Admit men into our women's college?
You would invite the wolf inside the citadel?
We cannot underestimate this.
The barbarian is at the gate.
Within this college, we are safe, we are free.
Beyond the pale,we are neither of these things.
We are prey.
Broken neck.
There are woundsadjacent to the jugular.
Bruising at the trauma site suggests the attacker sucked
or attempted to suck her blood.
Still think we got him?
It doesn't mean that...
It means maybe you're not so smart
as you like to give out.
We have a passerby heard someone whistling
along the towpathlast night.
"Antonio," would that be?
That's right. Why?
In here! - Carl Sturgis,
I'm arresting you for the murder
of Bridget Mulcahy.
Examination of the ladder
upon which he stood
shows that it was old and in poor repair.
There are no suspicious circumstances pertaining.
And accordingly, I record a verdict
of death by misadventure.
It's not helpful to reopen the debate.
They're just requesting we speak to the student body.
I just don't understand why they're asking us again.
Of the nearly 40 colleges in Oxford,
only five are open to women.
Five.
And yet, the faculty are once again
entertaining the idea that Lady Matilda's
should open its doors to men.
I say, no. No, no.
Maggie.No. I'm sorry,
Warden.
This is a place of women,
and its precincts should remain inviolate.
It's just a straw poll, Mags, of the student body.
Advisory at best.
Advisory?
Well, this is my advice: drop the idea.
Because I promise you
I will fight any attempt to makethis college coeducational.
I will fight it to my last breath.
There were grounds to believe that the person responsible
for the murder at Corax House
also killed the barmaid Molly Andrews
on the towpath at New Year,
as both women were known to that individual.
It was the flasher threw us off the scent.
Tony Jakobssen had his throat cut.
Completely different M.O.
Of course, it's now clear that Jakobssen was got rid of
because he'd strayed onto the killer's hunting ground.
It's all very well, the Yard picking over our work
with the benefit of hindsight.
Important thing is Carl Sturgis is on remand
at Farnleigh Prison awaiting trial.
He can do no further harm.
That's what matters.
We got him in the end.
We'd have got him a deal soonerif we'd been listened to.
Morse meant well, of course, andhis record speaks for itself.
I'm not suggesting any repercussions for him.
Not for a moment, no, but...
we invested too much faith in his abilities.
Backed his instincts too wholeheartedly.
We gave him his head. Overindulged him.
He was wrong.
And it was a week before he wasdue to walk me down the aisle.
The past year,it's all he talked about.
It was no one's fault--that's what the inquest said--
but I can't helpbut blame myself.
How's that?Money.
We've never been well off,but he did want to make it nice.
The wedding. He was working all the hours.
Sold his big carfor something smaller.
He even cashed in a couple of life policies he had.
He was alone when the accident happened, is that right?
Yeah.
The pulley went on the block and tackle.
Dad had been saying it needed replacing,
but... just never got around to it.
These, uh, freak accidents of yours,
I've taken a look.
There's nothing there as far as I can see.
No grounds for opening an investigation, leastways.
Really?
None of the deceased were known to each other
and there's nothing that links them.
Well, I'd like to keep at it.
Not really our place to go looking for work, is it?
Not when there's real cases going begging.
Well, I think these arereal cases.
Then we'll have to disagree.
We all make mistakes sometimes,get things wrong. Even you.
Is that right?
No shame in it.
Just makes us be double sure of a thing next time.
How did you know about the song, "Antonio"?
How did you know that's what the passerby would have heard?
Because that's what I heard when I followed Sturgis.
That's what he was whistling?That's what I heard.
That's not the same thing.
I lost sight of him and I heard the whistling.
So, it could have been someone else.
No, it couldn't.
We have four peoplecan stand him alibi
the night his girlfriendwas killed.
Four people can put himat that New Year's Eve party
until the early hoursof the morning.They said they did.
Not to mention the taxi driver that dropped him off
and picked him out of a lineup.
It's past debate now.
Is it?
Then how could he be in two places at once?
It was him.Why? Because you say so?
That's right.Well, what about evidence?
What about Molly Andrews's crucifix, for example?
We've turned his place upside down
and we couldn't find a thing. Not a thing.
It's Sturgis. He's been chargedand there's an end of it.
Well, I hope you're right. Really, I do.
But I think a juryare gonna want
more than your gutwhen it comes to court.
And I'm not wrong.These freak accidents?
They are connected.
Ah. About time.
I don't think I'll ever quite get used to this place.
It's not as if I can come to your house.
He might drop by.
Five months-- she should be back soon,
shouldn't she? Your friend?
New Year sometime.
What does she do again?
She's a dancer.
Where?
Some discotheque in Beirut. Why?
Does it matter?
No, I don't suppose so.
"Come in, number 23. Your time is up."
Mm. What's that?
Oh, nothing.
It's something they say on the boating lake
when you've had your hour.
You know how it works.
Ludo and I might be away.
Did I say?For Christmas.
Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Skiing.
Nice.
It won't always be this way.
Well, we will have to tell him,sooner or later.
The longer it goes on...
It would kill him.
We're all adults.
These things happen.
It's nobody's fault.
It's funny.
I think it's you he'd mind losing.
Far more than me.
I'm sure you'll have made plans of your own,
but you're very welcome to haveChristmas lunch here with us.
Oh, you're here, are you?
I didn't hear you come in.
Joan should be home.
Thursday.And we're hoping that, uh,Sam might get leave.
When?You know,it's nothing extravagant,
Where?but it's just enough foodfor everybody.
And the childrenget out a game or two,
for after the queen and...
Fred has a doze in front of the big film.Right.
We've got to go.
I haven't done your sandwiches.
They'll have to keep.
