Sister Boniface Mysteries (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Song for the Dead - full transcript

Well, Great
Slaughter definitely has a case

- of the hippy hippy shakes.
- Reggie, Reggie!

Four lovely lads
tipped by "Wild Beat" magazine

as the next big thing are
playing a string of local gigs,

starting in the old
Town Hall tonight.

Here they are, The Queenmakers
with their new single,

"Out of Sight."

So, is it true you all
hail from Manchester?

That's right, Tony,
he's our creative force,

he writes, he plays bass, the
fans call him the moody one.

Yeah, well, that's 'cause
I've not met you all.



And there's Pete, now, he
may be the baby of the group,

but he plays lead
guitar like an old soul.

Sunny.

The best rock and roll
drummer in the country.

He, well, he lets his
drums do the talking.

And then of course there's
our rhythm guitarist

and lead singer, Reggie.

Oh, yes, where is
our fan favourite?

Sorry to interrupt,
DI Gillespie.

Oh, no problem, I hope?

Your officers have
everything under control?

Of course, now this one
managed to twist my arm

to get backstage.

All in a good cause, I
assure you, how exciting.



Um, the sisters wondered
if we could impose on you

for an autograph?

So we might auction your
album at the next fundraiser.

Of course, Sister, yes.

- She's a rocker at heart.

-I'll have you know,

I was actually quite the
jiver back in the day.

Now that I'd like to see.

- There you are.
- Thank you.

And now it appears we are
one corner short of a square.

Ah, yeah, well, Reggie's
just giving one of the fans

a guided tour of
the changing room.

Mm-hm.

I'd like one of those myself.

Oh, sir, I'm not, I just
didn't think I'd see anyone.

You look lovely,
Peggy, very um, pink.

Thank you, Reggie, the
triangle is squared.

I've got to say, I didn't
know the press round here

was so impressive.

Careful, flattery will
get you headlines.

What about a personal
interview then?

Maybe I could help
put the story to bed.

- Seriously, Alan,

what have you done
to these shirts?

I thought someone had left
a pin in mine earlier.

Not me, anyway,
you look sizzling.

Now time to give those
fans what they want, huh?

Ooh, just
listen to them out there,

this will be a show to die for.

How we doing?

Are you alright?

Where's Reggie?

Oh, he's probably thinking
of some grand entrance

as per usual, come on, let's
get on with it, let's go.

- Ready?
- Yeah.

- One, two, three, four.

Sorry, folks, it seems, ah...

It seems Reggie really
is out of sight.

We're gonna go and grab him
and we'll be right back.

Don't go anywhere.

Oh, what-what the
hell is going on?

Wait, ask Reggie, he never
come on flipping stage.

Is there a problem?

We seem to have
mislaid a lead singer.

Well, we need to find him now.

Well, don't panic, he
can't have gone far.

Why don't you two try the
back, Mr. Pritchard with me.

You come with me, sir,
we'll try the gents.

He's dead.

This is absurd, he can't be.

This cannot be happening.

Excuse me, sir.

Fetch Sister Boniface.

Ah, ladies and,

ladies

Ladies and gents, I'm
so very sorry, um,

- Reggie is ah, ah, unwell.

So I'm afraid this performance
has been cancelled,

well, will be
cancelled, thank you.

Was he on any medication?

Um, I don't know.

Anything recreational?

Certainly not.

Looks like a heart attack.

It's as if he was
looking for something.

He unbuttoned his collar and...

He appears to have a nasty
sting on the back of his neck.

Hymenoptera-induced anaphylaxis.

Was he by any chance allergic?

- Yeah.
- Hm.

Yeah, bees and wasps and stuff,

I think that's what he said.

I'll follow up with his doctor.

And lads, if you can
not speak to the press,

keep Reggie's death quiet,

until we can release an
official statement tomorrow?

We'll talk then.

How did you find this out?

What do you mean?

Everyone's talking about it.

Where is the
inspector, is he with the band?

What?

The band at the house
they're renting.

No, he went out
to the Town Hall.

Why?

- It appears word's got out.

Oh, really, you think so?

Oh, sarcasm, I see.

