[Christmas music playing]
[old man] "The cellar door
flew open with a booming sound,
and then he heard the noise
much louder on the floors below.
Then, coming up the stairs,
then coming straight
towards his door.
'It's humbug still, ' said Scrooge.
'I won't believe it.'
His colour changed though,
when, without a pause,
it came straight
on through the heavy door,
and passed into his room
before his eyes."
[eerie music playing]
"Upon its coming in,
the dying flame leaped up,
as though it cried,
'I know him! Marley's ghost!'
And fell again.
The same face, the very same.
Marley in his pigtail,
usual waistcoat,
tights and boots."
[man snoring]
"'How, now, ' said Scrooge,
caustic and cold as ever.
'What do you want with me?'
'Much.' Marley's voice,
no doubt about it.
'Who are you?'
'Ask me who I was.'"
[tense music playing]
["Just As The Tide
Was Flowing" playing]
♪ One morning in the month of June
Down by a rolling river ♪
♪ There a jolly sailor
Chanced to stray ♪
♪ Where he beheld his lover ♪
♪ Her cheeks were red
Her eyes were brown ♪
♪ Her hair in wrinkles
Were hanging down ♪
♪ And her lovely face
Without a frown ♪
♪ Just as the tide was flowing ♪
[soft music playing]
[Humphrey] Ah! You know...
[Humphrey sighs]
Pretty sure the sound of a cockerel
should herald the dawn
of a new day.
Well, we've got a duck.
Deal with it.
It's very disconcerting.
I got the food to make
for the Christmas concert tonight
so Mum's doing breakfast.
- Get a move on!
- Okay.
Fine.
Cold, Selwyn. Very cold.
It was agreed
at the family meeting.
No job, no driving lessons.
I don't mind having a job,
but this is embarrassing.
Why?
People know you're not a real elf.
It's a bit childish,
don't you think?
Says the girl eating
SpongeBob Choco Pops.
Everyone I know will be in town.
All my mates.
- Boys?
- [Zoe] Exactly.
And what boy is gonna ask me out
when I'm dressed
as a five-foot elf?
Someone who appreciates
the spirit of Christmas?
Anyway,
like I said, family meeting.
You agreed you'd do it
until Christmas Eve.
Keep calling it a family meeting,
but it's basically sitting
at the dining table
and you telling me what to do.
What can I say? It's a mum thing.
Right, I've gotta go.
Put your bowl in the sink
and lock the door.
Oh, no Maccie D's for lunch.
Get something elfy.
- You're funny.
- I know.
[soft music playing]
Well, apparently we're now
the subject of a full-scale review.
- Did they say why?
- [Humphrey clicks tongue]
Well, I think the bottom line is
they want to make sure
we're cost-effective.
Sounds very corporate.
It's been the elephant in the room
since I got here.
Small station houses aren't part
of the bigger picture anymore.
They'd quite like everyone
under the same roof. Super hubs.
Well, it's obvious
what that's all about.
Is it?
Yeah, they want
to sell the building.
Turn it into flats or something.
It's right in the centre of town.
Must be worth a fortune.
- That would be a shame.
- [Anne] Yes, it would.
Shall I organise a protest group?
- [Humphrey] Well...
- "Save our station."
Well... well, hopefully,
I can convince them of our worth
by doing an excellent job.
I'll start by making
a few calls anyway.
No, I don't think...
- [Anne chuckles]
- [soft music playing]
- [Esther humming]
- [door closes]
Morning.
- Morning.
- Morning.
Didn't we have a health
and safety meeting
about hanging
Christmas decorations?
I'm wearing a hat.
I'm not sure that's exactly
what we agreed.
- [Margo laughs]
- Still, looking very festive.
I love Christmas.
Yeah, well,
I could do with a quiet day.
I've still got presents to buy.
I'm buying everyone
the same thing this year.
It's a revelation.
No picking and choosing
and a discount for buying in bulk.
- Genius.
- [Margo] Hm.
What are you doing
for Christmas Day?
Cooking 43 Christmas dinners
at the church hall.
- You're amazing, Margo.
- Oh.
- What about you, Kelbs?
- Oh, I'm at home.
Me, Mum, Dad and Aunt Lou.
Ooh. Nan might come as well,
but she needs to find someone
to look after her cat.
Well, can't she bring it with her?
- No. Mum's allergic to cats.
- [Margo] Oh.
Her head blows up like a football.
We even have to hoover Nan
when she arrives.
[chokes]
[clears throat]
- The Inspector not here?
- No. He's at HQ this morning.
Course he is.
- [phone rings]
- [Esther] Oh...
- [Esther] So much for a quiet day.
- [Margo] Mm-hmm.
DS Williams?
[operator's indistinct dialogue]
[mysterious music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[groans]
- Sorry to keep you.
- Oh, not at all. Um...
I just seem to be having
an issue with...
Oh.
