The Crimson Feather Father Brown

HE PLAYS JAZZ MUSIC

MAN WOLF WHISTLES

PIANO JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES

WHISTLING

-Inspector!

-HE CHUCKLES

A pleasure, as always.

Fifi!

A large single malt. On the house.

Yes, Mr Cranage.

To thank you for your help with the licence.

I really didn't do anything.

Nonetheless, I always like to stay on the right side of the law.

Where did you get him?

The gutter.

We're home to all sorts of waifs and strays.

Enjoy.

WHISTLING AND APPLAUSE

# Oh, will you never let me be?

# Oh, will you never set me free?

# The ties that bound us

# Are still around us

# There's no escape that I can see

She's amazing, isn't she?

# Oh, will you never let me be?

# Oh, will you never set me free? #

-IN POLISH ACCENT:

-Stop! You should not be doing that.

Have you thought any more about my offer?

If anybody finds out, I will go to jail.

You, too.

Nobody will find out.

But to take a life...!

I need you to do this for me.

I don't have anyone else to turn to.

-Please...

-Yes.

You'll have the money by tomorrow.

And may God forgive us...both.

-Now, another slice?

-No, no.

It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Father.

My godmother writes about you so fondly.

Don't you believe a word of it.

Now, we mustn't forget to telephone your parents,

-let them know you've arrived safely.

-You can't. They're...

They're on a walking holiday.

The Brecon Beacons, I believe.

I couldn't even tell you where they're staying.

So what made you decide to come and visit your godmother?

And why shouldn't she decide to visit her godmother?

Well, when the cat's away...

You believe I should be at home throwing wild parties?

-Well, I'm not encouraging it, but...

-I'd rather be here.

I haven't spent any time with my godmother in years.

Will you excuse me one moment?

-All right, then, spit it out.

-Well...

..turning up out of the blue like this...

Well, her letter probably went astray in the post.

You don't think there's anything wrong?

A row with her parents, perhaps?

If there was anything wrong, she'd tell me.

We've always been very close.

Cooo-ee!

-Hello!

-And what are you doing here?

Charming!

I thought I'd bring these along for your charity auction next week.

When I heard about those poor little mites suffering from polio,

I thought, what a fantastic opportunity for me

to clear out my wardrobe.

Well, thank you very much for your donation, Penelope.

Now, there's something I have to say.

My goddaughter Joselyn is staying here for a few days

and I do not want her subjected to your bad influence.

Bad influence?!

Mrs M, I would never attempt

to drag an innocent down the path of temptation.

Talk of the devil. You must be Joselyn.

Hello, I'm Bunty.

What a darling little thing you are.

Thank you. I love your hat.

Oh, well, you're welcome to borrow it any time you like.

You should wear it to one of my soirees.

Music, cocktails, an array of unsuitable bachelors...

Oh, that's very kind, but I...

Penelope, you have been warned.

Now, I'm going to help you unpack.

-Lovely to meet you.

-Mm.

Hm...well.

That girl is not nearly as innocent as she's pretending to be.

I suspect you might be right.

Is that it?

A slow night.

See you tomorrow, V.

Well?

I take it you're feeling better?

Yes. Thank you.

So, if I lend you this money,

there'll be no more missed appointments?

No.

Excellent.

You can add it to what you already owe me.

You're going to be a very busy girl.

Say thank you to your Uncle Maurice.

Thank you.

You can go, Janek. I'll lock up.

Good morning!

Rise and shine!

Nothing we can do.

What do you mean, "nothing we can do"?

-She's an adult.

-Well, what about the letter?

In which she states, "You shouldn't expect to see me again."

-Sounds like she's running away.

-Exactly! So...

Which she's perfectly entitled to do.

And what about this?

I found it on the floor of her bedroom.

Well, that changes everything.

I'll put all my men on red alert.

We're clearly looking for a parrot with a penchant for kidnap!

Perhaps you could help, Padre?

You like wild goose chases, so this'll be right up your street.

Come along, Sergeant.

Don't you worry, Mrs McCarthy. I'll keep an eye out for her.

-Did you speak to her parents?

-They're on holiday.

At least that part was true.

According to the housekeeper,

Joselyn stayed behind to attend secretarial classes.

Did the housekeeper say where the classes were held?

She didn't know.

Only that Joselyn has been going for three or four evenings a week

for the past few months.

And that sometimes she stays over with a friend,

but the housekeeper couldn't give me a name.

There is one place that springs to mind.

Not that I'd call the girls "secretaries" exactly.

I met a girl at a party who used to work here.

They make them wear red feathers in their hair.

And very little else, I shouldn't wonder!

