Midsomer Murders (1997–…): Season 4, Episode 6 - Tainted Fruit - full transcript

CAR PULLS UP OUTSIDE

The district nurse is with him now
and the doctor's on his way.

I'm sorry.

He's gone.

I know he's gone.

And we all know who killed him.

Troy?

Could I have a red one, please, sir?

I've unwrapped this one now.

So how old's
this Melissa Townsend then?

22.
Bit young, isn't it?



Her father wanted her to
get used to the responsibilities

of property ownership early on.

Seems she didn't do much
in the way of maintenance.

She passed
the first landlord's exam then?

Troy!

What the hell
do you think you're doing?

You might not mind writing off
that heap of junk

but mine's just out of the showroom.

I'm Detective Chief Inspector
Barnaby.

This is Detective Sergeant Troy.

I thought you chaps were supposed
to know how to drive.

And your name is?
Frederick Bentine-Brown.

And I'd like to know where to write
my letter of complaint.

You have every right to do so,
of course.



And we have grounds - thank you -

for charging you
with reckless driving

but we're a bit busy
at the moment, sir,

so why don't you just climb back
into your motor car

and continue
with a little more care.

And let us get on with our
investigations.

Wouldn't want to keep you
from your crime-busting.

Somebody stolen a lawn mower,
have they?

Troy, if you're going to drive
innocent members of the public

off the road,

try not to pick on influential
multimillionaires, will you?

"If Neil dies
before the roof is fixed

"you'll follow him close behind."

Those two were sent
before old Neil croaked.

The "No better than an animal" one
arrived this morning.

"Good for nothing animals
get put down."

Melissa!

She drives me to distraction.

Well, the whole thing's absurd.

The tiny peppercorn rent
he was paying,

how anyone expects me to spend
thousands on a new roof.

Ridiculous. It's not as if
I have any money.

My daughter's allowance
is perfectly adequate.

I believe the young should learn
the value of money.

And that's bullshit-ese for "I'm
a complete and utter tight-wad".

Refuses to take anything seriously.

If her friend Sally hadn't told me
about all of this,

I would never have known.
Yes. The meddler.

Sally - who is that?

Rickworth.

She was at the cottage
when Neil Laxton died.

The only reason my father
hasn't made a pass at her

is he's currently besotted
with a Tuscan peasant girl

who can't speak
a word of English.

It's why they get on so well.

Sally's the district nurse

and a lovely person.

Father's a vicar.

Quite what she sees
in my daughter...

..You like them young and innocent,
don't you, Daddy?

Daughter substitutes.

He's never been too keen
on this one.

You'll never credit it.

They're putting a tarpaulin
on Neil's roof.

I don't think that girl could be
more offensive if she tried.

Oh!

Well, thank you, sir.
Thank you, Mr Townsend.

We'll keep you informed
of any progress. Thank you.

Bit frosty in there.

Distinctly.

She doesn't seem too bothered.

I'd be getting security guards
in by now.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Hello, Joycie. I'm just off
to visit the Balcombes.

Wasn't there something
you wanted me to pick up?

Yes. The recipe.

Oh, yeah. What recipe was that?

The apple jelly you liked
so much from the WI stand.

Oh, right. Well I'll talk
to her about it. Bye.

You know them?
Yeah.

Cherrie's a legendary jam maker
and Hugo's an ex-botanist.

He was a great explorer in his time.

They're both bats, of course,
but she does do a very good tea.

Melissa knew about
Neil's chest infection.

We told her time and time again,
didn't we, Hugo?

Endlessly.

And she knew that the damp
conditions were making it worse.

Charlie, here you are, come on.

And how did Joan Farley take it,
Neil's death?

Joan would never send
threatening notes.

She's a member
of the Women's Institute.

I'm very flattered you asked.

Of course any wife of mine would
have to give up her job.

Freddie!
No, no, no. It's non-negotiable.

I like my job.

It's who I am.

Well, certainly keep the uniform.

In fact, I insist upon it.

Ah, Melissa!

Try and talk some sense
into the girl, would you?

Sorry. Can't stay.
Have to be in Geneva for supper.

He just won't listen.

It is multimillions,
you do know that.

I don't love him.

You are priceless.

Divorce him after a year or two.

You'd clean up.

What did the police say?

They think I should take the threats
seriously.

Well, you should.

It might help if you looked
just a little upset.

But I've got vacant possession.

Melissa!

It was a joke.

God, you can be so provincial
sometimes.

I've been thinking.

I'm not sure it's a good idea

you coming to the tennis do
this evening.

Joan's going to be on the bar.

It's probably too provincial
for you anyway.

Fine!

Melissa!
DOOR SLAMS

Now just remember -

one tablet in the morning
and another half in the evening.

Oh no, there'll be nothing to pay,
Albert.

Just you concentrate on getting old
Kezzie back on her feet. Bye bye.

DOGS AND CATS WHINE

JAZZ PLAYS

It's the open air life, you see.
Gives you an appetite.

And I'm not just talking about bacon
and eggs, if you get my drift.

Yes.

Yes, I think I do.

Would you excuse me?

No, her backhand has seriously
improved. B team material at least.

This isn't just because you want
to keep her away from her husband

on the away fixtures?

We'll talk later.

We're not going yet.

