Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–1998): Season 4, Episode 5 - Blood Relations - full transcript
Hetty goes to visit a long lost cousin in a small fishing village near Whitby. She soon finds a client - an elderly lady who is being troubled by mysterious sounds of a dog barking. Meanwhile back home Robert plans an exposé on a local building firm - but are his facts correct - and Janet is having problems with an obnoxious neighbour who won't take no for an answer.
Leave me!
Leave me be!
Make him leave me be. Do you hear?
Aahh!
Geoff.
Hmm.
Are you getting up, or what?
I'm going to work. D'you want this?
Hmm.
What's this?
A reminder of your
decorating duties. Mmm. OK.
Don't worry if you change your mind
about paint colours or anything.
You can ring me.
On your new toy.
Only if you really want to.
Oh, I was... It's arrived.
A reply to my advert.
Can you believe it?
From Whitby?
Yes, from Kate, me cousin.
Me long lost relative.
I've found her. She's written.
She's moved from Whitby
to a little village called Kirk...
..Kirkewell, that's it.
She's widowed. Owns a pet shop.
How long since you've seen her?
Not since school.
You must invite her over.
Too late, she's invited us.
To Yorkshire!
We don't need passports.
Think of it -
sea air, crab salads, lobster.
We've nothing much on. I have.
I've this article to write.
There's a deadline. I don't want
my article in late. I understand.
I must research
that dodgy roofing company.
I can't believe this.
I've found somebody from me family.
I thought they'd all passed on.
Kate Fielding! Oh,
she did turn a good skipping rope.
♪ Salt, mustard,
vinegar, pepper... ♪
♪ Salt, mustard, vinegar, pepper
♪ Salt, mustard,
vinegar, pepper... ♪
It looks like Lancashire, really.
Oh, Mrs Wainthropp. What? In my
pocket. It's my phone. Goodness.
Can you answer?
I don't know.
We shouldn't use them when driving.
What do I do? Blue button.
Hello... Janet!
We're driving to a village
near Whitby. Yes, he's here.
Tell her I'll be back tonight, late.
He'll be back tonight...
Oh, it's gone.
Ooohh, it's dead as a dodo.
Loss of signal. It can happen.
Yes.
When Kate and I were girls we'd talk through
tin cans and some string - our mobile phone.
It worked every time.
'Hello.' Mrs Susan Dent?
'Yes.'
Robert Wainthropp.
You telephoned The Echo.
Oh! You're the reporter?
Yes.
So, I said to my husband,
he's at work,
"Having the roof sprayed
from the inside seems a good idea."
StyroProtec had a good discount
and I like a good discount.
Sorry, not so fast.
My pencil's on fire.
So, this company, StyroProtec,
sprayed this plastic stuff
in the loft, as insulation
and protection.
Yes. It was fine, at first.
Cost a bit. But what's money
when it comes to your house?
How much, exactly?
£417.67. Is that exact enough?
Yes, thank you.
When did the trouble start?
Well, I said to my husband,
"There's a musty smell
coming from somewhere."
And when we went up to look, their plastic stuff
was eating its way into the structure of our house.
There was rain coming in.
That was the smell. Damp!
Well... we were devastated. It cost
Tom a lot of lettuce to have it put right.
Lettuce?
Money. Lettuce.
"A lot of lettuce."
It's a line from Guys And Dolls.
I played Adelaide. I got
a great review from your paper.
Said I had "a modicum of talent".
A lorra lettuce.
I didn't dare ask how much.
I'd twisted his arm to have it done.
The damage was rectified, can I say,
"at considerable expense"?
You certainly can.
I want you to tell your readers
just what's going on
with those swindlers at StyroProtec.
I... I will.
You mentioned another...
Pam and Eric Pardew.
They'll show you the havoc
caused by these con merchants.
Journey's end.
The shop IS open, Mrs Wainthropp.
I wonder if we'll still
like each other. It's been an age.
Ooh!
Hetty Ponsonby.
Kate Fielding. Oh-ho-ho-hoo!
Oh, Hetty. The years have been kind
to you. Hey, you look well, Kate.
Count me blessings.
Is this your son? No. No, Derek's
in Australia. This is Geoffrey.
He's my partner in crime.
I run a detective agency.
Not come to arrest me, I hope.
Not today. I'm off duty.
We've a lifetime to catch up on.
We certainly have.
Ha. Still keeping up your music,
I see.
♪ .. Farewell to thee
♪ Shadows on the sea. ♪
No...
I'm not mad...
I'm not!
I'm sorry I never met your husband.
A freak wave, they said.
He loved his fishing.
Always bringing lobsters home.
I've never had one since.
Joe was a good man. He cared for me.
He set me up in me little shop,
as if...
As if he knew what was coming.
Now, Kate.
Oh, look at me.
I bring you on a day out
and here I am bluthering away.
All right, Janet?
I've got you a tea.
OK. Thanks.
Ta.
What's wrong, love?
Something in your tea? Yeah.
Lots of rats around here, Warren.
