The Missing Man Father Brown

Now he enriches and strengthens you by a special sacrament so that you

may assume the duties of marriage in mutual and lasting fidelity.

And so, in the presence of the Church,

I ask you to state your intentions.

Margaret le Broc and Geoffrey le Broc,

I shall now ask you

if you freely undertake the obligations of marriage,

and to state that there is no legal impediment to your marriage.

I wish Granny Betty were still alive.

She'd put a stop to this.

Your Papa would want your mother to be happy.

With him? His own brother?

Are you ready, freely and without reservation,

to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

Oh! There's a mouse!

Vermin, in the House of the Lord!

Horrid creature. Thank heavens you saw it.

Someone catch it, it's over there!

I understand how you feel.

But making a scene won't change anything,

except how your mother remembers her wedding day.

If there was a mouse, it's long gone.

-SHE CLEARS HER THROAT

-I do apologise, Father.

Now, where were we?

Are you ready, freely and without reservation,

to give yourselves to each other in marriage?

SOMEONE COUGHS

I don't think so.

Ned?

Daddy?

I knew you weren't dead, I knew it.

I don't understand. Where's he been?

You can talk through it at home.

I've been working for the Secret Intelligence Service.

I'm afraid that's all I can say.

A spy!

Granny Betty was right.

Missing in action doesn't always mean dead.

Milly, the motor car's waiting.

Ned, you're coming with me.

We were happy. At last.

So why turn up now and destroy it?

It wasn't about you.

I saw Mother's death notice in the Times.

I was already on my way up and the new edition announced your wedding.

You didn't waste any time.

You think this was quick to plan?

We had to get a dispensation from Rome!

And we'd already waited years so as not to upset our Mother.

She never accepted your death.

Turns out she was right, then, eh?

What do you want, Ned?

My life. My wife.

My inheritance.

You never wanted Meg till it looked like someone else could have her.

Who do you think's been looking after your family all these years?

By sleeping with my wife?

-Oh, come on, Ned!

-I say, is he going to be safe?

May I cadge a lift?

Frankly, you should have stayed dead.

-MILLY:

-Stop! Stop here!

Milly!

Daddy and I can walk back, he'll want to see it.

Milly!

We'll meet you back at the house.

Sounds good to me.

She's got eight years to catch up on. Let them go.

At least we'll have a chance to discuss this mess.

I've kept it tip-top for you. Grandpa's been showing me how...

-DOG BARKS

-Dinah!

Sorry, she doesn't like strangers.

Hello, old girl. You've grown.

And you.

Haven't been up in years.

Then it's about time.

Well, she's pristine...

..but I'm a little rusty.

Can I tell you a secret?

How dare he?!

-I hate him for this.

-Pull yourself together, man.

Mrs McCarthy has made our national drink.

What, gin?

Sorry, Father.

I'm in no mood for tea and sympathy.

Forgive me, but you don't seem particularly pleased to see your son

back from the dead.

Ned's medals.

Awarded posthumously.

War Medal, Defence Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross.

They ring pretty hollow now.

You don't believe the spy thing.

Not for a second.

Ned's squadron.

Men under my command.

Dead. Dead. Crippled. Dead.

They were real men.

Not pansies who ran away.

MOTOR WHINES DISTANTLY

Welcome him back?

In my day, I'd have shot him myself, for desertion.

Arthur, is the aircraft supposed to be up today?

It better be Ned at the controls.

Well, it must be, Milly doesn't know how to fly.

I've been giving her lessons.

Ned. Bring that thing down this instant.

Anything you say, Geoffers.

-Mary, Mother of...

-THEY SCREAM

Oh, God. I'm beginning to see why you fell for him.

Infuriating, too, of course.

Do you think Milly's all right up there?

In her element.

She must have a cast-iron stomach.

Makes me queasy just watching.

Ned, you're landing NOW.

Mummy, I'm the pilot, talk to me.

Ned. Now!

Well, if he wasn't dead before, he's certainly going about it the right way now.

Who would choose to hang mid-air in a glorified tin can?

Amy Johnson made it look so glamorous.

Yes, and then she died.

Good show, good show!

If this is how much care you take of our daughter I'm glad

you've missed the last eight years.

What is it they say in the flicks?

"You're beautiful when you're angry."

Milly, go to your room.

-Mummy, I...

-I'll deal with you later.

Don't think I've ever been this close to an aeroplane before.

Aircraft.

-Aircraft.

-You've never flown?

Father, it's the closest in this life you can get to meeting God.

Come back another day, I can take you up.

Not for me, aircraft.

I get wobbly legs on ladders.

Excuse me.

I need a long talk with my husband.

