The Brokenwood Mysteries (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 2 - Stone Cold Dead - full transcript

Morning, Vicar.

God bless, Evie.

Good morning.

Good morning, Mr. Timson.

- Morning, Evie.
- Hello there.

Hello, soldiers.

Mr. Shuler?

Mr. Shuler?

Don't shrug, Evie.
It is unladylike.

That man is late again.

Remember, a poor work ethic
is a sign of immorality.



Now, it is a big day.
We must always look our best.

Yes, Mrs. Highmore-Browne.

Vicar Seymour?

Vicar, you have left
God's word on your doorstep.

Always meant
to visit this place.

Used to come here with
my dad in the school holidays.

I wonder if they still do
the horse and buggy ride.

Given the nature of the callout,

there could be some irony
to that sign.

G'day, Detective Shepherd.

The dynamic duo strike again.

Gina.
Bright and early.

I have always wanted
to visit this place.

Me too.



Maybe we could
look around together.

Maybe.
Work to do first.

Of course.

Thanks.

Victim is
Charity Highmore-Browne,

the owner and manager
of the village.

And the schoolmistress?

On Live Days, yeah.

Gave the kids of today the scary
"old school" experience.

More irony?

A message perhaps?

If so, it must've been
the slow-learners class.

Maybe he did it.

I've always had a thing
about mannequins.

Pretty obvious cause of death
on this one, Gina.

Not necessarily.

Sometimes the obvious
hides something more sinister.

That has been cut
with something.

Yeah, hunters do that to make it
easier to transport their kill.

If an arrow is barbed,

it's impossible to pull out
without damaging the beast.

So, Charity,
why were you hunted down?

What are we thinking?

She walks in,
opens the window.

Thwack!
Gets an arrow to the head.

Arrow could have been fired from
any number of places out there.

Which suggests

that whoever
had Charity in their sights

must've known that
she would open that window

as opposed to
any of these others.

Get all available units

to begin door knocks
in the surrounding area.

If there is someone
running around with a bow,

they must've been spotted.

We can assume, then, that
the person knew her routine,

that she would open that window.

Exactly.

- Is that...?

Frodo's gone up in the world.

This your van?

Hi. Yeah.

Yeah, it's mine.
For sure. Totally.

It's part of my fleet.

Fleet?
How many do you have?

As of now, just this one,
but I'll be expanding.

There's money in ice cream.

You should
move your fleet along.

- What happened in there?
- Hunting accident.

So there won't be
any public visiting today

until the crime scene
is cleared.

Time to round up
the usual suspects.

I'll deal with
the next of kin.

Right.
Let's get through this lot.

Doing the grunt work.
To be the boss.

While we wait for
that day to come,

we could order a choc-dip
with nuts and a Flake.

Gina, this is Debra Yelich.

Debra, this is Dr. Kadinsky.

Hello.

Yes, that's my sister, Janet.

Janet? Not Charity?

That too.
But her real name was Janet.

Plain old Janet Tucker.

Though that was
never good enough for her.

This is Charity Highmore-Browne?

Yes.

What happened to her?

She was hit in the head
by an arrow.

An arrow?
How strange.

Please...

When was the last time
you saw your sister?

Some time ago.
We weren't close.

Would you know of anyone
that would want to harm her?

It wasn't an accident, then?

Doesn't seem that way.

Like I said,
we weren't in close contact.

Can you tell me, why did your
sister want to change her name?

Charity Highmore-Browne.
49 years old.

Owner and general manager of
the Brokenwood Historic Village.

Also the local representative
of the Historic Places Trust.

Known to be a stickler for
preserving heritage buildings.

Her next of kin, Debra Yelich,

explained that her birth name
was Janet Tucker.

But as soon as Janet
was old enough,

she insisted on
changing her name by deed poll.

To Charity Highmore-Browne.

To Charity.

Then when she met
her husband, David, well,

she couldn't believe her luck.

She became
Charity Highmore-Browne.

Interestingly,
David Highmore-Browne

disappeared a little over
seven years ago.

Charity reported him missing

when he failed to return from
a walk along Brokenwood Beach.

An extensive search
revealed nothing,

and it was rumored
he had, in fact, walked out.

The coronial report
mentions a note

addressed to Charity
turned up in the mail.

"I couldn't be myself.
I couldn't be your everything.

It is better I become
nothing at all.

Yours, All at Sea."

Bit of pedal steel guitar,
it could be a country lyric.

Do we know what he did?
Did he write Mills & Boon?

A conservator.

He worked at the village,
restoring interiors

to their original state.

More extensive searching
turned up nothing

until some of his clothing
washed up at the beach.

But his body
was never recovered.

The coroner deemed it
death by suicide.

He kills himself. She gets
an arrow through the head.

- Thanks.
- An exciting marriage.

This was found around her neck.

Padlock maybe?
Small cupboard door?

Or the key to her heart.

That definitely needs
some pedal steel guitar.

Witnesses?

Evie Neaber
was believed to be

the last to see Charity alive.

But she was too upset to talk.

Maybe you could bring her in
a little bit later.

Of course.

I spoke with Wally Seymour.

I saw Charity
enter the schoolhouse.

I thought after a while
she was taking a long time.

Charity was a woman
of strict routine, you see?

I was the one who found her.

Charity!

Call an ambulance!
The police!

- Help!

Call an ambulance!
Help!

Who would do such a thing?!

This is a colonial village,
not the Wild West!

I talked to Jack Shuler,
the blacksmith.

Didn't see anything.

Head down, ass up.

Getting my smithy
ready for the day.

I also spoke to Kahu Taylor,

who was set to work
his first Live Day

as the Maori postal runner.

What are they?

Well, in colonial times,
Maori knew all the routes,

so were paid
to run between settlements

carrying mail
between postal depots.

So you saw nothing suspicious?

I didn't see anything suspicious
because I was in my raupo hut

feeling like the token Maori.

I knew this was a dumb idea.

Patrick Timson
is the postmaster.

He was in his kiosk prepping
his franking machine.

The historic village
has a unique postmark.

Posting letters,
even in this day and age,

is very popular
with the visitors.

Patrick said his post office is
one of the busiest attractions.

I guess that makes
him Postman Pat.

But only if he has
a black-and-white cat.

Other witnesses?

Billy Franks and Nigel Medlock

were in their tent
cleaning their muskets.

We can reload in 40 seconds.

Yeah, powder horn
to compression.

Okay, can you point
that thing somewhere else?

Sor-ry.

Senior.

I will find out
where this came from.

So you saw Mr. Timson
in the post office.

Yes.

But Mr. Shuler
wasn't in his blacksmith shop.

No, and
Mrs. Highmore-Browne was grumpy

because he's always late.

And then what happened?

I dropped off my milk
at the general store,

when I heard Mr. Seymour...

Help! Call an ambulance!
The police!

Everyone came running.

- Call an ambulance!

Help! Help!

It's so horrible what happened,

because Charity
was such a nice lady.

I'll miss cooking
in her house.

Nice and slow
to get an even peel.

Well done, Evie.

Evie when you say "her house,"
you mean the museum house?