Mrs. Thursday.
There's been another one along the towpath.
Sir. Morse.
Cyclist found her about an hour and half ago.
Undergrad from Lady Matilda's, looks to be.
Name of Petra Cornwell. 19.
Her digs are a quarter mileup the towpath.
Anything from witnesses, passersby?
Nobody's come forward as yet.
Nobody heard the, the whistling or...?
As I say,it's too early.
Doctor?
Time of death between
eight to 12 hours.
At first glance, cause of death
would appear to beasphyxia by means of
manual strangulation.
Not like the last one, then?
Well...No blood.
No blood-drinking.
That's something, isn't it?
I mean, that, that's something?
Let's not.
How's that? Let's not what?
Oh, it doesn't matter.
No, no. Let's not what?
Well, let's not clutch at straws to save our blushes.
Three women, one man.It's the same killer for all.
Whoever killed Molly Andrews killed this young woman.
Oh, yeah?
You'd like that to be true, wouldn't you?
Show me up, "The old man's losing his touch"-- that it?
What... I didn't, I didn't say that.
You don't need to.
But before you get all high and mighty,
let's not forget you had all this down
for Naomi Kane's killer.
Yes, I know.
But if we're being honestabout it,
it comes to somethinglike this,
you've never really had thatmuch touch to lose, have you?
Morse...Well, it's true.
This is what I get, is it?
I've stuck my neck out for you more than you know.
Yes, of course you have.Who wouldn't?
With bank robberies,
car thieves, yeah, there's no one better.
But something that demandsa little bit of intellect,
or a little bitof finesse, then...
Arrogant, conceited...
Gentlemen!
You will conduct yourselves with decorum and the solemnity
appropriateto this situation,
or you will findsome other place to stand!
You want tocarry on like that,
you find yourselfanother pathologist.
Am I understood?
Max, I'm sorry I...
Am I understood?
Then we shall say 2:00.
That's the face we want to showthe world now, is it?
Washing out our dirty smalls
in front of respected friends and colleagues?
God almighty, what's the matterwith you?
Well...
I hope you're both pleased with yourselves.
I'll put in for a transfersoon as this is over.
Banbury or Kidlington.
I think we've taken it as far as we can, you and I.
Yeah, I think that's about right, for the best.
You said McNutt is at Kidlington.
Maybe you could put in a good word for me?
Oh, my word's good enough for that, then?
You want to be on your way, don't stay on my account.
I'm not,I'm staying for her.
And for the restof them.
But don't worry, soon asthis is over, I'll be gone.
Fair enough.
I'll get a patrol car back to the nick,
report to Mr. Bright.
You can talk to her college, right?
Dr. Byrne.Yes?
I'm Detective Sergeant Morse,Thames Valley.
I have it fromthe admissions officer
that you are tutorto a Petra Cornwell.
I am.
What? What is it?
I am sorry.Are you?
Then why can't you stop it?
Well, we try.Well, try harder.
These are your friends doing this.
Your brothers, fathers.
She was just lovely.
Beautiful and...
clever.
And kind, just...
Just lovely. I...
I don't know what to say.
Maggie? Love, what's wrong?
Hey.
What's going on?
It's the police. There's...
I'm sorry, I can't say it.It's all right.
I'm afraid an undergradhas been found on the towpath,
beneathPort Meadow Bridge.
It's Petra.
Petra Cornwell?
Wait a minute, I thoughtyou'd caught the Towpath Killer?
He's in prison, isn't he?
Four victims across the last 11 months.
The first, Molly Andrews,
was found here on New Year's Eve.
The second, whom we now believe to have been killed
because he was queering the Towpath Killer's pitch,
was Tony Jakobssen, a cook from the Working Men's Club.
Third
was Bridge Mulcahy at the end of June.
She was killed
here, on the way home from her boyfriend's.
So far, she's the only one
with this blood-drinking business.
Now we've got this undergraduatefrom Lady Matilda's,
Petra Cornwell.
No blood business there? - No, sir.
Untouched,in that regard.
No way.
She lived in digs.
Yes. With two other girls, I think.
What's this?
The faculty has decided to hold a referendum.
Whether Lady Matilda'sshould admit men to college.
Will it pass?Over my dead body.
I'm sorry, that was a dreadful choice of words.
I will need to speak to her flatmates.
Of course.
Did she have any enemies?
Any that you know of?
She was a pretty,
19-year-old woman
with a happy disposition,
and not a malicious thought in her head.
Does thatinvite enemies?
It certainlyinvites attention,
of a kind that isn'tnecessarily welcome.
Sorry, how's that?
Petra made a formal complaintlast month, about a fellow
at Corax House.
It's a scientific department,it's attached
to Cardinal College...Yes, I know it.
What was the nature of the complaint?
And about whom?
I was just helping her downfrom a ladder.
She said you grabbed her breastand made a lewd comment.
It's justa misunderstanding.
She had big knockers,you know, proper Hindenburgs.
Anyway, she span aroundon this ladder,
and one of those thingscollided with my hand,
and all I said was,so as not to embarrass her,
I just made light of it;I said, "Well, you don't get
many of those for the pound,do you, love?"
And that didn't improve the situation?
Oh, did it buggery?
Uh, it wasa joke, man.
Only she didn't seethe funny side, did she?
And made a mountainout of a molehill.
But what do you expect?These bloody Matildabeests.
Stuff they fill their headswith these days.
Card carrying members
of the comfy shoe brigade,that's what they are.
And where were you last night, for the record?
Well, I wasn't on the towpathgiving Petra Cornwell what for,
I can tell you that.
It's awfulwhat happened to her.
Truly. I wouldn't wish iton my worst enemy,
but... nothing to dowith me.
