Original subtitles

you

Well... Name, please.

First name?

Laura.

That's correct.

Thank you.

Clarinet.

Sagittarius.

Favourite colour blue.

Gwenny? Hmm?

The bulb's gone.

I do want everything right for Malcolm.

Well, you know where they are.

Are they at Donald's?

Oh, you're too kind to an old man.

Sir?

It's Malcolm Finiston for the rehearsal.

You're... You're not on my list, Mr. Phillips.

Temple. There was a porter in my day called Temple.

Ted Temple.

My father, sir.

How is old Ted?

He's not what he was.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Sir!

Forgive me, Father, for I have to end.

How long is it to your last confession?

Help me.

I don't bite.

Not unless I have to.

Right, let's see what you're made of.

Sooner the better.

Tonight, then.

So I'll be all clear for Friday.

Friday, 3 .15.

When I'll have an excellent night.

Give yourself a bravo.

Bravissimo, Malcolm, surely.

Bravissimo.

And just watch the penultimate marking. It's a cello rounder, not poco prumato,

Lady Raven.

It's still going to you.

Right, until tomorrow.

Temple? Temple, have you seen the master?

He hasn't been home yet.

Good morning, Miss.

Morning, Beth.

Morning.

Morning.

Oh, I'll come back later. Try knocking next time. I did, did it happen?

Not loud enough, clearly.

Sorry, Babs.

Don't talk to her like that.

Why not?

What a mortal sin, isn't it?

I am seriously late.

Professor Andrew Crompton, master of Gresham College, took a tumble and hit

head. Suspicious?

Sounds of a struggle, and his face is scratched.

He fell backwards downstairs, by the look of it, and bumped his way down.

But the fatal impact was probably the wound to his right temple.

When he hit the floor?

Yes.

I was at Gresham College yesterday.

Practising for your concert?

Rehearsing, yeah.

Is there a difference?

What about these scratches?

Someone's clawed at him.

I practice alone. Together we rehearse.

Attack. Defense.

I'm not Mystic Meg.

More like I can belt.

Who?

He played the clarinet, too.

Back in the olden times.

Well, there certainly was a fight.

What about access?

It's a swipe card system at street level.

I've asked for the records for the last 24 hours.

And an entry phone.

What was he doing here?

Sir, this was on the floor downstairs.

Angular separation physics?

Luminosity, then astrophysics.

Stargazing.

Next, the thing you've all been waiting for, dark matter and black holes.

Oh, glad you could join us, Jez.

Yes, sorry.

Someone lent us some paper.

Police will call to the observatory early this morning when the body was

discovered by a cleaner.

It is understood the death of Professor Andrew Crompton is being treated as

suspicious. It's the temple.

Ted.

Dr. Ransom.

Who's this?

Hello, Ted.

He's a naughty, wicked man.

I know all about it.

Nice one.

Have you heard about Crompton?

What?

He's dead.

When?

How? He fell down the observatory stairs yesterday and smashed his head.

Thanks.

You liked him, didn't you?

Yeah.

They like me.

God, that's sad.

I can come back any time, Mrs. Crompton.

Thank you, Mrs. Temple.

Let's keep things as normal as possible, shall we?

Are you all packed for your move?

Nearly.

Roger's very organized.

I imagine he is.

Hello? Thank you, Mr. Temple.

Send them over, would you?

Anything you need, you just ask, all right?

Are we right for the master's head?

Through the pod.

But he must.

Why do you say that?

I doubt the police would send a detective and a sergeant to team

an accident.

He had no reason to take his own life.

So I'm assuming the involvement of a third party.

It's a possibility we have to consider.

Someone killed Andrew.

When did you last see him?

Late afternoon, briefly.

I spent the evening here alone and I went to bed early.

When I woke up, he hadn't come home.

What would he have been doing at the observatory?

He was a keen amateur astronomer.

The department kindly let him use the telescope.

Did he let you know that's where he'd be last night?

No. That wasn't unusual.

We weren't joined at the hip.

Can you think of anyone he might have been meeting?

He preferred his heavenly contemplations to be solitary.

Do you know anyone who...

Might have wanted to hurt him. No.

Might better be his.

It's not his writing.

You'd better ask Gwen Rayburn, senior lecturer in astrophysics.

But, uh... We spent the occasional weekend on our narrowboat with

Rayburn. Cramped.

Cody. Is that Arnold Rayburn, then?

It is.

The composer.

Oh, Rayburn. Right.

We'll keep you informed, Mrs Cromden.

Arnold Rayburn is the grand old man of English music.

National treasure, if it wasn't for the stubborn atonality of his later

compositions. Fancy.

that was looking into Professor Compton's death.

Inspector Lewis.

Sergeant Hathaway, Lady Redwood.

It's unbelievable.

Andrew was... Some people are irreplaceable, aren't they?

We found this in the observatory and wondered if you recognised it.

It's Jess Hadock. She's one of my students.

He was missing it earlier.

Do you know where we might find him?

I saw him going out.

Would you like me to give him that back for you?