That is her house.
That's where she actually lived.

In the museum?

Charity was quite eccentric.

Perhaps you could
show us what you mean.

Sorry.
Chasing out a stray chicken.

Can I help?
I love chasing chickens.

I can manage.
Thanks all the same.

If you need anything,
I'll be in the office.

This is her room.

This is an exhibit.

We want to see
where she actually lived.

In here.
That's her bed.

Like I said, totally eccentric.

So she actually lived her life
as if she was in 1861?

Gina.

Didn't know
you were into hunting.

There is a lot
you don't know about me.

But today I'm doing research
for Mike.

I guess I could say the same.
We should compare notes.

I don't think so.

My research and your research
are very different.

What can you tell me
about accuracy?

Depends what you're after.

Hunting, recreational,
sport, field archery.

There's a bow
for every occasion.

Murder?

Mate, this whole shop's packed
with potential murder weapons.

Not -- Not that
I've ever sold anything...

No.
I'll take your word for it.

- Could this have come from here?
- I don't sell those.

More for accuracy
than heavy kill.

But these days you can order
all this stuff online.

Seriously,
I wouldn't ever actually...

It's okay.

I mean,
sometimes I think about it.

You know, when there's
a really annoying customer.

- But I've never actually...
- Tony, you should stop now.

Yeah.

What is the difference
between these types?

Right.
Compound bow versus recurve.

So as you draw back, the
pressure relieves on the hand,

but it's still held
within the string.

It saves the archer from tiring
when firing arrow after arrow.

And improves accuracy?

Maybe.
I'm not an expert.

If you want more detailed info

you should approach the archery
club down at the domain.

Woman who runs it
is an ex-Olympian.

- Debra Yelich?
- Yeah, that's her.

Just missed out on a bronze.

- Seriously, I wouldn't ever...
- Thanks, Tony.

Wally.

Did you find
what you were looking for?

The stray chicken.

Yes.

Well, no, they're a nuisance

but hardly worth bothering about
under the circumstances.

Can I help?

We're curious.

How long did Charity reside
in the homestead?

Maybe eight years.

They moved in shortly
before her husband left her.

Left or went missing?

The detail hardly matters.

Suicide amounts
to the same thing.

Charity was heartbroken.

We note that
his death certificate

was only recently issued

after the statutory
seven-year period.

Yes.

Did you notice anything
different in her demeanor

when that came through?

I think it gave her closure,
actually.

We had a little ceremony.

And so we remember David,

missing in body
but not in spirit.

Thank you, Vicar Seymour.

Being laid to rest here

would have been a special honor
for David.

He put so much work
into the place.

This village meant
so much to him.

Means so much to her.

We don't know
he's actually dead.

Awkward.

Patrick!
Come on, mate.

Patrick, after seven years

even I have to accept
it is time to move on.

David made his choice,

something that was
out of my control,

and the result is
that he is dead.

Unless you know something
I don't.

No.

He's dead, Patrick.

That's right.
David is gone.

We must move on.

Wally, you're not
an actual vicar, are you?

No.
Like everything else here, we...

Pretend?

Evoke.
We evoke the past.

You are paid, though?

Charity provided a basic salary
for me as caretaker

and Patrick as head conservator.

The rest are volunteers.

This place has always run
off the smell of an oily rag.

I'm not sure
we will survive this.

One more thing -- Just before
you discovered Charity,

a witness saw you walking
towards this office

holding your cheek.

Had you hurt yourself?

No.

As a result
of a struggle, perhaps?

No.

If I had, I think
I'd remembered that.

I- Is that all?

Yes. Thanks.

Charity was clearly
a complete eccentric

with an absolute passion
for the village.

Which is on the brink
of insolvency.

Could she have offed her husband
to keep funding the dream?

Look into
the life-insurance situation.

Hi there.

D.C. Breen, Brokenwood CIB.

Right. Um...

Is Debra about?

Beautiful day.

Hi.

- Sorry. Mr. Breen?
- Yes.

Debra.

This is my husband, Ron.

He suffered a severe stroke many
years ago, so he doesn't speak.

Right. Sorry.

But he loves it out here
in the fresh air, watching.

Don't you, love?

Thanks for coming down.

And congrats on your
Olympic record, by the way.

It's very impressive.

Fourth is a hard one
to celebrate.

Especially as the bronze
went to a woman from Belarus.

Knowing what we know now
about their sporting tactics,

well, go figure.

Still, the Olympics,
that's a massive achievement.

It's a long time ago now.
What do you want to know?

David Highmore-Browne's life
was never insured.

So with no life insurance,

his death and the subsequent
certification seven years later

would have been of
no financial benefit to Charity.

No motive there, then.

Perhaps it was suicide.

Although to commit suicide
and never have your body found

takes a high level of planning.

Or good luck.

Did you find Debra Yelich
to be quite staunch?

Nice work!

Not really.
Pulled to the left.

Still, that's amazing.

Especially given you lost
your sister earlier today.

I've had enough tragedy
to call myself an expert.

My sister is dead,
and I am sad about that.

When I'm sad or have things
I need to work through,

I shoot ends.

Ends?

Ends.
Groups of arrows.

This is a quiver.
This is a bow.

Really, what else
can I tell you?

You mentioned a list
of your club members.

And why exactly
do you need that?

As you know,
your sister was killed

with an arrow to the head.

So you assume it must be
someone from this club?

We are focusing
our lines of inquiry.

That's all at this stage.

What can you tell me about this?

It's a small broadhead.

Used in sports archery?

Hunting, I believe.

- Do you hunt?
- No.

But firing a sports arrow
and a hunting arrow

would be much the same?

Like I said, I don't hunt,
so I wouldn't know.

Can I e-mail you the list?

Sure.
Thanks for your time.

For the record,

where were you just before
10:00 a.m. this morning?

This morning I was picking
Ron up from respite care.

Yes, Ron, I know.

Sorry, what's he saying?

Um, my husband wants to go.
He's getting cold.

I'll get you that list.

I couldn't help think he was
trying to say something else.

I'll follow up with the respite
place to verify her movements.

Fair enough.

After all,
a champion archer's sister

has ended up
with an arrow in her head.

Can't be that simple.

Or can it?

What we know so far.

We have a broken arrow,
a key, a dead husband,

and a tiny window of time

between Evie seeing Charity
alive here...

And being found dead here
by Wally.

A maximum of five minutes.

Most likely she was
shot through the window

from a hidden vantage point
somewhere around here.

But where did
they disappear to?

And what did they do
with the weapon.

A bow is difficult to conceal.

It's hard to leave
the scene unnoticed.

If they did stash it somewhere,
it would seem very out of place.

The dogs couldn't get a scent,
which clearly suggests...

The perpetrator
didn't leave the scene.

Breen.

I sighted
the visitors' log book.

Debra Yelich signed her husband
out at 9:30 yesterday morning.

It's at least a 30-minute drive
from this place

to the historic village.

We know time of death
occurred just before 10:00 a.m.

I reckon we can count her out.

Got it.
And meet me at the village.

Thanks.

Debra Yelich was across town
at the time of death.

Okay.

