11x03 - Midsomer Life

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Midsomer Murders". Aired: March 23, 1997 to present.*
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Based on the crime-novel series by author Caroline Graham, `Midsomer Murders' follows the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector John Barnaby to solve crimes that occur in the wealthy, isolated English county of Midsomer.
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11x03 - Midsomer Life

Post by bunniefuu »

WOMAN: Well done. Right!
I'll take that. On to work.

If the bumpkins were left
to their own devices,

all these byways would be overgrown,
mate. (CHUCKLES)

Here you are.
Just down here would be lovely.

(WOMEN CHATTER AND GIGGLE)

Hold up.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Wow, mate, look at that!
Shh!

(ENTRANCE BELL RINGS)

(SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE)

(SIREN WAILS)
About ten minutes ago. We need you
here as soon as possible - ASAP.

(SIREN STOPS)

(INSECTS BUZZ)

We've done a PNC check.
The vehicle's registered to
a Charlie Finleyson of London.

He used to live in Midsomer Sonning
up until three years ago.

George thought you might know him.
Morning, George. I know of him.

His wife reported him missing
two weeks ago. No obvious cause.

Time of death was something like two
weeks ago, judging by the insect
development.

Broken from the outside.
No wallet or ID.

The way the glass has interacted
with the body,

it looks like the window was broken
at the time of death, or soon after.

(INSECTS BUZZ)
Well, he certainly wanted to turn
round in a hurry, didn't he?

What he was he doing here,
with his Chelsea tractor
and his designer suit?

Not your typical birdwatcher, is he?

Miles from anywhere...
with a map and a pair of binoculars.

Do you know who lives barely half
a mile away? Guy Sandys.

Guy Sandys, owner of Midsomer Life?

It also happens
it was Guy Sandys' wife

who Charlie Finleyson ran off with
three years ago.

Mm. You're a very talented girl,
Gemma.

I thought it was perhaps a little
gruesome for the gentle folk of
Midsomer?

We have to tell it how it is, Julia.
That's what we're here for.

We'll go with it as it is.
Thank you, Mr Sandys.

Oh, Garth, come in.
Excellent article this month.

Thank you, Mr Sandys. So, um...
how's the hedge-laying going?

Not much work about, as it happens.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

In fact, I started a new job today.

When you hear who I'm working for,

I'm not sure you're going to want me
writing the country diaries any more.

If Guy Sandys thinks he's going
to publish this rubbish,

then he's got another thing coming.
Who the hell does he think he is?

Looks like it's going to be one of
his nasty ones.

It's ever since you opened
that off-road centre, you know.

That's what this is all about.
I know what this is about
and I'm not going to put up with it.

The opinions of
that dyspeptic dinosaur bastard!

(HUM OF CONVERSATION)

(DOOR SLAMS)
Mr Tomlin, any plans for the...day?

No. Right.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(TAPPING AT KEYBOARD)

It'd been sitting there
for two weeks, or something!

I mean, don't these people
ever clear up?

This is a public byway
we're talking about!

Yes, please. I mean,
we could've had kiddies with us!

Mr Farley.
Did you have a pleasant drive?

You extracting the Michael (?)

I beg your pardon?

Have you not heard about the body we
found up on the hill?

The dead body, mm?

Blimey! I thought gossip
was supposed to spread like wildfire
in these parts!

I think it's Remys all round.
OFF-ROADERS: Yeah.

Large ones.
Of course.

Morecroft bar, usual time?
Right, see you later.

(ENTRANCE BELL RINGS)

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

So, we were doing a bit of
green-laning up the back there

and we had to hack our way through,
and then...there it was.

Maggots crawling all over it!

Yeah, all right.
Sorry.

Where...where was this?
Um... Up the back there.

Erm...
I think it's called...Drays Copse.

(SHOCKED MURMURS)
Drays Copse? Drays Copse?

(SILENCE)

What's that?
The haunted wood, is it (?)

(OFF-ROADERS CHUCKLE)

What are you like, you people!
Priceless!

They're saying it's a combination
of that hot weekend and it being
the end of the season.

Can't get charcoal anywhere.

No, it'll be fine. They say
it's going to be an Indian summer.

(DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
Ooh, there's your dad now.

Cully sends her love.
Oh, Mrs Dixon!

Hello, Cully, love!
Did you get that?

(CHUCKLES) OK.
Yeah. Yeah, see you then.

Bye, love.

Simon can't come, after all.

They're not avoiding the in-laws
already, are they?
No, course not. Don't be silly.

Now, have you decided
what you'd like for your birthday?

I've just walked through the door.
Could I have a moment,

before you start all the questioning?

You are, without doubt,

the most difficult person
in the world to buy a present for.

Come on.

Well, I never realised
there was so much money
in local-magazine publishing.

There isn't. Guy Sandys made his
money in the City, retired early

and bought the magazine as a hobby.

Now, the crime scene's over there,

and this is the only house within
a mile of where the body was found.

(REVVING)

Their faces went pale,
and then they went silent.

It was like American Werewolf In
London, you know.

Like, "Don't stray off the path,"
sort of thing, you know. (CHUCKLES)

"Woo! Drays Copse!" (LAUGHS)
Bleedin' hilarious.

Ooh, I like those spots!
That's tungsten, that is.

Very nice!

What...is...that?

Oi, mate!
They've called and left a message.

Who? The Transport Museum -
want to know if you're were ready
to donate it yet (!)

(LAUGHTER)

(SIREN WAILS)

Mrs Finleyson?
Yes.

Would you come through, please?

Is it my husband?

We've checked the dental records
and I...I have to tell you

that the deceased is, indeed,
your husband. I'm sorry.

Cause of death hasn't been
established yet,

but I'm bound to tell you
there are certain circumstances
which are...suspicious.

Thank you.

We need to know what he was doing
where he was found,

and that was on the bridle path
that runs through Drays Copse.

I have no idea
what he was doing there.

You do know where Drays Copse is,
don't you? Of course I do.

It's yards
from my ex-husband's house.

I'd quite like to know what Charlie
was doing there myself.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)
I'm off to the Green Dragon.

Matt Morecroft's
been on the phone again.

More threats about cancelling
his advertising if you go ahead
with next month's review.

Well, leave it to me.
Have you got his contract?

Thank you.

See you later.
Bon appetit!

