Midsomer Murders (1997–…): Season 22, Episode 2 - The Stitcher Society - full transcript

Stop! Please!

Please stop.
This is crazy.

Say it!
You killed my sister!

No!
I am innocent.

The truth, Toby.
That's all we want.

- Harry!
- Say it, Toby, "I killed Viola."

No! Georgie, you...
you have to believe me.

Say it!

Mimi, we've been married
for years.

You... You know that
I'd never hurt anyone.

Tell them, please.



If he won't confess,
just set the dogs on him.

- Turn them loose!
- No! No, no!

Ooh!

Paddy, what's got into you?

Well, I think he can
smell your lunch.

Hmm?

Here.

Oh!

Oh, that's, uh, very green.

I hope you got his number plate.

- Good morning.
- Morning.

- Cooper.
- Harry.

- Have you been smoking?
- Yes.

Smoking as in smoking-hot.



Won't you ever listen?

When you've been given
a second chance, you take it.

And then it takes you!
Oh.

Yeah.

Oh. Your scar is knitting
together nicely.

Yeah, it is, isn't it?

Oh, no.

Whoa, back off, Mimi!

What's the matter, Rueben?

Can't take
a little extra thrust?

Oh, Uncle,
can you check this over?

It's the insurance policy
for our new member.

New member?

Is it a she,
and is she gorgeous?

No one told me
about a new member.

Everyone, I'd like to introduce
our latest recruit.

Get him out of here!!

What on earth
were you thinking?!

Alright, everyone
just calm down.

- Calm down?
- I'll kill him!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

There's no need for this,
not anymore.

Rueben.

Just put the stick down,
Georgie.

I know this is hard, but we'll
talk later, okay, I promise.

Toby is not
what you think he is.

- Alberta, please.
- Of all the things

- you could do to me.
- I tried to warn him.

And you still went along
with it, seriously?

Don't bother answering
that question.

You're no longer
managing the club.

I'm sacking you.

Wait, you can't do that!

I've got ideas, plans.

That's exactly
why I'm sacking you.

I need somebody I can trust!

Mother!

Of course, yes.

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.
I'll see you soon.

Yeah.

Fleur?

Judging from the rigor mortis,
he's been here all night.

Do we know who he is yet?

Rueben Tooms, 68 years young.

What's that?

A shinai stick.

With modifications.

They use it in kendo.

I once shacked up
with a local champion.

When in Japan...

CCTV?

Sadly, Big Brother
wasn't watching.

They also found
this mobile phone.

I'll get onto the service
provider, see what it throws up.

Also find out who
practices kendo around here.

I'll go and speak
to the victim's relatives.

Arigato.
Ogenki de.

I'd had an early night.

I didn't realize
Rueben hadn't come back.

Not even when you woke up
this morning?

Rueben has...

...had insomnia
since his operation.

He didn't want
to keep disturbing me,

so he moved into a spare room.

Oh, God, has Gideon been told?

- Gideon?
- Our son.

- Sorry, sir, you can't...
- Alberta, I've just heard.

And you are?

Harry Marx.
Solicitor.

I am not going to allow you
to go through this on your own.

Save it, Harry.

We both know you need the work.

Mrs. Tooms,
do you know if your husband

had made any enemies recently,

perhaps upset someone,
had an argument with them?

I nursed Rueben back to health
after his heart bypass.

Day and night, I prayed for him.

I did everything I could,
and now someone...

does this to him.

Why are you still here?

Problem, sir?

It can wait... for now.

I've got a lead on the kendo.

Apparently,
it might belong to a club

called The Stitcher Society.

They meet here on the estate
in a lodge owned by the victim.

There's definitely one missing.

I'm sorry to have to
do this now, Mr. Tooms.

Of course.
I want to help in any way I can.

Who has keys to this building?

Doesn't matter.
It's never locked.

So you're a martial arts club,
then, are you?

Uh, kendo is just a small part
of our rehab program.

Rehab?

The Stitcher Society.

It was my father's idea.

He felt there was a shortfall
in post-operative care

for heart patients.

And that care involves

bashing each other
with bits of wood, does it?

Yeah, well,
we also arrange lectures,

counselling, health and fitness,

and, more importantly,
new challenges.

Anything that'll ignite
a passion for life again.

The trauma of an operation
can leave a heart patient

very depressed and...

um, pretty lost afterwards.

I-I'm sorry. I...
I can't take this in.

My... My father was standing
right where you are.

Yeah, Mr. Tooms,
do you know

if your father
had upset anyone recently?

Not recently, no.

Miss Marx?

Well, uh, there was a bit
of a flare-up yesterday.

Yeah, sorry,
not thinking straight.

My father stepped in to defend
our newest member, Toby Wagner.

Defend him from who?

The club members.
They were furious.

I think we'd better have a list
of their names.

Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God.

You need to stay calm
while we think this through.

How can I?
Rueben was my only ally.

And we can use that
by making sure

that everyone knows
that he was on your side.

Of the 10 worst ideas
I ever had,

moving back to Tamworth Springs
rockets in at number one.

- Cheers.
- Toby, please.

- It'll be okay.
- Okay? Okay?

You weren't at the club
yesterday.

I don't think anyone
is ready to forgive him.

Forgive me for what?
I haven't done anything!

Is that right?

Only the minute you turn up,
another person dies.

Large scotch, please, Julia.

In memory of Rueben.

Just pour it, Julia.

You'll be glad of the business

once word gets out
your brother's back.

And you can forget about
joining the club,

now that Rueben is no longer
here to stick up for you.

Cooper Steinem?

Try again.
The clue's in the accent.

- Mimi Dagmar?
- Ha! Hilarious.

Huh.

In that case, you must be

their employee and lodger,
Mack McInally.

Bingo.

Can you tell me about the
flare-up at the club yesterday?

It was a bit more
than a flare-up.

Wee Georgie, she threatened
to muller Toby.

Georgie Tremayne?

Toby was lucky
Rueben stepped in.

Could've been a bloodbath.

Well, how was it resolved?

Well, who says it was?

Rueben asked Georgie
to meet him. Now he's dead.

Makes you think, eh?

