Original subtitles

WOMAN: Let us start with a prayer.

Great spirit, we welcome you.

Place a pyramid of protection over this building...

..and around every home represented here this evening.

We ask our guides, and doorkeepers, and helpers

to be with us during this meeting.

We speak to you in love,

and light, and truth,

and leave ourselves in your loving hands.

Eternity was yesterday.

And is today.

And continues forward...

forever.

Charlotte?

Are you there, Charlotte?

Will you speak to us?

Charlotte.

Charlotte?

There you are!

(IN SPIRIT GUIDE'S VOICE) I see the child.

No, no.

A girl. Younger than me.

Yes, younger.

And...a gate.

A wooden gate.

A five-barred gate. (GASPS)

Patrick!

Patrick?

Sorrow.

Sorrow!

Patrick?

Patrick?

There will be sorrow...

..for someone this evening.

A great deal of sorrow.

Where are you?

Aaagh! Aaagh!

Aaagh! Aaaaagh!

Ah!

(CONTINUES TO SCREAM)

Aaagh! Aaagh!

I had the feeling we were well-visited this evening.

Not so bad. There was such an energy.

I could almost touch it.

BELL AND CHIMES JANGLE

Hello, Dad. Hello, Cully.

Do you need a hand?

No, thank you. Where's Mum?

Your mother is dining out in a restaurant...with a friend.

What friend? I don't know.

Someone called Elizabeth she met at the library.

The medium's name is Rosetta.

She goes into these trances.

Rosetta? Bet she wasn't born with that name!

What's happened to that salad?

Anyway, when she's in one of her trances

she makes contact with the dear departed.

The people in the audience love it.

Sometimes it scares them, but they really love it.

But, Elizabeth, why do you bother going to such places?

It's an experience.

Watching lonely people trying to make contact with the dead?

Right now it's easier than trying to make contact with the living.

Who found him?

His wife, sir. She's upstairs. Very upset.

One of her neighbours is with her. Miss Anne Marr.

Miss Marr?

Yes. Just making her a hot drink.

She's over there.

Mrs Janet Pennyman?

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby from Causton CID.

I'm very sorry to have to ask you questions at a time like this,

but I'm afraid it's got to be done.

I understand

you were the one who found your husband's body.

Yes.

Sorry. Would you like a cup?

No. No thank you.

Why would he have wanted to do such a thing?

Mrs Pennyman, when did you last see your husband alive?

Erm...

This afternoon.

He came up here for a cup of tea.

It was about...

erm...two o'clock.

Was he working alone?

Oh, yes.

There are no funerals booked at the moment.

And after he'd had his cup of tea?

Er...

well, he...

..he went to the local church.

He said he had to see something there.

Do you know if there was anything...

troubling him?

(SOBS)

He was the kind of man who didn't show his feelings.

I have some cheerful news for you. You chose the right place for it.

He didn't kill himself. Didn't kill himself?

Unless he managed to come back from the dead

and hide the knife used to slash his wrists. I also think

he was struck from behind by something fairly heavy.

Miss Marr,

I'm told that you were outside in the street about the same time

that Mr Pennyman's body was found. Correct?

Yes, that's right.

Did you see anyone leaving the premises?

I wasn't really looking.

What is it?

Tell me.

We don't think your husband took his own life.

I'm sorry.

Mrs Pennyman, did your husband have any enemies?

Er...no. No.

No. He was well respected.

Well, some people might have found him difficult to get on with.

Why? Why would they do that?

He was a no-nonsense sort of man.

He didn't suffer fools.

(WHIMPERS)

Poor Patrick!

Thomas?

Thomas.

I've got news for you.

You've lost your part-time job.

Eh?

Patrick Pennyman. He's dead.

What do you mean, "He's dead"?

Somebody killed him.

Left him to bleed to death in his own chapel of rest.

Elizabeth dropped me off yesterday evening,

and I asked her in. I wanted you to meet her.

I'm sorry about that. We had a lovely time.

She's great to be with.

She was telling me about some spiritualist meeting she went to

just for the fun of it. The fun of it!

It's the way she is.

Is she from these parts?

Yes. She grew up in Midsomer, but moved away.

She's only recently come back. Are you going to eat this toast? No.

What's her second name? Key.

Key.

Must go.

Not on here.

I don't have to help your boss, you know. I do this for you.

If I didn't she'd have you running around.

You do enough for her as it is.

Oh. Shan't be home till late.

Too much work on, love.

Shame about old Pennyman.

I bet them spirits of hers are having a laugh.

Cos the dead will have to die elsewhere now, won't they?

John.

Yeah.

You shouldn't make fun of Rosetta, or what she does.

I believe in her.

I know you do.

His name is Patrick Pennyman.

He owned this place.

He was killed early yesterday evening.

For an undertaker he's not exactly travelling in style. No.

His wife was just upstairs. She heard nothing.

There were neighbours outside. They saw nothing.

Still I suppose it is a fairly busy street. People come and go.