My brother Martin works
at the Morecroft Hotel

and he phoned and told me
that they'd found a body.

Can you tell us about the last time
that you saw your husband?

It was the morning he disappeared.

We were sitting at home
in Kensington.

He was eating some cereal. I left
early in order to b*at the traffic.

I assumed
he'd just gone to the office.

And you've no idea what he was doing
in Midsomer? No. Not one single clue.

Will there be an inquest, do you
think? Oh, yes, there will be.

We'll have to talk to you again.

Ben... Can I have a word?
Yep.

It was while we were
looking over the SUV,

found something we thought
might be of interest.

And if you could keep us informed
about your movements...

This is my brother's address.
I'll be staying there tonight.

Thank you. We'll be in touch.

What's that? Found down the side of
the seat in Charlie Finleyson's SUV.

It's a credit-card statement
in the name of CHRISTINA Finleyson,
with one entry circled.

A service station
in Midsomer Sonning.

He was checking up on her.

Where's my glass?
It's there, somewhere.

If you'd just leave it
where I put it! I didn't touch it.

And you don't want to. The last
person that touched Eleanor's glass

is still eating through a straw!
Thank you (!)

(LAUGHTER)

Christina...

It WAS Charlie.

I am so, so sorry.
Charlie?

What, the body in the car
was your husband Charlie?

Do you think you could give us
a moment? Yes, of course.

I should've known. I mean,
he hadn't used his credit cards,

the bank account was untouched...
It was obvious.

Do they know how?
No, not yet.

Well, I shall miss him. I mean, he
was such a lovely, kind and warm...

Well, I don't know -
such a genuine human being.

He just always had time
for everyone. I mean - Martin...

Mm?
Sorry, can I ask you something?

Oh, please. Anything.
What on earth possessed you
to get a job as a barman?

Well, I've tried
quite a few jobs since... You know.

Once you're the wrong side of ,
it's actually not very - Yes, OK.

Look, do you have
a spare front-door key? Use mine.

You know you're welcome to stay
as long as you like. Thank you.

Mr Tomlin...

Have there been any telephone
messages for me?

No, not that I'm aware of.
You're absolutely sure?

All messages are put
in the pigeonholes at reception,
if you'd like to check.

What a peculiar man!

In fact, if he had anything to do
with what happened to your
brother-in-law,

I wouldn't be at all surprised.
(MEN MURMUR)

What's that?

Of course! Your old restaurant got
one of Guy's reviews, didn't it?

Is this the one? Hm?

Oh! How extraordinary! It's fallen
open just at the right page.

(READS) Crimes Against Gastronomy.

Could you look after the till for
a moment, please? Yes, of course.

Oh, dear!

(READS) A confection of overworked
pretentiousness...

An amateur cook with all the
culinary instinct of a lollipop...

GUY SANDYS: 'Vile sludge!'
..sludge.

(REVVING)

So it's really just a matter of
towing them out if they get stuck.

And for God's sake,
don't give them any advice.

(OFF-ROADERS LAUGH)
City boys don't like
being told what to do.

It's all about making them feel good.

And don't come over
all Countryside Alliance.

They come here to relax
and we look after them.

Did you divert the stream through
the old tip that was there? Yeah.

We put a hard core in the bottom.
It works fine.

(REVVING)

(OFF-ROADERS LAUGH AND CLAP)

Mrs Finleyson!

Hello? Mrs Finleyson?

Good afternoon. You didn't answer.

I was hoping you'd go away,
if I'm perfectly honest.

We've got some new evidence,
Mrs Finleyson,

which I hoped you could
throw some light on for us,

if you'd be so kind. This is a
credit-card statement in your name.

It was found down the side of one of
the seats in your husband's Lexus .

You see that circled entry?

That was for a purchase at the petrol
station in Midsomer Sonning.

Do you know why that particular entry
was circled?

Well, it wasn't circled by me.
I know that.

Was it not?

Do you know any reason why your
husband would be, erm, curious...

..about what you were doing
out here in Midsomer Sonning?

Mrs Finleyson, can you tell me,
please, where you were on the day
your husband disappeared?

I was here, seeing my brother.

Didn't I mention that?

You see, I had driven down
from London to help Martin
with his finances.

Ever since his restaurant went into
receivership, he's been finding it
very difficult to cope.

Oh, so you've come back here before?
A couple of times.

Once on the day
of the petrol-station entry.

I didn't tell Charlie,
because my brother asked me not to.

He's been embarrassed by his
situation.

Has the cause of death been
established yet? No, it hasn't.

You know,
Charlie had high blood pressure.

But I can think of no reason why
he should suspect I was seeing Guy.

The idea is ridiculous.

Now, if you don't mind, I've got
things I need to get on with.

I'm afraid he's out at the moment.
Is it about the body they found
up at Drays Copse?

It is. Do you know
where I can find -

Is it true it was Charlie Finleyson?

I had hoped I'd be the one
asking the questions. Sorry.

Habit of a lifetime.
Where can I find Mr Sandys?

'He's at the Green Dragon in Malham.
It's gastro-pub review day.'

There you go.

I will not be needing
the...parachute.

I will, however, be needing
the seasonal vegetables

which, I think,
are included in the menu,

if you don't mind.
(TUTS)

(PHONE RINGS)

Morecroft Hotel. WOMAN: "Could
I speak with Mr Tomlin, please?"

I'm afraid he's not here
at the moment. Can I take a message?

"Could you tell him Mrs Wilson
returned his call?"

And your number is?
"He has my number.

Just ask him to call."
(LINE GOES DEAD)

I mean, I don't even know
what all the hostility's about,
do you know what I mean?

I mean the countryside is supposed
to be a leisure resource
for everybody, right?

(ALL MURMUR IN AGREEMENT)
Oi!

Excuse me!

There's a farmer who has
deliberately put a load of bulls
in a field we wanted to go through.

Now, a bridlepath is a public right
of way. Why would he do that?

Where was this? It was in a field
at the Malham crossroads.

I think you'll find they were cows.

(SNIGGERING)
Cows?

When was the last time
you saw cows with horns?

(LAUGHTER)

(HUM OF CONVERSATION AND LAUGHTER)

Mr Guy Sandys?
Yes?

Sorry to interrupt your meal.
I'm Detective Chief Inspector
Barnaby, Causton CID

and this is Detective Sergeant Jones.

