Father Brown

Uncle Mirth, wait.

They're here to help you.

Uncle Mirth, please stop!

They've got me!

Don't hurt him!

How could you?

I'm so sorry.

But you need help.

Judas! I'll see you rot in hell for this!

Are you sure you can manage that?

I'm not completely useless.

Well, if you say so!

Father Brown...

It's from Uncle Mirth. He's been released.

So he's finally regained his sanity.

And hopefully forgiven me.

He's invited me to his welcome home party.

After last time I'd stay well away, he's absolutely barking!

Always insisting on people calling him 'Uncle Mirth'.

Well, that's just his old stage name.

Sorry, Mrs McCarthy, I'm not terribly hungry.

- What's the matter with you? - Guilt.

About the part he played in having Uncle Mirth committed.

They were very close.

Father Brown, you old blood-hound!

Henry! How are you?

Oh, touch of gout, kidney stones, pickled liver, dodgy ticker

but apart from that, a picture of health!

Hello, hello, hello.

Who's this?

Lady Felicia Montague.

Uncle Mirth's brother!

Oh! I hope your sense of humour isn't as dark as his!

Well, I did write his signature song.

Marvellous. I always found his ventriloquist dummy rather creepy.

Ohh, me too.

Looks like we're going to the same party, Father.

Snap!

Yes.

Surely you're not going to the party?

Why not?

Well, after all that's happened.

It just wouldn't be right.

History.

The best brother won.

You chose me.

But Uncle Mirth may still be very fragile.

How many more times?

His name's Julius.

Oh, sorry.

But since his breakdown he hasn't seen us together.

You just want to rub his nose in it.

Well, I won't be a part of it.

Pack a bag.

Mortimer...

It's not a request.

I want you with me!

We leave in ten minutes, darling.

Despite my initial doubts, I think putting him in that place was what he needed.

He was completely burnt out.

Did you visit him often?

Ah, most days.

Your other brother? Mortimer?

Sir Mortimer now. Never set foot in the place.

Uncle Mirth mentioned an older sister.

Left when we were children.

Abroad somewhere.

No, I was the only family to visit.

Oh, almost forgot.

Proper drink, Father?

Bit early, even for me!

Never too early!

Never too late.

Port is bottled poetry.

After my first visit he wouldn't see me.

Well, in the last few weeks he did mention you.

Did he?

Said he was sorry for upsetting you.

And that you did the right thing.

Sorry, honey. Did I startle you?

You could have killed me!

It's Jacob, isn't it?

You interviewed me for Uncle Mirth's biography.

You're the radio producer.

So you're going to his party too?

- Yeah. - Well, park your seat, I'll give you a ride.

So, how's the biography going?

I'm hoping to pick it up again now that he's out.

Don't hold your breath. You do know his mother and sister both had... problems?

How do you know that?

Men always tell me everything. Can't think why!

Sorry about the bare feet. Can't drive in heels.

- See you at the party, Father. - Bye, Henry.

Hello again.

Help! Someone!

Are you alright?

With all those millions he buys a dump like this.

Last time I interviewed him he said he wanted to build a centre for musical memorabilia.

Sorry, I thought you needed a helping hand.

What's that?

Uncle Mirth?

In the pocket.

Looks like Uncle Mirth's been playing a joke on us.

It's addressed to someone called Father Brown.

He was very jolly when he left.

Lady Felicia said he was holding his chest and struggling to breathe when he collapsed.

Henry wasn't in the best of shape.

And a big drinker.

So, fat alcoholic dies of natural causes.

Nice...

and simple. Just the way I like it.

Sergeant.

Father... Are you alright?

Yes.

Poor Henry.

You're upset. Now, maybe going to that party isn't such a good idea.

I need to tell Uncle Mirth about his brother.

Well if that's the case I'm going with you. Moral support.

Thank you.

All the doors are locked. Can't get inside.

You stupid woman!

- My camera's in there. - Sorry.

- Father Brown, my dear chap. - Sir Mortimer.

Good to see you.

Mrs McCarthy...

I'm afraid neither of my brothers have made an appearance.

Unfortunately, I have bad news for you.

Your brother, Henry, died this morning.

- Suspected heart attack. - What?

I'm so sorry.

Damn fool.

I told him to stop drinking.

He's at the Kembleford Cottage Hospital.

Are you alright?

Fine.

I'm just glad you're here.

Father Brown.

This is for you.

Found it over there.

Well, what is it?

It's a death certificate.

With my name on it.

Sir...

He must have picked these up this morning.

Bill... bill...

What's this?

A death certificate.

With Henry's name on it!

Cause of death, poison.

It's not looking so much like a heart attack anymore.

What? A death certificate?

Father, we should leave here immediately.

Oh, don't be such a silly old woman.

I beg your pardon!

I don't think you should speak to a lady like that.

- Steady tiger... - All I'm saying is that it's typical Julius.

Playing jokes on his family and friends.

I'm not so sure.

He's always had a warped sense of humour! He'll pop up in a minute!

Laughing at us all.

Father, do you really think it's from Uncle Mirth?

Why would he do this?

It's clear he's as mad as ever he was, and he still bears you a grudge.

- Remember? - I had to tell them where you were hiding.

When you had a breakdown I thought you might do something terrible to yourself.

Are you sure you want to stay?

Yes. I owe it to Uncle Mirth to try and help him.

Another one!

Another one. What did I tell you?

My brother is as nutty as a fruit cake.

- Where did you find it? - I found it on the bottom step.

- Didn't you find the other one too? - What are you saying?

- That I'm somehow in on Uncle Mirth's joke? - No, sorry.

That door's open.

I've had enough of playing silly beggars.

Excuse me!

Well, maybe we shouldn't go up...

Jufius?

Are you up there?

Well, he's bound to be up here somewhere.

He's not in there.

He must be here somewhere.

Juflus?

Come out, bloody fool!

Always loved hide and seek.

Something about dark corners...

Uncle Mirth?

His name's Julius.

- If you ever need to chat about Henry... - Oh, thank you, Father.

If I'm honest, we were never close.

Perhaps he got a death certificate too.

Look, there's nothing sinister about all of this.

Julius once had an obituary printed in the paper, telling everyone he'd died.

- I remember that! - It was all about craving attention.

Creating an audience.

Over here!

It's been locked.

Did you see anyone?

- No. - Why did you even try the door?

I just came round the corridor and saw that it was closed.