Thank you.
Bit of a tricky little critter,
isn't it?
The one at the station
is a bit more basic.
Well, it's a tap.
[clears throat]
Sorry, I, uh... Oh, thank you.
- Would like a glass of water?
- No, thank you.
Thank you.
- You know why you're here?
- Uh, the review, yes.
- Could you stop doing that, please?
- Sorry?
- Could you stop?
- Oh.
As discussed, there is
a wider review taking place
of outlying station houses
over Q1 of next year.
And whilst the criterion
is still under review,
the overall aim is
to identify a SOPPS ratio.
Uh, SOPPS?
Successful Outcome Per Pound Spent.
It's an algorithm
that sets performance against cost.
Right...
I have sympathy for the concept
of local station houses,
community-based policing,
I really do.
But I have to balance that
with making sure
we provide value for money.
Right, so ultimately,
you think Shipton
Abbott should close.
I think you need to give me
a good reason for it not to.
[soft music playing]
Yeah, leave everything as it is.
Someone will be there shortly.
Yeah.
That makes four.
- Where's Kelby?
- Got a call about a shoplifter.
Well, I'd better make a start.
Can you message the Inspector?
Tell him to meet me
at the first one, uh, the Owens.
Will do.
Thanks.
[sighs]
- Who's this?
- [Kelby sighs]
He got caught nicking a jumbo
sausage roll from the bakery.
Why didn't you just take him home,
speak to his parents?
Because he said
his name was Rishi Sunak
and that he lived in Canada.
Right...
[soft music playing]
- How old are you?
- Twenty-seven.
[Margo chuckles]
I'll leave this one to you,
I think, Margo.
Oh, thanks.
Give him something
to drink and a biscuit.
I'll call social services.
- They let him keep it?
- No...
He said he was hungry
so I paid for it.
But I want that back
from your mum and dad though.
Come on.
Wait, Rishi.
Sit, Rishi.
Um, be good.
- So how was it?
- Slightly mind-boggling.
Uh, but the bottom line is
we're something
of a sliver in a bigger pie chart.
- Is that good or bad?
- We'll find out at the end of Q1.
So what do we need to do?
Well, if I understood correctly,
we need to catch
as many criminals as we can
for the least amount of money.
Talking of which, what have we got?
Uh, four break-ins
reported overnight.
SOCOs have attended at all four,
and although we can't be sure,
it looks like
the same MO on all of them.
Someone's been busy.
Anything to work with?
No prints. Uh, we've got
a few cloth fibres. Nothing else.
This is the first.
Kai and Hannah Owen.
Flipping 'eck, Kai.
[knocking]
Mrs Owen?
I'm Detective Sergeant Williams.
This is DI Goodman. Can we come in?
Hi, yeah. Please excuse the mess.
We think they came through here.
My husband says they knew
what they were doing.
He's a builder.
Right, have you any idea
what time it happened?
Uh. We went up
to bed just after 11:00
and Kai was up again
for work at 6:00,
so somewhere between then.
♪ Jingle bells, jingles bells
Jingle all the way ♪
♪ Oh what fun it is to ride... ♪
You don't have
any cameras anywhere?
Oh, I've got a doorbell
but I checked it, and nothing.
- ♪ Oh what fun it is to... ♪
- [music stops]
[Esther] Do you have
an alarm system?
It wasn't on.
Right. We'll need you to make
a list of what's been stolen.
[Hannah] Well,
that's just it. Nothing.
[suspenseful music playing]
- Nothing?
- I have checked everywhere.
And I can't find anything missing.
- They must have been disturbed.
- So it would seem, yes.
- Where's the next one?
- Uh, Sandcroft Way.
Josh Woods and his fiancé Lucy.
Josh Woods?
So the predator becomes the prey.
Hmm.
[mysterious music playing]
Yeah, we reckon they climbed
over the back fence.
There's wheely bins out there,
so if you lay them on their side,
you can use them to get over.
Land in the garden,
kitchen window's there.
If I had to guess...
The kitchen window
was wide open though.
Any damage?
No, you get a bent wire,
use it to scoop the latch.
Bob's your uncle, you're in.
Probably...
Do you have a list
of what was stolen?
I assume you'll be making
an insurance claim.
- Well, I...
- No, that's just it.
I don't think anything was missing.
Nothing?
- Well, we don't know that yet.
- Not that I can see.
- Could they have been disturbed?
- Well, by what?
I was in bed and Josh was dead
to the world on the sofa.
[Lucy] They could have
used a bulldozer
and he wouldn't have woken up.
Yeah. Party at Langstone.
I was hammered.
Still am.
I've checked through the presents
and had a good look
through every room.
[Lucy] Can't find anything missing.
Haven't wrapped everything
though yet, have you?
- [Lucy] What?
- I know you got me an iPad.
- You wish.
- Strange.
You've got ash on top
of your electric fire.