We know from Evie that
Postman Pat was in his kiosk

and Billy and Nigel

were in the same place
when Evie talked to Charity here

and when Wally
sounded the alarm here.

They never left their position.
They can be discounted.

Evie said she saw Wally here

heading away
from the schoolhouse,

but then he reemerged
from the schoolhouse.

Where was he in the interim?

The other person we can't
account for is Jack Shuler,

so I'll follow up with him.

And something that Kahu Taylor
said needs clarification.

As for me, I'm off
to play bows and arrows.

That's 40 meters.

And...

Chooo!

- I like the sound effects.
- Thanks.

But according to Debra Yelich,

anyone less than skilled
loses basic accuracy

over distances
greater than 25 meters.

So we're looking at an expert.

What about the members
of her archery club?

They all check out. None of them
were near the place.

Let's try that one.

According to a witness,

you weren't in your smithy
just before Charity was killed.

So we're keen to know
where you were.

Witness? Evie Neaber?

There were several people
present around the time.

I was there.

I remember Wally
sounding the alarm.

Call an ambulance!
The police!

Help!
Call an ambulance.

So maybe Evie was mistaken.

And where were you
just prior to that?

I don't know. Around.
Getting things done.

There's a lot to organize
on open days.

"Around."
Can you be more specific?

Why? Because a kid
might've been mistaken?

For all I can remember,
I might've been in the bog.

It was only yesterday.

What'd you have
for dinner last night?

There you go.
It was only yesterday.

I got to go.
Busy day.

For the record,
it was a curry laksa.

Good for you.

Doesn't give a clear
vantage point to the school.

It's not
easily accessible either.

And if the killer
walked out of here with a bow,

surely they'd have been
seen by someone.

Wait.

- I'm sorry.
- Holy mother of...!

I was doing maintenance,
and I couldn't resist.

Am I too young
to have a heart attack?

As far as practical jokes go,
it's an oldie but a goodie.

Gets people every time.

Yeah, well, yep.
You got us.

You curate the exhibits,
Patrick?

Yes. I specialize in the models,
the scenes, artifacts.

Restoration.

It's delicate work
but very rewarding.

Do you think we could use
one of these mannequins?

- What for?
- Measurements.

They're incredibly fragile.

It's about position.

I mean, once in place,
they wouldn't need to move.

Their clothing
is ornate and antique.

No one touches them but me.

Sure. You supervise.

- Which one?
- Her.

Kahu.

Detective Sims.

What can I do you for?

I just wanted to clarify
something you said

in your witness statement.

You said that you were
inside your raupo hut

when you heard
the alarm being raised.

So?

Well, a witness has you emerging
from the side of your hut.

Are you doubting me?

Kahu, I need to be clear.

It suggests that you were
returning from somewhere.

I was.

Okay. From?

I was returning
from behind the hut.

- And what were you doing there?
- Hiding.

From Charity.

I was talking
on my mobile phone,

an act which
she specifically banned.

- Who were you talking to?
- My sister.

I was telling her
how much of a dick I felt.

But you must have known
that you had to dress up.

Why did you agree to do it?

I told you.
For the money.

There must be flushing toilets
for the public,

so they need to be maintained.

Well, I'm up for it.

"Up for it"?
What are you, a helium balloon?

Our last native left.

Would you like to act
as our Maori mail runner

every fourth Sunday
and public holidays?

Did you just say "native"?

Yes.
Well, you are, aren't you?

Please,
I won't be laid siege

by the politically correct
brigade.

Here it is 1861.

In this village
we reflect attitudes.

We don't rewrite them.

Do you want the contract or not?

I wish I'd had the guts
to tell her to stick it.

Now I won't get the chance.

Little more to the left.

She was shot
through the window, then?

Seems that way.

That would take some skill.

I presume you're aware
Charity's sister's into archery.

We do know that.
Thanks.

We also know she was across town
at the time of the incident.

Yeah, turn her
just a little bit more.

A little more.

Better?

Yeah, that's it.

Any more and it won't line up
with where she fell.

Patrick.

What's in the scrub over there?

A cesspit or something.

It used to give off a bad smell,
and the public complained.

Charity made it out of bounds
years ago.

I wouldn't go in there.

Wally. Hello.

Why is that?

The ground
is believed to be unstable.

Thanks for the warning.

Please be careful.

What is this, Wally?

I believe it's an old offal pit

from when the land the village
was built on used to be a farm.

When was this?

Charity's father bought it
back in the early '70s.

Any idea
where there might be a key?

No. Probably still
with the previous owner.

It's not something
that gets used

as part of
the village experience.

Sims.

I need you to bring something
down from the station.

Roger that.
There ASAP.

Doesn't fit.

I'll grab the bolt cutters
from the car.

Is that entirely necessary?

By the looks of it,
that padlock is antique.

This is a museum, after all.

Grab them.

I thought you said this area

wasn't part of
the museum experience.

Well, yes, but...

- Aah!
- Mike!

You all right?

I think I hurt my leg.

Don't move anything.

Hello.

Detective Shepherd,
how's the pain level?

No pain.

Well, the good news is you've
managed to evade serious damage.

It looks a little serious.

It's a hairline fracture
of the tibia.

- That's the bad news?
- No.

The bad news is you'll need
to keep your weight off it

for the next two weeks as the
healing process gets under way.

- As in no walking?
- As in no walking.

And it has to be elevated
to reduce swelling.

The sooner the swelling recedes,

the sooner
you can get back to work.

I'll organize a wheelchair.
Back soon.

Hi!
Did she say wheelchair?

Probably an overreaction.

Does it hurt?

No pain.

Got to love good drugs.

Prescription.
It's a hospital.

Now we've established

that you're not
a recreational drug user,

what's the latest?

The human remains are with Gina.
I'll head down there next.

I mean, you can't, obviously,
be there, so I'll...

It's okay, Sims.

I'm under the gentle influence
of opiates.

Clearly you need to take the
lead while I'm out of action.

You want me to...?

Yes.

As of now, you are the acting
boss of the Brokenwood CIB.

Wow.

Okay. Good. Great.

Nice one.

But I want to
stay across everything.

Of course.

And while I think of it...

I'll notify the coroner and
let him know what we've found.

Yeah, we'll leave you to that.

Wally Seymour was
very antsy about that offal pit.

Perhaps he knows more
than he's letting on.

Got it.

We can get that ice cream now.

Simon.

I hear you took
a crash course in speleology.

Doing a spot of caving
with a friend.

Something like that.

Excuse the pun,
but the old bones

aren't what
they used to be?

It's nothing serious.

What, so you're
bobby back on the beat already?

Not exactly.

What have they got you on?
Tramadol?

Apparently.

Do I need to send
reinforcements?

Detective Sims
is taking the reins.

Good opportunity for her.

It's only my leg.
I can still think.

On tramadol?

You'll be thinking
you're line-dancing

with purple elephants.

Sing out if I can help.

Thanks.

So you have a promotion.

I am the O.C. on this, yes.

- Good for you.
- Thanks.

So, um, why the sheet?

Skeletons deserve modesty
as much as anyone.

