The Hangman's Demise Father Brown

SOBBING: It wasn't me.

They know who did it.

So who was it, then?

HE WHISPERS

MAN CLEARS THROAT

HE SOBS

LEVER CLANKS

TRAP DOOR OPENS

25 years of matrimony. A most commendable milestone.

I agree, Father. Even if one does get less for manslaughter!

-I thought these two were broke.

-They are.

So how come they can afford all this?

They had a little helping hand.

You mean...you paid for it?

I decided they needed cheering up.

FATHER BROWN: Daphne. Absolutely parched. Thank you very much indeed.

-We can't tell you how grateful we are. Can we, Henry?

-No.

I always like to take care of my tenants.

Besides, any excuse for a party.

You will get your rent, I promise.

You just keep growing your beautiful flowers, Edie.

Things are bound to turn around.

What a pretty rose.

Not half as pretty as mine.

She still hasn't forgiven you, then, for last year's flower show?

No.

My choosing Edie's flower arrangement over Mrs McCarthy's

marked a particular low point in our relationship.

She'll be gunning for you this year.

Oh, dear.

That's come around quickly.

Here's to you, you miserable so-and-so.

I spend my days with YOU, what do you expect?

Ha! Lovely do.

Yeah, Edie deserves it...

for putting up with me.

You're right there.

That glass is looking a bit empty.

Henry, how are you doing?

Yeah, I'm all right.

You're very much missed at St Mary's.

Yeah, well...

If you do want to talk, the door's always open.

Excuse me.

Mr Lee?

I'm sorry to interrupt this happy occasion,

but I have been wanting to speak to you for such a long time.

I'm sorry, do I know you?

No, but I'm hoping that you will remember my son, Thomas.

You hanged him, you see.

Lady, I hanged 120 men and women, I don't remember every one.

This is Thomas and this is his sweetheart, Vera.

They said he murdered her but he never did, you see?

You do remember him, don't you?

Mr Lee, I have found out that Vera's killer worked at

the same Crown Court where she was a secretary.

He was someone important, you see, and that's why they covered it up.

That's why I had to find you - I need to clear Thomas's name.

Did he say anything to you? Did he say anything at all?

-He said what all the others said - nothing.

-Please, Mr Lee.

Did he mention a man called Max? He's the one who killed Vera.

Max?

Where did you hear all this?

In prison.

I need you to tell me what he said.

I want you to leave now.

-Please, Mr Lee! I'm his mother!

-Get out!

You coward!

HE CLEARS THROAT

Mrs McCarthy, what a lovely hat.

It makes you look like royalty.

If only!

Mrs McCarthy...

have you heard of a new restaurant in Cheltenham called

Gerard's Brasserie?

I was wondering if you'd care to join me there tomorrow lunchtime.

Well, I have a WI meeting.

The speaker runs a cattery in Painswick.

Well, surely the WI can do without you for one day.

No, I don't think I will.

But thank you for the invitation all the same.

-GLASS TINKLES

-Ladies and Gentlemen.

Henry and I would like to thank you all very much for coming,

and Lady Felicia, of course, for all your kindness.

25 years sounds a lot.

Some of you will know it's not been our easiest year

but we've stuck though it, together, like we always have.

And, well, I think that's the secret of a happy marriage, really.

So thank you, and enjoy your evening.

What about Edie?

Red Lion, anyone?

Ready to sweep all before you tomorrow, Mrs M?

Tomorrow? Oh, you mean the flower show.

That's just a bit of fun, isn't it?

Now, what can I do for you?

-About George...

-You can save your breath.

You clearly put him up to that little stunt.

Mrs M, you've got it all wrong.

He did come and see me but only because he was feeling nervous.

He'd wanted to ask you out for lunch for a very long time.

He seems a jolly decent chap, and I think he really likes you.

-Was there anything else?

-No.

Only that Gerard's Brasserie is quite the place to be at the moment

and the Dover sole is really rather good.

Your Cosmos looks lovely, by the way.

Edie.

GEORGE: Tea's up!

George.

Mrs McCarthy, good morning.

May I have a word?

Yes, yes, of course. Let me just...

Tea, Henry.

-Edie.

-Thank you.

Right.

You were absolutely right about the WI being able to cope without me,

so I was just wondering if...

the invitation still stands?

Yes, yes, of course! Wonderful!

May I offer you a celebratory cuppa?

Yes, all right.