Ah, look at that.
It's restless today. A wind.
Fishermen out there.
Shadows on the sea.
We must get you back to your shop.
I've kept you away long enough.
Terrible, don't you think?
They want doing for fraud, shysters.
Have you complained?
Who to?
The company will have changed name
three times by now.
Moved on. Blackburn. Bolton.
Swindlers. Write this down.
It'll win you an award.
Er, Pam and Eric...?
Pardew. P-A-R-D-E
W
Move it, young girl.
Come here. Come here.
Oh, goodness!
What is it?
Me father. I heard his voice.
I won't go to him. I won't.
Agnes, he's been dead long since.
I heard his voice. I know I did.
I didn't imagine it.
This is my cousin. She's a private
investigator. How do you do?
I'm all right now.
Are you sure?
I should open up me shop.
Yes. Go, go.
I'm Agnes Stubbs. Miss.
What must you think of me?
You get on. I'll stay with her.
Is that all right? You're brave.
Most folk think I'm off me head.
'It was a public house once.'
Me father bought out the licence.
He was a strict teetotaller.
He must be angry with me.
Why?
Because I've sinned.
Hey! Where the hell have you been?
I'm sorry. Sorry.
I'm not a big fan
of the supernatural, Miss Stubbs.
But that's a solid wall. Yes?
It seems so, yes.
Yes.
This is me torture chamber.
I suffer here, day and night.
You say you hear voices?
Shouts. Laughter.
The growl of a hound.
Me father, calling me.
And the voice is angry?
Oh, yes.
Last month,
I was offered strong drink.
I succumbed.
What drink did you have?
Sherry.
I... I... I didn't like it.
My father must have been watching.
He sent a padfoot
and now he summons me.
Padfoot?
A few nights back,
I saw a man outside with a dog,
by the wall.
I'd thrown ashes at the moon.
Ashes at the moon, why?
If you're being haunted, it's
supposed to free you from boggarts.
Boggarts.
Demon.
Spirit.
Devil.
When your time is nigh,
you see the Devil's dog.
A padfoot, so the story goes.
It's just a story. That's all.
You think so?
Yes, I do.
You investigate things, Kate said.
Things of this world, yes.
Will you investigate me?
You?
Yes. Find out if I'm being haunted
or I'm simply going mad.
Hello. Hello?
Hi. Hold on.
Mrs Wainthropp, you're breaking up.
Hello? What?
Where? Wait! Hello?
Hello?
Oh, that's better.
I can hear you now, Mrs Wainthropp.
Kirkewell, yes, of course I can.
No, no, Janet will understand,
it's work.
OK, I'll be there
as soon as I can. Bye.
Geoff.
Geoff!
He's done a bunk.
What?
I heard him
talking on his mobile to a woman.
Sorry if that upsets ya.
It doesn't.
Locked out, are ya?
Well...
You're locked out. Allow me.
There you are, little lady.
What have you done?
You great lunk.
No probs.
I've a screwdriver and chisel.
The damage will be repaired.
I did a course on joinery.
Who are you? Your neighbour.
Carl P Unsworth.
What's the P for?
Power.
Hello.
Hello.
Oh, Mrs Wainthropp. I thought there
was no-one... Kate's off gadding.
Did anybody see you arrive?
I don't think so. Good.
I've got you secret lodgings
for the night.
Who... who's there?
It's only me. Geoffrey, the lodger.
I'm just going to be downstairs.
If you hear anything, I'll hear it.
OK?
Good night.
Good night.
Miss Stubbs! Are you OK?
You heard them, the Devil's dogs?
Yes, I did.
I'm not mad, then.
Thank...
..G... Thank...
It's kind of you to come and see me.
We need to take instructions,
Miss Stubbs.
Instructions?
Mmm.
Oh. Oh, yes.
I asked you to find out
if I was off me chump.
You heard the dog.
Yes, I did. Scary.
Aye, that all right.
You say you've seen the dog,
as well as heard it?
A couple of nights ago.
Padfoot.
I think we must try to find
a rational explanation for all this.
I've lived here too long.
All my life in that horrible house.
Can you not move?
Start somewhere fresh?
I missed me chance.
I should have taken it.
But I wouldn't sell.
Who wanted to buy?
Those Shadwell brothers.
Turned up from Redcar,
few years back.
Kept knocking at my door.
Until I told them I was staying put.
Give me two days, Miss Stubbs.
And I'll send this Padfoot,
death dog, whatever you call it,
away with its tail
between its legs.
Oh...!
Hello?
Hello.
I'm looking for a Mr Shadwell.
We're called that.
Aye, both o' we.
I'm a close friend of Agnes Stubbs.
Oh, aye.
She wonders if you still
want to buy her property?
She's asked me to negotiate,
I've worked as an estate agent.
We need to think on it.
We cannae pay top whack.
Oi, Nimrod. Off that net.
Sorry.
I'm sure we can discuss
fair a price.
Aye.
We'll pass it on.
Yeah.
See ya.
Thanks for your time.
