Midsomer Murders (1997) s13e03 Episode Script

Help! Help me! He's murdered Danny! Help! Help! (CACKLING) And a prize for the lady! There you go, my love.
Thank you.
Well done.
Unlucky, sir.
Step this way, sir.
Yeahthe sights on my gun were out of true.
Oh, bad luck.
Obviously, not on yours.
I don't know.
I had my eyes closed.
Hello? Miss Lennox? Faye Lennox? (CAR ENGINE) Malko! Malko! (FIRES) (TYRES SQUEALING) (CACKLING) Try your luck.
Oh, well, never mind.
Better luck next time.
OK, now, Joyce, I think the trick is (SHRIEKS) Oh, is there a trick? Here you go.
Try your best.
Dunk the witch.
Oh.
Hey, hey There you go.
One for you JOYCE: I'd named those bears.
(HORSES NEIGHING) (HORN) (ENGINE ROARING) (HORN) (CRUNCH) (GASPS) Madman! No! (DIALLING) Is that a gun in your holster, or are you just pleased to see me? As long as no-one else does.
Oh, Jack, we're hardly a secret.
It's a small community, and I'm still a married man.
Hmm, though not for long.
Did you speak to the solicitor? Made an appointment.
It's all in hand - don't worry.
The Ford Florey Wild West Club.
You're just a bunch of big kids, aren't you? Bang! Never point a gun at anyone.
You're not telling me it's loaded? Blanks.
Give you a nasty headache, though.
Ride 'em, cowboy.
TANNOY: The tombola draw is being made in five minutes .
.
so it's your last chance to buy tickets, if you're quick.
She's a handsome woman.
But then, you know that.
Faye Lennox is my farm manager.
Sure, sure.
Course she is.
(CHUCKLES) I was hoping to have a word with her today.
About some wasteland on your lower acres.
Matter of who owns it.
It's Fincher land.
Always has been.
Well, now, you say YOU own it.
Silas Burbage says HE owns it.
Now, I don't care who owns it.
I just wanna buy it.
Forget it, Malko.
Oh, come on, now, Fincher.
The land's no good to you.
Or for cattle or crops.
But if you do own it, I'll make you fair price.
Oh, yeah? What with? I've got the money - don't you fret.
You're a fool, man.
One way or another, I'm having that land.
Ready for High Noon at Ford Florey, Jack? Adam, if it was your father facing me and this was real, I wouldn't hesitate.
Yes, and I'm sure he'd say the same about you.
Look, it's none of my business.
As I understand it, Dad just wants the best price for his land.
It's not his land! It's mine.
Huh! Malko, if I find you, you're a dead man.
Fergal Jenner, my private lawman.
Have you made any progress? So far, Jack, no.
The local archive is a cross between a rats' nest and a teenager's bedroom.
Maybe the papers on the swamp were never drawn up.
And if that's the case? Well, you and Silas Burbage might as well do pistols at dawn.
It could come to that.
Someone mentioned that Jude Langham is a fund of local knowledge.
It's no good asking Jude for an impartial view.
He's got a grudge against the Finchers.
So I gather.
Memories stay long in Ford Florey.
And hatred runs deep.
Who are you? Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid? The side of law and order, Fergal.
Same as you.
THEME FROM 'THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN' (GUNSHOTS) (COMPETITORS SHOUTING) (GASPS) Oh, I'm so sorry! Oh Oh, dear.
I tripped on something.
I am sorry.
His big feet.
Not the best introduction, I'm afraid.
I'm Susan Fincher.
Joyce Barnaby.
Tom Barnaby, husband.
And his feet.
Thank you.
Is it ruined? No, no, no.
It's fine.
(APPLAUSE) Well, what's going to happen next? Well, I think my husband is about to get shot.
(GUNSHOTS) (APPLAUSE) (MOBILE PHONE RINGING) Jones.
Yeah, one of my officers called in a car registration.
Leo Fincher, Home Farm.
OK.
Any Nine points? OK, thanks.
Leo Fincher? It seems you're a bit of a menace.
Like your dad.
Mr Langham? Jude Langham.
Fergal Jenner.
I'm I know.
You're the solicitor who's after the truth about Burbage Swamp.
You call it Burbage Swamp? So it is.
Any proof? That's for me to know and you to find out.
And how would I go about that? Well, you're a professional man.
So, you'll have heard - everything comes at a price.
(BELL CHIMING SLOWLY) (WESTERN-STYLE FILM MUSIC) (AMERICAN ACCENT) Your call, Mr Bonney.
(AMERICAN ACCENT) Whenever you're ready, Marshal.
Ah, it was great in those days.
No cautions, no ASBOs, no community service.
Just shoot them dead on Main Street.
(GUNSHOT) (CHEERING) MAN: Well done! Jack? He's alive.
(GROANS) Made too good a job of falling, I think.
Must have banged my head.
Gave you a fright, I expect! Stage blood.
Sticky stuff.
It's all right, fellers.
I'm OK.
No, no.
You were unconscious for a minute.
Let them have a look at you.
No, I'm fine.
Sorry to disappoint you, my dear.
Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Causton CID.
Ah, so I'm probably disappointing you, too, Chief Inspector.
Fake blood, blanks, no corpses.