A year ago we had Henry's hanging work

and you were giving us weddings and funerals at St Mary's.

Now we have nothing.

I was just sharing out the work, Edie.

You're not the only florist in the area.

I think we both know what you're doing

has got nothing to do with fairness.

Look, if you promise to give us some more business,

I won't enter the flower show.

I think I can win the competition without your charity.

Thank you, though.

Please, Mrs McCarthy, we're on our knees here.

Henry?

Henry!

Henry?

Henry!

Father.

Hemlock?

That's what the doctor thinks, going by Henry's symptoms and the smell.

How extraordinary.

Poor Henry didn't notice the odd taste and drank the whole cup.

Probably because of his excesses last night.

How long does the doctor think he has?

Hours. A day at most.

The Inspector is up with him now.

Father.

What a terrible shock for you both.

Who could have done such a thing?

Edie is quite understandably wondering whether it was me.

-I haven't said a word.

-No need to, Edie.

I made the tea and no-one else touched it.

If I was in your position, I would think it was me too.

Padre, what a surprise!

Good morning, Inspector Mallory.

Last rites and a murder.

It's Christmas come early for you, isn't it?

Right, George, with apologies,

I gather you made Henry's tea, so I'll have to take a statement.

You know the drill.

Yes, of course.

And please search my house.

You don't need a warrant, I've got nothing to hide.

I don't doubt it. Thank you, though.

Goodfellow. All yours, Padre.

Henry, may I?

-I'm here to offer you confession and absolution.

-No.

Thank you.

As you wish.

Have you any idea who did this to you?

May I ask, was that your first cup of tea of the day?

Yes.

That woman at your party, Iris Lightman,

and the cover-up she was talking about.

I never met a mother who thought their child was guilty.

But do you think she could have taken her frustration out on you?

It's possible.

Henry, while there is still time,

I will do all that I can to find out who did this.

I give you my word.

-Father.

-George.

Please don't tell me he's dead.

The Lord in his infinite compassion

has given Henry more time to say his goodbyes.

I've been praying for some kind of miracle.

You get on well with Henry, don't you?

When we met in the Red Lion a year ago, I was a typical ex-copper.

Drunk, broken marriage, fast heading for a hole in the ground.

Henry had just given up the hanging job,

so he wasn't feeling too great himself.

DOOR OPENS

But he insisted he wanted to help me.

He put a spade in my hand and introduced me to the joys of nature.

The Good Samaritan, eh?

George.

Sorry about this but I'm going to have to bring you in.

Why?

My colleagues found hemlock in your house.

George is no murderer.

Well, it's not looking good for him.

No, it isn't. What do you think, Father?

Hemlock. Strange choice of poison.

It paralyses the body slowly but leaves the mind untouched,

which means it increases the chance the culprit will be identified.

George would have known that there are much more clinical toxins.

But if he was the only person to touch the teacup...

Well, actually we're not sure that he was.

It was Henry's first tea of the day.

Ground hemlock is brown, Henry's teacup was brown.

The powder could have been placed in his cup earlier that morning

and George wouldn't have noticed.

So in theory, anybody could have done it?

I need to find Iris Lightman.

Her anger when Henry refused to help her expose the "Max" character was palpable.

What about Edie, with all her money worries?

She's hasn't exactly been all sweetness and light, has she?

What did happen to all that cash that Edie's father had?

-Vernon had money?

-Oh, yeah.

He made an absolute fortune on the black market during the war.

I had no idea.

Sid, I've got a small job for you.

I want you to find out who Vernon's solicitor was.

Sidney, your nails are filthy.

You know me, Mrs M, always happy to get my hands dirty. Ta-ta.

He's helping Edie out in her garden.

Sidney Carter in a garden!

She needs all the help she can get.

Which is why I've decided to enter best bouquet

-in the flower competition on her behalf.

-You?

-You're serious?

-Perfectly.

A first prize could be very good publicity for her right now.

First prize?

I did flower arranging at finishing school.

I doubt you've ever read Constance Spry.

No, I have not, and neither has the Father.

Fortunately, he and I are of one mind

when it comes to the floral aesthetic.

Well, we will see about that.

Mrs Lightman! Mrs Lightman!

Father Brown.

From the party.

Did you see Henry?

I didn't get to see him. The police stopped me.

But you knew he'd been poisoned?

Two policemen woke me up this morning

asking me if I'd been near his shed.

You must have been very angry with Henry last night.

