Original subtitles

Here we are.

Oh, Hercules!

Well, at least we got here.

Yes.

I think Hercules might be getting on a bit.

Oh! Like everybody here.

Don't be rude!

Oh, can you see Eunice?

Excuse me, can I help you, ladies?

Oh, Father! I'm the warden here.

Mr Thorp, I believe.

Father Brown.

Mrs Devine. Hello. Oh, there she is!

Miss Palmer. An old friend of hers from St Mary's.

We've received a request for urgent spiritual guidance -

almshouse 16.

Oh, yes, of course. Er...

Although I'm surprised that anyone of our women would need any

guidance. I take great care of...

Nora! Excuse me.

Nora, the dinner bell is late,

the hymn books are in disarray and have you called the plumber yet?

Mrs Jenks?

Yes?

Oh, such a mess!

If I'd known I'd have a man of the cloth visit,

I would.... So, er, you didn't write to us?

Well, perhaps someone else in the almshouses knows you need support?

Oh, it's true I've had trouble sleeping,

but, oh, I'll be fine.

Am I right in thinking that these almshouses

are only allocated to single women?

Oh, I'm a widow, Father.

Oh, but listen to me! Ha. I haven't offered you tea.

SHE LAUGHS

Hello, Harold.

You look well, Mr Slow.

Harold - window!

I was under the impression that almswomen

weren't allowed house guests. Oh...

Harold was a dear friend of my late husband.

Drank together in the Red Lion.

When my Frank passed, I was on hard times.

Harold was, too, but you'd never have known it.

Any scrap of food he had, he shared.

So, when they offered me this place, I wanted to share it with him.

I know it's against the rules, but...

Kindness should never be against the rules.

You're benefiting from it, Harold?

I'm drinking less - Adelaide's helped me with that.

So you wanted to help her, too?

I'm sorry to be all cloak and dagger -

nosy old Thorp takes the post.

She's had nightmares all last month. Tell them.

Oh, I'm fine.

Who...who's for tea?

She cries in her sleep. Harold!

What will they think?

Our sleeping arrangements are very respectable, Father.

Harold's on the settee and I'm on the bed.

Nothing untoward. Is there?

Of course not. She's a friend.

A "beautiful friend of mine".

Hmm? Never mind.

Oh.

A limbo from Trinidad and Tobago,

I read about it in the paper.

Here we go.

Oh, Eunice.

What do you think? I think you've got arthritis. Oh,

mind over matter!

Perhaps, um, a fraction higher.

No. No.

No. No!

Is that my stick? Gladys! Would you like a turn?

Making a spectacle of yourself with some foreign nonsense.

I suppose it's French.

Madame, vous n'etes qu'une vraie rabat-jolie!

Hmm? You didn't understand?

You're a snob.

And where's your bonnet? Agh! The ghastly uniform.

Hmph! My door's always open!

Antisocial old bat. Oh!

Doesn't know the meaning of community.

Ah! Dinner bell.

Join us, please.

Eunice! Come on!

KNOCKING

Bless us, O Lord, and these, thy gifts, which we are about to receive

from thy bounty. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen. ALL: Amen.

Nora.

Serve.

Let me help. Thank you, dear, I'm used to it.

Nora's our matron. She helps me keep the women in line.

Perhaps a little speed.

Er, Gladys, take off your gloves!

Forgive me, sir, if I don't.

She hates the draughts here, Father.

There are no draughts.

And the dripping taps, damp, leaking loos, pests everywhere.

All right. Ladies, as you well know,

I've been trying to persuade the almshouse trustees

to pay for repairs. They've been reluctant.

But, in fact, I've just finalised a better plan -

for a full modernisation.

Oh, how exciting!

And I've called a meeting, tomorrow, where I'll seek the trustees'

approval. So improvements will be in motion -

very soon.

Modernisation! No more antiquated uniform.

The uniform stays.

You look sweet.

We look subjugated.

No, no, no. Smartness is something that money cannot buy.

Silence, however, is very much more reasonably priced.

Oh! Nora.

She's a liability.

So sorry, Mr Thorp.

MRS DEVINE: Don't worry. Thank you.

Please, excuse me.

As you know, all almshouses are subject to on-the-spot inspections.

You won't mind if I have a look in yours now?

Get Harold's attention.

Mr Thorp! I was rather hoping you'd give me a tour.

Um, later, perhaps.

You must be very proud of what your family's established here.

Immensely. And I'm a stickler for their founding rules.

I'm confiscating this for your own good, Adelaide.

Nice and warm in here.

