Original subtitles

No, I'm alone. I'm going to park up.

Just up, Brendan. Soak out!

Stop yelling. You're making me nervous.

Almost dying makes me nervous.

You flew past two stop sites.

I didn't want you to be late on your first day.

I appreciate that.

But this was a bad idea.

I'm afraid I'll have to postpone your lessons while I do jury service.

Well, how long will that be for?

I can't say for sure.

And I'm afraid I can't speak about the case once it starts.

I'm more than happy for you and Father Brown to observe.

But there'll be no discussions of any kind about the case.

Understood.

We will withhold our opinions until the case is concluded.

Good luck, Mrs Sullivan.

Thank you, Father.

How am I supposed to improve if I can't practice?

You may be resuming your lessons sooner than you think.

This is likely to be a short trial.

Well, how do you know that?

According to the paper, the accused has already confessed.

I've never been to a murder trial before.

Sorry, Father.

I know you knew the victim.

Who was he again?

His name was Arthur Goddard.

He was a good man.

I met him through his daughter, Josie, who attended catechism as a child.

That's her there.

On the end of the green dress.

All rise.

For his honour, Judge Carmichael.

Will the accused please rise?

Please state your full name for the court.

David Somers Ensley.

You are indicted on one count of murder.

Namely, that on 9th of May, 1955, you did murder Arthur Goddard, contrary to common law.

Do you understand the charge against you?

Yes.

How do you plead?

Not guilty.

What's the blimmin' hold up?

I'm not sure.

Members of the jury, I must inform you that the defendant has excused his counsel and wishes to represent himself.

Something I will allow.

He's fired his barrister.

Is that a good idea, Father?

Not usually, no.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Arthur Goddard lived and worked peacefully as a potter on his small plot of land all his life,

until he was brutally stabbed in his workshop in the dead of night.

Why would this happen?

Because five years ago, he gave David Ensley a job after he was released from prison for manslaughter.

By all accounts, Mr. Goddard offered him his friendship.

But on the day of the murder, employees overheard a heated exchange between them.

And Mr. Ensley was given his marching orders.

Police later received a telephone call from Mr. Goddard as he lay dying.

They caught Mr. Ensley attempting to flee.

He had his employer's blood on his coat and cash in his pocket, taken from the safety deposit box.

Mr. Ensley gave a full confession to police after his arrest.

A confession he now wishes to retract.

But I believe we will prove beyond a shadow of doubt that he is guilty of this crime.

I know how it looks, but I never killed Arthur.

He gave me that money.

I never took it.

And I only went back to check on him and saw someone else had stabbed him.

And I'll shun's a run.

But I swear he won't me.

Do you think he's telling the truth, Father?

I intend to find out.

I'm not a man of faith, Father.

That's not why I'm here.

I knew Arthur.

Arthur.

Arthur.

Well, I would like to know the truth.

Were you lying when you confessed to his murder?

Or did you lie in court when you pleaded innocent?

I didn't kill him.

That's the truth.

Then why wait till now to defend yourself?

Because I knew the police would take one look at me.

The blood.

The money.

Did it.

Assume I was guilty.

Most men would have protested, nonetheless.

I learned a long time ago.

If you can't win, don't fight.

But you have decided to fight.

So perhaps you have faith, after all.

No.

I'm sure I'll be hanged.

And I had made my peace with that.

Well, then my solicitor said pleading guilty might mean being locked up for the rest of my life.

I'd rather die.

And your previous conviction for manslaughter, were you falsely accused of that, too?

No.

I used to want to pick a fight with the whole world.

Telling it a man so hard, he never got up again.

I deserved what came to me.

I know how wrong it is to take a life.

Especially a man like Arthur's.

No.

You didn't kill Arthur.

But you are already in the dock, so I do not have much time to find the real culprit.

You will have to assist me.

Why, too, Father?

But I'll...

Time's up.

By recounting to me meticulously everything I ask you to.

Sometimes the clue is in the smallest detail.

Can you believe they're not even paying us properly for this?

Just about fooled the weekly shop as it is.