I just saw red.
I wasn't really gonna hit Toby.

We're not here
about that, Ms. Tremayne.

We're here about Rueben Tooms.

We heard that you were planning
to meet with him last night.

Sometime between the kendo class

and when he was murdered.

I did meet him.

But I definitely wasn't
the last person he saw.

And you know this because?

Well, that would have been
his killer, obviously.

And what did you
and Rueben talk about?

Oh, he wanted
to put my mind at ease

about Toby Wagner
joining the club, which he did,

and then I came
straight home afterwards.

Tell me, what did Toby do
to make himself so unpopular

in the first place?

I run the local paper.

"Toby Wagner arrested in
connection with brutal murder"?

You didn't hold back in naming
and shaming him, then?

That's Viola,
Alberta Tooms' sister.

Murdered in cold blood
for absolutely no reason.

And all the evidence
pointed towards Toby.

It says here the case
was thrown out of court

and Toby walked free.

Harry Marx screwed up in court.

The defence destroyed his
credibility as a key witness,

and the rest of the case
disintegrated,

and I was.. furious.

And yet you publicly hounded
Toby regardless.

I couldn't bear see him
strolling around the village.

No one could.

It didn't take much to whip them
into a frenzy

until he had no choice
but to leave.

And now...

...according to Rueben...

I've been wrong all this time.

And Rueben had definite proof
of this?

He said another witness
had been found,

putting Toby elsewhere
at the time of Viola's murder.

I don't know how
and I don't know when, but...

he assured me he was
going to tell everyone.

Hm.
I know that woman.

That's Toby's ex, Mimi Dagmar.

Or Wagner, as she was then.

Actually...

Ms. Tremayne?

It's probably nothing.

But she's been pretty angry
at Rueben lately.

To be honest, she looked like

she was gonna kill him
yesterday.

Send for the case file
on Toby Wagner.

I'd like to know how he walked
free in spite of the evidence.

And, um, dig into
Georgie Tremayne.

Let's see what sort of a history
she had with Rueben Tooms.

What about Alberta Tooms, sir?

Rueben did step in
to defend her sister's killer.

She might not be too happy
about that.

Alleged killer,
but good thinking, Winter.

You know how I know
it's good thinking?

Because I was thinking the same.

Mrs. Dagmar?

Oh, wait, don't tell me.

It's Mr. Barnaby, isn't it?

Oh!
What a lovely surprise!

Are you and Sally
still in that house I sold you?

Indeed we are,
and it's, um, Sarah.

Anyway, um,
I'm here to ask you about...

Still shackled together, then?

Um, Mrs. Dagmar, I'm here
on official police business.

Oh, in that case, I'm all ears,

all eyes,
and all the rest of me.

Hmm.

Tell me about, um, Rueben Tooms.

Only a witness told us
that you looked like

you wanted to kill him
during your kendo class.

Well, isn't that
the whole point?

To kill one's opponent?

I mean, not literally,
of course.

Are you denying there was enmity
between you and Rueben?

Cards on the table,
his wife, Alberta,

has been a very good friend to
me through all my ups and downs,

and I had the overwhelming sense
that he was... playing away,

so I was just a teensy
little bit angry with him,

but only on behalf of Alberta.

Could the other woman
be Georgie Tremayne?

We know that she met
with Rueben last night.

They did meet, then.

She's so...

lost and vague these days.

I mean, come on,
have you met her?

She's all smocks and sandals.

Hardly going to
catch anyone's eye.

Did you know that Toby Wagner,
your ex-husband,

was coming back to the village?

He wouldn't be here if I had.

You still believe that he killed
Viola Deepdale, then?

I married a wrong'un,
Mr. Barnaby.

I just didn't realize it
till it was too late.

Now, please do remember me to,
uh, Sandra.

Now, this is the beating
heart of The Stitcher Society.

It's where the idea was born,
Jocasta.

And do you think
there could be one of these

- in every town and village?
- Easily.

A surgeon might mend
people physically,

but it's what happens
afterwards,

that's where the healing
really begins.

It all sounds... well and good,

but are there honestly
that many heart patients?

Definitely, if Tamworth Springs
is anything to go by.

Trust me.
Coronary disease is a gold mine.

I mean, we've had
a revolving door of members

for several years now.

All I need are the funds to get
as many Stitcher Societies

up and running as possible.

Premises, private nurses,

money for confidence-building
activities.

People will pay a fortune
for that.

There's no lonelier person
in the world

than a patient with fears
no one else understands.

Mm. Well, as I said,
I-I like it in principle,

but I-I would need to see
first-hand how it works.

Absolutely. Let's...
Let's get you down

to our next class or outing.

Meet a few members.
I can arrange that.

Mm. Text me a date and a time,
and I'll pop along.

Thanks for the tour.

It was lovely to meet you,
Mrs. Tooms.

I'm... I'm sorry.

I know how hard
that must have been.

I see you've
reinstated yourself.

Mother, all you need to know is,

I'm gonna make
a great job of this.

Only after you apologize
for Toby.

I couldn't be more sorry,
really and truly,

but Father insisted
he was innocent,

said we'd all find out
soon enough, and I...

What?

I suppose I thought
the more people in the club,

the more impressed
Jocasta would be.

If you weren't my son,
you'd disgust me.

I'll get rid of Toby.
I will.

You can consider him gone.

- And Georgie?
- What about her?

If your father changed her mind
about Toby,

we'll never hear the end of it.

She could turn everyone else.

Fair enough.

She's gone, too.

But if I do that, where
does that leave me and you?

Are we gonna be alright?

We'll be just fine.

Like always.

Can't blame them.

People are in shock over Rueben.

Probably not up to a pub quiz.

Get wise.

We've been blacklisted.

It was insanity
bringing Toby back here.

Dear me.

Oh, chin up, Julia!

I'm here to offer you
a little bowl! of hopefulness.

Only I may have a buyer
for your... delightful pub.

You are outrageous.
Just get out!

Ooh, pub quiz!

Question one, economics.

A man owns a pub

and can make a small profit
if he sells immediately.