Is there something
you need, Sister,

because I have my
hands pretty full?

Last night's reading,

Miss Christie's "A
Death in the Clouds."

Madame Giselle appears to
have been stung by a wasp,

until Poirot deduces
that the murder weapon

is in fact a dart
dipped in the venom

of the South African
Boomslang snake.

Sorry, what are you saying?

Well, simply that
I feel the scene

warrants a closer inspection.

Okay, but only
because I want to see

the look on your face
when you're proven wrong.

Right now I'm more concerned
about who leaked this.

Well, it's leaked.

Local paper, it'll be in
the nationals this evening.

What do we do now?

Well, for what it's worth,
the record company says

the radio hasn't stopped playing
us, since the news broke.

The police are here.

Hm.

Did Reggie have any
enemies, any angry fans,

anything like that?

Reggie was loved.

Charismatic, cheeky, charming,

he was the
quintessential bachelor.

Is she okay?

Fine.

There, there, love,
we understand.

I just, I can't
believe he's gone.

I know, love, I lost my
son around the same age.

It's too young to die, it is,

but time heals in the end.

Ivy Adams, our housekeeper.

Wish it was under
better circumstances.

WPC Button, maybe
you should go outside

and get some fresh air?

How about within the band,

was there any
artistic differences?

Not really, no.

Oh yeah, happy families.

Right, so the only person
to have an argument

with Reggie recently was you.

Yeah, alright.

We had a barney
yesterday morning,

but it was only
about the set list.

I sometimes come off the
drums and sing a number,

give the others a break,
Reggie wanted it cut.

Fallings out, you
know, who plays what,

it's not exactly
unusual in our world.

No, exactly, so what's
with all the questions?

Well, until the cause of
death has been confirmed,

I'm duty bound to investigate
every possibility.

You mentioned that he was with
someone in the changing room?

Groupie, yeah, typical
Reggie, I'm afraid.

I'll need a description of her

and I'd like to see his room.

Yes.

Sister.

Sister.

Sorry, hiked up the habit

for an impromptu
fingertip search.

And are you impromptu
fingertip searching

for anything specific?

A killer.

Is that a wasp?

Apis mellifera, a
female worker honeybee.

- Oh?
- Missing a stinger.

I'm afraid she's quite dead,
the act of stinging is fatal.

Yes, I'd say she's our girl.

How'd you
know it's a female?

Drones don't possess a stinger,

only the women have what it
takes to protect the hive.

I hear you found a bee.

Well, I discovered
something myself

-from Reggie's room,
it's a- -Adrenaline kit.

Yes, I suspected as much,

issued to patients
with extreme allergies.

Well, this is what Reggie
was scrabbling around for

in the changing room,
so I'm sorry, Sister,

but I am right and you
are wrong for once.

Your bee was merely
an accidental killer.

Go on, spit it out.

Observe, a swatch from
inside Reggie's shirt,

just below the collar,

the yellow, powdery
substance is pollen.

Note the blob of strange
matter at its centre.

Duly.

Now, isn't she marvellous?

I've grown rather
fond of her actually.

Anyway, there's a similar
blob on her thorax

between the wings.

So?

So the blob on the shirt

and the blob on the
bee are identical.

Glue, peculiar as it sounds,

our bee was literally stuck
into the back of Reggie's shirt.

Someone who knew
about Reggie's allergy

and was close enough to
the band to gain access

snuck into the changing
rooms prior to the show.

But with a live bee, how?

Well, bees can be quite
docile, when warm and well fed.

A drop of say, sugar syrup

would've kept this
little lady very happy.

So do you see? This
means it was no accident.

This was cold-blooded.

Murder?

It looks that
way, I'm afraid, sir.

What an almighty ballcock.

Well, there are already fans
camped in vigil on the streets,

the whole place is starting
to look like Lourdes.

We're working through who
benefits from his death,

starting with the band.

There is also a mystery groupie,

that WPC Button and
I are following up.

And you think she's up to it?

Why do you ask that?

She's just tried to give
me a commemorative candle.

She's a fan, she's
taking it pretty hard.

Hm, yes, well, it's all
a bit of an experiment,

this, this WPC in
Great Slaughter.