Ah, no, I'm very much off duty, Mr? Fincher.
Jack Fincher.
Howdy! No, I'm just here to enjoy the Fayre.
A corpse is not on the agenda.
And I am enjoying it - the Wild West Show.
Do it every year.
Give displays round the county, too.
And we put on a good show.
Look out! (DRAMATIC FILM MUSIC) (GUNSHOTS) (SHOUTING) Is he all right? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Banged his head.
He was out for a while, but he'll be fine.
Made it much more realistic.
Well, perhaps next time they'll use real bullets(!) Wouldn't that be dangerous? Sir Jones! Oh, hi, Ben.
Hi.
Any news on the shooting? Oh, yes, sir.
I thought I'd take the opportunity to talk to Mr Fincher.
Oh, business and pleasure.
Not really.
Some madman took out my wing mirror on the way here.
Catch him? Got a number-plate check.
Leo Fincher, Home Farm.
His car's in the car park, with a shotgun on the seat.
The Finchers, eh? A family with a liking for guns.
MAN: OK, roll up! Dunk the witch.
(CHEERING) (GUNSHOT) (CHEERING) She's been shot.
That's about all I can say for now.
Except that whoever shot her was a pretty good marksman.
Took her straight through the heart.
Faye? Oh, my God! Faye! No, no, no, no.
It's a crime scene.
The body is evidence, I'm afraid.
I'm sorry.
Do you know her? ErFaye Lennox.
She's my farm manager.
What happened? Well, all we know at the moment is that she was shot.
Shot? That's impossible! How? Well, I suppose someone at the Fayre had a gun.
Would you stay here for a minute? Got a couple of questions I want to ask you.
Jones.
It seems a number of people volunteered for the witch.
They were taking it in turns.
She should have been replaced ten minutes before she was shot by one Mary Morgan, interestingly.
Why's that interesting? She was the one who reported the incident yesterday.
Where is she? Hasn't shown up, apparently.
Well, the shot must have been audible.
Only, there was a bank raid being staged in the main arena.
More noise than the gunfight at the OK Corral, which means he knew exactly when it was going to happen and could pick his moment.
George, what was the trajectory? The bullet entered left of the sternum, did the fatal damage to the heart and exited under the ribcage.
So, given the angle and the sightline, the marksman was somewhere elevated.
Up there, for instance.
Do we believe that? Probably not.
But eryou go first.
Direct line of fire.
It's gun oil, that.
Fresh gun oil.
Means the weapon isn't much used.
Do you think that scrape was caused by the gun? Could be.
Well, our man certainly thought it through, didn't he? Vantage point.
Gunfire from the arena to cover the shot.
And a quick exit.
OK.
Time to ask some more questions.
Off you go.
Oh, my God! They told me Someone told me What happened? Erit would help if you took your mask off.
I was meant to be in the ducking stool.
It was my turn, but I was late.
I started off on time, but I hadn't gone more than 50 yards when the car broke down.
I had a puncture.
You! Murderer! Murderer! He walked into my cottage and shot Danny in front of me.
Murderer! What Mr Fincher did was certainly illegal.
Not murder, though.
What action did we take? Mrs Morgan called in a homicide at We put an APB out on Jack Fincher.
Deployed an ARV and full SOCO team.
And when they arrived, they discovered that the victim was your dog.
He said that Danny had been worrying his cattle.
Danny had been reported on a number of occasions.
Jack Fincher took the law into his own hands.
Mrs Morgan, how well did you know Faye Lennox? Not well.
I knew she was having it off with Jack Fincher.
Was she? They made no secret of it.
That man always expects to get what he wants.
The Swamp, for instance.
The Swamp? Piece of land up by Home Farm.
Wasteland, really.
Boggy.
Wants draining.
No-one's ever done the job.
Why not? Because Jack Fincher says it's his, and Silas Burbage says the same.
Its been in dispute for years.
Sarge, there's trouble at the Last Chance Saloon.
There would be, yes.
Excuse me.
All right.
All right.
All right.
Break it up! Break it up.
OK! Police! That's enough! Going at it hammer and tongs! Good job you left your gun in the car.
Right, gentlemen.
What are you fighting about? Ask him.
Ask the toerag! Enough.
He'd been phoning her ten times a day.
Phoning who? Faye.
He knew about her and my dad.
Everyone knew.
He thought that some cash in hand might get her to talk Dad into selling him the Swamp.
Faye would never have done that.
She loved me.
She didn't love you.
She loved your money, you old fool.
Susan loved you.
Watch your mouth, boy.
Come near me again, and you'll regret it.
That goes for the whole Fincher family.
Who's that other fella? That's Dan Malko.
Some travellers are camped on some wasteland close to Ford Florey Green.
Too close, as far as the locals are concerned.
Malko seems to be their spokesman.
Right.
Go and talk to him.
In the meantime, I think I'd better go and have another chat with Jack Fincher.
Where can I find Dan Malko? (BARKING) Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton CID.
I'm looking for Dan Malko.
You found me.
Am I right for Home Farm? You would be, if I let you cross my land.
Better way - back to the road, go a mile.
You'll see a sign.
I'm sorry - I thought this was Fincher land.
(CHUCKLES) You and Jack Fincher both.
It's not.
It's mine.
Ah.
Then you must be Silas Burbage.
