Wycliffe (1994–…): Season 3, Episode 2 - Number of the Beast - full transcript

[music playing]

Seen it?

[inaudible] say I have.

Near the cottage you're staying in, too.

It's not frightened of people.

Not anymore.

Ah.

Getting bolder.

I've seen what it's done to Harry's sheep.

Rips their throats out with one bite.

Not hungry like.



Just leave them there.

Does it for fun.

Nature.

Red and tooth and claw.

Weren't you wondering why this pub's so empty?

Fear.

[bell]

Right.

That's your lot, ladies and gents.

We'd better be going.

Wait.

You be careful now.

See you tomorrow.

I hope.



A right pair you are.

Business is bad enough without you scaring everybody off.

Yeah.

That means you too, Sam.

Go on.

Off you go.

Wait.

Harry.

HARRY: Come on then.

Here.

Enjoy those.

You sure you don't want a lift then?

Don't be daft.

See you tomorrow.

[inaudible]

[bird wings]

[music playing]

Hello?

Donald?

[music playing]

Donald?

[music playing]

[phone ringing]

Wycliffe.

How's the cold?

I'm OK.

He's in here.

He was a school teacher.

Donald Kerriss.

Franks has seen it and he says it's some sort of animal.

What kind of animal would do that?

No sign of a forced entry, sir.

POLICE OFFICER: Evening sir.

Watch where you step.

Someone has done a thorough job.

Only in here, though.

Every other room seems to be untouched.

- Did he live here on his own? - Yeah.

Seems so, sir.

Only one toothbrush in the bathroom.

I've spoken to the nearest neighbors.

They're a young couple down here on holiday.

They'd been to the pub about five past 11.

When they got back, they thought they

had a sort of howling noise.

We have the man who found the body, sir.

Keeps going on about the beast of Bodmin.

Does he really?

Is he still here?

I'm afraid so.

Sam Peploe.

Couldn't get rid of him.

He's quite keen to talk to you, sir.

Well, his door was open.

And his light was on.

I came out here and, uh--

here he was. First thing--

Excuse me.

Are you in charge?

Yes, I am.

Why isn't anyone taking me seriously?

Now I've spent the past six year out in that moor,

tracking this beast.

I know what he can do.

- Mr. Peploe? - Yes.

Now, look.

Once we've examined Mr. Kerriss's injuries properly,

we'll have a better idea about the cause of his death.

I can help you.

I can show you where he's killed before.

No.

I think the best thing that you can do, Mr. Peploe,

is to go home and get some sleep.

We know where to contact you.

Well, if you're sure.

WYCLIFFE: Thanks for the offer.

Large animal.

No question about it.

An attack dog.

A Doberman or something similar.

So what do you think happened, Cyril?

It's hard to say.

A dog that size could easily knock a man to the ground.

From then on it's relatively simple

to close in for the kill.

A dog wouldn't do that unless it was provoked.

Certainly not outside his own territory.

Unless he was ordered to.

Could it be rabid?

Well, I've sent off samples to be checked.

Our experts-- our so-called experts--

claimed that this-- this beast of Bodmin is a large cat.

There's more chance of our attacker

being the Loch Ness monster.

I can assure you, it's a dog.

Well, if this dog is running wild, it could attack again.

I know we want to avoid panic, but don't you think

we should warn the locals?

Is it running wild?

As far as I know, dogs can survive on their own.

But they're naturally sociable and prefer

the company of humans or other dogs in the pack.

By all means, warn the locals.

But this animal's just as likely to be someone's

pet as a stray roaming wild.

[inaudible] glad it's not my pet.

It's ripped open his jugular with one bite.

You OK?

Yes.

Thank you, sir.

It's stuffy in there.

You know that bloke, uh, Peploe--

he says he's on the moor full time hunting the beast.

Whatever it is.

Um.

If there is a dog loose, maybe he's seen it,

or heard something, or--

Maybe.

But I'd rather not involve members of the public,

however expert they may claim to be.

Sir.

[inaudible] the press [inaudible] sensationalized.

We're going to treat this case like any other investigation

into a suspicious, sudden death.

There's a perfectly simple, natural explanation.

PEPLOE: With my own eyes, I'm telling you.