This is where he was.

Didn't lock the door after he came in.

Could be robbery, sir. Apparently not.

Which means we've got to find out a little more about this man.

Scott, you can make a start by introducing yourself

to his next of kin Mrs Pennyman.

Now, it's a difficult time for her, all right?

But we need a list of all the recent funerals handled by her husband.

All right.

CHURCH ORGAN PLAYS

Are you looking for a particular gravestone?

No. No, I'm not.

I see.

Just browsing, is that it?

Causton CID. I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.

And you are? Sylvia Burgess.

I do voluntary work here.

Someone has to.

The rector has to spread himself around three parishes.

And he's not a well man.

Would you believe that Fletcher's Cross

once had a church and two chapels?

No. I didn't know that.

By the way my husband's choirmaster.

Only you wouldn't think so from the racket he's making.

I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Patrick never wanted me to get involved in the business.

But now there's so much for me to do.

Is there...is there no-one else to help you, Mrs Pennyman?

My sister and her husband are coming down from Yorkshire next week.

They're a very efficient couple. They'll know what to do.

But your husband, he didn't employ any full-time staff?

Thomas used to work for him on a part-time basis.

I'm sorry. Who was that? Thomas Marr.

He owns the crystal shop in Market Street. Crystal...

shop.

But nobody else?

Well, a couple of the local lads

used to get hired as pallbearers from time to time.

Mind you, they had to provide their own suits.

Patrick wasn't silly with money.

Yeah.

He did have a partner once.

Did he? Who was that?

Jimmy. James Griss.

Mind you, they didn't get on They were always arguing.

They even almost came to blows once during a funeral service.

It was very embarrassing for the mourners.

I bet. You got any idea where this James Griss is now?

No. I expect he's still around.

I haven't seen him since the partnership ended.

That was a couple of years ago.

Thank you.

And was Patrick Pennyman responsible for most of the recent burials here?

Since my time here he's been responsible for all of them.

Can you think of anyone who'd want to harm him?

For what reason?

I don't know. Providing a poor service.

ORGAN MUSIC Burying someone in the wrong grave.

Ronald, that's enough for now.

MUSIC STOPS

No. I can't think of anyone.

Of course, Patrick Pennyman was a skinflint.

Would that be reason enough?

That depends.

This is Mr Barnaby from Causton CID.

Good morning. I was about to tell him

why this village is going even further into decline.

There are now wicked things here.

Sylvia! Please.

It's true.

There's another form of worship here in Fletcher's Cross.

It's one that doesn't allow souls to rest in peace.

Are we talking about the spiritualists?

Yes. The Spirit of Friendship Group.

The rector's too ill, and too busy to see it.

But some of us are not happy.

We believe

that the dead should stay dead.

Sorry about that, Mr Barnaby.

Sylvia gets a bit overexcited at times.

That spiritualist lot has never bothered me personally.

The thing is...Fletcher's Cross is a close community.

Too close sometimes.

Most wouldn't want people getting in touch with their dead relatives.

Too many secrets.

(SIGHS) Bye.

I just thought I'd drop by to offer my condolences.

Thank you, Thomas.

This must be a very sad time for you.

Yes, it is.

Er...

Ahem. There's just one small problem. I haven't been paid

up to date since we buried Mrs Caldercott.

Oh, I'm sorry. Er...

Look, erm...don't worry about it.

I'll see to it as soon as I've got somebody

to go through the accounts.

Right.

Erm...

Just as a matter of interest who's arranging Patrick's funeral?

I really haven't had time to think about that yet.

Well, if you need somebody...

Goodbye, Thomas.

Scott. Sir.

It's closed.

I managed to go through Patrick Pennyman's paperwork. Yes.

Yeah. Now the business is sound.

There were a few outstanding bills with local tradesmen. Got the list?

There were two recent funerals in the last six weeks.

The details are right there.

And Patrick Pennyman had a business partner.

Did he? Yeah. Didn't like each other.

Oh, good.

Sorry.

Excuse me, we're looking for a Mr Thomas Marr.

That's me.

Detective Sergeant Scott.

And this is DCI Barnaby.

I've been told you once worked for Patrick Pennyman.

I did. Yeah.

On and off.

Was he good to work for? Not really. He was too tight-fisted.

So tell me, Mr Marr,

did you dislike him for that reason? No.

Or for any other reason?

Well, let's just say I put up with him as a boss,

but wouldn't have had him as a friend.

Where were you yesterday evening, sir?

He was at the spiritualist church.

Is that right, Mr Marr?

Yes.

Were you there all evening?

No. I left a bit early.

Why? I wanted to come home. That's all.

My brother wouldn't harm anyone, Mr Barnaby.

Patrick Pennyman cut a lot of corners in his business dealings.

He could have upset quite a few people.

Are you a member of the spiritualist church, Miss Marr?

Me? No. Anna's a healer.

Oh! That woman thinks she can heal people, too, in her own way.

But she can't. Lighting candles and sitting in the dark!