Yeah? That's me.
And this is the Swamp, is it? Who are you? Oh I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Causton CID.
Fincher sent you, did he? No, no, he did not.
But, look, if this isn't your land and you're fencing it off, that is an illegal act, Mr Burbage.
It's mine.
I know fine and well it's mine.
So does everyone else round here.
Oh, yeah, Fincher's got some solicitor feller checking the land deeds, trying to stake his claim.
(CHUCKLES) All he'll find is proof that it belongs to me.
Huh? Yes, I want to buy that land.
Travellers don't want to travel all the time, Mr Jones.
We need somewhere permanent - send the kids to school, make a living.
Land doesn't come cheap.
Where will you get the money? Investments.
These people have trades.
They work.
And they pass some of the money to me.
I invest it.
I don't have a trade, Mr Jones.
I have a profession.
I'm an accountant.
That's right - some of us did get to go to school.
So, we got the money and we come by it legally.
You know.
Same as bankers.
Your problem is, Jack Fincher won't sell.
Did you try to bribe Faye Lennox? No.
I thought she might talk Fincher round, if this solicitor finds proof the land's his.
That's all.
Didn't do anything illegal.
Course, there are those saying it's Burbage land.
Man called Jude Langham - his family lived on the Fincher farm for years.
Talk to him.
You're covering both possibilities? I want the land.
(PHONE RINGING) I don't give a damn who sells it to me.
Hold on.
Is that all? For the time being.
Have you got a permit for that? You think it'd be sitting there if I didn't? Go on.
(ANGRILY) No, we already agreed the price! If you threaten me again, there'll be another death in Ford Florey! So, that's the next move, is it? Hit the bottle.
What is it to you? You know what you're like when you've been drinking.
She's dead.
Faye is dead.
This helps.
What would you care? You're glad to be rid of her.
That's a dreadful thing to say! You always hated her.
Faye was a gold-digger.
Leo thought so, too.
Don't think I'm gonna let you lay your hands on my money, or the farm.
You're forgetting something.
I'm still married to you.
It's not just a will Fergal's drawing up.
It's a petition for divorce.
Good.
Why did it take you so long? You could have left any time you wanted.
Not empty-handed.
I'm going to take you for everything you've got.
(GASPS) No.
No.
No! That's enough! (CHOKING) He would have killed me! Mr Fincher, what I've just seen constitutes a criminal assault.
If your wife wants to press charges She won't.
She just wants paying off.
What do you mean by that? Private matter.
Sir, a murder has just been committed.
Nothing is private.
Especially about your relationship with Faye Lennox.
I Silas Burbage is fencing the swamp.
What? He's out there now with some farm-hand, fencing it off.
Right.
If he wants a war, that's what he'll get! Don't touch that! If what Silas Burbage is doing proves illegal, then he'll be held to account, and if you do anything stupid, the same thing applies.
In either case, the law will deal with it.
Usual, please, Fred.
Thanks.
He's been drinking.
Look, I don't know who killed her, but whoever it was Did us a favour? Is that what you were going to say? I wouldn't put it quite like that.
But we both thought she was after Jack's money.
If anyone could have talked Jack into selling the swamp, it would have been Faye.
No, he never would have sold.
But why not? The land's barren.
But it's OUR land, Susan.
Fincher land.
You've just never understood that.
No, and I never will.
I've got an errand to run.
Oi! Who are you pushing? Oi! Toerag.
Who are you pushing? (YELLS) You want a war, Burbage? Happy to oblige! (SCREAMS) (SCREAMING) Mrs Fincher He was found by a farm worker.
He had nothing to do with this at all.
One of Silas Burbage's men? No.
Our time of death is estimated at between eight and eleven yesterday evening.
This miserable little patch of land! Tom Excuse me.
Whoever did this to him was something of an expert.
The rope was tight round his ankles.
Now, if he'd been dragged by his neck - decapitation.
Round the body, and he'd be dragged head-first.
Not nice, but a chance to escape, perhaps.
But round the ankles - no escape.
And he would have suffered before he died.
Sir Up there.
Silas Burbage or Dan Malko.
Which? I went to the pub.
Susan was there.
We talked for a bit and then she left.
One of the travellers started a ruck.
Police came.
I gave my statement and then I went home.
You really think that I murdered my own father? So, you came straight home? Yes.
And your father wasn't here? He'd been drinking all day.
I assumed he'd gone to bed.
What did you do? I went to bed myself.
It's not much of an alibi, is it? No, it isn't.
Tell me about the relationship between your father and your step-mother.
Ask Susan.
I'm asking you.
They'd been at odds for a while.
That's a polite way of putting it.
Jack had come to dislike me.
I don't know what I did to make that happen.
So, why didn't you end it? I could have left, but he'd decided I should get nothing.
No money, no property.
While we were still married, I had a claim.
You don't need me for this, do you? I'm so sorry, Leo.
Sure.
I know.
Silas Burbage or Dan Malko? Well, it's a theory.
Burbage wants to sell the land.
Malko wants to buy it.
Jack Fincher was the stumbling block.
There's a local man, Jude Langham.
He seems to know all about the swamp and who owns it.
Well, you'd better go and talk to Jude Langham.
Meantime, I'll go up to Sternhill Farm and see Silas Burbage.