You been smoking that stuff
in here again?
No.
- Better not have been.
- I haven't.
[mysterious music playing]
I saw a pile of ash
in the fireplace at the last house.
No offence, sir,
but isn't that what you'd expect
to find in a fireplace?
Ordinarily, yes,
but the rest of the hearth
was spotless.
So they missed a bit.
Guys. You know this has nothing
to do with me, right?
Just whenever anything
like this happens,
you always think I've done it.
- Because you usually have.
- Yeah, that may or not be true.
But this time,
you have to believe me.
I didn't do nothing.
- Anything.
- Eh?
You didn't do anything.
I know,
that's what I'm trying tell you.
We know.
See, this is exactly...
Say what now?
We know this is nothing
to do with you.
Yeah. Good. How?
Because even you
aren't stupid enough
to break into your own house
and not steal anything.
[acoustic music playing]
- Exactly. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
Bye, Josh.
[upbeat music playing]
Looks like it was prised open.
I thought you might send
that nice young constable.
Kelby? Oh, he was dealing
with a shoplifter.
Oh. What a nice-looking boy.
If only I were 20 years younger.
Oh, and I always close
this door at night,
'cause my... my Minnie sleeps
in here by the Aga,
but it was wide open when I got up.
- Minnie?
- Cat.
And you're absolutely certain
nothing has been taken?
Yes, positive.
Well, I know it looks a bit muddled
but I know where everything is.
- Is this yours?
- No.
- Are you sure?
- [Kathleen] Positive.
Well, I can't wear gold, you see.
I come out in a rash.
My mum did arts and crafts.
Used to make me bangles
and the like, but never gold.
- Visitors, perhaps?
- Oh, I don't have visitors.
Well, only you. And young Kelby.
So, no, no, no. I have never seen
that before in my life.
Yes.
Well, I don't understand.
I mean, why would someone break in
but not take anything?
Why indeed?
[mysterious music playing]
Uh...
[Kelby mutters]
Um, when will social services
get here?
They're short-handed, Kelby.
They said they'll get you
when they can.
Okay.
- Can I have a go on your hat?
- Uh, no, you can't.
Can I have a go
with your handcuffs?
No. You have to have
special training.
What else you got?
I've got a baton, CS spray,
and access to a taser if I need it.
- Can I taser you?
- No.
- Can you taser me?
- No.
Okay, but if you give me
your real name and address...
I'll let you have a go on my bike.
- No, thanks.
- Okay.
[tense music playing]
And did you or your wife
see or hear anything?
No.
And you say nothing has been taken?
- Not as far as we can see.
- Have you lived here long?
Nine years in February.
We inherited the house
from Mary's mum when she passed.
Sorry, do you mind me asking,
why have you only got
half a moustache?
It was my eldest son's
stag last night.
Honestly, I have two boys
and they are a nightmare.
Practical jokers.
I dozed off at one point,
and they thought it funny
to shave it off.
Or at least half of it.
Well, I wouldn't worry.
It's rather fetching.
- Do your boys still live with you?
- Oh God, no.
Although they do come home
often enough,
bring their washing
and steal food and...
put clingfilm over the toilet bowl.
[Frank chuckles]
They have their parcels
delivered here
because we're always in.
[Frank] I've been tripping
over a television in the hallway
since I got back home.
It would have been their own fault
if it got nicked.
Maybe I'll tell them it was.
[mysterious music playing]
Why would someone break
into four different houses
just to burn something and leave?
I've absolutely no idea.
Witchcraft?
Some kind of pagan rites?
Isn't it the winter solstice?
Well, whatever it was,
it's clear that theft
wasn't the motive.
There's a brand new TV
in there still boxed.
All it needed was a label
saying "steal me."
Let's find out
what we can about the bracelet.
If it was dropped
by whoever broke in,
it's the only real lead we have.
I'll get these ash samples
to the lab,
see if they can tell us anything.
- [Esther clears throat]
- [Humphrey sighs]
Sir.
- So Archie's definitely gone?
- Well, he's still at the vineyard.
We're just not partners anymore.
Probably wise.
Always best to remove temptation.
- I wasn't tempted.
- Not even a little bit?
Absolutely not.
Well, you have more willpower
than me.
I could have spread mayonnaise
all over him
and eaten him in a sandwich.
- That's very specific...
- [man] Hiya.
Alright?
Being a widow doesn't
permanently dull the senses,
you know, darling.
I still have the occasional itch.
I'm not sure I want to talk
about your itches.
Ah, Kelby. What can I get you?
Ooh, um, three coffees
and a sausage sandwich, please.
Brown sauce? Mayonnaise?
Um, I didn't ask.
Better leave it plain.
Not for you then?
It better not be for Humphrey,
after I cooked him breakfast.
No, it's, um, for this young boy
we're looking after
um, until social services
pick him up.
Do you know who he is?