Just keep an eye, yes, hm?

No room for dead wood.

So you are a taxi driver, Tom,

as well as a window
cleaner and a gardener?

He says, "Idle hands are
the devil's workshop."

But you gave this woman a
lift, do you remember her?

He reckons she was the
only girl leaving the gig,

instead of going in.

That's great, I mean, you
can take us to her address?

Yeah.

- Okay, great.

Yeah, that's probably them.

No, no, of course I
won't say anything.

Yes, yes, I know
what will happen if.

But.

- Oh, God.

Angie Yates?

Yeah.

The police,
can we come in?

We used to date, now
there's sense of view,

know what I mean?

Right, well, let's just
say you wouldn't exactly

call it formal courting.

I knew he was playing here,

so I got a room

and I went over to
arrange to, you know,

to hook up after the
gig, just for the night,

but he never showed.

What happened?

Miss Yates, that is what we
are trying to figure out.

Thank you.

Harlan's of Grosvenor
Street, very fancy.

Ah, y-yeah, a present.

From Reggie.

Sorry, did, did you want one?

No.

Thank you.

Ah, Mrs. Adams from the house?

Ivy, please.

I didn't want to interfere,
but I thought you'd want this.

The postman dropped
it off this afternoon.

Such a lovely lad.

Well, goodnight.

Thank you, Ivy.

So what is it?

Oh, my good Lord.

Who is that?

Well, it's not Angie Yates.

Thompson Photographers.

It just says as requested,
is it blackmail?

No, I've seen photos
like this before,

the convenient staging.

My hunch is this is a put
up job at Reggie's request.

At Reggie's, why?

Faked evidence of adultery.

It's normally used to
push through a divorce.

But he was a bachelor,

why on earth would
he want a divorce?

The single has been
on the radio all day.

The record company estimates
it's up to number 10 already.

Yeah, could be even
higher by tomorrow,

- when they announce it.

What's this?

No, no, no, Pete, The
Queenmakers must go on.

We, we need you to sing for us.

What, Reggie's part?

No, no.

But you've a voice to die for.

Just think what solace
you'll give the fans.

It's true, mate.

You do what you wanna do, Pete.

We're a brotherhood, huh?

You wanna selfishly ruin
everyone else's career?

Peter, this is a once in a
lifetime opportunity, huh?

Yeah.

It seems our local reporter

has got the proverbial
bit between her teeth.

She's now claiming it's murder.

It's conjecture, sir,

Ruth Penny has heard
nothing from us.

The eyes of the world are
upon us now, Gillespie,

we need that killer
behind bars, pronto.

I want every officer
pulling their weight,

every mind focused,
every boot on the ground

and I'll,

I'll be in my office.

Gentlemen, I bring news.

Oh please, no more.

Overnight, I managed to isolate

a number of pollen
types from Brenda.

Sorry, our bee, I met a Sister
Brenda once at a lecture,

well, see, something about
those hairy, little mandibles.

Anyway, um, in
examining the pollen,

I've identified three
types of flora thus far,

fuchsia, lavender and
the common daffodil.

So deduction, Brenda was
plucked from a garden

containing all three of those
flowers in close proximity.

Find the garden and
we find our killer.

I'm here to heal the
people's heartache.

The Queenmakers are
not splitting up.

Far from it, in honour of
their dear friend, Reggie,

the boys plan to give the fans

what they so sadly could
not two nights ago,

a concert with a new lineup,

tonight, right here in
Great Slaughter Town Hall.

Now, please, this is a
difficult time for the band.

There'll be no
questions right now.

- No, no, no.

Who was he
with? Was he with anyone?

Is someone cross
about our story?

Well, we have to keep
you on your toes.

All you're keeping is me
from doing my job properly.

You embarrassed my team and
you're jeopardising this case.

Well, don't go red in the face,

you'll clash with your tie.

- A boy is dead,

and all you're doing
is pedalling muck.

Muck?

Well, we'll have to agree
to disagree on that one.

- Sir.

What's this?

From the local records office.

- Wedding certificate?
- Hm.

Reggie Wallis was married.

Not only that, look at
who he was married to.