(BARKING) Silas I started without you.
So, things are a little different now, with Jack Fincher dead.
Dead? You mean murdered.
But it's an ill wind No.
No, he has a son and a wife.
They'll likely contend the swamp.
Now, Fincher set that solicitor up to find the land deeds.
Still, that won't do them any favours, will it? As we know.
Good.
And we have a deal.
Everything being equal.
Except, we haven't set the price yet.
Well, I'll pay what the land's worth.
That's what we agreed.
We shook on it.
Ah! Traveller's law, is it? The honour of the traveller? (SPITS) Something like that, yeah.
Well, there's the law of the Burbages to be taken into consideration, too.
Which states that the seller sets the price.
You're a crook, Burbage! Oh That's rich, coming from you.
You people have been robbing decent folk for years.
We've got an agreement.
Yes.
That doesn't make you my blood-brother.
Hm? (DOOR CLOSES) (GROWLS) (HAMMERING) Mr Langham? Jude Langham? That's me.
I'm Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton CID.
That's a beautiful piece of work.
In honour of my father.
It'll go in St Mary's.
He was church warden there.
Has stained glass always been your trade? I started out a carpenter.
A local man had a glass workshop.
He taught me.
It's not a trade.
It's an art.
Your family have lived in Ford Florey for a long time, haven't they? We can trace five generations.
Probably go back further.
And you used to live on the Fincher farm? Ahh (SIGHS) That's what you've come about.
The Swamp.
Yeah.
I'm told you believe the land belongs to Silas Burbage.
I don't believe.
I know.
You have proof of it? Always spoken of as Burbage land.
No-one ever said different.
That's all the proof I need.
Jack Fincher wouldn't agree.
Don't speak that man's name here.
Jack Fincher killed my father.
Sorry? We were friends, when we were kids, Jack Fincher and me.
My family lived in a cottage on his land.
Always had done.
My father, when he was a boy.
His father before him.
Then, when he married that woman, she got him to throw us out.
My dad was 84 years old.
You had tenant's rights, surely? Well, never a proper agreement.
Only a handshake between my grandfather and his.
Well, a handshake means a lot round here, Mr Jones.
Used to, anyway.
Well, squatter's rights, then.
My father was a proud man.
He wouldn't stay where he wasn't wanted.
We packed up.
We got out.
Council house.
We got there.
He took to his bed, turned his face to the wall Within a month he were dead.
Jack Fincher was murdered last night.
I know.
Mary Morgan told me.
It's bad luck to speak ill of the dead, I know, but where Jack Fincher's concerned, I'll take the risk.
OK.
Thank you.
(CAR ENGINE STARTS) Jude Langham here.
I think I've got something you want.
Good morning! Morning.
I'm looking for Silas Burbage.
Not here, I'm afraid.
I'm Adam Burbage, his son.
Oh, yes.
Billy the Kid.
(CHUCKLES) Now, have you any idea where your father might be? Well, out on the farm somewhere, I suppose.
You suppose? Sorry - I remember your face, but Oh, yeah.
Sorry.
I beg your pardon.
I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby from Causton CID.
Ah, well, you see, I don't live here, Mr Barnaby.
Or work here.
I'm not a farmer.
You're not? No, I'm an optician.
I work in the village.
But I am a member of the Ford Florey Wild West Society.
Founder member, in fact.
We stable some of the horses here.
I'm just doing my bit.
Well, perhaps you could speak to him.
Tell him he can phone me on any of these numbers.
Leave a message.
Is this about Jack Fincher? Yeah, in part.
They weren't the best of friends.
Yeah.
I know that.
But my father would never kill a man.
It's not in his nature.
You can't imagine how many times I've heard that, sir.
Thank you.
(MOBILE PHONE RINGING) Hello? No, you've got the wrong Burbage.
No, that's the number of my consulting room.
The call's been automatically forwarded.
What She's late.
That's not like her, is it? Never mind.
She'll be along directly.
(CLATTERING) (CLATTERING CONTINUES) (SCREAMS) (GROANS) Jude! Oh, Jude! Oh, my God! What happened? What happened? (GROANS) Mary Behind the chimney Behind the chimney.
(TEARFULLY) Oh, my God! We weren't the best of friends, but I'm sorry he's dead.
Not the best of friends? You were sworn enemies.
You're not suggesting I had something to do? Oh, no, Silas.
Of course not.
You're a fool, but I don't think you're a murderous fool.
Even so, I expect the police will pay you a visit, if they haven't already.
I'm not hard to find.
Do you want a drink? Mm.
Vodka and tonic.
Double, if that's OK.
I think I can afford it.
Large vodka and tonic.
You spoke to them, though? The police.
Of course.
And then there was What's her name? Faye.
Faye Lennox.
That's right.
Bad business all round.
You know he wasgiving her one? I did know that, Silas.
Yes.
Sowhat is it you want? Aside from a large vodka.
You're in trouble.
Am I? Sternhill Farm is failing.
You need capital.
That's my business.
It could be mine.
You know Jack engaged a solicitor to search for the deeds to the Swamp? Yeah, and those papers'll prove my ownership.
Just suppose Jenner finds the papers, and they prove that the swamp belongs to Jack Fincher.
I'm his widow.
I inherit.