Sir?
Sturgis's lawyers have calledfor the case to be dismissed,
and forhis immediate release.
Neither Division nor the Crownwill oppose the request.
Today...
of all days.
Sir?
My wife returns from the United States.
Any news on how the treatment went, sir?
Well, it was experimental, but, uh...
we're hopeful.
It ishim, sir.
That's nothow Division sees it.
We have to facethe facts, Thursday.
We got it wrong.
Desperately,hideously so.
We got it wrong,and the Towpath Killer
remains at large.
I've lost my job, my livelihood.
My name's been dragged through the mud.
The police knew I hadn't done it,
but they went through with this whole charade.
Do you mean to take actionagainst them?
I've spoken to my solicitor, Mr. Vholes,
and he's advised me that I'm reserving my position.
And what makes me sick
is that while they had me locked up in prison,
the real Towpath Killer has been free to strike again,
and that's unforgivable.
I just hope they catch him this time. Thank you.
Mr. Sturgis...
He's not wrong.But you were.
The boyfriend of the first victim?
He always seemed too obvious to me.
Mm, and he hadan alibi.
So I've been told. Your freak accidents,
it's a no go, I'm afraid.
People have accidents, people die.
What do you want me to say?
I don't know,that I'm not going mad.
That there's somethingto my story.
That youhaven't given up.
Have you? Given up?
I don't think you're going mad.
Well, that's a relief.
Because I think I've found more.
So I started to wonderif it was something
just happening here in Oxford,
or if there was something further afield.
And?
And I turned up nearly a dozen fatal accidents
in Dover and Uttoxeter in the past year.
Off your patch, I thought it might be worth a look.
This is Oxford, though. I was at the inquest.
A Mr. and Mrs. Jones.
They'd only had the balcony painted a week or two before.
Did anybody see him fall?The wife.
She was crossing to the car, just below,
he came out onto the balcony
to wave her off. It gave way.
Insurance found the bolts had rusted through.
They had no reason to thinkit wasn'tan accident?
Well, I can't imagine they'd have paid out otherwise.
Oh, why?Did she get much?
He left her looked after,
but it'd be a different story if it had been herwho fell.
How's that?
Their son had got into debt,
so she sold her life policy without telling her husband.
Right. And if she'dgone off the balcony,
then Mr. Joneswouldn't have earned a thing.
Not a sous.
Right.
Miss Tate?
I wondered if, uh, I might talk to you for a moment?
I went to the Working Men's Club,
they said you were no longer there.
I couldn't. Not after everything.
You were very brave.
No. I'm bad luck.
No, I'm sure that's not the case.
I wondered if I mighthave a word with you.
Yeah.
I just wantedto ask you
about what happened with Molly Andrews
on the towpath at New Year.
You didn't see anything...No.
...with Tony?
No. I said.
I just want to put all that behind me.
What about the second girl?
Bridget Mulcahy. Did you see anything?
Anything at all?I just...
just want to be left alone.Please.
Another girl was killedon the towpath last night.
Did you see something?
There's nothing I can tell you.
All right.
Okay. I'm sorry to have troubled you.
What's in there?
Nothing.
Please don't.
Don't go in there,please.
Please don't.It's all right. It's all right.
What is it?Is that what you see?
I thought if I could get it out...
out of my head, it would stop.
But it hasn't.
And what's the tin foil for?
To keep it trapped.
"It"?
Him.
Who is he?
He comes when I'm not looking.
I can smell him first.
Like a... burning smell.
Then I'll catch him out of the corner of my eye.
But if you turn too quick, he disappears.
I know he's not there.
He can't be.
But he must be, mustn't he, if I can see him?
What, can you see him now?
Miss Tate,there's nobody there.
It's all right. It's okay.
Shh, shh, shh, shh. There's nobody there.
There's no one there.
I'm really concerned about your well-being.
I don't think you should be here alone.
Is there anybody I could call?
A family member or...
No, no, no.
No, there's nobody.
Please don't tell anyone about this.
I don't want doctors.
They've put me away before,
and I know what those places are like.
Please.
There, now. There.
Get out if it before you get my toe up your arse. Getcha!
All right, all right. It's all right.
We grew up in a big pub.
Huge. On the corner of the street; four floors.
On Sundays, in the afternoons after closing,
Cousin Kevin would have us all play hide and seek.
Only "I Like Necks" he called it.
'Cause if he got you,
he'd hold you down and pin a bigfat, wet raspberry on your neck.
Making out it was alla big joke and a game.
I don't think it was, altogether, a game.
Not to him.
He'd count to a hundred, and we'd all run off
and find somewhere to hide.
I hid in my aunt's wardrobe once,
and it was all fur coats and that.
Stoles you call them?
Ones made out to look like foxes
or some other animal.
Their paws hanging down. Glass eyes and wire.
There was this handbag smell, stale.
Perfume and lipstick and old sweets
mixed up with mints and cigarettes.
Hello? Let me out.
Somebody must have shut the door
and turned the key because...
I couldn't...
And I screamed and screamedand screamed till I was gasping.
I must have inhaled a feather or some fur.
I sucked it in gasping and I...
...couldn't breathe.
Next thing I...
...wake up in my bed, and it's gone tea time.
I can hear them in the bar downstairs opening up.
Must have fainted.
Or had one of my turns that I have.
Where is he now?
Kevin?
Dead.
They all died.
There was a fire.
I was the only one to get out.
A fireman found me, but...
everyone else died.
There. There now.
Oh...
Oh, I'm happy to be home.
I have missed you, Puli, so much.
And I you, my dear. And I you.
Was it very bloody?
Desperately.
But Dr. Schneider says the indications are good.
