Original subtitles

Thank you.

I don't believe it.

Okay, Luna.

It's off now.

Geoffrey. Cup of tea.

You're right.

You're always right.

I shouldn't have... Don't worry.

Did you bring any biscuits?

As it happens, I did.

Chocolate bourbons.

The king of biscuits.

Lovely!

I mean, I know I bring them every time, but they really are the best.

Quite right.

Couldn't agree with you more.

Afternoon, gents.

So, what's on the agenda?

Big collections, potholes, or dog mess in Higginson Park?

If we're really lucky, all three.

What a ray of sunshine you are, Terrence.

Oh, chocolate bourbons.

You can't beat the velvety chocolate of a bourbon biscuit.

Ah, Debbie, perfect timing. Can I make you a coffee, darling?

I can get my own. Thank you, darling.

I just need to distribute these... There you are.

Mark has barely had a viewing in an hour, so how about we just crack on?

you. Sadly, that won't be possible.

We can't start the meeting without Sophia.

We're not Quarrant. It's Heron. Can't you just overrule him, Chairman? He's

the Chairman.

He is. He isn't. Are you really saying the Mayor of Marlow doesn't chair our

meeting? Authority is only invested in the chair when the meeting has been

convened, and we're not Quarrant.

I'm sorry I'm late. Just in time.

Come in, Sophia, come in. I was in my studio and completely lost track of the

time.

Have I missed anything?

Right then.

That's the last of it. Well done, everyone.

We're going to have to get on the road if we're going to make the campsite by

nightfall.

The great outdoors awaits.

Sure you don't want to come with us?

Instead of staying here with the whole house to yourself?

Text me when you get there.

We are going to have so much fun, aren't we, Sam?

And have a total digital detox.

These are going in the glove box.

Hurry up and get in.

You're getting in the back. No, I'm not. I'm always in the back. Just leave each

other alone.

What if you get in? We'll swap halfway through. Just get in. Swapping halfway

through.

Four days.

Please wear sunscreen, both of you.

Item three.

Gastronomy. Restaurant run by Ferdy Blake.

It's applying for a temporary late licence.

Something to do with a book launch, I think.

Sorry.

Sorry to interrupt. You're not interrupting.

We always want to hear from members of the public.

Oh, thanks.

It's just that bridge at Temple.

It's been all locked up for safety. But it's been months.

And the kids on the other side, they can't walk to school.

Their parents have to drive them the long way round into Marlow.

Unfortunately, bridges fall under the purview of death for a knock -down.

There must be something you can do.

Perhaps, Geoffrey, you could have a quiet word with the landowner.

Geoffrey?

Geoffrey?

He's dead.

You paid last week.

It's only fair that I pay this week. No, Judith, fair, please.

No, you can do next week. On my card, please. No, no, my card. I invited you

brunch. It would be ungallant if I let you pay.

Besides, who knows if there's even going to be a next week.

Indeed. Who knows?

Oh, excuse me. I need to get this.

Susie?

I'll be there in five.

I've got it.

I have to go.

Am I glad to see you. What happened? I don't know. It was fast.

One minute he was sitting there, next minute, boof, the man was on the floor.

Did he say anything?

No.

But he did look at his coffee cup before he went over.

There might have been something, innit?

I told the witnesses to wait for you over there.

Thank you.

Jason, Alice, initial statements.

And Susie, are you going to be okay?

You're going to be okay.

I still can't believe it.

Is it even possible?

Was he unwell?

Had he mentioned anything wrong?

No. Must have been a heart attack.

And you are?

Sorry. Marcus Percival.

Marcus Percival Estate.

This is Terence Clarkson.

He runs a local architect's practice.

I take jobs nationally.

And this is... Debbie Smith.

Accountant and council secretary.

Hmm?

Sorry. Sophia Hollingbury. I make a podcast.

A very successful podcast.

Did you know anyone who may have had any grievance towards Mr. Truman? I'm

afraid I'm going to have to stop you there, because that is quite simply

impossible. I'm sorry?

Oh, Terrence is right.

Geoffrey was the best of us.

It's how he ended up being there.

Everyone loved Geoffrey.

Did Seneca tell you when the toxicology report was coming in?

No.

