The Flower of the Fairway Father Brown

Goes at quite a lick, don't she?

Prototype.

Had her shipped over myself.

Very ingenious.

So, Mr Reeve - perhaps we could discuss why you've asked us here.

And, of course, we are delighted to be here.

We are always anxious to help local benefactors like yourself

find deserving causes.

I'm afraid in that sense I'm a non-believer, Father.

You don't believe in charity?

Let the poor pull themselves up by their bootstraps.

I did.

No, you're here so I can present you with your annual membership pass.

My what?

I know what keen golfers you priests are, Father.

Back home, we're beating you off with a stick.

Yes, well, I'm afraid I'm a non-believer in that sense, Mr Reeve.

I think that golf is a good walk spoiled.

Well, you priests do believe in Latin, don't you?

How about a little quid pro quo?

You lead the way, bring your flock to the opening,

and then I'll consider a donation.

Perhaps Mrs McCarthy should have a ride on the way back.

The father would be simply delighted to come.

It is very beautiful here.

Better than that scrub we ripped out, huh?

See, this isn't Earth, Father.

This is Paradise.

The trouble with Paradise...

..there's always a snake.

Did Raylan Reeve ruin my property out of petty spite?

Yes, he did.

Do I hate the man?

Yes, I do.

But did I threaten to kill him?

That WAS the question I asked, Mrs Harvey.

In your own time.

No, I did not.

Then you won't mind if we search your property.

Unofficially.

Of course, I could go back to the station, get a search warrant...

I've got nothing to hide.

Unlike some!

What exactly is it you're accusing Mr Reeve of?

This garden used to win prizes...

..and over there was scrub.

I wouldn't sell my land to that man,

and now, somehow, things are reversed.

They diverted my water, Inspector.

We looked into this the first time you complained.

There's no proof.

You're standing on it!

Sir...

..the witnesses you asked for.

About time, too.

You were the people with Raylan Reeve

when he discovered the damage?!

Guilty as charged.

He said he thought he saw movement in the undergrowth.

Perhaps a person hiding.

Did either of you see anything untoward?

Certainly not.

And if you're insinuating that that person was Hermione Harvey...

I hate litter.

Forgive me, Inspector,

but this was just vandalism.

You seem to have enough men here for a murder investigation.

It's a death threat against one of our most notable local businessmen.

Who just happens to be the owner of the best golf club

in the three counties.

Will you be competing this Saturday, Inspector?

Mr Reeve has invited me to oversee security.

Well, you should be ashamed of yourself.

I have known Hermione Harvey for 30 years,

-and let me tell you, you will find absolutely nothing...

-Inspector.

You should see this.

Exactly what would have been used to burn the words into the green.

Why do you have this?

You think I bought it to get my own back on Raylan Reeve?

Well, let me save some time by confessing - yes, I did.

The best revenge is success.

He wants to destroy my lawn - I'll make it greener than ever.

It's fertiliser.

To help grass grow, not kill it.

Carefully handled, maybe. Neat, it's deathly.

As I know to my cost.

Mrs Goodfellow was not a happy lady.

-May I?

-No!

It's only a quarter used.

How much would you need to burn a message into a green?

I haven't finished with you.

Stay away from Raylan Reeve, or I'll be watching you.

Well, of all the cheek!

Don't be upsetting yourself, Hermione.

Innocence will out.

The truth will out...

..and, as usual, the truth is a little more complex

than we would like.

Do you own a gun?

No.

Not exactly - my Arthur has a gun.

From the war.

But you use it.

Just...target practice.

I don't feel safe here any more.

You will not be safe, not if they find a gun here.

I'll happily look after it for you.

I've got a perfectly good hiding place for it.

Don't you worry yourself.

CAR APPROACHES

-THUD

-Ngh!

Ooh! Thank you.

Snake-in-the-grass.

What?

No! I mean...

-It is, after all, for charity.

-Oh, Bridget, relax.

You want to give him two shillings to stand in his field

and watch fat men hit little balls, you go ahead.

Did you say two shillings?!

Mrs Harvey.

I wasn't expecting to see you here today.

I wouldn't set foot in that place if he paid me.

But I do want to know what's going on.

The best firework display Kembleford's ever seen,

I've been told.

Have you met the daughter yet?

Up by the tree.

Blonde.

She came over here first.

Her daughter's a boarder at that snooty girls' school, Saint, um...

Saviour's?

Then he followed.

Is there a husband?

No sign. Rumour is...

..divorced.

Morning, Padre.

I hope you're not here in a professional capacity.

