Murder Before Evensong (2025) s01e06 Episode Script

1
Somehow all of this
the war, the Scallywags,
the Free French, Kerling
they're the reason why
Anthony and Ned were murdered.
I get the chance to to show
shunned and forgotten souls
that they are loved,
even when they
don't love themselves.
Bob Monkhouse is one
of my favorites.
But not yours?
My son is a cultural snob.
That's us.
Is that you riding the horse?
Yeah.
I used to ride all the time.
Anthony Bowness wasn't
killed with a hunting knife.
He's covering for someone.
For his grandson.
If I go to the police,
they'll ask questions.
Your father died in the war,
but your mum is very much alive.
Registrars, Inc.
Now all we have to do
is find out who else uses it.
When I showed Neil,
he said it was a waste of time.
What do you think?
That there's something
down there I've missed.
Oh, no.
Sorry, ladies.
Excuse me. Sorry. Thank you.
Stella?
I found her dead as a dodo.
But why are you here?
Because Stella was
the one writing the letters.
I worked it out using
your water trick.
And then I called Mrs. Braines
to confirm it.
She got Stella
that registrar's ink, too.
So I came over here
to have a few words.
Too late.
What, had she been murdered?
Not that I could see.
No gaping wounds,
if that's what you mean.
I did find out something, though.
Stella was also the one
who complained about you
to the bishop.
I found a draft of her letter
on the side.
She had quite the turn
of phrase.
Didn't have you down as one
of the rubberneck brigade.
Well, given that Stella was
the one threatening me,
which my mother uncovered
When no one else did.
Yes, you've already
mentioned that.
I'd say that makes
me more than a rubbernecker,
wouldn't you?
We were wondering
if Stella is the latest victim.
Doesn't look like it.
Heart attack, apparently.
You should go home and leave
the police to do their job.
Heart attack? Codswallop.
Stella was fit as a fiddle.
That's what the police
said it was.
Because that's what
they want us to believe.
So there's no panic.
Because, you know,
the murderer could be anywhere.
-Ladies.
-Hello.
Awful news about Stella.
Oh, yes. Really shocking.
So unexpected.
Exactly.
And this ID was on the body?
Mm.
So I went back to
Ned Thwaites' file on Kerling.
Somewhere in here is
the reason why Ned was killed.
What's this?
Oh, that I do know.
That was how the observers
delivered their reports.
No. Lost me.
I found it in here.
It's the book
Anthony was writing
about Champton at war.
See, in the early years
of the war,
the home defense scheme had
two concerns.
One, the Germans would parachute
in small groups of soldiers
to hit key targets and
pave the way for an invasion.
And two, the ever-present danger
of German spies.
So, er, a network of observers
was created,
made up of civilians
who could move around without
attracting attention. From the village?
That's right.
They were called
the Special Duties Branch,
and they would make a note
of anything unusual.
I mean, imagine all over
the country webs of observers
and at the center,
secret radio stations
transmitting
their findings to HQ.
Now, the observers would conceal
their reports in a tennis ball,
and then leave it at one
of several
secret drop points in the area.
And when the threat of invasion
receded, the network kept going
because the threat of spies
never went away.
But they weren't much good then,
if they missed Kerling,
were they?
What if they didn't?
And what if someone,
an observer, say,
had rumbled Kerling?
But instead of just filing
a report,
they decided to do
something about it.
What about Neil?
What about him? You are going
to tell him about the dead body,
'cause it's the sort of thing
he finds interesting.
-When I'm ready.
-Daniel.
Well, the thing is,
he was right, Mother.
I need more than just what ifs.
And he's made it perfectly clear
that if he's to take any
of this seriously,
I need something or someone
that links whatever happened
40 years ago
to what's going on now.
Right. You can go.
What?
You heard.
What happened?
Finally decided
I was telling the truth?
Alex de Floures
gave you an alibi.
Don't leave the area.
Are you okay? You told him?
Yes.
What, everything?
Well I had to.
They haven't charged you,
have they?
'Cause they haven't
got anything.
It's over.
You haven't got a clue, have ya?
Let's get a forensic team
to look at this shepherd's hut.
If those two were there,
they'll have left traces.
Evidence.
Are you still seeing
that fella at the lab?
On and off.
See if he can call in a favor.
I want a tox report on Stella
Harper as soon as possible.
