.
Father Brown.
Mrs Devine. Hello.
Oh, there she is!
Miss Palmer. An old friend
of hers from St Mary's.
We've received a request for
urgent spiritual guidance -
almshouse 16.
Oh, yes, of course. Er
Although I'm surprised that
anyone of our women would need any
guidance. I take
great care of
Nora! Excuse me.
Nora, the dinner bell is late,
the hymn books are in disarray and
have you called the plumber yet?
Mrs Jenks?
Yes?
Oh, such a mess!
If I'd known I'd have a
man of the cloth visit,
I would So, er, you
didn't write to us?
Well, perhaps someone else in the
almshouses knows you need support?
Oh, it's true I've
had trouble sleeping,
but, oh, I'll be fine.
Am I right in thinking
that these almshouses
are only allocated
to single women?
Oh, I'm a widow, Father.
Oh, but listen to me! Ha.
I haven't offered you tea.
SHE LAUGHS
Hello, Harold.
You look well, Mr Slow.
Harold - window!
I was under the
impression that almswomen
weren't allowed
house guests. Oh
Harold was a dear friend
of my late husband.
Drank together in the Red Lion.
When my Frank passed,
I was on hard times.
Harold was, too, but
you'd never have known it.
Any scrap of food
he had, he shared.
So, when they offered me this place,
I wanted to share it with him.
I know it's against
the rules, but
Kindness should never
be against the rules.
You're benefiting
from it, Harold?
I'm drinking less - Adelaide's
helped me with that.
So you wanted to help her, too?
I'm sorry to be all
cloak and dagger -
nosy old Thorp takes the post.
She's had nightmares all
last month. Tell them.
Oh, I'm fine.
Who who's for tea?
She cries in her
sleep. Harold!
What will they think?
Our sleeping arrangements
are very respectable, Father.
Harold's on the settee
and I'm on the bed.
Nothing untoward. Is there?
Of course not. She's a friend.
A "beautiful friend of mine".
Hmm? Never mind.
Oh.
A limbo from
Trinidad and Tobago,
I read about it in the paper.
Here we go.
Oh, Eunice.
What do you think? I think
you've got arthritis. Oh,
mind over matter!
Perhaps, um, a fraction higher.
No. No.
No. No!
Is that my stick? Gladys!
Would you like a turn?
Making a spectacle of yourself
with some foreign nonsense.
I suppose it's French.
Madame, vous n'etes
qu'une vraie rabat-jolie!
Hmm? You didn't understand?
You're a snob.
And where's your bonnet?
Agh! The ghastly uniform.
Hmph! My door's always open!
Antisocial old bat. Oh!
Doesn't know the
meaning of community.
BELL RINGS Ah! Dinner bell.
Join us, please.
Eunice! Come on!
KNOCKING
Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy
gifts, which we are about to receive
from thy bounty. Through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. ALL: Amen.
Nora.
Serve.
Let me help. Thank you,
dear, I'm used to it.
Nora's our matron. She helps
me keep the women in line.
Perhaps a little speed.
Er, Gladys, take
off your gloves!
Forgive me, sir, if I don't.
She hates the
draughts here, Father.
There are no draughts.
And the dripping taps, damp,
leaking loos, pests everywhere.
All right. Ladies,
as you well know,
I've been trying to persuade
the almshouse trustees
to pay for repairs.
They've been reluctant.
But, in fact, I've just
finalised a better plan -
for a full modernisation.
Oh, how exciting! CHATTER
And I've called a meeting, tomorrow,
where I'll seek the trustees'
approval. So improvements
will be in motion -
very soon.
Modernisation! No more
antiquated uniform.
The uniform stays.
You look sweet.
We look subjugated.
No, no, no. Smartness is
something that money cannot buy.
Silence, however, is very
much more reasonably priced.
Oh! Nora.
She's a liability.
So sorry, Mr Thorp.
MRS DEVINE: Don't
worry. Thank you.
