Original subtitles

Dear lady disdain, I am still awake.

Is it possible disdain should die while she has such meat food to feed it as

Signor Benedict?

Disdain should...um...um...disdain would...um...disdain should

fall from...curtity itself must convert to disdain.

What book already?

Nice to understand, Isabel.

Don't worry, darling. Yes, don't worry, darling. You'll get there in the end.

I'm being put off by boozy breath, Patrick.

Yes, well, at least I'm capturing the essence.

Itty -proof essence, I'd say.

Perhaps ban your friend's hip flask from rehearsal.

OK, can we just get on?

Because we're short on cast, technical help, and we're up against a bit of

And now prima donna too.

Because you know what? Maybe if your wife had a little peppy uppie, everyone

would be better off. Jeremy.

Unbelievable. I cannot work like this, Patrick. Darling, let's just finish.

I need a break.

Charlie?

Charlie?

I fell.

My leg, I think it's broken.

I think it means you're up, Isabel.

What should I say, Baker?

Don't you think you're getting me on that stage?

Well, you know I'm no good at learning lines.

There are many other ways that we can help the Kembleford players reach

night.

It's very kind of you to offer to help out, Father.

You know, there's a friar in the play.

Perhaps you could be technical advisor.

As a matter of fact, I've already offered my services to Patrick.

Ah. And I will be playing the friar.

You're... Going to be acting?

Yes. He insisted I be too busy. I insisted back and convinced him.

the play, as I said. Oh, gosh.

It's very real when it's in black and white, isn't it?

You will be splendid.

I hope so.

Father, if this was regular clothes...

I wonder what they wore to parties.

Let's try that scene change one more time, please.

Okay, and cue.

Patrick. The cavalry has arrived.

Ah, yes.

Our friar.

How wonderful.

Well, it's the least I can do.

I understand that Sergeant Goodfellow is straddling several minor roles.

I am, Father. But they haven't asked me to wear a dress this year, so that's

good.

And?

This is all in memory of Rose.

A worthy cause.

Thank you, Father.

Millie.

This is Brenda.

She's going to be your new props assistant.

How lovely.

Oh, hi, Brenda.

Nice to meet you. I didn't know it was going to be props.

I thought she was going to put me in a stupid dress.

It's much more fun.

Wait!

Hey!

That's brilliant.

That's the MSA.

So I'll take to everything you need to know.

Can you, um, grab some paints and things?

My darling Beatrice, you have returned.

Good morning, Benedict.

Okay, so act one, scene one, Beatrice and Benedict, please.

Act the props, people.

One more time.

All right? And cue, please.

Coming!

How are you

coping?

Well, it is a literal pain, but we move on, don't we? She wouldn't even let me

wait with her at the hospital.

Sister, I come right back here to continue rehearsal.

Well, Godspeed with your recovery.

Thank you.

You're up now, Father.

But

if

all ain't but this be leveled false, the supposition of the lady's death will

quench the wonder of her infamy.

Try her, I must.

Entreat your pains, I think.

I... Oh, yes, I know this.

To do what, senor?

Ah, to bind me.

Or undo me.

Okay, scene change, please.

Scene change? Yep.

It is the flowers that are going to be dead two days later. And the food's

to be eaten and the confetti's going to be in the bin.

Shall we just go to a registry office instead?

I'm not saying that.

Excuse me, Father.

Sorry about that.

We have slightly different ideas about how much a wedding should cost.

It's a stressful time.

But your joyful union will make it all seem worthwhile.

I hope so, Father.

You all right?

Your hand.

Oh, yes, thank you.

It passed it.

My hand seems to know when I'm stressed.

Ah, I was just giving Penny the name of a wonderful florist in town.

Positions, please. Jeremy, thank you, thank you.

Right, are we ready?

And... Excuse me.

Sorry to interrupt.

Mr. Sanford, would you kindly accompany me to the station to answer a few

questions?