I thought it was natural causes.
Yeah, well, I'm not buying it.
Two murders and
a sudden heart attack?
Doesn't really pass
the smell test, does it?
The bunker has to be the key.
Because the killer knew
it was there.
But they knew about
the radio room, too.
I'm missing something.
Anthony Bowness was thorough.
I'll give him that.
He went all over, interviewing
all kinds of people.
Here's one with
a retired school mistress
who was a radio operator.
She died last year.
Here's a bloke who hid
stuff in his chicken hut.
And an old doctor over in
Badsaddle, who's also dead.
Now, he's awfully chatty
for someone
who was sworn to secrecy.
He says, "There were lots of us
dotted about, all sorts."
There was even one boy
over Champton way
who went around delivering
his messages on his horse,
because no one would think
twice about some brat
"on a horse, would they?"
Oh, Lord.
It's Bernard.
So you could convert
the stables to the tea room
and the gift shop
could go there. Pa.
What sort of gifts? What is it?
Jams, pickles.
Anything in a jar.
I need to tell you something.
And it's better you hear it
from me.
Well, can't it wait?
You can see that I'm busy.
-Pickles?
-Not really.
Nathan was released
this morning. So?
And who's going to
be paying for all this?
They let him go
because I gave him an alibi.
I-I wasn't sure at first
what the best thing to do was,
but I talked to Daniel.
And You talked to Daniel?
So last night,
I went to the police station.
I'm pretty sure I've done
the right thing.
Forgive me, Alexander,
for not entirely understanding.
You're telling me you lied
to the police?
No. It's the truth.
I was with him
most of the night.
We were together.
Alone.
Canon Clement is here
to see you.
Right.
Pa do you want
to talk about it?
No, I don't think
that'll be necessary.
Hey.
Come here.
Daniel.
What can I do for you?
During the war,
were you an observer
for the Special Duties Branch?
I remembered the photo
of you and Anthony as kids,
and you were riding a horse.
Yeah. So did lots of people
around here.
Yes, but in the picture
you've got a tennis ball.
You hate tennis.
Ah. Aren't you the clever one?
Hmm.
I was recruited. 1943.
We were given a bunch
of things to memorize
vehicles, German insignia,
stuff like that.
My job was to keep
my ears and eyes
open and, you know,
report anything unusual.
And you didn't think
to mention any of this
to Anthony or anyone? No.
Well, I was bound
by the Official Secrets Act.
And for what it's worth,
Daniel, I still am.
Did you know Philip Kerling?
No. Not really.
I mean, I knew him by sight.
I'd see him most days,
either up at the house
or over in the stables
where the offices were.
Anywhere else?
Oh, for God's sake, Daniel,
come on.
It was over 40 years ago.
No, no, I don't remember.
This is a copy of the statement
that you made to police after
Kerling disappeared in 1944.
Where'd you get this?
It was in
Ned Thwaites' research.
In it, you say that you saw
Kerling the night of the plane crash,
that he was near the aircraft
several hours before it took off.
Well, if you say so.
Well, was that unusual?
What, that he was there?
I don't know, maybe.
Kerling was top brass.
Planning. So, yes, he was
normally tied to his desk.
Would you have included it
in your daily report?
I expect so, yes.
I put in anything
that was slightly unusual,
let the others decide
it was important or not.
I think we're done now
here, Daniel, don't you?
What do you think
happened to Kerling?
You know, Daniel,
perhaps you should concentrate
on things that concern you.
Keep your nose out
of other people's business,
including my family.
What are you talking about?
Alexander told me.
He told me what he'd done,
and he told me
He told me what he is and
that he talked to you about it.
Stay away.
You probably know
I let Nathan go this morning.
I heard. Which means
I have no further leads.
Which means I'm as close today
to solving this case
as I was the night we met,
when you rather bizarrely
complimented me
on the pencil I was using.
The Pentel P205.
Right, the Pentel. Yeah.
Actually, I was quite impressed.
Well, never underestimate the
ice-breaking power of stationery.
So, I'm sorry.
I was wrong.
I think the bunker and
the whole World War II thing
is worth exploring.
That's great, because
So I've arranged
for a forensic team
to come first thing tomorrow.
I want to go over every inch.
Right.
It's a long shot, but right
now, it's the best I've got.
Where will you go?