We need to ask you a few questions,
Sir. Er...may we?

Please.
Thank you.

You haven't heard, have you,
about the body that's been found
in Drays Copse? No, I haven't.

What body?
It was found in an SUV.

It's just been positively identified
as being that of Charlie Finleyson.

Finleyson?

Well, I can tell you it had
absolutely nothing to do with me.

I can't think what he was doing down
here. I haven't seen the man for
years.

Thank you.

Why do they always

bring the vegetables and the pie
on two separate plates? Does anyone
know?

Either I have to eat them
separately,

or transport the vegetables
to the pie, having first made a hole
in the pastry to put them in,

or vice versa and dribble gravy
all over the table.

Why can't they just put them on the
same plate? Mmm!

Actually, that's not bad.

Charlie Finleyson, sir?

He disappeared a couple of
weeks ago. Tuesday the third.

On that date,
or any time since that date,

have you seen or heard anything
unusual near to your house

or along the bridle path?

I don't think I was at home
that day.

No, I wasn't. Or that night.

I had meetings in town
and stayed over.

Sorry.

Is Matt here?

Afraid not, Mr Sandys. Can I help?

Well, if it isn't the old school tie
himself (!)

Do I know you?
Probably not.

The grandee fund managers never had
much time for us common folk.

I remember you.
The paint-ball champion!

And what's wrong with paint-balling?
(STIFLES CHUCKLE) Nothing.

You want to watch what you say,
mate. You haven't got your school
chums to back you up here.

That's enough, thank you.

Are you mistaking yourself
for someone of any consequence
whatsoever (?)

Come on, Brad, leave 'em alone.
They're not worth it.

You're lucky there's ladies present,
mate.

Eh?

Yeah.

No surprises about the clientele,
then (!)

Perhaps you could take a message
to your new employer?

Tell him the advertising contract
is void

and I WILL be publishing
next month's review.

Henceforward, the magazine refuses

to carry any further advertisements
for his hotel - at any price. Ever!

I'll pass that on, Mr Sandys.
Thank you, Garth.

(CAR ENGINE STARTS UP)

(BIRDSONG)

(CAR APPROACHES)

What the hell was your husband doing
at Drays Copse?

Sensitive and charming, as ever (!)

Thank you for the sympathy (!)
What was he doing here?

Well, you tell me! What on earth
would I want with a prat like that?

I've told you, he's a waste of
space! Oh, you bastard!

(Bastard...)

Thanks.

Hey, how's the new job?
Interesting.

Good evening.

Give us a minute.

(NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

He's going to what?

Right... Right, we'll see.

Matt, is there anything
I can do to help?

Have the new towels been laundered?
That's not actually my job.

Don't you like working here?

You've got that "Salvador Dali
moustache" look again.

In purple.

It's the Merlot smile.
Oh.

Eleanor... Mm?
Safe journey home.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLS)

Oh, pot holes!
They should get them fixed.

(CAR DOORS SHUT IN SUCCESSION)

Hello?

Hello!

Oi, media baron! What have you got
in store for The Morecroft?

What little nuggets
of unpleasantness? Come on,
you can tell me!

Yes?
WOMAN: "Is Mr Tomlin there, please?"

Just a moment.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid
he doesn't appear to be answering.

"Could you ask him to phone
Mrs Wilson? He has my number."

Well, I have actually
already given him that message.

"Could you make sure he gets it!"
(LINE GOES DEAD)

(SIGHS)
(REPLACES RECEIVER)

(SIREN WAILS)

On his own spike!

Someone making a "point", perhaps?

So to speak.

Anyway, there's no sign of
a struggle or forced entry.

Estimated time of death between
and pm yesterday evening.

Have we got a cause of death yet
for Charlie Finleyson?

It's hard,
with the condition of the body.

(SOBS)

I wanted to check his diary.

I went in there to find it and
he was...just lying on the floor!

I didn't touch anything. I just came
in here and called the police.

Who are the...other
regular staff here?

It's just me and Guy.

And Gemma helps out in the office
three days a week.

All the other contributors
are freelance.

I'm actually an artist.
I know. You do the illustrations

for the Nature Diary, don't you?
They're excellent. Oh, thank you.

My brother Garth writes the column.

Well, I'm very sorry
about what's happened here.

Do you have any idea at all...
who could have done this?

Guy wasn't everyone's favourite,
but I can't imagine anybody

actually wanting to m*rder him!

We need to know where you both were
yesterday evening
between six and eight.

I was driving back from Causton.

I had a meeting there with the
printers. Got back about half six.

I didn't bother coming into the
office. Guy had said he'd lock up.

He was working late. I spent
the rest of the evening at home.

Can anyone corroborate that?

I'm afraid not.

I was at The Morecroft bar
from six to seven.

I was meeting Garth. We often go
there for a drink before we go home.

We share a cottage.

Anyway, we must have left
about seven, quarter past...

There was that package.
The hand-delivered one.

Um, it was a brown envelope.
Big capital letters.

Addressed to Guy.

I don't know if that had anything
to do with what happened.

I put it on his desk.
Who was it from?

No idea.
He hadn't opened it by lunchtime.

He probably took it with him.
He often did.

Erm... (CLEARS THROAT)
There's something else I feel
I should mention.

My brother spoke with Matt Morecroft
that evening.

Guy had asked him
to pass on a message

about how
The Morecroft wasn't allowed to
advertise in Midsomer Life any more

and I have to say

that Matt didn't look very pleased
about it when he left the hotel,

which was pretty much straight away.

Yeah. Come on, when you're ready!

Come on, come on!

(REVVING)

Babe, there's something wrapped
round the front!

Oh, the tyre!

You're going to pay for this.
Or someone is.

(MOBILE PHONE RINGS)
Excuse me a second.

Hi.
Where are you going now?!

GEMMA: "It's Guy. He's dead."
When did it happen?

"They're saying between six and
eight yesterday evening."

They want to look over Guy's house.
Julia's taking them up there.

"Sorry, Garth."
OK.

Bye.
(TERMINATES CALL)

Er, we need the wire-cutters,
when you've finished communing
with nature (!)

(BIRDSONG)

Miss Benson...

Miss Benson, was Guy Sandys involved
in any romantic relationships at all?

Yes, he was.

With me.

With you?