My Joselyn wouldn't be seen dead in a place like this.

Let's not tempt fate.

Well, it has to be worth checking out?

And how are you going to do that?

You are not suggesting...

that Father Brown signs up for membership?!

I doubt the Bishop would approve.

Oh, you could just pretend to be a concerned relative

and then ask if Joselyn works here.

Well, that assumes she's using her own name.

As far as I understand, the...

ladies who work in these establishments use noms de plume.

How do you know that?

The things I've heard in confession...

would make a sailor blush.

Oh, my God...!

Don't worry. I've got a plan.

DOORBELL RINGS

I take it you, er... have experience?

More than you could possibly imagine.

What sort of act do you do?

What sort of act would you like?

Well, we've got a couple of singers and a few straight burlesque acts.

I could use something a bit different.

I can do...different.

I'd need to see it, before I book you in.

Naturally.

I just need to gather a few...props.

# C'est si bon

# Lovers say that in France

# When they thrill to romance

# It means that it's so good

# C'est si bon

# So I say it to you

# Like the French people do

# Because it's oh so good. #

-Why have you stopped?

-Want to see more, darling?

Well, I get my own dressing room,

two nights off a week and...

Ah! Twice what the other girls earn.

Wait a minute!

Scarlet, get out here!

Show our new employee to her dressing room three.

Welcome to The Crimson Feather.

Hello...Scarlet.

Well, I never!

Do you know her?

She used to work for Mrs Curzon, until she was fired for stealing.

They're obviously not too choosy about who they employ here.

Thanks for that, Father. Good news or bad news?

This is no time for playing games! Is she in there or is she not?

-She is.

-Oh, thank God for that.

-But she doesn't want to leave.

-Why not?

Because she's earning over ten times what she'd earn as a secretary.

She's sick of people telling her what to do.

And to be fair, she looks fabulous in sequins.

Well, I will go in and drag her out by the ears, if I have to!

Mrs McCarthy... perhaps I should deal with this.

-But you can't go in there, Father! What with all the....

-Don't worry.

I will avert my eyes.

A family member asked me to speak to her.

I'm sorry, Father. I'm not in the habit of letting random men

into my girls' dressing rooms. Not even a priest.

Now, we're about to open, so if that's all...

Very well. Thank you for your time, Mr Cranage.

I'll wait outside the front door, until she finally finishes.

Ah...

I'm sure I can make an exception for a man of the cloth.

Come with me.

Scarlet's one of our newer girls. Getting on very well.

But then, I always like to make sure all my employees are happy here.

Don't I, girls?

Janet.

This is her, Father.

Scarlet?

What have you done?

It was not me! I did not do this!

Janek?

I think, perhaps, you should call the police and a doctor.

Joselyn?

Joselyn...can you hear me?

Verity!

Is she dead?

Why is she wearing your costume?

I... I asked her to go on for me.

My head was in such a spin after...

I need you all to clear this room immediately.

I just happened to be passing.

Any news on Janek?

The police are still hunting him.

It just doesn't make any sense.

I mean, I know he looks tough, but he was so...protective.

I agree.

He was a regular at mass.

I always thought him...a good man.

"Good"? Working in a place like that?

-What if Verity was already dead when he found her?

-Then why would he run?

Because he knew some people would jump to conclusions.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it was someone else.

Joselyn, you said that Verity was wearing your costume.

Yes. It threw me, Bunty turning up like that.

I couldn't face going on.

Is it possible the killer was after you?

Hm, I can't think why.

And Verity...

would anyone have a reason to kill her?

Well...

..a while ago, Maurice asked if I'd like to earn...

some extra money.

There was something unpleasant about how he came out with it,

so I said no.

Maybe he's up to no good and Verity got involved?

Who wouldn't want to kill her? She was vile to everyone.

-Fifi!

-Well, it's true.

I mean, when I first started,

she was as nice as anything, but recently...

I saw her arguing with Oscar yesterday.

Don't drag Oscar into it. He wouldn't hurt a fly.

What were you thinking?!

Erm...Bunty, Fifi...?

Degrading yourself in a place like that

and taking all your clothes off in front of all those leering men!

-Have you no shame?

-I'm sorry I lied to you.

And so you should be,

turning up at my door and then vanishing into the night.

What were you playing at?

I wanted to see you one last time.

Say goodbye, I suppose.

You've always been so kind to me.

Goodbye?

I...was planning to catch the early train to London.

I thought I'd never see you again.

To London?

Do your parents know about this?

They're the reason I'm leaving. You don't know what they're like.

I have known them for years. They are good, kind people.

They try to control everything I do. They want me to be someone I'm not!