The X-rays show shrinkage in both lungs.
He's hopeful the treatment may have triggered
some kind of remission.
That's wonderful news, my dear.
Just... just wonderful.
Fred...
I warned her.
That's the thing of it, I warned her.
Warned who?
Bridget.
A day or two before it happened,
I was down the towpath
she was gonna meet her boyfriend on.
I got talking to her.
Told her she shouldn't be walking
on her own down there.
Should have stuck to my guns from the off.
Well, why didn't you?
People thought different.
What people?
Sorry, I should have called.
Not at all, not at all. Is everything all right?
Yes.
Do you have something to drink?Of course.
Wine or...Whiskey, if you've got it.
Yes.
What's all this?
Oh, um, that's work.
Looks very gruesome.
Catalogue of bizarre accidents?
Well, maybe. Maybe not.
If they're not accidents, then we have something
very sinister on our hands.
So, what is it? What's wrong?
Oh...
You're my friend, aren't you?
I mean, I like to think so.
I need your help. Advice.
About what?
My wife. It's mad, I know,
but she's...
these past few months...
I think she's seeing someone; someone else.
What gives you reasonto think that?
She's been... I don't know.
Since we got back from Monte, something's changed.
But you were in Antibesover the summer.
How was that?
Twin beds.
She says I snore. I don't snore.
Well, have you spokento her about it?
I'm afraid.
What does one say?
Well, I'm afraid I'm...
I'm the last person you should ask about this.
I'm sure it'll be all right.
Give her some time to think about things.
You know, give her some space.
Yes. Yes, perhaps you're right.
Thank you.
You're a good friend, Morse.
Carry on, girls.
A few more laps.
Aye-aye. Looks likeI might've
gotten you out on a wild goose chase, mate.
Accident. Right, Doc?
Looks that way.
She's come up the
library ladder for something, to the top of the bookcase,
She's reached for whatever she's reached for.
The ladder slipped...
...and she's fallen and struck her head
on the bust.
Just a freak accident?
I noticed the brakeon the casters
appeared somewhat unreliable.
What time of death?
About midnight.
And everything was justas you found it, was it?
Exactly as you found it?Yeah.
Why?
Does she have any family that we can inform?
Both her parents are gone,
and, uh, she was an only child,unmarried.
So I believe she made provision
for her estate to come to the college.
There won't be much.
Her house is heavilymortgaged,
and whatever insuranceand savings she had
went on the deposit.
How's that?
She redeemed a couple of policies--
life and annuity--
to make what she had to put down on the house.
Is there any news on Petra?
Oh, I'm afraid not.
Well, whoever he is, he's taken his last Matildabeest.
If you can't keep us safe,the village will defend itself.
Uh, I wouldn't advise taking matters into your own hands.
We'll do whatever we have to,
but I swear, no more of us will die.
Morse!
What's all this?
There's, um, there's been an accident.
A-A fatal accident.
What you doing here?
We have an appointment with the bursar
to discuss a charity concert for Ludo's foundation.
Ah.
But perhaps this isn't the best time.
Sir. Um, Detective ChiefInspector Thursday,
this is Mr. and Mrs. Talenti.
Ludo, please.
Ludo?That's right.
Like the game.
It's short for Ludovico, but yes, exactly that.
And what are they to do with here?
Uh, nothing, sir.
Mr. and Mrs. Talenti are just friends of mine.
They're here to see the bursar.
Well, if you'll excuse us.
Detective Chief Inspector, Morse.
It was lovely to meet you.Madam.
Well?
An accident, apparently.
She fell from a ladderwhilst reaching for a book.
So, where does "apparently" come in?
The lights were off.
Hard to look find a bookin the dark, I'd have thought.
You think someone turned them off after she'd fallen?
No, I think it's one of DorotheaFrazil's freak accidents.
We've been through that. There's nothing there.
Just as likely, whoever found the body or whichever uniform
was first on scene, not that you'd get them to admit it,
but it happens.Well, it shouldn't.
Well, it does.
You can't build a case that someone's going round Oxford
killing random strangers out of one light switch not being on.
Anything from the towpath?
No.
Matter of fact, I think we've probably
got enough bodies on that.
I spoke to McNutt.
He's got a spot on his firm comes free after Christmas.
Wait.
You're taking me off the towpath case?
Yeah.
Well, there we are.Ah, well, you can't.
If you want to catch him, then you need me.
I need someone I can stand on.
I am a bagman, not a yes-man.
I'm here to keep you on the straight and narrow,
and tell you when I think you'rebarking up the wrong tree.
That is my job.
Not anymore. I'm appointing Siddle bagman.
You're off, I need to get someone else house-broken.
No time like the present.
Right.
"Misanthrope." 30 across, 11 letters.
"Like Scrooge, he rouses phantom's ire."
I was saving that.
No, you weren't.
You were stuck.
Anything morefrom the bundle I gave you?
Well, I've been goingthrough Dover
and Uttoxeter,
but I've just come from Lady Matilda's.
I think we've got another one.
Dr. Nancy Deveen. Fallen from a ladder.
That pub fire I called you about, did you get anything?
Uh, nothing that mentioned a Jenny Tate.
I did find a report from 1949.
The Wolf's Head at Watlington.
Three children--two girls and a boy,
orphans-- living with an aunt,an uncle, and a cousin.
What happened?
All killed, bar one of the little girls:
Phyllis Linden.
Suspicion was thatshe had set the fire.
Charges were never brought, but she was found to be
severely disturbed and...
put away.
Yeah.
Well, she could've changed her name, I suppose.
Wouldn't you?
Anyway, it's all in there, everything I could find.
Now if you'll excuse me...
Mm.
I'd better get over to Lady M's.