Alone.

What are you doing?

Well, now, your father's going to sleep in your room tonight.

We've made up a camp-bed for you in your mother's room.

Oh, we have, have we?

Don't worry. You'll get your bedroom back soon.

I don't care if I never do, as long as Daddy stays.

You know,

-the situation, is...

-Complicated.

Mummy's always said she still loves Daddy.

Everything's going to be perfect. You'll see.

Just let me explain what happened, why I left.

More spy stories?

There's too much water under the bridge.

Tell me you don't still love me,

and I will walk away.

Geoffrey's who I've made my life with.

And you've made another life.

Geoffrey said you were cheating on me before you left.

Meg, on my life, I've always been faithful to you.

I'm so sorry I went away.

But I want to be a family with you and Milly.

We could be happy together again.

-And then one day, I'll wake up and you'll be gone.

-No.

Let me tell you where I've been and why.

I'm sorry, Meg.

I was hoping to speak to Ned myself, before I turn in.

Geoffrey told me...

one time when he was visiting the base, during the war...

..he saw a woman leaving Ned's quarters.

Do you think she's the reason he's been absent for all these years?

So if you know what's good for you,

you'll just vanish off to wherever you came from,

and we can all get back to pretending you're dead.

What if I say no?

Then what you've done will catch up with you.

It's only a matter of time before they all know you're a deserter.

And why was that?

When I saw that Mother had died, do you know what I felt first?

Relief.

You can't hold her over me any more.

What's that supposed to mean?

I'm going to tell the truth.

To Meg first, I owe her that but, ultimately, to everyone.

You wouldn't dare.

Watch me.

Meg.

Can I have a word?

Alone?

I'm tired.

We can talk in the morning.

What are you doing?

Cleaning my gun.

Now?

Your father's just left the security services.

He might need some protection.

Good to know.

It's been a long day.

I'll see myself out.

Father?

If I said I wanted to come clean...

..make a fresh start...

Confession is always available to those who truly repent.

So tomorrow morning at nine?

HE SIGHS

CHURCH DOOR CREAKS

Ah, there you are, I was beginning to worry...

A few wilted carnations hardly constitutes an emergency.

Ned is three quarters of an hour late for his confession.

Meg?

Where are you going?

I need to get Milly's pinafore from her rooms.

No, no. I'll get it for you.

And...

he'll need to find somewhere else to stay from now on.

What's wrong?

No, don't.

SHE SCREAMS

How does the Padre always get here first?

Catholics, sir. Last Rites.

Oh, watch that dog, sir, it's vicious.

I'll take my chances.

Ought to be put down.

Stop smirking and fill me in.

Indulgeat tibi Dominus.

Quid quid visum.

Sive per auditum.

Odortum.

Gustum et locutinem.

Father, is that...?

Tactum.

Gressum deliquisti.

Requiescat in pace. Amen.

His soul is at rest.

We found him in here, Inspector.

As you can see,

we think he must have killed himself.

Why would a man recently returned from the grave commit suicide?

He was never terribly stable.

Well...

shot to the temple, gun in his hand.

But no powder burns.

Quite.

It must have been murder.

And from what my sergeant was telling me of yesterday's events,

we're hardly lacking suspects.

Hello. What's going on...?

No, no, no, he can't be... No, he can't be dead.

-No, no, Milly.

-No, he mustn't be dead.

-Milly, this is grown-up business.

-What happened?!

-GEOFFREY:

-Please, Milly, come with me. He's with God now.

Search the house and grounds. Anything suspicious, bag it up.

I'll need somewhere quiet to take statements.

That was lipstick.

Who has Ned le Broc been kissing? Hm?

Perhaps it was Meg's.

Your innocence is commendable, Father.

But Margaret le Broc is not a lipstick-wearing woman.

Wing-Commander.

If you ever need to talk about your grief...

I did my grieving eight years ago.

That's when I lost him, not today.

He was my first-born.

Supposed to follow in my footsteps,

make me proud. Squadron Leader Edward le Broc.

And then he let me down.

When he deserted.

Why did he do that?

Was he running from something, or...

..to something?

Was there a woman involved?

Well, perhaps the killer was someone from his other life.

Then why did no-one hear the gunshot?

You and Ned argued last night.

Are you implying that I shot my own son?

If I wanted him dead, I'd have been cleverer than that.

Disconnect the right tube,

this thing would fall out of the sky, go up in smoke,

the evidence with it.

Father.

Lady Felicia.

Fine. We argued.

But it was about this Secret Service nonsense.

I mean, you're right.

It was clear to me that he must've deserted

and I wasn't happy, but I didn't kill him,

and neither did Geoffrey.