Oh, right.
So, if it turns out to be your land, you sell it to the travellers.
And if it can't be decided one way or the other .
.
I might be looking for a business partner.
Who called you out? Good evening.
He's not dead? Well, she thought he was.
He took a hell of a whack to the head.
Will he be all right? Permanent damage, you mean? Too soon to tell, but I don't think so, no.
His mobile, sir.
The last three calls look interesting.
Leo Fincher, Dan Malko and Adam Burbage.
Sir Yeah.
The place has been ransacked, but it doesn't look like a robbery.
His wallet's untouched.
And who found him? Mary Morgan.
Oh, the woman whose dog was shot? Yeah.
Mrs Morgan? I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, from Causton CID.
May I ask you, please, why you were calling on Mr Langham? I was bringing Jude his dinner.
His dinner? Why? Jude's on his own.
He works very hard.
Sometimes he forgets to eat.
We look out for one another.
Tell me what happened.
The only thing he said was'Back of the chimney.
' Pardon? 'Back of the chimney.
' That's what he said.
Look, is there anything else you want me for? I'd like to get to the hospital.
Yes, that'll be fine.
Someone's taken your details? I do hope he's all right.
Please, God.
Back of the chimney.
Yeah.
Go on.
No, can't see anything.
Well, there might be a ledge.
Have a feel about.
(CLATTERING) Ah.
Well, there is something, but I can't quite (GROANS) Oh, no, Jones.
I don't think that's what we're looking for.
Sir, they've found something in the workshop.
(COUGHS) George.
What's that? Could be Jude Langham's.
It's more likely Langham pulled it from the neck of his attacker.
What's that? A sort of hieroglyph? Kabbalah? Not sure.
Something a Romany might wear, perhaps.
OhI'll take that.
Thank you.
By the way, Tom, I got the forensic report on the bullet that killed Faye Lennox.
Very odd.
In what way? Well, given the range and accuracy, it had to be a rifle, and you'd expect a .
33 calibre, but it was a 44-40.
What's that? Exactly.
We don't come across them in the UK.
And I was talking to somebody in the gun squad, and apparently, the first example of that load was the 44-40 WCF.
The letters stand for Winchester Centre Fire, otherwise known as the Winchester '73.
The gun that won the West.
Well, thank you, George.
George found this in Jude Langham's workshop.
Could be from the attacker.
No, don't get your sooty fingers on it.
Just look.
Well, what is it? Gypsy charm? We'll ask Dan Malko.
Well, after I've had a shower, sir.
Oh, no time for that.
Mrs Barnaby keeps wet-wipes in the glove compartment.
Help yourself.
(DOOR SQUEAKS) Hello, Susan.
(GASPS) I almost passed out, you moron! Sorry - I should have told you I'd be here.
Yes.
And perhaps you'd like to tell me WHY you're here, and how you got in, and who gave you leave to help yourself to the whisky.
Well, in no particular order: Key.
Over the lintel, as many people know.
Whisky.
A bit of a liberty, I agree, but it is only the blended.
Reason for visit: to see Leo, who asked me to call.
So, here I am, but he is not.
What did he want to talk to you about? The search for the deeds, I imagine.
What else? All right if I have another? Why is it taking so long? Well, documents get misplaced, you know.
Filed under a variant name, transferred, wrongly categorised.
We need to get it settled.
Of course you do.
With Jack gone, the inheritance and so forth is vital.
I agree.
Especially since you're keen to sell, I imagine, and Leo would kill to prevent it.
Figure of speech.
Sorry.
Fergal, I know Jack was intending to change his will.
Do you? To favour Faye.
Did he talk to you about it? I could never understand Jack, you know.
A woman like you as his wife, and he looked elsewhere.
A woman like you .
.
to take to his bed.
That trailer there, sir.
Right.
We'll do Dan Malko first.
Then we'll go and find Leo Fincher.
ErDetective Chief Inspector Barnaby No, no, no.
Let me.
Let me.
(JONES WHISPERING) That was very impressive.
What did you say? 'Do you want to buy some lucky white heather?' (DOGS BARKING) Mr Malko.
Mr Barnaby.
Mr Malko, a man was seriously assaulted earlier this evening.
Jude Langham.
And your name was on his dialled-calls list.
He did call me, yeah.
What did he say? I didn't speak to him.
He left a message.
Which said what? Asked me to call him.
And did you? I just said: we never spoke.
If someone gets battered, travellers are the first call.
It never I resent that remark, sir.
Several people are on that list.
We shall be talking to them all.
There is no prejudice.
There's always prejudice.
Mr Malko, I understand you're trying to buy the swamp land to help your people, and I do applaud that.
But two murders have been committed, and there are questions to be asked.
About this.
Take a look at that.
What do you want to know? Does that symbol mean anything to you? Yeah.
It's the ancient Romany symbol .
.
for bullshit.
Did Jack change his will? No, my darling.
He didn't.
And will the deeds be found? Will they favour you? The thing about these old documents They're notoriously ambiguous and open to interpretation.
And if the documents are found, I'm sure I could guarantee that they'd prove whatever you want them to prove.
In return for? Well, in return for .
.
a piece of the profits.
Anda piece of you.
(GROANS) (GROANS) You're gonna regret that, you bitch! (CAR ENGINE) Some other time.