I'm sorry, alright, he kept
it a secret for the fans.

The fans?

Alan said it would limit
popularity, if Reggie was taken.

Honestly, he made me sign to it,

keep my mouth shut and
I'd be looked after,

but talk about Reggie

and I'd be cut off.

Look,

I didn't kill him, why would I?

I bloody loved the idiot.

What's this?

I think you know.

Evidence of adultery.

He was gonna use
them to divorce you.

- Stop, please.

You didn't know?

I suppose I shouldn't
be so surprised.

I'm pregnant and I told him,

I told him when
he was in Hamburg,

but he went all
quiet on the phone.

Divorce, divorce,
now is there any way

you could've got this wrong?

Sorry, we confirmed
with the photographer.

Alan set up a shoot... Alan?

Yes, Alan set up a shoot
at Reggie's request.

Right, well, I'll bet
Alan didn't tell you

Reggie was leaving the band.

She's lying.

I mean, honestly, I've
never even met the girl.

It's funny that, I wonder
how your very rare,

handmade cigarettes ended
up in her hotel room.

You paid her a visit
after Reggie died

and you threatened her to
stay quiet, didn't you?

I did it for the band to
protect them, their reputation.

Well, from what I hear, they
were splitting up anyway,

only now with Reggie's murder,
you get a boost of publicity,

Pete gets to be the lead singer

and you get to keep your 20%.

You honestly think I'm the
one who does best out of this?

For a start, Tony is
the one who's contracted

to inherit Reggie's
songwriting royalties.

They wrote songs
together officially,

but it's no secret
Tony did all the work.

No idea what you're
talking about, mate.

It must've been galling,
him taking all the credit,

all the adoration,
you're the creative force

and yet all those fans' eyes
automatically go to him,

lovable Reggie.

Oh, let me tell you
about our lovable Reggie.

He's not the nice guy that
everyone thinks he is, alright.

- Tony, don't.
- No, he pushed Pete about,

he's made him feel
like a toddler.

Anyone working for the
band gets it in the neck.

Am I wrong?

Am I wrong, say
something for once.

Alright.

I had a friend,

a really close friend,

who passed away a
couple of years back.

Reggie just treated
it like some joke.

The guy could get into
a fight with a wall,

he's even picked
on little, old Ivy,

like he reduced the
poor thing to tears.

I was hoping I
wouldn't be mentioned.

But he upset you?

It was the day
the boys moved in.

I did my utmost to
get everything ready,

but Reggie spotted
a swarm of bees,

all against the
drainpipe over there.

He was very upset,

bit scary, truth be known.

Anyway, I had them removed

and I realise now
why he was so angry.

You don't think the bee
came from here, do you?

It's possible, although
I can't see any lavender.

The thing is, sir,

there's enough
tension in that band

to string of flipping guitar.

They all had reason
to bump Reggie off.

But that's not right.

I mean, you can't really
think the band did this, sir.

They're lovely.

Peggy, I think you're maybe
a bit close to this one.

Maybe you could man the
front desk for a while, ey?

Right.

Hm, well, I'm sorry,
Gillespie, old boy,

I fear this case highlights
what we've all suspected,

having a woman in the
mix simply doesn't work.

Okay.

A team should be lean, mean.

Hm.

Probably best I, um,

I let WPC Button go, hm?

I'll
leave that in your hands.

Perhaps he can be persuaded?

Not unless someone can
snap Button out of it.

- Right.

And then,

come in.

- I'll call you back.

Look, um, sometimes
when the blood is up,

you, ah, you overstep the mark.

Alright, you've attempted
an apology, what is it?

Peggy is very emotional.

She's acting like Reggie's
some kind of saint

and that her world is
over, her job is at risk.

You're concerned for her?

Well, I don't want
to be a man down.

Kids today, if they're in love,

everyone has to hear about it.

What happened to good
old British restraint?

Oh, you mean repression?

I thought our handsome bachelor
didn't believe in love?

- I don't.

Well, if you could
come up with something,

that might snap Peggy out of it.

Alright, I'll think about it.

Oh, poor Peggy,

first love, God, that's
the scar that never heals.

Who said that?

Me.

So we have more pollen?