No-one does that any more. Sorry. Who are we talking about?

Rosetta Price. She's the medium.

The Fletcher's Cross Spirit of Friendship Group

is good for one thing only.

Scaring people.

A blunt-force injury to the back of the skull

with a full thickness laceration of the inner aspect of the scalp.

No defensive wounds? No. He didn't see it coming.

The shape of the striking object matches the laceration.

This was definitely the object. What about the wrists?

Slashed with a thin blade. Kitchen knife maybe. Packing knife.

And that could have been done coolly...and methodically? Oh, yes.

So what kind of a person are we looking for?

Don't know yet.

But here's a bit of a puzzle.

In our game nothing surprises us any more. Right?

I would have thought that applied to undertakers as well.

But this fellow was given a hell of a shock before he died.

Do you reckon he saw a ghost?

The cottage belonged to the railway back in Victorian times.

The old line is just beyond those trees there.

You mean you get trains thundering past?

No. Not any more.

We get the odd steam train.

I quite like those.

I'm told that line's been extended to Midsomer Mallow.

Yep. They're all set to celebrate it.

Some enthusiasts hope to link up with the main line.

Put Fletcher's Cross back on the map.

I love this cottage. Has it always been in your family?

Yes. Ever since they were sold off by the railways.

Shall we ask Tom to come with us tonight?

There's a Spirit of Friendship Group meeting this evening.

Elizabeth has asked me to go with her.

I've heard a lot about the Spirit of Friendship Group lately.

I'll pass if you don't mind. But you go, Joyce. You go.

Mr John Whittle?

Yeah.

Afternoon to you, sir. I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby.

This is Detective Sergeant Scott.

We believe you did quite a few jobs for Patrick Pennyman.

That's right. Have you got any complaints?

If I have they're not going to do me much good now, are they?

What sort of jobs did you do for him?

Anything cheap and cheerful you could cover with a cloth

and a few flowers.

Coffin trestles mostly.

And a few coffins made of hardboard. Hardboard?

Well, he said they were temporary jobs,

but I have heard they were used during the odd cremation ceremony.

In what way? Well, you know how it is.

Organ's playing, loved ones are weeping. A switch is made. When?

Once the expensive mahogany number has passed through that curtain.

That's when.

You bung the right people a tenner or two, who's to know?

I don't miss much that goes on in this village.

Mr Whittle, what can you tell us about James Griss?

Not a lot. Don't see much of him these days.

Ha! Pennyman and Griss!

That was a partnership made in hell.

James in trouble?

Why should he be?

Cos he had a short fuse. That's why.

You got any idea where we can find him?

Obviously our Mr Pennyman

upset someone in particular.

Yeah. I'd say so, sir.

Dissatisfied customer?

By the sounds of things there must have been a few of them.

How would they know they were being cheated?

He was an undertaker, not a grocer.

Where does this railway go to these days?

Not very far.

Just a couple of villages.

Used to link up to the main line in the days before Beeching.

But now...

like most of olde England...

..it's just a heritage site.

Can I help you?

Hello, Tom.

Police been to see you yet?

Yeah. Why?

Just wondered. Told 'em all I know. Which isn't much.

And I was also wondering why you left the meeting early last night.

I had things to do. Anyway, that's my business.

Did you tell the police why you left early?

They didn't ask.

(LAUGHS)

Patrick Pennyman was enough to drive any sane man round the bend.

If I'd worked for him any longer I'd have done him harm.

Why? I wanted to expand the business.

Improve the service. But he'd have none of it.

He didn't like spending money. By the way,

who's doing the funeral? I've no idea.

We've been told you almost came to blows on one occasion.

On more than one occasion.

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

Did you kill him, Mr Griss?

No.

Can you tell us where you were early yesterday evening?

What time? Say between 6:30 and 8:30.

I'd been having a bath.

And then supper.

Can anyone corroborate that?

No.

What are you going to do? Arrest me?

TRAIN WHISTLE

Come on. You want to stand back here.

So apart from yourself,

who else would want to harm Patrick Pennyman? Plenty!

But nobody I could put a name to.

You see, the man was the next best thing to a criminal.

How do you mean?

Let's just say he didn't see the point

of people being buried along with their valuables.

Or anything that would fetch a bob or two.

I once saw him help himself to a new suit and a fine pair of brogues.

What did he do with them?

Sold them on, of course.

Would anyone else have known about this?

It's possible.

Er...could I ask you...

..please, as an ex-undertaker,

what do you think of the local spiritualist church?

A daft lot, but they've never bothered me.

Did they bother Patrick Pennyman?

I heard him call them a few names from time to time.

But I'd have thought something like reincarnation was more his style.

He could have buried 'em twice.

BUZZ OF CONVERSATION

Hi.

Elizabeth. Just couldn't keep away, could you?

Come on.

That's Rosetta.

She often uses a spirit guide.

She was a young Victorian servant girl called Charlotte.

She was putting coals on a fire when her dress caught alight.