Who's that? Fergal Jenner.
Solicitor.
And what was he soliciting? I want to talk to your step-son, if he's here, please.
He's not, I'm afraid.
I've no idea where Leo is.
Look, are you driving back into Ford Florey? I will be, yeah.
Could you give me a lift? I'll get a room at the pub.
Home Farm doesn't seem much like home just at the moment.
OK, fine.
Give me five minutes.
Thanks.
I'll send someone for my car in the morning.
I expect it's a bit feeble, but, with what's been happening and Fergal No, no, no.
You're quite right.
Take care.
Oh, Mrs Fincher, before you go I wonder: do you recognise this? Where did you find it? You do recognise it? It's the astrological sign for Leo.
Leo Fincher's - yeah? He wears it all the time.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Be with you in a minute.
Mr Barnaby.
Mr Burbage.
I'm told that you are the expert on the Wild West.
Wild West isn't a term I'd use.
Is it not? Early American history.
Ah, yes, of course.
Well, I'm sorry.
But you are the archivist of the society, are you not? Yes.
When was the last time you had an eye test, Mr Barnaby? An eye test? You were looking at the test card .
.
and squinting.
Ah, yeah, but I think my eyesight's pretty good.
Let's see.
Can you read the fifth line of the chart, please? Z, H, N, E, V.
You told me that you were a founder member of the Of the Society, yes.
I've always been interested.
The true history of the American frontier is very different from the fanciful Hollywood version of things.
Sixth line.
H, S, B, U, erF, D? For example? For example, one of my favourite characters - Henry McCarty.
Henry McCarty? I don't think I've heard of him.
Yes, you have.
Also known as William H Bonney.
Oh, Billy the Kid.
The role you took in the shoot-out with Jack Fincher.
That's right.
Yeah, and your families have been feudin' for ever, haven't they? Don't read anything into it, Mr Barnaby.
My father's disputes are none of my business.
Tell me, Mr Burbage - what is this fascination with the Old West, then? Life's dull.
Don't you think? One thing after another.
Then you die.
A bit of romance.
A bit of adventure.
A bit of fantasy, if you like.
Why not? Sixth line.
ErH, Z, R, U, P, D.
Tell me - what do you know about the Winchester Centre Fire rifle? Winchester '73 - so-called because that was its year of manufacture.
And does the Ford Florey Wild West Society own any of these Winchesters? Oh, good Lord, no.
No, the gun's a real collector's piece.
Costs a fortune.
We use stage guns.
Now, is the circle in the red stronger .
.
or in the green? Mr Langham? I'll get you a coffee and a paper.
Just the coffee.
I've had enough bad news.
Did you find him? Not yet, no.
He smashed it up.
He smashed my dad's memorial window.
Can you give me any kind of description? He was wearing one of those balaclavas, where you only see the eyes.
Tall? Short? Heavy? Slim? Did he say anything? It all happened so fast.
It's gone.
The window's destroyed.
When I were a younger man, I'd have broken his bones.
I believe you.
Oh, by the way, we looked behind the chimney, like you said.
Very interesting.
I said? To Mrs Morgan.
Oh, well, right.
You know everything, then, don't you? What made you think of hiding it there? Good a place as any.
Went there once.
Long time ago.
Best holiday of my life.
I wonder if anyone's ever made it to the top.
I wonder.
Can you look straight ahead at that spot? Are you making any progress? I hear Jude Langham was attacked, on top of everything else.
Well, we're following up some interesting leads.
(SOFTLY) Is it safe? Sorry? Is it safe? Is what? Is it safe? You know - to walk the streets at night.
People must be worried.
Well, it's not Dodge City, Mr Burbage.
Tell me.
Why is your father so eager to sell the Swamp? Farming isn't what it was.
He's run up some debts.
Selling that acreage would solve the problem.
So, he's anxious to have proof of ownership, is he? He'll get it.
Now, you're presbyopic, astigmatic, and have a slight tendency to red-green colour-blindness.
Otherwiseno problem.
Mr Jones You saw, didn't you? Earlier.
You saw me kissing him? Mrs Morgan, you got a flat tyre.
Otherwise, it would have been you on the ducking stool.
I see what you're thinking, but no, I called.
I said I'd be late and that Faye would have to be the witch until I got there.
People knew.
Look, I've got to get back.
I've got his dinner to cook.
He can't bear hospital food.
LANGHAM: 'Went there once.
Long time ago.
Best holiday of my life.
I wonder if anyone's ever made it to the top.
' Chimney Rock.
Here I am, Jude, my love Leo Fincher was shot.
George Bullard puts time of death between eight and nine-thirty last night.
When was he tied to the horse? Well, his hair and clothes were damp.
There was rain last night, but it's been dry ever since.
The horse roamed all night with a corpse on its back? Yeah.
Mr Barnaby, it was something and nothing.
You know? Susan Fincher and I are old friends.
Frankly, I'd had a bit too much to drink.
After which, you got into your car and drove away? Yes.
Not a night to remember, perhaps.
You're looking for proof of ownership.
This could be it.
A-ha.
It's an agreement between Caleb Burbage and Noah Fincher, the grandfathers.
But it's not a legal document, I'm afraid.
If anything, it suggests the land was in dispute back then.