It started
after I began working for him.

When...when I moved here.

It was...it was a magical time.

Was it serious?

I couldn't answer for Guy.
I suppose not very, probably.

Guy wasn't a big romantic.

We didn't live together. I just came
over here a few nights a week.

We didn't make a big thing of it,
publicise it.

Sir, there's a telephone number for
a Mr Tomlin here.

Does that name mean anything to you?

It's a local number.
Try it, will you?

That can't have been
very easy for you.

He was still hurting
from the divorce.

She left him. People take time
to trust again, don't they?

It's the Morecroft Hotel.

Thank you.
We'll be in touch.

Guy's lover. No alibi.
Has to be on our list.

Julia!

Are you all right?

Oh, you poor thing.
You were so close.

Stop it!

I'll be fine. You can go.
I can manage. Please.

If that's what you want.
I'm sorry.

It's just I've got to sort out the
magazine and make phone calls on top
of Guy's death.

Oh, you poor love...

We'd like to talk to you, sir, about
your relationship with Guy Sandys.
Excuse me!

Excuse me!
It was fairly straightforward.

I disliked him intensely.
He was arrogant and vindictive.

I just wanted to say -
That's enough.

I just wanted to say, Inspector,
that I knocked on the doors of
Midsomer Life offices last night.

It was about...oh... : , I think,

and the lights were on,
but there was no reply.

And your point is?

Well, obviously he was lying
there dead, wasn't he, of course?

Well, I'm sure that if the officers
want to talk to you

about your invaluable evidence,
they'll do so when they're ready.

We'll talk later.
Thanks.

I'm sorry about that.

My mother made it a condition
of me taking over the hotel

that I keep Eleanor on.
It's misplaced loyalty.

The woman's a hopeless alcoholic.

We understand you left the hotel
at pm yesterday after
a conversation with Garth Platt.

Where did you go? I went to see
Guy Sandys at his office,

about the advertising
for the magazine.

But he told me I had to make
an appointment -
he had someone with him.

Who did he have with him?
Well...I didn't see them.

Whoever it was, was...
was in the office.

Look, I...I just went there
to sort out this review thing.

Which you were angry about.

Actually, he was more angry
than I was when I got there,

if you really want to know.
Oh, really? What about?

I don't know. He had a brown
envelope in his hand

and he was cursing.

Mr Morecroft, does the name "Tomlin"
mean anything to you?

There's a gentleman staying in the
hotel by that name, if that's what
you mean.

His key's not here. Could you ring
through to his room, please?

Yes, of course.

He's a suspect, is he? Pretty much
everyone is a suspect at the moment.

You know, he spends a lot of time
sitting in his car outside.
Very odd.

He could be watching Midsomer Life
offices from there, you know.
When was this?

And then there's that mysterious
woman who kept phoning him. Mrs...

..Wilson. (GASPS)

Mr Tomlin hasn't picked up his
message. Now, there's a thing!

No, I...I don't think I should.
Just give it to him!

"Mrs Wilson returned your call."
(SIGHS)

Is that it?
She didn't leave a number.

She said he knew it.
Of course, I dialled .

It was "number withheld".

I'll need to see his room, please.

But he's booked in to stay
another couple of nights.

Paid in advance.

Has his car gone?
Well, it's not outside where
it usually is. I notice.

And no, it's not in the car park,
either. Red hatchback.

(BIRDSONG)

Christina!

There you are.
I'll be back after lunch.

My husband would still be alive,
if it wasn't for you.

If you hadn't insisted
on all this secrecy!

Charlie thought I was seeing someone
when I was coming here

and he d*ed believing I was being
unfaithful to him,

and it's all your fault!

Well, I'm...I'm sorry.
I...I didn't -

God! Not content with ruining
your own sad little life,

you have to go and
ruin everyone else's, as well.

And for what?

All because you didn't want anyone
to know how much money you'd lost

in the biggest harebrained
"my perfect little dream restaurant"
scheme of all time (!)

"Chez Martin" - home of
the pork-and-pineapple profiterole!

Actually, a lot of people
were quite complimentary about
my pork-and-pineapple profiteroles.

Oh, shut up!

Please help yourself
to anything you need.

The signing-in book is usually...

Well, it's usually right here.

Could you put that on my desk,
please? Thank you.

Seems our Mr Tomlin has just
been released from prison.

years for m*rder.
m*rder?

Do you think you could keep it
to yourself, for the time being?

Could you do that?
If you wouldn't mind.

Yes. I did tell you he was
suspicious though, didn't I? My God!

I did say that. I knew it.
I knew he was weird.

Sorry about that, sir.
Yes (!)

Do you think someone was paying him
to do their dirty work?

I have no idea, but I'd like to know
more about this Mrs Wilson.

There must be thousands of them out
there! Well, yes, I know. I know.

Get his address
from the signing-in book.

Get hold of the Chief Investigating
Officer on the Tomlin case,

see what he can tell us about him.
m*rder?!

(READS) A well-oiled receptionist.

The rooms themselves overwhelmed

the odour of cheap toiletries
and other less savoury things.

For some hours after leaving
the establishment,

I felt a little soiled.

He wasn't too bothered keeping
the advertisers sweet or making
a profit.

He was worth a lot of money
after his time in the City.
Er, I can't find the diary.

If it's not here, I've no idea
where it would be.

No sign of the envelope, either.
Do you think someone took it?

It's possible.
Do you have any idea who he might
have been seeing yesterday evening?

He didn't mention anyone.

(CHURCH BELL TOLLS)

I spotted him as being a bit odd
straight away. Didn't I?

Excuse me. I said he was weird.

Did you?
You know I did!

Right, I need to establish where you
both were

between and pm yesterday evening.

I think Eleanor was here at the bar.

I think you were here for all that
time, weren't you? Yes. Drinking.

Up until after ten, I think it was.

And you were here behind the bar?
I was here from shortly before six
till quarter to eleven.

Well, apart from the time you said
you went down to the cellar,

which was what, about...ten minutes?

And when would that have been?
I don't know.

Half past seven to eight.
More like five minutes.

Who else was here at the time?
BOTH: Just the two of us.

Yes. Actually,
now I come to think of it,

ten minutes is more than enough time
for you to get down to the Midsomer
Life offices and back.