Temple, sir, head porter.

You're all right, Mr. Temple. But if you do say, would you give us a call?

Pleased to oblige.

Mr. Haydock's an exemplary young man, if you want my opinion.

Not sure that we do, Mr. Temple.

No, of course not. Um, excuse me.

Any idea what call's going to form?

Not yet, no.

Well, goodbye.

Ah!

She was a lady, Rayburn.

Didn't seem important.

No, it wouldn't to you.

But, um, I can give you a clearer idea when I call.

Fine, Mrs. Sleavy.

Fine.

Hello hello hello?

You too.

We'll postpone the concert, of course.

Certainly not.

Planets? How appropriate.

You could give the performance in his memory.

Good girl.

Do you know anything about astronomy, sir?

I bet you do.

I don't, as it happens.

One that we'll never see.

Other than a few...

Obvious snippets. Copernicus, say, or the revival of heliocentrism.

It's not all astronomy in here, anyway. Listen.

The splendid sight again shall greet our distant children's eyes.

Perhaps James is an aspiring writer.

I wonder if that's what Lady Rayburn was so interested in when we showed her it.

You mean Gwen.

You got it.

Yeah, that's it.

Be honest.

You'll never get round and sort of this like that yourself, will you?

Not now.

You're costing us more from next month, you old sod.

Halley's Comet, of course.

Edmund Halley. He lived in Oxford New College Lane.

No, I didn't know.

It's an obvious snippet.

Yeah, Lewis.

Did he?

Aye, thanks.

But a witness, as he saw Crompton less than two hours before we think he died.

One of your lot.

I am running late.

Do you want me to hear your confession?

Not when I'm on duty, thanks.

He started coming to Mass three months ago.

I noticed him, but I had no idea who he was until I saw this.

Yesterday was his first confession?

Yes. What time was that?

I'd say eight when he arrived.

There were quite a few waiting, so by the time he left, it would have been

around nine.

Did he have much to confess?

A considerable amount, yes.

Which, of course, I am unable to share with you.

No, I understand that. Thank you. Not sure my inspector will.

You must explain to him, then, the difference between the confessions I

those he does.

Mine are voluntary.

And privileged.

Did Professor Compton say anything outside of the confessional?

He did say something as he went.

About an excess of joy on Friday.

On Friday at 3 .15, I'll have an excess of joy.

Jed?

Jed, what's the matter?

An excerpt of joy.

What the hell does that mean?

What was he planning on Friday that was going to make him so joyful?

That's all he said.

I'm running a check on this Jed Haydock before we speak to him.

Anything? Jeremy Michael Haydock, cautioned for cannabis possession last

Half a joint to it.

Nothing else.

Compton must have said more than that, surely. Only under the sanctity of the

confessional. Oh, for crying out loud.

No, these things matter, sir. He's completely within his rights.

This is the 21st century. We're investigating a possible murder.

And he's constrained by his priestly conscience.

His priestly conscience obstructs my investigation. I'll crucify him.

You said Judge Haydock's back?

I'll take you over, sir.

Are there developments?

Mr. Pinniston,

Sir Arnold and Lady Rayburn are expecting you. Lunch at a Thai table.

Yeah, yeah.

And there's post for you.

Here? I'm staying at the old parsonage. By hand.

I didn't see who left it.

Excuse me.

Roger Temple.

Mrs. Leeming.

Why, it's not the best time.

Well, what's that in round figures?

How much?

How was Mrs. Crompton when you saw her, Doctor?

Dr. Ransom, Inspector.

Is Mrs. Crompton okay?

She's not ill. I am her GP, but a friend more, Ella Ransom.

Inspector Lewis, Oxfordshire Police.

Sergeant Hathaway.

Doctor.

Isabel said, uh... She said that you think Andrew was murdered.

Would that surprise you?

Yes. Well, yes, of course it would.

If I can...

Help him, anyway.

Thanks. Oh, Mr. Temple, I wanted to drop by later and have a word for you about

your father. Will you both be in? Any time after seven, Doctor.

This way, gentlemen.

Malcolm Finiston was here in the 1970s.

And Sir Arnold was his tutor.

Hello.

And now he wants to be top fellow of some big American orchestra.

Yeah, he's in the running for music director for the Pacific Sinfonia.

Sir Arnold's on the board. How's the booking going?

Well, very nearly sold out.

Good. Well, I should hope so.

Don't be so vain.

The concert ensemble has a very loyal following.

I think you'll have to concede, my darling, that Malcolm is responsible at

for some of the box office boom.

All right.

Some.

Jupiter was on the stodgy side last night.

It was only our first rehearsal with the maestro.

Well, I'll tune G .U. up.

But the tunist wasn't bad.

Is that her boyfriend?

Yes. He's one of my astrophysics lots.

Interesting boy.

He's about Catholic, but, um...

It's uncomfortable, isn't it? Please, Dan.

Today is special.

Amen.

I'll fetch Mr.

Haydock for you.

More discreet.

It's only a glorified canteen, for God's sake.

Sir, you only realized this morning.

