Midsomer Murders (1997) s19e01 Episode Script

1 - Squadron leader? - Yes, thank you very much.
- There you go.
- Lovely.
John? One.
One.
And to sum up -- my plans for Little Auburn ensure that we, the people of Great Auburn, can feel connected to a vital part of our history.
A living museum is the perfect choice for the reopening of the village of Little Auburn.
Here, here.
Well done, Mummy.
Thank you, Sylvia.
Thank you to all three finalists for your presentations and thank you for being so patient during this long process.
For 75 years, Little Auburn has been taken from us but now we are at the start of a new and exciting chapter.
All three proposals for Little Auburn's future are splendid in their own way.
- Midsomer Luxury Villas.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Auburn Eco Village.
- Whoo! And, of course, Sylvia Lennard's living museum.
- The only possible choice! - Hear, hear.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning for the opening of Little Auburn where we will all visit the village for the first time since the Second World War.
The army will be handing the lease back to my family and I will then choose who takes it over.
- So thank you to everyone and enjoy the party.
- Whoo! I think I'd better go and see how Grandpa's getting on.
- Do you need a hand, Dad? - Go on, then.
- Granddad! Not made much of an effort, Sylvia.
I thought you still had some of those dresses from the '40s.
You haven't changed your clothes since the Second World War and you have no sense of community! So, have you, er, decided yet? - Can't be easy.
- You'll have to wait.
If you go for Finn and Corina's bid, it'd be a great opportunity to unite the whole family, wouldn't it? But Dad's not giving anything away.
I'm off.
- Come on, let's dance.
- Not really in the mood.
- I want to celebrate.
- When the people can have their village back.
From what I know, it could be sooner rather than later.
- Tell me all about it.
- You'll know tomorrow.
I'm going back to the village.
Stay here tonight.
You're too drunk to cycle anyway.
My leg.
Agh! I now declare the village open! Look what I just found.
That dog was a champion burier.
What have you told Betty? I told her the truth gently -- that Sykes was old and his body stopped working.
But we'll always remember him and love him.
Nelson sent his condolences.
He called yesterday.
- How's he getting on with his undercover course? - Loving it.
Doing really well, so I hear.
No sign of him coming back yet.
- How are you getting on with the temporary sergeants? - You can meet the latest.
He's picking me up.
Hey.
Can your doggy chase a ball? Go on, chase it.
Chase it.
Chase it.
- Where do you want to go first, Mummy? - I thought we might start with the church.
- Then Granny's grave.
We haven't got long cos I need to get back to work.
I'll take as long as I like! - I've waited all my life for this day.
- Of course, we get that.
Then perhaps you'll understand I'd rather be alone.
Cheery as ever.
What the?! - Corina! - Corina, what's happened? Corina? Oh, my Come on, come here.
Come here.
Come here, darling.
- Shall I comb his nose? I think Doggy likes -- - Here, here.
Yes, I need to comb his wheels.
Sliding away Wheels? No? Just do his Oh, OK.
Hi.
Hi, I'm Jamie.
You must be the boss' wife.
- Ah, yes, Sarah.
Come in.
- Thank you.
- Just go through.
- Thanks.
- Go on, then.
- We introduced ourselves.
- Winter.
- Morning, sir.
I'm not taking you to the office.
There's a body on the village green in Little Auburn.
I take it there are suspicious circumstances.
If being run over by a tank is suspicious, then, yeah.
That's the village the army took over.
Isn't it about to reopen? - Due to be handed back to the owners today.
- Evidentially they didn't take all their hardware with them.
- Hello.
- Hello.
I'm Jamie.
What's your name? It's Betty.
Bye-bye, Betty.
Mwah.
I've got to go to work now.
Mwah.
Mwah.
Mwah.
They're on their way to you now.
- Morning, Kam.
- Oh, morning, sir.
- What have we got? - A male in his early 30s.
Major trauma to the legs and torso.
Excessive internal bleeding.
Injuries and markings all consistent with having been struck by this.
- The injuries to the head and face -- - Kam Karimore?! - I didn't expect to run into you in deepest Midsomer! - You're the latest sergeant? - I take it you two have met.
- Kam and I did a training course together.
Five years ago? - Six.
- You're right.
We were in this big old house in Dorset.
There was a billiard table and Kam used to win -- - Can you save the reminiscences for another time, do you think? - Sorry, sir.
As I was saying, the facial injuries are superficial.
A graze and a bump to the forehead, bits of gravel on the cheeks.
I looked like that when I came off my bike on Tower Bridge.
- Do we know who the victim is? - Finn Thornberry.
- His body was found when the village was opened this morning.
- He's been dead between 10 and 12 hours.
- He obviously got in here last night.
- Thank you, Kam.
I wonder why he was here.
And who would use a tank as a murder weapon? - Corina Craven? - Yes.
I'm DCI Barnaby, Causton CID.
This is DS Winter.
- I'll leave you to it, Chief Inspector.
- Thank you, Mr? Craven, Roderick Craven.
I'm Corina's father.
This is my niece Dottie Craven.
Mr Craven, we'd like to talk to you later.
Don't go far.
Come on, Dottie.
- When was the last time you saw Finn Thornberry alive? - Last night.
