Father Brown (2013–…): Season 7, Episode 8 - The Blood of the Anarchists - full transcript

WOMAN CRYING OUT
Oedipus Rex, Hamlet, Woyzeck,

Ubu Roi, Faust,
all tortured souls... Why?

..all rebelling against
social conventions. Why?!

Beaten down by the rules
imposed by their masters.

Your masters!

Time to rise up!

Destruction equals freedom.

BOTH: Destruction equals freedom!
Destruction equals freedom!

Release him!
Release the inner chaos.

Destruction equals freedom!
ALL: Destruction equals freedom!

Destruction equals freedom!
Destruction equals freedom!



I thought this was going to be a
nice open-air theatre production.

Isn't it marvellous? They're
so unpredictable, dangerous.

I have no idea what is going on.

They're a performance troupe
of anarchists.

They believe in change through
destruction.

They believe in utter nonsense,
as far as I'm concerned.

Destruction equals freedom!
Destruction equals freedom!

Destruction equals freedom!
Destruction equals freedom!

I didn't know you were a
supporter of the arts, Inspector.

We're just here to
keep the peace, Father.

Wherever this troupe of ruddy
misfits tour they incite violence.

Why on Earth did you let them
use your farm?

My wife's idea. She's an old
friend of the director's.

What? That nutcase?



They'll be gone by this evening.

They're just passing through
on their way to Birmingham.

Destruction equals freedom!
Destruction equals freedom!

Society is an illusion.

Ghosts of the mind.

All that matters is the individual!

Allow me, sir.

What is it with you and dead people?

Just in the wrong place.

At the right time?

Well, put your back into it!

It won't budge, sir. Stand back.

Oh, Lionel.

One of your actors?

Yes, and the troupe's writer.

He said he wanted
somewhere quiet to work.

The window won't open, sir.

And the door was bolted
from the inside.

Lionel often locked himself away
when finishing a script.

He didn't like to be disturbed.

Do you recognise the gun?

I'll ask the questions, Padre.

You're a witness, not Dick Tracy.

It's Lionel's.

Why would a writer have a gun?

Protection.

Our plays have made us quite
a few enemies.

Mainly right-wing extremists.

Spare me the politics.

Looks like suicide.

All yours, Padre.

Your attention, please.

Nobody is to leave the premises
until I say so.

Just when I thought things couldn't
possibly get any worse.

I had a peep through the window.

Gruesome! Blood and brains
splattered all over the glass.

Oh, Penelope.

Titan. Finally get you alone.

Poor Lionel.

You must be very upset.

He was a true anarchist
and I admired him for it,

but as a man he was an
obnoxious bore.

You know, I thought I'd never see
you again.

You've hardly changed.

You have.

What happened to that
wild child I used to know?

She's still here somewhere inside.

I kept the locket you gave me.

Don't change the subject.

I'm married.

Well, that's a disgrace.

A married woman carrying
on like that.

We all need a bit of passion, Mrs M.

You should give it a whirl.

HE CHUCKLES

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you
the epitome of outdated values,

the Catholic priest.

Read about your performances.

Very interesting.

Really?

They've caused a lot of unrest
in some towns.

Protests, riots.

We are merely arming
the people with the truth.

A noble cause.

You don't sound convinced.

Is it the truth that's important
or the chaos you leave behind?

A puppet of the Vatican such as
you could never understand

the true nature of anarchy.

HE BURPS

Do you want a tea? No.

Something wrong? You tell me.

You're the one who seems tense.

Well, after Lionel's suicide...

Please, don't take me for a fool.

I've seen the way you look at Titan.

Don't be silly. I'm not the one
behaving like some love-struck girl.

And Sally.

Wipe that make-up off your cheek.

Just because he's dead
I'm not going to pretend.

Well, if I'm honest
he was pretty vile.

Made my skin crawl.

I thought you were limping.

When did that happen?

Yesterday.

I dropped a hammer on it.

Looks nasty.

Give it a rub for me later.