Did either of you know it?

Geoffrey? I met him a few times at church events and Remembrance Sunday.

I only met him for 30 seconds, then he died.

Yes. What were you doing at that meeting?

Oh, you know the bridge at Temple?

It's been closed for months.

The landowner refuses to repair it. I thought the council could make him mend

it, but apparently it's not a council matter.

Oh. Okay, here we go.

What? Not Tanika.

Oh.

What? That you're going for brunch with Darius Faith.

Actually, you couldn't be more wrong.

That's not what this is about at all.

So what is it about?

I invited him for afternoon tea.

Knew it.

It's just afternoon tea. Sure, but it starts with brunch, moves on to

tea, and before you know it, you've been biting him in for a nightcap. I think

it's wonderful.

Stop it, the pair of you.

There's a book on the Avebury standing stones I want to lend him. That's all.

Yeah, standing stones.

Sure.

Oh, he's keen. I'll give him that much.

It's Tanika.

Tanika, have you got the toxicology report?

And yes, the labs have run preliminary tests on the coffee in Mr Truman's car.

They found traces of a poison called aconite.

He was poisoned.

The full report in the morning will tell us more, but yeah, it's hard to look

in.

Got to go. But thanks for the tip -off, Susie. It really helped.

So, what's aconite when it's at home? Oh, it's monkhood, isn't it? Or

I think it's got another name as well.

OK, impressive.

There's this gardening podcast I always listen to, Notes from a Marlow Garden,

and the hostess was talking about poisonous plants and which ones she

home. She didn't know Geoffrey by any chance.

Oh.

She was with him when he died.

It's Sophia Hollingbury.

Hang on. She did an entire episode on aconite earlier this year.

The garden is in Little Marlow.

Not a bad manner for someone who makes podcasts.

Wow.

Come on.

This way.

This is it, isn't it?

Don't touch a thing.

It could be dangerous.

What? Everything?

Everything.

Can I help you?

Hello, Sophia.

I'm Bex. I'm a big fan of your podcast.

These are my friends, Judith and you've met Susie. We're civilian advisors to

the police.

I'm so sorry to have to tell you that Jeffrey was poisoned.

They found traces of aconite in his coffee.

No. Do you grow aconite?

Well, I do, yes, but... Well, you can't possibly think it came from here.

Lots of gardens have aconite. It's such a beautiful flower.

It's very popular.

Could have come from anywhere.

Ew.

Ew. It's that human hair.

I take it from my hairbrush every morning. Keeps the slugs away.

I found over the years that the old ways are often the best ways. And so much

better for the environment.

Oh, you really do listen.

How did you get on with Geoffrey?

I adored him.

He helped me.

How? That was a long time ago.

I was on the Works and Buildings Committee, which included looking after

graveyards in various parishes.

I, um... I messed up.

Could have gone into a lot of trouble. But Geoffrey, he stepped in and sorted

all out.

He lived to help other people.

My husband.

Sorry. I'm going to have to go.

Paul?

Paul, wake up.

Hang on, Paul.

Jeffrey Truman, no listed next of kin, became the mayor of Marlow last year,

he was also involved in the Rotary Club, Dementia Action Marlow, Meal for

Marlow.

It's actually quite a long list.

So he was a do -gooder.

Which is good.

What did we get from the witness statements at the scene? They all said

well -liked and had no enemies.

They assumed it was natural causes.

There's nothing natural about someone putting aconite in your coffee.

Exactly, so let's find out who put it there.

Brendan, find out everything you can about the victim and check his home.

Jason, what was Mr Truman up to before the meeting? Where did he go? Who did he

see? And Alice, run background checks on the witnesses.

Who they are and how did they get on with the victim?

Did Colin and the kids leave this morning?

They did.

Was it?

Colin's taking the kids camping.

It means that Bex is footloose and fancy free.

I've dreamt of this for years.

No responsibilities for four whole days. Well, you deserve it.

It's kind of spooky, though, isn't it?

Everything looks so normal.

But there's a killer here somewhere.

That is, of course, the plane's committee.

I'm going to have to leave you.

Nice to meet you.

Ladies, I should introduce myself, Marcus Percival. I take it you're

with the police?

What makes you ask?