Yes, of course. Chief Inspector, of course.

I'm... I'm so sorry, everyone. So sorry.

Well, your past has caught up with you at last.

Oh, I think it's about a Dolan motor vehicle. I reported a few months ago,

actually.

But very witty.

You know, it's such a shame you're not playing Beatrice anymore.

Isabel, I've got an investors' meeting in town about seven.

Why don't you come by this afternoon?

Say, four?

We could get a few hours of rehearsing in. Oh, right. A jolly idea.

Yes, yes.

Well, let me, uh...

Get my jacket.

Do you need me to come along, Chief Inspector?

No, you carry on, Sergeant.

Right you are, sir.

Perhaps you would consider taking a chaperone this afternoon.

Just a thought.

Don't look at me.

I'm working on props with Millie. I'm sure there's no need.

I will be delighted to prompt.

Fine. If that makes everyone happy.

Here comes Beatrice.

By this day, she's a fair lady.

I do spy marks of love in her.

Yes, this way, Mr. Thompson.

Thank you. It's marvellous. Thank you.

Oh, dear Friar, dear lady,

investors await at the Athwood Hotel.

I bid you farewell in earnest.

I'm curious, Jeremy.

What do you help people invest in?

Ah, well, if the company... Oh, no, no.

In New York, that offers a very encouraging return on their money.

Now, there is opportunity everywhere.

Sounds wonderfully exciting.

It is.

You know, when Patrick and I, we first joined the play, there was this

mesmerizing old cessp who would anoint himself with a touch of the Napoleon for

courage before rehearsals.

Well, Patrick and I, we were... We were so taken by him that we had matching

flasks made.

Just a shame that Charlie won't let him use his.

Shall we?

Great.

Well, I can give you a lift home on my way into town, if you like.

Actually, it's such a nice evening. Father, if you don't mind, I'd prefer to

walk.

Oh, blast, I've left my playbook. I shall need it.

We can stroll back tomorrow.

Did you see who that was?

No, I didn't get a proper look. I could have sworn it was Thomas.

Hello? Thomas!

Very odd.

Ah,

so clever.

Millie's got really good at it.

She's a fast learner.

Enjoy, you two.

And, Brenda, thank you so much for offering to help out.

Don't worry about it.

They're going to let me neither.

My landlady hates me.

Well, you did well for yourself going to Midlands.

Mrs D said you'd only just moved here, too.

A couple of months ago now.

They sort of took me in.

I, um, lived with my aunt before.

She raised me and then she died.

Oh.

Sorry.

It's not easy without a mum.

Well... Anyway, uh, Campbell phoned at night.

I, uh, checked out the players, and the maidens were there, and that was that.

They were so kind, and after everything they'd been through with their little

girl.

Sorry.

What happened?

It's not a secret.

They, um... They had a baby.

Rose.

She was a few months old and she died in her cot.

That's so awful.

That's got to be the worst thing ever. It really is.

I think that's why this show is so important to them.

Raising money for the children's ward.

Anyway, we should get started.

Thank you.

Jeremy!

Oh, my goodness.

Father! He's dead.

Mrs Devine and I witnessed Mr Stanford drinking from the flask yesterday

afternoon with only the anticipated effect.

So the killer must have poured the poison into the flask while he was out.

Looks like a weed killer.

The manufacturers put purple dye in it to stop accidents, but you're never

to see that in a hip flask.

I'll check which farmers use it locally, sir.

Oh.

Mrs Vine?

Last night when we were leaving, I saw a figure disappear into the hedge.

Father Brown didn't see it as clearly, but I felt sure it was Thomas. Thomas

Church?

He couldn't do such a thing.

Men were deceivers, Eva.

Perhaps overly cynical, Chief Inspector.

Sadly, not in my line of work.

Let's interview Mr Church.

Men were deceivers.

That's from Much Ado, isn't it?

It is.

Ever since my school days, Shakespeare was always a favourite.