Stop it. You know
I've got a wife in Glasgow.

Yeah, how boringly conventional.

I was 18. I didn't know any better.

But you do now, so?

I have to say, I found your
performance exhilarating.

Thanks. I've really never
seen anything like it.

I'm sure you haven't.

It's inspired me to write something
myself - a poem, about anarchy.

I don't suppose you'd give
me some tips?

You should ask my father.

TITAN: Time for the second half.

I thought it was cancelled out of
respect for Lionel.

My dear boy, you're not
thinking like an anarchist.

We don't conform to
such social conventions.

Like marriage.

Any anyway, the Inspector has
insisted that no-one leaves.

So that means the audience
can't escape.

What about Lionel's part?

Well, If you want to know about
anarchy, you can do it.

Me? Well, I don't know what to do.

Where's your sense of adventure?
Just copy the others!

Sergeant...

..did anyone hear the gunshot
that killed Lionel?

Farmer Clegg and his wife
heard something, Father.

But they assumed it was from
the neighbouring estate.

Ladies and gentlemen.

The second half is about to begin...

Penelope...

..commencing with some
excerpts from Hamlet.

Oh, Shakespeare,
well, that's better.

How weary...

..stale...

..flat..

..and unprofitable, seem to me,
all the uses of this world.

Oh, wretched state!

Oh, bosom black as death!

Something is rotten in the
state of Denmark.

Or is it England with her
corrupt leaders?!

That's not Shakespeare.

Should we suffer their
slings and arrows?

No! We should take arms
against them!

Oh, not again.

Mrs McCarthy.

I have had quite enough
of this nonsense!

I'm afraid nobody's
allowed to leave yet.

Father Brown!

For the shock.

Do you think the deaths
are connected?

I doubt it.

The police seemed very sure
Lionel killed himself.

My father would never do that.

He was angry at life
but he loved it, too.

I know.

It's just not fair.

He can't be gone.

They're still unsure about
the cause of death,

but they don't think it was
an accident.

Oh, Angus.

Hold me.

Please!

SHE SOBS

Two ruddy corpses right
under our noses!

The Chief Super isn't going to
be happy, sir.

Oh, really? I thought he'd be
ecstatic!

You need to speak to everyone here.

I already have, sir...

Then do it again! Well, move your
backside, Sergeant!

Constable.

What are you thinking, Father?

That I need to speak to Magdalena.

She's in the farmhouse.

How are you now, Mrs M?

Fine. Fine.

At least, I will be as soon as
I get back home.

I doubt she'd be that upset if
her husband died.

She looks frightful. Poor Mrs Clegg.

It's not her you should be
sorry for.

Thought this might help.

That's very kind.

I know people are gossiping.

No.

Yes, but who cares?

You're adding a little drama
to their dreary lives.

So, did you know Titan well?

I met him in London years ago,

when I was an art student.

Really? I thought you'd been here
forever.

That's what most people think.

Were you two close back then?

He represented all that
was missing in my life.

Danger. Passion.
How terribly romantic.

And then I moved back here
and ended up as a farmer's wife.

I wonder who hated Titan
enough to kill him.

Inspector. Not now, Padre.

I think I know what killed Titan.

Magdalena said nuts
were poison to him.

Titan's cheek was all bloated.

His flask.

There's almonds in it.

So any more nutty theories?

Lionel's suicide, it was murder.

Based on what evidence?

If he'd shot himself in the head
there would've been more...damage.

His wounds suggest that he
was shot from further away.

How is murder possible?

The window of the outbuilding
doesn't open, the door was

bolted from inside, and the gun he
was shot with was lying next to him.

Both killed on the same day.

It's too much of a coincidence.

Yeah.

Inspector, have there been any
developments?

Nothing conclusive.

So, in the meantime,

both of you need to stay another
night at the farm.

What? Are we suspects?

As outsiders, I don't want you
leaving Kembleford.

And if we stay here we could be
murdered in our beds.

The killer could be out
there, just waiting.