He says he's Rishi Sunak,
but we don't believe him.
- Right.
- I'll get your coffee and sandwich.
Thanks, Martha.
Actually, better make it
two sausage sandwiches.
Ketchup on the second one, please.
[mysterious music playing]
Right.
Well, it seems to me there are
two questions we need to answer.
Actually, three.
One, why on earth
would you break into a house
with the sole purpose
of burning something?
Two, why those houses
in particular?
Why not a neighbour
or a house across the street?
And three,
why is there a small child
sitting next to Margo?
Kelby brought him in.
He got caught nicking
a sausage roll at the baker's.
- He's eaten the evidence.
- Does he have a name?
- [phone rings]
- [Esther] DS Williams.
Well, he gave me a false name
to start with.
It took me three sherbet dabs
to find out
his real name's Freddie.
- Hello, Freddie.
- Alright?
- Won't your mom and dad be worried?
- Ain't got a dad.
- Okay. Your mom then?
- [Esther] Okey-dokey. Thanks.
That was the lab.
The ashes found in all four houses
originated from the same
material source.
Decent quality writing paper,
traces of ink,
which confirms
all four break-ins are linked.
And they think the cloth fibres
found at the scene
came from white cotton gloves.
What kind of burglar
wears white cotton gloves?
I know who it is.
- [Ryan] It's obvious, isn't it?
- Um, is it?
A man sneaking into people's houses
at Christmas wearing white gloves.
It's Santa.
He's got a point.
That would make sense
with the ash, too.
It got caught on his clothes
when he came down the chimney.
So our only credible suspect
is Father Christmas.
Open and shut case.
Can we all go home now?
Not quite, Margo.
And thank you, Freddie.
No, before we arrest Santa
and ruin everyone's Christmas,
let's check
all other avenues first.
Such as, what links, if any,
can we find
between the four victims?
Anything back
on the bracelet we found?
Not yet.
- Shipton Abbott Police Station.
- Coffees.
And I got Rishi a lemonade
to go with his sandwich.
[Esther] His name's Freddie.
[Margo] I've got Josh Woods
on the phone.
He wants a crime number
for insurance.
Nothing was stolen.
He says he's just realised
he might have
lost his gold bracelet.
[mysterious music playing]
- I'm not sure.
- You're not sure?
I just had it on my wrist.
I didn't spend
all day looking at it.
If it is yours, can you explain
what it might have been doing
in Mrs Jones' cottage?
Maybe she nicked it.
Or, maybe it came off your wrist
while you were breaking in.
I didn't break in anywhere.
Can you count
your whereabouts last night?
I told you, I had a party
at the Langstone.
Birthday for Snoop Dog.
- Snoop Dog?
- Not that one. Paul Harris.
Works at the wool shop.
I'll tell you why
we call him Snoop Dog.
Doesn't matter.
So you have people
who can confirm you were there?
- Yeah.
- 'Til what time?
- Half one, two?
- And after that?
It's all a bit of a blur,
to be honest.
[soft upbeat music playing]
- Thoughts?
- He got drunk, reverted to type.
Wandered around
breaking into houses
smoking his wacky baccy.
Except the ash wasn't marijuana.
It was writing paper.
And why would he also break
into his own house?
All I know is, whenever Josh Woods
is in the picture,
he's usually guilty of something.
That he may be,
but is he really our housebreaker?
I don't know.
His fiancé Lucy seems
a little more straightforward.
Let's talk to her again.
["Merry Christmas One and All"
by Andy Powell playing]
Ooh, the Christmas market.
- Mind if we just stop off?
- Um, no.
♪ Santa, don't you take too long ♪
♪ Santa's playing
that familiar song ♪
♪ Oh, I can't wait
for Christmas Eve... ♪
[girl] Let me wear your outfit now.
Come on, please.
- Hello. How's it all going?
- Shouldn't you be working?
We are. We had
four break-ins last night
and we're just on our way
to see a suspect's fiancé.
Not to mention babysitting
a mystery boy
until social services get here.
Oh, Kelby told me.
Has a taste for sausages.
It would seem so.
Well, this all looks
very Christmassy.
- That's the general idea.
- [Esther] Oh.
- Hello.
- Hi.
- It's been quite a year.
- Yeah, it has.
- Glad to see the back of it?
- No.
- Not even the IVF?
- It didn't work.
- But we always knew it might not.
- And we broke up.
And we got back together.
And we moved here,
and you bought a boat,
and we've got a duck,
and it's Christmas.
- So we're winning?
- I think we are. Don't you?
I'm definitely winning.
I've got you.
Very true.
[Anne] Put her down.
You're supposed
to be hanging tinsel.
Sorry.
Are you joining us tonight, Esther?
Uh, as long as
I don't have to sing.
Singing is compulsory.
- [Humphrey] We should go.
- Yeah. See you later.
Bye.
Oh, my daughter's at the grotto.
