[ "Just as the Tide Was Flowing"
plays ]
♪♪
-♪ One morning
in the month of June ♪
♪ Down by a rolling river ♪
♪ There a weary traveller
chanced to stray ♪
♪ And he beheld his lover ♪
♪ Her cheeks were red,
her eyes were brown ♪
♪ Her hair in ringlets
hanging down ♪
♪ She'd a lovely face
without a frown ♪
♪ Just as the tide
was flowing ♪
♪♪
♪ No more did say,
but on their way ♪
♪ They both did go together ♪
♪ The small birds sang
and the lambs did play ♪
♪ How pleasant was
the weather ♪
♪ They being weary
both sat down ♪
♪ Beneath a tree
with the branches round ♪
♪ And what was said
will never be known ♪
♪ Just as the tide
was flowing ♪
♪♪
-Humphrey, thank you so much
for doing this.
-Oh, nonsense.
It's exactly what we should
be doing --
serving the community.
Besides...
Kelby volunteered.
-One of these?
-What?
No, no, no, no.
There's too much glare.
Just change the filter,
will you, please?
-Right, Mr Witham.
-Mr Witham, may I introduce
Detective Inspector
Humphrey Goodman,
Detective Sergeant Williams,
and PC Hartford?
This is Terrence Witham
the current owner
of "The Solo Mare."
-Very pleased to meet you.
-And one of you will be in
the room with the painting, yes?
-Yes.
-I do hope it's you.
-Actually, no.
-Hi.
-You're the finest
Shipton Abbott has to offer,
are you?
-Yes.
-How very reassuring.
Excuse me.
-Ah. He's a bundle of fun.
-He's autistic.
He's very highly strung.
-Yeah, he should be.
Right. Get yourself set up.
-"The Solo Mare."
It's a horse's bottom.
-Yes, but the front end
is looking at Shipton Abbott
in 1710.
-Well, maybe they should have
moved the horse out of the way.
-Humphrey, let me introduce you
to our hostess.
This is Lady Louise Fitzallan.
-Wonderful to meet you.
I've heard so much about you.
-Oh. [ Chuckles ]
-Anne and I are on
the Arts Committee together.
-This is DS Williams.
-You have a beautiful home.
-Thank you.
Augustus Craig, the artist,
was my great-great-great
grandfather.
-So I understand, yes.
-I hear you lending us
a constable for the evening.
Seems it really does pay
to have friends,
or rather, future son-in-laws,
in high places.
-Yes.
-It's been a pleasure
meeting you both.
-And you.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Kelby, we'll leave you to it,
then.
-Thanks. Um...
Oh, and, sir, um...
Thank you for trusting me
with this.
-Can't think of a better man
for the job.
♪♪
♪♪
[ Protesters shouting ]
♪♪
Um, who are they?
-Ah, they call themselves
Edith's Army.
-Who's Edith?
-According to them,
the person who really painted
"The Solo Mare."
-Really?
-Okay, so that's everyone.
Mr Witham? Uh...
-You'll lock the door
behind us, yes?
-Yes, sir.
-Good.
No one is to go beyond
those ropes
until I return in the morning,
yes?
-Understood, sir.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[ Hisses ]
Ahhh.
Ah.
♪♪
Take that, Margo.
Yeah.
[ Makes whooshing sounds ]
♪♪
[ Suspenseful music plays ]
♪♪
♪♪
Thanks, Mum.
[ Bang ]
[ Mouth full ]
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
♪♪
Power's gone out.
[ Clock chiming ]
♪♪
Hello?
♪♪
Hello?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[ Bang ]
♪♪
[ Mid-tempo music plays ]
♪♪
♪♪
[ Snoring softly ]
[ Knock on door ]
You know me.
[ Mumbles ]
[ Knock on door ]
Ah!
-DC Hartford? Hello?
Is everything okay?
-Uh, yes, Mrs Lloyd.
-Excellent.
I wonder, would you stay around
until Lady Louise and Mr Witham
come up?
They're just having
breakfast downstairs.
-Of course.
-Shall I bring you up
a bacon sandwich?
-Oh, yes, please.
-[ Chuckles ]
[ Shouting indistinctly ]
[ Horn honking ]
♪♪
♪♪
-Hello.
-Hello.
-Mwah. Need a hand?
-No, it's the last one.
-Mini Yorkshire puddings.
Excellent.
-I'll save you one.
-Thank you all very much
for coming
to help us mark
the historic return
of Shipton Abbott's
very own "Solo Mare."
As acting chair
of the Arts Committee,
I'd like to thank.
Lady Louise Fitzallan
for inviting us into her home,
and not to mention
agreeing to buy the painting
on behalf of Shipton Abbott.