Keep me posted.Right. I will.
Thank you for this.
Come on!
Come on, ladies!Murderer!
Bastard!
Don't let him get away!
Who is he?
Man called Clemens, sir. David Clemens.
Works at the Morris plant.Keep-fit fanatic.
Clemens. Why does that name seem familiar?
He found the first body. Or so he claims.
Molly Andrews, the barmaid.
His flat is a virtual museum to the crime.
Newspaper cuttings all over the place.
How is he?
In a coma.
Are you all right?
Yes.
No.
I don't know.
It's all just, uh...
I was fine, and then...
that whistle.
It must have beenthe last thing Petra heard.
It's horrible.
Well, we did it, matey.
I think "we" is stretching it.
Whoever did it, it's done.
"In Dublin's fair city."
That's what Clemens was whistling,
according to Dr. Byrne.
"Molly Malone," not "Antonio."
Why do you thinkthat is?
Oh, no, no, no. Oh, no, you bloody don't.
If he was whistling something else,
it's because he changed his tune.
Just go home and get some sleep, all right?
Morse.
It's Ludo. I need your help.
Why? What is it? What's wrong?
I've booked a table at Augusto's for 1:00 tomorrow.
I'll see you there.
Right.
See you tomorrow.
I see you were on the George Fontayne case.
Boy went missingfrom Pierton in 1949.
Oh, yeah.
We did a review of it for Countyten years on in '59.
Kidnapping, it was assumed,
though no note ever came and the kid was never found.
Anyone suspect?
The usual. Child molesters and the like.
We pulled them in again during the review,
but it didn't go anywhere.
What do you think happened?
Somebody took him, most likely.
Or he drowned.
Lots of waterways round there. And he liked to play out.
Canals and rivers were dragged at the time,
but without success.
What's your interest?
Just something I'm looking at.
Thought you'd be down the pub
with the rest.Lukewarm draft
and a handful of backsidefrom the typing pool? No thanks.
Let them enjoy themselves. We got our man.
Wedidn't get him.
I don't think there's anything to celebrate.
But I'm sure they'll be ruttingin the streets by daybreak.
They don't need any encouragement from me.
Maybe the way they let off steamis a bit loud, a bit vulgar,
but at least you can tell they're alive.
You stand there
and you look down your nose at everyone.
You're no better than any of them.
I didn't say that I was.You don't have to.
It's the way you carry yourself.
Nobody's good enough.
No, there was one person.
But he lost his way.
You've leave outstanding.
Upstairs would like you to take it before you go.
You don't have to come back in.
You should've appointed Strange bagman.
Think I didn't ask?
What a very smart man I married.
You look terribly dashing.
My dear, you were never lovelier.
Oh, I think I was.
Not to me.
And I should know.
Shall you be long?
Just trot up to division, statement to the press.
Back in time for the 6:00 news and a lime juice and gin.
I'm very proud of you, Puli.
I thought I might buy a tree
and get our Christmas decorations up.
I don't want you going up into the attic.
There's no need. I had Robin do it for me.
Robin?
That nice young man with the faith healers.
He even tested the lights, and they're working.
Oh, well, if Robin thinks so.
Then I shall nip outto Richardson's
and fetch you something specialfor your supper.
Now, you're not to go to any fuss on my account.
You've taken care of me so well this past year--
these past years.
You've always looked after me.
And I always shall.
Good afternoon.
Thank you.
What is it, what's wrong?
Morse?
Darling?
I ordered champagne.
I hope that's all right.
A toast, I think.
What shall we drink to,friendship?
Love? Fidelity?
Ludo.
Quite right.
How remiss of me.
Of course, we should drink to you.
A rose between two thorns.
My darling wife.
You're not drinking?
What's, um...?
What's going on?
There's no getting anything past you, is there?
I was visiting a friend at the Swedish embassy.
He had to take a meeting with the Minister
of Meatballs or whatever it might be,
so I thought, as I had time to kill,
I would call you.
I wanted to thank you for your recent advice.
But I'm afraid I told a white lie.
Oh, yes?
I told the officer at Castle Gate
that I was a Swedish policeman,
who needed to speak to you as a matter of some urgency.
They gave me a number where I could reach you.
Only... I was puzzled.
Because it was a number I recognized.
Pronto, hello?
Who is this?
What
was my wife doing at the end of a telephone number
where I believed I could find you?
And at an address known to me.
What was it you said?
"I'm sure it'll be all right.
Just give her space."
So thoughtful.
Such concern.
What a friend.
What a pal.
We didn't mean to hurt you.
Oh, well, that's all right then.
I mean, if you'd meant it, that'd be different, but...
These things, they happen.
Not to me.
The heart decides.
Does it?
I am sorry.
No.
You're not.
He knows now.
It's over.
You can come with me.
It's finished.
She's used to the finest, Morse.
A policeman...
Please.
I don't love you.
I don't feel anything for you.
I never did.
It was a mistake.
And there we are.
It's for the best...
my love.
Detective Chief Inspector Thursday, please.
Dorothea Frazil of the Oxford Mail.
Fred?
It's Dorothea.
Look, um, if this has come through to you already,
you know what I'm calling about.
If not...
I thought you'd want to hear it from me first.
Right.
Wonderful, marvelous spectacle!
The-the elephant covered in paint,
my wife holding
its tether, absolutely drenched from head to toe
with water from its trunk, do you see.
If I might speakto you a moment, sir.
Yes, of course.
In your office, perhaps?
Really?
Well, yes.
Yes.
Yes, of course, if you, uh,
if you think that's best.
Excuse me.
Drink, hmm?
Why not?
You know, I always took a dim view of, uh,
officers who took a drink during the working day,
but the older I get, I can see it's a practice
not without its--It's your wife, sir.