They have a point, sir.

Looks like members of the theatre
troupe are being targeted.

Well, in that case, I'd better
place a guard here tonight,

hadn't I, Sergeant?

Sergeant Goodfellow says we're
free to go home.

And about time, too. Excuse me.

I suppose if Titan had any enemies,
you'd know about them.

Too many to name.

Some accused him of being a
communist,

others called him a fascist.

What do you think?

He was a good man - to me, anyway.

He took me from the slums of Glasgow
and taught me everything I know.

About anarchy?

It's the only way to achieve
real change, Father.

Do you really believe that?

By destroying the bad in society
new things emerge.

But what if you destroy the good
parts in the process?

Is that acceptable?

HORN BLARES

Excuse me.

Magdalena. Can I come in?

I'm just getting ready for bed.
What do you want?

I can't be alone. Not tonight.

You'll be fine, the Sergeant
is in the house.

Angus, I've just lost my father.

Please, let me sleep in your bed.

I can't do that to my wife.

Not again.

She's not here.

She'll never know.

I'm sorry.

Just look at what you're
turning down.

Magdalena...

Just look.

HE SIGHS

Goodnight.

Sally?

Are you awake?

You know I am.

What is it about him?

Don't do this.

I need to know.

Was he so much more of a
man than me?

Stop it, Daffyd.
Is that what it was?

Well? Tell me.

Just tell me!

All right, if that's what you want.

He was like no-one I'd ever met.

In what way?

He was wild...

..like an animal.

Is that it?

There must be more.

He wanted me.

He wanted me with all his soul.

No...

..he didn't.

What do you mean?

I gave him ?50 to leave you
alone and he accepted.

SHE SCOFFS

Titan was a man of principle,
he wouldn't do that.

It's the truth. You're a liar!
It was a last resort.

I tried threatening him
but he just laughed at me.

What?

I told him to stay away
from you or I'd kill him.

Sally... Stay away from me!

He threatened to kill Titan!

What's that? He admitted it to me.
Is this true?

Yes, but I didn't mean it.

Daffyd Clegg, I'm arresting you
on suspicion of murder.

How could you?

Miss, get back. Miss, now. I didn't
do it, I swear. This way, sir.

Sally, you have to believe me.
You're not obliged to say anything

but anything you do say may be taken
down and given in evidence.

This is ridiculous. I'm innocent.
You can tell that to the Inspector.

Help! Come with me.

Destroy. Rebel.

Bunty, are you all right?
You look in pain.

Oh, yes.

I'm just trying to finish
my poem about anarchy.

I want it to be really
visceral and shocking.

Father, I have just been talking
to the ladies of the WI.

Kembleford's very own gossip
network.

And Farmer Clegg has been
arrested for murder. Really?!

And Angus was found unconscious
at the back of the farmhouse -

left for dead.

Do you think he was guilty, Father?

Farmer Clegg had a motive
for killing Titan.

Jealousy. I thought it
was him all along.

But why harm Angus,
or indeed Lionel?

Bunty, may I trouble you for a lift?

Father. Whatever you are up to,
please, please be careful.

Mrs McCarthy, I am always careful.

Doesn't make any sense.

Perhaps he was trying to kill
himself, sir. Jumped.

Or maybe he was pushed.

In which case, how did the attacker
enter with you on the landing?

Well, Sergeant?

Is there another way into
the bedroom?

No, Father.

This is a crime scene.

What the hell are you
doing back here?

Just offering my help.

You can help by attaching a lead
to your dog collar

and taking yourself for a walk.

Was Angus depressed at all?

I don't believe he was trying
to kill himself.

He wouldn't do that to his wife.

You should keep something
of your father's.

What's the point?

It's the end of the troupe
now he's dead.

What will you do?

Go to Paris, join
the Anarchist movement.

I hope they hang your husband
for what he did.

While the Inspector is in the
farmhouse,

let's have a look at the
outbuilding.

What are you hoping to find in here?

Not sure.

