Father Brown

No need to rush off.

If I'm not home soon, I'm in serious trouble!

Blimey!

What did you do to me?

You said the stout was a bit strong for a lady so I...

So you challenged me to a drinking competition.

Yes!

- Ow! - Oh...

Did I get in a fight?

You hit your head on the beam when... when you stood on the table.

Why was I standing on a table?

Oh no! No, I didn't...

Yeah! The whole pub gave you a standing ovation!

Thanks for a great night.

Grace, wait!

Where'd you learn to hold your drink like that?

My father owns the brewery!

I'm in love.

Where are you all going?

What's happening?

- What's happening? - Grace... Stay... Stay back!

Stay back!

It's your father...

Grace!

Adult literacy classes?

I was hoping you could help spread the word.

Help recruit volunteers.

And the good Lord provideth.

I know Mrs McCarthy is a bit strict...

Strict?! She helped out at the primary school last year

and even the headmaster started wetting the bed!

I assume... you've all heard about the fire at the brewery?

Oh, terrible...

And... they have found a body.

Have they identified it?

- Gabriel Kane himself. - Sid!

Sidney!

Where the devil is he off to? I need to be in Hambleston by 9:30!

Fire investigators are on the way. In the meantime, keep the building sealed off.

Should we start interviewing witnesses, sir?

Talk to the workers still on site.

Old buildings like this... My money's on dodgy wiring.

I'll handle the family.

You two speak to the gentleman in the yard.

Don't even think about it! This area is off limits.

I need to see if Grace is alright.

The blonde?

She's fine. Well... as fine as you can be when your father's just died.

Over there with her husband.

- Now, like I said... - It's alright.

I'm leaving.

I'm going to go for a walk.

I need to clear my head.

- Do you want me to come with you? - No, no, it's fine.

Um... I'll see you back at the house.

Sid! Sid!

Slow down! - What for? D'you want to introduce me to your husband?

You won't say anything, will you?

Course not. It was just a bit of fun, wasn't it?

I don't love him.

Our marriage was arranged.

Harry had an inheritance he was looking to invest, so...

So your dad got a bunch of cash and your fella got a stake in the brewery. Lucky them.

Look, without Harry's money, the brewery would have gone under.

Dozens of families rely on us for their livelihoods.

I'm sorry I lied to you.

I'll keep schtum.

Goodbye, Sid.

Thank you, Miss Kane. Any further questions, I'll be in touch.

Please do.

If Grace turns up, will you tell her the inspector was looking for her?

Certainly.

Why don't I introduce you to our head brewer, Martin Cartwright?

Padre... I should have known.

I am here to offer my spiritual guidance to the family in their time of grief.

Pfft...

Father.

There are few ale-lovers in this county who have not sung your father's praises.

Drink makes men do foolish things.

I'm sorry. A wicked thing to say.

Gabriel wasn't my father.

My mother married him after his first wife died.

I visited your mother when she was ill.

Gabriel was never the same again.

To bury two wives...

Yes, well, we were never close.

Grace was always the golden girl.

I was only ever the cuckoo in the nest.

I am sure that that is not the truth.

Any idea how the fire started?

Well, Gabriel was cutting corners.

Bringing costs down.

Harry tried to warn him, but... Well, an accident was inevitable.

That's a lie!

Daddy would never have put the brewery at risk!

It must have been sabotage... A rival brewery, perhaps?

Would the police have thought of that?

- I'm sure they're considering all possibilities. - Well, are they?

My father's dead. I want to know what happened.

- If there is any evidence of foul play... - Please, Father.

I know what the police are like.

They'll write it off as an accident to avoid fuss.

- Because it probably was an accident! - No!

You have to help us.

Find out who did this.

I'll do what I can.

Bit early, isn't it?

Free country.

Tell me, Sid. Why were you so alarmed when you heard about the fire?

I like beer.

I met someone last night, someone connected to the brewery.

I was worried about her.

Is she alright?

- No, she's not. She's married. - Ah.

Forgive me, but you don't normally take affairs of the heart so seriously.

She was different. At least, I thought she was.

He was here last night... causing trouble.

Go on.

So, LadyF was having an evening in, for once.

So I thought I'd treat myself to a couple of jars.

Anyway, there's this couple in there and he starts getting a bit handy

so I slide over and give it the old 'Sorry I'm late, darling... '

Sorry I'm late, darling...

Now, why would I want to do that?

So he tells me again... 'Get lost!'

Funny story...

And I think, well, in for a penny in for a pound.

Good friend of mine once told me about a bloke called Goliath, right?

The thing about Goliath was...

So I tell him how pretty I think he is.

...he was almost as ugly as you.

Just as he's about to plant one on me, Grace says 'Just go, Owen!'

'Before you get yourself into trouble. '

So he says 'You'll regret this. '

And then he leaves.

Lovely chap.

And she and I... start to get acquainted.

Sidney Carter. Friends call me Sid.

Did Grace say what they were arguing about?

She said it was nothing. A misunderstanding.

I spoke to her earlier. She believes someone started the fire on purpose.

What d'you reckon?

Why not help me find out?

Mr Kane was found sat at his desk.

The firemen believe the blaze started in the barrel store.

Why didn't he make a run for it?

Perhaps he was overcome by smoke before he got the chance.

What time did you both leave yesterday?

6pm on the dot. The missus was doing one of her suet puddings so...

I was at home all night.

9. Ish...

Gabriel wanted to go over the books.

He often worked late.

Afterwards, he said he had paperwork to finish, so I left.

And locked the main door behind me.

- And where did you go then? - Home.

I had a dreadful migraine. I was asleep by 10 at the latest.

You sure you locked the door?

Certain. Why?

Wasn't forced.

Fireman found it unlocked.

Sir. Fire inspector found it in the barrel store.

Looks like a lid.

From a petrol can.

Call the station. Let them know we'll be here for a while.

How long, sir?

Until we catch the idiot that started this fire!

Yes, sir.

Oh, alright, cut the price.

We need to shift more barrels, get some cash in.

This is a Kane pub.

You've got a cheek coming in here after what you did.

Want my money or not?

- Mug someone's granny? - Something like that.

Now, are you going to let me drink in peace?

Or shall I tell the coppers where you really were last night?

So where is she?

You know Grace.

She's probably... making daisy chains in a meadow somewhere.

Rolling in the hay, more like.

You were an imbecile to marry her.

We all make mistakes.

You're not jealous...

While I may not have her looks

I find a little enthusiasm goes a very long way, don't you think?

Don't.

Well, that's not what you were saying last week.

You were like a man possessed.

Like I said...

We all make mistakes.

Sorry to keep you, Inspector. Business to attend to.

How well do you know your workforce?

Inside and out.

Most of them had dads or granddads who were coopers here before them.

You must get the occasional bad apple.

Well, they play up, they're out.

Any recently?

Well, one, yeah. Owen Brunt.

Mr Fitzgerald found out he was stealing.

D'you know where I might find him?