We won't be needing the last rites today,

will we, Mrs Harvey?

Very witty.

Deadly serious.

One of you on the gate - the other following Mrs Harvey.

No funny business.

Ah, Mr Reeve!

Ah, Father. So pleased you changed your mind.

Yes. He's always delighted to try something new.

Right, I'll be off.

If you'll excuse me...

Hermione!

So, Mr Reeve, I'm hoping you'll try something new and make a donation.

The restoration of our sacristy is distressingly overdue.

Good morning, Mr Reeve.

I'm here to sign up for the Men's Cup.

Your staff seem to think there's some kind of a problem.

Well, our clubs have very strict standards

about the calibre of players.

I think you'll find my credentials are exceptional.

Wait a minute...

Michael Nelson? I know you!

This guy used to caddy for us back when he was a skinny 15-year-old.

I heard Marty Connaught was over for the Cup, too.

Real little reunion today.

Connaught? No-one by that name registered.

Excuse me, I have business with the father.

You don't remember Marty?

Why don't you wait for me in my office?

It's right through there.

Excuse me.

You once had a crush on my daughter, didn't you?

You and half the state, huh?

Once upon a time.

I thought it went both ways.

Well, she found herself a real man.

Yeah.

So manly he couldn't stick around for his baby.

Some guy, huh?

Don't worry, Mr Reeve.

I'm here for the Cup...

..not your daughter.

Bananas.

Don't mind if I do.

I was going to tell you, I swear.

Father!

You don't mind waiting in the lobby, right?

No, of course not.

Does this mean what I think it means?

You took Morgana out of school without my say-so?

It's called an "exeat".

These Brits do love their Latin.

And you entered her in the Cup?

She signed up herself!

You don't believe me? Come on.

She's walking the course right now.

Let's ask her.

She begged me to compete.

You wouldn't want me to deny my favourite granddaughter, would you?

You know how I feel about this - I don't want you pushing her.

She wants it.

That's what you said about me!

And did it do you so much harm?

Girls' golfing champion, travelling the world...

-You were special.

-I didn't want to be special.

I don't want you stealing her childhood like you stole mine.

Why don't we ask her what she wants?

Grandpa!

Hey, darlin'.

You ready?

ENGLISH ACCENT: The course is brilliant.

What, you forget how to talk?

Two years at boarding school and she sounds like this?!

We gotta get you back Stateside before you forget about us!

Never.

You found Snowy!

He should be on my golf bag.

Funny you should mention that.

I got you a little gift.

Grandpa, these are amazing.

Collectors' items.

Solid hickory. That ain't paint.

Cost me an arm and a leg, but you get what you pay for.

Can I use them today?

That's what they're here for!

OK, sourpuss. Just because your career didn't go the distance,

don't rain on her parade.

CAT YOWLS

CAT HISSES Oh!

CAT YOWLS

-TANNOY:

-Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

to the inaugural Flower of the Fairways Ladies Golf Cup.

Oh, there you are!

You nearly missed the start.

First up, presenting, in her inaugural competition -

Morgana Reeve.

Just 14, but dismiss her at your peril...

That's the granddaughter.

A little slip of a thing -

but no doubt she's had plenty of practice.

I'm sure Mr Reeve will have seen to that.

Oh, a driver.

Not taking any prisoners.

Addressing the ball well.

Well...

She seems to know what she's doing.

Mrs McCarthy, I thought you hated golf?

And so I do.

Bravo!

It must be very hard,

sending your daughter to school abroad.

Not really.

She's very talented.

-She must take after...

-Father.

Stay away from me, stay away from my daughter.

I don't like priests.

-TANNOY:

-And next on the tee,

looks like we have a French lady, from the name -

and what a name it is -

ladies and gentlemen, you're looking at...

..Desiree LeCoq.

Oh!

Have you heard of this...Desiree?

Well, I can't say I think much of the outfit.

Oh, modern girls have no idea how to make the best of their figures.

Oh!

Well, that was an outstanding swing.

Penelope?

Pen...

Penelope!

Shh!

Keep it down!

What are you doing here?

If it isn't obvious, I am playing golf.

Rather well, as it happens.

So, pipe down and don't queer my pitch!

Why?

Daddy, of course. He thinks it's terribly common to play for money -

but if he will stop my allowance at the merest whiff of a scandal,

-then, really, what does he expect?

-I rather fear that if you win,

Mr Reeve will have it all over the newspapers.

And "Daddy" will see through that disguise as fast as we did.