[ Applause ]
I'd also like to thank
Mr Terrence Witham,
the current owner
of "Solo Mare,"
for agreeing to allow it
to return home,
to come back, as it were,
to its rightful place,
to the manor house
where it was conceived.
After the unveiling,
we will all witness
this historic moment live,
as it were,
when the deeds
of agreement are signed
and the transaction completed.
So without further ado,
I would like to invite the mayor
and mayoress to step forward
and reveal to us
what we have all been waiting
a very long time to see.
Thank you.
On behalf of everyone
in Shipton Abbott,
welcome home.
[ Audience gasping ]
♪♪
-I will sue. I'll sue you.
I will sue the Arts Committee.
I mean, there was
a police officer in this room,
for goodness' sake --
in the room!
-There's nothing
we could have done...
-I've checked with Mrs
Fitzallan in case
anyone could have hidden
in the room
before it was locked.
There are no secret compartments
or false walls
anywhere in this room.
-This window latch is broken,
which means it could be opened
from the outside.
-I saw someone out that window
running across the lawn
alone with a, uh --
an orange cap on.
-What time?
-Midnight.
-Would you know them
if you saw them again?
-I'm not sure, sir. It --
It was dark and it happened just
after the electric went off.
-There was a power cut?
-You didn't say anything.
-Well, it came back on again.
-But you didn't leave the room?
-No.
Well, not really. I --
I-I opened the door
when the power went off.
-You opened the door?
-To see if anyone was
sorting out the electric.
-But you stayed in the room?
-I might of stepped out
for a minute.
♪♪
-Gallery room needs to remain
sealed until forensics get here.
I want a list of everyone who
stayed at the house last night.
-Can someone tell me
what's going on?
-We'll bring you up to speed
as soon as we know more, sir.
-I heard they came in
through the window,
in which case, how the hell
did they get past him, hmm?
Unless he left the room.
You did, didn't you?
-Sir, that's enough.
Please go back inside
and let us do our job.
-Ha! You haven't exactly covered
yourself in glory so far,
have you?
I want answers.
-Then I suggest you leave us
alone to find some.
-Bloody amateurs.
-This is all my fault.
-Hey.
I think you better see this.
-No.
-Just under the gallery room.
-Must have been the guy
who Kelby saw running away.
-Yeah, but if he was here
to steal the painting,
why risk getting caught to stop
and do graffiti?
Well, let's get
it all taped off
and have forensics check it
while they're here.
-We waited all this time,
and it was here one night.
-We'll get it back, Margo.
You better go
and open the station.
-Yeah.
-What shall I do?
-Maybe you go, too.
♪♪
If Kelby's right about
only being on the landing
a couple of minutes,
that's not long enough
to break in, get into the room,
take the painting
from the frame,
and get back out again.
He must have been
out of the room longer.
-Yes. Agreed.
-How's it going?
-I'm a bit flummoxed,
to be honest.
-Mum's distraught.
-It's not her fault.
-That's not how she sees it.
She organised everything.
You'll get it back for her,
won't you?
[ Camera shutter clicking ]
♪♪
-It's gonna be all right.
Okay. Bye.
That was Dot Trolman.
Lost 25 sheep.
Got out of a bottom field.
-I'll head down there.
-Oh, Margo, um, anything back
from the scene yet?
-Forensics have just arrived.
-Right.
Okay, well,
while we're waiting for them,
let's start building a picture.
Background checks on these
to start with, please.
Thank you.
-[ Snorts ]
Missing a few, aren't we?
-Uh, who?
-Any of the Arts Committee
who organised everything.
Caterers.
-You want me to investigate
my future mother-in-law
and my fiancée?
-Depends if you want
to be thorough or not.
-Just those people on the list.
Thank you, Margo.
Kelby.
You mustn't blame yourself,
you know.
-I was the one guarding it.
-Um...
Well, then, we --
we find out what happened,
we arrest whoever's responsible,
and we get the painting back.
And we do that as a team.
We do it together. Okay?
-Yes, sir.
-Well.
Okay.
So let's assume that
whoever stole "The Solo Mare"
now intends to sell it.
So let's think about
how they would go about that.
-Well, they can't just
stick it on eBay.
-Exactly.
So what does that tell us?
Is this someone in the know?
-Any of the Arts Committee?
-Thank you, Margo.
And if the power being cut
was there as a diversion,
then where is
the master fuse board?
And who had access to that?
And our protesters --
surely they had the biggest
motive of all, did they not,
if they believe that
"The Solo Mare"
doesn't belong
to the current owner,
or that it shouldn't be
displayed at Shipton Manor.
So who are they?
Can they account
for their whereabouts?
And is Kelby's mystery man
in the orange baseball cap
one of them?