Well, your reputation precedes you, Mrs Potts. Oh, all good, I hope.

Do the police suspect our play?

I'm afraid they do.

Impossible. What makes you say that?

Because he was such a good guy.

Never crossed anyone, never took offence.

I can't imagine you've got any active leave.

Let alone suspect?

Of course.

You can't say.

Anyway, it was lovely talking to you. I need to go shut up shop for the day.

Is he just trying to pump us for information?

I think that's exactly what he was doing.

Could Jeffrey really have been that perfect?

Oh, excuse me.

Hello. Follow the money.

I'm sorry?

Who is this?

You want to know who killed Jeffrey Truman?

Follow the money.

Follow the money?

What money?

Okay, I've spoken to Mr. Truman's neighbors. No one saw him this morning.

We know he was at the council building at 1 p .m. Don't worry. I'll keep

digging. Tanika, we need a number trace.

Alice, Judith just had a call from a withheld number saying that if she

to find Jeffrey's killer, she had to follow the money. Who was this person?

idea. His voice was distorted.

Do you mind if we put some software on your phone in case he calls again?

It would allow us to record him directly.

Yes, of course.

OK, so the call came in at 5 .17pm. It came from a phone box near Bobbingdon

Green. Get over there, Alice.

Find out if anyone saw who made the call.

On it.

But if we are following the money, what have we got on Mr Truman's financials?

Not much. He lived modestly on a mixture of state and private pension.

No credit cards, no debt.

That might mean the council money.

Brendan, contact the council. Let's get all of their financial records.

All of them?

Going back, let's say, the last five years.

I've got to go pick up Shanti.

from the phone box, but it's not much.

No witnesses, no physical evidence.

What about fingerprints?

Well, the phone was wiped clean with a solvent, as was the door handle.

Okay, finish up there and let's pick this up in the morning.

But good work, Alice. Thank you.

Pickle? What's up?

Nothing.

You sure?

You know, you can tell me you're your dad anything.

Is it... Something at school?

I don't want to talk about it.

The

doctor

says his heart is failing him.

I'm sorry to hear that.

She loves you.

We've heard how aconite has earned it many names,

from monkshood in the monastery to wolfsbane in the forest.

But for me, what I can't get over is how a plant so pretty and ornamental

can be so very, very lethal.

But maybe that's just me.

Until next time, happy and above all safe gardening.

Who could have wanted you dead?

What do you think, Jasper?

Is that all you've

got? One statement and no other credible witnesses?

None of them are really credible.

They're eight -year -old kids.

No, of course.

Sorry. And I'm not saying that Shanti bullied anyone, but she is friends with

the group of pupils who did.

I'll talk to her.

Thank you.

Sorry.

I've got to take this.

Brendan?

Okay, so the PM's in and it's been confirmed that Mr. Truman died from a

dose of aconite.

Do they know how it got into his coffee?

Well, they've checked all the other cups and tea -making paraphernalia and

they're all clear of poison.

The only thing that wasn't was one of the used coffee pots in the machine.

But, get this, forensics lifted two sets of fingerprints from the pod.

One was Mr. Truman's. And the other?

With Council Secretary Debbie Smith.

witness statements.

She's the only person other than Jeffrey that ever used a copy machine.

Okay, bring her in.

I still can't believe he was poisoned.

You know that?

I work for Paul Hollingbury, Sophia's husband.

He told me.

What would you say if I told you that your fingerprints were found on the

pod that poisoned him?

Well, that's impossible.

How so?

I had a normal coffee.

I think I know what's happened.

When I went to make my coffee, there was already an old pod jammed in the slot.

Push it through.

If that one was Geoffrey's, that must be how my fingerprints got on it.

Look, I arrived after Geoffrey had made himself his coffee.

What has Alec Miller told you?

Who's Alec Miller?

The person who lays out the teas and coffees before all the council meetings.

You have spoken to him, haven't you?

I kept hunting last night.

I got drawn into reading the comments under the council social media posts,

there was one account, Marlowe 1628, and it is horrible.

Disgusting mare.

Then look what they said here.

Sex pit?

Nah, that's out of order. We've spent all this time looking for someone who

hated Geoffrey, and here he is.