I mean, I'm just saying.
And I suppose, come to think of it,

you probably have as good a motive
as anyone,

after that shocking review that Guy
gave you about your old restaurant.

Absolute stinker!
But isn't that right?

If there was no-one else here,

then there's no-one
who can corroborate

you being here for those ten minutes
either!

YOU could have nipped up the road
and back again!

And with the forthcoming review of
the hotel, you'd have a motive, too,

being a founding employee,

what with his references
to drunken staff!

Now, I wonder who that was
referring to (!)

JOYCE: Who do YOU think it was
he was meeting?

We only have Matt Morecroft's word
for it that he was meeting someone.

He could've been lying. There might
not have been anyone at all.

Have you seen the badgers?
Pardon?

Oh!

She is so talented, that girl!

You do like her work, don't you?
Oh, I do, yes. It's excellent.

What?
Nothing.

What about Martin Reid?
What about Martin Reid?

Well, it wasn't just
the restaurant that he lost

as a result of Guy's review.

Everyone knows
his wife left him
when it went bust.

He has motive.
Possibly, yeah.

I know a girl
who worked
at that restaurant.

I could ask her
about it. Joyce...

Joyce, we've just discovered

there was a convicted m*rder*r
staying at the Morecroft Hotel,

possibly a contract k*ller. Now,
I don't want you getting involved.

Oh, Tom!

I love it
when you come over all protective.

Say it again.
Ooh, come here, you!

Oh, I talked to Julia's
previous editor on the red top
she worked for.

Seems her leaving London was more
"voluntary redundancy"

than any burning desire
to live in the country.

And she is the love interest.

Good actress or genuinely grieving?

Hello. Forgive the attire.

It's a...it's a late start.

Well, would you like to come in?
Thank you.

After you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Can we sit down?
Oh, please.

So is the mysterious Mr Tomlin
your chief suspect?

Oh, yes, one of them. Professional
hit man does seem a bit extreme,

but then, I suppose, they do exist?

Using his real name
doesn't seem like the most...
professional of tactics.

But we're not ruling him out.
Have you spoken to Julia Benson?

Are you aware she was copulating
with Guy on a regular basis?

Well, thank you very much for sharing
that information

and er...good morning to you,
Mrs Finleyson.

She's desperate to get her hands
on his money.

Can't wait to get him up the aisle.

If I were you, I would have her
on the top of your list.

Excuse me, but how would k*lling Guy
BEFORE they were married,

how would that help?

Well, I just wouldn't trust her
an inch.

When did you last see Guy?

I suppose it was about...
half past four on the afternoon...

of the day he d*ed, since you ask.

Yes, I'd gone
over there to ask him if he knew wha
Charlie had been doing there.

He denied knowing anything about it,
so I came home...and that was it.

Ah! The intrepid off-roaders.

Tell you what: if you want your
vehicles cleaned before you go,

I've got a little brother
who'll do it for a quid.

No, you're all right, thanks, mate.
Yeah, course.

I was forgetting.
You lot like to keep the mud on

for when you visit
your supermarkets in Wimbledon (!)

Hey, tell you what,
I've got some stickers.

"Genuine mud from the country". Put
one on the back there, if you like.
You what?

Ah, leave it, Brad.

You'd think with all
the income we bring to the area,
they'd be grateful.

So how do you feel about Guy's
review of your restaurant?

He did me a favour, to be honest.

I'm just not restaurant material.

No, if Guy hadn't spelt it out, I'd
have probably struggled on for years

before I came to terms with it. Come
on. There's more to it than that.

The bank foreclosed on you
very quickly, after that review
came out.

You couldn't have staggered on
for a week, could you?

And then you begged your sister
to keep quiet about the situation.

It obviously hurt you.

And then, on top of all that,
your wife ups and leaves you.

Who told you that?
Oh, come on, Martin.

It's common knowledge. Well,
we'd grown apart by then, anyway.

Where's that coffee?

We particularly liked the
illustration of the young badgers.

Oh. I don't know
if you have anything similar...

It's for my husband's birthday.

Oh, that's the very one!

I could frame it for you by tomorrow
morning, if you're interested.

Brilliant! Oh, job done!

Actually, best to make it tomorrow
afternoon. We're a bit pushed
at work at the moment,

what with...recent events.
I was so sorry to hear about Guy.

And we'll all miss his reviews.

Perhaps not everyone.

Oh... Really?

There's a fair bit of suppressed
anger there!

Yes.
It doesn't make him the m*rder*r.

And the sister's a bit pent-up,
as well. Yes, isn't she just!

Is there any chance she could've
thought Guy was responsible

for her husband Charlie's death?
What, k*lled him in revenge?

No alibi.
That's right.

Do you know
where I could get some charcoal?
You'll be lucky to find any now.

It's the end of the season, see.
And after this hot weekend
we've just had...

And that's five. Thanks. Sorry about
that. Thanks, anyway. OK, bye.

Oh, look. There's Joyce.

Joyce!

I just ran into Gemma Platt,
our artist.

She says that Matt Morecroft tried
to bribe Julia Benson

not to run Guy's review.
She's the editor.

Yes, I know she's the editor.
Didn't I ask you -
Oh, do stop fussing, Tom.

I'm not fussing.
Well, I can't help hearing things
if people insist on telling me.

Well, I thought you'd be pleased.
I am pleased.

Oh. I'll see you later.

Hello, Ben!
Morning, Mrs Barnaby.

Mrs Barnaby has just told me

that Morecroft had tried to bribe
Julia to pull that hotel review.

How did she find that out?
Oh, she has her sources.

They obviously don't think
that Tomlin's the m*rder*r,

despite what some local "experts"
think.

They're considering
all possibilities.

Doesn't mean
he's not their chief suspect.

Why else would he do a runner?
They seemed to think
a professional hit man

might not use his real name.
Might just have a point (!)

Oh, pot holes!
They should get them fixed.

(CAR DOORS SHUT IN SUCCESSION)

Of course, it is only
the opinion of policemen

with many years' experience
catching criminals (!)

Well, if they are looking
for someone else,

I might just be able to point them
in the right direction.
Why doesn't that surprise me?

If you keep your eyes open,
you can see things. Oh, yes!

Gin and tonic, please.

I don't think Matt Morecroft
would m*rder someone
for a bad hotel review.

And even if he did, why would he
then draw attention to himself

by trying to bribe them
not to run it?