Oh.

That's not what the inspector thinks.

No, listen to me!

You can't do this, it wasn't him!

I'm telling you, it was suicide!

It was murder!

It must have been someone out to get him,

cos of his work as a spy.

All right, Miss, I doubt...

I doubt that the security forces would let your father come home

if he was in danger.

ARTHUR: What are you doing?

It's just for questioning at this stage.

-Milly, go to your room.

-Why?!

-The grown-ups need to talk.

-Your room. Now.

Sir.

The men found these

down an old well.

-Is that...?

-Blood.

Better still...

He didn't do it.

My son is innocent.

Margaret le Broc,

I am arresting you on suspicion of the murder of Edward le Broc.

You are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so,

but anything you do say will be taken in writing

and may be given in evidence...

I'll call a barrister. She'll have the best.

Wing-Commander. I've left my holy oils at the scene. I wonder if...

Be my guest.

There's always something, unless there's nothing.

Young lady! You were sent to your room!

-What happened?

-Oh, Milly. I'm so sorry.

-They've arrested your mother.

-Why?

-Well, we don't know yet, but I'm sure...

-I have to go after them.

Dear, there's nothing... That's the father's bicycle.

Young lady!

I don't understand.

My men found your clothes, Mrs le Broc.

What clothes? Where?

The innocent act'd be a better wheeze

if you'd cut the laundry mark out of your skirt first.

This is nonsense.

So...

..these aren't yours?

Is that blood?

Are they yours?

I suppose they are.

I haven't seen them in...

Your husband abandoned you, deceived you,

and then just when you'd put your life back together, he waltzed in

and ruined your new marriage.

So you killed him and tried to set it up as suicide.

-No!

-You moved the body, your clothes were bloodied,

and you hid the evidence.

No! I'd taken sleeping pills.

I was out cold.

You realise we'll test that?

Someone's framing me.

I haven't seen these clothes in years!

You'll have to do better than that to wriggle out of this one.

Bingo.

Cash, passport.

That doesn't tell us anything.

"Please don't tell."

Please don't tell what?

It's not a request. It's a bar.

Father!

That Milly le Broc has just stolen your bicycle!

-What?

-Why?

She has some notion that she can help her mother.

She shouldn't be on her own.

I told her uncle and he ran after her.

But, Father, your bicycle!

It's survived worse.

But...

I will need a lift to this bar.

I can lend you Hornby and the Rolls.

I promised the Wing-Commander I'd visit Meg, keep her spirits up.

Then you must.

Father, this bar,

it's a trifle racy.

-And...

-My faith will be my shield.

You shall not enter the lions' den alone.

Good luck with that.

How'd you get here?

I took the Father's bicycle. I'm going to give it back.

-You did what?

-Listen to me. My mother is innocent.

I know she didn't leave the room last night.

Awake all night, were you?

I'd have heard if she'd gone.

She could've slipped out while you slept.

As an alibi, it doesn't wash.

-Sergeant!

-Inspector.

I have important new evidence.

Why didn't you say so earlier?

I saw a woman

at the house, last night.

When?

I don't know,

perhaps two in the morning?

I heard a car and looked out of the window, and she was there.

You just got up.

Were your glasses on?

-Well, no, but...

-How clearly can you see without them?

I saw her!

There was a car, and then this woman, coming up the drive

and then heading round to the balcony stairs

that lead up to my room.

Daddy's room.

Why didn't you do something? Shout?

I tried to wake Mummy, but she'd taken those stupid pills.

And I was scared.

I hate myself for not stopping her.

It was that woman who killed my father, Inspector.

If this conveniently unknown woman had come into the house

in the dead of night,

that blasted dog of yours would've gone ballistic.

Did you hear a peep?

Wasting police time won't help your mother.

The uncle's just arrived, all hot and bothered.

You'd better get the Padre's bicycle back.

And give the pair of them a lift while you're at it.

I don't understand.

Where is the door?

We could telephone for directions?

Thank you.

Hello, operator?

Good morning. What number do you want?

Oxford 2526 please.

Hold on while I connect you.

DIALLING TONE

'Please Don't Tell.'

I won't.

'Is this the delivery?'

The delivery. Yes, that's right.

-That's right.

-'Password please.'

Password?!

It's slipped my mind.

Hello? We have a very busy schedule today.

So we can leave your stock on the street, or we can bring it in.

It's entirely up to you.

'You know this isn't how it's supposed to work.

'Fine. I'll give you a hint.

'Bone of my bones.'

(Bone of my bones?)

Well, this isn't...

This is a very funny bar.

(Of course!)

Adam's rib.