This blimmin' trial better not drag on for too long.

Well, in that case, perhaps we should get started.

So, um...

What does everyone make of what they've heard so far?

Well, it's obvious, isn't it?

Ennesty's guilty of sin.

Oh, it's a bit early to assume that.

No, it's not.

He confessed.

There could be a number of reasons why a person might confess to a crime they didn't commit.

How would you know?

I...

I take an interest in murder cases.

Also, my husband's a police detective inspector.

So, somehow, are you cleverer than us?

If a man's killed before, nine times out of ten, he'll kill again.

It's not fair to judge someone just because of their past.

I'm not saying Ennesty's innocent, but we need to consider he might be.

I still think I could have driven here.

Brenda, what's the urgency?

I'm sure the verdict will come soon enough, and then I'm all yours.

I must go.

Oh.

Good morning, Sergeant.

Morning.

Morning, Father.

Miss Palmer.

What up are you doing here?

We are observing a murder trial, Sergeant.

You?

I'm testifying at one of the smaller courts.

Not nearly as interesting as a murder trial, mind.

Good day.

I shall now read a statement given by Police Sergeant Alistair Flynn

of Sirencester Police Station, who is unable to attend in person.

The station telephone rang at approximately 1.30 a.m.

When I answered, I heard a man in considerable pain.

He gave his name as Arthur Goddard of Goddard's Pottery.

He told me he'd been stabbed and asked for immediate assistance.

I then heard Mr. Goddard gasp and cry out in fear.

He said, David, no.

After that, the line went dead.

Father, are you sure you're not wrong about David?

Why would Arthur have called out his name like that?

I am undoubtedly fallible, Miss Palmer,

but I think that Arthur's words were misleading.

Pardon me for interrupting.

Do you remember me?

Father Brown, of course.

My goodness, it's been so many years.

It has indeed.

A pity to meet again under such sad circumstances.

I'm sorry about your father.

This is Miss Palmer, my housekeeper.

And this is my husband.

Royce Holland, it's a pleasure to meet you both.

Poor thing.

She's, um, she is exhausted.

I'm all right.

It's just hard watching that brute defending himself.

You believe David Inslee is guilty?

Well, of course he is.

He took advantage of my father for years.

He even forced us to leave my own mother's funeral.

He struck my husband.

Don't, don't upset yourself.

It's all in the past.

Let me take you home.

I'd rather be at the cottage.

All right.

I'll wait in the car.

I've been, uh, putting my father's affairs in order.

Would it comfort you if I paid you a visit later?

Thank you, Father.

I'd like that.

Did I imagine it?

Or could you smell alcohol on her breath?

No, you didn't imagine it.

A way of coping with recent events, no doubt.

I suppose you don't believe me any more, Father.

No, my belief is unchanged, but I need an explanation.

I met Arthur's daughter.

She said you ejected her from her mother's funeral.

Arthur wanted her there, just not her husband, but he wouldn't go.

I shouldn't have hit him, but Arthur was upset.

They both left, but I'll never forget the luck Josie gave her father.

When was this?

Just a few months back.

So Josie's anger would still have been palpable the night her father died?

There was a man in a big fancy car who wanted to buy the pottery, Father.

I never got his name, but I saw him in court today.

Yes, I noticed him.

Tell me more.

Arthur weren't interested in selling, but the man kept coming back.

With cigars and bottles of whiskey, that sort of thing.

But that didn't work.

He sent two men to try and lean on Arthur.

But I put an end to that.

So Arthur came to depend on you.

Why did he sack you?

Arthur wanted himself that day.

Said I'd made a mistake with some tiles and kill,

and it cost us a day's takings.

I said it weren't me, but he...

He called me a liar.

Paid me off and told me to go.

But I knew something was wrong.

So I went back later that night.

Send someone.

Quickly.

David!

No!

Arthur, what happened?

Who did this?

No time.

Please tell me.

You'll be blamed.

I don't care about that.

Tell me you did it.

Use that money I gave you.

Get away.

I'm not leaving you.

Please, David.