Oh, I'm staying with Kate Hepple.
We heard.
Problems? From those two?
Well, you never know.
She might pistol whip us
with her pension book.
It is one of those places
where everyone
knows everyone else's business.
Great place for smuggling
in the old days, this.
The whole coast
was notorious for it.
Secret passages.
Fancy a laugh?
What?
Oh!
Janet, what's happening?
I didn't notice
they were chained up!
You won't forget to check next time,
will you? It won't happen again.
This lot's gotta be cleared up
and on the road by 4pm.
It will be.
Right! I've had enough of you.
Get that lot cleared now,
or I won't cover for you any longer.
And you, what is your problem?!
Have you got something against
women drivers, or is it just women?!
Girly power, is it?
Lay off him, Janet.
It's only cos he fancies you.
Me, fancy her? Yeah, now let's
get this floor cleared up.
Sorry.
Perhaps that was an entrance.
Could have been.
Let's keep going.
Just a minute.
The other day, cousin Kate
did a disappearing act round there.
That's it.
For the lobsters, these things.
Mrs Wainthropp!
Well done, Geoffrey.
Y-e-e-s! Hold the front page!
Oh!
Ah!
Geoffrey.
Argh!
Who's that?
Argh!
Geoffrey?
Oh! Are you all right?
Yeah.
Is that you or are you a ghost?
Sorry to scare you, Mrs Wainthropp.
I slipped. You seem very close.
I think I am. VERY close.
Do you want me to go on exploring?
There's more tunnels. No. No need,
Geoffrey. We'd best get back.
Kate'll wonder where we are. OK.
At least we can
put Agnes' mind to rest.
Janet.
Look, I know what happened earlier.
Now, loyalty's all very well,
but you
just look after yourself, OK?
Listen, let's you and me
have a chat sometime.
OK.
See you tomorrow. Bye.
I found him by the beck.
Someone's pet?
Probably. Probably.
Lucky it's still alive.
Shy, isn't he? He said hello once,
stuck his neck out.
He had some strange markings -
yellow stripes, maybe a bit of red.
Kids paint them. I shouldn't worry.
It's nothing rare or special.
I'll make sure he's taken care of.
Where have you been?
Here and there, enjoying myself.
Good. Oh, I had a word with Ben,
the choir master,
about you singing a solo with us.
A what?
You have such a lovely voice.
But... I've not sung in years.
But I promised.
I said how special you were. Kate!
Hetty, I'll look a fool
if you're not there.
And you must come
and see her too, Geoffrey.
Though I shan't be able to.
I have to be in Whitby.
Hiya, little lady.
I just wanted to make sure
you get in OK.
Yeah, well, I've got my key tonight,
I can manage to turn it
all by my little self.
I just wanted to make sure
that my repairs were...
hunky-dory.
Allow me, Janet.
Yes. Perfect fit.
Yeah, well, thanks.
Bit like you and me.
What?
Such a perfect fit.
Everything all right, Janet?
Robert!
Robert, I'm dead glad to see you.
How are you?
Well, I'm fine.
Is this a bad moment to call?
No, no.
The little lady had a bit
of a lock out problem last night.
I helped her out.
I was just checking
that everything was, er...
hunky-dory.
Is it?
Yeah. Now.
Use your magic mobile
and get in touch with Robert.
He had a friend once, Sam,
who kept tortoises and terrapins.
Describe those neck markings
and see what he says.
You don't believe your cousin,
Mrs Wainthropp?
Illogical things
bother me, Geoffrey.
Kate said children paint the necks.
But any tortoise would just
put his head in.
And that hoo-ha about me
singing a solo with the choir.
And Kate not there. I think
something's going on tomorrow night
and I need to put me mind at rest.
I'll be pleased to call, Mrs
Wainthropp. I thought you might be.
You'd better go in. You don't want
to be late for choir practice.
Well, what do you think?
Strong stuff.
Are you sure of the facts?
Oh, yes. Two separate couples
said the same thing,
damage, high cost of repair.
It's an expose.
It certainly is.
Ah, you don't like my prose style.
No, it's good.
It's just,
I hope it's not too strong.
You've only spoken to two people.
Don't you need more evidence
before going to print?
Ah, Mr Wainthropp.
I just got in.
Everything's all right with Hetty?
Oh, good.
Yeah...
Sam, yes.
Oh, right. Hang on a minute.
Tortoise... Yellow stripes...
Red spot.
I've got to go.
You've got my mobile number.
I'll get back to you. Bye.
Over here.
Yes.
Hello. Oh, Mr Wainthropp.
Are you OK? You sound breathless.
It's difficult to explain. I have
to learn how to turn my mobile off.
That tortoise you found sounds like
a species that Sam knows.
It's a terrapin actually, very rare.
'Oh, and you're not allowed
to import them without a licence.'
It's just for the afternoon.
I need to help a friend.
This company he's investigating...
StyroProtec.
I don't want him to get into
trouble over what he writes.
I just want to check his facts.
I'll tell you what,
try Companies House.