Oh, but not just any pollen,

this belongs to the typha,
a genus of monocotyledonous,

more commonly known
as the bulrush

and as I'm sure you'll remember
from the story of Moses,

they tend to grow by rivers.

- Now this is my pollen map.
- Okay.

Deduction, isolating the typha,

we can now focus on this
specific area close to the river,

we just need to find the
garden hedgerow or meadow

containing all these plants.

Gentlemen, the van is outside.

The record label now thinks we
are somewhere in the top five

within all the
periodicals, the top five.

We find out in an hour.

All you need to focus on now

is blowing us all
away as a trio, huh.

You ready to make some
history, huh, Pete?

I, ah...

At a boy, at a boy.

Hey, let's go do this
one for Reggie, eh?

Come on, Sunny.

- Al.
- Mm-hm?

Um, did you know
in the contract.

Angie's cut off from any
of Reggie's royalties?

She's got a kid on the way.

No, I don't, listen, try not
to worry about it now, okay.

I will look into it.

We've got four suspects,
a nun chasing flowers,

a WPC in denial and
nothing new to work with.

Look, Felix, we must be
looking at this wrong.

Miss Penny,
you can't be in here.

No, it's okay, Felix.

Do you have something to help?

Peggy, can you come
and join us please?

This is the "Liverpool
Standard" from two years ago.

Brian Cortlin.

I know all about him.

He was The Queenmaker's
original roadie.

Handsome fellow.

One can still
appreciate the form.

This story doesn't end
happily, I'm afraid.

I'll say, he topped himself.

Well, he was found dead
in his hotel bathtub,

electrocuted, it was all kept
very hush, hush at the time.

Do we know why he did it?

Well, there were
rumours of bullying,

which left Reggie in a
pretty unsavoury light.

Well, that's a lie.

Look, I know this journalist,

they're convinced that Reggie
was the reason that he did it.

You know, you newspaper
people, you're all the same

with your big words
twisting everything.

Hey, Peggy, let's keep
an open mind here.

No, Reggie was a good man!

You should all be
ashamed of yourself!

Okay, that is enough, you
and I need a serious word.

But in the meantime, Tom Thomas'
and Ivy Adams' statements,

I noticed they don't
have signatures.

But, sir, the concert.

Well, you'd better
hurry along then.

Look, I tried, besides
you didn't let me finish.

Look at the dates, the
night Reggie was killed.

Was the anniversary of
Brian Cortlin's death.

It's a coincidence.

Well, possibly not, "A
close friend that passed,"

that's what's Sunny the
drummer said, remember?

And Reggie openly
mocked his loss.

Well, perhaps that's what
this is all about? Revenge.

Yes.

Ah, Detective
Inspector, what do you want?

Sunny, could I have
a quick word, please?

I think it's time we talked
about Brian, don't you?

It was suicide.

Brian took his own life.

Do you know why?

Why?

We know at the time that it
was suspected that Reggie.

He was homosexual.

He was our driver, the roadie.

You know, we'd only
just started out

and he was like one of the gang.

But Reggie somehow
worked it out.

And he used that against him?

Hm, threatened to expose
him to the police,

made him work for less money.

See, that's the thing,

Reggie had a real
nasty streak like that.

He dominated people.

So that argument you
had about the set list?

It was about Brian.

See, Brian was from round here.

It was the anniversary
of his death

and I just thought
given the crowd,

it might be nice to mention him.

Reggie didn't agree?

"Why mention that flipping
queer?" I think were his words.

Were you and Brian close?

He was a mate.

Perhaps more than a mate?

Personally I believe
love is love.

We couldn't tell
anyone we were together

and I couldn't even
stick up for him.

You can't help who you fall for.

Look, I don't want any trouble,

please don't make this public.

You don't know what that's like,

you're scared just
'cause of who you are.

I could lose everything,

be locked up.

We're not interested in that.

Did you know anything
about Brian's family?

No, no, not really.

I think his dad died
when he was young

and then his mum remarried.

But I never met them

and none of us were
invited to his funeral.

Honestly,

I hated Reggie,

but I never would've killed him,

he weren't bloody worth it.

