Midsomer Murders (1997) s14e07 Episode Script
A Sacred Trust
(SCREAMS) Did you see anything? Nothing.
My my bloody trousers have gone! (LAUGHS) Shut up! TV: Lanzarote is one of the UK's favourite holiday destinations.
The Prescotts and Dudleys always take their breaks in Morecambe.
GIRL ON TV: I normally go with my mum and dad! (TV CONTINUES) Yeah, about tonight change of plan.
(MUMBLES) Give me the bag! KATY: Night! LANDLORD: Night, love.
Wah-hey! Yeah, Callum! Idiot! Ready? Go! Cal Yes! (BELL RINGS) (DOOR CLOSES) (BELLS RING) Yes? Oh Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton, CID.
Yes? Who am I speaking to, please? The Prioress, Mother Julian.
I understand you've had a bit of trouble.
We didn't call the police.
No, Bethany Hargreaves, from the market told me you'd had a window broken.
Mind if I come in and take a look? There's really no need.
Don't you want us to catch whoever did it? We'd rather pray for them.
Good day, Sergeant.
Thank you for coming.
I'll leave you my card, just in case you change your mind! You'll need another plank, Catherine.
Oh, careful with those nails, dear! I wish I could catch whoever did this.
I'd put some nails in them.
Mother Jerome, it's only a window.
It's not only a window.
It's a Burne-Jones.
It must be properly restored.
It would pay for the window and a whole lot more besides! Sell one treasure to pay for the repair of another? No.
Let's take a vote on it.
Very well, I vote no, of course.
Mother Thomas? Sell.
Mother Jerome? Sell.
Catherine? No.
Then as Prioress, I have the deciding vote.
(BOLTS BEING DRAWN ON DOOR) Thank you.
(ORGAN PLAYS) (NUNS PRAY IN LATIN) (HENS CLUCK) (SCREAMS) (CHOKES) Please, just follow me.
Who is she? Mother Thomas Aquinas.
Hang on, where you going? I'm sorry.
It's time for prayer.
(BELL TOLLS) (CHICKENS CLUCK) (APPROACHING SIREN) Morning, John.
Jones beat you to it.
I encourage enthusiasm in my staff.
What do we have? A strangulation.
She's been dead for at least 10 hours, I'd say.
There's no ligature mark around the neck but petechiae all over her face, scalp signature injuries caused by ruptured capillaries.
She put up quite a fight, poor thing.
Where are the rest of the nuns? In the chapel praying.
That's their job, I suppose.
(DOOR OPENS) Mother Julian? I'm Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby.
I'm sorry for intruding so soon but it's important that we speak.
Mother Thomas is with God.
I'm afraid it's fairly clear that she was murdered.
I'll be in charge of the investigation and I'd like your permission to set up an incident room here at the priory.
I'm sorry but that won't be possible.
Why not? Midsomer Priory is a house of prayer, Chief Inspector.
We can't have police officers stamping around at all hours and shouting into their mobile telephones.
I can assure you we will treat the priory with the utmost respect.
I suppose you could use the old refectory but you'd have to observe our Hours of Silence.
Which are? Two to five in the afternoon and nine at night until six the following morning.
Perhaps it'd be best if we worked out of Causton police station.
And I'd like to speak to everyone who lives here as soon as possible.
(DOOR OPENS) I need to see the whole community, please.
This is the whole community now.
Right.
Can I have the victim's name in full, please? Mother Thomas Aquinas of the Order of St Mathilde.
I mean her name in real life.
Mother Thomas entered the order when she was 20.
And she celebrated her 60th birthday last year.
This was her real life.
Her name before she joined the order, then.
I don't remember.
It will be on file somewhere.
Who was the last person to see her alive? We all did.
Last night at Compline.
That's the final service of the day.
After that, Mother Thomas went to shut the hens in as usual.
What were the rest of you doing? I - I stayed in the chapel.
How long were you there? An hour or so.
And you heard nothing? No.
Who locks up at night? Usually it's Mother Thomas.
Last night I asked her to leave the front door open and I locked it when I came in from the chapel.
What did you do, then? As soon as Compline is over, the Great Silence begins.
We retire to our rooms and don't meet again until morning.
Any er regular visitors to the priory? Doctors, tradespeople, domestic help? We do all our own work in the house and grounds.
A young woman comes every week to collect our produce for sale in the market.
Bethany Hargreaves, sir.
She told me about the chapel window.
Dr Jacobi calls once a month and there's our chaplain, Father Behan.
He comes on Sundays, Fridays and Holy Days.
Whether we want him to or not.
(CHUCKLES) Could I take a look at this broken window of yours? Any idea who did this? Vandals.
We found some beer bottles amongst the broken glass.
Do you still have them? We put them out with the rubbish.
Is it important? It might be.
What can you tell me about Mother Thomas's life before she came to the Priory? Very little, I'm afraid.
She was Irish.
Her brother used to visit, but he hasn't been for several years.
Did they fall out? Not that I'm aware.
As time passes it gets harder and harder to find things to talk about with people from the outside.
That's been your personal experience? I haven't had a visitor since my mother died, 18 years ago.
But I've observed it, in others.
You've been here a long time? I joined the Order in 1978.
Before that I was a missionary.
Forgive me.
You've had an awful shock.
I created the garden here, you know? And I made it profitable too.
When did you come to the Priory, Mother Jerome? About 1981.
After my second husband died.
And my daughter had grown up and emigrated, and I'd had enough of men.
And why here? My great aunt was Prioress here in the 1930s.
Of course, it was a far bigger community then.
And look at us now.
Catherine's our first recruit in nearly 30 years.
Is this usually a happy place, would you say? Mother Thomas and Mother Julian never really got on.
Why's that? (Mother Thomas wanted to be Prioress.
But it was Mother Julian that got elected.
) And do you think that was the wrong decision? I created the garden here, you know? And I made it nice and profitable for us all.
Hm Do you mind if I carry on? There are 20 kilos of fruit to make into jam before the wasps get it.
Go ahead.
What sort of person was Mother Thomas? Plain-spoken.
Practical.
Kind.
Are you OK? Fine.
How long have you been here? Three years.
And your name before you arrived? Catherine Norrington.
It still is, until I make my final vows next week.
Previous occupation? I was at Oxford, doing post-doctoral research in the History faculty Catholicism in England after the Counter-Reformation.
Right.
And you gave it up because? Because I found God.
Or rather, God found me and led me to Midsomer Priory.
Do you mind if I ask about past relationships? With men, I mean.
A few, all over long ago.
Any of them serious? You mean, is there a man out there still so madly in love with me that he murdered Mother Thomas to frighten me into changing my mind about becoming a nun? Something like that, Sister Catherine.
Yes.
It just seems so unlikely.
No.
Everything was perfectly amicable and, as far as I'm aware, none of them even knows where I am.
She didn't have much.
Nothing personal.
What do you make of the good nuns? Give me a nice straightforward armed robber any day.
(CHUCKLES) I'd be climbing the walls.
Let's take a look around outside.
Apparently there's a small wood beyond the chapel.
This is a weird place, isn't it? I think it's rather beautiful.
The main house is Tudor, if I'm not mistaken.
Those women, though, the robes, men's names.
It's not normal, is it? You're still a good Welsh Baptist at heart, aren't you, Jones? Nothing wrong with that, sir.
Apart from the teetotalism.
And the hymn singing.
No escape is there? Even when they're dead.
'Let not your heart be troubled ye who believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you ' '.
.
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; "That where I am, there ye may be also.
" A-ha A dingily dell.
Well, this is the sort of place the killer might have hidden out while they were waiting.
Well, if he did he had himself a bit of a party.
Sorry to have kept you both.
I've been on the phone to the Bishop about this tragic business.
Sit down, please.
Thank you for er finding the time, Father Behan.
I understand you visit the Priory twice a week, or more? That's right.
It's my privilege to serve as chaplain.
I say mass for the nuns, hear their confessions, which I can't talk about, obviously.
No.
But is there anything you can tell us that might have a bearing on the murder? Any er worries or special tensions inside the convent? Well, not to my knowledge, no.
Four people living so closely together must have had disagreements.
Yeah, probably.
The original nuns at the Priory were French aristocrats, Inspector, and the present lot regard themselves as their heirs.
Whatever was going on, they'd put up a show in front of the servants.
It is essentially how they see me.
And you resent that, understandably.
Not at all.
I find it quite amusing.
But for their own sakes, I wish they'd be a little more open to good advice.
Can you give us an example? They need to adapt to the modern age.
It's absurd, four women three now rattling round in that huge building, when they haven't the money to maintain it.
I've told them they should move somewhere more modest, rent the Priory out, sell it.
You'd think I'd suggested turning the place into a lap-dancing club.
Well, can't you just order them to make changes? Chance would be a fine thing.
I've no power over them at all.
They're sitting pretty up at the Priory, and don't they know it.
You're here about the murder, I take it? Shocking thing.
Can't believe it, can you? You seen or heard anything unusual? Any strangers been in lately? Not that I recall.
Katy? Not in here.
But I did see a woman a couple of nights ago.
Outside, as I was leaving.
Looked a bit lost, but she'd gone before I could speak to her.
Can you describe her? It was dark.
But she was wearing these really odd clothes.
Odd? Old-fashioned.
Like a nun's habit? No.
She did have a hat on, though.
A sort of beret.
Which direction did she go in? Along towards the new houses.
OK.
Thanks.
Is it true they're not allowed to talk, the nuns? Oh, they talk all right.
We used to sneak into the Priory grounds, when we were kids for a dare, like.
I took a girl there once.
Added to the thrill, if you know what I mean.
(SCHOOL-CHILDREN GIGGLE) Hi, there.
Can I have a quick word, girls? It didn't occur to you to check the safe after the murder? Your sergeant asked if anything appeared to have been disturbed.
He said nothing about checking locked safes.
Could you describe the missing pieces, please, Mother Julian? A chalice which is a goblet, for the communion wine Two candlesticks, about three feet high, and a beautifully engraved paten.
What's a paten? A plate, essentially.
All in chased silver, early 17th century French.
Magnificent.
French? The Order of St Mathilde was established in France in 1590, Chief Inspector.
during the revolution, the nuns were forced to flee, and were given sanctuary here.
The silver was all they had to bring with them.
We only use it on special occasions.