Run.

Promise me.

He fired you to protect you.

I think he knew he was going to die.

I think he knew he was going to die.

I could have sworn I'd bought some biscuits, but there were none in the cupboard.

It's these pills I take from my nerves that make me forgetful.

Tea is ample, Mrs. Holland.

Please, call me Josie, like before.

I'm sorry things had become difficult with your father, Josie.

Well, he never forgave me for eloping with Royce when I was 16.

I must say, you were rather young.

I was old enough to know my mind. My father always blamed Royce.

Daddy always thought he knew best.

You still seem angry with him.

Can you blame me?

I was his child and he loved some stranger more than me.

I'm sure that's not true.

Isn't it?

Well, he left everything to David.

I mean, I get my mother's personal things, of course, but David gets the house, the factory.

Now do you see why I think he's guilty, Father?

I agree. An inheritance can be a strong motive.

Of course, if David Ensley is hanged, it will all revert to you.

And you think I'd want it now, after what's happened here?

Do you recall where you were the night your father died?

I think Royce was having a sing-song in the pub.

I must confess, I'd had a few gins, which doesn't mix well with my pills, so I went upstairs to bed.

You live above a pub?

Royce owns the Raven Tavern. It's a family business.

You know, I used to help my dad in the workshop.

He taught me everything I needed to know to run this place someday.

I suppose it just wasn't meant to be.

Mr. Holland, would you describe for the jury the events that took place at your mother-in-law's funeral?

What do you think motivated Mr. Ensley's aggression that day?

Well, I believe a reconciliation between Josie and her father was possible.

But Mr. Ensley was determined to prevent that from happening.

So Arthur would keep him in the will.

But I didn't know about any inheritance till a week ago.

Mr. Ensley!

Some solicitor told me he's making Josie contest it.

He just runs outland himself!

Mr. Ensley, any further outbursts and I'll have you removed to the cells.

I'd like to answer that, if I may.

Yeah.

My wife deserved better from her father.

And if we have to fight to get back what's rightfully hers,

well, I...

I make no apology.

Oh, hello again. What can I do for you?

I was hoping for a favour, actually, if you wouldn't mind, but it needs to be kept between us.

Go on.

Mrs. S has been teaching us how to drive, but she's been really busy with the trial.

And between you and me, she shouts a lot, so I thought maybe you could do it.

I've got a test booked, but I haven't told anyone in case I fail.

I finish work at six.

Oh, heh.

Thanks, Sergeant.

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

Came off a place.

And where was this exactly?

Sir.

Someone's reported an abandoned car.

And?

And there was blood in it.

Lots of blood, sir.

Right.

The audience.

Hello, Father.

Oh, it's good to see you.

What can I get you?

Hello, Father.

Oh, it's good to see you.

What can I get you?

Yes, sir.

Something was reported an abandoned car.

And?

And there was blood in it.

Lots of blood, sir.

Right.

The audience?

Hello, Father.

Oh, it's good to see you.

Hello, Father.

Oh, it's good to see you.

What can I get you?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Well, I don't know.

What can I get you?

Nothing for me, thank you.

Just a moment of your time, please, Mr Holland.

Of course.

I heard your testimony this morning,

and I must admit it puzzled me.

Why contest Arthur's will?

If David Ensley is condemned, there will be no need for litigation.

We were told that the estate could be tied up for months that way.

Perhaps.

But what's the hurry?

For the sake of transparency, I've run up a few debts on the horses.

Easily done, yeah.

So, you know, as it happens, somebody wants to buy the pottery

and says he's willing to pay more for a quick sale.

His name's Blakely.

Of Blakely Manufacturing?

Yes.

I was surprised to see him at the trial,

but then I suppose the outcome is of interest to him.

And I meant what I said.

Josie has a right to the sale of that land,

and it will more than cover my debts.

Oh, of course, I'll come clean once it's all settled.

You haven't told her yet?

No.

She's barely coping as it is.

She does seem very fragile.

She said she took sedatives the night her father died and went to bed.

Where were you?

I was here.