Did you know that Thomas Church had a farming accident?

He handshakes. Yes.

No signs of any spills.

Well, could have just wiped it up.

It's still dusty.

Thank you so much, Father, Mrs Devine. Must get on.

Chief Inspector!

Chief Inspector!

Chief Inspector!

I wonder if the motive for murder may lie with Mr Sanford's occupation.

He was talking about a company in New York.

I don't believe there is one.

I think he was a snake oil salesman.

A peddler in false investments.

I was thinking he was a lot of flash and not much substance, Father.

I wonder, is that why you wished to question him yesterday?

Come on, Sergeant.

What was the name of that hotel in town where Mr. Sanford was meeting his

investor?

The Astwood.

Oh.

The chief inspector received an anonymous letter and a newspaper article

con man who fleeced a widow out of all her money in Oxford six years ago.

That man used an alias by the name of Jonathan Spicer.

Sergeant!

An anonymous letter.

Thank you, Sergeant.

Coming, sir.

I don't know what to tell you.

Jeremy was my dear friend since we were boys.

Now, I'll never understand how people who are larger than life can ever die.

But there we are.

He would have insisted that the show must go on.

That's a playbook in one hand and a hit flask in the other.

We must somehow replace him, but for now, we must continue.

As our dear Benedict would have wanted.

And with that in mind, Act Three, Scene Four, please.

Oh, that's Hera and Beatrice.

Sir.

Thomas' farm is actually supplied with that type of weed killer.

So I have the method but no motive.

Well, sir, I just got back from the Asford Hotel.

Took along a photograph of the Kembleford players to show the manager.

He identified Mr Sanford.

But he also identified his associate.

Help to dress me, good cuz. Good Meg, good Ursula.

Very nice.

Very nice.

And scene change, please.

Father.

Penny's magazine.

Look what's been done.

Astwood Hotel, 6 .30pm tonight.

I saw Jeremy writing that. Should we talk to Penny?

No.

Thomas first.

May I have a word?

Thomas!

Your hand!

Excuse us, Father. We need to talk to Thomas.

I think you know why.

It's not what it looks like.

Thomas Church.

I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Jeremy Thunford. You're not

obliged to say anything, but anything you do say may be given in evidence.

I love you.

Thanks.

My supplier said he'd had a visit from the police, so I went to check the weed

killer that I keep in the shed, and the lid hadn't been put back on properly.

It spilled on my hand.

How convenient.

And the fact that Mrs Devine saw you last night about 50 yards from Jeremy's

cottage...

You had a motive for wanting Sanford dead. You knew Penny was seeing him.

So you're admitting you knew your fiancé was meeting Jeremy in a hotel in town.

Yes.

But not to be unfaithful.

Then why?

And partly to save your life, for I was told you were in a consumption.

A piece.

I will stop your mouth. Right.

Right. Yeah.

OK. Lovely.

Lovely. Thanks, Isabel. That's lovely.

Yeah, no, it's good.

Lots to work with there, Sergeant.

We open it in a week, and Sergeant Goodford doesn't seem entirely

the role of Benedict.

I know. It's not ideal.

Oh!

Splendid work, you two.

Um, Father?

If you don't think Thomas did it, do you think maybe Penny did?

Well, she could easily get her hands on the poison.

So could anyone passing through the farm.

And Penny was with Jeremy when the flask was being poisoned.

Well, what do you think?

I, er... can't imagine Penny would let her own fiancé hang.

I completely agree.

Excuse me.

Allow me. Oh, thank you, Father.

This is all I'm good for at the moment, organising the programme.

For the tribute to Jeremy.

Very fitting.

Such good friends.

I hope you're proud of your work for the Children's Ward.

Patrick was looking after Rose that night.

My mother was sick.

I was torn, but Patrick insisted I went.

He had to telephone me to tell me.

Even the shortest life has a purpose, doesn't it?

