Mystery!: Campion (1989–1990): Season 1, Episode 7 - Death of a Ghost: Part 1 - full transcript

When the widow of a renowned painter invites Campion to the unveiling of one of his unseen paintings, the detective finds himself investigating the murder of another guest.

THEME SONG PLAYING...

CAMPION: So, tomorrow's
the big day.

- How many have there been up to now?
- Tomorrow will be the eighth.

They seem to come around
more quickly every year.

And every year, more people
want to be invited.

Still, what Johnny wanted,

he usually managed to get
his own way.

Do you know, I found
the original letter last week.

Letter? I thought it was
a clause in his will.

Oh, no. He always had this
bee in his bonnet.

He said, "When an artist dies, his
reputation goes into the doldrums.



"But in ten years,
if he was any good,

"it starts climbing again."
I'll show you.

Got it here somewhere.

- Dear Belle.
- Well, yes, indeed.

The master always knew he could trust
her with the practical things of life.

She was one of those people who
were thoroughly at home on Earth.

- Do you know what I mean?
- Erm...

The ones who have been here
many times.

What we in our little circle
call an old soul.

That's very kind of them. I do
hope I'm one of the dear old souls.

What's the picture this year? Is it a
portrait or one of the narrative ones?

- "The Trial of Joan of Arc."
- Oh, that's interesting.

- Of course, it'll be a pre-shaven version.
- Mmm.

- Did you pose for it?
- I don't remember this one. Must have been before my time.



He did occasionally use
other models, dear.

But even then I used to lie on
the chaise-longue and watch him.

- Ah, here we are.
- The master loved to have me near him while he worked.

And Belle was so splendid about
that. She never minded. Did you, dear?

Not in the least.
Johnny's letter.

"Belle, darling,

"when you return a sorrowing
widow from the abbey,

"where 10,000 cretins will,

"I hope, be..."

BELLE: Er, no. Here's where
it comes.

"I shall leave 12 canvases
boxed and sealed.

"I want them sent to old
Seagrave just as they are.

"On show Sunday, on the
11th year after my death,

"I want you to open up
the studio,

"send around invitations,
and show the first picture.

"And so on for 12 years."

Sent around to old Seagrave's?

- I thought he died years ago.
- Yes.

Yes. Max Fustian took over.
He has them now.

Max has been wonderful.

I tell you this, Mr Campion,

no one really appreciates how much that
man has done to keep the memory green.

I'm sure you do, dear.

Oh, please, don't get up.

Belle, Max Fustian is here.
He's in the studio.

Thank you, Lisa.
Say I'll be down at once.

- Aren't you coming?
- I won't be long.

You run along.

You can talk to him while
he works. He might enjoy that.

Perhaps I should have installed
a chaise-longue down there.

- Was she a part of Johnny's legacy?
- (GIGGLES) Yes, in a way.

Nothing on paper.

He just said, "Look after the silly old
bitch, Belle. She was so lovely, once."

Like Nelson leaving Emma
to the nation.

Exactly. Now come down
and see the picture.

You know, sometimes I feel positively
beleaguered by Johnny's lame ducks.

There's her. There's old Lisa.

And poor Potter and his wife, in that place
Johnny built for them out in the garden.

No, no. Sorry,
it's just not honest.

- BELLE: What?
- Belle, darling! Just what I needed.

- A deal ex machina. You look wonderful.
- Oh, Max!

- Have you met Mr Campion?
- What? Oh, yes, of course, your friend, the sleuth.

How do you do? My dear,
you must come and arbitrate.

They're trying to turn
the whole thing

into some ghastly pastiche
of the local church bazaar.

Donna Beatrice insists on
a fancy-work stall, no less.

Not "fancy-work," handmade
jewellery from her craftsman's guild.

Of course, the perennial
Potter with his boring lithographs,

- can't you stop him?
- Max.

It's his only outlet.
He'd be so upset.

Oh, well, we'll have to
ask Tom what he thinks.

So, you've invited Tom Dacre
in on this?

I couldn't not ask him.
He's here.

He came to see Linda.

Claire, have you seen Tom Dacre?

Yes.

He went upstairs to your
granddaughter's flat.

Belle, dear, do listen.
For Johnny's sake,

if we must have this
embarrassment of sideshows,

either move them out to the entrance
hall, or better still, onto the pavement.

Or at the very least,
back here, out of the way.

Well, I'll see what I can do.

Now, Mr Potter...