Oh, so you told them you were attending secretarial classes

when, in fact, you were getting yourself a job

showing your bits to...lecherous drunkards?

Burlesque isn't only about stripping. It's...

It's artistic.

Oh, well, now I've heard everything!

I only got the job at the club

because I needed the money to start a new life.

So...why are you still here?

Cold feet.

I made it to the platform, but I couldn't board the train.

I was too embarrassed to come back here, so I went to the club.

I never dreamed you'd find me there.

I am thankful that you were not foolish enough

to see this ridiculous plan through!

And I am very thankful...

that it wasn't your body lying on that floor!

BELL RINGS

Father?

Janek.

Haven't seen you at mass for a while.

I was ashamed.

You see where I work, you know why.

-The police are looking for you.

-I know.

I wanted to make money to take back to my family in Poland.

Instead...I will hang.

Only if you're guilty.

I deserve it.

What do you mean?

Padre, are you in there? I wanted to ask if...

Well, well, well...

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Padre,

and assume you weren't harbouring a wanted murderer.

When we found him, he was trying to stem the flow of blood.

Doesn't mean he didn't stab her.

-Have you found the murder weapon?

-It'll turn up.

Either way, any jury would take one look at that thug

and sentence him to hang.

I'll let you know if you're needed as witnesses.

Well, he certainly looked guilty to me.

Perhaps.

But not of murder.

We should go to the club. Look for...

Don't even think about it!

Perhaps...your godmother is right.

If the killer is still at large, then...

..you are still in danger.

How about I go with her?

As far as Maurice is concerned, I'm still plain old Pepper Seymour.

I think it suits me.

And I can keep an eye on the investigation.

Well, if Joselyn's going, I'm going.

Very well. Then I will go to the station

and talk to Janek and get his side of things.

You're not going to allow this?

With respect, Auntie Bridget, it's not his decision.

-I'll look after her, don't worry.

-Forgive me if I'm not reassured!

All right, I will have to go with you.

Oh, need help coming up with an act?

Bunty's right. Maurice isn't going to let you

wander round his club for no good reason.

Do you know anyone who needs a cleaner?

As you can see, my references include the Montague family.

Which begs the question, why do you want to work here.

-I need to talk to you.

-Can't you see I'm busy?

-How could you open after what's happened?

-Life goes on.

You need to get yourself straight. We've got customers.

We already had to find a replacement dancer.

I don't want to have to find a pianist, as well.

And, you, you're in luck.

The usual cleaner's just handed in her notice.

It's like somebody up there is looking after you.

Oh, well, I suppose you could say that.

I assume you've heard of the phrase "caught red-handed"?

Goodfellow, open cell two.

What if he found her and was trying to help her?

Then how do you explain the money?

When he was arrested, Father,

they found an envelope full of cash on him.

And Verity's fingerprints were all over it.

So you think it was robbery?

Exactly.

Tell him to confess. It'll make all our lives easier.

Feel free to accidentally drop the key down a drain.

Nothing yet.

I heard Oscar had to hurry back from the States

because he was in trouble with the police.

I'm going to look upstairs.

-Here you are...

-Oh!

Just look at this.

I can't believe it.

A man doing his own laundry?

-Come on, I've got a special job for you.

-No...

Quickly!

Cough if you hear anyone coming. And try and look busy.

And what exactly will you be doing?

Same as you. Checking for dirt.

Oh, there must be a key here somewhere.

Got it!

VOICES APPROACH

Quick, in here!

Wait!

-THEY GIGGLE

-Ooops!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

WOLF WHISTLES

-MAN:

-Get 'em off!

PIANO MUSIC STARTS

-Go on!

-Would you stop that?!

PIANO MUSIC STOPS

Oh, you should be ashamed of yourselves,

sat there drinking and salivating.

I have stockings that are older than some of these girls!

Oh, you think this is funny, do you?

Well, I have a good mind to take a broom handle

to every last one of you!

Music, please, maestro.

CHEERING AND WHISTLING

PIANO MUSIC STARTS

Verity was in trouble.

I agreed to help.

Ah...trouble.

She was desperate.

There is a woman on my street and...

if you have the money...

An abortion.

Was the baby yours?

No! No, we never...

Then why did she come to you for help?

Because...

..she knew I would give her anything she wanted.

Even my soul.

Did she go through with it?

No.

I went to try one last time to talk her out of it.

That is when I found her. I tried to stop the bleeding, but...

Janek, you have to tell the Inspector that you are innocent.

But I am not.

God knew what we were planning.

He punished her and I shall be next.

And what happened today is never to be spoken of again.