It does.

Hmm.

Rose Maidland.

Born 12th of May, 1948.

Died November 1st, 1948.

You show such strength.

I hope you can find solace in God.

Right,

let's try that one more time.

Father, Isabel, please.

Actually, Patrick.

I need to go and see Thomas.

If you're going to the police station, I shall come along.

Excellent. Well, excuse us.

We won't be long.

Chief Inspector Sullivan thinks that your motive for murder was jealousy.

That Penny was having an affair with Jeremy.

Yes.

But I don't believe that is the case.

Penny was meeting Jeremy at the hotel.

And Jeremy was meeting a client.

I wonder if Penny was involved in Jeremy's business.

And if Jeremy's business was illegal.

Why else would you keep silent?

If not to protect her.

Penny didn't know it was illegal.

Not at first.

She just wanted to help out with the cost of the wedding.

He needed her acting skills. She had to play a satisfied client to attract

future investors.

Then we were sent a letter in cut -out newspaper print saying, beware Benedict,

that he was a con man.

Penny dismissed it, but then when Chief Inspector Sullivan showed up at

rehearsal to talk to Jeremy... She thought she might be next.

She told Jeremy she wanted out.

But he said walking away wasn't an option. He needed her at the final

Is there any evidence against her?

He'd had her sign fake investment documents.

I understand that Penny confessing to fraud might mean a prison sentence for

her.

But your life is at stake.

And telling them about Penny won't take away my motive for killing him.

It would look like I did it to protect her.

And even worse, they might think Penny was my accomplice.

Ah, yes.

I see.

It could appear that Penny kept Jeremy away from the cottage so you could

the flask.

I did go to the cottage.

But I went to get the papers back that incriminated her.

Do you still have the papers?

Or the letter?

I burned them.

I didn't want Chief Inspector Sullivan finding them.

And now I'm going to hang for something I didn't do.

Thomas, I will do my best to ensure that that does not happen.

Oh, Isabel.

Do you not love me?

Excuse me?

Do you not love me?

Troth no, no more than reason.

Well, that would be the part's yours.

So, if you have any problem with your costume, Millie and Brenda have

kindly offered to help out and the props are nearly done.

Penny, I've spoken to Thomas.

I'm doing all I can for him.

Thank you, Father.

Hello, everyone.

Chief Inspector Sullivan has kindly offered to play Benedict.

Barely not to everyone's taste.

Very decent.

Can you learn all that Shakespeare in a week?

I have one of those memories.

It's what makes me such a fine policeman.

You do know you've arrested the wrong person.

Tell me who did it then, Father.

Miss Palmer.

May I?

Monsters.

It is proved already that you are little better than false knaves, and it will

go near to be thought shortly.

Our words are you for yourselves.

Not guilty.

Oh, Father, caught me at it.

Must be a relief, not having to learn all of Benedict's lines.

Yes, yes, huge relief, Father.

You are still invaluable, Sergeant.

Might I trouble you to show me the newspaper article that arrived with the

anonymous letter?

It being in the public domain, of course.

And I must say, you deliver those lines with gusto.

Ladies, may I have a word with Millie?

Yeah, no problem.

I need you to be honest with me.

Because Thomas's life may depend upon it.

Was it you that sent the anonymous letters about Jeremy?

You knew about his criminal dealings?

Yes. You wanted to warn people?

Yes.

Brenda said that you were raised by your aunt. Was she one of his victims?

He said he'd help her invest her life savings.

She never got over the shock.

I'm sorry.

He worked with another man to make it look legitimate.

A newspaper article said that he called himself Jonathan Spicer.

My aunt said that he was always swigging from a hip flask with those initials on

it. Talking about his days in amateur dramatics and the cops' walls.

I'd read that con men quite often talk about things from their actual lives

and...

I found Kemble for players and I saw the name Jeremy Sanford, so... The same

initials.

So you approached him about investments?

To draw him out.