They've got chapter and verse
on any company.
Costs about £6.
I'll just find the number.
Thanks. I won't need the afternoon
off, then. That's what I thought.
♪ On a hill far away
♪ Stood an old rugged cross
♪ The emblem of suff'ring and shame
♪ And I loved that old cross
♪ Where the dearest and best
♪ For a world of lost sinners
was slain
♪ So I'll cherish
the old rugged cross
♪ Till my trophies
at last I lay down
♪ And exchange it someday
for a crown
♪ In the old rugged cross
♪ Stained with blood so divine
♪ A wondrous beauty I see. ♪
Is it all right?
Of course, it's asleep.
It's coming round.
Get it out, quick.
Come on. Hurry.
♪ To pardon and sanctify me
♪ So I'll cherish
the old rugged cross
♪ Till my trophies
at last I lay down
♪ I will cling to
the old rugged cross
♪ And exchange it some day
for a crown. ♪
Good morning, Kate.
Hetty.
Hetty, I... I... I'm
looking after them for collectors.
You're importing
rare species illegally.
No, Hetty.
Isn't this a pit bull terrier?
That's not legal, is it? Is it?
You always did find me out,
even when we were girls.
I should have known.
Can I talk to you?
Please, Hetty.
Joe didn't leave much.
The shop hardly brings in anything.
I was desperate for money.
Dave Skerry was sympathetic. Said
he'd like to help. He tricked me.
He said would I help him to import
a few harmless tortoises.
He paid well.
And then he wanted me to use the business
to help him smuggle in other rare species.
Then the dogs arrived -
fighting dogs, for betting.
I tried to say no but I was trapped,
an accomplice, his accomplice.
How do these animals get here?
From foreign ships.
The Shadwells go out
and collect them
from beyond the three-mile limit.
So, that's why this Skerry fella
wants to buy Miss Stubbs' house.
So convenient.
It's the perfect place to hide
the animals and pass them on.
I'd get out if I could,
honestly, Hetty. I would.
But these dogs bring £5,000.
All for profit.
You wouldn't tell anyone?
The police or anyone like that?
You wouldn't rat on me.
Good morning, little lady.
Your mail.
Just thought I'd bring it up.
Thanks. Shouldn't you get dressed?
Care to watch me at the weights?
Not before breakfast.
Mr Wainthropp!
Robert!
We're family, Hetty, blood.
I can't allow it to go on.
It won't. The Shadwells have gone.
I know that.
But they'll set up somewhere else,
until the police find them.
When you wrote, I was overjoyed.
But you lied to me, Kate.
You didn't care what disease
those animals brought in.
And you cast doubt on Agnes' sanity.
I'll make it up to her, Hetty. It's
a criminal offence and you know it.
And what am I going to do now?
Robert!
Wait. Stop.
Janet, what is it?
That company, StyroProtec.
Their agents might have set you up.
Set me up! For what?
Libel.
You what?!
I got the reports
and balance sheets.
They've sued for libel before.
Always provincial papers.
It's not conclusive,
but I'd hold back.
They've led me on. Let me
write an article based on lies.
So they can sue the newspaper, yeah.
That's disgraceful.
Someone should write about this.
I never did get me lobster salad.
Let's go home, Geoffrey.
Uh! Ooh!
Oh, sorry to scare ya... little lady.
Eh, where's that little guy?
He'll be home soon.
You know, if he weren't around,
there'd be chances for you and me
to cosy up.
You'd like that, Janet.
You reckon?
Well, he's a bit on the small side,
isn't he?
For a girl... like you.
He can look after himself.
Said the mouse, as they lowered
the mallet. Is that a threat?
Jan.
What is it? What's happened?
It's me. I've made a mistake.
We shouldn't have decided
to live together, not here.
You said you loved it.
You had plans, to paint, to... paper.
Oh, Geoff. I just don't want you
to get hurt. That's all.
We've not met. I'm Geoff Shorecross.
I'm... I know.
Carl P Unsworth. My girlfriend,
Janet, told me.
And did she tell you anything else,
little man?
She seemed to think
I should be careful of you.
I can't think why.
Little lady knows who has the power.
Power isn't in muscle... it's here.
Understand one thing, Carl.
Janet doesn't like being bothered.
She'd rather you left her alone.
So would I.
There are laws
against that kind of thing.
Don't make me use them.
Very good. But isn't it
on a different subject? Aye.
Sue thy neighbour. Everyone's at it.
It's a national pastime.
I've spoken against
the whole business.
Good for you.
What about you, love?
I'm sorry things didn't work out
with Kate.
They did at first, it was after.
Well, you can't choose your family,
can you?
No. Unfortunately.
You don't think I've been
too outspoken? No, no, no.
What's that noise?
Nothing. You're hearing things.
There's no secret passages here.
I hope not.
Robert, there are voices.
There's somebody in the house.
Da-da! It's these two.
The little devils.
What's this?
We heard you liked lobster.
Oh, I love it!
I bought him in Kirkewell.