♪♪
Did you know about this feud
over the painting?
-Most of Shipton does.
Augustus Craig had a young
stable girl called Edith Jay
who worked on the estate,
but then went on to be an artist
in her own right.
The claim is that she was
Craig's secret protégé.
Not only that,
but because of the subject,
some believe she's the one
that painted "The Solo Mare."
-Now, yes, but wasn't it signed
by Augustus Craig?
-Yeah, but they still believe
she painted it.
Both families have argued about
the provenance for generations.
-Right.
-Isla Jay?
-[ Scoffs ]
Surprise, surprise.
♪♪
-Looks like you're expecting
another painting, Isla.
-Very funny.
-You do claim that, uh,
"The Solo Mare" was painted
by one of your ancestors.
-I don't claim anything.
I know it was.
-By Edith Jay, the stable girl?
-My great-great-great
grandmother.
-Yes, but, now, Mr Witham
is an expert. He --
He seems clear that it was
painted by Augustus Craig.
-It's in his interest for it
to be painted by Craig.
More money for him if it is.
So, you gonna ask me?
-Ask you what?
-If I nicked it.
-Did you?
-No.
But I would have done
if I could.
♪♪
-Uh, there are others who feel
as passionately
about Edith as you.
Do you think any of them
could be responsible?
-How would I know?
Better ask them.
-Yeah, one of them wears an
orange baseball cap, I believe.
What was his name again?
-No idea
who you're talking about.
And blame who you like.
All I know is I can't steal
something that's already mine.
And I can prove it.
♪♪
♪♪
Found in Gran's things
when she passed.
It belonged to Edith Jay.
♪♪
♪♪
-A sketch of "The Solo Mare."
-Or a plan of how she wanted
to paint it.
♪♪
-I'll never live it down.
-Stop worrying.
If anyone can figure out
what's happened, it's Humphrey.
-I can only imagine
what your dad would say.
When he was chair,
all he ever talked about
was bringing
"The Solo Mare" home.
-Hello.
-Oh.
Humphrey, please tell me
you found it.
-Oh, well, not quite.
But we're making
excellent progress.
-Really?
-Yes.
-See, Mum? Told you.
-Anne, so where do you stand
on the whole
Edith Jay/Augustus
Craig debate?
-Oh, the families have been
arguing about it for years.
It was signed by Craig, but --
but Martha's father
had a great deal of sympathy
for the Jay family.
He supported looking into it
if "The Solo Mare"
was ever found.
But we lost him
before that happened.
-Rosé, as requested.
-Oh, thank you.
-Humphrey.
-Hi.
-Anne, oh, I heard about
the painting.
Must have been quite a blow,
I imagine.
-You've no idea.
-Is there anything
I can do to help?
-Not unless you know
who stole it.
-Afraid not.
-Well, I better get back.
-Oh, Marty,
did you mention to Humph
what we were talking about?
-Oh, no. Sorry.
-Oh, don't worry.
Nothing too deep.
Just thought it might be nice
for you and I
to grab a beer sometime.
-Beer?
-Get to know each other.
After all, I am in partnership
with your fiancée.
-I'm sure Humphrey's very busy.
-Nonsense.
-Great. What about later?
After work?
Uh, Kitty Jay's.
Couple of pints,
bag of crisps,
and we can exchange
some w*r stories.
-Oh, why not?
-Good man.
Oh, at 6:30?
-I look forward to it.
Right.
Back on the case.
♪♪
[ Mobile phone buzzes ]
Esther, hello.
-There were nine protesters
outside the gates.
I'm working my way
through them.
Oh, and it seems the
only people staying at
the house last night
were Louise Fitzallan
and Terrence Witham.
Mr Fitzallan
is away on business,
and there are no live-in staff.
-Okay. Very good. Thank you.
See you back at the station.
-Okay, see you soon.
-Well, of course I'm aware
of the controversy
surrounding the painting.
My father and Howard Jay
almost came to blows over it.
Can you imagine?
-And Howard Jay is...?
-Isla Jay's father.
-I see.
-She and I have had
the occasional interaction,
but nothing quite so heated.
-What kind of interaction?
-Well, it usually consists
of her shouting at me in public
and me smiling politely.
It's all rather vulgar.
-So when you went to your room
last night,
you didn't see or hear anything
until this morning?
-Nothing.
-PC Hartford said he might have
seen someone in the grounds
last night about midnight
wearing an orange baseball cap.
You have any idea
who that might have been?
-Um, no. Staff go home at 6:00,
so if there was anyone
in the garden after that,
they were trespassing.
-Ah.
♪♪
Can I ask if you saw
or heard anything last night?
-Like what?
-Were you aware there was
a power cut, for example?
Around midnight?
-No.