You know about the master?

Bad, yeah.

You never said where you found this.

You never said where you lost it.

The observatory.

I was there yesterday.

When?

Dinner time, latest.

Round half twelve.

About that time, where were you then?

Here, studging.

You sure?

He called me from here, if you must say.

And you are?

Kate Cameron.

I'm meeting Laura, my father's a judge.

Only fair.

So I know a little about how police are meant to behave.

And how is that?

You told them once where you were.

If asking a second time turns towards oppressive questioning.

Could we have a word, Miss Cannon?

Hayden.

What's wrong with that?

No, no, that's very useful.

Thank you.

What did you say to her?

She wasn't doing you any favours with her impression of Lady Muck.

You never... Well, not in those words, but she got the message.

You're not doing yourself any favours either. Your swipe card was used at the

observatory last night. 10 .29, sir.

Which fits the estimated time of our suspicious death, Jez.

When you and Kate told us you were here.

I lied.

It's what you do when they're busy asking you a question where I'm from.

Kate doesn't know.

What were you doing at the observatory?

Chatting with Prof Crompton.

I went to fetch a book.

What were you talking about?

The transit of Venus.

When you can see the planet Venus crossing in front of the sun.

Anything more down to Earth?

Did he mention something that was happening on Friday afternoon?

No.

And it was just you and him there?

Just us on it.

All right, that's all for now.

Next time we ask you a question, which we will, Take a tip.

Don't lie.

I'm too shy.

Ah.

Kate, come and speak to him.

Nothing to say.

Listen to me.

If he loved you, he'll understand.

Well, there's the charity shop staff ready to take in the morning.

Can the home do that? Just put up Ted's care fees, just like that?

We'll manage.

He's not having second best.

Doctor.

Hello, Doctor.

That's my dad.

He's not doing too well, I'm afraid.

Hi, Doctor.

It's getting worse.

It's what happens, I'm afraid.

Look, you may find Ted saying unpleasant things.

Don't be hurt by them, will you?

How do you mean?

This morning, he was insisting that you, Mrs Temple, had a long -standing sexual

relationship with a master.

What on earth put that idea into his head?

The wires get crossed is the best way of explaining it.

Thanks, Doctor.

Thank you for telling us.

We must get on.

Yeah.

Oh, don't.

It's horrible.

No, Dad's right.

Crompton was having a bit of naughty on the side, but not with you, dear.

I know it wasn't, thank you.

Isn't she lucky that's confused?

What?

The master and Dr. Adam?

I've seen them, hasn't it?

Sort of.

I should tell the police.

Well, why do you always have to get involved with everything?

Duty.

Strengths of.

I'll pop that stuff along to the charity shop now and leave it on the doorstep.

Save time in the morning.

return posterity for witness.

Years must roll away.

But then at length a splendid sight again shall greet our distant children's

eyes.

What makes someone turn to religion?

Imminent death.

There is that.

But Professor Crompton didn't know he'd be pushed down those stairs.

Did his wife know he'd started attending St Anne's? We'll be asking her.

And talking to some close friends of theirs, too. The Rayburns.

So, he used this swipe card to enter the observatory at 9 .30.

Geoff Hadock uses his, round about an hour later.

There are no other card holders between Professor Crompton arriving and his body

being discovered.

No, but there was also an entry phone, so either one of them could have buzzed

someone up.

Any useful DNA or prints?

No matches on either.

There's a Gwen Raven here with a swipe card. Is she one of the friends?

Yeah, senior lecturer on Jez's course.

And what do we make of Jez?

I reckon he's just a nice lad.

Trying his best, probably.

Certainly would be better.

Mum.

Try to understand, please.

Just go, yeah?

Who told you?

Can't I just explain?

Don't waste your breath.

Go on.

Go.

If you won't... Jess!

All right. Morning.

Jess, hold on a minute.

Good for him.

Narrow escape.

What? Oh, just hair type, you know.

Well, Mr Campbell hasn't turned up, no matter where he's got to.

Shame we're really going to miss him. Yeah.

Yes,

I quite understand.

Yes, goodbye.

Our head porter was mugged last night.

Well, we didn't hear anything about that.

Well, he was badly hurt, so he got himself home and didn't bother to report

Have you news?

Just more questions, I'm afraid.

Fire away.

Did you know your husband had been attending St. Anne's church?

Church?

Andrew? I think not.

He was most definitely lapsed. Well, according to the priest, he'd been going

there regularly for the last three months.

Oh.

So that's where he disappeared to.

He and me had started to think he was having an affair.

where he was.

Why though?

I was hoping you might know.

I can't help you.

It's a complete surprise.

Have you mentioned anything about this Friday afternoon?

An appointment specifically at 3 .15?

No.

Thank you for waiting.

It was easy, sir.

As a favourite piece of Andrew's, we'll be playing at his memorial.

Although, we're a little bit rusty performing together.

I understand you and the Master were very close, and Mrs. Crompton, too.

Oh, Lord, we all go back a frighteningly long way.

Arnold and I met and married when I was a very junior lecturer.