Wonderful. Is it to eat now?
Yeah, of course.
Oh, what a treat!
Robert, who needs long-lost relatives when I've
got not only you but Geoffrey and Janet as well?
This'll be our family celebration.
Leave me be!
Make him leave me be. Do you hear?
Aahh!
Geoff.
Hmm.
Are you getting up, or what?
I'm going to work. D'you want this?
Hmm.
What's this?
A reminder of your
decorating duties. Mmm. OK.
Don't worry if you change your mind
about paint colours or anything.
You can ring me.
On your new toy.
Only if you really want to.
Oh, I was... It's arrived.
A reply to my advert.
Can you believe it?
From Whitby?
Yes, from Kate, me cousin.
Me long lost relative.
I've found her. She's written.
She's moved from Whitby
to a little village called Kirk...
..Kirkewell, that's it.
She's widowed. Owns a pet shop.
How long since you've seen her?
Not since school.
You must invite her over.
Too late, she's invited us.
To Yorkshire!
We don't need passports.
Think of it -
sea air, crab salads, lobster.
We've nothing much on. I have.
I've this article to write.
There's a deadline. I don't want
my article in late. I understand.
I must research
that dodgy roofing company.
I can't believe this.
I've found somebody from me family.
I thought they'd all passed on.
Kate Fielding! Oh,
she did turn a good skipping rope.
♪ Salt, mustard,
vinegar, pepper... ♪
♪ Salt, mustard, vinegar, pepper
♪ Salt, mustard,
vinegar, pepper... ♪
It looks like Lancashire, really.
Oh, Mrs Wainthropp. What? In my
pocket. It's my phone. Goodness.
Can you answer?
I don't know.
We shouldn't use them when driving.
What do I do? Blue button.
Hello... Janet!
We're driving to a village
near Whitby. Yes, he's here.
Tell her I'll be back tonight, late.
He'll be back tonight...
Oh, it's gone.
Ooohh, it's dead as a dodo.
Loss of signal. It can happen.
Yes.
When Kate and I were girls we'd talk through
tin cans and some string - our mobile phone.
It worked every time.
'Hello.' Mrs Susan Dent?
'Yes.'
Robert Wainthropp.
You telephoned The Echo.
Oh! You're the reporter?
Yes.
So, I said to my husband,
he's at work,
"Having the roof sprayed
from the inside seems a good idea."
StyroProtec had a good discount
and I like a good discount.
Sorry, not so fast.
My pencil's on fire.
So, this company, StyroProtec,
sprayed this plastic stuff
in the loft, as insulation
and protection.
Yes. It was fine, at first.
Cost a bit. But what's money
when it comes to your house?
How much, exactly?
£417.67. Is that exact enough?
Yes, thank you.
When did the trouble start?
Well, I said to my husband,
"There's a musty smell
coming from somewhere."
And when we went up to look, their plastic stuff
was eating its way into the structure of our house.
There was rain coming in.
That was the smell. Damp!
Well... we were devastated. It cost
Tom a lot of lettuce to have it put right.
Lettuce?
Money. Lettuce.
"A lot of lettuce."
It's a line from Guys And Dolls.
I played Adelaide. I got
a great review from your paper.
Said I had "a modicum of talent".
A lorra lettuce.
I didn't dare ask how much.
I'd twisted his arm to have it done.
The damage was rectified, can I say,
"at considerable expense"?
You certainly can.
I want you to tell your readers
just what's going on
with those swindlers at StyroProtec.
I... I will.
You mentioned another...
Pam and Eric Pardew.
They'll show you the havoc
caused by these con merchants.
Journey's end.
The shop IS open, Mrs Wainthropp.
I wonder if we'll still
like each other. It's been an age.
Ooh!
Hetty Ponsonby.
Kate Fielding. Oh-ho-ho-hoo!
Oh, Hetty. The years have been kind
to you. Hey, you look well, Kate.
Count me blessings.
Is this your son? No. No, Derek's
in Australia. This is Geoffrey.
He's my partner in crime.
I run a detective agency.
Not come to arrest me, I hope.
Not today. I'm off duty.
We've a lifetime to catch up on.
We certainly have.
Ha. Still keeping up your music,
I see.
♪ .. Farewell to thee
♪ Shadows on the sea. ♪
No...
I'm not mad...
I'm not!
I'm sorry I never met your husband.
A freak wave, they said.
He loved his fishing.
Always bringing lobsters home.
I've never had one since.
Joe was a good man. He cared for me.
He set me up in me little shop,
as if...
As if he knew what was coming.
Now, Kate.
Oh, look at me.
I bring you on a day out
and here I am bluthering away.
All right, Janet?
I've got you a tea.
OK. Thanks.
Ta.
What's wrong, love?
Something in your tea? Yeah.
Lots of rats around here, Warren.
Ah, look at that.
It's restless today. A wind.
Fishermen out there.
Shadows on the sea.
We must get you back to your shop.
I've kept you away long enough.
Terrible, don't you think?
They want doing for fraud, shysters.