We were at a party at The Cross Keys to celebrate the reopening of Little Auburn.
What was he doing in a deserted village in the dark? - Oh, we've been living here.
- Living here? Where exactly? Squatting in one of the cottages to help the Auburn Eco Village project.
Why would that help? We want to rebuild Little Auburn, make it a proper community again.
We're just waiting for my father to make a decision.
If he decides against us, he'll have to throw us out.
Do you know of anyone who might want to harm your boyfriend? No.
Are there rival schemes to yours? Yes, but none of them would do anything like this.
Could you tell us who his next of kin is please? Erm, his mother Andrea is married to my Uncle Milo.
Finn's his step-son.
They're here in the village today.
Thank you.
- Can you tell us where this squat is? - It's this way.
One more thing, why didn't you come back here with Finn last night? I was tired so I slept in the pub.
This way.
It's just in here.
Thank you.
- Not exactly a comfortable arrangement.
- Looks like someone got here before us.
I wonder what they were looking for.
In here, sir.
It was hidden in the stairs, sir.
Interesting.
You go and see if Kam has found anything else on the body.
Then talk to the landowner, Roderick Craven.
I'll track down Finn Thornberry's mother.
Mr Craven.
- Thank you.
- Sir.
Did you know that Finn and Corina were squatting here in one of the cottages? It made no difference to me, personally or legally.
If you'd chosen a rival bid and had to evict them, the local press would have a field day.
- "Landowner evicts own daughter.
" - Corina would never have let it come to that.
What about Finn Thornberry? Well, I'm sure he'd have made hay whilst the sun shone.
- Did you not get on with your daughter's boyfriend? - Not in the slightest.
But my daughter thought very highly of him.
I had no choice but to trust her judgement.
And had you made a decision on the winning bid for the village? Even if I had, this is hardly the right moment.
Wait here.
- The wire's new.
- So the killer set a trap to knock the victim off his bike before driving at him with the tank.
Tanks are slow things.
It's better to have a target that can't dodge out of the way.
- Why did you move the tank? - We had to move it forward so it was clear of the body.
Don't worry.
We dusted for prints first.
How did you start it? Isn't driving a tank a specialised skill? It had been hotwired and the mechanism is very basic.
It's not specialised at all.
If you can drive a golf buggy, you can drive a tank.
That's a pity -- throws our field of suspects wide open.
Jamie! Sorry, I don't know what's happened.
I'll fix it.
Mrs Craven, I'm sorry to have to ask you these questions - at such a difficult time.
- It's OK, please.
Did your son have any enemies in the village? No, of course not.
Well, he could be a bit arrogant.
Confident, you mean.
And had he been particularly confident about the competition? He has made it clear that he thought he should win.
Yeah, but everybody knew it wasn't personal.
They all understood that.
Except Sylvia Lennard.
- Sylvia Lennard? - One of the other entrants.
- Had she singled Finn out? - Oh, no.
Sylvia distributed her scorn fairly evenly.
We found this among Finn's possessions.
Do you recognise the woman or the child? No.
- Sorry.
- Thank you.
You're all free to go.
This way.
Although perhaps you and I should have a chat.
The photograph.
You recognised them.
- No.
- Josh, your brother has just been murdered.
If I find you're holding anything back that effects this enquiry, I'll arrest you.
Look, you have to promise not to tell any of my family that I knew.
Not if I can help it.
That's the only guarantee you're getting.
When Finn came home, I picked up his phone and it was a woman saying she was his wife.
His wife? I asked him about it and he said, "It was a mistake.
" He got married when he was working in Glasgow and it was something he just wanted to forget about.
But he never said he had a kid.
Do you think Finn told anyone else about his marriage? Corina? I doubt it.
He made me promise never to mention it again.
Thank you, we'll be in touch.
That was Finn Thornberry's wife.
Ex-wife? No, they're still married.
He hasn't seen her in four years.
He walked out a few weeks after his son was born.
- The child in the photograph.
- Yeah, he cared enough to keep the picture Not enough to stick around after clearing out their account.
A month later, the unfortunate Mrs Thornberry discovered he'd been misappropriating funds from the community housing project they both worked for.
Did you ask if there was anyone with a grudge again Finn? - She didn't name anyone specifically but reckons it could be a long list.
- She's probably right.
This doesn't quite fit with Andrea's claim that her son's only fault was being a little over-confident.
Let's find out whether Corina Craven knew anything about her late fiance's past.
That can't be right.
Finn and I were getting married.
He was making the arrangements.
Had he got very far with that? He'd been busy.
Booked the church? Set the date? No, not yet.
Did you make any attempt to find out why he was delaying things? No, I just thought he was busy.
I really trusted Finn.
More fool me.
Thank you.
If you remember anything significant that he might have mentioned about his past, please let us know.
- You must have been very young when the village was evacuated.
- 12.
They said we'd be allowed to return at the end of the war but we were lied to and betrayed.
Have you lived in Great Auburn ever since? I lived in London for a while after my marriage but my husband died when Julian was a baby and I came back.
I understand you're campaigning to restore Little Auburn exactly as it was.
Had you been back there before today? No, but I've always known it was a vital and precious part of our heritage.
What was your relationship like with your rival bidders? Civilised.