Hmm?
Dorothea Frazil just telephoned my office.
There's been an accident.
What?Your wife, sir.
Yes, I know my wife, Mrs. Bright.
What, what? What are you saying?
I'm very sorry, sir.
She seems to have been hanging Christmas decorations.
She, uh...
...looks to have taken a shock, sir.
An electric shock.
It's fatal, sir.
But...
No, you see, I-I was only
with her at home,
not an hour since-- there must be some sort...
I'm very sorry, sir.
No, she'll be at, at home.
You see, she'll...
I can soon
straighten this out.
It just takes her a while to get to the phone, you see.
Sir... It's quite a way, from, uh,
from one part of the house to the hall.
That's where we keep the, um...
...the instrument.
Of course she may have gone upstairs.
Yes, I'll, I'll call back.
Uh, that's it, I'll...
I'll call back.
I-I wouldn't want her to, uh...
Try again in a few moments.
She'll be there then.
She's not near the phone, you see.
That's...
That's what it is.
He's in a terrible state.
I'm not surprised.
What happened?
You've heard.
Some fault with the wiring, so far as we can make out.
Just a...What, a freak accident?
Don't start in with that nonsense again.
Have some respect.
It's not nonsense.I've looked at it.
It's nothing-- there was nothing there.
There was only nothing there,
because we didn't know the why of it.
I didn't know the why of it.
But now I do,at least I think I do.
You're not dragging Mrs. Bright into it.
I'm telling you.
You want to run with this rubbish,
do it on McNutt's meter.
You're done here, go home.
So?
What's the caper?
Right.
Let's say you have an insurance policy worth,
I don't know, 10,000 pounds,
which they'll pay to your nearest and dearest
upon your decease.Yeah, yeah, I've got one.
Well, you have to in this game, don't you?
Never know what's gonna happen.
Cover your funeral, what have you.
So you pay off your policy over so many weeks,
over so many years, and then when you...
Bingo, break out the best bitter and the ham sandwiches.
But let's say you wanteda smaller sum in a rush.
3,000 pounds, say.
What you've paid into the policyso far isn't gonna come near.
So my company comes along, gives you the 3,000 pounds,
which is more than you'd get
if you were to simply redeem the policy.
I give you the money,you give me the policy.
I continuepaying the premiums.
And then when you die...
You get the 10,000 pounds.
Yep.Sounds harmless.
Well, it isif I'm willing to let you
live out yourthree score and ten.
But what if I want a quicker return?
Let's say I buy for 3,000,
and then a year later, I cash in for ten?
But you can't cash in.
Unless the original holder of the policy
can be persuaded to die.
Or helped on their way.
Right, so what do we usually ask in these situations?
Who benefits? Who gets the money?
Exactly, husband kills the wife,
claims the insurance, or wife kills the husband.
But what if they're complete strangers?
They've hadthe barest of contact.
So someone's going aroundbuying life insurance policies.
Mm-hmm.And collecting on them by making sure
the sellers die in what, to all intents and purposes,
look like freak accidents.
Mm-hmm.
So who's behind it?
Well, I don't know, not yet.
How do you want to play it?
Well, I have to take a run outto Watlington on another matter,
but I've a bundle of thesecase files in my car.
And it's been happeningelsewhere-- there was a cluster
in, um, in Leicester over the summer.
Want to split?
Yeah, what we're trying to establish
is if the deceased has sold a life insurance policy.
Then we can work our way backwards.
I'll meet youat the end of the day,
at a place calledAspen Park Drive.
It's the closest locationof these freak accidents.
Oh, and Strange?
Thank you.
Oh, I remember Joe and Bess.
They had the tenancy of the Wolf just before me, uh...
died in that terrible fire.
I did the odd stint behind the bar for 'em when I was young.
And what about the children that were here, orphans?
Ah, Bess's sister's kids, the Lindens?
Sweet they were.
The little girls, Phyllis and Doris.
I was never too keen on the boy, mind.
Johnny, would that be?That's right.
Yeah, I didn't shed any tears over him.Really? How come?
Well, I don't know. Some kids, don't know...
You can't put your finger on it,
but he had a nasty streak.
Did he? In what way?
Cruel to animals.
Pets. He blinded Joe's dog with lye.
Nobody could prove anything, but that was the talk.
I always thought it wasthe Sturgis side coming through.
Sturgis?
Their maternal grandfather.
Old Noah Sturgis. Bargee.
About as nasty a piece of work as you could wish to meet
and Johnny was every inch his grandson.
Hello?
Anybody home?
Yes. What do you think you're doing coming into my house?
Uh, the door was open.So, what?
Doesn't give you the right to goprowling round. Who are you?
Mr. Sturgis, isn't it?
Detective Sergeant Strange, Thames Valley.
What do you want? I'm clear of the towpath killings.
Hadn't you heard? This is harassment.
I'm not here about that. This is, uh,
another matter.
I-I'd no thought to find you here.
You've, uh, moved, then?
This your place, is it?
I'm looking after it.
For who?
A family friend.
Kettle's on.
Can I offer you a drink? Tea or...?
If you're having one.
I never drink tea.
Coffee man, are you?
After my own heart.
Milk and two, if there's one going.
Sure. Won't be a minute.
So, what's this about?
There was a fella lived here.
Fell off the roof.
Freak accident.
We're, uh,
looking into it.
Trying to trace any members of his family.
I don't know about that.
Funny that it should be you living here.
Just, uh,
just you, is it?
On the premises?
Yeah. Just me.
Here you go.
It's all right. It's all right.You're safe now.
Jim?
Jim! Jim.
You all right?Get after him.