In fact, it was the Master who introduced us.

Andrew was the most marvelous man, you know.

He was so good with all the undergraduates. And of course his

astronomy endeared him to me.

Would you say it was a happy marriage?

Why?

I understand that you're friends, but it's something we have to ask.

Rock solid.

Boringly so.

Like us.

And just for the record, Tuesday night you were where?

You mean you want our alibis?

At home together, after rehearsals, TV and takeaway.

Oh. He's mad for his sticky writer.

Instantiate, did you ever reunite Jess and his nobles?

Sorry, but Arnold, we're awaited by a media frenzy.

Oh, Lord, yes.

Local TV are doing us live, so there's no way out of it.

Gwyneth, darling, come along.

We did, yeah.

Did what?

Returned Jez's book to him.

Oh, good.

Lucky getting Malcolm finished in for your concert.

Arnold nurtured his talent as a student.

Malcolm simply returning the favor.

Oh, nice surprise.

Is Rod here?

Won't be long.

Coming in.

Ta.

What is it?

Constant home cooking?

And Isabel Crompton has insisted that we go ahead with the concert in memory of

her late husband.

The master, you know, was a very special man to all of us.

Indeed. Now...

Sir Arnold, both you and Lady Rayburn knew Mr. Finiston more than a quarter of

century ago.

A quarter of a century?

Twenty -five years.

Sounds kinder. Much kinder.

And you're off soon to Seattle to take over the baton, so to speak, of the

Pacific Symphonia. Well, that's yet to be confirmed, so for now I'm

concentrating on making... Robert Burgess!

Burgess! Robert Burgess!

Naughty! Wicked! I know all about it!

How serious do you think Mrs. Crompton was about the Master having an affair?

I'm not sure.

You were wondering if Gwen Rayburn's tears were for more than just an old

friend.

There's definitely something in that notebook. She asked me whether we'd

returned it to Jess.

I shouldn't have thought.

Don't worry, sir, I did. I ran off a copy.

You're not so green as your coverage looking, are you?

What?

Tell me if you think this is a really, really bad idea.

What do you take me for?

Undercover clarinet?

Too busy getting the notes in the right order to spy for you?

Not spy, Laura. Just keep your eyes open. And your ears.

Oh, ears too now, is it?

You got your tickets yet?

For the performance?

It's in a good cause.

So that's, um, two each?

Top price?

Done.

Right.

Stay with Mrs. Leamy.

What does he think he's missing?

Can I get back to you?

All in order?

Yep.

That eye looked tasty.

I heard you got in a spot of bother last night.

It was a couple of kids. They wanted my phone, so I told them to pee off and

water them through a lucky punch.

But they didn't take it.

Hey. You're from?

Oh, they sort of melted off into the dark after they walked me.

Do you not want to report it?

No, it's something and nothing.

Do you?

Bye, gentlemen.

Oh, a dial 999 isn't so routine riding a bike on the pavement.

You'd be embarrassed.

Please look out.

Could you have a second?

Um, yeah.

Roger's ever so grateful to the master for nudging us up the waiting list for

the flat.

Andrew was very fond of your husband.

And I'll save on fares that close to college.

And every penny counts now with Ted.

Poor old Ted.

Must be difficult.

It's not him anymore.

He looks the same, but it's not him.

Has the police come up with anything?

Only questions.

No answers.

Dr. Ransom's coming over.

Well, you need friends in a time like this.

Yes.

And the thing with Ella is, selfishly, she's my friend, not Andrew's and mine.

They're guessing you each other.

Which means her grief is for me, not him.

Stop, stop, stop, stop. Will you play it? Don't scratch it.

It all sounded splendid to me, Malcolm.

Well, with respect, Arnold, you're there and I'm here.

Right, um, the Anacrusis, please.

Eight bars after Andante Maestoso. And this is Jupiter, the bringer of jollity.

So jolly yourselves up, please, for God's sake, all of you.

Apologies, Arnold.

Apologies accepted.

Gwen?

I did call you, by the way, to see you about dinner.

Oh, yes, sorry about that. I turned my phone off. I didn't realise till late.

I also called your room. The receptionist said you weren't answering.

Well, I was there.

Gwen?

You OK, Kate?

No.

Ambulance! Call an ambulance!

According to my watch, life was extinct at 3 .48.

But you didn't see anyone?

No, only the master's wife.

Whoever did it must have run back through and left the other way as I went

There was a door, isn't there?

Well, the room's unoccupied. We think they must have hid there and waited.

Yeah, I'll get you a little.

I'm not arguing.

Can you take Dr. Hobson home, John?

Any sign of a weapon?

Well, we know what it was. Two spent cartridges, .22 calibre.

Small ball?

The gun club in the basement.

A what?

It's not exactly Fort Knox.

Sir?

Everything's still in place.

It was one of those who fired the shots, and then the killer put it back.

So it was seen.

I have a load of ballistics.

Okay, lad.

How about access to the gun store? This lock's not been forced.

Well, officially, keys are kept by designated gun club officers and then

out to members who want to use the reg.