No-one was there to save her.

As usual, let us start with a prayer.

Great spirit we welcome you.

Place a pyramid of protection over this building,

and around every home represented here this evening.

This is bornite, or peacock ore.

Look at its colours.

It's beautiful.

Well, you must try to find a friend within it,

because peacock ore is a great healer for grief.

Take a deep breath.

There is an energy source that flows through the cosmos.

Let the energy flow.

Do you know what the problem was with Patrick and me?

No. What?

It was our sex life.

You see, it had been a failure for years.

I could never really stand him putting his hands on me

after he'd been touching the dead.

Just try to relax.

Let the energy flow.

Let the energy heal.

I have a message from someone now resident in spirit.

Is it...

M-Michael?

Or...

Mark?

Martin?

Recently.

A heart condition took him over to spirit quite recently.

It's Martin.

My husband Martin.

He died three weeks ago.

Well...

even though Martin has now left...

the physical...

he's coming to you from spirit

with a great deal of love.

Charlotte!

Charlotte!

Ah!

There is someone here tonight

whose loved one is an avenging angel.

And that avenging angel...

..is here in the village...

..investigating death...

(DEEP VOICE) Searching for those who have sinned.

SHOP DOOR OPENS

BELL AND CHIMES JANGLE

It happened again at the meeting.

There was another warning.

I don't want to hear it.

Why do you insist on going to that place?

You know you're wasting your time going there, don't you?

Mum isn't coming back.

She could be dead.

She could be trying to send us a message.

Joyce, it is a con trick, isn't it? It's got to be.

But how could she come by information like that?

I don't know.

She's getting information, that's for sure.

But I bet it's from this side of the great divide.

It might just be an inspired guess.

Well, it's a damn good guess.

Remember, Joyce, it is a little village.

People pick things up.

And they know that I'm there conducting an investigation.

Mind you, I've been called many things in my time,

but never, never an avenging angel. (LAUGHS)

It's not funny, Tom.

I was really scared.

I'll never go there again.

Rosetta, do you think we could manage

a clairvoyant demonstration at Midsomer Worthy Memorial Hall? When?

Thursday the 18th.

ã3 a head.

Tea and biscuits included.

I should think so.

Rosetta...

last night it was a warning about sorrow.

And tonight it was another warning.

We don't want to upset the people who've come to us for help, do we?

That's not what we're here for.

Eve, I'm not a fraud.

No, of course not!

Occasionally I make it happy for them.

I tell them I see flowers and birds,

loved ones walking in lush fields.

But when I'm in a state of trance

I've no control over the proceedings.

You must know that.

Oh, I do! Good.

So, how did we do?

Those recent funerals, sir.

I spoke to a Mrs Ferguson and her husband.

Pennyman directed a service for the lady's sister.

When? A month ago. They were very happy with the way he handled it.

The same with the Cotterill family and -

ORGAN MUSIC

TUNING FORK

(HUMS NOTE)

(HARMONISING) # Glory to thee my God this night

♪ For all the blessings of the light

♪ Keep me, O keep me, king of kings

♪ Beneath thine own almighty wings

♪ Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear son

♪ The ill that I this day have done ♪

Jenny, that was just er...

just a little bit sharp, hm?

And I think we all need to work harder on our enunciation.

So let's try that bit again, shall we?

Mrs Burgess.

♪ Glory to thee, my God, this night

♪ For all the blessings... ♪

I remember David and Rosemary Key.

Although I didn't know them that well.

They seemed to be devoted to each other.

Did you know the daughter?

No. I knew they had a child,

but I believe she left the area.

It's a shared grave.

David Key died first.

Then his wife some time later.

Patrick Pennyman was in charge of both funeral services.

Cully!

This is my friend Elizabeth.

Hello, Cully. Hi.

Hello, Mr Marr.

Can I give you a reading, Mr Barnaby?

Can you give me what? From the stones.

I can tell you all about yourself.

Perhaps there are certain things I shouldn't know.

That's the whole point.

Thank you, but no thank you.

How's Mrs Pennyman?

Still in a bit of a state.

I've asked her to come here later today. Might cheer her up a bit.

Good.

That's not another church roof fund? No, no. Not this time.

The railway. Much more important. There you go.

You're very kind.

This is great.

I didn't know Fletcher's Cross had its own station.

This is Mr Griss's pride and joy.

Who? The chap in the uniform.

Elizabeth here? Yes.

She's at the bookstall.

She ever talk to you about her family?

No. I don't think so.

Why? Does she have to?

No, no. I suppose not.

I must mingle.

♪ Blue Tail Fly

Oh!

I've got such a bad back, Anne.

Have you now? Mm.

Perhaps...perhaps I could try some of your healing,

I've heard a lot about it.

Is it hands-on?

No, it isn't. Oh! That's a shame.

Ronald, get your hands off me!

Do you want me to tell Sylvia?

She'd never believe you.