Because they are very exposed.

I expect the cause of death
will be difficult to ascertain

given the passage of time
and decay.

What little tissue
that has remained

will be sent for testing.

We'll see.

I already know by the shape
of the pelvis, this is male.

But what's most interesting
is this small hole

in the side of the skull.

Bullet wound?

Bullets usually leave
an exit wound.

There isn't one.

The other unusual thing,
if you looked more closely,

is that the wound
is slightly square.

Bullet entry holes are round.

You didn't notice that?

Well, not at first, but now --

You can tell so much about
a person by their skeleton.

Such as?

He was a tortured soul.
A man with secrets.

You can tell this how?

Tension in the jaw.

And see here.
The shoulders -- hunched.

Secrets and tension.

Mike would have noticed that.

- Well, Mike's not here.
- I know.

John Doe has to be
David Highmore-Browne.

Given the state of him,
we may never know.

Gina seems confident.

She really doesn't like me.

No.

She really likes Mike.
There's a difference.

Assuming it is
David Highmore-Browne,

what does that tell us?

He was hiding from Gina
and got locked in.

Or Charity.

But the head wound
suggests he was murdered

rather than
starved to death, right?

Motive?
It wasn't money.

Accidental.
Hid the body.

Maybe, but how would that be
connected to her death?

Maybe they're not.

You're with
Debra Yelich tomorrow?

Yeah, Mike wanted her expertise

to look at firing angles
in the village.

That got interrupted
when he attempted

his journey to the center
of the Earth routine.

Yeah, well, after that,
follow up on any grievances

people might have had
with Charity

over her involvement
in Historic Places.

Yes, boss!
Do I have to call you boss now?

No.
It feels weird.

Is this some kind of sick joke?

No, not at all.

We need your expertise
to narrow down the possibilities

of where your sister's killer
may have been situated.

You're insinuating
I killed my sister.

No.

We know for a fact you were
across town picking up Ron.

The forehead is
an incredibly small target.

So you'd need to be closer?

Put it this way --

If I was that good,
I would've won gold.

Perhaps you should be looking
for someone from Belarus.

- What's that?
- Nothing.

Is he laughing at your joke?

No. It's time for
his physio appointment.

And I wasn't joking,
Detective Breen.

From here, whoever they are,
they're a crack shot.

- You all right?
- Yeah.

Home sweet home.

Allow me.

I've got it.

You're a natural.

Ha. Not a skill
I was aiming to perfect.

So I have

the latest edition of
the Brokenwood Courier and...

...a gift.

Great indoor fun.
According to Breen.

Thanks.
I appreciate it.

Great. So...

Anything else you need
before I go?

To be kept informed.

Right, well, specialist search
are down the offal pit now

looking for anything
that might explain

the hole in John Doe's head,
so I'll keep you posted.

Nothing else?

Um...

Gina mentioned something
about John Doe

holding tension in his jaw.

Like he was keeping a secret.

Yeah.
I think she misses you.

Rest up.

Do I have any choice?

You're quite sure you wouldn't
have the key to this?

If I had, I would've furnished
him with it yesterday.

How's he doing, by the way?

Fine.

So no idea, then,
who might have the key?

No.

Do you know when
we may be able to reopen?

It's my desire
to keep up Charity's good work.

Perhaps tomorrow when
the specialized search group

have finished their work.

I need to have
another look around.

Anywhere in particular?

No.

Good morning.

Good morning!

Patrick.

Sorry, I didn't see you there.
Good morning.

Actually it's afternoon now.

Do you know the identity
of the corpse yet?

There's a rumor
it's David Highmore-Browne.

Well, it's still
too early to say.

But I take it
he was a friend of yours?

Sure. I knew him.
He worked here.

He was part of the family.

Well, we hope to know more soon.

Do you always wear those outfits
even when the place isn't open?

Yes. When on site.
Charity insisted.

I guess it's a way
of honoring her legacy.

- Kristin.
- I'm lying on Charity's bed.

Which is as hard as nails,
by the way.

Okay.

Trying to imagine
why you would choose

to live in a world
with zero mod cons,

surrounded by relics
and dusty curtains.

With only a weird doll
for company.

The Victorians weren't
known for their excess.

Avert your eyes, caller.

I'm in her knicker drawer.

Wait.

Kristin?

Kristin?

Sims?

I'll call you back.

- Sims?

Charity rubbed a lot
of people up the wrong way

over her zealous attitude
to historic buildings.

Her view was pretty much,

if it's old, it's gold
and shouldn't be touched.

So there were numerous people
with grievances.

But none more so
than Debra Yelich.

Her own sister.

Five years ago
there was a massive court case

over the development
of the old savings bank.

- On Teeling Street?
- Yeah.

Debra and her husband
bought it

with an eye to convert it
into like a funhouse arcade,

kind of game zone for kids.

- Charity would've loved that.
- Right?

So under the auspices
of the Historic Places Trust,

she opposed it
on the grounds it would

"demean the building's inherent
and historical integrity."

And Charity won?

Bring Debra in for another chat.

Breen.

Dental records
for David Highmore-Browne

are a match for John Doe.

So we have a double homicide
on our hands.

Detective Sims.

Are you sitting in my chair?

How did you...

You answered my phone.

Developments?

Last time we talked,

you were delving into
Victorian underwear.

Well, your friend down the hole
is David Highmore-Browne.

I think we can rule out suicide

as it's difficult
to jump down an offal pit

and lock oneself in
from the outside.

No cause of death yet?

No.

But Charity's keychain has
unlocked a box from her dresser.

It contains love letters

all signed by Waldo Seymour,
Esquire.

Wally Seymour
was in love with Charity?

Yes.
And then some.

Right.

That might give him motive
to knock off David,

but why would that make him
want to kill Charity?

Yeah, I don't know.

But one quote reads,

"Your rejection is like
an arrow to the heart."

Okay.
That might do it.

I take it you were
looking for this the other day

rather than chasing chickens.

You were in love with Charity.

Well, I...

"If only you knew
the stars align

and twinkle a little brighter
as you walk by."

She appreciated literature.

Wally.

Yes, all right.

I was in love with her
completely.

But it was unrequited
completely from the get-go.

Well, I have to say
you were persistent.

There's seven years' worth
of correspondence here.

Come on, Wally.

Seven years is the length
of time her husband's been dead.

How long prior to his death had
you been in love with Charity?

It was after he left,
never before. I assure you.

And did she ever write back?

A few times.
Long epistles.

But never saying anything
I wanted to hear.

I'll need to see those.

That will be difficult.

You destroyed them,
didn't you?

Burned them.

Childish, I know,
but there you go.

In one letter you said
"like an arrow to the heart."

And what did you mean by that?

Just words.
Silly words.

Did you miss
and hit her in the head?

I had nothing to do
with her death.

- Or David's?
- Nor David's!

Have you ever used
a bow and arrow?

I can't believe this.

Wally?

Yes. Once.

It was part of
a village committee

team-building exercise.

Team building?
Doesn't sound very Victorian.

There had been tensions
in the committee.

Now, last item on the agenda --
standards.

