Father Brown

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

Et in lux perpetua luceat eis.

Requiescat in pace.

- Amen. - Amen.

Does anyone want to say a few words?

Then I will ask you all to join with me in a moment's silence

to pray for the departed,

that his troubled soul may find peace.

Good riddance, if you ask me.

God be with you all.

Well, I don't see why I can't take it to the woman on Croft Lane.

Because any self-respecting young lady should know

how to fix a ripped seam!

I can fix a broken fan-belt,

and I can fix an excellent martini.

There's nothing wrong with my self-respect.

It's bound to be another of his tricks.

I'm not so sure.

Flambeau was holding some sort of bomb when the police opened fire.

Oh, spare us the gory details!

Not to speak ill of the dead...

.. but why spare that wicked man a second thought?

Flambeau and I crossed paths a number of times.

He was a thief and a troublemaker.

Exactly why I fear for his soul.

I had hoped to lead him to redemption.

Now, it is too late.

You did your best.

And now he's got his comeuppance!

Oh, he wasn't that bad.

Oh, yes, his morals left a little to be desired,

but he was terribly charming.

And one could never accuse him of being boring!

Well, much good did it do him!

Enough talk of Flambeau.

When are we going to Gloucester?

Gloucester?

To the Cathedral.

To see the crown everyone's talking about.

Page three.

Ooh! "The Iron Crown is so called

"because of the single band of metal that holds it together,

"supposedly forged from one of the nails

"at the crucifixion of Christ."

Sounds a little bit morbid as far as head-wear goes.

But a day trip would be fun, wouldn't it?

How about it, Father?

Take your mind off Flambeau being flambeed.

It will go on display in the Lady Chapel tomorrow,

before continuing north on its tour next week.

To think that this very piece of metal

pierced the flesh of our Lord and Saviour.

The crown is ancient and fragile.

We've been asked not to touch it.

Naturally. It must be treated with the utmost care.

Oh, don't worry, they're your lot.

Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Been guarding it all the way from Italy.

I imagine you must be expecting quite a crowd.

Oh, yes.

The hoteliers of Gloucester are doing a roaring trade.

All the more kind of you to offer me a bed in the Bishop's Palace.

Will you be staying for the duration?

Oh, while the crown resides here...

My Lord.

.. so shall I.

As it is only on loan to the Church of England,

Bishop Reynard wishes for the local Catholic diocese

to be represented at all times.

Excellent.

We always welcome guests from across the great divide.

"11:25am, 27th December.

"Dear Father,

"I may be known as the king of thieves,

"but uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

"There is reason to believe I am in mortal danger.

"I send this key,

"in the hope that you will do me the honour of looking after it.

"I pray to God that it, and I, may be safely delivered.

"In haste, F."

Goodbye.

Ah!

Delighted to see a new face at Mass.

Have you recently moved to Kembleford?

Actually, I came here looking for you.

You are just as he described.

He?

Oh, sorry, I should introduce myself.

I am Lisandra Flambeau.

Hercule was my husband.

Hercule said he entrusted the key to a friend.

Only he didn't have any friends.

Except, perhaps, you.

What is the key for?

A safe in Hercule's study, containing his most recent will.

It should secure my inheritance against any counter-claims.

I believe there is a daughter...

Ah, yes. Marianne.

Forgive me for asking...

.. but Hercule didn't seem the marrying type.

Our love took us both by surprise.

We met at a party, and three weeks later we were married.

Hercule wished to put his criminal past behind him...

.. but the authorities had other ideas.

Let's explore!

Explore where?

The city.

You've lived here for years.

But I am no longer Lisandra Perenze.

I am now Lisandra Flambeau.

So I'll be seeing everything for the first time.

Why... would I go sightseeing...

.. when I already have the perfect view?

What?

Get dressed.

Meet me at the statue in the harbour in one hour.

- Where will you go? - I'll give them the slip.

I've a couple of tricks up my sleeve.

I want to stay with you.

Do as I say.

It's me they're after.

One hour.

I promise.

Gelato! Gelato!

Hey, stop!

Hold your fire,

or we'll all be blown to kingdom come!

Hercule!

- Mrs Flambeau... - Oh, Lisandra, please.

I don't wish to upset you any further,

but your husband made no mention of you in his letter.

So he did send you the key.

Yes, but...

Forgive me again.

How do I know that you are really his widow?

I...

I don't know.

I should have brought our marriage certificate!

I've come all this way, and...

Sorry.

Come with me.

I will find whoever did this, and...

In here!

They must have broken in while we were at Mass.

The police are on their way.

The key has gone.

What key?

It belonged to Flambeau.

Ladies, this is Lisandra Flambeau. Hercule's widow.

Flambeau was married?!

Did you tell anyone about the key?

Not a living soul.

Seen anyone loitering in the area?

Now that you mention it...

.. Harold Slow was seen peeking through the window yesterday.

Blind Harry?

He was waving at you!

The poor man's smitten!

Yes, well, even so...

The culprit is not from Kembleford.

How would you know that?

A hunch.

Er, no sign of forced entry, no footprints outside, no witnesses.

Thank you, Sergeant! Opportunists, no doubt.

Realising the place was empty during Mass,

they were looking for any valuables they could pilfer.

No valuables were taken, only the key.

Maybe they were disturbed in the act and snuck out the back.

And naturally you'll be using all resources at your disposal

to apprehend them?

I'm sure the Inspector will do his job.

Now, I must do mine.

Come on, Sergeant.

Let's decide which of our resources to deploy first.

Yes, sir.

I fear that it is no coincidence that the key went missing

when the Crown appears nearby.

But how are they connected?

Flambeau was killed near Monza Cathedral,

the home of the crown for centuries.

And, a few days ago,

I received this.

"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown."

You think Flambeau was planning to steal the Iron Crown?

And now that he's dead,

someone else is picking up the pieces

- where he left off! - No!

My husband did many bad things,

but he had changed.

Our marriage was a new start.

Nonetheless, I feel it is my duty to go to Gloucester

and warn the Bishop.

What about the key?

My future depends on it!

If my suspicions are correct,

the key is already on its way to Gloucester.

For your journey.

He's only going to Gloucester. They do have food there you know!

You are generous to a fault, Mrs McCarthy.

I made you some tea.