Now, you wanted a tour, Father. Yes, indeed.

Oh!

Eunice pesters for communal activities,

but the women don't need to fraternise.

Ahaha, now!

Here is my esteemed ancestor,

Cormac Thorp I, almshouse founder.

Oh, sorry.

Whose noble work was continued by his son,

whose effigy you saw in the chapel, in fact.

And now you'll steer this place into the future.

Oh, yeah, this big plan. This it, then?

Oh! That is confidential.

Apologies.

It can be trying, managing an institution...

Something's on fire!

He won't tell ME what to wear!

Eunice, this is an outrage.

Give me your matches.

No. Now, please,

unless you want to be thrown out with all your friends watching.

New rule - no fires. Nora, fetch a new uniform.

I'll talk to you in my office.

We really should get going,

unless I have time to speak to Harold.

You will regret that impertinence.

We've stayed longer than anticipated, Mr Thorp.

Of course. Um, apologies for the upset earlier. Er...

They're all making up now, it's...

Thank you for the tour, it really was informative.

ENGINE FAILS TO FIRE

Not again, Hercules!

Oh, can we get a mechanic?

It's rather late.

Yes, I fear it will be dark soon.

They could stay, then. We've empty almshouses.

If the ladies don't mind sharing.

Oh, no, it's... Oh, yes, actually.

Nora, blankets. I must ring for curfew.

Oh, what do you want to stay here for? It's only one night

and this way we can have a proper talk to Harold.

I can take him out early, pick wild flowers. Flowers?

What for? For Adelaide, obviously.

They just need a bit of encouragement.

Right, and then what - they both get kicked out?

Miss Palmer has a point.

Oh, love always finds a way.

CURFEW BELL RINGS

I do adore a secret romance.

BELL STRIKES THE HOUR

BRENDA SNORES

Harold.

He must've landed with some force

and from the state of that leg...

A fall from that height would certainly be fatal.

Could have been suicide, sir.

Surely not. He was so excited about presenting his future plans

to the trustees today.

Yes. And look at his fingernails - moss.

Plenty of that up there.

He was trying to hold on. Why do that if you intend to jump?

What was he even doing on the roof?

He went up most evenings,

trying to mend the leaks - unsuccessfully.

Hmm. Accident, then.

But he was accustomed to working up there.

I wonder, Chief Inspector, if you might not find another set

of footprints on the roof.

How do we get up there?

What are you waiting for, Sergeant? Chop, chop!

So Thorp goes to the roof to do repairs,

someone follows him and pushes him off.

Any staff around? There's a gardener and a cook.

Both of whom we saw leaving at curfew.

Mrs Devine, Miss Palmer and myself stayed overnight.

Thank you for that information, Father.

So you're saying the only people locked in here overnight

were you three, and some old...mature ladies,

and one of them got the better of a man half their age?

Are we sure there wasn't

anyone else in here?

Oh! Nine o'clock! We have founders' prayers every day at nine.

Father, will you lead it in Mr Thorp's absence?

Of course. Yes, right.

Father.

Everything all right? It's Harry.

He went out last night to catch a rabbit for supper

and he hasn't come home.

Are we doing prayers or aren't we?

Let us pray. Our...

Good morning, ladies!

Can you see anything, Sergeant?

Erm...

There's some tools, sir.

Er, footprints.

Yes. Different sizes and, er... Oh!

What on earth are you doing? A wasps' nest, sir.

He must've disturbed it when he was up here doing repairs.

Sergeant!

Someone's been hiding in here.

Oi, wait!

Good fellow!

Hold it right there!

Agh!

Harold Slow.

It's been a while.

I didn't break in. I live here. Hah.

In women's almshouses?

Mr Slow has been secretly sharing a house.

You didn't think to mention this?

If you live here, then why were you running away?

Harry!

Hip flask, sir. ADELAIDE: No, but that's...

That's what?

Confiscated last night by Mr Thorp.

Harold Slow, I'm arresting you on suspicion of the murder

of Cormac Thorp. No! He wouldn't!

Sergeant. You are not obliged to say anything, but anything you do say

may be given in evidence.

Father, help him, please.

Chief Inspector, may I get a lift with you?

Er, spiritual guidance. Oh, clearly. Come along, then.

BRENDA: They're not police... NORA: They're the trustees.

Mr Thorp's meeting was today.

And no-one's told them. Maybe you should, Nora.

Me?! I'll come with you.

The Chief Inspector tells me that you are refusing to talk.

Why are you not protesting your innocence?

How do you know I'm innocent, Father?