I told him I had money to invest and I thought he might lead me to his comfort.

You found out he was using Penny.

He seemed so decent.

I sent a letter to Thomas to warn him.

And one to the police to make sure no one else got hurt. And a third... A

To the maidens.

I thought they should know.

Where's my prior?

Father Brown?

I must return.

Thank you, Minnie.

Holy Rites speech, please, Father.

All this amazement can I qualify?

When that the holy rites are ended, I'll tell you largely of fair hero's death.

Could we just bring it down a little bit?

Oh.

Could anything else go wrong?

Can we fix that, please?

Let's take two minutes, everyone.

Brenda said you spoke to Millie.

I did.

She is responsible for the anonymous letters warning about Jeremy.

Her aunt was a victim of his.

Poor girl.

She also sent one to Patrick and Charlie.

Why would they not say anything?

I was thinking exactly the same thing myself.

You don't understand. Patrick not saying anything.

Keeping quiet.

To save his friend.

But if Charlie received the letters about seeing Jeremy, she'd have told the

world.

Yes, sir.

Silence.

All right, let's check the photographs at the crime scene, just to be sure.

you might want to... Yes, good point.

Sorry, everyone.

Sorry, Patrick.

Urgent police business.

Back as soon as possible.

Sergeant Gavilla, you're supposed to be with her this afternoon.

I'm really sorry, Patrick.

Millie, did you send another letter to the police station?

Another letter?

No, why would I?

No, I thought not. Thank you.

This is going to be a disaster.

No, I wouldn't say that.

But there is a kiss.

Beatrice and Benedict. We haven't even realised the scenes.

This is divine.

Just got the programme and look at you.

Oh, my goodness.

Perhaps not the best time to see that.

Or this.

What a shame, now that we know what we know.

Well, what is it, Father?

How curious.

Ah, great. We have...

light.

If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee to bind up our loves

in a holy band.

For others say thou dost deserve, and I believe it better than reportingly. Very

good, very good.

Okay, so Hero, Prince Claudio on stage, please.

Patrick, do you have a moment?

Father, I'm rather in the middle of it here. Yes, I understand, and I do

apologise. Sorry to interrupt.

Can we have a word, Mr. Maitland?

In private.

Right.

Darling, can you take over?

You have a hip flask.

Can I see it, please?

My hip flask?

Can't this wait till after the run -through and it's bad enough that you

on stage?

It's a murder investigation, Mr. Maitland.

from the crime scene.

The monogram.

It's on the wrong side of the flask.

I think Mr.

Sanford's flask was switched with yours, and yours contained a poison.

What is it? It's fine. It's fine, darling.

Are you suggesting that I poisoned my best friend?

Why would I do that?

According to the Oxford Constabulary, Mr. Sanford worked with an accomplice.

His fraudulent business dealings, a person he could trust.

And you were living in Oxford at that time with your wife and baby daughter.

Oh, yes.

And we've checked Mr Sanford's bank statements.

We know you've been depositing money into his account since you returned to

Kembleford, which could be seen as blackmail.

I played a role in Oxford.

And, yes, I've been helping him out since he came back to Kembleford, but I

didn't kill him.

And I swear I'd show you the damn flask if I knew where it was. I haven't seen

it for years.

Sorry.

I've seen it.

It's in the glove box of the car.

You've seen it?

With a lot of other junk.

If there's some ridiculous suggestion you're involved in this, it will help

clear your name, won't it?

If you wouldn't mind, Mr. Maitland.

Sure. I'll park round the back.

I can't believe this.

Let me help you.

Oh, thank you, Father.

The idea that Patrick would be involved.

Indeed.

Although it is now going pretty much the way you planned it.

As in what?

It was you who sent the letter to the police implicating Patrick, wasn't it,

Charlie? This is nonsense.

Did you know that it was Millie who sent you and Patrick the anonymous letter

with the newspaper cutting?