Christmas, Easter And the mass to celebrate Catherine's Final Vows.
How much is the silver worth? £60,000.
That's very precise.
We consulted a dealer recently, with a view to selling it.
Can I have the name of the dealer please? I don't know.
Mother Thomas handled the matter.
So you didn't go through with it? We talked about it and prayed, as we do about all decisions.
And decided against.
Huh! It's such an important part of our heritage! Father Behan said you were "sitting pretty" at the Priory.
What did he mean? What a vulgar expression.
I suppose he was referring to the Deed of Trust.
Yes? When the nuns came to England in Except 60,000 quid's worth of silver.
Indeed.
A devout and charitable landowner called Sir Anthony Vertue made over the Priory to the Order, for as long as there should be a community on this site.
Now there are so few of us left, Father Behan thinks the house and land could be put to better use.
But he can't force us out.
And if there were no nuns left, would the Church be able to sell the Priory then? No.
It would revert to the heirs of Sir Anthony.
Do you know who they are? No.
Does Father Behan know this? I've never discussed it with him.
JONES: Looks like it's pretty straight-forward after all.
Go on then.
Mother Thomas picked a dodgy dealer.
He was looking for a bargain, when it all fell through, he took what he wanted.
Poor old dear caught him, he throttled her.
How did he get into the safe? Probably forced her to open it.
Then he killed her in the chicken coop after they smoked a joint together in the dell (?) What do you think happened, then? Oh, I agree that's the most obvious scenario.
So when we get back to the nick, it's OK to start contacting silver dealers then? Hm, and get the fingerprint guys out here, just in case.
Since we're keeping an open mind.
How many nuns does it take to form a community? Is this one of those jokes? 'How many folk singers does it take to change a light bulb?' I don't do jokes, Jones.
No, sir.
I noticed.
The answer's four, by the way.
One to change it, and three to sing about how good the old one was! What's he like (?) I went down to the mortuary, but they said you were finished.
It's as I thought - manual strangulation.
Sorry, Joe.
She was in good shape for a woman of her age.
Ah, the simple life.
Homegrown food, no booze, no stress.
The killer was probably taller than the victim, unless he forced her on to the ground.
Big hands, but not massive.
He? Strangling someone with your bare hands takes a lot of strength.
Oh, the nuns work in the garden, do all their own housework.
No, you're right.
Nuns don't just up and kill other nuns.
Oh, I wouldn't put anything past that lot.
Holy Crows, we used to call them.
Top-class convent education, John.
Made me what I am today.
Which is? A rationalist and an atheist.
Right index finger first, thank you.
Now left index finger, thank you.
Right index finger.
Now your left index finger.
Thank you.
JONES: 'Pair of gold-plated altar candlesticks, English, circa 1885.
' 'Ivory rosary, Oh, here's one: 'Oak rood-screen, mid-Victorian, 40 feet by 15 feet.
' Just the thing for Mrs Barnaby's birthday.
Oh, Jones.
Yes, sir.
Be quiet.
(PHONE RINGS) DS Jones.
Oh, hi, Lindsay.
Really, that's great.
No, I won't mention your name, no.
How old is she, by the way? That's great thank you.
Bye.
That was Lindsay Smith, one of the kids I met off the school bus the other day at Midsomer Vertue.
A girl called Tamsin Bickford has been bragging about climbing into the convent grounds and having sex with the school stud.
Excellent.
Not the erm Just go and talk to her.
It was just the once.
He didn't tell me what sort of place it was, just that it was nice and quiet.
And when was this, Tamsin? Monday.
You sure about that? Mmm Me and Duncan, we're both free last period on Mondays.
Duncan knew his way around the grounds, did he? Yeah.
He took me straight to this place, like a kind of a dip in the grass.
Yeah, the dell.
We sat down and, like, talked.
Smoked a bit of puff, maybe? It's OK.
I'm not interested in that.
Anyway, like I was saying, we talked, and then we started, like Yeah, yeah I get the picture.
And we were just getting well into it, when all of a sudden I saw this, big black thing standing over us.
A nun? Well, yeah, but I couldn't even see that it was a person at this point.
So I screamed, and pushed Duncan off me, and I could see her then.
And what did she look like? Old.
Glasses.
I couldn't see anything else, really.
How old is "old"? Anyway, we ran off and when we came back to get our stuff, she'd gone.
And so had Duncan's trousers! What? His trousers.
He'd taken them off.
And she must have picked them up.
Have you been back since? No way.
That place gives me the creeps.
OK, thanks, Tamsin.
I'll be in touch if I need anything else.
Er, you won't, come to my house, or anything, will you? I mean, I'm 17, but my mum'd kill me.
Well, we can't have that, can we? I'll see you.
Cheer up, Catherine.
'Silver and gold have I none', remember? If it was good enough for St Peter, it's good enough for us.
Ah You're dripping into the tomatoes! Ow! Mother! You know the doctor said you're not to get out of your chair.
Ow! Doctors! (LAUGHS) Mrs Hendred? I wonder if we might have a word with your son Duncan? Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Causton CID, and this is Detective Sergeant Jones.
You must be joking! DUNCAN: I didn't do anything wrong.
You did as it happens.
Trespass, at the very least.
Oh Stupid bitch shouldn't have said anything.
Talk about all your girlfriends like that, do you, Duncan? Why aren't you arresting that old woman that nicked my trousers? You heard about the murder up at the Priory, I take it? I didn't have anything to do with it! Sure about that? Yes.
You broke the chapel window though, didn't you? What happened: you were angry because you were made to look stupid, so you went back with your mates for a bottle-throwing contest? I don't know what you're talking about.
You come into any money lately, Duncan? No.
Just wondering because some very valuable silver was stolen from the Priory.
Probably on the night of the murder.
I didn't steal it.
Is that it? That's it for now.
What the hell is - Shh! (DOOR CLOSES) I apologise for my son's manners.
Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton CID.
Is Duncan in trouble? Not exactly, Mr Hendred.
Not at the moment, anyway.
What's he supposed to have done? Best you ask him about that, sir.
You obviously don't have teenage children, Inspector.
You don't say anything, OK? (DOOR CLOSES) What do you think? Duncan and his mates broke the window, for sure.
The murder? I'd swear he didn't know anything about the silver.
Yeah, Callum? Some coppers have been round sticking their noses in.
HENDRED: Duncan! Downstairs, now! Yeah, OK I gotta go.
Er, we'll sort it.
OK, bye.
Hello, Lauren.
What is it? What's the matter? You mustn't say a word about this to anyone, James.
Of course.
I think I'm afraid that my son might have something to do with the murder up at the Priory.
Here she comes.
ALL: Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
BOY: Dirty little whore! Hey, what's wrong Tamsin, isn't it? N nothing.
I'm fine, but thanks.
Are you sure? Yes, Mrs Barnaby.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Lindsay.
I don't know what just happened here, gentlemen, but it had better not happen again.
I do not expect to have to deal with bullying among the sixth-form! Is there something you wanted to say to me, Duncan? No, Mrs.
Barnaby.
On your way, then.
Don't push it! The blood of Christ.
Amen.
The body of Christ.
Amen The blood of Christ.
(RAISED VOICES) FATHER BEHAN: You have to tell them, Mother! MOTHER JULIAN: I don't see why.
Anything I said under the seal of the confessional is between you, me and God.
Don't presume to explain my priestly obligations to me, Mother Julian! Would you please keep your voice down! Putting me in an impossible position here! (DOOR SLAMS) Hey Cal, Cal.
We're all in this together, remember? Course we are.
Not a word to the cops about anything.
Sure.
Mate Cos you know what happened to that old nun, don't you? (BELL RINGS) OK.
Stir fry OK? Unless you've added another dish to your repertoire since last week.
Hmm What do you know about the kids from Midsomer Vertue? This is official business, is it? Deep background.
Well, erm There's Rebecca Platt, who plays hockey for the Midsomer County Under-14s, but I don't suppose you're interested in her.
Erm There must be others, but the only one I know anything about is Duncan Hendred.
And? Sixth-former.
He's only been at Causton for a couple of years.
He got thrown out of two or three private schools before then.
There's rumours that he's part of a druggy set, but he's never been caught red-handed.
Anything else? Yeah, there was an incident, not long before I arrived.
He beat up a younger boy, and hurt him quite badly.
He should have been permanently excluded, but I gather, his father wrote a big fat cheque, the school got a new music suite And nothing more was said.
I see.
I take it that won't be happening if young Duncan steps out of line again? Ah, thank you.
Why do women become nuns, do you think? I don't know.
To get a bit of peace, away from men who keep interrupting them while they're trying to work (?) I'm sorry about the lady at the convent.
Thanks, Katy.
It's a terrible thing all right.
We're all really upset about it.
Though Katy here didn't even know the convent existed until this happened.
Yeah, my point exactly! The murder was a tragedy, right enough, but maybe the shock will do them good.
What d'you mean? Three women locked away in that great big mansion, living like royalty.
It can't go on.
Oh Good night to you both.
Good night.
Good night, Father.
I don't care if he is a priest.
I don't like him.
Hey.
He's a good customer.
We should see about ordering some new birds.
I don't think we can afford it, Mother.
No hens, no eggs to sell.
And we'll have to kill one for Catherine's feast.
That really isn't necessary.
Oh yes it is.
It's the most important day of your life, Catherine.
I don't know who's going to do the deed, though.
Don't worry.
You catch it, I'll wring its neck.
Duncan.
Yeah? Like to have a chat with you.
Is there somewhere private we could go? Anything you want to say to me, you can say here.
Well, growing up is hard, Duncan.
You might find this difficult to believe, but I well remember being your age.
Sometimes we do stupid things, things we regret.
I can read people pretty well, Duncan - you have to, in my job.
I think there's something troubling you a grave sin, weighing on your conscience.
Why don't you come to confession, tell me about it? I can help you.
Nice try, Father.
But you can save that crap for my mum.
Me and dad don't go for it.
You care a lot about what your dad thinks, don't you, Duncan? So? If you choose not to seek my help, I'll have no option but to go to your father, and see if he can get through to you.
Now, think about it.
Don't take too long.
Here we are! G & T for Serena.
Half a bitter for Colin - very restrained, old man white wine for Lauren.
Cheers! Cheers.
Cheers.
Good to see you both.