Because I know that you are still haunted by the thought

of the lives you took during the Great War.

I refuse to believe that you are capable of killing in cold blood.

How did you get the flask back? I don't want to talk.

Did you encounter Thorp on your way back from catching rabbits?

Why did you hide? Why not return to Adelaide?

I am trying to help.

How is Adelaide?

As concerned for you as you are for her.

I know you're in love with her.

Don't tell Mrs McCarthy, eh?

No matter if I am, though, Adelaide could never love me.

I'm just a drunk.

You're a good man.

No, worse - a deluded drunk!

I thought I'd only had a snifter last night. I must've been

three sheets to the wind. I couldn't see straight.

I can only try to...

..to deserve her.

What does that mean?

If you want to help, Father, just say you'll look out for her.

Adelaide needs to talk about what she found.

Right, time's up, I'm afraid.

Fine, I'm ready.

I want to confess.

I killed Thorp.

The good news is they're reconvening the meeting for tomorrow.

And the not good news?

They'll be bringing with them

a sanitation inspector from the council.

There's been an anonymous tip-off that these buildings

are in poor state and... And he can find them unfit.

He can close us down. WOMAN: No!

But! But I have a proposal.

We can make this place decent if we all work together.

I'm sure you all had jobs, skills we could use...

Yeah, Eunice trained as a plumber during't war.

I did. Leave leaking pipes to me.

There, that's just what I mean!

Nora was a mechanic.

Oh, army trucks - a long time ago.

Ah, then, Nora, I need a favour.

The rest of you, gather what equipment you can find

and let's get going, yes?

It'll all be for nothing.

Oh, Gladys, stay with us.

Confessed?!

I believe he's trying to protect Adelaide.

Why would he think she'd done it?

That's what I intend to find out.

Oh, no, not today.

It'll destroy her.

And we've got more to worry about now, too.

Father, what's happened? How's Harry?

He's co-operating with the police. Oh.

He's innocent. Yes, I believe so

and I'll do all I can to prove that.

But he hoped that you would tell me about something you found.

Oh. Is that relevant?

If you tell me, I'll be able to judge.

Oh.

I found a woman - a dead woman.

One morning I was going for a walk and I just saw her -

outside the gates.

That must've been profoundly upsetting. Who was she?

No idea.

I-I don't like thinking about it.

You'd do better to talk to Eunice.

Eunice?

Last night, after curfew, I was looking out to see

if the coast was clear for Harry to go rabbiting.

I saw Mr Thorp go into the chapel

and Eunice straight after him.

I went to pray.

I left as Thorp was heading to the roof with his bag of tools.

I understand he went up there to do repairs.

Did you speak? Oh, we'd exchanged quite enough words for one day.

Ah, yes, the meeting in his office.

I couldn't help but notice that got rather heated.

Little weasel tried telling me how to behave,

whilst he paraded around in that vulgar suit

his dirty money bought. Dirty money?

There's a rumour he was blackmailing someone.

Oh, yeah. He said something at dinner about buying silence.

Blackmailing who?

Who knows?

But a warden's salary would not buy his gaudy wristwatch.

Do you recognise expensive things, Miss Lytton,

because you used to have them?

My family frittered away a fortune...

..but my principles enriched me.

Um, if you wouldn't mind.

Erm...

Oh, you were a suffragette? Indeed!

I can't imagine Mr Thorp shares your political beliefs.

Oh, he thought women should be quiet and obedient.

You must have hated him.

I've hated many people without murdering a single one.

Besides, you think I could climb to that roof?

There!

And... Oh.

..for my apprentice.

Do you think she's telling the truth?

Do you think she'd have trouble climbing those stairs?

Adelaide's nimble.

Yes, and I sense Adelaide is hiding something.

Er, kitchen wall mould. Thanks.

And I sense that the timing of this inspection is relevant -

it's the same week as Mr Thorp's trustees meeting.

Yes. If the sanitation department had an anonymous tip-off...

Maybe someone is trying to derail Thorp's plans.

Who would hate him enough to do that?

Mouse droppings - dining room.

Thank you. I need to read that trustees file.

Then it's a good job we need someone to clean the office.

FOOTSTEPS

Nora? Oh!

Oh.

Father.

I can't stop. Mrs Devine's asked me to repair her car.

I wasn't taking it for myself.

I heard we needed to buy whitewash.

Perhaps you felt entitled to the money, anyway.

I don't understand. Because you're a Thorp.

I saw your handkerchief with the initials EJT.

There's an Eleanora Jane Thorp on the family tree in the office -

you'd be about the right age.