Why on earth would I want to poison him?

He can't help me clear Thomas if he's dead, can he?

No.

You mentioned being in prison?

On the morning they hanged Thomas, I attacked a policeman.

-Oh.

-No, well,

I wouldn't have expected someone like you to understand.

Look, all I know about Henry Lee, all I care about,

is that he was the last person to look into my son's eyes.

-Morning, Constable.

-Father.

Shame to throw away such a handsome volume.

"For Henry,

"the greatest of hangmen, the greatest of men. Ever, Max."

You didn't know that your friend Max was Vera Blanchett's killer

until Iris told you last night.

You came home and threw away his gift in disgust.

Henry, I am only trying to get to the bottom of this.

Max was a senior judge...

..at the Crown Court where Vera Blanchett was a secretary.

He took his own life...

..not long after I hanged Thomas.

Now I know why.

George, this was found snagged on the shed where you made the tea.

Got any ideas?

Yeah.

That woman that Henry had a spat with at the party last night.

She was wearing a cardigan, same colour as that.

Iris Lightman?

-Is that her name?

-Thank you, George.

I'm sure we'll have you out of here very shortly.

Of all the secretaries I know,

Jean is definitely one of the most obliging.

Interesting?

I'm afraid so.

All right.

I did go to that flower garden this morning.

I wanted to punish Henry Lee for not speaking up.

Punish him how, Iris?

By hitting him with a spade.

-A spade?

-Yes!

But as I stood there in that garden shed,

I realised it wasn't going to solve anything, was it? So I left.

-That's it?

-Yes.

OK. So this is what really happened.

You put hemlock in Henry's teacup

and then set up George Hammond for the crime.

I don't know any George Hammond.

Come on, Iris, make this easier on yourself.

Where would I get hemlock?

How would I know which cup to put it in?

It had an "H" on it!

Somebody else's name might have started with the letter "H", mightn't it?

That was a risk you were ready to take

because you're that kind of person, Iris.

You're only two days out of prison for maiming a policeman,

for heaven's sake!

This is what they did to my Thomas.

You lot, you forced a confession out of him!

Well, you'll not put any words in my mouth.

Just looking for a picture of your father.

There aren't any.

-Oh.

-Why?

I know Vernon was a libertarian.

I know he opposed your marriage to Henry.

What's this about, Father?

I understand your father left you a quite substantial sum,

to be withheld until such time

as Henry Lee was no longer your lawful husband.

My father's money has nothing whatsoever to do with Henry,

or me, or you!

-Mrs McCarthy?

-Good gracious!

Anyone would think you were spying on those two.

-Why ever would I do that?

-I have no idea.

I fear I may have found our culprit.

Upon Henry Lee's death, it turns out that Edie is entitled to

her father's not insubstantial inheritance.

Inheritance? But that makes no sense.

When Henry was about to drink that cup of tea,

Edie was begging me to give her some business.

She was almost in tears.

Now, Edie Lee is a proud, proud woman.

She'd never humiliate herself like that if what you say is true.

I see.

Oh, dear.

That poor woman.

-Father?

-Yes?

I have to confess that my feelings

were very hurt last year at the flower show.

Ah, yes. I am extremely sorry about that.

No. No, not just by you.

When I looked at Edie's flower arrangement,

I realised mine would never be as good.

And I think I've been punishing her for that ever since.

That was very brave of you to say so.

And God, I am sure, will forgive you.

Thank you. Thank you, Father.

Now, I'll see you back at St Mary's.

CAR APPROACHES

-GEORGE:

-I just pray to God we're not too late.

-MALLORY:

-Me too, George.

-Father?

Good Afternoon, Lady Felicia!

Good work, Sid!

-George!

-Father.

How are you, Henry?

Mr Lee, the good news is we've got your man. Well, woman.

It turns out Iris Lightman did this to you.

Popped into your shed first thing yesterday

and slipped hemlock in your teacup.

The one thing I don't understand is

why she's tried to fit up George here.

I've never met the woman, Henry.

Don't have any thoughts on it, do you?

I saw her at the shed...

..this morning.

She didn't put poison in my cup.

Well, Mrs Lightman didn't mention meeting you.

How come you've said nothing about it till now?

It's the truth.

That woman poisoned you,

so why on earth would you want to cover for her?

She didn't do it.

Right. Fair enough.

I'm done here, George.

-I'll stay here with Henry.

-No!

Just leave me alone...

all of you!