Here, fuchsias, violets,
lavender and the common daffodil.

- So that's it then?
- Well, not quite.

You'll remember the linchpin
to my whole strategy

was the common
typha, the bulrush.

And you didn't find any of that?

Well, I couldn't see
into the back, I did try.

I may or may not have damaged

the owner's fence
in the process.

Thank you.

Okay, well, where is this place?

Willow Cottage on Fox Hill Lane.

Sorry, Willow?

Salix alba, a deciduous tree

with slender, drooping
branches often said be weeping.

No, I mean, I just, I checked.

Willow Cottage was Brian
Cortlin's old address.

Apparently has a mother who
still lives there, Ivy Adams.

Of course,

she remarried.

Brian was Ivy's son.

Hang on, that sweet, old
woman is no murderer.

Oh, but Sam, you're
forgetting one thing,

a mother's love can be the
deadliest thing of all.

Gosh, I gave myself
tingles just then.

Button's there right now.

I need you to sign there.

You've a lovely house.

Alright, Peggy, love?

Yeah, I-I just...

Nothing, nothing's wrong.

You sure about
that, Peggy, love?

Wait here, please,
I'll be right back.

You've got this, Pete, yeah?

Oh, hang on, one moment.

- Al.
- Yes?

Listen, ah, doing
a bit thinking.

Mm-hm?

I want a portion of our money
to carry on going to Angie.

I do, I mean, I don't know
what Reggie was thinking,

divorcing her, cutting her off,

when she's just about to have a.

Will you just focus?

You are moments away
from the single,

most important
performance of your career

and you're wittering
about some girl.

Reggie had no problem
with the idea,

I don't see why you should.

Hm, what, it was
your suggestion?

Look, all of this can
be sorted out later.

Right now, I don't want it
affecting your performance, okay.

Yes, I'm here, sorry about that.

- Okay, call back in 10.

Ivy?

It was you, wasn't it?

How could you do
that to our Reggie?

You should
leave, Peggy, love.

Now just wait a second.

You know, you could
hurt someone doing that.

I always knew my
Brian was special

right from when he was young.

See, he only ever wanted to
share his life with a man

and he found one,

that's what he said.

He'd write to me on the
road, he sounded so happy.

But then,

he said Reggie was onto him,

threatening,

degrading

for months,

'til all my letters
stopped.

It was a couple of days
after we heard he died

his note arrived.

"Sorry, Mum, I can't
live with it anymore."

Reggie.

Reggie Wallis drove
my boy to his grave.

He took everything.

I had no choice.

Now it's over.

Ivy.

I just want to be with my boy.

- I know, but.

I don't think Brian
would want this.

- Would he?

He loved you and
he'll wait for you.

Peggy, love,

Brian's letter
about finding love,

I wonder if you could make
sure it gets to Sunny?

Ah, WPC Button,

I have to admit I'm impressed,

even a little surprised.

So I want you to know that
I'm putting you forward

for a commendation,
well done!

Just what we need, ey,
Gillespie, a WPC on the team?

Oh no, the concert.

Peggy, don't panic, follow
me quick, we must run.

- One, two, three, four.

From the ashes they rise!

That was the performance

people will tell their
grandchildren about

and I have news,
"Out of Sight" is now

the number one single
in the country,

this is the big
time, huh?

So what do you say,
huh, Mr. Lead Singer?

I say you're sacked.

We'll manage
ourselves from now on,

'til we find someone
who's less of a weasel.

Right?

You, you,

you'll hear from my lawyer.

- Sorry, Alan, take care.
- Ungrateful!

Well, what is it?

We thought you should know
we've arrested Ivy Adams.

What, why?

Ivy was Brian's mother.

She wanted you to have
this, a letter he sent her.

You missed us, Peg, think
we'd better do an encore.

Yeah.

There's someone very special

we'd like to dedicate
this last song to.

Peggy Button, get up here.

- Come on, don't be shy.

Peggy, this one's for you.

- One, two, three, four.

I feel Peggy may
have a new crush.

That's all we need.

It's just first love
that never heals, right,

- that's what you said?
- Oh, you can't believe

what a journalist says,
Sam, you know that.