Yes, well, I've thought of that -

and no decent British broadsheet

would dare to feature a golfer called "Desiree LeCoq".

APPLAUSE

She's good - but she's rattled.

Our Penelope's certainly giving her a run for her money.

If only she can keep that form up.

Mrs McCarthy - how do you know so much about golf?

My husband was a keen golfer, God rest his soul.

Oh, amazing what you can pick up if you pay enough...attention.

Penelope!

Pssst! Penelope!

15!

The clubs!

15!

What's all this?

Miss LeCoq...

is your bag over?

Of course not!

It's an automatic two-stroke penalty.

What a terrible shame.

This isn't even mine!

Why would I be carrying two 5-irons?

Someone else has put this in here.

This is sabotage.

Two-stroke penalty, Miss LeCoq.

I was wrong.

No temperament for this game.

Look at the tension in the shoulders.

The technique is good, but it's what's in here that counts.

Oh, dear.

APPLAUSE

Father, please can you take her home?

Because sooner rather than later, you'll be investigating a murder.

So, what happens now?

She can play the ball where it lies,

but she must not ground the club.

Or it's a one-stroke penalty.

Quelle dommage, Miss LeCoq.

8, I think

Risky.

Um... Father...

Over here.

SIREN RINGS

Gently.

For Heaven's sake, man! We want him in one piece.

Do you think he fell in... and drowned?

An accident?

Not unless he coshed himself round the back of the head first.

Morgana, back to the house. You should not be seeing this.

I'm...

I'm sorry, I'm...

-I'm not good with blood.

-Shhh, don't speak.

-SHE SOBS

-I'll get you some water.

Breathe deep.

I thought you'd swore you'd never set foot on my golf course.

I saw you'd called the police again,

so I thought I'd save time by coming to you.

Oh...

Hermione...

You recognised him!

Please tell me you've nothing to do with this.

Were you involved in that man's death?

No!

I saw him yesterday evening in my garden.

What was he doing there?

Exactly!

I thought he was one of Reeve's men out to intimidate me.

So I whacked him.

Round the head, with the butt of my revolver.

You did what?!

It was just the once, I promise!

He was walking, he was talking, he was fine.

Did you report this to the police?

I went to the clubhouse to shout at Raylan Reeve

for trying to scare me with his tattooed heavy.

I came home, he was gone - I never saw him again until this minute.

Where are you going now?

I'm not going to stick around and wait

till that man pins this on me.

Oh...

Tamara! Tamara! Wait!

-What's going on?

-Just go home, Michael.

Are you seriously going to pretend we didn't both just see Marty

pulled out of that water hazard?

I thought this would be easy -

come here and show you I've made good.

Prove I don't care.

Is that what it proves?

You know what hurt the most?

You said, "True love waits."

Turns out you just didn't like me as much as some other guy.

It wasn't like that.

-You wouldn't understand!

-Try me.

I guess your father approved of the new guy, huh?

He was probably the only one Daddy would've approved of.

Well, it couldn't have been Marty, then.

Just go...

..before anything happens to you.

Consider that a warning.

Crikey!

You are going back to school right now.

-I'm not!

-She's not going anywhere.

The threats - and now murder, in our back yard?

You think this is any place for a young girl?

You let me worry about that.

I'll take care of Morgana.

She has to go back!

What, are you nuts? She's mid-tournament.

Surely the tournament will be postponed now?

Feel free to bow out, Miss LeCoq, if you're scared of the competition.

The inspector has kindly expedited the search of the next hole.

We have permission to restart there right after lunch.

Whatever's happening off the green, on the fairway,

Morgana's cool as a cucumber - and she's ahead in the Cup.

She deserves a chance to make good her win.

Thanks, Grandpa.

You're my daughter, it's my decision.

It's not safe here.

Shh-shh-shh.

Listen to me. Listen.

Nobody threatens my family. Nobody.

Nobody takes what's mine away from me.

I'm going to keep you two safe if it's the last thing I do.

-SIGHS:

-I should have withdrawn.

I'm glad you didn't.

You're more use to us here.

Still no sign of Hermione.

Don't worry.

She's stubborn, but she won't do anything stupid.

It's her safety I'm worried about - and ours.

There is a killer on the loose.

Where's Grandpa?

He always watches me play.

He's my lucky charm.

The police needed to speak with him.

Routine.

I'll be your charm today, huh?

Go on.

Remember your alignment.

Perfect!

Pity she only hit the bunker, huh?

Well, not a perfect shot,

but Penelope will have to pull something special out of the bag

to match it - I for one, am not holding my breath.

Oh!