Iris has motive, opportunity, previous,

and what's more she's lied to us. We've easily got enough.

You've met her, Father.

-Do you think she did it?

-No.

But I don't know who did.

Why is Henry behaving so strangely towards me?

I don't know that either.

But let him rest.

Haven't you got an appointment this lunchtime?

Mrs McCarthy, sorry I'm a bit late.

But I thought you were...

Inspector Mallory has arrested Iris Lightman.

And as Henry wants to be left alone...

The inspector's also arranged a car to drop us off in Cheltenham.

Oh!

Oh, they're beautiful!

That is very...

I'll just go and get myself ready.

There's no need. You look delightful as you are.

At least let me change my hat.

-And I'll just put these in water.

-Of course.

Thank you.

I can't remember the last time I was in such a fancy place.

Neither can I, Mrs McCarthy.

Bridget, please. Thank you.

I'm very glad you changed your mind.

Now, I hear the Dover sole is particularly nice.

-Ah, Sid.

-Father.

Bon appetit.

Well, I wouldn't want Mrs M's flan going to waste,

what with her being otherwise engaged, you know.

Oh! How lovely.

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you,

"I could walk through my garden forever."

-Quite the poet, old George.

-No.

That's Tennyson.

-Oh, dear.

-What?

I fear Mrs McCarthy is having lunch with a murderer.

You're kidding.

Let's just pray she's careful what she says.

All I know is, a man named Max murdered a girl called Vera.

Well, anyway, that's what this Iris woman told Henry.

George?

Are you all right?

Yes. Yes, I'm fine.

-Well, I'll just visit the powder room.

-Of course.

-SID:

-You sure Mrs McCarthy's in danger?

BROWN: George may well have poisoned Henry

to stop him revealing that he killed Vera Blanchett.

-And if George did that to Henry...

-Exactly.

Oh, that looks lovely.

I've taken the liberty of pouring you some wine.

Oh! Why not?

Here's to you, Bridget, and to Henry.

Of course. To poor Henry.

Oh, It's quite sharp. Maybe even a little bitter.

-Try the fish.

-Yes.

Mrs McCarthy.

-What are you...

-George.

What on earth is going on?!

-I'm afraid there has been a fire at St Mary's.

-A fire!

Now, the Fire Brigade have it under control, Mrs McCarthy,

but I need you to go back with Sid and sort out a few things.

-But I haven't even started my dinner.

-I'm so sorry.

But all things considered, I think we've had a lucky escape.

-Right. Shall we?

-The Rolls, Mrs M?

Why didn't you just telephone the restaurant?

The line was engaged.

There isn't really a fire at St Mary's, is there?

WHISPERS: George is Max.

-Well, I think I had better get back, just, just in case...

-Good idea.

I hope we can do this again, Bridget?

Oh, yes! Of course!

I'd like to eat this fish but I don't think it would be safe.

I know you killed Vera Blanchett...

..and let an innocent boy swing for it.

I don't know what you're talking about, Father.

Your work took you to the Crown Court regularly.

That's where you met Vera. She was young, impressionable.

You were a Detective Sergeant.

How could she refuse you?

But she did.

And that's when it went horribly, horribly wrong.

I presume Max is your middle name?

If you leave this restaurant I will call the police.

Was it your idea to pin Vera's murder onto Thomas?

It was my boss's idea, and his boss's.

To protect their reputation and the "good name" of the police?

But I did nothing to stop them!

Did you poison Henry too?

What? No!

Surely he needed to be silenced.

Thanks to Iris he knew that you were Vera's killer.

But I only just found that out from Mrs McCarthy.

Father, I have done some monstrous things in my time

but believe me, I would never, ever harm Henry or Mrs McCarthy.

Mm.

In the time I have known you,

I have always sensed you wanted to be a good man.

-Do you want what happened to Thomas to ever happen again?

-Of course not.

Then go to Inspector Mallory,

confess your crime and expose your superiors

and the corrupt system that protected you.

Father, I'm not sure that I'm brave enough.

I think you are.

God has given you the chance

to salvage some greater good from your acts.

I strongly suggest that you do the right thing.

-Afternoon, sir.

-Is the Inspector in?

-He is, sir, yes. Go straight through.

-Thank you.

Oh, Sergeant, there's a man outside, he's behaving rather strangely.

-I think he must be drunk.

-Is there? Right.

Thanks.

I've got nothing more to say.

-Mrs Lightman?