- What was your opinion of Finn Thornberry? - Full of the arrogance of youth.
Do you have any influence with Roderick that might make him look on your bid more favourably? I'm sure, Inspector, that you will hear that I had a relationship with Roderick's father Tobias before I was married but that does not put me in a favourable position with Roderick.
As one of the rival bids, I'm here to talk to you about your relationship with Finn Thornberry.
Oh, we've got no issue with him.
Our bid's obviously the frontrunner.
It's the best investment for Roderick.
Last night, did you come straight home after the party? Yes, we came back together.
- Did you speak to Finn at all? - No.
Although there was something odd.
When I got home, I'd missed a voicemail from him.
- Have you still got it? - I should think so.
- Why would Finn be calling you? - I don't know.
I tried to ring him back but it didn't connect.
"You have no new messages and one saved message.
" "Lucy, it's Finn.
Call me back as soon as you can.
" - Any idea what that was about.
- No idea.
He never phoned back.
Why didn't you think to tell us this? Can I help you? I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby, Causton CID.
And you are? Julian Lennard.
I hope my mother has been her usual charming self.
Little Auburn clearly means a great deal to her.
Her family lived there for generations.
Her father was the last vicar.
Her mother's buried there.
What do you think should happen to the village, Mr Lennard? I'm Roderick Craven's solicitor so I'm staying strictly neutral.
Well, you'd be a brave man to go up against your own mother.
As Mr Craven's solicitor, you must be privy to his business affairs.
Do you know which project he's going to choose? I couldn't possibly divulge my client's preference.
I understand but if I find I can't get this information elsewhere, I'll be back to talk to you.
It was YOU, wasn't it? Are you accusing me of murder? - Don't make me laugh.
You wouldn't have the guts.
- What, then? An application to have Little Auburn declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Got your eco-friendly fingerprints all over it.
- I have no idea what you're talking about.
But if there is of rare plant or wildlife in Little Auburn, I'm glad it's being protected! Father always said you were a waster! - You're a pathetic failure! - Get out! - Dad! - Stop it! You two, stop arguing! My son's been killed and you're behaving like school children.
Can we please move on from this? You always think the worst of me.
But it's not me that needs to move on.
It's me.
We're going to have to be more careful.
Any chance of a coffee, darling? - Sure.
- Thanks.
Call you back.
- Here.
- Thank you.
- Did you and Dad fight when you were kids? - All the time.
I bet you always won.
Have you thought any more who you are going to sell to? It's just I've loved helping Lucy and Blake design the plan.
It's all going to be so exciting.
'Dad!' In here.
Hello, darling.
- Sorry, am I interrupting something? - Of course not.
I've got stuff to do.
See you later, Uncle Rod.
Corina.
Go on, go.
- No! - Here, boy.
There we go.
I've come to tell you I'm not gonna let our project die.
Really? And who are you going to be working with now Finn has gone? - I can lead the project without him.
- Hmn Of course! It was too much to hope you might believe in me for once in my life.
- I never said anything.
- You didn't have to! All I'm asking is for an opportunity to prove you wrong, to show you what I'm capable of.
Good, boy.
Can I show you this, sir? The search team came across it abandoned in some bushes.
It's new, less than six months old so I doubt it was left over by the army.
- Was it Finn and Corina's? - Eco-warriors don't tend to use fossil fuels.
They didn't have a vehicle and there wasn't a generator at the squat.
There is a serial number so I might be able to find out when and where it was bought.
If you were Roderick Craven, which of the three proposals would you choose? If I was thinking about the money, I'd pick the villas.
They're offering the best price.
But if I wanted to keep Corina on side and do some good, I'd pick the eco-village.
If you wanted a quiet life, you'd let Sylvia Lennard have her living museum.
What would you do? It would depend whether I wanted to get Finn Thornberry out of my daughter's life or not.
Have you found out anything about Finn's finances? Several cash deposits made over the last couple of months.
Who would be paying regular cash to Finn? I have a feeling that this murder isn't just about who wins the fight for Little Auburn.
You know they belong to me.
Why are you hiding them? - That is an outrageous accusation.
- It is not an accusation.
- I am asking a question.
- And I'm telling you you're deluded.
You'd like to believe that, wouldn't you? I had hoped that we could settle this in a civilised fashion.
But I will get what's mine.
You'll see.
Nothing to worry about.
Everything's heading in the right direction.
- Are you sure? - My charm will win it for us in the end.
I can't argue with that.
You are quite charming, Lucy.
Thank you.
But we have to be careful.
As an MP, I'm the one in the public eye.
I think you're quite enjoying this.
Besides, it will all be worth it in the end, I promise.
- And you're not doing anything wrong.
- People around here wouldn't agree, my mother-in-law for a start! And certainly not Julian.
How's Jamie coping with his first country murder? With gusto.
He's OK, then? - Better than the others? - That's not setting the bar very high.
- He talks too much.
- We must have him over for dinner.
You haven't been listening to me.
Yes, I have.
You like him.
While Betty was having her nap, I dug out the latest news letter from the Midsomer Historical Society.
And joined Betty in peaceful slumber? There was a piece in it arguing that Little Auburn should be preserved as a living museum.