Have you complained?
Who to?
The company will have changed name
three times by now.
Moved on. Blackburn. Bolton.
Swindlers. Write this down.
It'll win you an award.
Er, Pam and Eric...?
Pardew. P-A-R-D-E
W
Move it, young girl.
Come here. Come here.
Oh, goodness!
What is it?
Me father. I heard his voice.
I won't go to him. I won't.
Agnes, he's been dead long since.
I heard his voice. I know I did.
I didn't imagine it.
This is my cousin. She's a private
investigator. How do you do?
I'm all right now.
Are you sure?
I should open up me shop.
Yes. Go, go.
I'm Agnes Stubbs. Miss.
What must you think of me?
You get on. I'll stay with her.
Is that all right? You're brave.
Most folk think I'm off me head.
'It was a public house once.'
Me father bought out the licence.
He was a strict teetotaller.
He must be angry with me.
Why?
Because I've sinned.
Hey! Where the hell have you been?
I'm sorry. Sorry.
I'm not a big fan
of the supernatural, Miss Stubbs.
But that's a solid wall. Yes?
It seems so, yes.
Yes.
This is me torture chamber.
I suffer here, day and night.
You say you hear voices?
Shouts. Laughter.
The growl of a hound.
Me father, calling me.
And the voice is angry?
Oh, yes.
Last month,
I was offered strong drink.
I succumbed.
What drink did you have?
Sherry.
I... I... I didn't like it.
My father must have been watching.
He sent a padfoot
and now he summons me.
Padfoot?
A few nights back,
I saw a man outside with a dog,
by the wall.
I'd thrown ashes at the moon.
Ashes at the moon, why?
If you're being haunted, it's
supposed to free you from boggarts.
Boggarts.
Demon.
Spirit.
Devil.
When your time is nigh,
you see the Devil's dog.
A padfoot, so the story goes.
It's just a story. That's all.
You think so?
Yes, I do.
You investigate things, Kate said.
Things of this world, yes.
Will you investigate me?
You?
Yes. Find out if I'm being haunted
or I'm simply going mad.
Hello. Hello?
Hi. Hold on.
Mrs Wainthropp, you're breaking up.
Hello? What?
Where? Wait! Hello?
Hello?
Oh, that's better.
I can hear you now, Mrs Wainthropp.
Kirkewell, yes, of course I can.
No, no, Janet will understand,
it's work.
OK, I'll be there
as soon as I can. Bye.
Geoff.
Geoff!
He's done a bunk.
What?
I heard him
talking on his mobile to a woman.
Sorry if that upsets ya.
It doesn't.
Locked out, are ya?
Well...
You're locked out. Allow me.
There you are, little lady.
What have you done?
You great lunk.
No probs.
I've a screwdriver and chisel.
The damage will be repaired.
I did a course on joinery.
Who are you? Your neighbour.
Carl P Unsworth.
What's the P for?
Power.
Hello.
Hello.
Oh, Mrs Wainthropp. I thought there
was no-one... Kate's off gadding.
Did anybody see you arrive?
I don't think so. Good.
I've got you secret lodgings
for the night.
Who... who's there?
It's only me. Geoffrey, the lodger.
I'm just going to be downstairs.
If you hear anything, I'll hear it.
OK?
Good night.
Good night.
Miss Stubbs! Are you OK?
You heard them, the Devil's dogs?
Yes, I did.
I'm not mad, then.
Thank...
..G... Thank...
It's kind of you to come and see me.
We need to take instructions,
Miss Stubbs.
Instructions?
Mmm.
Oh. Oh, yes.
I asked you to find out
if I was off me chump.
You heard the dog.
Yes, I did. Scary.
Aye, that all right.
You say you've seen the dog,
as well as heard it?
A couple of nights ago.
Padfoot.
I think we must try to find
a rational explanation for all this.
I've lived here too long.
All my life in that horrible house.
Can you not move?
Start somewhere fresh?
I missed me chance.
I should have taken it.
But I wouldn't sell.
Who wanted to buy?
Those Shadwell brothers.
Turned up from Redcar,
few years back.
Kept knocking at my door.
Until I told them I was staying put.
Give me two days, Miss Stubbs.
And I'll send this Padfoot,
death dog, whatever you call it,
away with its tail
between its legs.
Oh...!
Hello?
Hello.
I'm looking for a Mr Shadwell.
We're called that.
Aye, both o' we.
I'm a close friend of Agnes Stubbs.
Oh, aye.
She wonders if you still
want to buy her property?
She's asked me to negotiate,
I've worked as an estate agent.
We need to think on it.
We cannae pay top whack.
Oi, Nimrod. Off that net.
Sorry.
I'm sure we can discuss
fair a price.
Aye.
We'll pass it on.
Yeah.
See ya.
Thanks for your time.
Oh, I'm staying with Kate Hepple.
We heard.
Problems? From those two?
Well, you never know.
She might pistol whip us
with her pension book.
It is one of those places
where everyone
knows everyone else's business.