Where is he? Which way?
It's all right, miss.
He'll get him.
How is he?
He'll come through, sir.
Doctor.
Don't do anything by halves, your boys, do they?
If a thing's worth doing.
I'd sooner he was alive.
Morse?
With the girl.
How is she?
Physically? She's lost a little blood.
There are bite marks to her inner forearm,
but, thankfully, he'd not muchthere to get his teeth into.
Mentally?
I don't think she had far to fall.
He said he was hungry.
I know.But that's finished now.
The ambulance menwill look after you.
A-A hospital? I don't want to go to a hospital.
No. No, no. Come on.
It's not, it's not,it's not that kind of hospital.
He's gone.It's done.
You're gonna be all right.
You found her.
Oh, Strange found her.
But you put him onto the place.
No. It was blind luck.
What was Sturgis doing here?
The undertakersthat he works for?
Duxbury's.Mm.
The man who owns the place,man called Aspen,
Duxbury's looked after the funeral arrangements.
I can only imagine he died intestate and the solicitors
are trying to trace any living relatives.
So Sturgis found himself a cozy little bolt-hole.
Well, not socozy.
Remember those cats going missing
from the start of the year?
Turning up disemboweled?
So that was him?
Then he moved on to people.
Molly Andrews, Tony Jakobssen,
Bridget Mulcahy.
Yes?
Yeah. It was him.
That could be Molly's crucifix.
Yeah, it could be.
It's like she was the practice piece.
He got bolder with Tony,
and more depraved with Bridget.
But he didn't kill them all.
Not the last one, not Petra.
So that fella in a comain the hospital,
the one that attacked Dr. Byrne?
Clemens. A copycat?
Maybe finding Molly Andrews's body
sparked something latent in him.
I don't know.
So, who was he, Carl Sturgis?
I think he was Jenny's brother,Johnny Linden.
Uh, there was a fire in the pubwhen they were children
in which Johnnysupposedly perished.
Jenny, or Phyllis,as she was then, got the blame.
But I thinkthe real culprit was Johnny.
Why?
Well, they seem to have been tormented
by their older cousin Kevin.
But to be honest, I think Johnnywas already pretty damaged.
He seemed to have a taste for cruelty to animals,
which I think graduated to other prey.
George Fontayne.
I think he killed him,
then set the fire to the pub to cover his tracks.
And these, uh, visions
Jenny had of what happened on the towpath?
How do they fit in?
I don't know.
Maybe she had a mental connection with her brother.
Hello, Phyl.
You don't remember me.
I'd know you anywhere.
I looked for you so long.
Who are you?
Have I changed so much?
It's me, sis. It's Johnny.
Maybe it was a way of manifesting bad memories.
She may have seen more than she realized as a little girl.
Yeah. She may.
But it's all theory, isn't it?
Plus gut feeling and a hunch.
What was it brought you here?
You don't want to know.
Strange'll tell you.
When do you startat Kidlington?
New year. Fourth of Jan.
Like you said, it's for the best.
Siddle.
The inquest into the death of Pippa Tetbury, age 23,
of 15 Stamboul Lane, Witney,
today recorded a verdict of misadventure.
The coroner reached the conclusion that somehow
Miss Tetbury, a dancer lately returned from Beirut,
had pulled down a wall-mounted...
She should be back soon, shouldn't she, your friend?
New Year sometime.
What does she do again?
She's a dancer.
Where?
Some discotheque in Beirut. Why?
What does it matter?
"The sum of 2,500 pounds
"was transferred today into your bank account,
"being the full settlement hitherto agreed
for the acquisition of your life policy."
I need to talk to you, sir.
About what?
Mrs. Bright.What about her?
It's about these freak accidentsof Dorothea Frazil's.
Not that again.I think I've gotto the bottom of it.
I think it's to dowith life insurance.What?!
Oh, Morse. Good heavens.Sir.
We're losing you to Kidlington,I understand.
Yes, sir.
Uh, yes, sir.
Yes.
My... my deepestcondolences, sir.
Yes. Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.
That's tremendously...
kind of you; I was only saying to DCI Thursday
how awfully kind everyone's been.
I, uh...
really didn't expect...
Yeah.
I don't think it wasan accident, sir.
What-what's this?
What-what-what wasn't an accident?
Nothing, sir.
Did your wife get ridof any of her financial...
assets lately?
Specificallyher life insurance.
Because if she did...
I fear whoeverbought it from her
may have had a handin her death.
What do you mean? What-wha...
What does he mean?
Thursday, do you know what he's talking about?
Not exactly, sir. Morse.
I think shemay have been killed.
I think shemay have been murdered, sir.
How dare you?
What is this?
How dare you? You come...
in here...He's wrong, sir. Of course he is.
Are you gone mad?
Why would you say such a cruel and wicked thing?
Because I believe itto be true, sir.
Get out.
Get out of my station.
You have no business here.
Go on, get out.
I don't want you here.
Murdered.
It was an accident.
Right.An accident.
I never heard anything so grotesque-- Thursday,
get him out!Sir.
You have to bein the right, don't you?
Have to have the last word.What's the matter with you?
You want to take a look at yourself.
I want to take a look at myself?
If you had your mind on the joband not on this flighty piece,
you might not bein such a mess.Sorry, what flighty piece?
I saw you together in the summer,
parked down by the canal.
I ran the registration.
Car's in her husband's name: Talenti.
Well...
you had no right to do that.
Maybe not. But nor had you.
They come easy, don't they?
The lies, once they start.
I'm afraid.
I can't save you.
Then no one can.
Results are in.
The barbarian is deniedthe citadel.
You kept them out,Maggie.
Wekept them out.
But for how long?
One day at a time.