- Written by Sylvia Lennard by any chance? - Very good! I'm a detective, you know.
So then I rang Dr Granville, my local historian friend, - to see if she knew anything more about the place.
- And? It's more gossip than history.
She said the Cravens were a rackety lot, by all accounts.
Tobias Craven, who's the present generation's father, was a terrible gambler and womaniser.
Hmn, just like me, darling.
In your dreams! Paddy! Paddy! Paddy! Stupid animal.
Paddy! Paddy.
Agh! Ugh! God! Hello.
Police.
I need to report something.
He's been dead around 10 hours.
There are signs of trauma to his head but I don't think that's what's killed him.
His flask was by his side.
Tell me what you can smell.
- Bitter almonds -- cyanide.
- Poisoned.
And that's not everything.
I've got something to show you.
Come with me.
There are traces of blood on the body as well as evidence he'd been dragged.
Look over here -- traces of blood.
It's a fox hole trench.
My guess is the victim was lured here and fell into it.
- First the tank.
Now a fox hole.
- It's as if the army never left.
Thank you, Kam.
Let me know if you find anything else.
I will do.
Now let's find out what Fred Messenger was doing here so early in the morning.
- I woke up early.
I fancied a walk.
- You know this is still private land.
I grew up here.
And I didn't get a good look around yesterday.
You lived here as a child like Sylvia Lennard? My dad ran the pub.
Her dad was the vicar.
Sylvia wasn't allowed to play with us village kids.
Did you see anyone on your way here this morning, walkers, cyclists? - Any vehicles on the road? - It was barely light.
It's nearly 10 o'clock.
Everybody's going to be at my pub waiting for Roderick to announce his decision.
What do you think it was going to be? Well, we'll never know, will we? I hope Roderick isn't going to leave us hanging around.
- Maybe he's done a runner.
- Hasn't got the guts to face us.
- Very likely! - Hasn't got the guts to face you.
No, Roderick wouldn't do that.
- Are you OK? - Not really, no.
I don't suppose you are either.
- I just want to get this over with.
- Oh, come on! - What's he playing at?! - What's the rush? I don't like being kept waiting.
I've spent enough time, money and effort on this thing.
It's all about to pay dividends.
He's not going to give it to Sylvia.
Not in a million years.
She's the reason Roderick has to choose us.
Or this place will be overrun by her type.
Could we have a word in private, please? Shall we go outside? You stay here, Josh.
I'm very sorry.
Can you tell me when you last saw him? Erm Yesterday evening.
I went to his house.
And you, Mr Craven? He came into my shop yesterday afternoon.
What did you talk about, anything that might help us? Nothing much.
What time did you leave? I left when he went for his usual evening walk with Paddy.
Has anyone seen his dog? Don't worry, we'll look out for him.
And how was he when he left you, Mr Craven? I could lie.
I could say that he was fine but it wouldn't take you long to work out that our relationship wasn't that good.
We had one of our usual brotherly arguments.
But he was perfectly OK when he left me.
That's it, we're finished! There's no way Corina's going to sell to us.
- We don't know that for sure and even if it is the case -- - What? Sorry, what? Enlighten me.
Well, it's not the end of the world, Lucy.
When I fell in love with you, you weren't afraid of a challenge.
I am not afraid of a challenge! Oh, good grief! Look, can we just cut our losses and just leave, Lucy? - Please? - I need to do this for me.
You know I have to make a success of it this time.
For goodness sake, I am just trying to make you happy.
He just doesn't get it, does he? Was Roderick Craven a friend as well as a client? I'd say so, yes.
We'd known each other since childhood.
I'd been his solicitor for more than 20 years.
- Did you draw up a will for him? - Yeah.
Quite a long time ago.
May I see it, please? No, that wouldn't be right.
His family have yet to see it themselves.
Are they familiar with its provisions, do you know? I'm afraid I don't know what Roderick did or didn't discuss with his family.
- The will, please, Mr Lennard.
- I've already explained that's not possible.
We can get a warrant, you know.
If you put it that way He left Little Auburn to me?! Why would he do that? Does it matter? You had no inkling that your brother was planning this? Well, as you know, we didn't exactly get on.
And why was that? That was my fault! Milo and I got married and his father cut him out of the will.
I mean, Roderick could have shared the inheritance when the old man died but he didn't.
Forgive my asking but what did Mr Craven Senior have against you? Cravens don't marry barmaids.
Not even when they've got them pregnant.
That seems a rather old-fashioned attitude even for 25 years ago.
Tobias was old-school.
Had half the women in Great Auburn in his day but kept the bloodline pure.
Perhaps leaving Little Auburn to Milo was Roderick's way of making amends.
- But what will Corina get? - She will get the house at Great Auburn and everything else.
If there is anything else.
All the Cravens are hopeless with money.
The grandfather used to own a racing stables.
Lost the whole lot in a single bet.
Looks like Blake's about to send out a search party.
I'd better go.
I am so looking forward to when it's just the two of us.
You've got five seconds to explain what you're doing here before I call the police.
- How did you get here? - Through the back door which I found unlocked.
- How did you? - With Corina's keys.
Corina sent you? Not exactly.
- What are you doing? - I'm calling the police.
Please don't do that.