Do you mind?
No, of course not.
If you don't let go,
I'm gonna tell Santa
not to bring you
any presents this year,
and take back the ones
you got last year.
- How's it going?
- They keep pulling on my bells.
You do know elves
are supposed to be happy.
I will be when I get home.
Zoe, this is Inspector Goodman
I've been telling you about.
- Hi.
- Very pleased to meet you, Zoe.
She's not really an elf.
It's a costume.
Excuse my mum,
she thinks she's funny.
So, do you need anything?
Yeah. This lot to stop
pulling me about.
Well, if they hurt you,
tell someone,
because it's very important.
- What is?
- Elf and safety in the workplace.
Wow.
- He lost it in June.
- What?
On a jet ski in Minorca.
As soon as you mentioned insurance
he started making a list
of all the things that we've lost,
or that have broken,
in the past year.
Watch, microwave,
smartphone, gold bracelet.
You do know that such a claim
would be fraudulent.
I told him that,
but he said he'd get
a crime number just in case.
I wouldn't have let him do it.
I'm sorry,
but you know what he's like.
- Right, we'll send him home.
- We can keep him if you like.
- Chuck away the key?
- Nah. I love the bones of him.
Right.
[Christmas music playing]
Anyone for hot chocolate?
I need a taste test.
Oh, go on then.
- There's a few cakes too.
- [Kelby] Ooh, thanks, Martha.
- This our mystery boy, is it?
- Uh, yeah.
Social services are supposed
to be on their way
but the social worker got held up.
Well, I'm going back to the café.
Do you want me to take him
for a while?
- He must need feeding again.
- You hungry?
Yeah.
[soft music playing]
You look like a girl
who needs cake.
Thanks.
Just catching my breath
before we start.
You looking forward to it?
Not if this morning
is anything to go by.
I've already been pulled about
by a load of ankle-biters
demanding to see Santa.
You'll be fine once you get going.
All those smiling little faces
excited to see Father Christmas.
- Or not.
- I'm dreading it.
- Then why do it in the first place?
- Mum said I had to get a job.
Or she wouldn't get me
driving lessons.
That doesn't sound unreasonable.
No, but why couldn't she get me
something normal,
or at least indoors?
Oh, so that's what
you're kicking against.
You don't like it
because it's Mum's idea.
You know,
my daughter is exactly the same.
Has been since she was old enough
to have an opinion.
If I suggested something,
she'd disagree on principle.
- It's perfectly natural.
- She's so annoying.
I don't doubt it.
But I suspect not quite as annoying
as my daughter finds me.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to...
- Don't be.
It's the way of the world.
The thing to remember, though,
is no matter how hard done
by you're feeling,
you should try to see it
from other people's point of view.
Right or wrong, your mum
is only trying to teach you
that if you want something
out of life,
you need to work for it.
That's not a bad lesson to learn,
now, is it?
And then there's all
those little ones
who've been excited for weeks,
knowing that today is the day
they're going to see Santa Claus,
and they're going to tell him
what they want to find
under the tree
on Christmas morning.
And the last thing they deserve
is to be greeted by a grumpy elf.
Hm?
[chuckles]
Shall I tell you a mum's secret?
The more you complain
about something,
the more fun it is for us.
So if you really want
to get her back...
tell her you're really enjoying it.
She'll be mortified.
[soft music playing]
[sighs]
Okay, I've tried everything.
I can't find any link between
the houses that were broken into,
apart from the fact that they're
all houses and people live in them.
- Anything back on the bracelet?
- No.
What's this?
They sent over all the paperwork
for the station review.
Anything not closed
by the Christmas break
will be included in the Q1 figures.
What does that mean?
Well, it means
that with these break-ins,
our clear-up rate will begin
at minus four.
We're screwed.
Great. Oh. Where's the munchkin?
Oh, Martha took him to the café
for something to eat.
I think he's got hollow legs.
But I'll check in,
make sure she's okay
and maybe get some coffees
while I'm at it.
I've a feeling
we're going to need them.
- Hi.
- Freddie.
- How's the food?
- Wicked.
Wicked.
Well, I'm starting to think
we're doing you a disservice,
creating the illusion
that running away from home
is more fun than it ought to be.
A world festooned with sweets
and sausages in various forms.
Take no notice.
He just likes using big words.
Yes. All the same though,
we need to get you home, okay?
So what happened?
Had a fallout with your mum?
- She's well annoying.
- Yeah.
Well, Mums can be annoying
sometimes,
but it's usually
because they care about you.
Don't feel like it.
So what did she do that was so bad?
She took my phone off me.
Golly. I didn't even have a phone
when I was your age.
Well, if you did, you'd be annoyed
if someone took it off you.
- Dare say I would.
- Now I can't talk to my granddad.
Are you close to your granddad?
- We're best friends.
- Mm.