And unofficially?

Members get short -term things.

Students come and go, keys are lost, forgotten, and replaced.

Well, there could be several of them floating about from over the years.

You've got an official spare set.

The porter's lodge.

Getting hold of the weapon was easy. The killer still had to come down a

corridor, or across a quad past windows, in broad daylight, carrying a rifle

without being noticed.

I mean, how the hell would you do that?

Here comes our little helper.

Inspector!

Mr. Temple!

I, uh...

Could I have some information for you, sir?

Terence, would you give us a few moments, please?

Dr.

Ransom had a secret, and so did the Master.

Their secret was each other.

They were having an affair.

I found out by accident.

Three months back, the master asked for to call him a taxi for the station.

This was in front of Mrs. Crompton.

But I knew the driver, and he told me, actually, the master went to Dr.

flat.

Hardly proof of an affair, Mr. Temple.

She picked him up in her car once when he told Mrs. Crompton he'd be lecturing.

And Tuesday afternoon, I saw them coming out of his boat together.

Tuesday?

That night.

Now so is Dr. Ransom.

I got you a cheese and pickle, Rog.

What with all this going on?

Thanks to you.

My wife, Babs, she scouts here.

We saw you yesterday when we wanted Mrs. Crompton.

That's it.

Did you see or hear anything when Dr. Ransom was shot?

Well, I heard the kerfuffle. I was cleaning my nephew's room.

Oh, sorry, just slipped out.

Your nephew?

Jeremy, hey, Doc.

Jess's mum's Bab's sister, but we don't say.

Why not?

I don't think it matters, but, Rog... You know what they're like. Well, some

them. They'd never hear the end of it if they knew his auntie and uncle were

college servants.

We like Dr Ransom.

She was very good with Ted.

Our dear old dad.

He was head porter here before me.

Dr Ransom was the GP at his care home.

Is there anything else?

No, thanks.

You must sign that tenancy today. I will.

Panic ye not.

We're moving into a college flat next week.

Going up in the world.

The master fixed it for us.

About this spare set of keys for the rifle range.

I thought you'd ask that.

I keep them locked up.

Bare key to the door and to the gun store.

Are the two killings linked, or is this head porter letting his imagination run

away with him?

Well, in my experience, head porters don't need imagination to have a nose

unfortunate secrets.

Huh? What did they catch you out there?

Nothing. You must have been a very well -behaved student, James.

Oh, very lucky.

Just careful.

Rifle Club membership, Liz?

Anyone of interest?

Kate Cameron.

That Jeff Haydock's girlfriend?

Yeah. Isabel Crompton.

Oh. So if Temple's right, that puts her in the frame for both murders, as the

betrayed and vengeful wife.

Well, it's possible that she could have fired off the shots and then rushed back

to make it look like she'd just come out of her house.

But the timing would have been tight.

Plus, she'd have to return the rifle.

No, that's what I don't get. No one noticed.

Could Mrs. Crompton have been at the observatory on Tuesday night?

She doesn't have an alibi, but the only person we can definitely place at the

scene is Jez, and he did lie to us.

People obstruct the police for all sorts of reasons.

Like your priest, for example. My priest?

Yeah, if he'd tell us what was going on in Crompton's mind, we might be getting

somewhere. Nah, boys.

I never knew Dr. Anson. She was a college doctor. Yeah, and I'm dead

But you can see where we're coming from, can't you, Jez?

You lied to us about being at the observatory.

I explained that.

You didn't tell us you were related to Mr. and Mrs. Temple.

You didn't ask. You still kept it a secret.

Only because Rog wanted me to.

Is there anything else you're not telling us?

Where were you when Dr. Ransom was killed?

Just... walking.

Thinking. Well, that's hardly an alibi.

Why do I need an alibi when I haven't even got a motive?

What really happened to the Master, Jed?

Maybe you just fell.

How long had you known Dr. Ransom? Ten years.

Since she became my GP and then my friend.

And your husband?

Well, he'd met her a few times through me, but she wasn't his doctor. Why?

When I said he'd been visiting St. Anne's Church, you said you'd wondered

whether he'd been having an affair.

I wasn't being serious.

In any case, he hardly knew Ella Ransom.

And she wasn't the sort.

Now, if you'd said Gwen Rabin...

Might have been a different matter.

Might have?

Well, she had quite a reputation in the old days.

But Andrew wasn't having an affair, was he?

Unless you count Mother Church as the other woman.

Um, since you're here, perhaps I should report something.

I'm sure someone's been in.

May I?

Cool.

Andrew, books have been disturbed.

Nothing's missing, as far as I can tell.

Sir, that writing judge's notebook is from a poem.

By return, posterity shall witness.

Years must roll away, but then at length, the splendid sight again shall

our distant children's eyes.

For my heart, I'm the king of Venus.

Can we borrow this?

It's bedtime reading.

I'm full of astronomical snippets.

What is it you're performing again? The planet?

That's right.

One of them's not Venus, by any chance, is it?

Second movement. Venus, the bringer of peace. Why?