I'm calling them unless you tell me what you're doing here.
You have five more seconds.
It might take a bit longer than that.
Remember when they took us to watch a post mortem and the Scottish guy fainted? - You and I had to take him outside.
- Then you suggested we go for sushi and he nearly fainted again.
Didn't know what he was missing.
Is there anywhere in Causton that does good sushi? I usually make my own packed lunch Words can hardly express how uninterested I am in your nutritional arrangements.
What I am interested in is the test results from that flask.
It was cyanide but clear for DNA and prints, I'm afraid.
What about the markings? Possibly military.
Probably 30-40 years old.
So, when the MOD still had the village? OK, so we should keep following up any military connections to our suspects.
But why would the killer use a flask that led us to that conclusion? - It's too staged.
- I'm on it, sir.
- There was another thing that I thought odd.
- What? There were loose hairs on Roderick Craven's head and body as though someone had been pulling it out.
- Why would someone pull out his hair? Torture? DNA? - A love token.
Maybe we can scale back on these terraces.
This stone is pushing us way over budget.
Lucy said to use the best materials.
I'm not sure if we can achieve the same effect if we go cheaper.
- It's naturally sourced in India.
- We need to talk about how to deal with Milo Craven.
Darling, little inappropriate under the circumstances.
I'm sorry, Dottie, about Roderick.
I can't believe your father's going to let the eco-village happen after all the hard work we've put in.
I still want it just as much as you.
Well, I think we need to make your father an offer he can't refuse.
Tea? Did you have a figure in mind? No.
Didn't think so.
Because we don't have unlimited funds, darling.
Most of which came and continue to come from me - so this is a decision that we need to make together.
- We're a team.
I need you.
You need me.
You know how good I am at getting people to do what I want.
- Milo, if we sell, we can stop flogging this dead horse for a start.
- Dead horse? - Something good has got to come of this.
- Maybe you can give up your cleaning jobs now.
I can't believe it.
Poor Uncle Rod.
I know, love.
Come on.
The last time I saw him he said he regretted how things ended up between you.
I told him to tell you but he said he couldn't.
The night before he died he told me he was going to go with our luxury villas project but that'd only make matters worse between you.
I suppose the eco-village will go ahead now.
We haven't got that far, to be honest.
I'm sure it's the last thing on your mind.
I just thought that you should know what he said.
- Just in case -- - Just in case, what? This isn't about what Roderick wanted.
It's about what Lucy wants.
- That is not fair! - Isn't it? Ever since you started hanging around with your new friends, you've barely spoken to us and now, all of a sudden, here you are! Lucy, there's nothing I can do.
It's out of my hands.
You see, I don't believe that.
Not for a second.
There's a world of difference between putting pressure on a local planning committee and going further up the chain.
It upsets me when you underestimate yourself like this.
I think you are a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for.
- You're being ridiculous.
- I don't think so.
I'm sure you're going to come up with something brilliant.
I think that would be for the best for both of us.
No joy with the jerry can.
I've got the camping shop in Aspern Tallow trawling through their customer records although I don't hold out much hope for their filing system.
Let's concentrate on the information we do have, see who we still have in play.
- Who do you suppose are the only two people on that board with a criminal record? - Surprise me.
Fred Messenger and Sylvia Lennard.
In 1962, a group of locals invaded Little Auburn in protest against the army's continued occupation of the village.
They stayed a couple of days and then were arrested, fined and bound over.
Interesting.
I wonder why Sylvia told me she hadn't been back to Little Auburn since she was a child.
I don't remember there being any record of this invasion in her museum.
What? What do you mean you can't do anything about it? Why should Milo choose what happens to Little Auburn? Sylvia, MPs aren't elected to challenge people's wills.
Milo was his brother.
He owns the land now.
Looks like you have someone more important than me to talk to.
Excuse me.
Inspector.
Mrs Lennard.
- Mrs Lennard.
- Yes.
You were part of a group that broke into Little Auburn in 1962, weren't you? What of it? That event isn't in your museum, is it? Not worth mentioning.
We pitched camp in Little Auburn for a few days.
We got turfed out.
Achieved nothing.
Accept to earn you a criminal record.
I suppose that's an achievement of sorts.
And Fred Messenger was there with you, wasn't he? I can't remember who was there.
It was a long time ago.
Mrs Lennard, I'd hate to think you were obstructing a murder investigation.
- Is there anything else I should know? - I'm not the criminal here! It's Fred who was snooping round Roderick's place after he died.
- What was he doing there? - How should I know?! You're the detective.
Do your job.
It's so peaceful here.
I can't believe this is all ours.
- Quite something, isn't it? - Yes.
After all we've been through, all we've lost Did you hear that? Over there.
Josh! What's happened, Josh? What's wrong? He's burning up.
Fred Messenger.
Auburn's finest.
How can I help? It must be good news that your son-in-law now owns Little Auburn.
I suppose so.
Bit of a surprise.
Let's hope Milo can prove himself for once.
The village means a lot to you, I'm guessing.
Oh, go on.
Spit it out.
You were involved in a protest to take back Little Auburn in 1962.
Sylvia Lennard was also a part of that protest.
When I spoke to her earlier, she informed me that she found you in Roderick's house this morning.