Although it's not only Geoffrey, is it? I mean, whoever that is, he hates

everyone.

Oh, here she is, our lady of leisure.

Did you have a nice lie -in? Me?

Yes, you.

Please tell me you've been having a proper break.

Oh, absolutely.

Yeah, 100%. Actually, no, I haven't.

Oh, thanks.

I know.

I'm furious with myself.

I sat down to watch telly last night and I was all set.

Nice glass of wine, bar of chocolate.

Love it.

And then I noticed the games cupboard looked a bit messy.

No. Tell me you didn't. I just thought it would be a quick tidy.

She did.

You know how it goes. Once that cupboard was tidy, all the other cupboards

looked terrible.

Before I knew it, I had the marigolds on and I was giving the sitting room a

once -over. What an idiot.

You could have at least come round here, made yourself useful and cleared out

Judith's stash of old newspapers.

Do you mind?

That's the thing. It was useful.

Once I'd finished the sitting room, I moved on to Colin's study.

It seemed stupid not to.

Stupid not to.

Well, he's away.

He's needed a deep clean for months.

And I was reordering some old files and I found this.

What is it? Remember how Sophia said she'd been involved in a muddle when she

was in charge of the graveyard?

Well, I found all these cuttings and correspondence about it from 15 years

The parish kept the record.

This wasn't some minor mishap.

Sophia mixed up where people were buried.

It was pretty bad.

The location of one body was never found.

But she's right when she says Geoffrey sorted it out.

There's letter after letter between him and the Bishop of Oxford.

Reading between the lines, if it wasn't for Geoffrey, she may have ended up

being prosecuted.

Oh, it's Anita.

Hello?

Just a quick update, Judith. There was possibly a fifth person at the council

meeting. A man called Alec Miller. He lives in Marlow Bottom.

We're going to talk to him now.

Shall we meet... Oh, she's hung up.

It's a bit of a mistake, if you ask me.

She's going to the wrong address.

And you know that?

You know, Alec does the teas and coffees for some of our church events.

He's got a caravan by Hurley Lock and he moves to it every summer.

And Nick has gone to his house in Marlow Bottoms.

You know what I think?

I think we can guess.

It's our civic duty to help the police in every way we can.

And sometimes that involves going to the right address when they've gone to the

wrong one.

The mayor always had a kind word for everyone. A lovely man.

It's terrible what's happened to him.

And at the hands of Locusta, no less.

At the hands of who?

Emperor Nero had an infamous assassin called Locusta, whose weapon of choice

poison. You do not fail to live up to your reputation, Mrs Potts.

How do you know Geoffrey was poisoned?

Have your tea, and I'll tell you.

I bumped into Marcus in town. He told me. So, if you prepared the tea and the

coffee for the meeting, and you know that Jeffrey was poisoned, why haven't

spoken to the police?

What would I say?

I wasn't there.

I'm sorry?

I got a phone call yesterday morning telling me not to come in.

Hello? Who is this?

Good morning. It's Sophia Hollingbury. She rang and told me I wasn't needed.

The meeting had been cancelled.

Well, that was a waste of time.

Oh, you're kidding.

So, while we went on a wild goose chase, your civilian trio went to Alec

Miller's summer residence for a chat.

He's saying that Sophia Hollingbury rang him and told him not to attend the

council meeting.

Gov?

Oh, sorry.

Shanti's got herself mixed up in some trouble at school.

There's been some bullying.

Oh.

Well, that doesn't sound like her.

I don't know what to do.

Um, what?

Talk to her?

Get her to tell you what happened in her own words?

You mean like a witness interview?

Well, isn't everything in life a bit like a witness interview?

She's a good kid.

You think?

Yeah, of course.

She's your daughter.

With her number.

Call Tanika.

It could be our mystery caller again.

How many rings have we got to answer by? I don't know. Seven?

Eight?

Answer it.

Hello? Tanika?

Bex?

Are you all right? Judith's mystery caller is talking to her again.

Alice, run a trace on the incoming call to Judith's phone.

Oh, no.

Um, we have...

We haven't found anything.

Not yet.

She needs to keep him talking.

Tell Judith she needs to keep him talking.

Are you talking about council money? It would

help if you could be a bit more specific.