Colin's probably told you, Serena, he and I have been seeing rather a lot of each other lately.
Not that you've got anything to worry about (!) He mentioned that you're planning to make a very generous donation to the Hospice Fund.
I believe in looking after the little local charities as well as the big guys.
Oh look, it's Father Behan! Lauren, nice to see you.
Matthew.
Not often I have the pleasure.
Hung up your cassock for the night, Father? Ah Enjoy yourselves, now.
Sorry about that.
Harmless enough little man, but a pain in the proverbial! Matthew! Evening, Father.
For God's sake get the money out of him soon.
I can't stand another evening with that ghastly man.
I'll do my best.
You're buying the fish and chips on the way home.
Deal.
These trees need a bit of TLC.
I know, Dad, but we don't have the time or the nun-power.
Especially now.
We've er We've brought you something.
A little present to mark the occasion.
Delia? It wasn't easy to think of something appropriate.
(LAUGHS) It's perfect.
Thank you.
You are allowed to have it? Of course.
Please, Catherine, don't do it! Look, I'm not, I'm not asking you to leave the convent, but please will you delay taking these final vows? Your feelings might change.
Just take some more time.
I've been here three years, Mum, and they've been the happiest of my life.
This is my home now.
This is where I belong.
Mum Are you sure you don't want me to come to the ceremony? Stay home and look after Mum.
Excuse me, sir.
My name's John Barnaby.
I'm in charge of the murder investigation.
Oh, yes, yes.
Dreadful business.
George Norrington.
Delia and I came to visit Catherine.
Ah, you're her parents? Yes.
That's right.
Erm Might I have a word, before you go? Well, er Delia is a little upset just now.
Ah, and I need to talk to the Prioress.
Look, why don't you go to the pub just down the road, and I'll meet you there as soon as I can get away? The Vertue Arms.
Best idea I've heard all day.
(KNOCK ON DOOR) Come in, Mr Barnaby.
Don't you ever answer the phone? I called you half-an-hour ago, outside the hours of silence.
I must have been cleaning the bathroom.
Oh.
A young lady from Causton has been telling us how she and her boyfriend were erm enjoying themselves, in your grounds, when a nun came along and caught them.
Was it you? You can use the word sex in here, Chief Inspector.
You won't be struck by lightning.
But no, it wasn't me.
Probably Mother Thomas.
She liked to walk in the grounds.
Bit odd she didn't mention it to you at the time, isn't it? It must have slipped her mind.
Or else she decided not to bother us with something so trivial and unpleasant.
What about the deliberate smashing of the chapel window? Would you call that trivial? You think that was done by whoever it was Mother Thomas caught in the dell? Probably.
How do you know they were in the dell? It's a favoured spot, Mr Barnaby.
We've all caught young couples there, over the years.
Oh, erm.
You haven't by any chance found a stray pair of trousers around the place? Why? Have you lost some? So that's a steak and chips, rare, and a cheese salad.
That'll be about 20 minutes.
Hello there, can I get you a drink? Not for me, thanks.
Mrs Norrington.
Thank you for waiting.
That's all right.
How often do you visit your daughter? We've been coming every three months, since she entered the Priory.
It's all we're allowed.
And once she's taken her final vows we'll be down to twice a year.
Has Catherine ever said anything to you, about any bad feelings inside the convent, maybe? Or erm, someone outside with a grudge against the nuns? All she ever talks about is how wonderful it is to be there, devoting her life to God.
You don't approve? She was such a normal, happy child.
She was so clever, she had lots of friends, she loved her clothes and her music, all the usual teenage stuff.
And then suddenly, in her mid-20s, she tells us she's gonna become a nun! We find it baffling, I must admit.
Catherine's father was a devout Catholic, but she never showed any interest in religion not as a girl.
Hm.
Aren't you Catherine's father? Oh, my first husband died, when Catherine was two.
I married George a few years later, and he adopted her.
I'm her dad, but not actually her father.
(DOOR BELL) Well, hello there.
I'm glad you could come.
Have a safe journey, sir.
Mr Barnaby, do you think Catherine's in any danger? Uh, we don't at this point, know who the killer is, so we don't know their motive.
But there's no reason to believe that the other nuns are in danger, no.
Thank you.
Goodbye, Inspector.
Thanks very much.
Oh, erm By the way, what was your first husband's surname Catherine's surname, before she became Norrington? Vertue.
Same as the village, and the pub.
Isn't that strange? ANSWER PHONE: Father James Behan.
I can't speak to you at the moment.
Please leave a message.
I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
James? It's Lauren.
, I'm at your house.
Where are you? (SCREAMS) Kate? He's dead, John.
I've not had time to determine much else.
It looks like another strangulation.
Time of death? No more than two hours ago.
Probably quite a bit less.
You think it's the same killer? I certainly hope so.
JONES: Thank you, Mrs Hendred.
I'll have that typed up and will arrange for you to sign later.
Oh, excuse me.
There's no sign of forced entry, sir.
Mrs Hendred says she had an appointment with Father Behan to discuss 'routine parish business'.
Talk to his parishioners.
Find out who visited him at home, anybody with a grievance, usual stuff.
What are you going to do? I'm going back to the Priory.
It's er 4, 7, 9, 6, 4, 2.
MOTHER JULIAN: I can't pretend that I liked him as a man.
Still, it's shocking news.
Would you mind telling me where you've been for the last, say, five hours? Where I always am.
Here.
I cleaned the bathroom, talked to you, had lunch, since then I've been struggling to get to grips with the accounts.
They used to be Mother Thomas's province.
How did Mother Thomas and Father Behan get on? She had a little more sympathy with some of his ideas than the rest of us.
But? Mother Thomas was an excellent mimic, and I'm sorry to say that she rather excelled at 'doing' Father Behan.
Sister Catherine, I'm afraid I have some distressing news.
Father Behan was murdered earlier today.
Was it er like Mother Thomas? It appears so, yes.
Tell me what you've been doing all day, please.
I was on kitchen duty this morning, and there was washing to do.
My parents came, I spent about an hour with them.
They left just before lunch.
After that I spent some time in the library, writing, then came out here.
So you've been alone for much of the afternoon, then? Yes.
It's beautiful here, isn't it? Very.
Do the others know that you're the Vertue heir? There seemed no reason to tell them.
But if the community doesn't survive, then you will inherit all this? That's correct, Mr Barnaby, but not at all important, because it will survive.
I'll see to that.
Do your mother and stepfather know? No.
I found out by chance, when I was doing research for my PhD.
You didn't agree with Father Behan, that places like this are an anachronism? No.
(SPADE DIGGING) (HYMN SINGING IN CHURCH) The Bishop of Midsomer's inside.
He's holding a special mass for Father Behan.
We've got five minutes with him when he's finished.
Do you need me for that? It's not as if he's a suspect, is it? Well, I just thought - Yeah, all right, Jones.
Any results from finger prints? Yes.
Just Lauren Hendred's.
Hey, what do you call a bishop, by the way? Is this another one of your jokes? No! Your Excellency.
And remember to genuflect.
What does that mean? Bishop Graves.
I'm sorry we meet in such circumstances.
Would you like some coffee, Chief Inspector? And erm Detective Sergeant Jones.
No, thank you sir.
Er Not for me, no.
I will, if you don't mind.
I shan't ask you if you have any leads, or anything like that.
I'm sure you'll tell me as soon as there's anything you think I ought to know.
That's a very refreshing attitude, sir.
Thank you.
Is there any information you would like from me? It would be helpful to get some background on Father Behan.
His family were mostly Irish, I believe.
I'll be writing to them, of course.
Well, I expect you want to know if he had any enemies? Hmm, I'm sure you would tell us if you knew of any.
But no, I was thinking more: what sort of person was he? How good was he at his job? James Behan wasn't an especially popular priest, but um He wasn't hated.
He was fallible, as we all are.
What were Father Behan's particular failings? Between ourselves? He was a little pompous, not terribly clever.
Very conscious of the dignity of his office, and inclined to meddle in matters he didn't fully understand.
He meant well.
But the Church doesn't send its best and its brightest to Midsomer Malham, alas.
Thank you, sir.
That's erm illuminating.
And now I have to pay a visit of condolence to Midsomer Priory.
Would it be very un-Christian of me to hope that the nuns don't ask me to stay to lunch? About the Priory, sir.
How many nuns constitute a community under the terms of the Trust, do you know? I think that would be a question for the lawyers, if it ever came to it.
But I think the Church would argue that two was sufficient.
Do you think he was telling the truth about Behan, sir? Pretty good turn-out, if he really was that unpopular.
Nah, they were paying their respects to the dead.
It's probably the most exciting thing to happen in this parish since the Reformation.
Lauren Hendred was there.
It's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it? Our chief suspect's mum finding the body.
I don't know about chief suspect.
Duncan's our bottle-thrower, but do you think he's a double killer - an 18-year-old boy? Well, he's the only lead we've got so far.
Sarah thinks Duncan's into drugs.
Well, there was that joint at the dell.
Oh! Sarge.
The bloody fool.
You go ahead and charge him, Sergeant.
The shock will do him good.
This is a large amount of cannabis.
I'm afraid we're looking at a bit more than possession.
What time is Duncan due home? Er about half past four.
I'll bring him down to the station myself.
All right, I want you there by 5:30.
Bag the lot.
Mum, what you doing?! The police have been to the house again.
They found some stuff in your room.
Duncan.
Does Dad know? Oh! He was there.
He's promised to take you to the police station himself.
Darling, what have you done? Mum, please.
Just get away from here as fast as you can.
And we'll think about what to do.
What?! There's cash in here, and clean clothes.
Mum, its a bit of weed.
It's not like I've murdered anyone.
Where will you go? Er I can, I can stay with - Oh no, don't tell me.
You just go.
I'll text you.
Thanks, Mum.
He must have got held up.
You stupid, pathetic woman.
There's good news and bad news, sir.
The good news is, I think we've traced the silver.
Dealer in Oxford.
Well done.
And the bad news? Matthew Hendred says Duncan didn't come home.
I reckon he's telling the truth, because he's furious.
Er Sorry, sir.
I was wondering if Mrs Barnaby might have some idea who Duncan's friends are.
Leave it for tonight.
The boy'll turn up.
(CHURCH BELLS RING) This way, gentlemen? So How can I help you, gentlemen? By telling us how you acquired the Midsomer Priory chapel silver.