The search continues.
In fact, I'm off to the archive right now.
After you left Home Farm last night Went home.
Went to bed.
Anyone to vouch for that? Sadly, no.
Threatening behaviour.
Inappropriate sexual conduct.
Drunk in charge.
If you go on like this, sir, you might find yourself in need of a solicitor.
A good solicitor.
Obviously, Jude Langham thought it was proof and that he'd get a good price for it.
So, he phoned Dan Malko and Leo Fincher.
Play one off against the other.
Someone thought it was a dangerous document, or he wouldn't have been attacked.
And if it did favour the Burbage claim, then the likeliest suspect would be Leo Fincher.
Who isn't exactly available for questioning.
Oh Just the man.
Right.
You go and talk to Jenner's neighbours.
See if they remember him getting back last night.
In the meantimeI'll treat myself to a lunch-time pint.
Very nice.
You want the land, don't you? Right.
You know what to do about it.
Someone wants a word.
I'll leave you to it.
Mr Burbage You're a difficult fellow to track down, aren't you? I run a farm.
It involves more than sitting behind a desk, fiddling crime figures.
Thank you.
Actually, it's crime figures I want to talk to you about.
Listen.
There have been three violent deaths in Ford Florey in the last two days.
Where were you when those deaths occurred? I've lived on my own since my wife passed on.
I haven't got a working clock or a television.
I get up with the sun.
I go to bed when I feel tired.
If you told me when those people died, I wouldn't be able to tell you where I was or what I was doing.
You stable some of the Wild West Society's ponies and horses up at your farm, don't you? Are you a member of that society? Used to be.
Better rider than any of 'em.
Quicker on the draw, too.
Bang! (CHUCKLES) Why did you leave? Being near to Fincher with a gun gave me too many ideas.
He's gone.
No-one knows where he is.
I'm sorry - what are you talking about? Jude.
His bed was empty.
No-one knows where he is.
He's gone! Malko! (DOGS BARKING) Malko It's gone.
The police have found it.
I know.
They showed it to Fergal Jenner.
And erit's worthless.
So, if you thought you were sitting on a nest-egg, Langham .
.
you'd better think again.
(CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) What are you doing here? (FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) (GROANS) Are you all right? I don't know what happened.
You shouldn't be driving.
No.
All right.
I'm so sorry.
I was going out to the farm to get a change of clothes.
Well, better leave it for a while, eh? I will.
Yes.
(SIREN) Well, he hasn't been dead long.
The archivist says she gave him the references half an hour ago.
That sounds about right.
Pages torn out.
Yeah.
All from the C section.
None from the B, none from the F.
But whose name begins with C? No-one we know.
That is a Bowie knife.
And the bullet that killed Leo Fincher There's been a strong lead to the Wild West Society all through this.
Too strong, perhaps.
Did your friends from the gun squad say that the 44-40 shell could only be fired from a Winchester rifle? No, no.
It can be used on various sniper rifles.
Even a 44 handgun.
A handgun? Yeah.
Mr Malko! I was just arriving.
Or just leaving.
Fergal Jenner has been murdered.
Happened an hour ago.
Oh, that's great(!) That's just wonderful.
And of course, it'll be the gyppo(!) It'll be the Didicoy! I didn't say that.
You knew Jenner was at the archive? He phoned me.
Said he'd found the deeds to the Swamp.
I'd already made him an offer, but he wanted more.
Did he say who the deeds favoured? It's Burbage land.
The deeds were put under C for Caleb.
The grandfather's first name.
In the outset, I had a deal with Silas.
If the deeds showed it was Burbage land, we'd pay Jenner's price, so the land could be sold on to me.
If not, Jenner would fake a document favouring Silas for the same price.
Only problem - his price kept going up.
I could pay a fair whack, but I ain't got that kind of money.
Neither had Silas Burbage.
No.
But it's his land, anyway, and Jenner's dead.
So, you'll do a deal with Silas? Looks that way, yeah.
Job done.
(HENS CLUCKING) Hey, hey! Whoa! Don't tell me.
Wet-wipes in the glove compartment.
(SIGN SQUEAKING) (FRONT DOOR OPENS) (FOOTSTEPS CLIMBING STAIRS) (FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING) This marmalade is thick-cut.
That's the sort you like.
Why do you buy thick-cut? You prefer it.
Hand-delivered.
Feels like there's a lipstick in it.
Thank you.
I prefer thin-cut.
No, you don't.
More lethal than lipstick.
But not always.
'Aces and eights.
' Dead man's hand.
(PHONE RINGING) Hi.
No, listen.
I'm going away for a while.
I think it's better that way.
Yes, of course I'm coming back.
Yes, of course.
'Of course I'm coming back.
' She's checked out and gone home.
Hop in.
See this? Who'd want to kill Susan Fincher? Lipstick, Jones.
It's sometimes more lethal than a bullet.
Where are you going, Mrs Fincher? As far away as I can get.
With Faye dead, then Jack, and Leo Now Fergal Jenner.
Someone's got a list.
There's a good chance my name's reached the top.
Yes, you could be right (GUNSHOT) Inside.
Run! Inside! (GUNSHOT) At Home Farm, under fire.