(SHOUTS) There's your ring.
Now go to hell!

Linda? Linda!

I'm talking to you!

Will you listen?

Please get out of my way.

Look, I don't want the
bloody ring back. Here, keep it.

(SIGHS) -Linda, this is
crazy. I thought you understood.

So did I. We were both wrong.

- So now, will you please go?
- No.

- Belle asked me to stay and look at the picture.
- Oh, did she?

Well, the sooner you've seen
it, the sooner you can clear off!

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Now, then.

Max?

Sometimes beauty is like
the Gorgon's head,

and spirit turns to stone
beholding it.

One of his best.

- He was a great painter.
- I know.

He never tired of telling me.

Ah, Tom. So glad you could
come along.

What do you think of it?

That is perfection.

Tell me about Italy.
I hear you did well out there.

Oh, it was just commercial
stuff, decorative panels.

You mean ceilings
and things like...

Not the Sistine Chapel, no.
It was a chain of cinemas.

What? Nothing you can bring
back and show? No pictures?

I think Dacre is very wise
to stick to his own medium.

- And what medium is that?
- That's obvious, tempera.

In tempera, he can really
express himself.

He's done some very
worthwhile things.

There now, and Max wouldn't
say that if he didn't really mean it.

Oh, I'm sure there's a good reason
for everything that Max says and does.

FUSTIAN: My dear fellow!

Are you all right?

- You're looking pale.
- Please don't.

This child is disturbed.

You know I'm always the first
to sense these things.

It's nothing.
It's just a headache.

Have you told her about Rosa? He's brought
this glamorous new model home from Italy.

- What's she like?
- Quite good.

- Her feet are ugly. Otherwise good.
- Dark or fair?

- Fat or thin?
- Thin.

- Neapolitan father.
- Sounds so romantic.

- Not really. Mother's from Shepherd's Bush.
- (LAUGHS LOUDLY)

Look, she's a good model. I
happen to find her useful. That's all.

I'd say you must find her
indispensable, to bring her all that way.

To cope with all the red-tape about
work permits and residence permits.

Drop it, Max. I would
seriously advise you to, all right?

Of course. How silly of me. Residence
wouldn't be a problem, would it?

I gather it's a menage a trois
with you and Matt D'Urfey.

- Doesn't Linda mind?
- Linda understands.

Is that right?

- Oh! My dear! My dear!
- It's all right. I'll go.

(GRAMOPHONE PLAYING)

You've seen the picture already.

Lugg, it's a social event.

- Oh, I see.
- CAMPION: Bravo.

Not only that. She's an old friend.
She appreciates a bit of moral support.

It's become a sort of curtain
raiser for the London season.

- You mean a lot of nobs are gonna be there?
- Creme de la creme.

Well, I hope you're gonna
dress up proper.

So you'd advise against
the plus-fours, would you?

No need to get snarky.

I'm not saying you don't know
the right thing to do.

Trouble is, half the time,
you just can't be bothered.

Ah, well, there's always a
Bohemian contingent at this kind of do.

If I don't come up to scratch, she can
always pass me off as one of the artists.

I promise you,
she wouldn't turn a hair.

Never mind her.
I'm talking about me.

You're expecting me
to drive you there tomorrow.

Well, spruce yourself up a bit.

I don't wanna be disgraced
in public.

- Goodnight, Mr Campion.
- Goodnight, Mr Lugg.

Hello.

- Am I interrupting?
- No, Will's gone to bed.

And I'm taking the first
breather I've had all day.

How's everything
up at the house?

It's all quiet now that
Flash Harry is gone.

Oh, Max.

- Cup of tea?
- Mmm.

No, sit down.

I can't understand how he gets
away with bossing them all about.

William's stall, for instance. He
had it all nicely set out, hadn't he?

Nope. His Lordship
doesn't like it.

CLAIRE: Poor Will,
he tries so hard.

I can't bear all this tension.

Never mind.

- By tomorrow night, it'll all be over.
- Thank God for that.

One lot squabbling
downstairs, in the studio.

Linda having tantrums upstairs.
And that Beatrice, floating around

in a world of her own.
She is weird, that one.

I don't think there's
any harm in her.

It's just that she can't face
growing old.

If you ask me, Belle's the only
one with her head screwed on.

I don't know how she
puts up with them all.

She put up with being married
to Johnny for all those years.

After that you could put up
with anything, couldn't you?

She must have known about
him and Beatrice.

Well, of course she did.