Now, does he, A, say no
because his wife tells him to,

B, stall and lose the buyer,
or C, does he save himself

from a second
stress-related heart attack

after his business
goes into receivership?

As soon as people accept
that Toby is innocent,

they'll be back here
drinking again.

My brother is not
and never was a killer.

You know the truth
of all this, Cooper.

It's only going to get worse
from here on in.

Yeah, I don't blame you, mate.

Mmm. Starters?
What's the occasion?

It's mains, darling.

Betty's class are having
a health awareness week,

and we've decided
to support her.

I don't remember
agreeing to that.

Well, that happened
when you said "I do."

Oh.

Are you happy that we moved
to this house?

Well, yes, of course.
Why do you ask?

No reason.

The truth, Toby.
That's all we want!

Say it!
You killed my sister!

- No!
- Say it!

Turn them loose!

Can you tell me where you were

on the night
Rueben Tooms was murdered?

I thought you were here
about the message on the wall.

Oh. I am.

So, where were you, Mr. Wagner?

It's a quaint village,
don't you think?

Mm.

You look out.

Probably wouldn't want
to live anywhere else.

Lock the door.
Lock the door!

- What's happened?
- They tried to kill me!

Who did?
What are you talking about?

Mimi, Harry, Georgie.

You've got to get me out of here
right now.

- Toby, just slow down.
- No, no, no, there's no time!

They could come here.
They might even hurt you.

I'm gonna...
I'm gonna need your car keys.

As soon as I'm far enough away,

I'll call and I'll let you know
where I left...

No, you can't run.
You're innocent.

- The court set you free!
- But I'm not, am [?

Not to them.

How long will you be gone?

Uh...

No.
I'm gonna call the police.

T-They'll protect you.

I hate it, too, but...

this is the best option,
for both our sakes.

I love you, sis.

But you can't protect me.

Keys.

Oh!

I was a free man.

Exonerated.

But that mob, thanks
to Georgie's newspaper,

they decided
I was guilty regardless.

You didn't report the mob?

Georgie made sure that I was
hated by the entire village.

No one would have backed me up.

Yet you're back here now?

Rueben came to visit me
after my heart attack.

He said he had proof
of my innocence

and that he was gonna
make things right.

I-I couldn't believe it,
but he was adamant.

Said that he hopes
I'd be able to forgive him

and the others, so...

I pitched up, and...

and nothing changed.

He hadn't even told them
that I was coming.

It was like walking into
a lion's den.

Have you arrested anyone yet?

Someone broke into
our apartment.

It's Mrs. Steinem, isn't it?

Can you account for
your brother's whereabouts

on the night Rueben was killed?

What are you talking about?

He... He wouldn't attack Rueben.
Why would he?

All the same, Mrs. Steinem.

Well, he was here.

- All night?
- Yes.

I was with him.

Well, rest assured, we'll, uh,
look into the break-in.

Thank you.

Make sure you stick
to our story.

You were here all night.

I'm sorry. For a moment,
I thought you said "zipper."

I did.

It's how surgeons describe
the heart bypass scar.

Looks like a zip.

What they do
is break open the sternum

and then slice all the way down

to a few inches
above the belly button.

If you're ever having
a Sunday roast,

make sure you invite a surgeon.

They do a cracking job
on your chicken.

Who would know he had that scar?

His surgeon, obviously. Nurse.

Or a member
of The Stitcher Society.

I want everything you can find
on Rueben Tooms,

including
whatever evidence he had

that proved
Toby Wagner's innocence.

I'll start with his wife.

How's your eyesight, Mr. Marx?

Why? Are you moonlighting
as an optician now?

You almost ran over my dog.

What dog?

I think you've got the wrong
man, Chief Inspector.

Hope you don't make
a habit of doing that.

Sorry, just a couple
of things, Mrs. Tooms.

How did you feel
about Toby Wagner

joining The Stitcher Society?

Honestly?
Volcanic.

And when you
and your husband returned home

after the kendo class?

I was still volcanic.
I'm not going to hide that.

I was furious with him.

But please be aware that,
when you're married to someone

with a damaged heart,

you tend not to yell at them
or upset them.

You're scared stiff it might
bring on another attack.

So whatever anger or rage I was
feeling, it never surfaced.

I merely went to my room.

Hm.
Your husband told Georgie

that he had proof
of Toby's innocence.

Interestingly,
he didn't tell you that.

We didn't talk for the rest
of the evening.

One more thing, Mrs. Tooms.

Were you alone the night
your husband was murdered?

Yes.

Yes, I was, but I didn't
leave the house.

And for what it's worth,
I loved my husband very much.

He may have done a very silly,
stupid thing,

but it was nothing that 40 years
of a very solid,

very loving marriage
wouldn't fix.

Training alone?

Mimi had to take a quick call
from one of her clients.

I am really sorry about
your father, Gideon.

Um.. thank you.

But listen, your subs are
overdue for this month and last.

I apologize.
It's just a cash-flow thing.

- It'll sort itself out.
- I'm sorry to do this, Georgie,

but you're out of the club.

You can't do that.
I'd be lost without it.

I hear you.
I do.

But it's... it's not really fair
on the others, is it?

You are not throwing me out,
Gideon.

I think I just have.

I am running things now,
after all.

Then perhaps I'd better
tell the police

your father and I didn't just
talk about Toby when we met.

Rueben was really angry.

He said he'd sacked you,

and the next thing I know,
he's dead.

Anyone else hear him say that?

Close the door on your way out.

Right.
That's it.

- All done.
- So, how am I?

Still breathing?
Still here?

Uh, yes, you are, but...

Don't give me a "but.”
Anything but a "but.”

I got your
echocardiogram results.

I'm sorry, Georgie,
but they've found an anomaly.

Oh, God.

Your surgeon is recommending
a second operation.

I can't face another op, Erika.

But it's not gonna be anything
you haven't experienced before.

And the club
will rally 'round you.

I doubt that.

I can't pay the fees,
so Gideon kicked me out.

What?

He's supposed to be
carrying on Rueben's legacy.

Even after Rueben fired him?

I didn't know he had.

Rueben told me
the night he died.

Apparently,
it didn't go down too well.

You should start looking
after your own heart.