Please, excuse me.
As you know, all almshouses are
subject to on-the-spot inspections.
You won't mind if I have
a look in yours now?
Get Harold's attention.
Mr Thorp! I was rather
hoping you'd give me a tour.
Um, later, perhaps.
You must be very proud of what
your family's established here.
Immensely. And I'm a stickler
for their founding rules.
I'm confiscating this for
your own good, Adelaide.
Nice and warm in here.
Now, you wanted a tour,
Father. Yes, indeed.
Oh!
Eunice pesters for
communal activities,
but the women don't
need to fraternise.
Ahaha, now!
Here is my esteemed ancestor,
Cormac Thorp I,
almshouse founder.
BRENDA YAWNS Oh, sorry.
Whose noble work was
continued by his son,
whose effigy you saw
in the chapel, in fact.
And now you'll steer this
place into the future.
Oh, yeah, this big
plan. This it, then?
Oh! That is confidential.
Apologies.
It can be trying,
managing an institution
Something's on fire!
He won't tell ME what to wear!
Eunice, this is an outrage.
Give me your matches.
No. Now, please,
unless you want to be thrown out
with all your friends watching.
New rule - no fires.
Nora, fetch a new uniform.
I'll talk to you in my office.
We really should get going,
unless I have time
to speak to Harold.
You will regret
that impertinence.
We've stayed longer than
anticipated, Mr Thorp.
Of course. Um, apologies
for the upset earlier. Er
They're all making
up now, it's
Thank you for the tour,
it really was informative.
ENGINE FAILS TO FIRE
Not again, Hercules!
Oh, can we get a mechanic?
It's rather late.
Yes, I fear it
will be dark soon.
They could stay, then.
We've empty almshouses.
If the ladies
don't mind sharing.
Oh, no, it's
Oh, yes, actually.
Nora, blankets. I
must ring for curfew.
Oh, what do you want to stay
here for? It's only one night
and this way we can have
a proper talk to Harold.
I can take him out early,
pick wild flowers. Flowers?
What for? For
Adelaide, obviously.
They just need a bit
of encouragement.
Right, and then what -
they both get kicked out?
Miss Palmer has a point.
Oh, love always finds a
way. CURFEW BELL RINGS
I do adore a secret romance.
BELL STRIKES THE HOUR
BRENDA SNORES
Harold.
He must've landed
with some force
and from the state
of that leg
A fall from that height
would certainly be fatal.
Could have been suicide, sir.
Surely not. He was so excited
about presenting his future plans
to the trustees today.
Yes. And look at his
fingernails - moss.
Plenty of that up there.
He was trying to hold on. Why
do that if you intend to jump?
What was he even
doing on the roof?
He went up most evenings,
trying to mend the
leaks - unsuccessfully.
Hmm. Accident, then.
But he was accustomed
to working up there.
I wonder, Chief Inspector, if
you might not find another set
of footprints on the roof.
How do we get up there?
What are you waiting for,
Sergeant? Chop, chop!
So Thorp goes to the
roof to do repairs,
someone follows him
and pushes him off.
Any staff around? There's
a gardener and a cook.
Both of whom we saw
leaving at curfew.
Mrs Devine, Miss Palmer and
myself stayed overnight.
Thank you for that
information, Father.
So you're saying the only
people locked in here overnight
were you three, and some
old mature ladies,
and one of them got the better
of a man half their age?
Are we sure there wasn't
anyone else in here? DOOR OPENS
Oh! Nine o'clock! We have founders'
prayers every day at nine.
Father, will you lead it
in Mr Thorp's absence?
Of course. Yes, right.
Father.
Everything all
right? It's Harry.
He went out last night to
catch a rabbit for supper
and he hasn't come home.
Are we doing prayers
or aren't we?
Let us pray. Our
Good morning, ladies!
Can you see anything, Sergeant?
Erm
There's some tools, sir.