Great place for smuggling
in the old days, this.
The whole coast
was notorious for it.
Secret passages.
Fancy a laugh?
What?
Oh!
Janet, what's happening?
I didn't notice
they were chained up!
You won't forget to check next time,
will you? It won't happen again.
This lot's gotta be cleared up
and on the road by 4pm.
It will be.
Right! I've had enough of you.
Get that lot cleared now,
or I won't cover for you any longer.
And you, what is your problem?!
Have you got something against
women drivers, or is it just women?!
Girly power, is it?
Lay off him, Janet.
It's only cos he fancies you.
Me, fancy her? Yeah, now let's
get this floor cleared up.
Sorry.
Perhaps that was an entrance.
Could have been.
Let's keep going.
Just a minute.
The other day, cousin Kate
did a disappearing act round there.
That's it.
For the lobsters, these things.
Mrs Wainthropp!
Well done, Geoffrey.
Y-e-e-s! Hold the front page!
Oh!
Ah!
Geoffrey.
Argh!
Who's that?
Argh!
Geoffrey?
Oh! Are you all right?
Yeah.
Is that you or are you a ghost?
Sorry to scare you, Mrs Wainthropp.
I slipped. You seem very close.
I think I am. VERY close.
Do you want me to go on exploring?
There's more tunnels. No. No need,
Geoffrey. We'd best get back.
Kate'll wonder where we are. OK.
At least we can
put Agnes' mind to rest.
Janet.
Look, I know what happened earlier.
Now, loyalty's all very well,
but you
just look after yourself, OK?
Listen, let's you and me
have a chat sometime.
OK.
See you tomorrow. Bye.
I found him by the beck.
Someone's pet?
Probably. Probably.
Lucky it's still alive.
Shy, isn't he? He said hello once,
stuck his neck out.
He had some strange markings -
yellow stripes, maybe a bit of red.
Kids paint them. I shouldn't worry.
It's nothing rare or special.
I'll make sure he's taken care of.
Where have you been?
Here and there, enjoying myself.
Good. Oh, I had a word with Ben,
the choir master,
about you singing a solo with us.
A what?
You have such a lovely voice.
But... I've not sung in years.
But I promised.
I said how special you were. Kate!
Hetty, I'll look a fool
if you're not there.
And you must come
and see her too, Geoffrey.
Though I shan't be able to.
I have to be in Whitby.
Hiya, little lady.
I just wanted to make sure
you get in OK.
Yeah, well, I've got my key tonight,
I can manage to turn it
all by my little self.
I just wanted to make sure
that my repairs were...
hunky-dory.
Allow me, Janet.
Yes. Perfect fit.
Yeah, well, thanks.
Bit like you and me.
What?
Such a perfect fit.
Everything all right, Janet?
Robert!
Robert, I'm dead glad to see you.
How are you?
Well, I'm fine.
Is this a bad moment to call?
No, no.
The little lady had a bit
of a lock out problem last night.
I helped her out.
I was just checking
that everything was, er...
hunky-dory.
Is it?
Yeah. Now.
Use your magic mobile
and get in touch with Robert.
He had a friend once, Sam,
who kept tortoises and terrapins.
Describe those neck markings
and see what he says.
You don't believe your cousin,
Mrs Wainthropp?
Illogical things
bother me, Geoffrey.
Kate said children paint the necks.
But any tortoise would just
put his head in.
And that hoo-ha about me
singing a solo with the choir.
And Kate not there. I think
something's going on tomorrow night
and I need to put me mind at rest.
I'll be pleased to call, Mrs
Wainthropp. I thought you might be.
You'd better go in. You don't want
to be late for choir practice.
Well, what do you think?
Strong stuff.
Are you sure of the facts?
Oh, yes. Two separate couples
said the same thing,
damage, high cost of repair.
It's an expose.
It certainly is.
Ah, you don't like my prose style.
No, it's good.
It's just,
I hope it's not too strong.
You've only spoken to two people.
Don't you need more evidence
before going to print?
Ah, Mr Wainthropp.
I just got in.
Everything's all right with Hetty?
Oh, good.
Yeah...
Sam, yes.
Oh, right. Hang on a minute.
Tortoise... Yellow stripes...
Red spot.
I've got to go.
You've got my mobile number.
I'll get back to you. Bye.
Over here.
Yes.
Hello. Oh, Mr Wainthropp.
Are you OK? You sound breathless.
It's difficult to explain. I have
to learn how to turn my mobile off.
That tortoise you found sounds like
a species that Sam knows.
It's a terrapin actually, very rare.
'Oh, and you're not allowed
to import them without a licence.'
It's just for the afternoon.
I need to help a friend.
This company he's investigating...
StyroProtec.
I don't want him to get into
trouble over what he writes.
I just want to check his facts.
I'll tell you what,
try Companies House.
They've got chapter and verse
on any company.
Costs about £6.
I'll just find the number.
Thanks. I won't need the afternoon
off, then. That's what I thought.