Oh, mine's fine.

I mean in regard... to Gideon.

Stop.
We're very happy.

Thank you.

Okay.
I'll see you later.

- Alright.
- Thank you.

Yeah.

- Hello?
- Hello, Harry?

- Yes?
- I need to come and see you.

- Okay.
- As soon as possible, please.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, sir.

The SOCO found this in the pages
of a book in Rueben's bedroom.

It's, uh... It's an agreement
with a letting agency.

He was due to move
into a new flat next month.

Anyone else's name on the lease?

Just Rueben's.

Who was handling
the letting agreement?

That'd be Dagmar & Deepdale.

Mimi's agency.

Indeed it is, sir.

You just can't stay away.

Susan'll be wondering
what you're really up to.

It's Sarah.

So, this is how you knew
about Rueben's affair.

My bad.
Should have said.

Only he swore me to secrecy.

Even though Alberta
is one of your best friends?

Don't you think I told him that?

Yet still you helped him.

Well... what can I say?

He was... emotional.

And...

...I have a big heart.

Please.

Ooh!

Sorry.

Wondered where that had got to.

Do you know
you are sitting precisely...

five feet and eight inches
from me?

Make that...

four feet...

and nine inches.

You mentioned that Rueben
was emotional.

He was... very upset.

He said that the murder of Viola
had changed Alberta irrevocably.

She couldn't get over it,

and it was dominating
their lives.

And, sadly...

...very sadly...

40 years of happiness just...

slipped slowly away.

Who was Rueben moving in with?

Oh.
He refused to tell me.

Was it you, Mimi?

Are you the other woman?

Would you like me to be?

Now I feel a bit weird.
Hands in, out?

- No, out.
- Hang on.

What? Really?

Yeah.

And stop with the pouting.

- Pouting's what they all do.
- Oh.

Well...

Let's hope there's
a fish fancier out there, eh?

It's alright.
Good.

I didn't come here
to save your love life.

Came here to save mine.

Just between you and |I...

how can I sell the pub
without Julia finding out?

You're not serious?

As a heart attack.

I thought Julia
was your everything?

She is.

Well, she won't be
for much longer, hm?

Well, can you help me or not?

Mimi's found a buyer,
and they're in a hurry.

You're using
Mimi's estate agency?

I mean, could you make it
any worse?

Julia loathes her,
and Mimi was there that night,

threatening to feed Toby
to the dogs.

Yes, and that's why
we're doing it on the sly.

And now Toby's back, things are
going to go to the wall, Harry.

Well, get rid of Toby.

Don't you think I haven't
thought of that already?

Well, think harder.

It's all about
re-educating your palate.

Do you remember the woman
that sold this house to us?

Well, as if you don't!

She was practically
moving herself in with you.

Gigi something.

Mimi.

Okay, so, first, you ask
if I like this house,

and then Mimi crops up.

What's going on?

She's part of this case
that I'm working on.

Oh.

Well, all the more reason
for you to focus

on your, uh, healthy eating.

Eat your celery.

Well, that's the last time
I go to a gym.

You go to the gym?

We need to find out

who knew Georgie
was here last night.

- There's a rota inside, sir.
- Save your quads.

Everyone trains with
at least one partner.

But according to the rota,
Georgie was here on her own.

I should be on double bubble
for this.

I just heard.
I can't believe it.

Tell me, Erika,
who writes up the fitness rota?

I do. Why?

Georgie was training
on her own last night.

I was under the impression
that the club was created

to teach heart attack victims...

No, survivors.

We don't...
We don't use the V word.

...that there is support
for them at all times.

I know how it looks.

But Gideon had thrown Georgie
out the club,

so I thought I'd make a stand

and show him that she was still
very much a part of things.

It was the last available slot.

What did Gideon
have against Georgie?

She couldn't pay her subs.

So much for helping people.

He shouldn't even be in charge.

Georgie told me
that Rueben sacked Gideon

just before he was killed.

They're gonna come here,

and they're gonna blame me
for Georgie.

No one's gonna do that.

Aren't they?
She publicly hounded him!

Made his life hell.

Who else are they gonna think
killed her?

Well, he's innocent,
and there's proof.

- We just need to find it.
- That's the problem, Julia.

No one's ever truly innocent,
are they?

- What does that mean?
- Good question.

I'm not sure I know anymore.

Cooper?

Mack...

I'm really sorry, but we're
gonna have to let you go.

Why? Uh, what have I done?

Oh, it's nothing personal.

It's just...

...Mimi has found a buyer,
and they want a quick sale.

Oh. Well...

Well, I guess there's
no arguing with that, then.

There is one tiny little hitch,
though.

I haven't told Julia yet.

Cooper, she'll brain you.

I can live with that.

Assuming you get the chance to.

Yeah, I'm still waiting on
the results from the paint test.

Yeah, if you could.
Thank you.

Anything back
on Toby Wagner's trial?

Nothing new yet, sir.

I was thinking, what if Toby
was a killer then

and is still a killer now,

only he came back
to settle a score

with the people
that hounded him?

Trouble is, Georgie and Rueben
were seemingly on his side.

They wanted him back
in the village.

Well, it's something that
the victims have in common.

Is that all they have in common?

Rueben stood in the way

of his son Gideon's plans
for expansion,

but where does Georgie
fit into that?

Well, we know that
Rueben had a secret lover,

and Alberta told me
that he made a silly mistake,

which I just assumed she meant
letting Toby back into the club,

but maybe Mimi
isn't the only one

that thinks
Rueben's having an affair.

This is deeply unfair of you,
Mr. Barnaby,

to march in here and to accuse
my husband of infidelity.

Rueben had a rental agreement.

Absolute nonsense!

You claimed yours
was a loving marriage.

That wasn't a claim!

All the same,

we believe that Rueben
had met someone else.

Look, I admit, we had
a few bumps in the road,

especially after Viola
was murdered,

but not enough to warrant his
running off with someone else.

Was Georgie Tremayne
the other woman?

Georgie?!
Dear Lord.

You already knew that Rueben
was going to meet her

on the night that he was killed.

Georgie and Viola
were lovers, Detective.