Er, footprints. INSECT BUZZING
Yes. Different
sizes and, er Oh!
What on earth are you
doing? A wasps' nest, sir.
He must've disturbed it when
he was up here doing repairs.
Sergeant!
Someone's been hiding in here.
Oi, wait!
Good fellow!
Hold it right there!
Agh!
Harold Slow.
It's been a while.
I didn't break in.
I live here. Hah.
In women's almshouses?
Mr Slow has been
secretly sharing a house.
You didn't think
to mention this?
If you live here, then
why were you running away?
Harry!
Hip flask, sir. ADELAIDE:
No, but that's
That's what?
Confiscated last
night by Mr Thorp.
Harold Slow, I'm arresting
you on suspicion of the murder
of Cormac Thorp.
No! He wouldn't!
Sergeant. You are not obliged to say
anything, but anything you do say
may be given in evidence.
Father, help him, please.
Chief Inspector, may
I get a lift with you?
Er, spiritual guidance. Oh,
clearly. Come along, then.
BRENDA: They're not police
NORA: They're the trustees.
Mr Thorp's meeting was today.
And no-one's told them.
Maybe you should, Nora.
Me?! I'll come with you.
The Chief Inspector tells me
that you are refusing to talk.
Why are you not
protesting your innocence?
How do you know I'm
innocent, Father?
Because I know that you are
still haunted by the thought
of the lives you took
during the Great War.
I refuse to believe that you are
capable of killing in cold blood.
How did you get the flask
back? I don't want to talk.
Did you encounter Thorp on your
way back from catching rabbits?
Why did you hide? Why
not return to Adelaide?
I am trying to help.
How is Adelaide?
As concerned for you
as you are for her.
I know you're in love with her.
Don't tell Mrs McCarthy, eh?
No matter if I am, though,
Adelaide could never love me.
I'm just a drunk.
You're a good man.
No, worse - a deluded drunk!
I thought I'd only had a snifter
last night. I must've been
three sheets to the wind.
I couldn't see straight.
I can only try to
to deserve her.
What does that mean?
If you want to help, Father,
just say you'll look out for her.
Adelaide needs to talk
about what she found.
Right, time's up, I'm afraid.
Fine, I'm ready.
I want to confess.
I killed Thorp.
The good news is they're reconvening
the meeting for tomorrow.
And the not good news?
They'll be bringing with them
a sanitation inspector
from the council.
There's been an anonymous
tip-off that these buildings
are in poor state and
And he can find them unfit.
He can close us
down. WOMAN: No!
But! But I have a proposal.
We can make this place decent
if we all work together.
I'm sure you all had jobs,
skills we could use
Yeah, Eunice trained as
a plumber during't war.
I did. Leave
leaking pipes to me.
There, that's just what I mean!
Nora was a mechanic.
Oh, army trucks -
a long time ago.
Ah, then, Nora, I need a favour.
The rest of you, gather
what equipment you can find
and let's get going, yes?
It'll all be for nothing.
Oh, Gladys, stay with us.
Confessed?!
I believe he's trying
to protect Adelaide.
Why would he think
she'd done it?
That's what I
intend to find out.
Oh, no, not today.
It'll destroy her.
And we've got more to
worry about now, too.
Father, what's
happened? How's Harry?
He's co-operating
with the police. Oh.
He's innocent.
Yes, I believe so
and I'll do all I
can to prove that.
But he hoped that you would tell
me about something you found.
Oh. Is that relevant?
If you tell me, I'll
be able to judge.
Oh.
I found a woman - a dead woman.
One morning I was going for
a walk and I just saw her -
outside the gates.
That must've been profoundly
upsetting. Who was she?
No idea.
I-I don't like
thinking about it.
You'd do better
to talk to Eunice.
Eunice?
Last night, after curfew,
I was looking out to see
if the coast was clear
for Harry to go rabbiting.
I saw Mr Thorp go
into the chapel
and Eunice straight after him.