I've got a cousin
down in Taunton.
Maybe I can get a job
at his scrapyard.
You're being ridiculous.
Am I?
Well, what about the police?
Yeah. Gotta catch me first.
Please, Nathan, don't do this.
You can't go.
Can't stay here, can I?
What will I do?
You're stronger than you think.
I think I know how to link
Kerling's body to the murders.
From the start,
this has all been about
the murderer keeping the bunker
and Kerling a secret.
And right now, they don't know
that I've found either.
Which gives me an advantage.
In what way?
They think they're safe.
And as long as they think that,
I can flush them out.
How?
By giving them a good reason
to move the body.
But it has to be tonight.
Why?
Well, I was going to tell
Neil everything.
And then he said
he was going to turn the bunker
into a crime scene.
But when he does that,
the murderer will know
that it's been found
and we'll lose
whatever advantage we've got.
So you're going to lure
the killer out into the open?
And it all starts with
an announcement at Evensong.
Anthony Bowness. Ned Thwaite.
And now Stella Harper.
Friends who've been taken
from us so tragically.
This has been a difficult time
for us all,
and I'm sure it's taken
its toll.
So I look forward to the Champton
at War celebration tomorrow
and being reminded
of the importance
of friendship and community
and the strength
that comes from that.
Also, some good news.
Our refurbishment plans
have been agreed,
which include the new toilet,
and work will begin tomorrow
with the temporary removal
of the font
to accommodate the plumbing.
It'll only be for a few days
and I'm hoping it
won't have too big of an impact.
Bishop.
Didn't know you were coming.
That's because
I didn't tell you.
I've thought a lot
about what you said yesterday.
And I must say, I was impressed.
Very erudite and passionate.
We can always use passion,
provided it's channeled
the right way, obviously.
Obviously.
So. I've decided
Not to pursue this matter
any further.
Thank you.
You clearly wish
to make a difference.
Well, I try.
Indeed you do.
To that end
here are a dozen or so
committees
that I think you should be on.
Doing good work
across the whole diocese.
I see.
This is a wonderful opportunity.
It's also
a greater responsibility.
It will necessitate
longer hours, of course,
less time for other pursuits.
But if you want to make
a difference
Well.
When you put it like that,
what choice do I have?
None.
Somewhere else,
someone else is crying too ♪
Alexander. Can I come in?
I bet he feels the way I do ♪
You don't have to worry,
you know.
Nathan and me are finished.
So you're okay.
There's no danger of me
embarrassing you.
Ah. No more than I do already.
Come rushing back to me ♪
As I watch the sun go down ♪
Actually, I was wondering
if you still had that painting
you did of Anthony.
Er yeah.
It's here somewhere.
Right.
Yes, I-I thought I might hang it
in my study.
I'd remember how we'd march ♪
Right. Well, er
It'll need to be varnished.
-Yes. Right.
-Erm
And that's
that's something you can do?
Of course.
Splendid.
Pa, I
A battle I have found ♪
And all the dreams we had,
I will carry on ♪
As I watch the sun go down,
watching the world fade away ♪
All the memories of you
come rushing back to me ♪
Right then.
As I watch the sun go down ♪
Watching the world fade away ♪
All I want to do ♪
Is kiss you once goodbye ♪
Have you seen my Rennies?
-Indigestion?
-Stress.
I blame you.
To be honest,
I never did like him much.
I'm sorry.
You gotta watch ones
like Creggan.
"One may smile and smile,
and be a villain."
Macbeth knew what he
was talking about.
Hamlet. Whatever.
I knew it was foreign royalty.
Ah!
Mm! I should go soon.
Do you really think
they'll come?
I'm counting on it.
Well, be careful, won't you?
I had a feeling it would be you.
Why don't we start
at the beginning?
Don't sit under the apple tree
with anyone else but me ♪
Anyone else but me
Anyone else but me ♪
No, no, no, don't sit ♪
All alone, mademoiselle?
I'm with my sister.
Dora, the singer.
'Til you come marching home ♪
She sings beautifully.
I'll tell her.
I'm Hervé. Hervé Gauchet
Kath Sharman.
Older Kath: Hervé was the
most handsome man I'd ever met.
He was from
the Free French Army.
He'd escaped France after
Dunkirk and joined the SOE.
After that, he'd been in
and out of France several times,
helping the Resistance.