Wish I knew.

Thanks.

Kate Cameron apparently was very angry just before the shooting. Angry or

desperate. When I asked her what was wrong, she just walked out.

Oh, she just had a bust -up with jazz. We saw that.

And what about Lady Rayburn?

I mean, Gwen.

She's very down -to -earth.

Hates people using her title.

Good for her.

Well, she left rehearsal in a bit of a state, too, just before Kate.

But I sort of know what that was about.

Texts that Finiston received.

Seemed to upset both of them.

Well, Finiston goes way back with the Crumptons and the Rayburns. I don't

suppose he... How on earth would I know what the text was about?

unless I managed to snap off Innocent's phone for a second when he left it lying

around, scrolled through to the message, made a note of it, and the number it

came from.

Genius.

Seconded.

Revenge is sweet.

077 -900 -458.

Oh, it's your temple.

Good night, Mrs. Compton.

Roger Temple, hello.

Hello?

You ready

for tonight?

Well, just one final rehearsal to iron out any remaining nasties, don't you

think, darling?

Yes. Finished, sir?

Not quite, I hope.

Do I detect an atmosphere?

Yesterday's tragic shooting, following so swiftly after Andrew Clompton's

has threatened to knock us all to six.

However... I know that you will all rise to the occasion and make this evening's

performance something really to be remembered.

Now, Malcolm would like a word with you, wouldn't you, Malcolm?

For personal reason and at short notice, I am to be denied the pleasure of

conducting this fine orchestra.

Events sometimes overtake one.

You will rise to the occasion under the baton of the grand old man of English

music.

Not so much of the old, Malcolm.

Now.

Morning, sir.

Good read.

Instructor, the transit of Venus was first predicted and observed by this

Jeremiah Horrocks in 1639, which was a tiny coincidence, if nothing else.

Is it? The name is Jeremiah Horrocks, Jeremy Hadock.

Well, stretching a pint.

Oh, and Horrocks was a chippy, working -class student astronomer from

Was he?

Studied at Cambridge, though, not Oxford.

Oh, but he's perfect.

What did Crompton say in the church?

Friday at 3 .15, I shall have an excess of joy.

Look at this that he's marked. It's Horrocks' description of a friend of his

watching Venus cross the sun.

He stood for some time motionless, scarcely trusting his own senses through

excess of joy.

With the headquarter looming large on your radar, I wondered if this might be

interest. The call logged yesterday about a theft at Branksville Sheltered

Accommodation. The complainant's in Ted Temple.

Oh, that's Roger Temple. Dear old dad.

Have we attended, ma 'am?

Two priority points out of ten. What do you think?

I think we should top up the points.

Nice one.

You remember some photos?

No, Doctor.

No, I'm not a doctor.

I've heard before.

Doctor Ransom's not here.

No, Doctor Ransom.

She can't come today.

Could I tell the master's wife?

Tell her what, Ted?

About Marilyn Monroe.

Look... Yeah.

Bye, Ted.

Bye.

Photos were stolen. They had to call us. Then they found out it was just Roger

Temple having a clear out of a cupboard.

Only snaps or what?

Hopefully.

Hello?

Well, did he say why?

Okay, thanks.

Arnold Rayburn's just given Martin Finister the heave -ho from the podium.

feeling all round.

You said head... Courtless have a nose for unfortunate secrets.

Like father, like son.

There you are, sir. Who's your date for tonight?

My date?

Chief Super, you're... No takers.

We know how to live, don't we?

Mr. Finiston?

Isn't it a bit late in the day to be changing conductors?

Well, that's showbiz.

As I've been explaining to Mrs. Crompton.

Although I think she's secretly rather pleased that Arnold's taken over.

Do you remember the head porter here when you were an undergraduate?

Ted Temple?

His son's the head porter now.

Yes.

I never went to university, but my sergeant here tells me that head porters

up all sorts of tittle -tattle.

I had, um...

A one -night thing with a newly married lecturer.

Gwen Rayburn.

And we took some rather explicit souvenir photos that went missing from

Did Ted Temple steal them by any chance? That's what I suspected.

But it was the last day of finals, too late to do anything about, too soon to

worth Ted's while to blackmail me.

Until his son got his hands on them.

Yes.

The night before last, I gave him a black eye instead of the money he wanted

took the photos back.

Unfortunately, he held on to a couple and passed them to Arnold in revenge.

Well, that's why he's conducting tonight.

And won't be endorsing my appointment as music director of the Pacific Symphony.

Well, it's 30 years ago.

Hold on, please, Mr Temple.

Perks of the job.

Do you know how much college servants get paid?

Babsley's near enough on the minimum wage.

You're on a better whack.

Just.

In Dad's time, there wasn't even such a thing as a minimum wage.

You had to come to a beneficial arrangement with the undergrads and turn

eye to their noughties.

Well, you'd never make a decent living.

Oh, that depends on your definition of decent.

Why did the master fix it for you to get a college flat that lacked gold dust,

those tenancies?

He valued my loyal service.