I'm sure you love your granddad,
and it's not fair
that you can't talk to him,
but I'm still not sure
that's a reason
to run away from home.
I'm not running away. I'm thinking.
Oh, you're thinking?
Well, you know that when the lady
from social services gets here,
you'll have to tell her
where you live.
Why?
Well, because if you don't,
there's a good chance
they'll take you into care.
And you don't want that
to happen, do you?
However annoying your mum is.
Can't I just stay here?
Well, as much as
we'd enjoy that too,
it's just not really possible.
Why not?
Well, as a policeman, I am...
well placed to quote
on elements of the law
and I can report
that kidnapping children
is incontrovertibly frowned upon.
Big words again.
You wouldn't be kidnapping me,
not if I wanted to stay.
Yeah, I'm sorry,
it's not really up to you, or us.
Well, it should be.
DI Goodman?
Thought I recognised the name.
- Ah, Mrs Owen.
- Hannah Owen. Social services.
- Hello, Ryan.
- Ryan?
- You know him?
- I work with his social worker.
We've been helping the family
deal with a few issues.
Haven't we, Ryan?
Don't want to go home.
I want to stay here.
Well, your mum's very worried
about you.
She won't let me talk
to my granddad.
Well, we can all go and talk
about that together, can't we?
[solemn music playing]
[phone rings]
[Margo] Shipton Abbott
Police Station.
- Oh...
- [mouths]
She's on the other line
at the moment.
DI Goodman's just popped out.
Can I take a message?
Okay. Thank you.
[Margo's indistinct dialogue]
This is very strange.
What is?
I can't work out
if it means anything or it doesn't.
And I can't help you
if you don't tell me what it is.
Right, well...
I hit a dead end trying
to find a link between the houses,
like the Inspector said,
so I did a cross-check against any
previous crimes at those addresses.
- And?
- It... It's happened before.
- What has?
- Those exact four houses.
They were all burgled
at the same time 50 years ago.
[tense music playing]
He said he had a falling out
with his mum.
One of many, I'm sorry to say.
[Hannah] He lost his dad
a few years back.
Mum got a new boyfriend.
He reacted quite badly,
became a bit disruptive at school.
They contacted us and we've been
keeping an eye on things.
- He mentioned his granddad.
- The one real constant in his life.
They're very close.
[Hannah] Look,
his mum is trying really hard.
He'll be fine when I get him home.
Bless him.
I'll make sure he's okay
before I leave.
[car door opens, closes]
[car engine starts]
Do you think he'll be alright?
Let's hope so.
[door opens]
Oh, sir, we found something.
All four houses
were burgled before,
all within three days
of each other.
- What?
- Christmas week, 50 years ago.
[Margo] 1973.
Only that time, things were stolen.
Why did none of them mention this?
Well, the Owens and Josh Woods
didn't live there then
and neither did the Beckers.
They inherited the house
from her mother.
Kathleen?
She grew up in that house
but it's a long time ago.
Hm.
[Humphrey] Coins,
games console, TV.
- One of these is a gold bracelet.
- Coincidence?
It cannot be!
I don't believe in them.
Kelby, was anyone arrested
for these burglaries?
[Kelby] Um...
One suspect arrested
and questioned,
released without charge.
Ernest Buchanan.
The detective in charge, DI Foster,
cites a lack of evidence.
Anything else?
Only that they're
opportunistic thefts.
Windows left open,
back doors and the like.
Oh, and he adds at the bottom
that they weren't looking
for anyone else.
Sounds like they knew who it was
but couldn't prove it.
- [Humphrey] Mm.
- Oh.
Frank Becker phoned
while you were out.
Left a message.
He said he doesn't know
what it means,
but the TV in the lounge
wasn't ordered by his sons
or anyone else in the house.
It just appeared,
after the break-in.
Looks like it was Santa after all.
Maybe that's exactly what it was.
[mysterious music playing]
Huh.
If the bracelet isn't a coincidence
then neither is the TV.
I wonder...
Kelby, find out what you can
about Ernest Buchanan.
Is he still alive? Did he go on
to commit other crimes?
We need to check
the other two crime scenes.
[tense music playing]
[Esther humming]
Coffee.
Like what?
A jar of coins.
Has one just appeared anywhere?
- Or a game console.
- No.
You haven't found
anything in the house
that you thought didn't belong here
or you didn't know
where it came from?
No.
- Josh?
- Josh?
No.
- Oh, except for you know what.
- I told you. In your dreams.
[Josh laughs]
- Ta-da! I saw it on the side.
- It's nothing to do with me.
Josh. Thank you.
[acoustic music playing]
What?
Okay.
What's the first ever
Christmas present you remember?
[Margo chuckles]
I think the first main present
I remember was an easy-bake oven.
- You got an oven for Christmas?
- Not a real one, you gurt noodle.
A little toy one. Green, it was,
with little light bulbs inside.
