Father Brown

JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS - INDISTINCT CHATTER

Well, of course they'll love your designs.

If only I can place the collection. I'm not reaching too far?

The Lathams show will be the making of the House of St Gardner, I know it.

What would I do without you to cheer me on?

Lathams?

Oh, how thrilling!

Sorry, couldn't help overhearing.

I'm such a fan of your work, Lady Vivien.

You must be Camille, Vivien's model.

One might even say, her muse? - CAMILLE CHUCKLES

I wouldn't go that far... - THEY LAUGH

How kind of you. You must come to the show.

Oh, I would love that.

Effervescent Bunty Windermere blazes a trail down the Paris catwalks.

Absolute perfection. You have to come to the show, Bunty.

Your brother is terribly persistent.

Well, we did warn you about him.

Oh, Bunty, I must introduce you to...

Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't catch your name?

Barbara Farrell. The gossip columnist?

Journalist, if you don't mind.

"Miss Windermere cavorts with cocktails and cads", wasn't that the headline?

Not a bad one, if I do say so myself.

That's rather a low trick.

I just want to write up your show.

Don't give her anything. Her column has cost me.

Well, I'm sure you can afford it.

Leave Bunty out of this. How gallant.

Do I smell romance, Mr St Gardner?

Must be the third time this week.

I think it best if you leave.

"The Honourable Bunty Windermere...

stalks the seedy Manx Lounge

with notorious womaniser Harvey St Gardner..."

Don't you dare.

Still good old Alistair at the Evening News?

We're overdue a game of tennis. - Harvey.

You won't threaten me into silence.

I wouldn't. You don't want me for an enemy.

Is this wise?

Come on, Miss. - Good riddance, I say.

You'll regret this! Don't make a fuss, Miss.

Get your hands off!

What I want to know, Father, is who is responsible for that.

Penelope?

Oh, Father! Mrs M!

Oh! - THEY LAUGH

Penelope! - BUNTY LAUGHS

Did you miss me? I've had such a marvellous few weeks.

It has been rather quiet since you've been away.

It's always quiet when you're away!

Oh, what a darling place!

Look at that! Perfect.

I have brought a few friends.

Models Camille, Maude and Nancy.

Oh, and Lady Vivien St Gardner-Verde over there

and her brother Harvey.

Good evening to you all!

Oh, and of course, Sir Ralph.

Always an afterthought.

Oh, not true, Ralph. - You must be the famous Mrs McCarthy.

Is this actually the Cotswolds?

Next stop, Paris.

Well, if the show can't happen in London...

Show?

So that's what all this is in aid of?

Lathams Hotel dropped us for another fashion house.

I did offer them more money.

You tried your best, Ralph, I'm grateful.

Bunty came to the rescue. Isn't she marvellous?

Yes. Thank you, Bunty.

I can see it now.

"Vivien St Gardner's exquisite collection against the quaint parochial setting."

Goodness me.

Is this horrid little backwater where it's all happening?

What is she doing here?

Did you think having me sacked would be the end of it?

Listen, I didn't mean for...

but the things you wrote about Bunty.

Some of us have to earn a crust.

I'm sorry for what happened in London, Barbara.

A pity for you, Lady Vivien.

My original piece would have been far less sensational.

PEACOCK CRIES

How did she know we were in Kembleford?

Weren't we mentioned in the Society pages?

Let's forget about Barbara for tonight, my nerves are shot.

It's a big day tomorrow.

Right, Nancy and Maude, you're through here, pick any room you like.

And Vivien and Ralph, you're down here in the Yellow Room...

and Camille, you can have this one.

Thank you, Bunty.

THEY GIGGLE

You shouldn't have intervened on my behalf.

I only told Alastair to tone her down. I couldn't stand by while she slandered you.

This one's my room.

I'll, um...

take that one, then.

Yes. - See you in the morning?

Good night.

Little while since we shared.

Well, perhaps Bunty can find you another room

if you'd rather? - Oh, no, no, I'm...

I'm perfectly happy with the arrangement.

What do you imagine Barbara meant by "sensational?"

Bluff, don't you think?

Yes. Most likely.

CLOCK CHIMES

OWL HOOTS

DOOR CLOSES

FOOTSTEPS ON G RAVEL

Oh, it's you creeping about, is it? - BUNTY SIGHS

Did you hear someone leave?

Well, something woke me, but then I don't sleep much.

So I hear.

HE CHUCKLES

Do you really not?

No.

Then it has its perks.

I get to see Bunty Windermere in her pyjamas.

I should go.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

I think it looks rather splendid.

I'm not sure how Lady Felicia will feel about Montague being invaded.

Look!

Now they're driving her car!

As for Penelope and that Harvey St Gardner...

I think Lady Felicia would understand Bunty's yearning for companionship.

Father! That is quite a line in cassocks.

And you look simply divine in that hat, Mrs M.

Oh. Nonsense.

Cheap trick, buttering up my friends.

I'm absolutely crazy about your Bunty Windermere.

Oh, he says that about all the girls.

Yeah, but this is the first time I meant it. - How very reassuring.

We're very fond of Bunty too.

Oh, Inspector. You looking for fashion tips?

Ensuring there are no breaches of the peace, Miss Windermere.

I thought you were here for the models.

Models? Time to rehearse, everyone.

Look out.

I wish she'd buzz off back to London.

She'd hardly come all this way for nothing.

JAZZ MUSIC PLAYS - APPLAUSE

The House of St Gardner's new light and breezy organza, for that carefree look.

Observe how the gold embellishment accentuates the piece...

It certainly does.

Where's our Penelope?

There she is.

In fitted bodice and coral silk is Bunty Windermere.

She really does look a picture.

The "Honourable" Bunty Windermere.

Well, a third-rate show deserves a third-rate mannequin.

I beg your pardon?

Do give it a rest, Barbara.

Yes, you're blocking my view.

I'm not gonna let you poison everything.

You want to discuss your poison, Mr St Gardner?

I'm sure everyone will be fascinated.

What are you drivelling on about? - Surely you'd like to know

who your beau really is, Miss Windermere?

Please, Barbara...

Miss Farrell...

whatever your grievance with the House of St Gardner--

How charming. A priest defending a nest of vipers.

Don't concern yourself with me, Father.

God and I fell out a long time ago.

Save these bankrupt souls instead.

Quite ruthless with those roses, aren't you, Lady Vivien?

What a sham that marriage is. BARBARA LAUGHS

I could almost feel sorry for Sir Ralph.

You'd better call a halt to this. - Not with the stories

I've got to tell! - Steady on.

Mr St Gardner. - Don't worry, Father.

I'm going.

Your friends lost me my job, but I'm not clone yet.

Ha!

God has not abandoned you, Miss Farrell

despite how difficult things may seem.

If your God cared a fig for me...

He would have spared my fiancé from friendly fire.

He wouldn't have left me scrabbling to put food on the table.

We can't all marry into money.

No. Life is much harder for some.

I imagined travelling to the Far East, and uncovering stories that matter.

And look at me now, Father.

Reduced to trading scandal and selling to the highest bidder.

Well, that was certainly some spectacle.

This is all my fault.

Harvey had Barbara sacked because of me.

Bunty, you're not responsible for other people's actions.

But Miss Farrell is driven by the need to survive as much as revenge.

It's only threats, she hasn't got a column now.

I wish I could be so sure.

Ralph, would you meet the buyers from the train?

I want to make sure someone greets them. - Of course, darling.

I'm so sorry

you had to witness such an outburst. - Not at all.