If you don't mind, sir.
(SIGHS) Good afternoon, Mr Barnaby, Mr Jones.
What is it now? Thank you, Catherine.
Good news for once, Mother Julian.
We've found your silver.
Where? A dealer called Peter de Winter is about to export it to a private museum in Chicago.
He can be made to return it, surely? It appears Mr de Winter purchased the silver in good faith.
From a thief.
Not exactly.
It's a receipt, for the sum of £60,000 signed by Mother Thomas Aquinas.
I I don't understand.
She had been negotiating with Mr de Winter for a while, before calling the deal off.
Then on Tuesday she called him again to say it was back on.
And on Wednesday he drove here, collected the goods, and deposited a cheque in the convent's account.
That night, Mother Thomas was murdered.
You believe there's a connection? Not an obvious one.
Mr de Winter has an alibi, and in any case, he acquired the silver quite legally.
That is Mother Thomas's signature? Oh yes.
Does this news come as a complete surprise? I suppose not.
Mother Thomas always did favour the gas bill over tradition.
It looks as though we'll be able to buy those new hens after all, Jerome.
BARNABY: You know what's bothering me, Jones? We've got two bodies and no idea who the killer is? What happened to Duncan's trousers? The ones Mother Thomas confiscated.
Hm You mind if we take a detour, sir? Why? I called Tamsin Bickford again.
I asked her if she knew where Duncan might be hiding out.
His best mate lives in Rydal Avenue.
Next right, if I'm not mistaken.
How? Need a lift, Duncan? You're aware we found 103 grams of cannabis in your bedroom.
Was it yours? Yeah.
I guess.
Are you also aware that such a large amount renders you liable to a charge of dealing Class B drugs? It was for personal use.
Quite the stoner, aren't you? We're not really interested in the drugs.
That's a uniform matter.
We wanna know about that night at the Priory.
Oh, which night? Was there more than one? No! OK.
So me and a few mates decided to climb the wall, for a laugh.
Maybe some bottles got chucked.
But that was it.
And did you go back alone, a few nights later? No! I didn't kill anyone, I swear no matter what that stupid priest thought.
Father Behan? What did he think? I had sin on my conscience.
He wanted me to confess to him.
And did you? No way.
He'd have gone running to you lot, wouldn't he? He said he'd go to my dad.
Do you think he did? I'm scared of him.
Most people are.
Right.
We'll take you down to the station, where you'll be charged with possession.
You might want to think about calling your parents on the way.
Did you ever get your trousers back? No.
My driving licence was in the pocket.
I'd only had it like a month.
All sorted.
He's an arrogant little so and so, isn't he? Oh, thoroughly unpleasant.
But I don't believe he's our killer.
Father Behan thought he was.
Behan was wrong about most things, according to the Bishop.
What if Behan convinced Matthew Hendred he was right, and Hendred killed Behan to protect his son? Then who really did kill Mother Thomas? We're forgetting about the silver.
Mother Thomas was killed the day she sold the silver to De Winter.
Is that a coincidence? Er Maybe Sister Catherine found out what Mother Thomas had done.
Sister Catherine is obsessed by tradition.
Highly strung.
On the other hand, Mother Thomas selling the chapel silver was a pretty blatant slap in the face for Mother Julian, wasn't it? So you think it's an inside job, then? Claustrophobic environment, petty rivalries getting out of hand? Not really, no.
When we talked to De Winter, you asked him whether he was sure of Mother Thomas's identity.
What were you driving at? Every fancy dress shop stocks a nun's habit, doesn't it? Anybody could put on the outfit, walk into a dealer's showroom and say they want to flog the convent silver.
I think you're on to something, Jones.
This case is all about clothes, isn't it? Clothes and masks.
Mr Barnaby.
I want to see Mother Julian.
You can't disturb her while she's praying! Mr Barnaby! Watch me.
Mother Julian.
It's time to confess.
It wasn't Mother Thomas who found Duncan and his girlfriend in the dell, was it? It was you.
I was just going to embarrass them and warn them off.
(SCREAM) Then the young man looked up.
I recognised him, you see.
Or I thought I did.
But, then I realised that the man I was thinking of would be middle-aged by now, almost as old as me.
The man you knew in Africa? 'You heard about the murder up at the priory, I take it.
' Yeah.
I didn't have anything to do with it.
You sure about that? Yes.
Duncan's father, Matthew Hendred, has a collection of African tribal masks and spears on his sitting-room wall.
That first day, you told me you had been a missionary, and I wondered where.
But you're only half-right, Mr Barnaby.
I didn't actually know Matthew Hendred.
I saw him once.
I wasn't a nun then, just a volunteer, running a school in a village.
There was a war going on, but we'd been lucky, even though we were near the border, we'd had no trouble until the day the soldiers came.
Let's go inside.
Let's go.
Come on quickly.
Go, go, go.
There were six of them.
Two were white men - mercenaries.
I got the children inside the schoolhouse and turned to close the door.
(GUNFIRE) (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMS) (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) (GUNFIRE AND SCREAMING) They killed 23 people.
(GUNSHOT) Eight of my pupils were left orphaned.
So when you saw Duncan, you thought he must be the mercenary's son? But how could you be so sure? You've just said, you only glimpsed him, many years ago, when you were shocked and frightened.
I've never forgotten that face.
So you took Duncan's trousers, and got lucky.
His driving licence was in the pocket.
I wouldn't call it luck, Mr Barnaby.
More like God's will.
Yes.
I finally had a name for that monster and an address.
So I went looking.
But obviously you couldn't go in your habit.
No.
And the only mufti I had were the clothes I wore when I first came to the Priory over 30 years ago.
KATY: Good night! LANDLORD: Good night, love.
MOTHER JULIAN: I don't know the village at all well, but it's not a big place.
I found the house in the end.
Beautiful garden, expensive cars in the driveway I've done a bit of research into Matthew Hendred.
I know that he set up a private security firm, specialising in overseas contracts mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
And he made a fortune, didn't he? (DOOR OPENS) As soon as he came to the door I knew it was him.
You don't remember me, do you? I think you must have the wrong house.
I don't mind who hears what I have to say, Mr Hendred, but you might.
To begin with, he denied he'd ever been to Africa.
Then he changed his tune.
You think you can bring me to justice for something that you claim happened 30 years ago, in a country that doesn't even exist any more? (LAUGHS) Or maybe it's my immortal soul that you're worried about? A higher power will take care of that, Mr Hendred.
I'm interested in earthly restitution.
Ha! You're probably right that I couldn't prove anything against you in a court of law.
But the court of public opinion won't be so particular, neither will your wife or son.
Say one word.
There's a charity I very much admire, called War Wounds.
I'm sure you could easily spare a million or two for such a worthwhile cause.
Shall we say two? You didn't expected him to give in to a threat like that, did you? A man who by your own account is a ruthless war criminal! So one nun wearing glasses looks much like another, especially in the dark.
How soon did you realise that it was Matthew Hendred who killed Mother Thomas, thinking she was you? Almost at once.
But since I didn't tell Hendred my name, I thought he might not find out his mistake.
People go to prison for blackmail, you know? You must do as you see fit about that, Mr Barnaby.
When I told Father Behan about it in confession without naming names, of course - he was really quite shocked.
Why did Hendred kill him, do you think? Father Behan thought Duncan killed Mother Thomas.
I suspect that he asked Matthew Hendred to come and talk to him without saying why.
Hendred assumed that you had told your priest the truth about Africa, so Hendred killed Father Behan to protect himself.
What now? Will you arrest him? It's all circumstantial.
If I bring him in now and then have to let him go, you will be in great danger and you can bet I will have to let him go, because he will have a top-class lawyer.
I'm perfectly willing to take that risk, as long as you wait until after the ceremony tomorrow.
No.
Please, be patient.
It might take a while, but we will get him in the end.
Is there nothing I can do? Pray.
(CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS) Receive this candle.
May the light of Christ guide you throughout your life and keep you true to the vows you have made this day.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Amen.
(PHONE RINGS) Hello? Well, I'll see if he's in.
Who is it, please? It's for you.
It's some woman.
Says she's from Midsomer Priory.
Yes.
What do you want? I want my money, Mr Hendred.
Or rather, War Wounds' money.
I don't know who you are, but this won't work.
I think it will.
You've picked the wrong victim, Mr Hendred.
In more ways than one.
What are you talking about? I'm hanging up now, and if you call here again Tomorrow morning, you will go to your bank and obtain a certified cheque for £2m made out to War Wounds.
Bring it to me in the Market Cafe in Causton at noon.
I shall remain in full public view until I have deposited the cheque in the charity's account.
After that, I'll take my chances.
But before I leave the Priory in the morning, I'm going to write a note and place it in the safe.
It will tell the police exactly who to look for if anything happens to me.
Here it is.
Go! (PHONE RINGS) Hello? No! It's lunacy.
I won't Sykes! (PHONE RINGS) (BARNABY ON PHONE) Come! Now! Come here! Come where, sir? Jones, where are you?! It doesn't matter.
Come and pick me up from Causton Park, quick as you can.
Sykes! Mother Julian has gone out of her mind.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: ALL: Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum.
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum.
ALL: Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
(HENS CLUCK) (GASPS) (COMMOTION) Matthew Hendred, I'm arresting you for the murders of Mother Thomas Aquinas and Father James Behan.
Take him away and charge him.
OFFICER: On your feet.
Who the hell trained her? Well done, Mother.
Are you all right? I'm fine.
One for the er family album.
Grant this mercy, O Lord, we beseech Thee, to Thy servant departed That she may not receive in punishment, the requital of her deeds, who in desire can keep thy will.
And as the true faith here united her to the company of the faithful, So may thy mercy, unite her above to the choirs of angels.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Catherine Vertue, Catherine Norrington, Sister Catherine and now? Mother Athanasius.
This can't have been an easy time for you to make your Final Vows.
We take what's sent to us, Mr Barnaby.
Mother Thomas's death was a tragedy, but the convent will survive.
Do you really think so? How will you attract fresh blood in today's world? Sorry, bad choice of words.
As we always have.
We'll work and pray, and have faith.
Who knows? Maybe Sergeant Jones will find he has a vocation?
My my bloody trousers have gone! (LAUGHS) Shut up! TV: Lanzarote is one of the UK's favourite holiday destinations.
