Father Brown

Hi, Mum!

Mum!

Eddie!

Why didn't you tell me you were coming back?

I know how much you love surprises.

Oh!

Oh, you look really well. You too, Mum.

No more dark colours for you, eh?

And I wasn't going to miss the Olimpicks, was I?

Oh, of course.

Well, you must be desperate to see your old room.

Why have you moved Dad's chair? Oh, I was just...cleaning.

No, it's all right! I'll move it back later.

Let's get you upstairs, shall we? I kept it tidy for you.

Feels more like a village fete than the Olimpicks.

Ho-ho, don't be fooled, Miss Palmer.

Once a year, on Olimpicks Day,

the relations between Hambleston and Kembleford

become positively gladiatorial!

Shin-kicking...

"Dwilly"-flonking...

What on earth's that?

You'll see. Morning, Father. Mrs Devine!

Surprise! Mr Devine! How wonderful to have you back.

Thanks, Father. And this is Brenda. Mum's told me all about you.

Oh... Ha-ha! The famous trophy!

Such a wrench to hand it back.

The village let Mum hold on to it after '52

when the games were suspended.

Ronald's last Olimpicks.

Chief Inspector! Sergeant!

Father. Brenda.

Mrs Devine.

Ah! New hat, Father?

A gift from Mrs Devine.

Saw it at Bourton market. Couldn't resist.

Oh, this is my son, Eddie.

You remember Chief Inspector Sullivan don't you?

Vaguely.

Eddie.

Enjoy the games, everyone.

Right, I fancy a cuppa.

Eddie? Sure.

When is Mrs Devine going to tell us about her

and Chief Inspector Sullivan?

She'll tell us when she's ready.

More pertinently, when is she going to tell Eddie,

given what drove him to leave Kembleford two years ago?

Hmm.

Mrs Devine told me

he got angry with her for clearing out her late husband's shed.

Eddie felt that she was trying to erase his father's memory.

Truth is, they were grieving in different ways.

They were very close before Ronald's passing,

so it was all most...unfortunate.

Well, he seems all right now.

This is a message for Stanley Mossop.

Perhaps time has mellowed him.

Stanley, your friends want you to know that the game of hide-and-seek

is now over!

Missed you in the library yesterday, Bren.

Yeah, well, I was reading this weird play with Mrs Devine.

An Ideal Husband - Oscar Wilde. She's making excellent progress.

Who's this handsome man, then? Hi, Shirley.

Oh, I know. Bit of a shock.

Took a tumble on a slippery floor.

One good thing now - my shoes stay looking brand-new.

Eddie!

Hello, Mr Fleming!

Looks even more like his dad now, eh, Isabel?

Mm-hm.

I found Dad's photos from '52.

Good Lord.

Brian is Kembleford's finest ever Olimpian.

Well, Ron was pretty good in his day.

What happened there? The heat got to me.

Did you still win?

Not that one, no.

Oh...

That was always his favourite - the wife-carrying.

We won it three times in a row in the '30s.

I'll tell you what, Isabel. How about you and me do it this year?

In Ronald's memory? Can you do that?

Since the war, yes.

The rules were changed, because of the shortage of husbands.

Why not?

I'm delighted to declare the 1955 Kembleston Olimpicks open!

And may the better village prevail!

The Kembleford captain, Dr Geoffrey Fleming,

will now say a few words on safety.

But first, I think we should all congratulate him

on the news of his MBE for services to medicine!

Won't stop me thrashing him in the barrel-rolling, though!

LAUGHTER

Injury, fainting, alcohol poisoning...

As doctor on hand, I've dealt with them all here over the years.

And, of course, these are the first games

since we lost Thomas Taverner so tragically to heatstroke in 1952.

How hot was it in '52?

Like an oven. Oh!

Please remain vigilant.

Should you observe anyone in difficulty,

come and see me at once. Thank you.

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

Losing to you in 1952 still rankles with your brother, it would seem.

Winning has always meant more to Brian than it does to me, Father.

You're way too modest, Geoffrey.

If I'd have beaten Brian,

I'd be shouting it from the rooftops!

We all measure success in different ways.

Excuse me.

Will you be competing in the stone-lifting

again this year as usual, Mr Redshaw?

Yes, Father.

And trying not to come last, as usual.

Got a good feeling about

Hambleston's chances this year, though.

Did you hear Patty Denmore pulled out?

Father... Who's that?

That's Ursula Fanshaw.

Hambleston's prodigious shin-kicker.

Yaaah!

Ha!

Luckily, we have Brian Fleming.

We also have a champion in the dwile-flonking.

Oh, dwile-flonking - that's how you say it!

Right, well, who's this champion, then?

Me!

Excuse me, Miss Palmer.

The azaleas you gave us are flourishing, Miss Denmore.

That's good, Father.

Is it true that you've pulled out of the games?

Afraid so. Three nights of stomach cramps.

Got no strength for my gardening work,

let alone a barrel-rolling race.

And I was determined to win today.

WOMAN GASPS CUP CLATTERS AND THUDS

Brian?

William said he saw you putting something

on your shin-kicking shoes. Steel tips.

Don't be daft.

Take 'em out, then.

Oh, you little cheat, Fleming.

Someone's done that! Under competition rules,

you're disqualified from the games.

Otherwise I'm pulling my team out.

Get away! He's obviously set me up.

I'm afraid I have to trust William here.

What?

You vindictive little...

Anything to stop me beating you!

Hey, hey, hey!

I could arrest you for that.

I can't believe Brian did that.

Something caught your eye. Mm?

Morning, Shirley. Dr Fleming.

Might I trouble you for a tea?

Course.

Good to see you. How are you feeling?

Well, I won't be winning the shin-kicking this year, but hey-ho.

Well, if you feel any discomfort, any at all,

come and see me at once. Of course.

Anyone who would like their photograph taken with

the Olimpicks trophy should speak to Albert Finley.

Please remember to return the trophy afterwards.

That chemist planted those steel tips and my brother knows it!

Care for a hand, Mrs Devine? Oh, yes, thank you, Chief Inspector.

How is he?

Certain he was framed.

Actually, I meant Eddie.

Oh! Doesn't suspect a thing.

So, er, do you think you'll tell him?

Yes, of course. Just not today,

not when there are so many reminders of Ronald. I understand.

We must be very, very careful.

I know.

That all right, Mrs Devine?

Perfect, Chief Inspector.

All together now...

One, two, three!

Shot, Father!

APPLAUSE

Glad someone knows what's going on.

One, two, three..

Oh!

Forfeit, Father. You have to drink a beer.

Yes.

That is the most I've ever seen Father Brown drink!

Come on, Sergeant. Fight!

Owww!

You're going to lose to a woman!

Owww! It's jolly sporting of Sergeant Goodfellow

to stand in for Brian.

Come on, Sergeant!

Oww!

Come on, Sergeant!

Argh!

APPLAUSE

An update from the tea tent.

Mrs Gently's Victoria sponge has now sold out.