There was no shadow of a doubt.

[inaudible] bitter for me and another one for sam.

PEPLOE: It's Peploe.

P-E-P-L-O-E. Sam Peploe.

Right.

You too.

I'll see you later.

It's true then.

Oh, it's true, all right.

Donald Kerriss.

By tomorrow morning, the world and his wife

will know about it.

Ah.

Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

News travels fast, eh?

Oh.

Biggest thing to happen in this area in a long time.

Here we are.

Room Three.

Top of the stairs, turn left.

OK.

We've got a man staying here who's

writing a book about the beast.

Not sure meself, but if it's good for business,

I'll believe anything.

[fake growling]

Come in, Doug.

Right.

I just wondered if you fancied a bite to, uh-- oh.

It's homework?

Trying to find this article I've

got on folk devils and the psychology of mass hysteria.

So there's nothing on the telly then?

I was on my way home.

I found a close friend of mine, Donald Kerriss,

lying dead in his own garden.

He had a throat wound.

A terrible throat wound.

Evening, sir.

Oh.

Another pint of [inaudible],, please.

We were wondering how long it would take you to get here.

Well, uh, not much competition, is there?

No.

It's not exactly a happening spot.

What's on the menu?

Well, there's chicken in the basket, scampi in the basket.

I recommend the basket.

I'm surprise you're eating anything after your funny turn.

What funny turn?

I didn't think a dog could do that much damage, actually.

No.

- Sir. - Cheers.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

I think I'll pass on the basket tonight.

Evening, officers.

Where's your boss?

Getting some rest, I shouldn't wonder.

We've all been up since midnight.

You're not the only ones, you know.

Your mates outside--

from the press, are they?

You want a word?

They're very keen to know what's going on.

Yeah, I bet they are.

It's killed again.

What did I tell you?

[inaudible]

[shouting]

That's convenient.

You reckon it's a setup?

You don't believe any of that, do you sir?

Dixie, I just want to know what the hell's going on here.

These gentlemen are part of the police team investigating

Donald Kerriss's death.

I'm sure you'd like to ask them a few questions.

[inaudible]

Yeah, that's a [inaudible],, isn't it?

We-- we will answer all your questions

through the official channels.

Good night, ladies and gentlemen.

What are you so worried about, Mr. Kersey?

Can I have a word, Mr. Peploe?

If this is some con job, you are in very big trouble.

I can assure you, it isn't.

What's your friend's name?

Venning.

Harry Venning.

Well, you tell him he'll be hearing from me.

OK?

OLD WOMAN: Very generous.

[inaudible]

Mind if I join you?

No.

You're the man in charge of the police investigation,

aren't you?

That's right.

Nasty business.

Kerriss?

Was that his name?

I prefer not to discuss the case

if it's all the same to you.

I'm sure you'll understand.

Of course.

With all this talk of his being the first human victim

of the beast of Bodmin, it's bound to be a sensitive matter.

There's quite a panic about it locally.

Are you a reporter?

No.

No, no.

I'm an author.

Tom Rees.

Oh, yes.

You're the one writing the book.

That's right.

You've heard of me.

WYCLIFFE: Only from the landlord.

I've spent the last three years coming to this area,

doing my research.

This is turning into a hot manuscript.

I can see people fighting to get their hands on it.

Have you got a publisher yet?

No, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time.

Obviously, with all this going on.

You may see this as a means to promote your book, Mr. Rees,

but I'm investigating the death of a human being.

[music playing]

I don't want you anywhere near this case,

or any of my officers.

Is that clear?

Well, that's a shame.

Because my friends and I know more about what's going on than

you ever will. - What's that supposed to mean?

I've just heard that the beast has struck again--

only a sheep this time.

But if you don't take this seriously, who knows?

Next time it may be another human being.

You need us, Mr. Wycliffe.

Whether you like it or not.

Here you go.

Full English.

All the trimmings. - Oh.

Does that include a couple of aspirins?

Oh, that bad?

Yeah.

I didn't eat last night.

Well, there ain't much on offer around here.

No.

I, uh-- don't do evening meals as a rule, but the thing is,

my friend Sally's canceled tonight,

because she's frightened to go out with the beast and all.

And I planned this lamb stew.