Immediate assistance required! (GLASS SHATTERING) ARV, gun squad Just deploy whoever you can, as fast as you can! (GLASS SHATTERING) (HORSE NEIGHING) (GUNSHOT) Send her out! Send the woman out! That's Adam Burbage out there, isn't it? Billy the Kid.
Send her out, and the rest of you can go! I think he wants to talk to you(!) Talk? He wants to kill me! (GLASS SHATTERING) If I go out there, I'm dead.
Yeah, I know, because you were running out on him, weren't you? How long before the cavalry get here? They say 15 minutes.
Oh, rapid response, is it(?) What can we defend ourselves with? Nothing.
Well, look about! You stood to gain most, didn't you, eh? You'd get the farm, with all the other claimants dead.
(GUNSHOTS) (GLASS SHATTERING) ADAM: Send the woman out! You couldn't be the killer, could you? Because for every murder, you had an alibi.
Send her out! Send the woman out! And how perfect those alibis were, eh? When Faye Lennox was being shot, you were dropping an ice-cream into my wife's lap.
Unforgettable.
So, you couldn't be the one who shot Faye Lennox.
But your accomplice - he could do the job for you, couldn't he? 'Plenty of time for him to get round from the shoot-out in Main Street to the helter-skelter.
' (GUNSHOT) How long did he say? For help to arrive? (GUNSHOT) But you didn't have an alibi when Jude Langham was attacked, did you? 'But then, Leo did that.
It was nothing to do with you.
' SUSAN: 'I knew it had to be him - the way Leo and Jack talked about Fincher land, as if it were a gift from God.
' And the Finchers don't take kindly to being threatened.
(GUNSHOT) (GROANS) Send her out! For God's sake, do something! He's mad.
Nothing.
Just Fincher's guns from the Wild West show.
Well, take a couple of pot shots at him.
They're blanks.
Well, WE know that, but HE doesn't.
(GUNSHOTS) OK.
So, he thinks you're a lousy shot.
You or me, Wyatt.
You or me.
What did you offer him? Money? Or something more than that? Hey? Yes, it was, wasn't it? And now he's in love with you.
SUSAN: 'One thing led to another.
I just thought he was an attractive man who might be some use to me.
I didn't realise how disturbed he was.
He had a collection of Western guns.
Winchester, Colt 45, Buntline.
All authentic.
' 'And you saw a way of making those mad little dramas in his head work to your advantage.
' 'I told him, with Faye out of the way, and Jack and Leo, I'd inherit the farm.
I'd sell up and we'd go away somewhere.
' Go where? Deadwood? Dodge City.
ADAM: Send her out, or I'll come and get her! (GLASS SHATTERING) BARNABY: He's lost in a fantasy-land, that man.
William H Bonney.
Billy the Kid.
'They're not murders to him, are they? They're like little movies, with him as the hero.
' (CACKLING) (NEIGHING) SUSAN: 'A movie, you said.
Like a movie.
And it was.
I was directing.
He was the star.
(GUNSHOT) (SCRAPING) 'And with Faye out of the way, you would inherit.
But first, Jack had to die.
' (YELLS) You want a war, Burbage? Happy to oblige! (SCREAMS) 'And you could organise your alibis, while Adam acted out his cowboy fantasies.
' (LAUGHING) Who are you - Jesse James? (AMERICAN ACCENT) No.
Billy the Kid.
(HORSE WHINNIES) 'But Fergal Jenner was an entirely different proposition.
He'd actually found real evidence that the Swamp was indeed Burbage land.
' You were wrong.
So wrong.
(LAUGHS) So, you'd better start thinking about naming a price.
'You could have paid for a fake document, but you'd have to depend on Jenner keeping his mouth shut.
And once a blackmailer, always a blackmailer.
' What are you doing here? And all those people had to die, so you could inherit a farm? As a farm, it would fetch a fair sum.
As prime development land, it's worth a small fortune.
ADAM: You won't give her up? (AMERICAN ACCENT) OK.
I'm calling you out.
Man to man! (GUNSHOT) (GRUNTS) Where are they? The back-up! Where are they? It was five minutes, five minutes ago.
I came back for some clothes.
How stupid is that? I could be clear and away.
'No, you couldn't be.
Not before you had implicated Adam.
Once he realised you'd abandoned him, too dangerous to let him be on the loose.
' Mrs Fincher, you sent me this note.
And this bullet.
You expected to be long gone .
.
before Adam Burbage was arrested.
I told Adam we'd wait until things had calmed down.
I'd sell the farm, he'd sell his business, then we'd go away together.
And once he'd realised the truth, you'd be far, far away.
(GUNSHOT) Time's up! Make your play, Wyatt.
Oh, wonderful(!) They decided to take a short cut and got stuck in the Swamp.
Huh! Time's up.
All right.
It's time to end this.
No, sir, you can't.
Yes, we can.
If he gets in here, he's gonna kill her.
Now We've got one shot at this.
(CLICK) Whenever you're ready.
(GUNSHOT) More lethal than lipstick.
(GROANING) Guess you were just too fast for me, Wyatt.
(SIREN) A very good shot, that.
Thank you for it! You took a hell of a risk.
He could have shot you as soon as you appeared.
Ah, no, no, Jones.
That's not the way it works.
He called me out, so he had to wait for me to draw first.
The code of the West.