He was my nephew - it's not a secret.

Apparently, the warden's job stays in the family.

Yes. Cormac was the rightful warden.

Yet he was very unpopular.

Did you perhaps, as a Thorp,

wish for the chance to run this place with more leniency?

You think I'd...? He was family.

Did that make it harder, when he criticised you?

No, he was quite right - I am a liability.

And, as for the warden post, I doubt I'm even capable.

There.

Probably won't work.

ENGINE TURNS OVER

Ah! Hallelujah!

You're far more capable than you let on.

I'm so glad you've joined us.

Apparently, you were a seamstress.

If you say so.

Sink's all mended! What's next?

Oh, there's a blocked drain outside the chapel.

Did you find the trustee papers?

No longer in the office. Oh.

But Nora has a key.

Oh! Ow!

Oh!

Your hands.

I've seen scars like that before -

on syphilis patients.

Have you sought medical help?

I didn't deserve it...

..what I was.

Mrs Devine said you didn't seem to recall being a seamstress.

I don't wish to you embarrass you,

but, if you feel burdened by your past,

perhaps it would be better to talk about it.

Fine. I-I... I was...

I was a fallen woman.

Where I lived, it was everyone for themselves.

And Mr Thorp found out? Hmm.

Did he try to blackmail you?

He wanted my pension. Threatened to tell the other women.

I tried so hard to be respectful to him.

That must have made you very angry.

Oh!

Oh! You think I'd kill him - for that?

I didn't pay up -

I'd have starved.

No, I told him he could tell the other women what he pleased.

Tell us what?

That...

..I was a woman of the street.

Ah. Hmm.

Oh, well.

SULLIVAN: Can anyone help? BRENDA: Mrs D!

Delivery!

Mrs Devine asked me to bring a few items.

Chief Inspector, you trampled my begonias this morning.

Apologies.

As you'll appreciate, I was simply trying to apprehend the murderer.

Murderer? You think he did it?

Er, the gentleman we arrested has confessed and been charged.

Con...confessed?

No! Well, why would he?

Oh!

Adelaide, wait!

Father Brown still believes Harold is innocent.

But he's confessing to protect me, isn't he?

Because I told him I was a murderer!

I don't understand.

The dead woman -

I didn't just find her,

I killed her.

Thank you.

It was late one night.

Harry was asleep.

I heard banging on the gates,

so I went out and there was a woman.

She was cold and desperate.

I couldn't find Mr Thorp, so I took her to the office

and I put her name in the register of applicants.

Are you the warden now, Adelaide?

I was just trying to help.

We've no room. Come on, off with you.

He said we had no rooms, but I knew there were empty almshouses.

Stand aside.

I didn't make a fuss...

..in case my house was searched.

Next morning, I went to look for her.

She'd died of the cold.

Her name was Hannah Boyd.

Did the police attend?

They spoke to Mr Thorp.

They must have believed everything he said because they left

and that was the end of it.

I still have nightmares.

She died because I wouldn't stand up to him.

Did you tell Harry what happened?

No.

But, last night, I did ask him if he could ever love a murderer.

He must have thought...

My stupid words!

This register of applicants - where is it?

Oh!

Hannah Boyd.

Poor woman.Hmm.

So why did Thorp turn her away?

I think the question is rather - why did he turn away all of these women?

12 rejections.

Why leave almshouses empty and did anyone else know about this?

Adelaide said she told Eunice and Gladys.

And Nora managed the office, so she would have seen the register.

Can you really imagine one of them climbing up chapel stairs at dusk?

They're all old ladies.

Nevertheless, I think it would be wise if we took a discreet look

in each of their houses during morning prayers.

The trustee papers are still missing. I agree,

although I've lots to do before the inspection.

Oh.

But Eunice is my friend.

Harold's life might depend on it.

Oh.

Hmm.

Good morning. Morning.

Good morning!

EUNICE: We need to unblock Gladys's toilet.

Once you've told me what you're doing.

I was trying to find a spanner. Don't fib, you were snooping.

I'm so sorry. I am a terrible friend.

I'm a... Plunger.

You what?

Oh. No, I left it at the presbytery.

Then you'll just have to stick your hand in.

Oh. All right.

Ah! Oh.

Oh!

There's something down here!

Do I look like a murderer now, is that it?

I'm a good person.

You're not good -

you're the best.

Oh, Eunice!

There's typing, signatures. Do you think these are t'papers?

Looks like a contract.

We need to piece it together.

Oh! Where've you been?

The roof. One nest removed.

The wasps were not pleased, poor things.

Ouch!