With him, it was anything
in skirts, wasn't it?

I mean you'd only got
to give him an inch,

and before you knew
where you were...

(LAUGHS)

Where are you going?

- Don't I go in?
- No.

- Stick out here in the car, all night?
- Yes, if you like.

Pick me up at half past ten.

Oh, no, wouldn't for the world.

(WHISPERS) Albert?

- Go up and talk to Linda.
- And say what?

Well, make her come down.
I can't manage on my own.

- B won't leave her precious stall. Oh, go on, shoo.
- Huh.

Ah, Dr Fettes.

- CLAIRE: Believe me, I know how you feel.
- You can't possibly know.

If you don't go down,
they'll just...

I don't give a damn
what anybody thinks.

Well, that's easy to say, but
you have to live with these people.

- This isn't the end of the world.
- Isn't it?

- (KNOCK ON DOOR)
- CAMPION: Linda?

- Oh!
- Hi, Mrs Potter.

Well, Mr Campion, if you'll
excuse me, I have things to see to.

Do try and persuade her.

Go away.

You're wasting your time.

Don't be a fool and for heaven's sake,
don't make an exhibition of yourself.

What's it all about? Tommy?

What, is it serious?

He's gone and married her.

Rosa, his new model.

- Good Lord.
- I could put up with that.

It was the only way
around the regulations.

If she married him,
she could stay here.

I mean, if Belle can put up with someone
like Beatrice, I thought, I can do it too.

You've got to,
if he's a great artist.

Do you know what he's doing?

Commercial posters.

(SOBS) I've been such a fool.

I could kick myself.

And as for him,
as far as I'm concerned,

he can go to hell!

I'll join you later.

- She's coming down.
- Oh! Bless you.

- It's going well.
- Yes, I think so.

FUSTIAN: He mentioned it in
a letter, in the summer of 1906.

You'll find it quoted
in Chapter 12 of my book.

Now, Margaret, will you
concede my point on production?

Now, look at that profile.
Look at that lighting.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- Have you sold anything?
- Not yet.

That one shows the old bridge.
John never...

Look at this monstrosity!
Pathetic!

I mean if you've got a good serviceable
pair of scissors, you leave it alone.

- Tom, how could you?
- You don't go mucking it up with barbola work.

Do you honestly believe anybody's
gonna buy any of this junk?

If I were you, I'd toddle off
and chat to my friends.

I promise you, nobody's
gonna walk off with any of this.

Not even a kleptomaniac
would give them a second glance.

So, who's the fat bloke
with the squinty eyes?

Eh! I'm talking to you.

That's the Chief Inquisitor.

(MEN CHUCKLE)

- I thought you said you weren't coming.
- So I changed my mind.

You got no better shirt
than that?

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

Put it back
and stop showing off.

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(SPEAKING ITALIAN)

(ALL EXCLAIM) -BELLE: Must
be a fuse. This always happens.

MAN: Hold on.

MAN 1: The fuse?
MAN 2: Yes, yes.

Oh, yes, Mrs Potter.
Much better.

Oh, so sorry.

- Excuse me.
- I sensed it as soon as I saw you.

There was this grey cloud...

CAMPION: Can I help at all?

(ALL CHEER)

It's all right,
it was just the fuse.

- BELLE: Well done, Mr Potter.
- POTTER: Just the fuse, Mr Fustian.

(ROSA EXCLAIMS IN ITALIAN)

What's happening?

I can't quite see, but
someone seems to have fainted.

- It's only Tommy.
- (ROSA SCREAMS)

(SHOUTS IN ITALIAN)

(ROSA SOBBING)

Somewhere close by will do. I
don't want to move him too much.

BELLE: In here, Doctor.

(SIGHS)

- (ALL TALKING)
- (ROSA SOBBING)

Please try to stop.
It's not going to help anyone.

It won't help you.

- Please try. Rosa, please try.
- Lisa,

- take her somewhere where she can lie down.
- I'll take her upstairs.

Come with me.

(PHONE RINGING)
Oates. Oh, hello, Albert.

Listen, I need a tactful
policeman to solve a murder.

- What?
- It's happened at a party I'm attending.

Someone has taken a dislike
to one of the guests.

There's a doctor here already.

He was also one of the guests.
I'm afraid we had to move the body.

I thought it best,
in the circumstances.

Wish you hadn't.

Still, where are you?

Yeah. Yeah. Easton?

- Yeah.
- Car.