Thank you for making an effort.
As usual.

I don't think I can take much more
of the pig-farmer.

Derek? Mmm, the one with shoes
like Cornish pasties.

Georgina, I'm club secretary, will
you please keep your voice down?

Why do you have to be a member
any way?

You've got a tennis court
of your own.

You going to be OK
for tennis tomorrow?

Mm?
At Melissa's?

I've changed my mind. I'm not going.

Do I detect a slight falling out?

Are you sure about Georgina Canning?

Every time I try and talk
to her she walks off.

That's how you know you're in
with a chance, Derek.

She likes to be pursued.

You stirring again?
Who me?

Nothing's wrong.
Everything's just perfect.

Well, if you want to talk,
I'm always around.

You're such a sweet man, Raif.

I'd wondered where you'd gotten to.

Can't have you standing here
all alone.

Well, I wouldn't want to hog you.

Very good.

Hog. Pig farming.

Doesn't want to hog me!

I like a girl who can make me
chuckle. Same again?

An interesting surprise.

How's it looking?

A bit of sport to be had.

Our sweet little meddler's
a touch under the weather.

Oh, God!

Red wine.

Get it laundered.

Adam, may I have the use
of your jacket, please?

You just missed all the fun.

Melissa turned up.

Melissa?

Quite a floor show. She just left.

Melissa!

RADIO PLAYS CLASSICAL MUSIC

TYRES SCREECH - CRASH

Good night, was it?

Well, it must've been about 11:30.

I was absolutely sparko at the time,

didn't really register what it was.

Look what they've done.

You might want to have a word
with Sally Rickworth.

Sir.

There's been a break in
at the vet's at Malham.

A load of barbiturates and syringes.

"Good for nothing animals
get put down".

"If Neil dies before the roof
is fixed,

"you'll follow him close behind."

What do you think, sir?
Not particularly educated?

Or someone trying to give us
that impression.

Sweet?

Thank you.

Hello. What's this?

What's happened here then?

It seems Sally Rickworth knocked
our car on her way back last night.

Melissa's friend?
A bit sloshed, I think.

Sir?

Nice deep breath. OK. Blow.

I hope you've got a good garage.

The nice young girl
who's too good for Melissa.

So it seems.

BEEPING
Alright, miss.

Sorry, but it shows positive.

I'm afraid you'll have to
come down to the station.

Drunk driving.

Drove into the Balcombes' car
last night.

Oh, yes. Still over the limit
this morning.

You'll never guess what?

The vicar's daughter's
been done for drunk driving.

You've worked wonders.

She was like a sack of spuds
before she came to you.

I don't think she was
quite that bad.

She was. A total transformation.

You're very sweet, your Lordship.

John, it's John.
That's quite sufficient.

Actually, I was wondering,
we're having drinks on Thursday.

It's rather late notice but Freddie
Bentine-Brown will be coming.

Adam. Do you know
Lord and Lady Hislop?

This is Adam Keyne.
How do you do?

Have you heard
about Sally Rickworth?

She's been done for drunk-driving.

Ploughed into the Balcombes' Saab
last night, failed to stop.

She'll lose her job.

Well, if she can't drive -
district nurse.

My god. That's awful.

Well, I think drink-driving
is unforgivable.

Oh, yes, yes, no.
When I said.

I meant...

Well, must get on.

I locked up at about 7:00
yesterday evening after surgery.

Discovered this just before 8:00
this morning.

If those drugs were given to humans,
would they be fatal?

Oh, yes. Pentobarbitone.

We use it for large livestock,
cattle, horses.

Nothing else taken?

Apart from the syringes, no.

You think there's any connection
with the threatening notes?

Oh, it's common knowledge
in the village.

"Good for nothing animals
get put down" etcetera.

Do you know how it became
common knowledge?

Melissa must have showed them
to Adam.

Adam made a joke of it
at the tennis club.

From there it's one breath away
from the post office queue.

You might as well take
a megaphone onto the High Street.

Adam, who's that then?

Oh, Adam Keyne. Club captain.

And they're good friends, are they,
Adam and Melissa?

Yes.

You seem uncertain.

Oh, no. They're friends.
Two of a kind.

Anyway, I tried to phone Melissa
this morning to warn her,

but there was no reply.

Look, I'd appreciate it

if you kept the details
of this break-in to yourself

for the moment, please.

Adam and Melissa, you said
they were two of a kind.

What kind would that be?

Well, I suppose you might say

they both have a habit of sailing
rather close to the wind

in their personal lives.

DOG BARKS AGGRESSIVELY

That's enough. That'll do.
That's enough.

That's enough.

It's coppers, see.
Got a taste for 'em.

Morning everybody.

Now, if you would just bear with me

I've got to have a chat with
these two gentlemen. Thank you.

Hello, you soppy old thing.

Would you like to come with me?

Found what looks like
a fresh footprint.

It's quite small. Distinct tread.
Looks like Wellies.

I'd guess quite new.

A woman's? Or a child's perhaps?

It could be Peggy,
our gardener's.

Well, we'll need a print of it.
Get forensics on to it.

And we'll need to see
your gardener's boots of course.

If you could arrange that please,
it's just for elimination.

I'll talk to her. One other thing.

You may have already heard about it.

The incident at the tennis club
party last night.