They have been slipping,
particularly on Live Days.

Yesterday was unfocused.

Particularly you, Mr. Shuler.

Always late,
being far too casual.

I'm sure people in the 1860s
were late sometimes.

It's authentic.

Nonsense.

Well, hang on, Charity. I've
been late a couple of times.

Yeah, me too.

I know!
And it is unacceptable.

The public
come to this village

to believe they have been
transported back in time.

It is all of our responsibility

to help them suspend
their disbelief.

People are tired, Charity.

A work ethic is what
sets us apart from animals.

You know what they say.

"All work and no joy
makes Jack a dull boy."

I hardly think you lack joy
in your life, Mr. Shuler.

Perhaps we do need
a little bit of fun.

Yes! A team-building exercise
to rally the troops.

- Paintball!
- Laser strike!

Modernistic travesties!

Not in the spirit
of our precious era at all.

Archery.

Yes!

We could spend the afternoon
down the archery range.

Perhaps your sister
could get us a deal.

It was Jack Shuler's idea?

It was.

When was this?

Three weeks ago.
After David's unveiling.

We headed to the domain.

It was actually
jolly good fun.

Ho!
Well done, Waldo.

It's harder than it looks.

Are you sure these arrows
don't have bends in them?

Well done.

Charity.
Your turn.

No, thank you.

Well, then, let me
put an apple on your head,

do the whole William Tell thing.

Come on.
I'm getting better.

From what you describe,
you were the crack shot.

Beginner's luck.

Just before Charity was killed,

Evie saw you walking away
from the church.

And yet minutes later,

you discovered Charity
in the schoolhouse.

What were you doing
in that time?

I was sitting
on the steps of the chapel

learning a new hymn

when one of my sideburns
came unstuck.

I went back to the office
to glue it back on.

You've just remembered this?

Yes.
It's been a difficult time.

Thanks, Wally.

Yoo-hoo!

Only me.
Don't get up.

Mrs. Marlowe.

Lasagna.

Italian food
has health-giving properties.

Look how long those handsome
Italian men live for.

You have a little Italian
in you?

Not that I'm aware of.

Well, it's never
too late to start.

Now, that lasagna
is truly bellissimo.

Any development
on the Highmore-Browne case?

Early days.

I knew her quite well, you know?
Through the sewing circle.

Her needlework was top-notch.

Interesting.

Her name wasn't Charity, though.
It was Janet Tucker.

Yes.
We had established that.

Such a tragedy that
she and David never conceived.

Such a shame
to be wanting a baby

and never to have
that desire fulfilled.

They didn't try adoption?

Well,
he had died, you see?

And she wasn't
the single-parent type.

You know, in my younger days,
I was a nurse.

It's a truly rewarding career

and a great way
to see the world.

Anyway, I am fully qualified

to give you a sponge bath
or attend to any needs.

That's very kind.

I should be fine.

We put all our eggs
into one basket

with the savings bank
development.

Mortgaged ourselves heavily.

But by the end of it,
the building was worth nothing

because there were
so many caveats on it

no one else could develop it.

We'd invested everything
and lost it all.

That must've been
incredibly stressful.

Like you wouldn't believe.

Ask Ron.

Ron?

I can't...

Stress can trigger a stroke.

In Ron's case it was massive.

That must have
made you feel very...

Angry? Yes.

I'd admit to that.

It'd be fair to say that I hated
her for many years after that.

For her arcane,
intrusive view of the world.

She was a ridiculous woman.

But I didn't kill her.

There you go.

One Frozen Frodo
and one Frodo Fudge.

Packed with chunks
of natural fudge.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

- Frodo.
- How's it?

This isn't really an appropriate
spot to ply your trade from.

I'm just trying to make a buck.

I know, but this area
needs to be kept clear

for those in need
of police services.

- Jeez, I just got here.
- Sorry.

Do you and Detective Shepherd

want a Frozen Frodo
before I pack up?

Um, couple of points.

One, that could be seen
as bribery.

And two, Mike isn't here.
He's laid up at home.

Broken leg.

that's got to suck.

I know a bit about
banging up your leg.

I could give him some advice.

Maybe you can focus
on moving your van.

Hey.
You want that ice cream now?

You know Debra Yelich?

Nah.
Potential customer, though.

How long
have you been parked here?

I told you,
only a couple of minutes.

And I'm moving, okay?
I'm moving.

No, wait.

So when did you offer her
an ice cream?

That lady?
The other morning.

Out on Sullivan's Rise.

She had a flat tire. I was
passing and offered to help.

Need a hand, lady?

No. Thanks.
It's under control.

Was help on its way?

Already there.
Some bloke.

Her husband?
That man in the wheelchair.

No, no. He wasn't there.
Some other dude.

We're all good here, mate.

You don't want to buy
an ice cream?

- Perhaps another time.
- I could do a two for one.

Mate, we don't want
an ice cream.

- What morning was this?
- The other one.

The day you fellas showed up
at the historic village.

- Yeah, what time?
- I don't know.

Yeah, no, it was 9:30.

I remember 'cause I was trying
to get out there in time

to set up for the Live Day.

Could've been big business,
but it wasn't, as it turned out.

Mr. Shuler.

Got a minute?

Well, Detective, I had 15,
but 13 were taken up

on two cigarettes
and a cup of tea, so...

So I have two.
Great.

Charity Highmore-Browne.

What about her?

You didn't like her very much.
Would that be fair to say?

She didn't like me.
That would be fairer.

You were
on the village committee.

No thanks to her.

She tried everything she could
to get me off it.

But last time I checked,
we still live in a democracy.

Others liked me there.

If tensions were so high
between you two,

why didn't you just leave?

I'm the blacksmith.

Where else would I get a chance
to practice my skills?

Who wants a lucky nail, then?

- Me!
- Me!

I learned how to run a forge
from her father years ago.

And I love what I do.

And I intend to pass it on
to the next generation.

Otherwise it just dies, right?

I wasn't going to let Charity
bully me out of that place.

You felt bullied?

All I'm saying is that

she didn't have a monopoly
on the past.

Though she'd like to think
that she did.

Her father
would turn in his grave,

the way she took the fun
out of that place.

- We done here?
- Almost.

A witness mentioned you
helping Debra Yelich

change a tire
in the half hour

before you turned up
at the village on Sunday.

I was helping
a damsel in distress.

So what?

The witness didn't mention

seeing another car
in the vicinity.

So were you on foot when you
came across this damsel?

Debra dropped me off
at the village.

Is that because
you don't have a car?

Well, that's unusual
for a mechanic.

I have a car.

So...

Is there anything more
you'd like to share

to clarify your whereabouts?

I was going to the village.
I helped Debra change her tire.

She dropped me off.

Nothing more important to say.

You're sure about that?

Two minutes are up.

This means that Debra Yelich
was on or around the premises

at the time
Charity was murdered.

- With a hell of a motive.
- To avenge her husband's plight.

But she signed Ron out at 9:30.

It's at least a half hour drive
to the village,

and Ron wasn't in the car.

How does that work?

She can't have been
in two places at once.

Check with the respite facility.
Someone's lying.