See you in the New Year.
Why don't you call him?
Well...
he'll be with his people, I expect.
Oh, good heavens.
This is a surprise.Well,
just thought I'd see how you were, sir.
Christmas and all.Oh...
I've...
never gone in for it much...
myself.
Carrie did...
Mrs. Bright, but, um,
You should have come to us, sir.
You'd have been more than welcome.
Yes, you did offer, and, uh...
and it was very kind of you, but I-I couldn't...
face people, I suppose.
Drink?
Please.Yeah.
I, uh, went by Morse's.
Oh? Doing your rounds?How is he?
No reply. Place in darkness.
Well, if you do see him...
Well, you'll knowwhat to say.
I wasn't at my bestwhen I last saw him.
Understandable, sir.
Even so.
He's been very good with me, past five years,
one way or another.
We didn't get off to the best of starts,
but I like to think I've...
I've unbent somewhat.
He was right,you know.
We did redeem our life insurance policies,
both of us, so we could afford the trip to America.
I won't have any of the rest of it, but, um...
...yeah, he was... he was right about that.
What's this?
It's for our Joan. Forwarded.
I've opened them in case they're important.
It's from Morse.
There's a letter.
Go on, then.
"Dear Miss Thursday,
"contained herein are materials
"that I ask you bring to the attention
"of your father.
"All he needsto understand
"is here enclosed.
"To my lasting regret,
"we parted on poor terms.
"The fault was mine entirely.
He has ever been..."
I can't.
"He has ever been
"the best and wisest of men,
"and a better friend to me
"than I could have wished for or deserved.
"I let him down.
"I'm sorry to presume
THURSDAY and MORSE: "upon you, but I've burnt
"all my bridges,
"and you are the last and only person I can think of
"who might extend to me the benefit of the doubt.
"Please forgive my brevity.
"I have to make the boat train to Venice.
"There's never the time to say all that one would wish.
As you will no doubt hear,
I have made an appalling mess of things.
Much of it I can't put right,
but I should have failed even further
were I not to try to retrieve
what I can from a situation wholly of my own making.
Should I fall short,
and things end badly...
please believe me to have been...
yours, always...
Morse.
My father took me there when I was a girl.
And I go back everyNew Year's Eve to remember him.
It is my pilgrimage.
Do you believe in sin?
No.
Damnation?
It's a bit late for that, isn't it?
Violetta?
What do you want?What I want?
I want an explanation, Senora Talenti.
If, if that's even your real name.
I mean, I know that your presence wasn't required
to stand up all of these freak accidents
in every particular.
What do you want me to say?
I want you to say that you're sorry.
That'swhat I want you to say.
Of course I'm sorry.
I tried to tell you so many times.
I told you I was afraid.
You remember? In the car,when you met me that first time
alone in Oxford.No, you didn't say that.
You didn't. You said that you were scared
of losing something good.
I was frightened to tell you the truth.
How could I?
The terrible thingshe made me do.Oh, come on.
You don't understand.Spare me.
I had to.He would have killed me
if I hadn'tgone along with it.
Morse...
No. Don't, don't do that.
It's done.
That's finished, that's, that's over.
If it was ever even true to begin with.
Anyway, I'm here to take you both in.
It's Ludo you want.
I can give him to you.
And I will.
But if I do that, you have to give me 24 hours
before you come after me.
If we ever meant anything to one another.
Well, well, what a pleasant surprise.
How was itto be, Morse?
Was she to betray mewith a kiss?
"24 hours." Wasn't thatyour squalid little bargain?
Her pricefor selling me out.
What have you done with her?
Oh, please.Such drama.
Fear not.She'll be along.
Wouldn't want herto miss the end.
This isthe end.
I'm here to take you in.
Aren't youforgetting something?
We are beyondyour jurisdiction.
Well, you can tell that to the Italian police
while I'm organizing your extradition.
Tell them what, exactly?
About the people that you've killed.
I've killed no one.My hands are innocent of blood.
Spotless. Just like my conscience.
Buyingthe life insurance policies
wasmy little wheeze, certainly.
But it was fate spun the wheel...
with a little help from my glamorous assistant.
We all have our entrancesand our exits, Morse.
Our parts to play.
Even you.
Why? What was my part?
You weremy useful idiot.
My pet policeman.
Enough. Enough.
Do you want to see her alive again, or don't you?
I gave them a chance,all of them.
If the glazier had maintainedhis pulley?
If Aspen had taken better careof his ladder?
And Mrs. Bright?
As a matter of fact,I quite liked her.
You knew her?
Of course.
Had to be on the inside
to gain access to their decorations.
Oh...
thank you.Rest.
It's 50-50, Morse.
Always.
Oh-- they're closingthe cemetery.
And there we are,right on cue.
Violetta?
You really don't have a clue, do you?
She's a fraud, Morse.
Every word she's ever told you was a lie.
When I found her, she was 15,living barefoot
on the backstreetsof Naples.
I've given her the world.
You don't even know her real name.
Ah!
Put the gun down, Morse.
On the floor.Put it down.
You won't do it.
Once, perhaps,you would have been right.
You were meant to bemy creature, not hers.
And then you went and spoiled itall, didn't you, my darling?Ah!
Put the gun down!
Please.
All right.
Just let her go.
Ah!
Come on. If we're going to get the last boat.
I should have done for you in England,
but she convinced me that a dead policeman
wasn't in our best interests.
You said we were going to let him go.
It was just a warning, that was the promise.
That was the plan.
Plans change.
No!
Violetta...
I'm sorry...
I'm so sorry...
Shh...
Drop it.
I've done terrible things...
It doesn't matter.
Nothing matters.
It was true...
Us...
Always.
Ti amo...