No way in but the door.

Same as Angus' bedroom. Oh.

What?

A drip from the roof.

Went right down my back.

It'll just be rainwater. Exactly,

trickling through a crack or a gap.

Climb up and have a look.

Anything?

There's a loose tile.

It's just big enough to fit your
hand through.

Are you sure you didn't hear
anything from Angus' room?

No, sir.

Well, let's see if he's regained
consciousness.

Inspector...!

Are you still here?

I think I know how Lionel
was killed.

He was shot through a gap
in the roof.

Well, since I deal in facts,
not hunches,

I'll wait for the pathologist to
confirm how close the gun was.

Now stop snooping!
Last chance, Padre.

We're just leaving.

I need to see my father
one last time.

Could you take me to the
undertakers? Of course. Jump in.

Tell me, who are your tears for?
Your husband?

If I'm honest, I don't know.

They shouldn't be for my father.

He had women in every town.

And he always promised them
everything.

Sorry, it's just the way he was.

SHE SNIFFS

So did Titan even love me?

Not like your husband does.

POLICE BELLS RING

Can you hear me, lad?

Magd...

Magdalena.

What's that?

Sh... She pushed me.

Goodfellow.

Burn!

Burn!

KNOCK AT DOOR

Come in.

Father, I've finally finished my
anarchy poem.

Can I read it to you? Are you ready?

Father, have you heard the latest?

Mrs M, you're like the
Kembleford Gazette.

The police think that Magdalena
is the real killer!

So that's why they're all
over the village.

But why would she want to kill
her own father?

She can't have gone far,
I gave her a lift earlier.

They've released Farmer Clegg -
insufficient evidence.

I always thought he was innocent.

You said you suspected him
all along.

No, I never said any such thing.

Mr Clegg, I'll be driving past your
farm if you need a lift.

No, thank you. It's no trouble.

I've actually booked into a B&B.

Oh, right.

Things must be very
difficult right now.

I do think you'll work it out with
Mrs Clegg, though.

I'm not so sure.
Oh, could I give you some advice?

I think Mrs Clegg really loves you.

Why do you say that? I've seen the
way she looks at you. It's obvious.

But sometimes love isn't enough.

She needs excitement, spontaneity.

So...

..you're saying I need to change?

Well... Why, should I?
She's the one who...

Well, I'd best be on my way.
Now, you take care of yourselves.

Farmer Clegg! She's going to attack!

Sergeant! Sergeant, she's there!
The killer.

WHISTLE BLASTS

Magdalena. You're making a mistake!

You pushed Angus. No... ..and you
were about to attack Farmer Clegg.

I was upset, he just
killed my father.

She's a ruddy animal!

Almonds, sir. In her bag.

Titan's murder!
It's all fitting into place.

I didn't put them there.

Get her to the station.

Inspector, how did she get into
Angus' room without being seen?

Sergeant Snooze here has finally
admitted that he might have

dozed off at some point.

If I did, sir, it would have only
been for a few seconds.

Just get to the station.
And try to stay awake this time.

Thank heavens I saw her when I did.

It was you who called the police?

I have doubts about her guilt.

She's an anarchist.

Heaven only knows what goes
on in her head.

I wish you'd have waited so I could
have spoken to her first.

But she was going to hurt
Farmer Clegg.

And anyway, they'd have caught up
with her soon enough,

with her bad leg.

What? What is it, Father?

Mrs McCarthy, you are a genius!

Angus!

I went to the Cottage Hospital, but
they said you'd discharged yourself.

How did you know I was here?

The Glasgow train via Birmingham.

I presume that's where you're going
now that your work here is done.

Work?

You're not an anarchist.

In fact, you hate anarchists.

That's why you joined the troupe...

..to kill them all.

You seem very sure of that, Father.

Only the real murderer would've
accused an innocent person.

Magdalena.

With her injured leg,

she could hardly even stand on a box
during the performance.

What of it?

She would have been incapable of
climbing up onto an outhouse...