-You were asleep?
-Yes.
Listen, since you're here,
maybe I can get back
into the gallery room.
Need to collect my things before
I go -- the display stand.
The frame itself
is actually quite valuable.
-You'll just need to
bear with us a while longer.
We need to keep
the room sealed.
Perhaps if you came back
tomorrow.
-Don't suppose I have a choice.
-We'll be as quick as we can.
Can I ask --
Were you aware of
the controversy
surrounding "The Solo Mare"?
-[ Chuckles ] Of course.
The Jay family are talking
absolute nonsense.
-And you feel that
"The Solo Mare" is
in keeping with other works
produced by Augustus Craig?
-Without a shadow of a doubt.
It has his signature on it.
-So if someone wanted to sell
a stolen painting
of this quality,
how do they go about it?
-Painting of this importance,
Inspector,
is almost always
stolen to order.
-So they would have a buyer
already in place.
-Oh, I can think of a dozen
private collectors
who'd pay good money for it.
-What was the price agreed
between you and Mrs Fitzallan?
-500,000.
-Gosh.
So a buyer would pay that?
Even if they knew
it was stolen?
-Oh, maybe more.
Art, Inspector, is enhanced
by the tales that surround it.
And a painting that was stolen
from under the nose
of a police officer
while he was in the room --
well, that is quite a story to
recount over dinner, isn't it?
Hmm?
♪♪
♪♪
-You've been to see
Dot Trolman yet?
-No, I haven't got time
to go looking for missing sheep.
I need to find this bloke
I saw last night.
Do you know how many mug sh*ts
were in the county database?
-Surprise me.
-219,411.
-And how many of you looked at?
-209.
-And how many of them
are wearing
an orange baseball cap?
-None.
-Chin up.
Only another 219,202 to go.
-Thanks.
Nothing on any
of the protesters, sir.
All either in bed
or can prove they were
nowhere near the manor.
-Yes, I suspected as much.
Margo, are forensics
at Shipton Manor?
-Good news or bad news?
-Oh, good.
-They got prints
from the window.
-Great. And the bad?
-There were around 30 people
in the room,
so they'll need to do
exclusion prints on all of them.
I also checked
with the power company.
There were no disruptions
in the power supply last night.
-Yes, all very unhelpful.
-You're welcome.
Oh, wait.
I have got some good news.
-Yes?
-The chief superintendent's
been on,
wants you at the hub,
-How is that good news?
-You can get croissants
and coffee on your way back.
-Yes. [ Chuckles ]
Right, um, come on.
Come on, everyone.
What are we missing?
Gate cameras?
-Nothing. And the manor house
has a three-mile perimeter.
There's lots of places
they could have got in.
-Okay, what about
this power cut?
If it wasn't the grid,
then it must have been
cut off in the house.
-And only Terrence Witham
and Louise Fitzallan
were inside the house.
-Background checks?
-Did Miss Fitzallan first,
thought that'd be
the most interesting.
Turns out the Fitzallans
aren't as loaded as I thought.
The husband inherited
the house,
but they struggled to afford
the running costs.
-They can afford half a million
pounds for a painting, though.
-What about our art dealer,
Terrence Witham?
-Well-known for
his niche taste,
beginning his career
specialising in works
depicting
alternative lifestyles,
escapologists,
circus performers, and the like,
discovered "The Solo Mare"
in a small-town auction
in January 2022.
Lists his heroes as Banksy,
Mozart, and the Dalai Lama.
-Yes, an eclectic mix.
But, again, as he already
owned the painting,
what possible motive
could he have to steal it?
-So we're back to our man
in the baseball cap.
-Yes, yes,
he definitely feels like
he is the key
to unlock everything.
We need to find him.
-You were seen.
Doesn't matter by who.
Just don't do anything else.
The police have been here
all afternoon.
Just wait.
No, we had an agreement.
♪♪
-So football --
I'm a Chelsea man.
What about you?
-I don't really follow football.
Sorry.
-Rugby?
-Gosh, I'm not sure
I know the rules, to be honest.
-So you and Martha --
the Caribbean, right?
-Uh, yes.
Well, I was stationed there.
She was travelling.
We had met briefly a year
or so before in London.
-A happy coincidence.
-I still wake up
every morning and...
well, wonder what she sees me,
really.
[ Chuckles ]
-Okay.
-I guess it's just one
of life's mysteries.
Best not to think about it
too much
in case I jinx it.
[ Chuckles ]
-We could always ask her.
-Oh, I do.
She says we're the perfect fit.
You know, like yin and yang.
I don't know which is which.
I think I may be yang.
-Perversely, I used to think
we were perfect together.
Turns out she didn't
feel the same way.
-Lucky for me.
Sorry.