Is it true? Yes.
I was there.
Corina asked me to find her dad's dog.
In the study? Oh, you can't believe everything Sylvia Lennard says.
She knew exactly why I was there but she didn't want you to know that my family still own the pub in Little Auburn.
It was won in a poker game by my grandfather and the deeds have conveniently been missing since the village was taken.
- And did you find them? - No.
But I will and whatever plans Milo has will have to involve me.
Ooh! Oh, sweetheart! It looks really nasty.
We must get you checked out by a doctor.
I told you, Mum, I'm feeling better now.
- I couldn't find any painkillers.
- OK.
When I get back, I want you to tell me why you were in the village.
- You haven't told her anything, have you? - No, Dad, but you need to get back there.
- You must get to them now.
One has got loose.
- Loose? For God's sake, Josh! - Thank you, Mrs Lennard.
- Thank you for your support.
Would you drop one of those off at the Emporium on your way home? Are you trying to persuade Milo? I'm not sure a leaflet will do it.
Since when have you been a quitter, Julian? I don't want you to be disappointed.
My whole life is a disappointment! You couldn't help yourself, could you? Can you just move along? Stop making the front of my store look unsightly.
I might have known you couldn't resist the temptation to set the police on me.
But it backfired.
I told them I was looking for the deeds.
- I was trying to be fair.
- Fair? You can't move me aside to preserve your old relics.
- And Milo will do the right thing.
- By destroying the village? Our past.
Move on! - You're becoming an old relic yourself, Sylvia.
- Steady on.
You've had your say.
Now just leave Mummy alone.
I, er, take it he didn't find anything at Roderick's house? Not when I was there, certainly.
I saw him off the premises.
So it sounds like wishful thinking, then.
.
.
for one bathroom.
That will do.
Thank you.
I bet you know where Roderick's put the deeds.
- Are you asking me to be indiscreet? - What have you got to lose? And I won't tell your mummy if that helps.
Nice try.
- You look like you need one of those.
- Thanks.
I've just had Fred Messenger trying to put pressure on me.
I know that feeling.
Milo! But your daughter, quite rightly, believes our bid is the best.
No, you need to seriously consider our offer.
We can improve it if that would help? Please? So that's the bathroom of one of the two-bed flats.
- Who was that? - It was just Milo.
- Really? Yes.
I really tried to talk to Dad but he wasn't in the mood for talking about the village.
I gathered.
Honestly, you're hopeless! Don't you want us to win? Maybe try again when he's had a few drinks.
Going to go and powder my nose, Blake.
Large G and T for me.
See you later.
Hello, you.
- Is Lucy in there? - Sorry, no.
Lucy, it's me.
Where are you? How are you feeling? - I hope you're not in any trouble.
- Honestly, Mum, it's nothing.
I was just being stupid.
I wanted to check out the village and fell over.
It must have been a branch.
Is Milo about? Erm, no, he's not at the moment.
Is something wrong? Tell him I need to speak to him and it's important.
- What was all that about? - I don't know.
Where is your dad? Josh! - Blake Keswick was the only one in the village with an army background? - Still checking.
He was the first one that came up.
The interesting bit is he was stationed at Little Auburn.
He left 20 years ago.
I found a report from his then commanding officer, Major Haynes.
Blake Keswick was discharged for attacking a senior officer.
- Do we know who that was? - The man himself.
Haynes received a nasty punch after Keswick accused him of sleeping with his girlfriend.
Haynes denies it and no-one backs up Keswick's story.
So, what have we got? Two murders connected to the military in some way.
Coincidence? Or someone trying to point the finger at Blake? - He sounds aggressive and unpredictable.
- I'm sure you can handle him.
Let's see what he has to say.
Why haven't you been answering your phone? - I'm just meeting a supplier.
- "Don't lie.
You're a terrible liar.
" What's going on? Where are you? I've had Blake in here looking for you.
- "I'm in the old village.
Something's come up.
" - "What do you mean?" What are you doing here? Milo! "Milo?" "Milo!" OK, Josh, you need to tell me exactly where your dad is.
What, Little Auburn? Do we know exactly where he is? OK.
- Mr Keswick, we need to talk.
- Change of plan.
- Andrew Craven thinks her husband is in danger.
- Whereabouts? - Sir? - Hmn? Perhaps we should It's an old sign.
Come on.
Sir.
Sir, stay right where you are.
You've got company.
Get out, Winter.
Got you! Nicely done, Winter.
Even if you were disobeying orders.
I think we need to see what's behind this door, don't you? It's like a sauna in here.
Sir.
I'm terribly sorry, Mrs Craven.
What was he thinking, getting involved in something like that? Do you know, Josh? It's my fault.
What do you mean? I read about how much money exotic snakes go for.
I told Dad and we came up with an idea of breeding them in the village.
- Oh, Josh! - One got loose and bit me on my arm.
I let the wound get infected.
Dad didn't want me to say anything.
- Who did this? - That's what we're trying to establish.
Is there anyone who'd clashed with your husband recently.
No.
Apart from Roderick.
Everyone was trying to get him to talk to them about the village.
Sylvia.
Lucy.
And then Blake Keswick came round asking for him.
Thank you.
If you remember anything else, please let us know.