Right. Yeah, I'll come straight
away. I'll be there in 15 minutes.

- Meanwhile, nobody leaves.
- I'm afraid some have left already.

- Albert.
- Stanislaus, there's no problem about that.

It's strictly by invitation.

We know who they all were.

I'm perfectly all right.

(KNOCKS ON A TABLE)

Ladies and gentlemen,
a moment, if you would.

Ladies and gentlemen.

My dears, something terrible
has happened.

There's been...
Well, an accident.

A young man who was here
with us a few moments ago is...

Is dead.

(ALL MURMURING)

BELLE: He died in here when
the lights were out.

(WHISPERING)

I've been advised that
until the police arrive...

Albert, would you?

(CLEARS THROAT)
Ladies and gentlemen,

the position is that
the police are on their way.

I suggest that until they arrive,
everyone remain in this room.

Is there anything I can do?
Anything at all?

Where's Linda?

I'll go and find her.

CAMPION: Linda?

Albert, did you see him?

- Is he really dead?
- Yes.

- This is terrible. Like a nightmare.
- Linda...

I wish we hadn't argued. I did
care about him, despite everything.

- Linda...
- Shh.

- Why?
- I've got Rosa in there.

Still, she's not likely
to wake up now.

Good God, Linda,
what have you done?

What have I done?

I gave her a bromide,
that's all.

Why, what did you think?

I don't know what I thought.

You don't think I killed
Tommy, do you?

But you can't!

I mean, I'd have to be mad.

Or is that what you're saying?

Listen, listen.

I was angry with him, yes.

But I didn't kill him.

The first I heard about it
was when Rosa screamed.

You do believe me, don't you?

You've got to.

Yes. I believe you.

- So when the lights went out, you were with Mrs Lafcadio?
- Yes.

So, now I've seen all
the permanent residents.

Is that right?
Just the four of you?

Yes, there's me, Belle, Linda,

and Donna Beatrice.

- Donna who?
- Professional name. You've got her down as Harriet Pickering.

- Ah.
- And the Potters.

Potters? Who are the Potters?
Do they live here?

John Lafcadio built them
their own place.

In the garden.

Oh.

All right. Thank you.

Well, that'll do for now.
Goodnight.

I don't like it, Stanislaus. You've got the
air of a man who's tying up loose ends.

I'm sorry, but that's
about what it comes to.

I can see it's very
awkward for you,

being a friend of the
girl's family, and all that.

The girl. I knew that's
what you were thinking.

You're on the wrong track,
Stanislaus.

Of course, you've got to say that
whether you believe it or not, right?

- (LOUDER) Right?
- I'm thinking.

Well, if I thought Linda
Lafcadio killed her fiance,

and if I thought I could
throw you off the scent,

I dare say I'd have
a stab at it.

So, now we know where we stand.

Well, if it's any consolation
to you,

I don't suppose there's a cat in
hell's chance of making it stick.

One, nobody saw her do it.

Two, we'd never get a set of fingerprints
off that stupid pair of scissors.

And three, she's innocent.

Look, it has to be one
of those impulsive murders.

Which means somebody like Linda,

who was so mad with Tom Dacre, she was
half out of her mind, didn't stop to think.

And it was a woman's weapon.

And I'm not the only one
to think so.

(CLOCK CHIMING)

Are you sure you wouldn't
like me to stay the night?

- Oh, Max.
- It's kind of you, Max, but there's nothing you can do.

No wonder Linda has been
acting so strangely.

I told Belle at the time I
had the strangest foreboding.

Some menace hanging over her.
Some aura of evil.

She was just upset.

She must have known about
this marriage for days.

Ever since he got back,
I should think.

If only she'd told us, instead
of bottling it up, it might have...

Is that policeman
still in the library?

As far as I know. Why?

My dear, you're wrong
about one thing.

There is something I can do.

I can put an end to all this,
very simply.

The husband is W. T. Potter.

He is a failed artist. Invented his
own type of lithographic process

and was too pig-headed
to admit it's a washout.

- So, what do they live on?
- What, indeed.

I believe she earns a bit.

General dogsbody to the
artistic colony around here.

And he teaches one day a week.

Ah, Inspector.
I was afraid you'd left.

I'm Max Fustian.

Oh, yes.
The name has cropped up.

Yes, I imagine it must have.

Well, I'll tell you
why I've come.

When you interviewed
Mrs Lafcadio,

she got the impression that you
suspect her granddaughter. Is that correct?