Shame to let it go to waste.

Yeah.

Oh.

What you mean, uh--

6 o'clock all right for you?

I like to eat nice and early.

Yes. It sounds perfect.

Yes.

Good.

It's a date then.

Yes.

[music playing]

Reverend Stafford?

You are addressing him.

Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

Ah, yes.

Donald Kerriss.

I'd just been praying for him.

Yes.

I'm told you and he were friends.

Yes, we were.

I'm chaplain to the Army Cadet Corps at his school.

He was a good man.

I get the impression he was a bit of a loner.

Yes.

No one knew him well.

Do you know anyone who might have had a grudge against him?

No.

I can't bring anyone to mind.

WYCLIFFE: You see, we're trying to trace someone-- possibly

someone local, who visited him on that last night,

before he was killed.

Afraid I can't help you.

So you think that it was a person that killed him,

and not the beast?

We believe he was killed by a large dog.

It probably belongs to someone.

And might it not have been an accident?

After all, animals don't commit murder.

Mr. Kerriss's kitchen had been ransacked.

That's a human, not an animal, activity.

I'm afraid I can't help you.

Really?

You seem worried.

I'm out here on the edge of the moor.

Wouldn't you be?

If I believed in the beast.

But I don't.

[music playing]

Do you want to know why everyone

is so obsessed with this beast?

Because we are confronting the beast within.

As Plato said, when the soul slumbers and reason is

withdrawn, then the wild beast in us,

full fed with meat and drink, becomes rampant,

and shakes off sleep to go in quest of what

will satisfy its own instincts.

I'm not sure I follow you.

It's the dark side.

The evil that is deep in all of us.

Let that loose, feed it, encourage it, and it will kill.

You're saying it's not real.

I don't know.

The hunters out there need something.

Killing and hunting is printed deep in our primeval souls.

Now, if you'll excuse me, inspector, I

have duties to attend to.

[music playing]

Ah, the sheep was, uh, just, um--

oh.

Ah.

Just here.

See?

See how close to the road it is, huh?

Ooh.

The cat's getting bolder.

Look.

Look at this.

Look.

Yeah.

You've not actually seen it though, have you?

So how do you know it's not a dog?

There's a world of difference, Mr. Kersey.

Dogs are messy.

They'll rip and tear.

Big cat-- he'll break the neck with one bite,

crushing the arteries and the windpipe.

Efficient thing of beauty.

It's a cat.

Remember, I saw the body.

I saw Kerriss's body too.

So did our expert, and he says it's a dog.

That's nonsense.

You're just trying to calm everyone down.

I've seen the effects.

I've seen the dead sheep and the calves

and I've seen the tracks.

So you haven't spotted any dogs running wild--

I mean large dogs.

Oh, I haven't.

And they wouldn't be running wild for long if I had.

Well, if you see anything, you'll give me a shout, yeah?

Are you asking for my help?

Unofficially.

LANE: It's too dark.

POTTER: I'll wind it back.

We'll have another look.

It's too big to be a fox.

It could be anything.

I'm sure it's very interesting, Potter,

but it's not really relevant, is it?

Can we be serious about this for a minute?

First off, I'm not convinced by this no enemies business.

All schoolteachers make enemies.

Like police officers, it goes with the job.

The problem is, we don't have a motive.

This wasn't done for the usual reasons--

family, financial gain.

I've been around the cottage with Susan Ritalic.

There's nothing missing.

The only thing she thought was odd

is that the fridge and freezer were both empty.

Right.

We've got to find out who the mystery caller was.

While Dix is doing a check on any ship of large dogs,

but it's a slow business.

What if we're going in the wrong direction?

What if it's about what Kerriss was, not who he was?

Well, sir, I went and had a look

where that sheep was killed.

That Peploe bloke was hanging around again,

but, uh, he seems pretty certain it's the beast.

Doug.

Sir?

I don't care how certain he was.

I'm not interested. [music playing]

We're using logic, intelligence, common sense.

He's not.

He's the source of half the scare mongering around here.

And I don't want him anywhere near this investigation.

Is that clear?

REPORTER: Have you ever seen this beast?

PEPLOE: No, I've not seen the beast.

REPORTER: Has anyone seen it?

PEPLOE: Probably, yes.