-Don't be. It's true.
So I need to ask --
does it bother you,
us working together
-Should it?
-Of course not.
♪♪
♪♪
[ Banging ]
-[ Gasps ]
Ha!
-Hi.
-[ Chuckles ] How did it go?
-It was brilliant.
Yeah, turns out
we have loads in common.
-You have nothing in common.
-That's not true, actually.
We narrowed it down
to [chuckles] you
and cheese-and-onion crisps.
-Was a disaster?
-[ Sighs ] Not a disaster, no,
but, uh...
I'm not sure on what you saw
in either of us, to be honest.
What should we do for dinner?
-Oh, Mum's still upset
about the missing painting,
so I said we'd eat with her,
if that's okay.
-Yeah, of course.
[ Sighs ]
Archie asked me if we're
planning to start a family.
I didn't know what to tell him.
-So what did you say?
-Told him we were thinking
about it.
-And we are.
-Are we?
-Come on.
Mum's waiting.
-Okay.
-I knew you'd still be in here.
-I need to find him.
-Home.
-Just give me 10 more minutes.
-Now.
-Okay.
-I've got a fancy-dress party
at Jamie Alvin's,
and I'm late as it is.
-Who you going as?
-Kenny Everett.
-Who's that?
-Ugh.
Before your time.
Come on.
Find Mr Baseball Cap tomorrow.
-Okay.
-[ Chuckles ]
♪♪
-Uh, yes,
so he was a Caucasian male,
um...
height-wise,
he was up around here,
my height, uh,
and was wearing a baseball cap.
Have you seen him?
Hi, there. Uh...
Baseball cap. Orange.
Um, about this height.
About this height.
He had an orange cap on.
♪♪
All right. Thank you.
♪♪
♪♪
-Excuse me.
-Oh!
-Oh! So sorry!
Um, sorry.
Oh, gosh, not again.
-Okay.
Oh, sorry.
I think I'm just a bit nervous.
I'm meant to meet
my new chief superintendent.
Does nothing but moan about
how much money
Shipton Abbott is spending.
-Oh, you're from
one of old station houses?
-Yes, well, old
but perfectly formed.
-Or pretty
but not very efficient.
-I think we're
efficient enough.
-Oh, I don't doubt it
as people.
But we've moved on, haven't we?
From a system
of individual outposts
towards a more modern
and joined-up approach.
With shared information
and technology.
Facial recognition systems.
Biometric.
-I just prefer
good, old-fashioned policing.
-Running around with whistles?
-Well... [ Laughs ]
Well, with respect, um,
that's your interpretation.
And as an inspector
sitting behind a desk --
-Except I'm not an inspector.
-You have two pips.
-Pip and a crown.
-Oh, gosh. Sorry.
That -- That makes you a...
chief superintendent.
-Shall we go to my office?
[ Walk the Moon's "Jenny"
plays ]
-♪ You got curves
like the ocean
♪ Gonna take it in
slow motion ♪
♪ Got emotions
that'll make it last ♪
♪ You got freckles
on your shoulder ♪
♪ amm*nit*on like a soldier ♪
♪ And visions, ambitions
to be the best ♪
♪ Oh, and Jenny, why don't we ♪
♪ Jenny, why don't we
be gettin' together? ♪
♪ I said, Jenny, shouldn't we ♪
♪ Jenny, shouldn't we
be gettin' together? ♪
♪ Jenny's got a... ♪
♪♪
-Well, I'm guessing you'd like
an update on "The Solo Mare."
-Do you have one?
-We're still pursuing leads.
-So that's a no.
Actually, that's not why
I brought you here,
nor was it to listen to your
views on 21st century policing,
enlightening as that was,
or even to tell you of
face to face
for spending too much money.
Did you have a look around
earlier?
You'll find every force
in the county with a base here.
This place is the b*ating heart
of the Southwest Police.
-And what does that make us?
The kidney?
-More like a benign growth --
fine for now,
dangerous if left unchecked.
Tactical Command are considering
bringing you and your team
into this building,
closing down
the old station house.
-Well, that's a shame.
-For who?
-Us, but also the community
have been using that building
for 100 years.
-They'll have more support here,
more resources,
community liaison,
be part of a bigger picture.
[ Nathan Evans' "Wellerman"
plays ]
-♪ There once was a ship
that put to sea ♪
♪ The name of the ship
was the Billy O'Tea ♪
♪ The winds blew up,
her bow dipped down ♪
♪ Oh, blow, my bully boys, blow,
huh ♪
♪ Soon may the Wellerman come ♪
♪ To bring us sugar and tea
and rum ♪
-Oi!
-Here! You gotta pay for that!