"I know what you've been up to and I want a cut."

I beg your pardon?

A letter from Maurice's desk. Anonymous.

Tells him to leave money in a storage cupboard under the stage.

So Verity was blackmailing Maurice?

It would explain where the money came from.

Perhaps Maurice killed her to silence her?

-We should tell the Inspector.

-Not yet.

We can't prove this comes from Verity.

And we don't even know what she was accusing Maurice of doing.

If Verity was pregnant,

surely we should be speaking to the father?

-Well, that piano player.

-Oscar?

When I was at the club, I saw him...

-Oscar would never have...

-Would you please let me finish?

Finish accusing an innocent man? You don't know anything about him!

Sensitive subject?

How long have you been seeing him?

Is Oscar the "friend" with whom you have occasionally

been staying over with?

It's been a few months.

Since I started at the club.

That night...

when I disappeared from Auntie Bridget's house,

Oscar and I were supposed to be meeting at Kembleford train station.

We were planning to go to London together.

Only...

Only, he never showed up.

Do you know why?

Erm...I thought something must've happened to him.

So you went back to the club to find out what?

When I got there, he wouldn't even speak to me.

I thought he loved me!

SHE SOBS Does anyone else know?

Erm...only Fifi, but she wouldn't tell anyone.

You won't say anything to Auntie Bridget, will you?

BICYCLE BELL JINGLES

You're wasting your time. I don't do religion.

I'm not here to convert you. I'm here to talk about Joselyn.

-What about her?

-You were planning to go to London with her.

-And?

-What happened?

-Ask her.

-Was it about Verity?

Did you find out she was pregnant and get cold feet?

Verity was pregnant?

Oh, I get it!

You... You think I'm the father.

Well, I wasn't.

And it was Joselyn that got cold feet, not me.

Why?

Oscar!

I'm not paying you to smoke.

Thank you for coming so quickly.

How can I help?

I wish to send a letter home.

To say goodbye.

-Goodbye?

-I have been charged...with murder.

The Inspector thinks I...will hang and...

..I want to ask for forgiveness from my family...

..but I cannot write.

I understand.

But I'm afraid my Polish is...straszne.

English is fine.

Our local priest, he will translate.

I will help, of course. But...

..may I ask something in return?

Anything.

Maurice was being blackmailed.

And I need to know by who and why.

I don't know who, but...

..Maurice had an arrangement with some men.

Erm, customers. Wealthy.

Mr Cranage let them spend time with one or two of the dancers.

Prostitution?

Was Verity one of them?

Yes. But she would not blackmail Mr Cranage.

He had too much power over her.

Now, please, the letter.

You will write home.

You will not say goodbye.

I will not let you hang.

-It is in God's hands now.

-Yes.

Why do you think he sent me?

'I've already caught the culprit.'

So you say.

But I saw that musician scrubbing blood from his shirt.

What if he made Verity pregnant,

she was demanding money, making a fuss, and so he killed her?

The doorman was found on the scene.

As were you...found on the scene.

But we wouldn't want that getting out, now would we?

I am only asking you if you will investigate this... pianist.

-KNOCKING

-What now?!

Ah...

Mrs McCarthy.

I didn't expect to see you here.

-I was just...

-You know exactly what she's doing here, Padre.

Doing your dirty work, as always!

Fine.

I'll bring him in for questioning. But that's all I'm promising.

Well, he was clearly involved.

How else do you explain the blood on his shirt?

Maurice made him mop the floor after Verity's body was removed.

This is because we were seeing each other, isn't it?

Oh, you're worse than my parents.

At least they wouldn't send an innocent man to the scaffold

just to keep him away from me!

I am not going to pretend

that I approve of you eloping with a down-and-out musician.

Oh, so it's his job you don't like?

And here's me thinking it's the colour of his skin!

How could you think that?!

If anything happens to him...

I will never forgive you.

-Where're you going?

-To warn him!

Well, I was only trying to protect her.

I've made a terrible mistake, haven't I?

You're not intending to leave me without a piano player

at such short notice?

Surely we can come to some arrangement?

This is a murder investigation.

My customers are already apprehensive about returning.

We are not an establishment that flourishes in the spotlight.

We prefer the anonymity of the shadows,

as I'm sure you can understand.

-You're making a mistake!

-I don't recall asking your opinion.

Did you know Mr Cranage is offering...

extra services to his clients?

Rubbish! We are a respectable establishment.

Enough! You, stay out of it!

Take me to Mr Bergeres immediately.

-Sergeant, with me.

-Righty-oh, sir.

I know somewhere you can hide.

Inspector.

We've found our murder weapon.