[music playing]

Oh, you look smart.

Having something nice for dinner?

No, no.

I'm just going to grab some cod and chips.

I've got some work to do in the room.

Well, why don't you come to Bodmin with me?

I was going to try out that new Chinese restaurant.

I'll drive. My treat.

No.

No, I'm fine, thanks.

A bit of fish and an early night, I think.

All right. Suit yourself.

Yeah.

What's that lovely smell?

Mrs. Cotterill's got a friend around to dinner, I think.

Right.

Enjoy your fish.

[music playing]

Reverend Stafford?

The soup's really good.

It's all homemade.

Yes, [inaudible].

Oh.

I do like a nice drop of wine with a meal.

Yes, yes.

So civilized.

Yes.

Well, your friend's missing a treat.

Why, you've got-- you've got a lovely place here, haven't you?

Feels like a real home.

Been here long?

Ah, must be six years now.

It's fun.

I like having people about.

I don't like the place when it's empty.

[ding]

Ah.

Ooh.

That's the [inaudible].

You married?

No.

Are you?

I was.

But he went off with a stable girl over Bodmin way.

It's too bad.

Uh-huh.

These things happen.

Yep.

You OK?

Yeah.

I do miss having a man about the place.

Someone to cook for.

- Yes. - There you go.

Ah.

Tuck into that.

[music playing]

Feed a cold, eh?

Yeah.

[inaudible] is my favorite.

Good. [knocking]

Oh.

Should I, uh--

Yeah.

Yes.

[music playing]

Oh, uh.

Sorry to bother you.

I was just wondering if my colleague had

left a message about where--

Hi.

I don't know what you're so embarrassed about.

She's obviously got the hots for you, that's all.

Jealous?

REPORTER: Can you give us any information about--

[inaudible]

Six six six.

Isn't that from the Bible, sir?

Mmhm.

Revelation of St. John the Divine.

600 threescore and six was the number of the beast.

Is that what he was trying to tell us?

It's the beast of Bodmin?

I don't think so.

In the Bible, the great beast is the personification of evil.

Here.

You take Mr. Rees back to the guest house.

Oh.

The same cause of death, by the look of it.

What do you think about all the candles then, eh?

Dunno.

It looks like someone's trying to draw

attention to what they've done.

Yep.

They want to be stopped.

What do you reckon, sir?

Now, Rees said he saw someone with a dog.

The man looked like he'd been sleeping rough.

We need to find him.

Well, that shouldn't be too hard, should it sir?

We don't have the manpower to sweep the whole area.

We've got to find a pattern.

Teacher.

Priest.

They're both people you might turn to for help.

Right.

Who else might you turn to?

GP.

I'll check all the local doctors, see if any of them

have been approached by someone living rough.

Good, good.

We're looking for a loner, don't forget.

Someone on the edge of society.

You've got to be quite tough to live on the moor, sir.

Could be somebody ex-Army, or territorials.

Just a minute.

Stafford was a chaplain of the Army Cadet Corps.

Andy-- go down to the school.

See if any boys joined the army while Kerriss

was careers master.

Will they have records, sir?

Find out.

Didn't you get my message?

I don't want him in here.

I'm trying to help you.

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

This afternoon I saw a man with an attack dog.

I left a message.

Is this true?

Why the hell wasn't I told?

Uh, sorry sir.

I got the message for you to call Mr. Peploe,

but you said you didn't want him involved.

So you ignored it?

First thing tomorrow-- I want you

to show us where you saw them.

Need me now, do you?

Yes, we do, Mr. Peploe, because we're

looking for a murderer.

Not for some fictitious animal.

And we've got to find him before he strikes again.

[music playing]

[growling]

How could anyone kill a harmless bloke

like the Reverend Stafford?

You just be careful.

I reckon I'm a match for anybody

after a breakfast like that.

Well, you deserve it.

You need looking after.

Oh.

God, look at the time.

Ah, I'll just, uh--

I'd better be off.

I'll catch you later, OK?

Excuse me.

Bye.

See you, Doug.

He's a nice man, isn't he?

Yes, yes he is.

It's such a shame he's a policeman.

Well, no offense or anything.

It doesn't stop him from being nice.

