Father Brown

Search the rooms further along.

Check every nook and cranny.

In here!

I think I've found something.

The murder weapon.

Anything the matter, Inspector?

Valerie and the kids came down with something over the weekend.

No doubt they've given it to me.

And some of us have to work, regardless. Excuse me, Padre.

Good morning, Sergeant.

A "bae do" from Mrs McCarthy.

The hymns for Thursday night's choir practice have changed.

We're missing "O Bread of Heaven", Father.

That's a shame, but I suppo...

Good morning. Kembleford Police.

When was this?

We're on our way.

There's been a murder, sir.

At the Darlington estate.

Lawrence? Arabella?

Mr Darlington.

Philip?

Get them in, Sergeant.

Yes, sir.

I need to comfort the family.

It's quite a long way.

Might I cadge a lift?

...Offerentes eam in conspectu Altissimi.

Amen.

Found him like that when I woke up this morning.

Tried to revive him, but he was already gone.

Looks like a single puncture wound to the heart.

Probably with a knife.

Were you and your father alone in the house last night?

Yes.

Arabella's away and...

the servants don't lodge with us.

But... I didn't see Father.

I just came in from the pub and went to bed.

By the advancement of rigor mortis

it looks as though he's been dead at least ten hours.

Thank you, but I think I'll wait for the pathologist's assessment.

Are those the clothes you slept in?

I'm afraid I was rather drunk.

God, to think this awful thing happened while we both slept.

Someone must have broken in.

With a guard dog in the house?

Crumpet was with me.

He always sleeps in my room.

Sir.

There's some residue, just there.

A single black fibre.

Neither Lawrence nor Phillip are wearing black.

Could I please, for once, hear from an actual expert

instead of the opinions of a pontificating priest?

I apologise, Inspector.

I... just offering my assistance.

It's Arabella.

Hello?

Anybody home?

Lawrie?

What's happened?

Father Brown, wh... what is this? Why are the police here?

Miss Darlington.

A... Actually, it's Mrs Huxston now.

Mrs Huxston.

I'm sorry to inform you

your father's been murdered.

We'll search the rest of the house, inside and out.

My deepest condolences, Arabella.

I see you've been away.

How long have you been gone?

Ah... just...

just the weekend...

in Oxford. I suppose you could say it was our honeymoon.

Sorry, Father. You haven't met Charles, have you?

I know it was rather impulsive of us, but

we got swept away with the romance, didn't we, darling?

Daddy would have been furious. I was...

I was dreading telling hi... him.

But now he...

What have the police said? Do they know who is responsible for this?

In here! I think I've found something.

The murder weapon.

This is Lawrence Darlington's bedroom, is it not?

I didn't put that there.

I... I didn't.

Sergeant, arrest him and take him down to the car.

Lawrence Darlington, I'm arresting you

on suspicion of the murder of Phillip Darlington.

You aren't obliged to say anything...

Inspector.

These scratches in the door suggest the dog was frantically trying to escape.

Perhaps he'd heard an intruder.

Or...

perhaps he'd heard one master Killing another.

Ah... but if Lawrence is guilty

why hide the knife in his own room?

No doubt to dispose of it later.

Now if you don't mind, I have a suspect to question.

There's no evidence of a break-in.

And your sister confirms nothing was stolen.

You were found this morning, covered in your father's blood.

You killed him, didn't you?

No.

As his only son, you can't deny that you stand to inherit his fortune

and that's why you're concocting this ridiculous story about an intruder.

- It's not a story. - - The knife was found in your room!

Sorry to interrupt, sir.

Could I have a word, please? It's important.

Well?

There were no fingerprints found on the knife, sir.

You've brought me out here to tell me that?

No, sir.

I saw you

in the suspect's bedroom.

Excuse me?

The knife, sir.

It was in your jacket.

You planted it.

How dare you?

How dare you make such an accusation against me?

An inspector with over 20 years' exemplary service.

I can't believe you'd even think such a thing.

Sir, I... Whatever trick

your imagination's been playing on you

I strongly advise you to keep it to yourself

unless you want a career stacking shelves in Woolworths!

Do I make myself clear, Sergeant Goodfellow?

Yes, sir.

What do you recall about last night? Before you returned home.

I was playing cards.

At the Red Lion.

There was beer.

And then I suppose I walked home.

I remember the sunset as I crossed the fields.

So no later than 9 o'clock?

Like I said, I felt terribly squiffy

and went straight to bed.

Look, things weren't always easy between me and Father

but I didn't kill him.

I don't know how the knife got in my room.

You have to believe me.

I do.

Something is afoot, Lawrence, and I mean to get to the bottom of it.

You say things were strained between you.

Yeah, there was no pleasing him, Father.

I stopped trying years ago.

I wish Arabella had done the same.

She always tried so hard.

And yet she eloped to Oxford without his permission.

Well, that would have been Charles.

You disapprove of the match?

I should.

They've only known each other for three months... ha.

But I've got to admit he's been good for her.

He even encouraged me to stand up to Father.

I regret it now, of course.

Regret what, exactly?

A public row in a restaurant.

Lawrence confronted his father

demanding access to his trust fund.

That'll hurt Lawrence if it goes to trial.

Indeed.

But I wonder if that was the intention.

But whose intention?

The dark, handsome stranger

that has ensconced himself in the family within three months.

Whatever's going on, Lawrence ain't the type to stab anyone.

He's a happy drunk. And I'll tell you what else.

He never, never leaves the Red Lion before closing.

And yet he was so thoroughly inebriated by 9 o'clock

that he went straight to bed and slept through without rousing.

Do you reckon his beer was tampered with?

By who?

Who, this... this Charles person?

Charles was with Arabella in Oxford.

He has a solid alibi for the murder.

Suspicious in itself, if you ask me.

Well, I reckon our best bet is the Red Lion.

Just pop in there, ask about...

I'll be happy to do it, Father.

Oh, I think maybe someone's a little too happy to volunteer.

Hello, Shelly.

Hello, Sid.

Have you got something in your eye, cos it'll be my finger if you're not careful.

Not a fan of winking, got it.

I'll go wild and have a mild.

Alright, Sid?

Here...

Lawrence Darlington wasn't in here last night, was he?

Course he was. Is it true he's been arrested?

Lawrie wouldn't hurt a fly.

I Know. So if you can remember anything...

Only that he left early.

Usual crowd kept playing till late.

Wait. One of them wasn't from around here.

Big bloke. Doesn't say much.

And he was definitely playing cards with Lawrence?

Alright.