Did he value your beneficial arrangement?

Keeping quiet about seeing him without a ransom?

It's too late to prove that now.

What happened at that observatory?

Did you ask him for money as well as the flat? Did he get angry with you? No.

I didn't kill him.

I was on duty all evening. You can check. We know we can.

He's finished impressing charges?

Probably not.

Can I go?

No,

we find him.

Friday, 3 .15.

Whatever Crompton expected to happen in half an hour's time, I'll take an

educated guess it was happening at the observatory.

broken down lorry quick gonna walk no let's stay put i think it's clearing

What's going on? We're waiting for Venus to cross the sun in the shape of a

little black dot that will appear on that card.

What, 315?

Jeremiah Horrocks established the transit of Venus occurs twice in eight

every 122 years.

The next transit of Venus isn't due for a good two years.

Why are you here, then?

Andrew developed an eccentric theory that Horrocks' predictions

were flawed.

It's like a debt of honor to the master, because we love the guy.

Come on.

Come on.

It's not going to happen, you know.

No? It never could, Jess. You know the science.

So that's what you were looking for on the narrowboat?

Andrew Crompton's theory?

Yes.

If you'd already spotted something in Jess's notebook.

Me and him had done some calculations.

Kept it private. I didn't want people laughing at him.

It was only me he trusted.

He thought I would... He sort of thought I... Jeremiah Horrocks all over again.

Kind of.

The reincarnation of a 17th century astronomer.

They crave you now.

He's losing his mind.

No. Yes.

So sad.

So sad.

I didn't want to believe it at first, but there's no other way to explain it.

Come on, Chuck.

Crompton's wives were cropped, like Ted Temple's.

That's why he was seeing Dr. Ransom in secret. Not because they were lovers,

because he realized he was losing his mind.

Get on to Dr. Ransom's health center. See what they knew.

Dr.

Magnani, neurologist at the Radcliffe, Crompton's consultant. He's free now.

Come on.

No walking.

Hope you remember where you left the car.

Do you ever think you're in Disneyland here?

Like it's not real.

On a good day.

You always been into planets and stars and that?

Since I was a kid.

Dad said, look at the man in the moon.

I said, that's not a man, that's mountains.

He must be proud.

He helped me when I was sick.

Ironic man says, here the steady sister marries the chancer.

Wild child Babs ends up with boring old Rog.

I thought Rog was mad when he said not to let on I was family, but after a week

I thought I was better off keeping my mouth shut.

Still a bit snobby, Oxford, but it's getting better.

No, that's OK. It's just Rog is a prat.

I don't need the association, know what I mean?

Babs is different.

What about Kate?

A treat from Planet Poth.

Had a bust -up yesterday.

The big one.

Why?

Oh, God.

Why, Jeff?

Eh?

Because he's a killer.

Delusion about Jez and the transit of Venus.

Not just a harmless eccentricity.

He had a brain tumour, it was that.

Test results came in on the Monday, and we think Dr Ransom told him the

following day.

Perhaps that's what she wanted to see me about when she was shot.

Did she say she was coming for something in particular?

No.

Just to see me, but... But thinking back, she did ask me if there was going

be anyone else around.

As if she wanted to tell me something.

It explains the church, too.

This priest, what's his name?

Father Francis.

What's he like?

I only met him once.

I hope he's kind.

Here are the details of Dr. Magnani. He's more than happy if you go and speak

with him.

Did he say what would have happened to Andrew if he hadn't been killed?

The tumour was aggressive and advanced.

Inoperable.

In a very strange way.

That's a comfort.

I'm so sorry, Mrs.

Crompton.

That's embarrassing for you, sir. No, it's not embarrassing.

That's like saying Mozart was rather promising.

To be.

Pauline.

Three months into one's marriage by one's protege and only finding out about

30 years later when I am sent the gruesome details by a failed

blackmailer.

Still, I've made my peace with Gwen.

Mr. Finiston says he's blocked his new post.

I'll let him think so for a while.

But I can't really without the other members of the board asking awkward

questions.

But I'm here because of the shooting yesterday.

When I filled in the witness questionnaire, I was so

upset that I neglected to say something.

Maybe of importance.

What's that?

Just before Dr. Ransom was killed, I saw her arguing with someone in the

orchestra. Who?

The bassoon.

The name?

Kate Cameron. She's an undergraduate.

We know Miss Cameron.

She was already angry before she left the rehearsal. I think Jess is serious

about her being a killer.

I wasn't joking.

Here we are, Kate Cameron.

Left Earth and went straight to my room. I did not see Dr. Ransom or anyone

else.

A full house, apparently. Excellent.

I managed to fill four.

Top price. Good girl.

Oh, keep him.

Do you know where Kate is?

She hasn't arrived yet.

Or break a leg.

That's what they say.

I don't think they do.

I didn't know you came here.

I don't.

Under normal circumstances.

I feel so empty, Miss Temple.

I don't know what I'll do.

I was pleased that your husband had decided to return to the church.

Don't take this the wrong way, Father, but he wasn't in his right mind.