♪♪
-♪ Take our leave and go ♪
♪ Soon may the Wellerman come ♪
♪ To bring us sugar and tea
and rum ♪
♪ One day, when the tonguing
is done ♪
♪ We'll take our leave and go ♪
-Sorry, mate, sorry.
♪♪
-You all right?
-Yeah.
-♪ One day, when the tonguing
is done ♪
♪ We'll take our leave and go ♪
-What are you doing here?
-Gonna have it out
with my computer.
It's got my wholesale
order on it.
What are these?
-We had a Turner visit in 1987.
Your father planned it all,
went off beautifully.
-Oh, Mum, I've told you,
you can't keep blaming
yourself.
You weren't even there.
-I really just can't help
thinking that I let him down.
Marty.
-[ Sighs ]
-So how is the chief super?
-Oh, good. Spilt coffee on her.
Then got given a lecture
on modern policing methods.
-Oh, dear.
But this will cheer you up.
Kelby found our mystery
baseball-cap man.
-Where?
-At the fish market, apparently.
Anyway, he's
processing him now.
-Excellent!
-We have got other things
to be doing, you know.
We're not all sitting here
twiddling our thumbs.
Now, I said we'll get to it,
and we will. Right?
-What was that?
-Seems everyone's
moaning at me today.
That was Dot Trolman
moaning about her sheep.
Then I had that Witham
on earlier,
wanted to know if he can
get in the gallery yet
to get his stuff out.
-Um, I'd say yes.
I think we're done there.
-Okay.
He is in the interview room,
ready for you.
-Thanks, Kelby.
-Yes. Great work, Kelby.
-Sir, um, this might not
be important,
but when I saw him first --
and I'm not sure about this --
but he was with a woman,
and it looked like she was
passing something to him.
She was a little older,
and it looked like Mrs Fitzallan
from the manor.
♪♪
-Aaron Cole,
previous for criminal damage,
theft, and common as*ault.
-Okay, so, uh,
can you tell us what
you were doing in the grounds
of Shipton Manor the night
before last around midnight?
-You were seen.
-On the night a painting worth
£500,000 was stolen.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
You ain't pinning that on me.
-Unless you got a really good
explanation for being there,
it doesn't look good, does it?
-Right now
you're our prime suspect.
-I didn't steal anything,
I swear.
-Well, look, if you're innocent,
you can be out of this room
in five minutes.
I mean, you're no stranger
to this process
by the sound of things,
are you, Aaron?
So you know full well that the
only way that's gonna happen
is if you tell us the truth
and...
if you tell us exactly
why you were there.
If it helps, we already know
about Mrs Fitzallan.
Do you really think
she's gonna protect you?
-She wanted me
to nick the painting.
-So you admit stealing it?
-No.
I was supposed to
draw that stuff
on the back of the house
the first night.
Then the second night, she was
supposed to leave the window
open and the alarm off
so I could get the painting.
That way, people would blame
the protesters.
But she phoned me yesterday
to call it all off.
Arranged to meet her in town.
Told her I wanted paying anyway.
-Wait. So the plan was for you
to steal the painting
last night?
-Yeah.
But it looks like someone
b*at me to it.
-Aaron Cole was at school
with my son, James.
I spent most of their
teenage years telling James
to stay away from him.
Rather ironic.
-So you contacted him?
-My circle of criminal
acquaintances is rather small.
-So you admit you were paying
him to steal the painting.
-[ Sighs ]
After what you've just said,
it would be rather churlish
not to.
You see, my husband isn't away
on business.
Charles is actually
in Antigua...
with his secretary...
and most of our money.
-I'm sorry.
-Then why go through with
buying the painting?
-Because I'm a Fitzallan.
And the guardianship
of this house
comes with responsibilities.
The homecoming
of "The Solo Mare"
brought the entire community
back together.
How could I suddenly announce
I wasn't going to
go through with it?
It would have been excruciating.
Charles had arranged to borrow
the money, convinced me
to use the manor
as security against the loan.
-So you hoped to claim
on insurance
to help pay back the loan.
-And save face in the process.
-Rather tawdry solution,
don't you think?
-Which means that the painting
had to be stolen last night
because until then,
you didn't actually own it.
-Exactly.
The only good thing
to come out of this conversation
is that you will now see
that it wasn't in my interest
to steal it any sooner.
♪♪
♪♪
-Sir.
-Yes. Coming.
♪♪
Mr Witham.
-Hmm?
-Please let me help.
-Yes. I'll take that.
Thank you.
-Sorry we couldn't let you go
any sooner.
-Yeah, whatever.
-Aaron Cole could be lying.
He might have stolen
the painting anyway.
-Yes, very true.
And nothing in this case
is quite what it seems.
I'm starting to think we may
never find out what happened.