(SIGHS)

JAUNTY TUNE

So, a couple more miles of track and we can reconnect

with Causton, which means that one of these days

we can rejoin the main line.

Don't listen to him.

It will never happen.

If you just want to come this way I can show you the sheds.

Hello, Elizabeth.

Hello, Tom. What have you bought?

Oh, historical novels.

Escapism? Mm. I prefer the past.

Ladies.

Would you...would you care to make a small contribution?

Ronald, never ever shake your tin at those people.

We don't need their money.

Four? Four.

Elizabeth. Ah.

I've just been talking to Tom. Oh.

I'm off now. Would you see me this evening? I'd like to talk to you.

Is anything wrong? No. Everything's fine.

You've chosen well.

This is herkimer.

The ultimate attunement stone.

Right. It's often given as a keepsake

to people who are travelling or moving away.

TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS

Stand well back, please, ladies and gentlemen.

If you wouldn't mind taking a few paces back for safety.

Thank you. Just take a few paces back. Everyone can see.

Who is that woman?

That's Rosetta. She's from the spiritualist church.

She's the medium.

HEAVY BREATHING

Even though I'd moved away we were still very close.

This was their home.

I loved them both dearly.

My father died just over a year ago.

And my mother died of a heart attack a few months later.

I'm so sorry. Sit.

She used to ring me...

..almost every day after Dad's death.

She was very excited with her bits of news.

You see, she joined

the Fletcher's Cross spiritualist group.

They killed her.

What?! She went to them for comfort, Joyce.

And they frightened her.

They told her things about my father that not even I knew.

That scared her. It made her ill.

She told me that just before she died.

But Tom thinks whatever it is Rosetta Price is up to

it's a big con trick. Yeah. I expect it is.

So that's the real reason you're going to these meetings.

Yes! I want to expose them.

And that's not the only thing going on in this godforsaken village.

My mother used to wear this.

Always. She was hardly ever seen without it.

It belonged to her mother. It's lovely.

I asked for her to be buried with that brooch.

I wanted her never to be separated from it.

But she was.

Yes. A few weeks later I was here sorting out the probate.

I saw this. It was for sale in an antique shop.

Why don't we meet up in Causton tomorrow, have some lunch?

Oh, yes! Let's do that.

Night.

Take care, now.

BREATHING

GATE SCREECHES

I'll call you back later.

Yeah. The postman found the body early this morning, sir.

Front door's open. Lights are still on in the house.

Anybody else inside? No, sarge. We took a look.

The postman said the occupier's name is Elizabeth Key,

but there's no ID on the body.

We don't need any.

This is Elizabeth Key. I knew her.

When you said that you knew her, sir -

She was Joyce's friend.

And I believe she was conducting her own kind of investigation.

Well,

nothing's been disturbed.

But...

it looks like she had a visitor.

Mm. At least one.

And I know who that was.

Did you see anyone when you left the cottage last night?

Was Elizabeth expecting anyone else?

She didn't say.

Joyce, we've got to find the person responsible for this.

I know.

Before it happens again.

Elizabeth told you she wanted revenge.

No.

Not revenge.

She wanted some answers.

Justice from who, in particular?

She said she'd been asking questions.

Around the village?

Yes.

Did she give any names? She said the spiritualist church.

The same method of killing as the last time.

Hit from behind, then her wrists were slashed.

But we may find a striking weapon.

It could have been thrown away somewhere. A brick maybe.

A piece of piping. What about the knife?

Didn't find it last time, don't suppose we'll find it this.

It's odd, though. What's odd?

The attempt to make her death look like suicide is pathetic!

No knife by the body. Blows to the back of the head in both cases.

As if someone's just playing at being the murderer?

Yeah. Possibly enjoying themselves.

I'm Rosetta's assistant and her secretary.

Is she here? (She's completing her meditation.)

(Ssh. Follow me.)

I'll get her.

Where do all the spirits go to in the daytime, I wonder?

This place and the funeral parlour,

there's got to be a connection, hasn't there?

Elizabeth Key obviously thought there was one.

Rosetta, this is Chief Inspector Barnaby,

and...Sergeant Scott, was it?

Sergeant Scott.

Good morning.

We are making enquiries into the death of Elizabeth Key.

Did you know her?

I don't think so. No.

We're told she attended some of your meetings.

I can't remember everyone who comes to me for help and guidance.

How did she die?

She was murdered.

I'm very sorry to hear that, but er...how can I help?

Elizabeth Key's mother also came to your meetings

after the death of her husband

Mr David Key. What's wrong with that?

A lot of bereaved people come to us. I'm sure they do.

But, you see, Mrs Key died of a heart failure

shortly after attending one of your sessions.

Do you expect me to run a health check on everyone who comes here?

Rosetta tries to help people feel better, Chief Inspector.

Does that include vulnerable people?

Does that include suggestible people?

I believe Elizabeth Key came here to confront you.

Well, you're wrong! Because she was convinced

that something seen, said, or heard here in this place

precipitated the death of her mother.