Yes, it's council money. And what bit of the council?

Is it housing?

No. No. What about...

Travel and transport.

No. No, um... Knitting.

No, no, not knitting.

Weight disposal.

Look at the petty cash.

What area of the petty cash?

Hello? Are you there?

He's gone.

Which part of it looks like knitting?

What was it?

It's tying up the dog poo bag and putting it in the bin. Of course. That's

actually quite good.

Oh, hold on. It's a phone box outside All Saints Gate.

We're leaving right now.

Tanika says the call came from a phone box just outside All Saints by the gate.

They're going to check it out.

Well, how long is that going to take them?

I reckon if we're quick, we might catch a few witnesses.

There's no way we'll get to All Saints fast enough. Oh, you want to bet?

Not this far across the bridge, Susie. I agree with that. Not this far, Susie. I

can do this.

I can do this.

Easy.

Easy.

You've got about two inches on this side.

You all right, Bob?

Hello, Susie.

Careful. I'm doing it. Careful.

I'm doing it.

One inch.

I'm breathing in. I hate this.

Be boiling.

All right, let's get this!

Rocket drive, fool!

Oh, boy, give me strength!

Hold on.

Hold on.

Yeah.

Susie?

What's wrong?

Told you I'd get up there.

If anyone saw anybody use this phone box, someone must have seen him.

Oh, excuse me. Have you seen anyone use this phone box? No. Hello, excuse me

there. Have you seen anyone use this phone box? No, sorry.

Still nothing?

No one saw a thing. No CCTV either.

Gov, it's the same as before.

Everything's been wiped clean. No fingerprints and nothing.

So he's got away.

Again.

Meg, what do you know about peregrine falcons?

Brendan, I need your help.

There's a pair of falcons that hatch their chicks every year. In the fire.

Why are you telling me this?

A local bird -watching society have a webcam pointed at them.

You can watch the nest live, but they record it on a laptop up here.

It's so much higher, is it?

No.

You okay with heights?

I don't love them.

Just don't look down.

Look,

it's as I thought. The webcam picks up more than just the nest.

Oh, that's cool.

Have you?

No, the bird.

The call came in at midday or thereabouts.

That's him, our mystery caller.

Look.

Who the hell are you?

Whoa, great work, Bec. Come on, do it, I'll talk.

Oh, yeah.

So what happens now?

Well, I imagine the police will try to identify the mystery caller, which

us three to ask the only question that matters.

Why did Sophia stand Alec down?

And now onto a topic I know vexes a lot of us as we head into the drier months.

To mow or not to mow?

I haven't time to be interrupted.

We just wanted to know why you rang Alex Miller yesterday and told him that the

meeting had been cancelled.

Sorry, what are you talking about?

Are you saying you didn't ring him? That's exactly what I'm saying.

Then who did?

I don't know.

Either Alex lying or it was someone pretending to be me. Either way, I

call anybody yesterday.

I don't suppose you know this person?

I don't recognise him, no.

Well, the plot thickens.

What are the three of you doing here?

We could ask you the same question.

As it happens, we're meeting to discuss options for a commemorative bench for

Jacob. Oh.

True son of Marlow. Yeah, that's the one I would choose.

None of you know who this is, do you?

Oh, no, I think I do.

Didn't he do your podcast studio, Dave or someone?

Paul hired him to do some work in the office as well.

His name's Dave Butler.

If it's the same person that did your little studio there.

You've identified our mystery caller?

No, it's the victim.

I found him.

I've been checking all of the TTTD footage I could find near the council

building. So, it's ten minutes before the meeting, near the cemetery.

Look, he's with Terence Clarkson, and he's not happy.

Good work, Jason.

It's a shame there's no sound. Wait, hold on, who's that?

Just zoom in a bit.

Oh, God.

What? It's Mrs. Ettingham.

OK, this is it.

Dave Butler.

Great Marlow IT service.

Nice bar.

I think I can see your house over there, Judith.

I think you're right.

What do you want?

Dave Butler.

We believe you have some explaining to do. I was only trying to help.

By making an anonymous phone call.

Why didn't you just ring the police?

I didn't want to get involved.

I was hoping Mrs. Potts would do the work for me.