Yeah. It may not be related
but Joan Farley.

She's clearly distraught with grief.

She may be capable of doing
something she'll regret.

Questo piazza e la piu
bella d'italia.

(WHISPERS) Questo piazza e la piu
bella d'italia.

(REPEATS)

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Mr Townsend. It's Tom Barnaby.
Is your daughter there please?

Ah, just a second.

Melissa?

No, she doesn't seem to be.

Have you seen her this morning?

Yes, about half an hour ago.

I need to speak to her urgently,
please.

Could you get her to
ring me as soon as she gets in?

Yes, of course.

Yes, I threw wine at her.

The bitch deserved it.

If this is a bad time for you,
Mrs Farley we could, er...

Clive don't mind if you don't.

He's not proud.

Are you Clive?

CATS MEOW

He's a diabetic.
I give him his insulin.

Is this about
those threatening letters?

Yesterday evening, Mrs Farley,

what time did you arrive
at the tennis club?

7:30.

Tom Grover picked me up. Dropped
Helen off - that's his daughter.

She kept an eye on Clive
for the evening

and we went straight over.

Who is Tom Grover?

Landlord of the Horse Shoes.

He helped set the bar up
for the evening.

And what time did you leave?

When it all wound up, 1:30.
Why you asking?

And he brought you back again,
did he, Mr Grover?

Yes. We came back straight back.
Dropped me off and picked Helen up.

Mrs Farley, I notice
that you have cats.

Do you ever use the vet's surgery?
Raif Canning.

Haven't been there for years.

What's that got to do with anything?

Mrs Farley, do you have any
Wellington boots here?

Worn flat, sir.

Thanks for your time.

There's just one thing.

I'm sure you realise it anyway.

But if someone does murder
Melissa Townsend, or tries to,

they'll be spending the rest
of their days in prison.

We'll make sure of it.

I wouldn't do a thing like that.

Clive's weekly visit.

So that's two people who know how
to use a syringe

and who know Melissa.

Joan Farley isn't exactly
her biggest fan.

But why would someone who's planning
a murder so clinically -

the notes, the drugs -

why would they show such
open aggression towards Melissa?

And so publicly?

Maybe she can't help herself.

Siamo arrivato a Venezia.

Siamo arrivato...

..No that's wrong.
Come on.

Siamo arrivati a Venezia.

La Ragazza e bello

La bella ragazza.

La famiglia e feliche.

Siamo arrivati a Venezia.

La ragazza e bella.

(MUFFLED SCREAMING)

Alore genaro la mezzo journry.

Daddy!

La bella regazza.

Are you angry with me?

Why would I be angry with you?

Because I didn't go round
to Neil's sooner?

It's not your fault.

There's only one person
whose fault it is.

What time did you speak to her?

10 o'clock. She was fine.

Archie said she'd just popped out.

Being late isn't exactly unusual
for Melissa.

I saw Georgina was getting on well
with Derek last night.

Pardon?
Don't listen to him.

It was a bit odd
now you come to mention it.

Derek actually propositioned
Georgina.

You'll have to watch her, Raif.
Adam!

They'll have you
at one of those parties

before you can say,
"car keys in the middle".

What the hell?

She's dead.

SIREN WAILS

It looks like the contents
were injected into the liver.

There's no other obvious cause.

Time of death?

At this stage, provisionally, I'd
say an hour either side of 11:00.

There's no sign of the father, sir.

Got the ones who found her
back at the cars.

We should've prevented this.

Raif Canning, the vet,
is one of them.

Sir.

Mr Townsend, I know you won't feel
up to talking,

but when we were with you last
you gave the impression

that your daughter may have had
a few enemies.

There are a lot of people who'll say

that she left the world a worse
place than when she came into it.

But she was my daughter.

My daughter.
Melissa!

Melissa!

Melissa!
I'm sorry, love. You can't.

It's procedure. I'm sorry.

Why don't we take you inside?

Sally, come with me.

Quite a performance.

Give it a rest, Adam.

She's devastated.

On top of everything else -

the drink driving,
losing her licence, her job.

And now this.

I just couldn't leave her
in her house on her own.

I think I'll put her
in the guest room.

Dead?
At her home.

She has been murdered.

How?

It looks as if she may have been
injected with something.

We need to establish
everyone's movements.

Can you tell us where you've been
since we saw you earlier?

Um.

Clive's sister came over
after the nurse had gone.

I went to Neil's cottage.
Been doing some packing up.

Then I went to the church hall
about 12:00.

About quarter past.

I noticed because she's normally
right on time.

Joan enjoys the flower arranging.

Do you have a time
for when Melissa was...?

Time of death was between
10am and midday.

What sort of mood was Mrs Farley in
when she got here, would you say?

She was a bit anxious,
I suppose.

Putting it mildly.

We all heard what she said,
Cherrie.

Joan blames Melissa
for Neil's death.

We all know that and we have done
for some time.

I can't believe that you imagine
Joan's capable of murder.

It's a ridiculous concept.

There are one or two others
would've been tempted as well.

Now that is true.

Melissa had a reputation
for breaking up marriages.

Any names that you can give us?

Two couples left the village last
year, neither marriage survived.

Then this year it was...
..You could try Liz Keyne.

Her husband has spent an unhealthy
amount of time with Melissa.