So there is very little chance

that she and my husband
were having an affair.

I'd like you both to leave,
please.

Ah, here she is.

Erika Marx, medicine woman.

Hey, how are you doing?

How do you think?

Ask a stupid question...

I liked Georgie.

Do you wanna talk about it?

I'm just... here to get drunk.

Well, that's also
my kind of talk.

You still haven't let me
give you a proper health check.

You know
what my answer's gonna be.

And I don't want
anyone else dying

because I didn't
do my job properly.

Aye.

You look like you need a friend.

That's a bit quick, isn't it?

I bet the heating's
not even been turned off yet.

Mrs. Dagmar.

Mr. Barnaby.

You're handling the sale
of Georgie's cottage?

That's somewhat swift.
She only died last night.

Are you thinking
of making an offer?

What would this go for?

Oh, let me see.

Oozes charm and character.

Deceptive frontage
yet dynamic interior.

Worth a small fortune, I'd say.

Sounds like there's a windfall
coming your way.

Tell me, Mr. Barnaby,

why is my ex-husband
still walking around?

It's just two people have died
since he came back,

and yet here you are,
asking me about house prices.

If you'd like to do some good,

perhaps a little police
protection wouldn't go amiss.

That man's going to end up
running someone over.

Want me to have a word, sir?

Confiscate his license
while you're at it.

Mr. Marx!

Have you got a minute, Mr. Marx?

Where did you say you live?

Oh, just up the hill.

But you could just give me
my keys back, you know.

Oh, that would be a dereliction
of duty, Mr. Marx.

Dangerous driving.
You could do time for that.

Sounds tempting.

Probably have more friends.

You don't fancy a pint, do you?

In you come.

What's this?
You leaving?

Coop can't afford to keep me on.

I thought I'd shoot a few clay
pigeons and then be on my way.

Have a seat.

Yeah, it's clean.

Oh.

Slainte.

Cheers.

Well, you'd better
strip off now, then.

In the name of medicine.

An MOT before you check out.
It's Stitcher Society rules.

Got to make sure
you're not falling apart

at the seams, literally.

I have a sewing machine
for that.

Can I trust you, Mack?

Of course.
Why?

What is it?

Rueben and Georgie are dead.

And all Gideon can think about
is building an empire.

I've seen him cry.

I've seen him look upset.

But the truth is...

I don't believe any of it.

It's all an act, Mack.

And it scares me.

Wait.

You think Gideon
killed both of them?

Mother got inspired.

My father used to
take us up to Scotland

for the Glorious Twelfth.

Admittedly, this is
slightly different,

but it'll still get
the blood pumping.

Next week,
we'll have them fire walking.

Well, this is rather
more ambitious than I imagined.

- In a good way?
- In a very good way.

I want to have a go myself.

And you won't be alone in that.

Oh.

Oh, sorry.

I need to be somewhere.

But, look, I am going to
push hard on this.

Though I'd have to
insist on a makeover.

"The Stitcher Society"

sounds like it's about old
ladies embroidering hankies.

So, how about...

Blood Pumpers Limited?

B-Because that's what
I'm feeling here.

Well, have a think, okay?

Hm, get the blood pumping.

See you in a bit.

It's happening, Mother.

It's really happening.

"Blood Pumpers"?

Your father
would have hated that.

Another club event?

Got to keep the tickers ticking.

Even though two of your members
have died?

It's not down to me,
Chief Inspector.

It really isn't.
I'd soon as cancel everything.

But my investor insisted
on seeing the club in action.

- Your investor?
- It was my father's dream.

To reach out to as many
damaged hearts as possible.

- Start again.
- Sorry?

I know your father sacked you

and that you now stand
to benefit from his death.

Why did he sack you, Gideon?

He found out I was trying
to sell the format

of The Stitcher Society.

I found an investor.
She...

She's shown a lot of interest.

And Georgie Tremayne?

You threw her out of your club,

so what had she done
to upset you?

I didn't kill her.

If anything,
I was gonna reinstate her.

I mean, think about it...
The more members there are,

the more the club looks like
a viable proposition.

You won't believe this, sir,
but Harry Marx just told me

that Georgie went to him
yesterday and changed her will.

He didn't think to come to us

as soon as he knew
she'd been murdered?

He's stoned 24/7.

I'm surprised
he even remembered this.

Well, who's the beneficiary?

It's the newest member
of the club.

One Toby Wagner.

Mr. Wagner?

I don't know what to say.

You weren't aware that Georgie

had made you
her sole beneficiary?

No, I swear.

He didn't know about the will.
H-How could he?

Harry is hardly
going to call Toby.

I know that you and Harry Marx
are good friends, Mr. Steinem.

It doesn't mean that he opens
his filing cabinets,

invites me to have a rummage.

Hm.
Let's hope not.

Jules...

I swear I never knew about this.

Well, I guess
you can move out now.

He's not going anywhere.

You can't deny a man a home.

Come to think of it,
it's really good news.

The village is starting
to accept him.

Maybe he won't need you as much,
Julia, hmm?

One thing I don't understand
is that mob had Toby Wagner,

the most hated man
in the village, at its mercy,

and yet they did nothing.

Not everyone's a killer, sir.

Well, all the same,
they had dogs.

He'd hurt his leg, and yet
still he managed to escape

and get to his sister's pub.

And I'd like to know
how he managed to do that.

Tell me about that night
on the village green.

Which one?

I've had many nights out
on the green.

This one involved dogs
and an angry mob.

I didn't know I could feel
that murderous.

- No!
- Turn them loose!

Mimi, for the love of God!

Dinnertime, boys.

Just... Just... Just wait.

This is crazy!

I am innocent.

Okay, okay, please,
just... just... just wait.

Get out of here.
Get out of here, Toby. Go on.

- Rueben!
- What are you doing?

Rueben, he was about to confess.

- Go!!
- He killed Viola!

Look at us, Alberta.
We are not these people.

None of us are.

And Viola wouldn't want this.

She'd be horrified.

We weren't really going to
set the dogs on him.

We just wanted to scare him
into confessing.

But then Rueben stepped in and
prevented that from happening.