♪♪
-I suppose me taking over
his place on the Arts Committee
was my way of holding on
to him a bit longer.
-I know.
-I still miss him.
You see, but I know I shouldn't
after all this time.
We stop mentioning it
to people.
Well, because it starts to be
a bit awkward after a while.
As if sympathy
as he use-by date,
and once you pass that date,
you're supposed to
snap out of it,
stop harking back to the past,
move on.
And it's difficult to move on
on your own.
You're so used
to doing everything together.
-I miss him, too.
-Oh, I know you do.
You don't get your own way
as much as you used to
when he was here.
-True.
Just my luck to get left
with the strict parent.
-Mm.
I know why you came back.
-Oh?
-You were worried about me
being on my own.
Oh, I'm sure the dream
of opening your own cafe
and being fed up with London
is all true, too.
But that's not why
you came back.
And you were right.
I'm not sure I could have coped
on my own.
But that's what you do,
isn't it,
for people you love?
Put your own wants
and needs to one side
and give them what they need.
-Never thought about it
like that.
-All I ever wanted was for your
dad to be content and happy.
I suppose that's what Humphrey's
doing for you, isn't it?
Giving up everything
to come down here with you.
-Yes, he is.
-And he's doing that
because he loves you.
It's a very precious thing,
you know, Marty -- love.
You hold on to it
as tightly as you can.
♪♪
-Sir, I, um --
-If our intruder came in
through the gallery window
and is already inside the room
where the painting actually was,
so why did the power
need to be switched off,
and why didn't Kelby see him?
-I don't know, but I asked
for the sale memo
from when Witham originally
bought the painting --
part of the auction house's
due diligence.
-Why?
-Well, I was hoping there might
be something in it
that might solve the debate,
give Isla Jay
some peace of mind.
-That was a nice thing to do.
-Mm.
I'm not sure it helps, though.
The only thing of note
is that the artist
may have used the canvas before
and over-painted,
but even that's quite common.
-Doesn't that help?
-Might make it worse.
If Craig painted over
Edith's painting,
it's still an original Craig.
-Ah. You know,
I keep coming back
to the power being turned off.
Common sense demands
that we look at the two people
who were actually
inside the house
when the painting was stolen.
-Hmm. Louise Fitzallan
and Terrence Witham.
-But we've discounted
them both.
-Sheep!
-What?
-She's been on the phone again,
threatening to go to HQ.
-Fine. I'll go.
But I can't see how
you can lose 25 sheep.
It's not like they can
turn invisible, is it?
Or maybe they're just
playing hide-and-seek.
-[ Chuckles ]
-Thanks, Margo.
[ Shredder whirring ]
-Hiding!
-[ Gasps ]
-What?
-Hiding is the only thing
we've never really considered.
I'm not following.
Sir?
-We've always known
that it was impossible
to climb in through the window,
steal the painting,
and get out again
in the two minutes
that Kelby said
he was on the landing.
So what did we do?
We chose not to believe him.
But what if he was
telling the truth?
What if it was
two minutes or less?
-That's not possible.
-Exactly. And that's the point.
That's why everything is not
quite what it seemed,
because we were trying
to prove something
that never actually happened.
See, when Witham left
art college,
he worked with
the art of the macabre,
with magicians and show people.
-And?
-And on his website,
he listed as one of his heroes
Banksy, remember?
-Yes.
-So?
-So at the auction
for Banksy's famous
"Girl with Balloon" picture,
what did he do?
He shredded it!
-I remember that!
-Yes!
-I'm not sure I understand.
-Where's that report
you had earlier?
-Here.
-Thank you.
♪♪
Oh, I think I've got it.
-Okay.
So who stole "The Solo Mare"?
-I did.
♪♪
I think when Terrence Witham
first got
the auction house report,
he saw it exactly as you did.
It confirmed
it was of the period
and keeping with the work
of Augustus Craig.
And, yes, there was a mention
of a possible over-painting
at the bottom of the canvas,
but that's not unusual.
As far as he was concerned,
everything checked out.
He bought a genuine
Augustus Craig
at a fraction
of what it was really worth.
-[ Laughs ]
-But at some point,
he became curious
about what was underneath.
The over-painting was
at the bottom of the campus
where the signature would be.
So I think he found
Edith Jay's signature
beneath that of Augustus Craig.
Thereby confirming the theory
that Craig had signed
his protégé's painting.
-So Witham knew
it was Edith Jay's all along.
-And he also knew that, unlike
an Augustus Craig original,
a painting of a horse's backside
by a stable girl
would be worthless
in comparison.
-And he'd already agreed the
sale with the Art Committee.
-But more importantly,
he knew that now the painting
was home in Shipton Abbott,
the clamour to have it tested
to finally prove
who the real artist was
and end the controversy
would be irresistible.