Well, I take it all back.

-It seems...

-Please, enough of the running commentary.

BANG

Oh, come on! This really is sabotage.

No, I don't think so.

Was that... Was that a gunshot?!

Where's Mr Reeve?

Mrs McCarthy!

Hop on, Father!

Mrs McCarthy, wouldn't you rather I drove?

I would not!

Mr Reeve?

-Grandpa!

-HE SPEAKS LAST RITES

-No, no, no, no!

-Mr Reeve...

I'll call the police surgeon, sir.

Take care of the girl.

This is a murder investigation.

..gustum et locutionem...

I don't understand!

SHE SOBS

That's everyone, sir.

Any sign of the shooter?

Who was supposed to be following Mrs Harvey?

-Ramsden, sir.

-Ramsden!

I've already had a word, sir. He lost her -

-but to be fair, when the body was first found...

-Save your breath.

Now, let's pay Mrs Harvey a visit.

I'll deal with you later.

Long gone, sir -

but we did find this.

Is that blood on the butt?

And it's recently been fired.

Looks like we might have a culprit for both these murders.

Why are they leaving?

The inspector's called the search off.

Word is, they found the murder weapon - at Mrs Harvey's.

No!

Wait - we know it's still out there.

We can still find it - prove them wrong -

-Needle in a haystack.

-Not necessarily.

They've searched the course,

but they haven't touched the water hazard yet -

those waders are still dry.

The hunt's still on.

No, you can't see Hermione Harvey.

Have you found her?

That's one of the reasons you can't see her.

I was wondering if you'd had the pathologist's initial thoughts

on Raylan Reeve yet?

No comment.

Does the bullet match Hermione's gun?

No comment.

I simply want to be able to counsel my parishioner correctly -

when you finally catch her.

If she is guilty, I would urge her to confess.

She ran for it!

-That's an admission of guilt in itself.

-Or of fear.

I had a man watching her -

she evaded him for the crucial period - hardly coincidence.

She's guilty, all right.

No doubt the bullet will agree with you.

When we find it, I'm sure it will.

Find it?

Where did it go?

It passed right through Reeve's neck and out of the open window beyond.

Then she must have shot him from down here.

To avoid being seen. Maybe.

PHONE RINGS

Mallory.

Right.

Good.

We might not have the bullet, but we have tracked down our killer.

Ten minutes ago at Gloucester Railway Station,

my men arrested Hermione Harvey.

Terribly sorry that they didn't fit me, Mrs M.

That's the tragedy of being tall.

Though I have to say, once in that hazard today is quite enough.

I'm sure there are plenty more fishermen your height than mine -

and I have no doubt that the right size waders were there to be found

if only you had been prepared to look for them.

Sadly, time was of the essence, Mrs M.

Ugh! More frogspawn.

Wait, I think I've found something!

It feels quite hard, it might just be a stick.

You sure it's not a bone?

Look - it's an iron.

Half a golf club.

Oh, wow.

Well, you'd have to hit something with a whacking great force

to break your club in half and send it flying in there.

Are you saying you think...I might be holding the murder weapon?

Father! There you are.

No bullet.

No bullet hole

But you were right about the water hazard.

Look what we found.

Yes. Yes, of course.

Bunty, where's the 15th club?

Oh, here.

-Ooh!

-Sorry.

Why would you have two clubs exactly the same in one set?

Well, this one was taken and used to beat that poor man -

but it snapped, and had to be replaced.

The replacement was put in the wrong bag - mine.

Of all the scheming scoundrels!

The best fireworks Kembleford has ever seen.

Now you've lost even me.

That's how they faked the gunshot - it was a firework,

while everyone had alibis watching you and Morgana play.

No firework has a fuse long enough to cause that kind of delay!

It didn't require one.

I need you two to conduct another search.

Oh, and this time you are in the waders,

I don't care how long your legs are.

Not in water.

The other side of the clubhouse - probably away from the fairway.

But what are we looking for?

You'll know when you find it.

Going away?

Oh...I don't think it's safe for Morgana to be here -

not after what happened.

But you had those bags already packed, didn't you?

I don't know what you're insinuating.

You were planning on leaving before your father died.

Was that why your American friend

was hanging around on the edge of the golf course?

Was he waiting for you?

Is that why he died?

I didn't kill Marty!

No, I didn't think you killed Marty...

..but I know you killed your father.

SHE SCOFFS

Don't be ridiculous.

Of course I didn't kill him - I was right there on the fairway

with the rest of you when the shot was fired.

But there was no shot...

..and your father was already dead.