Because it was from the article.

that you learned about Jeremy's scam in Oxford and realised that

Patrick was involved in it.

It was then, I think, that you decided to kill Jeremy and

frame Patrick for his murder.

You have been doing this far too long, Father.

Is everyone a suspect to you?

You seem to be forgetting the crater in your argument.

I can barely sit down, ah, without help.

Of course.

Do you think I somehow rolled myself into Jeremy's cottage that night to

him? Not possible with a broken leg.

Thank you.

But your leg isn't broken, is it?

Father!

We only have your word for it.

You insisted Patrick return to the rehearsal.

It's papier mache.

It's light.

Deceptive. Perfect for theatrical props, as you taught Millie.

In your workshop.

In your house.

You'd already obtained the weed killer from Thomas's farm.

You went to the engravers and had the initials J .S.

inscribed on Patrick's...

previously blank, identical flask.

I thought it was very clever of you to make the deliberate

mistake with the monogram placement.

Jeremy would have been too drunk to notice.

But sooner or later, it would have come to someone's attention.

Especially as you were so careful to place a photograph in the programme

Jeremy with the right flask.

You must have been increasingly frustrated with Thomas being blamed.

So you took a leaf out of Millie's book and sent the police an anonymous

letter.

drawing their attention to the flask.

You know, it wasn't because of the fraud he got involved in.

Patrick was a fool to agree to that.

But it wasn't because of that.

No.

I know.

It was the day you were visiting your sick mother.

The day Jeremy needed Patrick's help in Oxford to dupe an old lady out

of her life savings. The day Patrick left Rose asleep.

I knew Jeremy would have lied to him about how long it was going to take.

Patrick could never say no to him.

He was probably gone for hours.

You have constantly asked yourself if there was anything you could have done

prevent it.

There wasn't.

It was out of your hands.

But what happens next to Patrick isn't.

Tell the truth, Charlie, and God will forgive you.

What's going on?

What happened to your leg?

Darling?

I killed Jeremy.

What?

He took you away from Rose when she needed you and she died.

You killed him.

And you wanted me blamed for it.

The accomplice. In the newspaper article.

I suddenly realized that must be you.

You weren't there when we lost her, were you?

No.

I was so angry, Patrick.

You left Rose alone to help him.

She might have needed you.

She might have been crying, waiting for you to comfort her.

To just pick her up.

I wasn't there for her. You were meant to be.

You let that man manipulate you like everyone else.

I'm sorry.

When I realized what you'd done.

I stopped having any feelings for you.

If you went to prison for killing Jeremy.

Well, that was fair. Charlie. But at least you cared.

He'd never shown one moment of regret about what happened to Rose.

And then he came back into our lives.

Put himself in the middle of the show we were putting on in her memory.

No. He was a cancer, Patrick.

He brought pain to other people, and I had to make him pay.

If you only knew how much I wish I could go back.

I never should have let her.

My mother, she could have coped, but Rose...

Rose needed me.

My little girl.

My little girl needed me.

They will be lenient with her, won't they, Father?

It would be a hard -hearted judge who would discount the anguish of a mother

grieving for her baby.

I think it's time you showed what the Kembleford players are made of.

And if all aim but this belittled false, the supposition of the lady's death

will quench the wonder of her infamy.

Signor Leonardo.

Let the friar advise you.

Ah, a miracle.

Here's our own hands against our hearts.

Come, I will have thee.

But by this light I take thee for pity.

I would not deny you.

But by this good day I yield upon great persuasion.

And partly to save your life.

For I was told you were in a consumption.

Please, I will stop your mouth.

Father Brown is back here on BBC One next Friday at the same time or watch

episodes now on iPlayer. A hotel overlooking the ocean sounds like a

place to be on BBC One at nine. However, it is a matter of death in paradise.

Creating her own rules to become French queen. Press red to watch Marie

Antoinette and let the meat kick on iPlayer.