I wonder where she's off to.

(LAUGHTER AND HUM OF CONVERSATION)

Thank you.

Look, I'm sorry
about what I said yesterday.

It's not your fault.

Well, I'm...I'm sorry for what -

Stop apologising. I said it's not
your fault. That's it.

I shouldn't have said what I said.

Oh. Thank you.

I still think
you shouldn't be working here.

I mean, especially
for that jumped-up little...

Look, you're better than this,
Martin.

You could have any job,
if you just gave it time.

Oh! Huh!

I'm sorry,
did you just say something?

Eleanor here thinks
she knows who the m*rder*r is.

Really (?)

Sorry, what's that on your lip?
Oh, er...

No, that's not what I said.

Actually, the police will be
particularly interested
in what I have to tell them.

It's hard evidence...
about what I saw in the car park.

I mean, WHO I saw in the car park.

And it's no good making faces.

Some of the locals have a strange
sense of humour.

Don't take offence. And don't worry
about the barbed-wire damage.

We'll sort that out.
(REGULARS GROAN IN PROTEST)


Martin, my man, I want you to give
these guests drinks on the house,

whatever they want.

(Don't you worry,
I will sort it out.)

(BRAKES SCREECH)

Ms Benson?

Ms Benson!

I've just heard that er...Matt
Morecroft was trying to..

- How shall I put this? -
persuade you to pull Guy's review.

He's going to be disappointed.

It'd be a travesty to suppress
any review in Guy's memorial issue.

You off to tell him, are you?
No, I'm...meeting Garth,

to ask him to write a piece
about Guy.

(RAUCOUS LAUGHTER)

If you'd just excuse me.

I assure you, I'm totally serious.

And what exactly did you see?

Well, I think I'll save that
for the police, if you don't mind.

You're quite the detective (!)
Eleanor, have you finished
the towels and the laundry?

Ooh... Perhaps you should finish
that before you have another glass.

Sorry about that.
Don't worry. She lives on another
planet, your receptionist.

Has done for years.
Mr Morecroft...

Er, Mr Barnaby!
Is it still all right to use
the side rooms for the interviews?

Be my guest.
Thank you.

Garth, could we have a word, please?

Sir!

A minute.

They found Tomlin's car in London
- it's a hire car -

parked near Waterloo station.

They're suggesting
he might have caught the Eurostar an
left the country.

Garth...

Guy came up to the off-road centre.

I told him Matt wasn't there
and he gave me the message.

Tore up the contract in front
of everyone. "Everyone"?

Yeah, the clients. The...City boys.

That Brad bloke
was trying to cause trouble.

I think he worked at Guy's firm -
they knew each other.

What sort of trouble?
Stupid stuff about old school ties.

He was being an idiot, you know.
Chippy.

(MACHINE WHIRS)

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(CHATTER)

(Tall one, beige jumper.)

Excuse me.
Is there a problem?

I'm Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby
from Causton CID

and this is Detective Sergeant Jones.

We understand that you knew
Mr Guy Sandys. Is that right?

A bit. Not that well.
Enough to have a row with him
at the off-road centre.

Well, don't you go anywhere, sir.

Need to have a little chat with you
after we've had a word
with Mr Morecroft here. Please.

Guy Sandys was campaigning to have
the off-road centre closed down,
wasn't he?

Was he?
Did you argue about that, too?

I told you.
He was seeing someone else.

There's no-one
who can corroborate that.

I told Eleanor when I came back.

Eleanor Crouch?

She should remember.

She'd better bloody well remember,

because I definitely told her
he was with someone else -

Excuse me... I was wondering if you
knew how much longer it was going to
be. I do have to be somewhere.

We'll be with you, sir,
as soon as we can. Thank you.

(MACHINE WHIRS)

For God's sake!
She's back in the bar.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

REGULARS: Whoa...

(REGULARS LAUGH)

(CHATTER)

(TANKARD THUDS)
If I could have
your attention, please.

(SILENCE)
Thank you.

Now, we need to establish where
everyone was

between the time Eleanor Crouch left
the bar

and the time that we found her,

and that means we need
to take statements.

(PUB CLIENTS MOAN)
MAN: It's gonna take hours!

Statements from each
and every one of you.

Yeah, well, you are going
to see us first? We are busy people.

And our time isn't worth anything?
(REGULARS MURMUR IN AGREEMENT)

Can I point out that Eleanor Crouch
has been m*rder*d

and I'm sure that you are all
very anxious

that we should find the person
or persons responsible.

Can I just ask you, please,
to be patient.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

Excuse me a moment.

Sir, I was just talking
to Martin Reid.

Eleanor told him how she'd seen
someone in the car park the evening
Guy Sandys was k*lled.

She didn't say who it was,

but she was telling him how the
police would be very interested.

Fax came through for you at the
station, sir. Oh.

So the suggestion is that Eleanor
Crouch was k*lled

to stop her telling
us who she saw in the car park?

How much longer?

Why don't you shut up?
LOCALS: Yeah! Right!

Sit down, please, sir.
Try and be patient.

It's from the investigating officer
on the Tomlin case.

He says he'd be surprised if Tomlin
were a professional k*ller.

The m*rder he was convicted of
was a sexually-motivated crime.

"He was previously a highly-respected
member of the community."

Tomlin was a teacher!

"He doesn't fit the profile
of any professional criminal."

(RAISED VOICES)

Well, people change inside,
especially after years.

Hm, yeah.

Maybe Tomlin had his own,
you know, personal motive

for k*lling Guy Sandys.

Did he k*ll Eleanor too?
Why would he do that?

Whether or not he's the k*ller,

Mr Tomlin is certainly
in the picture.

(RAISED VOICES)

And I bet he was your bleedin'
saboteur, an' all!

Could you keep it down, please?
Just pour the beers, Jeeves (!)

He's been working for the bloke
who wanted to close you down.

Of course it was him! He sabotaged
the course to give you more grief.

He wouldn't do that. Would you?

Of course he would!

You think I'd take your money
and then betray your trust?

You think that's the sort of person
I am?

He's just a yokel killjoy who can't
stand people having more money and
more fun than him.

If you were stupid enough to run your
course through a tip

and then divert a stream through it,

don't be surprised if old bits of
rubbish start turning up!

Well, thank you for that (!)