Mr Fustian, all I'm doing at this
stage is asking various people

to give me their own accounts
of what happened this evening.

That's just the point. I can
clear this whole matter up for you.

It's really quite simple.

There is no way that Linda
Lafcadio could possibly have done it.

I killed Tom Dacre.

I see, sir.

Well, now. Perhaps you
won't mind sitting down

and telling us, clearly and
concisely, in your own words,

just how you did it, and why.

You wish me to make a formal
confession, I take it, Inspector?

That's perfectly in order.

- My name is Maximilian Fustian...
- Thank you, Mr Fustian.

Just start from where you
decided to kill the other gentleman.

Well, I made up my mind
last night,

when I'd learned that he'd
married the Italian woman.

It's an insufferable way to
behave to a girl like Miss Lafcadio.

An insult!

She was terribly upset.

I just felt that a man who could behave
like that deserved to be done away with.

I hadn't made any plans, but
when the opportunity came, I took it.

From the beginning, the
scissors had fascinated me.

So, when the lights went out, I
saw my chance. I crossed the room,

picked up the scissors, struck.

He just grunted and
went down like a pig.

Er, the weapon
was still in my hand.

I wiped the handle, dropped it
onto the body, and...

Moved away.

Well, I suppose that's all
I can tell you.

Would you like me
to come with you at once?

- Do you mind showing me?
- I'm sorry?

The scissors. I'd like you
to give us a demonstration.

Allow me.

I will be Tom Dacre.

FUSTIAN: Yes.

(DROPS SCISSORS)

Like that.

An upward thrust, I believe.

Er, my recollection is not quite
accurate. It was all over in a second.

And the weapon was still in
the wound.

Trying to waste police time by
misleading them is an of fence, Mr Fustian.

It might be best if you were to
spend a bit more time thinking it over.

You might see things
more clearly in the morning.

Right. The Potters.

Max Fustian!

That's the type we always get
popping up with fake confessions.

Any drama going on, they can't
bear not to be in the middle of it.

- Is that the Potter place?
- That's right.

Looks as if they're still up.

(OATES KNOCKS ON DOOR)

I am Detective Chief Inspector
Oates of Scotland Yard.

I know it's late, sir, but
I would like to have

a word with you about
this evening's events.

Would you come back
tomorrow, instead?

Any particular reason
for that, sir?

Well, we are both rather tired.

It needn't take long.

(SHOUTING IN BACKGROUND)

Oh, God. Oh, no.

Why did you let him in?

I couldn't help it, love.

He went on as though
we had something to hide.

So, we did.

I've been drinking. That's all.

Are you happy now?

I'm terribly sorry.

Yes, yes, well.
There we are, then.

That's that.

I don't think we've got
anything to apologise for.

It's very rare that
this sort of thing happens.

And then only when something
has been too much for her.

Like today.

But she doesn't let it
affect her work.

I doubt if any of the others
even know.

Only Mrs Lafcadio.

- After all, it's nobody else's business.
- Quite right, sir.

OATES: I'll call back tomorrow.

If you like, but
we can't tell you very much.

You see, I went out
to mend the fuse.

And my wife stayed at
our table by the door.

Then, the next we heard,
he was dead.

Well, it's only natural
that she's upset.

Good night.

Will the reporters
be turning up?

At this inquest?

Not in force,
I shouldn't imagine.

It's only the local coroner
going through the motions.

Funny it's all passing off
so quiet.

I mean,

a man gets stabbed to death,
in the middle of all them bigwigs.

I thought we'd see it
all over the front page,

- what with this free press we're always hearing about.
- Oh, come off it, Lugg.

Stop acting naive. You
haven't got the face for it.

- So who's been pulling strings, then?
- I couldn't say.

But a couple of the bigwigs, as you
call them, are from the Diplomatic Corps

and might not want their names
in the newspapers.

So, maybe the Foreign Office
dropped a little hint.

- Thank God for that.
- Why?

Because I hope that means we've heard the
last of it. I don't know if you realise,

but it makes you all jumpy when it's
friends of yours getting mixed up in a case.

You haven't been very easy
to live with this last week.

Are you going to let it rest there?
"Person or persons unknown"?

What's a verdict like that
going to mean to Linda?

It means she's
a very lucky girl.

- She's free to get on with her life.
- Oh, yes?

You've no idea what it's like
living among artists.

It's like a whispering gallery.