Detective Shepherd.

Frodo.

Hey, heard about your accident.

Thought you'd appreciate
a Frodo Fudge.

It's high in calcium, so it has
healing properties for bones.

Thanks.

And one of these.

Years ago
when I shot up my foot,

I had this cast like yours.

Got a bit manky and itched
like crazy, but the old arrow,

it's great
for hard-to-reach places.

And that little feathery bit

just feels so good
when you hit the spot.

You all right?

Frodo, do you know

how Charity Highmore-Browne
was killed?

Should I?

She was hit by an arrow
between the eyes.

This is a bad look, then.

How much do you know
about hunting with a bow?

Never have.

Not much.

Except after my accident,
I moved to a bow.

I thought it might be safer.

But I couldn't hit anything,
so I just went back to my gun.

Do you still have your bow?

No.

Well, yeah.
But I never use it.

Okay, thanks.

SSG have found something.

Any idea what that is?

See that?
It's a "J."

"J" for Jack Shuler.

I think it's time
we search his smithy.

Okay.
What are we looking for?

A key.

It fits.

- Tell me it fits.
- Yes.

Because it is slightly tapered,

as the tissue
around the skull decayed,

gravity would have released it,
and it fell out.

What kind of nail is it?

It's a handmade
four-inch colonial nail.

Otherwise known as
a lucky nail.

We need to clarify
exactly when it was

that you picked up
your husband Ron

from the respite facility
on Sunday morning.

Around 9:30, I think.
Yes.

That's what we thought too.

Until a witness placed you

on the other side of town
around 9:30.

I must've been mistaken.

Maybe it was later.

There's been a lot going on.

Interestingly, it was actually
a whole hour later

that you picked up Ron.

But weirdly, you still
signed the register as 9:30.

I admit I missed it at first.

But, hey,
there's been a lot going on.

You signed it as 9:30

even after those before you

clearly have times
that say 10:00 a.m.,

10:10, 10:20, and 10:30.

You have to admit
it's a strange mistake to make.

Was it a mistake

or an effort to conceal your
whereabouts at a certain time?

I...

Perhaps it was the flat tire
that got you confused.

Made you late, flustered.

Flat tire?

Out on Sullivan's Rise?

Could I get a glass of water?

I have information

for the officer in charge
of the Highmore-Browne case --

Detective Sims.

She's conducting an interview.

- She can't be disturbed?
- I'll pass it on.

It's okay.

I think Mike will
understand it better anyhow.

Thank you.

Jack Shuler and I have...

An arrangement?

Yes. I suppose you could
call it that.

And how long has this been
an arrangement?

Maybe 18 months.

Things in that department
have been nonexistent

since Ron's situation changed.

I presume it's not something
you shared with others.

Absolutely not.
Discretion is everything.

To protect Ron.

I'm guessing Charity
got wind of it.

- Yes, she did.
- And she didn't approve.

Not that it was
any of her business.

But it explains why
she was so dark on Jack.

You'd think after everything
she'd done, caused,

that she could have had
some semblance of a heart

to allow me
a few moments of happiness.

Did you and Jack Shuler
conspire to kill Charity?

No.

To punish her
for causing Ron's stroke?

This may look bad,

you may wish to judge,

but I did not kill my sister.

Thanks for your time, Debra.

Goodbye, Ron.

Hello. Hi.

Mr. Shuler.
Come through.

Look, the thing
about me and Debra

is that I can make her happy.

And that is a good feeling.

It's win-win.

Very much.

What's the big deal?

Debra wasn't clear
about where she was

in the time
leading up to Charity's death.

She was covering.
She was being discreet.

She's done nothing wrong,
but she feels awkward about it.

From the time Debra dropped you
at the village

and Wally Seymour
raised the alarm,

your whereabouts is unclear.

Why? I was walking from
the car park to my smithy.

Yet, strangely, no one saw you.

Patrick did.

Good morning!

If you say so, Paddy.

We will have to verify that.

Knock yourself out.

Have you ever hunted
with a bow, Mr. Shuler?

Is that what this is all about?

It's a simple question.

I'm a man.
I live in Brokenwood.

Most of us like to go up
to the ranges and hunt.

Please answer the question.

No, I haven't.

But in the interests
of being transparent,

I admit that I've used a rifle.

I scuba dive.
I spearfish.

I've even been
to the archery range.

I flew a kite once
when I was seven years old

and caught butterflies.

Are we finished?

Recognize that?

Could be one of mine.

Well, if you look closely,

you'll see
a punched "J" near the head.

"J" for Jack.
Your signature.

So it is one of mine.

I've made hundreds of them,
if not thousands.

- Where'd you get it?
- We found it.

Lucky you.
It's a lucky nail.

We found it next to the resting
place of David Highmore-Browne.

Fits a hole in his skull.

What?

And we found this
in your smithy.

Breen.

Fits the padlock
that secured the offal pit

where Mr. Highmore-Browne
was found.

This is a bloody setup.

Any idea
how it got there, Mr. Shuler?

I want a lawyer.

Smartest thing
you've said all day.

Mike. Hello.
How are you feeling?

A little static.
Apart from that...

Borscht.

It has amazing
healing properties.

I will heat it up for you later.

Also, Mike, I bring you
something interesting.

I have been running field tests.

The humble pumpkin
is the best for this

because it has a similar
density to the human skull.

Okay, that's very diligent.

Of course ballistics are
running their own tests,

but between you and me,
they are very slow.

50 meters, 40 meters,
30 meters.

Here.

The arrow that penetrated
Charity Highmore-Browne

was fired
from less than 20 meters.

That's close.

Maybe even closer.

Thanks, Gina.

Is there anything else
you want from me?

- There is one thing.
- Nothing is a problem.

And I have other news.

I get that we have
circumstantial evidence,

but we're lacking motive
for Shuler

knocking off
David Highmore-Browne.

I know, but we have motive and
opportunity for him on Charity.

Then again,
so does Wally Seymour.

Wally was frustrated
by Charity rejecting him.

He kills her and pins it
on Debra by using an arrow

because maybe he knew Charity
disapproved of Debra's morality.

Even in killing Charity,
he wanted to impress her.

Okay, that's interesting,
if slightly wiggy.

- Come on.

A lady who insists on living
like it's still 1861?

All these people
are from Wigsville.

We keep digging before
Dennis Buchanan helps him walk.

Mike.

Sure.

Someone's been busy.

Where'd you get that?

Gina dropped by,

asked if there was
anything I needed.

Generally the reply would be
paracetamol or a cup of tea.

What's wrong with the top half?

Got it.

So...

Where are you at?

Jack Shuler is the prime suspect

for the murder
of David Highmore-Browne.

One of his lucky nails

was found to have penetrated
David's skull,

and the key to the padlock
was found in his smithy.

Motive?

We're still trying
to establish that.

But we now know that
Jack had the opportunity

to kill Charity and a motive.

That being?

He was in a relationship
of sorts with Debra Yelich.

And Debra has a long-standing
grievance with Charity.

So we're thinking that Jack
or Debra exacted revenge.

And either way, one of them
is covering for the other.