You're fired.
(ONLOOKERS EXCLAIM)

Yeah, well, Guy always warned me
what a prat you were!

(LAUGHTER)

Would you throw this man out,
please? He's barred for life.

I think you can do that yourself.

And you can stick your miserable
job, along with your rude,
patronising attitude!

(ONLOOKERS CHEER)
I'm out of here.

Congratulations, Martin. Well done!

Hang on. Who's going to serve us?

I don't think the subject of who's
going to serve the metro tossers

is on the top of anybody's
worry list right now (!)

Who are you calling "metro tosser",
mm?

Hang on, Mandy. Take it easy.
Well?

If the cap fits, darling, wear it.

(CRIES OUT)

(COMMOTION)

Stop it!

(MAYHEM)

That's enough! That's enough!

Stop it, stop it.

That's enough!

Well, if you will get involved
in pub brawls...

(GROANS)
Keep still.

I would've left it to uniform,
of course,

but Jones was particularly keen
to protect a very pretty young WPC.

Not that she needed much protection!

She almost wrenched
the arm off one of the Londoners

when she was arresting him!

He's gonna have his hands full
if he gets involved with her!

Maybe he wants his hands full.

There, all better.

Thank you.

The cells are full of rioting locals
and off-roaders.

Still no nearer solving the m*rder.
Not one of your better days?

No. Oh, thank you.

Have you got any suggestions?
Me? Yes, you.

Jones is always saying you do
all my detective work for me.

Oh, no. I just help out with a
little local knowledge, when I can.

I...I was only joking.
Were you? Oh.

WOMAN: I was very interested
to get your call - and surprised.

I'd thought we'd actually got
somewhere with Freddie Tomlin.

It took him a long time coming to
terms with what he'd done

- you know, admitting it -

but we were actually quite confident
about giving him parole.

Did he...did he have much connection
with the outside world? Visitors?

The family virtually wrote him off
after the trial.

You know, complete cut-off.

No, as far as I know, he didn't
receive a single visitor...

Oh... Except a couple of months
before his release.

Yeah, a Mrs Jane Wilson.

Wilson?

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Can I help you?
Mrs Wilson? Mrs Jane Wilson?

Yes. I'm Detective Chief Inspector
Barnaby, from Causton CID.

Er, can you spare me a few minutes?

I've been expecting you. Come in.

Perfect!

I hope your husband likes it.
Oh, I know he will.

No, my only problem now is to find
some charcoal for the barbecue.

Well, you know my brother
makes the stuff. Really?

He wouldn't have some to spare?
Only about a couple of tons (!)

(PRINTER BEEPS)

Oh, er, Personnel Department, please.

(OMINOUS MUSIC)

No, no, look.

This was ,
years ago. Yeah.

Thank you.

ELEANOR: 'No, I'm sorry. I'm afraid
he doesn't appear to be answering.'

But he's booked in to stay another
couple of nights. Paid in advance!

Has his car gone? It's not outside
where it usually is. I...I notice.

And no, it's not in the car park,
either.

I went to see Guy Sandys at his
office. I just went there to sort
out this review thing.

Actually, he was more angry
than I was when I got there,
if you really want to know.

'He had a brown envelope in his hand
and he was cursing.'

GEMMA: 'I don't know if that had
anything to do with what happened.'

Mr Barnaby.
Miss Benson, may we talk?

Of course. Come in.
Thank you.

I wonder
if you'd take a look at these.

Trust...

You said I could trust you.

I remember the story,
but it's been a long time.

Mr Tomlin, who was staying
at the Morecroft Hotel

and who was seen
watching these offices,

and who subsequently went missing,

is the man who was convicted
of the m*rder in this case.

Really?
Really. And Mrs Wilson here,

she is the sister of the chief
witness at the trial.

That same chief witness
to whom the newspaper for which
you were working at the time

paid a large, very large
amount of money for her story.

Mrs Wilson, would you tell us
what happened

when you went to visit your
sister in hospital for the last time?

Can I ask what -
Please, Julia, bear with us.

It won't take long. I promise.

Mrs Wilson.

She was very sick
- she had terminal cancer -

and she was desperate
to tell me something.

(EQUIPMENT BEEPS)

'It was about the big m*rder case.
The trial of Frederick Tomlin.

She told me she wanted
to withdraw her evidence.

How, shortly before
the case opened,

she'd become
much less confident

that she could
definitely
identify Tomlin

as being the man
at the m*rder scene.'

Thank you for coming.

She said the people
at the newspaper told her

that she couldn't withdraw
her evidence

and if she did, then
she wouldn't be a witness

and they'd have to take back the
money they'd paid her for the story.

But she'd already spent it.

'My sister made me promise to go and
see the man who had been convicted,

Frederick Tomlin,
and tell him what had happened

and ask him to forgive her.

Amazingly,
he said she had his forgiveness.'

Unfortunately, my sister d*ed

before I
had a chance to pass the message on.

And her evidence d*ed with her.

years on,
Tomlin was due for parole.

Mrs Wilson's story,
being hearsay evidence,

wouldn't have been admissible anyway.

Not in
a criminal court of appeal, that is.

But it might have been
admissible in a civil court.

And Mrs Wilson here
did agree to give evidence,

if Tomlin decided to bring a civil
action against the journalist
involved.

And that journalist was you.

Stephens?
Sir.

Mrs Wilson, if you'd accompany this
officer back to the police station.

We'll be with you
shortly - and thank you.

This way.
(ENTRANCE BELL RINGS)

There were a lot of us working
on the case at the time.

I don't know who she spoke to,
but it certainly wasn't me.

We believe that
Tomlin came here to expose you,

to ruin your life as you had
certainly ruined his.

Because he was innocent, wasn't he?

They all say they're innocent.

Oh, right.

But you didn't care if he was
innocent or not, did you?

So long as you got your story.

We think that Tomlin delivered
that envelope by hand.

'It contained a dossier
for Guy's attention.

Articles that you'd
been responsible for,

along with a copy of the signed
affidavit from Mrs Wilson

detailing her sister's deathbed
confession.

We know that Guy didn't open his mail
immediately.

But by the time he finally did,

Tomlin had already confronted you
about it and you had k*lled him.'

(GROANS AND GASPS)

No.

Not me.
Yes, you, Julia.