Oh, of course. Mrs Devine, may I trouble you for a lift?

I need to check something with Harold. What, now?

The inspection's in an hour.

I assure you we'll be back in time.

Brenda, will you help with preparations?

You must be joking.

I've said all I want to say.

Yes, but I need the truth.

How much had you had to drink?

You witnessed him fall.

Did you see anyone else on the roof?

Harold, in an hour, you'll be taken to the Magistrates' Court.

Exactly, it's too late for this.

I disagree.

There is an innocent woman still waiting for you.

Did you see a face?

Faces, more like! I was seeing double, wasn't I?

Well, treble, probably, I were that far gone.

Father, Miss Palmer telephoned.

It's Eunice.

She was determined to clean that gutter, but she fell

from the ladder and now they won't let the ambulance people in.

They? Gladys and Nora.

They helped her home, but they've locked the door.

Eunice? Might the police help? I'll call.

Wait.

Let me talk to her.

Miss Lytton? She don't want anyone!

I know what you're doing.

But punishing yourself won't help Harold.

Open the door and let's talk.

Please.

Thank you.

You wanted to talk to me, Father.

If you could let my friends go?No.

I think they will want to hear what I have to say.

And what's that?

That you were involved in the death of Mr Thorp.

That evening, you waited in his office to be spoken to.

And, there, you saw the future plan that Mr Thorp had boasted about.

Which shocked you because it was in fact a contract -

to sell the almshouses.

Mr Thorp had been making repairs to the roof.

Repairs? The leaks got worse.

Precisely. He was sabotaging the building.

You'd heard, of course,

about the woman who died after being needlessly turned away.

Why do that, do you suppose?

To make the almshouses look empty and broken.

So that the trustees would agree to a sale

to a company building retirement homes.

At a huge profit, no doubt.

The tip-off - the sanitation inspection -

that was him?Most likely.

So you decided to confront him.

And where better to catch him red-handed than on the roof?

Oh! There's not one woman here who could climb them steps alone.

No, not one woman.

Because Eunice shared what she'd found, didn't she?

And she knows that there is strength in community... Keep going!

..and power in anger.

Come on! Nearly there.

WASPS BUZZING

Vile things! You're ruining their home, what do you expect?

Oh, ladies! Out for a gentle stroll?

How's your repairs?

We know what you're doing.Oh.

Come now, these homes will still be for old folks -

just the ones who've worked hard enough to buy them.

The trustees will see things my way in the morning.

Go to bed.

What the...?

FATHER BROWN: Harold saw you.

He thought his vision was distorted because he'd been drinking...

..but he did see three people.

Which one of you pushed him, I wonder?

Gladys flushed the contract down the lavatory

because fires were banned.

And you all hid the wasp stings you suffered

when Mr Thorp disturbed the nest.

And, when I sat next to Eunice and Gladys,

I caught a familiar, sweetish scent.

Vinegar - well-known balm for insect stings.

We only wanted to talk to him.

Poor people need this place.

They always will.

I sympathise.

And you wanted to ensure that a death like Hannah Boyd's

would never occur again.

But...

..Harold Slow will hang if you remain silent,

and you will have to answer to God for that.

Repent...

..and confess.

Save a man's life and your souls.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Everything all right?

Chief Inspector,

Mr Slow...

..isn't responsible for Mr Thorp's death.

I am.

We'll tell them the truth.

Oh, you think they'll listen to you?

You do realise that you're just poor women?

BUZZING

Gargh!Agh!

Agh-agh-agh!

Agh! Agh!

Oh! Ow! Stop it!Help me!

Run. Go!

Agh!

I'll tell you everything.

What now? Do you think they'll keep this place going?

I think there's some people who'll try their hardest.

Gladys knew the almshouses needed them.

The sanitation inspector!

Someone should welcome him.

I'll go.

What time now?

It's three minutes past the last time you asked.

We're back!

Harry!

You're out...already?

Oh, oh!

Ow! What's that for?

You could have gone to the gallows!

You can't go confessing for other people.

Not other people.

You.

Perhaps we should leave them to it.

Oh, the inspection. We passed!

Hang on! We did?

With many recommendations for repairs.

The trustees want the women to suggest changes, too.

Oh! Well, maybe some of the houses could be allocated for couples.

It's just an idea. Hmm?

She is full of good ideas.

Oh, Harry!

Thank you for coming, Father.

You all look very smart. Never smarter.

Ladies, gather.

O Lord, our Father,

let us pray for the repose of the soul of thy servant,

Hannah Boyd, and for the comfort of all those who mourn.