-Who are you?

I'm Max.

I am so very sorry...

..for what I did to Vera and to your son.

How did you get in here?

I want to confess to the murder of Vera Blanchett...

..and to my role in a barbaric police cover-up.

You what?

I should have known it was too good to be true.

Come now, Mrs McCarthy.

Not every man who invites you out to lunch will turn out to be a murderer.

And I didn't even get to taste the Dover sole.

It is the merest of consolation, but I do believe that George

is repentant about what he did to Vera and Thomas.

And I suppose that's why he poisoned Henry as well.

I'm not convinced it was him, actually.

How can you even question it?

His denial seemed sincere.

And I don't believe he would have chosen hemlock.

Nobody in their right mind would choose hemlock.

Plato did. Or was that the other one?

-Socrates.

-Yes, him, exactly.

-Of course. Of course!

And all because you stayed for a cup of tea.

You are a genius, Mrs McCarthy.

Socrates chose hemlock for his own execution, and so did you.

What?

Thomas Lightman showed you that the justice system

you had given your life to was corrupt.

Made you wonder how many other innocent people you had hanged.

The shock made you give up your job, the Church and embrace the bottle.

I suspect you were looking for life's exit door

before you left your own party.

But when Iris Lightman told you the name of the monster

who had caused you all this grief, it was the final straw.

And you had to know George very well to know that he was Max.

And you did, didn't you, Henry?

What is this?

I'm afraid this is the truth.

But you didn't want your suicide to be in vain,

you wanted justice for Vera and Thomas.

But the problem was, you didn't trust the police

to deal with their own corruption.

So you had to put George on the scaffold yourself.

So you left traces of hemlock in George's house

and kept the rest with you.

Then when Mrs McCarthy came to the garden, you put it in your tea,

knowing that she would confirm George had made it.

George Hammond did this to me.

That's what you want the police to believe.

And that's why you protected Iris.

Don't worry, Henry.

As I speak, George is in the Police Station,

confessing to the murder of Vera. You will get your justice.

One question.

When you heard the name Max, why were you certain that was George?

Thomas told me that Vera was killed by a policeman.

Will I go to hell for this, Father?

Jesus commanded us not to judge.

God will have the final judgment.

But I tell you this...

Not for one second has He left your side.

I've just been on the phone to the Chief Constable.

-You're free to go.

-What?

-You can't do this.

-I'm just following orders.

I'm not going.

You know what I think, Detective Inspector?

That a bent copper is worse than any criminal.

That you should swing and heads should roll.

But it's not me who decides, is it?

It can be, if you want it to be.

Look, I'll get Goodfellow to throw you out if I have to.

Inspector Mallory, if you do not charge me with the murder

of Vera Blanchett, then I will add your name to the list that I give to

the newspapers of all the coppers involved in this sordid business.

And as the roof of this constabulary comes crashing down,

you too will be buried forever.

Thank you.

I'm sorry that I've ended up...

..bringing you down with me.

At this moment I just want to come with you.

No, Edie, you must stay and fight.

Your father's money...

..I want you to take it.

-What? No. Don't ask that.

-Please.

Henry.

Keeping our business alive...

..that will be...keeping us alive.

Thank you.

You are the best thing...that ever happened...

..in my life.

Oh, Henry.

Edie.

"The stream will cease to flow.

"The wind will cease to blow.

"The clouds will cease to fleet.

"The heart will cease to beat.

"For all things must die."

Henry chose hemlock.

He wanted to say a proper goodbye to Edie.

Come on, Sid, we've got a competition to win for Edie.

The flower show!

I forgot all about that.

-Lady Felicia?

-Yes, Mrs M?

I was wondering if you might like one or two suggestions from me

as to which flowers might catch Father Brown's eye?

I thought you wanted to win the trophy for yourself?

Yes, well, I've had a change of heart.

Thank you.

The winner!

For Edie Lee.

The grower of the best flowers in the whole of the Cotswolds!

And next Monday,

I will be hiring Edie as the florist for the Websters' wedding.

Excellent.

You look relieved, Father.

That was the toughest yet.

Thanks for the steer.

Anything for a peaceful life, eh?

Partners in crime. Who'd have thought it?

You know what, when those two get together,

they really are a deadly combination.

Of course the real reason we won is

because I knew exactly which blooms Father Brown favoured.

What rot! If I hadn't been to finishing school,

the whole thing would have been an unmitigated disaster!