Working.

And then I went upstairs and joined her.

Look, father, I can see why you're suspicious.

Josie, she was young when we met, but we couldn't help falling in love.

It's just a shame that her father never respected that.

I always found Arthur to be a fair man.

Well, you can't always see the signs from the outside.

Believe me, he controlled Josie

until I helped her escape from that house.

Looks like it's been here for several weeks.

Do you think whoever owns it was murdered, sir?

This was found empty at the scene of Mr. Goddard's murder.

Mr. Ensley's fingerprints were on it,

and according to the logbook,

the exact amount of missing cash was later found on his person.

I put it to you

that Mr. Ensley returned after dark

and was caught stealing from Mr. Goddard,

which is why he attacked him.

That's not who I am.

Mr. Ensley, I will not warn you again.

You must not interrupt.

You're going to throw me in sales,

but please let me say this.

I know what I was,

but Arthur showed me a better way.

Your Honourable Mr. Ensley is not in the witness box.

I loved him like a father.

And no punishment can be worse than knowing

I'll never see him again.

Apart from Bonnie,

can anyone here genuinely say

the prosecution's proven their case

beyond a reasonable doubt?

Mr. Sharp claims

the inheritance was Ensley's motive,

so why would he steal the petty cash

and make a run for it?

It makes no sense.

You're the only one who thinks he could be innocent.

The verdict has to be unanimous,

so when the time comes,

you'd better vote with us.

I will not be bullied.

Not if a man's life hangs in the balance.

Can I tempt you, Father?

They're imported.

Exceptional quality.

Er, no.

No, thank you.

Not one of my vices.

Ah.

So, er,

what's this visit in aid of?

Well,

I come out of concern

for Mrs. Holland.

I know you tried to buy her father's pottery

before he died,

and I would hate for her

to be taken advantage of

in her present distress.

Hmm.

That's why I'm dealing with the husband.

Yes,

but some might say

that your recent offer

was a little premature.

Hmm.

I'm a businessman.

Why wait

to be beaten to it?

Besides,

it's a generous offer.

But why buy it at all,

if I may ask?

You already own

a successful pottery business.

It's called capitalism,

Father.

The Goddard's land

has a higher

quality of clay,

but the old man

was selling it for less.

I was sick of being undercut.

So,

you attempted

to persuade him to sell?

Once or twice.

Sent my men round

to negotiate,

but that thug of his

came at them

with a pickaxe.

How disturbing.

I presume

you reported

this incident

to the police

at the time.

Hmm.

We let it lie.

Suggesting

David Ensley

acted in Arthur's defence.

You can suggest

what you like,

Father.

Ensley

is the one

in the dock.

And from what I can see,

it's not going

very well for him.

Hmm.

Is it?

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

Ha!

The number plate's

registered to, uh,

Lester Helms

from Warwickshire, sir.

His wife reported him

missing a couple

of months back.

She gave me this

to help us find him.

Oh.

If we ever do

find him,

goodnight,

Sergeant.

Goodnight, sir.

Ready?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Right.

You're an upset.

I've got to go.

Bob,

about before.

I'm sorry for my turn.

I hope we can...

I'm sorry, too.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Right, then.

You don't mind us

using this, do you?

Um, no.

As long as you don't

lock me in the back

like you did

the first time we met.

Ha!

Well,

Mrs Sullivan's taught you

all the basics,

all the basics, I expect.

Yeah.

Um,

I know how to start

and stop.

It's just everything

in between.

All right.

Let's see how you do.

Come on.

That's it.

Come on.

OK.

You're doing well.

Whoa!

Whoa!

Oh!

I'll never pass that test

will I.

Of course you will.

You just need to

believe in yourself.

That and slow down.

It's not a rocket ship,

you know.

Let's try again tomorrow

at 6am.

OK.

Oh!

Thanks for giving me

a lift, Sergeant.

No problem.

Mrs S?

You all right?

Father,

I think there's

something wrong.

Mrs Sullivan?

I'm fine.

I'm just

nervous about

the verdict tomorrow.