♪ On a hill far away
♪ Stood an old rugged cross
♪ The emblem of suff'ring and shame
♪ And I loved that old cross
♪ Where the dearest and best
♪ For a world of lost sinners
was slain
♪ So I'll cherish
the old rugged cross
♪ Till my trophies
at last I lay down
♪ And exchange it someday
for a crown
♪ In the old rugged cross
♪ Stained with blood so divine
♪ A wondrous beauty I see. ♪
Is it all right?
Of course, it's asleep.
It's coming round.
Get it out, quick.
Come on. Hurry.
♪ To pardon and sanctify me
♪ So I'll cherish
the old rugged cross
♪ Till my trophies
at last I lay down
♪ I will cling to
the old rugged cross
♪ And exchange it some day
for a crown. ♪
Good morning, Kate.
Hetty.
Hetty, I... I... I'm
looking after them for collectors.
You're importing
rare species illegally.
No, Hetty.
Isn't this a pit bull terrier?
That's not legal, is it? Is it?
You always did find me out,
even when we were girls.
I should have known.
Can I talk to you?
Please, Hetty.
Joe didn't leave much.
The shop hardly brings in anything.
I was desperate for money.
Dave Skerry was sympathetic. Said
he'd like to help. He tricked me.
He said would I help him to import
a few harmless tortoises.
He paid well.
And then he wanted me to use the business
to help him smuggle in other rare species.
Then the dogs arrived -
fighting dogs, for betting.
I tried to say no but I was trapped,
an accomplice, his accomplice.
How do these animals get here?
From foreign ships.
The Shadwells go out
and collect them
from beyond the three-mile limit.
So, that's why this Skerry fella
wants to buy Miss Stubbs' house.
So convenient.
It's the perfect place to hide
the animals and pass them on.
I'd get out if I could,
honestly, Hetty. I would.
But these dogs bring £5,000.
All for profit.
You wouldn't tell anyone?
The police or anyone like that?
You wouldn't rat on me.
Good morning, little lady.
Your mail.
Just thought I'd bring it up.
Thanks. Shouldn't you get dressed?
Care to watch me at the weights?
Not before breakfast.
Mr Wainthropp!
Robert!
We're family, Hetty, blood.
I can't allow it to go on.
It won't. The Shadwells have gone.
I know that.
But they'll set up somewhere else,
until the police find them.
When you wrote, I was overjoyed.
But you lied to me, Kate.
You didn't care what disease
those animals brought in.
And you cast doubt on Agnes' sanity.
I'll make it up to her, Hetty. It's
a criminal offence and you know it.
And what am I going to do now?
Robert!
Wait. Stop.
Janet, what is it?
That company, StyroProtec.
Their agents might have set you up.
Set me up! For what?
Libel.
You what?!
I got the reports
and balance sheets.
They've sued for libel before.
Always provincial papers.
It's not conclusive,
but I'd hold back.
They've led me on. Let me
write an article based on lies.
So they can sue the newspaper, yeah.
That's disgraceful.
Someone should write about this.
I never did get me lobster salad.
Let's go home, Geoffrey.
Uh! Ooh!
Oh, sorry to scare ya... little lady.
Eh, where's that little guy?
He'll be home soon.
You know, if he weren't around,
there'd be chances for you and me
to cosy up.
You'd like that, Janet.
You reckon?
Well, he's a bit on the small side,
isn't he?
For a girl... like you.
He can look after himself.
Said the mouse, as they lowered
the mallet. Is that a threat?
Jan.
What is it? What's happened?
It's me. I've made a mistake.
We shouldn't have decided
to live together, not here.
You said you loved it.
You had plans, to paint, to... paper.
Oh, Geoff. I just don't want you
to get hurt. That's all.
We've not met. I'm Geoff Shorecross.
I'm... I know.
Carl P Unsworth. My girlfriend,
Janet, told me.
And did she tell you anything else,
little man?
She seemed to think
I should be careful of you.
I can't think why.
Little lady knows who has the power.
Power isn't in muscle... it's here.
Understand one thing, Carl.
Janet doesn't like being bothered.
She'd rather you left her alone.
So would I.
There are laws
against that kind of thing.
Don't make me use them.
Very good. But isn't it
on a different subject? Aye.
Sue thy neighbour. Everyone's at it.
It's a national pastime.
I've spoken against
the whole business.
Good for you.
What about you, love?
I'm sorry things didn't work out
with Kate.
They did at first, it was after.
Well, you can't choose your family,
can you?
No. Unfortunately.
You don't think I've been
too outspoken? No, no, no.
What's that noise?
Nothing. You're hearing things.
There's no secret passages here.
I hope not.
Robert, there are voices.
There's somebody in the house.
Da-da! It's these two.
The little devils.
What's this?
We heard you liked lobster.
Oh, I love it!
I bought him in Kirkewell.
Wonderful. Is it to eat now?
Yeah, of course.
Oh, what a treat!
Robert, who needs long-lost relatives when I've
got not only you but Geoffrey and Janet as well?
This'll be our family celebration.