I know, but he was telling me you

lot can be all over the place.

Any part of the county, any time of day or night.

Yes.

Not always, though.

Do you think he'd ever give it up?

Perhaps he could be persuaded.

[music playing]

I don't think so.

Ah.

Oh, well.

What time did you tell him?

Half past eight.

It's well past.

Yeah.

He'll get here.

[music playing]

PEPLOE: Yep.

What is it?

There's someone out there.

Well, do we wait for your colleague, or do we get moving?

Um.

Come on.

We've got a rifle.

All that bloke's got is a dog.

You scared or what?

[music playing]

Thanks.

Sir, one of the doctors thinks our target's

been in to see him. - Where?

He's based in Bodmin.

About a month ago, he was visited by a man who

said he'd been sleeping rough.

From the doctor's words, the man was in a disturbed condition.

In what way?

Agitated?

The man described himself as close to the edge

and asked for something to stop him.

- From doing what? - He wouldn't say.

The man claimed he'd been to other people for help,

but nobody wanted to do anything.

Try and get a name.

LANE: Right.

And get all the background you can get.

Wycliffe.

Ah, Dixon here, sir.

Ah, I'm afraid DI Kersey's gone, sir.

Gone?

What do you mean, gone?

For God's sake, why didn't he wait?

Were you late?

Uh-- maybe a couple of moments, sir.

You see, my alarm clock--

No excuses.

I said I wanted both of you to go.

What's got into you, Dixon?

First Peploe's message and now this.

Uh-- I'm sorry, sir.

All right.

There's no point going after them now.

Just hang on there for the time being.

Sir.

What is it, sir?

Doug's out on the moor without any backup,

and he's with an armed man I don't entirely trust.

Young fellow like you should be fit.

Don't worry.

I saw him over this ridge.

You're enjoying this, aren't you?

You're right in your element.

Just a hobby, that's all.

That dead sheep the other night--

it was a set up, wasn't it?

What if it was?

Don't mean there ain't a beast.

But you couldn't wait for it to strike, could you?

Not with a pub full of journalists hanging around.

[inaudible] they don't know how to wait for anything.

Kersey!

[music playing]

He's still alive.

Ah.

Can't get a signal.

We can carry him. - No, no, no.

Don't move him.

I'll go for help.

You don't know the way.

- My car keys-- - Don't need them!

Or you can give me your rifle.

Not a chance!

[music playing]

Nothing.

Could be a reception blackspot.

Keep trying Doug's number, would you, Potter?

And get the helicopter up.

I've got a name, sir.

Davie Trelan.

School says he enlisted in '85.

The army confirms it.

He served in the Gulf and was invalided out in '92

with some sort of breakdown.

But they haven't heard of him since.

Just hang on in there, OK?

[growling]

I was just looking after him.

Do you know what happened here?

He was after me.

Yeah, well, he's going to die.

We've got to get him to hospital.

No.

[music playing]

Can't jeopardize the lives of others.

The operation is paramount.

Remember the primary objective.

DOUG: Which regiment?

You're a soldier.

Yes.

So was I.

You're lying.

Paras.

What about you?

What's your name?

Trelan.

Corporal Davie Trelan.

Come on now, Davie.

Let's get this--

No.

You're coming with me.

[growls]

[music playing]

Now-- if he's been surviving over the winter,

he'll obviously have some sort of a roof over his head.

So I want every available building located

and then searched.

Is that understood?

Yes, sir.

[music playing]

Are they looking for you?

Or are they looking for me?

I knew you were a policeman.

As soon as I set eyes on you.

A policeman.

Not a soldier.

I was a soldier.

It was all I could do.

And they didn't want me anymore.

What do you mean?

You want to arrest me, don't you?

I didn't kill him.

He killed them for me.

Mr. Kerriss, the teacher--

he was an accident.

I just got angry.

Why?

Wh-- why did you get angry?

I thought he'd help me.

I thought he'd listen.

I wanted food.

That was all.

Then what happened?

He came out of his house with a weapon.

I'm trained to kill.

I see a weapon--

then it's me or him.

We argued. I pushed him over.

Before I could stop--

that was it.

He got his throat ripped out.

What about the vicar?

He was going to tell you about me, about Mr. Kerriss.