What am I doing here?

I should go home.

Good night.

Murder trial

ends today.

Molly, can I talk to you?

Why?

We talk all

blimmin' down.

Someone came at me

last night.

He seemed to know

that I've been speaking

up for Ensley.

Was that you?

That telephone call

you made?

I don't know what

you're talking about.

He's bribing you,

isn't he?

I've got no proof.

He's threatened

to kill my husband.

You'd better do

what he says then,

haven't you, love?

How can I?

He wants me

to make sure

Ensley's found guilty,

which means

he must be innocent.

So what?

You're going to risk

your husband's life

for some jailbird.

Just keep

your mouth shut.

The inspector

will be back

in a minute,

father.

Who is

Lester Helms?

A notorious smuggler,

as it turns out.

Known for knocking

off items of luxury

shipped into Bristol

Port.

He's been missing

for two months.

Murdered,

presumably.

That would be

our guess,

although his

operation hasn't

ended.

If anything,

it's increased

recently.

Suggesting the

killer stepped

into the

dead man's

shoes.

Exactly.

But with no

body found,

we are out of

Leeds.

Ah,

father.

To what do we

owe the pleasure?

I'm here about

Mrs Sullivan.

Oh,

really?

What about her?

I saw her

yesterday evening.

She seemed

unsettled.

Something about

the verdict.

Has she spoken

to you at all?

No.

Not about the

trial.

No, never.

She went to bed.

Left early

this morning.

Is there

something I

should be

worried about?

Well,

probably nothing.

Passing judgment

is bound

to weigh

heavily on

anyone.

Hmm.

That jury's got it

in for me,

father.

I know it.

Take courage,

Mr Ainsley.

There is still

time.

Now, tell me

more about the

businessman who

tried to bribe

Arthur with

cigars and

whiskey.

I ask because

it's possible he's

a smuggler.

I wouldn't know

about that father.

But I can believe

he's a crook.

There are too many

cents smashed up

a batch of tiles.

We lost a week's

work.

The day Arthur

sacked you,

he said you had

cost him takings

because of a mistake

in the kiln.

What mistake?

A batch of tiles

have been fired

twice.

Twice?

Odd.

The works

are locked

up.

How can I

get in?

There's a key

hidden behind

a loose

brick in

factory wall.

Good.

What are you

looking for,

father?

Something that

shouldn't be in a

pottery kiln.

There we are.

No time to

explain.

We need to

hurry, Miss Palmer.

Ladies and

gentlemen, I urge

you to come to

the only natural

conclusion that

David Ensley

murdered his

employer on that

fateful night

and must face

the full

consequence of

the law.

The crown

rests, Your

Honour.

Mr. Ensley,

you may begin

your closing

statement.

Why the

cellar,

father?

Because there

is something

there is something

I need to

investigate.

If there's

any trouble,

go to the

telephone box

on the corner.

And call

Inspector

Sullivan.

I will.

Ah.

Be careful,

father.

You can't be in

here, father.

Josie,

I expected you

to be in court

to hear the

verdict.

I'm not feeling

well today.

Or perhaps you

don't have the

stomach to see an

innocent man

condemned.

Why would you

say that?

Because I

found this in

your father's

kiln.

It's a gold

tooth.

It belongs to

the rival smuggler

your husband

killed.

I don't know

what you're

talking about.

I think you

do.

your husband

persuaded you

to help him

get rid of

the evidence

by incinerating

the body,

which would

have been

the perfect

crime

if your father

hadn't caught

both of you

in the act.

Are you sure

you're not

to wipe this

thing?

Josie?

Dad, I

thought you'd

be asleep.

I saw the

light on in

here.

Is this what

you've become?

No, no.

Daddy, it's

not what you

think.

That man, he

tried to kill

Royce and he

had to defend

himself.

Please don't

tell the police.

Please.

Just let us

leave and you'll

never hear from

us again.

I won't

tell anyone.

Arthur would

have kept

his word.

He loved

you too

much to

turn you

in.

But your

husband couldn't

risk that.

So he

murdered him.