The Prescotts and Dudleys always take their breaks in Morecambe.
GIRL ON TV: I normally go with my mum and dad! (TV CONTINUES) Yeah, about tonight change of plan.
(MUMBLES) Give me the bag! KATY: Night! LANDLORD: Night, love.
Wah-hey! Yeah, Callum! Idiot! Ready? Go! Cal Yes! (BELL RINGS) (DOOR CLOSES) (BELLS RING) Yes? Oh Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton, CID.
Yes? Who am I speaking to, please? The Prioress, Mother Julian.
I understand you've had a bit of trouble.
We didn't call the police.
No, Bethany Hargreaves, from the market told me you'd had a window broken.
Mind if I come in and take a look? There's really no need.
Don't you want us to catch whoever did it? We'd rather pray for them.
Good day, Sergeant.
Thank you for coming.
I'll leave you my card, just in case you change your mind! You'll need another plank, Catherine.
Oh, careful with those nails, dear! I wish I could catch whoever did this.
I'd put some nails in them.
Mother Jerome, it's only a window.
It's not only a window.
It's a Burne-Jones.
It must be properly restored.
It would pay for the window and a whole lot more besides! Sell one treasure to pay for the repair of another? No.
Let's take a vote on it.
Very well, I vote no, of course.
Mother Thomas? Sell.
Mother Jerome? Sell.
Catherine? No.
Then as Prioress, I have the deciding vote.
(BOLTS BEING DRAWN ON DOOR) Thank you.
(ORGAN PLAYS) (NUNS PRAY IN LATIN) (HENS CLUCK) (SCREAMS) (CHOKES) Please, just follow me.
Who is she? Mother Thomas Aquinas.
Hang on, where you going? I'm sorry.
It's time for prayer.
(BELL TOLLS) (CHICKENS CLUCK) (APPROACHING SIREN) Morning, John.
Jones beat you to it.
I encourage enthusiasm in my staff.
What do we have? A strangulation.
She's been dead for at least 10 hours, I'd say.
There's no ligature mark around the neck but petechiae all over her face, scalp signature injuries caused by ruptured capillaries.
She put up quite a fight, poor thing.
Where are the rest of the nuns? In the chapel praying.
That's their job, I suppose.
(DOOR OPENS) Mother Julian? I'm Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby.
I'm sorry for intruding so soon but it's important that we speak.
Mother Thomas is with God.
I'm afraid it's fairly clear that she was murdered.
I'll be in charge of the investigation and I'd like your permission to set up an incident room here at the priory.
I'm sorry but that won't be possible.
Why not? Midsomer Priory is a house of prayer, Chief Inspector.
We can't have police officers stamping around at all hours and shouting into their mobile telephones.
I can assure you we will treat the priory with the utmost respect.
I suppose you could use the old refectory but you'd have to observe our Hours of Silence.
Which are? Two to five in the afternoon and nine at night until six the following morning.
Perhaps it'd be best if we worked out of Causton police station.
And I'd like to speak to everyone who lives here as soon as possible.
(DOOR OPENS) I need to see the whole community, please.
This is the whole community now.
Right.
Can I have the victim's name in full, please? Mother Thomas Aquinas of the Order of St Mathilde.
I mean her name in real life.
Mother Thomas entered the order when she was 20.
And she celebrated her 60th birthday last year.
This was her real life.
Her name before she joined the order, then.
I don't remember.
It will be on file somewhere.
Who was the last person to see her alive? We all did.
Last night at Compline.
That's the final service of the day.
After that, Mother Thomas went to shut the hens in as usual.
What were the rest of you doing? I - I stayed in the chapel.
How long were you there? An hour or so.
And you heard nothing? No.
Who locks up at night? Usually it's Mother Thomas.
Last night I asked her to leave the front door open and I locked it when I came in from the chapel.
What did you do, then? As soon as Compline is over, the Great Silence begins.
We retire to our rooms and don't meet again until morning.
Any er regular visitors to the priory? Doctors, tradespeople, domestic help? We do all our own work in the house and grounds.
A young woman comes every week to collect our produce for sale in the market.
Bethany Hargreaves, sir.
She told me about the chapel window.
Dr Jacobi calls once a month and there's our chaplain, Father Behan.
He comes on Sundays, Fridays and Holy Days.
Whether we want him to or not.
(CHUCKLES) Could I take a look at this broken window of yours? Any idea who did this? Vandals.
We found some beer bottles amongst the broken glass.
Do you still have them? We put them out with the rubbish.
Is it important? It might be.
What can you tell me about Mother Thomas's life before she came to the Priory? Very little, I'm afraid.
She was Irish.
Her brother used to visit, but he hasn't been for several years.
Did they fall out? Not that I'm aware.
As time passes it gets harder and harder to find things to talk about with people from the outside.
That's been your personal experience? I haven't had a visitor since my mother died, 18 years ago.
But I've observed it, in others.
You've been here a long time? I joined the Order in 1978.
Before that I was a missionary.
Forgive me.
You've had an awful shock.
I created the garden here, you know? And I made it profitable too.
When did you come to the Priory, Mother Jerome? About 1981.
After my second husband died.
And my daughter had grown up and emigrated, and I'd had enough of men.
And why here? My great aunt was Prioress here in the 1930s.
Of course, it was a far bigger community then.
And look at us now.
Catherine's our first recruit in nearly 30 years.
Is this usually a happy place, would you say? Mother Thomas and Mother Julian never really got on.
Why's that? (Mother Thomas wanted to be Prioress.
But it was Mother Julian that got elected.
) And do you think that was the wrong decision? I created the garden here, you know? And I made it nice and profitable for us all.
Hm Do you mind if I carry on? There are 20 kilos of fruit to make into jam before the wasps get it.
Go ahead.
What sort of person was Mother Thomas? Plain-spoken.
Practical.
Kind.
Are you OK? Fine.
How long have you been here? Three years.
And your name before you arrived? Catherine Norrington.
It still is, until I make my final vows next week.
Previous occupation? I was at Oxford, doing post-doctoral research in the History faculty Catholicism in England after the Counter-Reformation.
Right.
And you gave it up because? Because I found God.
Or rather, God found me and led me to Midsomer Priory.
Do you mind if I ask about past relationships? With men, I mean.
A few, all over long ago.
Any of them serious? You mean, is there a man out there still so madly in love with me that he murdered Mother Thomas to frighten me into changing my mind about becoming a nun? Something like that, Sister Catherine.
Yes.
It just seems so unlikely.
No.
Everything was perfectly amicable and, as far as I'm aware, none of them even knows where I am.
She didn't have much.
Nothing personal.
What do you make of the good nuns? Give me a nice straightforward armed robber any day.
(CHUCKLES) I'd be climbing the walls.
Let's take a look around outside.
Apparently there's a small wood beyond the chapel.
This is a weird place, isn't it? I think it's rather beautiful.
The main house is Tudor, if I'm not mistaken.
Those women, though, the robes, men's names.
It's not normal, is it? You're still a good Welsh Baptist at heart, aren't you, Jones? Nothing wrong with that, sir.
Apart from the teetotalism.
And the hymn singing.
No escape is there? Even when they're dead.
'Let not your heart be troubled ye who believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you ' '.
.
I will come again, and receive you unto myself; "That where I am, there ye may be also.
" A-ha A dingily dell.
Well, this is the sort of place the killer might have hidden out while they were waiting.
Well, if he did he had himself a bit of a party.
Sorry to have kept you both.
I've been on the phone to the Bishop about this tragic business.
Sit down, please.
Thank you for er finding the time, Father Behan.
I understand you visit the Priory twice a week, or more? That's right.
It's my privilege to serve as chaplain.
I say mass for the nuns, hear their confessions, which I can't talk about, obviously.
No.
But is there anything you can tell us that might have a bearing on the murder? Any er worries or special tensions inside the convent? Well, not to my knowledge, no.
Four people living so closely together must have had disagreements.
Yeah, probably.
The original nuns at the Priory were French aristocrats, Inspector, and the present lot regard themselves as their heirs.
Whatever was going on, they'd put up a show in front of the servants.
It is essentially how they see me.
And you resent that, understandably.
Not at all.
I find it quite amusing.
But for their own sakes, I wish they'd be a little more open to good advice.
Can you give us an example? They need to adapt to the modern age.
It's absurd, four women three now rattling round in that huge building, when they haven't the money to maintain it.
I've told them they should move somewhere more modest, rent the Priory out, sell it.
You'd think I'd suggested turning the place into a lap-dancing club.
Well, can't you just order them to make changes? Chance would be a fine thing.
I've no power over them at all.
They're sitting pretty up at the Priory, and don't they know it.
You're here about the murder, I take it? Shocking thing.
Can't believe it, can you? You seen or heard anything unusual? Any strangers been in lately? Not that I recall.
Katy? Not in here.
But I did see a woman a couple of nights ago.
Outside, as I was leaving.
Looked a bit lost, but she'd gone before I could speak to her.
Can you describe her? It was dark.
But she was wearing these really odd clothes.
Odd? Old-fashioned.
Like a nun's habit? No.
She did have a hat on, though.
A sort of beret.
Which direction did she go in? Along towards the new houses.
OK.
Thanks.
Is it true they're not allowed to talk, the nuns? Oh, they talk all right.
We used to sneak into the Priory grounds, when we were kids for a dare, like.
I took a girl there once.
Added to the thrill, if you know what I mean.
(SCHOOL-CHILDREN GIGGLE) Hi, there.
Can I have a quick word, girls? It didn't occur to you to check the safe after the murder? Your sergeant asked if anything appeared to have been disturbed.
He said nothing about checking locked safes.
Could you describe the missing pieces, please, Mother Julian? A chalice which is a goblet, for the communion wine Two candlesticks, about three feet high, and a beautifully engraved paten.
What's a paten? A plate, essentially.
All in chased silver, early 17th century French.
Magnificent.
French? The Order of St Mathilde was established in France in 1590, Chief Inspector.
during the revolution, the nuns were forced to flee, and were given sanctuary here.
The silver was all they had to bring with them.
We only use it on special occasions.
Christmas, Easter And the mass to celebrate Catherine's Final Vows.
How much is the silver worth? £60,000.
That's very precise.
We consulted a dealer recently, with a view to selling it.