I'm sorry.
She's asleep.
Took her a while to go down.
She's still asking exactly where Sykes is.
How did your seminar go? Oh, fine.
I am now fully compliant with staff performance review protocols.
Lucky you! Maybe we should get Betty a rabbit or something to distract her.
For five minutes.
I'll spend more time cleaning the cage out - than she will playing with Flopsy.
- You're probably right.
It's too soon.
How's the case going? Anything I can help you with? Only if you know something I don't about any of the suspects, like Lucy or Blake Keswick or local MP Sujan Lennard for instance.
Wasn't she the one that had a female partner then suddenly married a male solicitor? You spend too much time reading online gossip.
And I'm glad that you do.
You know how to keep me on my toes.
This is the first time I've encountered snake constriction as a method of killing.
- No two days are the same in this job.
- The ultimate cause of death is restriction of blood supply.
The victim suffered a sharp blow to the head rendering him unconscious.
So that's how the killer got him locked in the deadly room of serpents.
- Is that what we're calling it? - Absolutely not.
There are grazes to his legs and bruises under his arms - consistent with having been pulled into the - Please don't.
.
.
crime scene.
The snakes would then have squeezed his body, cutting off his blood flow.
- His major organs would have shut down under the pressure.
- What a deeply unpleasant way to go.
- When you examined the victim's head wound, did you notice any? - No sign of any hair missing.
Sorry.
That village must be cursed.
First one owner dies, then the next.
Under the terms of Milo's will, Little Auburn now passes to Andrea.
- Shall I get Uniform to keep an eye on her? - Um.
Finn was squatting in Little Auburn but he didn't own it.
So if this is the same killer, there must be something else that connects the three deaths.
But what? If can't be Andrea? She rang us about Milo going missing.
The perfect cover.
Let's not rule anyone out.
She's very close to her father and he wants the old pub back but she surely wouldn't have killed her own son.
Anything come back from the bank about who was making cash payments into Finn's account? - You think we should follow the money? - Always.
In fact, let's have a look at all our suspects' financial ins and outs.
Oh, and it's time to go and see Blake Keswick.
I didn't mention it because I didn't think it was relevant.
It was years ago.
You didn't think it was relevant that you were second in command of an army unit in Little Auburn? The place wasn't used very much by that stage and so it was where the army sent its most hopeless officers.
- Did you know Roderick Craven back then or any member of the Craven family? - No.
What about the circumstances in which you left the army, Mr Keswick? - Do you think those are irrelevant too? - Entirely.
It was a fight, that's all.
- You put the other man in hospital.
- Briefly.
- And got a dishonourable discharge.
- Only because the other man happened to be my commanding officer.
It was 20 years ago! We'll be in touch.
Someone's gone through the bank statements and they have found something.
- About who? - Andrea Craven.
Her account is regularly topped up with small cash sums - but, also, she deposits a lot of cheques.
- Well, she runs a shop.
No, this is her personal account.
Most of the cheques come from other Great Auburn residents -- £30, £50.
She's a cleaner.
They are payments from her customers.
Of course.
Sorry, I thought it might have been something.
Maybe it still is.
It's mainly private homes.
It looks like she does a bit of office cleaning for Julian Lennard.
- That cheque comes from his company account.
- That is interesting.
Find out how often she cleans his office and when.
Yes, sir.
So, you've been lying to me all this time? Why? I didn't tell you about Little Auburn because it was too painful.
What's your excuse? Excuse for what? Lying to me.
I don't know what you mean.
Let me give you a little piece of advice, Lucy.
If you are going to go to the trouble of acquiring a secret phone, do not use your date of birth as your password! No, that's all I needed.
That's really useful.
According to Julian Lennard's office manager, Andrea has been cleaning for them for three years.
- Long enough to trust her with the keys and alarm code.
- Right.
- She goes in after the office is closed.
- Three years? So she would have been there when the MOD announced they were handing the land back to Roderick Craven.
- What are you thinking, sir? - Julian Lennard was Roderick Craven's solicitor - so he had his will at the office.
- Easy for Andrea to access.
- Possibly.
Perhaps she forged it.
Remember how shocked everyone was that Roderick left his estate to his brother.
Let's get Forensics to take a look at that will.
- Lucy? - Is Julian here? - No.
- You shouldn't be here.
- It's Blake.
I think he's going to hurt Julian.
What the hell are you talking about? Sir.
There's something here I think you should see.
Those deposits made into Finn's account -- one was made via an ATM in Oxford.
The bank just sent through their CCTV footage.
- Lucy, what's going on? - We're having an affair and Blake's found out.
- I wouldn't call it that.
- Julian and I.
Julian and I were having an affair.
- Don't look like that.
Your marriage was over.
- How could you?! - After everything I've done for you?! - Everything you've done? - All you did was sweet-talk a planning committee.
- All I did? Something that goes against everything I believe in.
- So, why did you do it, then? - Because I thought there was something between us.
- We haven't got time for this.
We need to call the police.
- No! Come back, Lucy! What on earth's going on? - Leave me alone! - What's happening? - Whoa! - You have to help me! My husband's about to do something terrible to someone! Agh! No, no, no.
Mother.