But could you actually cook
in it though?
Well, I mean,
you couldn't do a Sunday roast,
but you could do cakes.
That doesn't sound safe,
letting kids cook.
We didn't worry about things
like that when I was young.
We rode bikes without helmets,
we spent all day on the beach
without sunscreen.
We didn't even have seatbelts
in the car.
What happened
if you had an accident?
It was Mum's job.
Put her arm across you.
- That is wild.
- [giggles]
How about you?
[Kelby] Ooh.
First one I proper remember
is getting all four
Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtle characters.
You see, that's the difference
in our generations.
We got presents
to prepare us for the life ahead.
[Margo] You got turtles.
Yeah, but they fought crime,
though, didn't they?
So that prepared me
for being a policeman.
You know, sometimes, Kelby,
I don't think you're half
as daft as you look.
- Thanks.
- [Margo] Mm.
[upbeat music playing]
- How'd you know that?
- Call it a lucky guess.
Well, it weren't coins.
I mean,
I didn't think anything of it.
Kai's a builder. He's always
leaving cash lying around.
I banked it.
To cover the mortgage
that's just gone up, again.
Can I ask how much you found?
[soft suspenseful music playing]
[door closes]
Kelby, Ernest Buchanan?
Uh...
Born December 29th, 1953,
widowed in 2019, one son, uh...
Nothing further on record of him,
not even a parking ticket.
Ooh, uh. Last known address,
Upper Denbury.
It's about eight miles away.
Occupation?
Jeweller.
- White gloves.
- Indeed.
So...
[Humphrey] So...
- 1973.
- [suspenseful music playing]
Let's say
a 19-year-old Ernest Buchanan
wasn't so much a burglar
as an opportunistic thief.
Breaking into what is now
the Owen house,
he stole a glass jar
containing £55 in coins.
[tense music playing]
Later the same week,
I think he stole a gold bracelet
from Kathleen's cottage.
As Kathleen has an allergy,
I'm guessing it was her mother's.
[choral music playing]
Followed by the game console
from the house of Josh Woods
and fiancé Lucy.
And finally,
the TV from the home
of Frank Becker's mother-in-law.
Okay. So what if,
all these years later,
Ernest Buchanan
had some kind of crisis?
For some reason yet
to be established,
he was overcome with guilt,
with an undeniable desire
to put right
the wrongs of his past.
We know he never offended again.
I don't think the gold bracelet was
dropped there by accident.
I think it was put there
on purpose.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Humphrey] Then someone must have
knocked it on the floor.
One down, three to go.
- The TV was simple enough.
- New for old.
And Frank Becker thought
the TV turning up was another prank
by his boisterous sons.
Yes. Then, the game console.
[suspenseful music playing]
Which was a little harder
to replace like for like,
so instead he bought a tablet.
Which Josh saw, but just assumed
it was a Christmas present
from Lucy yet to be wrapped.
Exactly.
Flipping 'eck, Kai.
[rumbles]
- And the jar of coins?
- As Hannah said...
Her husband Kai is a builder
who has a habit
of leaving cash lying around.
She found £569,
which I bet is exactly
what £55 in 1973
would be worth today.
So Ernest Buchanan returned
to the scene of his former crimes
to replace the things he'd stolen.
But why would he go to all
this trouble after half a century?
I'm dying.
I have cancer.
They tell me it's stage four,
which apparently means
I'm riddled with it.
And it's strange
how discovering you've only got
a few months to live
helps to reacquaint you with God.
It's no time to be making enemies.
- No...
- [Ernest chuckles]
My father was a very religious man.
He found comfort in it,
and I thought I might.
So I picked up a Bible,
which is something
I haven't done for a long time.
I suppose I was looking for a way
to make sense of what's happening.
Anyway, I found something.
Sort of leapt out at me
when I was flicking through.
It's a story about an old king
called Hezekiah.
And he was dying.
And a prophet called Isaiah
said to him,
"Put your house in order,
because you are about to die."
[Ernest chuckles]
That seemed like sensible advice.
Have a bit of a tidy-up before...
It's funny, as I read it,
I heard it in my dad's voice,
like he was telling me what to do.
And that's what you were doing?
Putting your house in order?
Yeah.
I always felt guilty,
taking those things
from those people.
So why not put it right,
and make my peace with the universe
before I leave it?
And...
And have a bit of fun
at the same time.
[solemn music playing]
And... and the ash?
The ash you left at all the houses.
[Ernest chuckles]
That's a thing my dad used
to make us do
when we were children.
Write our sins on a piece of paper
and then burn it to show remorse.
If you were trying to show remorse,
Ernest, you left it a long time.
I know.
Life keeps you busy though,
doesn't it?
Your priorities change
and time just goes.
One day,
you go to sleep a boy of 19
and you wake up
a 70-year-old man looking back
at all the stupid things you did.
Didn't you have family?