No.

No, when we

left, my

father was

still alive.

It was

David.

He killed

him to get

the inheritance.

The very

next night,

after your

father had

witnessed the

cremation.

How

fortuitous

for Mr.

Holland.

Perhaps you

cling to this

fantasy because

the truth is

too much to

bear.

a truth your

father tried

in vain to

make you see

that your

husband is

capable of

evil.

You're wrong.

He's a good

man.

Look,

Josie,

contraband.

Royce didn't

kill Lester in

self-defense.

He killed

him because

he got in

his way,

as did your

father.

Royce would

never do that

to me.

He loves me.

He only loves

himself, which

is why he

starved you of

your family's

love.

Josie?

Josie, are

you down there?

Time to make

a choice,

Josie.

A choice your

father longed

for you to

make, otherwise

the guilt which

torments you

will deepen.

Josie?

Please,

Father, you

have to go.

I am not

leaving without

you.

Come with me

now and tell

the court and

the police of

your husband's

guilt.

I can't.

You must.

God will not

absolve you of

your sins unless

you face them.

Ah.

Do you break

in here?

what kind of

a priest are

you, Father

Brown?

A curious

one.

Didn't you

hear me

calling you,

Josie?

Oh.

What's he

said to you?

You're

trembling, my

poor darling.

Here, it's

time to take

your pills.

He's trying to

keep you weak,

Josie.

You need to

find your

strength.

Take them

and go

upstairs.

They will

announce the

verdict soon.

David's fate is

in your hands.

Now.

Come on.

Inspector Sullivan's on his way.

Is this still time to get to the court?

Well, that's Royce's, but I can't drive.

I can.

Chelsea!

Open that door, you'll regret it for the rest of your life!

Arthur gave me that money earlier in the day.

I think he wanted me to leave because he was scared.

Someone.

I only wanted to help him.

That's why I went back that night.

And found him dying.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you, Mr. Hensley. You may be seated.

I shall now sum up the case.

Miss Palmer, could we possibly go a little faster?

Safety first, Father.

The jury may now retire to start your deliberations.

Come on.

I can't.

Your Honour, I have something to say.

Don't be stupid.

I can't be a part of this.

Something wrong?

Yes, Your Honour.

Very.

Last night, I...

Stop the trial!

What is the meaning of this?

Forgive us, Your Honour.

We have crucial information.

We have already concluded our closing statements.

Any evidence you may have may be submitted on appeal,

if indeed one is granted.

Please let me testify, Your Honour.

Arthur was my father, and I know who killed him.

It was my husband.

If we hadn't gone to the factory that night,

my father would still be alive.

Mrs. Holland,

are you saying that you knew all this time

that your husband returned later to kill your father?

No, Your Honour.

I...

I think I just didn't want to believe it.

I'm so sorry.

I've let so many people down.

I've let my parents down.

I know I broke my father's heart.

Arthur loved you.

To the end.

In light of this testimony,

I hereby declare a mistrial.

Mr. Ensley will remain in custody

while the police make urgent inquiries,

and Mrs. Holland will be detained

for further questioning.

Oh, Mrs. Sullivan.

Why didn't you tell us, Isabel?

He threatened to kill you if I did.

It's all right.

We're safe now.

I'm sorry you had to face that alone.

Is that her?

You sure?

Mrs. Baldrige.

Wait there, please.

Why?

What's this about?

I need to ask you a few questions.

I haven't done anything wrong.

Come this way, please.

Oh, thank you for coming, Sergeant.

It was parked right there.

I mean, who would steal a car

from outside a presbytery?

Are you sure it wasn't borrowed, Mrs. Sullivan?

Borrowed?

Well, who would...

Brenda Palmer, what makes you think you can borrow Hercules

without my permission?

Not to mention driving without a licence.

I'm sorry I didn't ask.

I just thought it would spoil the surprise.

I just passed my driving test.

That is stupendous news.

Congratulations.

Well, how?

Last time we practised, you were...

I guess you're a better teacher than you thought, Mrs. S.

origina's room for you.