Talk to me.

Father...

..you are going to get yourself killed.

So...

..you were running away with Marty.

No.

It wasn't like that.

We weren't together.

He was helping me, we were friends.

So that was why he was waiting outside the club.

I wonder why he stepped into Mrs Harvey's garden.

Hiding, perhaps.

It was Mrs Harvey who inadvertently alerted your father to the plan.

He recognised him from her description.

Is that how he found out?

I imagine he wasn't very happy that you were going away.

You can say that again.

Did he argue with Marty?

Did he kill Morgana's father?

Don't you get it?

I killed my daughter's father.

So...you did kill Marty?

No.

You were right the first time.

I killed Raylan Reeve.

Absolutely nothing.

Hang on...what's this?

But why would you burn a golf ball?

I'm so sorry.

So, Morgana is your...

Daughter.

My...sister.

Take your pick.

See? I told you it would get worse.

-MICHAEL:

-Tamara...

Don't say anything.

What do you know about this, Mr Nelson?

-Nothing.

-I worked out enough.

Have you told him what your father did?

You... You know about that?

I do...

now.

When you said "the only man Reeve would've approved of"...

..I should have guessed then.

Nobody threatens my family. Nobody.

It wasn't till I saw him with you both standing on the terrace...

..safe, if it's the last thing I do.

I cottoned on too late to save you.

I thought I could save myself...

..but then when Marty didn't come, and...

..I knew something had gone wrong, and...

..when that girl found his body...

You challenged him on what he'd done.

He showed me the broken club...

..like it was some sort of trophy!

And then...

..he grabbed me, and...

I couldn't bear it. I lashed out.

And the shaft went right through his neck.

I was just trying to make him let me go.

Just drop it, Father.

Can't you see she isn't really guilty?

She didn't mean to kill him.

Mens rea.

Guilty mind.

It's very hard to see what true justice would be...

..but I can't let it drop.

The police have arrested Mrs Harvey.

They think she made good with her threats...

..but I suppose it was you who wrote on the green, and on the clubhouse.

There is no good outcome to this. A woman may hang.

Please...

Leave.

Let me end this.

Michael, go.

I don't want to see anyone else I love getting hurt.

Go!

Please.

The courts will understand when you tell them what your father did.

Maybe...

..but it would destroy Morgana.

I don't want that stigma for my daughter.

You lived in hell.

You will not go there after you've gone...

..but you mustn't let an innocent woman be hanged for this.

Tell them what you did, tell them how you faked the shooting,

so Mrs Harvey can go free.

Oh, but I didn't fake the shooting.

I'll admit everything I did, Father, but...

..I can't explain that.

It must have been someone down on the course.

Someone with golf skills good enough to drive a firecracker

taped to a golf ball right over the clubhouse.

And someone who cares enough for you to risk everything.

FIREWORK EXPLODES

-MRS MCCARTHY:

-Father. Father! Where are you?

I think you'll want to come.

There has been a confession.

Don't move from this door.

Just say the word and I'll tell them it was me.

I wish it had been me.

I wish I'd protected you.

You didn't know.

You don't have to do this.

What do you suggest I do?

Does she deserve to take the rap?

Tamara didn't mean to kill him.

I did.

I saw you leave.

I was going to confront him, I...

..wanted to kill him...

..but then I found his body instead.

Mens rea.

They've traced Reeve's fingerprints on the spare club

in your friend's bag.

They know he'd killed Marty just a few hours before.

They accept I was acting in self-defence.

The most damning thing about it

is that I tried to cover it up...

..and that WAS me.

Michael...

I've waited this long for you.

A little longer doesn't matter...

..and you'll visit me in prison...

..so we can get to know each another again...

..won't you?

Ooh, I nearly forgot.

This came for you in the post this morning.

Oh!

A few more years and this will be a real country paradise.

No good for replacing my missing allowance, though.

Suppose I'll have to start hocking the pearls again!

Oh, it's from Morgana!

It says the best girl won.

What's this?

Oh, wow!

If that's what you get for winning a golf tournament,

I should enter some more.

-Please, no.

-No, please!

A token of my appreciation -

my home-made pear brandy.

I don't think I or my garden would have lived to see the day

without you, Father.

Morgana sends her love, as well.

How is she?

Well, she's missing her grandpa...

..but her mother has settled in England,

and she is staying at St Saviour's.

Hah! She wants to know if I offer golf coaching.

Maybe I should...

I could be your first pupil.

I don't even think I could help you, Father.

Ladies, would you care to partake?

Ooh!