Adam Keyne?

Wouldn't trust him as far as I could
spit. My god, love is blind.

Not so blind these days, I think.

Love can be a curse as well
as a blessing.

True. Very true.

And you could try Sally Rickworth's.

I thought Sally and Melissa
were friends?

Melissa had an affair with Sally's
husband, now ex-husband, Mark.

Mark Rickworth, who's he?

A property developer.
Lives in Causton.

And Sally and Melissa
fell out recently.

Wouldn't surprise me

if it wasn't something to do with
Sally's new millionaire boyfriend.

And what millionaire boyfriend
would that be?

Raif, I've invited Lord and Lady
Hislop round for drinks on Thursday

together with a couple
of other people

from the Midsomer Horse Society,
Freddie Bentine-Brown and Julia.

Fine.

I was wondering, do you think Sally
will still be here by then?

Well, if she is she can join us.

I'm not sure she'd really enjoy it,
though, would she?

You are such a snob.

I don't know what you mean.

Is Sally the wrong type
to be associated with

in front of the Hislops?

I'm just not sure she'd be
comfortable. That's all.

Thing is, Freddie Bentine-Brown
has been trying to persuade Sally

to marry him.
What?

As far as I'm concerned she's far
too good for him.

What's wrong?

Do you know something about
Melissa's death?

DOORBELL RINGS

DOOR BANGS

Open the door, Mr Keyne.

Come along, sir.
We know you're in there.

It's the collection agency.

DOOR BANGS
Come on, Mr Keyne.

Next time we'll be with
the bailiffs.

This is your last chance.

It isn't just the debts
that are worrying you.

Most women discover someone's
been banging their old man,

it'd be like cats and dogs.
Never speak again.

But Melissa and Sally were friends.

Human nature is a curious thing,
Troy.

Not that curious, surely.

I mean, the way she was
at the murder scene?

I wonder whether maybe -

they liked their bread buttered
both sides, so to speak.

But then she has a boyfriend and
there's talk of her re-marrying.

Nobody's going to marry
Bentine-Brown for love, are they?

Or lust.

Only way a sub-species like that
is gonna get a stunner like Sally

is with a few million in the bank.

Sally.

The police are here
to talk to you.

I was looking where the ball
had gone, and there she was.

None of us had noticed.

She's gone.

"Didn't want to be any trouble."

Oh, she must've overheard us.
Overheard what?

My wife didn't want Sally
to be here

when Lord and Lady Hislop
came for drinks.

That is not true.

I think it is.

Georgina is so desperate
to get onto the committee

of the Midsomer Horse Society,
has been for years,

she's worried the honourables
might think

she wasn't quite the right type.

Oh, right.

Well, we'll try her place.

And, incidentally,

do either of you know why Sally
and Melissa fell out recently?

Well, no. Not really.

Mrs Canning?

You don't have interests in my
friends at the tennis club, do you?

That's not true, either.

Why is it everytime
we go to a party

you spend the entire evening asking
me when we're going to leave?

Actually on this occasion
my husband's absolutely right.

I have no idea why Sally and Melissa
fell out

and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

What about the car?

It's already sold.

When the client's get back from
Hong Kong, that goes too.

We can always start again.
There's my savings account.

It's all gone.

Not all of it?
Yes! All your dear granny's money.

Now do you understand?

There is a way out.

How did it go today?

Oh.

We're not actually
going to eat those, are we?

Medlar jelly. It's Cherrie's recipe.

You have to let the fruit go rotten
before you eat it.

You've got to be kidding?

It's in the book. I checked.

Medlar jelly. Medlar.

What is it?

Someone described their friend
as the meddler.

I wonder if she meant
one who meddles or the fruit.

There are quite a few trees over
Malham Way in the bigger gardens.

Quite popular locally.

"Medlars spread on straw

"ripen by their own corruption."

I didn't want to cramp
Georgina's style.

I thought it was best
if I came away.

Thank you.

We're asking everyone this.

Where were you between 10 o'clock
and midday yesterday morning?

Um, I left the police station
a little after 10:00.

Then I had to make a visit
to the Farley's to check on Clive.

Yes, we saw you.

What time did you leave there?

Um, I wasn't there long.

I was back here before 11:00.

And after 11:00?

I didn't do anything.

I just...

..I was upset
about the breathalyser thing.

I didn't do anything.

And there was no-one else here?

I've lived alone since my marriage
break-up two years ago.

No romantic interests since then?

No.

And Mr Bentine-Brown?

It's not serious.

OK, so he proposed to me.

It must be quite serious.

Not to me.

He's a very wealthy man.

It has been suggested that I accept

just so I can divorce him later
and take him to the cleaners.

I was tempted.

Somebody ought to teach him
a lesson.

He's the most arrogant man
I've ever met.

Were you and Melissa on good terms
at the time of her death?

No. We'd had a row.

I didn't like how flippant she was
being about Neil's death.

But it wasn't her fault.

Neil Laxton wouldn't let anyone
into that house.

He's turned nurses away.

So the idea she was responsible
for his death, it's not true.

Still someone may have killed her
because of it.

May?

May, it's a possibility.

But then Melissa made enemies
in the village

for other reasons as well,
didn't she?

Or so we understand.

It's malicious gossip.