I think you need to tell us everything you know.

Now.

Okay.

It's not much.

A while back, I saw a spike in how much petty cash the council was spending.

They're published on the council website.

£3 ,000 last year, £4 ,000 this year.

But I couldn't see a reason for the sudden jump in claims.

And you think the extra cash could be connected with Geoffrey's death?

It could be.

He was such a good man. If he'd discovered anything dodgy, he'd have

straight to the police.

Maybe that's why he was killed.

To stop him from doing just that.

You say he was a good man.

You knew him?

Years ago, I wanted to be a writer.

I got into a young writer's scheme, and Geoffrey was one of the mentors.

He really helped me with the book I was writing.

High fantasy.

The Warlocks of Windhaven.

But then my mum died, and I moved to the States to live with my aunt.

Last year, I moved back to Marlow.

That's when I bumped into Geoffrey. It's you, isn't it?

Dave Butler.

Geoffrey Truman. We worked together on your Warlock book. Gosh.

He said he'd try and help me get my book published.

We've been working together ever since.

His ideas, amazing.

On structure, character.

Can you prove any of this?

Go to Jeffrey's house.

There's a spare key by the back door, I think.

You'll find my manuscript in his office.

You'll be able to see how well we've been working together.

Where were you when he died?

I was here, on my own.

But his death is a disaster for me.

Don't you see that?

It's been my dream to be published my whole life, and it's not going to happen

now.

You're right.

I did see them arguing.

From a bush.

That's really not the point.

It very much sounds like the point to me.

Leslie, don't you have some other place to be?

No.

Perhaps if we could focus on what you heard.

Not sure if I put the right bins out this morning.

You know it's a blue bin day.

Is it?

I just don't remember.

I remember now.

The younger man was saying the most horrible things to Mr. Truman.

What was the argument about?

I couldn't quite tell, but...

I definitely heard Geoffrey saying the other man had handled the situation

badly. He said it a few times.

Whatever it was, he's handled the situation badly.

Okay, this is the house.

Here, if you can find the key.

I found it. What?

It's in the door.

That doesn't feel right.

Let me call Tanika. Let her know. And while you do that, why don't we make

ourselves youthful?

I don't understand.

It's simple, really.

You were seen arguing with Mr. Truman 20 minutes before he died.

It was just a misunderstanding.

About? I, um, wanted the comments turned off on the council website.

Seriously?

There are nasty people out there and it can get personal. That's all it was

about. I wanted the comments turned off and he wanted to leave them turned on.

Then why did Geoffrey keep saying that you'd handled the situation badly?

He was just saying I was being aggressive, which I was, and I had to

At the meeting, I tried to apologise.

But he'd already moved on. That was him all over.

He didn't dwell.

That's all it was.

A minor disagreement, and he forgave me.

Who prepared the tea and coffee for the meeting?

I'm sorry?

We're just trying to ascertain who put out the poisoned coffee for Mr. Truman.

Was it Alec Miller?

It wasn't Alec I saw through the window.

There was someone else there.

Who? I don't know. I couldn't see through the glass.

I think it was a man.

But they didn't have the build of Alec.

And they had light hair. Why didn't you mention this in your witness statement?

At the time, I thought Jeffrey had died of natural causes.

If you're looking for the person who put the poison in Jeffrey's coffee pot, I

bet it was the person in the kitchen.

I think I found it.

Judith?

You got it?

David's telling the truth.

Jeffrey's really trying to help him. And he's positive, kind and supportive.

It's like everyone's been saying.

Then why'd he have to die?

There must be some dark secrets in his life.

Everyone has secrets.

Seneca, you need to come to Geoffrey's house at one.

Okay, it's another wall.

We can get over this.

Come on.

That's it. Come on, P .D. Careful.

I'm over it. Yeah.

There he is.

Come on.

Let's go.

I can't see.

Oh, yeah.

No, my back.

No.

No. I said no more walls.

No, that's not possible. We can do it.

Are you mad?

No.

I told you.

We can't do it. We can't do that.

Judas?

In here.

We lost him.

Did you see who it was?

Oh, we were so close.

But no, no idea.

What's that?

You know you wanted Geoffrey to have a dark secret.

Stop.