Can I have the name of the dealer please? I don't know.
Mother Thomas handled the matter.
So you didn't go through with it? We talked about it and prayed, as we do about all decisions.
And decided against.
Huh! It's such an important part of our heritage! Father Behan said you were "sitting pretty" at the Priory.
What did he mean? What a vulgar expression.
I suppose he was referring to the Deed of Trust.
Yes? When the nuns came to England in Except 60,000 quid's worth of silver.
Indeed.
A devout and charitable landowner called Sir Anthony Vertue made over the Priory to the Order, for as long as there should be a community on this site.
Now there are so few of us left, Father Behan thinks the house and land could be put to better use.
But he can't force us out.
And if there were no nuns left, would the Church be able to sell the Priory then? No.
It would revert to the heirs of Sir Anthony.
Do you know who they are? No.
Does Father Behan know this? I've never discussed it with him.
JONES: Looks like it's pretty straight-forward after all.
Go on then.
Mother Thomas picked a dodgy dealer.
He was looking for a bargain, when it all fell through, he took what he wanted.
Poor old dear caught him, he throttled her.
How did he get into the safe? Probably forced her to open it.
Then he killed her in the chicken coop after they smoked a joint together in the dell (?) What do you think happened, then? Oh, I agree that's the most obvious scenario.
So when we get back to the nick, it's OK to start contacting silver dealers then? Hm, and get the fingerprint guys out here, just in case.
Since we're keeping an open mind.
How many nuns does it take to form a community? Is this one of those jokes? 'How many folk singers does it take to change a light bulb?' I don't do jokes, Jones.
No, sir.
I noticed.
The answer's four, by the way.
One to change it, and three to sing about how good the old one was! What's he like (?) I went down to the mortuary, but they said you were finished.
It's as I thought - manual strangulation.
Sorry, Joe.
She was in good shape for a woman of her age.
Ah, the simple life.
Homegrown food, no booze, no stress.
The killer was probably taller than the victim, unless he forced her on to the ground.
Big hands, but not massive.
He? Strangling someone with your bare hands takes a lot of strength.
Oh, the nuns work in the garden, do all their own housework.
No, you're right.
Nuns don't just up and kill other nuns.
Oh, I wouldn't put anything past that lot.
Holy Crows, we used to call them.
Top-class convent education, John.
Made me what I am today.
Which is? A rationalist and an atheist.
Right index finger first, thank you.
Now left index finger, thank you.
Right index finger.
Now your left index finger.
Thank you.
JONES: 'Pair of gold-plated altar candlesticks, English, circa 1885.
' 'Ivory rosary, Oh, here's one: 'Oak rood-screen, mid-Victorian, 40 feet by 15 feet.
' Just the thing for Mrs Barnaby's birthday.
Oh, Jones.
Yes, sir.
Be quiet.
(PHONE RINGS) DS Jones.
Oh, hi, Lindsay.
Really, that's great.
No, I won't mention your name, no.
How old is she, by the way? That's great thank you.
Bye.
That was Lindsay Smith, one of the kids I met off the school bus the other day at Midsomer Vertue.
A girl called Tamsin Bickford has been bragging about climbing into the convent grounds and having sex with the school stud.
Excellent.
Not the erm Just go and talk to her.
It was just the once.
He didn't tell me what sort of place it was, just that it was nice and quiet.
And when was this, Tamsin? Monday.
You sure about that? Mmm Me and Duncan, we're both free last period on Mondays.
Duncan knew his way around the grounds, did he? Yeah.
He took me straight to this place, like a kind of a dip in the grass.
Yeah, the dell.
We sat down and, like, talked.
Smoked a bit of puff, maybe? It's OK.
I'm not interested in that.
Anyway, like I was saying, we talked, and then we started, like Yeah, yeah I get the picture.
And we were just getting well into it, when all of a sudden I saw this, big black thing standing over us.
A nun? Well, yeah, but I couldn't even see that it was a person at this point.
So I screamed, and pushed Duncan off me, and I could see her then.
And what did she look like? Old.
Glasses.
I couldn't see anything else, really.
How old is "old"? Anyway, we ran off and when we came back to get our stuff, she'd gone.
And so had Duncan's trousers! What? His trousers.
He'd taken them off.
And she must have picked them up.
Have you been back since? No way.
That place gives me the creeps.
OK, thanks, Tamsin.
I'll be in touch if I need anything else.
Er, you won't, come to my house, or anything, will you? I mean, I'm 17, but my mum'd kill me.
Well, we can't have that, can we? I'll see you.
Cheer up, Catherine.
'Silver and gold have I none', remember? If it was good enough for St Peter, it's good enough for us.
Ah You're dripping into the tomatoes! Ow! Mother! You know the doctor said you're not to get out of your chair.
Ow! Doctors! (LAUGHS) Mrs Hendred? I wonder if we might have a word with your son Duncan? Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Causton CID, and this is Detective Sergeant Jones.
You must be joking! DUNCAN: I didn't do anything wrong.
You did as it happens.
Trespass, at the very least.
Oh Stupid bitch shouldn't have said anything.
Talk about all your girlfriends like that, do you, Duncan? Why aren't you arresting that old woman that nicked my trousers? You heard about the murder up at the Priory, I take it? I didn't have anything to do with it! Sure about that? Yes.
You broke the chapel window though, didn't you? What happened: you were angry because you were made to look stupid, so you went back with your mates for a bottle-throwing contest? I don't know what you're talking about.
You come into any money lately, Duncan? No.
Just wondering because some very valuable silver was stolen from the Priory.
Probably on the night of the murder.
I didn't steal it.
Is that it? That's it for now.
What the hell is - Shh! (DOOR CLOSES) I apologise for my son's manners.
Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and Detective Sergeant Jones, Causton CID.
Is Duncan in trouble? Not exactly, Mr Hendred.
Not at the moment, anyway.
What's he supposed to have done? Best you ask him about that, sir.
You obviously don't have teenage children, Inspector.
You don't say anything, OK? (DOOR CLOSES) What do you think? Duncan and his mates broke the window, for sure.
The murder? I'd swear he didn't know anything about the silver.
Yeah, Callum? Some coppers have been round sticking their noses in.
HENDRED: Duncan! Downstairs, now! Yeah, OK I gotta go.
Er, we'll sort it.
OK, bye.
Hello, Lauren.
What is it? What's the matter? You mustn't say a word about this to anyone, James.
Of course.
I think I'm afraid that my son might have something to do with the murder up at the Priory.
Here she comes.
ALL: Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
Slag.
BOY: Dirty little whore! Hey, what's wrong Tamsin, isn't it? N nothing.
I'm fine, but thanks.
Are you sure? Yes, Mrs Barnaby.
Thanks.
Thank you.
Lindsay.
I don't know what just happened here, gentlemen, but it had better not happen again.
I do not expect to have to deal with bullying among the sixth-form! Is there something you wanted to say to me, Duncan? No, Mrs.
Barnaby.
On your way, then.
Don't push it! The blood of Christ.
Amen.
The body of Christ.
Amen The blood of Christ.
(RAISED VOICES) FATHER BEHAN: You have to tell them, Mother! MOTHER JULIAN: I don't see why.
Anything I said under the seal of the confessional is between you, me and God.
Don't presume to explain my priestly obligations to me, Mother Julian! Would you please keep your voice down! Putting me in an impossible position here! (DOOR SLAMS) Hey Cal, Cal.
We're all in this together, remember? Course we are.
Not a word to the cops about anything.
Sure.
Mate Cos you know what happened to that old nun, don't you? (BELL RINGS) OK.
Stir fry OK? Unless you've added another dish to your repertoire since last week.
Hmm What do you know about the kids from Midsomer Vertue? This is official business, is it? Deep background.
Well, erm There's Rebecca Platt, who plays hockey for the Midsomer County Under-14s, but I don't suppose you're interested in her.
Erm There must be others, but the only one I know anything about is Duncan Hendred.
And? Sixth-former.
He's only been at Causton for a couple of years.
He got thrown out of two or three private schools before then.
There's rumours that he's part of a druggy set, but he's never been caught red-handed.
Anything else? Yeah, there was an incident, not long before I arrived.
He beat up a younger boy, and hurt him quite badly.
He should have been permanently excluded, but I gather, his father wrote a big fat cheque, the school got a new music suite And nothing more was said.
I see.
I take it that won't be happening if young Duncan steps out of line again? Ah, thank you.
Why do women become nuns, do you think? I don't know.
To get a bit of peace, away from men who keep interrupting them while they're trying to work (?) I'm sorry about the lady at the convent.
Thanks, Katy.
It's a terrible thing all right.
We're all really upset about it.
Though Katy here didn't even know the convent existed until this happened.
Yeah, my point exactly! The murder was a tragedy, right enough, but maybe the shock will do them good.
What d'you mean? Three women locked away in that great big mansion, living like royalty.
It can't go on.
Oh Good night to you both.
Good night.
Good night, Father.
I don't care if he is a priest.
I don't like him.
Hey.
He's a good customer.
We should see about ordering some new birds.
I don't think we can afford it, Mother.
No hens, no eggs to sell.
And we'll have to kill one for Catherine's feast.
That really isn't necessary.
Oh yes it is.
It's the most important day of your life, Catherine.
I don't know who's going to do the deed, though.
Don't worry.
You catch it, I'll wring its neck.
Duncan.
Yeah? Like to have a chat with you.
Is there somewhere private we could go? Anything you want to say to me, you can say here.
Well, growing up is hard, Duncan.
You might find this difficult to believe, but I well remember being your age.
Sometimes we do stupid things, things we regret.
I can read people pretty well, Duncan - you have to, in my job.
I think there's something troubling you a grave sin, weighing on your conscience.
Why don't you come to confession, tell me about it? I can help you.
Nice try, Father.
But you can save that crap for my mum.
Me and dad don't go for it.
You care a lot about what your dad thinks, don't you, Duncan? So? If you choose not to seek my help, I'll have no option but to go to your father, and see if he can get through to you.
Now, think about it.
Don't take too long.
Here we are! G & T for Serena.
Half a bitter for Colin - very restrained, old man white wine for Lauren.
Cheers! Cheers.
Cheers.
Good to see you both.
Colin's probably told you, Serena, he and I have been seeing rather a lot of each other lately.