Brave man.
I was a member of the
Special Duties Signals Unit.
Dora was, too.
And the only other person
who knew was Hervé.
I told him the night
he showed me the mural.
He painted it for you,
didn't he?
You're the woman dancing
with her back to us.
How did you know?
The Abbaye Notre-Dame
de Sénanque.
It's in the mural.
And I remembered reading
a newspaper report
about the crash, that
Hervé came from Beaumont.
It's a little village
a few miles away from the abbey.
He painted the countryside
that he loved.
And it's where he's buried.
We promised each other
You'll never know
just how much ♪
after the war
I miss you ♪
we'd live there. A new life.
You'll never know ♪
I thought we were blessed.
Just how much ♪
What's the old joke?
If you want to make God laugh,
tell him your plans.
A couple of months later,
we got word from France
that the Germans had rounded
up whole networks
of SOE and Resistance members.
They'd all been shot.
They'd been betrayed.
First, we didn't know who
the traitor was.
But then, Hervé heard
from someone in France
who said there was a traitor
high up in the SOE
here at Champton,
and the whole operation
was compromised.
Hervé decided to fly to France
to meet him.
By then,
I'd found out I was pregnant.
I'd tried to tell Hervé before,
but he'd been so busy,
there hadn't been a chance.
I promised myself
I'd surprise him
when he got back.
God bring you home to me.
In that one moment
my future was taken from me.
But you carry on.
There was a war to be won.
Which is how you found
out about Kerling
being seen near the plane.
Bernard de Floures was one
of your runners.
Did you know that?
No. I didn't.
He saw Kerling that night
and he put it in his report.
He didn't realize
the significance.
But you did, didn't you?
I knew that Kerling had
somehow sabotaged the plane
to protect himself.
He was a traitor
and a murderer,
and I was going to prove it.
I waited until I knew
he'd be working late
and broke into the house
where he'd been billeted.
Only he came back.
Ah, you worked it out.
That you're a traitor.
Depends whose side
you're on, doesn't it?
Older Kath: The phone
rang, distracting him.
I threw the desk lamp at him.
I got hold of the lamp,
and I hit him over the head.
I killed him.
I didn't know what to do.
And then you thought about
this place.
It was about
to be decommissioned.
The Scallywags had
already been stood down.
The observer networks
were being wound up.
This place would
soon be abandoned
and no one would ever know.
And the theory
that Kerling had fled?
It wasn't hard.
I added his name
to the flight log of a mission
that flew out the night he died.
But surely they
investigated his disappearance.
I wanted them to.
Because then the truth
would come out.
If I'd found his radio,
I knew they would.
Which they did.
And everyone believed the story
of Kerling the spy.
Because it was true.
All it took was a nudge to get
them to believe he'd fled.
The years went by
the memories of war faded.
Eventually, it felt like those few
days in 1944 were just a dream.
Until Anthony Bowness arrived.
Mm. He started digging around,
asking questions
about the Scallywags.
He was convinced there was
a bunker in or near the church.
I knew he was getting close
that if he found this place,
he'd find the body
and I'd be sent to prison.
They'd trained us,
all those years ago.
One-to-one combat.
Aah! Aah!
But it didn't end there, did it?
Ned Thwaite
was doing a piece on Kerling.
"The One That Got Away."
If only.
Did he ask you about this?
It was in his file.
It's the flight log that says
that Kerling flew to France
when he was actually here
dead.
His name was typed
on a different machine.
See? The L's wonky.
Don't miss a thing, do you?
Well neither did Ned.
It was bad enough he'd managed
to find the actual flight log,
but then he noticed
that it had been doctored.
He was a good journalist.
I was afraid it would
only be a matter of time.
So, later I phoned,
told him I'd found
something interesting.
I arranged to meet him.
You're very calm.
Considering.
I don't think you'll kill me.
Why not?
Because I've left detailed notes
which will send any
investigation directly to you.
You know I have to turn you in,
don't you?
Dora saved my life.
After Hervé, I just
couldn't see
the point of anything.
When she was first
diagnosed with cancer
I knew it was my turn.
My chance to balance the books.
I knew if
Anthony was successful,
the end of Dora's life
would be ruined
by my arrest and trial.
Just when she needed
me the most,
I'd be behind bars.
I couldn't let that happen,
could I?
I'll do everything you want.