They'll all have heard the
gossip. What they'll say now is,

"The police know damn well who did
it, but somehow she got away with it."

But, of course,
that's what you think, too.

Hey.

Hey!

- You're not sorry you came, are you?
- No.

You'll feel better when you start getting
round a bit more and seeing your friends.

What friends?

Do you realise,
of all the people

who were friends
with both Tom and me,

not one of them has come near?

Except me.

Except you.

Anyway, I think when
something terrible has happened,

some people just feel awkward.
They don't know what to say.

I know what they'd like to say,
but they haven't got the nerve.

"Did you do it, or didn't you?"

Would you drive?

I had a dreadful thought
the other day.

Tell me.

If I was out of my mind...

That must be what they think, if
they believe I'd do things like that.

Well, then, perhaps I did do it,

and I don't remember.

Oh, come on, Linda. That's
rubbish. You know it is.

No, but listen, Matt. I had three
pictures of Tom's in a big drawer.

I always kept them in the same
place, and now they've gone.

I thought and thought, and hunted,
and asked everybody in the house.

So, I must have moved them.

But I've got absolutely
no recollection of doing it.

If there's something really wrong with
me, I ought to see someone about it.

Only I'm afraid
of what they'll do.

Were they oil paintings?

- What?
- In the drawer?

Yes. Why?

I had two of Tommy's paintings
on the wall.

One he gave me for Christmas,
and one I bought from an exhibition.

And they've gone.

Can't get it out
of your mind, can you?

Because I know she didn't do it.

- No one's said she did.
- Not out loud.

Anyway, that's not the point. Whoever
did do it is still walking around free.

Who've you got
on your shortlist?

What? Oh, you don't
know these people, Lugg.

- Oh, pardon me, I'm sure!
- I mean, it's a different world.

They're artists.

If you've never come across
them, you'd never understand

the kind of things
that motivate them.

That's all poppycock.

Makes no odds
how different they are.

All you're looking for is either
somebody who couldn't stand the man,

or somebody who stands
to gain now he's dead.

Page one of the sleuth's handbook.
Thank you very much, Lugg.

Don't go getting snarky with me
just 'cause you're bogged down.

A lot of people couldn't stand
him. He didn't go in for charm.

Even in his last half-hour, he
sneered at one woman's craft stall

and nearly reduced her to tears.

He told an engraver called
Potter, he was wasting his time

trying to become an artist.

He was rather rude
to a couple of critics,

and had a row with his wife
in front of everybody.

- LUGG: What's his wife like?
- Young, beautiful, Italian.

- Hot tempered.
- And she's now his widow. (CHUCKLES) That's handy.

(DOORBELL RINGS) - Comes
in for his money, I suppose?

Nice try, Lugg,
but there won't be any money.

He was the type that spends it
before it comes in.

Lugg, I've come to see Albert.
This is Mr D'Urfey.

Hello, Albert.

Miss Lafcadio and Mr Murphy.

CAMPION: Well, this is nice.
You're looking better.

This is Matt, a friend of Tom's.

- They shared the same digs for a while.
- How do you do, Mr Murphy?

Actually, it's D'Urfey.
D-apostrophe.

Please.

I brought him because
something very odd is going on.

I was afraid you'd say
I was imagining things.

But no one would think that
about him, would they?

He looks pretty level-headed,
certainly.

She means I look unimaginative.

- Well.
- Albert,

whoever killed Tommy isn't
content with stealing his life.

They're trying to obliterate
every trace of him.

Go on.

The first things that disappeared
were some pictures he'd given me.

I turned the place inside out and raised
hell generally, but they'd just vanished.

Two of mine went the same way.

- You mean burglary.
- MATT: Yes.

LINDA: Everything he ever did
is vanishing.

And I've been to several galleries
that I know used to stock some,

and they have none left.
Somebody's buying them up.

I'm sorry, Linda, but I
seem to be missing the point.

Surely that's what
they're for, to be sold.

Yes, but we have made
some enquiries.

Nearly all of them are gone
to buyers who walked in,

paid cash, and didn't give
a name. That is, er, unusual.

Couldn't it simply be
speculators, though?

Reading about his death and buying his
stuff quickly, before the price goes up?

That happens, of course,
but what sort of speculators?

- Would they just walk in off the streets?
- Well, I did.

Lugg, could you get me the
package from Seagrave's Gallery?

- LINDA: You got one of Tom's pictures?
- Yes.

So, you see, it does
rather undermine your theory.