Your ex-husband, Mark?

Mark seduced her.

Melissa didn't know he was married.

She was just as upset when she found
out about me as I was about her.

It was Cherrie Balcombe, wasn't it,
told you this?

Don't. Please, Adam.

You want to lose all this?

I don't want to lose you.

Nothing can go wrong.
I've told you.

What did she ever do to you?

I think you should go home, Sally.

We can talk about this
when you've calmed down.

Don't you close that door.
Don't you!

She's dead.

How can you say such things?

You come out here.

Open it!

Sally!

What did she do to you?
Open the door!

Stop it!

Come back!

Troy, the drug pentobarbitone that
was used to kill Melissa Townsend

was the same as that taken
from the vet's surgery.

No surprises there then.

And the footprint does not match
the gardener's.

So this could be the footprint
of our murderer?

Indeed it could.

Hello?

Is this about the Balcombes?

Afternoon, Mrs Rickworth.
They're not pressing charges.

Well, I don't like it when people
talk ill of the dead.

Have you been to the vet's surgery
for any reason recently?

No, I haven't.

Do you have a pair
of Wellington boots?

We need to look at them,
Mrs Rickworth.

We're looking at everyone's.

They're normally in here.

If I'd left them in the house
they'd be here.

But I'm sure they were in the car.

DOOR BANGS LOUDLY

Where's Adam?

Is something wrong?

I thought Sally might...

Sorry. It doesn't matter.

I can see you're busy.
Sorry to bother you.

If you do find the boots,
you'll call us.

I'm sorry.

I'm not quite myself
at the moment.

Elegant. Robust. Good head.

Is Sally invited
to your little drinks party?

She can be. I'm rather surprised.

I wouldn't have thought
she was your type.

She's not but I'm getting rather
tired of the perfect vowels

and the saddle-spread buttocks.

Ms Rickworth has an excellent
figure, good bones.

She's not too stupid and
not too bright.

Ideal breeding stock,
I'd say.

So, if you could invite her over,

put in a good word about what
a sensitive soul I am deep down,

I'll have a word with the Hislops

about who they should vote
onto their committee.

DOORBELL RINGS

Mrs Keyne, Good afternoon.
Is your husband in?

No.

Sir.

Do you mind if we take a look at
the soles of those boots, please?

We have a print from a crime scene.

We have to check it against
the boots of Melissa's associates

and friends.
Fine.

Er, Mrs Keyne?

We need to ask you some questions
about Melissa Townsend.

Is everything all right?

Actually I've got
rather a bad headache.

I don't suppose it could wait?

There's something she
doesn't want to talk about

and she's not very good
at hiding it.

Stop, Troy.

I'd like another word
with Mrs Rickworth.

You found them then?
Yes.

Where were they?

I was wondering where they could be

and I remembered that I'd thought
about putting them on

to walk home across the fields
the other night

instead of driving.

But I suppose I couldn't face
the walk.

I thought I must have taken them
out of the back of the car

and then changed my mind and
left them here by mistake.

By mistake?

Yes. They were at the back.
By the dustbins.

Thank you.

When we saw you earlier
and Liz Keyne came over,

she seemed to think you might know
where her husband was.

Why would she think that?

I don't know.

You've got no idea
where he might be?

None at all.
Or why Mrs Keyne thought you might?

No.

OK. Thank you.

I'd have put money on the print
matching her boots.

Well, leaving them here
by mistake.

Evening. Lovely, isn't it?

Those are Raif's and those
are spares, I think.

And there are no other boots
in the house?

Not as far as I know.

Good Evening.

I was upstairs hoovering.

I didn't hear you.

Oh, not to worry.

Anyway.

Erm, yes, your new batch of jam jars

for the food stall.

The memsahib asked me
to drop them off. Thank you.

Well. Must, er, must get on.

Thanks again.

I think the police should be told.

Maybe she was hoovering earlier.

Oh, I don't know.

I've spent a lifetime trying to
fathom the complexities

of jungle eco-systems but
they are as nothing compared to

the bizarre machinations
of this village.

Just extraordinary.

Sir?

He's not back.

Hasn't he contacted you?

Right, did he take any clothes,
a bag?

I wanted children.

But he said we still had
some fun years left.

And then it was "we had to build up
the car business first".

Now we're bankrupt and
there won't be any children.

Why are you talking about your
husband in the past tense?

Because he's dead.

I can feel it.

Hello?

Is anybody there?

FLIES BUZZ

Mrs Keyne, if you do know
anything, you must tell us.

PHONE RINGS

Hello?

Where?

Sir.

Liz had been on the phone asking us
if we knew where Adam might be.

There he was.

Would've died just about instantly.

The joists have been sawn through.

They left just enough to keep
the floor in place.

But it would've given way as soon
as he stepped on to it.

Do you think this is connected
to Melissa's murder, sir?

Well, they were friends.
But where's the motive?

If Melissa was killed in revenge for
old Neil Laxton's death, why this?

What's Adam got to do with that?

And what was Adam doing here?

Wouldn't be a bad spot,
though, would it?

For a secret tryst.

All that straw.

Mmm.
What?

Personally, I think straw's
a bit over-rated, sir. Why?

It's prickly.

What if Melissa and Adam
were having an affair

and Liz Keyne decided she'd had
enough of the pair of them?