- Nice work.
- Thanks.

The only problem is

David Highmore-Browne
wasn't killed by the nail.

- Strychnine?
- Extremely high levels.

If he had been killed
by the nail

then the strychnine
would have had no way

to be absorbed
into the body's tissue.

So he was killed by the poison.

The nail came after.

Damn. I thought we were
on the right track.

Sometimes we take a step
in the wrong direction.

Well, at least you didn't
fall down an offal pit.

You know
the worst thing about this?

Dennis Buchanan.

The nail was circumstantial.

The key was circumstantial.

There was zero motive.

It seems your case,
Detective Sims, has more hot air

than a blacksmith's bellows.

My client and I
will bid you good day.

Good luck.

Think you'll need it.

Strychnine?

It's so old-fashioned.
Why bother?

Because it's so very Victorian.

- Meaning Charity.
- Absolutely.

She wanted to kill her husband
but insisted,

like she did in all things,

on doing it in keeping with the
era that she so dearly loved.

But the question is, why?

Why did she want to kill him?
We have to understand why.

Only me.
How's my wounded officer?

Resting and recuperating.

So I see.

You've been busy.

I was gonna bring you flowers,
but I thought people might talk,

so it's Irish whiskey instead.

I presume this has
healing properties?

No idea, but it tastes great.

I would pour you a dram,
but it seems you're on duty.

Just thinking.

- Progress?
- Getting there.

Is Sims stepping up?

Above and beyond.

- Hello?
- Frodo.

Frankie Oades,
Area Commander Simon Hughes.

I can come back.

No. It's fine.

I asked Frodo over
to demonstrate his bow.

Which, as it turns out,
is a crossbow.

Nice.
Do you mind?

I've used these a few times
on hunting trips.

They can bring down a deer
but not a pig.

I only used it
a couple of times.

Could never hit anything.

Workman always
blames his tools.

It's a nice piece, though.

Nifty too.

Good for moving through the bush
without snagging.

Unfortunately they lose accuracy
after about 30 meters,

especially with wind factors.

But deadly accurate
at short range.

In fact...

In here, with no breeze,
you could put that on your head,

and I could split it
from across the room,

William Tell-style.

What, blindfolded?

Not sure.
Game to try?

I should get going.

No.
It wasn't posted from here.

When we issue mail,
it gets a special frank.

That's the whole point.

But you would have delivered it
to Charity, being the postman.

Detective, nothing here is real.

On Live Days,
we stage mail deliveries,

but it's not real mail.

A bona fide piece of mail
such as that

would've been
delivered to the office

via a real mail person.

Where Charity
would've picked it up.

Or Wally.

Just before Wally
raised the alarm on Sunday,

did you see Jack Shuler
walking past here?

Yes. Yes, I did.
He was in a hurry.

Late as usual.

Okay. Thanks.

The body you found was David's?

Yes.

There's talk he had
a lucky nail in his head.

That is true,
but it didn't kill him.

The coroner
has reopened the case.

The details
will be clarified soon.

You believe
Charity killed him, don't you?

If she did, it's unclear why.

I mean, there was no insurance,
no obvious benefit.

Could I read it?

Um...

I presume
it's David's suicide note,

judging by the date
it was posted.

This is police property and
private to the Highmore-Brownes.

They're both gone now.
What difference does it make?

Everyone here at the village
was left wondering,

and Charity
was never forthcoming.

"I couldn't be myself.
I couldn't be your everything.

It is better I become
nothing at all.

Yours, All at Sea."

"I couldn't be your everything."

Do you know what that means?

I need to dispose
of this shellac.

They couldn't conceive.

It was very important
to Charity.

Did they try all avenues,
IVF, et cetera?

IVF isn't very 1861.

Charity liked things
to be authentic.

You hear of people
getting knocked up

after one night in a nightclub.

Others spend years
trying everything.

Sometimes it can be as simple
as a lack of will.

But not with Charity.

That letter
wasn't written by David.

The calligraphy is too perfect.

And David was dyslexic.

He never would have managed to
spell "better" with two T's.

You seem certain.

When you work closely with
someone, you notice things.

Sorry, David.
"Settlers" has two T's and no Z.

You do it, then.

So there you go.

If the police had shown me
that letter seven years ago,

would have saved us all
a lot of time.

You know, for all his paranoia,

his Frozen Frodos
ain't too bad.

Want a lick?

I'm good. Thanks.

David Highmore-Browne's
suicide note

was posted two days
after he went missing.

And Patrick Timson believes
it's not even his handwriting.

How did that get missed
in the initial investigation?

Who was O.C.?

Gary McLeod.

Old Gary was never famous

for dotting his i's
and crossing his t's.

Yeah, well,
that's the other thing.

Postman Pat says
that David was dyslexic.

He definitely couldn't have
written that note.

Charity.
So she knocked him off.

Question remains...

- Why?
- Why?

"Why?" indeed.

- Sir.
- You don't need to stand.

Didn't take you long
to move in.

And clearly progress must be
good if it's time for dessert.

It was just...

Looks tasty.
Frozen Frodo, is it?

Yeah.
How did you...

I just met Mr. Oades.

With Mike.
I was checking on his status.

Thought I'd pop in here
and see how you were doing.

Good.

Some strong leads.
I -- I think we're on the cusp.

Good, then.

Let me know if you need
any extra boots on the ground.

I will.

Careful, Breen. There's a drip.
You'll get it on your suit.

Did that just happen?

I so need a coffee.
A strong one.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Can I get a long black, please?

Coming up.

Detective Sims.
How are we today?

I'm good, thank you,
Mrs. Marlowe.

Call me Jean, please.

Rodriguez is
a marvelous barista.

He come's from Costa Rica,
you know?

The real deal?

What that man can do
with a coffee bean.

I hear David Highmore-Browne
has at last been found.

Yes.

With an ax in his head,
was it?

Not exactly.

Well, that's a relief, really.

You're thinking
it was a hate crime?

Well, aren't all murders
based in hate?

Not always.
Some are based in passion.

That's true.

But with the Highmore-Brownes,

I don't think
there was a lot of that.

I always thought that was
why they never conceived.

It's what happens when you marry
to acquire a fancy surname

rather than
for animal attraction.

Double shot, half soy latte,
no sugar, double foam.

It's me! Thank you!

Mayor Bloom.
Hello.

Detective Sims.

I just wanted to
run something by you.

A theory.

Police business.
I should go.

Best wishes, Detective Shepherd.

Thanks.
And thanks for the flowers.

Ciao.

Neil...

Did you know
David Highmore-Browne?

No, I can't say I did.
He kept to himself, I believe.

So you wouldn't know
if he was gay.

Why do you think
I would know that?

You're Brokenwood's
first gay mayor.

You're a trailblazer.

And a member
of a secret society?

Sorry, I didn't mean...

That's fine.

But if David was gay, I can't
see that working with Charity.

She was an old-fashioned,
priggish woman.

Although I do remember a time

when I thought she seemed
surprisingly progressive.

A vote for me is a vote
for equality and honesty.

Thank you.

Charity.
Hello, Evie.

Hello, Mr. Bloom.