I went to pray.
I left as Thorp was heading to
the roof with his bag of tools.
I understand he went
up there to do repairs.
Did you speak? Oh, we'd exchanged
quite enough words for one day.
Ah, yes, the meeting
in his office.
I couldn't help but notice
that got rather heated.
Little weasel tried
telling me how to behave,
whilst he paraded around
in that vulgar suit
his dirty money
bought. Dirty money?
There's a rumour he was
blackmailing someone.
Oh, yeah. He said something at
dinner about buying silence.
Blackmailing who?
Who knows?
But a warden's salary would
not buy his gaudy wristwatch.
Do you recognise expensive
things, Miss Lytton,
because you used to have them?
My family frittered
away a fortune
but my principles enriched me.
Um, if you wouldn't mind.
Erm
Oh, you were a
suffragette? Indeed!
I can't imagine Mr Thorp
shares your political beliefs.
Oh, he thought women should
be quiet and obedient.
You must have hated him.
I've hated many people without
murdering a single one.
Besides, you think I
could climb to that roof?
There!
And Oh.
For my apprentice.
Do you think she's
telling the truth?
Do you think she'd have
trouble climbing those stairs?
Adelaide's nimble.
Yes, and I sense Adelaide
is hiding something.
Er, kitchen wall mould. Thanks.
And I sense that the timing of
this inspection is relevant -
it's the same week as Mr
Thorp's trustees meeting.
Yes. If the sanitation department
had an anonymous tip-off
Maybe someone is trying
to derail Thorp's plans.
Who would hate him
enough to do that?
Mouse droppings - dining room.
Thank you. I need to
read that trustees file.
Then it's a good job we need
someone to clean the office.
FOOTSTEPS
Nora? Oh!
Oh.
Father.
I can't stop. Mrs Devine's
asked me to repair her car.
I wasn't taking it for myself.
I heard we needed
to buy whitewash.
Perhaps you felt entitled
to the money, anyway.
I don't understand.
Because you're a Thorp.
I saw your handkerchief
with the initials EJT.
There's an Eleanora Jane Thorp on
the family tree in the office -
you'd be about the right age.
He was my nephew -
it's not a secret.
Apparently, the warden's
job stays in the family.
Yes. Cormac was the
rightful warden.
Yet he was very unpopular.
Did you perhaps, as a Thorp,
wish for the chance to run
this place with more leniency?
You think I'd? He was family.
Did that make it harder,
when he criticised you?
No, he was quite right
- I am a liability.
And, as for the warden post,
I doubt I'm even capable.
There.
Probably won't work.
ENGINE TURNS OVER
Ah! Hallelujah!
You're far more capable
than you let on.
I'm so glad you've joined us.
Apparently, you
were a seamstress.
If you say so.
Sink's all mended! What's next?
Oh, there's a blocked
drain outside the chapel.
Did you find the trustee papers?
No longer in the office. Oh.
But Nora has a key.
Oh! Ow!
Oh!
Your hands.
I've seen scars
like that before -
on syphilis patients.
Have you sought medical help?
I didn't deserve it
what I was.
Mrs Devine said you didn't seem
to recall being a seamstress.
I don't wish to
you embarrass you,
but, if you feel
burdened by your past,
perhaps it would be
better to talk about it.
Fine.
Fine. I-I I was
I was a fallen woman.
Where I lived, it was
everyone for themselves.
And Mr Thorp found out? Hmm.
Did he try to blackmail you?
He wanted my pension. Threatened
to tell the other women.
I tried so hard to
be respectful to him.
That must have made
you very angry.
Oh!
Oh! You think I'd
kill him - for that?
I didn't pay up -
I'd have starved.
No, I told him he could tell
the other women what he pleased.
Tell us what?
That
I was a woman of the street.
Ah. Hmm.
Oh, well.
SULLIVAN: Can anyone
help? BRENDA: Mrs D!