And all that anxiety was what,
an act?

Enemies? Adam?

You mean apart from the legions
of debtors,

the cuckolded husbands
and the cheated lovers?

Yes, I have been a complete
and utter fool.

Mrs Keyne, do you know whether your
husband was having an affair?

With Melissa Townsend?

With Melissa?

Not lately.

Their relationship had developed
into something much closer.

I'm sorry.

I can't do this.

Hugo has got something to tell you.

Something rather important.

Well, I just had Raif round here
in his tennis togs.

He wanted to know what had happened
about Adam

so I told him how I found
the body

and suddenly he became
most peculiar.

I asked him what was the matter
and he just ran off.

Did he say where he was going?

No. He literally ran to the car.

You think what you said made him
realize something?

What exactly did you say?

Well, I told him how I found
the body,

sort of, laid out on the plough

and how the flies were tucking in

and how he must have fallen
through the loft floor

because the way the beam
was sawn through.

Do you have Canning's number?

Yes, of course.

Tell them about Joan.

Yesterday evening,

Cherrie asked me if I'd drop off a
few empty jam jars at Joan Farley's.

When I got there,

I noticed that she was digging what
looked like quite a large hole

in her back garden.

Not in itself necessarily odd.

But when she answered
the front door.

Good evening.

Sorry. I was upstairs hoovering.

She lied to you.

Oh, it may have been entirely
innocent.

This is the Cannings' number.
Thank you.

Troy, I want you to go over
to Joan Farley's place, please.

Hugo, can you go with him?

Raif Canning? It's Tom Barnaby.

Look, I need to talk to you.
It's rather urgent.

So I'm coming straight over, OK?

TENNIS MACHINE THWACKS

Mrs Canning?

Hello?

Mrs Canning?

Hello?

Georgina?

Mrs Canning?

Oh, my God.

What are you doing here?

It appears his wife was asleep
when it happened.

Well, that's one less suspect.

They're getting a bit thin
on the ground now, sir.

Have you found anything?
She's not here.

Just her sister-in-law
looking after Clive.

We didn't want to start digging
without her. Hang on.

She's just arrived,

Find out where she's been.

Yes, sir.

Sir?

Why did you bury these, Mrs Farley?

There's something else here, sir.

PHONE RINGS

It's Troy, Sir.
Troy, what have you got?

We've dug up some boots that
look like a match for the print.

What's Joan said about it?
Nothing.

Did she say where she's been?

She's not saying anything at all,
sir.

Get her down to the station,
I'll see you there later.

There is something else, sir.
What?

There was a cardboard box
in the hole.

It contains bottles
of Pentobarbitone and syringes.

I admit I did think about
killing her

but I changed my mind.

You wrote those threatening letters
to Melissa Townsend, didn't you?

Yes.

So, you broke into
the vet's surgery

and stole the syringes,
the drugs,

to carry out your threat

and then you just changed your mind?
Just like that.

I got to thinking how maybe
it was my fault as well.

Neil's death.

I should've checked on him sooner
at the cottage,

got the doctor round

before the pneumonia set in.

I was as much to blame as that
stuck up little madam.

I should've...(SOBS)

..He was my family.

Burying the drugs and the boots

doesn't look like the action
of an innocent person.

But I couldn't take them back,
could I?

What about the boots?

I heard about you at the vet's
being interested

in a footprint out the back.

So I showed you an old pair
when you came round that time.

Can't you see?

Someone used the notes I sent

as an opportunity to kill Melissa.

That's what's happened.

They'll laugh it out of court.

Cherrie!

What is it?

I heard about Raif.

And I heard
that you'd arrested Joan.

Now, the thing is,

I saw Joan's car
outside Neil's house

just after you'd spoken to Raif
on the phone.

So if you think
she was responsible...

..You saw Joan at the cottage?

She was in the kitchen.

I saw her through the window
clear as day.

So you see, Joan couldn't possibly
have been at the Cannings'

when Raif was murdered.

There's no way she could be
protecting Joan?

Like some sort of Women's
Institute Mafia?

It's unlikely Cherrie Balcombe would
fabricate an alibi for anyone.

Not impossible of course but...

If Joan isn't our murderer, it means
we're back to square one.

No, not entirely.

It means that revenge
for Neil Laxton's death

is not going to be the motive.

But why was Adam Keyne
killed like that?

Why not use a needle
like with the others?

He would've been expecting it?

So the murderer did it another way.

But this is so very different.

And the difference is

that the murderer didn't have to be
at the barn at the time.

How do they know he'd step
on the weakened spot?

He went there
to pick something up.

Adam went there
to pick something up.

And what if that something,
whatever it was,

was placed on the weakened area
above the plough?

A blackmail payment perhaps?

But we didn't find anything.

The killer came back
and took it away

and if Adam Keyne were trying
to blackmail someone,

and his wife knew about it,

that would explain
her evasive behaviour

when we asked about her husband's
disappearance, wouldn't it?

What's going on?
Meet the bailiffs.

They're only taking
what's owed them.

Gentlemen.

I'm Detective Chief Inspector
Barnaby.

Mrs Keyne's husband was
unfortunately killed yesterday.

Do you think you could come back
at a better time, please?

I see, sir.