-And if that happened,
it would ruin his reputation.
-And no doubt
have Louise Fitzallan
demanding her money back.
But the sale already
being agreed
also gave him an opportunity.
What better way to disguise
the theft of your own painting
than doing it while
it's in someone else's care?
-Ours.
-So what if he was inspired
by a combination
of Banksy's shredding frame
and his early work
with magicians...
...and he constructed a frame
designed to hide
a painting within it?
-Okay, so that's everyone.
Mr Witham?
-So on the night
of the supposed theft,
it was simple enough for him
to make
the last-minute adjustments
to the painting before he left.
-You'll lock the door
behind us, yes?
-Yes, sir.
-No one is to go beyond
those ropes
until I return in the morning,
yes?
-Understood, sir.
♪♪
-Like any magician
worth his salt,
he knew about the importance
of misdirection
and making the audience look
the other way
to cover
what they're really doing.
-[ Gasps ]
Creating the illusion
that the painting was stolen
when the lights went out.
-Exactly.
-Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
-Witham waited a minute or two,
then turned the power back on.
[ Bang ]
♪♪
Then, the next morning,
when the room opened up again,
more misdirection
as he broke the window latch.
♪♪
All that was left was to be
as surprised as everyone else
on the morning of
the unveiling.
-On behalf of all of us
in Shipton Abbott,
welcome home.
[ Audience gasping ]
-And now more
than Louise Fitzallan,
who had her own plan in place
to steal the painting
for herself.
-And that's why Witham was
so keen
to get back in the room
and collect his frame.
-Yes, but the person I believe
actually took the painting
from this house...
was me.
Mr Witham.
-Hmm.
Please let me help.
-Yes. I'll take that.
Thank you.
-Sorry we couldn't let you go
any sooner.
-Yeah.
-Okay, fine.
He left the manor house
five minutes ago.
-Right. Get his vehicle details
put out on APB.
-Sure.
♪♪
♪♪
[ Sheep bleating ]
-Step aside.
[ Horn honks ]
Step aside, sir.
[ Horn honks ]
All right.
All right, calm down.
[ Horn honks ]
Calm down. It's all right.
[ Horn honks ]
All right, everyone.
Oh.
-Well, come on, then!
-Yeah. calm down.
Shh. It's all right.
[ Line ringing ]
Mrs Trolman?
I've got your sheep.
Um, you're gonna need to bring
a truck, all right, and --
Oh, geez.
-Who the hell's in charge here?
-I am.
♪♪
-You.
-APB on black
Ford Transit Courier,
registration Echo November 15
Yankee Sierra Bravo,
driven by a Terrence Witham --
dark hair, 5'11",
last seen
leaving Shipton Abbott,
heading towards Exeter.
Wanted on suspicion of fraud.
Please apprehend.
[ Horns honking ]
♪♪
-Excuse me. Excuse me.
Excuse me.
Don't!
Oi!
Come back! Oi!
♪♪
Gotcha!
♪♪
-Care to show us
how this works?
Very well.
Let's see.
♪♪
-So it was in the room
the whole time.
It wasn't stolen on my watch.
-No, it wasn't.
-So my record on guarding
valuable paintings
is still 100%.
-Yes, well done, Kelby.
Take him away, will you?
-Yes, sir.
♪♪
-Well done, Sergeant.
♪♪
[ Mobile phone buzzes ]
Thank you.
-You're welcome.
Hmm!
Louise Fitzallan has offered
to buy "The Solo Mare" anyway.
-Really?
-At a 10th of the price.
-Why, if she knows it wasn't
painted by her ancestor?
-Who knows?
But Edith Jay was still a local.
So at this rate, Shipton Abbott
might just embrace you
as one of our own.
The man who saved
"The Solo Mare."
-Yes, well, right now,
I'd happily settle
for the gratitude
of my future mother-in-law.
-[ Chuckles ]
Good night, sir.
-Sergeant.
[ Engine starts ]
♪♪
-What do you want?
-We could start
with a cup of tea.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
-Ooh. Perfect timing.
-Ah.
Well, I've just made your mother
a very happy woman.
-I'm not sure if I want you
to elaborate or not.
-Just found her painting.
-I knew you would!
-Ah, yes. [ Laughs ]
[ Wings flap, bird squawks ]
Selwyn! Selwyn's back.
-Selwyn?
-Yes.
Well, he need a name,
and rather strangely,
I found myself
missing the commissioner.
This will soften the blow
a little.
-Eat.
-Yes. Pasta.
Just what a hungry man needs
after catching a art fraudster.
-Just what a woman needs, too,
to build up her strength
before she starts IVF again.
-What?
You mean...?
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