I'll make a full confession.
But first, let me see Dora.
Kath, I can't do that.
Please.
It's all I ask.
A few minutes to say goodbye.
Break of day,
they're up and away ♪
Into the gray clouds flying ♪
Flying forth,
away to the north ♪
Sound of their engines
sighing ♪
Good morning.
We got the weather, didn't we?
I'm Hervé.
Enchanté.
Here come the Spitfires
back from patrol ♪
Look up quick,
the victory roll ♪
Come on, Kath.
Daniel?
DS Vanloo?
Audrey Clement.
Listen, there's something
you ought to know.
Kath.
Oh!
Almost like the real thing.
Hello.
Aww
Can I? Of course.
Oh, look at you.
Ooh!
Oh!
Kath.
Bye-bye, little one.
Come on, then.
Jesus!
Corinne.
Now!
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you.
He knows everything.
That was the lab.
You were right.
Stella Harper was poisoned.
They found traces of oleander.
It's a shrub
easily grown, apparently.
Don't tell me
it was in the cake. No.
The tea.
So you knew, then?
Only last night.
I told her what had happened
and that I was going to move
Kerling's body.
I see. Otherwise she's
completely innocent.
There is one thing
I'm confused about.
Well, you told me that
you hit Kerling over the head
with the desk lamp.
Mm.
H-he was going to shoot me.
Only, you also said
that you threw it at him
when you started to fight.
How did you manage to get
hold of it again to kill him with it?
It was you, wasn't it?
Kath told me she was
going to Kerling's that night.
I was worried,
so I followed her.
Oh!
Two murders.
And all to protect
Dora, not you.
Three.
What?
Three murders.
Stella, too?
Wasn't her fault.
Edgy threatened her.
The night Nate was killed.
Well, she rang us,
and Dora went round to make
sure she was all right.
She was planning to
go to the police first thing
and tell them about it.
Only
I'd already told the police
that we were both home
that night.
Stella didn't realize it, but
if she went to the police
she'd ruin my alibi.
I did it for you.
I love you.
I love you, too.
Drink your tea.
Before it gets cold.
We'll try the church first.
If they're not there,
then the Sharmans.
It was always us
against the world, wasn't it?
Yes, it was.
It's better this way.
What have you done?
One of you two
stay at the gates.
Yes, sir.
Don't worry.
I made yours separately.
There's nothing you can do.
I'm glad you're here.
You're wasting your time.
It'll be over before
anyone can get here.
Hello, Emergency.
Which service do you require?
I can't feel my legs.
It won't take long now.
Pray for us, Daniel.
Will you?
Pray for our sins
and our forgiveness.
I see.
Then stay with us, will you?
Couldn't you at least do that?
The bunker's empty. Come on.
Down there.
You'll never know ♪
Oh, Listen. Just how much ♪
I miss you ♪
You'll never know ♪
Just how much I care ♪
And if I tried ♪
Into your hands, O merciful
savior,
we commend your servants,
Kath and Dora.
Enfold them
in the arms of your mercy.
You ought to know ♪
For haven't I told you so ♪
A million or more times ♪
You went away ♪
And my heart ♪
Peas in a pod.
Peas in a pod.
Police! Open up!
They're in there.
Go on.
Daniel.
Why didn't you tell me
it was Kath?
Would you have believed me
if I had?
I heard what happened.
You know
Kath asked me to pray for her
at the end.
But for a while I
After Anthony was killed, I
stood up in front of everyone
and talked about mercy
for the killer.
Even told Neil
I didn't believe in retribution.
I even lectured the bishop
about God's love
and how it was for everyone,
without judgment or blame.
But when it came to it,
I didn't want to be merciful.
I just wanted to punish her
the only way that I could.
But you didn't, did you?
No.
But there was a moment.
Judgment and blame
was all I wanted for her.
What does that say about me?
Come on.
Sometimes I wonder
if it'd be better
if the past stayed in the past.
I'm not sure that's possible.
Or even desirable.
Sometimes facing up
to the past is a good thing.
Even if it means pain and mess?
Yeah. Even then.
Don't tell me
it's how we grow.
Something like that.
Growing old is compulsory.
Growing up is optional.
What?
You're not the only one
who can find
an apposite quote
when they need it.
No, I I like it.
Oscar Wilde?
Bob Monkhouse.