Those were my grandmother's.

Is it really as bad as this?

Seems Adam spent a lot of other
people's money as well as all mine.

They've been very patient really.

I'm sorry but I've got to ask this.

Was, Mr Keyne - was Adam trying
to blackmail someone?

I found this in the desk
after he'd gone.

I tried to stop him.

Not hard enough.

There is a way out.

You know Melissa had some rather
extensive debts as well,

the credit cards.

Well, she and I were involved
in a little blackmail.

The person in question...
..I don't want to know.

20 grand by tomorrow.

And that's just for starters.

It could save us.

This person will pay good money
to suppress what we've got.

Melissa has been murdered.

Melissa's death had nothing to do
with the blackmail.

She was killed by the nutter
who sent the threatening letters.

It's got nothing to do with this.
How do you know that?

It's going to be fine.

When I pick up the money,
I'll phone,

make sure the person is at home,
nowhere near the pick-up point.

They'll never even know it's me.

Adam didn't tell you who it was
he was blackmailing?

No.
But you thought it was Sally?

There's the evidence.

She was obsessive about keeping her
affair with Melissa secret.

But how much money did she have
for anyone to blackmail out of her?

She's a nurse.
The bank will tell you.

Unlike mine, her husband
actually made money.

Sally did rather well out of her
divorce - 100,000-plus.

Sally.

Thank you so much for coming.
I'm so sorry about Raif.

Just awful. I'm so glad you're here.

I need a friendly face
when the guests arrive.

I'm sorry? Guests?

Didn't I mention
the memorial drinks party?

No, you didn't.

Of course, it's the last thing
I want with Raif...

..but it was too late to cancel.

So I thought let's make it a
celebration of his life. You know?

Of course, if we're looking
for blackmail targets,

someone like Bentine-Brown's got
to be pretty high up on the list,

with all his millions.
You got a motive?

He's bound to have
his share of secrets.

A bit of insider trading,
girlfriend-battering -

the list is probably endless.

I think we'll go with something a
little more concrete at the moment.

You think Melissa and Adam knew
Sally had the money?

Liz did. And Melissa and Sally were
close at one time.

That's one way of putting it,
as the actress said to the bishop.

Oh, Troy.

Well, she can't have gone far.

And of course Freddie will be here.

Freddie Bentine-Brown?

He's a total softy, underneath
that stiff exterior.

I know he's mad about you.

I think I need some fresh air.

Yes, of course. It's all been
so difficult.

Of course, he's absolutely loaded.

They own most of Devon and
great swathes of Chelsea.

Not that money's everything,
of course, but he's such a sweetie.

Mrs Canning, Mrs Rickworth.

Any news?

We need to ask Sally
a few questions, please.

We need to ask you about your
relationship with Melissa.

I've told you. We were friends.
Good friends.

Wasn't it more than that?

Where did you get this?

It doesn't matter.

I'll ask you again. What was
your relationship with Melissa?

Was it sexual?

Was your relationship
with Melissa Townsend sexual?

Yes!

Are you enjoying this?

Mrs Rickworth, is it true to say

you wanted to keep this lesbian
relationship a secret?

My relationship with Melissa
and how I felt about it

is none of your business.

Sally,

we're trying to establish if anyone
had grounds to blackmail you.

That's ridiculous.

Is it?

You certainly have enough money to
make it worthwhile. 127,000 pounds.

Have you been checking my account?

It seems you did quite well
out of the divorce.

Are you suggesting I didn't deserve
every last penny of that settlement?

The humiliation he put me through.
The affairs.

And even when he wasn't actually
doing it, he was thinking about it.

Every day of our married life,
with his sick eyes,

wandering over every woman's body.

You're all animals. The lot of you.

Including Adam Keyne
and Raif Canning?

Sally, when you drove back on the
night of the tennis club dinner...

..Oh please! I've already admitted
I was over the limit.

I'm going to lose my job.
Can't we just leave it?

Were you alone?

Of course I was.

You don't remember?

You don't, do you?

You don't remember anything
about the journey back.

That is right, isn't it?
Yes!

I was so drunk I can't remember
a single thing

from getting into the car
to waking up when I got back.

Happy now?

Tell my guests I'll join them
in a minute

and make sure everyone has a drink.
Yes, madam.

I may be a drunk driver
but I'm not a murderer.

Are you alright?

They're accusing me of murder.

That's ridiculous.

They're saying someone
was trying to blackmail me.

Sorry.

Mrs Canning,
this is a police interview.

Why should anyone want to
blackmail Sally?

Nurses are not famous for being
blackmail targets.

I remembered that I'd thought about
putting them on to walk home

across the fields
instead of driving.

Would you please leave,
Mrs Canning?

RAIF: Why is it everytime
we go to a party

you spend the entire evening
asking me when we're going to leave?

No, Troy. Let Mrs Canning stay.

When you drove back to your cottage
the night of the tennis club party

was there anyone there
at your house?

Well, yes, there was actually.

Melissa. I'd fallen asleep
when I got back. She woke me.

Sally. What happened?
Go away.

Sally, come on please!
Go away!

Sally, this is important.
Away. Go on!

Alright.

Melissa?

I must've flaked out again

because the next thing I knew
I was being woken by the postman.