..to shoot Lionel.

But you could.

As to Magdalena murdering Titan,

any fool could see that she
worshipped her father.

And she's far too clever to have
left almonds in her own bag.

You think I planted them?

If Magdalena really is innocent,
then who pushed me from the window?

No-one did.

It must have been really
frustrating

for you to know that there was one
member of the troop

you hadn't murdered yet.

But with trusty Sergeant Goodfellow
guarding...

..you had to find another
way into her room.

Whoa!

But your plan to kill her failed...

HE GROANS

..so you accused her
of pushing you...

..and framed her for murder.

And my motive?

What terrible thing did
the troupe do to you, Angus?

Or was it to a loved one?

Why would you think that?

The way you talk about
your wife in Glasgow...

..with such affection.

Did they harm her?

Or even worse,
did they take her from you?

What happened?

They...

They performed a play in Glasgow...

..about low wages.

It rallied the factory workers.

Fuelled their anger
and caused a riot.

SHOUTING

She got caught up in it?

HE SIGHS SHAKILY

On her way home she...

She was trampled to death.

SHOUTING

I loved her so much, Father.

I'm so sorry...

..but you can't blame the anarchist
troop for what happened,

they weren't directly responsible.

Yes, they were. How?

They were told beforehand
to cancel by the police.

There was already civil unrest and
they feared the play's aftermath

but Titan and his sidekicks
went ahead anyway.

We had something special...

Everyone said so.

We'd grown up together.

Angus.

There'd never been anyone else.

I know you're in pain...
It's more than that!

I held her in my arms and I swore
they would never get away with it!

So...

..how did you join the troupe
to get your revenge?

I pretended to be just like
one of them.

Some deluded anarchist.
I agreed to work for nothing.

I think you've become lost
in your own hatred.

But it's not too late
to seek forgiveness.

Save your breath,
I've never been a believer.

Then how do you know
what you did was wrong?

I'm not sure of anything any more.

For months I've been living
and breathing revenge

and, now it's over...

..there's nothing left.

Except hope. Not for me.

Look at what I've become.

I'm no different to those
who killed my wife.

TRAIN APPROACHING

Goodbye, Father.

That's not the Glasgow train.

After all the chaos,
it's time to restore some order.

Angus!

You should have let me die!

That way is never the answer.

Then what is?

You don't have to be like the
people you hate.

There is another way.

What?

Do the one thing Titan
would never do.

Take responsibility for the pain
and mayhem you've caused.

Be accountable.

It's not too late.

Tell the police everything.

That is the only way,
if you want order.

Daffyd, I...

Thank you,
Father, for getting me off the hook.

Well, I couldn't let an innocent
person go to the gallows.

Is that how you really see me -
innocent?

That depends.

Do you feel any guilt about what
happened to Angus and his wife?

Father taught me that a true
anarchist is their own master.

They don't recognise duty to others.

And now? Do you still believe that?

I'm not sure.

Anarchy was drummed into me
since I was a child...

..like a religion.
That you've never doubted.

Exactly.

Do you ever question your faith,
Father?

Don't tell the Bishop.

Sometimes, yes.

You surprise me.

Well, religion, like all belief,
should be open to enquiry.

It should evolve, embrace.

So, what next? Will you join
the anarchists in Paris?

Don't think I'm ready for that.

I think I need to take stock.

Think about what matters.

I think that's wise.

Magdalena, I hope everything
works out for you.

I'm thinking of performing it
at the Evesham Literary Festival,

so please be brutally honest.

Have we not had enough
of this anarchy nonsense?

Don't worry, Mrs M, there'll be no
mud flinging. Oh, highly amusing.

SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

"Anarchy...!" Oh!

"Destroy the day.

"Destroy the night.

"Mutiny and revolt...

"..rebel and fight!

"Anarchy for you, anarchy for me,

"until there is nothing -
nothing but darkness.

"Until there is nothing -
nothing but nothing.

"From thus, comes light,
glorious light."

That's my type of anarchy.