Oh, yes. I do seem to remember

some woman shouting the odds after one of our meetings.

And was that woman Elizabeth Key? I wouldn't know.

I was coming out of my trance at the time.

We still have further enquiries to make, Miss Price,

so I'd rather you didn't leave the village for the time being.

I am sorry about that.

She's not been at her best lately.

A lot of strange things have been happening.

Really? What kind of things?

Her spirit guide has become very angry.

It just won't behave itself.

Whether or not it could actually harm anyone I'm not sure.

When's the next meeting?

This evening.

Unfortunately, sir, we can't arrest a ghost

for scaring an old lady to death.

No. Hey, Scott,

you go back to the office, will you?

Run some checks on Rosetta Price.

I'm going to take a little stroll round the village. Yes, sir.

How can I possibly express myself under these conditions?

People asking endless questions!

I feel like I'm being pushed into a corner.

I can't operate like that!

Of course you can't.

I'm worried about the Midsomer Worthy booking.

If you're not allowed to leave the village -

Oh, to hell with Midsomer Worthy!

BEEPING FROM CASH REGISTER

Ronald!

I've just heard.

Heard what? There's been another murder.

Here in the village. Surely not! Who?

A woman in Shilling Lane. She was found in a pool of blood

in her own garden.

Thanks.

Oh, John.

There's a job going if you want to give the Heritage Office a quote.

What? The signal box steps by the old holding yard need replacing.

All right. I'll take a look. I'm there most days.

Still busy with that little railway of yours?

Yes. Missing out, then, aren't you?

Surprised you don't hang around your old place of work.

What are you talking about? Janet Pennyman.

Up for grabs now, isn't she?

The poor woman's in mourning.

What difference does that make?

Just shut your mouth, John, or I'll take my trade elsewhere.

Me? What have I said? Don't act the innocent with me.

You're the biggest troublemaker in this village.

At least I'm not a grown man playing with toy trains.

Oi! There's been enough violence in this village already!

Hello again, Mr Whittle. Oh, hello.

I take it that Eve Whittle is your wife, yeah?

Yes. Why?

I've just paid a visit to the spiritualist church.

You're not one of that set, are you?

I took you for a more down-to-earth sort of man.

I am. I just do a few odd jobs for them.

So you don't build disappearing cabinets and trapdoors?

No, nothing like that.

Hey. How do they do it?

Do what? You must have sat through a few of those sessions.

How do they manage to tell people certain, very private things

about their lost loved ones?

I don't know. Ask them.

So whoever did it was waiting here.

Yeah.

Watching us. Yes.

Joyce, if you didn't see anyone, did you hear anything at all?

Like what?

Like footsteps, or the sound of a vehicle.

No. No?

We'll go in round the back. Come on.

Rosetta Price's assistant

seems to think some sort of spirit guide had something to do with this.

That's ridiculous! Of course it is.

Was the spirit guide at the meeting when you were there?

Yes. It's the spirit of a young girl.

And what was it really? Somebody dressed up?

No, it wasn't.

It's just a voice. It's a different voice. It comes from Rosetta.

Joyce, do you see anything different about this room

from when you were here with Elizabeth?

Anything moved? Anything changed?

I don't think so.

We...we were sitting here.

Er...

she talked about her parents.

We were having lunch today. I can't believe this. Yeah.

Oh, there's that brooch.

Brooch?

Yes. Elizabeth wanted it to be buried with her mother.

But then later she saw it for sale in a shop. Did she, now?

Joyce,

I imagine you've had enough of spiritualist meetings, haven't you?

Yes. What if I went with you?

No, Tom. I won't do it. For Elizabeth's sake?

I was wondering if you'd ever seen that before.

No. Why?

Where would I have seen it?

Well, I don't know. Maybe here

in your husband's office.

I don't understand.

That is a personal effect of someone your husband er...

laid to rest.

Then I would never have been allowed to see it.

Patrick kept things like that to himself. Did he?

Yes.

OK. Thank you.

It was good to see you at the railway celebration the other day.

Yeah. Well, friends said it would do me good to get out and about a bit.

Your friends are right.

Take my mind of things. Yeah.

Eve.

That copper called by at the workshop.

Mr Barnaby? Mm.

What did he want?

He was asking something about a brooch.

So many things seem to be going wrong at the moment.

Rosetta's been told not to leave the village.

Bet that made her happy.

Do you know something that I don't know?

No.

But you know everything that goes on in Fletcher's Cross.

Not this time, love.

Are you telling me the truth?

Yes, love. But you're going to have to start without me tonight,

but I've got things to do.

I'll catch up with you later. All right.

Hey.

Where?

Well, er...

well, I don't know whether I can.

Yeah. Yeah, I'll be there.

OK. Bye.

Are you going to the meeting?

No.

You always go. Not tonight.

I've got to go and meet somebody.

John's going to be late.

He's got things to do. All right.

That policeman's back.

Chief Inspector Barnaby.

He's sitting in the audience.

L.