Delivery!
Mrs Devine asked me
to bring a few items.
Chief Inspector, you trampled
my begonias this morning.
Apologies.
As you'll appreciate, I was simply
trying to apprehend the murderer.
Murderer? You think he did it?
Er, the gentleman we arrested
has confessed and been charged.
Con confessed?
No! Well, why would he?
Oh! SHE SOBS
Adelaide, wait!
Father Brown still believes
Harold is innocent.
But he's confessing to
protect me, isn't he?
Because I told him
I was a murderer!
I don't understand.
The dead woman -
I didn't just find her,
I killed her.
Thank you.
It was late one night.
Harry was asleep.
I heard banging on the gates,
so I went out and
there was a woman.
She was cold and desperate.
I couldn't find Mr Thorp,
so I took her to the office
and I put her name in the
register of applicants.
Are you the warden
now, Adelaide?
I was just trying to help.
We've no room. Come
on, off with you.
He said we had no rooms, but I
knew there were empty almshouses.
Stand aside.
I didn't make a fuss
in case my house was searched.
Next morning, I went
to look for her.
She'd died of the cold.
Her name was Hannah Boyd.
Did the police attend?
They spoke to Mr Thorp.
They must have believed everything
he said because they left
and that was the end of it.
I still have nightmares.
She died because I
wouldn't stand up to him.
Did you tell Harry
what happened?
No.
But, last night, I did ask him
if he could ever love a murderer.
He must have thought
My stupid words!
This register of
applicants - where is it?
Oh!
Hannah Boyd.
Poor woman. Hmm.
So why did Thorp turn her away?
I think the question is rather - why
did he turn away all of these women?
12 rejections.
Why leave almshouses empty and
did anyone else know about this?
Adelaide said she told
Eunice and Gladys.
And Nora managed the office, so
she would have seen the register.
Can you really imagine one of them
climbing up chapel stairs at dusk?
They're all old ladies.
Nevertheless, I think it would be
wise if we took a discreet look
in each of their houses
during morning prayers.
The trustee papers are
still missing. I agree,
although I've lots to do
before the inspection.
Oh.
But Eunice is my friend.
Harold's life
might depend on it.
Oh.
Hmm.
Good morning.
Good morning. Morning.
Good morning!
EUNICE: We need to
unblock Gladys's toilet.
Once you've told me
what you're doing.
I was trying to find a spanner.
Don't fib, you were snooping.
I'm so sorry. I am
a terrible friend.
I'm a Plunger.
You what?
Oh. No, I left it
at the presbytery.
Then you'll just have
to stick your hand in.
Oh. All right.
Ah! Oh.
Oh!
There's something down here!
Do I look like a
murderer now, is that it?
I'm a good person.
You're not good -
you're the best.
Oh, Eunice!
There's typing, signatures. Do
you think these are t'papers?
Looks like a contract.
We need to piece it together.
Oh! Where've you been?
The roof. One nest removed.
The wasps were not
pleased, poor things.
Ouch!
Oh, of course. Mrs Devine,
may I trouble you for a lift?
I need to check something
with Harold. What, now?
The inspection's in an hour.
I assure you we'll
be back in time.
Brenda, will you help
with preparations?
You must be joking.
I've said all I want to say.
Yes, but I need the truth.
How much had you had to drink?
You witnessed him fall.
Did you see anyone
else on the roof?
Harold, in an hour, you'll be
taken to the Magistrates' Court.
Exactly, it's too late for this.
I disagree.
There is an innocent woman
still waiting for you.
Did you see a face?
Faces, more like! I was
seeing double, wasn't I?
Well, treble, probably,
I were that far gone.
Father, Miss Palmer telephoned.
It's Eunice.
She was determined to clean
that gutter, but she fell
from the ladder and now they
won't let the ambulance people in.
They? Gladys and Nora.
They helped her home, but
they've locked the door.
Eunice? Might the
police help? I'll call.