If I reacted like that, then probably
quite a lot of other people did the same.

- MATT: When did you get it?
- About three days ago.

Yes, and not even unpacked.

Art lovers.

So you see, the pictures
aren't vanishing, Linda.

They're being lovingly installed,
like this one, in the homes of...

Good Lord.

What's the matter?

Pretty nebulous, though,
isn't it?

What do you expect me
to do about it?

I expect you to have
the grace to admit

that the case against Linda, and
God knows it never amounted to much,

has now collapsed.

We seem to have found
a chink in it.

- I'll go that far.
- And somewhat beyond.

The point is,
you'd file this case away

in your own mind as over
and done with. Defunct.

Like a dead volcano.

And, now you're going to
have to re-label it "still rumbling."

Stanislaus, someone out there
is getting rattled.

They're trying to cover up
their tracks.

My favourite kind of murderer has always
been the one who won't let well alone.

Precisely.

But I'd need more facts
before I could put a man on it.

Who is asking for a man?
Oh, no. I've got my own.

Bow Street Irregulars. Linda and
D'Urfey. There is no holding them.

- Linda is going over to Paris tomorrow.
- What's in Paris?

Tom Dacre lived there
for a couple of years.

She thinks some of his pictures
might still be around over there.

Thanks for the tea.

Relax, I'll be back in a moment.

(TELEPHONE RINGING)

He's gone for a pee.
I'm just working here.

You want him to phone you back?

Is that Rosa?
It's you I'm looking for.

I'm going to be busy
all this week.

You got to talk to my agent.
Wait. I'll give you his number.

- No, listen. I'm not a painter.
- No? So who is this talking?

I'm interested in buying
some pictures by Tom Dacre.

I thought you might have some in
your possession. I can offer a good price.

- (CHOKES)
- Are you all right?

No, I'm not bloody all right,
I'm stinking mad!

I had some pictures
he'd done of me a Roma.

One on the chair with a
gamba... What is it? A viola.

One on the sand,
and one leaning on a tree.

So, I was going to flog 'em. It's
only fair, no? I'm the widow, si?

E all or a, some figlio di...

...son of a bitch had
busted in and snitched them.

Yeah, all those ones he brought
back from Italia, scomparsi, all gone.

(CAR HONKING)

My dear fellow, fantastic.

This whole business is
absolutely fantastic.

The mount was there, you
say, but no picture? You're sure?

Absolutely.

Well, I've sent
for the man who does the packing.

Perhaps he can throw
some light on it.

Really, until this morning, I thought
you were the last man in London

to have an example
of Dacre's work.

Extraordinary things have been
happening in connection with

that wretched boy's death.

Then my own experience, I
suppose, must have been typical.

- What do you mean?
- I had a pencil drawing of Dacre's.

Well, I mean nothing special, a
study of the hand, but it pleased me.

I had it hanging in the drawing room.
The other night, I came into the flat,

I knew at once
somebody had been there.

The picture was gone.

Just the empty frame.
Nothing else was missing.

Ah. Mr Green, there you are.

I suppose they've
told you what happened.

This is Mr Campion, the customer
who has come to complain.

I can't understand it,
Mr Fustian.

The picture was all right,
when I packed it.

It was left downstairs
in the packing room.

Same as always, ready
to be sent off the next day.

Which members of staff have
access to the packing room?

Everybody, Mr Fustian.

Stands to reason, people
are in and out all the time.

The invoice book's in there
and the order forms.

It's where we brew up
and everything.

Now, I want you to think
very hard.

Is it all possible, when you packed
the picture that you made a mistake?

If you had the box ready and, somebody
said to you "Here is the Dacre drawing".

And passed the picture to you,
let us say with the mount face down

and you then slid it into
the box, but I...

The picture
was there, Mr Fustian.

It was there. I will
take my Bible oath on it.

Lisa, if Mr Potter's downstairs,

ask him if he'd be good enough
to come up here, would you?

Mr Campion would like
a word with him.

Yes, of course I will.

I'd somehow imagined that
Linda met Tom somewhere else.

The Slade, perhaps?

Oh, no. Tom was around
when she was quite a child.

That's why it surprised me
when they got engaged.

I ventured to offer
her some guidance.

Did you, dear?

Pro or con?

I'd said she'd be taking on trouble
if she plighted her troth to a Scorpio.

And, you see how right I was?

You see what I still don't know
is when and why Tom Dacre

first made contact with
this household.

It was something to do with
the Potters.

