Strike

- Matt's mum just died. - Take whatever time you need.

Owen Quine. He's a very famous novelist.

Who's that man?

- He's helping us find Daddy. - I want Daddy!

The hero dies in exactly the same way Quine did.

It must be the grimmest part of the book,

and someone made him re-enact it.

- What do you want? - I've fired Owen.

I am confident that Bombyx Mori is not the work of one person.

What does Quine allege about you both?

In Andrew's case...

he implies that Andrew himself

wrote a nasty parody

of his late wife's novel.

We've got a suspect as well. The wife.

I'll be home soon, Dodo.

I promise.

Love is a... um...

it's a mirage. It's a... it's a delusion.

For all your protests, Andrew, I thought

your depiction of this relationship was full of love.

And brave, too, given your proximity to the subject matter.

You're referring to the suicide of my first wife?

Yes.

So let me say this. Um...

When Effigy died...

I mean when Ellie died...

look...

It's me. Are you awake?

I take it you caught the train?

Yeah, and thanks for letting me stay longer. Matt needs me.

But listen, I've just seen a programme with Andrew Fancourt.

When he's asked about his first wife, I swear he calls her Effigy.

Effigy?

Read your words aloud.

"Her love for him was like that of a pertinacious gudgeon."

No! No! The words are no good!

We must give her new words!

I think Leonora Quine is innocent.

I'd bet my remaining leg on it.

That's all I've got!

Hello, Leonora.

This is Ilsa Herbert. She'll represent you.

We have limited time so, provided you feel able...?

When can I go home?

We do need to get through some questions.

Did anyone have keys for the house on Talgarth Road?

Andrew Fancourt.

We had spares cut when there was repairs on the roof

but I can't find 'em.

Did anyone else ever handle the keys? Even for just a day?

It got rented out sometimes,

so I suppose there's people who've been through there.

That house has been a nightmare.

We can't sell it and Andrew makes sure nobody can make

money off it, just cos of him not liking Owen.

In the end, Owen said better to forget about it.

Can we talk about the credit card?

I told 'em I don't know anything about any of that!

A burqa, ropes and overalls...

all bought six months ago on your family credit card

and delivered to the house on Talgarth Road.

Is there a scenario where your husband might have bought

these things for himself?

I don't know, erm...

The ropes, maybe...

He liked being tied up.

He just told me what to pay off and I did.

I never went over things with him.

Did Owen ever discuss Bombyx Mori with you?

He said it was going to be a book

about how a silkworm gets boiled alive,

like he has been by the critics. That's it.

The prosecution will use that as evidence that you were

aware of elements of the manuscript.

How is this helping?

Ilsa's just doing her job.

I answered all these questions already, though.

The police have a different agenda.

I'm asking you these questions to try to keep you out of prison.

Well, I didn't do nothing! That's enough, in't it?

The ugly truth is it might not be.

What's she mean, "it might not be"? What's that about?

- Look, we need to... - You shut up!

I know him. I don't know you!

You were supposed to keep me out of here. You promised.

Ilsa's a friend. She's good at her job, I trust her.

You need to trust her too. I know you're frustrated.

I know you're scared. But we're on your side.

I just want my Dodo!

Robin's phone, Matt speaking. Can I take a message?

Sorry... did you say mud?

You OK?

You got a call about extra cleaning for a car you hired?

- Oh, er... - What's that about?

I, er, had to drive a hire car last week.

Where?

Er... Down to Devon.

We had to interview a suspect and Cormoran can't drive so...

So that's why you couldn't help arrange my mum's funeral?

You were being his taxi?

No, I...

It looks bad. Access, motive, this credit card thing...

PHONE CHIMES

And the way she talks to the police, she's her own worst enemy.

All the credit card proves is that she's being framed.

Corm? Everything all right?

It's fine. Just Charlotte.

No relapsing.

Yeah, Nick was clear about that as well.

I'm fine.

I need to talk to you.

Is it more headlines about me locking up the wrong person?

That wasn't very helpful.

The headline I have just read says "Wife accused of murder

"trained as butcher."

She's being framed, Rich.

Just ask yourself... are you saying she's clever enough to put

together this complicated murder, leaving nothing for forensics,

no useful witnesses, no credible leads, nothing...

but also stupid enough to put her disguise on the credit card?

Bob, I like you as a man and I owe you my life,

and that goes a long way.

But on this one, you're just plain wrong, mate.

Andrew Fancourt had a key to the property.

Andrew Fancourt hated Quine long before this manuscript came out.

Why aren't you knocking on his door?

I'm going to chalk this up to you having a bad day, Bob.

I thought you were meant to be at the British Library.

I was, but... plans changed,

and then the seats on the earlier trains were booked.

Worst case scenario... it'd be two hours standing up.

I used to do that all the time coming to visit you.

I'd sit in the gangway...

because it was you.

Because you were in a shitty place and I loved you.

I know.

I should have come sooner.

I don't want your boss anywhere near our wedding.

If he can't even let you off for a day or two when my mum dies,

what kind of a man is he?

Matt, er...

..this wasn't Cormoran's fault.

Eh...

It was my decision to stay.

I've wanted to be an investigator for as long as I can remember.

It's the whole reason that I studied psychology in the first place.

And then...

for years I felt like that had been taken away...

..but now I've got a chance.

I know you don't like it, and that...

I think that's why I lied to you.

And I am sorry.

I am so sorry,

because I should have been here for you, but...

..I don't want to lose this.

Of course I want you to be happy.

I am so, so, sorry I wasn't here sooner.

Well, let's just settle and say it couldn't be helped.

When are you going back?

So, how was your case?

I don't know. Ilsa, how's my case?

Well, if you're trying to keep her out of prison, pretty terrible.

- Met her daughter yet? - No.

Sweet kid. Not really built for this world.

I think the neighbour is struggling with her.

Are social services involved yet?

It's Sunday.

I know.

I think we should start taking a closer look at Andrew Fancourt,

don't you?

Well, I haven't come in at the weekend to pay the utility bills.

I've got his address... let's go.

Britain's most celebrated novelist stripping out of a burqa

on a London side street?

He could have just worn it to get off Talgarth Road,

- then changed in a car or something. - Yeah.

Let's take a look in there,

see if he could have buried the guts round the back.

Do you want to give me a leg-up?

No. No. No, I'll be all right.

Well, he's not burying anything in here.

Ah! Shit!

- Are you all right? - Shit.

Fucker doesn't bend.

Christ.

I'm fine.

OK, lean on me.

No, no, I'm fine.

Well, you're obviously not. Just put your weight on my shoulder.

There's a pub round the corner.

- Bribery? - Motivation.