And what's that supposed to mean?

You can leave the crates.

Well!

Don't you look a picture!

You didn't need to fake a delivery to come in here, love.

I want the address of your tailor.

Well, I do happen to have a very good draper in Chipping Norton.

Oh.

A priest.

That'll teach me to give out clues.

Father Brown.

Apologies for the subterfuge.

You're going to have to leave.

Young lady, when someone introduces themselves,

it's only polite to reciprocate.

I am Mrs McCarthy.

You can call me Jackie.

Hello, Jackie.

Pleased to meet you.

We think we know a customer of yours.

Might have been here recently.

Have you seen him?

Perhaps with a woman?

-JACKIE CHUCKLES

-No.

I've never seen a man like that in here.

Thank you...Jackie.

You've been very helpful.

Well ask her some more!

Sure, that's no help at all.

I've got everything I need.

KNOCK AT DOOR

I know what you and Ned argued about last night.

I've told you.

I was angry that he'd deserted.

No, you weren't.

I've been to the bar Ned used to go to.

I know the identity of the woman

Geoffrey saw leaving Ned's quarters in the war.

I know whose lipstick was on Ned's mouth.

Father, please don't.

When did you first learn your that elder son

preferred to dress as a woman?

He deserted the RAF, and faked his own death.

-Was that because you found out?

-That's ridiculous!

You forced your beloved eldest son into hiding.

YOU made him abandon his wife

and five-year-old daughter.

You're ready with the judgment, aren't you, Father?

His mother was already sick.

If she'd known what he did, what he was,

it would have killed her.

And now...

..keeping Ned's secret may leave Meg to hang.

This is information that I must pass on

so the Inspector has a chance to find the real killer.

No.

I'll go to Inspector Mallory myself.

-Why?

-To confess.

-You're the murderer?

-Yes.

I am.

Then how do you explain Meg's bloody clothing?

I used them to mop up the blood

and then I panicked and I threw them away.

Why shoot him?

You said yourself that the aircraft would be the perfect murder weapon.

Because there was no time.

I had to protect my family from the truth.

And I still do.

If you promise to keep Ned's secret...

..I'll go and admit it all right now.

Well, I just can't believe it.

Someone's going to have to tell Milly.

I think we should leave it to the family.

Where's Father off to?

Can I have a word?

Milly, can we...?

Why didn't you bark?

You silly, silly dog.

The one time it's important.

I'd watch that little girl, Father.

She's only been over to see the inspector,

with some tall tale about a woman breaking in last night.

World on her shoulders.

DOG BARKS

What is it?

-Where's Milly?

-She ran off. I think she wanted to be alone.

I just tried explaining about her grandfather,

but she didn't take the news very well, I'm afraid.

Please! Stop!

Milly, stop!

Out of my way.

Let me talk to you.

I'm not getting out.

Then I'll get in.

HE CHUCKLES

You will do me a very great favour if we go no higher than this.

You don't understand. I have to get to the police station.

I understand more than you could imagine.

No!

Where will you land?

There's a flat field behind the butcher's that'll do in a pinch.

I know what happened, Milly,

and I am not going to let you make a confession too.

I've only kept quiet this long

because Grandpa promised Mummy would be let go soon.

Now he's put himself in danger too.

I don't understand why he's shielding that woman.

He has his reasons.

And what could they possibly be?

My father's murderer is dead.

I know.

I killed her.

When I did it, of course, I thought I was saving Daddy.

Maybe saving all of us. Who knows what she came to do?

I tried to wake Mummy, but she'd taken those stupid pills.

Mummy. Mummy!

LOUD RATTLING

But I was too late.

She'd already killed him.

Daddy?

DOG WHINES

What's going on in there? Father? Milly...

Milly, what have you done?

She was coming in the window.

She was after Daddy.

What do we do?

Er...

Right, I'll deal with this.

Keep Milly quiet, get her back to her bed.

DOG WHINES

What about Daddy? Why hasn't he woken up yet?

Sh, please, don't worry about him.

You just shot someone, Milly.

We have to protect you now.

You can't tell anyone about this.

Here, take it. Take it.

If nothing else, Daddy's killer got what she deserved.

You must not tell the inspector this.

Why not?

At least if I confess to killing the woman,

Mummy and Grandpa will be let go

-because Inspector Mallory will know who really murdered my father.

-Yes.

Yes, he will.

Please, Milly, you have to stop this. It isn't safe.

We can talk about this, sort it out on the ground.

Please!

Milly, this is a really bad idea.

How can you prove that this woman even existed?

Grandpa must've hidden her body somewhere.

The police will find it.

Well, what if they don't?