That must have hurt, Mrs. Tooms.

Horribly.

I'd never felt so betrayed.

But then, later, when Rueben
had his heart attack,

I was there for him.

I couldn't not be.

Every day, every minute.

And you did all that just for
another woman to come along

and take him from you?

We were making things work.

Caring for him
had brought us back together.

Until he stopped believing
that Toby was guilty.

And worse, started convincing
people like Georgie.

Toby Wagner bludgeoned my sister
to death in cold blood.

He lured her to a house
he told her he wanted to buy.

She turned up to show him
around, and he killed her.

That is the only truth of this.

- What the hell?
- Oh, gosh!

Uh... so sorry.

Um, Cooper said to do this
when Julia wasn't here,

but I-I can come back later.

Yeah.
Maybe you should.

Yeah.

Oh, by the way, you can't
tell Julia that I was here.

This village.

Jam-packed with secrets.

Not to mention a killer.

I mean, I can't believe that
Toby hasn't been arrested yet.

Maybe you've got it wrong, Mimi.

Could be someone else.

Could be me.

You're not funny, Mack.

Why don't you jog on back
to your wee estate agency?

Sell a few houses, this pub.

Whatever keeps you
in pearls and perfume.

Mimi?

You forgot this.

Oh.

Sir, finally got the report back
on Rueben's phone.

It went to the wrong department.

Hm.

What can you see, Winter?

The village?

From this specific
vantage point.

Um...

Harry's office.

And the estate agent's,
Georgie's cottage.

And the pub.

Yes.

The pub.

That's exactly what I can see.

Good, 'cause we need
to go back there.

Your mobile number
was called on this phone

on the night Rueben Tooms died.

The history of the call
was erased from the phone's log,

but it still showed up

in the service provider's
automated records.

So...

The phone belonged to Rueben.

Is there anything
you'd like to tell us, Julia?

Only that Rueben Tooms

would never have any reason
to call me.

Well, he was about to move
into a rented flat with someone.

A woman.

His lover.

I loathed Rueben.

You know what he did
to my brother.

Him and all those other savages.

Except they didn't actually
do anything to Toby.

Because Rueben stepped in.

Anyway, I would never
have answered the phone.

Not to a number I didn't know.

Hm. That's odd, because
the call lasted 18 1/2 minutes.

Mrs. Steinem?

You're looking
in the wrong place.

Maybe someone else picked up
my phone and spoke to him.

It certainly wasn't me.

I swear.

I heard everything.

They're clutching at straws.

- You and Rueben...
- Not now, Cooper.

...were running away together.

What about me, Julia?
Hmm?

Gonna leave me here to die,
like this pub?

Well, it's a good job
I'm selling it.

You're what?
You can't!

- How dare you?!
- Wait. No, please listen.

I'm doing this for us.

I didn't nearly die
on an operating table

just to have you walk away.

I got through that not for me,
for you.

For you, Julia.

And I want us to move on.

Up sticks.

And get away from everything,
including Toby.

Coop, we're done.

It's finished.

The only reason that I am
still here with you

is because Rueben's dead.

- You alright?
- Ahh.

Fancy watching a matinee
with me?

What?

Ah.

You've got a starring role.

Ah, that doesn't look good,
does it?

How...

What?
I didn't kill Rueben.

Talking of whom, you know, he
owes me a fair amount of moola.

I mean, obviously,
he can't stump up,

but I thought, well,
you could do it on his behalf.

Owes you?
For what?

Proving that your brother
is innocent.

You've got the proof?

- Eh! Money first.
- Oh, I need to know.

And, if you pay me extra, I can
make this little film disappear.

You know we're broke.

You won't be
when Cooper sells up.

How do you know about that?

This is all you need
to worry about for now.

Wha...

Oh.

That's outrageous.

So's what's on this film.

Wh...

Rules are there for a reason,
Harry.

Leave your gun uncocked

until you're in
a designated shooting area.

I thought I told you
to get rid of Toby Wagner.

I will, I promise.

Ladies and gentlemen,
today is all about targets,

the things you think
have drifted out of reach

that you'll never be able
to grab for again.

Well, none of that is true.

You are all
highly capable people.

You'll see that I've put
your names on the guns

solely because I what you
to pick up that weapon

and become its master.

Or mistress.

You need to take control
of all the things

that scare or unsettle you,
and you need to do it now.

Right.

Let's get this
shooting party started.

Yes!
Come on, Coop.

Barnaby?

He's in the canteen.

Something about
murdering a sausage roll.

We found several sets
of fingerprints in the lodge,

none that shouldn't
have been there.

- So?
- Drum roll, please.

I ran them anyway.

One set showed up
on the police database.

The prints belong
to Mack McInally.

The Scotsman?

Ugh.
I knew it.

That's the same paint
that Mack was using

when I interviewed him.

Mack threatened Toby?

He's a bag of tricks.

Turns out he's also
a private investigator.

Oh.

Which begs the question

as to why he joined
The Stitcher Society.

Was it for health or business?

Mack's got a room
at the Steinems' pub.

Get a team 'round there,
see what you can dig up,

whilst I take in a spot of,
uh, clay pigeon shooting.

Sir?

Apparently,
it's good for the heart.

Cooper, you're up first.

Me?

Aye, you big southern Jessie.

Hey, less of
the "southern," you!

Right, I might need to, uh...

do some deep breathing.

Mmmmmmm.

Oh, for God's sake.

And, by the way,
you don't belong here.

Mother?

Pull!

- Oh, very good.
- Good shot.

Take note.

Uh, great stuff, Mother.
Leading the way, as usual.

Mack, why don't you see
if you can follow that?

And, obviously, stick
to the safety guidelines.

Ah.

This is for Culloden.

Remember, eyes
on the target, Mack.

Never anywhere but.

Pull!

Pull!

Oh!

Good for the heart, you see.

I take it the shotgun
was tampered with?

It's easier
than you might imagine.

Thin strips of cloth
used to jam the barrel.

The shell had nowhere else
to go but backwards.

All but guaranteed
to remove someone's face.

I'm amazed no one saw it
being tampered with.

Humans, Barnaby.