Round up the other officers and meet me downstairs.

-We've got a manhunt on our hands.

-Righty-oh, sir.

Quick!

-You know I had nothing to do with Verity's death, right?

-Of course.

Urgh!

That's not my writing.

Listen up. I want check-points on all roads out of town

and door-to-door searches.

If you find him, approach with caution.

-He tried to kill me!

-Who?

Oscar! I hit him. I wasn't thinking.

-I'm not going to get in trouble, am I?

-Of course not.

-Where is he now?

-In the store-room under the stage. I'll show you.

Come with me.

You mustn't blame yourself.

None of us knew he was capable of such...

..evil.

He isn't. I know he isn't.

But...

It's strange.

Whoever wrote to Oscar cancelling Joselyn's rendezvous with him

had the same handwriting as whoever was blackmailing Maurice.

And I believe that that person killed Verity.

How awful!

Who?

Me?!

You were convinced of Janek's innocence from the start.

And so keen to return to the club to prove it.

A perfect opportunity to retrieve the shard you had hidden

and use it to frame Oscar.

You can't possibly think that I'd...

Take off your gloves.

What?

When you first saw Verity's body, you let out a cry of alarm.

But only after Joselyn had grabbed your hand.

Ever since then, you've kept your gloves on,

even in this hot weather.

So? I don't see how that's...

Show me your hands.

No.

It was you!

-No!

-You killed her!

No, I cut this on a broken glass.

She was pregnant!

-It's true.

-No, don't listen to him. It was Oscar!

Now he's been arrested, we can go back to how things were.

"How things were"?

Before he tried to take you from me! See, all this is his fault!

I didn't mean to...

I knew Oscar would find out that you didn't write him that note

saying you weren't going to elope together.

So I went to your dressing room, to tell you how I felt.

To tell you that you deserve more than him.

That he can't love you. Not like I can.

But it wasn't you.

It was her.

She saw my pain...

..and all she could do was mock!

That must have been very distressing.

I knew Verity would've told you what I'd said just to humiliate me.

I had to speak to you first.

So I came here to Oscar's room to find you, but you weren't here.

And that's when I saw the broken mirror.

I could hear her voice going round and round in my head,

laughing at me.

Laughing at us! I had to make it stop.

VERITY GASPS

And after you killed her...

..you realised that you could frame Oscar

and have Joselyn for yourself.

So you planted the evidence

and dropped a few hints.

We can go now, start a life together.

This is why I blackmailed Maurice.

-I got the money for us!

-Us?

There's never been an "us".

We were only ever friends, and now...

No. You don't mean that! You don't mean that. It's not...

Don't touch me!

No! No!

No!

No!

Sir!

-No!

-Stay there! Don't move!

No! Get off me!

Fifi, please...

Please.

Why should I?

Because you're unwell.

You think I'm ill because I'm in love with a woman?

That's not what I meant.

Fifi, this is all so sudden. I thought we were just friends.

But maybe, if I had time...

..to make sense of everything...

You mean...?

Come here.

We could be so happy.

It was her!

-And you will write to me from London?

-Every week.

You do realise your parents will never talk to me again?

I'm sorry. For everything.

And I'm sorry for leaping to conclusions.

I only ever had your best interests at heart.

But I can see now that this is much more than just some giddy fling.

I'll look after her, I promise.

Well, we're all much safer now that mad woman is locked up!

-What will happen to her?

-Heaven only knows.

Inspector Mallory has requested an assessment

of her mental state of mind.

The police found a bundle of love letters in her lodgings...

to you.

She was obsessed.

And being so cruelly mocked when she finally revealed her feelings

tipped her over the edge.

Thank you.

For everything.

You're welcome.

I only hope that you find an occupation in London

that makes the most of your intellect.

Don't worry, I know exactly what I'm going to do.

Yes?

I'm going to be an actress!

Best be off. Don't want to miss the train.

Goodbye!

Goodbye.

Goodbye, Father.

Where did I go wrong?

Whatever do you mean?

My job was to safeguard her moral wellbeing.

And I always thought she was on the right track.

But it turns out she's been taking her clothes off

in front of complete strangers

and now she's running off to London with a...a musician.

I think you've done a marvellous job.

Joselyn is loving, confident, bright and courageous.

She put herself in danger to prove another person's innocence.

Yes.

Yes, I suppose that's right.

And perhaps, as you have appeared on the stage of a burlesque club,

you shouldn't be the first to throw stones?

Mention that one more time...

and I'll tell the bishop that you have been enjoying the company

of strippers and harlots.

Yes, well, then, perhaps, in the case of The Crimson Feather Club...

there should be a vow of silence.