- Will you talk? - I've had enough of listening to you and everybody else in this town! - All you ever do is talk! - If I could just make you understand.
- It's too late for that! - Agh! No, please! No, no! Thought you could get away with it, did you? Move! I've got you now.
No! - Mummy? - Put that gun down.
What do you think you're doing? - Move! Move over there now! Quickly move! - Keep out of my way.
This is between me and Julian.
- No, please.
Your son has been having an affair with my wife.
- That can't be true.
- Are you accusing me of lying? - Leave her alone! - STOP TALKING! I don't want to hear any more from any of you! - Including me? - Huh? You're an intelligent man, Mr Keswick.
I don't have to tell you this won't solve anything.
It might make me feel better.
Not for long.
And not in a prison cell.
Don't move! I never asked her for anything! Only to be with me.
Only me! You can't force someone into loving you.
- Agh! - Drop it.
- Agh! Come here.
Stay still.
- Blake Keswick, I'm arresting you -- - I'll get you! Come on, now, Ma.
Everything's going to be OK.
I'm not sure that's the case, Mr Lennard.
We still have some unsolved murders.
Well, you've got him now, the killer.
If only it were that simple.
Maybe you could help me to clear up a few things.
For instance, why were you paying large sums of money to Finn Thornberry? He was doing some work for me, erm, sorting out some planning issues for Little Auburn.
Ah! Yet, you didn't want those payments to be traceable.
So you travelled 30 miles just to make a deposit.
We have you on CCTV in Oxford.
Why? I don't recall.
What exactly are you accusing my son of? What was Finn really doing for you, Mr Lennard? Julian, why aren't you answering him? As Corina's boyfriend, Finn had access to Roderick Craven's house.
What did you need him to get for you? Not documents.
You already had access to those.
Something more personal? What did you do to my grandson? Your grandson was just a little petty thief and not a very good one either.
Finn was supposed to be getting you some DNA evidence to prove your real parentage.
What? - But he refused.
- He had no intention of building a damn eco-village.
He was just going to take all the investment money and run.
- So, you were performing your civic duty, protecting the village? - Yes! You killed Finn because he was blackmailing you.
He knew what you intended to do.
You then tried to throw suspicion onto Blake Keswick.
Julian, tell me this isn't true.
Mr Lennard, how old were you when you first became aware that your mother had been in a relationship with Tobias Craven, Roderick and Milo's father? - Why is this relevant? - You know why, Mother.
Being Roderick's solicitor, you had the opportunity to alter his will leaving this village to any surviving sibling.
Then you killed Roderick.
Once you got Milo out of the way as well, it was just a case of producing your DNA results and staking your claim as the rightful heir to Little Auburn.
Julian, you're not the heir.
- What? - Yes, I had an affair with Tobias.
- He wasn't your father.
- Why are you denying this? The whole village knew! I had to live with the shame and teasing all my life.
I know who I am! Our officers searched your computer and found you'd forged Roderick's will.
They also found you're awaiting confirmation of a DNA test which we tracked down.
There was no match between the two DNA samples that you provided.
Yours and Roderick's.
Tobias Craven was not your father.
No, no, no, this is a mistake! Who is my father? And don't, for God's sake, give me that line about him dying after I was born.
Tell me the truth! Here is your father.
It was a long time ago.
The invasion of Little Auburn in 1962.
- No! - It can be a heady mix, civil disobedience and cider around the camp fire.
How could you keep this from me? It's not true! You're lying! I'm so sorry.
Can you ever forgive me? Never! I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murders of Finn Thornberry, Roderick and Milo Craven.
You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court.
Mother! I'm sorry.
For doing your job? No, for the way I had to do it.
Julian was right.
I should have told him the truth.
But I was ashamed .
.
for all the wrong reasons.
I'd never really spoke to Fred before that night.
He was funny .
.
and exciting.
And one thing led to another, as it does.
Then when I discovered I was in trouble That's what we called it in those days.
I should never have come back.
Somehow I couldn't keep away.
- Had Fred never wondered about Julian? - Oh, yes.
But there was a rumour about Tobias and .
.
Fred stopped asking.
It's all my fault, isn't it? No, Mrs Lennard.
You are responsible for your actions but not for your son's.
Let me find someone to take you home.
Thank you.
I prefer to walk.
- Where did you find him? - Paddy went disappeared in Little Auburn when his master was killed.
Kam and I went back this morning with a bit of filet mignon and he came running.
Clearly a dog with good taste.
Goodbye, Nelson, and good luck.
Paddy, down, boy.
Sorry, sir.
Better see if any of the Cravens will take him in.
I've tried, sir.
The daughter's allergic to dogs and the niece doesn't have space.
- So, what are you planning to do? - Well, I I'd take him myself but I don't even know if I'm staying here.
Nelson's attachment has been extended for at least another year.
The job's yours if you want it.
- Thank you, sir.
- Congratulations, Jamie.
Thank you.
Well done.
So you can start looking for some digs.
Well, it's gonna take me some time to find somewhere.
I did mention that you and Sarah recently suffered a loss.
So I was wondering if you might look after Paddy.
Just for a few days.
By, "A few days", I take it you mean, "Forever"? Well Hello, boy.
Hiya.
Thank you, Winter.