L-word.

Is it a name

beginning with L?

Charlotte, won't you help me? Where are you, Charlotte?

Is...is it the name Laura?

Is there a Laura this side of life?

Yes, yes!

A loved one is

telling me...something.

A loved one is showing me something.

Someone who passed over.

Ah. Ah.

A...tattoo?

Yes, a...

a tattoo on the forearm.

Help me, Charlotte.

Help me. Help me.

(GASPS)

(RASPING SCREAM)

Lights.

(CONTINUES SCREAMING) Lights, please.

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

I do apologise.

But Rosetta must rest now.

And so we must end the meeting.

Let us close with a prayer.

They should get their money back. Why was the meeting stopped?

It's obvious. Rosetta was doing a number.

Probably because we were in the audience.

Didn't want to commit herself.

But that sound!

That was frightening.

Hidden speakers?

A tattoo.

Yeah. Or a birthmark. That'd do just as well.

And the odd name or two.

What are you talking about?

I'm talking, Joyce, about acquired knowledge.

And where it comes from.

Del, stop!

WHEELS SCREECH

Morning, Scott. Sir.

Oh, I checked out Rosetta Price.

She's got no convictions.

However...there is some information about her online. Thank you.

It says she's highly respected amongst spiritualist groups.

She often gets a favourable mention in the Psychic News.

Does she? Yeah. Oh.

And this is the information you asked for from Pennyman's office.

MOBILE RINGS Makes interesting reading.

Yeah. Scott.

Same MO.

But this time the blow from behind could have killed him.

It's quite a wound.

Any idea how long he's been here?

Can't say yet. Probably overnight.

Right. Scott,

would you find out where Mr James Griss is working, please?

Yes, sir.

Oh, John! John!

You stupid, stupid man!

He's always so kind to me.

But he annoyed a lot of people.

Annoyed someone enough to do that to him?

I suppose so.

But that's the kind of world we're living in these days, isn't it?

Everyone gets angry so quickly

over nothing at all.

Can you think of someone, anyone, who would want to harm him?

Er...Emily here

can stay with you, but have you got any family,

a friend, who can be with you?

Rosetta will be here soon.

Oh.

I believe in her, you know.

John didn't, but I do.

Always have.

But surely it's just er...trickery.

Trickery? Mm.

No.

Sometimes she gets a bit of help,

otherwise it wouldn't be much of a show, would it?

Yeah. What sort of help?

Just help.

But most of it's real.

Strange things do happen.

I've felt it.

I've felt the energy.

And I've seen the aura.

It's...like a warm...

bright light.

METALLIC CLANG

Mr Griss, can we have a word? About what?

We're investigating a death on the tracks.

The dead man is John Whittle.

John Whittle you say?

Afraid so.

I never liked the man,

but I wouldn't wish that on him.

Why didn't you like him?

He's a troublemaker. What was he doing down here?

That's what we'd like to know. Was he hit by the engine?

No. He was murdered.

Murdered?

Where were you last night, Mr Griss? At home, of course.

And what about during the evening? I was here till late,

working on the track - packed it in when it got too dark.

Was anybody else working with you?

No.

Now wait a minute.

I didn't kill him.

You've admitted you didn't like the man.

Yesterday you were arguing with him in the street.

And now he's dead. But I wouldn't kill the man.

I couldn't do that.

Did you see anybody else yesterday evening?

I told you. I was working alone. But did you see anybody?

Yeah.

Yeah, I did. I saw Thomas Marr.

He was down on the track.

It seemed like he was looking for someone.

And then he just walked off.

What time was that?

About half seven. Something like that.

Miss Marr, afternoon to you.

Is your brother in? Yes.

Could you get him for me?

Thomas!

Mr Marr,

could I have a word with you, please?

Should you lock up for a bit?

Thank you. Er...

He is my brother. I would like to stay.

Yes. All right.

Mr Marr,

Thomas,

I'd like to take you back to the evening Patrick Pennyman was killed.

You told us that you'd left the spiritualist meeting early.

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. To come home.

Sure you didn't go to the funeral parlour? Of course not!

Thomas, you obviously think a lot of your sister.

Yeah. Yeah, I do.

Well, if she's so against the spiritualist church, why do you go?

We never knew our father.

And our mother walked out on us when we were kids.

We don't know whether she's dead or alive.

That's why Thomas goes to those meetings.

He's hoping for some sort of message.

You didn't go to the spiritualist meeting last night, did you?

Though we do know where you did go.

You went to the old railway line, didn't you? Is that right?

Is that right?

Tell him.

Er... I er... I had this...I had this phone call,

asking me to go down to the level crossing at Ram's Lane.

I was told that if I did I might hear something to my advantage.

But there was no-one there.

Who made the phone call?

Who was it, Mr Marr?

It's ridiculous. Why would I want to meet Marr in the middle of nowhere?

Because you had some good news for him.

What good news?

Sorry. I didn't ring him.

Perhaps you should check where the call came from.