If they can find a way,
they will.

And, of course, now I can
answer your earlier question.

He doesn't have a zipper scar,
does he?

He was here on business.

Probably working undercover.

Did I say, "Class dismissed"?

These are bar towels.

From a pub.

Rueben is killed,
which means Gideon can go ahead

and build
his Stitcher Society empire.

Georgie's death means
Toby inherits a cottage, and...

Mack was killed because...

What?

He found a witness
who proved Toby's innocence?

But who is this witness, sir?

I mean, so far, there's
no evidence of one anywhere.

No name, nothing.

No sign of forced entry.

The door was unlocked
when we got there.

No self-respecting PI

is going to go out
and leave his door unlocked,

especially not
if he's undercover

and hiding who knows what.

You think someone
had a spare set of keys?

Let's ask the landlord,
shall we?

Mm!

Mrs. Steinem.

If you don't mind?

I-It's not...
It's not mine, I swear.

I'll get Tech onto it.

All roads keep leading back
to this very point.

Don't they, Julia?

- Turn them loose!
- Dinnertime, boy.

Okay, okay, please, just...
just... just wait.

The mob was about to scare
a confession out of Toby.

But then Rueben steps in.

Get out of here.
Go on. Just get out of here.

Toby managed to get away,

but he wasn't your only visitor
that night, was he?

Julia.

How long had your affair
with Rueben been going on?

I'm so sorry.

For a while.

But it ended when my brother
was arrested for killing Viola.

Despite the trial collapsing,

Rueben just couldn't accept
that Toby was innocent.

So... we fell apart.

How dare you come here?
You're one of them.

No, I swear, I went along
with it to try and save Toby.

- You need to leave.
- Julia, please.

I know what I want now.

And it's you.

I want you.

I told him to leave.

That all I wanted
was for my brother

to be able to live
peacefully in our village

without accusations and threats.

So Rueben decided
to prove Toby's innocence?

It took a few years...

a few false starts.

Plus, he had to do it all
behind his wife's back.

But a few months ago,

he said that he'd found
someone who could help,

that they were confident

that they could find
unequivocal proof.

So Rueben and I started
making plans to be together.

The night that Toby
escaped from the mob...

were you alone in the pub?

Uh, no.

They were your dogs, Reuben.
They were your dogs.

Cooper was upstairs.

Though he'd sleep
through a hurricane.

He was absolutely petrified!

Yeah, no,
I can take it from here.

Thanks.

So, this is linked to a specific
Wi-Fi configuration.

It's... It's transmitting
to a laptop or a PC.

Can you locate it?

Thanks to Tech, I can.

Oh. That's...

Wait here, Mrs. Steinem.

We'll take that,
if you don't mind.

I'd also like you to explain
what you're doing

with a murdered man's laptop.

It wasn't Mack who did that.

It was you.
Wasn't it, Mr. Steinem?

Toby wouldn't take the hint,
would he?

Him coming back,
it ruined everything.

Me and Julia were happy.

Happier than we'd been in years.

Until Rueben hired Mack.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Then why did you steal
Mack's computer?

To be honest,
I found him creepy.

He was always sneaking about,
poking his nose in.

I wanted to know
what he was up to.

Or you knew exactly
what he was up to

and decided to erase
everything he'd found out.

- What, me?
- No. No way.

Where were you on the night
Rueben Tooms was murdered?

Why?

Because Rueben
was having an affair

with your wife, Mr. Steinem.

Was.

Was.

You're also Harry Marx's
only friend.

He told you about
Georgie's will, didn't he?

- Hang on a minute.
- Which gave you the idea

to frame Toby
for Georgie's murder.

Then you kill Mack
to destroy any evidence

- of Toby's innocence.
- Come on.

That's a bit of a stretch,
isn't it?

I've already had confirmation
that the bar towels

used to block Mack's shotgun
came from your pub.

And I did all this because?

Julia would have no one
to turn to but you.

You'd have your wife back,
Mr. Steinem.

Do you know what?

That is really good.

I honestly really like that.

Yeah.
It's got legs.

Makes perfect sense.

Only may I return to the
original question you asked me

that you wouldn't
actually let me answer?

Little bit rude.

Where was I the night
Rueben was murdered?

Well...

believe it or not...

...I was with Alberta Tooms.

I-I-I'm so, so sorry,
but I needed to talk to someone.

It's been doing my head in.
I-I think...

Rueben and Julia
are back together.

I'm not saying
I know this for sure,

but you of all people
know what it's like

to be married
to someone that you adore,

every breath,
every move, every nuance.

I have ignored this once,

and I am not prepared
to ignore this twice.

You better come in.

When you meet the single
most amazing person ever,

you will do anything,

anything to hang on
to that person.

So... all those things
that you have accused me of...

...I probably
could have done them.

In fact, I-I probably
would have done them.

But I promise you...

I didn't.

Even after she broke my heart.

Well, assuming Cooper
isn't lying about Alberta...

Then they both have alibis
for the night Rueben was killed.

Mm.

Ah.
Look at that.

Mack filmed us, sir.

Never knew I had
such screen presence.

Is there anything else
Mack's cameras picked up?

Oh, there's tons
of video files here, sir.

Okay, so, what have we got?

Hm, I meant of interest.

Sorry.

Oh, look,
it's your admirer, sir.

Thank you.

What else?

Well, that's Georgie
meeting Rueben

on the night he was killed.

That's Julia Steinem.

And she told me
she was in the pub

on the night
Rueben Tooms was murdered.

Hi. Yeah, it's me.

I'm at Georgie's cottage.

Okay.
I'll see you in a bit.

Well?

Why would I kill Rueben?

I was about to start
a new life with him.

The film on Mack's laptop

places you in the vicinity
of Rueben's murder.

A film that Mack was trying
to blackmail me with.

Look, I promise you that
all I did that night was go out

to tell Rueben that we needed to
hold off on leaving the village.

Because the village
wasn't as safe for Toby

as you hoped it would be.

Viola's murder has twisted
this village

into something
it wasn't meant to be.

I hoped that Rueben and I
could change that.

Bring peace, even closure.

But people don't forget.