'Guy must have read the dossier. Did
he guess that you'd k*lled Tomlin?

And what did he do? Did he thr*aten
you? thr*aten to go to the police?

Well, whatever it was, you decided
that he had to die, as well.'

(THUD)

I really don't see how you can
fabricate this without any evidence.

It seems very unprofessional.
You wanted people to believe

that Tomlin had k*lled Guy
and done a runner, mm?

'So you had to make it look as if
Tomlin had left the hotel of his
own accord.

So you went to his room,
packed his bags...

But you couldn't risk
being seen wandering around the hotel
with his baggage, could you?

So you...
dropped it out of the window...'

(CRASH)

'..and picked it up later on

and put those bags in Tomlin's car.'

We believe that you dumped those bags
on the way up to London,

where you left the car
outside Waterloo station

to make us believe that he had done
a runner to the Continent. (TUTS)

It would have worked out
absolutely fine,

if Eleanor Crouch had not seen you
in the car park.

And Eleanor - miraculously -
remembered seeing you the next day

and thought that's probably
a very important piece of evidence

that she should tell us about.

So you decided to k*ll her too,

before she could tell us
what she'd seen.

(CRIES OUT)

No. Wrong again!

We spoke to your previous editor,
who said he had to let you go

because you'd do anything
to get the story.

Always have done, apparently.

So it wasn't love of the country
that brought you out here, was it?

You just didn't have
anywhere else to go.

And that's it, is it? A few
squashed flowers in a car park (?)

Any proper evidence at all?

Perhaps you'd explain how I was
supposed to know

Eleanor planned to tell you she'd
allegedly seen me in the car park,

when I wasn't even at the bar
when she was boring people with it?

I was with you and Sergeant Jones.

I had no idea what she'd planned!

Where is Frederick Tomlin's body?

You'll never find a body,

because there is no body to find.

He's alive and well and
congratulating himself

on giving those sluggish
country coppers the slip!

I know that you are the m*rder*r.

Arrest me, then!

(SIREN WAILS IN DISTANCE)

(WHISPER)

Three big motives
and not a shred of evidence!

Doesn't look like she's going to be
bluffed into a confession, either.

No. What was all that about not
hearing what Eleanor said in the bar?

I mean, she knew she'd been seen in
the car park by Eleanor

because she was there.
Simple as that.

Mind you, there was an air
of desperation about it all.

Why k*ll her at the hotel? Why at
that time, with so many people about?

It's very risky, isn't it?

Maybe she had only just heard
what Eleanor intended to do.

Could someone
have mentioned it to her?

No, I'm...meeting Garth to ask him
to write a piece about Guy.

'Garth and Julia.'

Garth and Julia. What if they were
having an affair, eh?

Julia would've kept quiet about that.

Wouldn't want to harm
her relationship with Guy.

It was Garth who told her
what Eleanor said in the bar.

GEMMA: Garth's working
over at Drover's Copse.

I thought you'd spoken to him
already.

It's just a few points,
you know, we need to clear up.

Drover's Copse? Where's that?
It's the turning just after
the Malham road.

You go past Bonham's Farm.
Take a left after a couple
of hundred yards.

Got that?
Yes, sir.

Would I be right in thinking
that Garth has got a girlfriend?

He won't tell ME,
but there is someone.

There was lipstick on his ear
the other day.

He got all shy when I pointed it
out. (CHUCKLES) Thank you.

(BIRDSONG)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC)

Hello? Anyone there?

The turning's just up here, I think.

You think?

Hello? Hello!

Ooh!
(READS) Eco Friendly.

(PANTS)

(GASPS)

(GASPS)

You looked in the bag.

You shouldn't have done that,
Mrs Barnaby.

Right or left here?
It's right, I think.

Oh, no! As you were, to the left.

Sorry.

That's Joyce's car!
Is it? Yeah.

(BIRDSONG)

(SINISTER MUSIC)

(NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

Joyce, what did I say to you?

I just came up here
for some charcoal. Honestly.

Do you realise who this man is?
We suspect he is an accomplice
to the murders.

Well, not exactly an accomplice.

Apparently, Julia said she
k*lled Mr Tomlin in self-defence...

and Garth only helped
with the disposal of the body.

And Charlie Finleyson
was a heart att*ck.

We saw him watching.

'Guy was away. Julia suggested
that we use the pool.'

(MURMURS TENDERLY)

'Julia panicked. She mistakenly
thought the intruder was Tomlin...'

Get him.
'..the m*rder*r.

She'd already told me
that he was getting out of prison,

that he'd sworn revenge on her
for putting him inside.'

(ENGINE STARTS)

'I had no idea it was someone else.'

Hell!

'I chased him.'

(CRASH)

'I didn't know he was going to die.'

(GROANS)

(MELANCHOLY MUSIC)

'It was locked.

I didn't know what to do.'

I didn't k*ll him.
You stole his wallet. No!

No, I just thought I'd better check
his ID. That's all it was. I swear!

And then, when Tomlin did turn up,
he was suddenly dead, as well.

Julia said it was self-defence,

but that you lot wouldn't
believe her and we'd have
to get rid of the body.

I didn't k*ll anyone.

I don't know how it all happened.

It's a nightmare.

He says, when Guy was k*lled,
Julia denied any involvement.

And the same with Eleanor's death.

He suspected that she was behind
both of them,

but by then he was in too deep
to say anything.

Yeah, I wanted to believe her,
you know, but...I knew.

(GROANS)

So that's it?

Erm, Mr Tomlin's skull
and the rest of his charred remains

are in that bag, over there.

Really, I only came
for the charcoal.

It was a coincidence.

God knows what might have happened!

It doesn't bear thinking about,
does it?

OK, maybe he wasn't the m*rder*r,
but given the emotional state
he was in, he could've done anything!

And he's no slouch with an axe,
from what I've heard.

Oh, thank you, George (!)

Yeah, I...I was wondering
about the body disposal,

because the temperature
in those charcoal retorts

doesn't get high enough
to reduce a body totally to ash.

Hence the sledgehammer to smash up
the bones and the teeth.

He was going to scatter the remains
all over the woodlands up there.
And he confessed all to Joyce? Yes.

Handy, having a wife
to do all your hard work for you.

It's the talk of the station, Tom.

And, talking of burning things
to a crisp,

I think your Cumberlands
need turning.
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