It's interesting that you remember
being woken by Melissa

but none of the journey back.

I really must attend to my guests.
I'd like you to stay, please.

If Sally's a suspect,

why don't you just arrest her
and take her to the station?

I really can't...
Sally is not a suspect.

Excuse me, sir.

Dead?

Excuse me. Raif! The husband!
Poor chap's brown bread.

Are you sure?
This is his wake apparently.

Thought it was too late to cancel.

We shouldn't really impose
on the poor woman.

Waiter! Waiter, this is delicious.
Could I have a drop more?

Oh, the Manningford Alcots.

I must have a word with Pippa.

When we asked you about your boots,

you replied that you'd
thought of wearing them

to walk back from the tennis club.

Now if you could've used them
to walk back across the wet fields

to your cottage,

then you could also have
used them to walk from your cottage

back to the tennis club.

Or someone could have.

Who would want to do that?

The person who drove you back
that night.

Someone who lived just
around the corner from you.

How did it happen?

Perhaps you were outside
having a breath of fresh air,

escaping from the party when you
came across Sally asleep in her car.

And, well,

you were so annoyed with your
husband for not taking you home,

you thought, I'll do it myself.

And driving a 2CV would be fun.

You hadn't done it since
you owned one at university.

Which is where I assume
you met Raif.

And driving back would've been fine.

What was it?

A cat run out in front of you?

You knew you were over the limit,

not as much as Sally, but still
enough to lose your licence.

And the shame of being done
for drunk driving,

well, that was too much.

So you didn't stop.

And when you got to Sally's cottage,
you had a brain wave.

You dragged Sally back in front
of the steering wheel.

You guessed, correctly
as it turned out,

that Sally would assume she
was the one who had driven back

but what you didn't realize

was there was someone watching you.

Someone who'd been waiting
for Sally's return.

Melissa.

And Melissa watched you take the
boots from the back of Sally's car

and set off across the fields, back
to the tennis club wearing them,

carrying your own shoes.

And it worked like a dream.

No one even noticed you'd been gone.

The problem arose the next day

when Melissa and Adam discovered

that you were quite prepared
to let Sally,

an innocent district nurse,

carry the can for the accident, the
failing to stop, the drunk driving,

and let her lose her job
in the process.

So Melissa and Adam decided
to blackmail you.

They knew that if word
of your behaviour got out

you'd certainly be
ostracized socially

and they knew that was something
you'd pay an awful lot of money

to stop happening.

So it wasn't Sally
who was being blackmailed? No, No.

Liz was way off beam with that.

Melissa and Adam
were blackmailing Georgina.

No. No, Melissa wouldn't do that.

Let me suffer like that just so
she could make some money.

She would have told me.

Do you have any evidence at all?

That's a good question.

When I came into this room,
I didn't.

But now, I think I do.

You see before you came in, we asked
Sally to empty her handbag

and we didn't find anything
incriminating.

But I have a feeling we will do now.

May I?

Nothing personal.

You murdered three people.

It all just sort of snow-balled.

Your own husband.

I didn't want to.

He noticed me taking the saw
out of the tool shed.

And when Hugo told him what had
happened in the barn

it was either him or me.

But Melissa, Adam.

They were blackmailing me.

It wasn't Sally who was driving.
It was Georgina.

I saw her dragging a comatose Sally
back in front of the wheel.

Are you sure?

Absolutely. And if she lets poor
dear Sally take the wrap,

I think she might just pay
handsomely for our silence.

Well, now that is interesting.

They were scumbags.

No. Adam maybe.

But not Melissa. I can't believe...

My dear girl, Melissa took pleasure
from other people's misery.

It entertained her.
Yours included.

You mean she never cared for me
at all? Ever?

No.

She had the affair with your husband

so you'd divorce him and
she'd get you on the rebound.

You were quite a challenge.

Vicar's daughter,
first lesbian affair.

Quite a trophy.

I expect you'd like to take me
down to the station.

Do you think we could go out
the back way?

The drink driving, of course,
and all the other charges,

they'll be dropped.

You'll be able to keep
your job.

Funny, it doesn't seem like much
of a relief any more.

What was all that about
you looking in my bag?

You lied.

Well, she was trying to frame you.

It's anything goes, isn't it?

I'm sorry you had to hear about
it so bluntly.

Yes. Life suddenly seems
very much clearer.

Can we give you a lift?

I have a drinks party to attend.

And an ego to bring down to size.

Goodbye.

Oh, hello.
Hello.

You look delightful in green.
Thank you.

Mind you, I'd still prefer you
in that uniform of yours.

I liked the bit with the bag, sir.

Thank you, Troy.

Very unscrupulous.

Oh, look, there they are.

Don't much like the look of him.

Frederick Bentine-Brown,
multimillionaire git.

Lovely bride. She looks positively
blooming.

Ripened by their own corruption.

Your medlar fruit.

Ah, of course.

"The happy couple will be living at
the 700 acre Bentine-Brown estate

"in Midsomer Worthy."

Have a feeling it won't be an
entirely strife-free union

for dear old Freddie.

Medlar jelly.
Mm?

Try some. Go on.

Mmmm. That's very nice.

Perhaps we should save it
for special occasions.

It's really not necessary.
We've got two dozen jars.

Just tuck in.

Closed Captions by CSI