Inspector Morse

Hi, Rachel.

Morning, Geoff.

"This is a standard palm

seen through the eyes of 130 boys at Handsworth Grammar School."

"Alexander's now studying at the Slade art school in London."

"He called on his old art teacher for help with an original project."

I hate this time of year.

'April is the cruelest month.'

Well, it certainly is for one young woman and her family.

I don't know, Morse. I've been looking into my pension.

You pay in all your life,

but when the time comes it's not half what you thought it would be.

You're not...?

Oh, no. Mind you, you've got to make way for the young some time.

Why?

You can't retire, sir.

What would you do?

Learn to make filet de boeuf en croute and creme brulee?

Well, as a matter of fact, I...

It's all very well for you, you're not married.

Don't you ever get sick of it, Morse?

Spending your entire life on shootings, stabbings, stranglings?

Work. That's the secret of life.

You have to buckle down

and give it your best and...

That's what my father said.

Oh.

You'd better buckle on down after Lewis and see who shot this poor girl.

And you will give it your 'best', won't you?

I saw him.

Definitely a him?

Do you think I can't tell the difference at my age?

Two husbands I've had, six children, 18 grandchildren.

Did you hear a shot or any loud bangs?

20 past. I was just putting the ashes out.

Going down the back, he was.

He had a hat on and all. I thought he was her fancy man.

Thanks very much.

Come on, let the officer through.

Can we have a statement, Inspector?

Chief Inspector.

We have deadlines you know.

I don't know what the Chief Super told you, but -

The Chief Super is losing his grip.

Well, he's getting on.

No, he's not. He's the same age as...

Do you realise, if he goes...

You wouldn't resign.

I wouldn't have to. I'd be out on my ear.

They'd bring in some smarty-pants young...

He'd take one look at me...

We could use some new thinking in Thames Valley.

Thinking, Lewis,

thinking, old or new, would be a very welcome change all round.

I'm not ready for you yet, Morse.

Unless you'd like to give me a hand...

Hmm...

Stocking tops...

Hmm, naked men...

Oh. I've got to be in college in a minute.

So?

It's the big meeting about the Mastership.

Don't worry. You're going to win.

You're going to grind that Julian Storrs beneath your chariot wheels.

Well, maybe if we're quick.

We could always change the statutes,

and I could simply stay on as Master.

One of my predecessors continued in office till 103.

I don't know if anyone wants to urge that course.

Mrs Hammersby, perhaps?

If I had such an urge, Master, I would repress it.

Oh, but it's so bad to repress urges. I never do.

It's 9:35, Master.

When a middle-aged Fellow marries one of his students,

and a ravishingly beautiful one at that...

I'm so sorry, Master.

I...

The College accepts your apology, Denis. In my case, with envy.

May we proceed?

How close was he when he fired?

Right up against the window.

The blind was down. She wouldn't have seen him.

Then how the hell did he see her?

Charlie, do the blind bit, would you?

Right.

It was instant, if that's any comfort.

I suppose it's no good asking when.

No, but you can come in now.

Miss James was seen collecting milk just after seven.

She was Miss?

Miss Rachel James.

27, single, a physio. She worked at a clinic on the Woodstock Road.

Her parents live in Torquay.

The woman next door saw what she thought was Miss James's fancy man,

around the back at 25 past.

Fancy him, do you (?)

Another neighbour was walking a dog along the path at the back at 7:35.

She saw the light on and the crack in the window.

Narrow parameters. You'll have it solved before I've done the autopsy.

It's easy enough for you, a bullet hole like that.

Oh, a snip. A snip to see if Miss James was pregnant,

a snip to see if she had some fatal disease.

I'll be snipping all morning.

Someone loved her.

Due notice having been given and due process observed,

there are only two candidates

for the office of 35th Master of Lonsdale -

Julian Storrs and Denis Cornford.

A straight fight like this

sadly gives little opportunity for horse trading,

but malice and spite are increased as you know the candidates so well.

I am sure they will both do their best

to uphold the college tradition.

Thank you, Master.

May the best man win.

I, alas, have no vote and am spared the blandishments of the candidates.

The rest of you will have to bear them.

Tomorrow, Founders' Feast,

the electioneering will, no doubt, be especially intemperate.

Any other business?

No?

Then I declare the meeting closed.

A lively young wife in the Master's lodgings?

Might it not lead to scandal?

Better than an old goat.

Look at the state of this fence.

Anyone could have got through there. No trouble.

Where does this path run to and from, Jackson?

It runs behind the houses to the road.

Leave the car, walk down the path, through the fence, down the garden.

You could be in and out in two minutes.

Or was he leading her up the garden path beforehand?

Who sent that valentine, Lewis?

A fancy man of a certain age, surely?

"Hands, knees and boompsadaisy."

It's not exactly Top Of The Pops, is it?

A patient, perhaps?

You'd better go to that clinic and see what her colleagues have to say.

Julian Storrs.

Angela. I'm sorry.

Yes. It's as we thought.

It's just Denis and me.

Good. Then it's ours.

I never count chickens, darling, but I do collect debts.

I don't care. We're going to win.

Just one, Angela.

Just to celebrate.

Get those out, will you?

Chief Inspector, it was a single shot, was it?

All in good time.

Did anyone hear it?

Some neighbours may have done.

Not Mrs Adams? She's deaf even with her hearing aid.

And this side...

Geoff Owens, Oxford Mail.

I didn't hear anything. I'd gone to work.

Well, why the hell didn't you say so before?!

Eight, but eight solid. Four more and you're home.

Yes, well...

the Master had Shelly and me to dinner last night with George Summers,

Allied Steel Engineering?

Nice chap, he used to be a pupil of Clixby's and...

Allied Steel Engineering may offer two Fellowships,

worth approximately a million and a half.

How the hell did you know that?

Clixby gave Summers lunch with Julian and Angela Storrs.

Summers will only stump up if the new Master is the one Clixby wants.

Hell!

You must find out what Clixby wants for his support.

Angela, needless to say, is telling everyone they've got the Mastership already.

Then they've got another think coming.

I hope so. We can't have her lording it over the college.

I know it runs against all Oxford tradition,

but I'm not standing just to stop the Storrs.

I actually want the job and I'm going to get it.

Flexitime. I can get a day's work in before anyone else arrives.

And I miss the traffic. If I'd known I'd miss a murder...

How did you hear about it?

Della Cecil at No.2 is a friend. She phoned me.

You're not married, I take it?

No.

No-one else lives at your house?

No.

And this Miss... erm Mrs...

Cecil. Miss Cecil.

No. She's just a friend.

Alas.

What about Miss James? How well did you know her?

She borrowed my corkscrew. I borrowed her jump leads.

Did she have a boyfriend?

Someone sent her a valentine.

Not me.

Any close friends?

She and Della had each other's keys. Why don't you ask her?

Thank you, sir. It never occurred to me to question the neighbours (!)

Look, erm... We go to press soon. I don't suppose -

You don't suppose correctly, sir.

Fine.

Thanks.

Good. Very good, Nina.