- No, I lost my wife, and my son.
- I'm sorry.
My son's widow, she...
she got herself a boyfriend
eight months after my son d*ed,
and I thought it was too soon,
and then we argued and...
I said things that I regret now.
The boyfriend didn't last,
of course, but...
the damage had been done.
Your daughter-in-law,
does she know that you're not well?
No, no. No, she doesn't know.
Don't you think
you should tell her?
Well, I thought about it,
but why pass on
my problems to them?
Maybe some things
are better left as they are.
So, what now?
Do you need to take me in?
Even if he put things back,
rather than taking anything,
it's still forced entry.
Yes.
So do we pursue with CPS or not?
Well, we'll go through the process
because... because we have to,
but it'll never go to court.
I think we could push
for a caution.
You know, without a conviction,
we've got four burglaries
that won't qualify for the review.
Well, sometimes,
there are more important things
than a pie chart, I suppose.
Like a real pie.
A pie of the ginger
and cinnamon variety,
cooked by the woman I love
and about to be served
with a hot mulled wine
at the Christmas market,
right about now.
["The Lark" by Kate Rusby playing]
Sir.
Can we stop somewhere on the way?
♪ Out in the field
That I know well... ♪
[doorbell rings]
♪ Oh how I'm cold
Will you let me in... ♪
Wash your hands, darling,
your tea's nearly ready.
♪ ...where I would begin ♪
- Jane Buchanan?
- Yeah?
♪ ...now and I roam free ♪
♪ Is it wrong to wish ♪
♪ You still need me... ♪
[tablet chimes]
- Hi, Granddad.
- Oh!
Mum found out I was calling you,
so she took my phone off me.
[Ryan] But now she's just
given it me back.
Hi, Ernie. How you doing?
Oh, you know, love,
rolling with the punches.
Police came round.
They said you've not been well.
I wish you'd said.
No point both of us worrying,
is there?
It's been too long.
Yes, it has.
- Want a chip, Granddad?
- Oh, Oh, ta.
- Can we finish the story now?
- Yeah, course we can.
- You comfortable?
- Yep.
[Ernest] "'Mr Scrooge?'
'Yes, ' said Scrooge,
'That is my name,
and I fear it may not
be pleasant to you.
Allow me to ask your pardon.'"
[classical music playing]
Oh, sorry. Excuse me.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Sorry. Golly. Gosh, it's busy.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, can I, please?
- Ooh, how was it?
- Loved it.
Mm-hmm.
[chuckles]
[indistinct dialogue]
- Oh, hiya. How's Ryan doing?
- Really good.
He's got his phone back,
he's talking to Granddad,
and he and Mum
have made their peace.
Oh, that's brilliant news.
You and Humphrey
were so good with him.
He talked about you
all the way home.
Ah, that's nice.
You don't have kids?
No, it didn't really happen for us.
Oh. Oh.
Well, if you ever feel
you have the time and the energy
to do for other kids
what you did for Ryan today,
here's my card.
[Hannah] We're always looking
for foster carers.
- Inspector.
- Ma'am.
Are an inspector's wages
so bad these days
that you can't afford a coat?
Uh, I can't really do coats.
It has too many pockets.
Last time I wore one, I...
I missed three trains trying
to find my ticket.
I spoke with Sergeant Williams.
She talked me through the outcome
of the break-ins investigations,
and your desire to pursue a caution
with the man responsible, and why.
Yes, ma'am.
Which will put you
at a disadvantage
with regards to your review.
Unfortunately, yes, it will.
In the circumstances,
I think it prudent
that we don't start to collect
your figures until January.
- Circumstances, ma'am?
- It's Christmas, Inspector.
- So it is.
- See you in the New Year.
Hi.
- Feeling alright?
- Everything is absolutely perfect.
[indistinct chatter]
["Silent Night" music playing]
♪ Silent night, holy night... ♪
I've been thinking.
Today's been a bit like
A Christmas Carol.
You know, Scrooge
and the spirits of Christmas past,
present and future.
So?
We had a bit
of a strange case today,
which was all about righting
the wrongs of a Christmas past.
[Humphrey] Then,
in the Christmas present,
a young boy was reunited
with his granddad.
If we could only know
what our Christmas future holds.
- Happy Christmas.
- Happy Christmas.
["Haul Away" playing]
♪ Ohh ♪
♪ When I was a little lad
Or so my mother told me ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Rosie ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Johnny-o ♪
♪ That if I didn't kiss the girls
My lips would grow mouldy ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Rosie ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Johnny-o ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Rosie ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Johnny-o ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Rosie ♪
♪ Away, haul away
We'll haul away for Johnny-o ♪
[cheering]
[laughter]
[cheerful chatter]
[crowd chanting]
Kelby! Kelby! Kelby!
[all cheering, chanting]
- Merry Christmas, sir.
- Merry Christmas, Sergeant.
[music stops]