We have. It was from a phonebox in the square.

Just a short walk from here.

I can assure you it wasn't me.

Thomas must have made a mistake.

He's like that. He often got things wrong when he worked for my husband.

Sergeant Scott here tells me that your husband

never wanted you involved with the business.

Yes. Yet you still had access to his business files and records.

If I wish, yes. But they were of no interest to me.

Oh, of course not.

Mr Barnaby, I think these questions are a little unfair.

I'm still mourning the death of my husband.

Yes. I'm sorry. KNOCKING ON DOOR

Mr Burgess.

Just er...just a little something for you, Janet,

in your hour of need.

I feel quite moved. The neighbours have been so kind

and...

..thoughtful.

Mrs Burgess.

Your husband at home?

No. Where is he?

He's in the church.

Why?

Mr Burgess. Yes?

Mr Barnaby.

We were wondering if you had anything to tell us.

About what?

About Patrick Pennyman. No.

Or about a little something or other for Janet Pennyman

in her hour of need.

Now what's wrong with that?

How many of those have you enjoyed since Mr Pennyman died?

You've no right to talk to me in that way.

Or had it been going on before then? I'm a married man.

Yes. Indeed you are, Mr Burgess.

But not a very happy one I'd say.

Janet Pennyman, she didn't have much of a domestic life, did she?

Not with that husband of hers.

So I reckon you'd make a fine pair.

Your wife's not here, Mr Burgess,

but we can go and fetch her if you like.

Did Janet Pennyman lead you on?

No, no. Of course she didn't.

Then why was John Whittle killed?

How would I know?

Well, John Whittle used to work from time to time for Patrick Pennyman.

so he'd have gone to the funeral parlour on various occasions.

Now, did he see something he shouldn't have seen?

Did he catch you at it?

Whittle wouldn't have let that rest.

What did he want? Something in exchange?

A little sexual favour or two from Janet, was that it?

Of course you couldn't let that happen, could you?

Has Janet told you this?

As good as.

So what did she do?

Lure him to the line in the same way Thomas Marr was asked to go?

Thomas Marr. James Griss.

They made perfect suspects, didn't they?

What did you hit the man with?

Did you find something suitable by the railway line?

Before I say anything... how much has Janet told you?

Just about everything.

You know...

she was great to be with.

Now you still don't know he's dead.

Mm. So you go about your business. Hm?

Why?

Because when the police start asking questions

you'll have the answers. Right.

So you get a supper ready,

then you go back downstairs.

You call out to him.

Patrick! (LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

You make sure there's people outside in the street

when the time comes - people who will come and help you.

Then I cry on their shoulders.

You pour your heart out.

(BOTH LAUGH)

We had such fun together.

It appears your husband was a very thorough man, Mrs Pennyman.

He left very detailed accounts

of all those he laid to rest.

And of their next of kin.

Do you...do you recognise this?

Yes.

Is that your handwriting?

Yes.

We found this in your writing desk.

It's a list of all the distinguishing marks

on those your husband laid to rest. Would you like me to read it to you?

No.

Well, it mentions things like tattoos, scars,

birthmarks, all dated and set against the names,

the ages, sex of the deceased.

Do you know Rosetta Price?

I've heard of her.

Have you ever helped her?

How could I have helped her?

By selling her information like this.

I'm sure it was very useful to her.

It meant that she could give absolutely accurate descriptions

of those who had crossed over.

There's er...one name in particular.

David Key.

It mentions a small,

white birthmark on his body.

Almost in the shape of a dove.

Now apart from, say, his doctor,

only his loved ones would have known about this.

His wife's name was Rosemary Key, and this information

given out at one of those spiritualist meetings

made her ill - made her very ill. In fact...it killed her.

That's got nothing to do with me. Oh, but it has.

Because someone decided to do some investigating.

And that someone was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Key.

And Rosetta Price wasn't the only person she went to see.

I've one or two things to talk to you about, Mr Pennyman.

She must have been a hell of a nuisance to you,

going on and on about some missing brooch.

And still asking questions even after your husband died.

Couldn't have her forever on your doorstep!

So she had to be got rid of.

HEAVY BREATHING

How much has Ronald told you?

Quite a lot. What does that mean?

All right, then. He's prepared to take the blame.

Dear Ronald.

That man made such a difference to my life.

(LAUGHS)

(LAUGHS)

What's funny?

The look on Patrick's face when he caught us together.

I don't think I'll ever forget that.

(LAUGHS)

I'm not 100% certain about your interview technique, Scott.

But it certainly gets results. Thank you, sir.

That something you picked up at the Met? Could be.

Do you want to go back there?

No. I quite like it here. Good.

I think I might change my job, though.

There's a shortage of funeral directors in the area.

I could make a fortune.

I suppose we'll have to close down the Friendship group now.

Yes.

Charlotte won't like it.

CRACKLE OF FLAMES

GIRL SCREAMS

GIRL SCREAMS

ITFC Subtitles PETER BLANCHARD