Yes, dear.

Come in.

Come in, Mr Potter.

- Do sit down.
- Oh.

I don't think so.

CAMPION: Mr Potter.

I wonder if you could remember
how you first met Tom Dacre.

Why, of course, sir.
He was a customer.

You mean Tom bought
a lithograph.

Good heavens.

No, no, not of mine.

He was a customer of Claire's.

My wife.

And, what did she do for him.

Oh, dear.

Oh!

Whatever was it?

You see, all kinds of people
came to her for all sorts of little jobs.

She does artist supplies.

She does framing and delivering.

And, she makes up her
own colours.

And, yes! Yes, that was
it. She mixed paints for him.

Why couldn't he mix his
own colours?

Uh, no, not on the palate,

I mean the basic colours.

I thought they came in tubes.

Well, the standard ones, yes.

But some of the others are
sort of a trade secret.

You know, Albert, like the blue
in Gainsborough's Blue Boy.

Claire used to mix some of
my Johnny's special paints.

So, still she's got the
old formulas.

I see.

So, Mrs Potter and Tom
Dacre were old friends.

(SIGHS)
Well, not friends exactly.

He was just a customer.

He came when
he wanted something.

I suppose, that someone must
have recommended her to him.

Yes, someone who knew
both of them.

You don't happen to know who?

No, I've got no idea.

She might know.

Would she be in,
tomorrow evening?

Oh, yes.

If you're going to the shops
today, would you mind...

I won't be!

How can I?

You know Thursday
is my worst day.

The Seagrave Gallery will be
calling around for their Carini block.

Such a finicky job cleaning those
things and I haven't even started yet.

William.

If you miss that train, you're
going to be late for school.

Can't afford to lose that job.

Sometimes, I wonder whether
it's worth it just for one day a week.

I'm really beginning to get somewhere
with this new sandstone medium.

Have you seen this one?

- Yes.
- See, you would never get

that sort of a feeling with ordinary
sandstone. Look, look, look.

Look at the shadows under
the railway bridge. You see?

I'm really beginning to
get somewhere this time.

William!

Yes, yes, of course, all right.

- William!
- What?

Thank you.

Go to work.

Will you be in this evening?

Yes, why?

Mr Campion is going to drop in.

William!

What on Earth does he want? We
can't tell him more than we have already.

Oh, no.

Come on, old girl.

Pull yourself together.

This won't do.

Oh, it's you.

Who did you think it was?

I have been working flat out
on this cleaning job all day

and I thought they
had come to collect it.

- What time is it?
- Nearly half past four.

Oh! It's time for
a cup of tea then.

Come on, I'll put the kettle on.

I can't stay long, but I've
got a message from her.

Donna Beatrice?

Donna, my foot.

Born in Twickenham,
all those heirs and graces.

What does she want this time?

Half a dozen tickets for
the watercolour show.

She's asking whether you can sell
some to some of your customers.

Oh, I wish she wouldn't.

I tried everything to keep
my prices down.

But then if I go push
tickets on to them

it takes all the guilt off.
I don't like it.

What should I tell her, then?

Oh, leave them here.

I suppose,
I can shift a couple of them.

No, can't do more than
your best.

- (TELEPHONE RINGING)
- Excuse me.

I'll pop back later.

Hello?

Claire Potter. Can I help you?

What?

Oh, God.

BEATRICE: Oh, it's all
my fault. What have I done?

Oh, it's all my fault.

Well, least it looks like
a clean break.

Oh, come on,
it wasn't as valuable as...

It is all my fault!

It was an accident.

No wonder, you're a bit
jittery. We're all a bit jittery.

It was a sign.

I should have known
this was an unlucky day.

Oh, for heaven's sake,
it doesn't matter.

I'm sure Claire can stick it
together.

Only, don't try to tell me that
it is a sign of impending doom.

Because I don't think
I can stand any more of that!

Forgive me, Belle.
Many people tell me

they'd rather not know of
things ahead of time.

Of course, some of us
are not given the choice.

That must be very tiresome
for you.

I'm simply saying that
you just dropped it.

It didn't happen because you're
a Virgo or on the cusp of the...

- It happened...
- No, don't tell me.

It sounds like another of the
things I'd much rather not know.

Claire, dear.

Are you busy?

Can I come in?

Claire?

Claire! I didn't see
you there, my dear.

What's the matter?

Oh, not again.

Claire?

Claire?

THEME SONG PLAYING...