Wait.
Let me talk to her.
Miss Lytton? She
don't want anyone!
I know what you're doing.
But punishing yourself
won't help Harold.
Open the door and let's talk.
Please.
Thank you.
You wanted to talk
to me, Father.
If you could let
my friends go? No.
I think they will want to
hear what I have to say.
And what's that?
That you were involved
in the death of Mr Thorp.
That evening, you waited in
his office to be spoken to.
And, there, you saw the future plan
that Mr Thorp had boasted about.
Which shocked you because
it was in fact a contract -
to sell the almshouses.
Mr Thorp had been making
repairs to the roof.
Repairs? The leaks got worse.
Precisely. He was
sabotaging the building.
You'd heard, of course,
about the woman who died after
being needlessly turned away.
Why do that, do you suppose?
To make the almshouses
look empty and broken.
So that the trustees
would agree to a sale
to a company building
retirement homes.
At a huge profit, no doubt.
The tip-off - the
sanitation inspection -
that was him? Most likely.
So you decided to confront him.
And where better to catch him
red-handed than on the roof?
Oh! There's not one woman here
who could climb them steps alone.
No, not one woman.
Because Eunice shared what
she'd found, didn't she?
And she knows that there is
strength in community Keep going!
And power in anger.
Come on! Nearly there.
WASPS BUZZING
Vile things! You're ruining
their home, what do you expect?
Oh, ladies! Out for
a gentle stroll?
How's your repairs?
We know what you're doing. Oh.
Come now, these homes will
still be for old folks -
just the ones who've worked
hard enough to buy them.
The trustees will see things
my way in the morning.
Go to bed.
What the?
FATHER BROWN: Harold saw you.
He thought his vision was distorted
because he'd been drinking
but he did see three people.
Which one of you
pushed him, I wonder?
Gladys flushed the
contract down the lavatory
because fires were banned.
And you all hid the
wasp stings you suffered
when Mr Thorp
disturbed the nest.
And, when I sat next
to Eunice and Gladys,
I caught a familiar,
sweetish scent.
Vinegar - well-known
balm for insect stings.
We only wanted to talk to him.
Poor people need this place.
They always will.
I sympathise.
And you wanted to ensure that
a death like Hannah Boyd's
would never occur again.
But
Harold Slow will hang
if you remain silent,
and you will have to
answer to God for that.
Repent
and confess.
Save a man's life
and your souls.
KNOCK ON DOOR
Everything all right?
Chief Inspector,
Mr Slow
isn't responsible
for Mr Thorp's death.
I am.
We'll tell them the truth.
Oh, you think they'll
listen to you?
You do realise that
you're just poor women?
BUZZING
Gargh! Agh!
Agh-agh-agh!
Agh! Agh!
Oh! Ow! Stop it! Help me!
Run. Go!
Agh! THORP SCREAMS
I'll tell you everything.
What now? Do you think
they'll keep this place going?
I think there's some people
who'll try their hardest.
Gladys knew the
almshouses needed them.
MRS DEVINE GASPS The
sanitation inspector!
Someone should welcome him.
I'll go.
What time now?
It's three minutes past
the last time you asked.
We're back!
Harry!
You're out already?
Oh, oh! SHE LAUGHS
Ow! What's that for?
You could have gone
to the gallows!
You can't go confessing
for other people.
Not other people.
You.
Perhaps we should
leave them to it.
Oh, the inspection. We passed!
Hang on! We did?
With many recommendations
for repairs.
The trustees want the women
to suggest changes, too.
Oh! Well, maybe some of the houses
could be allocated for couples.
It's just an idea. Hmm?
She is full of good ideas.
Oh, Harry! THEY LAUGH
Thank you for coming, Father.
You all look very
smart. Never smarter.
Ladies, gather.
O Lord, our Father,
let us pray for the repose
of the soul of thy servant,
Hannah Boyd, and for the
comfort of all those who mourn.