Would you like a flyer?

No, thank you, Mr. Bloom.
And Evie won't be needing one.

She's not of voting age.

Your sort of politics
is not welcome in my village.

I see.

Well, I have to say
your village

is looking impressive
these days.

Thank you.

Yes, I particularly like
the modern touch

in the Ideal Victorian Family
diorama.

Is this supposed to be funny?

- You didn't organize this?
- Of course not!

I thought you were
acknowledging Rainbow Week.

This is some sort of sick joke.

Please avert your eyes, Evie.

I like the rainbow.
I think it's nice.

They didn't have rainbows
in 1861.

That's exactly what she said?

So, progressive Charity was not.

Anyway, I'm sorry
I couldn't be more helpful.

No, you've been very helpful.
Thanks.

Things are starting to make
a lot more sense.

I'll leave you to it, then.

What is your theory?

Well, it's hinged off
something Mrs. Marlowe said.

It's what happens when you marry
to acquire a fancy surname

rather than
for animal attraction.

What if Charity
killed her husband, David,

because, as it transpired,
he was homosexual.

A notion which
directly contravened

her Victorian values.

We know from Kahu Taylor
that she was racist

in deference to the era.

Our last native left.

So no doubt she harbored
homophobic views as well.

And why else would David have
suffered strychnine poisoning?

A Victorian method of murder
for a Victorian transgression.

Right?

David's failure
to out himself earlier

deprived her of the chance
to have children.

She was left
with a doll in a cot

and a burning anger at having
her maternal rights thwarted.

She knew she couldn't kill him
with a nail to the head.

She had to
incapacitate him first.

So she poisoned him
over dinner...

...she knocked a nail
into his head...

...before dumping his body
down the pit

and locking the lid.

She hid the key amongst
Jack Shuler's belongings

as an insurance policy
should David ever be found.

And she never liked Jack.
He wasn't one to toe the line.

I know it sounds extreme,

but it's the only thing
that can explain all of this.

So whoever killed Charity
was avenging David's murder.

Now we're getting somewhere.

From what we know from Frodo,

Debra Yelich and Jack Shuler
arrived at the village

just in time for opening.

They can't have
changed the tire at 9:30

and got there
and executed Charity,

because Patrick
was at the kiosk

and saw Jack just before
the alarm was raised.

Which leaves the question,
where's Wally in all of this?

Last seen by Evie
heading this way,

away from the schoolhouse,
then returning to his church.

I thought after a while
she was taking a long time.

Charity was a woman
of strict routine, you see?

He had time.
He was placed to do it.

Yeah, but why would
he kill the woman

he was so completely
in love with?

He was avenging David's death?

As a friend or a lover?

Well, hardly a lover,

given his florid,
painfully heterosexual

attempts at love letters
to Charity.

Wally says he was
on his way here

to glue his sideburn back on.

He's so daffy,
I think he probably was.

Patrick Timson,
on the other hand...

Given he was in charge
of the diorama,

he must've been responsible
for the rainbow gesture.

Maybe he was David's lover.

And if he was, perfect cause
to avenge his murder.

Except he didn't know
it was murder.

Otherwise, surely he would have
spoken up to the police.

If the police had shown me
that letter seven years ago,

would have saved us all
a lot of time.

Unless he'd only recently
discovered it was murder.

But he was in the kiosk at the
time that Charity was struck.

He couldn't have been
in two places at once.

Maybe he did it.

Bring Patrick Timson in.
Get to the village.

I need you to check
on a couple of things.

Wait, but it can't
have been Patrick.

He was in the post office,
as witnessed by Evie.

- She saw him.
- But did she?

You think she's lying?

No, but I think Evie
didn't see Patrick.

Just to be clear,
we have no witness,

no murder weapon,
just a theory.

It's always the best way.

I wish I could be there.

Is something wrong?

There are a few things
I need to run by you.

Charity Highmore-Browne
was a woman steeped in routine.

As she walked
into the schoolhouse,

she walked past
the headmaster.

She had no reason
to think twice.

She opened the window,
and then she turned

and saw the message
on the blackboard.

But the headmaster
wasn't the mannequin.

It was you,
standing in wait.

There was
no long-distance marksman.

It was near point-blank.

Full force and deadly.

She falls to the ground
in such a way

that it looks like
she's been knocked flat

from an arrow
through the window.

You cut the arrow to disguise
the fact it was a crossbow bolt

and to hide any DNA
on the fletching.

And I did all this
while in the post office?

You weren't in the post office.

But you have a witness.

Yeah, Mike.
Found it.

When Evie Neaber
walked down the path

just prior to seeing Charity
outside the blacksmith's,

she must have triggered a sensor
that played a recording of...

Good morning!

The same that played --
accidentally, I presume --

when I visited you yesterday.

Good morning!

Good morning.

Patrick.
Sorry, I didn't see you there.

These sensors aren't uncommon
in museums.

They add ambience, atmosphere...

And provide alibis
if necessary.

That's right.

Patrick was nowhere near
the kiosk when Evie passed by.

Mike.
The postmaster has made it home.

And, yeah, he looks a lot
like Postman Pat.

Good.
Get to the schoolhouse.

This is quite
an elaborate theory.

It was quite an elaborate plan.

But if it were true, surely
someone would have seen me

carrying this preposterous
crossbow weapon thing

away from the crime scene.

Not necessarily.

You need to
take off his clothes.

You do remember I have a thing
about mannequins?

Be brave.

You then climbed out
the opposite window.

You then skirted around
the perimeter of the property

to return to your kiosk,
almost sight unseen.

Almost.

Good morning.

If you say so, Paddy.

Just in the nick of time.

Charity.

God!

Help! Help!

- Call an ambulance!

The police! Help!

I understand you want to
lay blame with someone.

But you have no evidence.

Where is this medieval weapon
and the shaft of the arrow?

Right where you left them.

The nifty thing about
that model of crossbow

is that with
a little modification,

it fits the dimensions
of the human torso.

Their clothing
is ornate and antique.

No one touches them but me.

Well done.

Why?

Charity took away
the one thing I truly loved.

You do it, then.

Shh.

Come here, you silly thing.

David was my everything, but he
struggled to be his true self.

Such a waste.

When did you know
Charity killed him?

I always suspected.

David told me that he finally
confessed to Charity

about his sexuality.

The next day, he disappeared.

With talk of suicide,
I thought, "Damn you, David.

You damn coward."

But it never sat right.

As years went on, I started
doubting more and more.

And then at the unveiling...

He's dead, Patrick.

Then at the team-building
exercise, I got my inspiration.

Your turn.

No, thank you.

Well, then, let me put
an apple on your head,

do the whole
William Tell thing.

Why didn't you come to
the police with your beliefs?

Would it have
brought David back?

She tossed him down that
offal pit like a dead animal.

You could have got justice
through the courts.

I have justice.

Revenge is a dish
best served cold.

Stone cold.

Dead.

Mike.

Well done.

No witness, no murder weapon,
just a theory.

- We found the murder weapon.
- And if we hadn't?

You would have
thought of something.

Like I said,
it's always the best way.