No, and they never forgave
Harry for losing the trial.

Hence his unpopularity.

That spaced-out fool is almost
as reviled as my brother is.

Losing that court case
has haunted him ever since.

Winter.

We need to talk to Harry Marx.

Hello?

Toby?

Harry!

Erika, have you seen
your Uncle Harry?

Oh, sorry.
I haven't.

Though, knowing him,
he's probably out

reversing all the good work
the heart surgeon did.

I've warned him.

Nobody wants two zippers
running down their chest.

Say that again.

About the zipper?

Oh, it's more about the person
who didn't have one.

And who else knew that.

Fleur, I need you
to look something up for me

on Mack McInally's computer.

You were asked a question
five years ago.

Now you're gonna answer it.

Harry, what the hell?

Just because I screwed up
at the trial,

that doesn't make him innocent.

You know it, I know it,
everyone knows it.

Aah!

You have five seconds
to confess.

Two.. three...

Harry!

Winter.

Meet me at Georgie's cottage.

♪ Nellie the elephant
packed her trunk ♪

♪ Said goodbye to the circus ♪

♪ Off she went
with a trumpety-trump ♪

♪ Trump, trump, trump ♪

Okay.

♪ Nellie the elephant
packed her trunk ♪

♪ And said goodbye
to the circus ♪

♪ Off she went
with a trumpety-trump ♪

♪ Trump, trump, trump ♪

It's not working.

I think he's had a heart attack.

Yes, I'll keep trying.
Ah. Uh...

♪ Nellie the elephant
packed her trunk ♪

♪ Off she went
with a trumpety-trump ♪

♪ Trump, trump, trump ♪

Good God, Harry.

Harry, I thought
you were a goner.

Arrest him, then.
He tried to kill me!!

We've got him, sir.

Thank you so much for your help.

Yes, no, I think we're alright.

Actually, I didn't come here
for Harry Marx.

Did I, Mimi?

I'm flattered, Mr. Barnaby.

But may I remind you
that you are a married man.

I'm also a chief inspector.

And I'm arresting you
for the murders of Rueben Tooms,

Georgie Tremayne,
and Mack McInally,

and not forgetting
Viola Deepdale,

your ex-business partner.

Oh.

I think someone's
been on Harry's weed.

Was it Rueben letting Toby
join The Stitcher Society?

Is that what triggered this?

- I'm gonna kill him!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

There's no need for this,
not anymore.

Rueben!

Georgie,
just put the stick down.

I know this is hard,
but we'll talk later, okay?

Toby is not
what you think he is.

Rueben's about-face
must have come as a huge shock.

It meant he knew
that Toby hadn't killed Viola.

Your daughter must love
your bedtime stories.

So you had to kill Rueben
before he could get to Georgie.

Trouble is...

you were too late.

Could the other woman
be Georgie Tremayne?

We know that she met
with Rueben last night.

So they did meet, then.

She's so lost and vague
these days.

You couldn't have
Georgie believing

that Toby was innocent.

She would have gone to press
again, told the whole village.

But Harry saw Toby
leaving the house.

I mean, Viola had the meeting
written in her diary, so...

That was probably something
that you added

after Viola was killed.

Now, John, you are
cleverer than this.

For one, Georgie hated Toby.

I mean, she was ready
to take his head off

when he pitched up at the club.

And then she changed her will
in his favour.

She was refusing
a second operation.

She wanted to pay him back

for the nightmare
she'd put him through.

And let's not forget he got
a very lovely cottage out of it.

Whatever changed Georgie's mind
must have been nagging at you.

Rueben Tooms must have had
some very substantial evidence

to be able to do that,
which leads us to Mack.

He doesn't have a zipper scar,
does he?

Is there anything else
Mack's cameras picked up?

Oh, it's more about the person
who didn't have one.

And who else knew that.

And when you saw that
he didn't have a zipper scar...

Mimi?

You forgot this.

...it had to mean that he
was here under false pretenses.

It wouldn't take much
to do some research on Mack,

find out who he really was
and what he was doing.

That search is probably
still in your history.

This is all on you,
you flower-power pothead!

I saw Toby.
I know it was him.

You saw me, you idiot!

Mind you, you were probably
hugging a tree at the time.

You know, if anyone's to blame
for all this,

it's actually Harry,
if you really think about it.

I mean, Toby should have
been locked up,

happily settled
with some prison wife,

and I wouldn't have had to
have done any of this!

You didn't need to anyway.

Our Tech team processed
Mack's hard drive.

He hadn't found out a single
thing about Viola's murder.

Sir?

W-What are you talking about?

He took the money from Rueben

in return for telling him
what he wanted to hear.

Mack had a history
of conning people,

hence his fingerprints
being on file.

No.
You've got that wrong.

You must have.

You killed three people
for nothing.

There was no other witness.

It was a lie, Mimi.

I believe you are
a free man, Mr. Wagner.

One last thing.

Why did you kill Viola?

Would you think more kindly of
me if I said it was accidental?

She hated the way
I did business,

claimed I was all over
our male clients,

that their wives didn't like it

and I was losing sales
left, right, and centre.

I mean, we'd only gone
to price a house,

and suddenly there was a rather
weighty object in my hand,

and, well, what can I say?

She stepped out in front of it.

Three or four times,
as it happens.

I mean, can you imagine that?
Me flirting?

Wherever did she get that idea?

Let's dive straight into it.

Firstly, we need to chop up
all our veggies.

So grab your carrots and your
red peppers and mushrooms,

and first of all, we're just
gonna give them a quick rinse,

and then we're gonna thinly
slice those red peppers,

carrots, and mushrooms.

And to add some flavour
to your stir-fry...

Oh-ho!

...one or two red chilies.

Now, my wife loves to put spice
in her stir-fry, so I use...

Shh!

John?

Shh, shh!

Wow! Finally, it's sunk in.
It only took you a week.

Well, you and Betty
have a point,

and the last thing I need
is to have to join

a, uh, Stitcher Society.

That really would be bad
for my health.

Well, it looks wonderful.

I'm gonna look forward to it.

Paddy! Paddy!

Paddy!

Oh, Paddy.