They have dogs for that sort of thing, don't they?

They'll sniff it out.

I'm amazed Dinah hasn't been making such a fuss.

Yes.

In fact, it's funny that she didn't bark at the woman

in the first place.

Maybe she was asleep.

She was right there next to me.

If this conveniently unknown woman had come into the house

in the dead of night,

that blasted dog of yours would've gone ballistic.

Dinah!

Did you hear a peep?

Hello, old girl. You've grown.

I don't understand.

If it was him, if it was me...

..why was he dressed like that?

Was it something to do with him being a spy?

Milly, this takes nothing away from who your father was.

I don't understand.

Milly.

Let's land this plane and talk it through.

It's all my fault.

It's my fault.

Milly,

please,

get us down.

Please, listen.

Milly, we are thousands of feet up.

I need you to land this thing.

Erm...

Mayday. Mayday.

-Pilot incapacitated.

-She's frozen on the stick.

Surely there's someone who can talk him down?

I suppose I've been up with him enough times.

Father Brown, this is Geoffrey here.

Erm...yes. I'm going to have to give you a crash course in landing.

That's not funny.

So, can you see your air speed indicator?

I expect so.

Which one is it?

It's the big dial in the middle.

Make sure you keep the needle above 60, or you'll stall.

The throttle is the lever on your left.

Righty-ho.

For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death...

-ENGINE GROWLS SUDDENLY

-No, no, no! More throttle!

Keep it at 1,500 revs on your left hand dial.

I see.

Excellent.

-You can do this.

-Are you sure about that?

Now keep your right hand on the stick.

That's it, that's it. You're coming in to land.

I am?

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.

Keep the wings level and push your nose down.

Now ease back on the throttle.

Steady!

Steady!

Ease the stick back.

No! Slowly! DUCK!

And He ascended upon the cherubim, and He flew.

He flew upon the wings of the winds.

I'm sorry, Wing-Commander.

I've spoken to the Chief Inspector and he's with me on this one.

We can't accept your confession.

But you have to.

It's plain as a pikestaff you're covering for your daughter-in-law.

It's just as well you're friends with the chief

or I'd be locking you up for wasting police time!

Padre.

Like a bad penny.

-I've come to offer the Wing-Commander confession.

-Oh.

Do it while you escort him home.

-You're letting him go?

-He still thinks it was Meg.

Milly knows everything.

As do I.

She wanted to come down here herself. I managed to convince her otherwise

as long as I could bring you and her mother home.

I've done everything I can do.

I have an idea.

Inspector.

Erm, have you asked Mrs le Broc to try on the clothes?

-What?

-No!

-The clothes that she was allegedly wearing.

Have you seen her with them on?

-But they're covered in blood. Must I really?

-Yes. You must.

Sir. Blood results.

It's true. She took enough barbiturates last night

to sink a rhino.

She could've still taken them just after she did the murder.

Then she wouldn't have been up to discover the body at quarter to ten.

She's off the hook. So stop this charade before he realises.

KNOCKING

I can't even do the skirt up.

I'd say I've put on weight, but the jacket's been let out,

it hangs off me.

Someone else was wearing those clothes last night.

And I know who it was!

Who?

The person your daughter saw.

Someone with broad shoulders, slim hips.

She saw them climbing through the window.

-She was afraid, she wanted to intervene...

-No, Inspector.

..and if only she had.

Or your husband's fancy-woman wouldn't have shot him

for coming back to you. See, I can see it now.

They argued.

Maybe he'd already got his father's gun for self-defence,

she grabbed it off him.

The things we do for love.

Must've been a funny-looking girl.

Still...each to his own.

I don't understand.

You're free to go.

Goodfellow, write this up.

Would you like us to start a search, sir?

Waste of manpower.

She's long gone.

Grandpa said I'd find you here.

-Milly, I don't think it's a very good idea...

-Why is it your weddings always happen just after a funeral?

Well...

-Your mother wanted to keep it low-key, so...

-Even from me?

Doesn't she trust me,

after everything we've been through together?

I trust you.

Do you?

Milly?

Silly Mummy. I have to be here.

Grandpa agrees with me.

I'm the one who should be giving you away this time.

Much later, and there'd be nothing left to witness!

My word, that woman has style.

Smashing hat.

It's that barmaid from the...

drinking den.

-Oh, my. It was that sort of drinking den.

-Hm?

(He's a man!)

Margaret le Broc and Geoffrey le Broc...

..I shall now ask you

if you freely undertake the obligations of marriage,

and to state there is no legal impediment to your marriage.

Are you ready,

freely and without reservation,

to give yourselves to each other

in marriage?

BOTH: I am.