Not that you've got anything to worry about (!) He mentioned that you're planning to make a very generous donation to the Hospice Fund.
I believe in looking after the little local charities as well as the big guys.
Oh look, it's Father Behan! Lauren, nice to see you.
Matthew.
Not often I have the pleasure.
Hung up your cassock for the night, Father? Ah Enjoy yourselves, now.
Sorry about that.
Harmless enough little man, but a pain in the proverbial! Matthew! Evening, Father.
For God's sake get the money out of him soon.
I can't stand another evening with that ghastly man.
I'll do my best.
You're buying the fish and chips on the way home.
Deal.
These trees need a bit of TLC.
I know, Dad, but we don't have the time or the nun-power.
Especially now.
We've er We've brought you something.
A little present to mark the occasion.
Delia? It wasn't easy to think of something appropriate.
(LAUGHS) It's perfect.
Thank you.
You are allowed to have it? Of course.
Please, Catherine, don't do it! Look, I'm not, I'm not asking you to leave the convent, but please will you delay taking these final vows? Your feelings might change.
Just take some more time.
I've been here three years, Mum, and they've been the happiest of my life.
This is my home now.
This is where I belong.
Mum Are you sure you don't want me to come to the ceremony? Stay home and look after Mum.
Excuse me, sir.
My name's John Barnaby.
I'm in charge of the murder investigation.
Oh, yes, yes.
Dreadful business.
George Norrington.
Delia and I came to visit Catherine.
Ah, you're her parents? Yes.
That's right.
Erm Might I have a word, before you go? Well, er Delia is a little upset just now.
Ah, and I need to talk to the Prioress.
Look, why don't you go to the pub just down the road, and I'll meet you there as soon as I can get away? The Vertue Arms.
Best idea I've heard all day.
(KNOCK ON DOOR) Come in, Mr Barnaby.
Don't you ever answer the phone? I called you half-an-hour ago, outside the hours of silence.
I must have been cleaning the bathroom.
Oh.
A young lady from Causton has been telling us how she and her boyfriend were erm enjoying themselves, in your grounds, when a nun came along and caught them.
Was it you? You can use the word sex in here, Chief Inspector.
You won't be struck by lightning.
But no, it wasn't me.
Probably Mother Thomas.
She liked to walk in the grounds.
Bit odd she didn't mention it to you at the time, isn't it? It must have slipped her mind.
Or else she decided not to bother us with something so trivial and unpleasant.
What about the deliberate smashing of the chapel window? Would you call that trivial? You think that was done by whoever it was Mother Thomas caught in the dell? Probably.
How do you know they were in the dell? It's a favoured spot, Mr Barnaby.
We've all caught young couples there, over the years.
Oh, erm.
You haven't by any chance found a stray pair of trousers around the place? Why? Have you lost some? So that's a steak and chips, rare, and a cheese salad.
That'll be about 20 minutes.
Hello there, can I get you a drink? Not for me, thanks.
Mrs Norrington.
Thank you for waiting.
That's all right.
How often do you visit your daughter? We've been coming every three months, since she entered the Priory.
It's all we're allowed.
And once she's taken her final vows we'll be down to twice a year.
Has Catherine ever said anything to you, about any bad feelings inside the convent, maybe? Or erm, someone outside with a grudge against the nuns? All she ever talks about is how wonderful it is to be there, devoting her life to God.
You don't approve? She was such a normal, happy child.
She was so clever, she had lots of friends, she loved her clothes and her music, all the usual teenage stuff.
And then suddenly, in her mid-20s, she tells us she's gonna become a nun! We find it baffling, I must admit.
Catherine's father was a devout Catholic, but she never showed any interest in religion not as a girl.
Hm.
Aren't you Catherine's father? Oh, my first husband died, when Catherine was two.
I married George a few years later, and he adopted her.
I'm her dad, but not actually her father.
(DOOR BELL) Well, hello there.
I'm glad you could come.
Have a safe journey, sir.
Mr Barnaby, do you think Catherine's in any danger? Uh, we don't at this point, know who the killer is, so we don't know their motive.
But there's no reason to believe that the other nuns are in danger, no.
Thank you.
Goodbye, Inspector.
Thanks very much.
Oh, erm By the way, what was your first husband's surname Catherine's surname, before she became Norrington? Vertue.
Same as the village, and the pub.
Isn't that strange? ANSWER PHONE: Father James Behan.
I can't speak to you at the moment.
Please leave a message.
I'll get back to you as soon as I can.
James? It's Lauren.
, I'm at your house.
Where are you? (SCREAMS) Kate? He's dead, John.
I've not had time to determine much else.
It looks like another strangulation.
Time of death? No more than two hours ago.
Probably quite a bit less.
You think it's the same killer? I certainly hope so.
JONES: Thank you, Mrs Hendred.
I'll have that typed up and will arrange for you to sign later.
Oh, excuse me.
There's no sign of forced entry, sir.
Mrs Hendred says she had an appointment with Father Behan to discuss 'routine parish business'.
Talk to his parishioners.
Find out who visited him at home, anybody with a grievance, usual stuff.
What are you going to do? I'm going back to the Priory.
It's er 4, 7, 9, 6, 4, 2.
MOTHER JULIAN: I can't pretend that I liked him as a man.
Still, it's shocking news.
Would you mind telling me where you've been for the last, say, five hours? Where I always am.
Here.
I cleaned the bathroom, talked to you, had lunch, since then I've been struggling to get to grips with the accounts.
They used to be Mother Thomas's province.
How did Mother Thomas and Father Behan get on? She had a little more sympathy with some of his ideas than the rest of us.
But? Mother Thomas was an excellent mimic, and I'm sorry to say that she rather excelled at 'doing' Father Behan.
Sister Catherine, I'm afraid I have some distressing news.
Father Behan was murdered earlier today.
Was it er like Mother Thomas? It appears so, yes.
Tell me what you've been doing all day, please.
I was on kitchen duty this morning, and there was washing to do.
My parents came, I spent about an hour with them.
They left just before lunch.
After that I spent some time in the library, writing, then came out here.
So you've been alone for much of the afternoon, then? Yes.
It's beautiful here, isn't it? Very.
Do the others know that you're the Vertue heir? There seemed no reason to tell them.
But if the community doesn't survive, then you will inherit all this? That's correct, Mr Barnaby, but not at all important, because it will survive.
I'll see to that.
Do your mother and stepfather know? No.
I found out by chance, when I was doing research for my PhD.
You didn't agree with Father Behan, that places like this are an anachronism? No.
(SPADE DIGGING) (HYMN SINGING IN CHURCH) The Bishop of Midsomer's inside.
He's holding a special mass for Father Behan.
We've got five minutes with him when he's finished.
Do you need me for that? It's not as if he's a suspect, is it? Well, I just thought - Yeah, all right, Jones.
Any results from finger prints? Yes.
Just Lauren Hendred's.
Hey, what do you call a bishop, by the way? Is this another one of your jokes? No! Your Excellency.
And remember to genuflect.
What does that mean? Bishop Graves.
I'm sorry we meet in such circumstances.
Would you like some coffee, Chief Inspector? And erm Detective Sergeant Jones.
No, thank you sir.
Er Not for me, no.
I will, if you don't mind.
I shan't ask you if you have any leads, or anything like that.
I'm sure you'll tell me as soon as there's anything you think I ought to know.
That's a very refreshing attitude, sir.
Thank you.
Is there any information you would like from me? It would be helpful to get some background on Father Behan.
His family were mostly Irish, I believe.
I'll be writing to them, of course.
Well, I expect you want to know if he had any enemies? Hmm, I'm sure you would tell us if you knew of any.
But no, I was thinking more: what sort of person was he? How good was he at his job? James Behan wasn't an especially popular priest, but um He wasn't hated.
He was fallible, as we all are.
What were Father Behan's particular failings? Between ourselves? He was a little pompous, not terribly clever.
Very conscious of the dignity of his office, and inclined to meddle in matters he didn't fully understand.
He meant well.
But the Church doesn't send its best and its brightest to Midsomer Malham, alas.
Thank you, sir.
That's erm illuminating.
And now I have to pay a visit of condolence to Midsomer Priory.
Would it be very un-Christian of me to hope that the nuns don't ask me to stay to lunch? About the Priory, sir.
How many nuns constitute a community under the terms of the Trust, do you know? I think that would be a question for the lawyers, if it ever came to it.
But I think the Church would argue that two was sufficient.
Do you think he was telling the truth about Behan, sir? Pretty good turn-out, if he really was that unpopular.
Nah, they were paying their respects to the dead.
It's probably the most exciting thing to happen in this parish since the Reformation.
Lauren Hendred was there.
It's a bit of a coincidence, isn't it? Our chief suspect's mum finding the body.
I don't know about chief suspect.
Duncan's our bottle-thrower, but do you think he's a double killer - an 18-year-old boy? Well, he's the only lead we've got so far.
Sarah thinks Duncan's into drugs.
Well, there was that joint at the dell.
Oh! Sarge.
The bloody fool.
You go ahead and charge him, Sergeant.
The shock will do him good.
This is a large amount of cannabis.
I'm afraid we're looking at a bit more than possession.
What time is Duncan due home? Er about half past four.
I'll bring him down to the station myself.
All right, I want you there by 5:30.
Bag the lot.
Mum, what you doing?! The police have been to the house again.
They found some stuff in your room.
Duncan.
Does Dad know? Oh! He was there.
He's promised to take you to the police station himself.
Darling, what have you done? Mum, please.
Just get away from here as fast as you can.
And we'll think about what to do.
What?! There's cash in here, and clean clothes.
Mum, its a bit of weed.
It's not like I've murdered anyone.
Where will you go? Er I can, I can stay with - Oh no, don't tell me.
You just go.
I'll text you.
Thanks, Mum.
He must have got held up.
You stupid, pathetic woman.
There's good news and bad news, sir.
The good news is, I think we've traced the silver.
Dealer in Oxford.
Well done.
And the bad news? Matthew Hendred says Duncan didn't come home.
I reckon he's telling the truth, because he's furious.
Er Sorry, sir.
I was wondering if Mrs Barnaby might have some idea who Duncan's friends are.
Leave it for tonight.
The boy'll turn up.
(CHURCH BELLS RING) This way, gentlemen? So How can I help you, gentlemen? By telling us how you acquired the Midsomer Priory chapel silver.