He had a brain tumour.

You knew.

What else did he tell you that he didn't tell me?

I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to reveal what the penitent may confess.

He was my husband.

I'm sorry.

That's good.

Kate!

Sorry.

What? You filled in her witness questionnaire after Dr. Ransom was shot.

Yes. In which she said you went straight back to your room after rehearsal and

didn't speak to anybody.

So? You were seen arguing with Dr. Ransom.

Who saw me? Why did you lie?

I was upset.

About splitting up with Jez?

Yeah.

What's that got to do with Dr. Ransom?

Can we go somewhere?

I was right for a few months.

Just before term started, I had an abortion.

Well, Jones wouldn't have liked that.

Is that why he finished with you?

He said I killed his unborn child.

Wonderful, isn't it, how people pick and make some morality to suit themselves?

I mean, sex outside marriage, whoopee.

But when it comes to dealing with the consequences...

Did Dr. Ransom arrange this termination?

Yeah.

She said I should tell Jez that it was the right thing to do.

But I didn't want to.

I knew how he'd be.

So how did he find out?

He wouldn't say.

I thought Dr. Ransom had gone ahead and told him without asking me.

That's why I was angry, but she denied it.

I was horrible to her.

Then she was killed.

Then I realized I was wrong.

She didn't tell Jez.

How do you know?

There was a letter from her with the appointment.

I tucked it in a book and forgotten it.

Today I noticed it somewhere else.

Jez must have found it.

Who cleaned your room, Kate?

What? Who's your scout?

Is it Mrs Temple?

Yeah.

Kate, time to go. I'm coming.

Yeah, go on.

I'll have that back up.

You think Mrs Temple found the letter and told Jez?

I reckon.

Why not Jez himself?

Why wouldn't he say?

If he was angry in finishing the relationship anyway, he'd hardly be

about admitting they'd been snooping.

Point is, was he angry enough... To shoot an abortionist?

And this is Oxford, England, not Oxford, Mississippi.

Yes,

ma 'am.

OK, we'll meet you by the porter's lodge.

Here will we sit and let the sounds of music creep in our ears.

Soft stillness and the night become the touches of sweet harmony.

This is Inspector Lewis.

You decided to cooperate at last, sir. Well done.

Inspector. Thank you for coming, Father. Are you going to tell me what Andrew

Compton said or not? No, but what I can tell you is that Jez Haydock came to see

me for advice.

Jez? He overheard an argument that night in the observatory.

I told him to follow his conscience.

Jared must be here somewhere.

You disgusting waste of space!

Get out!

He's the one!

You, Mr. Pellicer, make yourself scarce.

Sir.

Jeff, tell them what you told me about the master and your aunt.

Yeah, see what I mean?

It would have been the next best thing to invisible.

Stand the rifle up in there, maybe chuck a cloth over it.

I wouldn't get a second glance.

Neither would she.

Mrs Temple?

Just a sec, Mrs Dalton.

Gun club.

Luckily, there were no guns.

Oh. Ma?

Forensics are done, so I authorize their return.

I'll get back up.

Oh, no.

No, Mrs. Tuttle, not that.

I've had enough.

Jase can explain.

He can't tell us everything.

I can try and work it out, but I don't want to get it wrong.

That wouldn't be fair to Mrs. Crompton.

Thanks.

Okay, okay. Did you find a spare key to the gun store?

Yeah.

You and the martyr.

Yes.

Right back when Ted Temple was the head porter.

I never knew old Ted knew.

He must have seen Andy and me together.

Andy thought I was lovely.

And exciting.

He knew about this too.

When he touched me, it was getting harder to feel me, that's how he put it.

And these odd ideas he kept telling me, he knew they were daft.

Tuesday afternoon, Dr.

Ransom told him that there was nothing more that the hospital could do for him.

Out, please.

He can stay.

Father Francis told Andy that he should clear the slate, so...

He said that he was going to tell his wife everything and just

be with her and not with me.

I couldn't take it.

So what happened?

I hung on to him.

And he tried to get me off him and then he was just falling down the stairs

and... Did you tell them that you came to the observatory to get a book and you

heard us arguing?

Yeah.

I should have let you own up like you wanted, but... But I said don't because

she didn't mean to kill him, so it's not murder, right?

Did she tell you she killed Dr. Ransom?

What?

Why?

Rod said that it was his duty to tell the police about her and Andrew.

You knew we'd question her. She'd deny it.

She might put two and two together.

Especially after what Ted told her about Andy and me.

So I phoned her up to see what she knew and... and out it all came.

And she said that she was going to have to tell you and... and Ed Crompton.

Paul.

You stole it.

Andy thought you were ever such a clever boy with all your stars and planets.

Time to go, eh?

Well, she'll live.

Thanks to Hathaway.

James?

Robbie has sorted him out.

Ready to go? Yeah, we're fine.

Looking forward to that concert.

Do you think we'll be able to get our money back?

Worth a try.

Although, actually, I'm more of a Wagner man myself.

Especially if the conductor cannot push.

Yes, sir.