He had to die.

I want out.

And I can't be around people.

[growls]

They make me angry.

You snap.

Where did you serve?

Belfast.

The Gulf.

They pumped us full of drugs and germs.

Anthrax.

Bubonic plague.

I'm still carrying them around inside me--

breeding.

The Army I would have died for--

they fill me full of drugs and throw me away like rubbish.

What went wrong?

They said I had a breakdown.

But it was because of the drugs.

Don't pretend to care.

You hate me, don't you?

You despise me just like all the others.

No.

Why should I despise you?

Eh?

I was a mercenary.

I wanted to prove to the Army that I

could still be a soldier.

Where did you go?

Bosnia.

I went out there because--

babies were getting bombed and killed.

I fought for the Muslims with the underdogs.

Not for money.

The men I fought with--

they had nothing, thrown out of their own homes.

Women and children, cold and starving.

And people dying all around me.

Dying, just like me!

I'm not going to talk anymore.

It's making me angry.

Go on.

Shut it!

You're not a soldier.

You're a policeman.

Just someone else out to get me.

[music playing]

I'm not going to listen.

Not anymore.

[phone ringing]

Sir.

It's ringing.

Right.

That's good.

Who is this?

My name's Wycliffe.

And you're a Davie Trelan?

Yes.

Are you in charge?

Uh, I am.

Yes.

Prove it.

What?

What's the password?

Davie, I'm a police officer.

I'm not a soldier.

What's the password or your man dies?

Davie, I'm a police officer.

And I'm here to help you.

Do you understand that?

Davie, I'm here to help you.

Davie?

Davie-- I can hear a helicopter.

Call them.

Tell them he just flew over the target.

Right.

WYCLIFFE: Davie, are you there?

[music playing]

They've located the place, sir.

Right.

Let's get Doug.

DIXON: And they found Rees.

He's dead.

WYCLIFFE: [inaudible]

[music playing]

Pretending to be soldiers.

Pathetic.

[music playing]

Come on.

[phone ringing]

It didn't have to be like this.

Hunted down like some wild animal.

Nothing.

Can you see anything? - Yeah.

I can see someone moving. WYCLIFFE: Potter.

Dixon, give me the microphone, quickly.

Davie.

This is Detective Superintendent Wycliffe.

I just want to talk to you.

So let your prisoner go--

Now they want to talk.

WYCLIFFE: And we can talk.

Now.

Not when I wanted to talk.

Not when I wanted someone to listen.

Not when I needed help.

WYCLIFFE: Can you hear me?

I've tried to do my best.

And what happens?

I'm thrown out by the Army that I would've died for!

[music playing]

Get up!

Oh no.

DAVIE: I can hear you!

Why can't you leave me in peace?

You're making me angry!

Back off!

Leave me alone or I'll slit his throat!

[inaudible] tell the advisor I don't want anyone to shoot.

Not yet. - OK.

I just want to talk, Davie.

Leave me or I'll kill him!

We just want to talk.

All I want is to be left alone.

Let me use the phone, Davie.

I'll tell them it's all right.

Now listen to me.

Why?

Why should I trust you?

I'll tell you why.

Because you're not the only one that's been let down, Corporal.

There's mates of mine blinded in wheelchairs

fighting for a bunch of islands half a world away.

And what did the lady say?

Rejoice.

You-- do understand, don't you?

DOUG: Let me use the phone, Davie.

I want to get rid of them.

DOUG: Yeah.

And then we can talk, can't we?

We-- we-- we can talk about what it's really like, can't we?

I'll get them off our backs, Davie.

No, I'll do it, sir.

No!

DAVIE: Hey, it's all right!

No!

I-- I only wanted--

[dog barking]

Armed police!

Lie down!

Clear, sir!

WYCLIFFE: Doug-- are you all right?

What the hell did you do that for?

Eh?

I didn't give the order.

I was getting through to him.

I could have got him out of here.

Doug.

Potter.

I'm sorry about this morning, sir.

I know I should have been there.

There was no need for this to happen, you know, Lizzie.

Treat a man like an animal--

We were worried about getting you out alive, not him.

He's a murderer.

Or have you forgotten that?

What are you getting so worked up about?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

Good.

[music playing]