If you don't mind, sir.
(SIGHS) Good afternoon, Mr Barnaby, Mr Jones.
What is it now? Thank you, Catherine.
Good news for once, Mother Julian.
We've found your silver.
Where? A dealer called Peter de Winter is about to export it to a private museum in Chicago.
He can be made to return it, surely? It appears Mr de Winter purchased the silver in good faith.
From a thief.
Not exactly.
It's a receipt, for the sum of £60,000 signed by Mother Thomas Aquinas.
I I don't understand.
She had been negotiating with Mr de Winter for a while, before calling the deal off.
Then on Tuesday she called him again to say it was back on.
And on Wednesday he drove here, collected the goods, and deposited a cheque in the convent's account.
That night, Mother Thomas was murdered.
You believe there's a connection? Not an obvious one.
Mr de Winter has an alibi, and in any case, he acquired the silver quite legally.
That is Mother Thomas's signature? Oh yes.
Does this news come as a complete surprise? I suppose not.
Mother Thomas always did favour the gas bill over tradition.
It looks as though we'll be able to buy those new hens after all, Jerome.
BARNABY: You know what's bothering me, Jones? We've got two bodies and no idea who the killer is? What happened to Duncan's trousers? The ones Mother Thomas confiscated.
Hm You mind if we take a detour, sir? Why? I called Tamsin Bickford again.
I asked her if she knew where Duncan might be hiding out.
His best mate lives in Rydal Avenue.
Next right, if I'm not mistaken.
How? Need a lift, Duncan? You're aware we found 103 grams of cannabis in your bedroom.
Was it yours? Yeah.
I guess.
Are you also aware that such a large amount renders you liable to a charge of dealing Class B drugs? It was for personal use.
Quite the stoner, aren't you? We're not really interested in the drugs.
That's a uniform matter.
We wanna know about that night at the Priory.
Oh, which night? Was there more than one? No! OK.
So me and a few mates decided to climb the wall, for a laugh.
Maybe some bottles got chucked.
But that was it.
And did you go back alone, a few nights later? No! I didn't kill anyone, I swear no matter what that stupid priest thought.
Father Behan? What did he think? I had sin on my conscience.
He wanted me to confess to him.
And did you? No way.
He'd have gone running to you lot, wouldn't he? He said he'd go to my dad.
Do you think he did? I'm scared of him.
Most people are.
Right.
We'll take you down to the station, where you'll be charged with possession.
You might want to think about calling your parents on the way.
Did you ever get your trousers back? No.
My driving licence was in the pocket.
I'd only had it like a month.
All sorted.
He's an arrogant little so and so, isn't he? Oh, thoroughly unpleasant.
But I don't believe he's our killer.
Father Behan thought he was.
Behan was wrong about most things, according to the Bishop.
What if Behan convinced Matthew Hendred he was right, and Hendred killed Behan to protect his son? Then who really did kill Mother Thomas? We're forgetting about the silver.
Mother Thomas was killed the day she sold the silver to De Winter.
Is that a coincidence? Er Maybe Sister Catherine found out what Mother Thomas had done.
Sister Catherine is obsessed by tradition.
Highly strung.
On the other hand, Mother Thomas selling the chapel silver was a pretty blatant slap in the face for Mother Julian, wasn't it? So you think it's an inside job, then? Claustrophobic environment, petty rivalries getting out of hand? Not really, no.
When we talked to De Winter, you asked him whether he was sure of Mother Thomas's identity.
What were you driving at? Every fancy dress shop stocks a nun's habit, doesn't it? Anybody could put on the outfit, walk into a dealer's showroom and say they want to flog the convent silver.
I think you're on to something, Jones.
This case is all about clothes, isn't it? Clothes and masks.
Mr Barnaby.
I want to see Mother Julian.
You can't disturb her while she's praying! Mr Barnaby! Watch me.
Mother Julian.
It's time to confess.
It wasn't Mother Thomas who found Duncan and his girlfriend in the dell, was it? It was you.
I was just going to embarrass them and warn them off.
(SCREAM) Then the young man looked up.
I recognised him, you see.
Or I thought I did.
But, then I realised that the man I was thinking of would be middle-aged by now, almost as old as me.
The man you knew in Africa? 'You heard about the murder up at the priory, I take it.
' Yeah.
I didn't have anything to do with it.
You sure about that? Yes.
Duncan's father, Matthew Hendred, has a collection of African tribal masks and spears on his sitting-room wall.
That first day, you told me you had been a missionary, and I wondered where.
But you're only half-right, Mr Barnaby.
I didn't actually know Matthew Hendred.
I saw him once.
I wasn't a nun then, just a volunteer, running a school in a village.
There was a war going on, but we'd been lucky, even though we were near the border, we'd had no trouble until the day the soldiers came.
Let's go inside.
Let's go.
Come on quickly.
Go, go, go.
There were six of them.
Two were white men - mercenaries.
I got the children inside the schoolhouse and turned to close the door.
(GUNFIRE) (GUNFIRE) (SCREAMS) (GUNFIRE CONTINUES) (GUNFIRE AND SCREAMING) They killed 23 people.
(GUNSHOT) Eight of my pupils were left orphaned.
So when you saw Duncan, you thought he must be the mercenary's son? But how could you be so sure? You've just said, you only glimpsed him, many years ago, when you were shocked and frightened.
I've never forgotten that face.
So you took Duncan's trousers, and got lucky.
His driving licence was in the pocket.
I wouldn't call it luck, Mr Barnaby.
More like God's will.
Yes.
I finally had a name for that monster and an address.
So I went looking.
But obviously you couldn't go in your habit.
No.
And the only mufti I had were the clothes I wore when I first came to the Priory over 30 years ago.
KATY: Good night! LANDLORD: Good night, love.
MOTHER JULIAN: I don't know the village at all well, but it's not a big place.
I found the house in the end.
Beautiful garden, expensive cars in the driveway I've done a bit of research into Matthew Hendred.
I know that he set up a private security firm, specialising in overseas contracts mainly in sub-Saharan Africa.
And he made a fortune, didn't he? (DOOR OPENS) As soon as he came to the door I knew it was him.
You don't remember me, do you? I think you must have the wrong house.
I don't mind who hears what I have to say, Mr Hendred, but you might.
To begin with, he denied he'd ever been to Africa.
Then he changed his tune.
You think you can bring me to justice for something that you claim happened 30 years ago, in a country that doesn't even exist any more? (LAUGHS) Or maybe it's my immortal soul that you're worried about? A higher power will take care of that, Mr Hendred.
I'm interested in earthly restitution.
Ha! You're probably right that I couldn't prove anything against you in a court of law.
But the court of public opinion won't be so particular, neither will your wife or son.
Say one word.
There's a charity I very much admire, called War Wounds.
I'm sure you could easily spare a million or two for such a worthwhile cause.
Shall we say two? You didn't expected him to give in to a threat like that, did you? A man who by your own account is a ruthless war criminal! So one nun wearing glasses looks much like another, especially in the dark.
How soon did you realise that it was Matthew Hendred who killed Mother Thomas, thinking she was you? Almost at once.
But since I didn't tell Hendred my name, I thought he might not find out his mistake.
People go to prison for blackmail, you know? You must do as you see fit about that, Mr Barnaby.
When I told Father Behan about it in confession without naming names, of course - he was really quite shocked.
Why did Hendred kill him, do you think? Father Behan thought Duncan killed Mother Thomas.
I suspect that he asked Matthew Hendred to come and talk to him without saying why.
Hendred assumed that you had told your priest the truth about Africa, so Hendred killed Father Behan to protect himself.
What now? Will you arrest him? It's all circumstantial.
If I bring him in now and then have to let him go, you will be in great danger and you can bet I will have to let him go, because he will have a top-class lawyer.
I'm perfectly willing to take that risk, as long as you wait until after the ceremony tomorrow.
No.
Please, be patient.
It might take a while, but we will get him in the end.
Is there nothing I can do? Pray.
(CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS) Receive this candle.
May the light of Christ guide you throughout your life and keep you true to the vows you have made this day.
Through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Amen.
(PHONE RINGS) Hello? Well, I'll see if he's in.
Who is it, please? It's for you.
It's some woman.
Says she's from Midsomer Priory.
Yes.
What do you want? I want my money, Mr Hendred.
Or rather, War Wounds' money.
I don't know who you are, but this won't work.
I think it will.
You've picked the wrong victim, Mr Hendred.
In more ways than one.
What are you talking about? I'm hanging up now, and if you call here again Tomorrow morning, you will go to your bank and obtain a certified cheque for £2m made out to War Wounds.
Bring it to me in the Market Cafe in Causton at noon.
I shall remain in full public view until I have deposited the cheque in the charity's account.
After that, I'll take my chances.
But before I leave the Priory in the morning, I'm going to write a note and place it in the safe.
It will tell the police exactly who to look for if anything happens to me.
Here it is.
Go! (PHONE RINGS) Hello? No! It's lunacy.
I won't Sykes! (PHONE RINGS) (BARNABY ON PHONE) Come! Now! Come here! Come where, sir? Jones, where are you?! It doesn't matter.
Come and pick me up from Causton Park, quick as you can.
Sykes! Mother Julian has gone out of her mind.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace: ALL: Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum.
Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum.
ALL: Lumen ad revelationem gentium et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
(HENS CLUCK) (GASPS) (COMMOTION) Matthew Hendred, I'm arresting you for the murders of Mother Thomas Aquinas and Father James Behan.
Take him away and charge him.
OFFICER: On your feet.
Who the hell trained her? Well done, Mother.
Are you all right? I'm fine.
One for the er family album.
Grant this mercy, O Lord, we beseech Thee, to Thy servant departed That she may not receive in punishment, the requital of her deeds, who in desire can keep thy will.
And as the true faith here united her to the company of the faithful, So may thy mercy, unite her above to the choirs of angels.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Catherine Vertue, Catherine Norrington, Sister Catherine and now? Mother Athanasius.
This can't have been an easy time for you to make your Final Vows.
We take what's sent to us, Mr Barnaby.
Mother Thomas's death was a tragedy, but the convent will survive.
Do you really think so? How will you attract fresh blood in today's world? Sorry, bad choice of words.
As we always have.
We'll work and pray, and have faith.
Who knows? Maybe Sergeant Jones will find he has a vocation?